Hunting for Witches

[Salem Ave]

OOC: PM me if you want in :)

<style type="text/css"> <!-- @page { margin: 2cm } P { margin-bottom: 0.21cm } --> </style> As the head of government, there were few things more useful and indeed important to Salem Ave than knowledge. It was through knowing more than anyone else – or at least having the capacity to – that he had secured his position as Prime Minister in the first place. There was no reason for his vigilance to slip now that he had attained it. If anything, it increased.

By night, in the shadow-cloak of Callidus, he had moved about the slums of the city, to the places furthest from the Palace, and insinuated himself amongst the unfortunates there. The children were the easiest to make use of, as with only a credit or two, they would divulge all that they had heard. Often, it was more than expected. The understanding and awareness of children was all too frequently underestimated.

For many months prior, they had chattered fairly innocuously about the presence of the Hapan guard within the city walls, the pickpockets amongst them lamenting the increased security. Now, however, there was something else on their minds and tongues. An old woman, an individual whose name Callidus did not recognize, of whom stories were told. Such eccentrics, often elderly and infirm, existed in all communities – but in this instance, something was different. They called her a magic woman, and said she had done remarkable things, such as being able to sense the children whenever they moved near to her home, sneaking about in search of adventure, as they did. She intrigued them.

She intrigued Salem.

So it was that three heavy raps struck the door to Sofi Malay's home. Five members of the crimson-clad Onderonian Royal Guard stood on her doorsteps, whilst another ten flanked her home on all sides. Each had one hand on the hilt of his curved blade, sheathed in a cloth belt at his waist. Caution was needed, resistance was expected and they were to be mindful, always, that this woman, this Sofi Malay, had wits about her far sharper than was natural or normal.

[The Vilissar Twins]

Sofi Malay, a name of little importance yet of certain infamy on Ralltiir, especially among the higher society. Though it was not with respect, or even delight the name was spoken. It never took much to fall out of good graces with the upper class, even for a relative of one of the individuals on the Ralltiiri High Council. Though her fall had not gone alone, however whereas the old woman had been practically banished from the planet, her two nieces had been shipped off to boarding school. Rumors circulated why the girls, then only six standard years of age, had to go same as their aging Great-Aunt, none of them pretty, and the more outlandish of which circulated around the lot of them being Force users and Sofi had taken it upon herself to announce that the girls needed to be put under the care of the - ha - Jedi. Such a silly thing.

And so time had passed, Sofi had retreated to quiet world after world and the two girls had aged, causing their parents continual grief at their constant expulsion and re-enrolement in whatever school was brave enough to take them on. But frustration had arisen quickly when suddenly the twin girls were no longer welcome among the more premier learning institutions. A father too busy with government and a mother who had no interest in being one were reduced to one last conclusion - send them to the woman who started it all. It came under the guise of checking in on the poor old dear, but after a month of no word upon returning home the girls had practically come to realize their fate was doomed to listening to a senile old woman spout of conspiracy theories and stories as if they were truth not to be denied until the wretch would ever finally have the decency to die. Though it seemed she had no intention of doing such a thing. Rather, she was blissfully sleeping upon the couch in the small house, snoring softly as she did so.

When the knocking came she wasn't roused, in a way didn't even seem to notice, much to the dismay and annoyance of the two young women who had come to share a small back room. As they made their way to the door, both (just for a moment) pondered taking a knife from the kitchen and driving it into the crone's torso and just be done with it - for surely a prison was better than this sort of torture. They half wondered if whoever was rapping at the door would be understanding of such a thing.

Shock was the first emotion experienced as the door opened and one of the girls caught site of what awaited on the other side. Out of every scenario or being to have been contemplated to have come calling, the Royal Guard was not one they had figured into the equation. Heavens, what had that horrid woman gotten them all in to now?

The two girls, one standing just before the doorway, the other off to her siblings' right side both simultaneously dropped into a small curtsey. True it may have been unnecessary, but there was always something to be said for showing a bit of respect.

"Is there something we can aid you with?"

