Precursor to a Long Awaited Ascension…

[Trace Sha]

It had been a long time since his presence had been made known anywhere besides on his home world, and there was very good reason for that. Preparations had begun. He was beginning to set the chain of events required for what was to follow into motion.

He had been born and bred to know that this upcoming day would come, and after twenty six years, it would soon be upon him. Ord Mantell’s king would be coronated, but before that could happen officially, Trace had to take a wife. It was a tradition that had been in practice in this world’s hierarchy for centuries, one that would not be changed now.

He had his eyes set on one woman, but the question remained as of now, unasked, and besides that there could be other complication. The time to know the result of an overconfident Prince’s plan would soon come. Would it be his undoing, or would it be otherwise hindered?

Thoughts of how to go about setting it into motion raced through his mind as he walked through the prestigious and ornate hallways in the upper levels of Cindra Tower. A place he had ordered to be constructed here at Castle Sha, a place named after his mother, the late Cindra Sha.

Would his plans please her or piss her off? His choice of paths in life thus far would most likely result in the latter if she was still alive, but alas, such was not the case. Trace was the lone master of his own destiny and place here, though circumstances could make the trip a hard road to travel.

<center><img src=http://tracesha.clanpages.com/trace6.jpg></center>

[Tzvensri]

He had been set to do a specific and very important task. It was different than most of the work he had ever done here at Castle Sha. Typical routine was the repair maintenance and upkeep of the guard’s dress armor.

Old-fashioned methods of armor crafting made for much more unique, rugged, and beautiful designs than more modern techniques of smithery. That was why he was employed in the service of the Sha family. To make their dress armor, what all the guards wore while on duty, and what the royals wore on special occasions the most pristine in all the galaxy.

Raw materials were easy enough to come by on his world that dealt in the commerce of scrap and junk that others no longer wanted, or sometimes even had been separated from unwillingly, oft times so unwillingly as to end up deceased.

This ask was different in the fact that he was ordained to create a new Tiara and a new Crown for an upcoming ceremony that he had been told was being planned. Those were only two of the items that he had been asked to make, others included Pauldrons, Gauntlets, Cuirasses, and Greaves of a most royal and statuesque nature.

Trace had told him who the Tiara would be fashioned for, and he had seen her around the castle often enough that he did not need to call her in for a sizing. One with his skills could fashion almost any type of metal garment by sight. It came with years and years of toil and experience.

The morning was bright and clear, a good day for him to go seeking the materials he wished to use for this particular task. He set out in his hover vehicle, intent to gather all that would be required.

[Sorsha Kasajian]

INSIDE THE CHIMERA (continued from <a href=http://www.swforums.net/forum/showthread.php?threadid=21753>here</a>)

:: Sorsha watches over Arriana as they make their way to Ord Mantell ::

[Trace Sha]

Now leaving the Tower and heading for the lavish Tavern that was run by an old friend of his, Trace’s thoughts were still on what he had set in motion here. What he had done because his confidence in his getting the answer he expected from the question he had yet to pose. He was planning and preparing for a wedding, a royal wedding, before even having a fiancé.

It wasn’t something that plagued the friend of Chaos with too many thoughts of doubt. Sure he had a few but his confidence outweighed them. It was fairly obvious that he had few doubts as he walked across the courtyard approaching the tavern under Shulk’an’s care, his head high and his posture straight and sure.

It was lunchtime and he felt like a drink and lunch here instead of in the castle proper. The large steel door opened and he made his way to the table normally reserved for him automatically.

[Shulk'an]

:: a soft pair of lips touch Trace's cheek as a delicate hand places his favorite drink on the table before him ::

"Greetings, my Lord."

[Trace Sha]

To say the greeting surprised him would have been an understatement. It was true that he and the sultry hostess had a past as intimate friends, but that hadn’t been picked back up since his brother had brought him back from the cryo-freeze. He did what he could to not let his being taken aback by the display of affection show as he turned to the side to meet her eyes with his own.

“Hello Shulk’an. You are looking as amazing as ever.”

He flashed her a wink as he spoke. His trying to be himself, not showing nervousness, had succeeded so he thought. Trace was always a flirtatious one, even now, with his impending wedding coming soon, or at least his plans to have his wedding soon. Plans not entirely set in stone at the moment since his betrothed to be didn’t even know yet.

[Shulk'an]

:: Shulk'an was the one woman who knew Trace better than any other on an empathic level. Perhaps even better than he knew himself. There were many women in his life, many dalliances. Such was the way with the Prince, but he always came back to her. He seemed distracted in his thoughts this day, and a little excited. She caresses his face with her fingers as she sits and looks deeply into his eyes as a servant brought his meal ::

[Trace Sha]

Vivid memories of his torridly passionate past with Shulk’an began to race through his mind as her touch and gaze brought them back to him. Arriana’s being in his thoughts had suppressed such things before now, and really should have been right now too. But the Prince’s libido was a strong one. it controlled the man much like most males of human type species.

