'She had failed in her mission to protect him,' Obi-Wan said.
'I think the loss was more personal,' Anakin said. 'And later she called him 'Samish.' Dane always calls him 'Kash.' I think she's in love with him.'
'How is that relevant to our mission?'
Anakin shot him a sidelong look. Amazing that they were running hard down a mountain, and Anakin could still have the energy for a healthy dose of scorn.
'Love is always relevant, Master,' he said.
Chapter 25
Another bribe got them access to the cell.
'Take your time,' the villager said, waving a hand as the door slid open. 'We've decided to kill them at dawn.'
The rest of the villagers roared and pounded the table. They had been drinking grog for some time now. The door slid shut, drowning out their laughter.
'Did you hear that?' Dane hissed at Floria.
'She's not afraid,' Anakin said. 'Why is that, Floria?' 'I am not panicking like my brother, it's true,' Floria said.
'And you are no longer grieving,' Anakin said. 'Why is that?'
Floria turned her extraordinary sky-blue eyes on Anakin. They looked at each other for a long moment. 'You love him,' Anakin said.
'Of course she loves me,' Dane said. 'I'm her brother.' Another long silence. Anakin waited her out. Obi-Wan kept very still.
'I love Samish,' Floria admitted. Her chin lifted and her eyes flashed, as though to say the words out loud had given her great pleasure.
'You love who?' Dane shouted.
'And he is still alive,' Anakin said.
Floria nodded.
'What?' Dane cried, leaping in front of Floria. 'You love Samish Kash, and he's still alive?'
'Dane, stop. He was shot, but he survived,' Floria said. 'He decided to let everyone think he was dead after the attempt on his life. He wanted to find out who had put a price on his head and why. The alliance is very important to him, and he doesn't trust Dooku.'
'He was our employer!' Dane said. 'We worked for him. You were his bodyguard. You went against all professional standards — '
'Be quiet,' Anakin ordered, turning on Dane. 'Floria couldn't help her feelings.'
'You can always help your feelings,' Dane said. 'Feelings need help.
Otherwise they get completely out of control!'
Obi-Wan ignored Dane. 'When we first saw you, you thought Samish Kash was dead.' At Floria's nod, he continued. 'How did you find out he was alive?'
'You let me think I was going to be executed!' Dane cried, as a fresh wave of indignation swept over him.
'Lorian told me,' Floria said. 'He had brought Kash to the clinic. He, too, had thought he was dead. Kash revived on the med table. Lorian bribed the doctor and he and Samish came up with the plan. The first thing Samish asked Lorian to do was tell me. Right after that, we were arrested.'
'Did you ever think of mentioning that the person we supposedly killed wasn't dead?' Dane asked.
'I couldn't say anything. Not until the meeting,' Floria said. 'If Dooku has a plan, it will take place there. Lorian and Samish decided that Samish should show up at the meeting. If Dooku had arranged his assassination, it might be enough to foil his plans.'
'So Lorian told the truth,' Obi-Wan said. 'He didn't hire the assassin. He could have gotten off the hook by telling us Samish was alive, and he didn't.'
'He had sworn to keep the secret,' Floria said. 'Samish always said Lorian had come both early and late to honor. I wasn't sure what he meant.'
'I think I do.' Obi-Wan looked at Anakin. 'They are walking into a trap,' he said.
A trap he could have prevented. He could have told Lorian about the battle droids, and he had not. Angry with himself, Obi-Wan piloted the speeder up the mountain toward Dooku's villa at maximum speed. It had only taken a little truth, a little persuasion, and two glowing lightsabers to get the villagers to release their prisoners. As soon as they heard that Samish Kash was alive and that the two hunters were actually Jedi, they even turned over several speeders for their use.
Obi-Wan and Anakin had each taken a speeder. Floria and Dane insisted on coming with them. Despite everything, Dane considered Samish Kash his responsibility to protect. Floria just wanted to be with him, 'whatever happens.'
The villa rose above them, as gray and forbidding as the stone mountain. The meeting was about to begin. Obi-Wan saw the security gate ahead. The speeder had light armor mounted on the hull. He opened fire and blasted his way through the gate. Immediately a durasteel shield began to descend over the wide double doors of the front entrance. It would no doubt prove impenetrable to explosives.
