Star Wars: The Han Solo Trilogy I: The Paradise Snare (34 page)

“Well, er—” Sera began.

“Han. Call me Han, Lady Tharen,” Han said.

“Very well, Han,” Bria’s mother said stiffly, “I gather we have you to thank for Bria’s return.” Her eyes were fixed on Han’s blaster, and he realized that, like most citizens, none
of Bria’s family went armed.
Tough, lady
, Han thought.
I don’t take off my blaster for you or anybody. Live with it
.

“Well, I tried to be helpful, Lady Tharen,” Han replied. “But I couldn’t have managed without Bria. She’s plenty tough when she wants to be. Good in a fight.”

Lady Tharen stiffened, and Han realized that the woman would not regard what he’d said as a compliment. “Oh, dear …” she murmured. “Bria, darling, before you sit down, why don’t you go and change? Really, dear, where
did
you get those
dreadful
clothes?”

“The tailor droid at the Ylesian Colony,” Bria said quickly, and she cast an appealing glance at Han, as if to ask whether he’d be all right.

Han gave her a reassuring wave. “Run along, honey.”

Lady Tharen stiffened again at the casual endearment. Bria smiled at Han, gave her mother and brother a doubtful glance, and went quickly from the room.

“So, Han,” Pavik Tharen said, “what do you do?” He was staring closely at Han, his eyes assessing in a way that made the pilot uncomfortable.

“Oh, whatever it takes to get by,” Han replied carelessly. “Mostly I’m a pilot.”

“In the Navy?” Lady Tharen asked, brightening slightly. “Are you an officer?”

“Nope. Freighters, ma’am. I can fly most anything, anywhere. That’s why I was on Ylesia, running—” Han broke off, remembering for the first time in a long while that the contraband spice trade was highly illegal, “That is,
hauling
cargo.”

“Oh,” murmured Lady Tharen, obviously not understanding, but uncomfortable with Han’s answer. “How interesting.”

“Yeah, it has its moments,” Han said.

“I started out as a pilot, many years ago,” Renn Tharen said, a note of approval in his voice. “When I was about your age, Han. Worked my way up until I owned the shipping company. That’s how I made my first million.”

Han thought of telling Renn Tharen that he was intending to enter the Imperial Academy, but the habit of not
revealing any personal information was too ingrained. He just smiled and nodded at Bria’s father. “Those were the exciting days, sir,” he said. “Lots of pirates back then, right?”

Renn Tharen smiled. “I had a few run-ins. I imagine you have, too.”

Han smiled back. “A few.”

Sera Tharen looked from one to the other, vaguely disturbed. “Oh, dear. That sounds … dangerous.”

“Comes with the job, Lady Tharen,” Han said.

“But I’m forgetting my manners!” she said. “Captain Solo, can I get you something to drink or eat?”

“I wouldn’t mind an Alderaanian ale,” Han said. “And some flatbread with meat and cheese. We’ve been traveling all day.”

“I’ll tell the cook,” Lady Tharen said. Han was astonished to realize that the “cook” was a living being, a female Selonian, instead of a droid. This further evidence of wealth impressed him more than anything he’d yet encountered.

By the time Bria reemerged, Han was sitting out in the dining room, eating. He saw her walk out and paused in midbite.

She wore a plain blue-green dress that matched her eyes. The soft fabric had a faint sheen and clung to her in all the right places. And, for the first time since he’d known her, Bria’s hair was attractively styled, brushed out into a halo of soft red-gold curls. She looked so different from the blaster-toting thief of a few days ago that it was as though she’d stepped out of another universe.

It’s a good thing Ganar Tos can’t see her now
, he thought wryly. “You look beautiful, honey,” he said. “That’s a pretty dress.”

Han was sophisticated enough to realize that dress probably cost more credits than the average space pilot earned in a week.
She’s been raised to have so much
, he thought uneasily.
How is she going to react to living on the salary of, first, an Imperial cadet, then an Imperial officer?

Bria smiled and sat down beside him. “Mother, could I have something to eat, too? I’m starved!”

As Han and Bria munched their late-night snack, her family gathered around the table and sipped expensive vine-coffeine from fragile Levier-made porcelain cups, while the butler, another Selonian, waited on them.

“So, Captain Solo … you’re Corellian?” Lady Tharen said, raising a delicate eyebrow to indicate that she was pretty sure he was. Han, still chewing, nodded, then swallowed. “Yes, ma’am.”

