[Han Solo] - 03(92)

So I would not realize he was paid off, Durga thought. Teroenza thought he could “hide” his pay by taking items for 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 recently done exactly that, and with the proceeds from several 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’s 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 furious with Besadii on behalf of their leader. Teroenza was popular ˇ . .

especially now that he’d managed to have their mates brought to Ylesia.

If Durga had Teroenza dragged away, 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, he’d have to make some preparations. Find a new Hutt overlord for Ylesia, and a popular, charismatic t’landa Til to act as High Priest.

The new High Priest who would announce bonuses for all the loyal t’landa Til. And, on second thought, perhaps it would be best to leave the t’landa Til’s mates on Ylesia … at least for the time being.

All of that would probably take a week to accomplish. And until the Besadii ship carrying the new High Priest had landed on Ylesia, Durga couldn’t let Teroenza know that he was being replaced. Besadii couldn’t 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 arrested, they’d have to cover up Teroenza’s absence. Perhaps a sudden “illness” on the part of the High Priest would be sufficient?

Could Teroenza’s mate, Tilenna, be coerced into acting as the Besadii mouthpiece in her spouse’s stead? In exchange for her own life? And a generous settlement?

Durga considered, and decided that she probably could. T’landa Til were a practical people ….

It was also possible that Teroenza could still be controlled … 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 attend to it ….

Durga wondered how Kibbick had fared in his conversation with Teroenza yesterday. His cousin hadn’t called back as he’d promised to, but that didn’t mean anything. Kibbick’s attention span was short, and he forgot promises.

A flashing light attracted Durga’s 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’s thinking about him had conjured him up out of thin air.

The High Priest bowed low to his Hutt overlord, but Durga didn’t miss the flash of something—something akin to smugness,-in his protuberant eyes.

“Your Excellency, 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, was caught in their fire, and killed.”

“Kibbick is dead?” Durga was taken aback. He hadn’t really expected his cousin to be able to wrest control of Ylesia away from Teroenza, but he’d never expected Kibbick to be killed.

Or, more accurately, murdered.

Durga knew Teroenza’s 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 they’d 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 information to his advantage. As he did so, he put a hand up to his eyes, and bowed his head, feigning a grief he didn’t feel. Kibbick had been an idiot, and the universe was well-rid of him.