Star Wars_ Fate of the Jedi 02_ Omen - Christie Golden [72]
Escorting the Solos were two Jedi Knights, Natua Wan, a Falleen, and Radd Minker, a Brubb. Han and Leia had tried to get Yaqeel and Barv for the assignment, as Allana knew and liked both of them, especially Barv, but they were offworld at the moment.
Natua and Radd, being there on official duty, were dressed in the traditional white and brown robes of their order. Leia and Jaina wore comfortable street clothes. All four Jedi carried lightsabers, though Leia and Jaina had theirs in roomy bags slung over their shoulders. All six of them strolled along leisurely, and Allana certainly had enough entertainment to keep her giggling happily for hours.
And the littlest Solo was, as Leia had predicted, immune to the stench. They had not even entered the main exhibition area yet and already Allana’s eyes were wide. Leia stroked her short hair, dyed dark to disguise its too-recognizable natural red, and smiled. Allana rewarded her with a grin and pointed at the large, furry animals with four horns, thick shaggy coats, and a cloud of flies hovering over them.
“I know them, don’t tell me!” Allana said. She had indeed been a diligent student over the past few days. Leia had said there would be a test afterward. What she hadn’t told the girl was that the reward for passing the test—and both Leia and Han were sure Allana would pass with ease; she was an extremely intelligent little girl—would be the riding animal she most gravitated toward.
“Even a tauntaun, if that’s what she wants,” Leia had said.
“Hey, we had a deal,” Han had protested, but only halfheartedly.
“Those are nerfs,” Allana said proudly. “Jaina has a very pretty coat made from their hide, and we all like the steaks.” The animals grazed, placid for the moment. Allana pointed to another corral. “And the rams are separated because it’s mating season. They can become very aggressive and fight each other, as well as trample their young.”
Leia wasn’t sure, but she could have sworn she saw Han blush a little as his granddaughter cheerfully rattled off the words mating season. She smothered a grin.
“That’s right, sweetheart,” Leia said. “Nerfs aren’t the nicest animals in the world.”
“But they’re dewicious,” Allana said. She had outgrown most of the slight lisp she’d had as a younger child, but now and then it crept back on certain words. “Can we have nerfburgers for lunch? With hubba chips?”
“If they’re available at the cafeteria,” Leia said. She expected they would be, along with more exotic foodstuffs. After all, if she were a breeder or seller of livestock, she’d make sure everyone had a chance to find out how “dewicious” said creatures were.
“And those are banthas,” Allana said, hurrying down the entrance walkway to the next open-air corral. Natua Wan quickened her pace slightly, unobtrusively closing the gap between the child and her, keeping a close eye on Allana while maintaining the illusion to anyone who was watching that this was nothing more than a normal family and their Jedi friends on a social outing. Radd brought up the rear. Brubb were a social people, and his present cheerful demeanor was completely unforced. He was enjoying himself.
“They are a highly adaptable species and live on many worlds,” Allana said. “And those are—oh, those are rontos! I’ve never seen a live one before!” She started to run, but a strong hand gently caught hers.
“Be careful, Amelia,” Natua Wan said kindly, the blue beads woven into her long black hair clacking with her movement. “There’s a reason you haven’t seen one. They’re good animals, very loyal and fond of their masters, but they spook very easily. You don’t want to be running up and scaring them.”
Allana nodded seriously. “You’re right, Jedi Wan.” She dropped down to a measured pace, unconsciously straightening.