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“It is my understanding,” Luke began, feeling his way cautiously, “that your faith tells you to gather these … Relics.”

Tadar’Ro nodded. “It is our sacred calling to do this,” he agreed. “We find them, and recover them, and bring them here. It is through these items that we can perhaps determine the will of Those Who Dwell Beyond the Veil.”

“They are … of these beings?”

“We believe them to be, yes.”

“And yet, you can’t touch them.”

Again Tadar’Ro nodded. “It is blasphemy. Only infidels may handle them freely without offending Those Who Dwell Beyond the Veil.”

“That must make it difficult to study, if you can’t touch them,” said Ben.

“It does. We have managed, however, to keep to both sacred laws—to gather, and not to defile. We have enlisted aid from time to time.”

Luke nodded, awareness dawning. “Jorj Car’das,” he said. “Yoda sent him to you for healing, and you did so provided he learn everything about you.”

“Once he understood us, he could aid us. He was very useful.”

“You knew him?” Ben asked.

“I did. I was sad when he finally departed.”

“And because of him, you were the one appointed to challenge us,” Luke said. “To see if we were worthy of handling your artifacts for you, so that we could help your people decide whether to embrace so profound a change in their way of thinking.”

“Yes.”

“Well,” Luke said, “it seems like we are in a position to help each other. Ben and I can peruse these Relics and tell you what we find out. I give you my word that we will handle them with the utmost respect.”

“I know you will. I have been with you in the Force. Had I not deemed you able to behave so toward our most sacred items, you would not have survived your challenge.”

Ben looked skeptical, but Luke nodded. If the Aing-Tii could flow-walk, could alter time, it would have been quite possible to—as Jysella Horn had done—anticipate movements and kill the two Jedi on the inhospitable moon. Not to mention that the giant Sanhedrim ship they had initially encountered could have destroyed the Jade Shadow with ease.

“In return, we would like for you to tell us everything you know about Jacen Solo. Your impressions of him, what he learned, what he did here. I’m guessing that you instructed him?”

“Yes. Because of my knowledge of humanity through my interaction with Jorj Car’das, it was thought best if I instructed Jacen Solo.”

“And you will tell us of the time you spent with him then?”

“And teach me flow-walking?” Ben blurted.

Luke’s head whipped around to stare at his son. Ben continued before Luke could interrupt, “I think that it’s important that we learn all we can, Dad. I think if Jacen knew something, some skill, some technique—we should, too. We’re trying to retrace his steps, after all. Find out if it was during this journey that he started to go dark.”

Luke remained silent. He knew that Ben had not protested when Luke alone was instructed in the hassat-durr by the Baran Do Sages because he had not been all that interested in learning the technique. This request was purely selfish—motivated only by Ben’s curiosity. He opened his mouth to speak, to gently reprimand Ben, but Tadar’Ro beat him to it.

“We will accommodate both requests,” he said.

Luke looked at him, surprised. Ben tried and failed to stop a huge grin. Luke felt disquiet stir within him but did not say anything.

“We wish you to feel that our side of this agreement is fully honored,” Tadar’Ro continued. “Our word is dear to us. We will not willingly violate it, for to do so shows contempt for Those Who Dwell Beyond the Veil. It is why we do not readily interact with other species. But,” he added, turning to look at each of them with those deep black eyes that seemed to stare into their souls, “we hold you to the same standard. You must do your very best to comprehend our ways, our culture, our faith. And you must use that comprehension to help us find our way back to a true path—wherever it might lead us.”

“We promise to help you to