Whispers in the Dark

By Arriss

 Chapter VIII – Bargains 

 In an effort to relieve her husband of his worries from the past evening, Sakoya had managed to find a stable that housed animals suitable for guests to enjoy the scenery from a different perspective…

 “You’re sure about this?” Obi-Wan appeared dubious.

 “Absolutely, mount up!”

 “Please, be gentle,” he whispered into the ear of the animal.

 The hestan shook her head as if in retort.

Sakoya laughed heartily. “C’mon,” she urged, “you’ll be fine.”

“So you say,” he retorted unconvinced. Lifting his foot into the stirrup and gripping a combination of black mane and saddle horn, the Jedi Master swung his leg over as he hoisted himself into the saddle.

“There,” Sakoya commented cheekily, “that wasn’t so hard – was it?”

“No…not yetttttt.” Obi-Wan exclaimed as his hestan decided to toy with its new rider and took off at a trot.                                                                                                    

Sakoya could only laugh as her own mount followed suit.

 

“Having fun?” she asked with a giggle as she came up beside her husband a moment later.

He turned toward her, a worried expression on his face. “Bouncing up and down and making my butt sore is supposed to be fun?” he asked sarcastically.

“Welcome to my favorite source of adventure. One that I sadly find little time to do.”

“Beloved, I would go to the ends of the galaxy for you, but this –” he glanced down at the brightly colored hestan, who in turn looked at him and made him stop speaking.

“I think she likes you.”

“S-she does?”

“Sure, look at her eyes.”

“I-uh,” he hesitated, “I guess so.”

“C’mon,” Sakoya gestured towards the distance ahead, “let’s have some fun.”

It was a beautiful day for riding; the blue sky, dotted with cheery clouds gave a person a reason to smile. The air was crisp and clean, unlike Coruscant where an aftertaste lingered in your mouth in spite of the technological advances in air filtration. A mild twenty-four degrees Celsius, skimmed off the backs of the newlyweds and their graceful mounts. 

The couple rode for what seemed like hours through the seasoned trails. They wound around fully blossomed trees, their tiny white flowers blowing in the gentle breeze, up and down various hills to the continual song of the native birds until they rested at last beside a secluded area of beach – the white sand acting as a guide toward the ocean for their weary bodies.

Sakoya slid one leg over and slid down off the saddle and led her hestan over to a tree and then tied it, making sure that the nearby grass was accessible to eat. She stretched and the ripples that coursed through her back made her sigh with relief.

Hoping to show his prowess at learning how to ride, Obi-Wan tried to dismount in the same manner his wife had. The results were slightly embarrassing.

The Jedi Master’s pants leg got stuck on the horn of the saddle as he tried to simultaneously slide off and it left him somewhere in between. Using the Force, he lifted himself up high enough to untangle his pants, amidst the laughter of his mate, and then set himself back onto the ground.

He would almost swear that his mind heard the hestan laughing as well, but he dismissed it.

Taking hold of the reins, he led his animal over to its counterpart and tied it in the same fashion Sakoya had. He then walked over and joined her on the soft sand.

“Anakin wouldn’t like this area,” he noted smugly.

“Trying to take the spotlight off of you, I see.” She grinned playfully. “So, why wouldn’t he?” she asked curiously.

“Something he commented to me one time about sand being rough and course. But, he did grow up on Tatooine, so I imagine sand isn’t particularly his favorite.”

Sakoya chuckled to herself. “I think it’s beautiful here. The sand and trees, but the ocean – it goes on forever. I love how the sun sets over it, all the colors dancing in the sky.”

Obi-Wan turned his head to look upon his bride and noticed how she radiated as she spoke. He reached up behind her neck and drew her to him, closing his lips over hers.

__________________________________*****__________________________________

As the first stages of night blended with the remaining day, two figures trudged across the sandy beach until they finally approached a large opening and peered inside.

“Helloooo,” Irgan crooned.

“Stop that!” Yurrn ordered brusquely. “Sometimes I wonder how we can be related.”

Stung by the comment, Irgan looked down at his feet. “Sorry,” he said softly.

Yurrn rolled his eyes and took a deep breath. “C’mon, Garen should be waiting.”

 

Side by side the two brothers walked into the cave entrance and an instant chill came over them. Irgan sidled a little closer to his brother as they continued to make their way through the cave. As they ventured deeper they came upon a mass of conical shapes, which had sprouted from the ground and culminated to a point. Over time these formations had grown immensely and unintentionally acted like a barrier against those who would enter its domain. Careful to avoid the sharp points, Yurrn and Irgan made their way past the stalagmites and into the innermost part of the cave.

“You still gonna bring that wench here tonight?” Garen asked as he came out of hiding.

 

Startled, Yurrn turned toward the voice emerging from the shadows. “Yeah, we’ll bring ‘er.”

 

“I still can’t believe you took down two Jedi,” Garen commented with a shake of his head.

 

“They’re not on to us, are they?” Irgan asked, his voice slightly quivering.

