Chapter 111

"You should have talked immediately to Luke after you had doubts about him being your sister's Jedi Master" Wedge continued, "You also should have relied more on what the Force was telling you about their relationship. Tama-Hin, you're a Jedi Knight, but you're still becoming emotional when you feel concern about Shaayla-Car."

"She is my only relative, Wedge. My parents are no longer alive, although I have met them as Force ghosts, while I was on my way back to Tyr." Ian said. "I already had a talk with Luke, and I sense that you also know what is going on between Luke and my sister. Leia knows, Yarmod probably knows it too, but I had no idea. Obi-Wan and Severini reproached me for a lack of insight, and they were right. "

"So you did talk with Luke, Tama-Him?"

"Leia said Luke wanted to have a word with me and my parents said that what I saw and what the Force was telling me were the cause of the confusing I felt. I should have relied more on my Force insight, Wedge."

"That's right, Tama-Hin, as a Jedi Knight you first of all should rely on what the Force is telling you. What we see with our eyes often has a deeper background and if we're not relying on what the Force reveals, we can be deceived. The world of a Jedi Knight is larger. He is a luminous being and the Force helps him to see the truth behind reality."

Ian sat in his chair with slumped shoulders.

"You look tired, Tama-Hin," Wedge said with concern.

"After I have talked to Luke I should have felt relief, but instead I felt even more stupid. The whole night I have been thinking how I ever could have believe that Luke could be so unfriendly as a Jedi master. " He said.

"He clearly overdid it in your eyes, right?" Wedge asked.

"Yes, I also couldn't get it that my sister's reaction was so compliant."

"What did Luke tell you, Tama-Hin."

"That he still loves Shaayla-Car and that she love him, but that they don't want that their personal feelings for each other outweighs the obligations they have in relation to Toallin and Mugin and the Quelan community."

Wedge started to laugh.

"What's the problem then?"

"That I didn't understand that I wasn't aware that they, as master and apprentice, also need some moments to share what they feel for each other, while you all were."

"You were unaware of that because you wanted to protect Shaayla-Car from what you saw as the unfair treatment by Luke. You're still too emotional bound to her. You love her too much. Your attachment to her is too strong. Don't take me wrong, Tama-Hin. I am not judging you; you feel it as your duty, as her older brother, to protect her, but you forget that Shaayla-Car is an adult woman, trained as a Jedi Knight, who is perfectly capable of defending her own interests." Wedge said.

Ian didn't answered, but nodded slightly.

"That's what Yarmod has already told me, Wedge. I still feel I have to protect her from anything that might hurt her."

"You can't, Tama-Hin. Maybe once you could, when you were her guard in the Wegoyy prison, but that's long ago."

"You are right, Wedge, but what happened on Wegoyy still feels like a big failure because I couldn't protect her from Dendicott and Rand Phylotar terrible treatment, and when I saw how Luke talked to her those images can back to me, not that I thought that Luke would ever use real violence, but on Wegoyy I should have protected her against the use of that mind drug. It is my fault that she suffered from amnesia for more than two years. I should have stand up against Dendicott and Rand Phylotar."

Wedge looked at the young Jedi with compassion.

"Have you ever told her this?"

"No I haven't. I haven't told any one so far, but it still feels as if I have failed being her older brother."

"Tama-Hin, didn't you leave the Jedi pendant Luke had given her with her, when you were forced to leave her behind in the mountainous region of Wegoy?" Wedge said now using his skills as a Jedi master.

"Yes, I did. She had told me that she could made contact with Luke using the Force in the pendant. I didn't understand what she said, but I hoped that she could use it to warn Luke. She couldn't, Wedge. She didn't remember what it was for."

Wedge sensed the despair Ian Tydon still felt about the events that happened in the past.

