'We are going to see Taroon,' Qui-Gon said.
'But he is probably on his way to Senali,' Obi-Wan pointed out.
'Not yet. He will find a reason to delay.'
Obi-Wan still felt confused. 'You think Taroon was behind the kidnapping of his brother? But why? He came to persuade him to return to Rutan for good. He was angry and hurt when Leed refused.'
'Or so he seemed. But Padawan, what beings say and what they feel are not necessarily the same. Jedi are different that way.'
'Are you afraid that Taroon is planning an attack?' Obi-Wan asked.
Qui-Gon nodded. 'I saw something else in the supplies at the kidnappers' camp. Seeker droids. They had the royal crest of Rutan on them. And King Frane just told us that Taroon was keeper of his trackers, remember? Only one person could have had access to those droids and the power to gather supporters for a secret invasion of Senali.'
'Why would Taroon steal the royal seeker droids?' Obi-Wan asked. He was growing frustrated.
'That is a very good question, Obi-Wan,' Qui-Gon said. 'Why, since seeker droids are so readily available? It only makes sense if Taroon modified the droids in some way. Then he planned to send them back to Rutan.'
'And what happens then?'
'That is something Taroon must tell us,' Qui-Gon answered gravely.
Obi-Wan saw that they had stopped outside the gates of an impressive structure. ROYAL SCHOOL OF LEADERSHIP was carved in stone over the archway.
Qui-Gon strode through the archway and pushed open the door to the school. The hallway was empty except for a teacher hurrying past, his arms filled with datapads and readout screens.
'Excuse me,' Qui-Gon said politely. 'We are looking for Taroon.'
The teacher frowned. 'He is on his way to Senali, most likely. His father gave the order to leave immediately. Pity. He is a popular student. He'll be missed.'
'We have reason to believe he has not left yet,' Qui-Gon said. 'Is there anyplace you can think of that he might be?'
'That's easy,' the teacher said with a smile. 'Taroon is usually in the tech room with his friends, tinkering with program boards. It's down that hall, up the ramp, second door on the right.'
Qui-Gon thanked him and they moved quickly in the direction the teacher had indicated.
'If you're right, what makes you think Taroon will confess to you?' Obi-Wan asked Qui-Gon.
'Because he is not bad,' Qui-Gon said. 'Merely hurt. He is like his father — he turns his hurt to anger.'
They came to the tech room and activated the door. Taroon sat on a long bench against the wall. He looked up at the Jedi nervously and jumped to his feet.
'Has anything happened?' he asked.
'Why do you ask?' Qui-Gon queried.
Taroon shrugged, but his eyes were wary. 'I'm surprised to see you here.'
'Your father has sent an order for you to leave for Senali immediately,' Qui-Gon said. 'Why do you remain?'
'I had left some equipment here,' Taroon said quickly. 'I need to include it in my packing so I can be on my way.'
'You weren't packing when we came in,' Obi-Wan pointed out.
Taroon gave him a haughty look. 'Who are you to question a prince?'
'He is a Jedi,' Qui-Gon said firmly. 'Your father called us here to help settle this matter. It is not settled, is it, Taroon?'
'I don't know what you mean,' the young man said nervously.
'Taroon, we don't have time for evasions,' Qui-Gon said. 'I think you were behind your brother's kidnapping on Senali.'
'That's ridiculous!' Taroon cried. 'Why would I arrange such a thing? I love my brother. I am a patriot!'
'Both of those things are true,' Qui-Gon said. 'You love your brother, but you are also angry at him for turning his back on you. You are a patriot, but you would arrange an attack on Rutan in hopes Leed would be blamed. But Leed is here, Taroon. I doubt the king will blame him. He will blame Meenon. Maybe he will retaliate, and a war will result. But perhaps you don't care about that. Perhaps you think such an event would tear Lead in two. Perhaps you want this.'
'I don't know what you're talking about, but I do know there will not be a war,' Taroon said. 'My father talks and talks, but he will not attack. Anyway, I had nothing to do with any of this.'
'You know your father will not attack Senali for sure? You are willing to gamble lives on it?' Qui-Gon questioned, his tone growing in intensity. Obi-Wan did not think he could have withstood such a piercing gaze.
Taroon's glance slid away. 'You can't talk to me this way.'
Qui-Gon strolled farther into the room. 'Let me tell you what I think happened,' he said. 'You enlisted a small group of Rutanians. Perhaps they are friends of yours at school, a mix of those who are close to you and those who hope to benefit should you become king instead of Leed. While you remained on Rutan, this group secretly
