Jinn met Master Tahl for last-meal. Xanatos was delayed. Lately Master Jinn was more attuned to what his former padawan was doing and could not help but notice he did not enter the dining hall alone. Bruck Chun was hot on his heels right behind him.
"So you said you spoke with Bant today?"
Jinn broke the stare he had on his "Xani" and turned to answer Master Tahl.
"I think you both are very lucky. Initiate Bant is getting an excellent master and you are indeed blessed with the force to be paired with such a delightful little person."
Tahl laughed out loud at the remark made by Qui.
"She's a child Qui not a little person. I think some masters, you included, forget that. When we take these initiates, yes ,we are their masters to teach them the Jedi ways, but we become their parent. They still have to grow to adulthood. They can't be miniature perfected Jedi you know. They need nurturing and loved as any child on the outside temple would."
Jinn looked up at her. He cared a lot for Xani but he did not love the boy, well now young man, as he would his own child had he ever had one.
Wheels turned in his head.
//Is that why "Xani" is having a hard time adjusting to knighthood, I did not nurture him, love him as Tahl says.//
Jinn never blamed Xani for anything. It was always the fault of someone else if for some reason Padawan Xani got into trouble. It was still that way.
"Why am I telling you this Master Jinn? You have had two padawans who were knighted."
She had first wanted to say "successfully" knighted and then remembered the probation of Xani so she corrected her wording before it came out, so as to omit the word "success." Xanatos was not a success, but as yet Master Jinn had failed to see that.
"Yes well I hope to take another padawan. We will just have to see."
Tahl studied her old friend as Qui went back to eating.
//Qui-Gon seems to be trying to back out of taking a padawan now. I wonder why?//
She had no real knowledge yet about what was happening between Xani, Bruck, Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon himself.
Laughter could be heard at the initiate's table as Xanatos grabbed a tray of food and sat himself down between Master Tahl and Master Jinn.
"Always like to be around good looking woman any chance I can. Mind if sit here Master Tahl?"
It would have done no good to say no, because the young knight had already positioned himself between them.
"By all means Knight Xanatos and thanx for the compliment I think."
Jinn smiled and looked over to where the laughter was coming from. Tahl did the same. She never seemed to tire of looking at her soon-to-be padawan Bant.
Tahl, could not help but see how miserable Obi-Wan looked. Jinn noticed it too but quickly put it out of his mind because not only could he see the misery the boy was in, he unwillingly felt it.
"What's up with that little Kenobi child? Has any of the masters asked about him yet, I wonder?"
"You have to be kidding Master Tahl. That one is going no where but straight out the temple doors, never to return. I can almost guarantee it."
Xani seemed so sure of Obi-Wan's future. Too sure, Tahl thought.
Master Jinn remembered what Bant had told him about the little boy being struck by Knight Xanatos and knew he would have to broach the subject with Xani, but dreaded it.
"Well Knight Xanatos, with you being the former apprentice to Master Yoda, I should not have to refresh your memory of his favorite little saying, but I will do it anyway…"Always in motion the future is" There is still time for the little one to be chosen by a master. I don't think anyone but myself has for certain chosen their padawan."
Jinn felt a sudden urge to, in someway defend the scrawny little initiate.
"Yes, given time he could still yet be chosen; by a healer or possibly an instructor here at the temple."
"No likely Qui. For time is something the Kenobi child has little of. He, like the other padawan hopefuls, turn 13 this year. It is imperative they be chosen or out the door they go."
Was that a smirk on the face of his former apprentice? Xanatos talked with a certain hatred for this little boy and Jinn was going to get to bottom of why he would feel so much animosity toward a mere child in his care.
"Qui would you like to play some chess with me tonight? I also have some things to talk over with you. Well I have to go to the training salles first and help Bruck with some moves to be ready for his next saber exhibition, if indeed another is scheduled."
Tahl and Jinn were both perplexed as to why the best saber student in the class needed even more help than even the others especially the Kenobi child.
Tahl could not help but voice her sentiments.
"I would think you might be helping the little Kenobi child. I must say he is the worst initiate here with the saber. I felt embarrassed for him the other day."
"Yes Master Tahl I suppose everyone did; feel sorry for him I mean. But he deserved every bit of humiliation he received that day. It is his own fault. He has not been willing to learn what I have taught him. He is unruly in class. I have even had to put him out of class for his disrespect."
Now they were getting somewhere. Jinn did not expect Xanatos to own up to hitting the boy, but maybe the truth would come out about why the boy was always in so much trouble. Jinn never once got the sense that Bant was lying when they spoke in private. Maybe she just did not see the entire picture when it came to judging her "best" friend.
Tahl was little upset over how crudely flip Xani was toward the little boy.
"Well I guess you are right. I think your choice is very wise."
Tahl raised an eyebrow. She really did not care what this pompous young knight, once padawan to Jinn, thought of her choice of padawans.
"Well thank you Xani. I am certainly glad I have your approval."
Xani thought maybe he detected a little agitation in Master Tahl's voice and wanted out of this entire conversation with his former master and nosy Master Tahl.
Jinn noted Tahl's curt response to Knight Xanatos. The young man certainly had become brazen with his comments and actions lately.
"Qui-Gon you didn't answer me earlier. You want to play some chess tonight."
"I would very much like too, but I have something I must do."
He had no wish to tell Xanatos he planned to visit the little initiate who sat in the corner and to Jinn's knowledge had not touched his food. Jinn knew for a fact that the child had not touched a morsel of his food, because Qui-Gon could even feel Kenobi's hunger along with his misery through the ever slowly growing unwanted bond………
PEACE ewen
"So you said you spoke with Bant today?"
