Stellan was worried. His friend Elzar had always been a man of deep feelings, but like all Jedi he strove to keep them in check. Yes, he was at times unconventional, but he was never unstable. Now his frustration was palpable. Stellan had felt the surge of emotion the moment Elzar had stalked into the reception hall after helping OrbaLin. It wasn’t difficult to guess the reason.

Avar wasn’t coming.

Perhaps he should have warned him the moment Avar had decided to stay on Starlight, but he had no idea that Elzar would respond so fiercely. The look that he’d shot Stellan when their eyes had met across the room … Thank the Force Elzar got himself under control when the Togruta ambassador had hurried up, eager to speak to him.

Now the pair were walking happily together as the chancellor’s party was given its first tour of the park. The delegates were strolling up Republic Avenue, the long thoroughfare that ran from the park gates to the edge of Lake Lonisa, where visitors would gain access to the repulsor islands that floated above the water. Trees ran the length of the promenade, carefully imported from dozens of worlds across the Republic, and Stellan could see glimpses of the attractions beyond, the various pavilions organized into four distinct zones: Technology and Science, Sport and Adventure, Arts and Culture, and finally Faith and Life, where the Starlight Pavilion was to be found. As they walked, Coordinator Samera Ra-oon was pointing out highlights, such as the impressive hoverball stadium or the lookout tower, but Stellan couldn’t concentrate. Instead he was focused on Elzar, wondering what was going on beneath his friend’s forced smile. Perhaps he should join Elzar and Ambassador Tiss. The last thing they needed was a diplomatic incident between the Jedi and the Togrutas. Some days it seemed that the respect that the Togrutas shared for the Order was the only thing that was stopping them from openly declaring hostilities against the Republic. The fact that the Togrutas were even here was a miracle, and testament to Chancellor Soh’s diplomacy. If Elzar said the wrong thing …

“Master Gios, are you all right? You seem … distracted.”

It was Nib, breaking off from a conversation with OrbaLin to check on him.

“I’m sorry, Jedi Assek,” he began. “I just need to—”

He was about to make his excuses when Samera Ra-oon’s confident voice interrupted him. The party had finally reached the edge of the harbor, the majesty of Lake Lonisa stretching out toward the horizon.

“My friends,” she said, smiling proudly, “here we find ourselves beneath the crowning glory of the Republic Fair experience—the sky-islands.” She looked up, directing everyone’s gaze toward the magnificent repulsor platforms. Some were no larger than a shock-ball pitch, but most were gigantic, the buzz of their hoverpods noticeable, although that would change when the fair’s sound system started blasting out atmospheric music.