THE SHATTERED PEACE

CHAPTER 1

Obi-Wan Kenobi peered through the dense cloud cover, hoping to  catch

a glimpse of the surface of the planet Rutan. All he saw was a  thick  gray

mist that swirled around the starship, forming tiny droplets that  trickled

down the viewport.

He stretched out his legs impatiently. He was anxious  to  arrive  on

the planet and start the mission. It had been a long journey from Coruscant

- his muscles felt cramped  and  he  longed  for  fresh  air.  Their  small

starship, on loan from the Senate, had needed repairs, which  had  added  a

full day to their journey.

Noting his restless movement, his Master, Qui-Gon  Jinn,  glanced  at

him. "Control your impatience, Obi-Wan," he remarked. "The  mission  begins

before it starts, when we can prepare for what lies ahead."

Obi-Wan suppressed a sigh. Qui-Gon was a Jedi Master, and his  wisdom

was legendary. His advice usually made sense after Obi-Wan thought about it

a moment. But sometimes it could be difficult to follow. Especially when he

had been sitting in a transport for three days, waiting to get somewhere.

Qui-Gon gave him a short smile. The good thing about Obi-Wan's Master

was that even while he chided Obi-Wan's impatience,  he  understood  it  as

well.

"So let us review what we know  about  the  mission  ahead,"  Qui-Gon

suggested. "Information is preparation. What do we know about  the  history

of Rutan and Senali?"

"Senali  is  an  orbiting  satellite  of  Rutan,"  Obi-Wan   recited,

remembering the information Jedi Master Yoda  had  provided  them  back  on

Coruscant. "Now it is a separate world with its own government, but it  was

a colony of Rutan for  many  years.  The  two  worlds  fought  a  long  and

difficult war that took its toll on both populations. The war  was  won  by

the satellite Senali in a surprising upset."

Obi-Wan stopped as his attention swerved and memory took over. Months

ago, he had been involved in a civil war on the planet of  Melida/Daan.  In

that conflict, the side with  fewer  weapons  and  lesser  power  had  won,

surprising not only the other side, but the galaxy. He knew  firsthand  how

resolve and cunning could win out over superior forces.

"And what happened after that?" Qui-Gon prompted, breaking  into  his

thoughts.

"Since the war  was  devastating  to  both  worlds,  a  unique  peace

agreement was decided upon. The firstborn children of the  rulers  of  both

Rutan and Senali are exchanged when each child reaches seven years of  age.

The child is brought up on  the  neighboring  planet,  but  is  allowed  to

receive visitors and go for short visits to his or her home planet, as well

as be in contact with the royal family. This is so that he or she does  not

forget his or her birth family or duty."

"And what happens when the child is sixteen?" Qui-Gon prompted.

"The child is allowed to return to his or her home planet in order to

be  groomed  for  leadership,"  the  thirteen-year-old  Padawan   answered.

"Another member of the ruling family takes his or her place until the  next

generation is born."

"It's an interesting solution to the  problem  of  maintaining  peace

between two old enemies," Qui-Gon mused. "The thinking is that  the  leader

of each world will not attack a planet where his or her child is  residing.

But the plan has a flaw that the rulers didn't take into account."

"What is that?" Obi-Wan asked.

"Feelings," Qui-Gon answered. "Loyalties are formed  in  your  heart,

not born in you. Emotion can't be ruled. Both leaders thought that if their

children were with them for their first  seven  years,  that  would  ensure

their loyalty. But one can be loyal to one's home planet  and  yet  want  a

different life."

"Like Prince Leed," Obi-Wan said. "He has lived on Senali for  almost

ten years. He does not want to return to Rutan."

Again, Obi-Wan thought back to his experience on Melida/Daan. He  had

wanted to join that society and live there. But even though he had made the

choice to do so, he had not given up his loyalty to the Temple. Others  had

not seen it that way. He sensed that he would understand the torn  feelings

of Prince Leed.

"Or at least Leed  claims  he  wants  to  stay  on  Senali,"  Qui-Gon

amended. "That's what we're here to  find  out.  His  father  believes  the

Senali are forcing him to stay. That's why the Senate fears  that  the  two

worlds will go to war again."

The mist began to break into patches of cloud. A large city  appeared

beneath them.

"That must be Testa, the capital  city,"  Qui-Gon  said.  "The  royal

grounds of the king are on the outskirts."

Suddenly a warning light flashed on the control panel.

"I was afraid of this," Qui-Gon murmured. "Thanks to our detour,  our

fuel is very low."

He guided the craft closer to the planet's  surface.  They  left  the

city behind and began to glide  above  a  field  of  stubby,  straw-colored

grass. A warning alarm pinged.

"We're losing fuel fast.  I  can't  make  it  to  the  royal  landing

platform," Qui-Gon said. He checked the coordinates. "If we  land  on  this

field, we won't be far from the palace. We're close enough to walk."

Obi-Wan flicked the controls that would prepare the ship for landing.

Qui-Gon headed for level ground and guided the transport to a smooth stop.

"Let's just take our survival packs," Qui-Gon  suggested.  "No  doubt

King Frane will refuel the transport for us  and  we  can  fly  it  to  the

landing platform later."

Obi-Wan followed Qui-Gon down the  ramp.  Together  they  struck  out

across the field. Obi-Wan enjoyed the sensation of being outside again.  He

inhaled the fresh scent of the grass and tilted his head back to catch  the

faint rays of the sun that managed to filter through the clouds and mist.

Suddenly, Qui-Gon stopped. "Do you feel it?" he asked.

Obi-Wan felt nothing.  But  he  waited  before  answering.  Qui-Gon's

perceptions were usually sharper than his. His Master had a deep connection

to the Force that united all things.

Then he felt it, too - a vibration in the dirt beneath his feet.

"What is it?"

"I'm not sure," Qui-Gon said. He crouched  and  put  a  hand  on  the

ground. "Not equipment. Animals."

Obi-Wan peered through the mist. Far away he thought he saw  a  cloud

of dust rise from the field. The  dry  grass  rippled,  but  there  was  no

breeze. Then he picked out shapes through the mist. Galloping animals  were

heading toward them.

"They are running scared. It's a stampede," Qui-Gon said. He  whipped

his head around. "There's no time to find shelter, and we're too  far  from

the trees. Run with them, Padawan. Do not let yourself fall or  you'll  get

trampled."

"Run with what?" Now Obi-Wan could hear the pounding noise. "What are

they?"

"Kudana," Qui-Gon said tersely. He scanned  the  air  overhead.  Dots

that Obi-Wan had thought were birds suddenly  dived  and  twisted  like  no

birds Obi-Wan had ever seen. One of the dots zoomed toward them. It  was  a

seeker droid. Obi-Wan saw an indicator light flash.

"A hunt," Qui-Gon corrected as in one smooth movement he withdrew his

lightsaber and activated it. "And now we are the prey."

CHAPTER 2

The kudana rose out of the mist,  the  noise  of  their  hooves  like

thunder. They were beautiful animals, their bronze  metallic  skins  highly

prized throughout the galaxy. Their eyes rolled in fright, and they made  a

high-pitched sound that was close to screaming. Obi-Wan could  smell  their

panic, but he was more concerned about  their  sharp  hooves  and  powerful

legs.

The seeker droid hovered ahead, a laser beaming down toward  Qui-Gon.

No doubt it was sending back coordinates of their location.

"Ready, Obi-Wan?" Qui-Gon shouted over the noise. "Pick a kudana  and

run alongside it. Use the Force to reach out and connect. Then, if you can,

ride one."

Obi-Wan began to run. Qui-Gon ran ahead of him, matching the animals'

speed. He reached out to touch the nearest animal's flank, racing alongside

it. Obi-Wan knew his Master was calling on the Force.

With a gigantic leap, Qui-Gon landed on the animal's back. While  the

animal bucked and twisted, trying to throw him, he slashed  at  the  seeker

droid with his lightsaber. Metal sizzled and the smoking droid fell to  the

grass. Qui-Gon leaned down  and  hugged  the  kudana's  neck.  It  quieted,

allowing him to ride.

Obi-Wan didn't see any of this. He  was  busy  trying  to  avoid  the

flashing hooves of the kudana around him. Their panicked attempts to  avoid

the laser beams caused them to veer and swerve. He quickly saw that if  the

seeker droids weren't disabled, he would be trampled.

He, too, reached out gently to the animal closest to him, feeling its

muscles bunch and quiver. He leaped high and landed  on  his  feet  on  the

animal's back. Quickly, he settled  astride  the  animal,  picking  up  the

animal's rhythm so he would not fall. He reached out and connected with the

frightened mind of the animal, sensing which way it would move.

Keeping his balance, Qui-Gon swung his  lightsaber  overhead  at  the

next seeker droid. He slashed it in two pieces.

Obi-Wan held onto the silky mane of the kudana for a  moment  to  get

his balance, then leaped over the galloping animal to land on  another.  He

swung his lightsaber as he jumped, and neatly cut another seeker  droid  in

two.

The fourth seeker droid buzzed overhead, zooming forward to  lock  on

Obi-Wan's position. Qui-Gon rode on a kudana by  Obi-Wan's  side,  standing

perfectly balanced and rocking with the movement of the animal's gait.

"I'll take care of it,  Padawan!"  he  shouted.  He  reached  up  and

demolished the seeker droid with a left-to-right swipe. Then he jumped  off

the kudana, keeping to the side of the pack. He motioned Obi-Wan to do  the

same.

Obi-Wan hit the ground and ran alongside the kudana.  Now  that  they

could not see the red lasers, the animals began  to  calm  down.  They  ran

easily, without the panic that had made them veer and  shy.  Gradually  the

animals surged ahead, and Obi-Wan found himself alone alongside Qui-Gon.

Qui-Gon slowed his stride  and  turned  off  his  lightsaber.  "Well,

Padawan," he said, "my guess is that our mission has begun."

Obi-Wan tried  to  catch  his  breath.  He  felt  the  ground  rumble

underneath his feet once more. He and Qui-Gon  turned  at  the  same  time.

Clouds of dust rose in the distance.

"More kudana?" Obi-Wan asked.

"No," Qui-Gon said. "We have  seen  the  prey.  Now  we'll  meet  the

predators."

Soon Obi-Wan could distinguish creatures called huds coming from  the

distance. They were native to Rutan, four-legged creatures with  black-and-

red-striped  coats,  bred  for  their  strength  and  speed.   Blue-skinned

Rutanians rode on their backs, dressed in colorful furs and hides.  Barking

alongside and occasionally leaping up to snap at the heels of  a  hud  were

fierce nek battle dogs attached to the huds' saddles with tethers.  Despite

their fierce, unpredictable natures, many Rutanians bred them and kept them

as hunters and pets.

Qui-Gon waited as the group rode up to them. The Rutanian at the head

of the party swung off his hud with an angry motion.

Rutanians were known for their height, standing nearly a meter taller

than Qui-Gon. This  Rutanian  was  taller  than  most.  He  was  a  hostile

presence, dressed in the skin and pelts of various creatures sewn  together

with thick silver cord in a colorful patchwork. His long, glossy  hair  was

elaborately braided  and  hung  over  his  shoulders.  His  thick  fingers,

overgrown with hair, were covered with jeweled rings.

"You scared away my herd!" he bellowed, stomping toward the  Jedi  in

heeled boots.

"Black holes and blast the galaxy! What kind of fools are you?"

"We are the Jedi you summoned from Coruscant,  King  Frane,"  Qui-Gon

said calmly.

"You're a couple of gundark brains!" King Frane continued to  bellow.

"Did you see that herd - we could have captured twenty-five skins at least.

I've been tracking them for three days. You'll pay for this!"

Obi-Wan looked at Qui-Gon to see how he would  respond.  He  couldn't

believe that King Frane had insulted the Jedi in such a rude fashion. Would

Qui-Gon turn on his heel and leave?

Qui-Gon was silent for a moment. He  stared  at  King  Frane  without

rudeness, waiting out his anger. The intelligence and calm  in  the  Jedi's

gaze soon made King Frane uncomfortable. His unease quickly changed back to

anger.

"Don't use any Jedi mind tricks on me!" he fumed. "You  destroyed  my

sport for today. I've a mind to send you back to your  Temple  and  declare

war on the Senalis! At least I know I can blast them before they get away."

"Especially if you have seeker droids to track them,"  Qui-Gon  said.

"Aren't seeker droids  illegal  on  Rutan?  I  understood  that  they  were

outlawed so all Rutanians would have an equal chance at the game. Even  the

king," Qui-Gon added pointedly.

King Frane's glassy green eyes glinted in his dark-blue skin. Obi-Wan

could not decipher what he saw there. Would the  king  explode  and  insult

them further? Obi-Wan knew that hunting was a  popular  pastime  on  Rutan.

Rutanian skins and pelts were renowned throughout the galaxy for those  who

wore such things. Animals were bred specifically  for  the  smoothness  and

beauty of their hides. Then they were sent in the wild in order to  provide

sport for the population.

King Frane prided himself on being the best hunter of all.  Lists  of

kills were posted at the end of every year, and the king was always  first.

Now Qui-Gon had exposed the fact that he cheated.

Suddenly, King Frane let out a loud, explosive laugh. The royal party

behind him broke out into nervous chuckles as well.

"Trumped by a Jedi! I'll be  a  gundark  brain  myself!"  King  Frane

chortled. "I can see that I sent for the best minds  in  the  galaxy.  That

means I am as smart as they are, am I not?"

He threw an amiable arm around Qui-Gon's shoulder. "Come, friend," he

said. "I am glad to see you after all. You and  your  young  companion  are

welcome to join us at our  feast.  There,  we  can  discuss  the  foul  and

treacherous Senali."

CHAPTER 3

The Jedi were led into a vast stone hall in the center of  the  royal

palace. A huge bonfire was blazing in a pit set in the middle of the  hall.

The surrounding walls were blackened with smoke. Nek battle dogs lay on the

cold stone floor, chained to posts carved  with  scenes  of  past  battles.

Stuffed heads of kudana and other native  creatures  were  mounted  on  the

walls at regularly spaced intervals. One large, fierce kudana  was  stuffed

and stood on its hind legs at the entrance to the hall, sharp teeth  bared.

Qui-Gon reflected that it was one of the least appetizing dining halls he'd

ever been in.

The odor of roasting meat filled their nostrils as they followed King

Frane to the main table set up near the pit. Smoke  blew  in  their  faces.

Obi-Wan coughed, then stared in distaste at the  bloody  carcass  revolving

over the flame. Qui-Gon was sure his usually ravenous young  Padawan  would

not have much of an appetite this evening.

"Sit down, sit down," King Frane urged them as he took a seat at  the

head of the long table. "No, Taroon. Let the Jedi sit next to me."

A tall, light-blue Rutanian with  coiled  braids  arranged  in  loops

around his head stepped back and glowered at the Jedi.

"My son, Prince Taroon," King Frane said.  Qui-Gon  turned  to  greet

him, but King Frane waved his hand, and Taroon took a place  at  the  other

side of his father. "Let's talk about Leed. That's the reason you're  here,

eh?"

Qui-Gon sat as a server placed a heaping plate of meat  in  front  of

him. He nodded his thanks.

"Prince Leed has decided to stay on Senali - " he began.

"Decided!" King Frane interrupted with a roar. He pounded the  table.

"So that lying dinko Meenon tells me! My son has been kidnapped!"

"But you yourself saw the holocom," Qui-Gon pointed out. "I have seen

it, too. Prince Leed seems sincere."

"He has been coerced, or threatened," King Frane insisted, forking up

a huge piece of meat. He shook his fork at Qui-Gon. "Or they gave  him  one

of their potions. They are primitives. They can use  herbs  and  plants  to

cloud the mind. Leed would never decide to stay. Never!"

Suddenly, even as he stared fiercely at Qui-Gon, Frane's large  green

eyes filled with tears. He picked up  his  napkin  and  began  to  mop  his

streaming eyes. "My oldest child. My treasure. Why won't he  face  me?"  He

blew his nose in his napkin and brooded. When he next looked at  the  Jedi,

his face wore a mask of anger. "It is the dirty Senalis  who  made  him  do

this!" he bellowed. "Why will he not come and face me?"

Perhaps because he is afraid of you, Qui-Gon thought.  But  he  could

not say it aloud. The king's changes  of  mood  were  startling,  but  they

seemed sincere.

"What am Ito do, Jedi?" King Frane forked the meat again  and  chewed

vigorously. "Declare war?"

"Naturally we oppose such a step," Qui-Gon said. "That's why  we  are

here. We can meet with Leed and assess the situation."

