“Here is Ry’nao, Emperor of the Unified Seven, to speak.” He bowed very low, then came up.

Ry’nao returned it, and came up just as easily. He raised a fourfingered hand. His red skin lightened a bit. “People of the Areoni, I am happy to speak with you.” As Eanne~ wore redviolet, his onepiece was gray. The trousers had a horizontal drape for a wide belt. His redviolet sash honored Ye~, Ryee told me. Cloth across his lithe form held so many radiant pins, little color showed.

He paced from one side of the room to the other as he spoke with graceful gestures. “I know many of you are frightened. Eriganh, Emperor of the Six, pursues us. They are two days behind us.

“We feared that D’gharr would fall and be vaporized, but he abandoned it. Yesterday, the slaves revolted, and now D’gharr is free. Apparently, once Eriganh leaves an area, he does not return and his troops cannot hold these worlds without his attention. We offered to transport them, but D’gharr wished to stay. Some of their people formed a colony start, and these do travel with us, all 592 of them. Welcome, Friends!

“We saw this in many other star systems. One world was damaged and all of the others survived it. I have hope that Eriganh will neglect the entire War to pursue us.

“I do not know what caused him to change his course, but I am investigating this. Adia Rayaline, will you come to me?”

Ryee took my hand. I studied him, but he seemed all right. My heart pounded. What shall I say? What shall I do?

Oh, he shall speak. Bow, and I shall help you.

We stepped into a portal and Ryee paled. Tears jumped into my eyes.

Ry’nao took my hand from Ryee. “Everyone, here is Adia Rayaline, Scientist of Areon. She discovered the fuel that makes our journey possible.”

Ryee urged me to bow, and I tried to use the Old Forms. My ankle cracked. Oh, it hurt! His guilt made me shudder.

Ry’nao pulled me up. “Pas, see her, please!”

He stepped from a portal and took me off my feet. Hummed. Bones creaked. He sang! I felt sleepy, but he let me stand. Bowed low. Came up with a wobble.

The Emperor described my discovery. “She is now Master Scientist. I also wish this title to go to Vonn Links, Derees Jons, and Tanda Weiss for their worthy discoveries. All were very brave to gather evidence for me, which led to the downfall of the Rads.”

Vonn, Derees, and Tanda bowed as Areonians do. But my friends smiled at me.

Not that I deserved any of this. The discovery came from the same place as the dreams, and all of it. Under all, I am but a common scientist. My friends are much more intelligent than I.

“Leader Sau shared Areon’s tech with the Alliance and Unified. Soon there will be a massive shipbuilding facility in the Elshar System on Ishah. Others will follow in the Seventh and in all the Seven.

“Fhiah’s shipbuilding facility on Alb Seer is the best in the First. Areon’s facilities shall add Elshar-designed ships of all kinds. We shall be stronger, to fight Kajarian forces.

“We are all frightened that the War is so close, but know that we have hope. Our friends in the First shall hide us. Even now, captured Kajarian ships attack his fleet from within. He had five world destroyers. As of now, one—ah, the last imploded and took half his fleet!”

Cheering erupted among all our ships! Ry’nao spoke for a few mins more, then finished.

Director Pragate began a long explanation of all of Eicken's breakthroughs, and Director Engel of Kleideu's Science Council waited to explain theirs. A long holo agenda had many other speakers from as many worlds! Did they travel with us?

He ended the holo and a green portal took us to a white room. Landscapes of beautiful places, white on white, decorated them. Around us were shelves with objects ancient and new, stained sashes with pins, animal figurines, flowers in vases, cracked tablets. And one huge ninesided bed with nine posts that joined high above the bed. A gossamer canopy draped that, white with more scenes in white.

A wave, and we sat in a chair but our legs did not show. I tried to imagine where my legs were but could not. Ry’nao looked at me. Ryee was on my other side. Then, his father and mother. Cevit Ion completed the circle of us. “We are alone and may speak freely. Ryee, do not expect an Areonian to use the Old Forms! I did not wish for her to injure herself!

He wept. “O, if I knew, I would ne ever ask this of a maiden!” He reached for my hand, but his father frowned, so he put it beside mine on this impossible couch with arms.

“But, she must learn if they are to court, must she?” His mother’s brown eyes opened very wide.

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“Do you see an Empress with me?”

She frowned. “Ne. I thought you single.”

The old Emperor laughed, and his wispy gray curls waved. “I married three times. Each time, I hoped for a wife who would Reign at my side. My wives were too shy. I loved them, so I ruled alone. Peshana waits for me on V'chsan. Our world shall also move to Alb.

“I tell you this so that Ryee hears. No wife in the Alliance or Unified is required to risk her life or learn customs that injure her. I also wish for Madame Rayaline to know, a Zheien king is not required to marry Queens or Princesses. Zheien do not value titles over simple care for the people they treat as their dearest child.”

