I opened my eyes, and Ryee sat watching me. No nightmares! We ported out to the commons.

I startled. “Oh! Do portals always hurt this badly?” Ryee gasped and took me off my feet! Then I noticed stares from King Theaspaura and Fa, who grabbed my head and hummed! Already the pain left me.

“Pas, I beg, see her!”

He added his hands. “O, forgive me, Queen Adia! You must accustom to this, for we must port oft. Pain is severe because you had many injuries. Recloning repaired much, but I fear portals shall always be very painful. Ryee can send discreet healing—”

Fa frowned at him. Theaspaura paled. “Injuries?”

Pas returned the frown! “Ean, we must be honest, I beg!”

Kirnonos ported to us and he laughed. “Let me explain to him. I recloned her as an Elder. She was Areonian.” In a flood of memories, he explained Areon’s evil punishment of my people.

Theaspaura gasped. “How is it you can change one’s species? Did she wish to be Zheien? Ejis faea naea!”

I got out of Pas’ arms with a leap into a bow of the Old Forms. “Oh, King Theaspaura, ne worry for me. These changes are well for me—Ryee is unwell, Pas! I must speak as I did, but I fear to offend you. I was only a common scientist.”

He smiled and helped me to my feet. “Only a common scientist, one who gave us plentiful fuels for all travel? If you are well with these changes, I am well. But I warn you, women of Zheiea are fragile. Let Ryee help you, and he can do this discreetly when you must meet with officials. Nae use the Old Forms with any but our emperor and our lieges in Zhea~. For us, simple bows are enough.” He bowed, one leg far behind, but not as low as the Old Forms.

I returned it, exactly that low and up to my feet. Oh, I felt powerful with the strength of this Zheien body! Every color of flowers at my feet was brighter with distinct shades I did not see. Even the sand had rainbows in it. My old body would just see lavender sand. I can see things both ways? And hear each distinct color, as bells with ringing tones that made music.

But Theaspaura still held my arm. “How had you injury, if you nae mind my question?”

Ryee took me off my feet! “I fear for her, if she answers! She becomes very unwell—”

“Ryee, you may show our friend. I will think of more pleasant things, such as these beautiful flowers.” Children came and put many in my hands. Already, weeping parents brought children woken from Burial Chambers to me. We hugged them all.

Theaspaura wept as Ryee showed him. Lut also heard. “Liege, if I held a diplomat so injured, I would warn him against portals and ships. For a woman, I feel even a portal between chambers too much!”

Pas nodded. “You would do this, even if a leaf of nesfa gives relief, then?”

“I would. Our kingdom is large, and is easy to open an arch between chambers, or avoid travel.”

Then, I touched Kirnonos’ arm and jerked my hand away. It hurt! “I am very sorry! We are cold when we are healthy.”

Ryee held my hand and warmth soothed it. “It is great happiness you have health, Healer Kirnonos.” I nodded.

He laughed. “I am a scientist, as your wife. Elders can be any occupation. The Council does not tell me what I can do, so I do as I please. Now you may share our confusion about what the Council expects of Elders.” Laughed again. His body clicked all over in many tones.

He smiled at Lut. “I wish to tell you of tech that makes portals and ship travel painless.” He shared memories with both master healers. They smiled.

But he bowed to King Theaspaura. “We disabled all traps in the Tunnels, and your people are invited to explore them. All fia are converted to gelsai because we saw what King Ryonne~ did with his Tunnels on Ye~. What a delightful idea! Ah, they come out!”

A line of gelsai waddled to all the people gathering to hear King Theaspaura speak! One reared up on his leg and put a cylinder in his hand. “O, ea yeo. What is this?”

One came to me and I petted her. Soft! They have six legs but the middle pair is smaller and does not move. Why?

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

Kirnonos took it and clicked his jointed mouth into an exaggerated smile. “Memories of King Goespada of MarKu. You are related to him.”

He held it to his chest. “O! How can I hear them?”

“I can clone you and put these memories in him. Then, if he wishes, he can share them with you. If he does not, I can put them in another clone until one is willing.”

His face lit. “What is the cost of your materials? I must ask before I agree.”

A holo appeared. He pointed to a hole in the ground. This was on Alb Seer, where Fhiah Zheien Colony is. “I found Tessite here. With the Tessite are all the materials I need. If you will let me mine them, I will give all the Tessite to you. I need little.”

“Tessite? How do you plan to mine it?”