"Bring him home," King Frane said. "And eat your dinner.  It  is  the

best Rutan has to offer." Qui-Gon took polite bites. "Meenon has agreed  to

our coming."

"He is a pig! He is a savage!" King Frane cried. "Do  not  believe  a

word he says. He stole my son. What does he know of loyalty? My  son  is  a

jewel. I kept up with his progress on their filthy planet. They have annual

contests of speed and endurance and skill. He has won every year  since  he

was thirteen. He is a jewel, I tell you. A natural leader!" He thumped  the

table. "Meant to be my heir. He  is  the  only  one  who  can  succeed  me!

Everything I have, everyone around me is worthless  if  I  cannot  have  my

firstborn son follow me."

Qui-Gon glanced at Taroon. The younger  son  was  pretending  not  to

listen, but King Frane's bellow was certainly audible to him. Why  did  his

father treat him as though he were invisible? He was only  a  year  younger

than Leed, a thin, awkward young man  with  long  arms  and  legs.  Was  he

worthless to his father?

"I will read the truth in Leed's eyes," King Frane continued, heaping

another helping of meat onto Qui-Gon's still full plate. "Bring him to  me,

and I will know. If they will not let him go, I will  invade  their  planet

and bring them to their knees. You tell Meenon that."

"Jedi will not deliver a threat," Qui-Gon said firmly. "We  will  try

to persuade your son to come back. We will not  force  him,  or  force  the

government of Senali. But if we bring him back, you  cannot  force  him  to

stay. I must have your word on that."

"Yes, yes, you have my word. But Leed will want to stay, I  guarantee

you. The boy knows his duty. I will send my younger son Taroon with you  to

deliver the threat to Meenon. He will also take Leed's place on Senali when

my boy returns home."

"I will not allow Taroon to deliver a threat, either," Qui-Gon  said.

"If that is your objective, Taroon must stay  behind.  His  presence  could

compromise a  diplomatic  mission.  Meenon  could  feel  pressured  by  the

presence of someone from the royal family. Besides, Jedi  always  negotiate

alone."

King Frane tore off a piece of meat  with  his  sharp  yellow  teeth.

Craftiness gleamed in his eyes. "I have just signed an  order  to  imprison

Meenon's daughter, Yaana, here on Rutan. I hear she is just as  beloved  to

Meenon as Leed is to me. Let him know the pain of a grieving  father!  What

do you think of that, Jedi?"

"It is a mistake," Qui-Gon said quietly. "Meenon will take  it  as  a

provocation. It will bring you close to war. I don't think you  want  that,

no matter what you say. Your people do not want war."

"My people want what I  tell  them  to  want!"  King  Frane  bellowed

furiously. "Am I not king?"

Qui-Gon didn't blink. "We will allow Taroon to accompany  us  if  you

rescind your order to imprison Yaana."

King Frane stopped chewing and gave QuiGon a hard stare  that  lasted

several moments. Then he slammed his hand down on the table  again.  "Done!

The Jedi is clever!" He turned to the rest of the table, beaming. "The Jedi

will bring Leed home again!"

The rest of the royal party erupted in cheers.

King Frane turned back to Qui-Gon. "In three days," he said. "That is

all I give you. If you don't return with Leed, Yaana gets thrown  into  the

foulest prison on Rutan." In another abrupt change of mood, he slapped Qui-

Gon on the back. "Now enjoy!"

The rest of the royal party now  felt  free  to  relish  their  food.

Conversation rose and buzzed amongst them.

Obi-Wan leaned over and spoke to Qui-Gon. "Taroon does not seem happy

to be accompanying us," he said in a low tone.

"I noticed that," Qui-Gon answered. "Yet the negotiation went well. I

wanted Taroon with us all along. I suspected that King Frane would imprison

Yaana. We have bought her a few more days of freedom."

"But how did you know these things?" Obi-Wan asked, puzzled.

"Find the emotion, predict the deed,"  Qui-Gon  replied.  "It  was  a

natural step - it is the only thing King Franc has to threaten Meenon with.

King Frane is the type of ruler to lash out in the only way he can. Yet  he

is afraid of war, so he will allow himself to be persuaded to wait. Now all

we have to do is bring back Leed. If we believe he is sincere and wants  to

remain on Senali, we must help him reconcile his father to his decision. If

nothing goes wrong and every party acts with honesty and  forgiveness,  the

situation will resolve itself."

Qui-Gon glanced over at Taroon. The young Rutanian had not joined  in

the feasting or conversation, but had kept his arms folded. His  eyes  were

watchful and sullen.

"So you don't see danger ahead?" Obi-Wan asked.

Qui-Gon gave  a  brief  smile.  "I  see  tangled  loyalties  and  the

potential for misunderstandings. And even  the  smallest  misunderstandings

can bring danger when a situation is as volatile as this one. Words do  not

always echo what is in the heart. And things are rarely as simple  as  they

appear."

CHAPTER 4

From above, the planet Senali looked like a shining  blue  jewel.  So

much of its surface was  water  that  it  reflected  light  and  seemed  to

shimmer. As their  transport  skimmed  over  the  surface  toward  Meenon's

landing platform, Obi-Wan thought he had never seen such a beautiful world.

The seas seemed to hold a thousand shades of blue and  green.  Chains

of islands dotted the water like necklaces. Lush green foliage and blooming

flowers dotted the islands and were planted on the docks  of  the  floating

cities. Many of the structures were  fashioned  out  of  the  branches  and

fronds of a native tree with bright red bark.

They landed on the royal landing platform and were greeted by several

members of the chief's guard. Senali were the same  species  as  Rutanians,

but they had a silvery cast to their skin  due  to  the  tiny  scales  that

covered their bodies. They were excellent swimmers  with  unusually  strong

breath control. Unlike Rutanians, their hair was worn short,  and  many  of

them wore headpieces and necklaces fashioned from coral and shells.

The Jedi and Taroon followed the guards into  Meenon's  dwelling.  It

was a long, low building that floated  on  the  waters  of  a  deep,  green

lagoon. The guards  led  them  to  an  interior  courtyard  that  had  been

transformed into a blooming garden, with drooping fronds that  shaded  them

from the hot sun.

Meenon was tending to the garden, but  straightened  up  and  gave  a

formal bow to the Jedi when they arrived. He was dressed in a  linen  tunic

and was barefoot. A simple headdress of white  shells  circled  his  shaved

head.

"I am honored to have the Jedi on my beautiful planet," he said.

"We are  honored  to  be  here,"  Qui-Gon  responded.  He  introduced

himself, Obi-Wan, and Taroon. "We would like to see Prince Leed as soon  as

possible."

"Ah." Meenon looked down at the basket of flowers  in  his  hand.  He

touched one bloom. "We have a small problem."

Beside him, Obi-Wan  felt  Taroon  tense.  "Problem?"  Qui-Gon  asked

neutrally.

Meenon looked up. "Leed has gone into hiding."

Qui-Gon did not react, but studied the leader carefully.

Taroon threw his chest out in a challenge. "What a surprise  to  hear

my brother has disappeared! And you should  refer  to  my  brother  by  his

title. He is Prince Leed. You show him disrespect."

Meenon bristled. "We do not believe in titles on Senali. Titles  make

divisions. We are all equal on Senali, unlike on your barbaric world."

Taroon's eyes glinted. "Unlike primitives, we value our bloodlines."

Qui-Gon inserted himself smoothly into  the  conversation  before  it

could flare into open argument. "You say that Leed has disappeared. He left

no word of where he was going?"

"No," Meenon said, turning his back to Taroon. "I do not  know  where

he is."

Taroon put himself in front of Meenon again.  "And  you'll  swear  to

this?" he demanded, eyes flashing.

Meenon gazed at Taroon. "I do not need to swear. I do not lie."

Qui-Gon spoke a beat more quickly than  his  usual  reserve.  Obi-Wan

knew that he was trying to restrain Taroon without  seeming  to.  "This  is

unfortunate."

Meenon shrugged. "He knew of your coming. I assume that is why he  is

in hiding. He does not want to return to Rutan."

"We are not here to force him," Qui-Gon said. "We only wish  to  talk

to him."

"I assured him that if he met with you I would not allow  him  to  be

taken back to Rutan by  force,"  Meenon  said.  "Apparently  he  has  taken

matters into his own hands despite my advice."

"We will search for him,  with  your  permission,"  Qui-Gon  said  as

Taroon fumed beside him. "Can we question the family who brought him up?"

"Here on Senali we live in clans," Meenon said. "I entrusted  him  to

my sister's clan, the Banoosh-Walores. They live one kilometer to the west,

on Clear Lake. You are welcome to question them."

Qui-Gon nodded. "We will be in touch."

"I wish you ease and serenity," Meenon said, bowing.

Obi-Wan could feel Taroon's anger as they walked out of the courtyard

to exit Meenon's dwelling.

"He wishes us ease  and  serenity  after  such  news?"  Taroon  said,

disgusted. "He was mocking us!"

"It is a  traditional  good-bye  of  the  Senali,"  Qui-Gon  remarked

mildly.

"This is intolerable!" Taroon continued. "He plays us for fools!"

"Your father will not take this news well," Qui-Gon said. "He will be

angry, as you are."

"I am nothing like my father," Taroon said through his teeth.

"I wonder if Meenon knows more than he is telling," Obi-Wan wondered.

"Of course he does," Taroon spit out. "All  Senali  are  treacherous.

This is simply a tactic to delay us."

"Let's hope we can learn something from his sister's  clan,"  Qui-Gon

said. "Until then, let us remain calm."

They walked out into the bright sunlight. Suddenly Taroon wheeled and

kicked a tall flowering bush that stood near the entrance to the  dwelling.

He attacked it in a frenzy, fists flailing  and  feet  flying.  Red  petals

showered from the bush and soon were strewn all over the walkway.

"Well, I see you have inherited your father's temper, at least," Qui-

Gon remarked.

CHAPTER 5

The red-and-blue dwelling of the BanooshWalore clan was part  of  the

main city of Senali, which was built on floating docks and  platforms.  The

various islands were connected to each other  by  graceful  silver  bridges

that arched over the blue water.

The brightly painted structure sprawled over a large area.  The  main

part of the dwelling was merely a  frame  connected  with  walls  of  woven

fronds that rolled up to let in sea breezes.  One  wall  was  let  down  to

protect those inside from the sun. The rest of the house was open on  three

sides. There was no need to knock. They could see the members of  the  clan

gathered in the large central room.

A tall female Senali with pink coral studded in her short  dark  hair

beckoned them inside. "Meenon said you were arriving. Welcome, welcome! Let

me introduce you. I am Ganeed, Meenon's sister. These are my sons Hinen and

Jaret, and this is Jaret's wife Mesan and  their  daughter  Tawn.  That  is

Drenna, my youngest, and Wek, my sister's boy, and Nonce, and  my  husband,

Garth, and my father, Tonai. Oh, and there's my elder mother, Nin, and  the

baby, we call her Bu."

A small boy tugged on Ganeed's tunic. "And me!"

She put a hand on his head. "Of course, Tinta. I didn't forget you. I

saved you for last because you are so important."

Obi-Wan nodded to the bustling, busy group. He knew he would never be

able to keep the names straight. He had recently begun memory  training  at

the Temple. He could redraw a tech blueprint that he had only glimpsed  for

ten seconds or recite a complicated formula he had just heard once, but  he

still was not very skilled at remembering the names of a  crowd  of  living

beings. He counted on Qui-Gon to do that.

One of Ganeed's sons, either Jaret or Hinen, sat  at  a  long  table,

peeling fruit with a young Senali female. Was it Wek or  Mesan?  The  elder

Senali stood  at  a  stove,  stirring  something  in  a  pot  that  smelled

delicious. A young man rocked the baby, and a slender young  Senali  female

with silvery hair sat in a corner, mending a fishing net.  Everyone  seemed

to be talking at once, and he could not distinguish any  one  voice  except

for Ganeed, who called for everyone to be quiet. Finally she  picked  up  a

pot and spoon and banged on the pot bottom. The clan members  finally  were

still.

"There," she said with satisfaction.

Taroon remained a stiff presence by Obi-Wan's side. Obi-Wan felt just

as awkward. He admired the way Qui-Gon swung his leg over a stool and began

to speak earnestly with Tinta, admiring a toy in the small boy's hand. Obi-

Wan did not have the knack of ease with strangers.

"I should say right away that we have no idea where Leed is,"  Ganeed

said, without waiting for Qui-Gon to ask a question. "He left a note  which

said only that it would be better for his clan if we did not know."

Qui-Gon nodded. "I see."

One of Ganeed's sons spoke up. "That is just like Leed. He  does  not

like to cause trouble." His wife nodded. "He is very kind."

Ganeed's husband, Garth, chimed in.  "Even  as  a  boy  his  kindness

endeared him to everyone. It is a pity such trouble has come to him."

"A pity his father will not listen to reason,"  Hinen  -  or  was  it

Jaret? - said.

Obi-Wan saw Taroon's hands clench into fists, hidden  by  his  tunic.

The prince was struggling to contain himself. Qui-Gon had warned him to let

the Jedi do all the talking.

The elder Nin looked up from the stove. "He always had his own way of

doing things, our Leed. Set the table for the meal,  Wek,  if  you  please.

Will our guests join us?"

"I'm afraid we cannot, but I thank you," Qui-Gon said politely.

The boy Wek began to set places at the long table. He appeared only a

year or  two  younger  than  Leed.  Were  they  close  companions?  Obi-Wan

wondered.

The same thought must have crossed  Qui-Gon's  mind.  "Is  there  any

special place Leed is fond of going, Wek?" he asked in a kind tone.

Wek placed a bowl on the table. "Well, he likes to swim," he said.

"When he isn't sailing," Jaret or Hinen said.

"True, Jaret," the other son said. At least Obi-Wan  could  now  keep

the two of them straight.

"I love to sail!" Tinta cried. "Leed taught me how, and - "

"But he was always  walking  in  the  forest,  don't  forget,"  Mesan

interrupted, turning to Jaret. "That's where I would look - "  She  stopped

abruptly to pick up the baby, Bu, who had begun to fuss.

"He only goes in spring," Nonce broke in  over  the  wailing  of  the

baby. He walked to the stove and began to help Nin, slicing bread  for  the

meal. "He - "

"He goes in summer, too! Everyone goes in summer!" Wek  argued.  "You

just don't notice because - "

"Who goes in summer? It's too hot," Tawn broke in.  "Leed  likes  the

cool water and long swims. And - "

"Food," Hinen said, leaning over to snatch a piece of bread  off  the

counter. "Leed likes his meals. He'll be back before long - ow!"  he  cried

as Nonce rapped his knuckles with a wooden spoon.

The baby began to cry again, and Jaret took her  from  Mesan's  arms.

Tinta began to quarrel with the other young boy.

"I agree with Jaret," Tonai said serenely over the noise of the  baby

crying and the voices raised in a quarrel. "I would search the forest,  not

the sea."

"I said the sea, not the forest!" Jaret protested. "You never  listen

to a word - "

"What do I know anyway?" Tonai broke in, shrugging.

"You know plenty, old man," the elder Nin said. "Except when to go to

bed."

"I know when to eat," Tonai said, seating himself at the  table  with

great pleasure. Nin ladled some soup in a bowl.

"I think he went back to Rutan on his own," Garth said.  "That  would

make sense. He did not want to worry us."

A storm of argument broke out over this last  suggestion.  Jaret  and

Hinen began to shout. Tinta upset the plate full  of  bread.  Bu  began  to

hiccup, and Jaret handed her to Ganeed.

Ganeed smiled at the Jedi over the baby's shoulder as she patted  her

back. "You see? We have no idea where Leed could be."

"Even Drenna doesn't know," Tinta said.

Qui-Gon cast his keen gaze on the young boy.  "Is  Drenna  a  special

friend of Leed's, Tinta?"

"She is closest to him in age," Ganeed  said,  handing  the  baby  to

Mesan.

Obi-Wan shot a searching glance at Drenna for  the  first  time.  Her

close-cropped hair almost matched the silvery cast to her  dark-blue  skin.

She raised her silver eyes to the Jedi.

"You can see this place is confusing," she said, making a  wry  face.

"Maybe Leed just wanted some peace and quiet to make up his mind.  I  think

he will return soon."

"Drenna, help Wek set the table," Nin called. "Go sit down, boy,  you

are underfoot."

"Let's eat," Jaret said. "I'm hungry."

"Well, come to the table, then," Nin scolded. "I can't do  everything

for you."

Drenna sprang up and began to ladle the food into bowls.

