Chapter 153

Like during the hearings the Jedi Knights and their friends stood behind the residents of Cantamaga. Lorann had taken his drawing pad with him and looked at the Jedi Knights. Ian understood what was going on in the boy's mind and took his arm.

"You need a better place to see what's going on, Lorann. Come with me," He said.

Ian took Lorann to the left side, where he would have a better sight at the front of the administration building. To Ian's surprise one of the Quelans recognized Lorann and walked over to them.

"I guess, you want to make of drawing of this moment, don't you, Lorann Radilan?" He said. "That's splendid idea, young man. Let me help you."

Quickly the Quelan man took six trestles used during the daily market and laid three layers of planks on top of them. Then fetched a sturdy stool from one of the houses, placed it on the layer of planks, and helped Lorann climb up onto it, while Ian held the drawing pad. Lorann beamed and took the drawing pad.

"We are staying with you, Lorann," Ian said and looked gratefully at the Quelan man.

Meanwhile the six chosen members of the Harvest Council and the ten members of the Council of the Elders had entered on top of the three stairs that led to the entrance of the administration building. After them Toallin and Mugin Fonaldris, the two governors, Josferin Kamalin, the chair man of the Council of Elders, and Manall Radilan, the chair man of the Harvest Council entered and took a position in front of the councils' members.

The group of young harvest boys and girls cheered and clapped their hands, but they became quiet when Kamalin stepped in front of the other leaders and the two councils.

Kamalin looked at the data pad he held in his hand, looked back and beckoned Manall to join him. The harvest men's leader walked over to him and nodded. Kamalin raised a hand to request the crowd to get silent.

"The Harvest Council, the Council of Elders and the Governors of Cantamaga and Ribana hereby make a special announcement.

As Kamalin silenced a loud cheer from the younger generations of harvest boys and girls among some of them embraced their peers among the Quelans of Ribana.

Kamalin looked at Manall who looked at the cheering crowd in front of him, before he asked for a moment of silence again.

"My fellow Quelans, what we have heard today has changed our future way of living. As the former chair man of the Harvest Council it's my opinion that we have taken a huge step in becoming one complete community.

There is one thing that remains and what Council of the Elders and the governors have to solve, for I'm speaking of those force marriages which have caused a lot of frustration between the partners. For those marriages a request of annulment can be issued which will cancel the agreement and give both partners the opportunity to change their way of life and find another more pleasing partner.

In the event that one of the partners is not yet an adult, the parents will be expected to lovingly welcome their daughter back into their home. Should the parents—or the daughter—be unwilling to do so, the Council of Elders will decide how and where these young women will be accommodated."

The cheering became so loud that Manall's last words were hardly audible, but he smiled and stepped back among the members of the Council of the Elders.

All the while Lorann had listened to what was said, while he sat bowed drawing with the stylus of what he saw. As he saw that his grandfather joined the members of the Council of the Elders and shook hand with Kamalin and Woldrin, he looked at Ian and the Quelan man who still stood close by.

"I have finished the drawing, master Kenobi, but I need to work out the details later on." He said while he saved his work and switch off the drawing pad.

"I'm looking forward to see what you made of it, young man. This is a very important development. I'm very glad about what has been decided. Come, I will help you to get off this scaffold. Hand your device to your Jedi master."

Lorann looked at Ian, smiled, but shook his head.

"No, sir, the Jedi is only a good friend, no my Jedi master, not yet anyway." He said and Ian nodded imperceptibly.

"Well, a good friend is also important, but I guess that one day I will see you dressed up like he is, and then you will be a Jedi Knight like him."

In wonder Lorann stared at the Quelan man.

"Thank you, sir." He only said and allowed the Quelan man to help him jumped of the planks. Once again he thanked the man, after which he and Ian walked back to far end of the central plaza.

Manall looked at Kuriann Allrann who was about to leave the former group what had made up the Harvest Council.

"Do you mind to have a word with me in private, Kuriann, preferably with your wife as well?" Manall asked.

"Master Manall, do you want to talk about what I have said about my marriage." Allrann asked sounding embarrassed.

