Star Wars_ The Han Solo Trilogy 03_ Rebel Dawn - A. C. Crispin [105]
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.
But Tervenza has sealed his own death warrant by this, Durga thought. As soon as I embark for Ylesia with his successor, he is a dead t’londa Til.…
In a hushed voice, Durga gave Teroenza instructions regarding how he wanted the body to be shipped home. “It is plain,” Durga concluded, “that we must get you better guards there on Ylesia. These Rebels must not be allowed to raid with impunity.”
Teroenza bowed again. “I agree, Your Excellency. Thank you for saying you will send us help.”
“It is the least I can do, under the circumstances,” Durga said, forcing himself to keep sarcasm from permeating his tones. “Can you manage for a few days without a Hutt overlord?”
“I can,” Teroenza said. “I shall exert every effort to make sure business runs as smoothly as ever.”
“Thank you, Teroenza,” Durga said, and cut the transmission.
He then spent several minutes giving Zier instructions on how to find a replacement for Teroenza. Fortunately, Zier was a capable administrator, able to follow orders.
Then, and only then, did Durga turn to the figure who had been standing in his office, patiently waiting, while he attended to business.
“Forgive me, Lady Guri,” Durga said, inclining his head to the lovely young human female. “I nearly forgot you were there. Most humans are incapable of waiting so patiently. They fidget.”
Guri bowed slightly in turn. “I was specially trained, Your Excellency. Prince Xizor does not like fidgeting in his subordinates.”
“Indeed,” Durga said. “As you can see, I have reviewed the information you brought, and it confirms my suspicions. Also, as you have seen, my revenge upon Teroenza must wait for a more … suitable … time. But I intend to confront Jiliac immediately and challenge her to single combat under the Old Law.”
“The Old Law?”
“It is seldom invoked these days, but it is an ancient Hutt custom that, given sufficient provocation, one Hutt clan leader may challenge another to single combat without legal repercussions. The victor is presumed to be in the right.”
“I understand, Your Excellency. Prince Xizor informed me that this was likely to be your reaction, as befits an honorable Hutt. He instructed