I looked at Ryee, then down. Oh, my face burned, but the look of sheer joy on him made my heart pound.

“Over these past days, I watched both of you. Your love is strong. I spoke with King Marel’vanrah about you. His opinion of how long you must wait to court displeases me, but I do not interfere in the affairs of Zheiea. I think it is unfair to expect you to see other men when you love Ryonne~.

“However, I do see that Madame Rayaline has danger when she becomes too upset. If she has dangers, my thirteen galaxies are at risk, and we must consider the well of my reign first, ea? Pas, please join us.”

He appeared in a green swirl by Ry’nao. “Ea, my liege?” He tried to bow but he stopped him. “Healers do not need to know protocols for me. What is your opinion concerning this couple? You are Madame Rayaline’s healer. Does she have the health to wait before Ryee might marry her?”

The old healer sighed heavily. “I am ne sure. She worries much for his health, and if she becomes frightened, she has unwell. Ne ever did I see an Areonian or Elshar sweat as we do.

“We lost her if ne for yllis! She ne gave the healing I wished, and she has damage from Kajarian savagery. I fear for her, if he is injured or unwell, whether married to him or ne! She had perils in these memories where he had severe unwell, or their bae died!”

“She had perils? This threatens our next mission, then. You now have Ahstam in your links, ea?”

“Ea eae! I learn much of him and apprentice to him again, now.” Pas smiled, and his redgold eyes opened wide.

“What does he think of our situation? Does he feel that Ryee and this maiden can wait, or does he advise that they marry?”

Pas faded and Ahstam sat in his place. His blue eyes narrowed. Like Pas, he is bald. “Liege, I think it is unwise for them to wait. If Ryonne~ has unwell, they should marry immediately. This travel shall test both of them.”

I startled and looked at Ryee. He was pale, and both of his parents. Yellow sparkles on their skins. Tears jumped in my eyes.

“Ay, ne worry for us! We travel much, and this is normal for him. When we sleep, we shall take nesfa, and he heals.”

“It is not normal to sweat!” My voice broke. But, my face burned. I probably should not say anything.

Ry’nao took my hand. “Child, I wish to hear your opinion, or you would not be with us.”It is not normal for Zheien to sweat, but it is the price of travel. Radiation from the engines that you do not feel, gives all Zheien severe mind pains. You call this headaches, but in Zheien, it is also body pain and feelings of weakness.

“I do not enjoy seeing them in this condition, but if not, no Zheien would travel and we would not have the pleasure of signed treaties. These feed all worlds.

“If they take their nesfa and tesfa je properly, they do not have damage from engines. Is this correct, Ahstam?”

“Ea. I, or any healer, would see this fresh damage. Nesfa erases it. With frequent healing, they do not need to sleep more than they would. She has fright because of the numbers in Pas’ Chambers. Most of these suffer from old injuries and they sleep through the most part of discomforts. Travel will ne harm them more.

“We have many healers on these ships so they may have healing, oft if unwell comes. This travel is far safer than in any diplomatic mission, since most diplomats can ne bring a healer.” He smiled.

“Do you think our maiden can last? Is it safe for her to see them as they will be on the last day of this two weeks?”

He frowned. “I comfort many wives who greet husbands after this much travel. Many have unwell just to see how much weight is lost, even when a healer can quickly return it.”

Tears streamed down my face. And, yellow sparkles appeared on my hand.

Ahstam took it. “See you this? I fear for her, if she must wait until the end of this travel.”

Ryee’s mother apologized to Ryee, a long one. He hugged her. “Mea, ne!”

“Our world has changed. I saw her memory of what happened to Ishmarel, and worried for both of you! If you wish to court, I also wish it.”

“And, I!” Ryee’s father hugged us.

I looked down. “I wish not to embarrass Ye~ with my impatience. I can wait, Ahstam.”

He rubbed a cloud of yellow off my forearm. “Ne wait too long. This is my advice. Pas will watch.”

I nodded.

Ry’nao hugged me. “As I advise my diplomats, endure what you may, but ne endanger your mission. Time to show you what your mission is. Ryee, I must send you to Earth. Cev, you shall go to Th’marr.”

Ryee paled. Memories I shared echoed in his mind. I shuddered. Pas hummed.

“What is the mission, Ry’nao?”

“I do not know what your role shall be. Madame Rayaline must go, and she needs you. All of you, come to the Gathering Chamber.”

“Will it breach protocol if you call me Adia? ‘Madame Rayaline’ is so formal. I am only 18 in Areonian years.”

He smiled. “Then, I shall. You also wish Cev and Berto to address you this way?”

I laughed. “I wish everyone would! Ryee calls me Ay, and I like it.” Our eyes met and how my love smiled!