Tenel Ka, having been lulled by the yacht's rocking movement as it sped
across the water, now straightened and blinked in surprise. "What is
wrong, Jaina?"
"Do you realize that a few minutes one way or another, and we might all
have been blown to bits by that bomb?" Jaina asked incredulously. "Or
maybe I'm just a little seasick from these waves."
^
Tenel Ka looked at each of her friends in turn.
Jaina did not look well. Her straight brown hair, dull with
perspiration, clung in damp clumps to her pallid face and neck. Lowie,
sitting beside Ta'a Chume as she steered the yacht with nonchalant
confidence, seemed too interested in the navigational computer to be
affected by the waves. Jacen, on the other hand, looked boyishly
enthralled by the experience.
Tenel Ka said to Jaina, "You will recover."
Tenel Ka's grandmother spoke from her position at the helm. Although
royal guards accompanied them, the former queen preferred to pilot the
craft herself. "We're almost to the fortress now. You'll be safe there."
Tenel Ka's eyes narrowed shrewdly as she noted her grandmother's words.
"Should you not have said we will be safe?"
"You and your friends will be safe, yes," her grandmother said
evasively.
"Where will you be?" Tenel Ka asked.
"Much of the time I'll be with you, but I'm not sure I can trust the
investigation of this bombing to anyone else. Until I get to the bottom
of the plot against us, I may have to travel back and forth between Reef
Fortress and the Fountain Palace."
Jaina looked startled. "And leave us on the island alone?"
"You will have a full complement of guards,"
LIGHTSABERS
^ Ta'a Chume said soothingly. "And Ambassador Yfra will stay with you
whenever I'm away."
Lowbacca snuffled a question from the navigation station. "Master
Lowbacca wishes to inquire whether that island up ahead is our final
destination," Em Teedee elaborated.
Jacen and Jaina went to the front windowport to look out at the smear of
darkness rising from the sun-dappled water.
"Yes," Tenel Ka's grandmother replied, "that is Reef Fortress."
Tenel Ka didn't move forward to look out at the island. She'd been there
so many times, she already knew what she would see. It never changed.
She closed her eyes, picturing the rocky spires jutting up from the
foamy waters of the ocean. She envisioned the water-level entrance to
the cave grotto, the steep stone walls of the fortress itself, the
crystal-clear cove where she had once loved to swim, the dizzying
heights from the parapets along the impenetrable walls where she could
walk or run with the wind in her hair, the gently steaming thermal
springs in the cellar that provided fresh water for bathing, cooking,
and drinking.
Tenel Ka suddenly realized that she had felt homesick after all for this
place that held so many of her happiest memories from her childhood,
memories of carefree time spent with her parents.
The corners of her mouth turned up slightly. Opening her eyes, she moved
to stand beside Jacen. "I can't wait to show you my home."
Although the matriarch offered to select quarters for their guests,
Tenel Ka insisted on personally choosing an appropriate room for each of
the young Jedi Knights.
Lowbacca's chamber was massive, built at a corner where two of the
fortress's protective walls met. The room's appointments were basic, its
only decorations an ornamental spear on one of the inner walls and a
threadbare tapestry on the other. But through the windows on the two
outer walls, the room had a spectacular view of the sheer drop from the
stone fortress down to the reef rocks and ocean below. Lowbacca stood by
the window casement, staring through the force-field screening with such
rapt wonderment on his face that Tenel Ka knew she had chosen well for
him.
"Do be careful, Master Lowbacca," Em Teedee squeaked in alarm. "If I
were to fall down there, I'm sure the damage to my circuits would be
irreparable."
For Jaina, Tenel Ka chose what she had always known as the "gadget
room." It had belonged to Tenel Ka's great-grandfather, whose hobby had
been inventing and tinkering with machines. Fully half of the chamber
was filled with workbenches, adjustableintensity glowpanels, power
droids, electrical imple LIGHTSABERS
^ ments, and odd-looking equipment in various stages of assembly or
disassembly. Jaina stayed behind to investigate the fascinating workshop
while Tenel Ka showed Jacen the special room she had picked for him.
When they reached the arched doorway, Tenel Ka found herself assailed by
an inexplicable bout of nervousness. What if she had judged wrong for
her friend? What if Jacen found this room gloomy or dreary, instead of
peaceful and soothing? Oh well, she finally decided, she might as well
try for the whole effect.
"I would request," she said uncertainly, "that you close your eyes."
"Sure," Jacen said. "Need to clean it up a bit?"
He squeezed his brandy-brown eyes shut.
