Then, he asked a healer to speak. This older man, Galarsmen, bowed to him, then to us. He had red-gold eyes that wavered from orange to black. Like Wulai’s eyes. I sobbed. But he’s got the strip of family color with Tessite symbols down the front. A master healer. I didn’t like the term, but the Alliance still allowed slavery until just Wednesday when we moved! It’ll take a while for derogatory titles to change.
Outside, animals made soft noises and their keepers petted them. No one seemed impatient, waiting there, not even the animals. They didn’t have bridles and just followed their keepers around or maybe walked over to a flower or grass to munch.
The old healer’s red-gold eyes stayed dark and he looked really tired. “My bae and sae, we are ready. My sisters and brothers, come, and let none of our Zheien walk!” His white robe’s borders were a yellowish-green. Not a loud color, but bright. It reminded me of some plants on Earth.
A bunch of white-robed healers came in.
“Nae worry for protocols, Becky! Rest your head. My people understand—”
Galarsmen carried Tom off the bed and another healer carried Becky, whose neck trembled. Even her blond hair and the curls on her shoulders jiggled. But she looks better than she did. Their sky blue looks really good on her. He’s light gray and not happy with being carried. King Nitomahan ran to Tom. “Bae, are you unwell? Galar, what happens?”
Galarsmen tried to bow and the older man took Tom so he could. “Liege, he saw his future and has to marry now! Please, let me help him—”
Tom looked panicked. “I wish Fa to help me, Galar. You may help me, after.”
“What do you mean, he saw his future?” Well, if I hadn’t been so nervous about him seeing my memories--
“Fa, share my memories.” He shook all over.
Very gently, the older man held his head against his silver curls. “O, Bae, such a frightening future! Eae, I think your Becky may help you with it more than I! We escaped much harm lastweek. My people, forgive this fast marriage, but Antomias is unwell, and so is his Becky! They must marry—”
“How long does he know her?” A dignified Elshar stood there. Lots of pins on his sash, but none of the meaningless ones I saw on most Elshars in Rainbow. They walked past him. The sunny yellow ship opened to dark red sky with few stars. Other people got on riding animals, but they stopped to watch. Past him, I stood with Keiley, and Elsie.
“My people, you know my bae. Please, we must continue here!”
Most people raised their twin fingers and swayed. We got with the program and did it, too.
We left the ship and the sky was deep red. It kind of unnerved me, not to see many stars as in Atlanta, but five moons, one that traced a path through the other four. Buildings like glowing gems in bright colors sat in yellow sand. Beautiful flowers grew in it. We went to a sky blue building that came to a dull point. In that sky, those 22 stars shone in diff colors. Pretty. Healers carried all of the Zheien, including many in white robes who protested!
Tom reached for Becky’s hand and Galarsmen held their hands together. “Becky, what is your fullname?”
“Becky Kimberly Edwards.” She still sounded hoarse!
“And, your occupation?”
She flinched. “Student.” She changed majors from Computer Science to Art, and her father said she’d never get a job. Probably still upset over that. She’s talented, can’t he see that?
“Becky Kimberly Edwards, Student Of Earth, I, Antomias, First Prince Of Esta Faho, I love you with all the love in me! I invite you to hold the hands of Esta Faho in the strength of our family as my wife. In this Petition Of Marriage Without Courtship, by the Ancient Protocols of Zhea~ and Esta Faho, and also Rahn Estar, Becky, will you agree?” His deep voice has strain in it. I hoped that rude Elshar doesn’t make trouble!
“Yes, I, Becky Kimberly Edwards, Student Of Earth, love you, Antomias, First Prince Of Esta Faho!” Poor Becky. I know she’s worried, too.
King Nitomahan kept their hands together. “I wish to declare my children’s Wedding Festival of Nine Days! Please, my people, enjoy it!” His voice broke as he lifted Tom. I felt so bad for them!
Pas carried Becky at a run towards the sky blue building that is our palace. People’s emotion rumbled on me like a personal earthquake! They’re unhappy!
“Becky! Congratulations!” Elsie sounded out of breath.
“Maiden, let me carry—”
“You aren’t coming to that other building? But they said everybody had to go there!” She looked after them, panting.
“C’mon, Elsie. I guess royalty has different rules. Keiley has to go this way.” I pulled at her arm. Healers walked with us, holding each of us by the other arm.