"Ian, yes I'm now using your former name, for what we're talking about happened in a time when you didn't know Shaayla-Car was your sister. Many years have pasted since you had to leave her with that indigenous tribe of the Draga. All that time you were Ian Tydon, her former guard, who informed Luke on Wegoyy, who told the High Council what has happened to Liane Solichor, who developed his Force skills as Leia's padawan and became the Jedi Knight I initiated. I'm now asking you: how long do you know that Liane is your sister, Shaayla-Car Kenobi? Two months, three, half a year, maybe a bit longer."

Ian shrugged.

"Half a standard year, I guess, Wedge. I'm not sure. But all the years I didn't know she was my sister, I have cared about her."

"And during all those years, Liane has, admittedly, with fits and starts, grown in her believe in Good Side of the Force, and has become a Jedi Knight, just like you. A Jedi Knight who trusts the Force, who can call upon her ally whenever she wants, who has shown and still shows her the path she has to follow, but not with your help, Ian. Her own dedication, after discovering who's daughter she really was, has made her the Jedi Knight she is today.

Leaving her the Jedi-pendant was an act of your dedication to her, Ian, because with the Jedi-pendant in her possession, she was able to repair her bond with Luke. Your decision saved her contact with Luke, her relationship with the one who is her eternal Force partner. A relationship that goes much further than any of us realizes. A relationship that has become so strong that it is unbreakable. They know each other through and through. Their thoughts are one, because the Force has molded them into a Force dyad, many generations ago.

Thanks to you, Ian, Liane has become aware that her healing skills are led by the Good Side of the Force; thanks to you, Ian, you ensured that my friend Luke found his eternal comrade again. The eternal comrade who has become the love of his life.

What happened on Wegoyy isn't your fault. You did what the Force commanded you to do, not consciously at that time, but you did it out of compassion for Liane. You aren't to take the blame for what those former imperials did to her, using forbidden ways to extract the truth from there victims, but it is now time for you to realize that you can no longer protect a woman who is convinced that what the Force tells her is right and that she will follow that advice, despite you recently discovered that she is your sister. You have done enough, more than enough, for Shaayla-Car, or Liane, whatever you call her, and also for my friend Luke." Wedge said with compassion, but also with emphasis.

Ian had listened to Wedge's long narration and nodded.

"After she and Luke returned to Tyr, I talked to her. I felt I had to warn her, because she had been alone with him. In Trevor's caves I had seen how much Luke is in love with her. She bluntly told me to mind my own business."

"See, Tama-Hin, and why did she react that way?"

Ian looked at Wedge and smiled. A smile that seemed to express his relief.

"Because, wherever they had gone, they have made to a personal agreement there about their future. I should have sensed her happiness, Wedge, but at that moment I only felt concern about their unexpected jump into hyperspace."

"You looked at what had happened from your point of view which wasn't what you expected. You have also clung to your believe that something was amiss, after Luke told you that she had asked him to become her Jedi master. Your stubborn behavior to believe in what you saw and what you couldn't accept, has deceived you, Tama-Hin.

You're back on Tyr now, and I don't expect that Leia will allow you to return with the second group, so I think you can make yourself useful to pay some special attention to Lorann."

"Lorann? Wedge, I'm certainly not ready to become his Jedi master yet."

"That's right. I'm not talking about taking him as your padawan. You shouldn't teach him how to use the Force, but you could team up with the boy, talk to him and let him tell you what he does, at school, in his spare time, what's in his mind, his future as a harvest man. I'm certain he will appreciate your full attention, for he only has his grandfather who really takes care of him. Besides he admires you, as does his grandfather, Tama-Hin. I have to go now and see what Chati is doing. I'll see you later."

They both stood up and Ian shook hands with Wedge Antilles.

"Thanks, Wedge, for listening. I will pay attention to Lorann, that's probably better than worrying about Luke and Shaayla-Car, even if I now better understand why they are a master and an apprentice at the moment."

Ian walked up to Manall's house and knocked on the door. Lorann opened and looked at him.

