Chapter 124

"Of course, you will. The Urams are our friends, Lorann, yours and mine. Listen, there is master Skywalker, to bring me to his ship."

The door of Manall's house opened and Luke entered. Lorann quickly cast a glance behind the Jedi Knight and felt disappointed for he didn't see another Jedi Knight entering. Luke smiled.

"Shaayla-Car is already on board, Lorann. You want to say goodbye to her, don't you?"

Lorann blushed and nodded.

"Then join your grandfather and me. We're early, for the governor and your father will join us later, when master Kamalin brings them from Cantamaga."

Luke looked at Manall.

"You still want to go to Myr with me, master Manall."

Manall nodded. He walked to the door and stepped outside where Luke had parked the speeder.

"Get in the back seat, Lorann," Luke said.

The boy immediately jumped on the back seat, behind his grandfather. Luke took the driver's seat and drove down the path to reach the plains. As they arrived Luke politely assisted Manall to leave the speeder while Lorann stood eagerly waiting to run up the ramp of the Astræga.

"Grandpa," He shouted, "Now you can see where my drawing of this ship is."

Manall cast a glance at the outside of the ship before he walked up the ramp. Luke followed and laughed, as he saw that Lorann stood impatiently waiting at the passageway to the control room.

"Go ahead, Lorann. Shaayla-Car probably is in the cockpit." Luke said.

Lorann ran inside. Manall watched him go and laughed. Luke joined the harvest man.

"Master Skywalker, do you know what I think," He asked.

Luke nodded.

"Your grandson is infatuated with Master Kenobi's sister," He said.

"He certainly is, master Skywalker. If he would be older I would say you have a rival."

Luke laughed and made a inviting gesture with his hand.

"Welcome on board the Astræga, master Manall." He said as they walked up the ramp.

Lorann stood in the passageway to the control room and looked at Liane who seemed to be busy at the pantry that annexed a small kitchinette. She turned around and walked over to him.

"Are you coming with us to Myr, Lorann?" She asked.

Lorann blushed.

"No, miss Shaayla-Car. Master Skywalker said that I could say goodbye to you, before I go back to Cantamaga, where I will stay with master Kamalin and master Kenobi. "

"And with master Antilles and Chati," Liane said.

Lorann nodded, but kept looking at Liane.

"You really are beautiful, miss?" He said and blushed again.

"Thank you, Lorann. That's a nice compliment." She answered.

"You really are very beautiful, miss?" He said and blushed again.

Liane laughed, but couldn't prevent she also blushed vehemently. Luke who had heard Lorann's remark laughed, as he invited Manall to take a seat on the couch.

"Lorann, you exactly know why she is that beautiful, for I fully agree with your remark." He said.

Lorann kept looking at Liane and then he pointed at the alliance ring on her hand.

"When I gave master Skywalker my drawing of his ship, miss, you didn't wear that ring," He said.

"You're a very good observer, Lorann," Liane said, "You're right Luke gave me this ring when we were at Ktafunda on Palomintar Six."

"Did hij ask you to marry there?" Lorann said.

"Lorann! That's a immodest question," Manall said, but Luke and Liane both laughed.

""He already had asked me that earlier, Lorann," Liane answered.

"I guessed he had, miss, for when you arrived on Tyr, I felt how happy you were. I have made a drawing of you and master Kenobi and his friend, for they were there too, and I also draw master Skywalker and the ... Look, grandpa, there's my drawing on the wall," Lorann exclaimed and ran over to wall with the framed drawing.

Manall looked at Luke.

'You have done him great pleasure, Master Skywalker,' he said.

"You're very talented, Lorann. I have seen the drawings you made after the Quelans told you what they have done in Ribana." Liane said. "Luke says, that he could recognize the restored houses immediately."

She looked at Luke who had left the control room for a moment and came back with the drawing datapad he had bought for Lorann.

"We have done a lot of shopping in Ktafunda, Lorann," Luke said. "Not only did I bought an alliance ring for Shaayla-Car, but we also found this drawing datapad with all kind of extra color possiibilities. We want you to have it, so you no longer have to worry that you only can make drawings without color." Luke said and handed Lorann the datapad with its accessories.

"Wow! Thank you, master Skywalker. Now, my drawings will become even better and I also can make the drawings I have already made colorful, so the Quelans who will go with the third group will have already seen in color, what has been done. "

Lorann sat down on the couch and immediately activated the drawing datapad, completely absorbed in its possibilities. He didn't seemed to notice the others who were looking at him, and who shared understandable looks among them. Lorann had found a hidden stylus and began to draw. He touched several buttons at the side of the pad and looked up.

"I can correct any minor detail now more easily, grandpa, and I can transfer my drawing to a foil sheet when its completely finished. Thank you, master Skywalker. I've never got such a wonderful present." Lorann said.

He stood up and stretched out his hand to Luke. Luke gently shook hands with the young Quelan boy. Lorann looked at Liane.

