#rutalonidir001

[carrdas]

( @rutalonidir )

IT WASN’T OFTEN THAT HE  smuggled for the upper echelons of a planetary government; most of his business in the seven or so years since he’d gotten started had been for smaller, more marginal groups. Independent contractors, refugees, perhaps a larger contract with one of the mining guilds or a Separatist world but -------- to be employed directly by the ruler of an entire planet?       War, it seemed, made it possible for all rules to be shot out the access hatch.       Mandalore was an interesting place, to be sure. The people were proud, & more often than not aggressive. They didn’t ask for help, & they certainly would never admit they might possibly need it. Yet here he was, smuggling in items that were hard to come by on the usual markets. Items that would have been bought with no problems not so much as a year ago.       Whatever else it did, war certainly disrupted lives. And planetary economies.       He supervised the final unloading of this particular shipment, nodding in acknowledgment as Mila gave him the all clear. He took a moment to check in with the three other ships, all at different ports in the capital city of Sundari, & make certain that they’d also completed their drop, then turned off his comlink & walked over to the regal figure standing at the edge of the landing pad.       His own personal ship had made the delivery here -- at the palace. It was, again, unusual. But as long as he & his people were getting paid, he couldn’t really be asked to dictate what his clients wanted.       “Your Grace,” he called, waving a hand to indicate that he was coming over, “it’s all accounted for, all across the city.” 

[infinitesorrow]

( @rutalonidir )

               HE DOES HIS BEST TO  look as though he knows exactly what direction they should be going in -- however, he has only slept a handful of hours in as many days & his connection to the Force is fraying at the edges. He must find the safe place Qui-Gon had told him of soon, because if he is fatigued, he knows that Satine must be even more so. She does not have the stamina that comes hand in hand with Jedi training. 

     He picks his way carefully over the rocky terrain  ( they had left the marked path a few hours prior )  & quietly searches for the way. He has a feeling -- TRUST YOUR FEELINGS, PADAWAN -- that they should go up the side of the hill, just ahead. Perhaps then he’ll be able to get his bearings & maybe even find a place to meditate where they’ll not be disturbed. If he does meditate, he’s sure that he’ll be able to determine the caves Qui-Gon had told him to take Satine to. 

      Looking back to check on her, he smiles & pauses, glancing at the rather large boulder that they must clamber over in order to make their way up to the top of the rise. He supposes that they could climb it, but one look at her & he’s sure that he cannot ask it of her. 

     “If you don’t mind,”  he ventures quietly,  “I could jump up both up there, then we’ll be able to hike the rest of the way to the top.”