The Shattered Peace

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.”