"Master Kenobi, you are on Tyr? Yesterday grandpa said to me that you wouldn't come back to Tyr before the first group would come back, because I told him I had a feeling that you would soon come to our house to pay us a visit. Won't you come in? Grandpa will delighted to see you. He often talks about you and about his old friend. Master Obi-Wan he calls his friend, so I'll understand he isn't mentioning you."

Lorann wanted to grab the sleeve of Ian's cassock, but quickly withdrew his hand.

"Lorann, who is there, boy?" Manall's voice sounded.

"Master Kenobi, grandpa. Master Obi-Wan's son."

"Let him in, Lorann. He is more than welcome." Manall answered.

Ian stepped inside and entered the cozy room where Manall was sitting near the table. Ian saw that several interesting drawings were spread on it.

Manall looked up pleased, showing his appreciation with the unexpected visitor.

"My grandson has been making new drawings again, master Kenobi, and I think they are very good. Look at this one, of the interior of master Skywalker space ship. It's really amazing. It looks like I can step into it.

Lorann told me master Skywalker took him inside, just after his space ship had landed. I asked Lorann how much time he had spend there, but he wasn't sure. He told me that master Skywalker has helped him to put the drawing of the ship in a frame at the wall, and afterward he had gotten a glass of juice.

Your sister Shaayla-Car was also there and she also appreciate the drawing. You shoot have a look at this painting; my grandson has made it, some days after the first group went to Myr. He has drawn the control room with the worktable and those couches and he also has drawn master Skywalker, Shaayla-Car, your sister, you and master Martan. When I saw it I immediately recognized all of you. And look there is the painting of the master Skywalker's ship at the wall.

But sit down, master Kenobi. Lorann, will you make some bites and drinks for us."

Ian looked at the drawing, and what he saw gave him a shock. To his surprise, he saw the happy face of his sister, looking at Luke Skywalker. It was not just a happy look, but that of a woman in love. Lorann must have noticed what he had overlooked.

Lorann came back and put a large tray on a sideboard."

"Grandpa, we have to clear the table, for I don't want that my drawings are messed up." He said.

"Of course, my son. I just showed master Kenobi the drawing you made when master Skywalker had taken you inside his ship."

Lorann looked at Ian.

"It's not very good, master Kenobi, for I had to make it after my father had gone to Myr."

"My son, Cornell, doesn't want that Lorann spends his time making drawings."

"I had to live with my mother and my siblings after my father came back and told the governors that Ribana is free and that the intruder has left the caves.

Master Kenobi, did I pay good attention when Master Skywalker let me take a look inside his ship? I was especially impressed by the look of your sister's face. Miss Shaayla-Car looked so beautiful, and she followed master Skywalker constantly with her eyes. I kept seeing a beautiful blue light around her. It's a pity I don't have colors to draw with, otherwise I certainly would have drawn that beautiful blue light too. Master Kenobi, she must love master Skywalker very much. I think she surely is going to marry with him."

Completely stunned Ian had listened to Lorann's chatter.

"Why do you think that, Lorann," He finally asked.

"Oh, I remember Minilla when she married my cousin Taninn. She looked the same way at him, but I never saw that blue light around her. I think, because miss Shaayla-Car is a Jedi Knight that she was surrounded by the Force. That the Force produced that blue light.

Grandpa says that the Force unites everything around us, even those vicious Urams in the nut woods. That's why grandpa never was angry after those predator birds attacked him."

"Your grandfather explained it well, Lorann. Everything that surrounds us is part of the Living Force: the trees, the bushes, the flowers, but also the Urams and other animals, even the smallest ones, and, of course, us, you, your grandfather, the other Quelans, and especially the Jedi Knights."

"So you can feel everything that's around you, master Kenobi. Isn't that confusing?" Lorann asked.

"In the beginning it was, but it's also an amazing feeling to be part of everything that surrounds me."

