Slowly, the High Priest drew himself out of the sling. Kibbick inwardly drew a breath of relief. But Teroenza made no move toward the intercom. Hurry up! the Hutt lord blustered. Or I shall summon the guards to take you away, and then I shall deal with the females myselfl No, Teroenzas voice was fiat and quiet.
No... what? Kibbick was incredulous. No one in his life had ever refused a direct order from a Hutt overlord.
No. I wont do it, Teroenza said. Im tired of tak-ing orders from an idiot. Farewell, Kibbick.
How dare you? Ill have you executed! Farewell? Kibbick was completely befuddled. Are you saying youre quitting? Leaving?
No, Im not leaving, Teroenz2t said, in that quiet tone. You are. His powerful hindquarters twitched, his thin, whip-like tail lashed the air, and suddenly he lowered his head and came at Kibbick with a bellow of rage.
The Hutt lord was so taken aback that he didnt even have time to dodge. Teroenzas horn slammed into his chest. The horn wasnt terribly sharp, but so power-ful was the force of the High Priest charge that it penetrated for nearly its full meter-long length.
The pain was agonizing! Kibbick roared in mingled terror and pain and beat at the tlanda Til with his little arms. He tried to swing his tail around to deal a crush-ing, killing blow, but the room was too confined.
Dimly, Kibbick felt the tlanda Til hands shove hard against the solid wall of flesh that was his massive chest, then Teroenza horn, covered with Hutt blood and ichor, yanked free.
Purposefully, Teroenza began backing away.
Wheezing, choking, Kibbick tried to back up, too, but his back end jammed into the wall. He tried to turn and escape.
Teroenza slammed into his chest again.
And again...
And yet again...
Kibbick was gushing blood now from his multiple wounds. None were life-threatening in and of them-selves. A Hutts vital organs were buried too deep within their bodies to be easily pierced... part of the reason for the old legend that Hutts were immune to blaster fire. They werent . . . but a blaster bolt that would fry most beings instantly frequently would not hit anything vital on a Hutt, leaving them free to crush their attacker before he, she or it could get off a sec-ond shot.
Kibbick tried to shout for help, but all that emerged was a gurgle. One of the blows had punctured a breath-ing sac. He struggled to pull himself toward the inter-com to summon help.
Teroenza rammed him yet again. This time the force of the tlanda Til blow, along with Kibbick growing weakness, caused the Hutt lord to roll over on his side, helpless.
Kibbick vision was clouding over, but he could still see enough to recognize what Teroenza was withdraw-ing from a desk drawer. A blaster.
The Hutt lord struggled one more time to rise, to fight back, to summon help, but he was too weak, and the pain too great. Darkness was hovering, closing over his vision. Kibbick struggled against it, but it closed over him like black water at midnight ....
With cold precision, Teroenza aimed the blaster and used it to widen and disguise the wounds on the dying Kibbick. He shot again and again, until the massive body was a scorched horror, and the final jerks and con-vulsions were long over.
Finally he stopped, breathing hard. Idiot . . . he muttered, in his own language, and went off to wash his horn.
While he was cleaning himself up, the tlanda Til de-cided on the best course. A terrorist attack, of course. Hed say it was that Tharen woman and her troops. No one would dare dispute his word. Hed have the guards on duty executed, claiming theyd been bought off and were in on the assassination ....
Just the other day hed closed the deal to purchase a turbolaser. Hed use this as an excuse to set it up in the courtyard ....
He knew hed need more guards, more weaponry.
Should he contact Jiliac?
No! Teroenza shook his massive head, drops of water flying from his horn. He had had enough of Hutts-he was through with them! He, Teroenza, was now m of Ylesia! And soon... soon... everyone would know it. Just a few more weeks to consolidate his power. Hed stop paying Besadii, and use the credits to buy weapons.
Satisfied with his plan, Teroenza, High Priest of Yle-sia, left his office and the massive mound of dead Hutt, and went looking for some guards to execute ....
Durga the Hutt stared at the screen of his datapad and rejoiced. At last! Black Sun, in the person of Guri, Xizors personal assistant, had just provided him with conclusive proof that Jiliac the Hutt, most likely abetted by her nephew, Jabba, had planned Aruks murder- and Teroenza had carried it out.
