Cana'darri Permits

Claws came out, and Kia causally snapped the neck of a baby ka'an, a small deer-like creature. She slit the neck and let the excess blood drain into the dish it had been tethered to, scooping out the entrails and leaving them behind as she transferred the fresh kill to a clean platter.

Somehow she'd gotten out of bed, and was sitting cross-legged on a cushion on the floor in her personal feeding pit. Keer sat near her, though he didn't seem hungry. She tore a haunch from the ka'an and offered it to him.

"And how would we do that? jIsss thjisss a 'sseek the enemjy wherrre they arrren't' ssorrt of thjing?" Kia took another bite from the ka'an, savoring the tender flesh, and reached for her wine goblet.

Hungrier than he thought. With the feeding pit in use, Keerrourri dutifully disrobed, hanging his wardrobe on an arranged hook on the wall adjacent to the feeding pit. Though not particularly hungry himself, you did not shirk from the generosity of the High Mother. He accepted the offered haunch with a bowed head, and sat alongside her as she dined.

"jYou'rre a new rrulerr. Parrt of that trranssjitjion entajilss grrantjing and sseekjing audjience wjith otherr powerrful leaderrss, of whjich the Alljiance cerrtajinljy have jin thejirr own wajy. Sso to do manjy natjionss wjithjin and outssjide of the Empjirre'ss contrrol."

He paused, taking a bite, letting crimson run freely down the edge of his chin as he swallowed.

"Laterr jin jyourr rrejign, ssuch a meetjing mjight causse concerrn, but jit'ss jinnocent enough rrjight now."

"Hmmm..." Kia ran her tongue over her lips, catching a bit of blood before it could drip down to her bare chest. "Then jI could meet wjith thejirrr... Mon Mothma? No, that jisss not rrrjight." She looked over at him, tearing another mouthful of meat as the blood trickled down her chin. He was sitting next to her, nude, partaking in a meal with the High Mother and he was disturbingly able to continue with a complex discussion of political tactics.

Perhaps he still longed for the embrace of her mother. The thought turned her stomach. Kia put aside the ka'an, dipping a finger in a drop of blood on her breast and licking it off. It would be improper for him to make any advances on her, but he did not even show interest. She looked over at him, and added, "Oh, no, ssshe jiss the one kjilled a few jyearrrss ago. Thejy arrre led bjy a male now."

Of course she remembered the name Mon Raizen, she was a quick study and had done little else but read since ascending to the throne, but it was for her Emissary's benefit that she played dumber than she was. Kia reached for a bloodfruit, teeth piercing the thin skin as she took a bite. The sweet reddish juice ran down her chest as she chewed the sweet flesh, seeds and all.

A few more bites from the ka'an, and Keerrourri nodded at her observation.

"Thejy arre, lasst jI hearrd, jyess. Of courrsse, jI doubt thejirr de-facto leaderr wjill make ssuch an offjicjial trrjip. Bejing esssentjialljy a rrogue sstate ljimjitss the posssjibjiljitjy of offjicjial vjissjitss. But thejy would cerrtajinljy not passs the opporrtunjitjy to jingrratjiate themsselvess wjith jyou, Hjighnesss. Thejy would feel compelled to ssend an jimporrtant entourrage."

With the way Kia was making a mess of things, she no-doubt had dessert on her mind, which was always a possibility when time permitted it.

"We arre a hosspjitable people, no?"

"jYesss, jI sssuppossse we arre." His eyes did not linger on her body, and for the first time Kia felt... afraid? Out of control? If he did not even desire her, then how could this male be controlled? He was indispensable to her, with his knowledge of how things were, and he was on her side against those who desired a true theocracy, but there was always something going on behind his blue eyes. Something all together too calculating for her tastes.

Kia realized she was peering at him while he ate, and blinked, exchanging her expression for one a little more vacuous. "jI would enjoy rrrecjievjing envojyss, jI thjink. We ssshould arrrange jit ass ssoon ass possssjible." She lazily licked her fingers.

And always give respect to decisions rendered. Keerrourri dipped his head in understanding her demand.

"jI wjill make the necesssarrjy arrrangementss. Wjith the prrjiesstesssess tendjing to matterrss of prrocedurre, thejy wjill have no chojice but to gjive jyou plentjy of sspace to exerrcjisse jyourr authorrjitjy."

He smiled at that, and took another bite.

"Perrhapss we can meet them at Cana'darri? A fjittjing ssjymbol of prroud rressjisstance to Rrepubljic tjyrranjy, and posssjibljy jImperrjial meddljing?"

She perked up a bit at the suggestion, sipping a goblet of blood wine. "An jidea wjith merrrjit. jI wjill take jit jinto consjiderratjion." Kia used a clean finger to pull a wayward tress of hair over her shoulder and out of any sticky juices.

She rose from her reclining position, arms extended for a manservant to drape her robe over her nude body. Nothing happened, of course, as the other servants had been sent from the room so she and Keer could speak privately. She hmmphed, hands settling on her hips in irritation.

"jYourr conssjiderratjion jiss all that jI assk."

Good. She was exercising her mandate. Even if they were of one mind on this, it was important that authority should be delivered from her alone.

Taking the unspoken queue, the Emissary quickly and fastidiously cleaned himself, and helped his mistress into her robe. He eased the soft garment over her shoulders and around her middle, noting the rumble of a purr beginning in her belly at the point when his hands drew fast the cinch at her waist. When he lingered a moment longer than was necessary, he realized his own purr was building in parallel with hers. Taking a moment to make sure she was properly attired, Keerrourri returned to fetch his own garments.

She caught his hand as he turned away. "jYourrr clothesss... jyou wjill not be needjing them." Kia had felt the energy he was holding within when he was near her, released in the barest of purrs as his hand had touched her. It was not a lot. But it was enough.

She tugged him toward her enormous on suite bathing room, and it's sumptuous tiled shower. There were mirrors making up the entirety of one wall, and he followed her obediently into the shower. It was large enough for at least five people, and she reached behind her to turn on the water, keeping eye contact with the Emissary as she did so.

Hot water cascaded down on them, and from the carefully positioned side jets, soaking through her thin white robe almost instantly.

He performed his first duty with the experience and poise he'd been bred for. While an Emissary must be smart, creative, and talented, they are above all mates. It wouldn't do for an Emissary to be anything less than an accomplished lover, and Keerrourri knew how to excel in the role.

After quenching Kiattaarra's passions, fresh robes were fetched for both, and they began to plan the expansion of the new Mother's ambitions. Within the day, a transmission was sent to many worlds, including Dac - home of the Rebel Alliance.

The week of the festival was upon them, and Kia was relieved that her duties were causing her to miss all of it other than the official beginning of the celebration. She sat quietly in her room on board the ship they were taking to Cana'daari, going over notes for the negotiations.