by Jude Watson
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
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 v
ery 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