She wasn't sure what to say next, so she said nothing.
'You once told me the Masters didn't know everything,' Bane continued. 'You meant the Jedi Masters at the time, but I'm starting to believe it applies to the Sith, as well.'
'They were wrong to turn their backs on you,' she said, seeing the opportunity she had long been waiting for. 'But you have to place your blame where it belongs. We both know who is responsible for doing this to you.'
'Sirak,' he said, spitting out the name as if it were poison.
'He must pay for what he did to you, Bane. We've waited long enough. It's time.'
'Time for what?'
Githany allowed the hint of a tremor into her voice. 'Tomorrow morning I'm going to challenge him in the dueling ring.'
'What?' Bane shook his head. 'Don't be stupid, Githany! He'll destroy you!'
Perfect, she thought. 'I have no choice, Bane,' she said gravely. 'I've already told you I don't believe in the legend of the Sith'ari. Sirak may be the top student in the school, but he's not invincible.'
'He may not be the Sith'ari, but he's still too strong for you. You can't face him in the dueling ring, Githany. I've studied him; I know how good he is. You can't beat him.'
She let his words hang in the air for a long time before dropping her head in defeat. 'What other choice is there? We have to destroy him, and the only way is by facing him in the dueling ring.'
Bane didn't reply right away; she knew he was mulling over another solution. They both knew there was only one possible course of action, one answer he would inevitably come to. They'd have to kill Sirak outside the ring. Assassinate him. It was a blatant violation of the Academy's rules, and the consequences would be severe if they were caught.
That's why it had to be Bane who came up with the idea. Once it was out there, Githany was confident she could maneuver him into performing the actual deed by himself. It was the perfect plan: get rid of Sirak and have Bane assume all the risk.
Later she could 'accidentally' tip off the Masters about Bane's involvement… if she needed to. She wasn't so sure about that part of her plan anymore, though. She wasn't convinced she wanted to betray Bane. But she didn't mind manipulating him.
He drew in a long breath, gathering himself to speak. She prepared herself to give a very convincing, and very contrived, exclamation of surprise.
'You can't face Sirak in the ring, but I can,' he said.
'What?' Githany's surprise was completely genuine. 'He nearly beat you to death last time! He'll kill you for sure this time!'
'This time I intend to win.'
The way he spoke made Githany realize she was missing something. 'What's going on, Bane?' she demanded.
He hesitated a moment before admitting, 'I've been training with Lord Kas'im in secret.'
That made sense, she saw. In fact, she should have figured it out on her own. Maybe you would have if, if you hadn't let Bane get to you, she chided herself. You knew you were starting to have feelings for him; you let them cloud your judgment.
Out loud she said, 'I don't like being played for a fool, Bane.'
'Neither do I,' he said. 'I'm not stupid, Githany. I know what you wanted from me. I know what you expected me to say. I will get my revenge on Sirak. But I'm taking my own path.'
Without even realizing it she had begun chewing on her lower lip. 'When?'
'Tomorrow morning. Just as you said you were going to.'
'But you know I wasn't serious.'
'And you know I am.'
Unbidden, Githany's finger began to twine itself in a lock of her hair. She pulled her arm down sharply as soon as she realized what she was doing.
Bane reached out a hand and let it rest gently on her shoulder. 'You don't have to worry,' he reassured her. 'Nobody will know you were involved.'
'That's not what I'm worried about,' she whispered.
He tilted his head to one side, studying her closely to see if she was being honest with him. Much to her own surprise, she actually was.
Bane must have sensed her sincerity, because he leaned in close and kissed her softly on the lips. He drew back slowly, letting his hand slip from her shoulder. Without another word, he rose to his feet and made his way toward the door leading out of the archives.
She watched him go in silence, then at the last second called out, 'Good luck, Bane. Be careful.'
He stopped as if he'd taken a blaster bolt in the throat, his body rigid. 'I will,' he replied without looking back. And then he was gone.
Moments later Githany felt her face burning. She absently brushed away a tear coiling down her cheek, then brought her hand up slowly, staring in disbelief at the moisture smeared across her palm.
Disgusted at her own weakness, she wiped the tear away on the folds of her cloak. She stood up from the chair and threw her shoulders back, bracing her spine and holding her head high and proud.
