Star Wars_ I, Jedi - Michael A. Stackpole [56]
Luke glanced back at me, a half-smile on his face. “I thought you would still be here. You did not see the beginning?”
I shook my head. “The ending was more than enough. What are you going to do?”
“Do? This is done already.”
My jaw dropped open. “Unless I missed something, one of your apprentices found or somehow constructed a lightsaber and just tried to kill you with it. You don’t see this as cause for alarm?”
“How can it surprise you that Gantoris has found a way to fashion a lightsaber? You and Kam already possess one. We’ve talked about Gantoris’ competition with you.”
I held my hands up. “That may be an issue, but not the core one as I see it.”
Luke’s eyes narrowed. “So your vision here is paramount.”
I hesitated and felt my stomach collapse in on itself. “No, Master Skywalker, it is not. I mean no disrespect.” I sighed. “I just want to understand. Gantoris has gotten into something he shouldn’t have. You have to discipline him.”
“He’s going to be a Jedi Knight. I cannot treat him like a child.” Luke shook his head. “To do that would stunt his development. He’s very good and one of the best students here. He just needs guidance.”
“Then give it to him.” My hands convulsed into fists, then I forced them open again. “You’re assuming that he will see the error of his ways and never do this again. He attacked you! He’s already shown he’s not scanning right and wrong correctly. He can’t begin to figure out where the line between them runs if you don’t find a way to punish him when he crosses that line.”
The Master shook his head slowly. “I can tell you that Gantoris already regrets what he has done here. Stretch out with your feelings. You’ll feel it, too. He is teaching himself where the line is and how to stay on the light side of it.”
I did as I was bidden and did sense both remorse and confusion from Gantoris. “You are right, Master. I know you believe in redemption. What you say about Gantoris is true. I guess I don’t see why he should not be punished for having done something wrong.”
“You’re not supposed to see it, Keiran, you’re supposed to feel it.” Luke rubbed a hand against his forehead. “Retribution leads to the dark side.”
I sighed. “I know. I would argue that a little punishment now could prevent a disaster later, but I don’t think that will get me anywhere.”
“You see, Keiran, you grow in wisdom as well as the Force.”
I didn’t want to laugh, but his comment was funny. Still, coming from someone my age, it also rankled a bit. Luke obviously deserved the title Jedi Master, but part of me wished we weren’t the group on which he first practiced being a teacher. He clearly had his ideas about how we should learn, and we were all making progress. Some faster than others.
Even so, I wasn’t used to his methods. I flashed on Iella’s heart and mind split and knew it was a key to my problem. “I shall think further on my ignorance, Master, that I may see how much wisdom I yet need to learn. If you would permit it, though, I want to ask you a question.”
“Please.”
I scratched at the back of my neck. “What did you ask Gantoris and what did he shout at you before he cut down the tree?”
“I asked how he had learned what he needed to know to make a lightsaber.” Luke shifted his shoulders stiffly. “He replied that I was not the only teacher of the Jedi way.”
“Not a very good answer. Do you think he would have gotten the knowledge from the Holocron?”
“I can’t see how. The Holocron detects a student’s ability and holds back things they are not prepared to know.” He smiled carefully. “It works so well, in fact, that I do not know if there are things there that I have yet to learn.”
“If not from Bodo Baas, then from whom did he learn?” I frowned. “I couldn’t teach it to him. I don’t think Kam would and you, I take it, have not.