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We stood in front of the palace and Keiley waved for a holo of our Petition. Pas took him off his feet. He looked shocked. But, he was asleep when Wulai and Elanapah and Napah all died! He’s awake and heard me remembering it. Grabbed for my hand!
That Elshar, Micansen, came to us. “Jos, how did our liege find a wife so soon? Is he unwell?”
Keiley put a hand out and he took it, gently. “I know is hard to understand, but a member of Adia’s Team which we joined sees futures for certain persons.”
“Futures? How is it possible? Is this a sign that war ends soon?”
“It may be. There is more. Micansen, we should nae speak of this much. Many Earthans have Gifts. Pirad warned many on our ship, nae to speak of these things. To do so might jeopardize our future.”
His eyes went from serious blue to black! “Then, I will not ask any more. Is there anything I can do? Should I go to more of our Council? Did our liege say anything to you?”
“My friend, I think you did enough. Surely, with all of us going to healers, Council will wait to make any decisions on our matters. I think they can wait for our rest. Do you know? Bedelia and I are now council members, and represent Earthans. We will help you also, my friend.”
“Tom will not think so, that we can wait, and Nito looks worried! I want to rest their minds, or they will not get healing.” Boy, did I misjudge this fella! He’s pale. Bowed to me. “Lady Bedelia, I welcome you to our council, and if there is any way I can help you, I will.”
“My friend, I wish only to show you my marriage and tell you, I experienced it, and I cannot explain it. I saw our future together, and so Bedelia did, and we felt the love we shared in those memories. I was injured so badly I could nae work, and Nito died, and Tom also had injury from slavers such that we could nae see one another! We are nae strong without our friends. Bedelia fears that I die because she held me in my death, twice! I wonder that my poor wife has sanity!”
Hearing the anguish in his voice made me cry again, but this Elshar hugged both of us. “Oh, how terrible! And Tom married Becky, and how did they fare? Did he recover to come back home?”
“I—please, dear wife, show Micansen what you saw. You have more memories than I.”
Pas frowned.
But, Micansen touched my mind, like a Zheien would, just waiting on me to decide if I wanted to show him. A very polite Elshar. So, I opened up and let him see. I worried, but Pas is holding Keiley. Micansen’s grief came to me, and he cried, too.
“My brother will destroy us, but I can stop him. Pirad said he could make me Zheien. If I am like you, I can do more, because Zheien are very strong. Nito touches many minds in a day. Think of how much more work I could do for him! Rest well, Jos. When you see me next, I will be like you.”
Keiley frowned at him, but Pas hummed and he fell asleep.
“Micansen, wait!”
But he already vanished in a portal. “Pas, several people in Rainbow tried that, and Pirad had to make ‘em what they were! Why would he even offer?”
Pas sighed. “Bedelia, I am only a healer. If Pirad offered, perhaps he has a well reason. I know Greg and Briahh improved his work.”
“Who? Oh, Greg, the fella who helped me. His wife delivered babies in Rainbow.” And he sat and stared most of the time! But he wasn’t like that when he helped me share memories to that cylinder. Maybe a lot of us are running, trying to escape a fate that’s chasing us in the shadows. And what about Wulai? His death didn’t come for years from now! Why’s he dead now?
Didn’t have time to ponder that. Healers put us on a dorna and we rode across to Rainbow.
Pas carried Keiley and another healer carried Fa, who didn’t wake up.
Elsie was in a leiwege with Nespa. She sighed. “Well, now I know what it’s like to be married, too. I think. It did record, didn’t it, Lanapah?”
He sighed, and it rumbled, though not as much as a Zheien. He’s Ishah. “You are married. How I wish my cousins lived, to see this day! O, Het, sleep, my friend—’”
Het sat up with his brown eyes wide. They turned red-gold! “O, healers bring us Wu, Nepah and Elanapah!”
The whoosh of a portal woke up a lot of people, who cried! They ran in carrying our healers! “Fear na! We are healers! Do you always have such fear, to hear a portal?”
One lady sobbed. “Elshars come in portals to attack us, to steal our children!” I gasped! How horrible that must have been!
“Be calm, lady. Portals nae bring dangers to us, nae ever. Healers, please, if you must port, go to our spaceport for it! Many have fears, and we cannot help them!” Lots of healers cried!
A whole bunch of Ishah healers rode in on animals and jumped off. “O, be calm. Let us all bathe in healing muds—”
“Muds! We will die—”