Chapter 161

"We haventold any one, Jarosho, for we didn't expect that there would be a solution for what has happened at Palomintar Four."

"There are always solutions to find, my good friend. I remember, that my two cousins have helped you to get information from a thug who threatened your brother."

"I'm happy they were willing to buy the bar. How are they doing, Jarosho?"

"It has turned out to be a fine investment, Toallin. Your old clients have all come back and their kitchen is as famous as yours once was. But tell me where did you and Mugin go after you left Ktafunda so unexpectedly."

Toallin smiled. e

"We were given the opportunity we had sought, for two our customers were Jedi Knights, at least one of them was. The other one still was an apprentice of some kind. When his tutor had to leave Ktafunda, the apprentice Jedi worked for us as a bartender, but spies from the intruder on Palomintar Four detected him. We decided to protect him, after we had heard why he and his tutor, his Jedi master had come to Palomintar Six. He really was a very nice guy, for when a group of criminals raided and blew up the lodging part he ran into the blaze to save us, while we weren't at home at that moment. He was badly injured and after an attack on his life we brought him to our former cabin in the forest far north of Ktafunda. His Jedi master and other friends came looking for him and they asked us if we would willing to return to Palomintar Six for they wanted to find a way to confront the intruder, Jarosho. Those two Jedi Knights, for the sister of the Jedi master was a Jedi Knight too, her husband and his Wookiee friend, and the Jedi apprentice who had worked for us brought us back to Tyr, where all the Quelans from Ribana and the harvest families had fled after they were driven into exile.

"But you and Mugin ended up on Palomintar Six." Jarosho said.

"After we had helped our fellow Quelans to get to Tyr, we went back to Myr, to ask the intruder to set free our Quelan young men who were doing forced labor in the cave system, but our mission failed and we ended up as forced laborers ourselves. With a small group we managed to steal one of the transport ships and we fled to Palomintar Six to see if we could get help.

After the Jedi Knights, Luke Skywalker and his sister Leia Organa made a plan with our harvest men. They went back to Myr. I can't tell you what has happened there, but Cornell and his men came back to Tyr and told us that Ribana was liberated. The town was in ruins and the intruder had stolen all the furniture from the houses. We're now busy to restore Ribana, but it's a tough job." Toallin ended his tale.

"What do you need, old friend? Tough guys to help with the restoration, or something else. Tell me, I want to help you," Jarosho said.

Toallin and Kamalin looked grateful at the huge Kayvok.

"We still need new equipment to get the agricultural area produce the vegetables and fruits: hoes, rakes, spades, ploughs, you name it. I'm not a farmer, Jarosho, but still many farm house need restoration, including the shed to make accommodation for animals, like nagawas and kuchins."

Jarosho nodded and had a deep frown on his forehead.

"As soon as I'm back in Ktafunda I will contact some relations. I will buy what ever your farmers need, including seeds and young seedlings, maybe even some young fruit trees and berry bushes and I will ensure that it will be transported to you. What a setback for this community, Toallin."

"Master Jarosho," Kamalin said, "We're able to pay for what you're buying."

Jarosho waved with his hand.

"No, master Kamalin, it will be an honor to help you and your Quelan community. As long as I'm here we need to make a plan how to get what you need from Ktafunda to Palomintar Four. Perhaps those Grann brothers can help, and Han Solo is also here with the Millennium Falcon. That's good, and maybe Luke Skywalker and his lovely bride Shaayla-Car Kenobi are willing to make some flight to Palomintar Six. We will organize something. It's pity that you don't have a sophisticated communication system, otherwise I already could inform my relations about the needs."

Kamalin and Toallin began to laugh.

"Jarosho, we will introduce you to Nori Thai. With help of the Provisional Council of Coruscant he has built a communication system in the other wing of this building. He surely can help to get in contact of your relations."

"Splendid, but all these plans threaten to make me worry about the reason for my arrival here. What I'm going to tell you has to be kept secret, for Luke and lovely Shaayla-Car shouldn't be aware of it. I know they have wedding plan, for they bought their wedding rings from me, and Luke has given his beautiful bride-to-be a wonderful alliance ring. I understand that will be wed here in Ribana and that you and Mugin will officiate her wedding, right?"

