Chapter 147

"Anddra Jecolin, what brings you here?" Roshann asked.

Suddenly Anddra felt unsure about what she intended to do, but her pity for the harvest men's youngest son, gave her courage.

"Master Roshann, I want to show you something in private, for I don't want to cause some trouble."

"Wait a minute, Anddra. I'll wash my hands and then I'll come with you." Roshann said.

After he came back he guide her to a piece of land that also belonged to his house. He had planted some trees and where his wife cultivated the tubers that formed the basis for making the candies and candy sticks. Roshann smiled at Anddra and pointed to a bench under one of the trees.

"What can I do for you, Anddra?" Roshann asked.

Anddra took the bag with the dirty candystick from her bag and showed the candystick to the harvest man. Roshann raised his eyebrows and looked at her.

"Did my son sold you these, Anddra?" He asked.

Anddra shook her head.

"No, master Roshann. You shouldn't blame your son. These sticks have become dirty because they fell in the mud in front of the market stall your son is running."

"He dropped them, and you saw that he wanted ..."

"No, master Roshann, some girls dropped these sticks in the mud, after another girl threw the sticks to them."

"If they paid for it, nothing seriously happened, Anddra. Shall I throw them away for you."

"I want to keep them, if you don't mind, but the girls didn't pay credits for these sticks. They challenged your son to kiss the girl who demanded a candystick in exchange for his kiss. When he kissed her twice, she demanded an extra candystick. Your son handed those sticks reluctantly to the girl and then she threw to her friends who dropped the sticks in the mud. "

"My son of thirteen has been kissing a girl on the market, where every one could see him and in exchange the girl in dispute demanded two candystick without payment. Anddra, do you know who that girl is?" Roshann asked.

Anddra looked at him and nodded.

"I'm not going to reveal her identity, master Roshann. I think you should ask your son about it. I wanted you to know this, for the girl in dispute is a married woman."

"A married woman, wasn't her husband nearby, Anddra?"

"I haven't seen anyone who reprimanded her for what she did. She and her friends ran away after the sticks have dropped in the mud. I pitied your son and I have bought these dirty stick, for I wanted to avoid that your wife would reproach him if there would be candystick missing which hadn't been paid for."

"Has my son let you pay for them, after you took them from the mud."

"No, I paid voluntarily together with some other sweets. You should tell your wife that what she makes is delicious."

"Thank you, Anddra. Here are six credit to compensate you for these purchases which are uneatable."

"I don't want those credits back, master Roshann. I will keep this bag with the dirty sticks."

"As evidence?" Roshann asked.

"Call it what ever you like, master Roshann. I bought these from your son to protect him, but it's up to you to really keep him safe, for I understand that your son likes that naughty girl a lot."

"You call her a naughty girl, a married woman who is seducing my youngest son and compromise him, so he'll be the laughing stock to that indecent woman and her friends. Thank you, Anddra, for telling me this. I really appreciate the way you have told me this. I know who the girl is and I will take my measures.

Tell me, Anddra, how are you doing alone at the farm house in Ribana. I've heard that you finally have asked for help. You should have done that earlier, my dear. The harvest men have gone to Myr to assist with any task or chore which are too difficult for a Quelan women like you, to do all by yourself." Roshann said. "Will someone help you, for I've heard that you will go back again to Myr with the third group."

"I have asked the governor to give permission to join the third group, master Roshann. I have already some cleaning and parts of the farm house has already been furnished again. I have a decent sleeping room and a living room with some comfortable chairs. I also can make my own meal, for all the kitchen appliances are up and running."

"That's good to here. If you need some extra help, you should let me know, Anddra. I can always tell some of my men to help you."

"Thank you for your offer, master Roshann. I will certainly keep it in mind," Anddra said while she stood up.

Quitilan Roshann brought her to road, before he said goodbye. While Anddra walk back to Cantamaga Roshann watched her go and shook his head.

'There goes a woman who I would love see married to one of my older sons, instead of the partners I once agreed upon.' He though and sighed concerned.

"Luke, are you sure that it's right to teach our special Jedi way to communicate to Lorann?" Leia asked.

"Do I have a choice, Leia?" Luke counter asked his sister's question.

Leia sighed.

"Probably not, Luke, but don't you expect that he will expect more and more from us. The more we teach him, the greater his eagerness to become a Jedi Knight will grow, along with his desires to be able to make greater use of the Force." Leia said concerned.