"Yes, perhaps Leed will return soon," Qui-Gon said. "He will miss his

clan. As you miss him."

Ganeed's eyes suddenly filled  with  tears.  "As  we  do,"  she  said

softly.

A silence fell over the clan for the first time. Obi-Wan  could  read

sorrow on each face. Leed was truly loved, he saw.

For a moment, all they heard were Bu's tiny hiccups  as  she  nestled

her downy head against her mother's shoulder.

"This is a waste of time," Taroon suddenly said. "They won't tell  us

anything."

"We should leave you to your midday meal," Qui-Gon  said  graciously,

bowing to the clan.

"We wish you ease and serenity," Ganeed said, smiling  through  tear-

filled eyes. "And if you find Leed, please protect him."

"We shall," Qui-Gon promised.

They retreated down the walkway that joined the structure to the main

dock, then started back toward Meenon's dwelling.

"They were no help at all," Taroon complained. "I don't know how Leed

could stand to live with so many people."

"They seem to enjoy one another's company," Qui-Gon observed.

"They certainly like to talk," Obi-Wan added.  He  had  felt  awkward

among the clan, but he  had  also  felt  their  warmth  and  their  obvious

affection for one another.

"Yet they did not say a thing," Qui-Gon said. "Did you  notice  that,

Padawan?"

Obi-Wan  thought  about  it.  "They  all  contradicted  each  other's

guesses. It seemed as though they were giving us leads, but they weren't."

"Exactly. And then when we turned our attention to  Drenna,  suddenly

everyone needed to eat. Come this  way."  Qui-Gon  headed  down  a  smaller

floating dock that was  perpendicular  to  the  main  passageway.  A  small

floating garden was set up for the benefit of the dwellers of the  floating

city. Qui-Gon paused behind a lush bush studded with orange blooms.

"What are we doing?" Taroon asked irritably. "We have no time to pick

flowers."

Qui-Gon didn't answer. Obi-Wan saw that from here they had a  perfect

view of the front of the clan's dwelling. In another  moment,  Drenna  came

outside. She stood on the dock and looked to her right, then her left.  She

had buckled a supply belt around her tunic, and Obi-Wan could see its pouch

was full.

She  turned  and  quickly  walked  down  the  dock  in  the  opposite

direction.

"Let's go," Qui-Gon said.

"Why should we follow  a  Senali  on  her  useless  errands?"  Taroon

scowled.

"Because she will bring us to Leed," Qui-Gon answered.

CHAPTER 6

At first it was easy to follow Drenna.  Senalis  strolled  along  the

docks on this fine day, pausing to purchase flowers  and  food  at  various

markets that were set up along the way. The Jedi and Taroon could melt into

the crowd and keep her in sight.

The Jedi had already adapted to the idea that the ground was not firm

under their feet. The docks swayed and bobbed in the  gentle  roll  of  the

sea. Taroon had more trouble. Occasionally he would stumble  and  his  skin

would flush to a bluish rose.

"What kind of a world builds its cities on water?" he grumbled  after

he had stumbled again and narrowly escaped tumbling off the dock. "I  don't

see how my brother can stand this awful place."

Qui-Gon lifted an eyebrow at Obi-Wan in a  private  gesture.  Obi-Wan

smiled. He knew what his Master was thinking. Senali  had  turquoise  seas,

blooming gardens, and, from  the  looks  of  it,  a  peaceful  and  content

population. Taroon harbored the prejudice of Rutanians, most  of  whom  had

not set foot on Senali since the war that had divided  them  forever.  They

considered Senalis lazy primitives who had not built a thriving culture  or

economy and who lived only for pleasure.

The floating city stretched over several kilometers. Drenna led  them

over bridges and walkways  into  different  sections,  some  with  brightly

painted multistoried buildings, some with eccentric structures that  bobbed

cheerfully on the water. They passed rows and rows of docks with  different

crafts tied to the pilings. The crowd began to thin, and  they  hung  back,

keeping Drenna just in sight.

At last Drenna turned toward one of the silver bridges that connected

the floating city  to  the  mainland.  She  hurried  over  the  bridge  and

disappeared down a road that curved around a dense thicket of  trees.  They

quickly followed.

Trees lined the road that verged the shore. The branches  were  heavy

with green fronds that bent the limbs down to the  ground,  their  feathery

leaves lying like lace on the sandy road. Deep green shadows flickered, and

every now and then a glimpse of the turquoise sea appeared like a startling

vision through the thick curtain of leaves.

Qui-Gon tapped into the Force to help him track Drenna. He had to  be

alert to the smallest sounds ahead, to the disturbance in the air he  could

feel as she passed through it.

Senali was a small world, and most of the population traveled by  sea

or on foot. The Jedi did not see many speeders or other  craft  that  moved

through air. Small transports occasionally buzzed by,  carrying  goods  and

food.

The road split into two main roads and a narrower  trail  that  wound

through the trees. Drenna was no longer in sight. Qui-Gon hesitated only  a

moment before determining that she had taken the narrow trail.

Obi-Wan kept close on his heels. The path slowly narrowed until  they

had to go single file. The firmly packed soil of the road had changed to  a

loose, powdery sand that sucked  at  their  footsteps.  Again,  Taroon  had

trouble keeping up.

"There's more sand in my boots than on the ground," he muttered. "Why

don't these people build decent roads?"

Qui-Gon held up  a  hand  and  they  stopped.  He  closed  his  eyes,

listening intently.

"She is running now," he said, surprised. "We must go faster."

They  quickened  their   pace.   Taroon   stopped   complaining   and

concentrated on keeping up with them. The sound of  the  surf  covered  the

noise of their feet slapping against the sand.

They turned a corner and saw that the trail  ran  straight  into  the

high wall of a sheer cliff. There was still room to walk around it, along a

narrow strip of beach. A wave lapped at their heels  as  they  skirted  the

cliff wall, avoiding the rocks that were  studded  with  sharp  coral  that

could slice into skin.

They found themselves in a beautiful cove with a  beach  that  curved

like a quarter moon. Sheer cliffs surrounded them.

The beach was empty except for a slight figure in the distance.  Qui-

Gon had been right: Drenna was running now, jogging easily down  the  beach

toward the end of the far curve.

"Does she realize now that she's being followed?"  Obi-Wan  asked  as

they picked up their pace. They kept in the shadow of the cliff in case she

turned around.

Suddenly, Qui-Gon stopped short. He looked up at the cliff, then back

at the churning sea.

"She always knew she was being followed," he said. "We must go back."

Taroon looked behind them. "Look at that. The  path  is  already  cut

off."

Waves now thundered against the cliff wall. If they tried to  return,

they would be trapped. The tide was strong enough to  batter  them  against

the sharp rocks.

Water suddenly foamed around their ankles.

"The tide is coming in," Obi-Wan said.

"The tides are famous on Senali," Qui-Gon said, his eyes  now  moving

over the cliff face. "The four moons make them swift and extreme."

Drenna had disappeared around the cliff face at the far  end  of  the

beach. Obi-Wan calculated the distance, then stepped  back  as  a  wave  of

alarming force hit him at the knees.

They would not make it, he realized.

Taroon came to the same conclusion as he glanced at the faces of  the

Jedi.

"She led us into a trap!" he cried.

CHAPTER 7

Qui-Gon was already calculating their next move. "We can run  to  the

end of the cove that way. The tide will catch up with us, so we'll have  to

swim around the cliff. At least there are no rocks on that end. We can make

it."

"But I can't swim!" Taroon cried. "No Rutanian can. Swimming  is  for

primitives."

"Right now, swimming is for survival," Qui-Gon said dryly. He scanned

the sea. He saw roiling eddies and  a  tidal  pattern  that  was  extremely

treacherous. He and Obi-Wan could make it - they were Jedi.  But  he  could

not risk Taroon's life. He would not want to endanger Obi-Wan, either.

They quickly backed up as the next  wave  hit  them  waist-high.  The

strength of it was astonishing. Taroon almost fell, and Qui-Gon caught  him

by the arm and steadied him.

"I hate the sea," Taroon muttered. He wiped his wet hair out  of  his

eyes.

"How do you feel about climbing?" Qui-Gon asked.

Taroon eyed the cliff. "You've got  to  be  kidding!"  he  exclaimed.

"There's no way to climb that cliff."

Qui-Gon did not answer. He knew  there  was  no  time  to  waste.  He

slipped his electrobinoculars from his utility belt and scanned the  cliff,

looking for handholds and footholds. There weren't many. And the cliff  was

so high that their liquid cable launchers wouldn't reach the top. There was

nothing to hook them around on the cliff face, either.

The water foamed around his knees and tried  to  suck  him  backward.

Taroon clutched Obi-Wan for support.

"How could you have gotten us into this?" he asked  the  Jedi.  "That

female has made fools of us!

Qui-Gon focused the electrobinoculars. He saw a tiny fissure  in  the

rock, just enough for the spike tip of his liquid cable  launcher  to  find

purchase. It would have to do.

He  replaced  the  electrobinoculars  and  withdrew   the   launcher,

motioning for Obi-Wan to do the same.

"Wait until mine hooks, then launch yours," he directed.

Qui-Gon got it in one try, which was fortunate, for the next wave was

up to the Jedi's shoulders. Obi-Wan got his launcher anchored on the second

try, at the next ebb. They tested the line, and it held.

"Go," Qui-Gon said tersely. He motioned to Taroon to take hold of the

cable. He would stay behind  the  prince  in  order  to  protect  him  from

falling.

He only hoped the launchers would raise them high  enough  to  escape

the tide. The form of vegetation clinging to the wall told him that most of

the cliff went underwater at high tide. Qui-Gon did  not  look  forward  to

hanging in midair and watching the sea rise ever closer to them.

He watched as his Padawan zoomed  ahead,  pulled  by  the  cable.  He

dangled above their heads.

"Hold on," Qui-Gon instructed Taroon. The cable  retracted,  bringing

them high above the beach. They hung suspended near the cliff face.

"Do you think the water will reach us?" Taroon  asked,  beginning  to

turn around.

"Don't look down," Qui-Gon said sharply, but it was too late.  Taroon

had seen how high they were. He flinched, and his knee banged  against  the

cliff. He let out a hoarse cry and closed his eyes.

"I am right behind you,  Taroon,"  Qui-Gon  told  him.  "We  can  get

through this if you don't panic. The cable is  holding  our  weight.  Don't

look down."

Taroon took a deep breath. "I'll be all right," he said. "I was  just

surprised, that's all."

Qui-Gon admired his composure. He knew Taroon was afraid.

"See if you can find a foothold," Qui-Gon directed. "That  will  take

the weight off your arms. You can't fall. You're fastened to the cable."

Qui-Gon searched the cliff area overhead. He could  not  see  another

fissure. They would have to hang here and hope the  sea  wouldn't  rise  to

drown them. He knew that he and Obi-Wan could hang here for hours  if  they

had to. But he was not sure about Taroon.

"The tide is still rising," Obi-Wan said to him quietly.  "The  waves

could break over our heads. Maybe we should put on our breathers."

Qui-Gon nodded. It was a good suggestion. "In a minute." He  did  not

want to panic Taroon until he had to.

"Can't we go higher?" Taroon asked nervously. "I can feel  the  spray

of the waves." "We are all right for now," Qui-Gon said. But he  could  see

that within moments the crashing waves could hit them.

Suddenly, he saw another cable shoot down from the overhang a hundred

meters up. It dangled between Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan.

"Take it!" someone shouted. "It will hold all  of  you!  The  sea  is

rising!"

Qui-Gon reached out and tested it. He exchanged a  glance  with  Obi-

Wan.

Should we do it? Obi-Wan asked silently.

We have no choice, Qui-Gon answered him.

Obi-Wan nodded. He grasped the cable first. Taroon  came  next.  Then

Qui-Gon. The three of them now hung on a cable and had to trust whoever was

overhead.

The cable retracted slowly, bringing them smoothly up the face of the

cliff toward the top. Obi-Wan clambered over, then Taroon. Qui-Gon was last

to tumble over the edge. He shot to his feet immediately.

A tall, sturdy local stood before them. A necklace of pink coral  was

hung around his neck and circled his wrist. He grinned at them.

"Glad you could make it."

Taroon gasped. "Leed!"

CHAPTER 8

Leed joyfully rushed toward his brother. They threw their arms around

each other.

"My brother!" Leed cried.

"My brother!" Taroon answered.

"How it pleases me to have your company," Leed  said.  "You've  grown

almost as tall as I am."

"Taller," Taroon said with a smile.

They stepped back. Leed turned to the Jedi.  "And  you  must  be  the

Jedi, sent to bring me back to Rutan."

"I am Qui-Gon Jinn and this is Obi-Wan Kenobi," Qui-Gon said. "We are

here to ensure that you are not being forced to remain or manipulated."

"You can see I am neither," Leed said.

"I have not had time to see much of anything yet," Qui-Gon  responded

in a friendly way. Leed turned  to  his  brother.  "I  must  apologize  for

Drenna. She wasn't trying to kill you, just to protect me."

"She may not have meant to, but she almost did kill me," Taroon  said

darkly. "I could have drowned!"

"Yet you did not," Leed said. "Come out, Drenna. You  see  they  will

not harm me."

Leaves rustled, and Drenna emerged from the blue-green shadows of the

overgrown trees. She had blended into the  shades  and  shadows  perfectly.

Taroon was surprised to see her, but Obi-Wan saw from Qui-Gon's  expression

that he had sensed her presence.

Drenna stood apart from the group. She eyed them warily, clearly  not

convinced they had not come to abduct Leed.

She turned to the Jedi and Taroon. "Well? You see that Leed  is  here

of his own free will. Now you can return to Rutan."

Qui-Gon turned to Leed. "If you truly wish to remain on  Senali,  you

should face your father with your decision."

Leed shook his head firmly. "Nothing can  make  me  return.  He  will

force me to stay, imprison me."

"If we give you our word that we will not allow your father to  force

you to stay, will you come?" Qui-Gon asked.

"It is not that I do not respect the great powers of the Jedi,"  Leed

said slowly. "I do not wish to offend you. But  my  father  has  wiles  and

treacheries you have not seen. There are things you can't protect me from."

"That is not true!" Taroon protested.

"If you feel as you do, we have a problem," Qui-Gon said to Leed, his

tone pleasant but firm. "You will not return to Rutan. And we will find  it

hard to leave Senali without you."

Leed met Qui-Gon's gaze stonily. Neither  of  them  moved.  Obi-Wan's

eyes went from one to the other. In both of them, he  saw  conviction  that

would not be swayed. Qui-Gon was such a strong presence that it was hard to

imagine going up against his will.

Yet he had done the same once.

On Melida/Daan, he had met Qui-Gon's resolute will with his own. They

had clashed and been torn apart as a result. Obi-Wan had believed then with

all his heart that he was right. He had  come  to  see  that  he  had  been

blinded by loyalty to a cause not his own.

But what about  Leed?  He  had  lived  on  Senali  for  most  of  his

childhood. He had come to manhood here.  Obi-Wan  could  not  help  feeling

sympathetic to Leed's wishes. It was obvious that he loved his brother. But

it was clear that his bond with his adopted sister,  Drenna,  was  just  as

strong.

In an abrupt change of mood that reminded Obi-Wan of  Leed's  father,

Leed broke the tension with a shrug and a warm smile. "Well, then.  If  you

are to be my guests, I shall have to bring you to my home. Come."

Leed led them through a maze of overgrown paths and then  struck  out

through a marsh, moving easily from only slightly submerged rocks  to  firm

ground undetectable to most  eyes.  The  air  here  was  thick  and  close.

Brightly colored flying creatures buzzed and sang overhead.

At last they emerged high above the shoreline on a cliff  similar  to

the one they had left. But here the sea was  gentle  as  the  land  curved,

making a natural harbor. A chain of islands were in the distance.

They hiked down to the beach where Leed and Drenna tossed aside  huge

fronds to uncover a boat.

They glided over the calm, aquamarine sea, hugging  the  shore  until

they came to a lagoon surrounded by a  cluster  of  small  islands.  A  hut

fashioned of tree trunks and woven grasses sat on a floating dock offshore.

Leed tied the craft to the side and they disembarked.

"The Nali-Erun clan lives on the far island, "Leed said, pointing  to

a lush green island a few kilometers away. "They watch out for me."

"All Senali watch out for one another," Drenna said.

"Why are you hiding in such a remote area, Leed?" Qui-Gon asked. "Are

you afraid your father's reach could extend this far?"

