First Knight - Part Twenty-Six
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Obi-Wan slowly opened his eyes. He was lying on his back, so the first thing he noted was that instead of the metal ceiling of Auna's ship, he was looking up at what appeared to be animal skins. The second thing was that his head was hurting and so was his left shoulder. The third was that when he tried to move his hands, he found he couldn't. He looked down his body. Both his hands and ankles were tied securely with white ropes which were as thick around as his wrists.
Obi-Wan turned his head to the side. As he had suspected he was in a tent made entirely out of animal skins. He could hear the wind whipping against the hides of which the walls were made and, although the edges of the tent were tied down securely, bits of snow and cold puffs of air whished inside. He turned his head to the left, hoping to see some sign of Auna, but all he saw was some bedding, a few wooden crates and some spears and clubs stacked in a pile. He apparently was in some kind of storage tent.
Ignoring the pounding in his head, Obi-Wan tried to free himself from the ropes, but not only were they the thickest ropes he had ever seen, they were tied in such a way it was wonder the blood hadn't stopped circulating in his feet and hands. Mustering his strength he rolled onto his left side, hoping to somehow get his hands on his lightsaber which was attached to his belt under his tunic, but just as he had feared, his lightsaber was gone. As Obi-Wan lay on his side catching his breath, he wondered if Auna was all right. When the ship had crashed, the last thing he remembered was a blinding light, intense pain, then blackness.
Considering his surroundings, he could only assume a band of Whiphids had come across the crash site and brought him, and he hoped, Auna to their camp. Obi-Wan rolled onto his back and, just as he did, the flap to the tent opened and a Whiphid ducked down and entered.
The creature was over two meters tall and wore only a leather strap upon which he carried a large crudely made saber. Obi-Wan assumed that with his thick fat and natural insulation, he didn't need to wear much else. The Whiphid walked over and stared down at him for a moment. Obi-Wan cleared his throat, realizing that, along with his throbbing headache, he was terribly thirsty.
"My names is Obi-Wan Kenobi. Can you tell me what happened to the woman that was with me? You found us at the crash site, correct? Is she all right?"
The Whiphid tilted his head as he continued to stare down at Obi-Wan. His eyes were long and black but almost hidden by the skin surrounding them. Probably useful protection, Obi-Wan surmised, against the wind and the blinding light of the sun on the white landscape, but it made it difficult for him to detect whether the Whiphid was understanding him.
Leaning over, the Whiphid grabbed Obi-Wan by the arm and, as if he weighed no more than a child, pulled him to his feet. Obi-Wan swayed dizzily for a bit, but the Whiphid's hold on his arm kept him from falling. With a hard jerk, the creature pulled Obi-Wan along, dragging him, actually, since Obi- Wan could not walk as his ankles were securely bound.
Once outside, Obi-Wan was buffeted by the harsh, cold wind. It was daylight and, since it hadn't felt as if much time had passed since the crash, he assumed it was still the same day. He was wearing only his black outfit of tunic and pants, so the cold easily pierced through to his bones. He had brought the cape Onara's aunts had given him, but had not been wearing it when he and Auna crashed.
The Whiphid dragged Obi-Wan over the ice and snow crusted ground. Looking around, the Jedi could see it was indeed a camp, comprised of about twenty tents of various sizes. The Whiphid was taking him to one of the larger ones. Lifting the heavy flap, the Whiphid ducked to enter the tent, pulling Obi-Wan in behind him.
The inside of the tent was warm and dark and musty, in contrast to the blinding white and bitter cold outside. Smoke suffused the air and Obi-Wan could smell wet fur, sweat, oil and cooking meat. His stomach growled in response and he realized it had been some time since he'd last eaten. The tent was full of Whiphids, old and young, male and female. They were sitting on mats encircling the middle of the tent to which Obi-Wan was being dragged.
Seated in the center was a Whiphid who, judging from his size, when he stood would tower over the Whiphid who had taken Obi-Wan from the storage tent. He was seated upon a wooden platform in a chair that looked as if it had been carved out of bone. Unlike the other Whiphids, he wore an elaborate headdress made out of bone, pieces of metal and, surprisingly, sprigs of tiny yellow flowers. His fur was sprinkled with gray and one of his jaw tusks was partially broken off.
Obi-Wan was pushed to just before the edge of the platform. The Whiphid who had brought him from the storage tent then put his huge paw on Obi-Wan's shoulder and pushed until Obi-Wan finally got the message. He folded his legs and let himself fall to his knees.
