Star Wars_ Fate of the Jedi 05_ Allies - Christie Golden [70]
Allana knuckled at her eyes, trying to make sense of all this. “I know about spies,” she said, taking a deep breath. “Is … is that what you are doing? What you asked Threepio to help you with?”
“Sort of like that,” Luke said.
“So … two of them, right?”
“Actually, a whole lot more,” Luke said. “It seems that there is a whole planet of Sith out there.”
Before Allana could actually fall from shock, a pair of strong arms went around her and lifted her off the ground and into a bear hug. Allana struggled at first. She was still confused, and angry, but after a second or two when it became clear that Han’s stubbornness—and strong arms—weren’t going to release her immediately, she relaxed into it. Her arms went around his neck and she placed her soft cheek next to his scratchy one. He held her for a long minute, then set her down. Leia was kneeling, and Allana hugged her tightly as well for a long moment. Leia drew back, touched the girl’s cheek reassuringly, then rose, holding Allana’s small hand tightly in hers as she turned to face her brother. Artoo had followed them into the room and had come to a halt beside Threepio. He tweedled curiously at his humanoid-shaped counterpart, but Threepio waved a hand in a not-now gesture.
“Threepio said you needed to talk to us, that Allana was upset.”
“I’m afraid I was borrowing Threepio’s fluency with six million languages to have him translate a Keshiri conversation,” Luke explained.
“Oh,” both Solos said at once, turning to look at the droid in question. Threepio lifted his hands defensively and took a step backward.
“It’s not my fault,” he said, “Don’t blame me. I am programmed to serve when requested!” Artoo made a booping noise that sounded almost like a rebuke.
“No, it’s my fault,” Luke said. “If my request was to a droid and not to a Jedi, I was still keeping to the conditions of my exile.”
“Easier to ask forgiveness than permission, huh kid?” Han was asking. “You’re getting more and more like me all the time. You might even start to look as good as me one of these days.”
“No thanks, I don’t want to look like a grumpy, thickheaded, craggy-faced old man,” Luke replied.
“Who’s craggy-faced?” The banter was strained, but helped ease some of the tension. Allana felt it, and it helped her relax slightly as well. She felt something brush up against her leg. It was Anji, who looked up at her, blinking her four eyes solemnly, then butted her head hard against Allana’s calf, purring.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” Allana was proud of herself. The question was a good one, and she had asked it in a calm, adult manner.
“Apparently, some people aren’t telling other people lots of things,” Han muttered, but fell quiet when Leia gave him a sharp look.
“Because there’s a lot going on right now, honey,” Leia said, stroking Allana’s short, black-dyed hair. “A lot of things that you don’t need to know about. And some that you do. We try to figure out what to tell you when, to keep you as safe and happy as possible.”
“I am Chume’da,” Allana said quietly. “I’m supposed to know about these things.”
Leia didn’t back down. “You’re also eight years old, and we are your guardians. You can’t solve all the galaxy’s problems.”
“Neither can you, Grandma.”
“Kid’s got you there,” Han said.
“So … I know that Uncle Luke was asking Threepio to help translate a language so he could know what some Sith were saying,” Allana continued. “But he’s also working with them. Do I have everything right, Uncle Luke?”
“Yes,” Luke said. “As strange as all that sounds when put together like that, it’s all true.”
“But you’re not going to the dark side.” Despite her best efforts, there was a quiver in her voice. Even after two years had passed, when she thought of Darth Caedus—she didn’t think of the yellow-eyed man as her daddy—it was as if a hand clamped down hard on her heart and breathing became difficult.
“No,” Leia said, in