Vision of the future

With a startled screech the attacking Qom Jha shied back from the blasts and flying rock chips, fluttering for a moment before settling into new positions on the ceiling away from the besieged Qom Qae. Another half-sensed command from the Bargainer, and a taut silence descended on the cavern.

'A minute ago you called him Master,' Mara called toward the aliens. 'Is he a Jedi Master to be respected and obeyed, or isn't he?'

There was a rush of almost-words. 'Translation?' Mara murmured.

'He said, 'You have no place to speak thus to the Bargainer of the Qom Jha,' ' Luke told her, shifting his lightsaber to his left hand and stepping back to her side. Keeping a wary gaze on the ceiling, he again put his arm around her and touched his head to hers—

— indeed, even now you hang clutched to crumbling rock, Eater Of Fire Creepers's voice came into her mind again. Do you deny you are the same Jaded Of Mara who once flew with the nesting of the Empire?

Luke's arm seemed to tense across Mara's back. 'What do you mean?' he asked cautiously. Those in the High Tower have made great rustlings and bargainings about this being, Eater Of Fire Creepers said, his tone dark. Perhaps it is our trust in you which hangs from crumbling rock, Master Walker Of Sky.

'Or maybe the crumbling rock is in your own heads,' Mara countered before Luke could reply.

'If any allies of the Empire are talking about me, it's because I'm near the top of their list of enemies. Or didn't you bother to listen to the entire conversation?'

The Bargainer fluttered his wings again, but this time there was a touch of uncertainty to the gesture. Their language is not easily understandable, he conceded. Yet we have been betrayed once already by the Qom Qae, and do not wish to add one betrayal to another. Master Walker Of Sky, you said you would force the Qom Qae to speak in his nesting's defense?

'I said I would question him,' Luke corrected mildly, closing down his lightsaber. 'Child Of Winds, come down here.'

There was a moment of hesitation; and then the Qom Qae worked his way out of the crack and dropped down to land on a stone beside Luke. I am here, Jedi Sky Walker, he said, keeping a wary eye on the ceiling.

'Did your nesting of the Qom Qae receive messages for me or for the New Republic from this nesting of the Qom Jha?' Luke asked. 'And did your Bargainer promise Eater Of Fire Creepers your nesting would deliver those messages?'

Child Of Winds seemed to hunch his wings over his head, a heavy sense of nervous guilt rippling from him. It is not my place to bargain for my nesting, he said. Hunter Of Winds—

Hunter Of Winds is not here, Eater Of Fire Creepers cut him off brusquely. You will answer the question.

Child Of Winds sank lower into his wings. It is as you say, he conceded reluctantly.

'Well, that's handy,' Mara muttered. 'We could have known about this place years ago.'

'Sounds that way,' Luke said. 'Why weren't the messages delivered, Child Of Winds?' Hunter Of Winds concluded it would not be safe, the young Qom Qae said. A Qom Qae would need to attach himself to one of the Threateners' flying machines and endure a long journey through the cold and dark before he could reach you.

That is no reason for betrayal of your bargainings, Eater Of Fire Creepers said contemptuously. The Qom Qae have flown thus through the darkness many times, or so they claim. Admit that it was cowardice and fear that caused your betrayal. You of the Qom Jha are safe in your caves, Child Of Winds shot back. We of the Qom Qae live in the open air.

Do the Threateners not threaten us all? Eater Of Fire Creepers demanded, fluttering his wings. Do the Threateners come into your caves to seek vengeance from the Qom Jha? the young Qom Qae countered. Their vengeance would rest solely on the Qom Qae. Did the Qom Jha not first risk their lives seeking to learn the Threateners' plans? Do the Qom Jha not continue to take such risks?

Do the Qom Jha learn anything of value? Did you not mistake this friend and ally of Jedi Sky Walker as one flying in the Threateners' nesting?

'Enough,' Luke called into the argument. 'Whatever has happened is over and done with, and trying to share out the blame won't gain us anything. Fine, so the messages weren't delivered. But we're here now, and we're ready to help you.'