The Mark of the Crown Read online

  Obi-Wan guessed that the Queen was being poisoned with her night tray, but he couldn't be absolutely sure. He had no way of knowing how long the poisonous agent took to act. He couldn't take any chances with the Queen's life.

  He hurried to the Queen's chambers. The Queen sat in the outer chamber in her morning robe. Dark circles were under her eyes, and her long hair fell lankly down her back. The table was set for her breakfast - tea, fruit, and a protein cake. She was just lifting the tea to her lips with a shaking hand ...

  "No!" Obi-Wan cried. He sprang forward and knocked the cup away. It fell and smashed on the stone floor.

  The Queen slowly turned to stare at it. "That was part of my betrothal gift," she said.

  "I think you're being poisoned, Queen Veda," Obi-Wan blurted.

  The Queen seemed to move her head with difficulty. She fixed her eyes on him. "What did you say?"

  "I don't know who it is," Obi-Wan said desperately. "I have no proof - not yet. But if it is true, you must not drink or eat anything that is prepared for you."

  "This is impossible," the Queen whispered.

  "Impossible it is," Prince Beju announced, striding in. Giba followed on the Prince's heels. "The Jedi is lying!"

  "Why would he lie, my son?" Queen Veda asked weakly.

  "To discredit the palace," Prince Beju answered. "Or for some other reason we have yet to discover. I do not trust either of them, Mother!"

  "And where is the other?" Giba demanded silkily. "Time and time again I have asked to see him, only to hear that he is resting, or walking about. I do not believe it! This Jedi lies already, I think. So why should he not lie about this?"

  "You both are ready to accuse me. Strange that you do not give a thought to whether what I say is true," Obi-Wan pointed out. "Even if there is a chance that it's true, I would think you would be concerned. Look at the Queen. She grows weaker every day."

  The Prince turned to his mother. His angry look faltered for a moment, and he took a half step toward her. Then he collected himself and turned to Obi-Wan. "My mother's illness is not your concern. And spreading lies about it doesn't help her. It only upsets her! Perhaps Qui-Gon Jinn is mixed up in this poisoning you speak of. Giba is right. It is strange that we haven't seen him. He agreed to our rules, and then broke his promise. He is capable of anything!"

  "Qui-Gon has gone to the mountains to try to convince Elan to bring the hill people to vote," Obi-Wan said. It was a half truth, but at least it gave an explanation for his disappearance. He could not reveal the Queen's secret.

  "What a ridiculous story!" Prince Beju scoffed. "Why would the hill people make a difference? Why should we care what they think? Obviously, you are lying again."

  The Queen pushed herself to her feet. The act seemed to cause her great effort. "He is not lying, Beju," she said. "I know it. I asked Qui-Gon to contact Elan. For me."

  "But why?" Prince Beju asked, wheeling around to face his mother.

  "Because she is your half sister," Queen Veda replied steadily. "It is time you knew. Your father had an early marriage, and a child. He divorced his wife and abandoned the child. The decision haunted him-"

  "I don't believe it!" Prince Beju shook his head. "Now you are lying. Father would not act so dishonorably. Family is the cornerstone of life on Gala. How often he said that. He would not disgrace the Tallah name by marrying a hill person. And he would not abandon his child! You know this!"

  "I am sorry to tell you this, Beju," Queen Veda said gently. "It is true. He regretted it. He wanted to make it right."

  "You defile Father's memory," Prince Beju whispered in horror. "Will you go to any length to shame me?"

  The Queen turned to Giba. "Tell him," she begged. "You were there. You know it is true."

  Giba shook his head. "I'm sorry, Queen. I will do anything for Your Highness. Except lie for you."

  The Queen staggered backward. Obi-Wan moved forward to support her.

  "Now I see it all," Prince Beju raged. "You are in league with the Jedi. You have conspired against me. You will do whatever it takes to make sure I do not gain the crown."

  "No, Beju, my son," Queen Veda said weakly. "No-"

  "I am calling the guards,” Prince Beju said firmly. He moved toward the tubes mounted in the wall.

  Obi-Wan was still holding on to the Queen's arm. He could feel her shaking. She was close to collapse. Yet with a sudden burst of strength, she pulled away from Obi-Wan. She had time to give him a look that told him to run. Then she staggered forward and collapsed against her son.

