Chapter 148

"Have you thought about your padawan, Wedge?" Luke asked.

"She will join every time I have to pilot one of those freighters back and forth between the continents. She will do fine and she will enjoy those flights. Once on Tyr, for whatever is needed to do there, I can take her for a short visit to the nut woods to meet her Urams friends, for I expect that I only have to get one of those freighters safely approach, land, lift off, and depart on Tyr. The rest of the crew will have their own chores, I guess. No, Luke, you and Shaayla-Car can safely leave Myr and go after those documents, and your Force passenger will love to experience that the galaxy is much larger than Palomintar Four." Wedge said joyful, but then he looked more seriously at his former master.

"Did you warn Leia about what I have said about how to maintain the communication between the delegation members once they have arrived on Lumeara. Boy, I still have an odd feeling about the Supreme Chancellor going on a mission there without proper back-up from our ground forces. I understand that she doesn't want to provoke the Lumearanian leaders, but she shouldn't underestimate their cunning and treacherous behavior. I hope she has read every character of my report more than once, for only then she might understand what she's up to." Wedge said with concern.

"I still wondering, Wedge, why the Provisional Coruscant Council has rejected the Lumearanian's request for help. I ask Leia if Mon Mothma knew, but she denied."

"I have thought about that, Luke. Maybe you should ask Nori Thai. Speaking about cunning, that's certainly a guy who get information about everything without any one knowing where he got it."

"I have thought of that too, Wedge, but I think it's too early to send out a warning signal to an undercover agent. Before we know he would have turned half Coruscant upside down to find want we have asked him." Luke said laughing, "but I certainly will keep him as a good source for information in mind."

Luke stood up and was about to leave, when Chati entered and greeted him with a smile.

"Hey, Ben, what are you doing here?"

"Young padawan, are you addressing a Jedi Master that way. I expect a little bit more respect of you when you meet the leader of the New Jedi Order." Wedge said, but Luke heard that his friend's reproach wasn't meant to correct Chati's behavior.

Chati seemed to sense it too, for she looked at Wedge with a smile.

"I will remember, master," She said, but her eyes laughed frolicsome, and shrugged her shoulders.

Wedge shook his head.

"My aunt Carmona send me over to you, master, for she has made your favorite berry cake. She wants to hand you a piece if you come down to the apartment of my uncle. Oh, Ben, you also can join my master and me. I'm sure my aunt will have a piece for you too," Chati said.

Wedge stood up.

"Then we both will join you, Chati Fonaldris, for I don't want to miss such an invitation. Are you coming, Luke? Hey, pal, say you you sure will also love it."

"I have tasted Carmona's berry cake more than once in the vineyard building, but it's too tempting to say no to this offer."

Luke joined Wedge and Chati and downstairs in Mugin's apartment they also found Tama-Hin and Lorann. Carmona turned to Luke with a gleeful face.

"Luke, so good you have come too. Do you know where Cemall and his brother are?"

Luke shook his head, but he understood why Carmona asked him.

"If, by accident, I will run into them, Carmona, I will tell them to go and see you, for you want to give them a piece of your famous cake too, don't you?"

"It always gives me a good feeling, Luke, when I see how Cemall looks when he is eating my berry cake." Carmona said.

"Don't worry, I will remind him," Luke said as he sat down.

The door slid aside and Mugin and Toallin entered.

"Who told you I made berry cake," Carmona asked her husband.

"Dolan. He said he just passed by our kitchen and had nose wrinkled with the smell." Mugin answered.

"Didn't you asked him to join us?"

"He said he had work to do. He's planning to set up his new house hold in Ribana itself. According to what he has seen there are a lot of abandoned houses. I told him to contact master Manall for the new harvest men's leader also has plans with those abandoned houses."

Toallin turned to Luke.

"Luke, when do you expect to leave Palomintar Four to find the documents you need?"

"Depends on a lot of events, Toallin, but the main one is what will happen during that joined councils hearing you, master Manall and Master Kamalin are planning."

"You want to attend those hearings, Luke?"

"The Jedi will only be there as audience, Toallin. What those two councils will decide is your community's concern. The Jedi has nothing to say in what will be decided." Luke said.

Toallin laughed.

"But you're absolutely interested in the outcome, aren't you? For you know, as I do, that whatever will be decided will shape the future of the Quelan community on Palomintar Four."

Luke nodded, but didn't comment any further.

"Father," Chati suddenly asked, "Where is mother?"

"Gathering news and rumors. You know she had an interest in all that happens in our community, dear." Toallin said.

Chati frowned and bowed over to Luke.

"She has, like spreading rumors about you, Ben, and Shaayla-Car?" She whispered. "I wonder, what she will come up with this time."

