Author's note-

       I JUST REPOSTED THE CHAPTER IN HTML FORMAT, 'CAUSE THE FORMATTING WAS OFF. A writer must try to please her readers, so as per your requests I will be putting a lightsaber scene in. As this is still a WIP as I type this note I am not sure if it will come in this chapter. I am envisioning where and how, but let's see when. Probably this chapter. I was thinking anyways, that I need to have more action… Oops, I am such a bad action writer. There is some action in this chapter but not too much. There is a theme that I badly wanted to address in this story that I kind of imply and have mentioned, but so fleetingly and so many chapters ago that you have probably forgotten, but in this chapter I touch it again.

           There will be more action, just like you asked.  I just decided to post a chapter today, and I didn't reach it by today.  It should be in the next chapt.

    "It feels nice to hold you." Roald said. "How was Scanra." He asked later. 

    "Not that bad." Jaina said. "Looks like the Scanrans are all riled up, though."

    "Yeah." Roald said. "It is really weird because so many of the clans are united. That never happens."

      "What are the theories on that." Jaina asked.

     Roald sighed. "Well, I bet Geoffrey told you his theory. Which some people share." Roald went through and told Jaina all the theories, he ended it with "Another theory is that he is keeping hostages, this is the theory I buy, maybe combined with one of the other theories."

         "Hmm." Jaina said, thinking, "I have to agree with you. I think maybe this guy is enticing them and getting them to initially agree, then taking hostages so they can't back out."

           "What troubles me about that theory though," Roald said, "is that people don't usually fight well for a commander they fear but don't respect.  They are always on the verge of mutiny."

     Jaina gave Roald a twisted smile. "Trust me. You can get a lot of people to fight out of fear and not respect. Our galaxy is famous for that. Why else would anyone fight for the evil empire?"

     "Power, money, and the sanction to be corrupt and evil." Roald said.

    Jaina and Roald argued until evening, and even then they only stopped because they had to go to eat and lessons.

        Cleon had come in with his Knightmaster Inness. During the meal Jaina noticed that Cleon kept looking at Kel. A smile crept up Jaina's face. Hmm, she thought, Cleon is falling for Kel.

     Roald noticed the smile. He was confused. "What is that smile for?"

     Jaina just grinned at him. "Not saying."

     "Uh oh." Roald teased. "Come on, tell me."

  Jaina shook her head. "All in due time." She said mysteriously.

    That evening when she went to Kel's room as usual. "Somebody has a crush on you."  She singsonged after making sure no one else was around.

    "What?" Kel asked. "Jain, you are the only one lucky enough to have a guy in love with you."

    "That's why I saw a guy giving you love sick looks all throughout dinner. I also heard a guy reciting poetry to you."

     "Who." Kel asked, honestly confused.

   "Cleon, who else."

     "CLEON?!?! About the so-called Poetry, Cleon was just playing around. Just testing it out for when he finds a real girl."

    Jaina looked at Kel through the corner of her eyes. "Is it just me or is someone jealous?"

    "Jealous?" Kel said. "Jain, you are having delusions." She said being overly frank.

    "Or are you getting nervous." Jaina countered.  

   "I don't get nervous." She said, "but if you want to talk about getting nervous, the conservatives must be, we are trouncing them."

    "That is true." Jaina said. "But no changing the subject." She said, waggling her finer at Kel.

     "What is the subject?" Kel asked.

     "Whether or not you reciprocate the love of Cleon."

   "First off, there is no way Cleon likes me." Kel said, but she stopped there.

   "Secondly." Jaina asked, her smile turning sly.

   "Oh stop it." Kel snapped, Jaina had this way of breaking through her Yamini calm.

   "Kel loves Cleon, Kel loves Cleon." Jaina singsonged.

  " Stop being childish." Kel said.

    When Jaina did not stop. "I do not I do not I do not." Kel said.

   "Gotcha." Jaina said, playfully. "Now who is being childish."

   "You are so exasperating."

  "I know." Jaina gave Kel her best lopsided grin. "Another talent that runs in the family."

   "Your family must be so much fun."

    "It is." Jaina said, smiling wistfully.

