I was surprised to see Pas with Galarsmen on his feet. Farley just finished his mud bath and sprang to his feet, and spotted them. “O! Galar!”

He smiled. “Farley. How is your well today?” His red-gold eyes turned lighter. I noticed that people with red-gold didn’t go a whole lot lighter or darker, but Farley smiled, big.

“I feel very well! Are you well?”

He frowned, and Pas looked worried. “I think I am. I should check progs—”

“You should rest, Brother! I will check progs for you. Let me carry you to a bed.” He took him off his feet. Asked us mentally not to follow.

Farley sighed. “I should nae expect miracles, but we have them so oft, here.” His lips trembled.

“Don’t worry. He can stand up and he can talk, which is a lot more than I expected!”

“Eae, we are all grateful nae to lose our Galarsmen yet!”

“Tom!” Farley hugged him and wept. Poor Becky just stood there. You just don’t see men cry in the US!

“O, nae weep! I am well. Becky needed time, but she feels well today.”

“And, my head is full of when to bow, how low to bow, and what trades we need here in Alb!” Becky giggled.

“Dear wife, I know these things, and you may borrow of me when you have need.” He put an arm around her.

She pulled at her blond curls, which were a lot more golden than mine. Those light blue eyes would make people think she’s happy all the time. Mine are more of a serious blue. “Yeah, you’re a walking encyclopedia! Oh, there’s Bedelia!”

Bedelia saw her, tried to walk fast, and kind of fell forward in slow motion! But Jos Keil leapt from ten feet behind her, landed over her head in front, and gently pushed her shoulders back. “Be, Love, be careful! Did you harm yourself?”

“I-I’m so clumsy!”

He held her. “You nae ever traveled to a world with our gravity. Nae this guilt. You are nae clumsy, my love, nae at all!” He kissed her forehead.

“But, I lived in Rainbow for years! I should be able to do this!” One hand swatted to emphasize her statement, and he had to catch her again! “Oh, I’ll never get this!”

I felt the same way, but I didn’t want to talk about it.

Elsie did. “You an’ me both, Sister!”

Becky rushed over there with little hops. “Don’t worry. I’ve been doing some exercises I learned in Rainbow. Remember how Molly used to get around?”

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“Hey, that’s just like I do! Keep up the good work, Becky, 1st Princess Of Esta Faho!” Is that Molly? Oh, Millie, her clone for Elshar Zheiea. She runs Rainbow Elshar Zheiea. What’s she doing here? Her red ringlets bounced as she ran over to steady Elsie.

Who shook her head. “If’in I didn’t have Nes, I’d be in trouble!”

“See this prog, ladies? Run it, and you won’t fall, even if your husband’s not on the alert like Jos Keil, here. Good catch, my man!”

“Hey, he’s my man!” Bedelia laughed.

She giggled. “Just a figure of speech, you know. My man is sitting with the unwell back in Rainbow. I thought I’d check in with all my Earthans and see how you’re holding up. It’s been a wild two weeks! But, I think most everyone’s better. Poor Galarsmen! But Pas’ll make him rest up before he lets him start healing again.”

Tom put a hand on her arm. She had on a beautiful cobalt blue dress with her white robes and Tessite symbols over it. All 16 of ‘em. That shows her willingness to improve everything. In Rainbow she didn’t care for bowing and all!

“Prince Antomias, what can I do for you?” Her green eyes opened wide. Like a Zheien’s.

“I worry for our Master Healer! Will he heal? He is my healer, Molly.”

“Don’t worry. Pas knows what to do for him, and he thinks he’ll recover completely. I wanted to talk to you before our Council meeting. And, Ella, I want you to come with us. May we meet in your office?”

“Certainly, Queen Molly. This way.” We all walked towards the sky blue building that was the palace.”

Becky looked back. “See you later, Elsie, Bedelia! Have extra fun at the festival for me!”

They seemed a little disappointed that they weren’t coming. I felt nervous. Why does Molly—uh, Milly--want to have this pre-meeting? Farley warned me not to think. All Kings’ and official offices in Zheien palaces or in the Trade Office—that’s the green building or the blue one—the Diplomats’ House, all of ‘em are lined with merite. Telepathy can’t pass. Farley answers a question before I can even ask! Zheien husbands are so nice!

The day turned a bit rainy, but not wet, just misty. Not cold, and that’s all? No thunderstorms, heavy rain, hail—on Elshar Mashai it can knock you out! And, no blizzards, earthquakes, tornadoes, or nuclear power plant accidents. None of the dangers Earth had.

Once at a HamFest hail came and I waved a football helmet on Farley. He smiled, but later I had to put ea fae all over his head. The padding hurt and the impact of tiny quarter-inch hail was enough to bruise him. I felt terrible. And, he fell asleep during it. That embarrassed him awfully! With what I know now, he should’ve seen a healer.

So hard not to think about dangers past! I should’ve been paying attention to the festival. The Science Service folks were demonstrating changes in biome maintenance and how it’s automated now, even on Elshar Mashai.

We can go to the festival after we meet, Love. I am eager to attend with you.

I smiled. This festival will go on for weeks more! Lots of people got married, or discovered new things, and King Challet declared a record 81 days! Now that the war’s over, we’ll probably have ‘em a lot more often! Or we can port someplace that’s having one, if I’m brave enough.

O, I am brave enough! Farley laughed. I am ever ready for festivals!

I squeezed his hand. We had to pass through a line of dancers, but Farley timed it just right and steered me through.

“Wow! That was fun!” Becky giggled and hugged Tom as we walked. “Oh, I should be more formal—”

“Dear wife, we have nae such rules! I am happy to see you enjoying yourself, and our people also.”

Her face still turned red. Glad I’m not a princess! All I have to do is apprentice to someone here for prog writing. Odd, that I didn’t have a tutor already--

Epernensen will assign you, perhaps, Ti Ranasen, Master Program Instructor, if he is well. He can nae write progs in Galarsmen’s Chambers, and Pas nae released him.