Mandalore had been rumored to be left to starve, in his absence—a punishment, perhaps, for him being too slow in returning to known space. How that occurred so quickly, however, was a mystery. What weak wills had squandered the industry left in their wake? Where had the forges gone, the burgeoning agricultural planets claimed nearby? Supply lines that snaked through now-fractured hyperlanes, somehow to vanish? Had the stars truly seen fit to wreak so much havoc, to undo such work in such a short time..? Or was something else to blame? It had left a lengthened pause as Carduul was left to ponder a flurry of possibilities, until it was all, for the moment, discarded to address a statement directly. So many words had flown, heated exchanges and claims and rejections. He was to bring it all to a single point.
“It would seem your words may convey truth.” Came the sobering statement in turn to
Aselia Verd
, in simple admittance.
“I had thought the lines of supply were sufficient amidst the war effort. I had hoped the industry would remain long after my passing. I was not prepared for the stars to come apart, nor who remained to squander so terribly what we had started in mere months. That Arasuum would sink His influence so greedily without my presence, and see fit to bring my kin low merely for a lapse. T’would seem I should have been. If Mandalore had suffered, t’was because the galaxy saw fit to cast us adrift once more, and I did not prepare enough to mitigate such calamity. It will do so again eternally. Another lesson to learn, and the price to weigh heavily.”
His voice had softened, a soothing tone befitting that of a parent. Even in one rumored to be so full of wrath.
“Take heart; if it starved, I know others flourished. Seeds were sown in lands untarnished and cultures brought to be enlightened. New homes carved in blood for our people. You act as if I would allow my kin to starve willingly, that the forest has rotted when you see the tree at its core—but that is untrue. The Mando'ade will always survive, no matter the adversity, the banner, nor the land.” Words spoken with a measured ease, unashamed of apparent failings and achievements, both. Each a lesson to learn from, that he strove to improve upon with each waking moment.
Steps had trailed on in idle pace across the room. The poleaxe left to hold proudly at his side with a thoughtful hum to reverberate.
“My brothers and sisters in arms have been among the abyssal stars for far too long, sifting through this wretched shifting of planes. I, cast to the void to claw my way back—almost to be dragged to the path of the Rulers before me. To walk forgotten worlds and reclaim lost kin anew. As your ruler said; I was invited to return. Not to kneel, nor to rule.” A
thump of his gauntlet to crash against his chestplate, where his heart laid beneath plating.
“My pilgrimage is complete.”
Helm had snapped to snap betwixt heated exchanges; the venerable Alor
Careena Fett
to stand unashamed, as ever, met with the words given to the Rally Master.
“I did not run as a hut’uun.” A calm intonation, voice carrying with it certainty.
“I was prevented from intervention. I am grateful utter ruin was staunched, but to decry the folly of the stars as abandonment is untrue. We would never leave the Mando’ade to starve willingly, when we had burned worlds to secure them the farms and land they needed. Worlds I sought to nurture implicitly for this purpose. Nor have I casted out those with the Force as The Undying did, those given one of the few wretched weapons to properly combat our foe.”
Carduul was not subject to be caught into petty squabbles, prone to fly into a rage against such proclamations made by the newest claimant to Sole Ruler upon the throne. If whatever Clans that remained on Mandalore had rallied and claimed him Mandalore, so be it. He only saw Verd, here, just as he hadn’t seen any during the Crusade. The Clans who followed his own Anointment did so for a reason. The words of the Fett matriarch left to briefly flicker in his mind. His duty was beyond that of a title. To teach their history, and ensure it persisted. It was the duty every Mandalorian should hold. To uplift their people, devoid of outside influences. Forevermore. To abandon that without protest, would be to abandon them. To fight, would be to pointlessly harm his own over pride, with a name wreathed in shadow yet to come to their own. It was the inevitable plight of their people, to ceaselessly war amidst themselves even in the name of unity. He had saw little reason to point out flaws or argue semantics—others would see what they needed to, and choose accordingly.
Saverok
, the reckless berserker of an age far greater than himself, spoke the same wonder—were the people of Mandalore truly so bereft, that they required constant oversight? He asserted he must acknowledge or fight him. Today would be a day for neither. A hand raised for silence, his gaze remained a stoic visage upon the man across, left staring in thought before words had replied.
“Be called what you will, Aether Verd. Your efforts are nonetheless worthy of respect. Rule who follow you with even hand.” Was his matter-of-fact statement in turn, tone remaining even.
“I will be clear in reply: I’ve no need for childish rivalries over titles stripped of grace. I return not to pointlessly contest your right to sit upon that seat, but to witness what my brief absence has gestated. To remind all who would call themselves Mand’alor that it is not the throne that makes the ruler. It is the fire in his veins, the people’s faith in his arm, the temperance of the mind to see a future others cannot—qualities I hope to witness myself. I will not endanger our people further with such conflict this day, for the Clans who follow me do so to fight for their people all the same. Time will tell if something remains, or if the title is left to fall to obscurity. I wish you luck in your endeavors, should they be pure.”
The poleaxe raised and slammed into the ground with a sharp song of beskar against metal.
“The Crusade will stay the righteous sword of the Mandalorian people, to sow anew in lands unclaimed.
I must yet remain its brave souls’ Anointed.
Chosen to carry their burdens, their hopes, their rage,
for they have placed their faith unto me.”
Visor left to rest upon the individual with the weight of burdens, to be seen if it was understood. Though he was intrinsically a being of war, his gesture was not intended to spark a fight. If they wished today to be a day of unity, he only saw pain in squandering it. But he would not kneel, as had been promised. Not today.
“Let Mandalore remember its glory.
Even if only for a day.”
Aether Verd
,
Feydrik Munin
,
Runi Kuryida
,
Aselia Verd
,
Ze'bast Verd
,
Careena Fett
,
Saverok
