Elsie looked around. No one noticed? “There’s some weird stuff goin’ on around here! Oh, dey found Becky’s sista!”
I gasped. “Oh, that’s wonderful! She missed her so much! Where was she for 3 years?”
“Wid’ a pervert! He beat her up an’ she’s got 2 messed up kids wid’ ‘im! She jus’ got here. Dey wid’ ‘er parents.”
I hugged her. “Maybe Pirad can do something. Oh, Keris Pon’s waiting for me!”
I ran out. We ported to Piedmont Park.
An Elshar in red robes came up to us. Bowed at the waist, eyes on me. Black marble eyes. “Lady Bedelia. I hoped you would bring Falarnen with you. What shall we do? Does she intend to replace Micansen and Keris?” He shook all over!
“She was very polite. I do not think she wishes to interfere in our government. She cares deeply about people, and I think, just wanted to make all of you aware that Mashai are not all of Elshar, that Elshars are not evil. She comes from Lidara, and most of you have Lidaran ancestry.”
“And, that is why Mican hates us! He married a Lidaran and tried to make a Mashai of her. Micansen told me. He hates Mican and misses his mother, whom Mican killed.” He shook all over.
“My friend, I think you need your healer.”
“All of us need healers! Keris is thin as a miner about to die, and many of us are too ill to be here. Oparnen tried to force us all to leave, and we fear this Elder wants the same thing!” He got teary.
I took his arm. “Please, let us sit down and discuss this. King Nitomahan feels strongly that no one should be forced to leave! I understand that all of you want to stay here and live in safety. Is that right?”
All of them nodded. I felt it with my telepathy as we walked to the pond. There were six gazebos that each seated ten people. If they weren’t thin. There were 15 in each. My server let me know these folks were all Council members, all the Elshar Councils under King Nitomahan’s. Some represented artisans, and some, traders.
I brought healers. We had enough for all the Elshars as well as the Zheien, but a lot of the Elshars were scared to come out of their homes because they didn’t believe Oparnen was dead.
Keris Pon showed them the part he didn’t show me, how Oparnen died and his body was vaporized. He passed around Oparnen’s trader’s robe, a cobalt blue one very heavy with Tessite trim. Once he did that, all of them were convinced.
We escorted this man, Terepah, to a bench where his son held him up. “If he was only a trader, why does he have these symbols on his trader’s robes? I studied Lidara. Falarnen would know what they mean.” He rubbed his left temple.
I put a hand there, and it was hot! Both of them. “We need Pirad!”
He appeared next to me and I startled. “This one also?” Then he looked down it Terepah’s lap and saw that robe! “Dosilian symbols? This is worse than I thought!” They both vanished.
“Fahie!” The man who’d been holding him cried! “Why did a Bisillip take him? What did we do to you that you would send my fahie to slavery?” He fell on the ground!
“Please, listen to me. Pirad is not a slaver! He is fighting slavers! He heals people that healer colonies cannot. Let this healer help you. Your fahie has terminals, and Pirad wants to take them out, but he has to study so he won’t hurt him. He had to put Micansen in stasis for the same reason.”
People got very upset. Not angry. Just sorrow. They are a lot like Zheien. I waved the healers in for every person. Some ported here with people from homes. We had to add benches to all 6 pavilions for all of our Elshars.
Keris Pos shook all over as he addressed them all. “My people, I am frightened. I cannot bring this to our king, the worry will kill him! We must have hope. Pirad is an Elder. There are things larger than our colony, the end of the War is coming. We cannot speak of it. Only know, when the War ends, perhaps we know peace. Already, plans for our young men to fight in the War are abandoned. We have hope that the final battle of this war is to be between only two people.”
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That man looked up from his healers’ arms. “The One?”
“Esta ay. The One who will end the War. We must be patient.”
“Will she come here? Can she save my fahie?” He sobbed.
“The New Healing will begin, here. These Rainbow Unwell Colonies, they are part of it. Friends, I cannot discuss it because we jeopardize it. Please, let us discuss things of our colony.
“All of you are frightened, but we have progs to help us. No one can harm anyone. A Mashai trader came from Par Vu. He had an argument with Uisan, a leiwege maker who came from Earth and was here, trading. He tried to hurt Uisan.