"If necessary, yes, but there is something else I want you opinion about, Kuriann. Is your wife among the crowd?"

"Yes, she over there," Allrann said and pointed with a smile to Hajonn who waved at him. He beckoned her to come over. Surprise she joined him with Kalonn and Wirton. Allrann introduced his wife and two sons to Manall and told Hajonn that the harvest leader wanted a private talk with both of them. Manall looked with a certain admiration at the well-dressed and beautiful young woman who protectively stood next the two young boys.

"Let's make it a family talk, Kuriann." He said.

"You mean, master Manall, that the boys may hear what you have to tell us."

"Why not, they are part of your family, right?"

"Master Manall, if you want to talk to us as a family, may I invite you to come over to our house," Hajonn said invitingly smiling

"Excellent, idea, ma'am. Wait a moment here. I have to say goodbye to the others of the council and the governors."

Manall walked over to Kamalin and Woldrin and shook hands with Toallin and Mugin.

Hajonn looked at Allrann in wonder.

"Do you know what this is all about, Kuriann?" She asked.

"No, I don't, but it's a splendid idea of you to invite him at ours. There he comes again."

Manall joined Allran's family and together they left the central plaza. Allrann led them to his house at the edge of the outskirts of Cantamaga and brought the harvest leader to the living room which had a nice view on the agricultural area that had developed around Cantamaga during the years in exile.

Hajonn showed herself to be an excellent hostess, as she immediately prepared some delicious plates with fruits, nagawa cheese and nut bread. Politely but very self-assuredly, she asked Allrann to arrange for some drinks.

Manall looked at the two adults who talked calmly to each other, and he sensed that what Allrann had said at the hearing, didn't matter any more. The two spouses seemed to have had a word about the way both had experienced their twelve year marriage. As their two boys were present Manall decided that he would not bring up the subject of their marriage. This wasn't a failed marriage, it probably never has been. Manall turned to Allrann.

"I really appreciated your contribution to the discussion in the Harvest Council, Kuriann," He said and sensed that the harvest men wanted to explain what he had said, for he winked imperceptibly.

"Kuriann, I want you to take a seat in the newly to be formed expanded Council of Elders, as my special advisor."

Allrann and his wife looked astonished at each other and at Manall.

"You want me to be a member of the Council of the Elders, but I'm not yet one of the the eldest Qeulans among the harvest men, master Manall. There are others in the former Harvest Council who are much older than I am."

"That's right, Kuriann. Two older Harvest Council members have already been nominated, master Bernall and master Fenall, but I also want a more opposing view against their conservative opinions. That's why I want you to join me. Of course your wife should agree with what I'm proposing, for this new position also effects your status among the harvest men. It simply could be that you won't go as often as before back to Tyr to harvest the nuts. That means that you will be at home more often than you probably want, for you're a well trained harvest man."

Allrann looked at Hajonn who carefully smiled at him. He looked at Manall who also smiled.

"Master Manall, it's an great honor to be nominated into the Council. I don't think that Hajonn and I have to talk about it, for her smile tells me she agrees with it. Being more at home isn't a problem. These eight years here I have been at home all the time. I even have to admit that it has been good to see our boys grow up, for when we arrived here they were two toddlers who needed much care of Hajonn."

"Well, that's settled then, Kuriann. I will inform Josferin Kamalin that you're that third member of the former Harvest Council who will be joining the Council of the Elders as a permanent member." Manall said.

"Did I heard it right, master Manall, will there be five members of the former Harvest Council to take a seat in the Council of the Elders. May I ask what who else will be nominated." Allrann asked.

"The two seats left will be rotated. That means what every six years the Quelans will have a say which Quelan, will be nominated to take a seat in Council. A choice they already made for seven seats in the Council of Elders, before it was extended."

"So every six years all the Quelans have to decide about those nine seats, where as the other six seats will have permanent members?" Allrann asked.

"That right, but those permanent members always may decide to give up their seat. In that case one of the rotating members will be asked to become a permanent member." Manall said as he looked at the two boys who had been quietly but also excitedly listening to the conversation.

"What do you two think about my proposal to your father?"

"Will our father live with us, or will he have to stay in the administration building?" Wirton asked.

