Author: Chaos
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: Qui-gon and Obi-wan and the universe they come from, along with their vehicle and all their luggage belong to George Lucas exclusively. They are respectfully borrowed with no intent to profit thereby or infringe on the copyright thereof.



Section 13

It was just songs and idle chatter all the way to the Faire site. Most of the songs were delivered in Morgan�s lilting soprano and were accompanied by giggles and laughter from both women. It became increasingly clear that many of the songs were some sort of inside joke and both Jedi remained perplexed and mystified as to their meaning. Obi-wan gave up trying and just enjoyed the music and joined in on the choruses whenever it seemed appropriate. Qui-gon sat back and relaxed, but did not sing.

Morgan called him on it just as Lisa was steering the car into the parking lot for the site. She twisted around in her seat and pinned the tall man with a topaz stare. �What is tha matter, Jim? Do ya nae like ta sing or do ya just have a tin ear?�

�I beg your pardon?�

�Beg all ya like,� she purred, �tis tha proper attitude for a man ta have. But ya did nae answer my question.� Lisa snorted out a poorly concealed laugh and tried to keep her face straight while she concentrated on parking the car.

�Why did ya nae join in tha singing?� Deep blue eyes sparkled with malicious glee. �Afraid we�ll find out ya can nae carry a tune in a bucket?�

�He sings very well, Morgan.� Obi-wan jumped to his master�s defense without delay. �He just, well, he just.�

�He�s just a stick in tha mud, ya mean?�

Qui-gon simply stared back at the outspoken woman, his face unreadable, but Obi-wan�s jaw dropped, then snapped shut again as he stifled burgeoning laughter. Yes, it was true. His master was of similar temperament to his master. Yoda had never, verifiably, cracked a joke that anyone in the Temple had ever heard. Qui-gon took life and his duties as a Jedi very seriously. �No, he�s just a serious sort of person and many of your songs were most definitely not serious.�

Morgan nodded her head. �Aye. He�s a stick in tha mud. Loosen up, old man. Enjoy life while ya have it. We all have responsibilities ta attend ta, but one of those is ta actually live while our bodies still breathe.�

With that, she popped open her door and slid out of the vehicle. Lisa and the Jedi were quick to follow and soon the whole group were on their way toward the ticket booths. The women in the booths greeted Lisa by name.

�Sven!�

�Well met!�

�Writing anything new?� The brunette introduced everyone and many of the young ladies eyed Obi-wan appreciatively.

�That vest more of your handy-work, Sven?�

�Aye, and the executioner as well. Not a bad bit of stitchery, if I do say so myself.� A dozen eyes traveled up and down both outfits and there were sighs of envy, both for the cut of the cloth and the measurements that must have been necessary for the proper fit.

�Well, if he wants any help getting out of it later, we would be more than glad to oblige him.� A buxom red-head gave the young Jedi a come hither stare and a playful wink and he reddened from neck to hairline. That only set off a round of twittering and giggles.

�Look, Kaitlyn, you made him blush.�

�I can think of other things I�d like to make him do.�

�Alright, ladies,� Morgan turned spoke suddenly. �Enough teasing. He�s a Faire virgin. Treat him gently.�

�In that case, you�d best go on in. We won�t keep him out a minute longer.�

�We�ve been greedy to keep the sight of him to ourselves.� Their money was waved away and they were passed through without purchasing tickets.

�Well, I guess that it�s good to mention Faire workers by name in novels,� Lisa commented as she led the other three into the Faire proper. �That one sold very well in areas the Faire visits.�

�Aye. I can see where it might be a good thing at thet.� Morgan commented. �Come, boys, we�ve lots ta see and do ere closing time. And I don�t want ta miss a single heartbeat�s worth of it.�

She slipped her arm through Obi-wan�s and swished her way forward, her emerald skirt just sweeping the ground behind her. Lisa and Qui-gon trailed along in her wake. With their color-coordinated outfits and matching braids in their hair, Morgan and Obi-wan made an eye catching duo.

Many of the boothies waved and called out to Lisa by her Faire name and she would call back. The group would wander over and introductions would be made. Everyone seemed to know the author. She�d only published a couple of books, but they were selling well. Morgan flirted openly and unabashedly. The boothies took it all in stride and returned it with the playful banter they practiced for months before the Faire opened.

�Let me buy ya something, Ben.� Morgan suggested when they stopped at a weapons stall.

