In the Salon Anakin, Balé and Vespé sat on the richly carpeted floor with the pile of fruit in front of them. They started by practicing tossing one piece of fruit up in the air and catching it.
Toss and catch. Toss and catch. Toss and catch.
"Higher," commanded Anakin. Balé giggled and dropped her fruit a few times. But she was getting the hang of it.
"Now the other hand."
Toss and catch. Vespé was getting the feel for it, too. She was smiling and seemed to lose some of her shyness.
A few people began to drift into the Salon. Anakin ignored them.
"Now," said Anakin, "Two fruits. Both hands at the same time."
Toss and catch. Balé kept laughing and dropping her fruit, but to her credit she kept trying. Her laugh was infectious. Anakin noticed smiles on the faces of some of the spectators in the Salon. The ones who smiled were all from Naboo.
"Good," said Anakin. "Very good. Now let's toss one fruit from one hand to the other." He smiled at Vespé, who was beginning to think that he was rather wonderful.
The Salon was filling up with people conversing quietly, although many were watching the lesson. Predictably enough, Wolan and his posse had arrived as well and were watching the game intently.
"Now," said Anakin, "try this." He began to juggle two fruits very slowly. Balé collapsed laughing and dropped her fruit. Vespé was doing a creditable job of keeping hers in the air.
The Salon was fairly full and Anakin could feel a sense of expectancy in the room. Wolan was scowling but never took his eyes off Anakin.
Balé had given up. "I want to see you do it," she said to her Jedi. "I mean really do it."
"If you promise to go straight to bed," said Anakin, "I will juggle all six of these fruits."
He had her. She had to agree.
"I promise!" Her eyes were dancing.
They handed over their slightly bruised fruit and Anakin began with one, then two, and kept adding fruit until all six were flying through the air in a high, graceful arc. Balé clapped her hands. Anakin was on a roll. Some of the fruits flew behind his back and returned on the other side while the others kept circling in the air. All eyes in the Salon were on him and some of the adult spectators applauded.
That was about all he could manage without a little Force involvement, and he wasn't ready for that yet. Slowly he let the arc get smaller until all the fruits were once again resting on the floor.
"More," Balé demanded. "Do it again!"
"Bed," said Anakin gently. "You promised." He looked at Vespé, who stood up and held her hand out to the child. Balé went with only a little reluctance. She looked at Anakin. "Can we practice again tomorrow?"
"Of course," he said. "As soon as there is time." He foresaw that tomorrow might be a busy day.
"Thank you," the little girl said, and impulsively put her arms around his neck. Anakin was surprised at how deeply it moved him. "Go," he whispered. "I'll see you tomorrow." He watched her leave with Vespé and when they had left the Salon he stood up and turned to look at his audience.
Wolan stood up at the same time.
"Charming, " said the D'laian. "This must be why the Jedi are feared throughout the Galaxy. For their juggling skills."
His hangers-on snickered.
Anakin bent down to pick up the fruit and placed it on the table next to him. Seemingly as an afterthought, he picked up one piece and let it dance in the air above his hand. "The Jedi are feared?" He asked innocently. "I can't imagine why. We serve the Republic."
Idly he picked up another fruit and added it to the first. They danced together in mid-air in a complex pattern. Anakin felt a small dark wave of feeling emanate from the D'laians.
Wolan couldn't let go. "Sorcerers serve only themselves," he said darkly.
"Sorcerers?" Anakin asked sounding puzzled. "You mean this kind of sorcery?" He added another fruit to the air in front of him and made it go around the others in a contrary motion. A Naboo giggled. The spectators were really starting to enjoy the game despite the palpable tension in the room. Wolan's face was like a thundercloud.
"The D'laian delegation officially objects to your presence here." Wolan's voice reached all around the room.
Anakin replaced the fruit on the table and stood facing the D'laian with his arms crossed. "I am here as an observer at the request of the Chancellor of the Republic," he said mildly. He thought of it as only a small exaggeration. "I am sorry if you perceive my presence as a threat."
A low growl seemed to come from the D'laian warriors. Their leader went on, "A threat? You are nothing without your sorcery. It is only that which gives you a claim to any kind of skill. Any one of our warriors could defeat you without it."
Anakin noticed Typho and Sabé standing near the door of the Salon. Their eyes were locked on him, as were those of everyone else in the room.
"Are you suggesting a match of some kind?" Anakin asked gently. "Would that alleviate your concerns?" Challenge me and be done with it, you pompous, second-rate braggart, Anakin thought to himself. I am getting bored with this. There was somewhere else he urgently wanted to be.
He saw the calculation begin behind the D'laian's eyes. "I have no concerns about you," said the warrior, "but a match would be very enjoyable." A few of the onlookers began to murmur. This was entertainment indeed.
Anakin shrugged. "Set your terms," he said, with studied diffidence. "I will be happy to oblige. Provided of course that our little entertainment does not interfere with the important work that is being done here."
The D'laian began to look downright greedy. "I challenge you myself. First thing tomorrow morning. My choice of weapons. And no sorcery." He smiled for the first time. "Skill only."
"As you wish." Anakin bent down to pick up the fruit. "Tomorrow, then. An exhibition match." He bowed politely to the D'laian. "I should return these to the galley."
As he left the Salon he spared only a brief, stony glance for Captain Typho and a slightly longer one for Sabé. Behind him the level of conversation in the Salon rose to an excited buzz.
Sabé followed him to the galley.
"I'm sorry, Anakin. I should have trusted you."
Anakin deposited his burden and turned to look at her.
"You still don't," he observed. "Not really."
"We're still on the same side, aren't we?" She pleaded.
"Just get me in to see Padmé," he said wearily. "And then safeguard our privacy. That is all I ask."
Sabé nodded. "This is as good a time as any. They're all busy talking about your match." They walked down the empty corridor in silence.
"Are you sure you know what you're doing?" Sabé couldn't resist asking. The stakes were so high.
Anakin had reached the outside limits of his patience.
"Just take me to Padmé," he said, ending the conversation. And then he was silent.