For awhile there was only silence in the tent, punctuated by the crackling of the various torches situated about the huge tent, the creaking of the hides as the wind assailed the walls of the tent and the occasional coughing and snorting of the assembled Whiphids. All Obi-Wan's senses and training told him it would be best if he waited until he was spoken to.
Finally, the chief, for that was whom Obi-Wan assumed the headdress- bedecked Whiphid was, spoke. However, he was speaking in his native language and, not only did Obi-Wan not understand it, he was without his translator. It, along with his other things, was in Auna's ship.
The chief spoke for a bit, his huge arms gesturing sometimes toward Obi- Wan, other times at the crowd. At one point doing his speech, the Whiphids, as one, let out a bone-chilling cry that sounded to Obi-Wan both like a lament and a cry to war. When that cry died away, the chief then pointed at Obi-Wan, his body language clearly accusing Obi-Wan of something.
I have a bad feeling about this, Obi-Wan thought. The chief was now silent, but he was still pointing and glaring at Obi-Wan as if waiting for a response. Obi-Wan again cleared his throat. What he wouldn't give for some water.
"My name is Obi-Wan Kenobi," he began. "My companion and I were attacked and our ship crashed as a result. I am grateful you found us and saw fit to bring us here. However, I have yet to see my companion. Is she all right? Is she here?"
The chief lowered his hand and stared at Obi-Wan. Then he gestured to his side. A Whiphid detached himself from the crowd and moved in front of the platform. The chief spoke to the Whiphid, whom Obi-Wan noted was not as large or as heavy as the others. The Whiphid bowed to the chief, then turned to Obi-Wan.
"My name Zaka," the Whiphid said in halting Basic.
Obi-Wan let loose a sigh of relief.
"Greetings, Zaka," Obi-Wan said quickly. "My name is Obi-Wan Kenobi."
"Yes, heard you." He turned and pointed to the chief. "He name Big Yezun. He say you gonna die."
Just as Obi-Wan was about to ask why he was about to die, he heard a strident, but familiar, voice.
"Take ya hairy hands off me, ya thrice-cursed spawn of the devil!"
Turning, Obi-Wan saw, much to his relief, Auna being dragged into the tent by a Whiphid. Unlike him she was not tied up, but he saw that one of her four arms was wrapped with a bandage. She didn't look none the worse for wear, however, except for a bruise on her right cheek. The Whiphid pulled her, kicking and screaming, to the platform. It was then that she saw Obi- Wan.
"Master Kenobi!
Auna wrenched her arm from her Whiphid guard and ran over to where he was kneeling before the platform.
"You're alive, thank the gods!" she cried.
"It's good to see you, too, Auna. Are you all right?"
"Yeah, I'm all right, Master Kenobi. As right as can be considering the situation."
She turned and glared up at the platform upon which Big Yezun was sitting.
"What's wrong with ya, ya big furry oaf? Why ya got him trussed up like a Republic Day feast-bird?"
"Auna," Obi-Wan said, trying to draw her attention away from the Whiphid chieftain. Although he knew Big Yezun didn't understand a word of what she was saying, the tone of her voice and her facial expression were clear enough.
"Do you know what happened?" he asked her. "What about the ship?"
Auna continued to glare up at Big Yezun who only gazed curiously down at her. Then she turned and looked at Obi-Wan.
"Believe it or not, it was these idiots who shot us down."
"What? The Whiphids?"
Auna nodded. "I was knocked out when we crashed, but ya must of hit ya head harder than me. When I came to, these furry boneheads was crawling all over my ship. They pulled ya out and tied ya up like that. I told them to leave ya alone, but they wouldn't listen."
"Auna, I don't understand. Why did they shoot us down?"
Before Auna could answer, however, the Whiphid who called himself Zaka stepped forward. He pointed at Obi-Wan.
"You White Eyes man. White Eyes ship. We," and Zaka pointed around at the gathered Whiphids, "shoot ship down with weapon we took from White Eyes. Kill you same way you kill us."
Now Obi-Wan understood. They thought he was working for the man they knew as White Eyes, apparently their name for Douro since, like all Arkanians, he had solid white eyes.
"Ya idiot," Auna spat. "He ain't killed nobody. He don't work for Douro."
"Auna," Obi-Wan called to her, fearful her explosive temper was only going to make a bad situation worse. She looked over at him.
"If they thought we were in one of Douro's ship," he asked, trying to distract her, "why aren't you tied up?"
"Cause I'm a woman, a life-bearer. They don't kill life-bearers. Course, it don't mean they trust me either. They took away my weapons, that's for sure."
