~More than anything he wanted to know her. This yearning, so agonizing threatened to devour him whole.~Anakin Skywalker
Cassandra Pierce is hunted by a powerful evil, putting everyone in danger. Kamar Taj reaches out to the Jedi Temple for aid. Newl...
Three days of hiking through a moonlight desert led their party to a small outpost with a communication center. They were able to get word to King Nal'el who sent a ship to retrieve them.
The capitol El-Arda was a walled city of flat-roofed limestone buildings interspersed with graceful mosque-like temples featuring fluted minarets. The palace was the grandest structure of all, the five towers of the behemoth building capped by bronze domes that flashed in the noonday sun.
Cassandra pressed her nose to the window for a better look as the ship began its descent onto the palace's landing platform. "Wow. This place is amazing! It reminds me a lot of Cairo."
"Oh, right. The desert city you told me you visited during your sorcerer training." Anakin remarked, holding her steady as she crawled over him back to her seat. "This is a diplomatic mission. There won't be much time for sight-seeing."
Cassandra raised a brow. "I'm aware of that." She propped her injured ankle on the seat opposite and sighed. "Still, it might be fun to explore the city during our stay."
"Do you plan on walking on that leg?" Anakin shot a pointed look at her foot.
She shifted her leg and pain radiated up her ankle. If the King expected them to dance at the welcome banquet, he was going to be sorely disappointed. The swelling on her ankle had improved but was still atrocious to look at.
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"Uh, eventually. When the swelling abates." Cassandra told her boyfriend and scratched the healing cut on her arm, flaking off dead skin.
The Naboo filed toward the exit. Looks like it was time to go.
Anakin carried Cassandra from the ship. Artoo rolled after them, whistling happily.
On the landing platform they were greeted by King Nal'el's Steward Altan. He wore a gold embroidered caftan that fell to sandaled feet.
Smiling broadly, the steward bowed to their bedraggled delegation. "Welcome to El-Arda, Senator Dorme, Representative Pierce."
"We are most grateful for your gracious welcome, sir." Dorme replied, dipping her head.
Cassandra followed suit and smiled awkwardly from her perch in Anakin's arms. "Yes, grateful."
"After your arduous journey, I imagine you'd like to rest and refresh yourselves before meeting with the king." Altan gestured to a line of white-clad female servants. "I have prepared comfortable suites for your party. The welcome banquet is this evening at sunset. I will send someone to escort you to the pavilion."
"Thank you." Dorme said demurely, her gaze averted.
The servants led them through a mosaic tiled foyer with an indoor fountain to another section of the palace, each hall guarded by horseshoe arches carved in a scroll-like flower pattern. The open colonnades surrounded gorgeous courtyard gardens, the vivid greenery startling after so many days surrounded by sand.
