The Mark of the Crown(9)

“Don’t look so sad,” she told him. “I’ve accepted it at last. Now, will you help me rise? It’s time for my tea.”

Obi-Wan rose and held out his hand. Her grip was weak. He placed another hand under her elbow and helped her stand.

“Good night, Queen Veda,” he told her as she moved off, her gown a whisper in the grass. “I’m sorry,” he added softly, knowing she would not hear.

The Queen’s words had moved him. Whether she was lying about wanting Elan to have her birthright, he didn’t know. But he knew the Queen had spoken honestly about her illness and her fears. He could only imagine how terrible it must be to feel as though you are slowly losing your grip on life. To suffer, to feel better, and then to have that hope of life snatched away every evening as the moons rose….

Every evening. Obi-Wan sat up straighten The Force was telling him to focus. Wasn’t there an odd rhythm to the Queen’s illness? And hadn’t she said she had felt better at her country estate? Until the Council members arrived…

The thought made Obi-Wan dizzy.

Was the Queen being poisoned?

Obi-Wan didn’t hesitate. If his suspicions were true, there was no time to lose. Quickly, he rose to his feet and hurried through the gardens. He spied an old man dressed in the silver robes of a council member strolling through the trees, placing an occasional hand on the silver bark for support. His milky blue eyes were turned upward toward the moon. Obi-Wan doubled back before he was seen. He did not want to attract any attention.

He sped noiselessly through the palace hallways to the Queen’s chambers. He knocked softly on the door.

“It’s Obi-Wan,” he called.

Jono opened the door. “The Queen is taking her nightly refreshment,” he said.

“Who brings it?” Obi-Wan asked. When Jono looked puzzled, he added quickly, “I was wondering if I could get some tea and something to eat at night.”

“The kitchen servants bring it up,” Jono answered. “I’ll ask them to include you.” He grinned. “I’ll make sure you get the cook’s best sweets.”

“May I see the Queen?” Obi-Wan asked. “I just need a word or two.” Jono nodded and withdrew to an inner chamber. After a moment, the door opened, and he beckoned Obi-Wan in.

The Queen was reclining on a sleep-couch, a tray with a teacup and a plate of fruit and sweets next to her on a small table. A small bouquet of flowers stood next to it.

“I wanted to make sure you were all right,” Obi-Wan said, coming closer. “You seemed tired in the orchard.”

“How kind of you.” The Queen gave him a sad smile. “I’m a bit more tired than usual, I’m afraid. But don’t worry about me, Obi-Wan Kenobi. You have more important matters to attend to.”

“I think not,” he said gently. “Your well-being is very important to me, Queen Veda.”

He reached down and felt the teacup. There was only a small amount left. “Your tea is cold. Can I fetch you another?”

The Queen’s eyes fluttered closed. “I’ve had enough,” she said weakly. “You can tell Jono to take it away.”

“You rest now,” Obi-Wan said gently. He picked up the tray and moved to the doorway. When he slipped through, the outer chamber was empty. Good. He did not want to involve Jono in his plans.

Quickly, he carried the tray to his room. There, he poured the tea into an empty vial from his emergency medpac. He placed the vial and the rest of the sweets in a drawstring bag and slipped them into a pocket of his tunic. Then he brought the tray back down to the kitchens.

Tomorrow, he would have to find a substance analyzer. And he would have to do it without involving Jono.

“I’m worried about my Queen,” Jono told Obi-Wan the next day as they walked down the streets of Galu. “I watch her grow weaker by the day. There is nothing the doctors can do. Nothing I can do.”

“You are close to her,” Obi-Wan observed. He had seen the affectionate way the Queen spoke to Jono. He certainly got more warmth from the Queen than Obi-Wan did from Qui-Gon. But then, Jono had served her now for eight years.

Jono bit his lip. He nodded. “It is so hard. Prince Beju doesn’t come to see her. He’s angry at her. And he says it upsets him to see her look so ill. He needs to focus on the election. How can a son be so cruel? He thinks only of his own feelings!”

They stopped outside a polling area that had been set up in a community hall. Obi-Wan had toured many of the polling areas in Galu. He spoke to those who would direct the voters to the private datapad terminals to cast their votes. He tested the datapads for accuracy. But he felt as though his visits were useless. He was not an expert on voting processes.