�But I do not need a knife, Morgan.�

�Nonsense, lad,� the vendor rejoined. �Everyone needs a knife. Besides, it is impolite to refuse a lady when she wishes to purchase a gift for you.�

�Something small end functional, I should think. Not decorative.� the blond told the man behind the counter. A brief disappointment flickered across his face, but he slid over toward the less expensive side of the display case and waited patiently. �Well balanced, good for fighting or throwing, easy ta conceal.�

�We have several that fit that bill, ma�am.�

Expert eyes picked through the blades on display and dismissed them. She could feel that he was holding back. Yes, he had such blades, but they were not in evidence. �Have ya ennathang under tha counter or in back thet I might see?�

The man pulled back in surprise, she could feel that too. Pulling the memories of Force use from the part of their mind that was Debrah, Morgan smiled to herself as the boothie bent down to pull a box from under the counter. He glanced around, but the crowds were still light due to the earliness of the hour, and then placed the box on top of the display case and opened it.

This was indeed what she had been looking for. There, laying on dark leather, were a neat array of �live� blades. These were knives created for use, not aesthetics, but to the pirate�s trained eye, they were all the more beautiful because of their very functionality. Carefully, she lifted one small blade from the case and weighed it in her palm. She held it by hilt and by blade, checking the balance, and then smiled.

�Verra nice.� She turned and offered it hilt first to Obi-wan. �What do ya think?�

The Jedi had watched the whole proceedings with curiosity, now he took hold of the small dagger and let the slight weight settle into his hand. It wasn�t his sabre. Certainly didn�t have the energy blade�s greater heft or length of hilt, but there was something about they way it fit his hand, the easy way it moved, that caught his attention.

�I like it.� he told her.

�Good.� Morgan turned back to the merchant. �Do ya by enna chance have a sheath ta go with thet one?�

�Yes, one moment.� While the man ducked back under the counter for the sheath, the pirate turned her eyes back to the box. The knives she had on her person now were not bad, but they were not very good either and she wished to rectify that problem before they went any farther. Quickly, lifting and trying each one, she picked out a long knife and two shorter daggers to replace those she presently possessed. Each was of superb quality and craftsmanship. The vendor had probably been holding them in reserve for favorite clients who had come to expect such service.

�How much fer tha four of these?�

�You can see the excellent quality of the blades, the perfect balance.�

�I asked how much.� she broke in brusquely.

�For you,� he glanced at Lisa standing off to the side with Qui-gon, �I�ll only ask for two hundred.�

�They�re good, but not thet good. I would expect ta pay thet much if it were leather wrapped, walnut hilts end tha finest, state-of-tha-art steel, but not for these.� His sense had been smug and pleased. There was no way this side of drowning the pirate was going to pay that much.

�One eighty. The hafts are leather wrapped oak.�

�But tha blades aren�t orient folded, nor do they show tha distinctive swirl of damask. For such a price, I would expect as much.� she returned drily.

�One fifty.� he said tightly. �I want to make a little profit this season.�

Morgan made a show of examining each of the blades again. She only wanted to make him nervous. The blond had already decided that the price was right. She was looking at one of the blades still laying in the box when something caught her eye. There was a seam at the edge of the box where the leather didn�t quite cover the bottom and the bottom didn�t quite fill the box. Was there another layer under the ones she was seeing now? The woman slid a fingernail into the crack and pried up the false bottom of the box. Her breath caught and her eyes flashed gold for the barest moment.

There, in the concealed compartment lay an exquisite stiletto. The triangular blade was barely as long as her hand, but when you knew where you were putting it, a blade didn�t need to be any longer than that. The hilt fit neatly into her palm, and was decorative enough that the blade could be concealed as an ornamental hair stick or hat pin. She didn�t even look up when the merchant�s sense turned to pleased smugness at her obvious enchantment with the weapon.

�How much?�

�One twenty for that one alone.�

�Done.�

If the man was surprised by her unconditional acceptance, he covered it well and began to make out a receipt for her as Morgan pulled out Debrah�s check book. The knowledge was reluctant in coming, but she managed to get it filled out well enough that the boothie didn�t even look twice at it. She flashed the rectangle with her picture on it when the man asked for ID and the transaction was done. There had been no gold exchanged, or jewels, but she now had three fine knives and that wonderful stiletto. The concepts of modern banking that she had pulled from Debrah�s memories still puzzled her, but the pirate decided that she didn�t care as long as purchasing things was this easy.