 

Garen shrugged indifferently. “I don’t think so, but I really don’t know.”

 

Yurrn pressed the subject. “Where are they now?”

 

Again Garen shrugged. “Dunno really. They left this morning for somewhere.”

 

Yurrn rubbed the sparse stubble on his chin. “As long as they leave us alone, I don’t care. How’s the merchandise?”

 

“No problem so far. Nothing has touched it.”

 

“Good. We need to seal this deal on record, get rid of that saucy wench and her sidekick, and get ready to join Talon Karrde’s smuggling organization.”

 

“There’s two of them? The deal was for one.” Garen eyed the brothers suspiciously.

 

“Just her sidekick – no big deal.” Yurrn shrugged.

 

“Yeah, she don’t look like she’ll be a problem,” Irgan added.

 

“My fee just went up.”

 

Yurrn’s eyes narrowed. “How much?”

 

Garen rubbed the stubble on his chin as he considered the question. “Hmm, I’m not fond of killing women, but then I’m not real picky. I’m not paid to be that way. Tell you what, I’ll still take my regular cut of the art booty but add another fifteen percent onto my fee.”

 

“FIFTEEN percent!” Irgan shouted.

 

Yurrn placed a hand on his brother’s shoulder. “She’s scrawny, I’ll give you ten.”

 

“Done.” Garen nodded his agreement. “When should I meet you back here?” he asked.

 

“A few hours.”

 

“See you then,” Garen said with a wave of his hand and began to walk back the same way the brother’s had come.

 

Once the assassin was well out of view Yurrn slyly commented, “Like I said before, we can’t let Garen have all the fun. I think Talon Karrde will be only too grateful to know who killed his agent. Yes, things are proceeding smoothly, eh, Irgan?” Yurrn nudged his brother with his elbow.

 

“Yeah,” he replied with a sickening laugh.

 

__________________________________*****__________________________________

By the time the Uyllt brothers arrived back at the Clipper Tavern later that evening, it was brimming with customers. Perturbed, Yurrn pushed his way through the crowd and tried to see if he could see Mara.

“Hey, watch it!” a rather large man chastised Yurrn for jostling not only him but also his drink.

Intimidated by the sheer size of the man but trying not to show it, Yurrn replied, “Sorry, there ain’t much maneuverin’ room.”

The man turned away and continued his conversation while Irgan followed behind his brother. Yurrn located a table not far away whose occupants had just vacated it. Pushing his way through the crowd, he was determined to claim it before someone else did.

“We’ll never find ‘er in this mess,” Irgan pouted as they sat down.

“True. She’ll find you.”

Each brother jumped at the unexpected voice and looked up and into the emerald orbs of Mara Jade.

“I see you made it,” she jeered.

“Yeah, we made it. Before we show you the goods, what assurances do we have that you won’t steal it fer yerself?” Yurrn asked.

Mara shrugged indifferently, her face an impenetrable mask. “You don’t.”

“We’re supposed ta trust you?” Irgan inquired suspiciously.

“Correction – you need me, I don’t need you. Whether you trust me or not is unimportant. However, you’ll only be able to join the organization through me.”

Irgan grumbled incoherently and Yurrn’s displeasure was evident as well.

“Shall we?” Mara asked sweetly.

“Aye,” Yurrn grumbled. “Where’s yer sidekick?”

 

Mara glared at the man as if daring him to ask more and stepped back, allowing them up from their table.

 

“Fine. Let’s go,” he bitterly said.

 

 

The cool night air served as a comfort against the heat of the tavern crowd as the threesome stood outside.

 

“This way.” Irgan pointed in a southerly direction and he and his brother began walking.

 

“Right behind you,” Mara said with a grin, her hand resting easily on one of her holstered blasters.

 

 

They wove through the entertainment district and the revelers still celebrating the Festival of Fools before veering toward the ocean. All the while, a figure disguised by shadows, trailed their every move.

 

__________________________________*****__________________________________

 

Leaning against her husband’s chest, Sakoya stared at the stars overhead. She smiled broadly as she recalled this day in her mind; from the moment they had begun their day riding the magnificent hestans to their romantic interlude, followed by dinner and light conversation. And now she was wrapped in the arms of a man she loved so deeply and passionately it made her shiver in spite of the crackle of the nearby fire.

 

“You alright?” Obi-Wan suddenly asked, concerned at her shudder.

 

“Oh, I’m fine, love. Never better,” she purred. “I just had a thought.”

 

Obi-Wan snuggled closer to his wife. “Such as?” he asked inquisitively.

 

“How about a swim?”

 

“We don’t have any attire for that,” he replied.

 

Sakoya turned her head to gaze into her beloved’s eyes. “We don’t need any,” she said with a wink.

 

Obi-Wan let out a little chuckle. “I see, Mrs. Kenobi.”

 

After quickly shedding their clothing, the couple playfully sprinted toward the water. The moonlight illuminated their glistening bodies while the waves churned around them.

 

Alas, their serenity would not remain…

 

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