Leed nodded as he crouched to untangle some fishing line. "I spoke to

my father so many times. We were in regular communication, the  way  I  was

with Taroon. But after I told him of my decision, he cut me off. He refused

to hear me. He said Meenon had influenced me. If it pains him to  hear  the

deepest wish of my heart, why should I go on trying to speak with him?"

Qui-Gon sat down on the dock next to Leed so that they  could  be  at

eye level. He began to help untangle the line. "Because he is your father,"

he said. "And he is afraid he has lost his son."

Leed's hands went still. "I am still his son," he said  firmly.  "And

if he would not be so stubborn, we could be in constant  contact.  I  could

come to Rutan for visits, and he could come here. But ever since  the  war,

there is no travel between the two worlds. I would like to change that."

Qui-Gon nodded. "That would be a good change.  That  is  one  of  the

things you could do as ruler of Rutan. You would have it in your  power  to

change many things. Why don't you want to help your world, your people?"

Leed gazed out over the lagoon. "Because Rutan does not feel like  my

world. Its people don't feel like my people. It is hard to explain.  But  I

found myself here. Underneath this sun I feel at home. And if Rutan  is  no

longer my home I do not have the right to rule it. Senali is  in  my  blood

and bones. It is something I cannot help. Even as a small boy,  I  did  not

feel part of Rutan. I was afraid to leave my family and come here.  But  as

soon as I stepped off the transport, I felt at home." He glanced at Drenna.

"I have found myself here," he said.

Obi-Wan saw hurt on Taroon's face  as  Leed  spoke.  As  his  brother

shared a private smile with Drenna, Taroon's face tightened with anger.

Jedi were supposed to remain impartial. But Obi-Wan felt Leed's words

strike his heart. Now instead of connecting  them  to  what  he'd  felt  on

Melida/Daan, he connected them to the Temple. It was not where he was born.

The Jedi Masters were not his parents. Yet it was home. He knew that in his

heart and bones. He believed that Leed felt the same.

"I understand all that you say," Qui-Gon said. "And I ask  you  this:

Is your decision to act according to your heart worth plunging  two  worlds

into war? Are your individual desires so important?"

Leed angrily tossed aside the line. "I do not start a war. My  father

does."

"He does it for you," Qui-Gon told him.

"He does it for himself!" Leed protested.

Taroon had been restraining himself, but now he stepped  forward.  "I

don't understand you, brother," he said. "What is it that is worth so  much

to you? A world of strangers? How can you  risk  the  peace  of  your  home

planet just for your own desires?"

"You don't understand," Leed said, shaking his head.

"No, I do not!" Taroon shouted angrily. "I  do  not  understand  this

deep wish of your heart.  Is  it  more  important  for  you  to  live  with

primitives than to take up your birthright?"

"Primitives?" Drenna exclaimed. "How dare you call us that!"

Taroon turned on her. "Where are your great cities?" he demanded.  "A

cluster of shacks bobbing on the sea. Where is your culture, your art, your

trade, your wealth? On Rutan, we have centers of learning. We  develop  new

medicines and technologies. We explore the galaxy - "

"Our wealth is in our land and our seas and our people," Drenna said,

facing him down. "Our culture and our art is part of our daily  lives.  You

have been on Senali for half a day. How dare you judge us?"

"I know your world," Taroon said. "Any culture you have the Rutanians

brought to you."

"I know you brought your taste for blood sports and your  arrogance,"

Drenna shot back. "We got rid of all that when we got rid  of  you.  If  we

kill a creature, we kill it for food. We do not kill it for  sport,  or  to

sell its skin. And you call us primitives!"

"I do not think it helpful to debate the  differences  between  Rutan

and Senali when - " Qui-Gon began, but Drenna interrupted him furiously.

"Only a fool debates with ignorance," she said fiercely.  "I  do  not

debate! I speak truth."

"You speak with your own arrogance,"  Taroon  exclaimed.  "You  don't

know Rutan any better than I know Senali! All you  know  is  prejudice  and

disdain."

"You came here to look down on us," Drenna said with contempt. "I saw

that at once. Why do you think your brother should listen to  your  opinion

when it is full of your own bias?"

"Because I am his family!" Taroon roared.

"As am I!" Drenna countered.

"You are  not  his  family,"  Taroon  shouted.  "You  were  just  his

caretakers. We are his blood!"

"No, Taroon." Leed stepped between them. "Drenna is my sister as  you

are my brother. And she is right. This is what I leave behind on Rutan," he

continued, his voice rising to match Drenna's and Taroon's. "This  attitude

that you are superior to the Senalis. You do not know Senali,  nor  do  you

wish to. Do you really want to live the life of our father, living only  to

chase animals and feast until you cannot move? Do you want your  life  goal

to be the gathering of more and  more  wealth,  just  for  the  purpose  of

possessing it?"

"Is that what you think of us?" Taroon demanded. "Now I  know  you've

been brainwashed! There is more to Rutan than that, and more to our  father

as well."

"I spoke hastily," Leed said, gathering  control  of  his  voice.  "I

apologize. Yes, there are good things on Rutan. But  they  are  not  things

that interest me."

Taroon grasped his brother's arms. "Leed, how could you want to  live

like this?"

Leed shook him off with an angry gesture. Drenna turned to Leed. "You

see? I told you of the  contempt  the  Rutanians  hold  us  in.  Even  your

brother. You did not believe me. Now you must see that you can't go back."

"No," Leed said. "I can't go back."

"You cannot face our father because you know you are  wrong,"  Taroon

said. "You are afraid of him."

"I am not afraid of him," Leed countered angrily.  "I  do  not  trust

him. There is a difference. I don't want to be under his  influence.  I  am

glad was brought up by others, without being exposed to all his faults. You

know after our mother died that there was no one to check him. He is not  a

bad man, Taroon. Just a bad father."

Taroon's face  was  tight.  "And  I  was  brought  up  by  his  side,

inheriting all his bad traits, while you have all the good. Is that right?"

Leed took a breath. "That is not what  I'm  saying."  He  rubbed  his

hands over his hair in frustration. "I am not going back, Taroon."

"That is fine," Taroon said, his icy rage now burning hot. "I realize

now that I was wrong to try to persuade you. Because even if  you  were  to

change your mind, I would not stay here in your place."

Qui-Gon exchanged a helpless glance with Obi-Wan. They  had  come  to

Senali hoping that gentle persuasion would help the situation. Qui-Gon  had

thought that brother to brother, the obvious  affection  between  Leed  and

Taroon would bring them to common ground.

Instead, the two brothers were farther apart than ever. And  the  two

worlds were now closer to war.

CHAPTER 9

Night fell swiftly on Senali. The four moons rose and stars appeared.

Leed silently rolled out bedding for them. He placed a simple  meal  before

them. No one spoke. Qui-Gon thought it better to let the tensions cool.  He

had found through long experience that one  thing  was  the  same  for  all

cultures on different worlds: Even the most extreme crises looked better in

the morning.

He lay on his sleep mat next to Obi-Wan. "What do you think, Padawan?

" he asked softly. "Is Leed right or wrong?"

"That is not for me to say," Obi-Wan responded after a short silence.

"I am to remain neutral."

"But I am asking you what you think," Qui-Gon said. "You can  have  a

feeling. It does not have to affect your behavior."

Obi-Wan hesitated again. "I think that  personal  happiness  is  less

important than duty."

Qui-Gon frowned. His Padawan had evaded  the  question.  He  had  not

lied, but he had not told the truth, either. Yet Qui-Gon  would  not  chide

him. The evasion came from a place of goodness. Somehow Obi-Wan  must  feel

that to tell Qui-Gon the truth  would  be  wrong.  Qui-Gon  would  let  the

question rest there. He would not push. He was learning how to be a  Master

as surely as Obi-Wan was learning how to be a Padawan.

Learn not to teach, you must, Yoda had told him.  As  surely  as  you

must guide, you must also be led.

They fell asleep to the gentle slap of the waves  against  the  dock.

The sun rose, and they awoke to the sound of birds and the splash  of  fish

in the sea.

"I'm afraid I have no more food," Leed said to them. His  manner  was

friendlier than last night. Qui-Gon  thought  that  was  a  good  sign.  It

reinforced his decision not to push today. He would stand back and wait  to

see if Leed and Taroon could find each other.

Drenna had been awake for some time and had  untangled  fishing  line

and lined up short spears for each of them.

"On Senali, we are taught from an early age to be responsible for our

own nourishment," she said to them. "If you wish to eat, you must fish."

"I am not hungry," Taroon said haughtily.

Drenna met his gaze steadily. "That is not true," she said. "You  are

hungry. And you are afraid."

Taroon bristled, and Qui-Gon gathered himself for  another  argument.

He would not allow this one to go so far, he  decided.  A  day  of  harmony

would do them all good.

But before Taroon could speak, Drenna added in a gentler tone, "It is

natural to fear water when you cannot swim. But I can teach you. Senali and

Rutanians are the same species. If we can be expert swimmers, you  can  be,

too."

Taroon hesitated.

"Of course," Drenna said, shrugging, "you might have a  problem.  You

can't send seeker droids after fish. And if you hit them  with  a  blaster,

there goes your breakfast."

She smirked at Taroon. Drenna had thrown  out  a  challenge,  Qui-Gon

saw.

"I can learn by myself," Taroon said.

"No, you can't. Do not worry," Drenna said in a soft tone.  "I  won't

make fun of you. I had to learn myself, once."

Taroon rose stiffly and picked up some fishing line and a spear. "All

right, then. Let's go."

With a whoop, Leed dove off the dock. Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan  dove  into

the warm, clear water after him. Drenna took Taroon on the boat  closer  to

shore to give him his first swimming lesson.

Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan donned their breathers as Leed treaded water.

"The principal source of food for many Senalis is the rocshore fish,"

he explained. "It has a spiny body with three large claws. If you take only

one claw, the animal lives and grows another. You spear  the  fish  through

the tail, where it has no feeling. Then you grab  the  claw  and  twist  it

hard. Be careful or you can lose your fingers. You can watch me take a claw

first, if you like."

"That sounds like a good idea," Qui-Gon said.

They dove deep into the lagoon, down where the  water  was  cool  and

clear. Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan followed Leed as he easily speared one  rocshore

fish, then another, grasping a claw and twisting to sever it, then dropping

it into the pouch he wore at  his  waist.  Soon  Obi-Wan  and  Qui-Gon  had

speared their own rocshores and their pouches were full of the meaty claws.

They were almost ready to return when  they  saw  Taroon  and  Drenna

swimming nearby. Taroon was gliding through the water. Drenna  had  been  a

good teacher. Taroon's long legs and arms coordinated with  smooth  strokes

and powerful kicks. He did not seem awkward as he had on land.  He  speared

one rocshore, then another. Drenna swam beside him, pointing out  fish  and

spearing her own with deft, perfectly aimed shots.

When they surfaced, Taroon grinned, holding up his full  pouch.  Qui-

Gon realized that he had never seen Taroon smile.

"Pretty good, for your first try,"  Drenna  said.  "You  are  a  fast

learner."

"You helped," he conceded.

"It took me weeks to learn how to swim  that  well,"  Leed  told  his

brother admiringly.

Taroon turned his head to scan the shoreline. Qui-Gon saw that he was

trying to conceal his pleasure at Leed's  compliment.  "Well,  it's  better

than drowning," he said gruffly.

They swam toward the shore of the lagoon, where Leed and Drenna built

a fire. They roasted the claws and cracked them open,  squirting  juice  on

the claw meat from tart fruit that Leed and Drenna had gathered.

It was a delicious meal. They ate their fill,  then  discovered  that

they still had more than half left over.

"We can take these to the Nali-Erun clan," he said.

They paddled over to the nearby island.  The  clan  had  built  their

homes in the center of the island, underneath the cool shade of the  trees.

The structures were different from the ones in the main  city.  Here,  they

were built with leaves and reeds. They looked flimsy, and some looked ready

to tumble down. When Leed held up his present of fish, children ran  toward

him hungrily.

"Why are they hungry?" Obi-Wan asked.

"They cannot fish in the lagoon," Leed explained in a low tone.  "The

Homd-Resa clan controls the surrounding seas. The two clans  have  recently

been at odds. The Homd-Resa conducted a raid and destroyed  much  of  their

dwellings. The Nali-Erun had  to  rebuild  quickly.  They  still  have  not

recovered. And for months now they've had to live on fruit and what  grains

and fish they are able to trade for."

Taroon raised his thick eyebrows at Drenna. "All Senali watch out for

each other?"

Drenna looked uncomfortable. "Naturally some clans have conflicts.  I

did not say Senali was a perfect world."

"Why doesn't Meenon step in?" Obi-Wan asked.

"Because the clans are self-governing," Drenna explained. "Meenon  is

more of a symbol to us than an actual leader."

The Nali-Erun clan happily distributed the fish and offered the group

some. Leed refused but took a bag of pashie,  the  sweet  fruit  that  grew

abundantly on the Nali-Eruns' trees.

Drenna also handed the head of the clan a pouch full  of  shells  she

had collected from the sea floor. The clan members held up each  shell  and

admired it. One of the members began to  string  a  few  of  the  loveliest

shells on a cord to fashion a necklace.

He held the finished necklace out to  Drenna.  She  took  it  with  a

smile, then hesitated.

Her smile turned impish, and she  turned  to  Taroon  and  placed  it

around his neck. "Now you are a real Senali," she said,  tilting  back  her

head and smiling up at him.

Taroon was startled. He touched the shells. His eyes met  Leed's.  "I

am still Rutanian," he said. "But I am learning."

They caught small silver fish for the evening meal and  Leed  made  a

delicious stew. Taroon ladled it into bowls. Qui-Gon  watched  as  the  two

brothers passed the  bowls  between  them.  There  was  an  ease  in  their

relationship now. The four moons rose, high and full, sending  four  silver

paths down the dark water.

They sat underneath the wide dark  sky.  Qui-Gon  stayed  silent.  He

sensed something growing in  Taroon,  a  new  feeling  the  young  man  was

struggling to voice. He hoped Taroon  would  find  the  courage  to  speak.

Tomorrow was the third day. He would have to contact King Frane.

"I suppose we should be getting to sleep now,"  Leed  said  at  last.

"Thank you, Qui-Gon, for allowing us this day without trying to convince me

to leave."

"It was a fine day," Taroon said hesitantly. "And I have  come  to  a

decision. I will not oppose your wish to stay here,  brother.  I  see  what

draws you here. I spoke hastily this morning." He turned to the  Jedi.  "It

is a fault I have. I'm sorry for my rudeness to you as well." He gave a wry

grin. "You are right, Qui-Gon. I inherit my temper from my father."

"Thank you, brother," Leed said quietly. "You opened  your  mind  and

heart. I will do the same. I will return to Rutan and face our father."

"And I will take your place here until you return," Taroon said.

"Obi-Wan and I will ensure your safety," Qui-Gon promised Leed.  "You

will be free to return if you still wish to."

The brothers grasped each other's forearms in a show of affection.

"We will not let this divide us," Taroon said.

This was precisely what Qui-Gon had hoped for. Yet  sadness  hung  in

the air. Leed had taken the step to remove himself from his family.

Taroon had accepted his right to do this.  It  was  clear  that  both

brothers were heartbroken.

They all said good night. Obi-Wan rolled out his sleep  mat  next  to

Qui-Gon's. "Did you know that would happen?" he whispered. "Is that why you

didn't challenge Leed today?"

"I hoped the day would bring reconciliation," Qui-Gon answered. "When

Drenna offered to teach Taroon how to swim this  morning,  it  was  a  good

sign. I'm sure that Leed spoke to her about being kind to Taroon."

"But Leed was so angry last night," Obi-Wan said. "So was Drenna. Why

would they turn around and be nice to Taroon?"

"Because  he  is  Leed's  brother,"  Qui-Gon  answered.   "Underneath

everything, there is a bond between them. Drenna's loyalty is to  Leed,  so

naturally she would help him if he asked."

"I don't understand," Obi-Wan said. "Everyone was so angry,  and  now

everything is resolved. Can it really be so easy?"

"We are not back on Rutan yet. We shall see." Qui-Gon  stretched  out

on the dock and gazed up at the sky. The mission was not over, he knew.  He

should not feel it was resolved yet. But he was pleased at how the brothers

had handled their volatile feelings.

Unless it was too easy, as Obi-Wan had said.

Overhead, the sky curved above him,  bright  with  silver  moons  and

clusters of stars. Here on Senali the atmosphere turned  the  night  sky  a

unique color, somewhere between navy and purple. It was at  such  times  of

hushed beauty that Qui-Gon felt the Force vibrate clearly, from the burning

energy of the stars to the soft splash of a leaping fish.