Again the door opened and Udine stepped inside with a heated face.

"Toallin, you should go over to master Pohinn's house. Warn Manall, for Quitilan Roshann is having a serious argument with Honyan Pohinn about master Pohinnn's daughter Sumall. I've heard she has challenged master Roshann's youngest son, that nice young boy Shandrall, to kiss her in exchange for some candystick Roahann's wife is making. It is said that Roshann has seen clear evidence about what has happened two days ago during the daily market and yesterday a group of ten yelling and screaming girl among them Sumall stood outside Roshann's house calling for Shandrall to come over and kiss them all. That girl, Toallin, is making a lot of trouble here, and her husband is nowhere to be seen, for he no longer acknowledges that she is his wife. That's what I've heard from master Roshann, and he has told Honyan Pohinn to get a better hold on the immature behavior of this daughter."

Toallin and Mugin both stood up, but Toallin looked at Luke. Luke understood Toallin's look and rose.

"I'll warn Manall for you, Toallin. Wedge, can you join me?"

"Do I have to come with you, master?" Chati asked.

"No, Chati, you'd better stay here. I don't expect you can do anything about what going on there." Wedge said.

He and Luke left Mugin's apartment and went over to the speeder of the Astræga which stood parked near the guest houses. Luke jumped at the wheel and immediately the two Jedi drove off.

Within minutes they had reached Manall's house and knocked. As the harvest man appeared Luke quickly told what was going on. Meanwhile also Filann had heard Luke explanation.

"I'm coming with you, grandfather. It's time to learn a kid a lesson, she won't forget. I am fed up with her, she is sullying my family name." He said and sounded very angry.

Luke grabbed Filann's arm.

"Don't let your anger, lead your actions, Filann. She's not worth it, and you know. You're not responsible for what she's doing as you don't acknowledge her as your wife any longer. Interfering between master Roshann and your illegitimate wife's father will escalate the situation." He said.

Filann looked at the young Jedi who he knew was his friend and wanted to help him with his best intentions.

"Ben, you don't know what I'm feeling now. That girl has already been ruining my life for two years."

Luke smiled and gentle pulled Filann to the speeder.

"Get in, Filann, and join Wedge and me. Master Manall, please take the passenger's seat, for you can tell where I have to go to reach master Pohinn's house."

Manall nodded, cast a glance at his grandson and nodded. Luke drove off and followed Manall's directions to reach Pohinn's house. As they neared the shouting was clearly audible. Luke stopped the speeder and all four hopped off and rushed over.

"What's going on here, Roshann, Pohinn?" Manall asked with stern authority.

Luke and Wedge observed the surrounding and noticed the group of laughing girls at a distance. Luke went over to Filann and pointed to the group.

"Which of those girls is master Pohinn's daughter, Filann?" He asked.

Filann peered in the direction of the group. He had to strain his eyes to see them clearly.

"The one who is standing in front of that group, Ben. Shall I come with you?"

"No, you should stay here. Leave it to us. Come on Wedge," Luke said and before Filann could protest any further he and Wedge vanished in front his eyes. Flabbergasted he looked around.

Meanwhile Luke and Wedge ran over to the group of laughing girls using Altos supor to remain invisible until they had reached the group and position themselves behind the leading girl. They release their Force connection and grabbed the girl at her arm. Startled the other girls back off and ran away. Luke and Wedge still hold the leading girl who started to free herself, but both Jedi kept her at bay. Finally she seemed to give up her struggle and looked at them.

"Who are you? What do you want of me?" She started screaming.

"A solid explanation about the duties of a married woman who seems to find it funny to seduce and compromise innocent young boys." Luke said sternly and looked at the obstinate girl.

"I'm not a married woman. Let go of me?" The girl snarled.

"Aren't you, Sumall Pohinn, the daughter of master Pohinn, who has been promised at her birth to become the wife of the eldest son of master Cornell?" Luke asked.

"What do you know about the agreement between my father and master Cornell?" She asked.

"That question, young lady, reveals to me that you are Sumall Pohinn, right?" Luke commented.

For a moment Luke sensed some fear in the girl. He immediately made use of it and continued with the facts he knew.

"About two years ago, Sumall, your father and master Cornell made an announcement in public that from that moment on you had become the wife of master Cornell's eldest son."

Now angry the girl looked at him.

"I was told that he would become my husband when I was thirteen, mister. You should mind your own business and stop bothering me." Sumall answered on top of her voice.

"You'd better stop screaming, lady, for over there they can hear what ever you're saying." Luke commented.

Sumall looked at him.

"Who are you both?" She asked.

