Star Wars_ Fate of the Jedi 05_ Allies - Christie Golden [57]
“Good morning, Master Hamner,” she said, taking her usual seat.
“Morning, Kani. Care for some caf?”
“Oh, yes please,” she said, thankfully. He warmed up his own cup and poured a fresh one for her, bringing it back to his desk. She took a sip, then put the cup down and retrieved her datapad. She looked up at him expectantly, peering out from a fall of bangs that had escaped their comb.
His eyes narrowed. He took in her robe, her hair, the fading makeup. “You didn’t get to sleep last night, did you?” She had promised to leave shortly after he did, right before midnight. Apparently, she had not kept that particular promise.
“Um … no Master. But it’s fine. I’ll try to leave early today if I can.”
“I’ll see that you do,” he said, frowning. “It is important to take time to rest. At the very least, meditate.”
“Yes, Master,” she said. “I’ll go to the fountain room this afternoon for a bit.”
“Good. Now, bring me up to speed, since you stayed later than I did.” He settled back, sipping the hot caf.
“Well, I have good news, and I have bad news.”
He rubbed his eyes. “Well, at least there is some good news. Let’s start with that.”
“You probably know this already, but Tahiri Veila’s trial is going well so far. The news media is reporting positively on it, and I spoke with Nawara Ven last night. He’s impressed with how Bwua’tu is handling it. Have you watched any of the proceedings?”
“Some.”
“Then you’ll know that Eramuth Bwua’tu is quite … colorful.”
Hamner smiled a little, something he did not do often these days. “Perhaps a little color is just what is needed,” he said. “At any rate, that is good news. Though it was quite the blow when Daala’s ‘Jedi Court’ did not permit him to represent Tahiri, Ven did say he had every hope of getting a favorable verdict. Although I’m afraid that it’s impossible to exonerate her completely.” Tahiri’s sincere regret at her actions, and her behavior since she had turned away from the dark side, were clearly standing her in good stead. He, and all the other Jedi, had been surprised—pleased, but surprised—that Chief of State Daala had agreed to dissolve the Jedi court prior to the trial. He knew it was because Daala thought the case was open and shut. However, obviously, it was far from that.
“Ven cautions us that the outcome is far from certain, and that the current climate of pro-Jedi sentiment is going to make the Chief of State unhappy.”
“Let her be unhappy,” Hamner said, his voice almost, but not quite, a growl. “She wants to do things by the book; we are. She’s got to live with the consequences. Now … what’s the bad news?”
“Master Cilghal is very concerned about the recent … well, wave, I guess is the word … of Jedi … um …”
“Snapping?” supplied Hamner. Kani nodded. “Well, I am, too.” There had been no fewer than five reports of Jedi—all of whom had been at Shelter in their childhood years—going mad. Two incidents had occurred within the last thirty-six hours.
Even Luke Skywalker himself had found his hands full with one. Not a Knight, thankfully, nor even a Jedi proper, but a Force-user who met the profile. One Dyon Stad, Hamner believed his name was. Of course, Luke had not contacted him. Young Ben had contacted Cilghal, and the information had reached Hamner through her. Hamner found himself longing for the days when one did not have to go through something akin to gymnastics in order to get and share information among the Jedi.
He found himself longing for Luke Skywalker’s return.
“She’s written a report, going into detail about the most recent ones, Jedi Kunor Bann and Turi Altamik.” Both Kunor and Turi were humans, male and female. Bann, fortunately, had succumbed right here in the Temple, and been captured and confined without anyone outside knowing a thing about it. They had not been so lucky with Turi, who had led them on a brief chase when she managed to escape the Temple. They had recovered