"It is seldom that matters resolve themselves  so  easily,"  he  said

softly to Obi-Wan. "Let us hope it is so.  Being  a  Jedi  means  we  honor

connections."

Obi-Wan nodded, yawning. It had been a long  day.  Slowly,  his  eyes

closed. The gentle rocking of the structure soon lulled him to sleep.  Qui-

Gon felt himself beginning to slide into sleep as easily  as  he  had  slid

into the warm lagoon.

He awoke with a start. He was instantly awake,  alert  for  the  next

sound. He only heard silence, but he stood, his hand on his lightsaber.

Obi-Wan's  eyes  flew  open.  He  jumped  soundlessly  to  his  feet.

Something was wrong.

The tiniest sounds alerted him, the softest ripple of water.  Qui-Gon

dashed to the other side of the floating shelter.

A group of Senalis paddled a boat quickly away,  their  skin  smeared

with white clay. A bound-and-gagged Leed sat slumped in the  stern  of  the

boat.

Qui-Gon searched for Leed's craft, which should have been tied to the

dock. It did not surprise him to see it gone. They had most likely sunk  it

in the lagoon.

It was too far to swim and catch them.

Leed had been kidnapped right under their noses, just as Qui-Gon  was

no doubt dreaming of a benevolent galaxy of stars.

CHAPTER 10

"You are behind this!" Taroon shouted at Drenna. "You did  this!  I'm

supposed to think he's kidnapped, and you're hiding him."

"Your father did this, you fool!"  Drenna  shouted  back.  "You  only

pretended to go along with Leed's decision!"

"That makes no sense at  all,"  Taroon  said  scornfully.  "Leed  was

headed back to Rutan. Why would my father kidnap him?"

"Because it was too late to change the plan. I don't know! All I know

is that Leed is gone." Drenna suddenly slumped on the  deck.  She  did  not

weep, but she rubbed her hands up  and  down  her  arms  compulsively.  "My

brother is gone."

Was Drenna's emotion genuine? Obi-Wan looked at Qui-Gon for  a  clue.

He found himself adrift on this mission in more ways than one. He  was  not

sure what anyone was feeling. He was not sure if  anyone  was  telling  the

truth. But he was sorry to see that the truce between Drenna and Taroon had

ended. Now they hated each other more than ever.

Qui-Gon crouched by Drenna's side.  "He  was  kidnapped  by  Senalis,

Drenna," he said gently. "He won't be harmed."

"How can you know this for sure?" she whispered. "What  if  Rutanians

took him back to their planet? What if he gets thrown in jail?"

"I don't know anything for sure," Qui-Gon admitted. "But  I  do  feel

that Leed is safe, for the moment.  The  question  is,  why  would  Senalis

kidnap him?"

"I don't know," Drenna said, shaking her head. "Leed's  decision  has

split many Senalis. Most believe he should remain, if he wishes. But  there

are some who do not want a Rutanian to live permanently on the planet."

"We must contact my father at once," Taroon insisted. "He  must  know

that Leed has been taken."

"Yes, he must know," Qui-Gon agreed. "But it would be  better  if  we

waited. If we investigate, we might turn up some clues. When  we  give  him

the news, we can give him hope as well."

Taroon was already shaking his head. "He must be told now."

"But he could declare war!" Drenna cried.

"That was the risk the Senalis took when they abducted  him,"  Taroon

countered. "I was a fool to trust any of you!" He threw a bitter glance  at

Drenna.

"And I was a fool to think you could have a heart," she replied, just

as bitterly.

Taroon stalked off. Qui-Gon turned to Obi-Wan with a sigh.

"We have no choice," he said in a low tone.  "We  must  contact  King

Frane immediately. If we don't, Taroon will, and our trust  with  the  king

will be violated."

He activated his holocom and was put through to the king at once. The

king shimmered in the dark night, a ghostly blue presence. Briefly, Qui-Gon

told him the news.

"Who took him?" King Frane roared.

"We do not know yet," Qui-Gon answered. "But we will. I can give  you

my assurance that we will not sleep until we find your son."

"I think you've got enough sleep!" King Frane thundered.  "While  you

fools were dreaming, they stole him from right under your noses! How  could

you let this happen? You are Jedi!"

Obi-Wan admired again how Qui-Gon could meet insults with composure.

"Jedi are not infallible, King Frane," his Master  said  evenly.  "We

are living beings, not machines. I will find your son."

"You'd better," King Frane responded. "Where is Taroon?"

Taroon reappeared out of the darkness. "Here, Father."

"Start for Rutan at once," King Frane ordered. "I  do  not  want  you

taken as a prisoner of war." "War?" Qui-Gon asked.

King Frane was grim. "If you don't find my son within the next twelve

hours, my army will invade Senali, and we will find him ourselves!"

CHAPTER 11

Taroon gathered his pack hastily, grabbing  his  items  and  stuffing

them inside.

"You'll need a guide," Qui-Gon said. "Perhaps Drenna  will  lead  you

back."

"I do not need a guide," Taroon  said  angrily.  "She  will  lead  me

astray and leave me to die, no doubt."

Drenna fixed him with her cool silver gaze. "Don't be a fool. If  you

go alone, you'll get lost. If you wait until daybreak, the  Nali-Erun  will

lead you to the road."

"That is more time than I want to spend on this vile planet,"  Taroon

said. "Every minute I am here is torture."

Drenna shrugged. "Then swim to shore and find your  way  through  the

swamp. Drown or get lost. I don't care."

He glared at her, but she ignored him. Finally Taroon stomped off. He

sat down on the dock at a distance from them, facing the horizon where  the

sun would soon appear.

Qui-Gon motioned to Obi-Wan. "We must contact  Meenon  and  tell  him

that King Frane is threatening to invade."

Obi-Wan nodded. "I hope he does not insult you  the  way  King  Frane

did."

Qui-Gon's blue gaze was clear. "King Frane wraps his fear in insults.

But what he said was true, Padawan. I should have been more  alert.  I  had

not thought it necessary to stay awake, or to trade shifts with you. I  had

not felt even a trickle of apprehension or danger."

"I did not, either," Obi-Wan admitted. "We were both wrong."

"Then we must accept the consequences," Qui-Gon said.  "Now,  let  us

face Meenon."

Qui-Gon activated the holocom. He imagined that Meenon would have  to

be awakened, but the Senali leader appeared immediately.

"You do not need to tell me your news," he said heavily. "King  Frane

has threatened invasion. You should be aware that if this occurs,  he  will

bring catastrophe to the entire planet of Rutan.  Senalis  will  no  longer

allow themselves to be ground  under  the  boot  of  Rutanian  forces.  All

Senalis will fight, just as we did in the great war. And  we  will  triumph

once again."

Meenon's harsh words were choked with anger. The wavering  image  was

faint but conveyed every nuance of his expression.

"Many lives were  lost  in  that  war,"  Qui-Gon  said.  "It  left  a

devastated planet behind. It took generations before Senali recovered."

"Yet we would fight again!" Meenon cried.  "We  will  not  stand  for

invasion!"

"I think calm is called for, as hard as it is to  find  it,"  Qui-Gon

said. "Neither Senali nor Rutan wants a war - "

Meenon held up a hand. "Stop. You don't understand.  King  Frane  has

imprisoned my daughter, Yaana. The beloved  daughter  I  entrusted  to  his

care. He has thrown her in a filthy prison with criminals. He shall pay."

This was bad news indeed. Qui-Gon had feared it. Each step King Frane

took was leading his planet into war. He did not seem to care.

"I do not want a war, it's  true,"  Meenon  continued.  "But  only  a

foolish ruler  would  not  be  prepared  to  fight.  My  troops  are  being

mobilized. We will meet their boot with our own force. We will not wait  to

be invaded. We will invade them!"

"I respect your anger and grief," Qui-Gon  said  carefully.  "But  if

there was a way to free your daughter and avert a war, would you  take  it?

And, if you invade, how do you know that King Frane will not give the order

to execute your daughter?"

Meenon hesitated. "I am not a bloodthirsty savage like  King  Frane,"

he said at last. "Of course I would try to avert a war. I do  not  want  to

see the daughters and sons of Senali killed."

"Then let us find Leed and  free  Yaana,"  Qui-Gon  urged.  "Give  us

twelve hours. And help us. Tell us if there is some faction, some  clan  on

Senali who could have done this. We saw them in the moonlight.  Their  skin

was smeared with clay, and they wore headpieces of white coral - "

"The Ghost Ones," Meenon interrupted. "I can't say for sure,  but  it

could be. They call themselves a clan but they have no ties  of  blood.  We

are not sure who they are. They have  appeared  only  recently.  They  make

trouble between clans. They are against the trade of royal children, of any

contact whatsoever with Rutan. I do not know what they want to gain, but it

could be the Ghost Ones who took Leed."

"Do you know where they are?" Qui-Gon asked.

He shook his head. "They are nomadic. They have no single  camp.  You

need a good tracker, one who can track over water."

"You must find us one immediately and send the tracker here," Qui-Gon

urged.

"But you are with the best right now," Meenon said. "Drenna."

Meenon cut the transmission. Qui-Gon turned  to  search  for  Drenna.

Taroon sat as far away as he could get from them.

The rest of the deck was empty. Drenna was gone.

"Where did she go?" Obi-Wan breathed. He had not  heard  her  make  a

sound.

Taroon saw the Jedi searching the deck. He stood and rushed  over  to

them.

"Now do you believe me?" he demanded. "She slipped away when you were

busy and my back was turned. She is behind the taking of Leed.  She's  gone

to meet him!"

Qui-Gon scanned the dark lagoon. The dark purple sky was graying.  On

the horizon a faint line of light told him the sun  was  rising.  He  could

smell the morning.

Far across the lagoon he saw a tiny ripple of movement. It could have

been a fish, but he knew it wasn't. Drenna was swimming. She was almost out

of the lagoon, into the open sea.

Taroon followed his gaze. "After her!"

Drenna's firm stroke slowed. She dove underneath  the  surface.  When

she reappeared, she changed direction slightly.

"She has gone after them, it's true," Qui-Gon said. "But not  because

she's one of them. She's gone to track them." He turned to Obi-Wan. "Put on

your breather. We must catch her." "I am coming with you," Taroon said.

"No. You could not keep up with us, Taroon. And your father wants you

back on Rutan." Qui-Gon put his hand on Taroon's shoulder. "I know you want

to find your brother. But you must trust us.  Go  back  to  Rutan.  Do  not

aggravate your father. The worlds are too close to war. We will bring  Leed

safely to you."

Reluctantly, Taroon nodded. He watched as Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan  donned

their breathing devices and dove into the lagoon.

The water was chilly, but as they swam their muscles warmed. Every so

often Qui-Gon would surface in order to scan for Drenna ahead of them.  She

was moving at an erratic pace,  swimming  quickly,  diving,  and  sometimes

changing direction. Every few meters she would dive again.

They caught up to her at last. She was  underwater,  swimming  slowly

along the lagoon bottom. When she saw them, she pointed overhead and  began

to shoot toward the surface.

Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan followed. The sun was now visible on the  horizon

and painted the lagoon with a faint blush of pink light.

"How are you tracking them?" Qui-Gon asked. "Can we help?"

"The rocshore fish," she said. "When a boat passes overhead it blocks

out light. The roc-shores are very shy and bury themselves in the sand  for

some time afterward. That's why you can't hunt rocshores on boats.  We  are

lucky the night was so bright. I'm following the mounds.  They're  hard  to

see if you don't know where to look. Just follow me."

They dove under the surface again. Drenna swam along the bottom,  her

head swiveling to take in the sandy surface. Every so often she would  come

up for air and point in a slightly different direction. Obi-Wan had no idea

what had triggered her movement. He found it difficult to see the mounds at

all. Was Drenna leading them astray deliberately while the  kidnappers  got

away?

There were so many times on missions that he did  not  know  whom  to

trust. Qui-Gon seemed to have the gift  to  see  beyond  the  surface  into

feelings and motivations that Obi-Wan missed. Qui-Gon never seemed to  make

a mistake. Only with his former apprentice, Xanatos, had he extended  trust

too far and met disaster. Xanatos was dead now. Obi-Wan imagined  that  one

such miscalculation was enough for one lifetime. If he watched and  learned

from Qui-Gon, maybe he could avoid mistakes such as  that  in  the  future.

Already his past experiences had made him more cautious than he'd been as a

student. He was certain he had become a better Padawan as a result.

Drenna wound through the cluster of islands.  Sometimes  she  had  to

backtrack, but Obi-Wan could see they were making steady progress.  He  was

tiring, but he knew he had reserves of strength he had not yet tapped.

At last she signaled to them to come to the surface with her. A small

island was a short distance away, and she jerked her chin toward it.

"I think they are on that island," she whispered. "They  dragged  the

boat up on that beach. They tried to cover the marks, but I can tell by the

surface of the sand that it's been swept  with  fronds.  I  say  we  circle

around and go ashore."

Qui-Gon scanned the island. "They are most likely in  the  center  of

the island, hidden by the trees."

Drenna nodded. "If we're lucky, they haven't  posted  lookouts.  They

probably think they are safe. This island  cluster  is  uninhabited.  There

aren't any clans for many kilometers."

"We'll have to risk going ashore,"  Qui-Gon  agreed.  "Don't  surface

until we're near land. We will follow you."

Taking a deep breath, Drenna disappeared silently under the surface.

Obi-Wan followed Drenna with a new burst of energy. They  were  close

now. If they could rescue Leed and  return  him  to  Rutan,  war  could  be

averted.

They surfaced silently and waded ashore, quickly dashing  across  the

exposed beach to gain shelter  under  the  branches  of  the  sand-sweeping

trees.

"It's a small island," Qui-Gon said quietly. "We won't have to search

long before we find them."

Jedi learned early at the Temple  how  to  move  without  sound,  but

Senalis were just as practiced at the art. The three of them moved  through

space without disturbing a leaf. They  melted  through  the  shade  of  the

trees, their eyes searching for a telltale clue.

Suddenly Qui-Gon stopped. He held up a hand.

Obi-Wan saw and heard nothing.  A  stand  of  trees  was  ahead,  the

branches so thick the sun only penetrated in thin, watery fingers of light.

Qui-Gon pointed above, a finger to his lips.

It took Obi-Wan a few  seconds  to  realize  that  the  Senalis  were

sleeping over their heads, nestled into the thick branches  of  the  trees.

Preparing for the dawn raid must have kept them awake throughout the night.

Their boat and supplies were suspended in a net high above the ground.

Leed was tied to a tree branch, his back against the trunk. His  eyes

were closed. His hands and feet were bound with cable wire. A  leather  gag

was tied over  his  mouth.  A  deep  reddish  bruise  was  forming  on  his

cheekbone. Dried blood caked his tunic.

Drenna didn't flinch. Her jaw tightened, and  she  silently  withdrew

the  crossbow  that  was  strapped  to  her  back.  Qui-Gon  withdrew   his

lightsaber. Obi-Wan followed suit.

Qui-Gon indicated with a gesture that they should try  to  free  Leed

without awakening his captors. Obi-Wan and Drenna nodded.

They made no sound as they moved forward, but one of  the  kidnappers

awoke. They froze, but he casually looked down as he stretched. He  stopped

in the middle of a yawn, his eyes wide.

"Invasion! To your weapons!" he shouted.

CHAPTER 12

The Senalis were armed with the common weapon of  their  world,  dart

shooters. Qui-Gon guessed that the darts contained a paralyzing agent. Leed

might have some paralysis once they managed to free him.

The darts rained down on them from above. Qui-Gon  and  Obi-Wan  kept

their backs to each other in  order  to  cover  a  complete  circle.  Their

lightsabers whirled above their heads in a blur of blue and green  as  they

deflected dart after dart, even as they made their steady way toward Leed.

The branches of the trees were thickly clustered. The tree where Leed

was held would not be difficult to climb. But  could  they  climb,  deflect

darts, and get Leed down the tree, all at the same  time?  It  would  be  a

challenge, Obi-Wan thought grimly.

"We need to get them down here," Qui-Gon said to him tersely. "If  we

can fight them on the ground, Drenna can rescue Leed."

"I'll get them down," Drenna said. She hoisted her  crossbow  to  her

shoulder and began to fire a rapid volley of laser arrows into  the  trees.

She was a blur of motion, firing off five  arrows  at  a  time  and  barely

pausing to reload before firing again. The kidnappers began  to  drop  from

the trees to escape the arrows falling on their heads.

"Cover me," she called to Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan, and started for Leed.