"Chati says, that she also can feel what's surrounding her. She even know when her master is walking over to her, even if she isn't seeing him yet. She says she feels his presence through the Force, and she also told me that she can feel the presence of many other Quelans, like her parents, master Kamalin, and her former girl friends." Lorann told Ian. "Those girl aren't really good friends, for they always laughed at her behind her back. That's no nice, for if they do, Chati feels unhappy. It's lucky that she is now master Antilles' apprentice. He is very nice to her and Chati loves to show him that she will do what he asks, but that's what master Antilles doesn't want her to do.

I think I understand what he means, for master Kamalin has written some words on the wall of our school building: Where there is a will, there is no way. I figured out that it means that if you have to do something you will or want to do to get a good result, you won't get a good result, but if you do it without thinking what you want to achieve, you get a very good result. I talked about with master Kamalin and he said I was a very clever boy, and that I was a good thinker," Lorann beamed as he told what he told his school master.

Ian looked at Lorann with a smile and thought about his talk with Luke and Wedge.

"It's indeed very clever of you to figure out such a strange sentence. It's true, as long as you want to achieve something and put all your effort in it to get a result, you will find out that you haven't achieved anything, which is very disappointing."

'Why am I explaining this to him. I wanted to know something desperately,' he thought, 'and I achieved the opposite of what I wanted to know.'

Manall looked at his grandson.

"I think that you and master Kenobi should take a walk outside, dear boy. Your chatter is tiring sometimes."

Lorann looked at Ian.

"Do you want to take a walk outside with me, master Kenobi. I can show some places around Cantamaga where I love to come."

"Excellent idea, Lorann. Let's go, for I sense that your grandfather would love it to have some quiet moments."

Manall looked at Ian with gratitude. Ian rose, while Lorann took his coat. They both left the harvest man's house and walked down the path which lead to the outskirts of Ribana, but instead of crossing the houses Lorann went right to the plains where the Grannd Traveler had landed after Yarnick and Yarmod had brought him to Tyr.

"Where do you take us, Lorann," Ian asked.

"To the cleft, master Kenobi. There is a path that leads to a cave. I often go there to watch Cantamaga. It's quite a walk, but I love to go there."

"Fine with me, Lorann, but what about your grandfather. Won't he be worried if we stay away too long."

"He won't. He has taken me to that cave and he told me that on Myr there's similar cave that has a view on Ribana. In that cave his old Jedi friends stayed, when they visited grandpa. It's very long ago, for even my father wasn't born yet. One of grandpa's old friends is your father, master Kenobi. Grandpa says that you resemble him, but he also told that your father has died long ago. "

Ian didn't comment on Lorann's last words.

They were crossing the plains now and headed to the cleft in the mountain ridge. Lorann pointed to the right.

"There the path begins. It's difficult to see it from this distance yet, but I can see the thick bush that hides the beginning of it."

Ian looked in the distance and notices indeed a thick bush at the foot of the mountain ridge.

"You have a very sharp eyesight, Lorann," He said. "If you hadn't mentioned the bush I would have been aware of it, yet."

For a while they walked on in silence, then Lorann turned to his companion.

"Master Kenobi, is it difficult to learn to use the Force like Chati does. I don't know how she does it, but every time I see her doing things, I would love to do that myself."

"Like what, Lorann?" Ian asked.

"Sometimes master Antilles allows me to join them when he is teaching or telling her more about the Force. He taught her how to move things, only by looking at it."

"That's the use Jedi telekinesis. You already have heard about the Living Force, but a Jedi can also move objects which aren't alive. For example stones and a pencil that has been dropped." Ian explained.

"Oh, that would be very handy, master Kenobi. I wish I could do that. Can you do that?"

"It's one of the first thing a padawan learns and it's indeed very useful." Ian said with a smile.

"When we're at the cave, can you show me?" The boy asked eagerly.

"If there will be any stones, or branches I surely can demonstrate it." Ian answered.

"Let's run, master Kenobi, for I would love to see what you can do."

Lorann ran off, leaving Ian stunned for a moment, but then he started running too, using his Force skills. To his surprise, Lorann managed to stay ahead of him and continued running at high speed. In this way, they reached the foot of the mountains much faster, where Lorann slowed down.