  Prince Beju was thrown off balance. He held on to his mother so that she wouldn't fall. Giba took a step forward to help him.

  Obi-Wan quickly ran out the door.

  Obi-Wan fled. He burst through the door to the gardens and saw the flick of a silver robe as the elder council member with the milky blue eyes moved off into the trees. Obi-Wan turned in the opposite direction and snaked through the orchard. He had to leave the palace grounds, and he could not leave by the main gate. He was sure now that Giba was behind the Queen's poisoning. The only question was if Prince Beju knew about it. The Prince had seemed genuinely stricken by his mother's condition.

  He heard running footsteps behind him. Obi-Wan quickened his pace. He was almost to the high stone wall that surrounded the palace grounds.

  "Obi-Wan! Wait, friend!"

  It was Jono. Obi-Wan hesitated. Could he trust him? He wanted to trust him. He liked him.

  But had it just been a coincidence that Giba and Beju had burst into the room while he was talking to the Queen? Had Jono followed him there from the gardens, then run to fetch them? Qui-Gon's warning lay heavy on his heart.

  "Please!" Jono called. In another moment, he would round the turn of the path. What if he was bringing the guards? Obi-Wan still had time to run.

  I knew you would return.... I have waited for a friend for a long time, Obi-Wan.

  He remembered the look in Jono's eyes that day, wistful and sincere. Jono had trusted him. Obi-Wan had to return the favor. Obi-Wan stopped short.

  Jono burst into sight, his blond hair flying. He almost slammed into Obi-Wan, but instead tripped and went flying.

  "Ow!" he cried, rubbing his knee. He pushed his hair out of his eyes and grinned. "That will teach me to try to catch a Jedi."

  Obi-Wan helped him to his feet. "You can run fast."

  "That's why you need me," Jono said. "You must let me help you. I was coming to attend the Queen. I heard what happened. Do you really think the Queen is being poisoned?" he ended on a whisper.

  "Yes, I do," Obi-Wan said.

  "Beju has called the guards. It's not safe here, Obi-Wan. They're already searching for you."

  "I was just about to leave," Obi-Wan told him.

  "But where will you go?" Jono asked, frowning.

  "I'll hide in the city," Obi-Wan said. "I'll wait for Qui-Gon to return."

  "They will catch you," Jono said. "There are spies everywhere. I must go with you. And I know where we should go."

  "Where?" Obi-Wan asked.

  "To Deca Brun," Jono said firmly. "He will help us."

  Deca Brun's headquarters were in a crowded, bustling area of Galu, in the middle of shops and tall residential towers. Red banners proclaiming his name flapped from almost every window. Large posters of a smiling Deca were plastered on walls. Written on the bottom in Deca's bold handwriting was: I AM YOU! WE ARE ONE!

  "It was Deca who showed us that we are all Galacians," Jono told Obi-Wan as they approached the building. "Before, family lineage was the most important tie on Gala. The great families of Gala - the Tallahs, the Gibas, the Prammis, and others - received the favors of the court. It was Deca who said that we owed loyalty to each other, to all Galacians." The boy's face shone with pride. "He made me realize that there was a world outside the palace." Jono pushed open the door. The office was filled with campaign workers. Some tapped on datapads, others huddled in groups, talking earnestly.

  One tall, bony
Galacian caught sight of Jono. He grinned and waved him over. "Jono! Come to volunteer, have you?"

  Jono headed for the man. "Sila, this is my friend Obi-Wan. We need to see Deca at once."

  Sila smiled. "So do we all, Jono," he said. "He's hard to track down. He's everywhere. Making speeches, meeting new supporters..."

  "But this is important," Jono insisted.

  Sila's smile faded. "I can see that," he said. "He could be in his private quarters." He hesitated. "Come with me," he said.

  Obi-Wan nodded at Jono to go ahead. He took a seat against a wall. Suddenly a young woman stuck her head in the front door. "Rally on Thrush Street

  ," she called. "Aren't you all coming? We need help."

  The Brun workers sprang to their feet, grabbing banners and laser signs. "Hold down the fort," one of them yelled at Obi-Wan. He nodded.

  In seconds, the room had cleared out. Someone had left a holofile open on the desk near him. Obi-Wan leaned over it.

