Star Wars_ X-Wing 03_ The Krytos Trap - Michael A. Stackpole [73]
“Powerful, really?”
“She was able to bring you, wasn’t she?”
Gavin frowned and drank again, killing the need for an immediate reply. I know she didn’t bring me as a trophy—she told me that much and I believe her. “You make it sound as if she’s trying to annoy some of the folks here.”
“Not the impression I meant to make, I’m afraid. Asyr is something of a renegade. She went to school with Liska and some of the others.”
“I know. She told me.”
“I’m sure she did. That school, however, was meant to prepare her for a life as a trader or in a governmental position. Without her family’s permission she transmitted an application to the Bothan Martial Academy and was accepted. She did very well there, and her family is very proud of her accomplishments, but they wonder when she will abandon what they see as adventurism and get a real career.”
Gavin’s smile returned to his face. “I doubt that will happen very soon. Asyr seems very at home in the squadron.”
“Don’t underestimate the pull of the Bothan family structure. Their families are very tightly bound together.”
“Nothing wrong with that.”
Herrit nodded, then looked toward his wife and paled. Gavin followed his gaze and saw a trio of male Bothans approaching them. The leader stood as tall as Gavin, though he did not have Gavin’s bulk. Creamy white fur and golden eyes contrasted with the black uniform he wore. His subordinates wore similar uniforms, but their fur was a motley riot of orange and black.
The lead Bothan stopped right in front of Gavin, but did not offer a hand in greeting. “I am Karka Kre’fey, grandson of General Laryn Kre’fey. You were with Rogue Squadron at Borleias?”
“I was.” Setting his ale on the bar, Gavin aped Karka’s stance by grasping his hands together at the small of his back. “Is there something I can do for you?”
“Reports on the assault suggest my grandfather was poorly prepared for the assault and made foolish decisions in the battle.”
“And?”
The Bothan’s golden eyes burned with anger. “I would know if you feel these reports are correct.”
Gavin ignored the gasp from Herrit. “In my opinion, they are.”
Karka’s open-handed slap arrived with no warning and caught Gavin over the left cheek, snapping his head around. Gavin staggered back a step, but the bar kept him from going down. He grabbed onto it with his hands, then straightened up slowly. He wanted to shake his head to kill the ringing in his ears, but he stopped himself and instead looked Karka hard in the eyes.
“I understand your being upset over your grandfather’s death.”
“I am upset because you have besmirched his honor.”
“Be that as it may, don’t slap me again.”
“Or?”
Herrit stepped forward. “Please, let’s not have an altercation here.”
Gavin reached out and grabbed Herrit by the back of the neck. He directed the diplomat back to his place at the bar. “We’re not going to have a fight, sir.”
Karka’s lip curled back in a snarl. “You have sullied the honor of the Kre’fey family. I challenge you to a duel.”
Gavin shook his head slowly. “No.”
“You refuse to accept?”
“I will not fight you.”
“Then you are a coward.”
Gavin laughed aloud. Just a year previous he would have leaped on Karka and done his best to pummel him, but his time with Rogue Squadron had changed him so that was not an option. Actually, it is an option, but not one I’m compelled to choose. In the last year Wedge and Corran and even Tycho had impressed upon him the fact that what others thought and said didn’t matter—it was the person inside and what he thought of himself that mattered. That’s what allows Tycho to endure everything he’s going through. He’s got a quiet kind of courage that doesn’t require boasts and defenses because it’s the courage that kicks in when it’s really needed.
While part of him still wanted to know the satisfaction of using his fist to disassociate Karka’s teeth from their sockets, another part of him reveled in his freedom to ignore