Myriad Reckonings

He debated how much he should allow to be revealed.

"The weight of many lies rests on my shoulders. I intend to learn what everyone here can only suppose. To find out why a priestess of such renown would turn on her kindred." His eyes flickered slightly. "If you think I'm indifferent to such behavior, you're mistaken." Nobody here seemed to know why Saro had done what she had. They had all assumed it was for her own gain, but their emotions clouded their vision in this. There was something else.

"Then conduct your search." Kurra crossed her arms, tilting her chin up. "My mother believes it may bring about change, so I can't find it in myself to stop you. Do as you please, and see that the changes are good." She paused. "And find the time to tell us what truths you uncover."

"I intend to." He glanced upwards. "Is there another exit to the surface, or is the only way through the falls?"

"The falls are the only way out," Kurra replied. "We thought it safest to have one exit that could be hidden and guarded."

Sirejj sighed. The tunnels it must be. "I thank you all for your hospitality. I have learned much, and there is still much to learn. I sense this journey is far from over." He studied her carefully. Her mind was well guarded. There was little he could reveal, though he tried. While he felt like Lady Tris had told him most of what she knew, Kurra seemed far more caged about the subject.

"I expect so." Her mental walls were tall and strong; whatever it was she wished to hide was closely guarded. The discussion from earlier had made her slightly more brittle than usual, though, and a deeply personal grief and righteous fury leaked through a few cracks.

It was a fruitless search and he soon retreated. The more he thought of the surface, the more eager he was to escape these depths. He looked at Kurra and her sister one last time. "Until we meet again."

"May you continue to live in interesting times, Sirejj of Dathomir," Kurra said grimly, and closed the curtain.

Raia turned to Sirejj. "I can guide you out, or you can find your own way." She gestured toward the tunnels.

"If you would show me to the falls." He could find his way if he had to, but he would have precious little company for the remainder of his journey. He'd take advantage of what he could now. He made a motion like the waterfall with his hands.

Raia nodded to him and started down the path. Her mind was less guarded than her sister's, but she was deliberately turning her thoughts to other things--mealtime, her frustration with her mother, her sense of purposelessness. She had no wish to think of Saro just now; that was a painful topic for everyone here. It didn't do to dwell on the past.

Sirejj picked up on her thoughts, but few were helpful. If he had the mind to pick her brain apart he could, but he was more concerned now with getting back to the surface and not burning any more bridges.

They walked in silence. Sirejj had much on his mind.

Eventually they reached the waterfall, and Raia paused by the exit.

"If you find your way back here one day," she said, "I'd like very much to accompany you off this planet. My life is wasted here." She frowned. "It's a shame you understand none of my words; I expect we could have had some long and interesting talks. Take care, Sirejj."

He gave her a small bow, a little of his mischievous self showing through the weight of his heavy thoughts. He smiled, thought his eyes appeared preoccupied. "Farewell. Till fate wills another meeting." He turned to face the hours of treacherous tunnels and made his way down the steps that led up to the falls and into the darkness.

Raia watched him go, her heart aching to follow and taste fresh air again. She willed her legs to move--it wasn't far to the surface, she told herself, though she knew from the trip down here that it took a terribly long time to traverse the narrow passages. Still, she didn't shift, and her hand tightened around her lance. She'd leave one day. Maybe not now, but soon. Stillborn or not, she could sense change coming.

Finally she turned away from the roaring water and walked slowly back into the tunnels, a pricking sensation at the corners of her eyes.

Spoiler

hes gonna have to come back for her. I wanna see the two staff wielding outcasts get along

The journey up was much like the journey down. Hours of grueling climbing and squeezing through narrow caves, fighting the terrible sensation of the walls caving in at every moment. Now, it was uphill. It took considerably longer to escape these halls than it did to enter them.

Sirejj kept on. Lack of rest and proper nourishment for the past few days meant the climb was even more challenging, but his thoughts were so preoccupied he hardly noticed his hunger or tiredness.

The cathedral was the answer. Perhaps Garoche's memories there would reveal the final puzzle piece, if they were not too choked out by the dark side.

When he reaches the surface, the sun had just set. He climbed from the hole which he'd entered says ago and took a deep breath of the fresh air as he stood atop the boulder that his the entrance. He scrambled to flat ground and then dropped to his knees, and then to a sitting position. He let himself lay back against the ice and crystal and looked up at the stars as he caught his breath and rested his weary body. If he'd had the time to ponder he may have questioned his place here on this planet and what stones this new information would overturn, but he had little time for existential crises. He rose and began the march back to his cache. He thought about summoning Tarkin, but he opted to wait.

Let him sit up there and stew for a little while longer.