I felt awful that I wasn’t here in Rainbow, but I was talking to Earthans who weren’t even my responsibility! I hugged my husband and his progs ran. “Nae, Wu, please!”
“My son, all of us are upset. Sleep. Bedelia, nae this guilt! All who come to you are yours. We nae see political divisions here as Earth does.” People left in groups, on riding animals. We’re leaving Rainbow?
He’s right. They thought I had some answers, so they came to me, and maybe the server pointed me out so they’d come here.
I shared my day with my husband, then he smiled as he fell asleep. He’s happy I helped them a little.
They brought riding animals for us. I got excited, and all the Zheien still awake tingled!
Micansen reached for my hand as healers carried us, so I grabbed it. He’s Elshar again. “Thank you for comforting our Elshars! Many told me how you said Felar wanted them to be proud of their heritage.”
I didn’t say that, but—maybe Elshars have memory problems, too, if many said that!
Felarnen smiled. “I am happy to join your colony. We court, and Mi’s healer said we can see my house today!”
“I am sorry, Elder Felarnen, but I did not say you could go to your house! We go to Galarsmen’s Chambers with our people.” Not our house? But, that’s the best plan.
She gasped, and tears streamed down her face.
“It is only for a short—”
“I never had troubles remembering! What is wrong with me?”
“Think of your courted. His unwells affect you. Micansen, which animal do you want?” But, if they’re courting, why would his unwells affect her? Elshars don’t usually get mindlinked! What did Pirad have to do?
Felarnen watched Micansen, whose black eyes went light. “A dorna. Can we ride a fast one, Hanapeh?”
He chuckled. “In a few days. But we can trot, if your joints can handle it.”
“Oh, I don’t care! Let’s go!”
He didn’t notice Felarnen’s worried expression, or the slightly darker blue of Hanapeh’s eyes. He’ll regret it later. But, he’ll have fun.
We got on a slow-moving cael and were still loading up as their dorna, like cow-faced donkeys, rode snorting off into the distance! Dorna snort when they’re happy, and these were loud. The animal handlers giggled. It wasn’t as fast as a horse gallop, but close. Others on cael barely moved.
Keiley barely woke up long enough to hug Wulai’s arms around him.
I let Daddy try to lift me up there, but caels are tall!
“O, let me help you, Lucas!” Risentah lifted him with me still in his arms!
Daddy chuckled. “Hey, this is fun! Up you go, Sweetie!”
“Thanks, Daddy!” He didn’t get me right against Keiley, but my husband pulled me over. Even so sleepy, he’s strong and gentle. Daddy hadn’t picked me up since my teens! Before that!
Pas carried Galarsmen, who didn’t wake up. His eyes weren’t closed all the way. Both of ‘em have beautiful red-gold eyes but I watched Pie, not him, that curled-up, shaking body! Everyone watched them with sad faces. Galarsmen is Esta Faho’s only master healer. I hate the term ‘master’. But Elshars run the Alliance and make the titles. Until last Wednesday, slavery was legal in the Alliance. In the future I remember, they never abolished it! Why now?
They put Keiley’s parents up here and we slowly ambled through the woods near us. I’d been so afraid I’d never see a tree here, but there were lots of diff kinds, and not just in the Earthan Colony. This was the border between Rainbow and Rahn Estar, on the side away from the Elshar Zheiea Spaceport. Or, Jackson Spaceport, as it’s now called, Elsie’s idea? Cool! With a life-sized holo of Maynard Jackson to greet people! A little bit of Atlanta to enjoy, besides the Beltline, of course. Can’t see it from here, but we’re enjoying a longer ride than others who took a ship. Keiley and his family are in good enough shape for this.
Cevit Ion and his family were with us for a while, but veered west. They’re headed to Ferrimos. They all look worried.
I am, too. Will everyone get sick in familiar territory? This is kind of like their test, to see if they can handle going home. If they don’t get sicker in Galarsmen’s Chambers, maybe they’ll be able to go home, soon. Have to think positive, after all.
The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.
Keiley rested his head against my shoulder and went to sleep. He’s warm. Relaxed. As long as he’s good, I am. It worried me that he didn’t ask for one of those rooms in the hall. Maybe he’s been sleeping too much to think.
The ride was long, and I sure enjoyed the sunny day! The yellow sky had golden clouds, not many, as we trodded along.
