Master and Apprentice (Star Wars)

by Claudia Gray

“C’mon, hang in there,” called Rael, who clung to the rigging just behind him. “You’ll be all right, kid. The first battle’s always the worst.” “It’s not the battle I’m afraid of!” Qui-Gon protested. “It’s the water.” “—the water?” Despite the chill of the seawater drenching his clothes and hair, Qui-Gon’s face flushed warm with embarrassment. “I can’t swim!” Now Rael Averross—the Padawan before him, the stronger one, the better one—would laugh at him, and no bravery in combat would ever eclipse Qui-Gon’s shame. Rael didn’t laugh. “Don’t worry,” he called over the roar of the waves. “You fall in, I’ll levitate you out. And after we’ve won this thing, tomorrow, I’ll teach you to swim.” He made the victory sound inevitable. Tonight, battle—and then came tomorrow. It erased Qui-Gon’s fear faster than anything else could’ve done—