Private Matters Of the Heart

[Revna]

Revna found herself nose-deep in an old tome, her brow furrowed as she tried to focus on the almost obscure text she was reading. It was a leather bound book that was aged but well preserved, discussing some philosophy of Sith ideologies - different ways the Sith Code had been interpreted over the years, and comparisons between it and the Jedi creed and beliefs. It wasn’t a hard concept for her to understand; the young Sith found the different opinions and views inscribed therein to be interesting and fascinating…but her attention was fractured.

With a deep and heavy sigh, she pulled the book away and set it on her lap and leaned her head back against the soft cushion of the chair behind her. All around her was a grand library befitting a Sith Lord, and the King of Alvaria - Darth Malum of House Marr , her cousin. She spent a lot of time in his palace, when she was not aiding her Master in his duties or doing other tasks on his behalf, or running around the galaxy fighting in various skirmishes and wars and campaigns. If she wasn’t on Faldos or Formos, then she was on Alvaria - her second home away from home. It put her within Sith space, within a short distance of Faldos, where Darth Strosius had his main base of operations and was his primary seat of power as the Lord Inquisitor, and it also put her within short distance of Jutrand, the capital of the Sith Empire.

Revna’s mind drifted back to her last adventure to Jutrand - her first time ever in the capital. Fond memories and a smile touched her face as she recalled her outing with the young man, Zachariah Conway …the adopted grandson of the Imperial royals - Darth Empyrean and his icy Dread Queen, Srina Talon. The young woman’s adventure with the young man hadn’t started on Jutrand, but it had been the latest in a saga they were building together.

Together.

That was a strange word to have, to share, with another person who wasn’t her Sith master. Her connection to Zachariah went back a ways; they had fought together, aided one another, seen each other at their best and worst. She was drawn to him - not because he was connected to the Imperial royals, but because she valued Zach for who he was as a person.

Certainly, his connections were an added bonus, if she could be honest with herself. Her cousin Malum seemed all the more encouraging of the two spending time together, and getting close. She had a feeling that he was manipulating their friendship to allow him better access or a foot in the door so to speak with the powers that be. A connection to Zach was profitable to others around her.

Revna closed the tome in her lap after slipping a place marker between the parchment pages, and set it aside. She pondered on the distraction she was feeling, allowing the memories of her outing to come back to her, and with it - the feelings they conjured within her.

She had really enjoyed her time with Zach. She found comfort in his presence, a sense of companionship, of friendship. But there was something else there that she didn’t quite understand. She wanted to be around him more, she thought of him often, and when she did see him in person her heart stuttered in her chest.

The young woman didn’t know why this was happening, or what these feelings were. But she knew that someone else would, someone whose opinion and counsel and words meant much to her - even if her Master didn’t like it and wanted his little shadow to stay away.

Lady Talon, the grandmother of Zachariah. Another woman, who surely knew what these emotional stirrings young Revna felt were. She briefly considered bringing up the topic to Malum and even to Strosius - but she quickly tossed those ideas aside. This situation called for a woman’s intuition and advice, not that of a man’s.

The apprentice recalled her dance with the icy and stunningly beautiful woman, and the open invitation for her to come and visit with the Empress whenever she so desired. A rare opportunity and gift given to her, and one she felt was time she took advantage of.

And so, Revna prepared herself, seeking assistance from one of the many servants that attended the palace and those within with a crown braid of her dark and silver streaked hair, before adding a smokey hint around her eyes to accent their golden hue. She was wearing her usual attire of a simple black shirt and pants and boots, with a finer cloth cloak about her shoulders, pinned with lapels that sported the symbol of the House of Marr. It was the only symbol of her heritage and connection to the noble house that she was comfortable wearing. Unless she was going to a more formal affair, then she did not dress to show off her noble connections. It wasn’t that she felt shame for it; she was incredibly proud to be a part of the Marr bloodline. But she did not agree with flaunting it before others.

Satisfied that her appearance was suitable and to her liking, Revna added the final touch: the hilt to a darkly elegant lightsaber she had acquired as a gift from the Mandalorian warrior Ordo some time prior. She was never without her saber; a Sith never knew when they would need it. She then set off and headed to Jutrand, heading straight for the Palace to meet with Srina.