While it was the foremost girl whose voice was clearest, it was undeniable that the other had spoken the exact words at the exact moment as well.

[Salem Ave]

They had not been told to expect other residents. Their orders had specified only one, only the woman herself. The Captain of the Guard, stood directly before the front door, frowned almost imperceptibly. It was vexing, to be so ill-informed. No doubt it was the fault of the Hapans, and their sloppy communication, that they had been unaware of the other occupants.

“Is this the residence of Sofi Malay?”

The question was near rhetorical. If there was one thing they did know, it was who lived in the run down home. After all, it had been monitored for some time, upon the Prime Ministers command. The Captain, head tilting back slightly as he looked at the two girls, felt faintly unsettled by how closely they mirrored one another. Were they cohorts in whatever secret artifice the old woman had worked?

“She and any known accomplices are summoned before the Court of Her Majesty Queen Adraudia. Any attempt to resist arrest will be met with aggression.”

[The Vilissar Twins]

Rhetorical or not the first question was answered with mirrored delicate, slow nods of their heads. As the Captain continued to speak they both felt their spirits drop. Arrest? Minds whirled over the reasoning. Perhaps once at the Court they would state their case and leave the old wretch to whatever her doom was. They after all, had behaved, though not out of a sense of honor or duty, but more to keep any rumors of their own curses silent; both from any and all prying eyes, but more from the woman whose care they seemed to be under. Yes, not a shred of guilt would be felt for essentially abandoning their family member to the prisons of Onderon, not after the way the woman had seemingly turned on them in the last few days.

The great Aunt that had once been their biggest supporter had turned her stories of shadows and horrors upon them, even going to far as to weaving them into it. She knew too much. All that had to be hoped was their credentials as daughters of a member of their home planet's main government would grant them amnesty, perhaps they could claim themselves as innocent bi standards - even perhaps so far as foreign dignitaries.

These were the thoughts quickly forming in their heads as they both exited the home, again keeping their movements slow to show they planned to fully comply. Both cast a rather disdainful look towards the woman who had only begun to wake.

Sofi Malay yawned only once and rubbed at her eyes before eying those that had come to collect her and her two nieces. There was an almost sorrowful look that came to her as her gaze met those of the twins before she turned to face the Captain.

"Agents of the Darkness itself? I fear you not. Come, take me to your wretches of Masters. I shall not be seen tiptoeing from the heart of this."

The twins couldn't help but roll their eyes as they watched the woman slowly rise to her feet and almost indignantly straighten out the old worn robe she had adorned and marched to meet the others.

"Know this, however, arrest this, but humble servant and you forfeit all honor you claim to posses!"

She was damning the lot of them, both girls knew it. They could only pray that those whom they would eventually be made to answer to would see the woman for what they both had - pathetic and senile. It was the other bit of information that their entire family had held in secret that could disrupt their plans now, but what could the odds of that having gotten out be?

[Salem Ave]

The old woman's damning words fell on deaf ears, though there was a certain roughness to the hand which seized her forearm as she was lead out of her home, a hint that the Royal Guard did not take kindly to their honor being questioned. Fortunately, all three came quietly and after a brief inspection no further occupants were found within their home, though four guards remained posted at the exits, should anyone else attempt to enter or leave.

The walk to Iziz was conducted in silence. The woman's crimes were known, in some vague sense, to the guardsmen, but it was not for them to question her, or her family. That task lay the feet of the Queen and her advisors.

Salem Ave stood waiting upon a raised dais within the Hall of Modon Kira. The chamber had been named in honor of the Beast-Lord, whose blood had mingled with that of Freedon Nadd's descendants to create the current royal lineage. The Queen herself was descended from them and though many generations parted her from Modon Kira, it had been remarked that there was something in the mans noble countenance – displayed amongst the many busts and tapestries which adorned the hall – that could also be seen in Adraudia's features.

Sofi Malay's arrival swiftly approached. The Queen was expected also, and the guards at the door ot the hall stood tense, eagerly anticipating what was to come...