   Kel cursed herself. She decided to rile Jaina to get her mind off of what she had just said. "Jaina and Ro-ald sitting in a tree K-I-S-S-"

     It had the intended effect of snapping Jaina out of it. "Keladry of Mindelan you are bantha fodder."

     Jaina chased Kel all around the room. The subject of Kel and Cleon was pushed to the back burner for now. Jaina hadn't forgotten, but there was nothing she could do about it at the moment. The two lovebirds had to work it out on their own. Besides Cleon was leaving again the next day, albeit only for a couple of days, so it wouldn't help for Kel to realize her feelings for him right then when he was going to leave. Jaina knew from experience, that this had to come from being with the person for a few days  She dropped the topic for right then.

      When Cleon did come back, though, Jaina noticed pretty quickly that the love was there from his side, but Kel still had to come to grips with it, and Cleon still had to tell her. Jaina decided that she couldn't do much about it at the moment, except still and watch for a good moment to intervene.

       The next few months went by pretty quickly for Jaina. She was having fun at her lessons and seemed happy. But right after that her personality seemed to take a drastic change. She seemed to not be getting any sleep and her friends were concerned. After a few weeks of this,  they called a conference in Kel's room. Lord Raoul was very easygoing, and no one would disturb it because, Lord Raoul was the Knight Commander of the Own and a very good fighter. It didn't take them too long to decide on a course of action, because they all knew what had to be done, they had to talk to her, and if necessary force it out of her. But the decision that took time was deciding who was going to talk to her. In the end they decided that Roald and Kel should be the ones to try and talk to her.

         "I will go first." Roald said.

       "No, I will." Kel said.

      Roald sighed, "Why don't we both go in together. We just have to be sure to back each other up, while not seeming like we are ganging up on her."

    "Done." Kel said

   All of their Knightmasters were in the King's council and there was a meeting that night, normally Roald attended, but he got himself excused that night. The two of them went to Jaina's room. "Hi you guys." She said, giving them the fake smile they had become all too accustomed to seeing lately.

    Kel shook her head, and said bluntly. "Not going to work."

   "What's not going to work." Jaina asked, truly surprised.

   "The happy, everything is fine look."  Kel said.

  "We know something is wrong, so it would go better for you if you just told us what it is." Kel said.

    "Nothing is wrong." Jaina said, stubbornly.

  Roald sighed.  "Jaina, come clean."

   Jaina turned away and didn't answer. Roald and Kel both knew this was a good sign, though, it meant she was cracking a bit. "Jaina." Kel asked gently.

    "I am so selfish." She said, her voice cracking with emotion. "I just wanted to see them and talk to them, now that I did it once I want to do it again. I feel so homesick."

   Roald and Kel went up to her and hugged her. "We will go talk to Numair." Roald said a few minutes later.

   Jaina recoiled. "No! I don't want him to know how selfish I am."

 "Jain, no one thinks it is selfish that you want to see your family members, and talk to them. It has been a year since you last talked to them. They all understand." Roald said.

   "But it expended so much of their energy last time…" Jaina said. But both Roald and Kel could see that her protests were much weaker then before, Roald was getting through to her.

    Roald put his arm around her shoulder. "Listen, I know Numair well and he is a serious experimentalist. I will be surprised if he doesn't come around asking you if you will try it again so he can see whether or not it takes the same amount of energy the second time as the first. My father has had him busy this last year on the Scanra stuff, and you have been out otherwise I am sure he would've asked a lot earlier." A second later he said. "Jaina, he should be back from a mission my dad sent him on in 1 week, if he doesn't ask you by 5 days after that, I will be so surprised."

         "Well, if Numair asks then ok, but promise me you won't say anything." Jaina asked, looking earnestly at the two of them. "Promise me." She urged when they were reticent to promise such a thing.

     "I promise." Roald said, after seeing that Kel was waiting for a signal from him.

    "I promise not to tell Numair or any mage." Kel said.

  "Or any mage in training." Jaina said.

   Kel grinned mentally, now she could tell all of their other friends, except for Neal. "I promise not to tell any mages in training."