"Here begins the path. It's steep, but I love to run uphill."

And he was gone again. Ian followed the boy with his eyes.

'He is using the Force to run this fast. This is amazing', He thought as he started to walk up the steep path.

Some time later, he saw Lorann standing in front of a shallow cave. The boy doesn't show any exhaustion.

"You walked uphill, master Kenobi. It's a steep climb, but I love to practise my running here."

"You're indeed a very fast runner, Lorann. Who taught you to run this fast?"

"No one. When all the Quelans were brought to Tyr, I was just getting in the way and annoying my father and the other harvest men. He told my mother to keep on eye on me, but I often managed to slip away. I didn't listen to her and always ran to grandpa's house. My father often punished me for being disobedient to my mother but finally he simply let me be with grandpa. I love the stories grandpa tells me about his Jedi friends."

He looked at Ian who had sat himself next to Lorann.

"And now I have my own Jedi friend, and I'm still a boy," He said and looked at Ian. "You are my friend, aren't you, master Kenobi? You're listening to what I tell you."

"Be sure I'm your friend, Lorann." Ian answered.

They sat next to each other and Ian clearly sensed the strong Force flow between them, then Lorann broke their silence.

"Master Kenobi, master Skywalker told me that you have saved the life of one of the other humans, after he got wounded. It was a very severe wound, for a laser beam hit his side and had ripped much flesh and skin away. Chati told me that master Antilles brought you to the man, for he knew you could help him. You have held your hands above the wound and Chati told me that she saw blue light coming from your fingers and that you used that blue light to undo the damage of the laser beam, and later also miss Shaayla-Car came and helped you.

Chati said that it was amazing, and that it felt very good, for you have saved his life. Could you that because you are Jedi Knight, as master Skywalker told me? He said that he can't do the same you and your sister can."

"That's right, Lorann. Shaayla-Car and I have inherited a special use of the Force to heal anyone who've gotten wounded or is suffering in an other way. Our mother also could do that. She was once a very famous Jedi healer at the Jedi temple on Coruscant.

It was a dangerous time for the Jedi and my mother fled with my father to a planet where they would be safe. There I was born and later also my sister. We have inherited our healing skills from our mother."

"That's really great, master Kenobi. Have you saved many lives already." Lorann asked curiously.

"Not yet. That wounded man Chati told you about was the first life I have saved."

Lorann shook his head.

"No, master Kenobi, I think that the man was the second man you have given your special help."

Ian looked aside and saw the questioning look in the boy's eyes.

"What made you think so, Lorann?"

"Master Kenobi, I think that you have given your special help to grandpa, because he also was severely wounded, right?"

Ian looked into the distance seeing the contours of Cantamaga, before he looked again into the hopeful eyes of Lorann. He nodded.

"You're right, Lorann. I did help your grandfather, because through the Force I sensed how much he suffered. As a healer I can't ignore what the Force is telling or showing me."

"I haven't seen that you have healed his wounds, master Kenobi, when did you do it."

"After we had reached the first cabin, Lorann. You were replacing the bandage when the Force allowed me to see how severe his wounds were. After you had gone to sleep I have used the Force again to alleviate the pain he felt and the Force helped me to undo some of the damage the Urams had done. "

"I'm absolutely sure you haven't entered the room where we were sleeping. I should have noticed." Lorann said shaking his head in disbelieve.

"Sometimes a Jedi doesn't have to make a physical appearance to give help. I wasn't in the room where you and your grandfather were sleeping. I used my connection with the Force to step out of my physical body to go over to your grandfather. I was there as a Force spirit, while my real body was sitting on the bed in the side room you had cleared out to give me a place to rest.

I understand that this is very difficult for you to comprehend, but after I have seen your grandfather's wounds I couldn't do anything else. I had to use my healing skills to alleviate his suffering."

"So that's why his wounds seemed almost healed when we arrived at the third cabin. But you didn't tell grandpa you have helped him."