Toallin nodded.

"When all the Quelans have moved to Ribana we want to celebrate their wedding and make it an unforgettable party, for we're honored that they has expressed the wish to celebrate their wedding among the Quelan community."

"As there is still a lot to do here, I assume that their wedding plans won't take place soon. I've heard something about three Jedi friends of them have been going on a mission with the Supreme Chancellor of the New Republic."

"That's right, Jarosho. Those three Jedi Knights are Luke's sister Leia, Shaayla-Car's brother Tama-Hin, and Tama-Hin's friend Yarmod Martan. Luke and Shaayla-Car has postponed their wedding plans until those three will return to Ribana."

"Exactly. It's a pity for them, but it gives me time to work out a special wedding present for them in cooperation with the Grann brothers. They came to Ktafunda and requested if I could make something special for their Jedi friends. We have decided that we will combine the plan, but I need some information about Shaayla-Car's father, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and Luke's father, Anakin Skywalker. I'm developing a kind of commemorative plaque. I wanted to ask Luke and Shaayla-Car themselves, but the Grann brother remarked that then the surprise element has gone. I agree with that. Yarnick mentioned that one of your fellow Quelans once had known their fathers. Can you introduce me to him?"

"You've already met him, Jarosho. He was the Quelan who asked Han Solo for help. You wondered that master Manall could get in touch with Luke himself and you offered infocom for all the Quelans. That's a generous offer which we have to think about and communicate with Nori Thai. He is our technical specialist. I'm sure, Jarosho that Manall can tell you more about the Jedi's father, for many years ago, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker have visited Manall and me several times," Kamalin said.

"You also know them, master Kamalin."

"Manall know them much better, Jarosho. It's better if you talk to him, and he surely won't speak about it."

"Great, one of the Granns also mentioned the name of a gifted Quelan boy, Lorann. They suggested that he should listen to what master Manall is telling me about the Jedi's father, for he can make sublime images of them."

"Lorann is Manall's youngest grandson, and as you said, a very talented young Quelan, who can make very detailed and precise drawings of object and people. You should talk to Manall, Jarosho, and ask him if Lorann can make images of those fathers. I'm sure he will, and Lorann will be elated."

"You know the boy, master Kamalin?"

"He has been a pupil of mine, Jarosho, but now he is the assistant of the Council of Elders, and make drawings of the the tales the Quelans tell him about the work they have done to restore their houses in Ribana."

Toallin looked at Jarosho

"I have to see if I can arrange a guest room for you, Jarosho. It will be a bit difficult, for not all of the administration building has been yet restored."

"Don't bother yourself with that, good friend. I will find myself a place to stay on board the Millennium Falcon, or the Grannd Traveler. Both crews are old friends and they will surely welcome me." the huge Kayvok said.

While Jarosho had a word with Toallin and Kamalin Luke had landed outside Ribana and helped Filann to get his speeder. For a moment Filann looked at his companions, but then he started the engine and drove off. The two Jedi, Manall and Cemall watched him go.

"It'll be alright, master Manall," Liane said.

"Absolutely. Thank you for the immediate action you both took to keep an eye on this hothead of a grandson."

"He is still seeking a new future, after all he has been through in his forced marriage with Sumall, master Manall. He surely will learn to cope with his uncertain feelings for Anddra." Liane said. "When he met with Oltomyran he immediately knew how to make an end on the hostilities between the Urams and the harvest men, but in his relationship with Anddra Jecolin, he fears he will loose again. He loves her, she is everything he dreams off. He truly is infatuated with her.

Manall nodded and smiled.

"They will form a nice pair, Shaayla-Car. I hope that my grandson won't argue with her about what she has said, but accept that he should have listened more carefully."

"He certainly shouldn't let this woman slip through his fingers," Cemall commented, "I hope that this time he will tell her that he loves her, that he wants become her husband one day."