“And your family?” she asked. “Are you one of the Sal-Solos?” There was a touch of hope in her voice. “They have a lovely old estate, I understand. I’ve met the son a few times, but Lady Sal-Solo is very reclusive. I understand her health is not robust.”

“No, Lady Tharen,” Han replied. “No relation.”

“Oh,” she said, visibly disappointed. “What branch of the family are you from, then?”

Bria was looking very uncomfortable, Han noticed, but he couldn’t tell whether she was ill at ease
for
him, or
because
of him. “Don’t know, Lady Tharen,” he said honestly. “I’m an orphan, most likely. Traders found me wandering in an alley down by the waterfront near Capital Spaceport when I was a little kid. I was raised by ’em. Spent most of my time in space.” Part of him took a perverse pleasure in watching her reaction to this information.

“That’s odd,” Pavik Tharen said. “You look so familiar. I know I’ve seen you somewhere before. Somewhere … at a barbecue, I think. I have a mental picture of seeing you at a barbecue that followed a swoop racing meet.”

Han stiffened inwardly. Now that Pavik mentioned it, Han remembered him, too. Pavik was probably two or three years older than Han, and Bria’s brother had been a frequent competitor at some of the swoop races. Due to the age difference, they’d never raced against each other, but Han remembered seeing him.

And, of course, every time he’d done major swoop racing, Han had been part of a “family unit” created by Garris Shrike to scam wealthy Corellians out of their money.

“Sorry, don’t remember you,” he said casually. “I’ve
been off-world for the past several years. Afraid I ain’t been to a Corellian barbecue since I was a kid.”

“But I remember it distinctly …” Pavik said, narrowing his eyes suspiciously. “You were leaning against a swoop, eating a plate of barbecued traladon ribs. The picture in my mind is very clear.”

“Funny thing about that,” Han said, leaning back in his seat with a smile. “People are always saying stuff like that to me. I must have one of those kinda faces—so ordinary that lots of people confuse me with other folks.”

“I don’t think you’re ordinary-looking, Han,” Bria said, not understanding what was going on, but trying to be loyal. “I don’t think anyone who ever met you could forget you. You’re … unique.” She gave him a smile. “Handsome, too.”

Han took a deep breath and managed to smile blandly at the assembled Tharens. “Thanks, honey,” he said. “But I’m really just an ordinary kinda guy.”

Bria finally caught the subtle hint and fell into silence. Pavik Tharen continued to study Han suspiciously.

“Well,” Sera Tharen said too brightly, “I’m sure you’re both tired. Captain Solo, I’ll have Maronea prepare one of the guest rooms for you. Bria, obviously you’ll want your room back, and, dear, I haven’t changed a thing. I just
knew
that someday you’d come to your senses and return to us!”

“I really couldn’t just
decide
to leave, Mother,” Bria said quietly. “Once you go to Ylesia, they won’t
let
you leave. There are no ships, and there are armed guards. If it hadn’t been for Han … I would never have been able to escape.”

“Oh, dear …” Lady Tharen said, distressed and looking as if she didn’t know
what
to believe. Han had the impression that the woman’s entire exposure to the seamier side of life probably occurred through the tri-dee action-adventure serials.

“I understand that, Bria,” Renn Tharen said, holding Han’s eyes with his own. “And I’ll never forget it. Han is a hero, Sera, and we owe him more than we can ever repay.
If it hadn’t been for him, we’d never have seen Bria again. He probably saved her life.”

“Oh … oh, dear …” Lady Tharen was increasingly unnerved by these allusions to the danger her daughter had been in. Pavik Tharen was looking increasingly skeptical.

Han followed the Selonian maid, Maronea, to the room on the far side of the house. He was amused to note that his room was as far as it could possibly be from Bria’s and that the master suite occupied by her parents lay between the two rooms. Bria’s mother, it seemed, had decided to nip any chance of wee-hours assignations between her guest and her daughter in the bud.