"No, I didn't, Lorann. As a Jedi Knight I don't give my help to get thanks for what I do, or have done."

"Are all the Jedi Knight such humble persons."

"I can't confirm that, Lorann. A Jedi Knight is trained to bring peace and justice. It's the duty of a Jedi Knight to help those who are suffering. That's his main task."

'And I have never noticed that Luke and my sister saw it as their primary duty to restore and promote the well-being of the Quelan community. How could I have been so ignorant?' Ian thought.

"You're really a great Jedi Knight, master Kenobi. I think, you're the greatest, even greater then master Skywalker and master Antilles."

Ian shook his head.

"I'm certainly not, Lorann. I don't want you to look up at me that way. I'm a Jedi Knight who had been very recently been initiated. I still have to learn a lot about the Force and her use and how I can be her servant. Master Skywalker and master Antilles are Jedi masters. They already have trained a padawan learner to learn about the Force. I haven't and I'm not yet enough aware of the Force to take the responsibility for a padawan."

Lorann looked at him and Ian felt the boy's disappointment after what he had said.

"Then I'm out of luck, master Kenobi, I hoped that you would be willing to teach me more how to use the Force."

Ian raised his hand and several stones at the edge of the cave started to hover.

""Maybe another Jedi Knight will take you on as his padawan, Lorann," he said softly, and he noticed that Lorann was looking at the floating stones with fascination.

"No, master Kenobi, I will wait for you until you have learned enough to take me as your padawan. I only want to learn from you."

Ian put his hand on Lorann's shoulder.

"Thank you for your trust in me, Lorann. Shall we now go back to your grandfather's house, otherwise he might get worried." Ian said and dropped the stones.

"He won't, master Kenobi. May I invite you to have dinner with us? It's my turn tonight to cook."

They both stood up and walked down the steep path to the plains. As they neared Manall's house Lorann looked up at Ian.

"Thank you, master Kenobi, for healing the wounds of grandpa,"

"Better not mention it to him, Lorann, Let's keep this a secret between you and me." Ian answered.

After having a meal with Lorann and his grandfather Ian walked to the center of Cantamaga where he went over to his guest room. The lofty suite was furnished very comfortably with two beds, some armchairs, a table and a sideboard with a tray with glasses and a carafe of clear water. Ian put his coat neatly on a hook in the closet and sat in the armchair. He closed his eyes and reached out to the Force to do a deep mediation, but before he fully concentrated himself on the Force he thought about the last words Lorann had spoken to him: 'No, master Kenobi, I will wait for you until you have learned enough to take me as your padawan. I only want to learn from you' Those words clearly show that the boy was aware of his Force skills.

'I have seen enough to confirm he is a Force user' he thought. 'The way he ran away and uphill without showing the slightest exhaustion was clearly done, because he was one with the Force. I would love to teach him more, but Luke is right, I'm not ready to take the responsibility for him. I'm not ready to be a Jedi master, not yet, but I will proof Luke and maybe also Leia that I can take the responsibility for the boy and be his Jedi master one day, although there will be many more obstacles before Lorann will be allowed to become a Jedi Knight.'

A knock on the door interrupted his reflections.

"I'm in. The door is open," He said and looked amazed as Chati Fonaldris entered.

"Master Antilles asks you to come down and join us, Ian," Chati said.

With some relief Ian grabbed his coat and followed Chati to the community space, where Wedge Antilles had installed himself in a shielded corner with some armchairs and a round table.

"Take a seat, Tama-Hin. Chati, will you provide some drinks, and join us after you have done so."

"Yes, master," Chati said and turned to Ian, "Anything special for you, Ian. I know you love my mother's apple juice. Master, what do you want?"

"The same as Tama-Hin, will do, Chati."

The young Quelan woman left and returned after a while with a tray with three large cold mugs of apple juice. She put them on the table and want to take her place behind Wedge's seat, but he pointed to one of the empty chairs.

