Alderaan - Love and Intrigue

Zeno was not excited to wake up to such a large number of Panteer guards. They'd tripled overnight. In a bid to ensure the event wasn't too traumatizing for his twins, he woke them to explain in kid terms why everything was fine and they're all just visiting temporarily. They didn't remember being moved back to the house last night.

But if something bad was happening and the house was being targeted he wanted them nearby. He had requested that Ser Villainous remain near by them until things were sorted.

She stood by the window, just as confused as Zeno but would do her duty.

Hugging the girls, he talks to them. "And Ser Villainous is going to be nearby too. So if you get scared by anyone that isn't from the house you just stay behind her. And you take care of each other right?"

They both nodded and Kasha said, "Right!"

"Now, do your reading," he says, kissing each on the forehead.

After they go to their little desks he moves to the Blackguard woman. "If you need anything, you contact me. They are everything."

"They will have to get through me to get to the future of House Thul," she said to Zeno.

"I greatly appreciate your service," he said with a nod. Something he never learned to say from a Sith.

He turns to watch the girls as he continues. "It's a pain that we can't have the Blackguard get to the bottom of this. I trust Panteer will find the truth of things, but I prefer your efficiency."

“I don’t,” she said flatly.

“They have our lady sequestered, Panteer guards prowling our home. They are treating us like criminals.”

"They are investigating something of importance, I'm sure. But as we have done nothing to deserve it they will find nothing. Those that instigated the investigation are the real problem, and as soon as we are cleared we will find them and bring pain and destruction down on them," he replied.

"It will be my Honor, Duke-Consort," she said proudly.

He nods. "I don't suspect Panteer personally. This is all too quick. It seems reactionary rather than planned. If they had intended on turning against us they would choose a better time than in the middle of a succession crisis. But Ulgo wants the throne and sees us as an enemy. A plot to force the crown's hand and drive a wedge. But then...". He shakes his head. "Ziandra is better at this than me."

"She is cunning, my lord. Still what is on your mind," she asked.

"It seems too clever for an Ulgo plot. If it were them they'd probably want to make a big show of it pushing themselves as the heroes. That seems to be their mainstay, visible shows of superiority. Organa maybe, but I would think they would want to keep Panteer out of the mess of any of their plots. If they wanted to take the throne then now would be the worst time, with Ulgo primed and ready to take down anyone else that attempted," he says, thinking aloud.

"Times like this make me miss the days when I just attacked anything that was a threat without regard. Well, not really, but it was simpler."

"Or it could be something we have not seen before," she mused.

"Yes, that is a good possibility too. Far too many possibilities, and trying to sort them out is a headache," he says. "How goes your training."

"Constant, when I have the time. Our schedule was filled with duties to our Duchess and the Queen." She added, "A Jedi came to speak with Lady Massacre, think it was the same one that spoke to me."

"Undoubtedly to tout their beliefs. They always seem to want to convert and proselytize," he says with a nod. "Their beliefs are not illegitimate, but they always seem to have a hard time understanding that they aren't for everyone. If yo or anyone in the Blackguard wants to learn from them about the force, that is great. They have strength, so it could be worthwhile. But I doubt they'd want to share without trying to demand some sort of allegiance in return."

"We have no issues with them, our purpose is clear," she said honestly.

He nods. "I agree, and have the same view. They may be able to teach things I don't know, but you all have a great talent for figuring out things on your own as well."

"As long as they are not here to be missionaries, we can benefit from them," she responded. "We want no part of the philosophical war between your two orders."

He shrugs at that. "The philosophical war is mostly nonsense anyway. Whatever power serves the house best is what is important. Knowledge expands that power when applied properly."

Ser Villainous nodded in agreement.