Always Have an Escape Plan

[Armand Temi]

The two guards weren’t used to outsiders getting this close to the Village, and the appearance of the Mandalorian slightly shocked them - but only for a moment. Livna knew these two specific Balae soldiers well, and they normally rammed head-first and asked questions later.

“This Nur is the property of the Priestess,” said one of them, his nose wrinkling in distaste. The other one hauled Livna up by her arm and pushed her in the direction of the Temple.

“I’m not her slave. I’m her servant,” protested the blonde Caprine. But all three of them knew that it wasn’t true. Livna was as chained to the Priestess as a Twi’lek dancer was to a Hutt Lord.

“You need to stop sticking your nose in where it doesn’t belong, off-worlder,” said the first Balae guard, also removing a long machete from its holster around his waist. "I suggest you go back to your ship and leave Iktotch at once."

[member="Khalan Vhett"]

 

[Khalan Vhett]

"And if I don't?" The Mandalorian warrior kept his grip tight on his beskad, the short blade glimmering in the natural light. The menacing T visor hid Khalan's pure rage. He didn't know why he felt angry, but the bruises on Livna gave a little bit of a clue. She was his... friend? Yeah. Let's go with that.

"Let the girl go, and I'll spare you. Keep abusing her... and you'll be dead within five seconds."

[member="Livna Zios"]

 

[Armand Temi]

The Balae warriors passed glances back and forth. So the Mandalorian could not understand what they said, they spoke to each other next in Caprinese.

Finally the first soldier said in Basic: "This one is very valuable to the Priestess? What's she worth to you?" He took the opportunity to stroke her long blonde hair, his fingers roughly weaving in and out of the strands, and then he sharply pulled one of her horns.

While the Caprine village wasn't destitute, the species still bartered for most of their food, goods and wares and didn't generate an economy. Therefore, credits were in short supply and loyalty could be bought for very little.

Livna hoped that Khalan wasn't a stingy man and would pay the impromptu ransom.

[member="Khalan Vhett"]

 

[Khalan Vhett]

Khalan sighed, remembering that he still had 100,000 credits left over from a previous bounty and more in his account. "How does 50,000 credits sound?" He hoped that it was enough for them... they seemed to be the type to drive hard bargains.

Khalan slowly lowered his sword, glaring at the Balae soldiers through the heavy tinted T visor of his buy'ce.

[member="Livna Zios"]

 

[Armand Temi]

"Fifty-thousand credits," repeated the more talkative Balae soldier. He looked at his friend, whose eyes were wide at the large amount of money. The two warriors were not wealthy by any means, and fifty-thousand credits would mean no work, wine and women for days.

"Take her! She's all yours," he said, pushing Livna right into the Mandalorian. She backed up a few paces so she wasn't on top of Khalan and then stared hard at the Balae, her brows knitting with outrage.

"Ngoyaman indlel pox ukuza ko wena kun nosapho!" she shouted in Caprinese, a curse on the two of them. They waited patiently for payment while Livna tilted her head up to make eye contact with the tall human.

"Did you just buy me?" she asked a sly smile creeping onto her face.

[member="Khalan Vhett"]

 

[Khalan Vhett]

"I... I guess I did." Khalan's cheeks flushed a light red under his helmet, realizing what he had just done.. he had bought a girl... an attractive one at that. "B-but you still belong to your... Priestess, yes?"

"Also... I am a bit curious... what was it that you said to that guard?" He was serious about his question.

[member="Livna Zios"]

 

[Armand Temi]

The soldiers darted off, afraid that the Mandalorian would suddenly change his mind. As Livna watched them go, she said: "Not anymore. Besides, those two Balae will report this incident to the Priestess and... I fear I may not be able to survive the punishment she will have in store."

The flaxen-haired maiden glanced at Khalan's starfighter. "I put a pox on his family. Not really though. It's just a saying."