“Most of your tech will not function near it, but mine will. I can port it out and refine it in containments. I do not use living beings except those not affected by mine poisons, such as gelsai. They can reap the more delicate materials.”

Theaspaura smiled, big! “I shall ask of Ponjostin, my Leader of Council. I think he agrees! We knew of this mine but feared to use men to mine it. Eae yeo, Kirnonos!”

He bowed from the waist. His bare feet did not move in the sand. “I create technology so that slaves will never have to work in mines.”

“If any of Fhiah’s resources and my fine Science Council can help your work, I offer them.” He returned the bow, from the waist as Kirnonos did.

Theaspaura turned to Ryee and bowed low, left leg forward. “See our wedding gift to you!”

A huge redviolet ship landed. From it sprang a young Zheien. Ryee’s excitement tingled on me. This was a very fast ship.

“Ah, Binneas! You love to pilot much as my bae does. Eap, come to us! I direct my Science Council to modify all ship engines and portals to this new technology. All who visit us can take it to other worlds as well.”

Fa smiled, and he bowed low to him. “I am Binneas, Diplomat-In-Aid of Fhiah. Soon I finish my apprenticeship to my fa Lineas and can go to Sigan Mas for my Challenge.”

I saw this young diplomat. He went to Questalod, a large healer colony in a tropical clime, to rescue an Earthan who bought 525 slaves bound for Ilhanhsa. “Oh, you will marry Molly Brown of Earth. At 15, she will start the Rainbow Colony in these Barrens where the mine lies! The Tessite will fund healing for all who come to her unwell colony.”

Binneas gasped. “Bae Kight and Sae Umsa died? And my fae Forsay? Ejis faea nae!” He paled drastically and Theapet, his age, caught him! Both men stared at me, Theapet with bright blue eyes. Binneas, with light greenyellow, a striking shade. They traveled from Alb Seer, and their journey was a mere four mins.

“They shall not die. They are on Perla in the healer colony there. Contact Mike, a Thordes healer of Maira. If you send a large ship there, you will find the three of them, before they would go to mines. Many of Fhiah, Ea~, Ye~, Escet Vu—Galactic Minister V~as Das is there!”

I showed them where these officials were hidden. Ry’nao’s operative ported to them, and he asked Mau Ta of Ye~, Stationed Diplomat To Fhiah, to negotiate their release.

Mau Ta also came on the ship with Binneas. Bowed low. Ryee was happy to see that his friend gained weight. One foot rested in that puddle. Ryee startled.

Ahstam touched his mind. You see that Yeff revert to Zhee on Alb Seer, and Kirnonos tells me all worlds of the Alb System are the same. In one year, water ne poisons. Pirad can hasten this process.

One year? He thought of our Standard Year, then converted to an Areon Year of 1000 days.

An Alb Seer Year is 300 days. Our Standard Year in this Hub. Biehshah years are also 300.

Ryee’s happiness tingled on me!

A group of ship techs emerged from a green portal. They opened hatches in four places on the red ship. Waved parts into place.

Mau Ta was rested, so a trader brought him a large red ship. Perla is a day from Alb. “You must convince Mike, Master Healer of Maira to come here! Rainbow will need his skills. He knows obscure healing from 50 provs of Thorde. And, healing for Zheien, Xchou, Elshars and even Angellans. We also need Hal Fon, Master Healer of Ka, who knows healing for most of the common provs.”

Ry’nao smiled. “Theas, it is time for Fhiah to have a healer colony. Will you provide space?”

He startled. “The New Healing begins?” His bright blue eyes opened very wide.

“Eae, but you must not tell anyone. The ship you gave Ryee has certain improvements that Kirnonos suggested. He is an Elder, and now so are Ryee and his Adia. I must send them to Earth, and Adia gave me a list of those who must accompany them. Eap, you and Binneas, and his family must come.”

I touched his arm. “You will negotiate for chocolate, which helps mind pain. And, Thorde, Mella will wish for Earthan architecture. Your negotiations will help them.”

Binneas startled. “But, I am—”

“You are now Diplomat. I waive your Challenge and award your pin.” Ry’nao waved a cube pin on his sash.

He smiled. Bowed gracefully. “I am honored to enter your service, my liege. What is the mission?”

“You and many others will assist Elder Madame Rayaline in any way she needs. I cannot reveal her mission, but it is vital to the Thirteen. You will all travel to Earth soon. Madame Rayaline, Ryee, you may enjoy your festival for an hour or so, but I fear to delay.”

He also bowed to me and I returned it.