"That's right, and that's why I want to give him guidance on the journey Shaayla-Car and I have to undertake. There is no other way, Leia. Lorann can't stay on Palomintar Four, for there will be no one to guide him, once Tama-Hin has gone on that mission to Lumeara with you and Yarmod."

"Well, maybe, it's influence of the Force that Tama-Hin and Wedge have decided to teach Lorann our way of communication, for it's not a real dangerous use of the Force and could be advantageous. I understand, Luke, that once we three are on Lumeara we only have to use our most safest way to communicate which is always a two way exchange of information without any other Force user will be aware of what information will be exchanged. I will certainly tell Yarmod and Tama-Hin never to use the more easier way, once we're on Lumeara."

"Wedge also said that you should convince all the members of the delegation to refrain from using infocoms to exchange information." Luke said, "I'm aware that that would make it difficult to discuss things."

"I hope that our accommodation will allow us to have some discussion without being overheard." Leia said, "but I will remind Mon Mothma of Wedge's warning. Have you instructed Shaayla-Car how to use our safer way to communicate?"

"I don't know how she figured it out, Leia, but she already knows how to adapt to it. I only advised her to make our way a habit, so the easier way is no longer used on serious matters."

"Shaayla-Car's Force use will always keep astounding us, don't you think, Luke," Leia said laughing. "Anakin certainly has improved her Force awareness in a great way while she lived with him on Morantan. That greater Force awareness always let her make steps in her use of the Force I have never experienced so strong." Leia said and Luke heard his sister's admiration of Liane. "It so amazing how she can make use of her Force skills in all kinds of situations. By the way, Luke, will she use Force Battle Meditation again once the third group has arrived on Myr."

"Absolutely," Luke said grinning, "With the second group we were late for we left Palomintar Six later than we intended. We nearly had our first severe quarrel about whose fault it was. She blamed herself for she had insisted to do some shopping, and she blamed me for commenting on her rash decision to buy everything instead of selecting what we really needed, for I said that with what we had bought we shouldn't have to worry about our food supply during our honeymoon. She became outraged, because she found my comment self-centered while being a Jedi Knight I had to keep the needs of the Quelans in mind. I nearly said that she must remain my padawan as long as she couldn't accept different points of view. At those moments she still is the reckless hothead I met on Morantan."

Leia smiled as she had sensed her brother's affection and love for the woman with whom he formed a Force dyad.

"The wedding plan you made, is again being thwarted, Luke, and I feel sorry for it." Leia said.

"It's not your fault, Leia, but when we're all back at Irithim I want a joined meeting with all the Jedi and the members of the High Council. I want to make clear that the Jedi act independently and aren't an extension of the New Republic's government. The New Jedi Order will serve all systems in this galaxy, whether they are loyal to the government at Irithim, or to the government on Coruscant."

"Mon will certainly object, Luke, for all of us have done, or are still on active duty in the New Republic space Force." Leia remarked.

"That's indeed something to think about. I'm the only independent Jedi Knight at the moment, together with Shaayla-Car. You, Tama-Hin, Yarmod and Wedge still have obligations in the New Republic's government. We have to evaluate those obligations and discuss how to handle in the future, for none of the two existing governments could have a claim on the Jedi Knight's loyalty."

"If you insist on our independence as Jedi Knights it might mean that all of us have to resign, but that could have consequences. You certainly have to think about that too, Luke."

"Sure, I will, Leia, and I certainly will not deprive any of us from the occupation they love to carry out. My main goal is to convince both governments, and especially the government at Irithim that it's up to the Jedi Knight of the New Order to give independent help where it's needed."

"Mon is reasonable, Luke, and the joined action with Coruscant here, has shown that none of the two governments has claimed the removal of Trevor Matrik as their successful intervention. It has been a collective activity." Leia commented.

"Let's hope that the oncoming mission to Lumeara will have a similar outcome, for I understand that initially the Lumearanian leaders have requested for help to the Provisional Coruscant Council. Coruscant has rejected the request, but we don't know why, do we?"

Leia shook her head.

"I have asked Mon what she knew, but she couldn't answer my question. I guess, that Coruscant still have to recover from the losses of their space fleet which has been catastrophic. Coruscant also lost much trust to get financial support from wealthy groups."

Luke pondered on what his sister supposed. An intriguing thought flashed through his mind, but he discarded it as a possible option.

"When are you and the others leaving precisely?" He asked.