[The Vilissar Twins]

Silence, that was how they proceeded. Their great aunt meanwhile was a bundle of soft murmurings of some nonsense about ignorance and knowledge and emotion and peace...it was all familiar to the two girls but still sounded like nothing but a bunch of nonsense that would probably only irritate the guards even more.

Even the entering of the Hall of Modon Kira wouldn't silence the old woman, in fact it only caused her mumblings to be even louder as if her continued reciting of the silly creed would save her. Only her two nieces seemed to have any semblance of respect for where they entered despite not knowing its full history, remaining quiet and attempted to keep their eyes wandering to a minimum. They both stopped their seemingly aimless glancing about as both pairs of eyes came to rest upon the man upon the dais as the three were lead to a stop.

The ungrateful elderly woman tugged her arm away from the guard before looking up at the Prime Minister and letting a small laugh leave her.

"Ah, so, he who leads this little charade doth show himself. I demand to know why for it is that I have been brought here. I have done nothing."

A visible cringe came from the twins, both reaching to place a hand at the back of their necks and letting their gaze fall to the floor. A single subtle shake of their heads accompanied the expressions that were a mixture of embarrassment and utter disgust. Perfect, not only did she have to continue her tirade but now it was directed at someone of great importance. The two girls came to the conclusion then that all of them would probably be lucky to leave alive nevertheless called innocent. That was...unless they acted upon the correct moment, now to just wait for it.

[Salem Ave]

She was old, older than Salem had expected. There was even a somewhat archaic inflection to her speech, a residue of times long since past. Sequestered away in her home apart from the City, it was clear she had become ignorant to the present state of the world, particularly given her unfamiliarity with the Prime Minister. In the face of rebellion, Ave maintained an expression of calm superiority.

“State your name and occupation, citizen.”

[The Vilissar Twins]

There was a moment, albeit a brief one, where both of the younger women expected the elder to outright refuse to answer, calling the Prime Minister an 'Agent of Darkness' or some other rubbish once more, especially given that her question about why they had been brought there wasn't answered. The old woman shuffled slightly, rolled her shoulders, and stared into the eyes of Ave in a strange calm defiance. A period of silence which felt like ages past before she finally spoke.

"I am Sofi Ajani Malay: citizen. For you see I am far too aged to be of any true profession any longer."

The sudden change from defiant old fool to an almost respectable mannerism was a bit of a shock to the two women who did not respond. Both knew better than to speak unless addressed in this sort of situation. Though their forced silence was infuriating, as was the entire situation.

[Salem Ave]

“I see.” Salem nodded faintly as he studied the old woman. It was clear from his stoic expression that though he had heard what she said, he was far from agreeing with her sentiment.

“It is within the power of all citizens, even the elderly and infirm, to make some contribution to the well-being and development of our society... wouldn't you agree?” he asked, the question open to either Malay or the presently nameless twin girls who stood alongside her.

“Tell me, what is it that you contribute?”

[The Vilissar Twins]

Another awkward moment of silence passed, the old woman contemplating her answer, her next words very carefully. Though no fear came to her, no sense of caution or regard to her position. After all, had she not seen horrors in her life time that made this one man and this room seem as if a vacation in the wine countries of Naboo? And so one more the crone spoke with a sharp tongue as if the single utterance would answer all other questions.

"Truth."

And once more the two young women were forced to roll their eyes, but a moment had been waited for, a moment to swiftly make the transition from family to accusers themselves. In truth they owed their own plight and partial exile (for that truly was the situation) all to the woman and it was time to return the favor.

"False truths."

The voices came from both as one.

"Forgive us Prime Minister."
"But our silence can no longer be held."
"For surely this woman is nothing"
"but a blight upon your fair society."
"A very stain that has been attempting to"
"poison Iziz."

Back and forth they spoke, one completing the other's train of thought as if they were not separate. They both knew how disturbing it may have been to someone at first, but old habits were hard to break and the two has spoken that way since they could first utter any sort of syllable.

"From the inside out."

Again spoken as one before they returned to their passing off of words.

"Even we as humble visitors"
"could see that."

