|
|
 
|
Chapter 34 “Very good,” Xenritha cheered. “You’re learning fast.” “Remembering,” Katrina corrected. Bitterly she added, “You have to remember how many years of training I had from the Emperor’s dark Jedi.” “They were obviously good teachers. For your age, you’re quite good.” Katrina jumped back just as a glowing beam of light swung towards her stomach. An orange line colored her tunic where the where the weapon had touched her. She let go of her own weapon and clutched the line, falling to her knees. With a gurgling sound she dropped face first to the metal floor. The girl she had been fighting, only a few years older than the young Zanespot, disengaged her weapon, laughing at Katrina. The body on the floor shook with giggles even as she refused to stand, swearing that she was dead or dying. Chalee-Siri knelt at the younger girl’s head and began the eulogy. “You’re both being silly,” Xenritha said, though not as sternly as she would have liked. “You are supposed to be practicing and learning, not playing.” “We’ve been going at it for hours,” Katrina complained, pushing herself into a sitting position. “Your training won’t be over until you can fight continuously for days,” Chalee-Siri said, mocking her father. “It is a skill you both need to master, endurance mixed with a deadly ability. I hope neither of you ever needs it, but you need to be prepared, just in case.” “Yes, Xenritha,” the girls said in unison before breaking back into giggles. “You two are going to drive Cha-Lee and Siri up the walls. I’m glad I get to see it. We’ll call the lesson over for today, but you should both be here early tomorrow, and ready to be serious,” Xenritha called over his shoulder as he left the training room. Katrina and Chalee-Siri watched him go before looking to one another. They had met just hours before, at the start of Katrina’s first lesson at the Tri, and had become instant friends. Though separated in age by a few years, they shared the same feeling of isolation. Chalee-Siri envied the freedom Katrina had and was awed by the responsibility the younger girl held. “We only have an hour before the third meal,” Chalee-Siri said, disappointed. “There isn’t time to show you around, outside the Tri. I found a small stream that leads into a miniature waterfall. There are lots of trees and no one else ever goes there. The water is always warm and if you’re very calm and still the fish will come right up to you.” “Can you show me after the meal?” “No. I still have the rest of my lessons. You’ll probably have to go off and do Zanespot things too. I can show you after the final meal, though. I’m not supposed to leave the Tri that late, but I can sneak out. Will you be coming to any of the meals?” “No. Your mother has banned me from meals, unless I take off my mask.” “Does she have that power, to ban a Zanespot? I thought the three of you had equal authority here.” Katrina shrugged, “Why bother going when I know I’m not wanted or welcome? I can’t give in to her; she’d try to rule over me for the rest of my life. Xenritha helped me raid the kitchen early this morning, so I have plenty of food in my room.” “I’ll meet you at the outside door of the red wing after the fourth meal. Don’t tell anyone,” Chalee-Siri warned before leaving the training room. Katrina nodded before standing to leave for the red wing. She was excited by the prospect of an adventure as much as her new friend. She missed Tabi but knew that the Weequay had made it home and was safe and happy with her own people. |
