Foolish to Think

[Verie Lacroix]

Kuat​

The driver of the car looked at his passenger in the rear-view mirror when she gave him the name of the destination. He studied her for a moment. "Y'sure?"

"Quite sure," replied the passenger, not looking up from the news she was reading on her datapad.

"That's a secure area, miss. How can you be sure they'll let you in?" He thought he saw a twinge of annoyance in the girl's forehead, for she still didn't look up, but furrowed her eyebrows at the datapad.

"I'm not," she replied quietly. "But there's only one way to find out." Finally, she looked up and handed a pair of high-denomination credit chits through the slot between the passenger compartment and driver's cab. "There's more when we arrive."

The man studied the chits for a moment before stuffing them into his breast pocket and starting the speeder. He put it in gear and pulled into traffic excitedly. "Not every day I get a high roller," he said with an indulgent chuckle. He must be thanking the Force, Verie thought. "But you look familiar, though, don'tcha?"

"I don't know," she replied. "Do I?"

"Yeah. You're not the one with the sexy holovid're ya?" he asked, glancing at her in the mirror. She raised an eyebrow and he quickly shook his head. "No. She had a bit of an arse on her, that one, not you. Could swear I've seen you, though. Wait a tick, you're not... what's it, the opera dancer? Old Iron Pants' kid - La-Croy?" Verie only smiled tightly and bent back over the datapad. "I knew it! Never forget a face. Big mystery with you lot - your ma disappearing, then we 'eard your brother shot dead during the fight on Coruscant! Condolences, by the by."

"Thank you," Verie replied coolly. She was not accustomed to being around people that read the tabloids. This might be a long trip.

"I heard you was back at the opera--" "The ballet, actually, but--" "--but then the papers was full of another La-Croy mystery. Diva Dancer Disappears'n'all that. But y'ain't disappeared. You're in my cab." He glanced in the mirror again. "Suppose it must be you. Got the money. Look just like her. Are you done dancing?"

"For now." Verie was growing impatient with the conversation.

"How come? Everyone always said how good you were at it. Best thing since whatshername, I always heard. Oh you may look at me'n think, ay that one's got no culture, and you'd be right as rain, only we do like to keep an eye on our own, don't we? Kuatis stick together." Verie closed her eyes and rolled them. No, they didn't, not in her experience at least. "Big deal your people were. Too bad about 'em all dying."

"Isn't it?" Verie asked, and slapped the control to shut the divider. Finally, some peace and quiet. An hour later, the cab eased to a stop outside a guard station. Verie handed the man another set of chits. "Wait for me and I'll make it worth your while," she told him. He shrugged and leaned back, pulling his cap over his eyes. Verie took her satchel from the back seat and strode towards the guard station. The man inside looked surprised to see a visitor. Verie smiled politely. "Is the family at home?" she asked cheerfully.

[member="Lorelei Darke"]

 

[Quietus]

"I am not at liberty to disclose such information," the guard eyed her, but upon getting Verie's name and cross checking on the list of allowable persons, permitted her. A short moment after she passed through did he realize just who exactly the girl was and felt, for all the crowned world, quite a fool.

A paved pathway lead Verie in along the rolling estate through high, immaculately trimmed hedges and decorative gardens. She was greeted at the main entrance by a second set of Kuatian Royal Guards dressed in full suits of red and black armor. The grand entrance doors opened to the same Butler that had worked there for the past ten years.

"Miss Lacroix," white brows lofted beneath a bald forehead in apparent surprise, "...come in, please. We have not seen you in quite some time, how are you?"

[member="Verie Lacroix"]

 

[Verie Lacroix]

Verie was quite certain that she had known the butler by name at one point or another, but it did not spring to mind as she gave him a polite smile. "Well enough, sir, thank you very kindly. Much has changed for me since I last visited this place, but I am pleased to discover that everything here is just as I last saw it." She passed a glance over the grounds, admiring the immaculate hedges and gardens, recalling the time she had spent there fondly. The anticipation, the awkward conversation, the secret smiles... Her lips turned up at the edges and she inclined her head to the butler again. "I cannot recall who said it -- possibly my late mother? -- that at this estate 'all seems to breathe freedom and peace and to make one forget the world and its sad turmoils.'" She glanced down at her satchel before offering an apologetic smile to the butler.

