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She looked at him, confused. “What did I say?”

“You told me not to underestimate the power of love. And that maybe if Ben believes Vestara is redeemable, it’s because she is.”

“Oh that, right.”

“I … can’t help but wonder if you’re right. Vestara seems completely sincere. I’ve always been able to sense when she’s hiding things, at least to some degree. But … I don’t think she’s lying this time.”

“She’s only sixteen, Uncle Luke. She’s had her father try to make her a head shorter with a lightsaber and is effectively cut off from her whole culture now. She’s had a chance to see far beyond what she’s been taught, and to make up her own mind about what she wants to do. And she’s obviously in love with Ben and he with her, even if they won’t admit it, and he’s a good influence.”

He eyed her. “They’re awfully young for that. Infatuation, yes. But love?”

Jaina turned to look him squarely in the eye. “Tahiri was fifteen and Anakin seventeen when he died. Don’t you think those two were really in love?”

Luke felt slightly chastened. “Because of all he’s been through, I understand that Ben is more of an adult than most people twice his age. I guess I just never thought about him having that level of maturity with regard to relationships.”

“Some people never become mature with regard to relationships,” Jaina said, returning her attention to the console. “Some people’s hearts settle early, and for good.” She smiled a little. “Even when they don’t realize it.”

Luke sighed. “Maybe I’m the one who needs to change,” he said. “Maybe I’m too set in my ways to believe that someone who was born Sith, raised Sith, and grew up surrounded by Sith can set that aside enough to become a Jedi.”

“Well, I would have used the word crotchety myself, but yes, that’s what I’m thinking.”

“That’s what’s wrong with younglings today,” Luke said, grinning. “No respect for your elders.”

She grinned back and they fell silent again. Finally Luke said, “All right. My son is dating a former Sith who wants to become a Jedi. I should at least give her a chance. I don’t want her forbidding me to see my grandchildren, after all.”

“Whoa, whoa, don’t go too far on the other side here, Uncle Luke.”

“Good point,” Luke quipped, rubbing his chin. “Don’t want to look as weathered as your father quite yet.”

“I’m going to tell him you said that.”

“I look forward to telling him myself.”

JEDI TEMPLE, CORUSCANT

LUKE KNEW THAT THE MASTERS WOULD WANT TO WELCOME HIM BACK with a celebration. It had been a tremendously painful and challenging time for all of them, and they would be relieved to again see the founder of their Order.

He also knew that with so much going on, there was no time for ceremony or fanfare; nor would it be appropriate. Not yet. So he had requested a quiet arrival, and a few moments alone in the Masters’ Chamber before undertaking his first task as returning Grand Master.

It had been a long time since he had stood here, and he admitted to himself now he had indeed thought that perhaps it would take several years instead of only one before this moment came at last. While this pause—alone in so familiar a space, a room that had seen so much conversation, so much cooperation, and, yes, so many clashes—was precious and he was savoring it, he also deeply regretted the necessity that had led to his return.

Daala had wanted answers as to why Jacen Solo had become Darth Caedus. Luke and Ben had wanted answers, too. They had embarked in search of them, thinking to revisit places Jacen had gone in an effort to discover, piecemeal if they had to, how a good man had strayed so far into the shadows. They had learned much of what Jacen learned; skills that no other Jedi had known for centuries, if ever. And they had learned that his fall had been inevitable.

Standing here, his mind and heart open, Luke realized they should have known that part of the mystery long before they had even set foot onto Jade Shadow. It seemed obvious now. Vergere’s torment, in essence a new, if brutal, morality, had