Luke raised his eyebrows and laughed, as he remembered that long ago Han Solo had told him the same, and he also hadn't believed his brother-in-law.

Cemall went over to the cargo ramp.

"I'll get our speeder, grandfather," He said, and Manall nodded in agreement and looked at Luke and Shaayla-Car.

"We're also going home, Luke," He said. "It's been a tough couple of days. I truly want to have quiet evening."

Luke went inside the Astræga to assist Cemall, and several moments later Manall and his grandson drove away to Ribana.

Meanwhile Filann had been riding at high speed through Ribana, leaving the town along the eastern outskirts. He drove up the path to the farm, stopped and jumped off. He walked over to the entrance, he put his hand in the pocket of his jacket and found the key to unlock the door. He suddenly remembered that Anddra had insisted that he should have a key of the farm house as well. He stood still and watched the entrance.

'This is my house, my house with a woman who loves me, who will be my future. This is where I belong. This is my new life,' He thought and unlocked the door.

He hardly had stepped inside, when Anddra came running down the corridor.

"Filann!" She shouted, and weeping she threw herself into his arms and buried her face against his chest.

"Filann, I love you. It's you I want to become my husband. I'm so sorry I have upset you," She sobbed.

Filann wrapped his arms about the crying young woman and held her tight, while he also felt tears in his eyes.

"Don't apologize, my lovely Anddra, for I should apologize to you. I ran away, because I misunderstood what you said. I love you, Anddra, and I don't want you to cry, for something I did." He whispered.

Gently he took her to the living room and sat down with her on the new couch. She trembled all over her body and Filann felt how miserable she had felt after she discovered that he had left. He held her in his arms and stroke her head and her back.

"Anddra, relax, my love, I'm back, for I have been a fool to leave you. Stop worrying about your words, I know what you meant. I should have asked you to tell me."

"No, no, Filann, I shouldn't have teased you. I should have realized that my words would confuse you, for you have been a harvest man all your life. I understand it difficult for you to see yourself as a Quelan man from Ribana. The Quelan man I want to become my husband. The Quelan man who will become the father of my children, our children, the large family I want." She murmured, while still sighing and sobbing.

Filann felt a strange longing in his mind as for a moment he recalled his own words he once had spoken to Sumall who always had rejected the wishes he had told her, and now he held a beautiful young woman in his arms who just told that all his former wishes which he had thought would never become true, would become real in the future. He softly raised her chin and looked in her eyes which were red from all her crying and worrying about him.

"Did you sleep last night, Anddra?" He asked, "No you didn't, I know you didn't. You have been crying all night, because I left you. Anddra, I'm not worth all your tears. What I did was so foolish. I'm sorry I have done this to you."

Anddra looked at him and stroke his cheek.

"You also haven't been sleeping well, have you?" She whispered.

"I haven't, for I heard your words over and over in mind and I didn't know what to do." He answered.

"Where did you go?" She asked.

"To a place where I hoped I would forget your words, but my grandfather and my brother reminded me of the words I had spoken myself. Anddra, I have told them more than once that I only recognize the Council of the Elders as the only authority in our community, and that I wasn't a harvest man, but a Quelan man from Ribana, the community of all the Quelans. This sound foolish, I know. It was Cemall who reminded of what I once had said and then I realize what you had been telling me, for you want to marry me one day, right?"

Anddra nodded, but she started shivering as if she felt cold.

"You're cold, you lack a sound sleep. Come, Anddra!" He said as he stood up. He grabbed her hands, put his arm around her shoulders and gently took to the stairs. He lifted her in his arms and carry her to the first floor and from there to the attic. He put her down on the stack of nagawa fleeces.

"Tonight, we will have a good night together. Wait, for I have to get more nagawa fleeces to make it more comfortable," He said and kissed her.

He ran down the stairs and took all the nagawa fleeces in the room. Back at the attic again he doubled the size of the mattress of nagawa fleeces. Then he laid down next to Anddra and pulled her to him. He covered both of them with several nagawa fleeces to get warm.

"Now you should sleep, my love, and forget what a foolish friend you have. Sleep well, I'm with you and I will never run away." He kissed her and Anddra huddled herself in his arms and closed her eyes.