"Was your arm hurt badly?" Obi-Wan asked, looking at the bandage around her right lower arm.
Auna glanced at it and shrugged. "Just sprained. It swelled up a bit, but there was also a cut on it. They put some foul-smelling yellow crap on it, but it healed the cut right up."
"Well, that was kind of them," Obi-Wan said and gave her a warm smile, hoping it would calm her down.
It seemed to work, for the rage that had bloated her face suddenly vanished. He was even surprised to see a blush on her cheeks. She shook her head and gave him a coy grin.
"Ah, stars, but don't ya got the killer smile on ya, Master Kenobi. That lady love of yours is sure lucky to wake up to that every morning. But, yar still in a mess, I'm afraid. I think they mean to kill ya as revenge for Douro's attack on one of their camps."
"I gathered as much."
Suddenly Big Yezun, who had been following Obi-Wan and Auna's conversation with a puzzled expression, roared in a great voice, raising his arms. Both Obi-Wan and Auna jumped at the sound and looked up at the enraged Whiphid chief. He looked down at Zaka and spoke to him quickly and harshly in their language. Zaka nodded and turned back to Obi-Wan.
"Big Yezun, he want know," the Whiphid translator said. "You want die slow or you want die quick."
"He don't want die at all, ya blockhead," Auna shouted. "Ya can't kill him. He didn't do nothing. He's a Jedi Knight, for space sake!"
"Je-di?" Zaka asked, his long, black eyes widening.
Auna advanced on him. "Yes, Jedi. Ya heard of them, right? Ya been out in the galaxy, ain't ya?. Jedi Knights. Keepers of the peace, protectors of the innocent. A Jedi would never kill defenseless women and children."
Zaka turned and spoke quickly to Big Yezun. The two exchanged a series of questions and responses. Zaka then turned back to Auna and Obi-Wan.
"How prove he Je-di?"
"How prove?" Auna asked in amazement. "How prove? I don't have to how prove, ya hairy peabrain! I told ya, didn't I? He's a Jedi Knight, I tells ya, and if ya don't believe that, yar dumber than a---"
"Auna," Obi-Wan said quickly, pitching his voice to get her attention for he could see she was getting riled up again.
Auna whipped her head towards him, her violet eyes blazing.
"My lightsaber," he said calmly, lifting his eyebrows.
Auna stared at him for a moment, then her eyes lit up. She turned back to Zaka.
"Where's his weapon?" she asked him.
"His weapon?"
"Yes, his weapon. The Jedi's weapon. The one he was wearing when ya brought him here."
Zaka turned and spoke to Big Yezun. The Whiphid chief gestured to one of the Whiphids near the platform. He stepped forward and handed Obi-Wan's lightsaber to the chief who showed it to Zaka. He drew back and gave what Obi-Wan assumed was the Whiphid equivalent of a gasp. Auna nodded, grinning.
"Recognize it, don't ya?"
Zaka nodded, the expression on his face clearly one of awe. He turned to Big Yezun and spoke to the chief for a long time, pointing both at Obi-Wan and the lightsaber. Once Zaka was done, the chief hefted the lightsaber in his hand for a moment, his gaze fastened on Obi-Wan. Then, gesturing with the lightsaber, he spoke some quick, sharp words in his language.
The Whiphid who had brought Obi-Wan into the tent pulled a knife from out of his strap. For a moment Obi-Wan tensed as he imagined that knife sinking into his flesh but, instead, the Whiphid used the knife to cut the ropes from around his hands and ankles. Once he was free, Obi-Wan rose from his knees, rubbing his wrists as he stamped his feet. Auna ran over and hugged him with her three good arms. He hugged her back, then turned and looked up at Big Yezun.
"Thank you," he said, bowing deeply.
Big Yezun inclined his head. He looked over at Zaka and spoke to him. Zaka nodded and, once Big Yezun was done, turned to Obi-Wan.
"Big Yezun say he sorry. Sorry for shooting down Je-di ship. Sorry for almost killing Je-di. It true, four-armed life-bearer," he said to Auna. "I hear of Je-di when I out among the stars. Hear how Jedi help the weak, protect the life-bearers and their seedlings. But I no see his Je-di weapon." Zaka shrugged. "Not know he Je-di."
"Humph, well, that's still no excuse for shooting down my ship," Auna growled.
"Sorry shoot down ship, but thought ship belong White Eyes. Only White Eyes ships fly here."
"I have heard of what Douro did to your people," Obi-Wan said to the Whiphid chief. He placed his hand over his heart. "And I grieve with you."
