Star Wars_ Fate of the Jedi 06_ Vortex - Denning Troy [23]
“Cute,” Vestara said. Her eyelids felt as big as her thumbs now, and she could feel pus starting to ooze out of her tear ducts. “But I wouldn’t hold my breath, Ben—and I wouldn’t leave me hanging here any longer, either. Two more minutes, and I won’t be able to see for weeks.”
“And that would matter to me why?”
Vestara smirked in the direction of his voice. “Because if you knew where the ruins were, you’d know you can’t get to them in a spaceship,” she said. “They’re in the jungle, in a ravine at the foot of the volcano. Where did you think you were going to land?”
Ben let out an angry huff, then retorted, “So you lied to me about the reason you didn’t take the Emiax?”
“So you expect me to believe you really would’ve have shot me down?” Vestara flashed him a sultry smile—at least she thought she was flashing it in his direction. “Come on, Ben. Help me down. I really do need to get this pollen out of my eyes.”
“Why should I?” Ben demanded.
“Uh, because you’d like to find your father before Ship finds Taalon?” Vestara replied. “Once the High Lord realizes that Ship is coming back—”
“I know what will happen when Taalon thinks he doesn’t need my father anymore,” Ben interrupted. “What I don’t know is why I should trust you.”
Vestara frowned and fell silent. That was a hard question—and one for which she had no good answer. “Look, Ben, you need me.”
“And you need me,” Ben replied. “So give me a reason to help you down.”
“A reason?” Vestara asked, growing more confused by the moment. “I’ve already given you one. Without me, you won’t find your father in time.”
“That’s an argument, maybe even a fact,” Ben insisted. “But it’s not a reason. If I’m going to help you down and find something to help your eyes in this medkit—”
“You brought a medkit?” Vestara interrupted.
“I’m a Jedi Knight,” Ben replied. “I always bring a medkit.”
Vestara had to smile—then the vine tightened around her wrist again, and she felt herself start to rise faster. “Okay, what do you want Ben?” she asked. “We’re running out of time here.”
“You know what I want,” Ben said. “Your word.”
“My word?” Vestara echoed. “You mean, just a promise?”
“Not just a promise. Your promise.”
“My promise?” Vestara felt sure Ben had to be pulling a trick—maybe some kind of Force binding or Jedi mind-lock—but she couldn’t sense anything unusual happening. “That’s all?”
“You’d have to mean it,” Ben replied. “If you want my help, you have to promise: no more betrayals.”
Vestara felt herself biting her lips, and that was when she realized what Ben was doing to her: he was playing on her emotions, trying to beat her at her own game.
She suppressed a smile. “For how long?” she asked. It wouldn’t do to seem too eager; he wouldn’t believe her if she surrendered too easily. “I’m not promising anything forever.”
Ben paused before answering, and Vestara knew she had him.
Finally, he nodded. “Fair enough—until Ship arrives. That’s when reactor cores are going to start going critical anyway.”
Vestara pretended to consider this for a moment, then shook her head. “Until you have a chance to tell your father about Ship. If I don’t tell Lord Taalon that he’s returning, I’ll be running for my life with you and your father … again.”
“Would that be so bad?”
Vestara nodded. “I’m no Jedi, Ben—and I don’t want to become one.”
“Okay, if you’re sure,” Ben said. Vestara felt him grab her in the Force. “So, I have your word?”
“Yes, Ben.” Vestara grabbed her lightsaber again and ignited the blade. She cut herself free of the last vine and felt Ben floating her toward him. “You have my word.”
For what it’s worth, she added silently.
Once they crested the ridge, Ben abandoned all pretense of needing advice to locate the ruins. The pyre smoke was wafting up through the jungle so thick and acrid that he had to use the Force to avoid the embarrassment of gagging in front of Vestara, and then