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“Nothing but my time,” the other replied, scratching his chin. “You’ve lost your will to fight. You proved that against Sirak.” His lekku were quivering ever so slightly, and Bane took it as a sign that, despite his words, he was seriously considering the offer.

Again, Bane hesitated. How much did he dare to reveal? He still planned to let Githany teach him about the Force and the ways of the dark side. But he had realized that if she was his only teacher, he would forever be beneath her in power. If he wanted to be the one to take out Sirak, he’d need Kas’im to help him … and he’d need to keep her from finding out.

“My will to fight is back,” he finally said, deciding not to reveal Githany’s involvement in his sudden resurrection. “I’m ready to embrace the power of the dark side.”

Kas’im nodded. “Why are you doing this?”

Bane knew this was the final test. Kas’im was a Dark Lord of the Sith. His talent and skill were reserved for those who would one day rise up and join the Masters in the Brotherhood of Darkness. He wanted more than proof that Bane was truly ready for this. He wanted proof that Bane was worthy.

“I want revenge,” Bane replied after careful consideration. “I want to destroy Sirak. I want to crush him like an insect beneath the heel of my boot.”

The Blademaster smiled in grim satisfaction at his answer. “We will begin tomorrow.”

15

Bane made his way down the hall with careful, measured steps. But though his pace was somber and subdued, his mood was one of elated triumph. In the weeks since his fateful meeting with Githany his situation had turned around completely.

As promised, she was teaching him. The first few sessions had gone slowly as she’d helped him work through his mind’s fear of its own potential. Bit by bit the black veil had been torn away. Piece by piece she was helping him reclaim what he had lost, until once again he felt the power of the dark side coursing through his veins.

Since then the training had gone much more quickly. His hunger for revenge drove his studies. It fueled his ability to use the Force. It enabled him to understand the lessons that the Masters had taught Githany and she had then passed on to him. Despite being ignored by the instructors, he was once again learning everything the other apprentices were being taught—and learning it rapidly.

As another student passed Bane bowed his head, keeping up the pretense of subservience. It was important that none of the others suspected anything had changed. He kept his training with Githany hidden from everyone, even Kas’im … just as the Blademaster’s training was kept secret from her.

Kas’im knew he was growing more formidable with the blade, but didn’t know he was making similar strides in other areas. Githany could see his progress in unleashing his true potential with the Force, but wasn’t aware he was also mastering the intricacies of lightsaber combat. As a result, they were both likely to underestimate the full scope of his abilities. Bane liked the subtle edge that gave him.

His days were now filled with study and training. In the darkest hours before morning’s first light he would meet Kas’im to practice drills and techniques. He would meet with Githany in the archives in the midday, where she could share instruction with him without fear of interruption or discovery. And whenever he wasn’t training with Kas’im or studying with Githany, he read the ancient texts.

Another apprentice approached and Bane moved to the side, projecting an image of weakness and fear to hide his remarkable metamorphosis. He waited until the other apprentice’s footsteps faded away before heading down the stairs toward the tomes in the temple’s lowest levels.

Qordis or one of the other Masters might have been able to pierce the false front he projected and sense his true power, were they not blinded by their own arrogance. They had dismissed him as a failure; now he was beneath their notice. Fortunately, this anonymity suited Bane just fine.

He hardly slept at all anymore. It seemed his body no longer needed