The enemy was now all around them, and Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan kept up  a

constant dance of movement, deflecting the poison  darts  and  keeping  the

Senalis away from Drenna as she swiftly made  her  way  up  the  tree.  She

removed a small fusioncutter from her utility belt and carefully  cut  away

the carbon wire binding Leed's wrists and ankles. He slumped  against  her,

but when she helped him to his feet he was  able  make  his  way  down  the

branch toward the trunk. His legs seemed stiff, but he could walk.

Qui-Gon drifted closer to Obi-Wan. "Gather them underneath that tree,

" he said, indicating one close to them.

Working together, they whirled  and  attacked,  driving  the  Senalis

together as they evaded the darts. They managed to  get  them  in  a  rough

circle where Qui-Gon had indicated.

Qui-Gon leaped into the air and grabbed a high branch. As  he  swung,

he aimed his light-saber at the net holding the boat aloft. With  a  series

of rapid cuts he sliced through the thick netting.  The  boat,  along  with

supplies, began to tip. With a final thrust he cut the last cords, and  the

boat crashed to the ground below.

The kidnappers saw it coming and dropped flat to the ground. The boat

reversed in the air and fell over them,  forming  a  solid  cage.  Supplies

rained down on the  boat  -  food,  breathing  tubes,  utility  packs,  and

medpacs.

"Stay under there or we'll blast you," Drenna warned in a loud voice.

She raised an eyebrow at Qui-Gon.

He jerked his head toward the beach, and they took off.  Most  likely

the kidnappers would be afraid to follow - at least for a while.

Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan supported Leed as they ran to the shoreline. They

dove into the warm sea. Leed  gained  strength  as  he  swam,  with  Drenna

helping him along.

Drenna pointed to land in the distance. "There,"  she  said.  "That's

the mainland. We can get to a main road from there."

They struck out toward land. Leed flagged as  they  got  nearer,  and

Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon had to tow him ashore. He collapsed  on  the  sand  and

took deep breaths.

"Thank you," he said when he could speak. "I could not  have  escaped

on my own." He gave them a weak smile. "As I'm sure you can see."

"Do you know who the kidnappers were?" Qui-Gon asked.

He shook his head. "They did not speak.  They  would  not  answer  my

questions. I don't know why they took me, or what they were planning to do.

"

"I am glad you're safe," Drenna told him, gazing  at  him  anxiously.

"But you're so weak."

"It's the paralyzing dart," he said. "I'll be better soon."

"We must get to a main road and find a way back to the main city  and

our  transport,"  Qui-Gon  said.  He  turned  to  Leed.  "Your  father   is

threatening to invade Senali. He means it this time, I fear."

"Taroon is furious," Drenna put in, her eyes flashing. "He thinks you

and I arranged the kidnapping. No doubt he will tell his father this."

Leed's eyes were clear. "I must return," he said.

"We are close to a road that often runs supplies to the city," Drenna

told the Jedi. "We can hitch a ride from a passing transport."

"Then let's go," Qui-Gon said.

Luck was with them. They flagged down a  transport,  and  the  driver

quickly agreed to take them back to the floating city. There, they  hurried

to the Jedi's starship. Leaving word for Meenon that Leed  was  safe,  they

took off for Rutan.

"I'm glad you are coming with me," Leed told Drenna. "This won't be a

pleasant trip."

"I wouldn't let you go alone," Drenna said gently. "You need care."

"I'd better contact your father," Qui-Gon told Leed. "There's no time

to lose." Quickly, he accessed the comm unit and contacted King  Frane.  He

told him that they were on their way to Rutan.

"I'll believe it when I face him on his own royal land,"  King  Frane

said, brusquely cutting the connection.

"So much for thank-yous," Obi-Wan muttered.

"He is still worried about his son," Qui-Gon said gently.  "He  hides

his fear well."

"He hides his manners better," Obi-Wan replied.

They landed the craft on the palace grounds and made their way to see

the king. He was pacing anxiously outside the Great Hall. When he saw Leed,

his forbidding expression gave way to one of delight.

"Ha! I was afraid something would go wrong!

My son, my son!" King Frane hurried forward and hugged Leed.  He  let

him go and mopped at his streaming eyes with the edge of his tunic. "How  I

missed you. Thank the stars you have come home."

"I came home to talk to you, Father," Leed said. "Not to stay."

Instantly, King Frane's face grew red. "Not  to  stay?"  he  shouted.

"That's impossible! You are here. You will stay!"

"Father, can we talk without shouting?" Leed asked.

"I am not shouting!" King Frane bellowed. Then he lowered his  voice.

"It's just that I must speak up, because apparently nobody listens to me."

"I have listened to  everything  you  and  Taroon  have  said,"  Leed

responded steadily. "I have tried to find a way to do my duty. But  Father,

I know that if I return it will break my heart. I can't rule this world - I

don't know it. I don't love it the way I love Senali. You sent me there and

made sure I was taken care of. You succeeded. I made a new family there.  I

belong there. But I assure you I don't mean to be a stranger  to  my  blood

family or to Rutan. Senali is close - "

"It's close, but who wants to go there?" King Frane  said  furiously.

"Obviously, you have been swayed by forces on Senali. I'm sure if you spend

time on Rutan you will forget these foolish ideas."

"I will not forget them," Leed said, exasperated. "They are  part  of

me."

King Frane visibly calmed himself, dropping his hands  to  his  sides

and taking a breath. "Leed, I must speak to you as a  king  as  well  as  a

father," he said in a voice that struggled to be steady. "I do not want  to

bully you into doing your duty. That is an option that is  open  to  me  as

king. But as your father I prefer a more reasoned way. You  will  break  my

heart if you do this. You will kill my love for you."

"This is your way of reason?" Leed asked in astonishment.

"Hear me," King Frane said, holding up a hand. "Our family  line  has

ruled for a hundred years. The firstborn child of the  king  or  queen  has

taken his or her place without fail. Do you realize what you  do  when  you

break that chain? Do you take your responsibility to your family  and  your

world so lightly? How can you decide at this young age what  is  right  for

the rest of your life?"

King Frane's words struck Obi-Wan as none had before. When he'd  left

the Jedi, he had not fully realized  that  he'd  not  only  broken  a  bond

between himself and Qui-Gon, but had violated a deep tradition between  all

Masters and Padawans. He had come to see how important his  place  in  that

tradition was.

Should Leed return to Senali and turn his back on generations who had

prepared the way for him? Suddenly, Obi-Wan wasn't sure.

"You expect me to rule a year from now," Leed countered. "I will have

to make such important decisions for all Rutanians. If you trust me  to  do

that, you should trust my own mind now."

King Frane's temper grew, no matter how he tried to suppress it. "You

turn your back on those Rutanians you speak of so lightly."

"No," Leed said firmly. "I cannot be a good ruler. This I know. So  I

turn the honor aside to one more worthy."

"Your brother?" King Frane asked in disbelief. "Taroon  is  soft.  He

has no head for leadership. Who would follow him? As soon as he was  picked

up from that awful planet, I sent him back to school, where he belongs."

"You do not give him a chance," Leed said.

"I don't have to!" King Frane said, his voice  rising  again.  "I  am

king! I choose! And I choose my firstborn, as my mother  chose  me,  as  my

grandfather chose her!"

Leed did not answer. His mouth set stubbornly.

King Frane did not speak for a moment.  Father  and  son  faced  each

other. Neither flinched.

Obi-Wan glanced at Qui-Gon, but as usual the Jedi gave no clue as  to

what he was thinking. He was merely waiting for the  situation  to  resolve

itself as it would. He was so calm! Obi-Wan could feel the tension  coiling

inside him. He sought for the Jedi composure and  could  not  find  it.  He

could only find confusion.

At last King Frane spoke. "This discussion is over," he said stiffly.

"I will not accept disloyalty and betrayal. You must take up  your  legacy.

My son must rule after me. I am doing what is right for you."

"You can't make me do this," Leed said firmly.

King Frane's laughter had a harsh sound. Obi-Wan tried to  listen  as

Qui-Gon would. He realized that the laughter was fueled by bewilderment and

hurt, not contempt. "Of course I can! I am king!"

"What about Yaana?" Qui-Gon spoke up. "We have brought Leed  to  you.

Now you must deliver your part of the bargain and free her."

"I made no bargain," King Frane said, his eyes glinting dangerously.

"But you did," Qui-Gon said steadily.

"Well, perhaps I did,  but  I  am  breaking  it,"  King  Frane  said,

watching Qui-Gon warily.

"Yaana stays in custody until Leed agrees to begin royal training."

"So that is how  you'll  force  me!"  Leed  cried.  "You'll  hold  an

innocent girl hostage! You are no better than a bully!"

King Frane's expression instantly changed to rage. "Yes,  I  will  do

this," he bellowed furiously. "Have you not been listening, you fool? I  am

king! I can do what I want. I know what is best for Rutan!"

King Frane stalked off, followed  by  his  cluster  of  advisors  and

guards. Leed gazed after him, a look of disgust on his face.

"You see why I did not want to return?" he said. "He has found a  way

to keep me here against my will."

"So it appears," Qui-Gon said neutrally. "What do you  mean?"  Drenna

asked.

"If we return Yaana to her father, King Frane has nothing to  bargain

with. He will have to face Leed as father to son, not king to subject."

"But she's in prison," Drenna objected.

"That is the difficulty," Qui-Gon agreed.

"Not necessarily," Leed said slowly. "I think I know how to break her

out."

CHAPTER 13

"I'll explain on the way," Leed said. "I know where  Yaana  is  being

held. Can we take your transport?"

Qui-Gon nodded. "Let's go."

"Are you sure we should be doing this?" Obi-Wan murmured  to  Qui-Gon

as Leed and Drenna hurried ahead. "We're not supposed to break the laws  of

a planet."

"Well, we're with the prince," Qui-Gon  observed.  "Officially,  he's

now in royal training. We have his permission."

"But if we help Leed, we'll be taking sides," Obi-Wan pointed out.

"No, we're rescuing a hostage," Qui-Gon corrected. "King Frane has no

right to hold Yaana in prison. She's only ten years old."

Obi-Wan fell silent. There were times when he had  to  struggle  with

Qui-Gon's decisions. His caution would lead him to choose a different  way.

But it was at such times that he was learning  to  let  go  and  trust  his

Master. He knew that it was unjust to hold the girl.

"Don't worry, Padawan," Qui-Gon told him. "I am beginning to see  how

this situation can be resolved." He smiled. "We just have to break  someone

out of prison first."

"That's all?" Obi-Wan said. He  returned  Qui-Gon's  smile.  Whenever

they got out of rhythm, Qui-Gon managed to get them together again,  either

with a small joke or a gentle correction.

Obi-Wan jumped into  the  pilot  seat  of  the  starship.  On  Leed's

direction, he punched in the coordinates for the landing  platform  on  the

outskirts of the city, close to the prison.

"So tell us why you think you have a way to  rescue  Yaana,"  Qui-Gon

said to Leed as soon as they were under way.

"It was last summer on my visit," Leed began. "I was  already  trying

to tell my father that I preferred Senali to Rutan. Of course  he  wouldn't

listen. There was a grand hunt that day, and I refused to  participate.  So

he threw me in prison."

Qui-Gon looked at him, startled. Drenna gasped.

Leed gave a faint smile. "Just for a day. He said it was for my royal

training. So that I would know how Rutan treated its prisoners.  It  wasn't

too bad. Of course everyone knew who I was, so I was given  the  best  cell

and no one mistreated me. But an interesting thing  happened  while  I  was

there. A bird got into the exhaust system  and  began  to  fly  around  the

place. It kept tripping the sensors. The guards could not seem to catch  it

or shoot it, and the sensors kept alerting the main system that  a  massive

prison breakout was in progress. It took them awhile to figure out  it  was

the bird - at first they  thought  the  system  had  been  triggered  by  a

prisoner. But every time they checked out a sensor and did  a  cell  check,

everything was fine. The problem was that the system calls for an automatic

notification to the king's guard when there is trouble at  the  prison.  My

father kept getting notification that a major breakout was  going  on,  and

then was told that it was nothing. The  hunt  was  disrupted,  and  he  was

furious.    They finally had to confess a bird was tripping it. He  told  the

prison to turn off the system and catch the bird, or he'd fire every single

one of them."

Drenna laughed. "I like the idea of one  tiny  creature  causing  all

that trouble."

Leed grinned at her. "I would be lying if I said I  didn't  enjoy  it

myself. They turned off the system until they  caught  the  bird.  Everyone

forgot about me - I was in the warden's office, since they  were  about  to

release me. That's when I noticed something. When the guards change shifts,

they remove their weapons belts if they are leaving and the guards  on  the

new shift buckle on their own weapons belts. They do this  in  the  weapons

supply room, which is kept locked. When they  shut  the  system  down,  the

weapons supply room goes into automatic lockdown. That's in case there's  a

real breakout. They don't want the prisoners to get access to weapons."

Qui-Gon had already reached Leed's conclusion. "So if the system  was

shut down during a changeover, there would only be a reduced guard staff on

duty with no access to additional weapons."

"Three guards per block, to be exact," Leed said,  nodding.  "It's  a

flaw in the system. I tried to tell my father upon my return, but...  well,

let's just say he wasn't in the mood to listen."

"I don't understand," Drenna said. "How can we get a bird  to  invade

the system?"

Qui-Gon smiled. "We don't need a bird. I think Leed has an idea."

"When I arrived, they pretended I was a lawbreaker, just as my father

wanted," Leed said, leaning forward with his excitement. "I was led to  the

booking area, then the holding cell. I had to pass at least ten to  fifteen

sensors during the whole process." Leed looked at Drenna. "Who has the best

aim on Senali?"

"You do," she said promptly.

He shook his head, smiling. "Who tied for first place  with  me  last

year in the All-World Games?"

"I did," she said with a grin. "Almost beat you, too."

"You'll be our bird," he said. "All you need is this." He handed  her

a tiny dart shooter. "With some Jedi help, and a  bit  of  bluffing  on  my

part, I think we can bring this off. You can shoot darts at the sensors  as

you move through the hallways." He reached in a pocket  of  his  tunic  and

withdrew some darts. They were  tiny  and  made  of  transparent  material.

"These will stick in the wall, but no one will be able to see them."

"But how will we all get inside?" Drenna wondered.

Qui-Gon's eyes  shone  bright.  "That's  the  easy  part.  We'll  get

arrested."

Leed split off from them as soon as they landed. He headed toward the

prison. He would pretend to do a spot  inspection  as  part  of  his  royal

training. King Frane had lost no time in announcing to the  Rutanians  that

the prince had returned and would take up his legacy.

Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan, and Drenna moved through  the  crowded  streets  of

Testa. The buildings were carved of enormous  blocks  of  stone  in  somber

colors. The city had a teeming population, and in an effort to retain order

there were strict controls on behavior. Qui-Gon felt it would  be  an  easy

task to  get  arrested.  He  had  insisted  on  avoiding  any  violence  or

destruction of property. Instead, they merely needed to find an  open  park

or plaza.

Drenna pointed ahead. "I see a place."

They made sure a pair of security police were nearby as they strolled

through a plaza planted with green grass and shrubs.  Qui-Gon  and  Obi-Wan

casually unfurled their survival tent and began to set up a condenser unit.

Drenna unpacked some food.

Within minutes, the two security police appeared.

"What do you think you're doing?" "Cooking," Drenna said brightly.

"Loitering is against the law," one of  them  said.  "So  is  cooking

outdoors. Move along." "But we're hungry," Obi-Wan said.

"We won't be long," Drenna said.

Apparently Drenna's youth and winning smile had an effect.  The  tall

Rutanian policeman looked at his companion, a female even  taller  than  he

was. They both shrugged.

"End of my shift," the male murmured.

"I'm too tired for this," the female said.  "If  we  arrest  them,  I

won't be home for dinner."

"We didn't see you, okay?" the first one said, and turned away. "Just

pack up and get lost."

The Jedi and Drenna exchanged surprised  glances.  They  had  thought

this would be the easy part of their plan.

"We're staying," Drenna insisted quickly.

"And we're going to feed everyone in the park!"  Obi-Wan  added.  "We

brought plenty of food. We can stay until sunset."

Slowly, the two officers turned back.

The female sighed. "Are you going to make this hard or easy?"

Qui-Gon concentrated on her mind. "I guess you have to arrest us."

"I guess we have to arrest you," the officer said. "Stand up."

"Whew," Drenna said under her breath as she leaped to  her  feet.  "I

never thought I'd feel relieved to hear that."

