shadow or mark on Beju.
'You see,' Viso said quietly. 'There is no Mark of the Crown on you, my Prince.
That is for another. You are not the heir.'
The Prince stepped off the square. The beams of light disappeared immediately.
Obi-Wan expected the Prince to bluster, to say it meant nothing. He expected him to rail at Viso, call the elder a fool or a liar. But the Prince did none of those things. He slowly sank to his knees. His head dropped into his hands.
Obi-Wan saw his shoulders shake.
Viso drifted closer to stand at Obi-Wan's shoulder. 'Everything he knew has been taken from him,' he murmured quietly. 'You must help him, Obi-Wan.'
Then Viso glided out, leaving Obi-Wan alone with the weeping Prince.
Help Prince Beju? Obi-Wan didn't even like him. Just moments ago, Beju would have cheerfully stabbed him through the heart. But Viso was right. Beju had lost everything he knew, everyone he worshipped. His father was his hero. Giba had replaced him. He had nothing to believe in anymore.
Obi-Wan crouched a short distance away from Beju. 'Your father acted honorably at the end of his life, Prince Beju,' he said quietly. 'He revealed his deception. Your mother forgave him because he regretted what he had done.
Sometimes regret is all we can give to those we wound.'
Beju wrapped his arms around his knees. He kept his head down.
'My Jedi training tells me that to absorb a blow is to begin to recover from it,' Obi-Wan continued softly. 'Now you must decide what is best for you to do.
Do you want to rule Gala as Prince?'
He didn't expect the Prince to answer. But Beju raised his head. He fixed his reddened eyes on Obi-Wan. The trace of tears was still on his face.
'I don't know what I want anymore,' he whispered. 'I don't know anything.'
'You are still Prince,' Obi-Wan pointed out. 'Elan does not want to rule. Until the elections, you are the Queen's rightful heir. So you have an opportunity.
You can act like a Prince — you can rescue your mother and imprison Giba. If you are voted down by the people, you can leave a government that is still functioning and strong.'
'Giba told me that the people would vote for me in the end,' Prince Beju said numbly. 'He told me that there was great affection for me. But when I walked through the city I saw the truth in my people's eyes and I could not face it.
What can I do now? Today is election day.'
'You can stop him,' Obi-Wan said firmly. 'He only wants to retain his power.
He'll do it any way he can. If the people hear that the elections are not free, civil war could result. You must ensure that the elections go on.'
Prince Beju frowned. 'Giba is too smart to depend on me.'
'What do you mean?' Obi-Wan asked.
He shrugged. 'He would have a backup plan. Perhaps he has already ensured another way to win…'
Obi-Wan felt discouraged. Things at the palace kept doubling back on themselves. There was intrigue piled on intrigue. He wished Qui-Gon were here.
Just then, they heard the sound of shouting in the streets outside the palace.
Obi-Wan sprang up and headed for the Council Chamber. Beju followed on his heels. They hurried to the window. Hundreds — maybe thousands — of people were heading down the hill into Galu. Some of them were on swoops. They herded a battalion of the royal guard, who marched between them. At the head of the group rode a woman, her silver hair streaming behind her. Next to her rode Qui-Gon.
Galacians were spilling out into the street to see the sight.
'Whatever plan Giba has, it's over,' Obi-Wan told Beju. 'The hill people are coming to vote.'
Qui-Gon found Obi-Wan waiting for him at the palace gates. His heart lifted at the sight of his Padawan.
'I tried to reach you on the comlink,' he told him.
'I was unavoidably detained in a freezer,' Obi-Wan said with a grin. 'I see you convinced Elan to come after all.'
Qui-Gon nodded. 'When the royal guard attacked, she knew she was needed here.
Where is Giba?'
Obi-Wan led Qui-Gon back into the palace. 'Prince Beju has issued an arrest order. He can't avoid the guards for long.'
'Prince Beju?' Qui-Gon asked, puzzled. He hadn't expected Beju to go against his ally.
'He realized that Giba wasn't to be trusted,' Obi-Wan said. He frowned. 'I just hope it isn't too late for the Queen. I sent a medic with the antidote, but she's very weak.'
'You've been busy, Padawan,' Qui-Gon told him, giving him a nod of approval. He had wondered about
