Star Wars_ The New Jedi Order_ Dark Tide 02_ Ruin - Michael A. Stackpole [28]
Shedao’s thumb pressed up along the man’s jaw, slipping past the curve of the bone, touching the skull right behind his ear. The two combatants watched each other, both knowing that with a simple increase of pressure Shedao Shai would pop the man’s skull free of his spine, killing him. The man, with spittle flecking his lips and beginning to ooze down into the Yuuzhan Vong’s gauntlet, nodded again, daring Shedao to kill him.
The Yuuzhan Vong commander shook his head once, then cast the man toward the two warriors who were overseeing the work group. “Take this one to the priests. Have them prepare him. If he survives, he will be of use.”
The two warriors each grabbed an arm and bowed respectfully, tugging the man back down the street.
Shedao Shai allowed them to get ten paces away, then added, “And while there, ask the priests for a regimen of contemplation for warriors who are slothful.”
The warriors bowed again and set off, but at a pace noticeably quicker than before.
Deign Lian, his direct subordinate, resumed his place a half pace behind Shedao, at his left hand. “Was that wise, my leader?”
“Easily as wise as your questioning my judgment, here, in the streets.” Shedao Shai was pleased that his face mask hid the crooked smile born of Deign’s flinching at that remark. “The warriors will return chastened, enlightened, and more dedicated to their duty.”
“It was not that, Commander, but sending the man off with them. He attempted to murder you. The other slaves will see his survival and exaltation as a license to try to kill you again.”
Shedao Shai continued his tour down the broad Dubrillion street in silence, knowing his lack of an answer would weigh more heavily on his aide than any rebuke. The destruction caused by the conquest of Dubrillion had not been overwhelming. Much of the cityscape was recognizable, and the work details were making much headway in clearing debris. Soon the slaves would be trained in how to use gricha to repair minor damage, and gragricha would be brought in to produce proper Yuuzhan Vong buildings.
“I believe, Deign Domain Lian, you are looking past the obvious to explore a realm we may never approach. Your question presumes the slave will survive inculcation. We do not know this. Yes, I chose him because he had spirit. He didn’t shy from pain. More importantly, he wanted me to kill him. He had embraced his insignificance, which means our inculcation can give him new significance. He is a vessel ready to be filled with the truth of the universe. If he can contain what he learns, he will be of great use to us.”
“This I understand, Commander Shedao Domain Shai.” Deign bowed his head as he spoke.
His using Shedao’s full, formal title—aping Shedao’s formality—acknowledged his subordinate status. Shedao knew this acknowledgment was halfhearted at best. Domain Lian wished for a return to its former days of glory, and Deign was its best chance for such a return. In his aide Shedao had a feral amphistaff clutched to his breast, and he knew he would feel the sting of its bite when he could least afford it.
“Perhaps then what you do not understand is that despite the work of our agents like Nom Anor, we do not know our foe well at all. This New Republic is curious in how it approaches warfare.”
“They are cowards at heart, my leader.”
“To make that judgment so coldly, Deign Lian, is to deny that we have much to learn.” Shedao glanced left, catching a spark of hatred in his aide’s eyes. “Enlightenment is always useful, and we need more, much more, concerning these people.”
Shedao Shai ignored Deign’s fatuous mouthings about his wisdom. The New Republic and its response to the Yuuzhan Vong invasion had him puzzled. Nom Anor had provided a succinct political analysis of the situation within the New