He stood in the Celestial Chalice, the curved amphitheater to the ancient gods within the Pijali palace. This was the place for the treaty ceremony, and everything was about to begin. Fanry walked toward him, her dress shining white, her brilliant red hair hanging free, her clothing all the more vivid against the dark-blue-tiled floor of the Chalice— —and everything went mad, turned into a jumble Qui-Gon couldn’t comprehend. People screamed. Minister Orth pushed roughly through the crowd, toward the altar. Rael shouted, “Fanry, no!” Qui-Gon brought up his lightsaber, ready to strike—but at
...more
