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And Luke took another step forward.

The Hidden One's howl of outrage was like that of his own wind. The stone throne behind him rocked and rattled on its platform.

Luke made a sweeping gesture, bringing his rear hand forward, and with it came the toppled pillar, flying forward like a spear. As the throne launched itself toward him, the pillar met it in midair, shattering the stone seat into a dozen pieces, some smooth-cut and some broken.

Luke let the pillar fall to the floor. With a wave of his hand, he sent it rolling toward the Hidden One, who leapt sideways over it as it neared him.

Luke was already in motion as the Hidden One jumped. The Kel Dor's concentration was broken, his control over the wind diminished, and Luke was able to race forward three steps in the time it took the Hidden One to clear the rolling pillar. As the Baran Do Master came down again, Luke kicked out, a spinning kick that caught the Kel Dor in the gut, throwing him backward. The Hidden One smashed up against the platform's front, crushing in its wooden front panel.

Remarkably, he stood up from the impact, raised his hands for another attack … and collapsed, falling onto his face.

The wind died. The rolling pillar fetched up against one that was still upright and stopped. All sounds died except that of the Hidden One's strained, frantic breathing.

There were still a few other Kel Dors in the chamber, mostly Masters, and they began to move forward.

Ithia ran up to kneel beside the Hidden One. Chara, moving more slowly, joined her. After looking at the Hidden One for a few moments, they cautiously rolled him over onto his back. Ithia sat beside the platform and pulled him up so that he could be partially upright, propped against her.

She looked up at those in the chamber. “He is exhausted,” she said. “He will recover.”

The Hidden One said something, his voice so low as to constitute a whisper, and then exerted himself to be heard. “I will do as you say.”

Ithia looked relieved. “You will free the Skywalkers?”

“I will allow the servants to learn. I will appoint a board of advisers to make recommendations about our purpose … and morale.” The Hidden One gulped for air for a moment. “I will tell those above that the earlier message was a mistake. They can resume sending air canisters for the humans. And in a year or two, we can review their situation with new eyes …”

“A year or two?” That was Ben, his voice an expression of pure outrage. “Don't you get that you lost? You're not going to be making any more decisions like that.”

“He's right, Master.” Ithia's voice was softer than Ben's, but just as unrelenting. “It's time for them to go.”

The Hidden One shook his head, weary. “I still decide. And no one leaves.”

“You're just too crazy to learn.” Ben's hand shot up, pointing toward the ceiling above the platform.

Luke, breathing hard as he recovered from his exertions, distinctly heard a metallic clunk as something in the ceiling was driven home.

There was a distant boom and the tiniest shiver of chamber walls and pillars.

The Hidden One sat upright, away from Ithia. His eyes widened as he turned toward Ben. “What have you done?”

“The same thing you did to us.” Ben's tone and expression held contempt. He limped forward until he was only a couple of meters from the Hidden One. “I've taken your choice away. I've activated your bombs and collapsed the entry tunnel. It's gone. You want it open again, prepare to spend a few hundred years with your pickaxes and shovels.”

“You have only doomed yourself.” The Hidden One looked more stricken than angry. “Now your air cannot come, while we can survive.”

“Stop lying. I'm sick of your lying. Your whole petty kingdom down here is based on lies, and that's part of the wrong you're doing to all of the people who serve you. It's pathetic.”

The Hidden One's jaw moved, but he said nothing.

“What lies?” That was Chara, seating himself on the edge of the platform, pressing a palm against his ribs.

Ben sighed. “Well, let's start with your