“She did. She was there when I found Rana’s lightsaber waiting for me in my chambers in the Temple. One last lesson from my Master, that Jedi come and go, but the Order remains. We are all just part of its story, me, Rana …”

“Vern.”

Stellan smiled again at the mention of his former Padawan. “Vernestra Rwoh, Jedi Knight. She’s going to do great things, that one.”

“A chip off the old block.”

“Less of the old.”

“Well, if you refuse to dye that beard of yours …”

They had reached the transports, the party coming to a stop. Elzar shifted uncomfortably when he realized that Stellan’s eyes were on Samera. Maybe he hadn’t shielded his feelings about her as well as he thought. No, not feelings. That was overstating things. Friendship. Fondness. Either way, he would have to be careful now that Stellan was here.

“So what was it Rana used to say?” he asked, trying to distract his old friend.

“Hmm?”

“About talents.”

That did the trick. Stellan was back in teacher mode, his happy place. “Oh, only that the talents of others are a reminder of our place in the universe. Here we are with our gift and abilities, and then there are folk like your coordinator over there …”

“She’s not my anything,” Elzar cut in a little too quickly.

“You know what I mean.”

Elzar had a horrible feeling he did.

“Samera Ra-oon with no particular connection to the Force and yet as able as any Jedi, all without a helping hand from the galaxy at large. It’s humbling.”

Not to mention a little patronizing, Elzar thought, but he let it slide. Besides, the retinue was now clambering into the aircars.

“Shall we?” Stellan asked, stepping aside so Nib and Burryaga could take their places in an aircar before climbing into a seat himself. “Elzar?”

Elzar’s attention had been taken by a second shuttle descending from the sky, this time in gleaming red-and-white livery, the colors of a Jedi craft.

“That’s from Starlight,” he said, not bothering to disguise the excitement in his voice as he started back toward the landing pad.

“Elzar, wait!”

“I’ll catch up,” Elzar called over his shoulder as the aircars started sliding away. Stellan would give him merry hell about this later, but he couldn’t let the moment pass. Starlight meant Avar, and Elzar needed to make sure she was greeted in style. It was a little odd that the chancellor’s retinue was already speeding away without the Hero of Hetzal, but time and Samera’s schedule waited for no one, even the marshal of the Beacon.