The Family That Preys | Vitalis/Fortan

[Natasi Fortan]

​

It was remarkable what could happen in a month.

The coup in Calavar, Thaddeus' negotiation with the Sith Imperials, and his inauguration as Grand Duke of Galidraan had taken place over the span of a month. But between the last two: disaster. Thaddeus' elder brother, Talbot, the Duke of Foxfield, died from his wounds sustained during combat at Dagobah. It was a hideous time. Despite their rivalry and the tension inherent in their relationship because of their class and familial status, Talbot's death wounded Thad deeply. Underneath all of it, there was a foundation of love and brothership, but it was broken now.

As hard as it had been for Thaddeus, it had been his mother and his sister that suffered the most. [member="Petra Vitalis"] had been very close to Talbot when they were growing up; the elder brother had doted on the girl and they had corresponded regularly during times of separation. Petra had been inconsolable since it happened, confining herself to her rooms at Foxfield Park or her apartment in Southport. In fact, the ride from Galidraan to Dosuun was the most he had seen of her at once since they had heard the news; it was too bad that Thaddeus was busy responding to official correspondence to talk with her, but there would be plenty of time when they touched down. It would be important that the family form a united front, reinforce one another. The battles that would follow would be difficult, but together the Vitalises could face down anything.

Even Natasi Fortan.

The Grand Moff was used to getting her own way and had not been afraid to go toe-to-toe with Talbot to get it, but she would find that her brother-in-law was much less flexible. The first hurdle would be Talbot's remains; they belonged in the family crypt at Foxfield, not on some damp, temperate little rock in the ass-end of the galaxy. Natasi had plans that he would be laid to rest with her in her own crypt in something she called Founders' Corner -- whatever the hell that was. But Dosuun was not Talbot's home; the First Order were not his people. His affection for Natasi and his pride had dragged the family name through the mud when the engagement was broken and now it had gotten him killed. Thaddeus would not stand to see his brother consigned to the dustbin of history in some godforsaken public park in Avalonia -- a world without history, without significance, without import.

Or charm, as far as he was concerned. The shuttle lurched as it came out of hyperspace and Thaddeus glanced out the viewport. The rather uninspiring, cloud-mottled green-blue world, when viewed from high orbit as he did now, did nothing to change his opinion.

He tucked his papers away, locked them in his attaché case and put the case with his luggage, then emerged from the office, straightening his tie. Petra sat, staring out the window, while their mother was pouring a glass of wine from the bar up front. She offered him the bottle; he demurred. Thaddeus sat next to Petra, put a hand over hers. "Are you going to be all right?" he asked her, leaning over to put his chin on her shoulder. She didn't look away from the window. "Are you ready -- if it goes poorly? It won't be easy."

 

[Natasi Fortan]

She had only seen Dosuun once before, during a brief visit to her brother and sister-in-law during Life Day. She did not share her brother's view; what had once been a backwater world of limited importance had been built into something tremendous in the last decade. Avalonia reminded her a lot of Calavar: peaceful but bustling, a prosperous cultural, financial, and commercial center. How much truth was in the official story -- that [member="Natasi Fortan Vitalis"] had commanded a city to rise from the plains of Dosuun -- Petra couldn't say, but she recognized her sister-in-law in certain elements: the waterworks, the order, the natural spaces. She was by all accounts a force of nature, which meant the visit to follow would be difficult all around, not just because they were coming together to mark the end of her beloved brother's life.

Petra watched as Dosuun swelled in the viewport, going from softball-sized to football-sized to planet-sized rapidly as the zippy little shuttle raced towards planetfall. She didn't turn when her brother sat in the seat next to her but wondered if he could feel her flinch when his hand covered hers. She drew a silk handkerchief from her sleeve and dabbed at her cheeks. "I'll have to be all right," she replied, her voice clouded with tears. At first, she had hated that she was unable to keep control of her emotions; the effort of remaining calm and collected had quite overwhelmed her in a way that was decidedly un-Galidraani. But she was beyond caring now. "We all will," she said.