"Good question, young man. Sometimes the Council will have a meeting, or a hearing like we have had these two days, but your father will always come home, for he and your mother still have to take care of you until you have become adult Quelans yourself. " Manall answered "Yes, Kalonn, what do you want to know?"

"Master Manall, I'm not yet really concerned, but is it really true that my parents won't decide which girl I have to marry."

"Kalonn, what kind of question is that. You're just eleven," Hajonn said, shaking her head.

"I have been worried, mother, because at school some of the boys already know which girl will be their wife.

Jokunn Domarr, my friend, he is as old as I am, told me that the girl who will be his wife is one year old. His parents often tells he should go over to the girl's parents, pay them a visit and take a present with him to give to the girl. He doesn't like it, mother. He was ten when the girl was born. It feels terrifying to become the husband of a young girl you don't know.

It must have been that way between you and father, mother. I figured out that when you were married to father you were fifteen and father was twenty-five. That a ten years difference in age. You had just left school, but father was already a harvest man. I don't know if I would be happy to hear that a new born girl would become my wife when she is fifteen."

Manall looked at the two parents. Hajonn looked at their eldest son and for a moment she glanced at Kuriann.

"We're sorry, son, that the thought of becoming once the husband of a not yet born girl is disturbing you that much. You've never told us, but I can reassure you. It won't happen to you, neither to Wirton. The way your father and I have been forced to marry twelve years ago has been declared illegal for parents shouldn't decide about the future of their children. That means that you and your brother can make your own choice. As we are going to live in Ribana among all the other Quelans families you will also meet the girls in their families. It's up to you to find friends among them. Your father and I won't have a say in your choice." Hajonn said and she put her hand in Kuriann's "Kalonn, it's true, your father and I haven't always felt happy in the beginning our marriage, but over the years we have learned to appreciate and love each other."

Manall sensed that the eldest son felt some relief and added.

"What was a wrong habit among the harvest families, Kalonn, will no longer be accepted when all the Quelans form one community. You, your brother, your peers and you friend Jokunn will have the same freedom to make friends with whoever you want to and when such a friendship results in the decision of both partners to get married it will be their choice."

"So, Jokunn won't have to fear he has to marry the little one-year old baby girl." Kalonn concluded and Manall nodded reassuringly, but the boy still asked another question.

"Master Manall, I've heard you say, that there have been some marriages where the husband and the wife aren't happy, for often the husband is much older than the wife. I've heard that even one of your grandsons has such an unhappy marriage."

"You have done a lot of good thinking, Kalonn. The marriages you just mentioned will be canceled, annulled as it's called officially when one of the partner, or both, will request the cancellation of the marriage, because there is a difference in understanding each other, due to the difference in age most of the time."

"But will all marriages be canceled when the husband is much older than his wife, Master Manall?" Kalonn asked and now Manall sensed a great anxiety in the boy.

"No, Kalonn. The governors and the chair of the Council of the Elders will only looked at those marriages for which they will receive a request of cancellation. Have you been afraid that your parents will break up their marriage?" Manall said with compassionate feeling for the boy.

"Yes, master Manall, for that's what some boys at school have been telling. I don't want my father, or my mother to leave my brother and me, for I love them both."

"The governors and the chair man of the Council will never annul the marriage of your parents, Kalonn. I'm sure that also your parents will reassure you and your brother." Manall said, feeling worried about the rumors that seemed to be going around in the community.

He stood up, looked at Kalonn and Wirton and put his hands on the boys' shoulders.

"You shouldn't fear what you have heard, boys."

Next he looked at Kuriann.

"I'm glad you gave me a positive response to my request, Kuriann. You will be installed in the Council in tomorrow's first meeting."

He shook hands with Hajonn and Kuriann brought him to the door. Manall looked at his new advisor.

