The Shattered Peace

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.