"Sleep well, my lovely nice and kind Quelan man from Ribana, who one day will become my husband," She whispered as she put her arm around him.

With their arms around each other they fell asleep, forgetting all their stress and uneasiness.

Toallin accompanied Jarosho to Manall's house the next day and knocked. Manall opened the door and looked at his visitors.

"Master Manall, I want to introduce Jarosho to you. We've become friend while my brother and I have lived in exile on Palomintar Six. Jaroshoo, this is master Manall, the harvest mens' leader and second vice-chair of the Council of Elders."

"We've already met master Jarosho," Manall said, "Please, enter, for I sense that you have an urgent business which requires information from me, correct?"

Somewhat surprised Jarosho looked at Manall.

"You seem to know that you can help me, master Manall?" He asked. "How fortunate."

Toallin and Jarosho entered and Manall brought them to his new living room which had been nearly completely furnished, thanks to the help of his two eldest grandsons.

"Your house has already been restored completely I see," Jarosho said.

"I've got help, and I wanted this room to be refurbished first, for this has to be the most important room in this house. There's still a lot to do, but my grandson is a great help, as are some others of my men."

"Master Manall, I've been told that you have been familiar and good friends with Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker, haven't you?"

"That friendship dates back many, many years ago, master Jarosho, but yes, they were my friends and they have visited Palomintar Four several time during the Clone Wars."

"I have served under general Kenobi during that war for a while," Jarosho said, "and I also met general Skywalker who was his friend. The way they acted together in unison was amazing. Unfortunately I've got wounded and had to resign. After the Clone Wars had ended I found refuge in Ktafunda, for I learned that the new self proclaimed Emperor, former senator Palpatine, was chasing everyone who had supported the Jedi Knights."

Manall had listened intensively to Jarosho's words and stretched out his hand.

"It's good to meet another old friend of Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker, master Jarosho. Your visit is pleasing me, but tell before you tell me how I can further help you, you'll need some refreshment."

Manall got up and left the room. He opened the door of an annex and looked at his youngest grandson

"Lorann, can you pour something to drink and serve some food?" He asked.

Lorann who had been busy with his drawings, looked up and nodded.

"I'll will secure my work, grandpa. Who are our visitors? I sensed governor Toallin, but the other one is of an unknown species."

"Master Jarosho is a Kayvok, and a friend of the governor."

"And he wants you to tell him about master Obi-Wan and master Anakin, right?" Lorann asked.

"He seems interested in my friendship with them, Lorann, but hurry, son. I can let them waiting alone in the living room."

Lorann got up and went over to the kitchen, while Manall went back to his visitors.

"Apologies for having you waiting. My youngest grandson Lorann will prepare some food and drinks." Manall said as he sat down.

"The boy Lorann lives with you, master Manall?" Jarosho asked.

"Yes, his parents thought I could have a good influence on his behavior," Manall said with a smile, "He has become a wonderful companion as have been my other grandsons, but they already have reached the age of adult Quelans and are going their own way. Lorann is fourteen so some guidance is still necessary, but he doing well."

"I'm told that he is a talented artist, isn't he, for he has been making drawings of the many restorations that has been done in Ribana."

"My grandson loves to draw and the results have astounded my fellow Quelans who have told him what they have done to clean and repair their old homes."

The door opened up and Lorann entered with a tray. He put it on the table and asked Toallin and Jarosho what they wanted to drink. After he had served the drinks, he left, but returned with a second tray with a plate with small pieces of nut bread with nagawa cheese and kunchins eggs. He bowed as he left the room.

Jarosho looked amazed.

"Excellent manner, master Manall, I must say, but let me tell you why I have come."

Without going into every little detail, Jarosho told Manall about his project to create a special gift for Luke and Shaayla-Car to commemorate their wedding.

"I have already have embossed their portraits, but I wanted to include the images of their parents as well, for they represent an important heritage. I don't know, if you know anything about their mothers, but the images of their fathers are very important to my project. I have discussed my project with those Grann brothers, for they came to my shop with a similar idea. I have reached an agreement with them to make my project a joined wedding present, for I want to engrave the date and the place where their wedding took place, but I have heard that will be of later concern."