Smiling again, amused by the situation as well as the fact that she was closer to freedom than ever. Provided Khalan wasn't going to keep her locked up or turn around and sell her.

[member="Khalan Vhett"]

 

[Khalan Vhett]

"Let me make sure there is no more trouble on our way." Khalan whistled sharply, his pet falcon Dekann flying out of the starfighter and perching on his shoulder. "Dekann, go see if there is any trouble coming." The falcon cawed, flying up into the sky. He returned minutes later, shaking his head to give him the all clear.

[member="Livna Zios"]

 

[Armand Temi]

The blonde maiden watched the majestic bird with curious eyes. “You seem to have a lot of interesting tricks up your sleeve,” she said, smiling and shaking her head.

“Next you’ll bring out a Keffi and we’ll ride off into the sunset on him,” Livna joked. She started towards the ship but then realized she was being presumptuous. Perhaps she would be an unwanted traveler on his ship. “So I don’t want to be a burden on you,” said the Caprine. “I’m not sure where you are off to next, but I can’t come back to Iktotch. You can drop me off at your next destination if you please.”

Provided he wasn’t going to play the I-just-bought-you-and-you’re-staying–with-me card.

[member="Khalan Vhett"]

 

[Khalan Vhett]

"Trust me, I'm full of surprises." Khalan winked at the Caprine, whispering for the bird to return to the ship.

"You my dear, have a great sense of humor." Khalan chuckled, freezing up at her next sentence. He didn't really want to get rid of her. "I mean... you could stay. It's no trouble at all. Honest."

[member="Livna Zios"]

 

[Armand Temi]

Livna’s blue eyes sparkled with interest when he said she could stay. If anything the Caprine maiden was resilient – here she had been through the cruelest treatment at the hands of her former Lady, enough to make any sentient being wary of the future – and she boldly hooked her arm around Khalan’s.

“So we are you… we off to next? Don’t worry I won’t stay forever. Only long enough to get us to the next planet and back on my feet.”

They had to leave Iktotch, she was sure of that. While the Priestess did not rule the planet, with the growth of the congregation, backing of the One Sith and donations pouring in, the Sith Knight had much more at her disposal… to hunt down Livna like bloodhound tracks a fox.

For better or worse, she felt safe with Khalan and the honor he had shown her to date was admirable.

[member="Khalan Vhett"]

 

[Khalan Vhett]

Khalan shook his head. "Nonsense. You stay as long as you want... or as long as I want for that matter." He smirked, taking her into his ship.

[member="Livna Zios"]

 

[Armand Temi]

"Grand!" said Livna enthusiastically now, soaking up the heady relief that she was free. She was actually free!

As they climbed into his starfighter, she said, "I only have the clothes on my back and a couple of credits in my pocket, but somehow I feel richer than the most miserly billionaire." Putting a soft hand on the Mandalorian's arm, she said, "While we're taking off and figuring out a destination, tell me about yourself... your upbringing. What you plan to do with your life?"

She'd heard the somber story of his mother, but hopefully Khalan's childhood had happier outcomes and events which he didn't mind sharing if to pass the time on their journey.

[member="Khalan Vhett"]

 

[Khalan Vhett]

"Well, make yourself comfortable, because this is gonna be a long story. You comfy? Good. Back on Mandalore, things were a little hectic. See, the Mandalorians are waging a civil war between the two factions known as the Kyr'tsad, or the Death Watch in basic; and The True Mandalorians. It always interfered with my life as a little one. Later in my life, when I turned thirteen, I went through something called the Verd'goten. It's a sort of rite of passage for us. When a Mandalorian turns thirteen, they are to be considered an adult and go through rigorous training, such as combat, survival, hunting, and more. Once I was fifteen, I left Mandalore to look for a purpose... and here I am rescuing damsels in distress."

Khalan leaned back in his seat, Dekann perched up on the armrest. "That, is my story. And as for what I plan to do with my life... I've not yet decided."

[member="Livna Zios"]