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The Books of Oyja I: The Tenju
Chapter 5 The Big Mistake

Padawan Kino picked up a walking stick that had symbols of power etched into it. She had made it herself. Careful work had brought out what, I thought, was a masterpiece. Since I was a Slave, Kino didn’t take much heed of my words. I sat on a wooden bench as she twirled the walking stick with her fingers. Kuhn Tenju had been practicing with Kino for hours on end. Still, Kino said she needed more practice.

I picked up a silver dagger. The handle had the skin of a Rodian on it and I loved it very much. Waving it back and forth I could tell it held much power. Kino was impressed by my skill but would never say so out loud. I felt like a good fight. There wasn’t much to do and I was getting restless.

“Padawan Kino,” I said and she turned to me. “Are you up for a little battle? You’ve been practicing and I think it would be a good idea if you practiced, on a living target.”

“A Slave is of no worth, Oyja, I would rather eat a Bantha.” Kino replied. I knew she would love to kill me and so she wanted the battle. Kino made a light appear above the walking stick. It turned red then black and I felt heat come off it. She wanted me dead! But she didn’t want to drop out of Kuhn’s favor. “This room needs to be cleaned up, Slave Oyja.” I took my cue.

I looked at all the broken objects on the floor. Some were ancient while others were practically brand new. There were magical items that could take on different forms, an excellent way to practice. I conjured up a dustpan and Kino mentally slapped me. “You will not use magic! You are a Slave!” I couldn’t argue, so I looked around for a broom. I found one and started to sweep.

Most of the objects were hard to sweep up, since they cut through the broom. I got some gloves and threw those pieces out of the window. Kino was just looking at the walking stick. If I got my hands on that I could get out of here! But I was bound by my name. If I could change that, I would be free!

As soon as I was done Kino walked up to me. Her scaly green skin reflected false daylight. “I think you may wonder what brought you down this path. Anyone would, even a Slave. I want you to know about the deal you made.”

“The deal with Kuhn Tenju.” I growled. I felt like spitting on his name and reputation. I wanted to ruin it! Bring it all down!

“Yes.” Kino said. “Whenever you make a deal with a Tenju, your soul is forfeit. That is one of the great hidden rules about Tenju deals.”

I was surprised. What dumb society did I get taken into? “You mean, just because I made a deal with a Tenju my soul gets taken?”

“The only ones that would make a deal with a Tenju, are the weak. The ones that seek power for power’s sake.” Kino grasped the walking stick tightly. Hate boiled in her soul, or what she had of one. I did not like this Falleen.

“So you’re weak, Kino?” I asked and she hissed in reply. “How else could you have gotten here? You said only the weak come and you’re a Padawan. My thought is only logical.”

“ I am not weak, Slave Oyja. I do not share your fate.” Kino stopped outside at a ruined garden. “Clean this garden up, Oyja.” Without any choice, I set to work.

The work was very boring. Granted, the vegetation was exotic but it was lacking soul. I saw a fellow Slave come to me. Her name was Slave Kiem. Kiem was a Twi’lek and was very loyal, which was her major fault. She never questioned anyone whom she admired. I questioned even the people I trusted. Kiem stood looking at me. “Are you going to help or just stand there?” I asked.

“ I was not asked to help you, Oyja. I just felt like coming here because it’s one of my few free times.” She sighed. She touched a blackened bush with silver in its branches. “I loved this garden before it was destroyed. I cherished it, but now it’s gone.” Kiem was referring to the two Padawans that had battled here before. I considered those two lower than myself.

“It was wonderful.” I said. The sky was getting darker. “The bushes used to light up the night and show people the way. The garden enjoyed Slaves, Padawans, and Tenju! If only places like this could last. If only the good we know could stay. If only we could overthrow our Masters!” I was surprised at what I had said.

“Slave Oyja, our Masters care for us! They give us shelter and food.” Kiem replied.