"I'm sorry, how inconsiderate of us," Luke said and made a slight bowed, "We haven't introduced ourselves. I'm Luke Skywalker, Jedi Knight and friend of Manall Radilan, your husband's grandfather, of Cornell Radilan, Filann's father, and of Filann himself. I have worked with them on Myr on their project to redirect a water flow back to Ribana. The man who is still holding you, is my friend Wedge Antilles, also a Jedi Knight."

"You're the Jedi Knights who joined the harvest men just after I've got married." Sumall said and pretended to look sad. "You have deprived me of my husband, Jedi, for he asked his father if he could go with him and the other harvest men. I haven't seen him for more than a year. Two days ago I heard he had come back to Tyr, but he has come home to see me." Sumall complained. "I missed him, mister. I've missed him every day, since he left me."

"And you have compensated that by gathering with some of your girl friends and causing trouble while he wasn't here. Sumall Pohinn, this whole community is aware of your behavior and that is not the behavior the other Quelans are expecting of a married woman. Don't you have a house to tend?"

Sumall shrugged.

"Tending a house hold day in day out with having fun is boring, mister. I love to have fun with my girl friends."

"I've heard that," Luke said. "I've heard that you and your girl friends seems to love it to make fun of flirting with young Quelan boys and challenge them to kiss you, especially if you can demand something in return, like candysticks for instance. Sumall Pohinn, this is despicable behavior for a married woman. You're now coming over with my friend and me and you'd better tell master Roshann that what's telling your father is the truth, for you have been seducing Shandrall Roshann to give you a kiss and you and your group of friends have gone over to Shandrall's house to challenge him to kiss you all, of course in exchange for some more candysticks."

Luke grabbed Sumall's other arm and both Jedi pushed the girl to walk over to the group which were stlll arguing with each other, although Manall had managed to calm down the heated discussion.

As they reached the group Honyan Pohinn looked at his daughter.

"What has been so funny of what has been going here, Sumall?" He asked sounding outraged.

"Nothing serious, father. Me and the girls were just looking at your discussion with master Roshann," Sumall said and looked at Manall and Filann.

"What are those men doing here, father? You were talking to master Roshann, for he is accusing me of something I haven't done." She said still looking at Toallin and Mugin and at Manall and Filann, then suddenly she laughed.

"Hey, mister, apologies for what happened yesterday at the central plaza. I almost ran you over when I wanted to catch up with my friends." She said as turned to Filann.

Luke and Wedge who had released Sumall when they had reached the group had gone over to the young harvest man who looked at Sumall in disbelieve. Luke sensed he wanted to say something and put his hand on Filann's arm to draw his attention. As Filann turned his head for a moment Luke shook his head and immediately Filann relaxed.

The reaction of Honyan Pohinn was completely different. He grabbed his daughter's arm, dragged her to the door of his house, opened the door and gave her a hard push so she tumbled inside. Immediately she started screaming and crying, but Honyan pulled her to her feet again, slabbed her face and gave her a rough push again.

"You have been telling me, that you have missed your husband, and asked me to see Cornell and tell your husband to come home to see you. You have been telling lies, Sumall, like you always have done from your early youth. You have told me that your husband, Cornell's eldest son Filann, always has been refusing to make love with you, that you have begged him to conceive a child, so that you could be mother. All the time I believed you until, while I was on Myr, helping to get our former town back to its old state, that your husband has told master Roshann that he no longer considered himself to be your husband. I didn't understand and asked Cornell to see his son. Your husband, Sumall, told me a complete other story. It wasn't Filann who refused to make love with you. It was you, for you refused to sleep with him. You never wanted to conceive a child, you didn't want to become the mother of his child, for you have told him that you love his brother Cemall. You're a leir, Sumall, and you have bring shame to my family. You're spoiled and are irresponsible and behaving immature. I didn't believe it when I heard that Filann wants to bring his marriage with you before the Harvest Council and have his marriage with you canceled. I didn't believe him when he told me why, but now I do, for the man you just addressed and apologized for something that happened yesterday, is Filann Ridalan, your husband, but you even haven't recognized him."

Honyan Pohinn turned to Quitilan Roshann.

"My friend, I apologize for the lies and the misconduct of this girl who seems to be my daughter, but I hardly want to recognize as such. I didn't believe your accusation about this girl's behavior to your son. I apologize."

