than most. He was a hostile presence, dressed in the skin and pelts of various creatures sewn together with thick silver cord in a colorful patchwork. His long, glossy hair was elaborately braided and hung over his shoulders. His thick fingers, overgrown with hair, were covered with jeweled rings.
'You scared away my herd!' he bellowed, stomping toward the Jedi in heeled boots.
'Black holes and blast the galaxy! What kind of fools are you?'
'We are the Jedi you summoned from Coruscant, King Frane,' Qui-Gon said calmly.
'You're a couple of gundark brains!' King Frane continued to bellow. 'Did you see that herd — we could have captured twenty-five skins at least. I've been tracking them for three days. You'll pay for this!'
Obi-Wan looked at Qui-Gon to see how he would respond. He couldn't believe that King Frane had insulted the Jedi in such a rude fashion. Would Qui-Gon turn on his heel and leave?
Qui-Gon was silent for a moment. He stared at King Frane without rudeness, waiting out his anger. The intelligence and calm in the Jedi's gaze soon made King Frane uncomfortable. His unease quickly changed back to anger.
'Don't use any Jedi mind tricks on me!' he fumed. 'You destroyed my sport for today. I've a mind to send you back to your Temple and declare war on the Senalis! At least I know I can blast them before they get away.'
'Especially if you have seeker droids to track them,' Qui-Gon said. 'Aren't seeker droids illegal on Rutan? I understood that they were outlawed so all Rutanians would have an equal chance at the game. Even the king,' Qui-Gon added pointedly.
King Frane's glassy green eyes glinted in his dark-blue skin. Obi-Wan could not decipher what he saw there. Would the king explode and insult them further? Obi-Wan knew that hunting was a popular pastime on Rutan. Rutanian skins and pelts were renowned throughout the galaxy for those who wore such things. Animals were bred specifically for the smoothness and beauty of their hides. Then they were sent in the wild in order to provide sport for the population.
King Frane prided himself on being the best hunter of all. Lists of kills were posted at the end of every year, and the king was always first. Now Qui-Gon had exposed the fact that he cheated.
Suddenly, King Frane let out a loud, explosive laugh. The royal party behind him broke out into nervous chuckles as well.
'Trumped by a Jedi! I'll be a gundark brain myself!' King Frane chortled. 'I can see that I sent for the best minds in the galaxy. That means I am as smart as they are, am I not?'
He threw an amiable arm around Qui-Gon's shoulder. 'Come, friend,' he said. 'I am glad to see you after all. You and your young companion are welcome to join us at our feast. There, we can discuss the foul and treacherous Senali.'
Chapter 3
The Jedi were led into a vast stone hall in the center of the royal palace. A huge bonfire was blazing in a pit set in the middle of the hall. The surrounding walls were blackened with smoke. Nek battle dogs lay on the cold stone floor, chained to posts carved with scenes of past battles. Stuffed heads of kudana and other native creatures were mounted on the walls at regularly spaced intervals. One large, fierce kudana was stuffed and stood on its hind legs at the entrance to the hall, sharp teeth bared. Qui-Gon reflected that it was one of the least appetizing dining halls he'd ever been in.
'Sit down, sit down,' King Frane urged them as he took a seat at the head of the long table. 'No, Taroon. Let the Jedi sit next to me.'
A tall, light-blue Rutanian with coiled braids arranged in loops around his head stepped back and glowered at the Jedi.
'My son, Prince Taroon,' King Frane said. Qui-Gon turned to greet him, but King Frane waved his hand, and Taroon took a place at the other side of his father. 'Let's talk about Leed. That's the reason you're here, eh?'
Qui-Gon sat as a server placed a heaping plate of meat in front of him. He nodded his thanks.
'Prince Leed has decided to stay on Senali —' he began.
'Decided!' King Frane interrupted with a roar. He pounded the table. 'So that lying dinko Meenon tells me! My son has been kidnapped!'
'But you yourself saw the holocom,' Qui-Gon pointed out. 'I have seen it, too. Prince Leed seems sincere.'
'He has been coerced, or threatened,' King Frane insisted, forking up a huge piece of meat. He shook his fork at Qui-Gon. 'Or they gave him one of their potions. They are primitives. They can use herbs and plants to cloud the mind. Leed would never decide to stay. Never!'
Suddenly, even as he stared fiercely at Qui-Gon, Frane's large green eyes filled with tears. He picked up his napkin and began to mop his streaming eyes. 'My oldest child. My treasure. Why won't he face me?' He blew his nose in his napkin and brooded. When he next looked at the Jedi, his face wore a mask of anger. 'It is the dirty Senalis who made him do this!' he bellowed. 'Why will he not come and face me?'
Perhaps because he is afraid of you, Qui-Gon thought. But he could not say it aloud. The king's changes of mood were startling, but they seemed sincere.
'What am Ito do, Jedi?' King Frane forked the meat again and chewed vigorously. 'Declare war?'
'Naturally we oppose such a step,' Qui-Gon said. 'That's why we are here. We can meet with Leed and assess the situation.'
'Bring him home,' King Frane said. 'And eat your dinner. It is the best Rutan has to offer.' Qui-Gon took polite bites. 'Meenon has agreed to our coming.'
'He is a pig! He is a savage!' King Frane cried. 'Do not believe a word he says. He stole my son. What does he know of loyalty? My son is a jewel. I kept up with his progress on their filthy planet. They have annual contests of speed and endurance and skill. He has won every year since he was thirteen. He is a jewel, I tell you. A natural