Manall rubbed his hand over his beard.

"Wonderful idea, master Jarosho. I'm sure that Luke and Shaayla-Car will love it, but I wonder if what I will tell you about their father will give you a good impression of what Obi-Wan and Anakin have looked like. You have your own memories about them and you want to combine them with what I tell you, right?"

Jarosho nodded.

"I have only served a very short time in the clone army, so my memories aren't sufficent. That's why I'm asking your help, for I'm told that it might be possible, that your grandson Lorann will listen to what you're telling me about them, so he can draw a good, accurate likeness."

Manall smiled.

"My grandson will certainly love to help you. I've already told him a lot about my old Jedi friends, so he is very familiar with my tales to you."

"Honestly, I was tempted to asked Luke and Shaayla-Car themselves, but that would spoil the surprise effect." Jarosho said.

"Can you show my grandson what you already have done and how you want to include the images of Obi-Wan and Anakin. I have to disappoint you that I can tell anything about their mothers. All I know is that both Luke and Shaayla-Car have been raised as foster children. Which means that they haven't any remembrance of their real parents." Manall said.

"Then it is up to you and your grandson to help me, master Manall, for I shouldn't know who else has known Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker, and I assume that they aren't still alive."

"That right, master Jarosho. As I said Luke and Shaayla-Car are orphans, their fathers and their mothers have died when they were very young. I will help you, master Jarosho, for I'm interested in your project."

"I've got inspired when they came to Ktafunda to buy their wedding rings and when they told me who they were. It reminded me of my days as a warrior, master Manall. Have you been involved in the Clone Wars?"

Manall shook his head.

"I have never left this planet, master Jarosho. My friends visited Palomintar Four to seek some moments to relax as the war had a great impact on them. At this system which hasn't been involved in the Clone Wars, they found a kind of refuge and moments of peace. You and I should exchange our memories of our common friend, while I will ask Lorann to listen to what we're discussing, but I suggest that Lorann and I will join you in the administration building here in Ribana or on Tyr." Manall said and looked at Toallin.

"On Tyr?" Jarosho said surprised.

"At the moment a third of all the Quelans is working to get their house restore. They are here already more than two weeks and now that Yarnick Grann and his brothers are back, we all will leave Ribana for some weeks and go back to Cantamaga, the small village which has been constructed after we had to flee our occupied town. I want you to join us there, Jarosho." Toallin said.

"I take that invitation, good friend, for it will inspire me to make some good decision what you need and how I can help you." Jarosho said.

"You're welcome at my house on Tyr, master Jarosho," Manall said.

Jarosho and Toallin stood up and Jarosho shook hands with Manall.

"I'm looking forward to hear your stories, master Manall. They will absolutely inspire me." The huge Kayvok said.

Manall brought his visitor to the door and said goodbye. Immediately Lorann came out of his room.

"We're going to work together with him, won't we, grandpa?" The boy asked, "for you need me to make drawings of the faces of master Obi-Wan and master Anakin."

Manall looked at his grandson.

"Have you been eavesdropping, son?" He said teasingly.

Lorann shook his head and Manall put his arm around him.

"Just teasing you, Lorann. You will become very important, for master Jarosho needs your talent to get fine images of Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker."

"You've already told me so much about them, grandpa, that I can start with some rough sketches."

"Great idea. Show me the results and I will add any necessary detail, Lorann."

"Did you tell them you have been on Lumeara on a secret mission?" The holo image of Jerno Thai asked.

Nori shook his head.

"No, that mission and its reports are still classified. I could talk about it, uncle."

"I have declassified all of it. I want you to inform the Supreme Chancellor immediately. If she goes to Lumeara she will certainly run into a trap. Can you keep those three Jedi from going back to Irithim?"

"Too late, uncle. The Grann brothers have brought them to Dalmaran about four days ago. I expect that the Supreme Chancellor's mission is on its way to Lumeara, but I don't know the exact schedule.