"Two standard weeks after the third group has arrived on Myr. At least I hope that that time schedule will be kept tight, for the joined hearing of the Harvest Council, the Council of the Elders and the input Toallin and Mugin might change our departure. It could be that we have to get to Irithim before the third group will go to Myr. If that's the case then Han and Chewie are on their own to get the third group to Myr, as the Grannd Traveler will bring us to Irithim."

Luke nodded.

"In that case I will postpone our journey too, for Han needs me or Wedge to get to Myr. The Astræga hasn't the capacity of a freighter, but it's faster, so I can make several back and forth trips between Tyr and Myr, and Wedge could mske use of that old transport ship with which he and Yarmod arrived. It's an old model and not very comfortable, but if necessary it can also make the trip between the continents more than once."

Luke rose, but before he left Leia's guest room he turned to her.

"Will you join us to the nut woods today. I want to continue with that special Jedi telepathy training so long as possible."

"I will be there, Luke, for it's absolutely important that all of us will develop this sealed off form of communication as a habit." Leia answered.

She stood up and hugged him.

"Your a wise leader, master Skywalker," She said as she opened the door. She hugged him again. "I will make sure that all of us will come back to Palomintar Four as soon as the mission is successful. With our secure way to communicate you could ask Han or Yarnick to join the Tychorion to bring us immediately back here, so we finally can celebrate your wedding with our foster-sister, the daughter of Obi-Wan Kenobi."

Manall had taken Filann through the outskirts of Cantamaga. He had left the path to the hillside and now walked through some wild area to a wide shallow in the wild lands which wasn't visible from the path. Manall pointed the flattened ground on which white slabs of different size were laying in a half circle.

"There they are buried, son. Why do you want to know?" Manall asked.

"Grandfather, I have told you about a girl that I liked very much has been one of the victims of the Urams attack. I want to find her grave and pay my respect. I've never been here. I even didn't know about this place."

"Your father and I didn't want you to know, Filann. You and Cemall have had nightmares about what you had witnessed. Kamalin thought it would better if we wouldn't confront you with this burial ground."

"I still remember, grandfather. It's never been out of my mind." Filann said. "I'm glad I'm here now."

"Do you want me to stay and wait for you, son?" Manall asked with concern.

Filann shook his head.

"No, grandfather. I can find my way back to Cantamaga, after I have found what I'm looking for." He answered.

He walked over to the edge of the shallow and began to descend. Manall watch him go, nodded understandingly and went back to Cantamaga.

Slowly Filann walked to the half circle of white slabs. When had reached he saw that on each slabs the name of the victim stood. To his surprise all the slabs were carefully maintained and all the names were visible. He nodded.

'It's not what I feared,' He thought, 'I certainly will find her grave easily.'

While walking along the first of three half circle he began to read each name. Some of the graves were surrounded with tiny bushes of local growing plants, some other were decorated with a message to commemorate the deceased loved one. As he reached the end of the first row a strange moroseness took hold of him.

"They shouldn't lay here," He murmured "They were innocent young women and girl who never had seen the nut wood, for they all have been living in Ribana. I feel guilty about what happened, for it was my father who provoked the Urams to attack."

He began to walk along the second half circle of slabs, carefully reading each name. At some of them he could recall some vague memory, for some of the victims had been once his classmates in Kamalin's school. At the end of second row he sat down and cupped his head in his hands, while desperately tried to hold back the tears he felt. It took some time before he found enough courage to get up and start looking at the last row. The more names he read the more sadness he felt.

When he had followed the last half circle halfway he can across a slabs where two berry bushes were planted at the top of the slab. Around all the other sides an abundance of flowery plants surrounded the slab. Filann wiped his eyes as more and more tears obscured his sight. He blinked several times to get a clear view again and look at the flowery slab and then he read the name of the young girl who had become his friend while they were finding their way through the wild lands on the other continent.

'Iljon Jecolin,' He read, 'fourteen years old,'

Filann sank on his knees and no longer did he hold back his tears. He held his hand in front of his face while the tears dripped between his fingers.

"Why? Why, you?" He whispered, "Why didn't I warn you? I had heard enough stories about the violence of the Urams? Why didn't I warn you, and hold you back, telling you, you shouldn't go into the woods, but I said nothing. I let you go and when the Urams attacked I saw how they killed you. You never brought back the nuts to your family, your sister and your blind mother. I even didn't know about them."

