[Dark Nest] - 1(128)

“No.” Omas’s voice was icy.

“I apologize,” Leia said. “We gave our word not to reveal their presence.”

“And you kept it?” Omas demanded.

“Some of us still honor our promises,” Han said. “I know it’s old-fashioned, but there you have it.”

“The Galactic Alliance can’t afford your promises right now,” Omas retorted. “I only hope they haven’t started a war.”

“Leia had no choice,” Luke said. “The word of one Jedi to another is binding.”

Omas let his chin drop. “Don’t tell me there were Jedi aboard those ships!”

“It was Tenel Ka’s fleet, and she is a Jedi,” Mara said. “Leia’s word is as binding to Tenel Ka’s agent as it would be to the queen herself.”

The assertion was a stretch, since being honest with other Jedi was more of an unwritten policy than a formal code. And the concept of extending it to a Jedi’s representatives was a new innovation entirely, but Leia appreciated the support. She started toward the conference area, initiating a subtle migration that she hoped would result in a shift of mood as well as location. Once she arrived, she turned and watched in silent amusement as Omas instinctively searched for the head seat at a round table. Now would have been a good time to ask the Ithorians to wait in the reception area, but she was not about to sanction the rude way Omas had burst into the chamber. If he did not want to discuss this in front of the Ithorians, he could be the one who asked them to leave.

“If you didn’t know about our encounter with the fleet, Chief

Omas, why did you think Han and I could tell you what it was doing in the Colony?” Leia asked.

“Because of your son.” Omas finally took a chair across from her, his gaze lingering on the concentric black-circle, white-star inlay that repeated itself on the table’s surface in ever-smaller renditions. “I thought Jacen might have told you why he arranged this.”

“Jacen?” Han asked. He sat at Leia’s right. “Last time I checked, he wasn’t king of anything.”

“No, but Tenel Ka dispatched the Hapan fleet shortly after his visit.” Omas waited as Luke, Mara, and the other Jedi Masters also took seats at the conference table, allowing his gaze to linger on the Ithorians, then finally seemed to accept that the Jedi were not going to ask them to leave and simply turned back to the conference table. “I doubt it was a coincidence.”

“It wasn’t,” Jacen said, breezing into the room. “I asked her to send a fleet to the Colony’s aid.”

Omas twisted around in his chair. “Why in the blazes would you do something like that?”

Instead of answering, Jacen stopped and greeted the Ithorians fondly, addressing several by name, then excused himself to go over to the conference area. The Ithorians, as perceptive as they were gentle, remained in the foyer area, awkwardly greeting Kenth Hamner, Cilghal, and the other Jedi Masters as they continued to trickle in.

Jacen took a chair at Omas’s side, then said, “I am a Jedi. All you need know is that my reasons were sound.”

The calming aroma of the roo wood must have been working, because Omas remained in his seat and looked across the table toward Luke. “I didn’t realize Jacen was a Master.”

“The opinions of all Jedi are valued in this room-even those who don’t consider themselves members of the Jedi Order.” Luke looked to Jacen. “Perhaps you’d explain to the Masters present?”

“If you like.” Jacen’s tone was cordial. “I was trying to prevent a war.”

“Prevent one?” Omas demanded. “The Chiss-“

“Understand only power,” Jacen interrupted. “And now the Killiks have some. The Hapan fleet will buy us the time we need to resolve this conflict.”

“At the Galactic Alliance’s expense,” Omas said. “The Chiss are already threatening to withdraw their security patrols if we don’t bring our Jedi under control.”

Mara’s eyes-and those of several other Masters-flashed at the word our, but Omas did not seem to notice. He turned back to Luke.

“And that’s exactly what I want you to do, Master Skywalker,” he said. “By force, if necessary. I want all of our Jedi, and the Hapan fleet, back inside Galactic Alliance borders by this time next month.”

“Wouldn’t it be better for you to talk to Queen Tenel Ka?” Leia asked. “She is, after all, the leader of a Galactic Alliance republic.”

“And a Jedi,” Omas countered. He lowered his eyes, then continued in a softer voice. “Frankly, she refuses to listen to me. She insists she is only doing what is right, and the discussion ends there.”