Ylesia Read Free

an unvoiced shriek, and Nom Anor decided that his information regarding a human’s vulnerable kidneys was true.
    â€œNod your head if you understand, infidel,” Nom Anor said.
    Sal-Solo nodded.
    Nom Anor turned to Shimrra. “Does the Supreme One have any further instructions for his servants?” he asked.
    â€œYes,” Shimrra said. “Instruct that human’s guards well.”
    â€œI shall, Lord.”
    Nom Anor prostrated himself beside Sal-Solo’s shuddering body, and then he and Onimi carried Thrackan Sal-Solo to his guards, who managed to stand the man upright.
    â€œI believe I address you as ‘President’ from this point,” Nom Anor said.
    Sal-Solo’s lips moved, but again he seemed unable to utter a sound.
    â€œBy the way, Your Excellency,” Nom Anor continued, “I regret to say that your companion Darjeelai Swan died while furnishing the Yuuzhan Vong information. Is there anything you wish done with the body?”
    Sal-Solo again voiced no opinion, so Nom Anor ordered the body destroyed and went about his business.

    The pale form of the cruiser
Ralroost
floated in brilliant contrast to the green jungles of Kashyyyk below, the immaculate white paint of its hull a proof that the assault cruiser served as the flagship of a fleet admiral and was maintained to the standard that befitted his rank. Around the cruiser were grouped the elements of an entire fleet—frigates, cruisers, Star Destroyers, tenders, hospital ships, support vessels, and flights of starfighters on patrol—all formed and ready for their next excursion into Yuuzhan Vong–controlled space.
    Jacen Solo watched the swarming fleet elements through the shuttle’s forward viewport. The outlines of the warships seemed too
hard
somehow, too defined, a little alien, lacking the softer outlines of the organic life-forms he had grown accustomed to while a prisoner of the Yuuzhan Vong.
    â€œBets, anyone?” came his sister’s voice. “Where’s the next raid? Hutt space? Duro? Yavin?”
    â€œI’d like to see Yavin again,” Jacen said.
    â€œNot once you see what the Vong have done to it.”
    He turned at the bitter tone in Jaina’s voice. She stood slightly behind him, her intent gaze directed toward
Ralroost
. A major’s insignia was pinned to the collar of her dress uniform, and a lightsaber hung from her belt.
    Yavin was our childhood,
Jacen thought. And the Yuuzhan Vong had taken that childhood away, and Yavin with it, and left Jaina a grown woman, hard and brittle and single-minded, with little patience for anything but leading her squadron against the enemy.
    Sword of the Jedi.
That’s what Uncle Luke had named her at the ceremony that had raised her to the rank of Jedi Knight.
A burning brand to your enemies, a brilliant fire to your friends.
That’s what Luke had said.
    â€œI think it will be Hutt space myself,” Jaina said. “In Hutt space the Yuuzhan Vong have had their own way for too long.”
    Yours is a restless life, and never shall you know peace, though you shall be blessed for the peace that you bring to others.
    Luke had said that as well. Jacen felt an urge to comfort his sister, and he put an arm around her shoulders. She didn’t reject the touch, but she didn’t accept it either: he felt as if his arm were draped around a form made of hardened durasteel.
    It didn’t matter, Jacen thought, if she accepted or rejected his help. He would make his aid available whether she wanted it or not. Luke had offered him a choice of assignments, and he had chosen the one that would place him near Jaina.
    When Anakin had died, and Jacen had at the same time been made a prisoner of the Yuuzhan Vong, Jaina had allowed herself to be overcome by despair. The dark side had claimed her, and though she had fought her way out of that abyss, she was still more fragile than Jacen would have liked. She had grown fey,