The red-violet hull of the ship faded and we stood in yellow sand. Above us, white clouds wafted in sunset where yellow sky became orange, and maroon at the horizon touched each of five moons. Such a beautiful place! Seven jewel-like buildings made a circle around us. We stood near the sky blue one, where Nitomahan, King Of Esta Faho, and his son Antomias, 1st Prince Of Esta Faho, lived. How Farley cried when Tom went missing! He came with us on some of our missions.
Farley, neat in a white DS uniform with his sash also in white, knelt with one leg behind, like a ballet dancer. Watched the moons. All the worlds of Rahn Estar had these same five moons to remind them of Elshar Mashai, where they all came from.
One smaller moon rose and traced a path across the larger four. Farley gave a big sigh. “Ella Electra Farnsworth, Diplomat-In-Aid Of Earth, I, Farleikon, Diplomat Of Esta Faho, ask that you join with me in this Petition Of Marriage Without Courtship, by the Ancient Protocols of Rahn Estar, Esta Faho, Elshar Zheiea, and Atlanta, Fulton County, Georgia. Will you marry me, Ella?” I heard his triple heartbeats! Waves of excitement shook me!
“Yes! Eae, my love, I, Ella, Diplomat-In-Aid Of Earth, wish to marry you, Farleikon, Diplomat Of Esta Faho!” I tried to think of Persennon, or some other romantic poet’s lines, but the shared Outer Circle vanished and I sat on the bed again.
Farley slept. His father froze with his hand on his head. He’s gray! I gasped!
Pas sighed. “Konomai, my son, need you my help?”
The old healer sighed tears, and it rumbled on me. “I fear is too late. Our liege fears to hear of his death, today.”
I shook all over. Farley trembled in his sleep, and he was starvation-thin. He came to see me, and projected health, as I’d seen him do on so many missions!
Pirad took him in his spindly arms. “I can save him. Let us go to my lab.”
Konomai pulled at his arm and it didn’t move. “Let him die here, with his father--”
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Those huge yellow eyes with green irises had orange pupils. All three sets flew apart! “You fear me. Cevit Ion, please explain my methods. I shall not harm him. I can save him and his father, as I did Nitomahan. He thinks Nitomahan projected an image. He did not.”
Cevit Ion got the memory-sharing stare with the young healer.
Pirad carried Farley off the bed. Pas carried his fa. I followed, and struggled not to cry. Bisillips are deep green, shiny, and two joints to my every one. Even their faces are jointed. This man did miracles in Rainbow. He filled my mind with things he can do for Farley, for me so my mind can help Farley’s, things I can choose to help me.
I didn’t know anything about Elders. They all have to stay in the Alb System. Farley had healing from him many times in our future, but if you leave Alb, progs can’t run to keep you from getting hurt. This is the first time Farley’s getting healing from Pirad. He has a lot of old injuries, as I saw, and he can’t fix all of it. He asked me all sorts of questions, like how important is it to Farley to be graceful, as opposed to having strong telepathy? Lots of comparisons like that. How would I know? We didn’t talk about our skills.
“You should ask Farley, Pirad.” We walked across the ship and his friends started to follow but Pirad shook his head.
“I cannot. He is dying. Answer me quickly. I cannot alter these choices later. I think Farleikon is unable to choose even after my healing. He was injured on Esta Faho helping his people board ships. Elshars there were very unhappy. His telepathy faltered and they saw him.” Stupid Elshars! Their council argued, and I saw lots of that, especially that rude, pompous Mican, who made trouble, and he’s not even on Esta Faho’s council! Par Vu’s.
I made the choices I hoped Farley would make. Chose everything Pirad suggested, for my mind to help him. I’d noticed as his aide that he used my mind a lot, especially when he got tired. I blocked him a lot.
After we went to Alb Seer, I wasn’t able to block him as much, but I didn’t feel his thoughts, so—he lasted longer because he used functions in my mind that humans don’t use. If I had known, I wouldn’t have blocked him. I would’ve asked him if we could just get married. What Konomai said in that memory came back to haunt me. I urged him to stay here on Alb Seer, but he asked for Earth, and young death! Why didn’t he just ask to marry me?
Pirad laid Farley on the table. There were five other hims on five other tables.
Cevit Ion brought Konomai to sit by him. “Are you well for this, Healer, or should I help him?”
“My bae can strengthen me. Nomo, come.”