The next question was something different. He was asking if she was ready to fight if it came to it. She wanted Talbot's remains to come home, but she also recognized that she wasn't his only family; he had had a wife and a son who had every right to have an opinion on the matter. Thaddeus was willing to go to war over it, but Petra didn't know that she was. "I think we should all be prepared," she answered, finally turning her head to look at [member="Thaddeus Vitalis"]. "There's more at play here than just what you and I want."

 

[Natasi Fortan]

Thaddeus examined his sister's face for a moment, his jaw setting for a moment. "You're right. It's not just about what we want. We have George to think of."

The infant, not yet a year old, had been the Duke of Galidraan since the moment his father died by a matter of law. It would be nearly two decades before he would be old enough -- wise enough -- to run the estate. And two decades was a long time to have the child be under the influence of someone -- at least someone who wasn't Thaddeus himself. It wouldn't do for someone like Natasi Fortan to be the sole, or even the major, influence on the infant Duke. And to have Natasi lording over Foxfield Park like some kind of chatelain...

His fingernails dug into his palms as his face twisted in disgust at the notion. It was entirely out of the question.

"Things are different in Herevan. There may have been time if Talbot had lived longer -- " He squeezed Petra's shoulder as she squelched a sob. " -- time to train her in the ways of how things are done in Foxfield. So she wouldn't try to change it into Herevan, or worse, Avalonia. And I refuse to allow some far-flung caretaker who will try to run things from a distance. Someone needs to be on site, stuck in. And anyway, we're not going to banish mother from the dower house and they're not going to share or there would be wigs on the green." A pause. "You know: figuratively."

This drew a huff of amusement from Petra's nostrils.

 

[Natasi Fortan]

The shuttle touched down not long after and Petra stood, allowing her brother to help her on with her coat. When the ramp lowered, a gust of cold winter air rushed in, rustling their coats. The three stepped off the shuttle and were greeted by a chauffeur in hunter green Fortan livery, who bowed in greeting before inviting them to step into a limousine landspeeder. They did and were driven away from the spaceport. Petra glanced out the window and was surprised to see a First Order stormtrooper escort on the left side. She looked to the right and saw the same.

Thaddeus, who caught the look, offered a comforting smile. "No doubt they're here for our protection and as a show of goodwill."

Petra hid her scowl by pulling the high-necked cowl and suppressing a shudder. She looked beyond the guard, at the passing scenery. It was pleasant and cold, as this hemisphere of Dosuun was in the throes of a chilly winter. A light snow blanketed the countryside and the sparse buildings. Soon, in the front windshield, Herevan Place loomed. It did not resemble Herevan Hold except, perhaps, for the large fountain that dominated the front of the area.

The gates swung open and the car slowly approached the front of the house. As they got closer, Petra spotted her sister-in-law standing at the base of the stout staircase that led to the main doorway. She was a slender column of black; Petra was surprised to see that she wasn't even wearing a coat. As they drew closer, Petra saw that Natasi was staring into the middle distance; she didn't move, and even the wind didn't seem able to stir her more than the gentle rustle of her dress. She looked pale; paler than normal, almost white. Petra's heart wrenched painfully at the sight. As they slowed to a halt, a small group of servants stepped out to flank the door, one on each of the stairs. The limousine stopped, and a footman opened the door. It was only as they climbed out of the car that Natasi finally turned.

 

[Natasi Fortan]

Thaddeus mounted the steps and approached his sister-in-law. "Sister," he said flatly, his eyes cold as he studied her. She was a portrait in grief, the shadows under her eyes the only color in her pale face. "Or should I say Your Excellency." He looked past her into the house. "It doesn't look very much like Herevan, but then I only visited once. Perhaps there's more to it. I'd like to see my brother now," he said coldly, and pushed past her into the foyer.

It was, perhaps, too cold and too pushy, but he didn't much care. He had no intention of letting the blow fall by degrees where Natasi Fortan was concerned. It wouldn't do to let her think she was going to get her way.

Natasi came in, muttered to Mr. Hendersmith the butler, then led the Vitalises through the house to the conservatory, where all the furniture and effects had been removed from the room except a table at the center, upon which sat the urn containing Talbot's ashes.