Deep Amongst the Stars Divided 2

I showered and cleaned up in my flat in the palace. I was still using it as a base, and it was convenient. When I was done I took a look around for anything that I would need to take with me when I left for the Executor but aside from some clothing and some books almost everything I used on a daily basis was at Thrawn’s. I smiled when I realised this because I wasn’t sure exactly when that had happened, when I had effectively moved out of this flat and into his. Still, it was something very few knew about. I had left enough of the trappings of daily life in this place so that most people visiting would think I still lived here. Sometimes I slept here when I worked really late and then, because Lord Vader never kept any sort of regular schedule, had an early meeting. I knew that many people suspected but only a very few knew for sure, not even my family and I was hoping to keep it that way. Secrets, my life was full of them. By the time I got home Thrawn was already there. Reunions, I loved them and all their glorious gifts.

It was late when we settled back from the passion of welcome back to chatter of catching up and the interesting things that made our daily routine worth talking about. In the quiet of the night we moved to the living room. It was quiet, the candles I had lit creating a flickering dancing light. Curled against his chest, his arm curled around my shoulder, we sat with each other on the couch drinking wine. When I told him about my orders to ship out with Vader, Thrawn was not surprised.

“Well, it is easier for me this way; at least I will not have to be worried about you doing something crazy.” He had joked, but underneath his words was a hint of truth. His concern pleased me. His hand caressed my face.

“Lord Vader feels I shall be of more use in closer proximity than stuck down here on Coruscant.” I told him.

Thrawn grinned. “Vader doesn’t want you being blown up or anything else while he is away. These attacks by Mr. Andando are an embarrassment to him, you know. It would reflect very badly on Vader if he cannot even keep one young woman from being harassed by one lone rebel.”

I nodded. “Yes, well I can’t be an embarrassment to the Dark Lord of the Sith, now can I?”

“In his own way, surprisingly enough, he seems to care whether or not you live.” Thrawn chided.

I gave him a look as he topped up my glass of wine. “You think I don’t know that?”

“I was just reminding you that you appear to have a charmed life when it comes to Lord Vader’s good graces.”

I laughed. “I doubt good or grace have much to do with it. I am pretty sure he just doesn’t wish to go through the hassle of breaking in another person to do this job. He is used to me and I amuse him.” I said.

Thrawn raised his chin slightly but didn’t comment. He didn’t have to.

I made a face and then remembering the last task I had been given for the day repeated Lord Vader’s cryptic message.

Thrawn smiled and suddenly had the look of a jax that has just been given a saucer of high end blue milk. “Excellent.” He said.

I watched him for a moment. “You are not going to tell me what all this secret stuff is about are you?”

He shook his head. “No.”

I scowled and that made him laugh.

“My dear, you are entirely too nosey for your own good. It’s quite a wonder that your curiosity hasn’t killed you yet.” And then he relented slightly. “I dare say you’ll discover what we are up to in time.” And from his tone of voice I knew that was all I’d get out of him on this particular topic.

I changed the subject then. “So what’s this I hear about you and Tigellinus having it out in court?”

Thrawn snorted. “I suppose Siavaan told you this?”

“No actually, I heard it from one of the security guards who is stationed near my old flat. Word is you had a shouting match. It was quite the topic of conversation.”

“He had a shouting match.” Thrawn replied archly. “I do not raise my voice especially in situations such as that and this annoyed Tigellinus even more.”

“Why?” I asked. “I thought you two were all buddy-buddy since you were inducted into the Order of the Canted Circle.”

Thrawn nodded. “It would appear that way from the outside. Tigellinus is trying new tactics. He figured that if I was to be on fairly equal footing with him politically speaking then it would be better to have me as a friend not an enemy. He has tried to show the Imperial world that we get along and can play nice, however underneath this lovely little façade lies a much nastier version of the game we were previously playing.” He paused to sip his wine. “We had an interesting discussion about certain policies currently in place. I politely disagreed with him, which I suppose I should not have done, friends it seems do not disagree on anything. The conversations went from civil to uncivil fairly quickly. I find it very interesting to see how quickly the true self comes out when the right buttons are pushed.”

“You should be careful.” I told him, poking him gently in the ribs. “The Emperor doesn’t always like political bickering and I think that Tigellinus knows about you and me. He’ll throw that into the fray if he has to, he’s not above using every dirty bit of laundry he can find to get rid of an opponent he feels is in his way. It wouldn't be the first time, you know.”

Thrawn smiled. “I am well aware of that my dear, in fact I count on this characteristic behaviour.”

“Count on it for what? What game are you really playing, Za’ar?”

“You’ll see when and if it happens.” He told me lightly. “It is not something you need to concern yourself with right now.”

“It does if I get dragged into the forefront of your games because I am sleeping with you.” I told him.

He arched his eyebrow at me. “My dear, do not give our affair more importance than it has. While it means something to you and me, it is unimportant to the over all scheme of things, especially in the political arena. You do not have to worry about that.” He said thoughtfully. “I am quite certain that if the Emperor had objections to our coupling he would have stepped in by now and done something about it.”

I sighed and gave him a look. I wondered if he really knew just how cruel and how devious the Emperor could really be.

“A’myshk’a,” he said getting up and regarding me carefully. “You need to place some faith in me. I know what I am doing and I have things well in hand.”

“So you keep saying.” I retorted.

That earned me his trademark eyebrow look.

I stared up at him, meeting his gaze but unable to read anything in his eyes. “I do have faith in you, but I don’t like being kept in the dark.” I told him.

He smirked. “Yes, you are as nosey as you are talented and beautiful.” He held out his hand for me to take. “Come to bed so that I might take advantage of your talent and pleasure in your beauty.”

“And my curiosity?” I asked, getting up.

“Will be satisfied.” He purred, his fingers playing on my skin as he stroked my face, his caress igniting fire.

I rolled my eyes at his words but took the hand that was offered. Time for us to be together was running short, spending what remained talking about politics was not my idea of fun.

“Trust me, my dear,” He murmured in my ear. “I’ll make it worth your while.” He smiled when I shivered.

It was hard to argue with a proposition like that but in the back of my mind the little voice that nagged me, that whispered warnings and made the hair on the back of my neck stand on end had woken up and was yelling at me.