Hospitality
Part 3
After the meal, Cyning Harjis took Qui-Gon into his private office.�Let�s look at all the transmission logs from the com devices here in the palace first. Then I�ll make a list of all the people who knew where Khian was. That�s not very many. I�ll add all the people who theoretically could have had access to the information according to where they worked and with whom, and we�ll talk to them.�"You are very organised, Counselor,�Qui-Gon remarked.
"I have to be,�the man replied.
It took almost all morning to find the single transmission into Betwioh Territory. It had been made just over a week ago from the most remote of the five com devices--the one in Governor Harjis� private office.
"Why do it from the Governor�s personal com?�Cyning asked as soon as Qui-Gon had pointed it out.�Why not use the ones that are more public, the ones that everybody uses?�
"Perhaps the risk of being discovered was too great?�
"Yes, people are always coming and going there, even in the dead of night. He must have been afraid that someone would look over his shoulder. Still, it doesn�t narrow the list of suspects a bit. Everybody on these lists would know the Governor�s habits and know when his office would be empty. We�ll have to interview them all.�
After lunch, they started with the Governor�s personal secretaries, then moved down to under-secretaries and office helpers. Qui-Gon was convinced that they were all telling the truth when they proclaimed their innocence, but his Force sense picked up when the last young man was shown into Cyning�s office. He looked nervous to begin with.
"Niehstar Gelifd,�Cyning identified him.�My own under-secretary. Niehstar, you remember the Governor�s daughter Teokhian, don�t you?�
To Qui-Gon�s surprise, the young man blushed bright red, but he answered,�Yes...I remember.�
"You knew that she had been sent away to school?�
"Yes, to Aldaraan.�Niehstar seemed uneasy now.
"Did you know exactly where?�
"Well, no, not then, not exactly.�
"But the information was here in our computers.�
"Was it? I never--well, I mean, I might--�He was getting more nervous now, tripping over his own tongue.
"Did you access that information?�
"Counselor Cyning, I--�
"I�ll take that as a yes.�
"I only wanted to send her a letter!�
"So you accessed that information, found out exactly where she was, and even had a look at which passwords had been decided on.�
"That was three years ago, Counselor! I never sent the letter, by the way!�
"No, but perhaps you sent this information to Laisian Betwioh?�
"I what? No! Never!�The words were loud, but Qui-Gon sensed a lack of conviction in them that made him become extra attentive.
"You were in love with Teokhian. You wanted to marry her. You even asked the Governor for her hand, but when he refused her, you were angry! You hoped for three years and then you decided to write to Teokhian herself. But when she refused you as well, you sent the information to Laisian Betwioh as your revenge!�
"No! I was hurt, yes, but--�
"You were hurt, Niehstar. I was there, I saw how you moped around here for days on end. And you wanted revenge. I could feel it. You spent a lot of time near the Governor�s office in the last month. You knew exactly when he was there and when he was out. You sent the message from the Governor�s personal com, and we have a record of it! A record, Niehstar!�
"Yes, all right,�Niehstar suddenly sighed as though in relief.�I sent the message. I wanted revenge, I admit it. I�m sure the Governor will do anything to get her back, she won�t be harmed, but I just wanted that monster Betwioh to give her a good scare. I thought maybe that she might be so glad to be home again that she�d reconsider my offer.�
Here at last was the conviction that had been missing from the young man�s words before, and Qui-Gon made a mental note of it, certain that the young man was telling the truth.
"There we have it, Master Jinn. Opportunity, motive, and confession.�Counselor Cyning hit the com link on his own desk.�Guards! Take this young man down to the dungeon and let him wait until Governor Harjis can spare the time to speak to him.�
The guards entered the room and handcuffed Niehstar, then led him away in efficient silence. Cyning sat back, not quite smiling, but obviously satisfied.�Well, Master Jinn, it was a hard day�s work, but we got him.�
"He seemed very nervous at first,�Qui-Gon commented cautiously.
"Of course he was afraid,�Cyning agreed.�He knows how the Governor punishes spies and traitors! Come, let�s tell the Governor the good news, and then I think it must be dinner time. All that talking has given me quite an appetite.�
As they walked down the corridor, Qui-Gon wondered idly why Cyning had used the word �afraid� when he himself had said �nervous� and why the counselor had alluded to a severe punishment for traitors as a reason for the young man�s apprehension. Qui-Gon had felt the nervousness before the confession, and a definite sense of relief afterwards. It didn�t make sense that he should be relieved if he had just confessed and was now facing imprisonment or execution. Instead, it seemed as though Niehstar had passed some sort of test, and Qui-Gon couldn�t help speculating if the young man were actually covering for somebody, somebody who had promised to keep him from the consequences. And yet his confession had had a definite aura of truth about it. It could only mean that he had indeed sent the message, but under somebody else�s orders, somebody who had engineered the whole thing.
