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Jaina smiled and inclined her head. “Sir,” she said.

Dark eyes set back in a face surrounded by heavy wrinkles widened slightly. “Jaina Solo. Your reputation precedes you as well. First Master Skywalker, now you. Two of you, no less.” He seemed to be considering something. “A question for you both, then, since I believe the Ancestors have sent you to us at this crucial juncture. Are you formally or informally connected with the captains or any crew member of the Starstalker or the Winged Dagger?”

Lando scratched his head and considered his answer very carefully. “I came here at the request of Luke Skywalker,” he said. “I know that Luke was cooperating with them, but I’ve never met these people before in my life.”

“And I came here to see Luke, but he wasn’t expecting me.” Jaina didn’t volunteer anything more.

“We are … in a crisis,” Darima admitted. His jowls shook slightly. “The crew of the Starstalker has allegedly violated the no-technology zone of the Fountain. It appears they even had the audacity to take samples of the wintrium.”

Lando’s jaw dropped. “What?” No wonder he had seen a bunch of Hutt ships. This was bad. Very bad.

“I know you know what this means, Lando,” Darima said grimly. “Now you understand why we are forbidding anyone to come to Klatooine. It is all we can do to contain the riots.”

“No kidding. I’m surprised you can even do that.”

“Wait, what?” asked Jaina, looking from one to the other. “What happened? Lando, you look … serious. That alarms me.”

“There’s a natural formation called the Fountain of the Hutt Ancients,” Lando said, his voice somber. “It’s highly sacred to the Klatooinians. No one is allowed to take anything but the most primitive technology within a kilometer radius.”

Jaina looked confused. “I don’t mean to be rude, but … you generally aren’t that concerned about something like this.” She eyed the Chancellor. “No offense, sir.”

“There is more than our racial pride or religious sacrilege here, Jedi Solo. The protection of the Fountain was the key to the drawing of the Treaty of Vontor twenty-five thousand years ago,” Darima said. “The Hutts swore to protect it. In return, our people and the Nikto swore eternal servitude. The Hutts did not protect the Fountain. If they do not act appropriately—”

Now it was Jaina’s turn to gape. “If they don’t act appropriately, the deal’s off, and the Hutts lose slaves they’ve had for twenty-five millennia. Okay. I think I see why everyone’s so upset.” She looked as stunned as Lando felt.

“The Treaty states that if there is ever a question of violation, at least two, preferably more, offworlders must be present to render judgment, as both the Hutts and the Klatooinians have decided interests in the outcome.”

“Oh, come on Darima, surely there’s gotta be someone else.”

The Chancellor looked at him levelly. “This is Hutt territory, Lando. People who have business with them come here. There are some who come to see the Fountain, but they are few. You two both arrive the very day of the sacrilege. And although I cannot believe I am saying this, I … trust you to be fair in hearing both sides. And I can say the same of a Jedi, even one I have not met.”

Jaina and Lando exchanged glances. “Give us a moment,” he said.

“Of course.” Ornate obligingly muted the sound.

“I don’t want any part of this,” Lando said. “I say we leave them and get to Luke.”

“I’d say the same thing except for the fact that the liberty of an entire race of people rests on it,” Jaina said. “Your friend is right. This isn’t a place known for attracting decent and fair-minded beings. Anyone else they get is going to know what side his bread is buttered on. The Hutts’ll win for sure.”

“And can you be impartial?” Lando challenged. “Suppose the evidence suggests that the Hutts did do everything they could. Could you stand there and tell the Klatooinians they’re stuck being slaves?”

He expected her to snap at him. Instead, she looked down, her gaze falling quickly on her left hand. It was then that he noticed it was bereft of her engagement ring. And