"I should hate to take you away from your duties, sir, for longer than is absolutely necessary. And I certainly would never dream of disturbing the family." She glanced cautiously at the estate before following him inside. "I only wonder whether I might be able to find the Prince's forwarding address? We parted company some time ago, I to conduct some business relating to my family. Now that it is concluded, I had hoped to catch up with him again." She inclined her head again and gave a small smile. "Perhaps he left an address with Her Majesty's office?"

[member="Lorelei Darke"]

 

[Quietus]

The Butler smiled warmly from behind a pair of spectacles, hands folded neatly at the front of his suit. He took great pride in his job and had been here to see the births of both Darke children. He'd been there, as well, for Verie's first visit and every subsequent visit afterwards.

"The Lady Queen is not home, I'm afraid," he replied, head canted to one side in a moment of thought, "but the Governess Sahti may be able to help you. Let us see if she is in her study." With a quiet gesture the Butler lead Verie through the entrance foyer and into the halls she might've remembered from years past. The Royal Manor hadn't changed much at all - save a few new pieces of art or historical relics. They traveled through a labyrinth of halls decorated in the rich history of Kuat; House shields, tapestries, portraits of the former reigning aristocracy, antiques and artifacts of the past, works of art, carvings, sculptures, images of the Drive Yards in various states of development. The floor was polished tiles of ebony, columns of deep red and gold stood like guards at attention, rays of sunlight slashed across their path and passerby of the Queen's various employ and guests.

At last they came to a quiet study, which Verie might remember as the grand library of the manor. It held no candle to that of the capital Library in the city, but it's wealth came not in the expansive amount of knowledge it offered, but the history of the pieces it did maintain. Real books, real tomes. Collecting them had always been a hobby of the late Lord Salvador Darke, but it was duly noted that the Queen had taken his hobby to a new level. Scholars from star systems away regularly sent in requests to view the collection and its timeless pieces.

Sahti was another familiar of the Queen - though less well-known amongst the many kept at the Royal's side. There was a good chance Verie may have seen her, even met her before, but perhaps might not make the connections. Sahti was a Noghri Priestess, daughter of the once Noghri Warrior, Assassin, and then Ambassador of Honoghr Lord Mahet who currently stood as the body guard and associate of the young Prince; younger sister to Kefka, the body guard of the young Heiress Amorella. She stood off to the side dressed in the robes of finest Kuatian silk, transcribing what appeared to be an old tome.

"Ehm, Lady Sahti," the Butler gently cleared his throat and presented the visitor, "Miss [member="Verie Lacroix"]."

Sahti looked up, beady golden-green eyes peering at the girl curiously. She then slowly stood from her seat and gave silently nodded a greeting.

"Miss Lacroix came inquiring about contact information for the Prince Amadeus. Might you be able to help her?"

"Yes," Sahti replied simply, her answer sounding over a gently hissing undertone that was typical of Noghri who came to learn basic.

"Perfect, I'll leave you to it then. Miss Lacroix, if you have need of anything else, don't hesitate to ask, hm?" and before another word could be spoken he was off.

"Have a seat," the Governess motioned to the chair across from her while taking her own again.

 

[Verie Lacroix]

Verie was almost relieved to hear that the Queen was not in residence. She had always liked her, but it was no secret that she had been nearly paralyzed with fear on her limited encounters with the Sovereign, and she did not suspect that the situation would be improved with any of the other changes to the monarchy since her time away. She smiled pleasantly at the butler. "Too bad. I hope you will pass along my regards to the family. being here again after all this time has me feeling quite nostalgic." She admired the art pieces as they passed, pausing to study an unusual artifact in a glass case before following him into the library. Verie had been in the room before, briefly, at a birthday party many moons ago. Then, as now, she felt overwhelmed by what she saw. She stopped in the dooorway and just took it in before taking a few timid steps into the room.

She strode over to the desk and favored Sahti with a smile. Noghri made her nervous; the only one she ever felt remotely comfortable with was Mahet, likely because of his proximity to the Prince.