Can’t wait until we sell Teroenza’s stuff and get outta here
, he thought as he undressed and crawled into the bed.
Bria’s dad ain’t so bad, he seems like he used to be a regular guy, but her mom and her brother …

Han sighed and closed his eyes. Tonight, at least, Lady Tharen need have no fears. He was so tired that the only thing on his mind was sleep. Funny thing about that … in some ways, spending two hours in the company of Bria’s family had tired him out more than that whole escape from Ylesia …

   Bria’s mother came into her room to say good night and give her a last hug before she fell asleep. It was a tearful time for both mother and daughter. They hugged and cried a little, then hugged again. “I’m so glad to have my little girl back,” Lady Tharen whispered.

“It’s good to be back, Mother,” Bria said, and at that moment she sincerely meant it. The evening had been a strain, no doubt.
But things will get better, they’re bound to
, she thought, trying to comfort herself.
Han is so lovable. She’s bound to fall for his charm and see how wonderful he is …

“This young man you’ve brought home …” her mother said, almost as though she’d been reading her daughter’s mind. “It’s fairly obvious that you’re not
just … friends, dear. Exactly how … involved … are you two?”

Bria gazed at her mother unflinchingly. “I love Han, Mother, and he loves me. He wants me to stay with him. Nobody has mentioned marriage, yet, but I wouldn’t be surprised if the subject came up.”

Her mother took a quick, sharp breath, as though her worst fears had been confirmed. But something in Bria’s choice of words alerted her, and like a hungry vrelt, she pounced. “I see. Well, he seems like a nice young man, though somewhat … rough around the edges, dear. But you say that
he
wants
you
to stay with
him
. Is that what
you
want?”

Bria nodded her head, then shook it, then had to fight back tears. She shrugged miserably. “Mother, I’m not sure. I know I love him, really love him, but … it’s been hard for me. Leaving Ylesia, finding out that the religion I believed in and was devoting my whole life to was nothing but a lie. That hurt … a lot. I feel as though part of me is missing, Mother. And I also feel that I can’t really promise to stay with Han when I’m not … whole.”

“Does he know you have these doubts?” her mother asked, smoothing Bria’s hair back tenderly. The young woman didn’t miss the spark of happiness that had flared up in her mother’s eyes when she’d spoken of her uncertainty about staying with Han.

She doesn’t want me to stay with him
, she realized with a dull ache of expectation fulfilled.
I knew she’d be like this. It’s so unfair! The only reason I’m uncertain about staying with Han is because of ME, not how I feel about him! But she doesn’t understand—she’s incapable of understanding
.

“We’ve talked,” Bria said, unwilling to confide in her mother any more than she’d already done. “And I can’t imagine life without Han, so I’m going to do the best I can to stay with him and be a help to him.”

Her mother looked troubled, but said no more. Bria lay down and tried to sleep. Being in her old bed was a luxury after sleeping on the hard Ylesian bunks, and in the ship. She missed Han’s warmth, though. Her bed seemed cold.
Bria tossed and turned, thinking of Han, wondering what she should do.

He deserves someone better
, she thought sadly.
Someone who can be there for him one hundred percent …

Pounding her pillow in frustration, Bria felt tears well up again.
Why can’t anything ever be EASY? I found a man I can love, who loves me—why can’t that be enough?

But it wasn’t. Alone in the darkness of her childhood room, Bria acknowledged that.

She began to cry softly, aching with misery. After a long time, she cried herself to sleep …

   The next day Han left the Tharen house shortly after breakfast and headed off to catch the shuttle to the nearest large city. He carried with him the backpack containing the items he and Bria had stolen from Teroenza. After the disappointing revenues received from the sale of the
Talisman
, Han knew he had to get top price for their small treasure trove.

He disembarked from the shuttle in the port city of Tyrena and went to a lockbox office, where he retrieved a few hundred credits and a set of “clean” IDs for one “Jenos Idanian.” Then he went off to a branch of the Imperial Bank and opened an account, using the credits and ID.

When that errand was finished, he went in search of an antiquities and art store he recalled from past escapades. It had been several years since he’d visited it, and for all he knew, the little store might have closed.

But no, the place was still there. The sign above the door was picked out in subdued holographic lights, opalescent against the plain gray stone of the storefront. Han, toting the backpack, went inside. As he opened the door, he could hear a soft chime from deep within the store.

Han saw the clerk behind the counter, but he ignored the female Selonian. Instead, he walked as directly as possible through the labyrinthine paths between the displays of merchandise, until he reached a small door set inconspicuously at the back. It was covered with an ancient tapestry
depicting the founding of the Republic, and only certain “customers” ever discovered the door was behind it.