"You may sit down with us, Chati. This is not a formal meeting, so I don't expect you to stay behind me." He said.

Chati smiled and bowed.

"Thank you, master," She said gladly.

Wedge turned to Ian.

"My padawan has something to tell you, Tama-Hin, but first I want to know: 'How was your walk with Lorann?' I saw you going to the plains with him."

"Lorann showed me his favorite spot and I have to admit it was a marvelous view from that shallow cave. He told me that master Manall had often taken him there. Wedge, do you know why is Lorann living with his grandfather instead of his mother and his siblings? He's not yet old enough to be trained as a harvest man."

Wedge looked at Chati.

"You can answer that question better than I can, Chati. You have been here much longer."

Chati turned slightly red.

"I don't want to gossip, master, but Lorann has his own ideas about whom he will obey. He listens to his father, but his mother and he aren't getting along very well. It's not that he behaves bad, but she has the same problem as my mother had with me. We both don't fit here."

"Did you get along with him?" Wedge asked.

"Since I'm your padawan it's better, but I'm too old to be a trusted friend.

In Ribana, it was already difficult to call Lorann to order. When we arrived here I was twelve and Lorann was four year old. Master Cornell has a large family and I often have taken care of the younger ones, including my two brothers.

Lorann often ran a way without telling anyone where he was going. He was a real nuisance in Cantamaga, for after we had arrived here a lot of work had to be done.

When my father and my uncle had gone back to Ribana and didn't return, Master Kamalin and master Woldrin took over their function, not as governors, but as their representatives.

I couldn't handle Lorann, and finally his father decided that Lorann had to live with his grandfather high up the mountain just in front of the nut woods. Lorann was by now seven years old. Lorann's mother didn't agree, for she feared that master Manall would also have much difficulty to handle Lorann. However master Manall had a great influence on him and Lorann began to behave better, that is to say, less unruly, for Lorann kept roaming the area around Cantamaga. Sometimes master Manall went with him, but many times Lorann went away on his own.

Despite all this he never met with any accident or trouble. He always came home even after he had been away for some days. He never told any one where he had been, but master Manall seemed to trust his grandson and told everyone, even his son, master Cornell and Lorann's mother, to let the boy do what he wanted to do.

Lorann has never had the problems I have had. I'm a Quelan female, Lorann as a Quelan male and the son of the leader of the harvest men had many advantages over me. I have to say that over the years while he grew up his unruly behavior has vanished, but he still wants to do what he thinks is right.

More recently he and I are getting along better, because he admires the fact that you have taken me as your padawan, master. Perhaps Lorann hopes that one of the other Jedi Knights will take him as a padawan too. Ian, I have heard that you said to master Manall that you might be his master one day, right."

"It is far too early, Chati, to even think about a master-apprentice relationship between me and Lorann. I have spoken to Luke about it, and he fully agrees with me that I need to gain more experience as a Jedi Knight before he will ask me to become Lorann's Jedi Master. Luke is right; I am not ready for such responsibility yet. I am not turning my back on Lorann, but the time is not yet ripe for either of us.

During our walk I have told him that maybe one day a Jedi Knight will take him as a padawan learner, but Lorann flatly answered that he would only wait for me. His answer alone places an enormous responsibility on me, for not only will I have to be certain that I am ready to be his master, but Master Cornell will also have to be convinced of his youngest son's hidden talents, which are many.

Let me tell you what happened, before my walk with him. He showed me a drawing he had made when Luke showed him the interior of the Astræga. It was almost unbelievable how many details Lorann must have absorbed at that short moment. Not only had he portrayed Luke helping him hang the drawing of the Astræga, but Yarmod and I were also present in great detail. He had depicted Shaayla-Car in even greater detail. When I looked closely at her face, as Lorann had drawn it, I saw so clearly how happy she was. Lorann said that he saw, that she loved Luke very much because she kept looking at him all the time. He was sure that she was going to marry Luke. He had also seen that she was surrounded by a clear blue light. He regretted that he had not been able to capture that blue light. This boy has seen, what I had missed, completely missed, Wedge."