"Now I can make an even more beautiful drawing of you, miss Shaayla-Car. I have already made another drawing of you, but I wasn't really happy with it. With this drawing board I can undo what isn't good, and also add color to itI will asked master Kamalin to transfer it to a good foil sheet ." Lorann said and looked up.

"There are two other speeders coming, master Skywalker." He said.

"That's master Kamalin, the governor and your father." Luke said. "And master Kenobi, master Antilles and Chati."

"I'm not showing what you gave me to my father, master Skywalker. He doesn't want me to make drawings. Will you please give it to master Kamalin."

"You shouldn't hide what you love to do, Lorann. I'm sure that your father will accept that you love making all kinds of drawings." Luke said and looked at Lorann in a special way.

"Do you want me to tell to my father that you gave this to me?" Lorann asked.

"I do, Lorann," Luke said.

Several different footsteps were heard on the ramp and Wedge, Chati and Ian entered followed by Kamalin, Toallin and Cornell.

The harvest man looked at his son with frown.

"What are you doing here, Lorann?" He asked and looked at Luke. "Ben, is Lorann coming with us, I thought he had some chores to do here on Tyr."

Manall looked sternly at his son.

"You seemed to have forgotten some manners, son. What happened with greeting others. There are more people here, next to your son. I can answer the question you asked master Skywalker: Lorann will stay on Tyr and all the Jedi Knights and master Kamalin will look after him."

Kamalin walked over to Lorann and looked at the drawing datapad.

"Whose is this, Lorann?" He asked.

"It's mine, master Kamalin. Master Skywalker has bought it for me on another planet." Lorann said and cast a quick glance at his father and then at Luke who nodded.

Cornell looked at Luke.

"You are all spoiling that boy and stuffing him with things that have nothing to do with his future." Cornell grumbled, clearly not in a good mood, while he looked at his father.

"What are you doing here, father?" He asked.

"Joining the governor to investigate what Filann and Cemall have done to harm Lorann," Manall said with authority and Cornell immediately fell silent.

"Lorann, you're going back with master Kamalin, now," Manall said. "Take your present with you, enjoy yourself making new drawings. I will look of all your drawings when I will be back."

Lorann took the drawing datapad while Kamalin took the three boxes with the accessories. "

"Thank you for the drawing board, master Skywalker," He said as Ian gently took his shoulder. He look back at Liane.

"I'll make a perfect beautiful drawing of you, miss," He said.

Liane smiled and nodded.

"Luke and I will love the result, Lorann." She said, as she blew him a kiss.

Lorann blushed and looked at Chati who was looking at the drawing datapad.

"She is so great," He whispered.

Luke laughed as did Liane.

The group of people and Quelans which would stay on Tyr left the Astræga. Luke joined them and put his speeder in the cargo hold. He made a formal greeting to Wedge and Ian and said goodbye to Chati, Lorann and Kamalin, after which he closed the exit ramp.

Kamalin, Lorann, Wedge, Chati and Ian had been watching the Astræga disappear in the cloud layer almost immediately after take off.

Lorann still held the drawing datapad under his arm, but Kamalin was aware that the boy's thoughts were drifting elsewhere. He took over the present and put it in the speeder, so Lorann's attention wouldn't be distracted between his joy about the present Luke had given him, and his worries about what would be decided on Myr.

"Master Kamalin, was will happen to my brothers?" Lorann asked softly.

"What do you mean, Lorann?"

"Because Filann and Cemall gave me that old harvest men's jacket?" Lorann whispered.

"You shouldn't bother yourself, Lorann. Your father, your grandfather and the governors will handle it."

Lorann looked at Wedge and Ian.

"Master Kamalin I don't want that my brothers received any punishment. Nothing has happened to me. The Urams didn't attack me," Lorann said still speaking softly.

"Your brothers made an attempt to ensure that the Urams would attack you, while you were wearing that jacket, Lorann, "

"But nothing has happened, although I wore it, master Kamalin." Lorann objected.

"Are you sure, Lorann?" Kamalin asked inquisitively, "For I sense that something else has happened two days ago."

Again Lorann looked at Wedge and Ian.

"Master Kamalin, we promised that we would never talk about what happened." Lorann said firmly. "If we do, we harm the Urams and my father and the others will surely kill them all. I know they will do, for they hate the Urams."

Kamalin looked at the twelve year old Quelan boy.

"Then we should indeed no longer talk about it. Nothing has happened to you, right?" Kamalin asked.

"If we don't talk, master Kamalin, my brothers will not be punished, will they?" Lorann asked.

"That's difficult question, Lorann. Your brothers gave you that old jacket, for you like it, as it look similar to the jacket your father has given your older brothers when they were seventeen. I assume that you wore that old jacket when you entered the nut wood, and what has happened next only the four of you know, and you don't want to talk about it, because you don't want the Urams to get killed. But that could also mean, that your brothers would get away with what they had planned. They wanted the Urams to harm you, so you would become scared of them and your father would have a reason to start killing the Urams once again."

"Master Kamalin, do you think that my brothers will do it again?" Lorann asked. "Do they really want me to get scared of the Urams, so I will never go into the nut woods again to feed them with the fallen nuts. I'm not scared of the Urams. They are fierce birds, but they belong to the nut woods."