“In our sweat and blood. How honorable is it for us to throw down our lives for people that don’t care for us at all? They only use us to better themselves.”

“But why? How did someone like Kino become a Padawan? She was once a Slave, like us.” That got me thinking. Why would they promote people they thought as good as dirt, or whatever the dirt here really was. “Oh, Oyja, Kuhn Tenju wants to see you.” I groaned. I quickly finished up my work and left for Kuhn.

I met Kuhn Tenju in a fabulous ballroom. Tables lined with exotic foods were by the walls. You could see where the band was going to play and Kuhn was standing in the middle of the room. Walking over I bowed to him. I felt a fire raging through me and I was surprised at my own outward calmness.

“I know your troubles, Slave Oyja, and I also know how well you’re doing. You are doing better than Padawan Kino. You are one of the most independent Slaves.” I was wary of Kuhn’s praise. What was his trap? “Do you know how a Slave becomes a Padawan?”

“No.” I replied. This question had always troubled me. How Padawans, who were once Slaves, could treat their former position so badly.

“The difference between a Padawan and a Slave is simply the mindset. A true Slave never questions their masters, but a Padawan does. I hear you’ve been questioning quite a lot lately.” Kuhn smiled. “Just as I imagined. A Padawan also has great magical potential. Strength in both areas is needed. Do you want to do battle?” I was shocked! A Tenju asking to fight me!

I picked up my dagger and watched it glowed. The green handle sparkled and I went into attack position. But Kuhn only stood there. It looked like he could wait forever. Looking over him I plunged, but then was pushed back suddenly. I then threw all my focus onto mental protection and was knocked out by Kuhn’s fist.

I woke up in a hospital wing. Kino’s Falleen form looked down on me, angrily. I had a giant bruise on the side of my head, but I was slowly coming around. “Slave Oyja, I have something to say to you from Kuhn Tenju.” Kino said, and I listened intently. “You have the potential to become a Padawan and your Slavehood is soon ending.”

Description
The Books of Oyja I: The Tenju
Chapter 5 The Big Mistake

Padawan Kino picked up a walking stick that had symbols of power etched into it. She had made it herself. Careful work had brought out what, I thought, was a masterpiece. Since I was a Slave, Kino didn’t take much heed of my words. I sat on a wooden bench as she twirled the walking stick with her fingers. Kuhn Tenju had been practicing with Kino for hours on end. Still, Kino said she needed more practice.

I picked up a silver dagger. The handle had the skin of a Rodian on it and I loved it very much. Waving it back and forth I could tell it held much power. Kino was impressed by my skill but would never say so out loud. I felt like a good fight. There wasn’t much to do and I was getting restless.

“Padawan Kino,” I said and she turned to me. “Are you up for a little battle? You’ve been practicing and I think it would be a good idea if you practiced, on a living target.”

“A Slave is of no worth, Oyja, I would rather eat a Bantha.” Kino replied. I knew she would love to kill me and so she wanted the battle. Kino made a light appear above the walking stick. It turned red then black and I felt heat come off it. She wanted me dead! But she didn’t want to drop out of Kuhn’s favor. “This room needs to be cleaned up, Slave Oyja.” I took my cue.

I looked at all the broken objects on the floor. Some were ancient while others were practically brand new. There were magical items that could take on different forms, an excellent way to practice. I conjured up a dustpan and Kino mentally slapped me. “You will not use magic! You are a Slave!” I couldn’t argue, so I looked around for a broom. I found one and started to sweep.

Most of the objects were hard to sweep up, since they cut through the broom. I got some gloves and threw those pieces out of the window. Kino was just looking at the walking stick. If I got my hands on that I could get out of here! But I was bound by my name. If I could change that, I would be free!

As soon as I was done Kino walked up to me. Her scaly green skin reflected false daylight. “I think you may wonder what brought you down this path. Anyone would, even a Slave. I want you to know about the deal you made.”