 "Done." Jaina said. "Oh, and if our other friends are concerned tell them, thanks for the concern she is just a bit homesick."

     Kel and Roald grinned. "Deal."

  Jaina put her arms around their shoulders and grinned widely in an attempt to show them she was ok, and dealing with her issues.

      Kel and Roald gave each other looks over Jaina's head. We just have to wait, their eyes said, and hope that Numair does what he usually does.

     Kel and Roald sat with Jaina for a bit. They didn't mention her homesickness again, instead talking about the latest court gossip, which of course included matching up Kally with many different nobles, and laughing about the absurdity of it all.

    "I have to go." Jaina said a bit later. "Geoffrey expects me to be ready for lessons by 1830, and it is 1800 right now."

     Kel got up and waited as Roald gave Jaina a hug, then they both walked out. A little bit away from the door they saw their friends clustered. "How did you all get away from classes for so long?" Kel asked, hands on her hips.

      "Same way you did." Owen said.

      "And you spent your free time loitering in the hall way." Kel asked.

    "We were waiting for you." Neal said. "Now tell us what is wrong with Jaina."

    "She said to give you this message if you asked. 'I am just feeling a bit homesick. Thank you for your concern.'" Roald said.

    "Ah." Owen said. "Now what can we do about that."
   "Nothing." Roald said. "Except to make sure she is feeling accepted and welcome."

   "We already do that." Owen said.

   "And all we can do is to continue doing that." Kel said.
 "The meeting will be over soon, so we should all go back to our quarters and get ready for lessons." Kel said. "Scoot." She commanded.

  Everyone rushed off. Jaina felt a bit better, it helped homesickness to know that there were people who cared about you where you were. She smiled wistfully; she had also found love in Tortall.  She thought about Roald for a bit, how kind he was, how thoughtful, how sensitive. She really loved him. Five minutes later she stopped her line of thought, enough, she said, I am here on a mission and I need to start working on that.

    Jaina started limbering up, and then she practiced punches, kicks, throws, and then she worked on the hard part drill patterns until Geoffrey came in. "I am sorry I am late. The meeting went on for awhile today, there was debate over the revision of the kidnapping law."

    "That will be a great law to get changed, Kel will be pleased when she hears it."

     "Don't let her get her hopes up." Geoffrey cautioned, "There is heavy opposition from the Conservatives. Many think the Progressives have had to much legislation passed recently, so have vowed to stall anything even slightly progressive."

     Jaina shook her head, her mother had often complained about such factional mentality. Jaina whisked away such thoughts before she could get depressed again. "Yeah." Jaina said. "Why can some people be so nerf-brained."

     "Sorry?" Geoffrey asked.

      Jaina sighed. "Sorry, that is a saying in my galaxy, it means without brains See, nerfs are animals who have a very small brain, scientifically speaking, and most people think they have no brains at all, so the saying was born."

    "Ah." Geoffrey said. "Well, that would definitely describe the conservatives. Even the animal part. Well, shall we get to work?"

    "Of course." Jaina said, daintily stepping into Geoffrey's room, which served as the training room.

   "Today I want to check your unarmed combat skills. This will be more of a test, so please get dressed in your best outfit for such a combat." Geoffrey said.

    Jaina smiled tightly, this was the part of fighting she felt most comfortable with. She had been working on hand-to-hand combat since she was 6. Uncle Luke had also drilled this into her. There were a lot of people who wanted to kidnap her for her families position, and many times such attacks occurred when it was diplomatically wrong from her to carry a blaster so hand-to-hand combat was her lifesaver.

      "I know you are good at this." Geoffrey said, as they walked to the practice room, "But I would be negligent in my duty if I still didn't try and hone your skills more."

      Jaina felt something weird from him in the force. It became louder as they reached the practice room. She walked towards their usual one. Geoffrey shook his head. His expression was unreadable. "We work in the big one today."

       Now Jaina knew something was up, they never used the big room. When she got in the room she saw what the matter was, most of the King's council was there along with other Knight's and their squires. Jaina looked at Geoffrey accusingly. He looked guilty. "I was instructed not to tell you, today at the Council they made a decision to do random tests on squires who are not generally in the public eye."