�You didn�t haggle with him for the last knife?� Sven asked curiously once they were away from the stall.

�No, it was worth it.� The blond was busily twisting her hair up on top of her head and soon had the stiletto pinning the whole curling mass up in a very becoming style. �Here, Ben, let me help ya get thet one strapped on.� She stopped beside the young man and pulled a spare bit of leather string from her belt pouch. �Let�s hang it down tha back of yer neck. Tha vest has enough room thet it should cover it easily. You�re right handed, aren�t ya?�

�Yes.�

�Well then.� Quickly, the woman knotted and tied the string and slid the dagger down the back of the vest. �Give it a try. If it isn�t angled right, holler end I�ll adjust it.�

Obi-wan raised his right hand over his shoulder and slid his hand down the back of his neck, his eyes on his master. It was hard to tell from Qui-gon�s face, but the young man could tell through their bond that the tall man was not entirely pleased with his apprentices�s new weapon. The hilt came readily to his hand and he drew the blade with ease. �It�s great, Morgan. But why there?�

�Should ya have ta surrender, where do ya put yer hands?�

�Up.�

�Exactly. Where yer knife is. Ya might want ta practice throwing it when ya get home. It�s not as easy as it might look.�

The bustle and noise was growing in proportion to the crowds, so Morgan decided that replacing her own knives could wait. There were too many people around now and too much fun to be had. It wasn�t likely that she would need a blade here anyway. After all, it was only a Faire.

On sudden impulse, Morgan grabbed Obi-wan�s hand and dragged him toward the center of the dirt rut that served as a street. �Cabin boy fer sale!� she shouted in a ringing sing-song that merchants the world over would have been proud of. �Handsome, young cabin boy fer sale!� Sven doubled over with laughter she couldn�t contain at the look on the Jedi�s face. Those bright blue eyes were wide with surprise and his face was flushed with embarrassment.

�Morgan, I thought Rob was the cabin boy?� Sven questioned between fits of giggles.

�Rob�s married. Can�t have a married cabin boy, Sven. Would ennabody care ta offer a price fer this fine young lad? Guaranteed ta be free of plague, pestilence or disease!� Obi-wan looked around frantically for his master, but it appeared that the older man had finally taken Morgan�s advice and �loosened up� because he was standing off to one side, trying his utmost to keep a smile off his face at his student�s predicament. Most of the people around them were dressed in normal clothing and thought the whole thing to be wonderfully entertaining.

"Madam," Morgan addressed a stately older woman who was walking along arm in arm with her greying husband. "Just take a look at him." She thrust Obi-wan forward so that the lady could do just that and continued her speech. "Young, well shaped, in perfect health end physically fit. He can do house chores, cleaning, cooking, heavy lifting, or," and her voice trailed off and she glanced back and forth as if about to impart a secret, "perform other services, if ya take my meaning."

The woman and her husband laughed and then laughed harder as the sandy-haired young man's countenance turned even redder. The couple was saved answering by a rival voice from just down the street that took up the cry, "Pleasure slaves for sale!" Morgan grinned wickedly and rushed off to confront her competition, her wares in tow. Lisa and Qui-gon followed behind, small grins on their faces.

*******

Morgan nibbled idly at her fruit ice, flavored ice in an orange rind cup, and watched as the crowds swirled and meandered around herself and her friends. Some people drifted here and there, others simply followed the flow or let friends or children drag them along in pursuit of this or that with bemused expressions on their faces.

Out of the corner of her eye, the pirate saw something that caught her attention and she wandered away from the scanty shade the four of them had found in which to relax for a few moments, rest their feet and hide from the warm noon sun. Some faire workers were setting up a live chess game. Morgan smiled to herself. She knew the rudiments of the game, the captain had insisted all the officers know at least that much, but she was no great player. Single element strategy she could handle with ease, but much more than that and all the elements began to escape her. One-on-one she could do and more often than not she would win, but she had been one of the worst of the ship�s officers when it came to chess.

She watched with piqued interest as the players pulled from the surrounding crowd were given their props and scanty costumes for their parts in the game. Her friends slowly joined her while she stood there.

�Chess, huh?� Lisa asked.

�Aye.�

�Hmm, well, I saw a clothing stand just down the way I wanted to duck into. They�ve got a great doublet pattern and I want to take a few measurements. I�ll be back in a while.�

Morgan nodded absently and waved the brunette on her way, her attention on the game as the pieces began to take their places.