Of course, once she arrived, her progress was hindered as she was halted and detained, her motives questioned as to why she would be entering the Palace and seeking a royal without an invitation or a summons. She passed along her request to see and speak with the Empress, that she had been given an open invitation to visit whenever she so desired. Still, she was blocked, while a messenger flanked by Imperial guards would seek out Lady Talon, and inform her that a certain small and rather feisty Sith by the name of Revna was seeking an audience with her.

Srina Talon​

 

[Srina Talon]

Tag: Revna
Location: Jutrand
______________________________________________________

She waited in the grand hall of the Imperial Palace on Jutrand, the embodiment of ethereal beauty and grace. Her silver hair cascaded in waves down her back, and her golden eyes, sharp and piercing, surveyed the opulent surroundings. The red and gold attire she wore complemented her regal bearing, further accentuating her status as the Dread Queen of the Sith. A flicker of amusement played across her features as she received the message from the guards—a certain young Sith Acolyte, Revna, was requesting an audience. Finally.

She had been waiting after all.

With a slight nod, she dismissed the messenger, her mind already conjuring the image of the little one she had once danced with. Revna's determination and capacity for learning had left an impression on Srina, and she was curious to see what had brought the young woman to her today.

"Bring her to me…Restraints are not required.", Srina instructed the guards, her voice a cool whisper that echoed in their minds. She turned and moved toward a more intimate and serene chamber within the palace, a place where she could speak with Revna undisturbed. Away from prying eyes and ears that might besmirch her visit and mistake it for something that would upset Darth Strosius more than normal. The wintry woman did not fear him—But there was respect to be observed between an apprentice and their master. There was a contract. Belonging.

As her guest was led into the chamber, she would find that Srina observed her with a keen eye. The young woman's attire, simple yet purposeful, was touched with meticulous preparation. She noted the symbol of House Marr, and the lightsaber hilt at her side—And realized that some things were not as they had been. She was very well acquainted with House Marr in their last conversation Revna had admitted to being a slave. Living a life of servitude and noble did not mix. "You have changed, little one."

Not that Revna was truly that small…But there was a cool edge of affection to it. Rather, than condescension. "It is good to see you again. Come, sit with me." She gestured to a long comfortable couch by a grand window that overlooked the bustling cityscape of Jutrand.

As they settled, Srina's gaze remained steady on Revna, quietly, letting the staff leave while they settled a tray of sweets and a teapot between them. For all the social queues that Srina often missed she could indeed sense the turmoil of emotions within the young woman. "You have come seeking counsel…", she said, her tone quiet yet probing. It was not a question…It was a statement of fact. Much as Zachariah had done not so long ago, and others, before them.

"Is something wrong?"

It was strange, to her, that her people oft sought her out for advice and understanding the unknowable. If only they knew the gaffes she had made in her younger years. If only they knew how close she had come to breaking when Maliphant, when Empyrean, found her again. He had felt her pain from systems away after years of no contact. He had felt her when her grief reached tantamount to a cosmic storm…He had felt her in the ether…Lost, alone. And he had come.

No one else had.

"Usually…", she reached out and began to pour two cups of tea in such a way that it almost seemed ceremonial. The way she held back her sleeve bespoke years of practice. The domestic staff and the Sepulcher hated it more than anything when she did their work for them…But that was her way. Stubborn. "People do not often come to see me on Jutrand when the sun is shining."

"Is there a storm I might need to prepare for?"

A very quixotic way of asking if there was something extremely wrong, she needed to prepare for. Regardless, Srina was pleased with the company. Even if…The proverbial sky might have been falling.

 

[Revna]

Revna was escorted by the guards sent back to her, guided through the palace complex without further hindrance or complaint. She was led into a private chamber and as she passed through the entryway, her eyes caught sight of the Empress, who appeared to be awaiting her presence. The sight of the woman momentarily brought a pause to the young Sith’s steps; she was struck once more by the icy beauty of the woman, accented even further by the red and gold she wore.

A small but genuine smile touched Revna’s face with the Empress’s comment about the subtle changes in the little woman, dipping her head in a respectful bow before stepping further into the room and moving to sit at the couch, getting comfortable though there was still a touch of tenseness to the young woman’s posture, which was perhaps more proper and indicated education more befitting for a woman of noble bearing, and not that of a former slave.

