THE SHATTERED PEACE(3)

Obi-Wan hit the ground and ran alongside the kudana. Now that they could not see the red lasers, the animals began to calm down. They ran easily, without the panic that had made them veer and shy. Gradually the animals surged ahead, and Obi-Wan found himself alone alongside Qui-Gon.

Qui-Gon slowed his stride and turned off his lightsaber. “Well, Padawan,” he said, “my guess is that our mission has begun.”

Obi-Wan tried to catch his breath. He felt the ground rumble underneath his feet once more. He and Qui-Gon turned at the same time. Clouds of dust rose in the distance.

“More kudana?” Obi-Wan asked.

“No,” Qui-Gon said. “We have seen the prey. Now we’ll meet the predators.”

Soon Obi-Wan could distinguish creatures called huds coming from the distance. They were native to Rutan, four-legged creatures with black-and- red-striped coats, bred for their strength and speed. Blue-skinned Rutanians rode on their backs, dressed in colorful furs and hides. Barking alongside and occasionally leaping up to snap at the heels of a hud were fierce nek battle dogs attached to the huds’ saddles with tethers. Despite their fierce, unpredictable natures, many Rutanians bred them and kept them as hunters and pets.

Qui-Gon waited as the group rode up to them. The Rutanian at the head of the party swung off his hud with an angry motion.

Rutanians were known for their height, standing nearly a meter taller than Qui-Gon. This Rutanian was taller than most. He was a hostile presence, dressed in the skin and pelts of various creatures sewn together with thick silver cord in a colorful patchwork. His long, glossy hair was elaborately braided and hung over his shoulders. His thick fingers, overgrown with hair, were covered with jeweled rings.

“You scared away my herd!” he bellowed, stomping toward the Jedi in heeled boots.

“Black holes and blast the galaxy! What kind of fools are you?”

“We are the Jedi you summoned from Coruscant, King Frane,” Qui-Gon said calmly.

“You’re a couple of gundark brains!” King Frane continued to bellow. “Did you see that herd - we could have captured twenty-five skins at least. I’ve been tracking them for three days. You’ll pay for this!”

Obi-Wan looked at Qui-Gon to see how he would respond. He couldn’t believe that King Frane had insulted the Jedi in such a rude fashion. Would Qui-Gon turn on his heel and leave?

Qui-Gon was silent for a moment. He stared at King Frane without rudeness, waiting out his anger. The intelligence and calm in the Jedi’s gaze soon made King Frane uncomfortable. His unease quickly changed back to anger.

“Don’t use any Jedi mind tricks on me!” he fumed. “You destroyed my sport for today. I’ve a mind to send you back to your Temple and declare war on the Senalis! At least I know I can blast them before they get away.”

“Especially if you have seeker droids to track them,” Qui-Gon said. “Aren’t seeker droids illegal on Rutan? I understood that they were outlawed so all Rutanians would have an equal chance at the game. Even the king,” Qui-Gon added pointedly.

King Frane’s glassy green eyes glinted in his dark-blue skin. Obi-Wan could not decipher what he saw there. Would the king explode and insult them further? Obi-Wan knew that hunting was a popular pastime on Rutan. Rutanian skins and pelts were renowned throughout the galaxy for those who wore such things. Animals were bred specifically for the smoothness and beauty of their hides. Then they were sent in the wild in order to provide sport for the population.

King Frane prided himself on being the best hunter of all. Lists of kills were posted at the end of every year, and the king was always first. Now Qui-Gon had exposed the fact that he cheated.

Suddenly, King Frane let out a loud, explosive laugh. The royal party behind him broke out into nervous chuckles as well.

“Trumped by a Jedi! I’ll be a gundark brain myself!” King Frane chortled. “I can see that I sent for the best minds in the galaxy. That means I am as smart as they are, am I not?”

He threw an amiable arm around Qui-Gon’s shoulder. “Come, friend,” he said. “I am glad to see you after all. You and your young companion are welcome to join us at our feast. There, we can discuss the foul and treacherous Senali.”





CHAPTER 3


The Jedi were led into a vast stone hall in the center of the royal palace. A huge bonfire was blazing in a pit set in the middle of the hall. The surrounding walls were blackened with smoke. Nek battle dogs lay on the cold stone floor, chained to posts carved with scenes of past battles. Stuffed heads of kudana and other native creatures were mounted on the walls at regularly spaced intervals. One large, fierce kudana was stuffed and stood on its hind legs at the entrance to the hall, sharp teeth bared. Qui-Gon reflected that it was one of the least appetizing dining halls he’d ever been in.