For a long time Filann remained in his kneeled stance with his hands before his face, but finally his tears dried and he grabbed in the pocket of his coat, wiping his eyes. In his hand he held the small bag he had filled two days before in the nut wood to finalize the penalty the Harvest Council had bestowed on him. He stood up, bent forward, and placed the small bag on the stone slab, just below the girl's name.

"Here, Iljon, here are the nuts you wanted to gather to supply some food for your family. I have gathered them for you, for you're no longer here to help your sister," He whispered and again tears welled up in his eyes.

He kept looking at the slab, but the image became so blurred through his tears that he didn't notice that a hand took up the tiny bag he had placed on the slab and put it down again.

"Filann, what are you doing here?" A soft voice said.

He wiped his eyes and looked at the speaker. Near the slab with Iljon's name stood Anddra, the twin sister.

"Anddra, Anddra," Filann whispered in a sad voice.

A hand grabbed his and drew him away from Iljon's grave. Filann willingly allowed himself to be led away from the graves and out of the shallows. At the edge of the shallows, Anddra let him go and looked at him. Filann blinked his eyes and slowly felt himself calming down, but Anddra saw the sad look in his eyes. She handed him a handkerchief. He nodded, turned around and blew his nose. Anddra held out her hand to get the piece of cloth back, but Filann shook his head. "

"I'll give it back when I have washed it." He said and put it in his pocket.

He looked at Anddra and a cautious smile creased his face.

"I didn't know you where here too," He said.

"I have come here almost every day. Why did you come here, Filann?" Anddra asked.

"I ... wanted to give ... your sister ... the nuts ... she have never ... been able to gather," He stammered.

"You have been in the nut wood, while it is forbidden?" Anddra asked in disbelieve.

"I have to gather a small bag of nuts to fulfill the punishment that the Harvest Council had imposed on me."

"The Harvest Council had punished you? What did you do to get a punishment?"

"Because I did something stupid and I thought that what I did would help my father." Filann said, "But it's a long story and it's one of the many stupid things I have done in my life."

"And you brought the nuts you gathered two days ago to Iljon's grave?"

Filann nodded.

"Those nuts aren't mine to taste, Anddra. Those nuts belong to your sister." He said.

Anddra looked at the grave of her sister in the shallow.

"Are those fresh fallen nuts?" She asked.

"Yes, my grandfather said that we only had to gather fresh nut and not those that were already germinating. Why?"

"Wait, here, Filann, I have an idea." Anddra said and rushed back to the grave of her sister.

She took the bag, opened it and took out some five fresh nuts. Then she put the bag back on the grave, and walk back to Filann who looked at her in wonder.

Anddra held out the nuts to him, before she put them carefully in her bag.

"These fresh nuts will probably also germinate when I plant them in good soil, won't they?"

"I guess they will," Filann answered.

"Come with me, Filann. We're going to plant these nuts in the garden behind my house. I always grew vegetables and fruit there while I lived here in Cantamaga." Anddra said. "Come, Filann, you have to help me to plant these nuts."

Reluctantly Filann stood up and walked with Anddra back to the path that led to Cantamaga. As they were about to cross the central plaza Filann saw a group of yelling and laughing of ten young girls. Anddra stopped and wanted to pull him aside, but Filann looked as the group passed by.

"Sumall," one of the girls yelled, "your lover was there. Shall we go over to his house and see is he is there."

"Yeah, let's do that, Gislonn. I already told you he is a very good kisser, maybe we can persuaded to kiss all of us, one by one, and each kiss costs him a candystick," the girl who had been addressed with Sumall screamed gleeful while she nearly bumped into Filann.

"Sorry, mister, I didn't notice you." She said gleeful and ran off, following the rest of the group.

Speechless Filann watch her go, before he turned to Anddra, shaking his head in disbelieve.

"She told her father she missed me and said that she would blame me for not coming home immediately after I came back from Myr," he said cynically watching the disappearing group of girls whose screaming and yelling at each other could still be heard.

Filann turned to Anddra who looked at him with a compassionate looked in her eyes.

"I told you, Anddra, that I'm married, but my wife doesn't even recognize me and apologizes for bumping to me." He said and pointed in the direction where the group had disappeared. "That, Anddra, is my wife, Sumall Pohinn, a seventeen year, immature girl who doesn't to sleep with me, who screams at me that she doesn't want a child of me."

He turned to Anddra and she saw the outrage and frustration that now marked his face, but then he smiled at her and again he was the friendly young harvest man again who had offered her is help.

"Shall we plant those nuts in your garden, Anddra?" He asked.

