THE SHATTERED PEACE(17)

Meenon’s harsh words were choked with anger. The wavering image was faint but conveyed every nuance of his expression.

“Many lives were lost in that war,” Qui-Gon said. “It left a devastated planet behind. It took generations before Senali recovered.”

“Yet we would fight again!” Meenon cried. “We will not stand for invasion!”

“I think calm is called for, as hard as it is to find it,” Qui-Gon said. “Neither Senali nor Rutan wants a war - “

Meenon held up a hand. “Stop. You don’t understand. King Frane has imprisoned my daughter, Yaana. The beloved daughter I entrusted to his care. He has thrown her in a filthy prison with criminals. He shall pay.”

This was bad news indeed. Qui-Gon had feared it. Each step King Frane took was leading his planet into war. He did not seem to care.

“I do not want a war, it’s true,” Meenon continued. “But only a foolish ruler would not be prepared to fight. My troops are being mobilized. We will meet their boot with our own force. We will not wait to be invaded. We will invade them!”

“I respect your anger and grief,” Qui-Gon said carefully. “But if there was a way to free your daughter and avert a war, would you take it? And, if you invade, how do you know that King Frane will not give the order to execute your daughter?”

Meenon hesitated. “I am not a bloodthirsty savage like King Frane,” he said at last. “Of course I would try to avert a war. I do not want to see the daughters and sons of Senali killed.”

“Then let us find Leed and free Yaana,” Qui-Gon urged. “Give us twelve hours. And help us. Tell us if there is some faction, some clan on Senali who could have done this. We saw them in the moonlight. Their skin was smeared with clay, and they wore headpieces of white coral - “

“The Ghost Ones,” Meenon interrupted. “I can’t say for sure, but it could be. They call themselves a clan but they have no ties of blood. We are not sure who they are. They have appeared only recently. They make trouble between clans. They are against the trade of royal children, of any contact whatsoever with Rutan. I do not know what they want to gain, but it could be the Ghost Ones who took Leed.”

“Do you know where they are?” Qui-Gon asked.

He shook his head. “They are nomadic. They have no single camp. You need a good tracker, one who can track over water.”

“You must find us one immediately and send the tracker here,” Qui-Gon urged.

“But you are with the best right now,” Meenon said. “Drenna.”

Meenon cut the transmission. Qui-Gon turned to search for Drenna. Taroon sat as far away as he could get from them.

The rest of the deck was empty. Drenna was gone.

“Where did she go?” Obi-Wan breathed. He had not heard her make a sound.

Taroon saw the Jedi searching the deck. He stood and rushed over to them.

“Now do you believe me?” he demanded. “She slipped away when you were busy and my back was turned. She is behind the taking of Leed. She’s gone to meet him!”

Qui-Gon scanned the dark lagoon. The dark purple sky was graying. On the horizon a faint line of light told him the sun was rising. He could smell the morning.

Far across the lagoon he saw a tiny ripple of movement. It could have been a fish, but he knew it wasn’t. Drenna was swimming. She was almost out of the lagoon, into the open sea.

Taroon followed his gaze. “After her!”

Drenna’s firm stroke slowed. She dove underneath the surface. When she reappeared, she changed direction slightly.

“She has gone after them, it’s true,” Qui-Gon said. “But not because she’s one of them. She’s gone to track them.” He turned to Obi-Wan. “Put on your breather. We must catch her.” “I am coming with you,” Taroon said.

“No. You could not keep up with us, Taroon. And your father wants you back on Rutan.” Qui-Gon put his hand on Taroon’s shoulder. “I know you want to find your brother. But you must trust us. Go back to Rutan. Do not aggravate your father. The worlds are too close to war. We will bring Leed safely to you.”

Reluctantly, Taroon nodded. He watched as Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan donned their breathing devices and dove into the lagoon.

The water was chilly, but as they swam their muscles warmed. Every so often Qui-Gon would surface in order to scan for Drenna ahead of them. She was moving at an erratic pace, swimming quickly, diving, and sometimes changing direction. Every few meters she would dive again.

They caught up to her at last. She was underwater, swimming slowly along the lagoon bottom. When she saw them, she pointed overhead and began to shoot toward the surface.