Wedge looked at Chati.

"Well so far about Lorann, but my padawan has another story to tell, Tama-Hin. During our chat this morning I didn't want to reveal to you that I knew the truth behind the charade your sister and Luke have rigged up. It has been my padawan who has eavesdropped on a conversation that was not meant for her ears. Chati, I don't have to explain that what you have heard and what you have told me before the first group left to Tyr, shouldn't spread any further. In other words I want you to tell Tama-Hin, but absolutely not anyone else."

"Yes, master," Chati said, and for a moment she averted her eyes

"Now tell Tama-Hin what you has seen, and how it could be that you saw it, for I still don't agree with what you have done," Wedge said, looking at her a bit stern but with a smile.

"I know you disapprove, master, but it has saved you a lot of guessing about the real reason" Chati said frankly, before she turned to Ian.

"Ian, you just said that Lorann has made a beautiful drawing of Shaayla-Car just after she and Luke had arrived on Tyr. I haven't seen the drawing, but I'm sure Lorann has captured a very beautiful moment.

Before you mentioned what you had seen in Lorann's drawing, I have seen something similar on the morning after the open air dinner party on the plateau halfway the hillside behind Cantamaga.

I saw Shaayla-Car leaving the guest rooms and going quickly through the streets to the winding road to the plateau. I thought she wanted to do some Jedi mediation and I knew the plateau is her favorite spot. I wanted to join her and have a chat with her, but on the plateau Ben unexpectedly appeared.

They had chosen the plateau to meet, probably to do some Force meditation together.

I should have gone back to Cantamaga, but I wanted to know what kind of meditation they would do together.

Ian, what I did then, I shouldn't have done. Master Antilles has reprimanded me. I used my skin coloring to hide myself among the bushes and stealthy followed Shaayla-Car and Ben, when she took him with her around the corner of the plateau to the other side of the hill. I sneaked after them and there I saw them kissing passionately and Ben was taking her in his arms as if he never wanted to let her go.

I heard them talking about keeping a plan secret. Now I am know, they were probably talking about that they want to get married, but being too curious as master Antilles told me, I kept listening and then Ban started talking about an another plan to keep their original plan secret. Ben suggested the he would tell everyone he was her Jedi Master, for Shaayla-Car had asked him to become his padawan. I didn't understand what they were up too, but I told you everything I had heard, master, and you said that I should never have eavesdropped on their conversation.

You were not pleased and reproached me, but later that day, when Ben came to see you, you accepted what he said. You did not betray me. I am grateful for that, because I also had told that I had heard, why Ben and Shaayla-Car had come up with that new plan. They want all the Quelans to be back in Ribana first, before they will ask my father or my uncle if they want to officiate their wedding ceremony."

'They put their obligations to the Quelans before their very personal agreement, and I didn't see it.' Ian thought

Flabbergasted Ian looked at Chati. Wedge laughed.

"And I told you, young padawan, that you absolutely should keep your mouth shut about all this. Nevertheless, Tama-Hin, I thought that it would reassure you if Chati would also tell you what she had heard, although I still don't agree with her lack of judgment regarding this private conversation between two Jedi Knights. After witnessing the intimate moment between them, she should have withdrawn. We should leave your sister and Luke in the assumption that no one seems to understand their relationship as master and apprentice.

Ian had listened to Wedge and Chati in amazement.

"Thank you both for telling this. At least, my disciplinary return to Tyr has given me more information than I ever would have gotten on Myr," Ian said, now also laughing, "We certainly should keep this all by ourselves, although I wonder how much will become known before their official wedding takes place."

Chati made a last comment, before Wedge and Ian went to their guest rooms and Chati went to her room in master Kamalin's house.

"If Shaayla-Car and Ben are seeking some moments of solitude on Myr, they do have to take my mother and my aunt into account. They are fantastic women, but they are also very fond of gossiping."