The Chosen Apprentice/Chapter 24

The next morning Obi-Wan was fixing the practise mats where they had been moved during his lesson. Most of the younglings had left for their next class, except one.

“Master Kenobi?” said a soft voice.

Obi-Wan turned to see Sona Cantari. He had watched her carefully in the days since his return, ever since she had left Anakin’s cell without explanation. But try as he might, Obi-Wan could not guess the reason for the girl’s continued predilection for his former apprentice.

“What is it, Sona?” he asked her patiently. “I don’t want to make you late for your next class.”

“I…I just have a question,” she answered, her dark eyes examining her face.

“Is it something to do with the lesson?” Obi-Wan asked. “If you like, I can give you some further instruction some evenings.”

“No, it’s not about that,” Sona said, her eyes flickering back to the floor nervously.

Obi-Wan considered this for a moment, he had never thought that Sona was the nervous type. Quiet perhaps, and shy even, yet she was remarkably confident in her abilities, even for her age.

Obi-Wan moved his hands to his side so he appeared less threatening, and he did not try to push her. He figured that since she had come to ask him something, she would and urging her on might make her edge away.

“I was wondering something,” she said at last, her voice still not quite certain. “What is that stone that Jedi Skywalker carries with him?”

Obi-Wan frowned. “Sorry?”

“It’s a round, black stone,” she explained, “very shiny and smooth, yet when the light hits the surface it glows red.” Sona looked up at him, her dark eyes wide. “I just thought I would…ask,” she stammered, avoiding Obi-Wan’s gaze again. “It…seemed important.”

“It’s a river stone,” he told her, “I’m not sure where it comes from but it’s Force-sensitive.” He didn’t tell her the rest of the story, of how Qui-Gon had given it to him many, many years ago and it had saved his memory from being erased.

Sona’s words shattered that memory. “And that’s why he keeps it?” Her voice sounded dubious.

Obi-Wan shook his head. “I gave it to him, many years ago, when he was about your age,” he explained, not quite sure what else to say.

Sona looked up at him; Obi-Wan could see his reflection in her eyes. There was a moment of silence.

“Yes,” she said finally. “I think I understand.”



That same morning Anakin got a call regarding a subject that he had been avoiding all this time: Gunray’s trial.

“This is Skywalker,” he said into the ‘link.

“Jedi Skywalker, this is Taur Cel-Dral,” said a voice. “I suppose you have heard of me?”

“No, I haven’t, I don’t watch the HoloNet,” Anakin replied, disliking whoever it was from this moment onwards.

Even from the ‘link Anakin could detect a sigh of distaste. “I will be making the case against Gunray in Viceroy Nute Gunray’s trial,” Cel-Dral explained. “It is important that I meet with you soon as it may be sooner than anyone has expected.”

“I am very busy at the moment,” Anakin said impatiently, hoping to get out of the whole business.

“I am willing to be accommodating,” Cel-Dral said in a tight voice. “Would an hour from now suit you?”

“Not particularly,” Anakin replied. “But they tell me that I have no choice. Where can I find you?”

Another disdainful sigh. “I have an office in the Courts Building,” Cel-Dral told him. “Ask and you will find me without difficultly.”

Anakin ended the communication there and went on his way. Regardless of who they may have been or who they represented, Anakin trusted lawyers almost as much as he trusted politicians.