The matriarch nodded and looked with renewed admiration at her granddaughter. “So much for diplomacy.”
Some five hours later, the entire bedraggled crew finally hauled themselves into the Fountain Palace.
Ta’a Chume was outraged to find that Ambassador Yfra had already assumed control. Declaring martial law, the ambassador had announced that there would be several hours of mourning over the untimely death of the dear, departed matriarch.
Tenel Ka marched beside her grandmother into the central throne room amidst gasps of horror, delight, and surprise from the guards. The most appalled expression, however, showed on the hardened face of Ambassador Yfra herself.
“Ta’a Chume!” she cried, standing up and trying unsuccessfully to hide the brief storm of anger that clouded her eyes. “You’re—you’re alive. But how—?”
“Your plot failed, Yfra. Guards, arrest this traitor!”
“On what charge?” Ambassador Yfra said in a reasonable tone, her confidence not yet shaken.
“Plotting to kill the entire royal household. I am only happy that Tenel Ka’s parents were absent, for I’m sure they would have been at risk as well.”
“Why, Ta’a Chume—I’ve never shown anything but loyalty to you.” Yfra’s voice was full of sweetness and offended innocence, though Tenel Ka could sense that she was lying. “How can you make such an accusation?”
“Because you took control. How could you possibly have known we were in danger if you hadn’t set up the plot yourself?”
“Well, I—” Yfra blinked. “I simply responded to the distress call sent out from Reef Fortress, of course.”
“Ah.” The matriarch pointed her long knobby finger and a smile curved her thin wrinkled lips. “Aha! But no distress signal was sent. Your Bartokk assassins blew up our power-generating station. We escaped. This is the first word that has gotten out—but you knew.” The matriarch nodded confidently. “Yes, you knew.”
Before Yfra could sputter another excuse, the guards came forward and took her into custody.
“Oh, she’ll be given a fair trial,” the matriarch said, “but I think we have more than enough proof—don’t you, Tenel Ka?” She raised her eyebrows.
“This is a fact,” the young warrior woman replied. “And I believe I have more than enough proof for something else, as well.” She stood straight, looking proudly into her grandmother’s eyes.
“This adventure has shown me that I am fully recovered from my injuries. I wish to return to Yavin 4.”
21
Tenel Ka sat up and looked around with brief disorientation before she remembered where she was. Letting her gray gaze skim across the ancient stone walls, arched doorway, and modest sleeping pallet, she experienced a sense of warmth and safety—and excitement.
It felt right to be back on Yavin 4, in her own student quarters in the Great Temple. She sat back on her pallet and began practicing her new skill—braiding her hair with one hand and her teeth.
Over the past weeks, the wrongness in her life had slowly dissolved, beginning with her parents’ safe return to Hapes. Having foiled an attempt on their own lives by Ambassador Yfra’s henchwomen, Teneniel Djo and Isolder had hurried back to find their daughter and her grandmother unharmed. They immediately sought out and purged the remaining conspirators from the royal court, while Ambassador Yfra awaited trial.
To Tenel Ka’s great surprise, neither of her parents had tried to talk her into wearing a synthetic arm or discontinuing her studies at the Jedi academy. In fact, when she had expressed her desire to continue her training, her mother and father had readily agreed, asking only that she stay to visit with them for a few weeks before returning to Yavin 4.
“I believe you may become a stronger warrior than ever you imagined,” Teneniel Djo said. “You have powerful legs, fast reflexes, and you still have your better fighting arm. From what your grandmother tells us, your wits have not been dulled, either.”
“And I think you may teach many a future opponent that one cannot judge a warrior’s worth by her outward appearance,” her father added, hugging her. “Never be ashamed of what you are—or who you are.”
When Luke Skywalker had returned in the Shadow Chaser to take Tenel Ka and the other young Jedi Knights back to Yavin 4, there had been no mistaking her parents’ pride. Her mother’s final whispered words still echoed through her mind: “May the Force be with you.”
Now, after a good night’s rest in familiar quarters, Tenel Ka felt ready to take her next step to recovery. She stood and stretched, delighting in the well-controlled response of her muscles.
She spent the next few minutes ransacking her belongings until she had collected the objects she needed. She found her remaining rancor-tooth trophy wrapped in its supple leather covering. She tucked it under the stump of her severed arm—not a completely useless limb after all, she noted with some satisfaction—while she searched for another item. When at last she located the jewel-encrusted tiara from Hapes, which her grandmother had insisted she take, she placed the two articles side by side on a tiny worktable in the corner and studied them.
Both objects were symbols of who she was, of her upbringing. The rancor’s tooth came from Dathomir, a planet that was wild, untamed, fierce, and proud. The tiara symbolized her Hapan inheritance: regal bearing, refinement, power, wealth, and political shrewdness.
Tenel Ka had long believed that honoring one part of her heritage implied that she must dishonor the other. Just as she had believed that trusting in the Force implied a lack of trust in herself. Wincing at the thought, she was compelled to acknowledge that she had actually gained wisdom from the loss of her arm. She knew now that she had to use every ability she possessed—including her talent with the Force—to become the best possible Jedi.
But what of her heritage? she thought, picking up the rancor’s tooth and turning it over in her palm. Hapes and Dathomir. Could she combine the best of both? She was, after all, only one person.
Coming to a decision, she grasped the rancor tooth tightly, lifted it over her head, and brought it smashing down on the glittering, jewel-studded tiara. The delicate crown broke into pieces.
Tenel Ka hammered again and again until bits of precious metal and gems lay strewn across the tiny table.
Yes, she decided. She was a product of two worlds, and she would learn to blend the best of her mother’s and her father’s. She laid down the rancor’s tooth and reached for the other items she had assembled.
Then, selecting the finest jewels from her Hapan tiara, she began to build her new lightsaber.
Brilliant morning sunlight played across the top of the Great Temple and filtered through Tenel Ka’s partially braided hair to form a red-gold nimbus around her. Jacen stood about a meter away, facing her, a gentle breeze ruffling his unruly brown curls. His face was filled with apprehension.
“You sure you want to do this?” he asked.
“Yes,” she said simply, though she felt an uncertain fluttering in the pit of her stomach.
“Well, I’m not sure I can go through with it,” he said in a low voice.
“You? But why—”
“Blaster bolts! The last time we did this, I ended up …” Jacen’s voice trailed off and he looked significantly at what remained of her arm.
“Ah,” Tenel Ka said. “Aha.”
“So I’m asking you if you’re sure,” Jacen said, “because I’m not.”
Gray eyes searched brandy-brown while Tenel Ka considered this. Her throat was tight with unaccustomed emotion when she finally spoke. “Jacen, my friend, I know of no better way to show that I trust you … that I do not blame you for what happened.”