Then he turned to Filann and Manall

"Filann, I hardly can't apologize for what this girl has done to you. I have seen how hard you have worked to build a new house here, made all the furniture and spend much of your savings to give this spoiled girl all she needed to run a house hold. I apologize for her misconduct, her lies about you, and how she even hasn't recognize you. You've told master Roshann that you're no longer considering yourself to be this girl's husband. I agree, although it hurts my pride. You want to bring your marriage to be canceled before Harvest Council. Officially they have to annul your marriage, but I will support your request, and for me you're not longer this girl's husband any more. You told me that you've never touched her, not even kissed her, and I believe you, but this girl seems to have develop a disgusting way of attracting the attention of very young boys to seduce them to kiss her and maybe even compromise those boys to make love with her. Filann, if I will find out that she has to tell me that she is expecting a child, I will step up and tell the Harvest Council that you're not the father."

Honyan Pohinn walked over to Manall and Filann and stretched out his hand.

"I will give you my word, Filann, that your name will never be mentioned in connection to this girl," He said.

Hesitatingly Filann shook hand with him. Honyan Pohinn turned to Luke and Wedge.

"I have worked with you, Ben and with your friend who joined us later. I have always considered the Jedi Knights to be reliable friends. Thank you, for your help to bring the truth about this girl who is my daughter and her misconduct in the open."

Honyan Pohinn entered his house and closed the door. Those who were outside still could hear the screaming and crying of Sumall.

Quitilin Roshann walked over to Manall and Filann, and greeted Toallin and Mugin.

"Thank you for coming, governors. Luckily any interventions from you hasn't been necessary," He said.

"Master Roshann, although we have just been observing what went on, it's good for us to know what's happening sometimes in our community," Mugin said and started to walk over with his brother to their speeder.

Roshann looked at the two Jedi Knights.

"I only can agree with what Honyan just has said. Thank you, Ben, thank master Antilles."

The two Jedi made a bow, and Roshann turned to Manall and Filann.

"Well, Filann. On Myr you have told me about your unhappy marriage. I promised that I would step up for you. I still will do so, but after what we just have heard is solid proof of what you told me has happened."

Manall looked at Roshann.

"Why have you gone over to Honyan Pohinn's house, Quitilan." He asked.

"At first, this seemed like something that could be quickly resolved between Honyan and me. The day before yesterday, Anddra Jecolin came to me and showed me two candy sticks covered in dirt. She told me how she got them and how a girl had persuaded my youngest son to kiss her in exchange for a candy stick. Anddra told me that one of the girls had thrown the candy sticks to her friends, who had dropped them in the mud. She had picked up the candy sticks and taken them, mud and all, and given the money to Shandrall. She didn't mention Sumall's name, but I knew who she was talking about. I had planned to deal with my son first, but yesterday afternoon a group of jeering girls stood in front of my house gate, calling for Shandrall to come out and kiss them for candy sticks. That was the reason for me to have a word with Honyan about his daughter's behavior, but he denied that it could have been Sumall who had kissed my son. He accused me of spreading gossip about his daughter. I tried to convince him that he needed to talk to her about what had happened and make it clear to her that she had to leave my son alone. In the end, it turned into a very embarrassing argument, Manall. I should have realized that we all know how proud Honyan is of his daughter and how much value he placed on the announcement of her marriage to Cornell's eldest son. When I told him that Filann didn't consider himself to be Sumall's husband any more Honyan became outraged, saying that once a marriage had been announced it could never be undone."

Manall patted his co-leader on his arm and smiled.

"You're always the calmest of my three leaders, but I understand that you wanted Honyan to know that he should tell his daughter to leave Shandrall alone. Well, let's go all back to our houses. Later on I will have a word with Honyan and certainly also with Cornell, for it's clear now that the marriage they once agreed upon has become a disaster for both families."

Filann turned to Roshann, before they went to their speeder.

"Master Roshann, why did Anddra tell you about what she had seen. You just said that she didn't mention Sumall's name in connection with those muddy stick."

"Anddra Jecolin is a very cautious young woman, Filann. She didn't want to reveal the girl's identity, but she reminded me that the girl was a married woman. Filann, gossip about Sumall's behavior has been going around Cantamaga among many Quelans. You weren't here, but lots of Quelans have expressed their disgust at Sumall. I'm sure that Anddra Jecolin must have heard those rumors too."

Filann nodded.

"Thank you, master Roshann, for telling me what happened while I have been on Myr, working on our project." He said and jumped at the back seat of the speeder where the others were already waiting. Luke drove back to Manall's house and invited his Jedi friends to join him and his grandson for awhile. Luke sensed how relieved Filann felt, as the young harvest man seemed to have put his gloomy expectations for his future to the back of his mind.

"Ben, you have to explain something to me. You pointed at that group of cheering girl in the distance. I hardly could see them, and suddenly you and master Antilles vanished."

Wedge looked at Luke who grinned softly.

"Altus sopor, Filann, a way of Force use to make ourselves invisible to other. Master Pohinn shouldn't become aware of us until we stood behind her." Wedge said.

