Star Wars_ Darth Bane 02_ Rule of Two - Drew Karpyshyn [53]
“You fear for the Chancellor’s life,” Johun guessed.
“Precisely. And I also feel it is important for the Jedi to show our support for the Chancellor and the Ruusan Reformations. We must take a leading role in protecting him from those who would do him harm.”
Johun struggled to keep his emotions under control. Farfalla had said he had a special mission for him. Maybe he was sending him to the Outer Rim Territories to infiltrate a radical separatist movement, or deploying him to the front lines of a battle against some dangerous rebel faction!
“I have chosen you to serve as the Jedi representative among Chancellor Valorum’s personal guard,” Farfalla continued, and Johun felt as if he had been punched in the gut.
The last thing he wanted was to stay on Coruscant, and now he had been condemned to remain here until the end of the Chancellor’s term. Plus four more years, if the Chancellor won his bid for a second term.
“You seem upset, Johun.”
“Not upset, Master,” the young man answered carefully. “Disappointed. This was not what I was hoping for.”
“Our order is sworn to serve. Often we must sacrifice what we most value for the good of others. This is what it means to be a Jedi.”
Johun felt no desire to argue the point. As usual, his Master was right. If this was his duty, if this was the role he was asked to serve, then he would not only accept it but embrace it.
“Master Valenthyne, I humbly accept this great honor you have given me. I will serve Chancellor Valorum with all my heart and spirit, to the best of my abilities.”
“It gives me great pleasure to hear you accept your fate so willingly, Johun,” Farfalla answered with a mischievous smile. “But there is still one more small matter.
“I will have to leave Coruscant in the next few days to attend to other business. As you can imagine, this is a difficult time for our order.”
“Of course, Master.”
“But you must understand that I cannot leave a Padawan here on Coruscant unsupervised.”
It was true. All Padawans were required to be under the constant care and watchful eye of a Jedi Master until they completed their training. “I’m afraid I don’t understand. If you are leaving, then what new Master will I serve?”
“I think your period of service is over, my young Jedi.”
For a moment Johun just stood there, unable to wrap his mind around what he had been told. Only when he realized Farfalla had used the honorific Jedi instead of Padawan did it become clear.
“You mean … I am to be knighted?”
“That is precisely what I mean,” Farfalla confirmed. “I have met with the Council and they agree that you are ready.”
Involuntarily Johun’s hand dropped to brush against the hilt of his lightsaber. He had constructed it on Ruusan at Hoth’s insistence only weeks before his first Master’s death. He realized the general must have been preparing him for this moment even then. However, building a lightsaber was only one step on the path to Jedi Knighthood.
“What about the trials?” Johun asked, trying to contain himself. “I must still pass the final tests of the Council.”
“I have spoken with them about this, too, and they agree that you have already proven yourself many times over during your service on Ruusan. Assigning you to Valorum’s guard was your final test. In accepting the position as you did, you have demonstrated beyond all doubt that you are willing to sacrifice your own wants and desires for the greater good.”
“I … I don’t know what to say, Master,” the young man stammered.
“You earned this, Johun,” Farfalla assured him. “General Hoth would be proud.”
The Jedi Master’s lightsaber appeared in his hand, igniting with a clean, crisp hum. Johun bowed his head and turned it slightly to one side. Farfalla flicked his wrist, and the lightsaber sliced away the dangling apprentice’s braid. The young man felt the weight of it tumbling away as it fell to the floor, then raised his head with tears in his eyes.
He was unable to speak, his mind still swirling with all that had happened: his ascension