Star Wars_ Darth Bane 01_ Path of Destruction - Drew Karpyshyn [98]
Several hours later he was again disturbed by a knock on his door. This time he felt more refreshed when he woke. He sat up quickly and lit a glow rod, casting the room in soft light. There were no windows in his chamber, but he guessed it must be close to midnight: well past curfew.
He rose to his feet and went to greet his second uninvited visitor. This time he was not disappointed when he opened the door.
“Can I come in?” Githany whispered.
Bane stepped aside, catching the scent of her perfume as she brushed past him. As he silently closed the door behind her, she walked over to the bed and sat down on the edge. She patted the space beside her, and Bane dutifully sat down, turning slightly so he could look her in the eye.
“Why are you here?” he asked.
“Why did you leave?” she responded.
“It’s … it’s hard to explain. You were right about what happened with Sirak. I should have finished him, but I didn’t. I was foolish and weak. I didn’t want to admit that to you.”
“You left the Academy so you wouldn’t have to face me?” The words sounded compassionate, as if she were seeking to understand him. But Bane could sense the contempt beneath them.
“No,” he explained. “I didn’t leave because of you. I left because you were the only one who recognized my failing. Everyone else congratulated me for my great victory: Kas’im, Qordis … everyone. They were blind to the true nature of the dark side. As blind as I had been until you opened my eyes.
“I left because the Academy had nothing more to offer me. I went to the Valley of the Dark Lords hoping to find the answers I couldn’t find here.”
“And you never thought to come tell me all this?” Her voice had changed; the veil of false compassion was gone. Now she just sounded angry. Angry and hurt. Bane was relieved that she still felt strongly enough about him to reveal some genuine emotion.
“I should have come to you,” he admitted. “I acted rashly. I let my anger at Qordis drive me away.”
She nodded: passion and reckless actions were something he knew Githany could relate to.
“I’ve answered your question,” he said. “Now you answer mine. Why are you here?”
She hesitated, her teeth biting down softly on her lower lip. Bane recognized the unconscious gesture; it meant she was lost in thought, trying to sort something out.
“Not here,” she said at last, rising stiffly from the bed. “I have something to show you. In the archives.”
Without looking back to see if he was following, she made her way from his room and into the dim hall beyond, moving quickly. Bane scrambled to his feet and trotted after her, breaking into a jog to keep up.
She stared straight ahead, her boots making crisp snaps as they struck the stone floor with each brisk stride. The sharp sound echoed in the empty halls, but Githany appeared not to care. Bane could tell that something was bothering her, but he had no idea what it could be.
They found the door to the archives open. Githany didn’t seem surprised; she passed right through without slowing down. Bane paused for only an instant before following her.
At the far side of the room, beyond the rows of shelves, she stopped and turned to face him. There was an expression he couldn’t quite decipher on her haughty but beautiful features.
He crossed to the middle of the room then stopped short when she held up her hand, palm extended. “Githany,” he said, perplexed, “what’s going—”
His words were cut off by the hollow boom of the archive door slamming shut behind him. He whirled around to see Sirak, flanked by Yevra and Llokay. The Zabrak’s pale yellow lips were pulled back in a cruel smile so wide it gave him the appearance of a grinning skull. Bane couldn’t help but notice the lightsaber handles dangling from the belts of all three.
When Githany spoke from behind him he had to resist the urge to turn and face her. It wouldn’t be wise to expose his back to the Zabrak trio.
“Why did you follow me, Bane?” she asked, her