"I will transmit everything right away. I want you to inform Dalmaran that they should cancel the mission immediately. I also want you to inform the Jedi Knights who are still with you on Palomintar Four and inform Han Solo, for his wife is part of the mission I understand, right."

"When I've got the dossier, uncle, I will inform my friends here and I will contact Leia, or the Supreme Chancellor herself and tell her to postpone the mission indefinitely, but I need some time to make myself familiar with the content, so I can persuade them."

"Of course, Nori. With your skills you won't need much time, for most of it you know." Jerno said with a smile, "YYou're top notch in your profession. There won't be a better envoy to convince the Supreme Chancellor to abandon the mission."

"Thank you, uncle. I'll await the transmission of the dossier." Nori Thai.

"Transmission commencing right now." Jerno said.

Nori looked at the the data transmission unit and saw the data running fast over the screen. He watched until the unit sent a message that the transmission has been completed. He turned back to the holo image of Jerno Thai who looked tense

"Got it, uncle. I'll start making myself familiar with the content immediately."

"Good luck, Nori. Prevent the Supreme Chancellor to go to Lumeara, for she might put herself and the members of the delegation in danger."

"I will do what is necessary, uncle, but you know, as I do, the Supreme Chancellor has her own ideas about how to cope with diplomatic negotiations."

"Keep me inform. In case you can't convince her I will have the Basilisæa standby in case an emergency rescue has to set up. If needed I will order admiral Vestor to use ground forces to get the delegation safely back to Dalmaran."

"Let's hope that won't be necessary, uncle, but it's good to know that Coruscant will cooperate with the New Republic again."

Nori deactivated the connection and downloaded the large dossier which contains many different files on his data pad. He secured the original transmission with a highly encrypted entry code and left the communication room. He locked himself up in his guest room which laid annexed and started reading the data transmission, making lots of comments and summaries in his own words. As he had read about a third of the content he secured his datapad in a small vaulted container with a security lock and went to the basement of the administration building to get something to eat and drink. To his satisfaction, the harvest men had made their famous harvest stew. He served himself twice and forced himself to eat it all calmly. After he was finished, he took three bottles of water and returned to his quarters. He locked the door with an access code, picked up his data pad, and focused on the contents of the many files.

The hours passed and as he checked his wrist chrono he saw that it was far beyond midnight. With still some ten large files to read he unpacked a sealed pack of nutbread with nagawa cheese and returned to he reading.

The first rays of Palomintar were streaking along the eastern mountains when Nori finally closed off his data pad, put it away in the secured vault and stretched himself on his bed. He sigh, for what he had been reading, had only increase his already existing worries about the Lumeara mission. Before he fell asleep he decided he needed to inform Luke, Wedge and Shaayla-Car, but also Leia, Luke sister, for only she might convince Mon Mothma to cancel the mission which would be a very risky with many unpredictable dangers.

'It annoying, that the oncoming days the third group will go back to Tyr. That could mean a critical delay, for on Tyr I can't inform Leia and tell her to stop the mission.

Filann woke up and carefully removed his arm from Anddra's shoulders. He felt languid but intensely happy, as he looked aside and saw that Anddra looked up to him. He smiled and gave her a gentle kiss. Anddra smiled and answered his kiss.

"Never thought that sleeping between nagawa fleeces next to my future husband would give such a vast and happy sleep, darling." She murmured and huddled herself close to him, but Filann felt that she also laughing silently.

"I couldn't let you sleep alone last night, Anddra, for you're were so upset by what I had done. I feared that you would be crying all night again. You shouldn't think that I took you to the attic, because I ... " He said, but Anddra put her hand on his mouth.

"You're a too decent man to take advantage of the situation, Filann, if that's what you wanted to say." She said but continue, "But even if you would have done that, I would have given in to what you wanted from me."

Flabbergasted Filann looked at the woman who still huddled herself against his body.

"That's not fair, Anddra. You were dead tired, cold and sad. You had been weeping and worrying all day. You don't seriously mean that I wanted to make you mine, do you?" He answered indignantly.

