I woke up and still had a headache. Keiley was holding me, crying. “Oh, Love, it’s just a headache, and it’s not bad—”
“Risentah said you nearly lost your telepathy!” His black eyes were past wide! Reminded me of a cartoon, but he’s scared.
“It was an accident. I’m okay.”
The old healer put his hands on my head. “Nae think to share memories! Let your telepathy rest today.” He hummed the rest of my headache gone.
We ate festival pastries, and I ate three. Still felt guilty, but I just enjoyed Keiley’s rapt expression as we shared bites. His eyes stayed almost a colorless blue. Oh, I savored our time together with him awake! He thinks his nose is too big and his face isn’t round enough, but I love his face. To me, it’s the face I long to see more than anyone’s.
“Love, let us go walk in our festival! O, we missed.” His eyes turned black.
Wulai shoved him! “You nae missed any! Perhaps, in name, but this festival will last many weeks more! Go, and enjoy, and let sorrows go by you!” He laughed, that hearty tenor laugh of his.
Then, my husband’s happy expression came back.
A holo came up and startled Ella. “When you comin’ over? I wanna go to the festival wid’ ya!”
Elsie giggled. “Ella, is it okay if I go spend some time with my sista’?”
“Go ahead! I’ll call you if I need anything!” Ella smiled. Farley smiled, too. He was sitting up helping with her progs. Lots of Esta Fahoans were sitting up doing things today. Some were already enjoying the festival! So happy! Maybe we’re past the worst of this.
Elsie caught me up. Apparently, I missed Becky’s sister’s wedding a few days ago. Oops. Becky and Tom are in Kin Para today, together!
Keiley felt like racing me on a dorna. Elsie and Nes rode with us, but the prog slowed us down. Keiley frowned. “What happens?” Then he noticed how Nes was shaking!
“You alright, Nes, Honey?”
He blinked, and rubbed his eyes. Wulai was riding with him, and looked the same way.
Risentah and Daddy rode over to ‘em. “My sons, you must nae ride fast! Nae of Esta Faho should! Jos, are you unwell also?”
“I am well, but if you wish us to ride slowly, we shall! Nes, are you unwell?”
“I—think I had shakings. I will ride slowly, Ris. Wu, are you unwell?”
“I have nae shakings! Why, Ris, why do I feel strangeness?” His chest heaved.
Risentah hopped onto the dorna with them! “Let me see you. Ah, your progs ran, my friend. Nae concern. Let us enjoy the festival.”
“Eae, I am eager to eat pastries!” But, we just ate! Risentah just shared another one with him. Keiley watched them with deep blue eyes. Felt his struggle not to think of some unpleasant memories. Diplomats had to be the watchdogs when they came home exhausted from respites. When Elshars attacked, they all mounted dorna and rode off in all directions so they couldn’t catch them. Getting good sleep with all that going on wasn’t possible on their respites.
We rode around and watched some displays after we dismounted. Our dornas followed us like dogs would. Keiley started to watch a diplomat with a language lesson, paled, and led me to a pottery display. I didn’t mind, though he worried that I might. “I like watching potters at work!” Then we enjoyed more music. Rilley and Os were playing, and today, she did a more complicated part. They sure enjoyed themselves!
After a couple hours, Nes looked sleepy, so he and Elsie sat in the mud. We walked around for another hour, then my husband needed some time in the marsh, so we went back to them.
My headache came back, so I slept in my husband’s arms. He sang a Gentri song he learned from listening to Os called “Lullabye”, and sounded just like the lead singer. Oh, I enjoyed it. I might sign up for voice lessons.
A hand on my shoulder woke me. “I am sorry to bother you, Lady Bedelia, but Council meets soon. Are you well?”
Nes still slept and Keiley put a hand on his blond curls. We both assured him that we were.
Elsie smiled at us. “Go run our government! I’ll jes’ enjoy th’ festival wid my hubby.” Elsie giggled. She had a prog up. But, Wu took him. “Ella needs you, Elsie.”
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Keiley smiled at her, then nodded for a portal, and we stood in front of healers chambers.
“Yeah, you’re a walking encyclopedia! Oh, there’s Bedelia!” Becky looked good, maybe a bit tired. Her light green eyes are a pretty color, not drab olive like mine.
I tried to walk fast, and kind of fell forward in slow motion! Keiley leapt from behind me, landed over my head in front, and gently pushed my shoulders back. “Love, be careful! Did you harm yourself?”
“I-I’m so clumsy!” Usually, I don’t move fast and do all right. So embarrassing!
He held me. “You nae ever traveled to a world with our gravity. Nae this guilt. You are nae clumsy, my love, nae at all!” He kissed my forehead.
