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SEVEN

Harrar stood at the viewport of his personal chamber, gazing into the richly starred blackness beyond. So many worlds lay beyond, offering not only conquest, but a much-needed haven as well.

He did not desire peace. Not really. Yet even as this thought formed, the priest lifted a three-fingered hand to trace a crack in the once smooth wall. His ship had once resembled a perfect, highly polished black gem. It was becoming shabby with age, as were most Yuuzhan Vong ships. Harrar suspected the priestship was nearing the end of its long life span.

The ship’s condition, however, was nothing compared to the warmaster’s dilemma. Tsavong Lah had sacrificed most of one arm to win the gods’ blessing upon the conquest of Coruscant. The battle had been won, but the warmaster’s implant still refused to heal. If the corruption progressed, Harrar’s old friend—who was also his most powerful and reliable supporter—would be forced from his high place. The priest suspected that his destiny, no less than the warmaster’s, depended upon the successful capture and sacrifice of the Jedi twins.

“Your Eminence.”

The priest turned toward the sound, carefully hiding his surprise and his chagrin that he could be surprised. Despite his impressive bulk and the vonduun crab armor he wore even aboard ship, Khalee Lah walked as quietly as a shadow. Had he been any other warrior, Harrar would have suspected that he was deliberately trying to discomfit his clerical charge.

“I trust this intrusion is justified?” he said sharply.

Khalee Lah inclined his head. “We have located the stolen ship, Eminence. The Ksstarr was sighted near Coruscant, but it managed to escape during the confusion of battle. It emerged from darkspace again approximately midpoint between the worlds known as Kuat and Kashyyyk.”

“And now?”

“We believe the Jeedai will head toward the Hapes Cluster. We have set course accordingly.”

Harrar’s lingering irritation deepened. “If the frigate is capable of darkspace travel, the Jeedai could choose from many destinations.”

“That is true, Eminence, but Nom Anor’s ship was damaged during its escape from the worldship. The Ksstarr is famished and wounded, and without proper care it will soon die. Surely even these infidels will sense it is nearing its limits.”

“Your logic is thin,” the priest noted.

Khalee Lah inclined his head in apology. “One of the Jeedai, a female, is a scion of Hapan royalty,” he added. “This was learned during the breaking. Not from this Jeedai, but from another.”

Harrar heard a note of grudging admiration in the warrior’s voice. “This female did not succumb to breaking, I take it. Good. The additional gift of a worthy Jeedai may placate the gods for this delay in the twin sacrifice. What is this infidel called?”

“Tenel Ka. It is said that she fought well, though she has but one arm. Other infidels have replaced limbs with mechanical abominations. Not this one.” His scarred lips shaped a predatory smile. “If fitted with a proper enhancement, she might prove a worthy opponent, or at least an interesting diversion.”

“In that case, you may offer her yourself in a warrior’s sacrifice,” Harrar said. His sloped forehead furrowed as he considered this. “Many ships from Hapes died along with ours at the Battle of Fondor, destroyed by a killing light from some mechanical abomination. Given what is known of the infidels, it is widely believed that they tossed away what they deemed unimportant. Based upon this reasoning, the Hapes Cluster was considered unworthy of our notice. Yet if this Jeedai is typical of Hapan nobles, perhaps this merits new consideration.”

The warrior sniffed. “The Hapes Cluster is not controlled by the Yuuzhan Vong, but it is vanquished nonetheless. Since Fondor, the infidels of the Hapes Cluster have huddled on their worlds and done nothing.”

“And the Jeedai presence there?”

“None to speak of; in fact, there is much animosity against them. The Peace Brigade has found eager recruits among the Hapans. We have sent word ahead to several known agents.”

Harrar studied