"How well you look, Sahti," she said quietly, giving the butler a smile of thanks before he left. She turned her attention back to the Governess. "It's nice to see you again." She smoothed her skirt as she sat down and set her satchel on the floor next to the chair. "I hope it's not too inconvenient," she said with a timid smile. Suddenly her mouth felt very dry and she licked her lips lightly.


[member="Lorelei Darke"]

 

[Quietus]

Sahti attempted a smile, though much like with any Noghri it turned out looking far more like a vicious grimace. Reptilian niceties didn't translate to human body language well.

"No," she said, "it is fine." Silence, then, as the Noghri carefully assessed the young Verie. She'd grown some since last they met, matured. She was coming into her own, it seemed, and by her scent quickly becoming a woman. Curiosity did finally get the best of her, however.

"You wish to contact the Prince?" Sahti inquired, slowly closing the tome that she had been transcribing.

[member="Verie Lacroix"]

 

[Verie Lacroix]

Verie felt herself under the scrutiny of the Noghri and frowned thoughtfully, killing time by adjusting the simple chronometer at her wrist. "Yes," she replied simply to Sahti's inquiry. She felt, for a moment, as if she had answered the question fully, but the pressure of the silence seemed to compel her. She cleared her throat and straightened her gaze to look across the desk at Sahti. "He had been hosting me at Rudrig for a time, but family crises necessitate my leaving his hospitality. I assure you," she said quietly, her lips turning up at the edges. "I should not like to ask after his forwarding address if things had been left badly between us."

This was true, or at least true-adjacent. Verie had been frightened by the things she had seen him doing, frightened by the depth of her feelings about him, and frightened of what would become of her due to her association with him. While her mother's disappearance had coincided with this, and served as a polite reason for her to part ways, she knew that it was a fiction. They hadn't fallen out, as far as Verie recalled, an she remembered no harsh words between them. But she knew that it wasn't as innocuous as she made it seem.

She suspected that Prince Amadeus, with his bizarre knack for looking at her and just knowing things, knew it too. But the truth was now that Sante was dead and incinerated in a mass funeral on Coruscant, and Avadreia was ashes in a ceramic urn in her satchel, she was truly an orphan alone in the world. The closest thing she knew to a home was the presence of the Prince, as pathetic as it must have sounded. She suddenly felt a lump in her throat.

If he had left instructions not to allow her to disturb him, then she was truly alone. "If he would prefer not to be disturbed at present," Verie said with a shaking breath. "Perhaps I could leave a note with you."

 

[Quietus]

Those moments studying Verie were quiet and the gaze that watched her seemed to hold some form of understanding. Indeed, when Prince Amadeus had left, his suitors had ceased coming to call. There was no shortage of relief at that, of course. The many Noble ladies of Kuat and neighboring systems had made quite a destructive nuisance of themselves after the boy came of age years ago. But, indeed, his public persona had been one of a a pompous, self-centered and entitled snob. He entertained various stories of scandal and marred his image with charades of debauchery. Kuat naturally was glad for the boy to be passed over for his younger and far more proper sister as chosen Heir to the throne. In a show of insult, the Prince Amadeus had left his home for the chance to pursue his studies and make a name for himself as a collector of fine art and antiquities.

True-adjacent...

...and a far cry from the man Verie had come to know.

"The Prince's whereabouts are unknown," Sahti admitted finally, "he has been out of contact with his family for nearly a year."

[member="Verie Lacroix"]

 

[Verie Lacroix]

Verie tried searching Sahti's face with her amber eyes, but it was no good. She didn't have the same intuition with these creatures as others did. She could not tell whether this was the truth, or a polite lie to put her off the scent. In any event, the result of either of these was functionally identical: she was not getting the information she needed. "Oh... I confess to being disappointed. I hope that does not mean the Prince is unwell." Was it like him to be out of touch for so long? She couldn't say; she was not one of the family. She pressed her lips together in a white line for a few moments before clearing her throat lightly.

"Might I leave a note anyway," she asked, suddenly lighting upon a hope. "And if he should get in touch, or if he should return for a visit...?" Her voice was hopeful, and her eyes brightened at the notion. "I might return to the house at Rudrig. I think I recall the way. Perhaps he left a forwarding address... there." The young woman chewed the inside of her cheek for a moment thoughtfully before impulsively looking back up at Sahti, as if to inquire after her thoughts on the matter.

