Shelvay watched in horror, unable to do more than crawl back into the shadows. He didn't see the armored figures skulking in the alley until they had pointed their Imperial-issue blasters at him and ordered him to remain motionless.
Tremayne had brought reinforcements.
* * *
The battle in the courtyard had reached a stalemate as the combatants circled each other warily. "Enough!" Tremayne shouted to the alley. "Troopers, kill the boy if the alien does not drop his weapon." Turning to face the Sullustan Jedi Master, Tremayne growled, "Your choice, Jedi. Surrender, and the boy lives. Resist, and he dies."
Reluctantly, Arkanian deactivated his lightsaber. "Let the boy go. He is of no use to you," Arkanian said quietly. "Free Corwin, and I will come quietly."
"I'm sure you will," Tremayne replied. In an almost leisurely movement, the High Inquisitor swung his lightsaber at the defenseless Sullustan. Arkanian fell to the ground, a shocked death gasp escaping from his lips as his deactivated lightsaber rolled away.
At last, Tremayne thought. I have finally defeated a Jedi Master. The High Inquisitor stood over the Sullustan, the human smiling with triumph as life fled from the fallen Jedi. "Well, Master Arkanian," he taunted, "it appears your journey has ended. And soon, your student will join you. Or perhaps," he added, a mocking smirk twisting his angular features, "he will join my Master. The Emperor may have use for someone as resilient as Shelvay."
Tremayne's triumph only lasted a moment. The High Inquisitor turned back toward Shelvay and realized that the haggard Jedi apprentice was no longer immobile. Tremayne felt a brief stirring in the Force - - a stirring tinged with the dark side. Shelvay stretched out his hand and Arkanian's lightsaber flew across the courtyard and into his grasp. With a harsh cry, Shelvay attacked, the blue-white saber blade hammering into Tremayne's hastily readied defense.