"Something moving from east to west along the horizon," Kyakhta called out. Though still waking up, everyone immedi ately turned in that direction.

Obi-Wan had his electrobinoculars out and was gazing at the indicated spot, trying to resolve the distant movement.

"Borokii?" Anakin inquired hopefully.

Lowering the powerful scanning device, the Jedi replied un certainly. "I don't know. Kyakhta and Bulgan will tell us. But I have a feeling not. From what we've been told, the overclans are like the Yiwa, like all Alwari, in that they're herding nomads." He nodded in the direction of distant movement. "Whoever these are, they seem to be more advanced than that." He urged his mount forward. "Or at least, they choose to travel with far more in the way of material goods. I don't see any signs of a domesticated herd. No dorgum, no awiquod-nothing but draft animals. That means that whatever they are, they're not the Borokii."

Obi-Wan's assessment turned out to be correct. The proces sion that was advancing in their direction was not the sought-after preeminent overclan. Not only did it not include any herd animals such as they had encountered among the Yiwa, but it was also loud to the point of boisterousness. It was Bulgan who eventually identified the clanging, noisy procession as soon as it had drawn near enough to be recognized.

"It's a Qulun clan. The Qulun are traders. They operate freely among both the Alwari and the city folk. Though no one likes them very much, there's a need for them out on the plains, in the absence of shops and communications. Oft times they have very interesting things for sale."

"What do they accept in return?" Obi-Wan asked the guide.

Bulgan licked his lower teeth. "Besides money? All manner of goods. Cuts of dried meat from the Alwari herds. Fruits and vegetables gathered from remote parts of Ansion. Wonderful handcrafted items made mostly by the females of each clan. Only the best."

The Jedi indicated his understanding. In a Republic long since sated with the commonplace, exotic foodstuffs were much sought-after items. So were handicrafts. Bored with machine-made goods, the wealthy and the curious were always willing to pay high prices for unique handmade items that hailed from distant worlds with strange names.

"See." Bulgan rose slightly in his saddle. "They're coming out to greet us."

The three riders who broke away from the main column headed straight toward the group of travelers, who responded by slowing to meet them. Otherwise the suubatars would have easily outdistanced the powerful but much shorter sadains. Falling in line alongside Luminara's and Barriss's mounts, the trio of Qulun flashed wide smiles and waved energetic greetings. It was a notably less confrontational meeting than the earlier one with the Yiwa. No weapons were prominently displayed, no suspicious glances were directed toward the newcomers. Not that their eyes, the Jedi noted, were unbusy. They missed nothing, least of all the overstaffed supply packs strapped to the second back of each animal.

Riding with Barriss while clambering back and forth along the length of her suubatar from head to tail, Tooqui kept up a steady stream of muted chatter. "Strange people these. Tooqui never see before. Not known to Gwurran." Tilting back his head, he sniffed of the prairie air with his single wide nostril. "Smell different from Alwari."

"They look different, too," she commented. "Their costumes, the tack on their sadains, the way their procession is organized are very dissimilar from the Yiwa. What do you think, Tooqui?"

The Gwurran's eagerness never flagged. "More food for Tooqui's head. More new things to see and learn about."

"Well, if you talk talk all the time you won't be able to concentrate on those new things, and neither will I. How about keeping quiet for a while?"

"Tooqui quiet? Two things that not go together." He settled himself down close to her, taking up minimal space on the edge of the saddle. "But master command, so Tooqui must obey." He smiled. "Tooqui good pet always."

"Sarcasm is not a quality many people desire to have in their 'pets-' "

"Their loss loss." But as she requested, the Gwurran kept his mouth closed, and despite the obvious strain, settled for observing the newcomers in silence.

Save for their far louder, more garish attire, two of the riders could have passed unnoticed among the Yiwa. Not their leader, though, for such he obviously was. This generously proportioned individual clearly put a strain on his chosen sadain. Unlike his companions, or for that matter Kyakhta, he had no mane running from the top of his head down his back. Looking at him, Luminara suspected his smooth pate was the result of an intentional close shave as opposed to natural fur loss as in Bulgan's case. In its way, his bald head, gleaming in the morning sun, was as distinctive as his girth. For all that, he rode gracefully atop his hardworking steed.

"Welcome, offworlders! The Qulun bid you welcome!"

Luminara tried to remember how many spaceports Ansion boasted. Clearly these traders, or at least their leader, had visited one or more where he had enjoyed the opportunity to encounter sentients from other parts of the Republic.

"Thankings for your greeting," Kyakhta responded formally. "We ride north."

"So we see." Performing a wondrously gravity-defying stunt, the portly leader bowed without falling off his mount. "I am Baiuntu, chief trader of this clan faction. What seek a mix of offworlders and Alwari in the north country?"

Appreciative of the chief's description of him as Alwari, Kyakhta replied with good grace. "The Borokii."

"Borokii! What do offworlders seek among the overclan?"

Leaning slightly outward from his saddle, Obi-Wan replied with a question of his own while simultaneously ignoring the chieftain's. "Can you help us?"

"Perhaps, perhaps." Forgoing the reins of his sadain along with his query, the chief extended both heavy arms wide. Luminara watched in fascination. Baiuntu was the first truly portly An-sionian she had seen. "Tonight you dine with us. The Qulun are always keen on company. New faces mean new news."

"And potential new customers," Anakin murmured across to Barriss, "though I wouldn't see that as a reason not to chat with them."

"It's not up to us." Though she professed disinterest, Barriss hoped the Masters would consent to the Qulun leader's request. It would be yet another chance to learn more about Ansionian society-and besides, the food would be fresh.

Obi-Wan and Luminara saw no reason not to stop and spend the night among the effervescent traders. So long as each side kept to its own camp, security could be maintained, and there was the implication that the Qulun might be able to narrow down and therefore speed the search for the elusive Borokii. To Barriss's surprise, Tooqui stayed close to her instead of straying. For reasons of his own, he continued to be uncharacteristically closemouthed, speaking only when none of the Qulun was around. When she inquired as to the reason behind his unusual silence, he had his usual ready answer.