There was no hiding the look of horrific shock at the twins' words that came from Malay. And her broken confidence, the look that questioned their verbal betrayal was only met with a pair of matching smirks that revealed all the malice the two held for the woman.

[Salem Ave]

The old woman looked astounded. She had not expected to be betrayed as such, clearly. She had invested trust in the girls at her side - unshakable trust of a kind that suggested a deep kinship, perhaps even a familial bond - and they had dashed it all in an instant.

“Your companions unmask you and reveal your villainy for what it truly is: an action of treason against this fair city.”

The girls were now, if not smiling, then certainly smirking. Salem looked to them each and they tilted their gazes downward, demurely, for a respectful moment. He liked them already.

“A single lapse in judgement may be forgiven, but continued, willful disregard for the well-being of Iziz... that we cannot ignore. We have heard of your heresy, crone; that you have immersed yourself in the antiquated and forbidden teachings of the Jedi.”

[The Vilissar Twins]

For all the want in the universe to maintain her dignity in the face of her trials, Sofi first had been struck so horribly by the betrayal of her twin nieces but now to have her life's work, her faith, her very reason for living called heresy, forbidden was all too much to bare. A survivor of the dreadful Order 66, she had been one of the few who although going into hiding, had done it more in that her ways had simply quieted. It had been threatened once when the two girls were younger, when they had showed promise in those forbidden talents. She had spoken up and it had cost herself forever exile, but even that had been worth it in her mind. Better to be called a traitor of the family than a traitor to her Order. Again she found herself at such a situation, and although she now stood alone, the old woman would not back down.

"Myself and myself alone! I do not pass along teachings nor philosophies save for the general concept of treating another with care and consideration. I have committed no crime against this world nor any other and will not be so accused by the likes of them or yourself!"

The Twins saw their moment once more and like two feral cats that had simply been watching their pray scurry about until it was just close enough, they once more pounced.

"More lies."
"She has attempted"
"on multiple occasions"
"to school us in her"
"blasphemies."

Not that they had minded the instructions she had attempted to give them, they were of use, but they would not allow themselves to be damned along with her.

"Something"
"which we wanted"
"no part of."
"Her antics even have"
"gone so far as to"
"have our own parents..."

And here they managed to choke up, just a little. There wasn't any pain caused by such things but a little show was necessary.

"banish us!"
"Practically excommunicate!"

A deep, appearing to calm breath was taken by both girls as if to steady themselves. Again, just a show.

"You see..."
"She has already caused great harm."

[Salem Ave]

“What would you have us do, Miss Malay?” Salem asked, spreading his hands diplomatically, palms up. “Even those closest to you denounce your innocence... I am a man of humanitarian principals – of that you may have no doubt – but I am also a proponent of justice, and this justice you have brought upon yourself.

You know of this planets history, of the catastrophes brought upon its people by those who followed the Force... who claimed only to explore its mysteries for the good of the many. It is a selfish thing, the Force. A tool – a weapon – which history has shown to be too often misused in the hands of the righteous.”

His attention shifted to the twins. “You have attempted to corrupt these two innocents, to seed their hearts with corruption.. for all we know, they were not the first or the last to be subject to such grooming.”

[The Vilissar Twins]

There was no anger, no feelings of rage or want for retribution. Even despair lingered, threatening the edges of the woman's conscious mind but her outward appearance had returned to a resolved calm. The only hint of emotion was in eyes, slightly bagged with age and wrinkles that now held traces of tears. The only sign of sorrow for the loss of whatever light had been contained within her twin nieces. Any further arguments would only be more and more incriminating in the eyes of those who could not see beyond their darkness - both for the girls and the Prime Minister.

Sofi Malay, once called 'Lady Malay' or 'Master Malay' now found herself completely stricken by the simple fact that the evils of the universe were once more claiming victory over what was good and right and once more there was nothing she could for it. And although her mind at times was feeble, it was hardly anything as such at that moment. Truly, the Force had not failed her completely. A small sigh left the woman before she spoke up once more.

"I would have you do what is truly best for your citizens, good sir. Justice, as you so put it, should be served."

