May The Way Be With You

The Council

"No, Greylandia was founded seventeen years ago, not twenty." Malem sighs. The past week he's been teaching Din and I, and I think Malem is ready to throw us out a window.

"But the amount of time needed to decorate the castle this richly, let alone to build it, would require that much time to have passed!" Din retorts.

"Greylings don't sleep like normal people. It allows us to build in much shorter timeframes!" Malem groans in frustration.

"I think we all need a snack break." I tell them, looking at the servant in the corner. He nods and leaves the room to get us something to eat. Din closes his notebook and gets up from the table, pacing the windows to release his energy.

"You can't always have snacks brought in when things get rough." Malem sighs, rubbing his temple.

"Why not? I've heard it said that people bond over shared food. Seen it myself on the streets of Gavin X. Food makes everything better." I tell him.

"Some non-humanoid species would see it as you fattening them up for slaughter." Malem counters.

"Then I'd explain to those beings that it's not that." I smile sarcastically. Malem rubs his forehead, and I can feel Din is proud of me. The servant returns with a cart filled with finger foods. Riley is with him, and I sigh. Guess it's time for another etiquette lesson.

Malem sits back and grins, and I can feel he feels a little smug. "Actually, I have come with good news! No lesson today!" Riley grins. Malem deflates as Din sits with us. "I've heard from our people that left to invite your friends to the wedding! Peli, Cobb, Bo-Katan, and all your friends from Navarro are on their way here! Still looking for Ahsoka and the Mandalorian clan." She tells us.

"For my clan, it's best I go. They will not speak with outsiders, even if they look like Kira." Din says.

"Mother and Father are beginning to understand that. Especially since our people have no idea how to even find them." Riley comments.

"Alright, when should we leave to get them?" I ask.

"Oh, you can't go with him. You have to stay here." Malem says. I give him a look and he continues, "You are the Heir Apparent. And you have a lot to learn. Din can go whenever he wishes, but you must stay here. Besides, how you survived with those horrible lightsaber skills is beyond me."

I roll my eyes and look at Din. I can feel he wants to find his covert, but doesn't want to leave me behind. I take his hand in mine and tell him, "It'll be ok. I know how much you want them there. I'll be fine."

"I know. But I don't know how long it will take to find the Covert. I don't know if they're even alive." He says. I reach under his helmet to hold his cheek, rubbing my thumb on it.

"Then go find out. Don't worry, I'll still be here when you come back. Besides, you get to not have to do these lessons for some time!" I grin. He shakes his head.

"I'd rather have boring ass lessons with you than go off world without you." He says. I chuckle and Keldabe kiss him.

"I know. But hey, we survived before, we'll survive again. Go, find the Covert. I'll be here waiting for you." I tell him. He nods, then gets up.

"Might as well go now. Sooner I leave, the sooner I can get back." He says.

"First, our snack. Then, I'll help you pack." I tell him. He agrees, and we have our snack with Riley while Malem leaves, telling me he'll be in the training room when I'm ready. After we eat, we go to our room, Riley deciding she wants to help as well.

As we pack, my stomach feels ill. I ignore it, but then I feel ready to vomit. I manage to run to the connected bathroom in time. "Meshla, are you ok?" Din asks, kneeling next to me and rubbing my back.