�What is it?� Qui-gon asked.

�Chess. Tis a strategy game. I was never verra good at it, but tha Captain insisted thet we know tha basics.�

�How is it played?�

�White side goes first, then turn end turn about.� she began her explanation as the game before them commenced. �Tha front row are all pawns. Pawns can only move forward unless they are attacking, when they can only move diagonal. On their first move they can advance as many as two spaces, but after thet tis only one. Back row, both ends are rooks. Rooks can move unlimited spaces forward end back or side ta side. Next in from them are tha knights. Knights move in an �L� shape,� she held her hand up with thumb and fore finger extended to demonstrate, �one space end two. They can move in enna variation of thet shape in enna direction. Next in from there are tha bishops. Bishops can move unlimited spaces on tha diagonal, forward or back. In tha middle is tha king end queen. Queen always starts on her own color, white on white end black on black. Queen can move unlimited in enna direction, including diagonals. King can move one space in enna direction. The point of tha game is ta capture your opponent�s king.�

�Sha-leng,� Obi-wan exclaimed.

�Yes,� Qui-gon seconded. �The pieces and their moves are slightly different, but the objective is the same.� The trio watched in silence as the game progressed. The king on each side stood on a stool to give them a better view of the playing field and they called out moves to their pieces as their turns came around. A faire worker stood near each to offer advice and keep the game moving at a steady pace. Partway through the match, Lisa wandered back and joined them in watching the game. A hearty cheer went up as the white king threw up his hands in surrender and then bowed to his opponent.

�Let�s play!� Morgan burst out suddenly, looking at each of her friends, a wide smile stretching her lips. �Please?� Lisa shrugged a �sure�, Obi grinned and Qui-gon gave her a nod of his head, a wry smile tugging at his mouth. Morgan smiled even wider and skipped off to grab the nearest worker who was helping to organize the next game.

A little fast talking with the game organizers got Morgan the positions she wanted for the four of them. They each got their props and took their places along with the other people being cajoled into the game from the watching crowd. Beside her Qui-gon stood taller than ever on his king�s stool, his hood pushed back to make room for his crown. On Morgan�s other side, Lisa waited patiently in her bishop�s hat. Just beyond Lisa, Obi-wan held his hobby horse, blissfully unaware of how strange it was to see a 17-year-old astride a child�s toy.

The match started with both kings making their opening moves with caution. Qui-gon never once needed to rely on the helper assigned to his side and Morgan found it very easy to immerse herself in the role of queen.

She could see it all clearly. Obi-wan was her knight, riding forth to attack the enemy or protect her from harm. She herself would fly back and forth across the board at her king�s command, doing his bidding to defend him- to the death is necessary- or confound the adversary.

It was all too soon for Morgan when she moved casually forward, her skirts swishing across the ground in a very feminine manner, to place to opposing king in checkmate. All the members of the winning team, those on the side-lines as well as those still on the field, cheered loudly as Qui-gon took a modest bow.

*******

Dusk was settling in fairly quickly as the foursome trooped back across the rapidly emptying parking lot to their car. Both women were chatting tiredly, but happily about the day�s events and Obi-wan wore a bemused smile on his face. Qui-gon was deep in thought as he walked, careful to keep his stride short enough that he wouldn�t overrun his companions.

Morgan had been in control almost the whole day and the tall Jedi Master couldn�t help but wonder what that would mean for Debrah. The change over this morning had been gradual. There had been no threat that had triggered the secondary personality�s arrival. Did this mean that Morgan was getting stronger? Qui-gon could only conclude that this was a bad thing. The stronger the other personalities became, the harder it would be to re-integrate them.

Jinn sighed in frustration. He wasn�t a healer. He only had the vaguest idea of what was actually happening in the woman�s mind and no idea at all of what to do about it. All he could do was feel his way through this and hope that he hadn�t made things worse.

As Lisa steered the vehicle back onto the highway for the trip back to her house, Morgan lay her head back and slumping down in her seat, closed her eyes. Qui-gon kept a close watch on her, both physically and through the Force. She was tired, but happy, and more than willing to just relax. The group had bought dinner from a food vendor before leaving, so Debrah would not be in demand for cooking duties until tomorrow morning. Even as Qui-gon watched, the pirate fell asleep, her head nodding slightly with the motion of the car and he relaxed. Hopefully, when she awoke, Debrah would be back in control.