Filann frowned and Luke nodded.

"Yes, Filann, the same Force skill Lorann sometimes has used to let several Quelans start looking for him while he still was watching you, when the Quelans were on their way to reach the western harbor."

"Are you saying, Ben, that Lorann could make use of the Force at the age of four."

"All Force users are born with slumbering Force skills. In the past those little ones were brought to the Jedi Temple while they were still babies or toddlers. There they learned to use the Force and become future Jedi Knights."

"Will you do the same, Ben?" Filann asked.

Luke shook his head

"No, the Jedi Temple is partially destroyed and has housed the court of the Emperor, and in my opinion it's wrong to take little ones away from their parents, although some parents were proud to know that their offspring could be come Jedi Knights."

After have talked with Manall and Filann about what they had heard Luke and Wedge returned to their guest rooms in Cantamaga. Later that evening Filann laid on his bed, his hands folded behind his back.

'Dear Anddra, you knew who she was, when you saw her. Probably someone on the market mentioned her name, or said that she was my wife. You bought those muddy sticks for Shandrall deliberately. You showed master Roshann those muddy candysticks and what you have witnessed, so he could protect his son. Dear Anddra, will you ever tell me why you did this? May I assume that you also did it for me?' He thought as he closed his eyes with a happy smile around his lips.

The following day Manall went over to the administration building for a consultation with Toallin, Mugin, Kamalin and Woldrin about the joined hearing of both Councils. The event of the day before was still vivid in his mind, although he felt less concerned about his grandson's hopeless marriage. The five Quelan leaders came together in the room which always was used for secret meetings. Toallin and Mugin had already informed Kamalin and Woldrin about what had happened the day before between Quitilan Roshann and Honyan Pohinn.

Woldrin looked at Manall.

"What happened between those two harvest men, Manall, seems a matter of your group, right?" He asked.

Toallin and Mugin shook their heads.

"No, Woldrin. It's a matter of our whole community, where many young Quelans are discontented, dissatisfied and frustrated about what they experience as impact on the way they want to live a life in happiness. " Mugin said.

Kamalin nodded.

"It has surfaced after you, governors, left us to free our fellow Quelans who had been forced to do slave labor by order of the occupying forces. During your absence Woldrin and I have registered the increasing discontent among the young harvest men, especially after a great many announcements of marriages arranged in the past were proclaimed.

In my opinion that what happened yesterday between master Roshann and master Pohinn is the escalation of the dissatisfaction which lives among the harvest families community. Here at Cantamaga the younger harvest boys and girls have witnessed and seen how their Quelan peers from Ribana meet each other freely, without their parents objecting against those friendship. This is in huge contrast how young harvest boys and girl interact. These eight years since we arrived here I have never seen that harvest boys seek the friendship of their peers among the harvest girls. I once asked Cornell about it, but the only answer he gave me that it's the traditional way how marriages among harvest boys and girl are arranged. For me that was a severe signal that we, as the Council of the Elders, have to stay alert, because I feared that a new generation of harvest boys would oppose against what the parents had decided without their consent.

Manall, I suppose you have felt the same, haven't you?" Kamilin asked as he turned to the harvest men's new leader.

"I have, Josferin. You and Rastin became alerted once you had to take over the leadership of the Quelan community once our governors had gone back to Myr and didn't return. I already sensed the discontent among the harvest youngster and their lack of interaction between boys and girls while I had to live in seclusion on Myr, as my son had told me that I should interfere with his leadership.

Governors, Josferin, Rastin I should have interfered with what was going on. Not only the chopping of the nut trees, but also what some of the harvest youngster were telling each others as some of them found friends among the Quelans who lived in Ribana. The discontent and frustration about the differences between the two group has been building up for years, maybe even when I was still the harvest mens' leader. So, I think time has come to make decisions and take far-reaching measures before the harvest youngster turn themselves against their parents, causing pain and sadness among many families, for the harvest younger are seeing themselves more and more as part of how the Quelan youngster in Ribana live. They want the same rules, the same freedom to make friends, the same opportunities to chose their own partner to marry."

"I sense, Manall, that the ancient way to arrange marriages between a harvest boy and girl has to be abandoned." Toallin responded, "I can tell that we all fully agree with you, but it's the Harvest Council to have a say in this, right? We, the governors of this community together with the Council of Elders don't have any influence on what the Harvest Council decides, but that decision shouldn't be in conflict with the rules of the Council of the Elders."

Manall looked at Toallin with a piercing look.