“A TS Inspector came from Rahn Estar, without being called by traders! This prog called him and reported that he used his telepathy to attempt to injure Uisan! He brought a Judge with him. Some of you know what they are. They wear white, but not the bright white of a healer, but homespun, to represent the poor, and justice for them, as in old Elshar. He killed the man. Awarded all of his holdings, and his robe, to Uisan. I was there, I saw it, it was like Oparnen’s. The same symbols.
“I say to you, if Biehshah tech can stop a Dosilian from harming one of us, we are truly safe here. My bahie went on Adia’s Ship and saw many such judgments. He said the Final Battle will be on Earth, and that is where—he is.”
I felt their shock telepathically. No one said anything else.
Then I realized what they were talking about. Where that ship was parked was near that yard. I saw news reports of that battle. But that’s 3 years from now! We have to just hold on until then.
Keris and I went from person to person and asked if we could do anything. Most of ‘em just wanted a hug. We cried together.
That life I wanted in Atlanta seemed empty and foreign to me now. This is what I’m meant to do! This is my purpose.
While I spoke with them, I checked on Becky, expecting she’d be with her sister. But Wasa Mai wanted to see her. Now, she’s visiting Elshar artisans in Rahn Estar. Wow. Glad I’m here! I can support her in her bigger role, whatever Wasa Mai has her doing. I can help hold the fort down here with Keris.
People seemed a bit stronger after our meeting. We took Repah, Terepah’s son, back to Rainbow with us to wait to hear something from Pirad. A healer met him, whispered something, and they vanished.
I sat on the bed and held my husband. What a day!
I tried not to think. But, I’m in for the long haul. I can’t let all this worry close in. Just need to let time pass and enjoy every minute with my husband while we have it. This is our new future. Gotta have hope. I’m part of this wonderful, new way to govern people. If Zheien have one up on us, it’s in the hope category.
My parents came in with my sisters. Daddy spoke first. “Hey, what did you do today?”
I told ‘em about my Council position and visiting with the artisans.
On the bed next to us, King Nitomahan sat up, and so did Tom. “O, Bedelia. Did you speak with our artisans? Keris, are you well to speak with us? And Micansen?” He paled. Hugged Tom against him.
“O, Fa, what weight we put on Keris now!”
He got off the bed beside his wife and ran over. Sat with us.
My parents started to leave, but King Nitomahan waved them over. “Please, Mr. and Mrs. Stone. Bedelia will need councils. Would you help her?”
Both of them nodded. So they became my council members. We talked about the artisans, then about Stacy and her marriage to Het.
He smiled. “Het is very lonely. I am happy he has a wife now! And children! Eae, we shall all rest, then he can look forward to Decision again. I will nae send him to any other worlds.
“Do you know? There are many foster children in Fulton County which includes part of City of Atlanta. A diplomat of Kin Para, Pol, found a wife, and he negotiates to bring them to Alb! Per Naha brought up the issue with the Alb Council. Now Pol has researched laws to approach officials with an offer for homes here. If he is successful, some of the children may come to Esta Faho! Already, they have healing from Zheien healers. Many are able to express a preference, and some contacted people on worlds of Alb to talk by holo. We agreed that social workers may monitor the well of these children and the UN is interested. So, we may have more Earthans to come.”
Oh, that sounded very exciting! I’d be happy to represent foster children, too. But, I was a bit disappointed that no other Earthans so far had decided to come here. There’s still 22. Well, with Becky’s sister and her two kids, 25.
After everyone Zheien got too sleepy to talk more, and Keris went to sleep by his wife, I decided to visit all the other new people. Daddy offered to sit by Keiley, and Mama stayed, too.
Another Ishah brought an Elshar, who bowed to me. “Lady Bedelia, I am Ponar, Keris’ brother. I am Artisan Leader Of Esta Faho, and I teach many of our people.” He bowed from the waist. His red robes had Tessite symbols that clinked. Spoke broken English.
I got off the bed and gave a curtsy, then a Friendship Dance. He returned it. I answered him in Elshar. “I am happy to meet you!” I wasn’t exactly sure why he’s here.
“Dunapa said you are going to meet our Earthans. I would like to go with you, and welcome them to us!” His eyes turned light.
“The more, the merrier! Let’s go meet Becky’s family.” Becky’s over there, so it’ll be fun! But, when I touched my mental map, she wasn’t there? We walked out a little ways, and I picked a spot between Rainbow and Piedmont Park for porting, so we wouldn’t freak anyone. I noticed a prog running to muffle the slight whoosh, even for such a short porting.