Zaka translated Obi-Wan's words. Big Yezun nodded, but Obi-Wan noted the chief still had possession of his lightsaber. Now, Obi-Wan thought, here comes the delicate part. It was apparent the Whiphids were on some kind of blood quest and were killing anyone they thought was associated with Douro, the very person Obi-Wan needed to get to. He wondered if there was a way he and Auna could get away from the Whiphids without them finding out what their eventual destination was. Then he heard Auna's voice and he groaned.
"Well, we was on our way to see White Eyes, and if ya hadn't shot my ship down, we'd be there by now." She pointed to Obi-Wan. "It's important he get to White Eyes' camp as soon as possible. So, where's my ship? What have ya done to it?"
Zaka translated Auna's words to Big Yezun. The Whiphid chief gestured angrily at Obi-Wan with his lightsaber. Obi-Wan looked over at Auna and hoped she could see in his eyes that if the two of them were suddenly alone, he would now have his hands wrapped about her lovely neck. Her eyes widened and she blushed, apparently having understood what she'd just done by talking before she thought. Obi-Wan turned away from her and looked at Zaka as he waited for the Whiphid chief to stop speaking.
"Big Yezun ask why Je-di, protector of innocents, want go see White Eyes, killer of innocents?"
Obi-Wan took a deep breath. As he moved a step closer to the platform, he reached over and pinched Auna on her arm, signaling that from now on she was to remain quiet. Auna cried out softly as he did so, but he saw out of the corner of his eye her nodding at him.
"Tell Big Yezun," Obi-Wan began, "that I go to see White Eyes because one of mine, a Jedi, is with him. It is important that I see her. She was...is a great healer, and I am in desperate need of her help."
Obi-Wan then took a chance. Based upon what Auna had told him earlier, that the Whiphids set great story by their women and children, he reached inside his tunic and pulled out the holo-pendant. He opened it and pressed the bottom. Onara and Ben's image appeared over it. All the Whiphids, except Zaka, who was more than likely familiar with holographic technology, cried out.
"I need her help to save this woman, this life-bearer," Obi-Wan said softly, and he was not surprised to hear his voice breaking a bit.
Zaka turned and translated Obi-Wan's words to Big Yezun, who was leaning so far over the platform to look at the holographic image, his big, hairy head was nearly touching Obi-Wan's. Big Yezun then turned his head and spoke to Zaka. Once he was done, he sat back, gazing solemnly down at Obi-Wan.
"Big Yezun, he ask, is little-flower your seedling?"
"Little flower? Oh, the baby. Yes, he is my son. And the woman is his mother."
"He want know, if you not get other Je-di from White Eyes, your life-bearer die?"
Obi-Wan swallowed heavily. "Yes, she will die."
Zaka turned and relayed Obi-Wan's answer to Big Yezun. The chief responded. Zaka looked back at Obi-Wan.
"Big Yezun say he know like pain. He lost his life-bearer many turnings ago. Have also lost seedlings. No one such pain should have."
Obi-Wan nodded. Yes, he thought, no one such pain should have. He closed the pendant and slipped it back under his tunic. The chief spoke to Zaka for a long moment. Zaka nodded and turned back to Obi-Wan.
"Big Yezun say your ship bad broke. Can not fly."
Auna scoffed at that. Obi-Wan gave her a dark look.
"But if Je-di willing," Zaka went on, "Big Yezun will give Je-di guide and sled to go to White Eyes' camp, get other Je-di and save his life-bearer."
Obi-Wan bowed deeply. "Tell Big Yezun thank you and that I gladly accept his offer of a guide and transportation."
Zaka turned and translated Obi-Wan's words to Big Yezun and, as he did, Obi- Wan felt Auna's hand on his arm. He turned and looked at her.
"I'd liked to see for myself if my ship is bad broke," she said under her breath.
"I'll see what I can do," Obi-Wan whispered back to her.
Zaka turned back to them. "Big Yezun say you leave in the morning. Guide take you to White Eyes' camp."
"Thank you," Obi-Wan replied, bowing again. He eyed his lightsaber which was in Big Yezun's lap. "I'd like to have my weapon back, with Big Yezun's permission, of course."
Zaka turned and relayed Obi-Wan's request to the chief. Big Yezun spoke, his clawed hands now wrapped tightly about the lightsaber. Zaka turned and shook his head.
"Big Yezun keep Je-di's weapon for now. Give Je-di weapon back in exchange."
"Exchange? Exchange for what?" Obi-Wan asked.
"Exchange for White Eyes' head."
