Convergence (Star Wars: The High Republic)

by Zoraida Córdova

“The Republic and the Jedi have always conspired to meddle in our system. My own parents dealt with it, and now it is my turn. I am certain, when the time comes, Phan-tu and his consort will as well.” Phan-tu blinked hard at her response. “My queen, I don’t need to remind you that they have our medical shipment, and we did ask the Jedi to get involved.” “But not the Republic,” Queen Adrialla clarified. “And I assume E’ronoh would never. Yet, they are here now and we must deal with it.” Xiri blanched. If she’d talked to her father that way, she would have felt the cool sting of his rings across her face. She and Niko had learned from a young age to choose their words carefully. In response to her son, the queen merely pursed her lips. There was even a touch of humor there. Was this for show? Was this to lull Xiri into some sort of false sense of camaraderie? “We asked for their aid. Meddling is entirely different. I do not like having the terms of a deal altered, and I do not like my hand being forced. Especially”—she looked pointedly at Xiri—“when I am told Eiram did not initiate the conflict.” Xiri had the sense to look away. Yes, it had been Blitz who sparked the chain of events that led her to this predicament. But there was something she was missing. Ships didn’t simply explode, and she was too far from home to speculate. Could she voice those concerns among the enemy? Surely not.