Who? And why?
Sometimes, the only option was to wait and see what happened. Qui-Gon began to wait.
Governor Harjis was scheduled to fly to the neutral city half an hour after dinner. He retired to his office with Counselor Cyning to review the demands and prepare himself to meet them, and Qui-Gon waited in the same room he had been shown to at the beginning of his visit here. He used the time to meditate a little and was surprised to feel a slight disturbance in the Force close to him. Automatically, he reached out for Obi-Wan, but the bond showed him that his apprentice was fine. It must be someone here in Harjis Territory, Qui-Gon thought, someone in the palace perhaps.
When the half hour was almost over, Counselor Cyning came into the room.�Master Jinn, Governor Harjis has just had a stroke. He will not be able to attend the negotiations, but he managed to convey his authority to me.�
"A stroke?�Qui-Gon asked.�Is it very bad?�
"I do not know. His personal physician is with him now, doing what he can, but so often the effects are not reversible...�Counselor Cyning let his voice trail off.�It was his wish that we attend the negotiations anyway, as I have the authority to act for him.�
"I am not trained as a healer, Counselor, but I offer any help I might be able to give.�
"Thank you, Master Jinn, but as I said, his personal physician is already attending him. Let us walk to the ship together. I know it would put his mind at ease to know that we are carrying out his orders.�
As they walked, Qui-Gon tried gently to probe the counselor�s mind, but the man had the tightest natural shields he had ever come across. No emotion was allowed to leak through, and he abandoned the attempt after only a few seconds. If he noticed the light mind touch at all, Cyning gave no sign.
*****
No Man�s City, as it had been jokingly dubbed, consisted of a few metal huts and a sea of tents in a barren landscape. Guards from both armies accompanied Counselor Cyning and Qui-Gon to the largest hut, and they sat down at the round table. Laisian Betwioh was already there, with his counselors, and asked immediately,�Where is Harjis?�
"Governor Harjis suffered a stroke not very long before we left,�Counselor Cyning replied.�He managed to convey his authority to me, and I will act in his place.�
"Fine,�said Betwioh.�Then let�s get on with it. He�s already agreed to my terms, so all you have to do is sign the treaty that we have prepared.�
"Before he suffered his stroke, Governor Harjis reminded me of his gubernatorial oath,�said Counselor Cyning, and everybody in the hut suddenly froze at attention, waiting to hear more. Smoothly, he continued,�It pains him exceedingly to lose his daughter, but the terms that you have laid out would weaken the country beyond repair, and his first duty as Governor is to maintain his country, even at the cost of his life, or that of his family. It was the pain of this decision that brought on the stroke, but he is determined to honour this oath, even in his twilight state.�
"I don�t believe you!�Betwioh shouted, standing up.�Harjis has already agreed to the terms! The Jedi can witness it!�
"Harjis has one weakness, and that is that he cannot refuse his daughter anything--to her face,�said Cyning before Qui-Gon could speak.�He could not bring himself to watch her face as he sacrificed her. He left this unpleasant duty to me. That was also a reason for his stroke; shame at his own cowardice. However, his decision has been made.�
There was something wrong here, thought Qui-Gon, but he couldn�t tell what it was, not just yet. Harjis had agreed to the terms, at least verbally, that much was true. Qui-Gon had formed the distinct impression that Harjis had meant it seriously, and yet, what Cyning was saying also sounded completely plausible. At the moment, he could form no impression of Cyning Harjis, and eventually, he decided that it would be better not to take action at this time. He would merely wait and see what he could learn from the events that would soon happen. Schooling his features into a neutral expression, he sat back and began his wait.
"Now,�Counselor Cyning continued,�about the terms. We are not willing to fulfil any of them. However, we might be able to compromise on others.�
They spent the next eight hours arguing back and forth and getting nowhere. Finally, Betwioh lost his patience and stood up.�I think you might be persuaded to change your minds, you and Harjis, when you see my next holo transmission! Go back to your palace and wait for it! Make sure Harjis sees it, twilight state or not!�
He stalked out of the hut, his bodyguards following.
"Well, said Cyning with a little shrug as he turned to Qui-Gon.�Let us do as he suggests.