"That's right, Lorann, and I encourage you to visit your Urams friends, together with master Antilles and Chati and master Kenobi as often as you like."

"Really, master Kamalin?" Lorann said elated and looked at Chati. "I may join you again, when we are feeding that young Uram, who was cry..."

Ian gave Lorann an imperceptible wink. Kamalin smiled.

"Be careful, Lorann, don't reveal what you have seen. Keep your mouth shut. You have had a great experience, but what happened must really remain secret, even as it will mean that Filann and Cemall can't be accused of what they had in mind. You shouldn't worry about them, for they surely be reprimanded firmly.

Master Antilles, master Kenobi and I will protect you, and for the time being your brothers aren't back on Tyr, and you aren't going either to Myr immediately.

Our governors and your grandfather have gone to Myr to discuss this matter. A group of harvest men will also investigate the case, along with your father and Wollin.

Master Skywalker and Miss Shaayla-Car have heard what your father said. They saw how agitated your father was when he realized what might have happened to you, after Filann and Cemall had triumphantly told him what they had devised." Kamalin said.

"Master Kamalin, you know what has happened, don't you?" Lorann asked.

"Let's put it this way, Lorann. You and your friends want to silence about what happened to protect the Urams. I understand; I even agree with what you're doing, but the Force tells me that what really happened, isn't the same outcome of what your father thought he saw, after he ordered you to undress."

Lorann averted his eyes and his face got a shameful color.

"I felt humiliated, master Kamalin. I had to stripped off all my clothes, while miss Shaayla-Car stood near me."

"I can imagine you felt ashamed. It certainly isn't discreet of your father, but he came back to Tyr, because he was concerned about what might have happened to you. So, it's also obvious that he wanted to be reassured. Like Filann and Cemall you're also his son, Lorann."

The young Quelan boy looked at his schoolmaster in amazement .

"Are you saying, master Kamalin, that my father does care about me? Then why does he want me to become a harvest man and marry Kalinn, while I want to become a Jedi Knight, like master Kenobi."

"Of course he cares about you, Lorann, but you and your father have very different ideas about what your future will look like."

Lorann sighed. Kamalin put his hand on the boy's shoulder.

"It will not be easy, Lorann, to convince your father, your brothers and the rest of your family that your future will be so different from what they expected it should be."

"Master Kamalin, but they will accept that I want to become a Jedi Knight? Governor Toallin has also accepted that Chati will become a Jedi Knight, one day."

"I cannot tell you that, Lorann, but the Force has many different ways of achieving what it wants. So you have to be patient and continue to do what the Force expects of you."

"Like making drawings and running, master Kamalin?" Lorann said with a gleeful look.

"And like feeding your Uram friends in the nut woods, Lorann, for those birds only accept Force-users in their midst."

In the cockpit of the Astræga Toallin and Manall had joined Luke and Shaayla-Car. Shaaly-Car sat in the pilot seat, while Luke was her co-pilot. She clearly seemed to be at ease with herself as every now and than she pointed at landmarks during their flight. When they neared the western harbor she looked at Manall."

"We're flying over the western harbor now, master Manall." She said.

"Where we got separated, Shaayla-Car, for you insisted that Tama-Hin would travel with me to the campsite where my son and his men were at work, and you did that with a special reason. I told you that I'm grateful for what he did."

"I never expected that my brother would connect himself through the Force with a strong Force user as you are, master Manall. Oh, I forgot, Toallin, that you didn't know about all this." Liane said.

"I have heard about master Manall's mysterious cure, Shaayla-Car. It probably has to do with those same Jedi skills I once saw on Palomintar Six at Ian Tydon. It's odd to realize that all that has been happening here, has started when he joined us as bartender Radin, and his foolish behavior to run into a blazing fire to safe my brother and me."

They continued their flight as Liane followed the same course with the Astræga, she once had gone with Yarnick and his brothers and Yarmod Martan. They reached the western plains were in a distance the water of the restore river sparkled in the light of the sunset. Luke pointed ahead of them.

"There is the Falcon." He said and turned to Toallin.

"It seems that the Grannd Traveler has left Myr, while we were on Tyr."

"I hope that they can sell those aludium crystals for our benefit, Luke, for I fear that a lot of credits are necessary before Ribana will be fully restored."

Manall turned to Toallin in surprise.

"They are selling aludium crystals for us. Where did they get them?" He asked.

"During the work to get the river back to Ribana, Han Solo told your son that the rocks they had broken contained aludium shards, the same kind of shards Mugin and I collected when we're put to work in the cave system.

Yarnick and Conor showed me a small container with those crystals and offered my brother and me and Kamalin and Woldrin to sell those crystals for us. It seems that those slivers are very valuable. With the yield they will buy many things we lack at the moment, for all the furniture has been looted, together with items like rugs, bed sheets, curtains what so ever."

"That's a lucky find, Toallin, for indeed we need credits to buy things we need, and it's very generous of those six brothers that they will help us to get a good yield."

