Slowly, he sat up. Oh, how his head pounded! I did what nesfa does, when a Zheien takes it for a head injury. Didn’t get rid of all the pain, but made it bearable. His blue eyes stared at me. “A maiden. Healer maiden.”
My face burned. “I am nae a healer, my son—“
“You are a healer, Morgan, and very skilled. Llsam did this. He gave you this skill, that I lack.” Pirad clicked his face into a smug expression, and folded his arms.
I looked down at my patient gown and sighed. Like my Zheien in front of me wore.
“Healer Morgan, you speak my language and make it poetry.” He smiled at me. “I am Anfon, King Of Calladia. Is this Alb Seer? I smell flowers.” Slowly, his head turned and he looked out at them. An arch opened.
A king? “Your Majesty, it is an honor to touch you—“
He giggled. “I am only a man. My kingdom barely has 300 persons, and we are far from here. I went to Earth to secure trade—how came I here—o, a diplomat found me. I must report!”
An Elshar healer ran in. Not the one that healed me. “I can take your report, my son! I am Siasch, and I assist Pirad. Oh, you have a new one?”
Pirad laughed, and he clicked all over. “Trained by an Elder I thought dead! She can heal Deesamor. This man had Deesamor herbs, on Earth. I wish to know how Academie Praetoria trades such harm to Earth after Traders Service shut their experimentation facility down.”
King Anfon looked at him. I barely kept my fingers in position on the back of his straight, black hair. “There is much trade in these herbs. With them, a Zheien will tell any secret, to taste them again!” He shuddered, and a green cloud of his sweat sprayed.
“Think lightly, King Anfon.” I hummed, and he stopped shaking. His head fell onto my shoulder.
His mind opened, and we all heard his report to the Emperor.
I saw many in New York at a social function. A lady came near on Diplomat Giten’s arm. I tried to move, but her fingernails scratched my hand. “Don’t go away yet—oh, he’s sick, Giten.”
Yellow cream absorbed into me. My arm grew moist. Decadent sensations filled me. I tried to speak. “I-I muss—“ Ejis! I am drunken.
Secret Service men expected an attack, but other Elshar diplomats touched them before they could move to help me. One who appeared Zheien came. “I am a healer. Let me take him.” Only I saw his five-fingered hand when he took mine.
“Plll. Nnnae.”
“Do you fear healing, my son? I will not harm you. Let us port to rest—“
“You can’t port a sick Zheien!” The lady’s shout faded in the portal. My eyes closed.
I woke many times in decadent pleasure.
“Fools! You’ll burn him out—“
“I got his secrets. Watch.” He held the yellow candy.
I recited plans for five new treaties with Earthan worlds, plans I nae mentioned to Secretary Maruun. My visit was to be long, and secure much trade for our people. Then, I told him of our Tessite mines, on a remote world in our system. Nae ever did I think of it, for we die without trade from them! Yet, in my cravings for the herb, I cried, and sobbed secrets, all that I held. I betrayed many who ruled neighboring colonies.
He gave the herb, and several died when they felt what I felt.
His blue eyes stared past me. Slowly, he hugged me, then cried.
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Pirad touched his head. “Anfon, you are healed. Avoid these memories, and you have health for your work. Deesamor herbs will never affect you again, nor will any slaver herb. You are permanently resistant.”
His head came up. “Eae? Shame ends!” A glance down, then his cheeks turned very, very orange. Gently, he kissed my forehead. “Will you come with me, to Earth, and visit your home? I can protect you.”
I didn’t want to leave. “Llsam needs me. He is my love.”
Pirad clicked into that expression of dismay. “You cannot think—“
“I love him! Why won’t you consider waking him up? Isn’t this proof of what he can do? I’ll heal them all.” Gently, I moved from Anfon, who ran out, to the next shuddering body. A Thordes. Llsam never used any of his herbs on them. But, I put my hands on the back of his head. Eight sets. Most species have nine sets of points. Thordes have eight.
