See-Threepio moved up and down the line, fussing over items and reveling in his position. This type of duty was, after all, what a protocol droid was programmed for—not for bravery or adventure, but for intricate diplomatic functions.
In front of each gleaming plate sat a crystalline vase containing a cluster of fresh, rich-smelling greens, exotic plants taken from some of Coruscant’s botanical gardens—interesting specimens that formed a lovely bouquet for each honored visitor.
Before the start of the meal, Leia gave a carefully rehearsed speech, welcoming the ambassador and expressing her wish for a long and fruitful relationship based on commerce, mutual respect, and support. She whispered to Threepio, and the droid disappeared into an alcove, only to reemerge a moment later carrying a small package. Tenel Ka immediately recognized an incubator sheath wrapped around a smooth ovoid object.
“Hey, that’s the hawk-bat egg we rescued!” Jacen said, unable to stop himself.
Leia smiled and nodded. “Yes, and I suppose the ambassador may appreciate the gift even more, now that she knows it was found by the very children she is dining with.”
The Karnak ambassador trembled with excitement, her long hair jiggling, as Leia explained. “Madam Ambassador, we know very little about your culture—but we do know that you have a great love for unusual zoological specimens. We have heard reports of your magnificent holographic dioramas and huge alternate-environment zoos where the animals don’t even realize they are in a cage. As a diplomatic gift to you and your people, we present to you this rare and precious hawk-bat egg, one of the most difficult-to-catch creatures native to Imperial City. Very few of them are in captivity.”
Delighted, the Karnak Alpha ambassador cooed. “This will surely be a wonderful addition to our rarities.”
“But you have to take special care of it,” Jacen chided. “I promised its mother personally!”
The hairy ambassador didn’t seem to find the comment at all strange. “I give you my solemn promise.” Then the ambassador responded with her own rehearsed speech, her mouth moving somewhere between the strands of fur as she echoed the sentiments Leia had expressed.
Meanwhile, her children, little wriggling piles of hair, sat impatient and hungry for the meal, while Jacen, Jaina, and the other young Jedi Knights similarly felt their stomachs growling. Han Solo squirmed restlessly beside Leia in his formal clothes, as if chafing under his stiff collar and his medals of military service. Tenel Ka felt sympathy for him.
See-Threepio came into the room, strutting beside a trundle droid that carried a beaten silver tray of ornate plates piled high with scrumptious-looking cuisine, beautifully garnished and displayed. Out of normal political courtesy, the golden droid marched toward the head of the table while Leia and the Karnak ambassador made the appropriate appreciative sounds, showing how impressed they were with the exquisite food.
Tenel Ka watched See-Threepio move directly toward the ambassador, picking up one of the larger plates from the trundle droid’s tray. She knew instantly that Threepio meant to offer the first meal to the ambassador—which was a terribly rude thing to do, according to Karnak custom.
In one quick, fluid motion she sprang to her feet and called across the table. “Excuse me, See-Threepio,” she said. “If you would allow me?” She hurried to one end of the table as the droid stopped, completely at a loss as to what to do. One by one, Tenel Ka removed the plates from the tray and reverently set them in front of each of the ambassador’s children, starting with the smallest—and presumably the youngest—furball.
Princess Leia looked at Tenel Ka, surprised but reserving judgment. The Karnak ambassador made a motion that must have been a bow of her head. “Why, thank you, young lady. You do us a great honor. This is an unexpected observance of our customs.”
Tenel Ka nudged See-Threepio and moved him around to the other side of the table, where she tapped Anakin on the shoulder. She handed the boy a plate, then whispered into his ear. Anakin—without argument or question—stood up, dutifully moved down the table, and presented the next plate of food to the Karnak ambassador.
The ambassador chirped with surprise. “I am most honored, Chief of State,” she said to Leia, “that you would choose your youngest to serve me.
“I—thank you,” Leia said, uncertain of what else to say.
Tenel Ka stood behind Leia, nodding. Her braided red-gold hair fell forward. “Yes, Ambassador,” she said. “We wished to show you honor by respecting the customs of Karnak Alpha—that a young member of the household provides for the guests children, before a child of the host family serves the most honored adult guest.”
“I am most pleased,” the ambassador said. “We shall have a simple time making diplomatic treaties, if all members of the New Republic are so considerate of our customs.”
Trembling with relief that she had averted what could have been a social gaffe for the Chief of State, Tenel Ka sat back down, while Jacen bent toward her, his brandy-brown eyes wide with astonishment. “How did you know that?” he said in a low whisper.
Tenel Ka shrugged beneath her reptilian armor. “It is … just something I learned,” she said, and then fell silent, reluctant to reveal her royal upbringing, even to a good friend.
Even though Zekk sat back and remained quiet, he still felt uncomfortable. The meal tasted delicious, but each time he moved he was afraid that one of his gestures might offend someone or cause a diplomatic incident.
Threepio served the rest of the meals, and Zekk fell to eating with quiet attention, savoring the delicious food … though it was far richer than what he was accustomed to.
The salad in the crystal bowl in front of him was crunchy and strange—some of the leaves bitter, others stringy—but he had eaten far worse in his days of scavenging the streets. He had roasted rock slugs and eaten sliced duracrete fungus. These greens at least were fresh, and he relished them.
The conversation around the table seemed to be empty polite chitchat, and Zekk, feeling like an irrelevant guest, did his best to participate. He pushed aside the empty crystal bowl. “Delicious salad,” he said. “I don’t believe I’ve ever had greens like that.” That sounded good, a complimentary but neutral statement—enough to show willingness to take part in the dinner conversation, yet nothing anyone could fault him for.
Suddenly he felt all eyes turned toward him. He looked down to see if he had spilled something down the front of his out-of-style jacket.
Jacen seemed full of disbelief. Tenel Ka made no sign that she had even heard Zekk’s comment. Jaina nudged Zekk with her elbow in a teasing way. “That wasn’t a salad,” she whispered. “That’s the bouquet. You weren’t supposed to eat it.”
Zekk listened in horror, but kept his face a careful mask.
See-Threepio spoke up from behind them. “Now then, Mistress Jaina, many plants are edible, including all of those within the bouquet. I’m certain there’s been no harm—”
From the far end of the table Princess Leia cleared her throat. “I’m glad you liked the salad, Zekk,” she said in a voice loud enough for everyone to hear, and pulled her crystal dish toward her. She selected a frilly purple-green leaf and stuffed it in her mouth, munching contentedly. Han Solo looked at his wife as if she had gone crazy, then jerked as if he had been kicked under the table. He too began to eat his bouquet. Jaina followed suit, and soon everyone at the table had devoured their “salads.”
Zekk was mortified, though he tried not to show it. His manners were laughable, his clothing was outdated, and he had embarrassed everyone by eating something he should have known was a decoration. He wished he had never been invited to this banquet.