"Of course they have asked for compensation for themselves which they set for maximum one precent of the yield which is still considerable amount of credits, but the amount they expect to get exceeded our expectations. I still can't believe it when master Conor showed us the amount of credits that small container could be worth."

Manall looked away through the windscreen of the Astræga, and seemed to be in thought for a while.

"Do you know what is made with aludium crystals, Taollin?" He finally asked.

"Not really, Yarnick once told me that it is used to make transparisteel items."

Manall pointed to windscreen of the Astræga.

"Indeed. That's what it is use for, and aludium crystals produce the best transparisteel there is. Crystal clear and unbreakable. A must for windscreens of space ship traveling through hyperspace."

Toallin looked amazed at Manall who nodded thoughtfully.

"Probably all the transparisteel items in this ship are made of the best aludium crystals that could be found." He said. "You fly in an excellent space ship, master Skywalker."

Luke turned around and looked at the harvest man who winked imperceptibly.

"I'm still aware of that, master Manall. It's a reward handed to me, for my commitment during the Civil War."

"A dangerous gift, master Skywalker, for only the opponents of the Alliance flew these type of space ships."

During the conversation between Toallin, Manall and Luke, the Astræga was flying at a lower altitude. Liane had asked Luke to extended the landing pylons. As the ship hovered into position she landed the Astræga next to the Millennium Falcon.

"Back on Myr," She murmured. Only Luke notices her comment.

They all went over to the control room where to their astonishment Cornell had fallen asleep. Manall woke him up.

"We're back on Myr, son. It's time to start the investigation about your sons' misconduct. If you're not calling for the Harvest Council, I will do it."

"Don't bother yourself about that, you haven't anything to say anymore," Cornell said snappy and rose. He look at Luke.

"Thanks, Ben for the transport although it has been in vain."

Manall looked furious at his son, but Toallin put his hand on the harvest man's sleeve and shook his head. After the exit ramp had been lowered Cornell immediately left the Astræga, leaving the others to leave the ship in a calm pace.

After he had left the Astræga Cornell went over to the harvest men's tent to look for Wollin. There he met with Roshann who told him that Wollin was at their community building above the foothills.

"He brought Filann and Cemall there and stayed with them, but something serious must have happened yesterday, because later I saw governor Mugin with master Solo and his Wookiee friend drive up to our community building. Sometime later the three of them return with your sons and the Wookiee brought them inside the Millennium Falcon. Cornell, I don't know what has happened, but governor Mugin has told me that your sons have been taken in custody and are locked up in the cargo holds of the Millennium Falcon. You'd better ask the governor himself." Roshann told the harvest leader.

"Where is Wollin, Roshann?" Cornell asked.

"He didn't come back yesterday, so I assume he still is at the community building."

Cornell looked at one of the oldest harvest men in his group.

"I'm going to the community building, Roshann." Cornell said and left the harvest men's tent.

Outside he looked at the Astræga and the Millennium Falcon and for a moment he considered to walk over to the freighter and ask Han Solo to see his sons and tell them that nothing had happened to Lorann, but he decided against that idea, as he wondered what could have happened in the harvest men's community building that the governor had decided to put his sons into custody. With long strides he started to walk to the foothills to see Wollin first and ask him what had happened. He reached the building which was situated at the mountain ridge just above the foothill. He entered and walked over to the center room where Wollin was sitting relaxed in one of the comfortable armchairs. He greeted Cornell, but looked somber.

"Back again, Cornell. Do you have bad news?" He asked.

"No. Nothing seems to have happened to Lorann. I saw the jacket he wore. There weren't any tears and I also had Lorann strip off his clothes and there were no wound, or scratches. So, the boy is unharmed." Cornell said, and Wollin heard the relieved tone in his voice. "What has happened here, Wollin? Roshann, told me that my boys have been taken in custody and are locked up in the Millennium Falcon. I will talk to the governor and ask him to release them."

"They have been taken in to custody after governor Toallin had informed his brother what has happened on Tyr after you unexpectedly arrived there. The governors aren't pleased, Cornell, with what your two eldest sons intended. They want us to bring Filann and Cemall before the Harvest Council and I agree with that," Wollin said.

"Why is that? Lorann is unharmed. Yes, Filann and Cemall made a nasty plan, but it failed. I don't know why, because the Urams must have recognized that old harvester's jacket. Maybe those two Jedi have prevented the Urams from attacking my son?" Cornell said.

"Cornell, there is more. Cemall has has uttered a number of insults about Ben. I have given him a serious beating for that."

Cornell began to laugh, but stopped as he saw the disapproving look in Wollin's eyes.

"Anything further?" He asked.

Wollin nodded.

"After I had given Cemall that beating, your other son drew his knife and attacked me. I made it clear to him that I wouldn't tolerate that, and after I had taken out Filann as well, I tied both your sons up tightly. Fortunately, Governor Mugin arrived in the morning with Han Solo and that hairy Wookiee. I was relieved to be rid of those two troublemakers. Cornell, if you don't call for the Harvest Council, I will, for this is not a minor problem. It's serious, very serious. I have listened to what those two have been talking about and they might even intend to steal some lightsabers of the Jedi Knight to fight the Urams."