“The deal with Kuhn Tenju.” I growled. I felt like spitting on his name and reputation. I wanted to ruin it! Bring it all down!

“Yes.” Kino said. “Whenever you make a deal with a Tenju, your soul is forfeit. That is one of the great hidden rules about Tenju deals.”

I was surprised. What dumb society did I get taken into? “You mean, just because I made a deal with a Tenju my soul gets taken?”

“The only ones that would make a deal with a Tenju, are the weak. The ones that seek power for power’s sake.” Kino grasped the walking stick tightly. Hate boiled in her soul, or what she had of one. I did not like this Falleen.

“So you’re weak, Kino?” I asked and she hissed in reply. “How else could you have gotten here? You said only the weak come and you’re a Padawan. My thought is only logical.”

“ I am not weak, Slave Oyja. I do not share your fate.” Kino stopped outside at a ruined garden. “Clean this garden up, Oyja.” Without any choice, I set to work.

The work was very boring. Granted, the vegetation was exotic but it was lacking soul. I saw a fellow Slave come to me. Her name was Slave Kiem. Kiem was a Twi’lek and was very loyal, which was her major fault. She never questioned anyone whom she admired. I questioned even the people I trusted. Kiem stood looking at me. “Are you going to help or just stand there?” I asked.

“ I was not asked to help you, Oyja. I just felt like coming here because it’s one of my few free times.” She sighed. She touched a blackened bush with silver in its branches. “I loved this garden before it was destroyed. I cherished it, but now it’s gone.” Kiem was referring to the two Padawans that had battled here before. I considered those two lower than myself.

“It was wonderful.” I said. The sky was getting darker. “The bushes used to light up the night and show people the way. The garden enjoyed Slaves, Padawans, and Tenju! If only places like this could last. If only the good we know could stay. If only we could overthrow our Masters!” I was surprised at what I had said.

“Slave Oyja, our Masters care for us! They give us shelter and food.” Kiem replied.

“In our sweat and blood. How honorable is it for us to throw down our lives for people that don’t care for us at all? They only use us to better themselves.”

“But why? How did someone like Kino become a Padawan? She was once a Slave, like us.” That got me thinking. Why would they promote people they thought as good as dirt, or whatever the dirt here really was. “Oh, Oyja, Kuhn Tenju wants to see you.” I groaned. I quickly finished up my work and left for Kuhn.

I met Kuhn Tenju in a fabulous ballroom. Tables lined with exotic foods were by the walls. You could see where the band was going to play and Kuhn was standing in the middle of the room. Walking over I bowed to him. I felt a fire raging through me and I was surprised at my own outward calmness.

“I know your troubles, Slave Oyja, and I also know how well you’re doing. You are doing better than Padawan Kino. You are one of the most independent Slaves.” I was wary of Kuhn’s praise. What was his trap? “Do you know how a Slave becomes a Padawan?”

“No.” I replied. This question had always troubled me. How Padawans, who were once Slaves, could treat their former position so badly.

“The difference between a Padawan and a Slave is simply the mindset. A true Slave never questions their masters, but a Padawan does. I hear you’ve been questioning quite a lot lately.” Kuhn smiled. “Just as I imagined. A Padawan also has great magical potential. Strength in both areas is needed. Do you want to do battle?” I was shocked! A Tenju asking to fight me!

I picked up my dagger and watched it glowed. The green handle sparkled and I went into attack position. But Kuhn only stood there. It looked like he could wait forever. Looking over him I plunged, but then was pushed back suddenly. I then threw all my focus onto mental protection and was knocked out by Kuhn’s fist.

I woke up in a hospital wing. Kino’s Falleen form looked down on me, angrily. I had a giant bruise on the side of my head, but I was slowly coming around. “Slave Oyja, I have something to say to you from Kuhn Tenju.” Kino said, and I listened intently. “You have the potential to become a Padawan and your Slavehood is soon ending.”