When they pulled to a stop in the driveway, Lisa leaned over and shook her friend awake. �Deb? We�re home. Wake up.�

Green eyes glinted in the dim overhead light and blinked in a confused manner. �Home?�

�Yeah, we�re back at my place.�

�Lisa?� She shook off her fatigue and forced herself awake. �Sorry,� she smiled. �I always fall asleep in cars unless I�m the one driving.�

Lisa made a face. �I wish I were so lucky. I have a hard time sleeping if it isn�t in my bed. Speaking of which, let�s get everyone inside so we can go keep our beds company.�

Debrah nodded and climbed out of the car, and all four of them walked slowly inside.

*******

Debrah stood before the large picture window in her room and stared out at the sky. The stars and the moon that was just shy of full hung suspended in the dark vastness. It was a lot like her life. Suddenly there was almost too much to take in. So many things had happened that she wasn�t sure where to begin to sort it out in her mind. Much of it seemed so fantastic, so unreal, that she wasn�t sure whether or not it was all just a dream.

Debrah�d had very realistic dreams in the past and they had covered a lot of subjective time, but never like this. There were parts of it she could certainly do without, like her parents� death, but others that she wouldn�t give up for all of Solomon�s gold. It had been frightening and fascinating and after twenty years of non-stop school, it felt like she was actually living, not just learning or preparing, but using what she had learned to help herself and those around her.

She wished again that she�d thought to pack her journal. Debrah wanted to write all this down before the details and the feelings she�d experienced began to fade in her memory. The stars glittered at her and she pressed her hand against the window, reveling in the sensation of the cool glass against her warm skin. She�d always turned to the stars and the night sky to relax or be inspired. There was so much out there to fire the imagination, and yet it held such simplicity and order.

There was little simplicity or order in her life right now. The Jedi had seen to that. May you live in interesting times, she thought. Maybe the Chinese who had coined that phrase had meant it as a curse and not a blessing. Take today, for instance. She had gotten dressed and gone to the Faire with every intention of enjoying herself thoroughly. Everyone else seemed to have enjoyed it, even Qui-gon, so she must have as well. She had four new knives to show for it and Lisa had teased Obi-wan for his reaction to being sold, but Debrah didn�t remember buying the knives or trying to sell the young man. In point of fact, she didn�t remember anything at all from the Faire.

It was disturbing to say the least.

Debrah sighed deeply and deliberately stopped thinking. She forced herself to relax and simply absorb the beauty around her.

*******

Obi-wan awoke abruptly and for a moment was uncertain of what had caused it. Then the sound repeated and he remembered. Someone was moving around in Debrah�s room. He could hear it because his room and her�s shared a wall.

Obi-wan pushed back the covers and swung his legs off the bed and sat up. The carpet was soft, but cool beneath his feet and he shivered as a cold breeze blew across the bare skin of his chest. Rising, he crossed to the window and closed it, then moved to the doorway and out into the hall.

If Debrah was having trouble sleeping, perhaps he could help. She needed all the rest she could get, and he was surprised that she could keep her eyes open after today. They�d walked up and down that faire several times and done just about everything that could be done and seen everything there was to see. He�d enjoyed most of it and his master had at least enjoyed the times Morgan had embarrassed him, so all around, it had been a good diversion, if a tiring one.

Only when he stood before he door with his hand poised to knock, did the young man remember that there were several dogs in the house and that they habitually slept where ever they pleased. Obi-wan had woken up two days ago to find himself pinned at the hips by the largest dog in the house, his legs numb and asleep. Perhaps it was one of the dogs he had heard moving around and not Debrah. Not wanting to wake the woman, he decided not to knock. Instead he opened the door a bit, waiting to see if a dog would come rushing out. When nothing happened, he sighed in relief and slipped inside.

No sooner had he cleared the doorway than the door was flung shut with considerable force, cutting off the faint light from the hallway, and an arm snaked around his neck from behind. Grabbing the wrist before it could get a purchase on his throat to cut off his air, Obi-wan twisted, dropping to one knee and throwing his assailant over his shoulder. The moonlight that splashed liberally through the window gave the Jedi more than sufficient illumination to see the figure before him roll out of his throw and come smoothly to its feet. It turned easily to face him and he recognized the stance immediately.