They packed up their survival gear under the  watchful  eyes  of  the

police. They were searched, but Qui-Gon used another  Jedi  mind  trick  to

prevent the police from confiscating their lightsabers  and  Drenna's  dart

shooter, informing them to  let  them  pass  unhindered  -  a  command  the

officers  repeated  dutifully.  Then  they  were  herded  into  the  police

landspeeder and transported to the prison.

As they passed through the gray durasteel gates, Obi-Wan  watched  as

they slid shut behind them. A system of locks snapped shut in a  series  of

loud clicks. Drenna swallowed.

"Are we sure this is a good idea?" she asked.

"It's too late now," Obi-Wan murmured.

"That's exactly what I mean," she said.

CHAPTER 14

Once they got to the prison, they were marched to a booking desk.

"Charge?" the desk clerk asked the two security police.

"Loitering," the tall female said.  "Can  we  do  this  one  quickly,

Neece? It's the end of our shift."

The guard looked at his timepiece. "Almost the end of mine, too. Long

day. Names?"

Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan, and Drenna gave their names. They were subjected to

a retinal scan. The security police left and two guards were called.

"Escort the prisoners to the holding cell."

The clerk activated the security door and they marched  through.  The

door clanged behind them and the locks snapped in with a final sound.

They headed down the hall  between  the  guards.  They  had  to  pass

through a number of checkpoints. The  sensors  glowed  red  over  the  open

doorways. When the guards approached, they shot at the sensor with a  laser

pointer located at the tip of an electro-jabber. They were expert at timing

their pace with the swing of the jabber in order to  make  it  through  the

checkpoint smoothly.

The guard on the left swung up his jabber and shot a beam of light at

the sensor. It glowed green, but Drenna pretended to cough and brought  her

dart shooter to her mouth.

Her aim was perfect. The sensor went into a  flashing  mode,  and  an

alarm sounded.

The guards looked around in surprise.  The  hallway  was  empty.  The

guard's comlink buzzed. "Guard seven, report in."

He spoke into the comlink. "Nothing  here.  Must  be  a  malfunction.

Check the system."

They continued walking. At the next sensor, Drenna set off the  alarm

before the guard could raise his jabber. The alarm sounded again.

"Guard seven, report in." This time the voice was annoyed.

"Again, it's nothing."

A groan came over the comlink. "Not another bird."

They passed through four sensors on the  way  to  the  holding  cell.

Drenna was so good at concealing the dart shooter that Qui-Gon did not even

have to use the Force. The sensors went off, the alarm clanging.

The guards were clearly annoyed as they ushered the  group  into  the

holding cell. They led Drenna and the Jedi  in  and  closed  the  durasteel

door.

"Two minutes to shift change," Qui-Gon said softly.

Drenna put her eye to the small opening in the door. It was just  big

enough for her to aim the dart shooter. She aimed at the sensor across  the

hall.

The alarm clanged again.

"Why don't they shut it all  down?"  the  guard  outside  complained,

putting his hands over his ears. "All we need is to  get  the  royal  guard

down here to investigate."

"Prince Leed is here," the other said. "The king will find out  about

this no matter what."

"Be quiet," the other muttered. "Here comes the  warden.  Let's  head

for our shift change before he tells us we have to stay."

They heard the guards' footsteps receding and then, Leed's voice.

"I don't understand this," Leed said angrily. "Your  system  must  be

too sensitive. This has happened before. My father will be furious."

"Yes," the warden said nervously. "Perhaps another bird, or some sort

of small creature, is triggering the system."

"It must be shut down at once!" Leed  thundered,  sounding  like  his

father.

"But - "

"At once!"

The warden and Leed  hurried  away.  Qui-Gon  kept  his  eye  on  his

timepiece, Obi-Wan on the sensor.

"The sensor just went off," Obi-Wan said. "The system has  been  shut

down."

"And the guards are changing shifts. Time to go."  Qui-Gon  activated

his lightsaber. Obi-Wan followed. Quickly, they cut a hole in the durasteel

door. Then the three of them climbed through.

The hallway was empty, but it wouldn't be for long. They  raced  down

the hall. Leed had told them the location of the high security  cell  where

Yaana would most likely be held.

The system was off, but there was now a guard outside  Yaana's  cell.

His blaster was in his holster. No doubt he was not nervous  about  a  ten-

year-old girl making an escape attempt.

Drenna blew a paralyzing dart at the guard. It landed in his neck. He

toppled over, a surprised look on his face.

Drenna leaned over. "You'll be able to move in twenty  minutes,"  she

told him in a friendly way. "Just relax and enjoy the chance to rest."

Meanwhile, Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon swiftly cut a hole in  the  door.  The

metal peeled back, and they climbed inside.  A  slender  Senali  girl  with

large dark eyes sat in a corner. She shrank back when she saw the Jedi.

"Yaana, don't be afraid. We have come to take you back to your father

on Senali," Qui-Gon told her.

The apprehensive look faded. She raised her chin and  nodded.  "I  am

ready."

They ran down the hall. When they reached a turning, Qui-Gon held  up

a hand. He peered around the corner. Leed was shouting at the warden  in  a

good imitation of his father. When he saw Qui-Gon, he quickly swiveled  the

warden around by the shoulder so that he would not  see  them.  He  made  a

quick hand motion behind the warden's back to indicate a door near him.

Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan, Drenna, and Yaana moved  silently  down  the  hall.

Qui-Gon walked to the doorway that Leed had indicated. It  led  to  another

long gray hall. This one was lined with closed office doors. They were  now

in the administrative section of the prison.

A console desk was directly ahead of them. It was the  checkpoint  to

leave the prison. Qui-Gon strode forward.

"We are authorized visitors with an exit pass signed by the  warden,"

he said. He concentrated on the guard's mind. "We may go."

"You may go," the guard said, activating the door.

Walking casually, the four strolled past the checkpoint and  out  the

door. They quickened their pace as they passed through the yard. When  they

hit the streets of Testa, Drenna began to hurry, but Qui-Gon stopped her.

"Do not attract attention," he said.

They were almost to the platform when Leed caught up to them.

"So far, so good," he said. "But I'm afraid the warden put in a  call

to my father to apologize for the disturbance when  it  first  started.  He

could be here any minute."

"Now you can hurry," Qui-Gon told Drenna.

They ran down the last section toward  the  landing  platform.  Their

transport sat waiting. The landing platform was deserted.

Suddenly Obi-Wan sensed danger. This is a  public  landing  platform.

Why is it deserted? he wondered.

He and  Qui-Gon  activated  their  lightsabers  in  one  simultaneous

motion. Qui-Gon pushed Yaana toward a stack of container boxes. "Get behind

them," he ordered crisply.

In the next split second, blaster fire erupted from around the corner

of a tech shed. The ship was peppered with blasts.

They rushed forward, lightsabers activated. A row of guard droids was

emptying weaponry into the transport. Blaster fire hit the fuel  tank,  and

it went up in an explosion.

Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan, Drenna, and Leed went after  the  droids.  Drenna's

exceptional crossbow aim sent three of the droids smoking  within  seconds.

Leed fired just as rapidly with his own crossbow, taking down  two  droids.

Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon leaped and tumbled as one unit, lightsabers a  blur  of

motion, to behead the rest.

"Well done," a familiar voice said.

They turned to see King Frane  standing  with  the  royal  guard.  "A

pleasure to watch, in fact." He glanced at Drenna  with  admiration.  "I've

never seen such good shooting. Who would think a Senali  could  be  such  a

good shot?"

One of King Frane's nek battle dogs suddenly leaped forward, barking,

with its long, deadly teeth bared.

"Back!" the king called to the ferocious dog.

Drenna stepped forward before anyone could stop her. She held  out  a

hand, and the dog quieted, then sniffed her. Qui-Gon had never seen  a  nek

battle dog react in a friendly fashion. By the look on  his  face,  neither

had King Frane. Drenna scratched the nek behind the ears.

"You're not a killer. Just misunderstood," she cooed.

"Tell that to a kudana," King Frane said.  "Now,  where  is  Meenon's

daughter?"

Qui-Gon stepped in front of Yaana, who had emerged  from  behind  the

boxes. "We will not let you take her again," he told King Frane. "The  Jedi

are here at your request. They will not stand  by  and  watch  you  violate

diplomatic law."

King Frane stared him down. "Foolish  words.  I  decide  the  law  on

Rutan."

"No, Father." Leed stepped forward. "There is no need to threaten  my

friends the Jedi. I see I have no choice. I will stay on Rutan."

"At last you see your duty," King Frane said, satisfied.

"Are you sure, Leed?" Qui-Gon asked. "I promised you  that  we  would

not allow your father to force you to remain here."

Leed shook his head. "I am not forced. I see now that my legacy is  a

burden I must accept. Not to do so would be selfish. Perhaps my father  was

right about that."

"Perhaps?" King Frane asked irritably. "Of course I'm right!"

"And you will allow us to take Yaana back to Senali?"  Qui-Gon  asked

the king.

King Frane shook his head. "Then I will have no Senalis here. I  need

leverage with Meenon. No. She remains."

"Meenon has set his conditions to avoid war," Qui-Gon said.  "One  of

them is the return of his daughter. I do not think Leed remaining here will

change that. Once you threw his daughter in prison, he ceased trusting you.

"

"Let him attack! What do I care? We will pulverize them!" King  Frane

cried angrily.

Drenna stepped forward. "Send Yaana home. I will remain."

King Frane looked at her curiously. "And who are you,  besides  being

such a good shot?"

"I am Drenna, Meenon's niece," Drenna said. "I am loved by him,  too.

If I remain, he will not attack Rutan."

"I am not afraid of his attack," King Frane said scornfully. He  eyed

her. "Still, it is a solution. All right. I accept."

"You will not imprison her?" Qui-Gon asked warningly.

"No. She will live on the royal grounds, where I can keep an  eye  on

her," King Frane said with satisfaction, turning back to  Drenna.  "I  will

install you in the hunting lodge. You'll be under my watchful  eye,  unable

to escape, but not imprisoned. Maybe you will teach my royal guard  how  to

aim. And take care of my neks. Taroon was in  charge  of  care  of  all  my

trackers. He was afraid of the neks and never could  fix  the  droids.  I'm

sure you can't be worse. I will call Taroon from school and send  him  back

to Senali." King Franc stamped his foot. "There, we have a trade once more.

Are you satisfied, Jedi?"

"Taroon goes to Senali?" Drenna asked. "But he hates it there!"

King Franc shrugged. "Good. Then I know he will return."

He turned abruptly. "All is over. Now, it's time for the hunt.  Come,

Leed."

Leed walked closer to Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan. He placed a hand  on  each

of their forearms. Sadness was on his face, but he  nodded  at  them  in  a

dignified way. "I will never forget all you tried to do for me."

"You may call on us again if you need us," Qui-Gon said.

"I am sorry, Leed," Obi-Wan said.

"Duty is more important than feelings," Leed said. "That  is  what  I

must learn. I wish you ease and serenity."

He left them to join his father. With a sad glance of good-bye at the

Jedi, Drenna joined them. Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan stood watching them go.

"At least Drenna will be here for a time,"  Obi-Wan  observed.  "That

will give Leed great comfort. The mission hasn't  ended  as  I  thought  it

would. Somehow I thought Leed would be allowed to remain on Senali."

"Is that what you hoped would happen, Padawan?" Qui-Gon asked.  "This

time you must tell me the truth."

So Qui-Gon had known he had evaded his question back on  Senali.  "At

first I did not want to tell you that I  sympathized  with  Leed,"  Obi-Wan

admitted. "I thought it  would  remind  you  of  my  decision  to  stay  on

Melida/Daan and leave the Jedi. I thought it might give you pause about  my

commitment to you."

"We have put that matter behind us, Padawan," Qui-Gon said.  "Do  not

be afraid to share your feelings with me. I would never hold  them  against

you."

"My feelings seemed to change from day  to  day,"  Obi-Wan  admitted.

"When King Franc spoke to Ibis son, I was moved by his argument, too."

"That is because there is no clear answer," Qui-Gon  said.  "Emotions

are tangled, as I said in the beginning."

"Well, there won't be a war," Obi-Wan said in conclusion. "I'm  sorry

for Leed. But at least the planets remain peaceful."

"You are wrong, Obi-Wan,"  Qui-Gon  said,  his  eyes  on  the  king's

transport as it rose in the air. "The mission is not over. And I  fear  the

two worlds are closer to war than ever."

CHAPTER 15

Obi-Wan hurried to catch up to Qui-Gon's long stride. The  tall  Jedi

moved purposefully through the crowded streets of Testa.

"But I don't understand," Obi-Wan said. "Why are  we  close  to  war?

Both leaders got their children back. There is no reason for them to fight.

"

"It is not them who  still  wants  war,"  Qui-Gon  said.  "It  was  a

Rutanian force that kidnapped Leed."

"How do you know?"

"Think back, Padawan," Qui-Gon said as he skirted a food seller. "Was

there anything in their camp that could tell you where they came from?"

Obi-Wan focused his mind. He remembered the  kidnappers  sleeping  in

the trees. He had immediately assumed they were  Senali  because  of  their

silvery skin and coral necklaces and headpieces. Except  they  didn't  have

silvery skin. He had just assumed that they did.

"Their skin was smeared with  clay,"  he  said.  "I  thought  it  was

because they wanted to look fierce. But it could conceal the fact that they

didn't have tiny scales on their skin."

"Good," Qui-Gon approved. "Anything else?"

Obi-Wan thought back to the battle. The kidnappers had  fought  well,

but there was nothing to indicate whether they were  Senali  or  Rutanians.

Both groups used crossbows and dart shooters as weapons.

He turned his attention to the boat. It had looked  like  many  other

boats he'd seen on Senali. It was fashioned from the trunk of  one  of  the

native trees. He remembered the supplies raining down from it

"The breathing tubes," he exclaimed.  "Senali  don't  use  them.  Why

didn't I think of that before?"

"We have not had much time for reflection," Qui-Gon said  kindly.  "I

noticed it, but I had already questioned why they had  smeared  their  skin

with that white clay."

"But if you knew they were Rutanians, why didn't you say  something?"

Obi-Wan asked.

"Because I didn't know who was behind the  kidnapping  yet,"  Qui-Gon

said. "Until I did, I thought it better to seem to think what I  was  meant

to think."

"So who is behind it?" Obi-Wan asked, frustrated. "And where  are  we

going now?"

"We are going to see Taroon," Qui-Gon said.

"But he is probably on his way to Senali," Obi-Wan pointed out.

"Not yet. He will find a reason to delay."

Obi-Wan still  felt  confused.  "You  think  Taroon  was  behind  the

kidnapping of his brother? But why? He came to persuade him  to  return  to

Rutan for good. He was angry and hurt when Leed refused."

"Or so he seemed. But Padawan, what beings say and what they feel are

not necessarily the same. Jedi are different that way."

"Are you afraid that Taroon is planning an attack?" Obi-Wan asked.

Qui-Gon nodded.  "I  saw  something  else  in  the  supplies  at  the

kidnappers' camp. Seeker droids. They had the royal crest of Rutan on them.

And King Frane just told  us  that  Taroon  was  keeper  of  his  trackers,

remember? Only one person could have had access to  those  droids  and  the

power to gather supporters for a secret invasion of Senali."

"Why would Taroon steal the royal seeker droids?" Obi-Wan  asked.  He

was growing frustrated.

"That is a very good question, Obi-Wan," Qui-Gon  said.  "Why,  since

seeker droids are so readily available?  It  only  makes  sense  if  Taroon

modified the droids in some way. Then he  planned  to  send  them  back  to

Rutan."

"And what happens then?"

"That is something Taroon must tell us," Qui-Gon answered gravely.

Obi-Wan saw that they had stopped outside the gates of an  impressive

structure. ROYAL SCHOOL OF LEADERSHIP was carved in stone over the archway.

Qui-Gon strode through the archway and pushed open the  door  to  the

school. The hallway was empty except for a teacher hurrying past, his  arms

filled with datapads and readout screens.

"Excuse me," Qui-Gon said politely. "We are looking for Taroon."

The teacher frowned. "He is on his way to Senali,  most  likely.  His

father gave the order to leave immediately. Pity. He is a popular  student.

He'll be missed."

"We have reason to believe he has not left yet,"  Qui-Gon  said.  "Is

there anyplace you can think of that he might be?"

"That's easy," the teacher said with a smile. "Taroon is  usually  in

the tech room with his friends, tinkering with program  boards.  It's  down

that hall, up the ramp, second door on the right."

Qui-Gon thanked him and they  moved  quickly  in  the  direction  the

teacher had indicated.

"If you're right, what makes you think Taroon will confess  to  you?"