To be continued...
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Obi-Wan slowly opened his eyes. He was lying on his back, so the first thing he noted was that instead of the metal ceiling of Auna's ship, he was looking up at what appeared to be animal skins. The second thing was that his head was hurting and so was his left shoulder. The third was that when he tried to move his hands, he found he couldn't. He looked down his body. Both his hands and ankles were tied securely with white ropes which were as thick around as his wrists.
Obi-Wan turned his head to the side. As he had suspected he was in a tent made entirely out of animal skins. He could hear the wind whipping against the hides of which the walls were made and, although the edges of the tent were tied down securely, bits of snow and cold puffs of air whished inside. He turned his head to the left, hoping to see some sign of Auna, but all he saw was some bedding, a few wooden crates and some spears and clubs stacked in a pile. He apparently was in some kind of storage tent.
Ignoring the pounding in his head, Obi-Wan tried to free himself from the ropes, but not only were they the thickest ropes he had ever seen, they were tied in such a way it was wonder the blood hadn't stopped circulating in his feet and hands. Mustering his strength he rolled onto his left side, hoping to somehow get his hands on his lightsaber which was attached to his belt under his tunic, but just as he had feared, his lightsaber was gone. As Obi-Wan lay on his side catching his breath, he wondered if Auna was all right. When the ship had crashed, the last thing he remembered was a blinding light, intense pain, then blackness.
Considering his surroundings, he could only assume a band of Whiphids had come across the crash site and brought him, and he hoped, Auna to their camp. Obi-Wan rolled onto his back and, just as he did, the flap to the tent opened and a Whiphid ducked down and entered.
The creature was over two meters tall and wore only a leather strap upon which he carried a large crudely made saber. Obi-Wan assumed that with his thick fat and natural insulation, he didn't need to wear much else. The Whiphid walked over and stared down at him for a moment. Obi-Wan cleared his throat, realizing that, along with his throbbing headache, he was terribly thirsty.
"My names is Obi-Wan Kenobi. Can you tell me what happened to the woman that was with me? You found us at the crash site, correct? Is she all right?"
The Whiphid tilted his head as he continued to stare down at Obi-Wan. His eyes were long and black but almost hidden by the skin surrounding them. Probably useful protection, Obi-Wan surmised, against the wind and the blinding light of the sun on the white landscape, but it made it difficult for him to detect whether the Whiphid was understanding him.
Leaning over, the Whiphid grabbed Obi-Wan by the arm and, as if he weighed no more than a child, pulled him to his feet. Obi-Wan swayed dizzily for a bit, but the Whiphid's hold on his arm kept him from falling. With a hard jerk, the creature pulled Obi-Wan along, dragging him, actually, since Obi- Wan could not walk as his ankles were securely bound.
Once outside, Obi-Wan was buffeted by the harsh, cold wind. It was daylight and, since it hadn't felt as if much time had passed since the crash, he assumed it was still the same day. He was wearing only his black outfit of tunic and pants, so the cold easily pierced through to his bones. He had brought the cape Onara's aunts had given him, but had not been wearing it when he and Auna crashed.
The Whiphid dragged Obi-Wan over the ice and snow crusted ground. Looking around, the Jedi could see it was indeed a camp, comprised of about twenty tents of various sizes. The Whiphid was taking him to one of the larger ones. Lifting the heavy flap, the Whiphid ducked to enter the tent, pulling Obi-Wan in behind him.
The inside of the tent was warm and dark and musty, in contrast to the blinding white and bitter cold outside. Smoke suffused the air and Obi-Wan could smell wet fur, sweat, oil and cooking meat. His stomach growled in response and he realized it had been some time since he'd last eaten. The tent was full of Whiphids, old and young, male and female. They were sitting on mats encircling the middle of the tent to which Obi-Wan was being dragged.
Seated in the center was a Whiphid who, judging from his size, when he stood would tower over the Whiphid who had taken Obi-Wan from the storage tent. He was seated upon a wooden platform in a chair that looked as if it had been carved out of bone. Unlike the other Whiphids, he wore an elaborate headdress made out of bone, pieces of metal and, surprisingly, sprigs of tiny yellow flowers. His fur was sprinkled with gray and one of his jaw tusks was partially broken off.
Obi-Wan was pushed to just before the edge of the platform. The Whiphid who had brought him from the storage tent then put his huge paw on Obi-Wan's shoulder and pushed until Obi-Wan finally got the message. He folded his legs and let himself fall to his knees.
