Star Wars_ The New Jedi Order 21_ The Unifying Force - James Luceno [85]
Some were saying that Shimrra had crossed a dangerous line—but only those who weren’t aware of the lengths to which Shimrra would go to maintain his authority, and the mental power he could bring to bear when necessary. No one privy to the methods Shimrra had used to attain the throne voiced any criticisms.
During the intergalactic journey, Shimrra—by dint of noble birth, prophecy, and divination—had been placed among a pool of candidates who might one day be eligible for consideration to succeed Supreme Overlord Quoreal on his death. All the nobles who comprised that small, privileged group had been raised as if they might one day rise to the throne. They were doted upon, fed the finest foods, trained in warfare and religion. They enjoyed every luxury. Though overseen by the high priests, the selection process was markedly similar to the way in which infant dhuryams were tested, to determine which was most capable and worthy of becoming a worldship or planetary brain.
Shimrra was at once the pride and distress of Domain Ja-maane. Early evidence of his maliciousness, he had killed his own twin at just seven years of age, to eliminate a possible competitor from entering the pool. His majestic size was attributed to the work of shapers in his domain.
Domain Jamaane also had its share of distinguished warriors, and in distant times had produced more than the usual share of Supreme Commanders, along with three warmasters. The shapers, too, were praiseworthy, as were Jamaane’s priests. Still, the domain was not generally thought to be bellicose. But as the long voyage through the void began to gnaw at everyone, Jamaane members had grown outspoken about their impatience with Quoreal, who was cautious, traditional, and had done little to keep Yuuzhan Vong society intact at a time when guidance was needed most. Even so, no one believed that Domain Jamaane would actually rise up and make a bid to usurp Quoreal’s power.
In one bold action, Shimrra’s warriors moved against Quoreal’s, executing them, along with every member of their domains. Then they did the same to Quoreal, and they put to death almost all the priests, advisers, and shapers who had supported Quoreal in his attempt to steer a course away from the newly discovered galaxy.
Others knew better than to question Shimrra, and their wisdom allowed them to live. Domains like Shai, which had lost a great warrior during an early confrontation with the inhabitants of the galaxy. And the Praetorite Vong—though their fealty to Shimrra had been nothing more than a ruse to keep secret Prefect Da’Gara’s own invasion plans. Plans that Nom Anor himself had been drawn into, to the point of assisting the Praetorite in acquiring a yammosk—even if it was a faulty one that would have been condemned to death had Nom Anor not persuaded the shapers in charge of the biot to allow him to have it, in exchange for certain favors.
If Shimrra knew, Nom Anor might even now be among the ossuary’s dying, rather than mere witness to the event.
All around him, warriors were using their amphistaffs and batons to prod greater enthusiasm from the spectators, but they roused little more than ritual cheers, because, in the arena below, things weren’t going quite as planned.
If innocent had been arrested with guilty, there would certainly have been much beseeching of forgiveness from Shimrra. Instead, the Shamed Ones were going to their deaths—being torn limb from limb, clawed and gutted, gobbled like succulent fruits, tossed about like playthings—cursing Shimrra and the elites, and crying, “Yu’shaa lives! Long live Yu’shaa!”