chamber. 'Just as I thought. A little inquisition going on here, eh?'
Mace got to his feet, smiling broadly at the sarcasm. 'Welcome, Thracia.'
Obi-Wan bowed his head in respect.
'Anakin, may I stand beside you?' Thracia Cho Leem walked slowly toward the center of the chamber where Obi-Wan and Anakin stood. Her gray hair was cut to a close cap on her long skull, and her aquiline nose sniffed at the cool air as if she judged all by their scent. Her eyes, large and bright, irises like ultramarine beads, swept the empty seats. She gathered her long dark robes and pulled up her sleeves to reveal strong, thin arms. Then she thrust out her chin. 'I should have warned you I'd return, Mace,' she said.
'It is always an honor, Thracia,' Mace said.
'You seem to be ganging up on this boy.'
'It could be worse,' Mace said. 'Most of the Council are away today. Yoda would be much harsher-'
'That big-eared tree stump knows nothing about human children. And for that matter, neither do you. You've never married, Mace! I have. I have many sons and daughters, on many worlds. Sometimes I think you should all take a break, as I did, and sniff the real air, see how the Force manifests in everyday life, rather than mope around learning how to swing lightsabers.'
Mace's smile became one of delight. 'It is wonderful to have you with us, Thracia, after so many years.' There was not a hint of irony in his tone. He was, in fact, pleased to have her in the room, and seemed even more pleased that she had surprised them. 'What do you suggest for young Skywalker?'
'There's something wrong with me,' Anakin interrupted, and then clamped his mouth shut, glancing around the chamber.
'Nonsense!' Thracia cried, her face wrinkled in irritation. She was about Anakin's height, and looked him straight in the eyes. 'None of us can see into another's heart. Mercifully, the Force does not do that for us. I ask you, boy, what do you want to prove?'
'You know what happened?' Obi-Wan inquired of her.
'You came back this afternoon covered with slime and smelling of garbage. It's the talk of the staff in the Temple,' Thracia said. 'Anakin amuses them. He's brought more energy and spark to this gloomy old pile than anyone in recent memory, including Qui-Gon Jinn. Now, boy, what do you want to prove?'
'I don't want to prove anything. I need to know who I am, as Obi-Wan tells me over and over.'
Thracia sniffed once more and regarded Obi-Wan with a mix of affection and sharp judgment. 'Obi-Wan has forgotten ever being a child.'
Obi-Wan gave her a small grin. 'Qui-Gon would have disagreed.'
'Qui-Gon! Now there was child, all his life a child, and wiser than most! But enough banter. I sense there is real danger here.'
'There was an assassination attempt,' Obi-Wan said. 'A Blood Carver.'
'We suspect involvement from dissident forces within the Republic,' Mace said.
'He knew all about me,' Anakin added.
'All?' Thracia inquired, arching a brow at Mace.
'I let him-' The boy's eyes widened in realization. He stared at Obi-Wan. 'Master, I realize my error!'
Thracia pressed her lips together and turned to Obi-Wan.
Obi-Wan folded his arms. He and Anakin might have been brothers, separated by only a double handful of years, yet Obi-Wan was the closest thing the boy could ever have to a father. 'Yes?'
'I sought out personal peace and satisfaction in the pit race, rather than thinking of the greater goals of the Jedi.'
'And?' Obi-Wan encouraged.
'I mean, I know it was wrong to sneak out of the Temple, to mislead my master, to engage in illegal activity that could have brought disrepute on the order-'
'A long list,' Mace Windu said.
'But… I pursued personal goals even after it should have been obvious to me that the Temple was being threatened.'
'Very serious, indeed,' Thracia murmured. She took Anakin by the shoulders, then glanced at Obi-Wan to see if she could intervene. He assented, though with some misgivings. Thracia was renowned for training female Jedi, not for preparing young males.
'Anakin, your powers, someday, could surpass those of anyone in this room. But what happens when you push something harder?'
'It moves faster,' Anakin said.
She nodded. 'You are propelled by an inheritance few can understand.' Thracia dropped her hands from his shoulders. 'Obi-Wan?'
'Moving faster gives you little time to think,' Obi-Wan continued where she had left off. 'You must temper your passions, but be less concerned, for now, with being free from your pain. Youth is a time of uncertainty and unrest.'
'Couldn't have put it better myself,' Thracia said. 'Anakin, be a child. Revel in it. Test your limits. Irritate and provoke. It is your way. Time enough for wisdom when you've worn more holes in your shoes. Run your master ragged! It'll be good for him. It'll remind him of when he was a boy. And. . tell us what you need, now, to go where you must finally go in your training.'
