"Qulun think Tooqui simple dumb dumb pet. Is good position to do trading from."

"We're not here to trade." She eyed him warningly. "We're here to make friends, and to maybe learn more about the whereabouts of the overclan. That's all."

The Gwurran looked hurt. "Tooqui not want much. Something to eat, maybe, or little baby-toy for small Gwurran, or simple weapon to overawe bully Gwurran with."

"Never mind that," she told him firmly. "Talk to them or keep quiet, that's up to you. But-no talk of trading." She wore a knowing expression. "Pets don't engage in trade."

"No, but their masters do," he countered without hesitation. "Maybe if silly-fun stupid-face pet do funny tricks for master, grateful Barriss buy little trinket-thing for poor poor Tooqui?"

"I'll think about it," she replied without further comment. Urging her mount forward at a faster pace forced the Gwurran to shut up and concentrate on holding on.

Riding importantly in the lead, Baiuntu led the visitors to the top of the ridge where the Qulun were making camp. Self- erecting dwellings were already unfolding walls and roofs while busy adolescents attached heating equipment and atmospheric water condensers. Automatic braces secured the temporary structures, which were designed to be put up and taken down every day, against the ubiquitous wind. Wonderfully decorated with enamels, painted mirrors, and all manner of eye candy, one pair of these distinctive structures drew Luminara's attention even before they were fully assembled.

"Trading rooms," Bulgan explained in response to her ques tion. "The more eye-catching, the better." He passed a hand across both eyes, the Ansionian equivalent of winking. "Dazzle a customer; that's one of the hallmarks of the Qulun. Blinded buyers are agreeable buyers."

She rode easily on her well-padded saddle, the suubatar striding along effortlessly beneath her. "Are you saying that the Qulun cheat in their dealings?"

"Haja, no, Master Luminara. They are like any merchants, be they fixed in place as they are in the city or fully mobile as out here on the prairie. Some are wholly honorable while others are outright bandits. One can't say one has truly done dealing until one has dealt with them. To many traders, shady and clever have freely interchangeable meanings."

"Well, we're not on a shopping excursion, so it shouldn't matter." Rising up slightly from her saddle, she surveyed the surrounding plains. "Why are they setting up shop here? This country isn't exactly crawling with customers."

The Alwari gestured nonchalantly. "They are opening up only a couple of their many shops. No doubt they hope buyers will materialize from out of the grass." He chuckled the by now familiar Ansionian laugh, adding a few sharp knuckle cracks for emphasis. "Without a shop or two open for business, the Qulun would probably be uncomfortable. For fear of missing even one potential customer, they would lose sleep."

The welcome they received certainly stood out in contrast to how they had been greeted by the initially mistrustful Yiwa. Though weapons were visible, they were not brandished in the newcomers' direction. The visitors' steeds were given pride of place in the clan's corral, along with the best water and fodder. Luminara found herself and her friends directed to a large portable structure whose interior turned out to be lined with thick carpets, self-adjusting cushions, and all manner of conveniences one would not expect to find in the middle of the northern Ansionian plains. Anything they asked for that the Qulun could provide was provided-free of charge. Obi-Wan was not surprised at the modest largesse. Such tactics were a universal means for softening up potential customers.

Barriss and Anakin didn't concern themselves with such mundanities, preferring to leave the details of the encounter to their Masters. Instead, they allowed themselves to relax and enjoy the exotic food and drink, the entertaining lightwick sculptures, and the petite perfumed dance pixies that looped endlessly about the room. In contrast, Tooqui was unnaturally subdued. The little Gwurran certainly enjoyed himself, availing himself as readily as his human friends of the flush of small luxuries. But surrounded by so many unusually eager tall strangers, he was cautious in his movements, and kept his opinions to himself. Baiuntu was delighted to have offworld visitors. "I have met many in my dealings," he told them that evening as they shared the comforts of the designated visitors' house.

"In Cuipernam?" Anakin was munching on something blue-green, plump, and delicious.

"In Cuipernam," their host boasted, "and in Doigon, and Flerauw. A smattering of your own kind as well as a most interesting variety of others." He rested both pudgy, long- fingered hands on his imposing belly. "Merchants are a species unto themselves, it seems. Shape has nothing to do with it. The Qulun realized this from the first time a vessel from another world set down here to trade."

As he declaimed, he kept popping small purple things into his mouth. They crunched noisily against his hard palate. Detecting what he thought was some slight movement among them before they disappeared down the chieftan's gullet, Anakin decided not to ask what they were. While there was a time for Jedi boldness, there were also occasions when it was better to exercise restraint.

"Then you feel that the Qulun have benefited from Ansion's membership in the Republic?" Luminara inquired encouragingly.

Their host made a face. "I would rather talk business than politics, but since you ask-yes, I do."

"And your clanfolk feel similarly?" Obi-Wan sipped at some thing sweet, warm, and refreshing.

"That I cannot say. Most are not so sophisticated in such matters as Baiuntu. Like all true Qulun, they will give their allegiance to whomever they believe will make them the most money."

"So they can be bought," Anakin commented. Obi-Wan gave the Padawan a sharp look, but the younger man only shrugged, seeing nothing wrong with the question. His teacher should know by now that his Padawan was nothing if not direct.

Certainly their host took no offense. "Any merchant can be bought, my large, furless young friend. That is the nature of business, is it not? To the Qulun, loyalty is just another commodity. For the moment, we are happy to see Ansion fully represented in the Republic. As to what tomorrow may bring, who am I to say?" Grunting with the effort, he leaned back against his pile of supporting cushions. Multiple tiny sensors and equally minuscule motors shifted mass within each cushion to provide the necessary response.

"An honest response, anyway," Luminara murmured to Bar-riss. "I suppose we can't expect any better from such people. They're only living according to their traditions."

"Tradition seems to mean everything on this planet." Barriss sampled another of the numerous drinks that had been set before her. Like everything else she had tried, it was delicious. Movement off to her right made her turn. Her diminutive friend was ambling toward the doorway.