[member="Lorelei Darke"]

 

[Quietus]

Sahti's predatorial gaze remained unwavering, unblinking, and the Noghri drew still as a statue. Then, suddenly, she shifted, "I will gladly take your note, Miss Verie, and see that the Prince receives it should he contact us again. However, I am afraid he has left nothing on Rudrig - it was the first place the Queen investigated when he failed to return her messages. With that part of the galaxy in flux the security of Rudrig has been compromised. If you go, be very careful."

[member="Verie Lacroix"]

 

[Verie Lacroix]

Verie had no need to ask paper and pen, for she had written the note on the flight to Kuat. Actually, she had written half a dozen times, or at least tried and began, only to discard them all. The first one she had managed to finish all the way through was the last one she had had time to write before the flight had touched down. It would have to suffice. She picked up her handbag and plucked a small square.

Inside was a note, folded in half and tucked into the cream-colored envelope. It was written in Verie's thin and slanting hand, in black ink that soaked the paper where the pen had hesitated:

Your Highness,

I hope you can forgive the formal tone with which I began this note, and of course that this note finds you well - happy and healthy, wherever you may be. It has been ever such a long time since we spoke and though I recall our time together fondly I can scarcely say now whether you feel the same - hence, a more formal tone, as I would understand if it were necessary for your comfort to discard this note with the minimum of distress as a petition from a loyal subject. If not...

As you might know, my mother died. Sante as well. I no longer find the same solace in the theater as I once did. In truth there is little I find solace in these days. I feel as if I have thrown my life away on silly entertainments, a feeling made all the worse when I reflect that this feeling might not be if I hadn't turned aside from your offer to help me down the path to something more, something meaningful.

If you would have it, I should like to resume this endeavor. Find enclosed information where I can be reached.

Regardless of your response,
I remain, as always,

Yours very truly,
Verie Lacroix

Enclosures

She reached across the desk and handed the card to Sahti. "I do appreciate your kind assistance. Really."

 

[Quietus]

Late in the evening hours of Kuat, hours after the departure of Verie Lacroix, Sahti strode silent and alone through the long halls to the Queen's private chambers. Her Majesty Darke was not home, as was quite usual now that both the Prince and Princess were living abroad, making their own lives, she had little reason to be there aside from the sake of appearances. It was here that the Noghri Priestess settled down at the Queen's private comm station to send out a signal towards the last known location of her father, Mahet, and a secondary signal to that of her brother, Kefka, far out in the wild regions of Moross space. A quiet plea in Honoghran for a return message, for an update or any news. There was a natural inclination to help Verie, but it was one based on her own personal desires.

It had been several months since they'd received any word from the Prince ...or his guard. While Sahti was fully committed and loyal to her Queen Mal'ary'ush, it was next to impossible to forgo the bond of blood. The bond of family - one that was undeniably strong as it was with most Noghri clans.

It would be three days before any answer arrived in the image of her brother.

"It is good to hear from you sister, unfortunately I know little more than you. Father contacted me one month ago from the regions near the Fringe Confederacy, at the time he was waiting on Merovign to return from a mission that he was disallowed to accompany him on. I have heard nothing since, but I will relay your message to the last location I know of. Be well and strong."

[member="Verie Lacroix"]

 

[Verie Lacroix]

Verie shelled out a few more high-denomination credit chits to the driver and one to the bell-boy who collected her bag from the front of the hotel. "Please be careful with that, it's fragile." Whether or not she had any compunctions regarding her mother's mortal remains, she did feel rather strongly about not having them all over her other personal belongings. The bellhop nodded and marched ahead to take Verie's bag to the turbolift. Verie herself stopped at the concierge's desk. "Miss Lacroix, how can I help? Ballet tickets?" He pointed at her with a cheesy grin. The joke never failed to make Verie smile, even if it was only for the sheer cheek of it all.

"Not today. I wondered if you might help me. I need to book travel arrangements and I'm not sure whether a conventional travel agency could make it work." She paused and tapped her fingers lightly on the front of his desk and he inquired where she would want to go. She leaned close and murmured a name. The concierge frowned, pursing his lips, then shrugged. He knew some people, as it happened, and would make inquiries. In the mean time, would Miss Lacroix like to book any entertainment for the evening? Verie, who was accustomed to living in luxury but having very little disposable income, but now found herself in possession of rather a lot of it, briefly considered doing something outlandish and impulsive, but stopped herself.