"Governor, those arranged marriages are in conflict with the rules of the Council of the Elders, and as that Council has a higher authority in the Quelan community, you and the Council could overrule what the Harvest Council still sees as its prerogative. Arranging marriages which makes one or two partners in an announced marriage unhappy will be the cause of unrest in our whole community. I know that many harvest families see themselves as different from the Quelans who live in Ribana, some even think they are superior, but I want my fellow harvest men and their families see themselves as part of the Quelan community. Therefore I want to use the houses in Ribana which are permanently abandoned, because their owners are the victims of the occupation, or the deceased of our flight to the western harbor, to become houses of the harvest families. If we leave those houses as they are now, our community will always be remembered of what the occupation has done to hour community. Over time those house will fall into ruins which would destroy the total view of Ribana. If we want to fully restore Ribana we need Quelans who will take care of houses whose owners are no longer among us."

Rastin Woldrin put two fingers in the air as he laughed.

"Manall, that's two items about which the Harvest Council has to decided, what the third item?"

Manall looked at the vice-chair of the Council of Elders.

"That the Council of the Elders will be the only council with authority over all the Quelans of the community, harvest men and other fellow Quelans alike. In other words, I want the Harvest Council to become obsolete and decides that the council will be permanently canceled. Only the governors and the Council of the Elders will make the rules to which all Quelans will be subject. That is why I want a joined meeting and hearing of both Councils. I will call for the Harvest Council in the highest setting possible. That means six members and a chair. Being the chair I will put the items one by one before the council to make a decision after they have carefully listening to all complains that live among the harvest families, and focussed on those arranged marriages and the existing marriages which show signs of dissatisfaction among one of both partners. Of course I hope that there will less break ups, but every harvest young man or young woman who feels they are tied to the wrong person should feel free to have their marriage canceled. "

"What if the harvest families want to return to their former houses on Myr?" Kamalin asked.

"You haven't been on Myr, yet, Josferin. Those houses doesn't exist any more, only the former harvest men's community building looked good, but I have already given the order to dismantle and demolish also that building. There is a community building in Ribana where also the harvest men can gather if needed. It's larger and closer to their homes. The group of houses the harvest families used to live has been demolished during the occupation of Ribana, only the foundations exist. It will take month, possibly years, before those house will be rebuild. It will be easier to allocate the harvest families to those abandoned houses in Ribana itself."

'And I already have made an arrangement that those foundations will be blown up, like we have done with the wall near the lake,' Manall thought.

"All I need to do is assemble the six harvest men who will preside the Harvest Council. I already have some names in mind, but I have to invite them to take their seat. I will give you a complete list when I ready." Manall said.

"We will fully support you, Manall, and take part in any discussion about the points you just have mentioned. We think it an absolute right for any Quelan boy or girl to make their own choice about the way they want to live, as my own daughter has formulate some weeks ago, for a lot of us to hear. She too has suffered from ancient rules which have been taken for granted too long." Toallin said. "When do you think you will call for the Harvest Council, Manall, for we want to announce that the Harvest Council will be held in a joined session with the Council of the Elders and we as governors."

"Give me two more days, governor." Manall said.

Toallin looked at Josferin Kamalin and Rastin Woldrin who both nodded.

"The day of tomorrow we will announce the joined session of the two councils which will take place a day later, Manall" Toallin said.

"Excellent, governor. The faster decisions can become effective, the better it will be for our community." Manall answered.

They left the room and said goodbye. Manall went back to his house near the nut wood, while Toallin and Mugin returned to their office. They left it to Kamalin and Woldrin to inform the other members of the Council of the Elders.

'Master Kenobi, do you have time to come and see me. I want to show you something I have drawn. Ánd do you know where my brother Filann is? Lorann asked using Jedi telepathy.

'Filann lives with your grandfather at the moment, Lorann. Shall I ask him to come over too.' Ian answered, sensing the boy's gleeful tension

'Could you get him for me, please, master Kenobi, for what I made is for him, but also for master Oltomyran. I want to go to the nut wood and I want Filann to join me. Can we go there, master Kenobi?'

'I'll get you brother for you, Lorann and we will come over to you together.' Ian answered.

'Thank you, master Kenobi.' Lorann said exalted.

Lorann turned back to his desk and looked at the result of two drawing of which he had made four copies. His eyes shone as he looked at what he had done. Not that he was completely satisfied, but it was the best of what he had made so far.

'I hope that Filann and master Oltomyran will like it,' He thought as he carefully wiped some invisible particle of the foil sheet. He knew that it would take some time for the Jedi Knight to go and see his brother and he felt some impatience. But then he started to smile again, went over to his desk and activated the drawing pad. He scrolled through the different drawing until he had found what he was looking for. With an admiring glance in his eyes he sat down and started to improve a drawing he had been working on for weeks.

A knock on the door let him look up and to his surprise Liane entered.