Black Suns evidence was mostly in the form of records of purchases and payments that proved Jiliacs link to the Malkite Poisoners. The Desilijic leader had purchased enough X-1 from them to bankrupt a medium-sized colony. And that X-1 had then been shipped straight to Teroenza. There were also records of items that Jiliac had purchased and sent to the High Priest, valuable items that were now part of the tlanda Tils collection.
So I would not realize he was paid off Durga thought. Teroenza thought he could hide his pay by taking items fir his collection. The Hutt leader noted that most of those items were not only valuable, but in demand. Should Teroenza ever wish to sell them, he could readily exchange them for many credits on the antiquities black market.
Durga noted with interest that Teroenza had re-cently done exactly that, and with the proceeds from severa] of these sales, had purchased a used turbolaser. He is obviously preparing for a defense of Ylesia, Durga realized. Any time now, he is likely to declare his independence ....
Durga first impulse was to have Teroenza dragged back to Nal Hutta in restraints, but, with an effort, he made himself think out all the ramifications of such an action. The Sacredots, or Under-Priests, would be furi-ous with Besadii on behalf of their leader. Teroenza was popular... especially now that hed managed to have their mates brought to Ylesia.
If Durga had Teroenza dragged way, the Sacredots might refuse to perform the Exultation for the Pilgrims. And without the Priests to give them their daily dose of euphoria, the Pilgrims might refuse to work-they might even revolt! Either way, losing the Priests would be disastrous for production in the spice factories.
Regretfully, Durga realized that before he could have his revenge upon Teroenza, hed have to make some preparations. Find a new Hutt overlord for Ylesia, and a popular, charismatic tlanda Til to act as High Priest. The new High Priest who would announce bonuses for all the loyal tlanda Til. And, on second thought, perhaps it would be best to leave the tlanda Tils mates on Ylesia... at least for the time being. All of that would probably take a week to accore-plish. And until the Besadii ship carrying the new High Priest had landed on Ylesia, Durga couldnt let Teroenza know that he was being replaced. Besadii couldnt take the chance of precipitating a revolt until they had the troops in place to deal with it.
Durga decided to move cautiously . . keep Teroenza in ignorance until the last moment. Or, if Kibbick had been forced to have the High Priest ar-rested, theyd have to cover up Teroenzas absence. Perhaps a sudden illness on the part of the High Priest would be sufficient?
Could Teroenza mate, Tilenna, be coerced into act-ing as the Besadii mouthpiece in her spouses stead? In exchange for her own life? And a generous settlement?
Durga considered, and decided that she probably could. Tlanda Til were a practical people ....
It was also possible that Teroenza could still be con-trolled . . . but it was hard to imagine Kibbick having the wherewithal to do it. Durga would probably have to handle everything himself. Or he might send Zier to at-tend to it ....
Durga wondered how Kibbick had fared in his con-versation with Teroenza yesterday. His cousin hadnt called back as hed promised to, but that didnt mean anything. Kibbicks attention span was short, and he for-got promises.
A flashing light attracted Durga attention, and he saw that his comm system was signaling an incoming message. The Hutt leader accepted the call, and watched as the image of Teroenza coalesced-almost as if Durga thinking abou
t him had conjured him up out of thin air.
The High Priest bowed low to his Hutt overlord, but Durga didnt miss the flash of something-something akin to smugness-in his protuberant eyes. Your Ex-cellency, Lord Durga, the High Priest intoned. I bring most distressing news. You must brace yourself, my Lord.
Durga glared at the image. Yes? he said.
There was a terrorist attack here early this morning,
just after dawn, Teroenza said, wringing his little hands
in distress. It was that Bria Tharen and her band of
Corellian Resistance fighters. Red Hand Squadron,
they call themselves. They stormed the Administration
Building, firing wildly. I regret to tell you that your
cousin, Lord Kibbick,
killed.
Kibbick is dead?
hadnt really expected
control of Ylesia away
expected Kibbick to be
was caught in their fire, and
Durga was taken aback. He
his cousin to be able to wrest
from Teroenza, but hed never
killed.
Or, more accurately, murdered.
