I struggled not to cry. But, Zheien are honest. Tears are honest. I let go.

Pas spread his soft fingercorners across my forehead. Smiled. I had that aandat in my terminal, so I released it. That should help Farley, to know I’m protected that way. I felt the white mass fall on my feet, and I felt stronger! But it slowly crept up my legs, and I just tried not to pay attention to it. Once it gets to my trunk, it’ll stop, and I won’t feel it.

He moved his fingers back in a line and I thought of all the times I had healing, especially after Ronsera, but I needed it after every mission. Earthans don’t last but five years on a DS team, but I lasted six. I think Farley got hurt more because he was protecting me. The difference between how I thought in those memories, and how I think now, scared me. I wasn’t as smart!

Even at school, at Sigan Mas, we got hurt often. They only had one Zheien healer, and she wasn’t a master healer. They couldn’t get help for her. Healers graduated and left. Maybe they thought students were enough and she always had a bevy of ‘em. But they all went to study with master healers. I loved Pedsa. She was an orange Zheien. She worried about me, with that mean woman as my advisor.

“Farley worries because he feels pains from you.”

I startled. “He feels it? But, it’s just old sports injuries. He hurts worse than that, all the times he got knocked out--” But that’s in the future--

His healer, Konomai, looked down. I startled.

Pas frowned at him. “My son, times are dire, but you must show me all of his record. Much is missing, ea?”

He waved without looking at him. Rows of neat Zheien script scrolled. Novas! A lot of it.

Farley wept, and so did Fa.

“Ea. I ne fault you, but if I saw this before Cevit Ion released you, I did. Surely you suffered much in this weight of knowledge.”

Konomai sobbed aloud! “All of our diplomats, and our lieges are worse! Nae whom I saw from Calladia, Esta Faho, Kin Para, Sara Kia, or even K’hasa Zha were better! Our kingdoms fall, and I can do nae!” Esta Faho’s that bad? I got upset!

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Cevit Ion put him on his lap. “My son, be calm. Now we have help for you. I name all of you Elders today. Pirad, Elder Of Bisillipia can reclone you young, and make clones of you to help all of these colonies heal. Do you know, Healer, that all of our colonies dwell in safety on Elshar Zheiea, a new world with nae poisons? See him!”

He waved and a sunny yellow world with yellow clouds and five moons rotated. Zoomed in. Five cities showed. All five had seven large buildings in six rainbow colors and one was like a flat diamond! Each had a couple hundred people except for one that had thousands, all walking around, or doing crafts, or trading, and kids ran around. It was beautiful. I’ll love living there!

Konomai stared at the smallest city. “Esta Faho moved? O, he moved, and my family is safe? O!” Esta Faho’s that small? We visited on Farley’s respites for a while, and—maybe people were more spread out there. Mines were between each part of the city, and people couldn’t bathe in the fountains on windy days. We don’t get vitamins from our baths.

The view zoomed in. A dignified Zheien walked with a crowd of children around him.

Konomai jumped off Pas’ lap and bowed low.

Farley tensed, and his father wept.

The old man gave a flat-footed leap and sat by them on the bed. “Farley? Kona, is he to die? O, Kono, come!”

Konomai leapt and landed between the king and them. “I can nae calm him, Liege!”

“Let me try. Farley, my son, is time for you to rest. Our people are safe. You gave too much, but now is healing. Rest and healing. Will you remember?”

He looked up and his eyes turned light. “My liege. Ella.”

“Eae, Cev showed me all! I am here to witness your marriage. Let all worries go by you. Our people are safe, and she will be safe among us when you bring her. Where is her family?” He looked at me.

I started to back off the bed, to bow, and he held my shoulders. “O, nae think to bow, Maiden, but hold to Farley’s hand. You are linked. Dishonor ends with this marriage, and Cev tells me many had to marry today, including Goes, 1st Prince Of MarKu! Even he could nae hold his mind from his maiden in these futures.” Goes is still alive? And he couldn’t keep his mind outa someone?

“Protocols bend for unwell. When these futures are painful, eae, suffering is great. Take of my strength, my son.” He touched Farley between the eyes, and he and his fa stopped sweating! Yellow rushed into his skin. He smiled. Tensed, but the old king held his head. “Nae think to rise! As did all kings of Alb, I agreed to Outer Circle Marriages. We go to our commons in Esta Faho. I declared a festival for us today. Now you and your Ella may share it.”