"Thank you, master Manall. Thanks to you and all that has been said these last days, I no longer think of my marriage as being a failed marriage, an unhappy one, but I will need the next twelve years to make it up for what has gone wrong in the beginning of our marriage. I now realize that even my eldest son much have sensed how I have experienced our marriage. I feel ashamed about my behavior as a husband and a father. I should have looked upon it from a different point of view. My wife's for instance, for she also has felt unhappy about what went on between us " Kuriann said shameful

"You will do fine, Kuriann, and I knew that after what you said during the public hearing, wasn't what you really felt. Take my advice: give your wife and your boys your full attention the oncoming time; talk to your boys, together with your wife, or individually with each of them. Tell them how you felt when you were unexpectedly married off to Hajonn, who was a fifteen year old girl at the time.

And even more importantly, take them to Myr when you return with the third group to fix up your house. Both Hajonn and the boys will see that as a sign of the unity as a family. Before we head back for Myr I will show you what I think will be a fine new house for your family, but you also can make another choice." Manall said and put his hand on Allrann's as he stepped outside. "I'll see you tomorrow at the first meeting of the new Council, Kuriann."

Wedge, Han and Leia were meeting Luke and Liane in the control room of the Millennium Falcon.

"Luke, I see some problem when Leia, Yarmod and Tama-Hin are gone and you and Shaayla-Car are going to look for those documents." Wedge said.

"I know what you mean, Wedge, for you will be the only Jedi Knight who can travel between Tyr and Myr." Luke answered.

Wedge nodded.

"This will have too much impact on my task as Chati's Jedi master," He said.

"Luke, have you realized that Wedge has to bring the third group back to Tyr after they have done their work. That means that he has to travel back and forth to Tyr at least two times, but probably more, and one of the freighters always has to stay behind." Leia said. "I understand that you need to find those documents, but what if our mission will last longer than we expected, or you run into problems during your journey. We can't leave Wedge here as the only Jedi Knight left, and Toallin and Mugin don't want any of us to stay behind once the necessary work has been done."

"Kid, and an even bigger problem will rise when all the Quelans have to be brought to Ribana. That's those three groups with all their wives and kids, and all the harvest families," Han commented. "Not to mentioned any necessary travels to bring what is left in Cantamaga to Ribana."

Luke looked at his sister, her husband and his friend and nodded.

"Kid, I suggest that you and Liane should stay with us, until Leia and the other have returned." Han suggested.

Luke shook his head.

"That would mean that Shaayla-Car and I have to keep an eye on Lorann while he is on Myr." He objected.

"It would also be disappointing for him that his journey with us will be postponed for a long time, perhaps," Liane remarked.

"Can't Lorann stay with his family on Tyr?" Leia wondered.

"No, Leia, for Cornell wants to take his wife and daughter with him to Myr with the third group." Luke answered, "and Lorann can't stay here on Tyr, because this time Kamalin and Taollin will join the third group."

"Have you thought, where you want to look for those documents?" Han asked.

Luke and Liane shook their head.

"So, you can't estimate how long you will stay away?"

"No, we can't, Han, for I haven't a clue where to look for my birth certificate, not to mention that when I would have find mine, we still have to find out where Shaayla-Car's birth certificate is. Has that been destroyed when Anakin took her to the domains on Morantan. I don't know." Luke answered and sighed.

"What if Wedge and Chati start looking for those document. At least than there would be two Jedi Knights to travel between Myr and Tyr," Han suggested, but he immediately realized the impossibility of his suggestion and shook his head.

Liane also shook her head.

"Wedge doesn't know the cave where my father's diaries are. Of course he could take Artoo with him, who know what to do, but Luke and I would still have to take care of Lorann on Myr. One of use would always take the boy with us, if we had to fly to Tyr."

Chewbacca grumbled a long sentence and both Luke and Liane looked up.

"What do you mean, Chewie, we should split our journey in separate travels." Luke asked.

Chewbacca grumbled again and now Liane began to laugh.

"Chewie is right, Luke.

That's the solution we are overlooking.

We don't know where to look for those documents, so our journey to all possible planet is just a gamble.

Chewie suggest that we should concentrate on one destination at the time, for instance, we go to Tatooine to get my fahter's diaries. We could stay there for some days to give Lorann enough impression to make first sketches of some drawings.

Then we come back to Myr and give Wedge a hand with any necessary travels with the Grannd Traveler and the Millennium Falcon," She said and looked at Han "I assume, that you will let Luke or me fly your ship, Han Solo.

