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Always alert for criticism, even from friends, Ovin looked at her sharply. “Because he thinks I am a terrorist?”

“Goals can be reached in different ways,” Leia said, “and his strengths lie in different areas. Perhaps if one such as Dorvan had been a Klatooinian elder, for instance, the Treaty of Vontor might have been abolished legally. Surely even your brother would have admitted that would be preferable to violence. I know you feel so.”

He nodded, and said gruffly, “As I said … I believe Acting Chief of State Dorvan has things worth listening to. But a leader needs more. A leader needs charisma and the power of his conviction.”

Leia thought of watching Dorvan racing up the steps in an effort to save Raynar Thul from being killed. “Give him a bit more time. He might surprise you. Still waters run deep.”

“All waters run deep where I am from,” Padnel said. His jowls shook lightly. It took Leia and Han a moment to realize he was making a joke, and then they all laughed.

“It’s good to see you, Padnel,” Han said. “I’m glad they let you in. I think the Klatooinians have a lot to offer. You’ll get in there, shake things up, and the galaxy will be the better for it.” The compliment was genuine. The Senate, as it had recently proved, was a staid and conservative gathering of beings for the most part. There were a few exceptions, such as Han and Leia’s friend Luewet Wuul. Word of the new Senator from B’nish, Kameron Suldar, was positive, as well.

“That means a great deal coming from you two,” Padnel said. “I will do what I can. Perhaps …” He hesitated.

“Go on,” Leia encouraged.

“Perhaps … I am where I should be. Grunel was the founder and the real leader of the Sand Panthers, and will always be remembered as such. But if I can help this way, then perhaps I will honor his legacy while creating my own.”

“I think, my friend,” she said, “you are well on your way.”

KORRIBAN

THE AIR ITSELF FELT THICK, AS IF IT WERE TRYING TO CHOKE BEN. IT was like … inhaling malice. Ben struggled not to cough, or shake off what seemed like a cloak of invisible cobwebs in the Force.

It was worse here than on Ziost. He wasn’t sure why; perhaps because this was home to the original Sith, and origins of things had power. He let calm ripple through him in the Force. His breathing became easier and some of the apprehension was chased away into the back of his mind.

Luke showed no sign of distress, though he was clearly on the alert. Jaina was somewhere in between the Skywalkers; she was calmer than Ben, but not as focused as Luke.

Vestara was a conundrum of conflicting emotions.

Concern mixed with—Ben could only describe it as giddiness. She wanted to shrink away from such potent dark-side energy, but at the same time yearned to approach it. He caught her eye and gave her a reassuring nod and smile, and she gave him one of her own—albeit a slightly shaky one.

“Check in,” Luke said. “Anyone sense anything?”

“Other than a desire to put on my cloak from Nam Chorios in the middle of a dry, hot world just to have something between me and the creepiness of this place, no,” Ben replied.

“I don’t sense Abeloth, or any of the Sith,” Jaina replied. “Just … smaller energies. Dark, though.”

“I sense them, as well,” Vestara said. “It’s … stronger than I anticipated.”

“You come from a world of Sith,” Ben said, not cruelly, but just curious. “This should be old hat for you.”

“We made our world,” Vestara said. “I’m used to it. Used to the eddies and flows. This … this is not my world.”

Her voice dropped to a hush on the last few words, and Ben understood. Her people were different—they’d had five thousand years to evolve into something that, while definitely Sith, was neither the true old or new Sith. They were unique.

“Those smaller energies are animals, not human or Keshiri,” Luke said. “But they’re there. Our arrival has not gone unnoticed.” He activated his lightsaber, and the rest did likewise. The familiar sound calmed Ben further until he felt … almost normal. He had been able to deal with