"Hey, Lorann, may I come in, or am I disturbing you while you're drawing." She asked.

"No, no, miss Kenobi, please, do come in," Lorann said blushing while he jumped of his chair to pull another chair from under the table for her. In his haste, he forgot to hide the drawing he was working on. Liane cast a quick glance at the drawing pad and smiled.

"You've becoming quite good with the drawing pad Luke gave you," She said as she sat down.

Immediately Lorann went back to his desk, secured the drawing and put another drawing in front. Liane smiled.

"Do I sense, Lorann, that the former drawing you were working one, is not yet finished?" She asked.

"Yes, no, yes, miss Kenobi, I still have to make it look better," Lorann answered with a bright red color on his face, while he turned to the table with the four drawings.

"My brother has told me about his encounter with master Oltomyran, miss Kenobi, and how he and master Oltomyran made an agreement at the clearing with the lake. Filann told me that hundreds of Urams had come down from the trees when he met master Oltomyran. Look, miss Kenobi, I made a drawing of the moment when master Oltomyran held out his wings to my brother and Filann touched them. He told me that moments later master Oltomyran has touched his shoulders and touched his head. Filann said that he wasn't afraid when master Oltomyran did that to him. I also made a drawing of the clearing where I always feed the young Urams. Filann told me that my father was also there, and that he has given master Oltomyran some nuts he had gathered, and master Oltomyran had gone over to my brother again and has done the same as he did on the clearing with the lake. Miss Kenobi, I could make tens of drawings of what Filann has told me, but I choose these moments. Do you think that Filann will be pleased. I have asked master Kenobi to go with me to the nut wood, for I want to gave master Oltomyran also these two drawings." Lorann rattled in his usual way.

"What a wonderful idea, Lorann. Shall I join you and my brother when we're going to the nut wood? Maybe we should ask your brother to join us too, so that the two of you can give Oltomyran these drawing, for it has been your brother who made that agreement with the Urams leader." Liane said.

"Will you ask master Skywalker to join us too, miss Kenobi?" Lorann asked.

"Do you want him to, Lorann?"

"Yes, miss Kenobi, for master Skywalker is the most important Jedi Knight."

"Why don't you ask him yourself, Lorann. You have enough experience now to use your Force skills," Liane said.

For a moment Lorann looked at her, then he started laughing.

"Of course I can. Are you sure, master Skywalker, will answer me?"

"You only will know the answer to that question, if you do reach out to him,"

Lorann sat down and looked at her, but Liane sensed that the boy was reaching out to the Force already

'Master Skywalker, I'm going on an errand to the nut wood. Miss Kenobi and her brother will also come with me. Will you come too.' Lorann asked.

'Where are you at the moment, Lorann?' Luke asked.

'In the administration building near master Kamalin's office.'

'I'm on my way, Lorann.' Luke said.

Lorann came out of his Force connection with Luke and looked at Liane elated.

"Master Skywalker, will join us, miss Kenobi?" He said, as the door opened and Ian and Filann entered, immediately followed by Luke Skywalker.

"I see, Lorann, that you have invited some others to join into the nut woods." Ian said.

"Why do you want me to come with you, Lorann?" Filann asked.

"Because I have finished the drawings about all you have done in the nut woods to make sure that we will live in peace with the Urams." Lorann said, looking in admiration at his older brother.

He kept looking at his brother who raised his eyebrows, but smiled

"Why are you looking at me, Lorann?" Filann asked.

Lorann shook his head and pointed to the drawings he had made.

"I hope you'll like what I have done, Filann. There two copies of each drawing. One is for you and one you should have to master Oltomyran as confirmation of the agreement between the Quelans and the Urams."

Filann went over to the table and looked at the drawings. In disbelieve he looked at what Lorann has made. Then he turned to his younger brother.

"You weren't there when Oltomyran took me to that clearing where all those Urams came down from the trees, but you have drawn it exactly as it was. Look, there are Ben, and miss Shaayla-Car standing at the edge of the clearing as they had followed me to give courage. Lorann, this is amazing. Oh, you have drawn Oltomyran exactly as he is, but that's obvious, for you have also met him, haven't you. You're a genius, Lorann."

Filann turned to the other drawing and looked at it speechless. Without saying anything he nodded.

"That's exactly how it was, Lorann. Oh, look, there is the tree stump with the tiny leaves which once will grow into branches that will carry nuts again. Oh, and you've also drawn our father. He looked very scared, Lorann, when Oltomyran walked over to him. Ben had given our father some nuts and Oltomyran sat down in front of our father and waited until he stretched out his hand with the nuts. He took two of them, before he came over to me and touched me again. Lorann, you're a very good listener. This is great work." Filann said. "I like both of them."

