It got cloudy and misty as a portal left a man in a hot pink suit. A very dignified blond man with blue eyes. His collar had the white in the middle, so this must be our preacher. “Hallo, I am Jodok Kipna, Preacher Of Areon, Kleideu. Where is the happy couple?” He had a Bible tucked under his arm. Somehow, it seems odd, that an alien—but, they came from Earth.
Daddy escorted him to the altar in front of the flowery trellis, and Mama brought Rilley up. Os’ fa carried him up there and put him on his feet. He shook all over.
Reverend Kipna waved up a flowery marriage certificate, in German. Frowned. Replaced it with a Courtship Certificate. “Both of you are—13 years of age? Is this correct?” He frowned at my father.
“You have to understand, I was against this until my future son’s healer said he would die if we didn’t let them marry. You can see how sick he is!”
“I am not unsympathetic, but I am the only preacher on Areon! My reputation is at stake here! If I marry, or even officiate over a courtship, at a ceremony with 13 year olds, young men who earn TS Status will come to me and say, you set a precedent here! If they can court at 13, or marry at 13, why can I not do it? I say to you, I am very sorry, but I cannot help you. Have a nice day.” He turned around and ported away!
Rilley burst out crying!
But, Os’ fa hugged them both. “I am very sorry, but Os, recite a Marriage Petition Without Courtship. I can help you. Perhaps you may enjoy this ceremony later.”
He helped Os kneel with one leg behind him and take Rilley’s right hand in his right. She calmed down.
His fa had to prop him up, then hold his head up! “Dear one, what is your fullname?”
“Myrillis Renee Edwards.”
“Myrillis Renee Edwards, Student Of Earth, I love you as much as any fairy prince of your dreams! I, Osanor, Musician Of Esta Faho, I wish to marry you, my princess of my dreams! By the Ancient Protocols Of Zhea~, Elshar Zheiea, and Esta Faho, I wish to marry you today! How do you answer?”
“Yes!”
His fa coached her until she gave the exact same names and titles.
“Now I bestow upon you, true love’s kiss!” Os giggled and kissed her forehead, very gently.
She giggled. “Now, my prince, let us enjoy music and festival pastries!”
But, Tom snapped his head up. “Ejis nae!”
I followed his upward gaze and five light blue portals streaked down. Towards us!
Time seemed to stop. I saw the orbit of Elshar Zheiea. The world moved. Their portals came down where we were in space, yesterday. They stopped. All five of the Dosilians in those portals came out, as if to stand where we are now, and—came out in airless space! An hour passed. Then, someone gasped and sent a portal for them. Like happened to the other 5.
Now, Mican tried to go back a few drachma. And, this time, I saw it and blocked him. He tried to use his Black Cube again. Some of his Collective died! Clones of Eriganh. Eriganh got mad. You’re supposed to be helping me fight!
How can I fight when you keep killing members of my Collective? Do you want to defeat Adia?
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Hah! I will kill her Collective before I come for her. They will not know I infiltrated it.
I didn’t want to see it, but he showed Mican, and I saw.
“What was that?” Rilley’s voice. A giggle. “Fireworks for my—”
I got physically ill. Tom startled and hummed. Hygiene ran, so nothing showed, but it was loud!
“Oh, no! Did you eat too many pastries, Becky?”
I looked up at Rilley, and Os wavered on his feet! His father startled and caught him as he fainted!
Rilley cried! Healers ran all three of them into the yellow building, and Rilley ran after ‘em. Her healer carried her and Os’ healer, they ran the couple down that hall.
Tom carried me to a bed. “What’s wrong with Rilley?” I didn’t have breath!
One of the healers took my hand. “They must have privacy—”
Then we heard it. Like a bell choir.
Tilla giggled. “Oh, I feared they would be unwell. They are all right. Sitilla and I will wait outside their chamber, then see if they need healing.” The two of them ran for the hall. Maybe they’re brother and sister.
I laid down. Konomai sang healing for me. I didn’t get sleepy, just watched the sky. That feeling of dread got to me. But, Eriganh’s burning his Collective, and Mican’s, and Rentappenen’s. He thinks he’s destroying Adia’s. But her numbers aren’t going down.
Finally, I felt like getting up. Rilley and Os came out. We enjoyed our parents’ rendition of every love song they knew, and the sextet was excellent! Musicians came to make up an impromptu orchestra, and Os’ parents enjoyed participating. It was a lovely wedding.
But, I felt on edge. Things are happening.
The wedding went on. They cut a beautiful wedding cake, and the musicians played Disney songs so we could all dance. Tom figured it out, and I enjoyed dancing with him. Bedelia tried, but Jos Keil just held her a couple inches off the ground and she giggled. Elsie was more awkward, but Nespa didn’t mind. Stacy and Het danced, and she caught on fast. Rilley always loved to dance, and didn’t take long to get up to speed, and Os was very graceful. But I could see Ella through the yellow wall, and she had that frown of concentration. Worried healers surrounded her as they always did.
“Should I go help her?” Elsie was out of breath as she sat on the bench Nespa waved up.
Via came out. “You cannot. None of us can! Her Gift is unique. She is saving lives.” He smiled at Elsie. “Do not worry. When you can help her, I will ask for you. Until then, enjoy your friend’s wedding.”
Elsie smiled at Rilley, who absolutely radiated love! She held hands with Os. He looked better. His green eyes stayed light.
And, I felt Mican’s eyes on Ella. He’s waiting for something. I shivered. She knows he’s watching her, maybe. She’s tense. Farley’s healers have that sad look. Whatever she’s doing, it’s not enough.
Tom, Nathanhai, Nespa and Het. They all know each other really well, and they know Farley really well, and they are worried. His DS Team’s not moving from that bed, since they walked with Ella in the festival when? Thursday. It’s Saturday. Monday’s the Alliance vote. Next Monday’s the Unified vote, on the 31st. When those terminals--
Love, we should enjoy our life, as it is, until then. Perhaps healers can save some of my intelligence. In Rainbow, they did, for many. Tom’s sigh rumbled on me, and Fa hugged him.
“Bae, what is?”
“O, Fa, I fear for us! So many lie unwell, like Farley!” He stroked his friend’s blond curls, darker than his.
Fa hugged us. So did Farley’s parents, brother and our grandparents. “Bae, we are a people of many sorrows. Eae, many of us are unwell, but it was always so. Let us enjoy our lives while we have them, and let sorrows go by us. We are together, one family, one people, and now we share the strength of our new world! If we nae have enough strength, perhaps Wasa Mai does, and if he nae does, perhaps Challet does! We are fortunate, that we have our wall of kings against all of our enemies! They can nae defeat all of us.”
I leaned my head against my husband’s shoulder and my king’s. Sighed. That image, of that wall of kings, gave me hope. I may not be strong, but they are.