For awhile there was only silence in the tent, punctuated by the crackling of the various torches situated about the huge tent, the creaking of the hides as the wind assailed the walls of the tent and the occasional coughing and snorting of the assembled Whiphids. All Obi-Wan's senses and training told him it would be best if he waited until he was spoken to.
Finally, the chief, for that was whom Obi-Wan assumed the headdress- bedecked Whiphid was, spoke. However, he was speaking in his native language and, not only did Obi-Wan not understand it, he was without his translator. It, along with his other things, was in Auna's ship.
The chief spoke for a bit, his huge arms gesturing sometimes toward Obi- Wan, other times at the crowd. At one point doing his speech, the Whiphids, as one, let out a bone-chilling cry that sounded to Obi-Wan both like a lament and a cry to war. When that cry died away, the chief then pointed at Obi-Wan, his body language clearly accusing Obi-Wan of something.
I have a bad feeling about this, Obi-Wan thought. The chief was now silent, but he was still pointing and glaring at Obi-Wan as if waiting for a response. Obi-Wan again cleared his throat. What he wouldn't give for some water.
"My name is Obi-Wan Kenobi," he began. "My companion and I were attacked and our ship crashed as a result. I am grateful you found us and saw fit to bring us here. However, I have yet to see my companion. Is she all right? Is she here?"
The chief lowered his hand and stared at Obi-Wan. Then he gestured to his side. A Whiphid detached himself from the crowd and moved in front of the platform. The chief spoke to the Whiphid, whom Obi-Wan noted was not as large or as heavy as the others. The Whiphid bowed to the chief, then turned to Obi-Wan.
"My name Zaka," the Whiphid said in halting Basic.
Obi-Wan let loose a sigh of relief.
"Greetings, Zaka," Obi-Wan said quickly. "My name is Obi-Wan Kenobi."
"Yes, heard you." He turned and pointed to the chief. "He name Big Yezun. He say you gonna die."
Just as Obi-Wan was about to ask why he was about to die, he heard a strident, but familiar, voice.
"Take ya hairy hands off me, ya thrice-cursed spawn of the devil!"
Turning, Obi-Wan saw, much to his relief, Auna being dragged into the tent by a Whiphid. Unlike him she was not tied up, but he saw that one of her four arms was wrapped with a bandage. She didn't look none the worse for wear, however, except for a bruise on her right cheek. The Whiphid pulled her, kicking and screaming, to the platform. It was then that she saw Obi- Wan.
"Master Kenobi!
Auna wrenched her arm from her Whiphid guard and ran over to where he was kneeling before the platform.
"You're alive, thank the gods!" she cried.
"It's good to see you, too, Auna. Are you all right?"
"Yeah, I'm all right, Master Kenobi. As right as can be considering the situation."
She turned and glared up at the platform upon which Big Yezun was sitting.
"What's wrong with ya, ya big furry oaf? Why ya got him trussed up like a Republic Day feast-bird?"
"Auna," Obi-Wan said, trying to draw her attention away from the Whiphid chieftain. Although he knew Big Yezun didn't understand a word of what she was saying, the tone of her voice and her facial expression were clear enough.
"Do you know what happened?" he asked her. "What about the ship?"
Auna continued to glare up at Big Yezun who only gazed curiously down at her. Then she turned and looked at Obi-Wan.
"Believe it or not, it was these idiots who shot us down."
"What? The Whiphids?"
Auna nodded. "I was knocked out when we crashed, but ya must of hit ya head harder than me. When I came to, these furry boneheads was crawling all over my ship. They pulled ya out and tied ya up like that. I told them to leave ya alone, but they wouldn't listen."
"Auna, I don't understand. Why did they shoot us down?"
Before Auna could answer, however, the Whiphid who called himself Zaka stepped forward. He pointed at Obi-Wan.
"You White Eyes man. White Eyes ship. We," and Zaka pointed around at the gathered Whiphids, "shoot ship down with weapon we took from White Eyes. Kill you same way you kill us."
Now Obi-Wan understood. They thought he was working for the man they knew as White Eyes, apparently their name for Douro since, like all Arkanians, he had solid white eyes.
"Ya idiot," Auna spat. "He ain't killed nobody. He don't work for Douro."
"Auna," Obi-Wan called to her, fearful her explosive temper was only going to make a bad situation worse. She looked over at him.
"If they thought we were in one of Douro's ship," he asked, trying to distract her, "why aren't you tied up?"
"Cause I'm a woman, a life-bearer. They don't kill life-bearers. Course, it don't mean they trust me either. They took away my weapons, that's for sure."