“But, I lived in Rainbow for years! I should be able to do this!” One hand swatted to emphasize my statement, and he had to catch me again! “Oh, I’ll never get this!” My rusty hair’s not a pretty shade, and I feel fat. Bedelia is slightly underweight! I heard Becky’s thoughts that she likes the way I look, which made me feel better. And--
I felt the same way about learning to walk in low gravity!
Elsie laughed. “You an’ me both, Sister!” I relaxed. I’m with my bffs!
Becky rushed over with little hops. “Don’t worry. I’ve been doing some exercises I learned in Rainbow. Remember how Molly used to get around?”
“Hey, that’s just like I do! Keep up the good work, Becky, 1st Princess Of Esta Faho!” Milly, Molly’s clone for Elshar Zheiea. She runs Rainbow Elshar Zheiea and our Earthan Colony. She must be here for Council. Her red ringlets bounced as she hopped over to steady Elsie.
Who shook her head. “If’in I didn’t have Nes, I’d be in trouble!”
“See this prog, ladies? Run it, and you won’t fall, even if your husband’s not on the alert like Jos Keil, here. Good catch, my man!”
“Hey, he’s my man!” I laughed. Milly’s ringlets were bright red, on the orange side.
She giggled. “Just a figure of speech, you know. My man is sitting with the unwell back in Rainbow. I thought I’d check in with all my Earthans and see how you’re holding up. It’s been a wild week! But, I think most everyone’s better. Poor Galarsmen! Pas’ll make him rest up before he lets him start healing again.”
Tom put a hand on her arm. She had on a beautiful cobalt blue dress with her white robes and Tessite symbols over it. All 16 of ‘em. That shows her willingness to improve everything. In Rainbow she didn’t care for bowing and all!
“Prince Antomias, what can I do for you?” Her green eyes opened wide. Like a Zheien’s.
“I worry for our Master Healer! Will he heal? He is my healer, Molly.” Becky looked at Tom. He knows she’s Milly, right? But, they all have memory problems. Worrisome, that Tom has them, because he’ll be king someday!
“Don’t worry. Pas knows what to do for him, and he thinks he’ll recover completely. I wanted to talk to you before our Council meeting. And, Ella, I want you to come with us. May we meet in your office?” Ella, and not me?
“Certainly, Queen Molly. This way.” We all walked towards the sky blue building that was the palace. Tom got her name wrong again? I worried. He shouldn't have that much trouble getting her name right!
Becky looked back. “See you later, Elsie, Bedelia! Have extra fun at the festival for me!”
Millie didn’t correct her, so I stayed back. My prog’ll warn me when to head for the meeting.
Why does Milly want to see them before the meeting? All Kings’ and official offices in Zheien palaces or in the Trade Office—that’s the green building or the blue one—the Diplomats House, all of ‘em are lined with merite. Telepathy can’t pass.
The day turned a bit rainy, but not wet, just misty. Not cold. No thunderstorms, heavy rain, hail, blizzards, earthquakes, tornadoes, or nuclear power plant accidents. None of the dangers Earth had. I still felt like one was pending. We were near the festival. Elsie needs a little attention right now, too, I bet.
“Well, I can’t help Ella if she’s dere! I’ll go ta healers chambers. I can check progs. You should come too, Bedelia.” Her brown eyes gave an expectant look.
“I would, but when they finish—oh, Council’s already meeting? I’d better wait with them. Elsie, you okay?”
“Oh, I’m okay! I’ll check progs real quick, den I’ll go get my sista’. Her Zheien fam’ly’s distractin’ her for a bit.” She smiled. So glad she’s got her sister! And, her mother and aunt are about a hour away from the Spaceport! She’ll be busy this afternoon.
I ported over there by the Kings House. Two servants swung the doors wide. “Hello, we will lead you to the meeting!”
“Yeah!” The other lady giggled.
I took their twin-fingered hands and let them lead. Good thing I did! The halls went on forever with several shortcuts to other halls!
Admired the sky blue walls, which had rainbows in ‘em from the setting sun. Perfect time of day for a meeting, with this light show going!
They swung these doors open. The rings on them looked like horses, but they are ferrisnae. Beautiful work! They had more of the head and neck showing than the ones on the outside doors, which were bigger.
Inside, eight other couples smiled. Micansen ran to us. “Everyone, please welcome Lady Bedelia, and her husband Jos Keil, whom all of you know well. Please, Friends, sit by us!”
Felarnen sat in the chair nearest me, and that’s my chair. I sat, Keiley on my other side, and Keras Pos was next to him. They all introduced themselves.
But, Micansen sweated. “Something’s wrong—aaahhh!” He grabbed his temples! They all did, including my husband! White portals took them away! Where?!
I stood up but I was the only one left. “Where’s my husband?!” I screamed! My mental display didn't show him! Or the others!
Those two ladies came running. “O, let me call a healer—”
I tried to find Pirad. He’s not there? But his clones are in all these colonies! I waved up a white portal to go fast! Escet Vu!