"I think not. Room service and an early night for me, I think. Do ring up when you hear, won't you? I mean it, Donai, at any hour. This is extremely urgent." He assured her he would and Verie offered her hand. He bent over it and kisses the back of it with a smile, his thumb deftly snaking the proffered tip from against Verie's palm. "Thank you."

It was nearly a week later that Verie's chartered vessel received clearance to land at Honoghr. The area she surveyed from the passenger compartment was vaguely familiar. She had been there before, to return a gift that Dissero had given her. She asked the pilot to stay aboard and, forgoing any weapons or other protective gear, strode down the ramp to the grassy field where the small yacht landed. Honoghr - a planet as strange as its inhabitants, and yet oddly familiar. She pushed the hood of her traveling cloak off and made way towards her destination.

 

[Dissero]

After a somewhat hostile reception that included a small retinue of armed Noghri warriors who could not speak nor understand basic, Verie was permitted entrance to the nearby temple based on her scent alone. It was a familiar one - to the eldest and highest of rank amongst the small group, and so she was lead with nary a warm greeting or a fond welcome. Noghri weren't known for being particularly kind towards anything that wasn't their own kind, after all.

Verie knew this temple. She'd stayed here with Dissero for a short while after the death of Velok at Great Holocron Auction while he lay low and folded his cards, so to say. It was from here that she departed his company, and it was to here that she had returned his gift. She was taken into the main sanctum where he'd attempted to begin her instruction of the Force - a place of meditation where the greatest and eldest of warriors taught their own.

Here, the Elder Priest Ptah received her. One of the few who could speak basic, and one of whom she had some familiarity. He was fully blind, made apparent by the milky glaze of his reptilian eyes, but this as she knew did not hinder him at all. Mahet's grandfather was not so easily defeated.

"Welcome, Gahiji," the old Noghri greeted, signaling for Verie to step forward, "why have you come?"

[member="Verie Lacroix"]

 

[Verie Lacroix]

Verie was absolutely certain that she and the Noghri viewed one another in a similar way. She recognized their importance and respected it, but she didn't quite understand the appeal. And she was certain that the subtle looks and sniffs she had received when she had visited there with the Prince. What was she, the daughter of an upstart middle-class widow, doing with a Prince of the blood? She was a dancer -- one of remarkable renown, to be certain, but a dancer still -- so there was clearly something wrong with the picture.

Echoes of her uncertainty and insecurity followed with her footsteps as she stepped forward to the Elder Priest.

"Thank you, Your Grace," Verie replied pleasantly. "I have come to inquire after your grandson and his charge, the Prince. I'm afraid I have been unable to locate them and I should like to report some recent developments to the Prince." She folded her hands together in front of her and bowed her head. It was a respectful gesture that Verie felt he could sense, despite his disability. "Might you have an address or a communication frequency where I can find him? Please?"

[member="Brom Burnside"]

 

[Dissero]

<3

A long silence, a milky-eyed stare that seemed to consider things.

"Yes," the elder replied simply, quietly, "three days," and then fell into further silence. Ptah made no move to express further inquiry. As Verie may have come to learn, he was a Priest of few words.


Three days later...


Just beyond the temple grounds, a ship slowly leveled across the morning horizon. There had been no announcement to Verie, or anyone for that matter, but there would be no need. The quiet blue skies were suddenly interrupted by blaster shots and the sounds of battle. Not long after, an explosion rocked the lands - awakening anyone that might not have yet risen for the day.

Yells echoed, a man crying out in the language of the Noghri as he was taken by no less than six warriors into the temple. His appearance was haggard; long brown hair knotted and wild, face grisled by the fight against his captors, fresh blood spattered worn and tattered robes. His eyes flared as they took him through the temple entrance and down along the main hall, struggling against his binds.

[member="Verie Lacroix"]

 

[Verie Lacroix]

Verie had already been awake, meditating in the small cargo hold of the ship, when the muffled sound of battle distracted her from her reverie. Unfolding her toned ballerina's legs from under her form, she climbed gracefully off the crate of supplies she had used as a makeshift mat for her meditation and strapped her gunbelt around her trim waist and stepped into the corridor. The pilot had rolled out of his bunk with a blaster and looked rather disheveled. "What is it?" he asked her intensely.