    Jaina knew he didn't have a choice, but she was grateful that he had insisted she get into her best outfit.

    "His supreme Majesty, King Jonathan, and her majesty Queen Thayet." A herald announced, opening the doors.

      Everyone got up and bowed, or curtsied. (Jaina and Kel bowed because they were there officially as Squires.)

         Lord Wyldon looked to the King for permission, and at his nod spoke. "The King's council has decided, and I have agreed, that tests should be given of the practical skills of the Squires. For those in public eye, the tests will automatically take place by the call of duty for the rest the council will decide random tests. Jaina Solo today we will test your unarmed hand-to-hand combat skills. First off we will ask you to practice with Squire Joren, all Squire Joren was told was to be ready for a practice session, same as you."

     Jaina smiled grimly to herself as Joren came to join her on the floor. She knew she had to beat Joren. I will, she said to herself, do or do not there is no try.

     When Joren was with her both of them bowed to the monarchs and the audience and faced each other. "Begin." Jonathan said.

      "Prepare to die, wench." Joren said. "The best part about hand to hand combat is a little extra 'accidental' pressure and you can kill someone. And I will kill you."

     "We will see." Jaina said, using the tactic her uncle had taught her, perplex your opponent by your calm and non-hostile manner.  She had seen her uncle use it successfully many times.

      Joren lunged as she had suspected. Jaina easily sidestepped him. She had watched him train when he was a page and knew that though he did have finesse when it came to fighting skills, he tended to get confident and arrogant and then rely on brute force.

    Whenever your opponent starts relying on brute force alone, you have him. Calmness, rationality, and finesse always win.  Uncle Luke's words came back. Brute force in many ways is like the dark side, and often a characteristic of the dark side, it relies on exploiting your weakness. This means they need to concentrate on you rather then on what they are doing. Which means you have an easy out.. But be patient, at times it will take a few minutes for this to happen. Just last the other person out. Also, in finesse, often, you get a second chance when you make a mistake, but in most brute force cases you don't because you are focusing all your energy on one thing, rather then keeping some in reserve.

         Joren lunged again this time Jaina put up her arm and caught him. She flipped him onto the ground. Jaina didn't see him recover fast, though, so she missed it when he grabbed her leg and flipped her. Joren and Jaina wrestled on the floor for a few minutes, until Jaina saw exactly what her uncle had been talking about. Joren was focusing so hard on felling her again; he didn't notice that he left himself open to attack, and was making his strategy obvious and predictable. When he lifted his had to dump her she was waiting and grabbed his arm, twisted it and held him as Lord Wyldon, who was the judge, counted and declared her the winner.

      She bowed to the cheering audience and wiped her sweaty brow. She took the water Geoffrey offered. "Now they are going to put you up against a Knight." He said, worriedly. "They are going to give you a few minutes rest while they test another squire, who was told during yours to go get ready, then they will pit you against him."
    "Don't worry." Jaina said. "I will do my best."

   "That's all I can ask." Geoffrey said. "You already have done me credit."

    "Don't say that to soon." Jaina said impishly. "The evening is still young, and I have a feeling many trials await me."

     Jaina sat, and recouped her energy while she watched one of her year mates, Lax of Hills bright try and beat Owen. She knew that protocol permitted her to be loud. She yelled. "Go Owen!!!!"

     It was a long match, in the end Owen won and he proudly bowed to the audience. Jaina beamed and was very happy for her friend. Jaina started to limber up again even before Lord Wyldon called her name so when he did she was ready.

      She went down and bowed, she looked to see which Knight they would have her fight against, it was Kel's brother, Conal, a good Knight while not as celebrated as his brother Inness. Jaina caught Kel's eye and winked slightly so, hopefully, only she would catch it.

         Jaina knew that she would have some trouble this time, and she was right. It took her a lot longer to get Conal, and he did land some solid punches. I am going to be aching tonight, she thought wryly. 

       Jaina got beaten in the next round by another Knight, Renn of Kikery. Jaina found out that he had been out on active duty for the last couple months, but that was little consolation.