Anddra started to laugh.

"Not for a minute, my lovely fool. As I said, you are too decent a man; you would love to make love to me, but only if I want to too, right?"

Now Filann began to laugh.

"It surely will take me sometime to get use to your honesty, my love. That way you talk about our relationship surely isn't what I expect from a woman."

Anddra now set upright and and threw herself on top of him.

"You should have to get use to it, Filann Radilan, for I want you to become my husband and that means that I want to make love with you, otherwise we'll never become parents of the large family I want." She said and kissed him. "Haven't you noticed that we're still completely dressed?"

Filann now clearly heard the teasing tone in her voice. He looked in her eyes, put his arms around her and passionately kissed her.

"Maybe you should keep your clothes on every night to avoid that I would be tempted to take advantage," He said now grinning. "For I love you Anddra Jecolin and I also want to have a family, a large family, with many daughters."

"And sons, for I want to have more that one of you, in case you would run away again." She retorted laughing.

"I will ever leave you again, my love. It's been the stupidest decision I have ever taken." He said as he kissed her again.

Anddra looked at him.

"I want you to stay with me on Tyr too, Filann."

"On Tyr?" He asked.

"Yes, on Tyr. Have you lost track of time. Tomorrow we're going back to Tyr again, for the third group has to return and have some days to relax."

She saw him frown.

"The governor will never allow us to stay behind on Myr, you know. So once we're on Tyr I want you to stay in my house and help me to pack everything we will take with us when we will return here."

Now Filann looked teasingly at her.

"Has your house a room to put two stacks of nagawa fleeces next to each other, for I don't want to sleep in a separate room."

"It's even better, master Radilan, for I used to sleep in a double bed, because sometimes my blind mother panicked in the middle of the night and then I took her with me."

Filann became silent.

"I shouldn't have said that about the nagawa fleeces, Anddra. I didn't know about your mother and how you had to take care of her. Her life must have been so sad after she had lost your father, her husband, after she had seen what happened to him, and became dependent on the care of her daughters, and after Iljon's passing, she only had you."

Anddra nodded.

"It hasn't been easy for both of us. She always needed me. As the years past she became more and more secluded, staying in her own room day and night. I witnessed how she withered away. She didn't want to live any longer, and the announcement that she could possibly return to Ribana, the place where she had lost her husband and her strength to live, became fatal. She has died in her sleep. I always brought her her breakfast in the morning, but when I entered after we had heard about the liberation of our town I saw she had passed away.

She was not the only one who didn't want to go back, by the way. Not much publicity was given to it, but while most of the Quelans were celebrating, at least fifteen elderly people passed away at that moment. We have buried them all outside Cantamaga, not far from the place where the graves of Iljon and the other victims of the Urams' attack. Again it was master Roshann who has helped me. He and his wife have always taken care of my mother and me. I'm very grateful for what they have done, that's the reason why I told him about with Sumall had done to his youngest son. I know that it would have some consequences, but I wanted to protect their son. He is an innocent youth, but, speaking of taken advantage, that was what she did." She said and got up. "I'm going to take a shower, Filann, and get some fresh clothes. I suggest that you should also refresh yourself, so we can have breakfast, after which I want to collect what I want to take back to Tyr with me. I'll see you downstairs."

Filann watch her go and heard how she descended to the ground floor. Slowly he got up. He walked over to the window and opened it. He looked outside to the northern mountain ridge and thought about all his love's loses, still it amazed him that she had kept her calmness all those years. She had lost all her family members one by one, and still she had taken it upon herself to come back to the family farm and have it up and running and again. She had a very strong character, much stronger than his own. Yet, he wanted to be part of her future plans, for he realized that he could make her life happy again.

As he heard that Anddra was gone to the kitchen to make breakfast he went down to take a shower. He put on a fresh pant and tunic and joined her, taking care to prepare the cav they used to drink.

He looked at her as she grabbed his hand over the table.

"You will stay with me on Ty, won't you, Filann?" She asked.

He put his other hand over hers.

"Of course, I will, Anddra, don't doubt about that." He answered.

To be continued...