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 o
ffered 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 b
etter 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