Star Wars_ The New Jedi Order 11_ Dark Journey - Elaine Cunningham [50]
Yet for some reason, Kyp was sharing what was certainly a final agony. He couldn’t imagine living through something like this firsthand. He wasn’t sure he’d want to.
As the pain began to recede, a strong hand grasped his elbow. “Hey, kid—exactly how long have you been cooped up in that flying ’fresher?”
Kyp quickly pulled away from his old friend, shielding his thoughts and manufacturing a wry smile. “Too long, apparently. Give me a minute to get my land legs back, and I’ll be fine.”
Han nodded absently and glanced over at the Millennium Falcon. Luke Skywalker emerged from the ship on the heels of his redheaded wife. His arm encircled his twin sister’s waist as they walked slowly down the ramp. Leia Organa Solo was pale but composed. Impatience crackled around Mara Jade Skywalker like sparks from a severed cable, only slightly muted by the sorrow that rose from them all.
Kyp bowed to the Jedi Master, but spoke to the Solos. “My sincere regrets over the loss of your son.”
Leia’s eyes drifted shut, and Han quickly moved to her side. “Thanks,” he said, speaking quickly as if to spare his wife the necessity of words. “I won’t deny it’s tough. Doesn’t seem right, outliving your youngest kid.”
“Your youngest?” Kyp echoed in dismay. Jacen he could shrug off without much trouble, but not Anakin. Anakin Solo’s star had been swiftly rising, making him the war’s most visible and attractive Jedi hero. Anakin could have made a difference.
Too late, Kyp realized what his words revealed. Han’s face turned gray, and he gripped Kyp’s arm with bone-crushing force.
“You were talking about Jacen. What did you hear? What do you know?”
Leia placed a gentling hand on her husband’s shoulder. “Kyp might have felt what I did—a sudden surge of Jacen’s presence, then a dimming.”
Dimming wasn’t the word Kyp would have chosen. He’d seen stars go nova with more subtlety. Concerned, he glanced toward Luke Skywalker. The Jedi Master’s lips were compressed in a tight line. Grief and concern mingled in his eyes as he regarded his sister. His gaze shifted to Kyp’s, drawn by the younger man’s unspoken question. His slight, almost imperceptible nod confirmed that he, too, had felt Jacen Solo’s death.
Mara stalked forward, her green eyes burning. Kyp didn’t need the Force to read the warning written there: leave Leia her protective illusions, let her deal with this in her own time.
“Surely you have no problems shading the truth,” Mara purred softly. “After all, you managed to deceive my apprentice. My apprentice,” she emphasized.
Obviously Mara hadn’t forgiven him for involving Jaina in his latest vendetta. Kyp had used his considerable Jedi powers to “nudge” Jaina into believing that an unfinished Yuuzhan Vong worldship was actually a superweapon. And yes, he’d asked the young pilot to become his apprentice, mostly as a means of putting her off stride and making her more receptive to his deception. Mostly.
“Warning me off?” he asked mildly.
She glanced toward Luke. “Only because he’s been a good influence.” Her eyes narrowed. “So far.”
Mara spun away from him. “We need to find a ship,” she said abruptly as she strode away. Luke followed, his eyes approving his wife’s hard-won restraint.
Leia caught her brother’s arm. “You’ll send word if you have any news of the twins?”
“You’ll know,” he said softly. “You have a Jedi’s instincts. You don’t need anyone to tell you about your own children.” His somber gaze sought Kyp’s, and his usually mild eyes echoed Mara’s warning.
Han’s puzzled gaze shifted from face to face. He squared his shoulders and moved on to something he could understand. Draping an arm around Kyp’s shoulders, he led him toward the Falcon. “C’mon, kid. Let’s make ourselves useful.”
“Flying?