He failed to notice his food had arrived as he licked his lips unconsciously while looking over the maiden sitting ever so near. To say she didn’t still entice his desires would be a lie. At this very moment he found it difficult to keep his hands setting innocently on the table instead of caressing her finer attributes.

[Shulk'an]

:: touches his hand and smiles. ::

"How fare you today, my Lord? I've missed you."

[Trace Sha]

It wasn’t often that the Prince of the Castle lost his composure, but this occasion was progressing down that trail and doing it quickly. It was almost all he could do to keep his hands to himself, trying to think of his bride to be, that he intended to ask just as soon as she got back to Ord Mantell, but now Shulk’an has touched him.

It severed his concentration like Vader’s Saber through Luke Skywalker’s hand. What she had said to him was barely heard as he found his thoughts racing and his libido kicking in the afterburners. He had to try and tread carefully here or he would lose control and do something that may not bode well for his future with his red-headed bride to be.

Swallowing hard and proceeding to choke on it he coughed a couple times before he answered, bringing his hand away from hers and to his mouth covering it before he spoke.

“I’m doing as well as I could hope to be.”

[Shulk'an]

:: Shulk'an's lips form a slight pout as she holds his hand in hers ::

"Does something displease you? Tell me."

[Trace Sha]

His head shook from side to side in silent response, as he found words hard to come by at the moment. His eyes were wandering over her in places a man about to ask another woman’s hand in marriage probably should not have been. He realized what he was doing and brought his eye’s focus up and et her own.

“Everything is fine.”

He had to try hard not to let that last word come out in a different tone, indicative of a double meaning.

[Shulk'an]

:: Shulk'an breaks open a lobster. Picking out a delicate morsel, she watches Trace cat-like as she eats ::

[Trace Sha]

It had been said by many that to se someone eat can be an erotic experience to behold, and at this very moment Trace was finding that to be true as he watched how she partook of the lobster, lips wrapping around the shell, breath drawing out the warm meat inside.

He spoke no words, but the mesmerized look in his eyes told long-winded tales, tales of times long past, when he and Shulk’an had been lovers. These thoughts were not something Trace had dwelled on often as of late, but this situation was changing that.

[Shulk'an]

:: Shulk'an smiles and picks another morsel, placing it to Trace's lips ::

[imported_Arriana Rezner]

The fight that Arriana and Sorsha were returning from had taken its toll on the young Sith. She was wounded, though her injuries were partially healed thanks to her Mistress. None the less, she felt tired and was thankful for being back on the Chimera.

Currently, she was reclining in one of the crafts large chairs, her head sunken into the rest beneath it. Both eyes were closed as she let out a soft sigh of relief. She was comfortable for the most part, though would occasionally wriggle from side to side only to return to her former position, with her legs curled half beneath her at her side, on the chair.

“Are we nearly there?” she yawned, peeking one eye open at Sorsha.

[Sorsha Kasajian]

"Yes. Now tell me about that creature you fought. I'm curious about it."

[imported_Arriana Rezner]

Arri grimaced.

“She was this … assassin that was made to keep me in check.”

She shrugged and looked up at Sorsha again.

“She’s some sort of cyborg.”

[Sorsha Kasajian]

"Keep you in check??? By who???"

[imported_Arriana Rezner]

“Parents,” she replied, then added to correct herself, “Mother.”

[Sorsha Kasajian]

"It seems to me like your Mother wants you dead."

[imported_Arriana Rezner]

Arriana nodded slightly. It was an awry situation, but she knew all too well that her life was not something that fit into the Beronan future that her mother had planned – so she tried her best to extinguish Arriana, somehow managing to always fail.

“I don’t worry about it. I know I’m well protected from her …”

[Sorsha Kasajian]

"Do you love your Mother, Arriana?"

[imported_Arriana Rezner]

“I don’t know her well enough to love her,” she replied with a shrug.

[Sorsha Kasajian]

"Hasn't she made your life a misery? Tried to deprive you??? Hurt you??? Kill you??? If it were me, I'd despise her for it. I'd want her dead, and I'd want to be the last thing she ever sees."

[imported_Arriana Rezner]

She paused for a moment, to consider he answer.

“Well I suppose she has been a bit of a problem … yeah,” Arri seemed a little hesitant at first, but mentally had convinced herself within at second.

“She would be better off dead.”

[Sorsha Kasajian]

:: Sorsha smiles down at Arriana ::

"Good. You are one of Vicet's chosen. You're like me."

:: Sorsha leans down and kisses Arriana on the lips, then she places a <a href=http://darthogre.clanpages.com/sorsha/pics/misc/sithblade08.jpg>blade</a> in the girl's hand ::

"This belongs to you now, and when the time comes, you shall drive it through your Mother's heart. Nothing will stand in your way again."

[imported_Arriana Rezner]

Arriana blushed a pale red, both at the kiss and at Sorsha’s confidence in her.

“Thank you, Master. I will make you proud. I promise.”