“It is good to see you again as well, Lady Talon.” Revna replied back, smiling more widely. “And yes, there have been some…changes in my life since we last met at the Gala.”

The little Sith’s now mostly golden eyes, watched as attendants set down treats and a teapot between her and the royal, before she turned her gaze back to the woman seated with her. Revna listened to the quiet, probing voice of the Empress as the woman poured two cups of tea for them both.

“No…nothing wrong, per say my Lady. No storm - not yet anyway. But you know how we Sith can be. We start fires where there shouldn’t be, and make more problems than solutions for ourselves.”

That had been an observation of the young woman in her time growing and learning and being more involved in Sith affairs. Since her last meeting with Lady Talon, Revna had been involved in a few of her Mentor’s campaigns and had shadowed him on missions and duties he carried out, and she had come to learn of his rather unorthodox and cantankerous ways of achieving his goals or desires. It caused issues, more often than not, with others - but it was a very good learning experience for the young Sith, especially on what to do and what not to do in certain situations.

But that wasn’t why she was here visiting the Empress.

“You are right though, of course. I am here seeking counsel. A lot has happened in my life; a lot of changes and growing and adjustments.”

Revna paused for a moment, her gaze slipping away from Lady Talon’s for a moment to look over her surroundings as she gathered her thoughts, noting the serenity of the chamber and its beautiful aesthetics.

“I went from being the lowest of the low, as you already know - to a place of influence and power. I went from being a nobody, to someone with a name. And now because of that, there are other…expectations and responsibilities placed on my shoulders. Things I didn’t expect to happen, but have embraced as best I can.”

The young woman returned her gaze to the woman sitting with her. “And I knew that of all the people I’ve encountered or built connections with, that you would be the best one for me to come to about this and confide in. Not because you are the Sith Empress, but because you are another woman. There are things that I can speak about with my Mentor - but some things he simply can’t help me with, because he’s a man.”

She took a deep breath and released it slowly, before the wall broke and she began to speak, letting everything pour out in a gradual stream.

“After my dance with you, Lord Strosius realized that I needed some…higher education if I was going to be ‘mingling with those sort of people’. His disdain for nobility is no secret, I think, but even despite his distaste for it, he must have recognized or seen that it would be important for me to know certain things, and how to integrate myself with Sith of higher rank and status. Be it for his own purposes or not, who knew. Of course, the only noble he truly knew was Lord Malum. So I was sent to his…estate…to learn more proper etiquette.”

“Well, that brought about certain revelations about myself, which in turn opened doors that otherwise would have been shut to me. I found myself spending more time on Alvaria, with Malum and his family. Malum of course has connections to Jutrand, and knows people. And one of those individuals happened to be your grandson - Zachariah. Of course, at the time, I didn’t know of his connections to you and Lord Empyrean. He revealed that himself while he and I were on a mission together some time back. I realized just how dangerous that knowledge could be, if it ended up in the wrong hands. And despite the loyalty I have for my Mentor - I made the choice not to tell him anything about Zach. I think we both know just what he might try to do if he learned about Zach’s identity. I…contemplated keeping your grandson at a distance, tried to limit our time together - but where Malum was, so was Zach.”

Revna fell silent for a few moments, sipping on her tea to wet her throat as her mind danced through the various memories she had that involved the young Sith man, and unconsciously a small smile touched her face as she recalled them.

“We get along great - which I think is fairly rare amongst those of our Order. I would go into the thick of battle alongside him if he asked me to, and even if he didn’t. He summons for me and I go to him without complaint, curious to see what he wants to do next with me. But, after our last time together here in Jutrand, I was confronted with…feelings…I don’t know what to make of. Like - I find myself willing to fight my own Mentor to defend Zach from him, and I hope I never have to face that situation. They confuse me, and I couldn’t talk to Strosius about this. I don’t even feel comfortable talking to Malum about this. I know very few women; the Marr sisters, sure, and the Exarch who works closely with my Mentor…but I just didn’t feel it would be safe to talk to any of them about this. The only one I felt I could speak to was you. And that is why I am here today. I’d speak to my own mother about this if I could but…she is dead.”

Srina Talon ​