"These are your copies, Filann, the others are for master Oltomyran," Lorann said with a bright gleam in his eyes. "You said that you wanted to put them on the wall in grandfather's house."

"As long as I'm on Tyr I will put them there, Lorann, but when I go back to Myr, I will take them with me. Grandfather has a new house in Ribana. It's much bigger than the one he lives in here, so I certainly will have a room there, for it has a second store with four rooms. When you come to Myr you have to come and see me and grandfather. Cemall will also live there." Filann said while he almost stumbled over his words.

Again Lorann looked at his brother in a particular way, but this time Filann didn't notice. However Luke looked at Lorann and intercepted the boy's look. He nodded at him.

'You have seen something else, haven't you, Lorann.' He asked through the Force

'Yes, master Skywalker, but I don't understand what I have seen.' Lorann asked cautiously.

'One day you will, Lorann, but be satisfied with what you have done for Filann' Luke said and reached himself from his Force connection with the boy.

Lorann grabbed his coat, but looked at Luke.

"Shall we go to the nut wood now," He asked. "Wow, master Kenobi, I asked you to accompany me when I said that I wanted to go the nut wood and now there are three masters to accompany me."

"Wrong, Lorann, one Jedi master and two Jedi Knights who still have to learn what the Force wants of them," Ian said.

Lorann looked at the young Jedi Knight, but spoke the last word.

"One day, master Kenobi, you and your sister will be Jedi masters too." Lorann said and looked in admiration especially to Liane.

The three Jedi Knights and the two Radilan brothers left the administration building. Lorann had given two of the drawings to Filann, telling him that he has to give them to master Oltomyran, for it was he who had come to an agreement with the Urams leader, and Oltomyran had confirmed the agreement when Filann had been gathering the first fallen nuts after the second group had returned to Tyr. Filann argued that it had been Lorann who had made the drawings and finally the two brothers decided that they had to wait what should happen after they had entered the nut forest.

Luke, Liane and Ian hadn't interfered with the discussion. They only accompanied the group as they followed the path to the entrance of the nut wood.

Once they entered the clearing Lorann pointed at the many tree stumps on which now clearly the small leaves of new nut trees had become visible. Luke pointed to the beginning of the path which would led to the clearing with the lake and suggested that it might be a good idea to give Lorann's drawings to Oltomyran there. At first Ian and Liane objected against Luke's idea, saying that entering the clearing was a kind of trespassing, for the clearing could be seen as the hidden community of the Urams. Filann and Lorann carefully argued that they both had seen the clearing while one or more Jedi Knights has been accompanying them. Having thought things over they came to an agreement and decide to follow the winding path to the clearing, but would stop at the edge and wait if the Urams leader would welcome then. Lorann Lorann even suggested calling Oltomyran, but Liane thought that was too presumptuous, saying that nearing the clearing without an invitation might be interpreted as disrespect.

They followed the winding path. Filann referred to his nightly visit to the nut forest when Oltomyran had walked him to the clearing where the two moons of Palomintar Four had cast an eerie light among the trees.

They reached the clearing and stopped, looking around if the Urams leader had noticed them, but intuitionally nothing happened. The clearing remained empty and Lorann looked up disappointed at Luke.

"Master Skywalker, when we came here it was also in the daytime and master Oltomyran came down to see us, but it could be that the Urams normally sleep during the day? I remember that I once sensed master Oltomyran through the Force. I greeting him, but I might have woken him up, for he seemed to have fallen asleep."

'A good conclusion, young Force-user' A voice from above sounded and three adult Urams, including Oltomyran flew down and landed in front of them.

'Oltomyran, are we disturbing you?' Liane asked.

'You, Jedi healer, never disturb us.' The large bird said and he pointed with his wing to the two Urams which were accompanying him. 'We want to get acquainted with our brother Oltopybon and our sister Oltavyron. They have witnessed the agreement we made with the man who loves our forest and does not want it to be destroyed. We are very delighted that he has come to visit us again.'

'It's a great honor, Oltomyran, that your family wants to meet us.' Liane said 'We have come the clearing, which we see as the place where your community of Urams live, not because we're curious, but these two brothers you both know, want to hand you two drawings the youngest one has made, after his eldest brother has told him about what he has experienced when he has met you.'

Liane turned to Lorann and Filann, who, feeling intimidated by the three large birds which were looking at them with their fiery eyes.

"Lorann, you can tell Oltomyran why Filann and you wants to give the Urams leader these two drawings." Liane said

Lorann got an red glow over his cheeks.

'Master Oltomyran ... I ... love ... to make ... drawings, of what ... I hear.' He stammered.