Cornell sat down on a couch opposite his friend and second leader of the harvest men. He sighed. Wollin looked at him.

"Your two sons are dissatisfied, Cornell, very dissatisfied, and that can cause problems within our group. At a certain moment Filann said that also Lorann had to be forced to keep the rules of us harvest men and that he will be forced to marry Kalinn and set up his own house hold with her.

Cornell, if Lorann might feel his marriage to my daughter as something he is forced to do I fear that it will make Kalinn unhappy, and I certainly will prevent that, despite what we once have agreed upon." Wollin said and looked very serious at Cornell

"Lorann will not make her unhappy, Wollin. He will learned love her, build her a house and will earn a living to give her all she needs."

Wollin shook his head.

"No, Cornell, it isn't that easy, and you know it, but you don't want to admit that Lorann isn't the right choice to marry Kalinn, not now after I've heard you have threatened Lorann you will announce their marriage now and not when my daughter has reached the age of fifteen will certainly make Kalinn unhappy and Lorann, too, for Filann wasn't yet finished about those forced agreements, for he also spat out that he has been forced to marry Sumall, Pohinn's daughter. I don't know what's going on, between Filann and Sumall, but the way he spoke, made me think that it's not what he expected of his marriage."

"Wollin, we all have been forced to marry the girl, our parents agreed upon. It's has never been any different within the harvest men. Are you and your wife unhappy. You have seven beautiful daughters and six of them are already married with sons of other harvest families. Kalinn is your youngest daughter and we have agreed that she will become Lorann's wife when she has reached the age of fifteen. I still have three young daughters, but I already have arranged their marriages with their future husbands. Wollin, it has always been so. This is our way of life, our traditional way of life."

"Cornell, our traditional way of life worked, while the harvest family lived separate from the Quelans of Ribana, but at Cantamaga our families mingled among the exile Quelans. I fear that our younger boys and girls has seen that marriage among the exile Quelans weren't arranged. The younger Quelans from Ribana chose their own friendships and weren't tied to one particular future partner. Cemall is a good example of a young harvest boy who wanted to marry outside our group.

"Cemall wanted to marry Chati Fonaldris, but she rejected his proposal and to be honest I wasn't happy with Cemall's choice, but the problem was that there's hasn't been born a baby female in one of the harvest families yet, otherwise I would have made an agreement with the new born's families, but there are several married harvest female who are pregnant. Let's hope that in one of those harvest families a female harvest baby will be born."

Wollin looked at Cornell in disbelieve.

"Cornell, are you seriously thinking that Cemall will wait for that female baby to reach the age of fifteen? How old is your son now? It would be a great difference in age when Cemall would be forced to marry a female harvest baby, who hasn't been born, yet. I assure you that Cemall won't agree with what you're up to. He is already and adult harvest Quelan and will make his own decision, Cornell. And the same counts for Filann. He also was already and adult when you announced his marriage with Sumall."

"Filann knew that Sumall would become his wife, Wollin. He was eight when I told him that Sumall would become his wife when she would be fifteen. "

"We had to discuss this later again, Cornell. I now am going to the eldest of our group and call for a meeting of the Harvest Council to let them decided what Filann and Cemall intended to do to Lorann, that they had in mind to steal the lightsabers of our Jedi friends, and that Cemall has uttered very nasty insults at Ben, and that Filann attacked me with a knife. These are serious issues, Cornell and I don't want this to be dismissed as something that is tolerated."

Cornell rose, angry, and looked at Wollin.

"Do as you please, my father has also plans to call the Harvest Council to decide about my two sons, but the Council will certainly acquit Filann and Cemall, for no harm has been done to Lorann." He said and left the community building, slamming the door behind him.

After his arrival on Myr Manall had immediately gone over to the harvest men's tent, seeking out quite a number of older harvest men who once had been working in the nut forest under his leadership. He asked them about their experiences with the attacking Urams.

After some talks it became clear to him that the harvest men were only too happy that the Council of the Elders had forbidden entering the nut forest, after there had been several serious attacks by the Urams, shortly after the Quelans had arrived on Tyr. His former companions referred that under his leadership the Urams hadn't attacked them.

Manall let the harvest men tell about the doubts they have felt after Cornell and Wollin had convinced them that the yield of the harvest would be much higher, when they would chop the trees and gather the unripe nuts from the canopy.

"Manall, after the first attack of those birds I have talked to Cornell and Wollin that the attacks are caused because we chopped the trees." Po-ilass, a weathered harvest man told Manall, "I told them that I had never feared those birds, but after the attacks began I always was happy to be back at our shelters in Cantamaga without being injured."

Manall just listened to what he heard, but didn't comment on what the harvest men told him.

There also where several harvest men who expressed their support for the changes Cornell and Wollin had implemented, but the many words of support usually only related to the higher yield of the harvest. There wasn't much said about the injured and even the death of some of the harvest men.