        To her utter amusement they pitted her against Alanna, who beat her in 7 minutes. "You gave me a great fight though, Jaina." Alanna said afterwards. "Trust me. You are good."

    "I will only consider myself good when I can beat you." Jaina said, her eyes twinkling.

   "You and whose army." Alanna retorted. "No seriously, you are close to it, and I am sure you will be able to do it soon, I am not getting any younger."

        "Thanks for the confidence, Alanna."

      "I am giving you advance warning, the summer after you are Knighted, you are probably going to come on vacation with us again, right?" She continued after Jaina nodded. "I am going to put you in a match against Jonathan."

     "Oh no." Jaina said.
     "Oh yes." Alanna said.

    The conversation had to end then because Alanna had already bowed, and both of them had to retake their seats. "Great job." Geoffrey said.

     "Thanks." Jaina said.

  The matches lasted another half an hour then everyone was dismissed. "What else sir?" Jaina asked Geoffrey formally.

   "Go take your bath and meet me in the Library in 1 hr."

    Jaina bowed and went off. She relaxed in the bath for a bit and then went to lessons. "Now we talk about the economics of agriculture."

    Jaina groaned internally, well, she thought, I can't expect to always work with fun topics.  Geoffrey gestured for her to sit and she settled in getting ready for a long evening of necessary, but tedious work.

      Jaina was very happy when Geoffrey dismissed her; it had been a long day. She relaxed in her bed and she fell asleep.

      Numair was, as Roald had predicted, back to the castle in one week. Jaina had to stop herself from being overly hopefully once he had returned. Hope, can just be setting yourself up for disappointment, she reminded herself.

      But Roald was right about the other part to. On the 3rd day after his return he knocked on Jaina's door from the partition in Geoffrey's room. "Squire Jaina?" He asked.

    "Master Numair, please come in." She said, rushing to open the door.

    "I have a favor to ask of you." He asked, his face showing how hopeful he was. "I would really like to try the link again, see if we can do it, and see if it takes less gift, would you be willing. I have talked to the King and Geoffrey and they gave me permission. Now I just need yours."

       Jaina almost laughed, this was something she wanted to do, SHE was hoping he would ask and he was treating it like HE was the one getting the big favor. "It would be my pleasure." She said, giving him the formal response.

     He was relieved. "Um…. Well, I think I should tell the King and set up a time with Geoffrey."

       Jaina bowed and Numair left the room. Right as the door closed Jaina took a deep breath. Geoffrey knocked on the connecting door a few minutes later. "I hope it was okay that I gave Numiar the okay. I thought, you haven't talked to your family members in over a year, and you probably want to talk to them. Plus, it really would make Numair very happy, he loves completing experiments." Geoffrey said.

    Jaina smiled. "I do want to talk to my family members really badly."

  "I am going to go see the King and Numair, so I can be on the decision of what time. Do you have a preference?"

  Jaina shook her head. "As long as it is enough time so I can talk without compromising my training."

     "Well, that is one of the perks of this Knightmaster-Squire training, it is one to one, so worst comes to worst I will move the time for your training and we will do it later."

    Jaina smiled again, feeling grateful for having such an understanding Knightmaster. "Thank you, sir." She said.

     Geoffrey just winked at her. "I had better get going then." He said.

    Jaina sat and thought about how she was so lucky to have found so many people who cared about her. She knew she was on a mission, but it was nice that the mission was fun. She hoped that Obi-Wan was happy. She hoped that she was doing him credit as well. He had, after all, sent her on this mission. I hope Uncle Luke, papa, mama, Jacen, and Anakin will also be pleased.

          Get a life, Solo, she told herself. All those people know you are doing your best, and that is all that counts. Make yourself proud as well. Well that is a circular argument, she thought, I will be proud when they are proud.

     Jaina had often thought that she had disappointed her mother, she wasn't into politics, she didn't do beautiful hairstyles, she wasn't good with keeping her appearance neat, clean, and lady like. It had always made her so sad.

         She was glad when the bell rang and interrupted her thought.  I am starting to love the bells and the training system, she thought wryly, they don't leave me enough time to depress myself.