I waved for my purple dress and soft shoes with my braces. Enough length on the dress so ruffles disguised my twisted ankles.

Farley wept, and held them. “Nae hide from me! Ella, nae hide longer. Why delayed you healing?”

I sighed.

My healer urged me to tell Farley’s and mine about what happened, so I let Farley tell it.

He tried to share memories, and couldn’t, so he spoke it. “I led Farley’s Team for five years. Ella served as my diplomat-in-aid. When negotiations went badly on Ronsera, two of the council brought a false treaty and demanded I sign. Another two held Ella. They tortured her by sending much energy into her legs with false healing.” Farley kissed my ankles, and brushed his yellow tear-powder off often.

“I could nae sign the false treaty. But, I used the sig of my healer, Konomai. They tried to take me, but others of the council thought to avoid trouble now that they believed in the new treaty and released us. On my ship, I tried to heal Ella and thought she kept her walking. Healers took her to Alb Seer from Gerat Lo, and I went on more missions until my respite. Healers of Earth told me that with exercise, Ella improved, and we enjoyed time together while I served there. I nae knew she had nae healing, with these doctors!” He cried loudly.

I sighed. “They thought they could do something, Farley. I did the exercises and used the elbow crutches, but nothing works. With my telepathy, I hid how they looked because they slowly turned inwards, and I hid my wheelchair from you and everybody until I ran out of savings. I can’t trade any more, Farley. Doctors told me the reason my ankles don’t work is that part of my brain doesn’t work. My ankles won’t stay healed.” I stared at my hands. Zheien are honest. But, I hated the way people tried not to stare at my feet, or did the pity stuff, when they saw me as I really was, and I just ran the progs all the time, even with Farley.

My healer hugged me. “Eae, and we can do little, as her healers on Alb Seer said. But, Farley must remain on Alb Seer. Will you also come, Maiden, and seek healing? We can add comforts to help you bear it.”

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“Zheien can’t bear it! I’ll make everybody sick—“

“O, we are stronger than you think us.” My healer smoothed my hair.

Farley put his head down on my legs, which felt good to me, and fell asleep. Referpol waved up Konomai, his healer.

A holo came up of a young healer, with a smile. “What is wanted? Ejis nae! You have Farleikon?” He had dark curls, and resembled Farley, in the face. His short stature and thin frame did not! Red-gold eyes turned black.

“Konomai, tell me of him. He had injury, on Earth.” The older healer waited.

Konomai shook his head, and those dark curls went everywhere! “How lives he, with such sorrows? His skills are very well, eae, but his health keeps him from progress. I urged him to stay here on Alb Seer, but he asked for Earth, and young death! When his young friend had injury—she is here?” He looked at me and trembled. “How he holds to you! Maiden, are you well?”

I put a hand on Farley’s head. “I wish to come to Alb Seer and stay. Because Farley went to Earth, I followed him. I did nae know my pastimes would harm him!” I cried.

Farley got up like a shot and held me. “Have you pains, Ella?”

“No, but I’d like you to stay on Alb Seer with me! I love you, Farley!” I’d never said it. All these years, and I couldn’t. It seemed to be a death sentence when some girl tried to marry a diplomat. They all went off and got killed. Three of my friends, who chose dangerous missions when their love got killed—

He hugged me and held my head against his chest. Cried with me. “I love you, Ella. Until my next mission, I stay—“

“Two healers, now, want you to leave DS! Isn’t that right, Referpol, Konomai?”

Konomai got upset. “Eae eae, I wish him to stay—“

“And, I have authority to enforce it.” Referpol lifted both of us into his lap, quite an armful. “My son, will you sleep? Your maiden stays.”

Farley held me tighter. “Nae leave me, Ella, my Ella! Until my next mission, I stay by you to protect you. I stay—“ His head dipped until it rested by my cheek. An Earthan couldn’t reach so far down! Zheien bone bends.