The more Manall heard, the more convinced he became that, through the way his son was leading the harvest men, the interests of the Urams had been completely disregarded. His son had completely subordinated everything the Urams defended to achieving a higher harvest yield. When he talked with the harvest men that Cornell hadn't considered the Urams' interest, many of them shrugged their shoulders. It became clear to Manall that he had to call together the Harvest Council to discuss what his grandsons had done, but also to have a serious talk about how in the future, when Cantamaga would be the harvest men's territory again, the gathering of the nuts could be done and avoid that the Urams would attack the Qulans again.

As Cornell had to be questioned about what Filann and Cemall had had in mind to scare Lorann, and Wollin told him that he wanted to tell the Harvest Council about Filann and Cemall's behavior, Manall asked Roshann to call the Harvest Council together, preside the Council and nominated the members who would have to make the ruling after hearing everyone in detail. Roshann told Manall that he could convene the Harvest Council within two days.

Content with the result of his interference Manall went to the administration building to inform Toallin and Mugin. The two governors immediately agreed to attend the Harvest Council hearing, not as witnesses, but as observers and leaders of the Quelan community. Manall's next step was to ask all the other friends who had witnessed Cornell's anxiety after he had learned what Filann and Cemall had done.

Manall especially had a long chat with Luke and Liane who told him many details about Liane's Force connection with the Urams leader Oltomyran. Liane expressed her gratitude to the old harvest man for his support of what she had discussed with Oltomyran and Luke agreed that the harvest men had to find a good solution if they wanted to gather the nuts in the future again, which needed to consider the worries and sorrow of Oltomyran.

"We are all requested to testify for the Harvest Council tomorrow, Shaayla-Car," Luke said as they were having their meal in the Astræga.

"Obvious, for we all were present in the Millennium Falcon when master Cornell ran up in panic, seeking a transport to Tyr."

"Wollin has told Manall that Filann and Cemall will have to face the consequence of their thoughtless action, but after he had heard that Lorann was unharmed, he expect that they will get away with a serious reprimand only. Therefore he will tell the Council what happened after he had brought them to the harvest mens' community building to keep them separated from the harvest men.

It was Mugin, after he has had a chat with Toallin on Tyr, who decided that the two brothers had to be taken in custody. Han offered him the opportunity to use two empty cargo holds of the Falcon with Chewbacca standing guard. I haven't heard the details of the guys transport to the Falcon, but I can imagine what happened."

"Master Cornell will no doubt mention that I asked Tama-Hin what had happened, after I sensed his concern for Lorann." Liane said, shaking her head. "I can't imagine why these two young men have come to such a devious act. You have worked with them during the project at the mountain ridge, haven't you?"

"Yes, I even have saved Cemall's life, after he wanted to impress Chati when trying to replace a too heavy boulder. He lost his balance, lost his footing and fell of the ridge."

"And you used Force telekinesis to stop him from falling to his death." Liane said.

"Of course, I saw what was going on. Cemall is an reckless young adult who boast about his strength. Filann is more obstinate and often discussed the decisions Cornell and Wollin made, as if he questioned their leadership. The combination of these two characters had lead them to make a very dangerous decision."

"Luke, I sense that you aren't sure about what we've heard and seen on Tyr." Liane said and looked at him.

"Neither are you, Shaayla-Car, but after your conversation with Oltomyran I understand the more severe cause behind all this, and so does master Manall." Luke said seriously. "I have a feeling, Shaayla-Car, that this case could take a very different turn."

"Because we're defending Lorann's right to chose his own future?"

"Yes, that, but also because Lorann doesn't want to reveal what really has happened, and I sense that has to do with something very remarkable between the boy and probably Oltomyran."

"What we've heard from the Urams' leader shocked me, Luke. I made me wonder how the Quelans, in this case, the harvest men can be so thoughtless about the consequences of the method of harvesting the nuts of which both species are dependent."

Luke sighed.

"Cornell and his men wanted to improve the lives of the fellow Quelans, Shaayla-Car. They thought that picking the nuts directly from the trees would increase the traders' revenue. They don't have realized that they have been looking at it only from their point of view, not taken into account that the Urams also need the nuts to feed their young and themselves.

While you were talking to Oltomyran I have looked around on the forest floor and I saw a huge amount of muts laying among the vegetation, more than enough for the Quelans to serve as their food. I got the impressions that it had been a long time since the harvest men had gathered nuts."

"Cornell reminded Toallin that after the Quelans had arrived into exile on Tyr the Council of the Elders had issued that no Quelan, whether harvest man, or Quelan from Ribana, was allowed to go into the nut woods any more. That has been done after a severe accident with some Quelan females who had been gathering fallen nuts, but Manall told us that under his leadership only those nuts were harvested. Oltomyran told me that the Urams don't have problems if the Quelans harvest the fallen nuts."

"Those fallen nuts are ripe and can probably easily be used as food, but the nuts in the tree still need to ripe. Any trader will be more interested in those nuts and they have share their interest with Cornell. I don't condemn Cornel's decision to change the way of harvesting, for he probably has done that with the intention to benefit the community in mind, but he hasn't thought about what the Urams would do when he started chopping the nut trees."

