To Court a Queen.pdf

had selected several candidates for the Drempitu Ma because she really didn’t have much of a choice inthe matter. Travees Yermott, the Rugana oil heir from Hapes 6 presented himself as the perfect,pompous idiot. Every tabloid and gossip column selected him as their golden boy for increasingcirculation sales resulting in his handsome face being plastered everywhere. From a personalstandpoint, Tenel Ka found the man physically to be attractive, but believed him to be a vapid and selfindulgentperson. However, had she not selected the Galaxy’s most eligible bachelor she would havetipped her hat as to where her heart truly existed in this whole ritual. She chose him from merely apublicity standpoint, knowing that her people would be pleased to see a local man in the running.The next three men managed to distinguish themselves from the rest of the pack by several uniquequalities they possessed. Wesset Loorie the fruit heir on Glova presented her, not with jewels, but withseveral large baskets of exquisite, fresh fruit that she in turn immediately shared with everyone in theroom. He was humble and unassuming. He was short, leather-tanned, with blond hair bleached nearlywhite from hours spent tending to his pastures. Tenel Ka liked his rigorous work ethic and frankopenness. She found nothing physically attractive about Wesset.Contestant three on her list, Quentiss Relinigow the topaz heir of Ord Mantell was boisterous,flamboyant and charming in a clumsy way. Sporting a mop of shocking purple hair, Quentiss presentedthe Queen with several fine necklaces made from his families mined blue topazes. The ease in which hemerrily chatted about his family and his love of his planet helped Tenel Ka to like the man immediately.His friendly demeanor promised for several evenings that would not be dull.The fourth man on her list, Viktrok Arelitu, the Bacta software entrepreneur from Thyferra was awillowy man who did not smile once during his presentation. Serious to the point of being viewed asdroll, the man’s intellect impregnated the air. Viktrok explained how he discovered a way to predict theexact lifespan of bacta with his inventive software. He ran a fascinating running monologue about thecomputer infrastructure of the Hapes system and how he felt that its performance could be greatlyenhanced. Tenel Ka found absolutely nothing physically attractive about the man, but viewed him as awonderful source and ally for helping to enhance the technology of her Cluster. She chose him in hopesof maintaining a great connection for her system’s computer infrastructure.Exhaling a deep breath, Tenel Ka rubbed her right palm across her forehead. Brukos Olissian, Tenel Kathought. Her palms immediately began to sweat and her heart flopped in her chest as the name from herfar past invaded her conscience. She didn’t quite know what to make of her childhood chum showingup and presenting himself as a self-made multi-billionaire vying for her hand in marriage. Memories ofthem racing through the dangerous forests of Dathomir together surged in her mind. Being an onlychild, Tenel Ka often felt as though Brukos was as much a brother as a best friend. She found it difficultto separate the boy from the man who presented himself before her tonight.As a young girl on Dathomir, Tenel Ka learned the value of hiding her emotions and intensely studyingthe serious and structured life of becoming a Dathomir warrior. Out of her endless hours spent definingher body and warrior mental techniques, Brukos was always there as her foil and means to escape herrigorous training schedules. Unlike most boys on her planet, Brukos showed very little fear of women.Most of the boys would huddle and play together while they were completely ignored by the girls.Brukos actively pursued Tenel Ka as a playmate from early on. Tenel Ka always excelled at swimmingand Brukos was the only person close to her in age who could beat or match her strength in distanceand time. And once, together they took down a six-foot Dathomirian cobra when they were only eightyearolds.