  A familiar name caught his eye. OFFWORLD.

  A chill ran though Obi-Wan. He and Qui-Gon had tangled with Offworld recently. The corporation was a ruthless organization that enslaved beings for their vast mining operations. They plundered planets, depleted their natural resources, and then moved on. And Offworld was headed by Qui-Gon's enemy, his former apprentice, Xanatos.

  Obi-Wan touched the scrolling device. As far as he could make out, Offworld had donated a large sum to Deca Brun's campaign. The money had been funneled through several names of other Galacian companies.

  Obi-Wan closed the file and scrolled through the remaining file titles, but there was no other mention of Offworld. Then he saw a file marked GALACIAN MINING CORP. He accessed it. It was a detailed plan for opening up half of tiny Gala to mining operations. This would include the Galacian Sea , the largest source of fresh water for the planet - and the home of the few remaining sea people.

  Obi-Wan quickly read through the plans, which included importing workers from other worlds, building spaceports for the huge transports that were part of Offworld operations, and "recruiting" native Galacians for the work.

  The company was a front for Offworld.

  Deca Brun must have agreed to the plans in exchange for financial support, Obi-Wan realized. Deca claimed his treasury was based on small donations from the average Galacian. It was proof of his wide support. But instead, most of his campaign had been funded by Offworld.

  Obi-Wan quickly shut down the holofile. He turned and hurried through the door where Jono had disappeared. He had to find the boy, get out of there, and warn Qui-Gon...

  Instead, he ran into four blasters pointed at his chest. Four guards stood in the hallway. Behind them was another door. Obi-Wan heard the lock click behind him on the door he'd just run through.

  "Give me your weapons, spy," one of them said.

  "I'm not a spy-" Obi-Wan began. Blaster fire suddenly erupted. Obi-Wan heard it whistle by his ear and thud into the wall behind him. Bits of stone flew out. One cut his cheek.

  "Give me your weapons, spy," the guard repeated.

  Another guard came forward. He took Obi-Wan's lightsaber and comlink.

  "Do you know," the guard said conversationally, "how much food it takes to feed Deca's organization?"

  Surprised by the question, Obi-Wan shook his head.

  "Let me show you," the guard invited. He pushed Obi-Wan forward roughly with his blasters.

  They took him to a vast kitchen area. Then they opened a thick durasteel door and shoved him inside. It was a food storage area. Boxes lined row after row of shelves, and meat hung from hooks on a far wall. It was cold. Obi-Wan landed on the floor of the huge freezer. He heard the thick door shut, and the bolt shot home.

  As soon as Qui-Gon woke, he knew the storm was over. The wind had died, and an eerie stillness lay over the camp. When he cracked open the door of the dome, he saw a white blanket of snow, and a clear blue sky. Elan would want him to leave today. Qui-Gon gathered his things, trying to gather his thoughts as well. Was there another argument he had yet to try? He refused to give up. He sensed that Elan's participation in the election process was crucial for its success.

  He ate a small breakfast and walked through the snow to Elan's dome. The hill people were already stirring. Children were playing in the snow. A man gathered late season berries from a bush. Dana waved at him from across the clearing, where he was carrying wood for an elder.

  Qui-Gon knocked on the door of Elan's dome, and she called out an invitation to enter. She was mixing salves and potions at a work table in front of a small, cheerful fire. Qui-Gon remembered Obi-Wan's suspicions. He had discounted them immediately. Had he been wrong to do so? Yet something in Elan felt pure to him, felt real. He could not imagine her capable of condemning someone to a slow death by poisoning. Qui-Gon pulled up a chair next to her.

  "Don't get too comfortable," she said. "You're leaving this morning."

  "The snow seems deep," Qui-Gon observed.

  "We'll give you a swoop," she said. She began to rub herbs into a paste.

  "My wounds still trouble me," Qui-Gon said.

  "I'm making you some medicine," she answered, unperturbed. "Almost as good as bacta." She looked at him at last with a faint smile. "Do you think I will change my mind, Qui-Gon? If so, you don't know me."

  "Ah," he said. "But I feel that I do."

  The rumble of thunder suddenly rolled through the still air. The dome rattled with the power of it.

  "Another storm," Qui-Gon said.

  She grinned. "You'll make it."

