Star Wars_ The Approaching Storm - Alan Dean Foster [85]
“Qulun think Tooqui simple dumb dumb pet. Is good position to do trading from.”
“We’re not here to trade.” She eyed him warningly. “We’re here to make friends, and to maybe learn more about the whereabouts of the overclan. That’s all.”
The Gwurran looked hurt. “Tooqui not want much. Something to eat, maybe, or little baby-toy for small Gwurran, or simple weapon to overawe bully Gwurran with.”
“Never mind that,” she told him firmly. “Talk to them or keep quiet, that’s up to you. But—no talk of trading.” She wore a knowing expression. “Pets don’t engage in trade.”
“No, but their masters do,” he countered without hesitation. “Maybe if silly-fun stupid-face pet do funny tricks for master, grateful Barriss buy little trinket-thing for poor poor Tooqui?”
“I’ll think about it,” she replied without further comment. Urging her mount forward at a faster pace forced the Gwurran to shut up and concentrate on holding on.
Riding importantly in the lead, Baiuntu led the visitors to the top of the ridge where the Qulun were making camp. Self-erecting dwellings were already unfolding walls and roofs while busy adolescents attached heating equipment and atmospheric water condensers. Automatic braces secured the temporary structures, which were designed to be put up and taken down every day, against the ubiquitous wind. Wonderfully decorated with enamels, painted mirrors, and all manner of eye candy, one pair of these distinctive structures drew Luminara’s attention even before they were fully assembled.
“Trading rooms,” Bulgan explained in response to her question. “The more eye-catching, the better.” He passed a hand across both eyes, the Ansionian equivalent of winking. “Dazzle a customer; that’s one of the hallmarks of the Qulun. Blinded buyers are agreeable buyers.”
She rode easily on her well-padded saddle, the suubatar striding along effortlessly beneath her. “Are you saying that the Qulun cheat in their dealings?”
“Haja, no, Master Luminara. They are like any merchants, be they fixed in place as they are in the city or fully mobile as out here on the prairie. Some are wholly honorable while others are outright bandits. One can’t say one has truly done dealing until one has dealt with them. To many traders, shady and clever have freely interchangeable meanings.”
“Well, we’re not on a shopping excursion, so it shouldn’t matter.” Rising up slightly from her saddle, she surveyed the surrounding plains. “Why are they setting up shop here? This country isn’t exactly crawling with customers.”
The Alwari gestured nonchalantly. “They are opening up only a couple of their many shops. No doubt they hope buyers will materialize from out of the grass.” He chuckled the by now familiar Ansionian laugh, adding a few sharp knuckle cracks for emphasis. “Without a shop or two open for business, the Qulun would probably be uncomfortable. For fear of missing even one potential customer, they would lose sleep.”
The welcome they received certainly stood out in contrast to how they had been greeted by the initially mistrustful Yiwa. Though weapons were visible, they were not brandished in the newcomers’ direction. The visitors’ steeds were given pride of place in the clan’s corral, along with the best water and fodder. Luminara found herself and her friends directed to a large portable structure whose interior turned out to be lined with thick carpets, self-adjusting cushions, and all manner of conveniences one would not expect to find in the middle of the northern Ansionian plains. Anything they asked for that the Qulun could provide was provided—free of charge. Obi-Wan was not surprised at the modest largesse. Such tactics were a universal means for softening up potential customers.
Barriss and Anakin didn’t concern themselves with such mundanities, preferring to leave the details of the encounter to their Masters.