It took just about every ounce of strength the two girls had to not giggle as the woman essentially declared herself guilty before the entirety of the Hall.

[Salem Ave]

How quickly righteous fury was muted into somber resignation. Salem could only guess that it had been the betrayal brought upon Sofi Malay by her nieces which had caused such a dramatic change of heart and character. Keen to maintain the appearance that the monarchy of Onderon was not without mercy, he offered one final word to the twice-condemned crone.

“Will you renounce the Force and the treasonous path of the Jedi?”

[The Vilissar Twins]

The silence in itself was an answer as the elder woman bowed her head, not in reverence, or acceptance, but in contemplation, as if it would aid in muddling through ages of memories in the search for just the right wording.

The two younger showed no mercy in their eyes, but managed to keep the spiteful little smirks masked to a thin veil of simple observation of their great aunt's fate. Their betrayal had come like the bite of a Divto, swift and paralyzing. They contemplated that analogy for a moment, wondering just what it may have been like if there had been a third sister. A flicker of amusement came before they returned attention to the growing quiet and the tension it produced.

Malay's gaze slowly raised and for a moment she took several deep breaths. They were calming, centering. And it wasn't until she found herself in a strange sense of peace that she allowed herself to speak one more.

"Though I find myself among those who would wish nothing but the ruin of all and perhaps it may be among the better judgement to accept your veiled attempt at backhanded cruelty. No. Treason is not with the light and I am not in the wrong!"

[Salem Ave]

An attendant arrived to the Prime Minister's side and muttered soft words in his ear: the Queen was regrettably unable to join the congregation in the Hall of Modon Kira, on account of being confined to bed. Resisting the urge to smirk, Salem wondered if it wasn't a who rather than a what that was keeping her tangled in the royal bedsheets, but it was far from his place to judge.

In lieu of her royal decree, Ave himself would pronounce the sentence. He had no doubt in his mind what the verdict should be. There was a hush to the room, as the messenger retreated and left Salem standing alone, arms folded behind his back, looking to all the world like some proud sentinel. He inhaled, nostrils flared, and then exhaled with slow finality.

“Then I pronounce you guilty of heresy and witchcraft... guilty of treason against Onderon, against the House of Basille and all its noble ancestry.”

Without pause, he looked to the guards who had escorted Sofi Malay to the Palace. When he spoke, it was as if the old woman had vanished from the room and his conscience. “Take her to the dungeons and have her questioned until she has no more breath in her. Have her belongings seized and placed into storage for cataloguing and analysis.”

The guards nodded, though did not move immediately. There was still the matter of the twin girls. “As for these young women... they cannot be held accountable for the actions of their guardian. If they have no other kin within Iziz, outfit them with a suite within the Palace, where they might be cared for as wards of the monarchy until they have the sufficient means to support themselves.

Never let it be said that Iziz is not merciful.”

[The Vilissar Twins]

Malay's featured paled just slightly at the mention of being questioned in the dungeons. One last glance was given to her nieces, perhaps their new status as residents of the Palace would grant weight to their words if they were to plea for mercy for her, to stave off the imminent torture that perhaps was to befall the elderly woman.

The fleeting pleading look was only further met with cold, unfeeling (if perhaps just a tinge hate-filled) gazes. Both girls held the smallest hintings of a smile, as if they were sharing some great joke between each other and wanted no one else to catch on. A single word seemed to break into the girls' minds. Fallen. There was a strange sadness to it, and unlike the concepts the girls could wordlessly share with each other, this seemed to echo for a few moments before vanishing.

Before the two could come up with a response that would perhaps decimate their family member beyond repair the guards began to cart the woman off, who went with only the minor struggle of keeping eye contact with the two girls as long as possible. And then she was gone.

No sooner than with the departure of their elder it was that the final statements of the Prime Minister came to full understanding within the twin girls' minds. They were to stay at the Palace? Eyes flitted back up to meet with the man who had both condemned their family member and essentially raised them to a higher level in the same breath. Any hints or traces of wicked intent instantly flew away and both dropped into respective, formal curtsies - a wordless thank you.