  The thunder rumbled again. Qui-Gon sat up straighter. When he looked at Elan, he saw that her smile had faded.

  "That is not thunder," Elan said.

  "Tanks," Qui-Gon replied.

  When they ran from the dome, Dana was racing for them. "We're under attack," he said breathlessly. "It's the royal guard! I saw the insignia."

  The rumble of tanks made the ground shake. Qui-Gon saw them approaching across a wide plain. The tanks were hampered by the deep snow, but they would make it. The hill people didn't have much time.

  "We've got to divert them from the camp," Elan cried.

  A shadow fell over the snow. Qui-Gon looked up. A massive royal guard transport ship banked over the camp. It landed in a snow-covered meadow near the moving tanks. Ramps slid down around the transport. More tanks rolled down.

  "Proton tanks," Qui-Gon said. "The troops are inside. They won't risk exposure if they don't have to."

  "The camp will be leveled," Dana said.

  Elan bit her lip, thinking. "The wind came from the northeast during the storm, right, Dana?"

  "Yes, but..."

  "Get everyone to the swoops," Elan ordered crisply. "Have Nuni take all the children and elders to the safe shelter. And send Viva to gather my medicines. We... we could need them later. Quickly!"

  Dana nodded and ran off. Elan turned to Qui-Gon. He admired her coolness in the face of such odds.

  "And you, Qui-Gon," she said. "I will need every swoop for battle. I can't loan you one now. But you can escape down the back of the mountain that way." She pointed to a narrow trail that snaked past the domes.

  "I'll take that swoop you promised me," Qui-Gon answered.

  "But I can't-"

  He activated his lightsaber and held the glowing green light front of her. "I will not leave your people unprotected," he said.

  The hill people were ready to go - everyone over the age of ten and under the age of eighty sat astride swoops, Qui-Gon guessed.

  Elan swung a leg over her swoop. Qui-Gon did the same.

  "Here's the plan," she told the others. "First, we buzz the tanks. Make them angry. Keep out of cannon range. Remember the zoomball game?"

  Everyone nodded. She grinned at them, meeting as many eyes as she could. "Make the tanks the goalposts. Fly as though you're up against the best zoomball players in the galaxy. We're going to try to drive them away from the camp. Then when they're good and mad, we'll h
ead to Moonstruck Pass. "

  "Moonstruck Pass?" Dana asked. "But-"

  Elan grinned. "Exactly."

  Qui-Gon didn't have time to ask what they meant. Elan gunned her engines and took off. Within seconds she was just a dot in the distance. The others followed.

  Qui-Gon had driven speeders of various kinds and all sorts of flying vehicles. This was his first experience on a swoop. The engine controls, as well as the steering, were on the handlebars. He gunned the engine as Elan had, picked up speed, then corrected his direction slightly by turning the right handlebar. Immediately, the swoop flipped and headed for a tree.

  "Lean away from the turn!" someone yelled to his left, and Qui-Gon leaned, holding on for dear life. Once he felt the swoop was under control again, he tried a more cautious correction. This time he was able to stay with the others, or at least keep them in sight.

  Soon, Qui-Gon had a feel for the machine. It was more responsive than he was used to, but it was agile. Before coming in range of the ion cannons, he practiced diving and soaring and sharp turns, hanging in midair and then turning. Then he picked up speed to join the others, who were almost in range of the tanks.

  Elan turned as he rode up next to her. "About time," she said. Her grin was friendly, as though they were out for a pleasure ride. "Think you can handle that machine?"

  "I'll do my best," Qui-Gon answered, just as cannon fire ripped into a tree to his left.

  "You'll need to," Elan answered. She turned her handlebars sharply to the right, avoiding another blast from the cannon.

  The swoops spread out in formation, dived, and zoomed upward again. They charged forward to the tanks, then retreated. Soon, Qui-Gon caught the rhythm. He understood why Elan had likened it to a game. The tanks were clumsy compared to the small, agile swoops. They were able to fly up high, then zoom downward into the mouths of the cannons, then turn away before the royal guard had a chance to fire.

  Elan and Dana led one tank on a chase, losing it in some undergrowth. Qui-Gon heard a tremendous crash, and a cheer went up among the hill people. The tank had fallen nose-first into a ravine.