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Han took it, reflecting that she had a grip many men would envy. “Okay.”

Durga activated his comm system, and keyed in the codes his parent had given him years ago. He wondered if they’d still be the correct ones. This was a very important call.…

The connection took several minutes to establish, and it was not a good one. His party must be a long way from the Outer Rim.…

Finally, the picture coalesced. The holo-image of the most famous bounty hunter in the galaxy appeared … wavering, all the edges fuzzy. But Durga could hear Fett’s mechanically filtered tones clearly.

“Boba Fett, it is I, Durga, Lord of Besadii,” the Hutt said. “Greetings.”

“Lord Durga,” the flat voice conveyed nothing … not interest, surprise or eagerness. Nothing. “I am a long way from the Outer Rim. What is it?”

“I wish you to take on a Priority bounty,” Durga said. “The situation is very delicate, potentially volatile. That is why I need you. I know that you perform exactly as you specify you will. There can be no mistakes in this case. I need the best.”

Boba Fett inclined his head. “You are willing to pay the extra for a Priority bounty? I must be adequately recompensed for turning my attention away from other assignments and concentrating solely on yours.”

“Yes, yes, I am,” Durga said. “The bounty is on the High Priest of Ylesia, Teroenza. I am willing to pay the sum of two hundred thousand credits.”

“Not enough. Three hundred thousand,” Boba Fett said. “And I will head back for the Outer Rim immediately.”

Durga hesitated, then nodded, “Very well. The timing here is crucial. I wish to have you bring me Teroenza’s horn as proof of his death. But you must wait to make the kill until I have left Nal Hutta and am within five hours of landing on Ylesia. You must kill Teroenza in such a way that none of the other t’landa Til will know of his death for some hours. Otherwise, if the other priests discover that their leader has been killed, they may try to stage a revolt. Understood?”

“Affirmative. Contact you and confirm the timing before making the kill. Make sure no other t’landa Til realize that he is dead.”

“Correct.” Durga than recited his ship ID codes, and Fett assured him that he had them.

“I would like to remind you of the terms regarding a Priority bounty,” Fett said. “I will concentrate on reaching the target you have specified, and will take no other bounties until I have delivered the High Priest’s horn to you. And the Priority bounty for Teroenza is three hundred thousand.”

“Correct,” Durga confirmed.

“Fett out.”

The fuzzy holo-image of the armor-clad bounty hunter rippled, then vanished.

Durga then activated his comm for local frequencies, so he could check in with Zier. His Hutt lieutenant had assured him that he had narrowed the search for Teroenza’s successor down to three t’landa Til. Durga would go to interview them personally, and select the new High Priest of Ylesia.

Durga ruminated about how pleasant it would be to have the bloody horn of the High Priest in his two dainty hands. Perhaps he’d have it mounted, and hang it on his wall.…

Over the next two days, Bria Tharen and Han Solo traveled around Nar Shaddaa together, recruiting smugglers and privateers to serve as pilot guides and—in the case of the privateers—potential backup for her Ylesian operation. They stressed the easy pickings to be had on Ylesia, the wealth of spice stockpiled by Besadii.

Both were careful to stick by their “just business” agreement, but Bria sensed a growing tension in Han, and knew that it reflected her own feelings.

He told her about what he’d been doing for the past ten years, and she told him a little about her life with the Resistance. She explained to him that after leaving him on Coruscant, she’d wandered from world to world, constantly fighting her craving for the Exultation. “Two times I actually bought a ticket and stood in line to board a ship back to Ylesia,” she said. “And both times when it came down to it, I just couldn’t. I stepped out of line and went off and collapsed.”

Finally, she’d found a group on Corellia