�Debrah?�

�Nae, lad.� Morgan advanced on him across the dark, moonlit room, and suddenly uneasy, Obi-wan retreated before her.

�I heard a noise in here and I-I thought that maybe you couldn�t sleep.� he explained hurriedly. �I thought maybe I could help you get to sleep, since we have a busy day ahead of us tomorrow.�

�Mmmmm.� The sound was less a response to his words than a pleased, throaty purr.

�And I didn�t knock because-�

�If ya wanted ta join me tonight, ya had only ta ask. Nae need ta make up excuses.�

Obi-wan�s spine thumped up against the wall behind him and the blood drained out of his face. Morgan continued her patient stalking as the young man began to frantically consider shouting to his master for help. Unfortunately, Qui-gon was not the only one who might hear and he had no desire to try and explain to Lisa anything that was presently going on under her roof.

Morgan�s hand settled on the bare skin of his shoulder and Obi-wan slid sideways away from her, only to find himself trapped in a corner barely three shuffled steps away.

�Nae need ta be shy, love. I do nae bite.� The hand that had stayed on his shoulder during his abortive attempt to escape now slid down to caress his chest and her other hand snaked around behind his neck. Obi-wan knew he was trembling, knew that Morgan could feel it, but he could not help it in the least. When she leaned in close, the young man turned his head at the last moment so that her kiss landed on his cheek and not on his lips.

�Morgan, I did not intend-�

�Ta be seduced? Aye, my sweet Ben, of course nae, but I�m feeling a wee bit impatient tonight end I did nae want ta wait for ya ta get around ta seducing me.�

�Master Qui-gon-�

�Do nae worry, lad. I will nae tell yer master.� One finger was lightly tracing the curve of his ear and her other hand still gently caressed his bare chest. Obi-wan knew that she was aware of what he had been trying to say, but she wasn�t going to let him finish a single sentence. She was going to continue to purposefully misconstrue everything he said. His heart was beating like a trip-hammer and thrashing against the inside of his ribs like a caged bird. He knew he should remain calm, keep control of himself, but it was proving to be impossible. It was beginning to look as though the only way he would be able to escape was through violence, but he did not want to hurt her.

The door opened suddenly and a switch clicked, flooding bright flourescent light through the room. Panic spiked through Obi-wan for one brief moment, till he realized that it wasn�t Debrah�s friend, Lisa, but his master who stood in the doorway.

�Master.� He called out in relief, but then it occurred to him what his master was seeing. Obi-wan was standing, naked to the waist in the corner and Morgan stood in from of him, wearing only a sleep shirt, with one hand on his chest, the other now tangled in his short hair. �It�s not what it looks like, Sir.�

�Oh aye, �tis.� Morgan purred in reply and her predatory smile only grew wider. �Ben came inta my room in tha darkness end I did nae send him away.� Obi-wan fought the blush that rose across his face and only partially succeeded. �Ya can join us, if ya wish.� Obi-wan blushed even harder as the implication of her words hit him. Master Qui-gon had been understating the case when he�d described Morgan as 'forward'.

�Morgan, we have a long day ahead of us and I think it would be wise of us each to seek our beds.�

�Oh aye, thet was my intention all along, James dear.�

Obi-wan took advantage of the shift in her attention to duck under her arm and slip around her, moving quickly to Qui-gon�s side. Morgan�s smile melted under Qui-gon�s stern gaze. An infuriated scowl immediately took its place.

�Tis nae fair!� She peevishly stamped a foot for emphasis. �Debrah does nae even think of either of ya as more than friends, family even. Tis sickening! Just because she intends ta let two perfect specimens of male beauty go ta waste does nae mean thet I do.�

�Good night, Morgan.� Qui-gon said calmly. �Sleep well.� The tall man ushered his student out the door ahead of him and serenely followed, closing the door behind him. A moment later something heavy thumped violently against the door, quickly accompanied by another. Both Jedi could hear the loudly muttered imprecations that were hurled after them as angrily as the woman�s shoes.

�I heard something moving around in her room, but I did not want to wake her if it was just one of the dogs, Master.� Obi-wan began explaining, head bowed. �You saw the result.�

�Knock next time, Padawan. Let us not give Morgan any more opportunities than she already has.�

�Yes, Master.�

�And you probably ought to lock your door tonight, Obi-wan.� The young man was too startled and alarmed by the advice to hear the half-hidden humor behind it.

�Yes, Master!�




Section 14