While we're here on Myr Lorann could be kept busy working out the sketches he has made. I'm sure that Kamalin will arrange a location for him in the administration building.

Once any necessary flights with the freighters have done, we can chose a next destination, if we won't find what we are looking for, we come back to Palomintar Four and Myr again to think about another clue where to look for the documents.

Meanwhile, it probably will be time to bring the third group back to Tyr, leaving Ribana just as Toallin wants.

With three Jedi, two can fly the freighters and one has to take the Astræga to Tyr.

Again Lorann will have time to work out any sketches he has made and be busy with what the Quelans tell him about their repairs in Ribana.

On Tyr we have to await the planning to bring all the Quelans to Myr which will require several flight to and fro between the continents, but once all of them are on Myr, there still will be enough work to be done in Ribana to have a period of relative quietness again.

If I roughly calculate the time we need on the planets and here on Myr will be some two months, and I hope that within those months Leia and the other will come back, so that when Luke and I have to leave for another journey, there will be enough Jedi Knights to work with the crews of the Grannd Traveler or the Millennium Falcon." She said and looked at Chewbacca, "That's what you meant, right, Chewie?"

The Wookiee grumbled an agreement. Liane looked at the others and met the skeptical look in Luke's eyes.

"Luke, I know what you're thinking.

It still would leave Wedge on his own while we are on one of these journeys, but we could ask Toallin to postpone any unnecessary flights between the two continents until we have returned.

If it's really necessary to reach Tyr at once, Wedge can do the flight, otherwise the Quelans have to show some understanding that they have to be patient to have their wishes fulfilled.

I'm sure that Toallin and Mugin understand this if we explain that we will only be away for a short time, and one way or the other we will find a clue to what we are looking for and go straight there."

Han grabbed a data and his infocom.

Let's work this out, kid. Where do you and Shaayla-Car want to go first?"

"To Tatooine, maybe Ben has recorded something in those dairies she has found." Luke answered still sounding skeptical.

Han looked at the data pad after he had asked for information about travel to Tatooine.

"With the Astræga, you can reach Tatooine in thirty-eight hours. So you need some three days for traveling. You want to look around for let's say four or five days. So when you leave you can be back on Myr in eight Standard days. Next you spend about a week here in Myr to give Wedge and me, and may be also Yarnick and his brothers a hand with any transport to and fro Tyr.

Where do you have to go next, when Tatooine hasn't been successful.?"

"Na'ctaMagh'Ba to consult master Yoda as Wedge suggested," Luke answered.

"That's a longer trip, for you about two days to reach Dalmaaran. Will you come back after you have consulted your master?" Han asked.

Luke looked at Liane and smiled at her.

"We want Lorann to make a drawing of the waterfall cave. So we have to go to the residential area. I suggest we should stay there for two days, then go back to Mas'onom and come back to Myr."

"Great, that four days to for traveling and two days, no make it three in the underground residence. That's also a Standard week you will be away. Again you will give us here a helping hand to get the third group back to Tyr. We have to talk to Toallin that the third group will go back to Tyr after three weeks instead of two. How long we have to stay on Tyr to organize the transport of all the Quelans and their stuff, is something unpredictable, but let's say we need three Standard weeks to have it organized. If necessary we can do night flights, right?"

"It's risky, but we can orientate on the lights in Cantamaga." Wedge commented.

"If I did it right we're now six or seven weeks after Leia and the other have gone on that mission with Mon Mothma. As the Grannd Traveler needs more time to reach Dalmaran, Yarnick has to leave Myr as soon as the third group has been brought to Myr. The Grannd Traveler probable needs two and halve days to reach De'olon space port, pick up their stored cargo and come back to Myr. While only the Millennium Falcon will be on Myr Wedge, Liane and you, kid, can help the third group to start with their repairs the same way you and Shaayla-Car have done before. You don't have to wait for the Grannd Traveler to return after all the Quelans have started restoring those last houses in Ribana. Nori and I will cross off the houses which are repaired or on going and we get a nice overview of the abandoned houses that Manall want to hand to the harvest families.