Tenel Ka opened the door with her right hand and reached out to take his
arm with her other-only to remember that she had no left hand. Even
though Jacen could not have seen, she felt a flush of embarrassment
creep into her cheeks as she grasped his arm with her good hand and led
him into the room.
"Uh, if it'll make you more comfortable," Jacen quipped, "I can keep my
eyes shut the whole time we're at the fortress."
"That will not be necessary." Tenel Ka shut the door behind her and
adjusted the lighting. The room was still dim, but that was unavoidable.
"You may look now."
She heard his quick intake of breath, and men a whispered exclamation.
"Blaster bolts!"
"It is . . . to your liking?" Tenel Ka moved i closer to
observe Jacen's expression. In the glow of i the violet lighting,
his smile flashed a fluorescent i white. She noted with great
satisfaction the delight that lit his face as he used all of his senses
to experience this special room.
Tenel Ka's own sense of wonder was renewed as she looked
around with Jacen, as if for the first time. A four-meter-high curved
aquarium lined the walls of the circular room, unbroken except for the
arched doorway through which they had entered.
The air tasted salty and tingled pleasantly in her nostrils.
Almost hypnotic in its effect, the bubbling and whishing of
recirculating water surrounded them. Colorful creatures of all shapes
and sizes propelled themselves through the seawater, lit only by
specially regulated glowpanels. Moist tropical warmth wrapped them like
a blanket, and Tenel Ka stifled a contented yawn.
Jacen followed suit and then chuckled. "I don't think I'll
have any problem sleeping in here," he said. "This is just perfect."
She felt him reach out, grope around for her hand, and then
give it a squeeze. Tenel Ka sighed.
This room was indeed filled with peace.
After they had had an opportunity to
refresh themselves, Tenel Ka took
her friends to one of her LIGHTSABERS
^ favorite places on the rocky shore of the island, a tiny cove with
calm water in an amazing shade of living green. The four of them waded
in the sparkling warm waters, joking and splashing, able to forget for a
moment the dangers that had brought them to this place.
Jacen and Jaina wore only the undergarments from their flightsuits,
which served admirably as swimming gear as well. Tenel Ka herself had
changed into a brief lizard-hide exercise suit and felt more like
herself than she had at any time since returning to Hapes.
"If you won't be requiring my services, Master Lowbacca," Em Teedee
said, "might I stay on shore and shut down for a rest cycle? I have no
idea what saltwater might do to my delicate circuitry."
Tenel Ka watched Lowbacca grumble a reply and splash out of the shallows
to place Em Teedee high up on a dry rock. After the Wookiee returned,
the four friends waded out toward deeper water, enjoying one another's
companionship, along with the feeling of the silky water around them.
When Jacen, Jaina, and Lowie turned onto their backs to float lazily on
the surface while they conversed, Tenel Ka absently flipped over and
floated as well. In that instant she remembered yet again that one of
her arms was missing-but she also realized that, with only a slight
adjustment of her posture and weight, she was able to float quite
easily. By experimenting, she discovered she could propel herself at
surprising speed, using nothing more than her strong legs.
Jacen, who had noticed her tentative attempts, swam over and favored her
with what she could only interpret as a challenging grin. Starting to
tread water, he raised his eyebrows at her. She met his gaze and began
treading water as well-at first with little coordination, then finding
her rhythm.
When Jacen narrowed his liquid-brown eyes and moved to a sidestroke,
Tenel Ka did the same.
Tenel Ka met one challenge after another with varying degrees of
success. She found that she was able to do much more than she could ever
have imagined. And even when her performance was less than stellar-as
when she tried to perform an underwater somersault-she enjoyed herself.
When she resurfaced sputtering and coughing after one such attempt, she
noticed a measuring look in Jacen's eyes, daring her to push herself to
her limits. "Race you to the shore," he said.
Tenel Ka gave him a solemn warning look. "Only if you truly intend to
beat me," she said.
Jacen's face was equally grave as he said, "I'll give it everything I've
got."
She nodded. "Then-go!"
Tenel Ka drew on all of her strength, endurance, coordination, and
ingenuity as she threw her body into the mad race for shore. Her entire
conscious LIGHTSABERS
^ ness was focused on one goal, and she drove forward with every bit of
determination she possessed.
Before she even understood what had happened, she was standing on the
shore being greeted by loud cheers from Jaina and a very
bedraggled-looking, wet Lowbacca, who were already standing on the rocky
beach.
Disoriented, Tenel Ka turned, looking for Jacen, and found him just
emerging from the water behind her. From the surprised expression on his
face, she knew their competition had been real: he had not "allowed" her
to win.