"I've no idea," Verie said. For a moment, she wondered if it had something to with their presence here, but then how could it? She was no one - less than no one, really, considering her profession. But... was it a coincidence that it was on the third day that a ruckus arose? "We should see what's happening," she said.

"We should go," said the pilot forcefully. "You're not paying me to stay in a warzone."

"Get a handle on yourself," Verie said coldly, in a rather good imitation of her mother's glacially indifferent yet impatient tone. "This is not a warzone. Let's just go see what's happening."

They emerged into the morning sun and Verie looked all around. In the distance, the Noghri settlement was full of the same kind of tentative activity and something more frenzied. "This way," she ordered over her shoulder, taking off at a light jog towards the village. They were almost there when there was some otherwordly whisper and Verie paused, dropping low to the ground, yanking the pilot back by his belt as hard as she could, and he stumbled to his knees. A moment later, there was an explosion in the distance and Verie's head snapped to that direction. It would be foolish to run in that direction without any inkling as to what was happening. No, better to run for the temple and check in with her contact. "Get to the temple," she ordered the pilot, and followed him, only stopping once they were inside.

"I need to see Ptah," she said urgently to the docent at the door. "Please, can you ask him to meet me?"

[member="Brom Burnside"]

 

[Dissero]

The man's yells filled the temple halls ahead of Verie and the pilot as they entered. The docent pointed after the commotion - the man was being taken to Ptah at the shrine. She would need to follow if she wished to see him.


Forced onto his knees before the High Priest, the man wheezed from a blow to the gut, sweat and blood dripping from his chin and nose, tangled hair clinging to his flesh. He looked up, expression frantic at the sight of the Priest and began speaking in rapid Honoghran - a feat in itself for a human to accomplish as their vocal chords tended to not be capable of such things. But with the help of the Force...

He seemed to be pleading his case, attempting to explain something, but the noghri warriors were thin on patience in the presence of their Priest. Ptah raised a clawed hand for silence, frosted eyes taking in nothing and everything as the old Noghri leaned forward and slowly inhaled. The hall became heavy, as though the air had suddenly taken on a weight all its own.

Ptah shook his head.

The warriors hauled the man to his feet and he immediately began to struggle again. Taking him by the arms and his hair, they wheeled him around and began carrying him off again, towards Verie at the shrine entrance.

Eyes locked, the man paused in his efforts, "You....I know you...." he craned his neck as they pressed past her, "I know you, I KNOW YOU! WAIT!" But there would be no waiting.



"...gahiji," Ptah called softly to Verie.

[member="Verie Lacroix"]

 

[Verie Lacroix]

Verie watched the affair warily, her dark eyes drinking in every detail. There was something significant about this, something that she wasn't able to fully grasp with the information she had, yet she couldn't look away. She inched closer and stood to the side of the entryway. She watched the ordeal, her eyebrows furrowing with curiosity, but then stepped out of the way as the Noghri came, hauling the man, struggling and shouting, towards her. She glanced at the pilot and told him to wait there, stepping forward to pass the man and approach Ptah. But she was, at any rate, bound to be involved as the man burst out at her, shouting that he knew her.

She was taken aback, dropping her hand to her hip, near her blaster. "I'm sorry," she said uncertainly, her eyes tracing his face and locking with his eyes. There was nothing familiar about him that she noticed right away. "I'm afraid I don't know you at all," she told him warily. "Please let me pass." It was just then that Ptah called out to her, and Verie took one last look at the prisoner and then headed towards Ptah. She stopped after half a dozen steps, looking over her shoulder at the prisoner.

"Your Grace," she said whens he finally reached Ptah. "What has happened? Who -- can you stop them? He claims he knows me... but I'm not sure."

[member="Brom Burnside"]

 

[Dissero]

"No," Ptah answered, clawed hands folding at his front within the broad sleeves of his robes, "he is not He."

"He is unfound, gahiji, Mahet tells. It is known." The bridge of the Noghri's brow seemed to soften, though no verbal cue was given it was an unspoken form of sympathy.

[member="Verie Lacroix"]