"Did she grow up on a planet with no sun at all?" Karla asked, gently smoothing the gel over his back.

His scars were ugly. There was no denying that. They stood in stark contrast to the smooth skin; Ben's own paleness making them that much more noticeable. But for all that they were ugly, Karla didn't see them as making his back ugly. They were a mute testimony to Ben's inner strength and dignity.

What they did, however, was chill Karla's anger at Jacen to something brittle and cold that she locked deep away, where Ben wouldn't have to feel it.

"I'm going to get you a dainty parasol," she said, keeping her voice light. "I'll even see if I can get it in brown, to match your robes."