Read Online The Crystal Star by Vonda McIntyre - Free Book Online

said.
    Anakin glowered and bumped the toe of his shoe against the wall. Not kicking. Not kicking for real.
    "There's got to be a door," Jacen said reasonably. "For us to come in." "Maybe there's a trapdoor," Jaina
    said.
    "A secret door." She rapped her knuckles against the metal. The knock was very solid. She looked up.
    "Here's the support," she said.
    Jacen, too, looked up at the ceiling.
    Narrow metal beams curved over them.
    The lights hung from the beams.
    "We have to look for a door between the beams," Jaina said. She walked around the room, knocking on
    the wall. She found some hollow spots. But she could not find a door. She took out her multitool. She
    opened the drill part.
    "You aren't supposed to do that," Jacen said.
    "I didn't!" Jaina said. But she touched the drill part to the wall. She was only supposed to use it on
    something she was making in the workshop. Not on walls or floors or furniture.
    Anyway it would not work on metal, only on wood.
    She tried anyway, wiggling her front tooth with her tongue while she concentrated. But the drill would not
    do anything. It hid itself back inside the handle.
    When Jaina was seven she could have a multitool that worked on metal. If she was good. If she was
    responsible.
    She wished she was seven. Seven was a long time away.
    She opened the lens part instead. She used it to look at the wall as close as she could. She thought she
    found a seam. A crack?
    A door opened.
    Jaina jumped back. She grabbed Anakin's hand and pushed him behind her. At the same time she
    shoved her multitool back into her pocket.
    She and Jacen stood side by side, defending their little brother.
    The wyrwulf crouched and growled.
    Anakin wailed and tried to burrow his way between Jaina and Jacen, to see what was happening.
    A tall and very beautiful man walked out. He had gold-and copper-and cinnamon-colored striped hair,
    very pale skin, and very big black eyes. His face was sharp and thin, all corners.
    He wore a long white robe.
    He smiled down at Jaina.
    "You poor children," he said.
    He knelt in front of them.
    "My poor children! I'm so sorry. Come to me, I'll keep you safe from now on." "I want Papaffwas
    Anakin shouted.
    "Mama!" "I'm very sorry, sir," Jaina said with her best court manners. "We can't go to you." "We aren't
    allowed," Jacen explained.
    "We don't know you." "Ah, children, don't you remember me? No, how could you, you were only just
    born. I'm your hold-father Hethrirffwas Jaina stared at him, uncertain. She had never heard of any
    Hold-father Hethrir. But she and Jacen had lots of hold-fathers and hold-mothers.
    Anakin had lots of hold-fathers and hold-mothers.
    "Candy?" Anakin asked hopefully.
    The beautiful man smiled. "Of course. As soon as we get you cleaned up." Their hold-parents always
    brought them toys, and treats that were not often allowed otherwise.
    "Do you know the pass^w?" Jaina asked.
    Mama had told her never to go with anyone who did not know the pass^w.
    Hold-father Hethrir sat crosslegged on the floor in front of them.
    The wyrwulf flopped to the deck, leaning its head on its fangs, and stared at Hold-father Hethrir.
    "Children," Hethrir said, "a terrible thing has happened. I came to visit you, to see my sweet friend Leia
    and my old comrade Han.
    To meet your Uncle Luke. But when I came, I saw a horrible thing! An earthquake!" He cocked his head
    at Jaina. "Do you know what an earthquake is?" Uneasily, Jaina nodded.
    "I'm sorry, children. The castle--it was so old! It fell down, and..." He stopped, and took a deep breath.
    Jaina's lower lip started to quiver again. Her eyes got all blurry. She blinked. She did not want to hear
    what Hold-father Hethrir had to say.
    "Your mama was in the castle. And your papa, and your Uncle Luke. You were in the meadow--d you
    remember?--andthe ground opened up and swallowed friend Chewbacca, and you were about to slide
    down into the horrible crack in the earth, but I was right there and I swooped down and I saved you.