“Be careful. Thordes are more fragile than Zheien—“
“This is easy, Brother. Look at how similar their pleasure functions are to Earthans and Zheien, much as a mixed Zheien. Teach me what you know—“ I spoke as Llsam would.
“I am afraid to teach you—“
“Morgan taught me. Her dislike of intoxication convinced me to abandon my plan. I was injured, but she heals me, Brother. Teach us. I will not try to intoxicate you or anyone else. After hearing these minds and how they hate it, I know I was wrong.”
I fell on my knees, and startled as Anfon did, too! “I nae saw this, in my future! Ejis nae, my ba is with Giten—he died! And the lady with him also died!”
Pirad sat in the sand when we rolled up. “And, I have their evil herbs!” He put a hand on Anfon’s head. “You and your brother are now resistant to Deesamor herbs. How is this possible? Becky, do you have contact with Llsam? I could not find him for Morgan. I made a new world for those of Aryllan mine Su Sian. I grew bodies for them, but she cannot cure them of these cravings. Can you teach me, so I can teach her? Do you know where Llsam is?”
His cold hand rested on my forehead. But, I couldn’t find Llsam’s mind. I found Mican’s and shuddered. He’s still fighting on Lisbaar, and trying to get into an earlier timeline, and I stopped him. Pirad listened to him. Jerked his hand off. “You must not touch his mind!”
I got up, fast, and they did, too.
“But, he was about to get Kenneph hauled off to the Ulukai!’ I sweated yellow sparkles!
Tom gasped. Watched a cloud of ‘em on the breeze, from the hand he held! I shuddered. How can a human sweat like Zheien do?
“Kenneph is on Rhaech, nae Lisbaar! Ry’nao almost sent Farley there, so great is his skill!”
Such a savage, primitive place to send a Zheien! Muddy streets and wild animals that attacked people!
Anfon’s blue eyes turned black! “Queen Adia sweated so, when she showed me memories! She saw nae wife for me.” He sighed, and it rumbled on us. “Are you unwell, Yea Becky?”
I shook my head. “That doesn’t usually happen. I’m okay.” Sparkles floated all around me, like fairy dust!
“Perhaps I should ask Pas to see—”
“No. I want to see Calladia. Are you well, King Anfon?” But, I saw a lady past him. She turned red and tried not to look. I pulled her over with my mind. Saw them sitting in the sand together trying musical instruments. “Could we start with the artisans? I think this lady might enjoy walking with us. Hi, I’m Becky, 1st Princess Of Esta Faho, and I’m from Earth.”
The poor woman was very flustered. But gave a curtsy. “Hello. I’m Ester, and I don’t have a title. I—was a health services tech, but the group home—all our students got adopted. None of them knew me very well, ‘cause I just started Monday. They offered for us to come, if we wanted, so—but Nora’s—she didn’t want me to go with her family. The thought of me changing her diapers was embarrassing for her, so when her family came, I left.” She looked down. Her Hispanic accent was pretty obvious.
“Ester, do you know of Zheien festivals?”
“I—am I supposed to be here?” Her voice ended in a squeak. She had black hair and striking deep blue eyes.
“Maiden, anyone may enjoy a festival! You need nae invitation. There are workers who demonstrate their work for people to watch, delightful foods that are nae plentiful enough for our servers, and dancing, for those who court or marrieds. Wish you to walk with us? I am Anfon, a diplomat.” He bowed low.
Zheien surprise me all the time. But I guess he could tell how flustered she was, just from my title. He’ll tell her he’s king later.
“How do you do? Yes, I’d love to!”
He held out his arm and she put her hand on it. A young man held out a tray and thought of how each pastry tasted. She chose a very sweet one. Took a bite and giggled.
I explained all the fringe benefits of Alb, and she asked a lot of questions. Didn’t anyone tell her about all this?
We walked through, and she seemed interested in all the demonstrations, even a scientist talking about piloting.