"Luke, Cornell took over the leadership from Manall. That means that many harvest men will remember that under Manall's leadership the Urams didn't attack. Manall want to take back the leadership for he also knows that, when the Quelan harvest men will be gathering the nuts from the forest floor again, the relationship between the Quelan harvest men and the Urams will be like old times again, and that's what Oltomyran wants. I can tell that before the Council."

"I don't say you shouldn't, Shaayla-Car, but will the harvest men believe what some Jedi Knight have heard. Although Cornell has accepted me more or less as a trustworthy fellow, that doesn't mean that what Oltomyran has told you will also be accepted,and Cornell won't change his mind about the way the nuts are harvested.

Most harvest men see us as strange wizards who can't be trusted or believed."

"I want to tell what Oltomyran has said, Luke. I know that master Manall will confirm. There must be a way to make them change their believes in the way they are harvesting the nuts, instead of chopping the trees. If I don't say anything about it, there will become a time that on Tyr no nut trees are growing to feed neither the Quelans, nor the Urams. "

"I'll agree with your point of view, my love, and I will give you my support, but Cornell is stubborn in his believe and probably several of his men will support him."

Liane looked at Luke who pulled her to him.

"Defend Oltomyran, my love, for he is right and we know he is. Master Manall will certainly support our view, because not so long ago he was the harvest men's leader. There is a chance to change this for the good. I'm sure that we will get support we don't expect."

The harvesters' tent had been redesigned for the special session of the Harvest Council.

Roshann, the oldest harvest man after Wollin, presided over the council, because Wollin had told he wanted to bring in an own testimony. Roshann's first task was to appoint in public four other harvesters who would form the body that would make the decision at the end of the session.

"I call Domarr, Tagann, Pohinn and Manall to take a seat in the Council." Roshann announced.

Cornell jumped to his feet.

"Roshann, my father can be part of the council. He is no longer one of the harvest men in my group." Cornell said in a high-pitched voice.

"Be seated, Cornell. Manall has been our former leader, he is still a important harvest man whose opinion is valued by many of us," Roshan answered.

The four harvest men took their seats on the improvised dais in front of the group. Roshan looked at Cornell.

"Cornell, will you tell the Council what happened three days ago."

"The council members can decide immediately, for nothing has happened to my youngest son. My sons have to be set free immediately ," Cornell said.

A murmuring buzzing sound rose among the group of harvesters.

"Cornell, if you don't want to tell the Council yourself what happened, I have to remind you, that there are numerous witnesses who I can summon to tell what they have seen and heard. It's up to you to tell the Council what happened three days ago." Roshann said sternly.

Cornell who realized that many of his men had heard him yelling and screaming at his sons, nodded reluctantly.

"My sons Filann and Cemall told me what they have done to prevent that my youngest son Lorann would ever trust the Urams in the nut wood again. They had given Lorann a former jacket that one of my men has worn when we were harvesting nuts, before entering the nut forest had been forbidden."

Rumors and buzzing developed among some group of harvest men. Several of them shook their head in disbelieve, others looked angrily at Filann and Cemall who were sitting left of the dais on some crates, their hands still tied together and guarded by Chewbacca who was holding his crossbow in front of his huge body. The way they were held in place made some harvest men laugh.

'Well done,' some whispered, 'those two often were a nuisance while we were busy diverting the water flow. They constantly made comments and kept arguing about the decisions we agreed with.'

Luke and Liane who stood nearby looked at each other. One of the whisperers turned to Luke.

'We are right, Ben, aren't we?' He asked still whispering.

'I have heard them discussing often' Luke answered in a low voice.

Roshann looked at Cornell.

"What would probably happen when your youngest son would wear a jacket one of us has worn in the past in the nut woods, Cornell?"

"The Urams would attack him and injure him."

"Have the Urams always attacked us when we have been harvesting the nuts?" Domarr asked.

Cornell looked disdainful towards Domarr.

"I don't have to tell you. You have been their victim in the past." Cornell snapped.

"Yes, Cornell, and that was after you became our leader, before that I have often been in the nut wood under master Manall, and I don't remember that the Urams attacked us." Domarr remarked.

"That's right, that's right, that's right," sounded several voice from the crowd.

Roshann raised his hand.

"That's not the issue at the moment. We're discussing the action of Cornell's sons who deliberately send Lorann into the nut wood, while he wore an old harvest man's jacket, because they intended that the Urams would attack the boy. That's reprehensible and demands accountability before this Council."

Roshann turned to Filann and Cemall. The two young adults looked angrily at the council members and their chairman.

"We are ...", but before Filann could answer Chewbacca gave him a push, grabbed him at his neck and dragged him before the council, grumbling a long angry sentence. The council member looked at the Wookiee. Han Solo stepped in front.

"My friend just said, that these two irresponsible adults can only yell that they are innocent."

Tagann looked at Filann.

"Boy, what your father just told doesn't really make you innocent, that's what I understand and believe. You wanted to do harm to your younger brother, which caused a lot of trouble and panic for your father and ...