Animal handlers’ kids ran with us and pulled flowers to put in our laps. I had several petunias in bright yellow, the green of our clothes, and shades of red. One kid added more of the light green, blues and purples. Beautiful! They noticed people’s faves.
I didn’t see Galarsmen—oh, he’s in his chambers already! That was a holo, to reassure people who are now asleep. He went on that ship, and that’s where Elsie got off and was sad that the spaceport didn’t have a sign. Becky fixed her up. Becky’s so thoughtful! She’s a good princess to help Tom and King Nitomahan rule over us. Our king must be really upset. Galarsmen’s his healer!
And several people saw Tom take Becky into the woods to find a rare little animal. That one they found is sitting on Galarsmen’s shoulder. Good.
Our ride took us through dense woods, then through a large farming area, into the commons of Sara Kia. It looked like Rainbow, but people stopped what they were doing to come offer us pastries. I felt guilty for eating again so soon, but it was lunchtime, anyway! Becky’s in Calladia, where we’re heading after Sara Kia. So many beautiful flowers, all along our journey!
Several Elshars walked with us to ask me questions. They also went to other Council members.
“Are they going home? Our group is going to Terat’s Chambers, not home.” One artisan had tears in his eyes.
“Do not worry, my friend. All of Elshar Zheien is going to their healers chambers now, but in a few days, they will go to their homes.” Almost said again, but most have new homes. Especially in Elshar Zheiea and K’hasa Zha. They had stone homes with dirt floors! Those are in animal corrals now in those provs. Most of our cities have those in the corrals, too. We passed a lot of them.
Several Earthans came to me, too. “Are you our Council member? Sara Kia doesn’t have a Council member for us yet.”
“They don’t? I’m happy to help until you get one. What do you need?”
“They sent a diplomat to my parents’, but they don’t want to come. What can I say…?” I repeated myself to five of ‘em as we passed through Sara Kia, then Calladia. Two more artisans came up to me. “Our Council, they are all in healers chambers! Will they be all right? Elshars tried to take our Council! Princess Becky saved us, all of us! She brought Ih Esta to save our king!” That’s just too close for comfort!
Several of them showed me memories of it, but I just got glimpses because their telepathy was too much! Risentah made ‘em quit! “Lady Bedelia is Earthan! Please, Bahies, one and then another if ever you speak with an Earthan! Lady, let your telepathy rest, for at least a day, after this.”
Well, that’s disturbing! I thought after that Elshar tried to cause trouble in our council, we’d be safe! This council had 9 Elshars trying not to leave, but to take over! I felt shaken!
Becky’s doing all this wonderful stuff, and they want me to do it, too, but all I can do is see through Zheien hiding things, not Dosilians! Pirad said they aren’t even on our level! That prog warned me, too. They look like Elshars.
I tried to reassure ‘em and pointed out our abuse prog. Noticed some new mods on it from Ella and Elsie. Good. That just helped me calm people down. And, myself.
We saw a lot of Earthan kids, mostly with healers. Several Earthans came up. “Hey, I’m Andrea, and I’m a nanny. My family doesn’t need me any more, and my—well, Susie hasn’t got an intellectual disability now and she’s embarrassed because I used to have to change her diapers. She doesn’t want reminders of her old life. So I guess I need to live someplace else than Esta Faho. Where should I go?”
An Elshar diplomat came to stand by her. “Andrea, welcome! You know about our progs for abuse, right? It’s not just for that. There’s a part that lets your client not see you if it upsets her. It doesn’t tag you as an abuser.”
“Oh, thank you! I was worried about that!” Her blue eyes filled.
I hugged her and she clung to me. “You can live anyplace you want. There are now 35 worlds, and here’s a diplomat to tell you about them. Did you have help to contact your landlord, or did you live with your family?”
“I lived with them. But, all my things are in my cube. Diplomats already went to my family but none of them wanted to come. I’m scared!”
I talked with her for a few minutes, then that diplomat started his long explanation of the worlds and how someone can design a house for her, and education options. There wasn’t anyone needing a nanny right now. That made her sad. But all these kids have Zheien families waiting for them.
Families have lots of help, so it made sense to me that no one in Alb was looking for a nanny. Most moms in Rainbow took their kids with ‘em, and progs made that super easy. There was always a Zheien willing to entertain a child. A lot of moms just stayed home with their kids because they could.
It was almost sunset when we reached Galarsmen’s Chambers. Becky wasn’t there. Elsie and Ella were hard at work. Even though it wasn’t late, I was really tired.
Risentah sang healing for my headache.