"Was your arm hurt badly?" Obi-Wan asked, looking at the bandage around her right lower arm.
Auna glanced at it and shrugged. "Just sprained. It swelled up a bit, but there was also a cut on it. They put some foul-smelling yellow crap on it, but it healed the cut right up."
"Well, that was kind of them," Obi-Wan said and gave her a warm smile, hoping it would calm her down.
It seemed to work, for the rage that had bloated her face suddenly vanished. He was even surprised to see a blush on her cheeks. She shook her head and gave him a coy grin.
"Ah, stars, but don't ya got the killer smile on ya, Master Kenobi. That lady love of yours is sure lucky to wake up to that every morning. But, yar still in a mess, I'm afraid. I think they mean to kill ya as revenge for Douro's attack on one of their camps."
"I gathered as much."
Suddenly Big Yezun, who had been following Obi-Wan and Auna's conversation with a puzzled expression, roared in a great voice, raising his arms. Both Obi-Wan and Auna jumped at the sound and looked up at the enraged Whiphid chief. He looked down at Zaka and spoke to him quickly and harshly in their language. Zaka nodded and turned back to Obi-Wan.
"Big Yezun, he want know," the Whiphid translator said. "You want die slow or you want die quick."
"He don't want die at all, ya blockhead," Auna shouted. "Ya can't kill him. He didn't do nothing. He's a Jedi Knight, for space sake!"
"Je-di?" Zaka asked, his long, black eyes widening.
Auna advanced on him. "Yes, Jedi. Ya heard of them, right? Ya been out in the galaxy, ain't ya?. Jedi Knights. Keepers of the peace, protectors of the innocent. A Jedi would never kill defenseless women and children."
Zaka turned and spoke quickly to Big Yezun. The two exchanged a series of questions and responses. Zaka then turned back to Auna and Obi-Wan.
"How prove he Je-di?"
"How prove?" Auna asked in amazement. "How prove? I don't have to how prove, ya hairy peabrain! I told ya, didn't I? He's a Jedi Knight, I tells ya, and if ya don't believe that, yar dumber than a---"
"Auna," Obi-Wan said quickly, pitching his voice to get her attention for he could see she was getting riled up again.
Auna whipped her head towards him, her violet eyes blazing.
"My lightsaber," he said calmly, lifting his eyebrows.
Auna stared at him for a moment, then her eyes lit up. She turned back to Zaka.
"Where's his weapon?" she asked him.
"His weapon?"
"Yes, his weapon. The Jedi's weapon. The one he was wearing when ya brought him here."
Zaka turned and spoke to Big Yezun. The Whiphid chief gestured to one of the Whiphids near the platform. He stepped forward and handed Obi-Wan's lightsaber to the chief who showed it to Zaka. He drew back and gave what Obi-Wan assumed was the Whiphid equivalent of a gasp. Auna nodded, grinning.
"Recognize it, don't ya?"
Zaka nodded, the expression on his face clearly one of awe. He turned to Big Yezun and spoke to the chief for a long time, pointing both at Obi-Wan and the lightsaber. Once Zaka was done, the chief hefted the lightsaber in his hand for a moment, his gaze fastened on Obi-Wan. Then, gesturing with the lightsaber, he spoke some quick, sharp words in his language.
The Whiphid who had brought Obi-Wan into the tent pulled a knife from out of his strap. For a moment Obi-Wan tensed as he imagined that knife sinking into his flesh but, instead, the Whiphid used the knife to cut the ropes from around his hands and ankles. Once he was free, Obi-Wan rose from his knees, rubbing his wrists as he stamped his feet. Auna ran over and hugged him with her three good arms. He hugged her back, then turned and looked up at Big Yezun.
"Thank you," he said, bowing deeply.
Big Yezun inclined his head. He looked over at Zaka and spoke to him. Zaka nodded and, once Big Yezun was done, turned to Obi-Wan.
"Big Yezun say he sorry. Sorry for shooting down Je-di ship. Sorry for almost killing Je-di. It true, four-armed life-bearer," he said to Auna. "I hear of Je-di when I out among the stars. Hear how Jedi help the weak, protect the life-bearers and their seedlings. But I no see his Je-di weapon." Zaka shrugged. "Not know he Je-di."
"Humph, well, that's still no excuse for shooting down my ship," Auna growled.
"Sorry shoot down ship, but thought ship belong White Eyes. Only White Eyes ships fly here."
"I have heard of what Douro did to your people," Obi-Wan said to the Whiphid chief. He placed his hand over his heart. "And I grieve with you."