Anddra nodded, and took Filann to her house in the back street of Cantamaga. She unlocked the door.

"Come in. I'd better make you a strong cave, before you will help me to plant those nuts." She said.

"Wonderful, make it extra strong, for I need the rinse my mouth of the bad taste after this unexpected encounter with my wife." Filann sat.

He looked around in the living room and felt the care with which the room had been furnished and kept in good order. He pointed to a couch.

"May I sit over there, Anddra?" He asked.

"Oh, sure, Filann. I'm sorry I feel a bit confused after what happened on the central plaza. I'm going to make some cav."

She left the room and Filann made himself comfortable on the couch, feeling more relax and at home in the cozy room. Anddra came back with a tray with two large mug of cav, sweeteners and milk. On two small dishes she had put two berry pastries. As she put one cav and a dish with the pastries in front of him he smiled at her.

"You're a perfect hostess, Anddra, and I love this room. Are those the decorations your mother made?" He asked pointing at the two large round, solid-colored crocheted circles with long, thick threads attached to the main body in various patterns.

Anddra nodded.

"Yes, she made these before she got blind." She said softly.

"Will you tell what happened to her," Filann asked.

"She witness my father's execution by those armed force. He was shot and she saw what happened. From that moment, she lost her eyesight." Anddra said. "She never has seen anything around her. Everything had become dark to her and she needed Iljon and me to guide her steps. On the upper floor of the farm house were our sleeping rooms, but she could get upstairs, so Iljon and I furnished the living room for her to sleep and stay in when everything became too much for her, but not for long. For within two weeks we had to leave the farm house and all our belongings. It lucky that the moment all the inhabitants of Ribana were forced to leave the town, that all the harvest men were home. Their leaders and the governors developed a way for all the Qeulans to get to western harbor where we could cross the ocean and go to the other continent. And once here my mother and I have got all the help we needed. We have had a good living here, Filann, thanks to the harvest men. Shall we plant those nuts?"

"What will do with them if they germinate, Anddra?"

"Oh my, I forget to tell what I want to do with them. Listen, Filann. Once these nuts germinate and turn into seedling I will tend them and when they have become small plants I will take them to Iljon's grave and plant them between those berry bushes. And when those plants have grown into nut trees Iljon will always have her won nut tree and doesn't have to be afraid of the Urams again, for those birds won't come to the shallow with those graves."

Filann nodded, but didn't comment on Anddra's plan. He followed her to the garden where Anddra filled a large flat crate with soil, carefully put water over the soil, before she handed him the five nuts.

"You should plant them, Filann, for those nut tree will be your present to Iljon." She said.

Filann took the nuts, made some small holes in the soil and put the nuts in those holes. Anddra covered the nuts with more soil and gently sprinkled water on it.

"Can you help me to put the crate in the greenery. It's warmer inside and probably the nuts will germinate better."

Effortlessly Filann hoisted the crate on his arms and followed Anddra to the glass conservatory at the end of the garden. Inside Anddra made room on a counter where he could put the crate. Together they stood next to each other watching there work. '

"Looks good. Come, let's wash our hands, then I make you another cav." She said and pulled him with her into the house.

Liane looked at Luke who seemed to be in deep thoughts, but he looked up as he sense her presence in his mind. Liane looked seriously.

"Luke, when five us have left Palomintar Four, only Wedge will be able to bring either the Grand Traveler or the Millennium Falcon to Tyr. That means that for either the Quelans who are on Myr, or those who still stay on Tyr it will be difficult to get back and forth between the continents. It also will have impact on Wedge's status as Chati's Jedi master."

Luke nodded.

"When I was having a chat with Leia this morning I have realized the same. Leia remarked that when the Grannd Traveler had to leave before the third group would have been brought to Myr, Han and Chewie would be on their own. When she said that I wondered if also she realized that Wedge would be the only one who could fly any space ship back and forth due to the cloud layers above Tyr."

"Could there be a way to avoid the cloud layers and reach the continent in a different way. The clouds are caused by the gasses the nut trees evaporate, but how after goes the influence of those gasses."

