meant to honor, not threaten. The latter would have been difficult for the pickets to do in any case, given the disparity in size between their sadains and the visitors' suubatars.
The differences between the Borokii encampment and anything the travelers had encountered thus far were both striking and immediately apparent. Though entirely mobile, the commu nity had been laid out like a permanent town, with temporary streets and designated areas for residential, commercial, and manufacturing activities. The latter consisted largely of processing large numbers of surepp carcasses for export. This was not unexpected. Something, Luminara knew, had to pay for all the imported structures and high technology that was on prominent display.
They drew plenty of stares but no impolite comment. Once more she noted how the lack of discernible suspicion was in stark contrast to their reception by the Yiwa. Given the power and reputation of the Borokii, coupled with the size of the nomad community, that was not so surprising. Clearly, here were a people who felt themselves secure, and deserving of the exalted position of overclan.
Still, she exchanged a meaningful glance with Obi-Wan when they were brought to a halt outside what Bayaar identified as the visitors' house. The last 'visitors' house' they had stayed in had not proved very accommodating.
Apprised of their concerns, Kyakhta hastened to reassure the Jedi. 'These are not mistrustful Yiwa or double-dealing Qulun. Since the Borokii are strong enough not to fear the challenge of outsiders, they are also secure enough to welcome them. And they have a reputation for courtesy to uphold.' He indicated the building before them. 'I think we will be safe here.'
In response, Luminara instructed her suubatar to kneel. Climbing off, she watched while one of Bayaar's troops took the beast in hand, guiding it back down the street by its reins. Others took charge of their remaining mounts.
'What about our supplies?' Anakin inquired aloud.
'Your property will not be touched.' Bayaar was not insulted by the query. After all, these were not only outsiders, they were offworlders. It was to be expected they would be unfamiliar with Borokii ways. Trying to decide whether Luminara or Obi-Wan was the leader of the visitors, he found himself unable to do so, and settled for addressing them simultaneously.
Having been informed of the nature of their purpose in seek ing out the overclan, he tried to keep a neutral tone in his voice, even though personally he was not sanguine about the strangers' aspirations.
'I will convey your request to the Council of Elders. Mean while, you will be made comfortable, and be given food and drink.'
'Do you think they'll give us an audience, your council?' Luminara was quite taken by this dignified warrior- sentinel, who thus far had demonstrated both courtesy and curiosity. Not that he could by any means be considered an ally, but he at least struck her as sympathetic.
'It's not for me to say. I am only a sentinel.' Placing hands over eyes and chest, he departed, leaving the visitors to wait for a formal response. Hopefully, she mused, it would not be long in coming. Councils of every type and species had a distressing tendency to dawdle until a consensus could be reached. With luck the Borokii, a people used to being always on the move, would be more responsive.
Everything they experienced during the next several hours spoke to the strength of the overclan. The food was better, the drinks richer, the trimmings and trappings of the visitors' house in every way more lavish than anything they had previously encountered on Ansion. Truth be told, they enjoyed themselves. After their dubious encounters with the Yiwa and the Qulun, it was a relief to be able to relax in pleasant surroundings reasonably confident they would not be set upon at any moment by potential assailants. Both Kyakhta and Bulgan were convinced of that much, though Tooqui remained as chary as always. As to the possible response they would receive from the Borokii Council of Elders, the two guides could offer no opinion.
Bayaar was back well before evening. If the swiftness of his return was encouraging, his words were not. At best, they were ambiguous.
'The council will greet you,' the sentinel informed them.
Barriss's face broke out into a wide smile. 'We're all set, then.'
As she spoke, Bayaar turned his attention to her. 'I am not entirely certain what you mean by that, but I think you are confident too soon. When I say that the council will greet you, that is all they will do. Not to do so would be ill mannered.'
Obi-Wan worked to interpret their host's meaning, as opposed to his words. 'Are you saying they will receive us, but not listen to our proposal?'
Bayaar nodded. 'In order for that to happen, you must pre sent the council with an appropriate conventional offering of their choosing.'
'Oh, well then.' Obi-Wan relaxed slightly. 'What would sat isfy the council? We have access to some funds that can be used for trade. If something more substantial is required…' He left the question open.
'Actually, the council requests that you present them with something smaller.' Bayaar let his gaze travel over the group. Having encountered only a few human traders before, he was fascinated by their tiny, squinched-up eyes and individual follicu-lar variations. 'They wish one of you to hand them a handful of wool taken from the ruff of a mature white male surepp.'
'That's all?' Anakin blurted. Obi-Wan threw his Padawan a warning glance, but a very mild one. He was himself surprised by the seemingly unpretentious nature of the request.
Which was why he was immediately wary.
'Where can we purchase some of this wool?'
'You cannot buy it.' Bayaar was uncomfortable in the posi tion of diplomatic go-between. He would much rather have been out on the prairie, patrolling a picket line, weapon in hand. 'One of you must take it, by hand, in the traditional manner and without the use of any marvelous offworld devices or other forms of assistance such as a suubatar mount, from the back of a white surepp.'
Tooqui made a face. 'Don't like this idea. Too many many surepp gots too many many big feet.'
Leaning over, Barriss whispered to her fellow Padawan. 'I don't like this either, Anakin. Just a handful of wool? It seems too easy. The surepp are domesticated herd animals, therefore they can't be too hard to work