"Our father don't want Lorann to become a Jedi Knight," Filann said furiously. "He wants to force our brother to become a harvest man, force him to marry an already chosen wife and raise a family. He had to become scare about the Urams, so he would hate them in the same way all the harvest men do."

Roshann look at Cornell's outraged son and nodded at Chewbacca who dragged Filann to his seat.

"Cornell, what we just heard from your eldest son isn't his opinion, but yours, so the Council will conclude that you agree with what your son just said. Did you tell your sons that you're against a different kind of future for Lorann."

"Lorann has been born in my family, a harvest men's family for generations. I expect him to become a harvest men just as my other sons."

"So you're against the idea that Lorann might become a Jedi Knight, if he should possibly possesses those necessary skills. We have a number of Jedi Knights in our midst. They have provided us help and solutions we couldn't do ourselves while we are working on our project. Has the Council to conclude that you distrust our Jedi friends, because you don't understand what they represent."

"If we had sent the Jedi Knights away from the beginning, chairman, then we still would be struggling up on the mountain ridge to solve our many problems. It also would mean that we wouldn't have been freed from the intruder who drove us out of Ribana. Thanks to the efforts of the Jedi Knights and their friends, we now stand here on Myr in a nearly restored Ribana." a loud voice from the crowd said.

A lot of commotion arose, and it took a while before Roshann had calmed the harvest men present down again.

Pohinn rose to his feet.

"Chairman, is there a Jedi Knight in the audience who can tell us more about Lorann's possibilities to become a Jedi Knight."

"There is," Luke said and walked over to the dais.

The four harvest men nodded friendly at him.

"Ben, welcome here in the Harvest Council meeting." Roshan said. "We need your knowledge as a Jedi Knight to tell us what you think about Lorann's possible future as a Jedi Knight. Do you think he would qualify for such - what we think - a very difficult and different future."

For a moment Luke looked at Manall and reached out to the Force to reassure the harvest man he considered to be his friend and supporter.

"Members of this council the answer to your question is simple for me as a Jedi master: yes, Lorann has the potential to become a Jedi Knight.

However, I understand the objections of Cornell. It's a confrontation with a world of which he does not realize the scope.

Lorann is, what I call a Force user, a person who does things that seem impossible in the course of everyday life.

I will give an example: Lorann loves nothing more than running. That might seem unremarkable, but when I look at the way he runs and how long he keeps up without getting out of breath, I understand that he is using the Force.

Another example: At the moment, at the request of the Council of the Elders and the Governors, Lorann is making drawings of the stories that the Quelans of the first group are telling him. He makes two versions of each story. The first as they saw it when they arrived in Ribana, the second after they had put their effort to clean up and start repairing the damage to their houses.

I have looked at several drawings and I must say that I recognized all the houses Lorann has drawn, even though he has not yet seen Ribana and has left the town when he was four years old."

"Thank you, Ben. For us, as members of this Council, it remains difficult to understand what you have been telling us, but we trust your insight on this matter and can only conclude that Cornell's youngest son has a special gift." Roshann said.

"Can you tell us, if he will become a Jedi Knight?"

"No, I can not foresee that. Lorann is still very young and until recently he didn't realize that his abilities are powered by the Force. Due to all the commotion, he now has realized that he is a Force User. I would have preferred that he hadn't known it yet. Not because I don't want him to know, but it might put a pressure on him which he might not be ready for yet. Since he visits the Urams in the nut groves under the protection of two Jedi Knights, together with Chati Fonaldris, the daughter of Governor Toallin, and with the permission of Master Manall, Lorann's grandfather, and the chair of the Council of the Elders, master Kamalin, Lorann has become aware of a larger world around him, what the Jedi call the Living Force, the connection between all living creatures that surround us. The Urams have become familiar to him and he isn't afraid of them. Chati and he feed the Urams by giving them the fallen nuts."

"Do we understand, Ben, that to become a Jedi Knight requires more, not to say much more, than only the use of what you call the Force for certain issues, like running, making amazing drawings and enjoying feeding the Urams without being frightened of the birds?" Roshann asked.

Luke smiled and nodded.

"It absolutely does, master Roshann. It requires a lot of dedication and commitment of a Jedi apprentice, a padawan, for he has to learn to listen how the Force's will has to be carried out and how he can rely on the Force to carry out seemingly impossible tasks, because the Force and a Jedi Knight always work in a two way alliance."

The member of the council looked at each other and Roshann joined them for consultation. After some moments he stepped in front of dais again.

"Thank you, Ben. We have heard a lot and want to discuss it among the five of us. That means that everyone must leave this tent and may not return until I announce the continuation of this hearing. I would like to ask Han Solo, together with the Wookiee, to ensure that Filann and Cemall remain available for further questioning." Roshann said.

The crowd began to leave the harvester tent. Cornell tried to have a word with his sons, but an angry Wookiee prevented Cornell to come closer. Furious the harvest men's leader left the tent, stared at by several of them, some of whom exchanged opinions among themselves about what they had heard.