Obi-Wan asked Qui-Gon.

"Because he is not bad," Qui-Gon said. "Merely hurt. He is  like  his

father - he turns his hurt to anger."

They came to the tech room and activated the door. Taroon  sat  on  a

long bench against the wall. He looked up at the Jedi nervously and  jumped

to his feet.

"Has anything happened?" he asked.

"Why do you ask?" Qui-Gon queried.

Taroon shrugged, but his eyes were wary. "I'm surprised  to  see  you

here."

"Your  father  has  sent  an  order  for  you  to  leave  for  Senali

immediately," Qui-Gon said. "Why do you remain?"

"I had left some equipment here," Taroon said  quickly.  "I  need  to

include it in my packing so I can be on my way."

"You weren't packing when we came in," Obi-Wan pointed out.

Taroon gave him a haughty look. "Who are you to question a prince?"

"He is a Jedi," Qui-Gon said firmly. "Your father called us  here  to

help settle this matter. It is not settled, is it, Taroon?"

"I don't know what you mean," the young man said nervously.

"Taroon, we don't have time for evasions," Qui-Gon said. "I think you

were behind your brother's kidnapping on Senali."

"That's ridiculous!" Taroon cried. "Why would I arrange such a thing?

I love my brother. I am a patriot!"

"Both of those  things  are  true,"  Qui-Gon  said.  "You  love  your

brother, but you are also angry at him for turning his back on you. You are

a patriot, but you would arrange an attack on Rutan in hopes Leed would  be

blamed. But Leed is here, Taroon. I doubt the king will blame him. He  will

blame Meenon. Maybe he will retaliate, and a war will result.  But  perhaps

you don't care about that. Perhaps you think such an event would tear  Lead

in two. Perhaps you want this."

"I don't know what you're talking about, but I do know there will not

be a war," Taroon said. "My father talks and talks, but he will not attack.

Anyway, I had nothing to do with any of this."

"You know your father will  not  attack  Senali  for  sure?  You  are

willing to gamble lives on it?" Qui-Gon questioned,  his  tone  growing  in

intensity. Obi-Wan did not think he could have withstood  such  a  piercing

gaze.

Taroon's glance slid away. "You can't talk to me this way."

Qui-Gon strolled farther into the room. "Let me tell you what I think

happened," he said. "You enlisted a small group of Rutanians. Perhaps  they

are friends of yours at school, a mix of those who are  close  to  you  and

those who hope to benefit should you become king instead of Leed. While you

remained on Rutan, this group secretly traveled to Senali and established a

ghostly identity, just enough to  alert  Meenon  of  their  presence.  They

smeared themselves with clay so that no one would be able to see that their

skin wasn't scaled. They stole things or violated  sacred  places  so  that

different clans would grow angry with one another. They fostered unrest  to

gain attention and dislike among Senali. All of this you planned."

Sweat beaded up on Taroon's forehead. "You can't prove anything."

"You arranged to kidnap Leed because  during  his  disappearance  you

would arrange an attack on Rutan. You wanted him as the leader of the Ghost

Ones to be blamed. Even though Leed escaped, you decided to  continue  with

the plan. Evidence will point to Leed  as  the  one  who  orchestrated  the

attack. This will serve to banish Leed from Rutan forever - and won't  make

him terribly popular on Senali, either, as the  Ghost  Ones  will  suddenly

disappear. The Senalis will blame Leed, too. He will be left with no  world

at all. No supporters. And you will become king. Isn't that right,  Taroon?

You betrayed your brother for your own ambition."

"Not ambition! Love for my planet!" Taroon burst out. "Leed is right.

He is not the true ruler of Rutan. Doesn't he deserve what will happen?  He

turned his back on us long ago! He is my brother. He should have thought of

his family. He should have thought about me. I grew up without him.  I  had

to withstand the rages of our father. He grew up with care and love. I grew

up with neglect!"

"Your father is many things, but you cannot say he does not love  his

sons," Qui-Gon said gravely. "Perhaps he does not see  you  as  the  strong

young man you are."

"He does not see me at all," Taroon muttered.

"It must be hard to be called a fool by your father,"  Qui-Gon  said.

"Your anger is understandable. But you are feeding your  anger  instead  of

seeking to conquer it. If you faced your father and  spoke  your  truth  to

him, the situation could change. Instead, you strike out like a child.  The

difference is that you are a prince, and the result of your anger  will  be

war."

"There won't be a war. Just an attack. No lives will be lost," Taroon

said sullenly. "I picked a symbolic target."

"How will it occur?" Qui-Gon asked urgently.  _  "Is  it  the  seeker

droids?"

Taroon nodded reluctantly. "The  squad  on  Senali  is  returning  to

Rutan. They will release the droids. I have already made sure the droids my

father will use on the hunt will malfunction.  The  new  droids  will  take

their place and no one will notice."

"And what will the seeker droids do?" Qui-Gon asked.

"Instead of searching out kudana, they have been programmed  to  hone

in on the nek dog kennels. The kennel has no roof and is open to  the  sky.

When the droids locate their prey, they are programmed to blow apart. In  a

confined space like the kennels, the dogs will be destroyed."

Taroon shifted  uncomfortably  under  their  scrutiny.  "What  is  so

terrible? The neks are horrible creatures. They attack anything, even their

own kind."

"Yes," Qui-Gon said  softly.  "Attacking  one's  own  kind  is  truly

despicable."

Taroon's blue skin turned  an  angry  red.  He  understood  Qui-Gon's

point: that he himself had turned against his brother.

"This attack will be enough to enrage  your  father,"  Qui-Gon  said.

"And he will suspect Leed. If he does not, you will plant the idea  in  his

head. That's why you remain here and do not  leave  for  Senali.  But  what

about Drenna?"

Taroon looked at him sharply. "What about her? She is back on Senali.

"

Qui-Gon shook his head. "She  remained  on  Rutan.  Your  father  has

installed her in the hunting lodge."

Taroon jumped up. "But the lodge is next to the kennels!"

Qui-Gon nodded. "And her job is to take  care  of  the  animals.  She

could be in the kennels right now.

"No!" Taroon cried. "It is too late to bring back the seeker  droids!

We have to stop them!"

"Yes," Qui-Gon said. "Perhaps we can prevent what  you  have  set  in

motion."

"We can use my transport," Taroon said. "Follow me."

CHAPTER 16

Taroon sat at the console, leaning forward as if he could  force  the

transport to go faster. Qui-Gon sat still  and  calm.  As  always,  Obi-Wan

admired his Master's ability to locate his own serenity in the middle of  a

tense situation.

"I'm confused again," Obi-Wan said, leaning  closer  to  Qui-Gon  and

speaking in a low voice. "I thought Taroon hated Drenna. Why should knowing

she is in danger make a difference to him?"

Qui-Gon gave a short smile. "Remember what I told you at the start of

the mission, Padawan. Words do  not  always  echo  feelings.  You  saw  two

enemies. I saw two young  beings  fighting  an  attraction  they  knew  was

inappropriate."

Obi-Wan shook his head. "I did not see that at all."

"Do not fret," Qui-Gon said serenely. "Perhaps if you were older, you

would have. In any event, there are things you see that I do not.  Such  is

the nature of the effective Master-Padawan team."

"I hope we reach Drenna in time," Obi-Wan said.

"Here we are," Taroon called  in  a  relieved  voice.  "I  don't  see

anything. Maybe the hunt was called off."

"Just land the ship," Qui-Gon said, his keen eyes searching the area.

Obi-Wan joined him, scanning the horizon in all directions as  Taroon

flew lower. Obi-Wan saw a flicker of something in the distant sky.

"There," he murmured to Qui-Gon.

"Yes," Qui-Gon said in a low tone. "Set this down  quickly,  Taroon,"

he called in a calm tone. Obi-Wan knew he did not want to panic  the  young

man.

"There's  Drenna!"  Taroon  called,  momentarily  distracted.  "She's

heading out from the woods."

Drenna strode out from the woods, her crossbow strapped to her  back.

Obi-Wan quickly glanced at the flickering dots to his left.  Now  he  could

see they were unmistakably  seeker  droids  -  perhaps  a  dozen  of  them.

Silently, he pointed them out to  Qui-Gon.  He  knew  from  experience  how

quickly those droids could track.

Drenna looked up and saw the transport. She shaded her eyes from  the

sun, but could not see inside. She headed for the kennels.

"No!" Taroon shouted. The transport wobbled as his hands shook.

Qui-Gon vaulted forward. He took the controls from Taroon  and  in  a

series of swift, practiced moves, landed the craft in the  field  adjoining

the kennels. He activated the landing ramp.

"Hurry, Padawan," he urged.

They raced down the ramp, their lightsabers activated and ready.

Drenna was almost to the door  of  the  kennels.  The  seeker  droids

flashed as they zoomed toward the target.

"Drenna!" Qui-Gon shouted. "Overhead! Watch out!"

Drenna's reflexes were keen. She turned,  already  looking  overhead.

She barely paused to register the threat before sweeping her  arm  back  to

bring her crossbow to her shoulder.

Qui-Gon took a dazzling leap into the air, his  lightsaber  a  bright

green glow against the gray sky. He smashed at the lowest seeker droid. The

lightsaber sailed through it, cutting it in half. A small explosion sent  a

puff of smoke rising in the air. As long as the seeker droids did  not  hit

the ground, they would not emit a full explosion.

Obi-Wan followed Qui-Gon with his own leap. He could not get the same

height as Qui-Gon, and his first  swipe  met  empty  air.  But  Drenna  had

already loaded  her  crossbow  and  let  the  first  laser  arrow  fly.  It

connected, and another droid smoked  and  sizzled  as  it  crashed  to  the

ground.

Qui-Gon leaped up on the  low  flat  roof  of  the  entrance  to  the

kennels. From here he could move from side to side, taking down the  droids

as they honed in on the kennel. He could hear the dogs snarling in the open

kennels as the droids came closer.

Obi-Wan leaped up to join him.  Drenna  stayed  on  the  ground,  her

crossbow at her shoulder, firing so fast her arm was a blur as  she  fitted

arrow after arrow against the bow. Obi-Wan leaped and brought a droid  down

in a sky-to-ground sweep, then reversed direction and brought down another.

The noise of galloping huds came to them, and Obi-Wan  saw  the  king

and the royal party racing toward them.  He  ignored  them,  returning  his

attention to the droids overhead. They were relentless machines, honing  in

on their target.

One by one, the Jedi and Drenna brought down the  droids.  There  was

only one left, diving and spinning toward the kennels. They  heard  a  pop,

and the droid began to smoke. Taroon had brought it down with a blaster.

The four of them dropped their weapons to their sides.  Drenna  wiped

the sweat off her forehead with the sleeve of her tunic.

"Would you mind telling me what that was  about?  And  what  are  you

doing here?" she asked Taroon.

"I should ask the same question!" King Frane cried, leaping  off  his

hud and stamping toward them. "Why are my droids here instead  of  tracking

kudana? And why did you destroy them?" His fierce eyes raked the  Jedi.  "I

forgave you once. What makes you think I would do so again?"

"I think it's time you explained, Taroon," Qui-Gon said, giving him a

meaningful glance.

"I was very angry," Taroon said to his father. "And I  thought...  if

Leed throws away what I want so much, why shouldn't I have it?  Why  should

he be forced to take a prize I covet?"

"You want to rule?" King Frane asked, dumbfounded.

"Yes, Father, I want to rule," Taroon said. "Even  though  I  am  the

younger brother, and clumsy and weak in your eyes. Even  though  I  am  not

nearly as good at everything as your firstborn. I knew the only way to  get

what I wanted was to make it happen. So when Leed began  to  hint  that  he

wanted to stay on Senali, I saw what would happen. I knew  he  was  heading

for a clash of wills. I knew he  would  not  break  down,  that  you  would

underestimate his stubbornness. So I gathered a  group  of  supporters  and

sent them to Senali to pose as  a  fringe  clan.  My  plan  was  that  both

Rutanians and Senalis would think that Leed led this fringe clan. I planned

the attack with the seeker droids so that all would  think  that  Leed  was

responsible. War would be threatened, but I did not think it  would  occur.

Leed would stay on Senali. That was before the Jedi got  involved."  Taroon

gave a weak smile at Qui-Gon. "They spoiled all my plans."

King Frane stared at his son in disbelief.  "You  planned  to  attack

your own planet?"

"No lives would be lost," Taroon insisted. "Only nek battle dogs, and

they are of no consequence."

"They are living creatures!" Drenna broke in angrily.

"They eat their own kind! They are bred to destroy," Taroon said.  "A

few less of them won't make a difference."

"Would you destroy any creature to get your own  way?"  Drenna  asked

scornfully. "Is that why you almost destroyed me?"

"I am truly sorry for  that,"  Taroon  said,  turning  to  her.  "The

hunting lodge has been uninhabited for fifteen years. I  had  no  idea  you

were here."

"Your apology would not mean much to me if I were dead," Drenna  shot

back.

"Will you two stop?" King Frane roared. "I am the injured party here!

My kennels were almost destroyed! And you," he said to Taroon. "Do you mean

to tell me that you recruited a squad, invaded a planet, and formed a  plan

to incriminate your brother in order to rule?"

Taroon nodded.

King Frane froze for a moment. Then  he  tossed  back  his  head  and

suddenly broke into a shout of laughter. "How do you like  that!  He  is  a

leader! Such treachery! Such wiles! You will make a fine ruler.  Am  I  not

wise, to raise such a son?" He pounded Taroon on the back. "All you lack is

a queen who will fight with you every day, as your beloved mother did  with

me. What a warrior she was!" He eyed Drenna.  "Well,  perhaps  if  you  are

lucky you will find such a queen nearby."

Drenna looked away, her cheeks flaming as her blue skin flushed  with

pink. Taroon was equally red. Leed looked from one to the other, a look  of

surprise on his face. Then, slowly, he smiled.

"Perhaps there will someday be a way for Senalis and Rutanians to  be

at peace, after all," he said.

"And us, brother?" Taroon asked, turning to Leed. "Are we  at  peace?

Do you forgive me?"

Leed grasped both of Taroon's forearms in a gesture of affection.  "I

understand and forgive you, brother."

King Frane's eyes misted, and he cleared his throat noisily. "I, too,

would like peace. Already I am tired of these threats and  counter  threats

with Meenon. It interferes with hunting and feasting. I say  Leed  will  be

the first ambassador for both worlds.  He  will  foster  understanding  and

trade between the two of us."

"That is a wonderful idea,  Father,"  Leed  said,  joy  entering  his

voice. "And you will allow me to leave Rutan?"

King Frane waved his hand dismissively. "I  am  also  weary  of  your

sighing and your constant sorrow. It has been very depressing to  have  you

around." He beamed at his two sons. "Now I see that I have two sons who are

growing to manhood unafraid of taking what they want. I have done well." He

turned to the Jedi. "I forgive you for destroying my droids.  Again!  Am  I

not generous? And I invite you to my feast."

Qui-Gon bowed. "We would be honored."

The next day, the Jedi took off with Leed in a  transport  that  King

Frane insisted on giving them to replace the starship he had destroyed.

The blue-green world of Senali glittered as they  flew  closer.  They

landed and walked with Leed back  to  his  home.  The  Banoosh-Walore  clan

spilled out of their home and raced toward Leed, crying out their love  and

welcome. He instantly disappeared in a flurry of hugs and embraces.

"I thought I had already learned what I  needed  to  know  about  how

personal happiness can conflict with duty," Obi-Wan  said,  watching  Leed.

"At first I thought Leed  should  remain  here.  Then  I  thought  just  as

strongly that he should return to his own world. And now  I  feel  that  he

belongs here after all." Obi-Wan sighed. "I spent much of this mission in a

state of confusion."

"That is good, Padawan," Qui-Gon said. "It means you are learning."

"When I think about how I left the  Jedi  order,  the  memory  is  so

painful," Obi-Wan said slowly. "It's hard not to feel  discouraged  that  I

have so much more to learn."

"It should not be cause for  discouragement,"  Qui-Gon  said  gently.

"Life is both learning and relearning. You can confront the same issue over

and over, and find a deeper meaning each time. The  learning  deepens,  and

that is what nourishes us. You should take comfort in the  fact  that  life

will always surprise you. You taught me after Melida/Daan that my own ideas

needed to expand. I have my own lessons to learn."

"Well, it is good to hear that you don't  know  everything,"  Obi-Wan

told his Master with a smile.

"Not nearly, Padawan," Qui-Gon said. "Not nearly enough,  I  suspect.

Even with sureness, there must be doubt. It is the Jedi way."