Zaka translated Obi-Wan's words. Big Yezun nodded, but Obi-Wan noted the chief still had possession of his lightsaber. Now, Obi-Wan thought, here comes the delicate part. It was apparent the Whiphids were on some kind of blood quest and were killing anyone they thought was associated with Douro, the very person Obi-Wan needed to get to. He wondered if there was a way he and Auna could get away from the Whiphids without them finding out what their eventual destination was. Then he heard Auna's voice and he groaned.
"Well, we was on our way to see White Eyes, and if ya hadn't shot my ship down, we'd be there by now." She pointed to Obi-Wan. "It's important he get to White Eyes' camp as soon as possible. So, where's my ship? What have ya done to it?"
Zaka translated Auna's words to Big Yezun. The Whiphid chief gestured angrily at Obi-Wan with his lightsaber. Obi-Wan looked over at Auna and hoped she could see in his eyes that if the two of them were suddenly alone, he would now have his hands wrapped about her lovely neck. Her eyes widened and she blushed, apparently having understood what she'd just done by talking before she thought. Obi-Wan turned away from her and looked at Zaka as he waited for the Whiphid chief to stop speaking.
"Big Yezun ask why Je-di, protector of innocents, want go see White Eyes, killer of innocents?"
Obi-Wan took a deep breath. As he moved a step closer to the platform, he reached over and pinched Auna on her arm, signaling that from now on she was to remain quiet. Auna cried out softly as he did so, but he saw out of the corner of his eye her nodding at him.
"Tell Big Yezun," Obi-Wan began, "that I go to see White Eyes because one of mine, a Jedi, is with him. It is important that I see her. She was...is a great healer, and I am in desperate need of her help."
Obi-Wan then took a chance. Based upon what Auna had told him earlier, that the Whiphids set great story by their women and children, he reached inside his tunic and pulled out the holo-pendant. He opened it and pressed the bottom. Onara and Ben's image appeared over it. All the Whiphids, except Zaka, who was more than likely familiar with holographic technology, cried out.
"I need her help to save this woman, this life-bearer," Obi-Wan said softly, and he was not surprised to hear his voice breaking a bit.
Zaka turned and translated Obi-Wan's words to Big Yezun, who was leaning so far over the platform to look at the holographic image, his big, hairy head was nearly touching Obi-Wan's. Big Yezun then turned his head and spoke to Zaka. Once he was done, he sat back, gazing solemnly down at Obi-Wan.
"Big Yezun, he ask, is little-flower your seedling?"
"Little flower? Oh, the baby. Yes, he is my son. And the woman is his mother."
"He want know, if you not get other Je-di from White Eyes, your life-bearer die?"
Obi-Wan swallowed heavily. "Yes, she will die."
Zaka turned and relayed Obi-Wan's answer to Big Yezun. The chief responded. Zaka looked back at Obi-Wan.
"Big Yezun say he know like pain. He lost his life-bearer many turnings ago. Have also lost seedlings. No one such pain should have."
Obi-Wan nodded. Yes, he thought, no one such pain should have. He closed the pendant and slipped it back under his tunic. The chief spoke to Zaka for a long moment. Zaka nodded and turned back to Obi-Wan.
"Big Yezun say your ship bad broke. Can not fly."
Auna scoffed at that. Obi-Wan gave her a dark look.
"But if Je-di willing," Zaka went on, "Big Yezun will give Je-di guide and sled to go to White Eyes' camp, get other Je-di and save his life-bearer."
Obi-Wan bowed deeply. "Tell Big Yezun thank you and that I gladly accept his offer of a guide and transportation."
Zaka turned and translated Obi-Wan's words to Big Yezun and, as he did, Obi- Wan felt Auna's hand on his arm. He turned and looked at her.
"I'd liked to see for myself if my ship is bad broke," she said under her breath.
"I'll see what I can do," Obi-Wan whispered back to her.
Zaka turned back to them. "Big Yezun say you leave in the morning. Guide take you to White Eyes' camp."
"Thank you," Obi-Wan replied, bowing again. He eyed his lightsaber which was in Big Yezun's lap. "I'd like to have my weapon back, with Big Yezun's permission, of course."
Zaka turned and relayed Obi-Wan's request to the chief. Big Yezun spoke, his clawed hands now wrapped tightly about the lightsaber. Zaka turned and shook his head.
"Big Yezun keep Je-di's weapon for now. Give Je-di weapon back in exchange."
"Exchange? Exchange for what?" Obi-Wan asked.
"Exchange for White Eyes' head."
To be continued...