What would be a possible next trip, kid?"

"Morantan, the former imperial domains. The archive is still in tact. Maybe Anakin has had recorded the arrival of Shaayla-Car on the domains and mentions where and when she was born." Luke said with a sigh, but he nodded. "I agree. Instead of being away for an unknown period we will split our search into smaller travels and come back to Myr between two of those travels. It's not what I had in mind, but doing it this way will also help to keep my promise to Toallin and Mugin. While we're here I will instruct Lorann to use his time to work out the sketches he has made."

Cornell walked up the path to his father's house and knocked. Manall opened the door and invited him in. In the living room Cornell saw Filann who sat at leisure in one of the armchairs. Filann looked at his father and greeted him friendly. Again Cornell's former dominance over his eldest son rose up for a moment and he wanted to reprimand his son for being idle, but he controlled himself and answered the greeting.

"Father, I want to tell me which of the abandoned houses Tronama and my three daughters will have to live in on Myr." He asked Manall.

His father looked at him.

"I assume that you also will live there, son." He answered.

Cornell saw a grin appear on Filann's face.

"You seemed very content that you don't have build a new house for your wife, do you?" He snapped.

"I don't have a wife, father. Sumall and I will put in a request of annulment, so she can marry Thero Usavon, and you're right I don't have to build a new house on Myr. I only have to help some one to repair her house."

"And what will you do, after that's done?" Cornell asked, but Manall interrupted.

"You came here, son, to ask me about the abandoned houses, for you want to know which one will be allotted to you." Manall said.

"I've heard that those houses are allotted, but I want a have a nice house back as replacement for our house at the foothills." Cornell answered.

Filann got a fit of laughter. Cornell looked angry at his son.

"Why are you laughing?"

"I have some memories, father, about our house at the foothills. It was always dark inside, due to the looming hills. It was small. For years Cemall and I had to share one room and when Lorann was born we had to move over for an improvised sleeping room attached at the back of our house in the garden where nothing wanted to grow."

"I have built that house with these hands, boy," Cornell snapped putting both his hands in front of him.

"You started the house, but while you were on Tyr, Cemall and I had to support mother who did most of the redesign and expansion of the house." Filann remarked.

Manall shook his head to his grandson and Filann silenced.

"Son," Manall said, "You can make a choice of five allotted houses. I'm sure there will be one of your liking."

"Father, I don't have to like the house, but I want Tronama and my daughters will be pleased with it." Cornell said and Manall looked at his son.

"That's difficult, son, for Tronama won't see it until all the Quelans will be brought back to Myr finally." He answered.

"I want to take Tronama and the girls with me when go back to Myr. I will do necessary repairs and she and the girls will occupied themselves cleaning the inside, before our future will arrive."

"And where will you and the rest of your family sleep?" Manall asked. "Cornell, over the years I have become known with my daughter-in-law's extravagant wishes. I don't suppose that she and the girls will be willing to sleep on a stack of nagawa fleeces."

"I will ask Ben to have some furniture transported to Myr. I'm sure he will help me." Cornell looked at Filann. "Maybe you and Cemall could give me a hand with the repairs of the house."

"We could, father, but Cemall and I have other obligations. Cemall will continue pruning the vineyard with help of Dolan, Talan and Ronan, the governors' children. I have promised an orphaned woman to help her restoring her former family berry farm and farm house."

"So it's true what Cemall told me," Cornell asked with some aggression in his voice. "You have found yourself a new girl friend, the heiress of a large farm and you have decide to drop your work as a harvest man and found another occupation."

"Enough, son." Manall sounded sternly, "You don't have a right to comment on what your son sees as an opportunity help a young woman who has lost her whole family."

At that moment there was a knock on the door and Filann heard the voice of his brother and ... He jumped to his feet and rushed over to the door. Cemall came in with a grin, followed by Anddra Jecolin.

"Hey, brother. This lovely lady was on her way to you when I met her and gave her lift."

"Come in, Anddra. What brings you here?" Filann asked and looked at her.

Anddra laughed and looked at Manall and Cornell.

"That's my father, Anddra, Cornell Radilan. Father, Anddra Jecolin." Filann said.