Jinn broke the stare he had on his "Xani" and turned to answer Master Tahl.
"I think you both are very lucky. Initiate Bant is getting an excellent master and you are indeed blessed with the force to be paired with such a delightful little person."
Tahl laughed out loud at the remark made by Qui.
"She's a child Qui not a little person. I think some masters, you included, forget that. When we take these initiates, yes ,we are their masters to teach them the Jedi ways, but we become their parent. They still have to grow to adulthood. They can't be miniature perfected Jedi you know. They need nurturing and loved as any child on the outside temple would."
Jinn looked up at her. He cared a lot for Xani but he did not love the boy, well now young man, as he would his own child had he ever had one.
Wheels turned in his head.
//Is that why "Xani" is having a hard time adjusting to knighthood, I did not nurture him, love him as Tahl says.//
Jinn never blamed Xani for anything. It was always the fault of someone else if for some reason Padawan Xani got into trouble. It was still that way.
"Why am I telling you this Master Jinn? You have had two padawans who were knighted."
She had first wanted to say "successfully" knighted and then remembered the probation of Xani so she corrected her wording before it came out, so as to omit the word "success." Xanatos was not a success, but as yet Master Jinn had failed to see that.
"Yes well I hope to take another padawan. We will just have to see."
Tahl studied her old friend as Qui went back to eating.
//Qui-Gon seems to be trying to back out of taking a padawan now. I wonder why?//
She had no real knowledge yet about what was happening between Xani, Bruck, Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon himself.
Laughter could be heard at the initiate's table as Xanatos grabbed a tray of food and sat himself down between Master Tahl and Master Jinn.
"Always like to be around good looking woman any chance I can. Mind if sit here Master Tahl?"
It would have done no good to say no, because the young knight had already positioned himself between them.
"By all means Knight Xanatos and thanx for the compliment I think."
Jinn smiled and looked over to where the laughter was coming from. Tahl did the same. She never seemed to tire of looking at her soon-to-be padawan Bant.
Tahl, could not help but see how miserable Obi-Wan looked. Jinn noticed it too but quickly put it out of his mind because not only could he see the misery the boy was in, he unwillingly felt it.
"What's up with that little Kenobi child? Has any of the masters asked about him yet, I wonder?"
"You have to be kidding Master Tahl. That one is going no where but straight out the temple doors, never to return. I can almost guarantee it."
Xani seemed so sure of Obi-Wan's future. Too sure, Tahl thought.
Master Jinn remembered what Bant had told him about the little boy being struck by Knight Xanatos and knew he would have to broach the subject with Xani, but dreaded it.
"Well Knight Xanatos, with you being the former apprentice to Master Yoda, I should not have to refresh your memory of his favorite little saying, but I will do it anyway…"Always in motion the future is" There is still time for the little one to be chosen by a master. I don't think anyone but myself has for certain chosen their padawan."
Jinn felt a sudden urge to, in someway defend the scrawny little initiate.
"Yes, given time he could still yet be chosen; by a healer or possibly an instructor here at the temple."
"No likely Qui. For time is something the Kenobi child has little of. He, like the other padawan hopefuls, turn 13 this year. It is imperative they be chosen or out the door they go."
Was that a smirk on the face of his former apprentice? Xanatos talked with a certain hatred for this little boy and Jinn was going to get to bottom of why he would feel so much animosity toward a mere child in his care.
"Qui would you like to play some chess with me tonight? I also have some things to talk over with you. Well I have to go to the training salles first and help Bruck with some moves to be ready for his next saber exhibition, if indeed another is scheduled."
Tahl and Jinn were both perplexed as to why the best saber student in the class needed even more help than even the others especially the Kenobi child.
Tahl could not help but voice her sentiments.
"I would think you might be helping the little Kenobi child. I must say he is the worst initiate here with the saber. I felt embarrassed for him the other day."
"Yes Master Tahl I suppose everyone did; feel sorry for him I mean. But he deserved every bit of humiliation he received that day. It is his own fault. He has not been willing to learn what I have taught him. He is unruly in class. I have even had to put him out of class for his disrespect."
Now they were getting somewhere. Jinn did not expect Xanatos to own up to hitting the boy, but maybe the truth would come out about why the boy was always in so much trouble. Jinn never once got the sense that Bant was lying when they spoke in private. Maybe she just did not see the entire picture when it came to judging her "best" friend.
Tahl was little upset over how crudely flip Xani was toward the little boy.
"Well I guess you are right. I think your choice is very wise."
Tahl raised an eyebrow. She really did not care what this pompous young knight, once padawan to Jinn, thought of her choice of padawans.
"Well thank you Xani. I am certainly glad I have your approval."
Xani thought maybe he detected a little agitation in Master Tahl's voice and wanted out of this entire conversation with his former master and nosy Master Tahl.
Jinn noted Tahl's curt response to Knight Xanatos. The young man certainly had become brazen with his comments and actions lately.
"Qui-Gon you didn't answer me earlier. You want to play some chess tonight."
"I would very much like too, but I have something I must do."
He had no wish to tell Xanatos he planned to visit the little initiate who sat in the corner and to Jinn's knowledge had not touched his food. Jinn knew for a fact that the child had not touched a morsel of his food, because Qui-Gon could even feel Kenobi's hunger along with his misery through the ever slowly growing unwanted bond………
PEACE ewen