Jedi are ready to meet death at any moment. But did Elan have to invite it?
The tanks roared ahead, picking up speed as the royal guard realized they were about to trap the hill people. Ion cannons boomed now, more in triumph than according to plan. The tanks rolled into the canyon. The first maneuvered to fire on the hovering swoops…
And it suddenly sank into an enormous drift. Snow and ice caved in over the top. The second tank crashed through a skin of ice and was swallowed up. It was too late for the others to retreat. One by one, they crashed through the top of the ice-crusted snow and were swallowed up as well. In just moments, the tanks had completely disappeared.
Elan zoomed up next to Qui-Gon. The cold wind had turned her cheeks pink. Her navy eyes sparkled.
'I don't think you'll be needing that lightsaber, Jedi,' she said.
Elan had known that with a northeast wind, the canyon would acquire drifts hundreds of meters deep. The lack of morning sunlight would cause ice to form a crust on the top. She had gambled that the tanks would roll in, anxious to capture the hill people.
Her gamble had paid off. The hill people had won the battle without one casualty. They could have left the royal guard buried alive in the snow. Qui-Gon could not have prevented it. He could not have dug the tanks out himself. But to his surprise, Elan organized a rescue operation. Using snow-borers that hovered only inches above the surface, the hill people dug tunnels into the snow, deep below to the tank entrances. They led the surprised and grateful battle soldiers to the surface, where they were flown back to the camp on swoops.
They were housed in the largest dome and brought blankets. Guards were posted at the dome door, but none of the soldiers wanted to escape. They were grateful for the warm shelter. Bandages and ointments were given to those who needed them. The crash into the snow had bruised a few. One soldier had sprained his wrist. The tank that had slid over into the ravine produced one woman warrior with a bruised temple. That was the extent of the injuries.
Qui-Gon tried to raise Obi-Wan on the com-link. He needed to find out what was going on at the palace. Who had ordered the attack? Prince Beju? Qui-Gon knew one thing: Desperation had fueled the attack. That meant the situation could be volatile back at the capital.
Obi-Wan didn't answer. Qui-Gon pushed his worry away for the moment. He headed to Elan's dome.
'Now I have a problem,' Elan grumbled when Qui-Gon entered. She was busy tending to an elder who had been grazed by a branch as he flew on his swoop.
'What am I going to do with all of them? I can't set them loose in the mountains. Maybe you could lead them back.'
She dabbed ointment on the elder's forehead, then gently bandaged it. 'You should have gone with the rest of the elders, Domi,' she scolded.
'I'm too young to be an elder,' Domi said.
Elan sighed as she rinsed her hands. 'Now we have to feed them all. We're going to be out of supplies in a week.'
Still grumbling, Elan headed off. Domi grinned at Qui-Gon.
'She's got a soft heart, our Elan,' Domi said.
'And a tough bite,' Qui-Gon said.
Domi laughed. 'True.' He touched his bandage gingerly. 'She has healing hands, like her father.'
'You knew her father?' Qui-Gon asked curiously.
'Rowi's memory is still cherished by our people,' Domi answered. 'He knew every herb in the mountains. He passed on his potions to Elan. And her mother Tema was known for her spirit. She was one of the few to leave us. She was restless, wanted to see the world outside. But she returned. Hill people always return.'
Domi slid off the stool.
'Where did Tema go?' Qui-Gon asked.
'To Galu, where they all go,' Domi answered. 'And they all return. Tema was an artisan, and she heard the palace needed workers. She wanted to see life outside the hills. She never spoke of what she found there. I never had an inclination to go, myself. I would miss the mountains.'
Smiling, Domi headed out. Qui-Gon frowned. So Elan had lied to him. Her mother had traveled to Galu, after all. And she had worked at the palace. Elan must be afraid, he realized. He had shattered her world, her belief in where she came from. She might push his words away. But she would not be able to forget them.
Elan had been to the kitchen dome, but had already left when he arrived. Food preparation was under control. Qui-Gon headed to the dome where the prisoners were kept, hoping to find her there. He nodded at the posted guard and went in.
The soldiers had gathered in small groups, talking quietly. Elan wasn't present.
Qui-Gon saw an officer sitting alone by the heating unit. His tunic was stained, and his hand was bandaged. He stared dully at the glowing bars of the heating unit.
Qui-Gon sat next to him. 'Are you all right?' he asked quietly. 'Do you need a medic?'
'He said they were barbarians,' the officer said numbly. 'He said they killed for sport and would attack the city next. Instead, they rescued us from suffocation and starvation. He said they must be annihilated to save Galu. He said they had no mercy. Instead, they gave us blankets.'
'Who said this?' Qui-Gon asked. 'Prince Beju?'
'Take orders from that pup?' The officer shook his head. 'It is Giba who gives us the orders. And he deceived us.'
Qui-Gon had to talk to Obi-Wan. Giba had to be stopped. If he was willing to destroy the hill people to kill Elan, he was no doubt engineering some sort of takeover of the government. Once again, Obi-Wan did not answer