Durga knew Teroenzas story about Bria Tharen was a lie. His sources had assured him that Red Hand Squadron was clear on the other side of the Outer Rim, and that theyd hit an Imperial outpost just yesterday. No ship in the universe could have reached Ylesia by dawn.
So Teroenza was lying .... However, the High Priest had no way of knowing that Durga knew he was lying. Durga considered how best he could use this informa-tion to his advantage. As he did so, he put a hand up to his eyes, and bowed his head, feigning a grief he didnt feel. Kibbick had been an idiot, and the universe was well-rid of him.
But Teroenza has sealed his own death warrant by this, Durga thought. As soon as I embark for Ylesia with his successor, he is a dead tlanda Til ....
In a hushed voice, Durga gave Teroenza instructions regarding how he wanted the body to be shipped home. It is plain, Durga concluded, that we must get you better guards there on Ylesia. These Rebels must not be allowed to raid with impunity.
Teroenza bowed again. I agree, Your Excellency.
Thank you for saying you will send us help.
It is the least I can do, under the circumstances, Durga said, forcing himself to keep sarcasm from per-meating his tones. Can you manage for a few days without a Hutt overlord?
I can, Teroenza said. I shall exert every effort to make sure business runs as smoothly as ever.
Thank you, Teroenza, Durga said, and cut the transmission.
He then spent several minutes giving Zier instruc-tions on how to find a replacement for Teroenza. Fortu-nately, Zier was a capable administrator, able to follow orders.
Then, and only then, did Durga turn to the figure who had been standing in his office, patiently waiting, while he attended to business.
Forgive me, Lady Guri, Durga said, inclining his head to the lovely young human female. I nearly forgot you were there. Most humans are incapable of waiting so patiently. They fidget.
Guri bowed slightly in turn. I was specially trained, Your Excellency. Prince Xizor does not like fidgeting in his subordinates.
Indeed, Durga said. As you can see, I have re-viewed the information you brought, and it confirms my suspicions. Also, as you have seen, my revenge upon Teroenza must wait for a more... suitable... time. But I int end to confront Jiliac immediately and challenge her to single combat under the Old Law. The Old Law? It is seldom invoked these days, but it is an ancient Hutt custom that, given sufficient provocation, one Hutt clan leader may challenge another to single com-bat without legal repercussions. The victor is presumed to be in the right.
I understand, Your Excellency. Prince Xizor in-formed me that this was likely to be your reaction, as befits an honorable Hutt. He instructed me to accom-pany you, and to do everything in my power to facilitate your search for justice.
Durga stared at her, wondering what one slightly built human female could expect to accomplish against either Hutts or hordes of Desilijic guards. You would go as my bodyguard? But...
Guri smiled slightly. I am Prince Xizors primary bodyguard, Your Excellency. I assure you that I can pro-tect you from Jiliacs guards.
Durga was tempted to say more, but something about Guris demeanor stopped him. He knew she was Xizor primary aide. It made sense that she would also be an accomplished assassin. She must have abilities that werent readily apparent. Certainly her manner was nothing but confident.
Very well, Durga said. Let us go.
They boarded Durga shuttle, and the trip to the Desilijic enclave took less than an hour by suborbital flight.
They landed on the island that contained Jiliac Win-ter Palace, and was the current home of the Desilijic clan. Durga, with Guri at his side, carrying a large box, slithered toward the entrance. Durga Besadii Tai to see Jiliac Desilijic Tiron. I bring a gift and request a pri-vate audience.
The guards scanned both visitors and verified that they were unarmed. After a quick call, they were waved into the palace. The majordomo, a RodJan named Dorzo, accompanied them to the huge, almost bare, au-dience chamber, then stepped inside, bowing. Lord Durga of Clan Besadii, he announced.
Through the portal, Durga could see Jiliac doing some kind of work at a datapad. At the sight of his enemy, rage flooded the young Hutts body. He quiv-ered with blood lust.
Jiliac deliberately kept them waiting for nearly ten minutes. Durga tried to emulate Guri stillness. She really was a most unusual human, he decided.
Finally, Jiliac nodded at Dorzo, then the Rodian bowed to the visitors and proclaimed, Her Supreme Excellency Jiliac, Leader of the Clan Desilijic and pro-tector of the Righteous, will see you now.
