The Queen Mother spun and left the room so quickly that neither Leia nor anyone else had time to wish her the same.
Han frowned after her. “That was weird.”
“Something about the baby,” Leia said. “There’s a reason she won’t let anybody get a good look at it.”
“Maybe she’s embarrassed,” Han said.
“Han!” Leia and Mara exclaimed together.
“Look, she still won’t say anything about the father,” he said. “I’m just saying that maybe there’s a reason. Maybe she’s not proud of the guy.”
“You know, Han might be right,” Luke said. “Not that she’s embarrassed, but maybe there’s something she doesn’t want the galaxy to see. How would her nobles react if the heir to the Hapes throne was less than a perfect beauty?”
Leia’s heart sank. “Oh, no. That poor woman.”
“I’m glad you let Tenel Ka keep her lightsaber, Luke,” Mara agreed. “She may need it.”
They all stared out into the corridor after the Queen Mother, pondering the lonely circumstances of her life, wondering how they might be able to help, until another set of footsteps echoed down the passage. A moment later, Corran Horn appeared at the entrance to the library and bowed respectfully.
“Master Skywalker, would now be a good time to speak with you?” he asked.
“Of course.” Luke glanced meaningfully in Leia and Han’s direction, then returned to his mat behind the writing table and sat. “Come in.”
Leia took Han’s hand again and started past Corran. “Excuse us, Corran. We were just leaving.”
“Please don’t, at least not yet,” Corran said. “I’ve already said this to the rest of the order, and I’d like you to hear it, too.”
Leia glanced at Luke for permission, then nodded. “If you wish.”
Corran went to the center of the room and clasped his hands behind his back.
“Master Skywalker, first I would like to apologize for the part I’ve played in this crisis. I can see now that in complying with Chief Omas’s request that I become the order’s temporary leader, I was playing directly into his hands.”
“Yes, you were,” Luke said.
Corran swallowed, then fixed his gaze on the wall behind Luke’s head. “I assure you, it was never my intention to usurp anyone’s authority, but when it grew clear how bad Jedi relations had grown with Chief Omas and the Alliance, I felt something had to be done. I can see now how badly mistaken I was.”
“Mistakes are always easy to see in retrospect,” Luke said mildly.
Corran glanced down at Luke, clearly uncertain how he was taking the apology. “But I do carry the good of the order utmost in my heart.”
“Good,” Luke said.
“That’s why I think it might be best if I left.” Corran’s voice was choked with emotion. “My presence can only be a divisive element.”
“I see.” Luke braced his elbows on the writing table, then rested his chin on his steepled fingers. “Corran, isn’t this the second time you have offered to leave the order for its own good?”
Corran nodded. “It is. After the destruction of Ithor-“
“Don’t let there be a third,” Luke interrupted. “I won’t stop you next time.”
Corran frowned, clearly confused. “Stop me?”
“Corran, you may have been naďve for believing the Yuuzhan Vong would honor their word, but they destroyed Ithor, not you,” Luke said. “And the mistakes that led the Jedi into our current crisis are more mine than anyone else’s. So please stop trying to shoulder the entire galaxy’s guilt by yourself. To be honest, it makes you look a bit pompous.”
Corran looked as though someone had detonated a stun grenade in his face. “Pompous?”
Luke nodded. “I hope you don’t mind me telling you that in front of others, but you’re the one who invited them to stay.”
Corran glanced over at Leia and Han. “Of course not.”
“Good,” Luke said. “Then we’re all settled? You’re going to continue as a Jedi, and your loyalty to the order comes first?”
“Yes.” Corran nodded. “Of course.”
Luke smiled broadly. “I’m glad. We couldn’t afford to lose you, Corran. I don’t think you realize just how valuable you are to the order. The Jedi do have a duty to support the Galactic Alliance-far more than we have been-and nobody represents that viewpoint better than you do.”
“Uh, thank you.” Corran remained in the center of the room looking confused.
After a moment, Luke said, “That’s all, Corran. Unless there’s something else-“