We kept watching marriages. Mostly Thordes and Zheien, but a lot of Elshars, too. I mostly knew Biehshah and Bisillips in Rainbow, not Earthans. But I was scared to talk to anyone much there except our colonists and Ir.
Daddy and Camile talked with us for a while but needed healing. I thought I learned how to control my telepathy! So frustrating!
Across the ship, Tan Links was explaining stuff to a group of Earthans. At least he’s okay. He sure trembles a lot. Did he do that before I hurt him?
But my relatives all seemed okay. Areonians went through a lot of stuff. I heard diplomats helping ‘em through my Diplomatic Link. It’s like being permanently in an auditorium where you hear bits and pieces of people’s conversations.
“Kia, are you happy?” Ir’s brown eyes studied me.
“Oh, I’m happy! It’s just—everything’s kind of overwhelming! My life is different now. I’m not complaining, but I think it’ll take a little time to get used to everything.”
“Can I help?” Everything’s different, but my husband’s different, too. He talks more. His thoughts are in my head more. And, he’s so eager to please me. Even more than he was—but, it’s my first day and I’m being stupid.
“Just give me a hug!”
He did, and I put my head down on his chest and just wished I could turn my brain off. “When do we leave Earth, Ir?”
“Tonight. Our work is done. I thought we would speak at the UN, but Ten thinks it is too much for all of us, to try to speak to Earthans. All of us are having trouble keeping our telepathy out of Earthan minds. I am not hurting you, am I?”
“No! Your mind feels good in here!” I looked up and Ir had fear on his face. “You sound like me! I can’t even talk to Daddy because I gave him a headache. He contacted all our relatives, Mama’s, too, and some of ‘em said they might want to come. What if I can’t talk to any of ‘em?” Did I ever? Maybe before politics got so crazy. Half of ‘em are still mad because of how I voted in 2020. Or what I said about voting in 2024. Now none of that matters!
“Do Zheien vote?”
Ir laughed. “Zheien agree on everything! They don’t need to vote. They have councils like we had in Jujujean, 9 people who have councils of 9, so everyone who lived with us had a council member to speak with if they had a concern. It’s not like Biehshah where we feared to disagree with anything.
“Der and I talked about a lot of things while we sat on ships, trying to help people with their problems. We couldn’t help ourselves. But, we helped other people find points of agreement. Ironic, isn’t it, Kia?” He shook his head.
But Der laughed. “Friendship saved our sanity! Whenever we got upset, we found a friend to talk to, and that helps a lot. Elshars plot to kill their leaders and take over. We just grumble about our rules and lives and really don’t do anything about them. Your colony idea is giving people hope, Ir. We don’t have to complain in private. Each of us will have a voice, just as we did in Jujujean Rainbow. I will stay here and convince people to join the Alliance and the Unified.”
Ir got an expression of pure horror! “You must come with us! I name you Council Minister Of Biehshah Ye~!”
“Dear friend, we must have diplomats to establish our trade!”
“Surely one of your clones might choose—”
Der looked down. “All of them wish to work in Alb. Three are going back to Leheren to work for changes.”
My husband hugged Der and wailed!
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“Dear friend, please do not get upset with me. I will miss you.” Der hugged him and moaned.
Eanne~ came running! “What is wrong?”
“Der is staying on Earth! He will die unless many of us stay, too!”
He hugged all three of us! “Friends, you had injuries on many missions. None of us can stay. Cevit Ion gave a speech at 3 this afternoon stating this. Der, you had many more than 2 injuries—”
“I am able to do this for my friends! Our colony needs trade!” He shook all over.
Eanne~ picked him up and sat on the floor holding him. Hummed. Slowly, Der calmed down. “Listen to me, my friend. I have many diplomats who will stay, and Theaspaura has many more, and Herda sends many from MarKu. All of them can speak for Ye~, and for Biehshah Ye~. We shall negotiate many treaties together.
“Ir is wise to give you a position. All of your colonists may have positions on Ye~ that ne require travel. Friends, you suffered enough! As citizens Yeff you are mine and I will ne send you, any of you!”
Lisen came running. “But, I must trade, and travel is part of it, my liege!” He hastily bowed.
“My son, sit by me. You may trade, but only as your healer wishes. He stays by you.”
Tanamar nodded as he sat by them. “I can travel with you to worlds in Alb. Short trips are good for you, in small markets.”
“I have many traders who enjoy trading artworks and wish to learn plants trade and foods. You are very well with these and they can learn from you.” Eanne~ stroked the back of his blond curls.
“They will have harm from my telepathy.” He sighed.
“My son, your telepathy is about the strength of a Zheien. We can ask Pas, but I think he will say you and they are safe. I learned fine control over my telepathy in Deesamor centuries ago when it was new, and I can help you if it strays.” The healer smiled.
Then Lisen smiled. “If I won’t hurt them, it would be nice to tutor people again. I did that when I was young.” He sighed. Biehshah don’t do that except when reciting dramatic poetry.
A slight frown on Eanne~‘s face told me he noticed. “All the Alb Council discussed long, and I agreed, we must change how we work. During this long War, we learned to use all of our strength in every task. Now, we decided to be wise and tell all of our people, we must learn ne to injure ourselves in overwork. It is well to work hard, but ne to forget to rest and enjoy our families.
“You are married now, Lisen. Remember to enjoy time with your wife. Make time to sit and discuss these things that attract us to one another. You have memories of Rainbow, but you must make the memories of now.” His golden eyes filled.
Lisen blinked his blue eyes. Biehshah don’t really need to blink, they just copy whomever they’re talking to. That wasn’t what Eanne~ was doing, and Tanamar frowned slightly. “Should I learn more poetry? What pleases an Earthan?”
Eanne~ smiled. “You will need to ask her what pleases her, and tell her what pleases you. In this way, you can find the things that please both. My wife Pa’isha enjoys dancing in festivals, but she tires quickly, then we walk among displays of artisans. After this, she will watch demonstrations of Thordes trade while I will learn a new language. We leave the festival with much to discuss in this way. Other couples choose differently. My new sae, Adia, stayed near my bae the entire time of their wedding festival but they only had 2 hours before coming here. Like you, they are learning one another.”
“How long does it take to learn? I never married, I only worked.” With a voiced sigh, Lisen rubbed his ear. That’s not a Biehshah gesture.
“I am still learning about my Pai. We change over time and must learn the changes. And, is impossible, I think, to learn all of another person.”
That’s true. I liked what he said, but I kept getting distracted.
One of the marriages now taking place was Laura Martin and J~oie. All the Yeff gathered around. I saw a lot of them when I sang group healings, but with older faces. They all looked so young and round-faced, even King Ryonne~ and Adia.
Eanne~ excused himself and ran over there. His wife and kids greeted him with hugs. Nine kids, along with J~oie and Ryonne~ to make 11. I didn’t see all of them in Rainbow! But we never went to Ye~.
Five girls younger than me got married, one at a time. Molly helped them, and she’s little!
Across the ship, I saw more and more Earthans coming in, feeling that awe of standing on a spaceship, gawking like tourists. Did I do that? The sun got lower and shadows, longer. My legs and my back ached from all the dancing, but it was too much fun and worth it.
Then a red-haired girl came in with jeans torn at the knees. Molly ran over to meet her. Something about her bothered me. All these Earthans, and she was the only one I just felt was out of place somehow. The feeling grew that something isn’t right.