Durga started forward, with Guri pacing gravely beside him. When they reached Jiliac, the huge Hutt matron did not speak. Since, by custom, Durga could not speak until spoken to, because he was the visitor, again they waited.
Finally Jiliac massive bulk shifted. Greetings to Besadii, she said. You have brought a gift, and that is fitting. You may present it to me.
Durga nodded at Guri, and the human advanced On the Desilijic leader and laid the box before her, as the Desilijic leader hovered on her repulsor sled.
The younger Hutt waved at the box. A gift for your Exaltedness. A token of Besadiis esteem and our hopes for your future, O Jiliac.
We shall see ....rumbled Jiliac. She tore at the wrappings, and then drew forth a large, very valuable piece of a. It was a death-mask from the islands of the remote world of Langoona. The natives carved these death-masks and decorated them with semiprecious gems and inlays of silver, gold, platinum and iridescent shell-casings from their warm seas.
Jiliac turned the mask around in her tiny hands, and at first Durga thought she did not recognize its signifi-cance. The Besadii leader spared a glance to Guri, and, as they had agreed upon, the woman turned and headed for the exit. She would wait there for him, and make sure he was not disturbed. Durga turned his attention back to Jiliac, ready to enlighten her as to exactly what her gift meant, then he saw her entire huge body begin to tremble.
She glared at Durga. A death-mask from Lan-goona! Jiliac bellowed. And you call this a fitting gift?
With a powerful swing of her small arm, Jiliac tossed the piece of art into the air, then used her tail to bat it clear across the audience chamber. Striking the wall, it shattered, raining down in pieces.
I call it entirely fitting, Jiliac, Durga gave no ground. He recited the formal words. Today I, Durga Besadii Tai, discovered that you killed Aruk, my parent. I challenge you under the Old Law. Prepare to die.
Jiliac bellowed in rage and swung herself off her sled. You are the one who will die, upstart! she growled, and sent her flexible tail swooping up and around.
Durga dodged, but not quickly enough. The tail slapped his back, bruising him, almost knocking his wind out. With all his strength, Durga launched himself toward Jiliac, butting he
r as hard as he could with his chest.
Jiliac was nearly twice Durgas size. She was a middle-aged Hurt who was reaching the corpulent stage. Durga had one advantage-his youth gave him speed. But if she caught him with her full weight, even once, the battle would be over, and he knew it.
Bellowing like two prehistoric leviathans, the two Hutts slammed at each other, sometimes hitting, often missing. They hurled themselves against each others chests, wrestling with their undersized arms, as they sent their tails slamming into everything nearby.
Dorzo had long ago taken to his heels and gotten well out of range.
Kill... kill... KILLKILLKILL!! Durgas mind shrieked at him. He was consumed with rage. Jiliac slammed him with her tail, nearly sending him rolling over, then launched herself at him with a roar. Durga barely managed to wriggle out of the way before he could be Crushed beneath her massive midsection.
The younger Hutt dealt her a hard slap across the side of her head that sent her reeling. She came back at him with a tail-slap that missed, making the entire room shake.
At first, Jiliac howled curses and threats, but within a few minutes, she began panting too heavily, and saved her breath for battle. The Desilijic sedentary lifestyle was catching up with her....
If I can just outleast her... Durga thought, and real-ized that was a very big if....
Han Solo had been going over shipping manifests for the mines on Kessel with Jabba when he, Chewie and Jabba all heard a loud thud, followed by a bellow, then another series of thuds and muffled crashing sounds. Human, Wookiee and Hutt looked at each other, star-tied. What that? Han wondered.
My aunt must be having one of her temper tan-trums, Jabba said.
Nearly a decade ago Han had witnessed one of Jiliac notorious tantrums, so he had no trouble believ-ing that. He started to go back to work, when two bel-lows reached his ears. One right after another-in two different voices.
Jabba reared up in alarm. Come on!
Han and Chexvie jogged beside the Hutt as Jabba led them toward the sounds. He was amazed at how quickly Hutts could move when motivated.
Star Wars - The Han Solo Trilogy - Rebel Dawn Page 23
