Hero's Trial: Agents of Chaos I by James Luceno Read Free Book Online Page A

have come to their galaxy and what we have left in our wake. You would also tell them of dissension among our ranks—of disputes that prompted your flight—as well as information of some strategic merit.”
    “Does Commander Tla know of all this?” Raff interjected uncertainly.
    “Most of it,” Harrar replied.
    “Then I must protest, Eminence. I fear this will become too costly an enterprise.”
    “I will accept responsibility,” Harrar said. “Let us not have genuine dissension, tactician.”
    Tactician Raff stood his ground. “Eminence, has not Executor Nom Anor just informed us that a Jedi Knight survived an earlier attempt at poisoning? Why, then, should bo’tous prove effective against any one of them, let alone a cadre of Jedi?” He glanced at Elan. “Notwithstanding the obvious sophistication of your designated delivery system.”
    Momentary doubt clouded Harrar’s expression. “You do justice to your station, tactician. Your suggestions?”
    Raff considered it. “At the very least, your infiltrator should be provided with accessory weapons—whatever Executor Nom Anor deems necessary to ensure success, should the bo’tous prove ineffectual.”
    Harrar looked at Nom Anor, who motioned in dismissal. “Unnecessary. But easily accomplished. There is a species of amphistaff that can be modified and implanted in the body for just such a purpose.”
    Satisfied, Harrar nodded. “Continue, Executor.”
    Nom Anor placed himself in Elan’s view. “Unfortunately, I know of no accessories that will guarantee your success with New Republic Intelligence. That would depend on you. You would begin by claiming to have information regarding the coomb spores I introduced. You would, however, insist on delivering that information only to the Jedi. But be warned: the Jedi possess a kind of divining ability. They would be quick to discover deception—even in one trained since youth to beguile and mislead. Thus the need for a quick-acting toxin, carried by a quick-thinking host.”
    Harrar extended the pinched creature to Elan. “Quickly, Elan, take it in your palm and clench your hand around it.”
    Elan stared at him. “Should I do so, I am committed.”
    Harrar gazed back at her. “I will not command you to accept this charge, Elan. The choice is yours.”
    Elan looked to Vergere. “How would you counsel me?”
    Vergere’s oblique eyes clouded over with sadness. “I would counsel you to refuse, Mistress. And yet you have long desired to be tested. To be given a mission worthy ofyour talents. Sadly, I know of no more unswerving path to escalation.”
    Harrar glanced at the priestess’s exotic pet. “Take her along if it pleases you, Elan. She may even prove to be of assistance.”
    Elan looked at Vergere once more. “You would accompany me?”
    “When have I not?”
    Elan took the minuscule creature into her hand and closed her long fingers around it. When she relaxed her hand, the thing had been absorbed.
    “It will migrate to your lungs and there mature,” Nom Anor said, smiling. “You will know when the toxin has reached maximum potency. Then you will loose your four breaths against as many Jedi as you can arrange to be gathered in one place.”
    Elan looked at Harrar. “What then, Eminence?”
    “What’s to become of you, you mean?” Harrar took hold of her fine hand, examining the palm that had absorbed the carrier. “Nom Anor and I will do all we can to monitor your whereabouts, but I cannot promise you rescue, only exaltation. Should you succeed, you will either die with the Jedi or face execution afterwards.”
    Elan grinned faintly. “That choice is also mine.”
    Harrar patted her hand. “Look to the world beyond for recompense, Elan. I envy you your imminent departure.”
    Cordoned off by kshyy vines and Wookiee security guards, the
Millennium Falcon
sat on landing platform Thiss, alongside the shuttle Luke, Jacen, Anakin, and Lowbacca had flown to Kashyyyk. What remained of a wroshyr