I walked fast to catch up to Keris Pon.
He bowed. “Lady Bedelia, I am Keris Pon. We have much work.”
“I’m ready. What do we need to do?”
“I gathered many of our artisans in Piedmont Park. There is an area on the lake where we can speak to them all. Many are very upset. You slept when we had trouble this morning.”
Tom put his arms around Becky. “Can we invite Oparnen here? I wish him to meet Becky, that he ceases his complaints. Dear wife, can you bear? You need nae bow to him. I will nae.”
“Bae, we must show him proper respect, or he speaks with Mican! Already, this morning, he threatened to force our artisans to go with him to Par Vu!”
Tom looked very worried. “Perhaps we delay this meeting until Micansen—”
“Nathan tells me he plans travel. Every artisan with whom he speaks, Nathan sends Peratise to him, and he confides in her. Soon, she takes their testimony to Wasa Mai. He will nae stand for it. So far, five leaders told her they wish nae to leave, and none of their people. That is 250 of our people. Only 50 are traders, and nae one chose to leave with him. Here, people have choices.” Fa rubbed his eyes. “If I know him, he comes before Micansen wakes in a Zheien body. Pirad gave him telepathy of a Zbbat, and his wife, also, and Oparnen fears he takes his traders to lead.”
“Micansen? Who refused to rule beside you because he wishes nae power?” Tom laughed.
King Nitomahan smiled and his eyes went light. “Oparnen thinks himself Mashai, but once Micansen wakes, he can nae—”
A holo stood just inside of the doorway of a gruff Elshar. Elshars look like us, but for the blue eyes that turn light or dark with their moods. And, his were black marble eyes. I tensed. “I demand you let me take my people to Par Vu! If Nathanhai was a man, he would not send Keris Pon’s wife to do his work, pach ay!” Two Elshars held a struggling woman in DS blue!
Tom jumped up and landed by him. “Release Peratise now! Where is Nathan?”
“If you want to see him again, stop holding my people—”
Five large Zheien held weapons on him. “You must nae hold citizens of Alb! Release him now!”
The Elshars holding the woman let go and she fainted into a healer’s arms! She’s Zheien! Fright like that can kill somebody!
A very thin Elshar—Keris Pon--ran up and kneeled in front of the soldier. “He is on Oparnen’s ship, and he lined it with merite—”
“Keris Pon, I warn you—” He flinched.
That soldier, an orange-skinned man, got oranger in the face. “Nae harm him! I will watch.”
Keris Pon sobbed.
The soldier put him on his lap. “Speak freely, and let all of these people hear. Do any of you feel that you wish to leave? We nae hold any here!”
“I want to stay here, with my wife and family! He threatened to give my son Exorbar! He is a child! Many of us hide in our homes, for fear of him! Let me open his ship and get Nathan! He tried to stop him and he gave him umar seg! I thought our progs protected us!”
“Req will investigate. Peh Ras comes!” Req helped Molly with progs in Rainbow. The best programmer in Fhiah! Peh Ras is probably his equal.
A yellow Zheien, Peh Ras, with an Earthan girl, Sharon, ported out there by them. The Zheien waved up a screen. Frowned. “I see tampering. Who has access to our progs? Oparnen, you are the last to see Nathanhai’s progs for healing. I keep your account from any of us and give you a red mark.”
“You can’t do that! I’m a council—”
King Nitomahan stood up off the bed and they saw him. “And I say, you are nae longer council! Nae here. Once I called you friend, but your acts warrant Ih Esta, and I bring him from Rahn Estar. I am sorry, that you chose this evil.” His upset rumbled so hard, the ground shook!
That thin Elshar ran to a portal. A few moments later, he whooshed back, holding a Zheien in a diplomat’s uniform. White. “Did they attack? Ejis-” He held his head and curled up. “Put me on my feet! Get dorna!” His gray skin dripped yellow sparkles. He’s dying!
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Yelena ran to Nathan, crying. A healer beat her to him. Got the Elshar to put him in the sand--
“Ejis nae! We must nae touch sands, on the ground!” He rolled up his twin-toed feet!
“My son, we lay on Elshar Zheiea. Rest. These sands—”
“Get dorna, I beg! We must ride!”
“Is nae an attack, Nathan. Rest. Is over.” Attack?
She took his hand, and he jerked it away! “Ejis nae! He brought a woman to dishonor me!” Nathan cried.
She cried, too. “I didn’t come to dishonor anybody! We’re married, Nathan! I’m Yelena.”
“I have nae maiden! Give me a dorna!”
“You must calm! I can give nae herbs. You had—maiden, nae leave him! Do you know of umar seg?” The healer gently pulled her back down by him.
They spoke quietly. How horrible!
That man who gave him that and took his memories away had another man in a black robe in front of him, an Ishah with three-fingered hands. “I heard all testimony, and find you guilty. Oparnen, you will na leave here.” He slashed across his front!