"Cantamaga is covered by those clouds. If there is another way to reach Tyr, there still will be a problem to land safely, for those gasses interfere with the instruments on board any space ship. That's why no traders have reached Tyr, after the Quelan community had been forced to leave Myr. We have to discuss this among all of our friends to find a solution." Luke said thoughtfully. "If Leia, Yarmod and Tama-Hin had to leave Tyr with the Grannd Traveler before Yarnick and his brother can bring groups of the third group to Myr, we have to assist the Millennium Falcon and also make use of the Astræga, and the transport ship Wedge and Yarmod used to reach Tyr. In that case I will fly the Falcon, and I want you to take the Astræga. I will talk with Wedge that he flies that transport ship. Doing it that way we will get the third group to Myr, and you and I can lift off so you can use Force Battle Meditation to encourage the last group too.

The problem gets more complicated when we will leave too, for then Wedge will be the only Jedi Knight left on Palomintar Four. I'm sure I can convince Han to trust Wedge flying the Falcon, for reaching Tyr from Myr doesn't require to pass the mountain ridge. The same counts when Wedge would fly the Grannd Treveler. However, what worries me is that once Wedge is on Tyr, Chati will be alone, unless Wedge see a possibility to take her with him every time. She could assists him which would be a good way learning to fly a space ship, but I fear that the freighters' normal pilots aren't happy to have a padawan learner in the co-pilot seat."

"If we will leave later to look for those documents we need, you and Wedge could fly one of the freighters, either the Millennium Falcon, or the Grannd Traveler. We could leave on our own journey when Leia and the others have returned." Liane suggested.

Luke smiled and stroke Liane's long hair backwards.

"My love, we don't know how long the mission on Lumeara will last. Besides if we will decide to stay on Myr until we hear our friends will return, We have to take care of Lorann on Myr, and that can complicate the guidance I want to give the boy, not to mention our promise that he would make drawings on other planets. We can stay a bit longer on Myr after the third group has arrived, but we can't wait until Leia and your brother and his friend will return from Lumeara. Wedge's first mission there lasted nine months. No, I have to convince Han and Yarnick to trust Wedge if he fly their ship. I will have a word with Wedge about how he will take care of Chati. Maybe I'm too concerned, for the crews of both freighters have excellent pilots themselves. Wedge certainly will be able to instruct a non Force-user co-pilot to assist him with an approach of Tyr." He said

"Maybe we have been too hasty to tell Lorann he could join us." Liane mused.

"No, we haven't, darling, for when Tama-Hin has gone, we had to take over what he has started." Luke said.

"You mean, that you're not happy, that he taught Lorann our way of communicating?"

"No, what I mean, is the way the relationship between your brother and Lorann has developed. Tama-Hin never has had the intention to teach Lorann any Force use. That was his agreement with me, but Mon Mothma's mission has changed that, for your brother isn't sure about the outcome of the mission."

"You mean the mission could be dangerous?" Liane asked concerned.

"You have heard what Wedge have told when we discussed the mission, Shaayla-Car. Your brother is a great Jedi Knight. When he sensed that Mon Mothma's mission won't be that easy as the delegation at Irithim assumes, he decided to make Lorann aware of Jedi telepathy."

"If anything could turn up on Lumeara my brother could have warned you, me, or Wedge, Luke. Why would he seek contact with Lorann?"

"Why would we always find a way to be together again, Shaayla-Car?" Luke said with a smile.

"We're eternal partners, Luke, there's strong connection between us through the Force."

"Absolutely, and what does that tell you about your brother and Lorann?" Luke insisted.

For a moment Liane looked dumbfounded at him.

"You mean, that my brother and Lorann are also a Force dyad?" She asked inquisitively.

"Not a Force dyad, like we are, but the Force already has made both of them aware that there is strong Force connection between them. The only thing your brother has done, is developing Lorann's awareness of their connection. Therefore I fully agree with what he has done. If, on Lumeara, things will not develop as Mon Mothma's delegation has assumed Tama-Hin will be able to make a Force connection with Lorann. He might be the only one who can do that, although Leia could always warn me, and Yarmod knows how to reach Wedge." Luke said with a concerned look in his eyes.

"So, this mission could give trouble?" Liane concluded.

"Yes, it could, that doesn't mean it would, but Wedge has warned us all. The Lumearanians harbor a deep resentment against the Jedi Knights, due to something that has happened during the Clone Wars. None of us were born at that time, but we still could be kept responsible for what has happened so long ago."

"Then my brother was right to tell us that he wanted to take Lorann as his padawan, Luke?"

Luke shook his head.

"No, my lovely naughty pixie, your brother's answer at that moment was an objection again what Leia kept telling him. He reminded her of what she, as a Jedi Knight, had done as Lorann's father couldn't announce Lorann's marriage with Kalinn which would have been disastrous. Your brother reminded my sister that it's the task of the Jedi Knights to defend those who can't defend themselves." Luke said "And that's what I also have reminded her of."

