The young Hutt listened intently, aware that his parent would quiz him point by point on the conference. Beside Durga, Kibbick blinked slowly, obviously fighting sleep. Durga looked at his cousin scornfully, Kibbick was an idiot. Didn’t he understand that these kinds of meetings, these feints and counterfeints, thrusts and parries and ripostes, constituted the life’s fluid of Hutt society? Didn’t he understand that power and profit were food and drink and breath to their people?
This was the first Hutt conference to be held in Durga’s short lifetime, and he was pleased that his parent had allowed him to attend.
Durga knew that because of the birthmark he’d been born with, some of the Besadii kajidic would question whether he was fit to lead Besadii when Aruk died.
Durga knew that he had all the most essential qualities to lead Besadii.
He was smart, scheming, devious, and ruthless. All estimable qualities in a Hutt. But he had to demonstrate those qualities to Besadii, before Aruk died, or he’d have trouble succeeding his parent.
If only I could take over Ylesia, instead of Kibbic! Durga thought.
He knew that his father had spent a good part of yesterday evening raging at Kibbick for allowing Teroenza to take over the running of Ylesia. Aruk had also sternly advised the t’landa Til that he must know his place, lest he lose his position as High Priest. Teroenza had cowered before the old Hutt Lord, but Durga thought he’d caught a flash of anger from him. He resolved to keep a careful eye on Teroenza.
Kibbick, on the other hand, had simply whined about how unpleasant life was on Ylesia, and how hard he was working. Aruk had let him off with a stern warning. Durga privately thought that Aruk should have relieved him of his post. Idly, he wondered whether assassinating his cousin was a good idea …
But he had a feeling that Aruk wouldn’t like it. So that meant he couldn’t do it while his parent lived.
Not that Durga wished Aruk’s death. He was genuinely fond of his parent, as he knew Aruk was fond of him. Durga knew only too well that he owed Aruk his life in every possible way. Most Hutt parents would not have allowed a child with a birthmark to live.
Durga also wanted to make Aruk proud of him. That motivation was even stronger in him than his need to gain power and profit—something that he knew would be seen as practically sacrilegious by other Hutts, so he never revealed it.
Durga watched as Jabba the Hutt wriggled forward to take the floor.
The second-in-command of Desilijic was said to be an exemplary Hutt in many ways, but most Hutts found his preoccupation with humanoid females both perverse and inexplicable. Still, Jabba was sharp, Durga had to grant him that, as he listened to him speak.
“Honored Hutt Lords, listen to me! Besadii claims that their recent expansions on Ylesia are just good business, but shall we allow good business for one kajidic to undermine the financial underpinnings of our world? Besadii has grabbed such a large share of the spice trade, and the slave trade, that we must all make them see reason! What does it profit them to fill their own coffers if their policies bring disaster to our world?”
“Disaster?” Aruk’s voice boomed out so deep and authoritative that Durga felt a ripple of pride. His parent was as fine a Hutt leader as had ever been born! “Disaster, my friends? We had one hundred and eighty-seven percent profit in the past year! How could this possibly be construed to be anything but something to be praised and honored for? I ask you that, Jabba! How could it?”
“Because some of your profit has come out of the coffers of your fellow Hutts,” Jabba pointed out. “It is fine to take from others, from humans and Rodians and Sullustans and from all the other creatures of the galaxy.
That is why they are there—so that we Hutts may profit from them. But there is a danger in pulling away too much income from Nal Hutta and your fellow Hutts.”
“Oh?” sarcasm tinged Aruk’s voice. “And what is that danger, Lord Jabba?”
“Too much conspicuous profit may bring us to the attention of the Emperor or his minions,” Jabba pointed out. “Nal Hutta is far from Imperial Center. Out here near the Rim Territories, we are protected to some extent by distance, and protected even more by Moff Sam Shild, whom we generously support in the style to which he has become accustomed. But if any one Hutt clan makes a point of having tremendous wealth, it may bring all of us to the attention of the Emperor. And that, fellow Hutts, is an attention we do not want.”
Durga heard the other Hutts murmuring, and had to admit that Jabba had made a good point. When the Empire took a close interest in any one world, it was always unfortunate for that world.
Durga wondered how Jabba and Jiliac had discovered that Besadii was behind the attack of Drell pirates. Too bad they’d missed their chance to rid Nal Hutta of Jabba. Without Jabba, Jiliac would be easier to get out of the way. Jabba was a crafty Hutt, who was protective of his Aunt. His security forces were better than Jiliac’s.