Star Wars_ Young Jedi Knights 05_ Darkest Knight - Kevin J. Anderson [5]
"Ah." Tenel Ka nodded her approval of the logic. "Aha." Experimentally, her fingers began to twine a few strands of hair, following the single-handed technique Anakin had concocted.
The hologram shifted to a different scene, Anakin standing beside a fall of long glossy brown hair, caught up in a dozen Dathomiran warrior braids decorated with feathers and beads. The view pulled back, and Anakin gestured to his handiwork, looking both pleased and a bit embarrassed.
"As you can see, Mom let me practice on her." The tiny holographic image of Chief of State Leia Organa Solo turned with a warm smile and then spun in a graceful pirouette to give a better view of the braids.
As the holorecording ended, Tenel Ka nodded seriously, considering the new technique.
With practice, she thought she could manage it herself.
A loud questioning growl sounded from the doorway of Tenel Ka's quarters.
She looked up to see Lowbacca standing at the arched entrance.
"Enter, friend," Tenel Ka said, indicating a spot on the floor beside her. "Sit with us if you wish."
"Lowie, is everything all right?" Jaina asked with a look of concern.
The lanky ginger-furred Wookiee ambled over and sat between Tenel Ka and Jaina on the floor. For a long time none of the companions spoke. Then Lowbacca reached toward his belt and flicked a small switch on Em Teedee's back. "Ali, thank you, Master Lowbacca," Em Teedee said. "That was indeed a refreshing shutdown cycle, although considerably longer than I had anticipated. Oh, look-we have company."
Lowbacca interrupted the little droid with a rumble and a short bark.
'@y, most assuredly, Master Lowbacca. I'd be delighted to provide a translation. That is my primary function, you know. I am fluent in over six forms of communication." Preoccupied, Lowbacca didn't even scold the translating droid. Slowly, haltingly at first, the Wookiee began to speak, and Em Teedee translated. "Master Lowbacca knows that his recent... distress has been apparent to all of you, causing you no small measure of concern-a concern shared by myself, I might add."
Jaina put a hand on Lowbacca's shoulder.
"Well, you did have us worried. We wanted you to be able to talk to us."
"We're your friends," Jacen added.
Tenel Ka merely nodded and waited for Lowbacca to continue.
He squared his shoulders and went on with his explanation. "In recent months a family matter has arisen that has caused Master Lowbacca no end of worry over his sister Sirrakuk's safety.
"As you may recall, young Wookiees occasionally take it upon themselves to perform a feat of great danger and difficulty, either alone or accompanied by friends. This gains them much respect, especially at a time when they are choosing their life path.
"Master Lowbacca decided to prove himself with such an act of bravery, since he knew that it would be difficult for many Wookiees to accept his decision to train at the Jedi academy rather than follow a more traditional calling. He was so proud of his intellectual skills that he chose to rely only on his wits; he descended to the deep forest levels on Kashyyyk without telling a single friend.
Alone, he harvested these fibers from the dangerous syren plant. Though Master Lowbacca emerged unharmed with the trophy he had sought, he now admits that his solo expedition was foolhardy and ill-advised. And he fears that Sirrakuk is considerably more impulsive, more impetuous than he."
Here Lowbacca paused to finger the glossy fiber of his webbed belt. Its intricate braiding reminded Tenel Ka of Anakin's message to her, his technique of one-handed braiding.
Jaina gave Lowie a measuring look. 'Ali, so now you're afraid that your sister might try to go it alone just because you did?" Lowbacca looked down at the floor and gave a series of low rumbles and growls.
Resting both elbows on his furry knees, he held his head in his hands as he spoke.
"I'm afraid the situation is rather more serious than