Cornell stood fixed as he looked at the young woman who had entered his father's house.

"Glad to meet you, master Cornell," Anddra said and stretched out her hand, but Cornell kept only looking at her.

"Your surname is Jecolin, miss," He finally asked, still ignoring Anddra's hand.

"Yes, master Cornell, and you probably remember the name as one of the fifty casualties of the Uram attack after we've arrived on Tyr, after our long journey through the wild lands of Myr. Iljon Jecolin was my twin sister.

Cornell swallowed and suddenly he felt ill at ease.

"I'm sorry ... to hear that your sister .... was among those victims, miss" He stammered. "None of us ... expected that ... those birds ... would attack ... those innocent women and girls."

"I'm told, sir, that, thanks to your son Filann, there is no danger to enter the nut wood and meet those birds," Anddra said. "He has done a very brave deed to meet them and make an agreement with them, so that the Quelans and those birds will live in peace again, instead of attacking each other." She said and turned to Filann, "I want you to come with me and have a look at the crate in the conservatory. I didn't believe my eyes when I went in to sprinkle some water on the earth. Your brother was so kind bring here with a speeder. Are you coming?"

"I'll get my coat," Filann said and turned to Manall, "I'll see you later, grandfather."

"Don't hurry, son. I have to go to Cantamaga myself to meet the governors and Josferin Kamalin and Rastin Woldrin. I need to tell them how those five extra seats will be filled."

For a moment Filann looked at his father.

"Thanks for the talk, father, but I'm not available to give you a hand." He said.

As he left the grandfather's Anddra looked up to him inquisitively. Filann laughed at her and took her hand.

"Do we walk to your place, Anddra?" He asked. "So you can already prepare me for what you want to show me."

"Why did you say that to your father, Filann. Does he need your help?" She ask, neglecting what he had said.

"Forget it, Anddra. My father and I aren't getting along very well since he forced me into a marriage that has become a disaster."

"You can make a new start, Filann, after the Council will have annulled your marriage with Sumall. You both will have a much better future ahead of you." Anddra said while she tried to keep level with Filann's long strides.

"I'm making you run instead of walking," He said as he held his pace. "Now, tell me, what did you see in the conservatory?"

Anddra shook her head and looked up at him.

"I want to keep it as a surprise, Filann. I'm sure that you will be just as astounded as I was this morning."

Filann laughed.

"Then I shouldn't ask you to tell me, although I'm now curious of what you want to show me." He said and unwittingly he pressed her hand.

They followed the path through the outskirts of Cantamaga and followed the streets to Anddra's house. They went in and Anddra took Filann immediately to the conservatory. Before she opened the door she looked teasingly at him.

"Close your eyes and wait until I say you can look."

Filann smiled and closed his eyes. He felt how Anddra led him inside the greenery.

"Now you may open your eyes again and you should look at the crate." She said in a whisper.

Filann opened his eyes, looked at the crate and looked at Anddra.

"How is this possible?" He said and bent to look more clearly.

"I also didn't believe what I saw this morning," She said.

In the crate very tiny green leaves were popping out of the earth layer. Filann counted five tiny seedlings.

"Those nuts have germinated so quickly. Unbelievable, Anddra. You have taken good care of them." He said and looked at her. "Probably because your a farmer's daughter."

"I didn't anything special, but this is lovely. There is life in these nuts and it has woken up. Remember that Shaayla-Car said that, when she held her hands above the crate."

Filann looked at Anddra.

"Maybe, because she is a Jedi healer she has helped these nuts to wake up more quickly. I haven't seen her doing it, but in the nut forest she and her brother have also woken up the sleeping buts in the tree stumps on the clearing. I have seen those stump when I came back there after I had met the Urams leaders Oltomyran. All the stumps had a garland of young sprouts like a crown and some of those sprouts were already forming some first branches. If nobody will disturb them they will grow into nut trees again. And these tiny seedlings," Filann said as he pointed to the little green leaves, "will also grow into nut trees and cover Iljon's grave with fallen nuts."