"Is that why Leia is joining Mon Mothma's mission?"

"Partially, for I wanted her to be part of it to support Yarmod and Tama-Hin who are send on their first mission as Jedi Knights. Leia could support them and if needed advice them." Luke said as he pulled Liane to her feet. "That's enough talking about what's concerning us. Shall we go for a nice long walk through Cantamaga's surroundings."

Liane took her coat.

"Luke, I once thought that when we would have driven Trevor out, there would be a quiet period for all of us."

"For those who serve the Force there seldom is a time to rest, that's why we learn to mediate and ask the Force to encourage us. Come I'll take you to the shallow cave, Lorann's favorite spot. It's a very good place for a Force meditation together."

Manall looked at his grandson who sat with his head in his hands and elbows at the table. Every now and then Filann shook his head as he recalled what has happened that day.

"You have found what you have been looking for, haven't you, son?" Manall asked.

Filann nodded, but said nothing. He even didn't looked at his grandfather, but stared in front of him.

"Our whole community tends those graves, son. We don't want to forget what happened that day." Manall said.

Filann nodded again and looked up.

"Yes, the place is still maintained well, grandfather."

Manall put his hand on his grandson's shoulder.

"You're blaming yourself for what has happened to that girl, aren't you?"

Filann nodded once again.

"Her death is my father's fault, but also mine. I have heard the stories the others told me on Myr. I knew how dangerous the nut woods were. No had become after my father and his men started chopping the nut trees. I longed to be part of it, chopping the tree and fighting the Urams. I yearned to see it and become a harvest man. I knew it all, grandfather. I should have warned and told her she shouldn't enter the nut woods, and I did nothing. Her death is my fault too." Filann said in a low voice.

"The death of those young woman was my fault too, Filann. I should have know what your father had been doing, although he never told me, but I also heard what the men who once worked under my leadership were telling as they returned from Tyr. Seven long years I kept my mouth shut as I thought your father had to learn himself what was going wrong, why also several of the harvest men fell victim to the Urams. I knew, son, that when I was leading the harvest men, the Urams never attacked us. They watched from above. We all could gather the nuts we needed easily. No Urams ever used violence against my men. I even became friends with some of them. They came down from the trees as I entered the nut forest alone and although I couldn't communicate with them as the Jedi Knights can do I was aware that their leader respected me. Being a Force-user I finally found a way to tell him my name and he, at his turned, let me know he was called Oltomyran." Manall said and whispered like his grandson had done. "Do you want to tell me, Filann?"

Reluctantly and often stopping during his talk Filann told his grandfather how he had found Iljon's grave and how his emotions had overwhelmed him as he had recalled how he had witnessed the girl's death under the violent attack of tens of Urams.

All the while Manall was keeping his hand on his grandson's shoulder.

"You cried, didn't you?" He said compassionately.

Filann nodded.

"Yes, I did. I never knew I have ever felt so miserable. I cried until I felt I had no tears left." Filann whispered.

Manall looked at his eldest grandson.

"What did you do, Filann?" He asked gently.

"Grandfather, I already had figured out for myself, that the nuts I have gathered in the small bag, weren't my nuts, but hers. So I have placed the bag on her grave."

"Did that relief you?"

"Not really, for I sank on my knees again and asked her forgiveness for my lack of courage to keep her away from the nut wood."

Filann looked up and Manall saw how he blinked to push back some tears. Filann took a deep breath.

"Grandfather, I can't understand of what happened next, for someone took my hand and led me out of that place. It was Anddra who sat down next to me as I looked up, asking me what I was doing at her sister's grave. I told her that I had brought Iljon the nuts she never could have brought home with her. Anddra is a good listener, grandfather, for after I had told her why I had put the bag with nuts on Iljon's grave she went over to it again and took five nuts from the bag and asked me to come with her to plant the nuts in the garden behind her house. I didn't really understand what she meant, but she walked back with me to Cantamaga and took me to her house. It's a lovely house, grandfather. It's soon beautifully furnished and decorated I immediately felt at home. She gave me a mug of strong cav, being a perfect caring hostess, for I felt she understood me. She took me to the garden where she explained why she had taken out those five nuts. She hopes that the nuts will grow into young nut trees and then she will plant them near Iljon's grave, so that her deceased sister will have her own nut trees forever. Together we have filled a flat crate with soil and she wanted me to plant the nuts and she covered them with extra soil and watered the soil. I brought the crate to the conservatory at the back of the garden, so the nuts will germinate more easily. She was so nice to me, grandfather,"

Manall smiled reassuringly.