Another man whooshed in, and he wore white, but not the bright white of healers’ robes. More a grayish white like dirty laundry. Didn’t hesitate, but shoved a handful of leaves in the Elshar’s mouth.
The memory ended and I felt disoriented. Blinked as the sun came from behind a branch.
“Is Nathanhai okay? How much did he give him? Is that all he gave him?”
Keran Pos sighed. “All of our Zheien are ill! But Nathanhai’s healer says effect of umar seg is gone from him. We are fortunate that Oparnen had nae opportunity to give—”
“Did they check him for mine poisons?”
“Ella and Elsie worked all morning to adjust many Zheien’s progs—”
“Did they check Nathanhai’s?”
He waved and studied screens. “Esta ay! They found new ones—but they have new counter-herbs. He is much better now. Sleep helps him while his progs work. My poor friend was very frightened! When he did not recognize Yelena, I thought he would die, he became so cold in my arms!” Poor Keris Pob sobbed, so I hugged him.
“Okay, so how are all our artisans doing? Is your wife okay?”
He nodded and ran hygiene on his face. “I worry for her. Many artisans married Zheien, and they are scared also. But—Micansen wishes to represent all of our traders, Elshar and Zheien, so when he is able, he will comfort them. There are only 50 traders who are Elshar, so this is why he wished to be Zheien.
“But the Elshar Elder came, and she is very unhappy with his decision. I do not know how to please her. She is very concerned about Elshar things, and most of us have had so much persecution from Mashai, we act Zheien. She is very old, from old Elshar.”
“I see. I don’t know much about Elshars who aren’t Mashai, or do I? Pirad gave me knowledge.” Facts started popping into my head. That’s cool! Comparisons—I know everyone’s ancestry in our colony! The Elder, I know hers? Useful. “Oh, you are a distant cousin of hers. Your ancestor went to Lidara Colony. So did Micansen’s—he’s not Mican’s brother? He’s his wife’s brother. They were from Lidara. Mican’s Mashai!”
Keris Pon gasped! “I think we should not discuss Mican.” He trembled.
Mican is not from this level, Napah said. Are Elders?
Pirad’s an Elder. Molly is. Ry’nao is. And there were many Elshar Elders. “How did Elshar Elders become Elders?”
Keras Pos looked behind me, gasped, and did an Elshar bow.
I turned around and also did an Elshar bow, then a few dance steps. A Lidaran Friendship Dance.
This lady was young! She returned it. “Ah, you learned well of your tutor! What prov are you from?” She spoke Lidaran, not the Elshar I learned poorly.
I answered her in it. “I am not Elshar, but Earthan. Pirad taught me so I can serve our Elshar Artisans here in Esta Faho. I am Bedelia, of the Council Of Esta Faho.” I bowed and held it with my hair drooping right.
This confused her. “Pirad, who made Micansen Zheien?”
“Esta. He is an Elder.”
Her medium blue eyes went black. “Do you approve of Micansen’s change?”
I didn’t quite know what to say! But, honesty is best. I work for a Zheien government. “I saw my future, and in that future, people who changed themselves to be Zheien became ill. Pirad had to change them back. But, he has new knowledge that might change what I know.”
She shook all over. “Micansen is very ill. His healers think it is too much of a change for him! He likes his Zheien body and wants to keep it.” Her voice got very strained, though she tried not to show that. She loves him. If I can read anyone, she’s showing all the signs.
“Would you like me to talk to him? I only know him from meeting him once, yesterday when King Nitomahan appointed me. I came from Earth yesterday because I married Jos Keil, Diplomat Of Esta Faho.” My voice broke.
“You are also worried! Why is everyone here ill? I hoped to help because we had many of the same mine poisons on Lidara, but from imports.” Imports?
I touched her mind. Risky. Did you know Mican, in Lidara?
Yes. He is not what he seems. He might hear. She shook all over.
What should we do?
I have remedies for some poisons that were on Esta Faho. Our scientists want to help. But, I tried to ask King Nitomahan and he collapsed. I think Mican trained him.
Oh, my! “Should we go sit with Micansen in Healers’ Chambers?” Maybe she can tell Elsie.
I would like to meet Elsie.
We ported back there. Elsie was hard at work.
Micansen wasn’t there. Both of us gasped!
Elsie startled. “What’s wrong, Bedelia?”
“Where’s Micansen?”
She looked from me to the Elder lady, who sat on the bed.
A healer hugged her. “Oh, I am sorry. Were you close to Micansen?”
“I had—hopes--”
“I am very sorry. Pirad had to put him in stasis.”
“Why?”
“He had terminals, and Pirad must study.”
“Pirad is an Elder?”
“I na know, but he is very smart.”
I put my hands on her shoulders. “Pirad, can we see you?”
He appeared.
The lady gasped. “You are an Elder!”
Pirad clicked his face into frozen surprise! “Falarnen? Please, come to my lab!” They vanished.