Filann bent his head and blinked hard to push back his tears. Suddenly he felt two arms around his neck. He looked up and looked into Anddra's eyes. With an awkward movement, he pulled her towards him and held her pressed firmly against his body.

"Anddra, lovely Anddra. I can't tell you how much it means to me when you're with me," He whispered before he kissed her passionately.

Anddra did not resist his embrace but surrendered herself completely to him. It took some time before Filann let her go, looking embarrassed. Anddra still stood close to him and smiled.

"Don't look so embarrassed, my dear Filann, I feel the same as you do, for I long to be with you," She said.

Hesitatingly, Filann put his arms again around her and held her tight. For some moments he said nothing, then gently he lifted her chin and put a careful kiss on her lips. Again he sensed a sensational feeling, flowing through his body, when she answered his kiss.

With their arms around each other they left the conservatory and went inside the house were they sat close together on a couch in the living room. They didn't speak, They enjoyed a new form of friendship in a deeply felt connection.

Finally Anddra released herself from Filann's arms and looked at him.

"Filann, I have never had a friend like you before. I never had time to meet other Quelan boys or men while I lived in Cantamaga, for I had to take care of my mother. As a schoolgirl on Myr I had some girl friends, but after what happened to our family, our first concern was our blind mother."

Filann took her hands.

"I understand, Anddra, I knew already on Myr that Sumall Pohinn would one day be my wife. It meant that making friends with other harvest Quelan girls was made impossible, for all those girls were already betrothed to one of the other harvest boys. The friends I had were my peers among the harvest boys. After I came here my father demanded that I should help his men, building the many houses for all the Quelans from Ribana needed a new solid house.

It feels so strange to me, that after I met you that we have become friends. I can't understand that a beautiful young woman like you, Anddra, would pay attention to me, for I'm not really a young harvest boy any more. I'm an adult now, " He said.

"I'm an adult too, not the Quelan girl who arrived on Tyr eight years ago, Filann," Anddra said, as she looked at him with a serious face.

"Wasn't it a strange idea, that you knew at an early age that Sumall would become your wife?" She asked.

Filann put his arm around her shoulders again, but shrugged.

"I never thought of it. All my peers among the harvest boy knew which girl would become their wife one day. It was a habit among the harvest men to arrange marriage in advance. I'm glad they will all have a real choice now, but I haven't made any friends among the young adult Quelans from Ribana. When my marriage was announced I had so many obligations that there wasn't any time left to meet other Quelans."

"I'm really very glad we've met, Filann, for you're helpful and friendly. Being with you, feels safe without any worries for the future, for I know, I can count on you. You will stay with me on the farm and we will do all the necessary repairs together."

Anddra laid her head against Filann's shoulder and put her hand on his arm.

"When you will be with me on the farm, I will never have to fear the lonely evenings, for after we have done some repairs we will take a rest together and you will tell me about how you met that Uram's leader, won't you, and many other adventures you have had."

Filann started to laugh softly.

"I haven't had many adventures so far, my lovely Anddra, but I will listen to you, as you tell me how you grew up on the farm. When we're back on Myr I want to learn how to prune those berry bushes and tend them, so that they will carry the berries again. We will harvest those berries, so you will be able to sell them on the market, like your father did. And when you come home, I will listen to what has happened in Ribana." He said.

"Filann, you're a harvest man, so you will have to go to Tyr to harvest the fallen nuts, won't you? You probably will be away for months sometimes." Anddra said and Filann heard in her voice her hidden fear of loneliness. He shook his head.

"I have told my grandfather that I will never again harvest fallen nuts. I don't want to enter the nut wood again as a harvest man. I want to help you with all that is needed to have the farm of your family flourish again, for I care for you, Anddra, and I want to do everything for you to make you feel happy. I don't want you to feel lonely, because all the ones you have loved have gone. I don't know how to do all this but I'm sure I'll find a way." He said.

Anddra looked up with radiant smile.

"You're the most unselfish and trustworthy Quelan man I've met, since master Roshann helped me to burry Iljon's remains and hastened to build a house for my mother and me here at Cantamaga." She whispered.

Filann pulled her closer, for he didn't know how to respond to her whispered words, as they gave him a feeling he had never experienced before.