Jaina ran forward to hug them both just as Lowbacca, with a loud Wookiee
yell, shook himself dry, sending sprays of salty water in every
direction.
Jacen yelped, and Jaina gave a small shriek of surprise.
Tenel Ka was glad of the diversion, however, because some of the salty
droplets glistening on her face were not seawater. -----------------TWO
DAYS LATER, the royal matriarch Ta'a Chume looked sternly at her
granddaughter as Tenel Ka defiantly tossed aside the embroidered robe Of
state, as well as the glittering and gaudy tiara.
The former queen was not pleased. "You must dress in a manner befitting
your station, child, she said in an indignant tone. "And you might show
a bit more respect for your heritage. Take your tiara.
It is an heirloom, known throughout the cluster."
She held up the delicate crown studded with beautiful, iridescent
jewels. "These are rainbow gems of Gallinore, worth enough to buy five
solar systems." "Then buy five solar systems," Tenel Ka said. "I have no
use for such wealth."
"You can't avoid your duties by being impertinent. This is not a
carefree vacation. There is still work to do. We have an important
diplomatic meeting to conduct, and you must prepare yourself."
^ LIGHTSABERS
^ "I have no interest in your important meeting, Grandmother."
Jacen, Jaina, and Lowbacca stood uncomfortably, not sure what to say as
Tenel Ka argued with the matriarch.
"So long as you remain part of the Royal House of Hapes, Tenel Ka, you
will continue to receive diplomatic instruction and learn how to become
a useful member of our bloodline," her grandmother snapped.
Tenel Ka glared back, her one hand clenched into a fist. "What makes you
think I wish to stay here as part of the Royal House? I am still in
training as a Jedi Knight."
The matriarch laughed. "Spare me your fantasies, child, and face
reality. The Mairan ambassador is on his way to us underwater right now,
and we must go meet him at the shore. Put on your robe. I promised him
that you would be the one to greet him."
"You didn't ask me," Tenel Ka said.
"There was no reason to," the matriarch answered. "You couldn't possibly
have other plans, so I just told you."
"I have no need for diplomatic training. I am a fighter, not a
politician," Tenel Ka said, indicating with a sweeping gesture the
reptile-skin armor she had changed into to emphasize that her preferred
heritage was from Dathomir.
"Hey,um, Tenel Ka?" Jacen said uncertainly, clearinghis throat. "Uh, I
mean, you've got to make up yourown mind and everything . . . but
remember what Master Skywalker says? Jedi ought to be open to all
learning, to draw strength from knowledge -wherever they might find it?
Seems to me that even though you're a good fighter, you might someday
find a use for the skills your grandmother wants to teach you."
"I disagree with her politics," Tenel Ka said.
Jacen shrugged. "Nobody said you had to do everything the way she wants
you to."
The matriarch scowled at the insolent young Jedi boy, and that made up
Tenel Ka's mind. "Very well.
I will do it," she said, "but I will do it my way. This is a fact."
"Oh, excellent!" Em Teedee said from Lowbacca's waist. "Might I take
this opportunity to remind you, Mistress Tenel Ka, that a goodly portion
of my programming was adapted from protocol droid subroutines? If I can
be of any assistance in your political efforts, I gladly offer my
services."
The old matriarch looked horrified.
Tenel Ka smiled inwardly. "Thank you, Em Teedee. I accept your offer.
; Lowbacca, I would like you at my side when I meet the Mairan
ambassador."
Tenel Ka picked up the robe and with her one hand attempted to fling it
about her shoulders, but LIGHTSABERS
^ the left side slid off, leaving the stump of her arm bare. When the
matriarch moved to help her, Tenel Ka pulled away and quickly reached
over to tug the garment into place.
"It is good to be an independent thinker, my granddaughter," the
matriarch said. "Just have a care you don't do it to excess."
Royal guards had set out a plush chair on the outer edge of the reef,
where curling whitecaps chewed against the rock. The damp air smelled of
salt and freshness. The old matriarch stood back, observing.
Tenel Ka, in her rippling robe, marched to the chair without waiting for
her grandmother to issue instructions. Adjusting the rainbow-gem tiara
on her thick red-gold hair, she looked directly into the brisk wind that
blew off the choppy waters.
Lowbacca, the breeze ruffling his ginger fur, stood beside Tenel Ka as
she seated herself and looked out across the black rocks and the endless
sea. She blinked against the bright sunlight and watched the waves for
any motion.
The Mairans, a race of intelligent, tentacled, u I ndersea dwellers,
Lightsabers Page 11