"You have help her with her chores at the farm, haven't you, son?"

"Yes, Anddra is the woman you sent me to to help her, after she had begged governor Fonaldris for help. When she opened the door when I knocked I felt shocked for she looked like Iljon. She told me Iljon was her twin sister. She wanted to know how I knew Iljon and I told her and how I had seen what happened to her. When I said that I wanted to run for help, but that father held me and Cemall back, she praised father's decision, saying that if we would have gone over we also would have been killed."

"I sense, son, that Anddra has forgiven you that you haven't been able to save her sister's life."

"Grandfather, I can never tell Anddra that Iljon has died because my father has provoked the Urams by chopping the nut trees. If he has been more aware of the consequences of his decision this all would never have happened." Filann sighed.

"You shouldn't blame your father, Filann. What he did, he did with a good intension, and he never profited from what he got when trading the unripe nuts. You shouldn't forget that."

"Maybe, one day I will, grandfather, for again I have found someone I like, but who I never can tell how much she means to me, because my father has married me off to an immature seventeen-year-old girl who, together with her girl friends, lets boys kiss her in exchange for candy."

Manall raised his eyebrows.

"You have seen Sumall in Cantamaga?" He asked.

"Yes, I have, grandfather, and yesterday my father came here complaining that Sumall has told her father that she misses me and that she has been wondering why I haven't yet come home to her." Filann said and now Manall heard the disgust in grandson's voice.

"What did she say, when she saw you?"

"She bumped into me, as she was running to her girl friends. She looked up for a second and said: 'Sorry sir, I didn't notice you.'. Grandfather, that is the girl my father wants me to acknowledge as my wife. I should, in his words, guide her, be gentle to her and make her aware of her status as a married woman: a immature girl who is on her way to some boy who wants to kiss her, but doesn't recognize the man who is her legitimate husband. Well, at least, now I know that I haven't been right when I told master Roshann that I'm not longer considering myself to be married. Grandfather, I'm no ones husband any longer. I'm a free man to choose a woman of my own likes, of whom I can give my love and affection. I'm no longer married to any one."

Filann wanted to rise, but Manall pressed him back on his seat.

"Anddra," He said and looked at the young man next to him. "You have fallen in love with Anddra Jecolin, because you once loved her twin sister, right?"

"Yes, grandfather, I love that woman. I know it's wrong as long as the Council of the Elders hasn't canceled my force marriage with Sumall Pohinn. I will keep my dignity as I have been brought up as a decent man, but when I'm really free I will do everything to win Anddra's love. Until then I will help her to get her farm up and running again. Grandfather, Anddra has lost her whole family. Her father was shot, before the eyes of her mother who went blind after what she had witnessed. Her twin sister for whom I have had feeling which might have been call love, died, because the Urams made a mistake while they were only defending what was theirs, and Anddra's blind mother died suddenly when she heard that the Quelans could return to Ribana. Anddra has lost all the ones she loved. I want to help carry those losses, for I have lost everything I once believed in. Grandfather, I don't see myself as a harvest man any more. I don't want to join master Roshann as his group will go to Tyr to harvest the nuts. I have had enough of it. I have seen the wonder of the nut wood, I have felt the mystery of the tree. I have met the Urams leader, but I don't belong to it any more. I'm going to learn to prune fruit and berry bushes and help Anddra to make a good living again on the farm. Maybe I will never able to propose to her, but that won't withhold me to work on her farm. I can learn to lead a farmer's life, for I'm fit for it."

Manall looked and nodded.

"I understand, son. You know I had other plans with you and Cemall, but if you see your future differently I will never insist you have to do what I had in mind, but be aware that you're facing a difficult time. I will support your point of view when you will plead your case before the Harvest Council which will hold a joined hearing together with the Council of the Elders and our governors."

"I will not acknowledge the Harvest Council's decision, as I'm no longer a harvest man. Only the Council of the Elders and the governors of Ribana may decide what they want me to do."

Manall laughed.

"The more you tell me this, Filann, the more I know that you will succeed and overcome your struggles. You're really a grandson of mine, for in you I sense the stubbornness of my own father. You should not worry too much, Filann, but enjoy the moments when you meet Anddra while we're here on Tyr."