I smiled. “Then, I won’t worry. Show me Elshar Zheiea.”

Healers, mostly Ishah, walked stumbling people around, and some had a crowd of people walking with ‘em. Others cowered as passerby went past with worried looks. So, anyone who wants visitors has ‘em. Most of them looked happy. Healers sat in marshes bathing folks. Others sat in yellow sand nearby doing simple activities with their healers. Flowers grew everywhere! I saw many kinds Fhiah had, and some Earth varieties already! A holo of Trader Eng came up. “My liege, I am happy to serve you!” He got up and bowed.

I returned it. “You are looking well, Eng! How is your trading?”

He laughed. “My trading is well, thank you! Mostly, I trade for slaves for your healers. Today we had six large ships here in Ferrimos! As they come, we port healers to the ships, and port ones who are not fearful to the colony of their choice. Those who are remain on their ship, and the majority on that ship determines which world they land. We seem to have the most landings of all your colonies, and our friends return to us!” His red-gold eyes twinkled.

I reached through the holo and petted his silver curls in back. “Oh, it’s good—it is, pardons, to see Elshar Zheiea! I know all of you are glad not to have to live in stone cubes!” I looked behind him at all of the little seven-sided homes, each in the family’s color. Ferrimos itself had a circle of seven colored buildings, each a solid color with colorful inlaid murals of traders and diplomats, and artisans.

But his healer came in and ushered him off to Rainbow.

The Beltline marked the Earthan Colony. To the right was Rahn Estar Prov, which had 5 cities. Rahn Estar, Elshar Zheiea’s oldest colony along with Calladia, was the largest, and the capital. Their colony is 200 years old and their mines are automated on their moon.

People in Rahn Estar and Esta Faho are sickest because of the mine poisons where they came from. The five moons around Elshar Zheiea are the old mining and farming worlds that they brought with ‘em. People moved into cities because there’s only 400 or less from each world. Rahn Estar still has a shipbuilding facility and weapons factory, but workers go home every night to another world of Alb.

Ferrimos borders Earth Elshar Zheiea on the west side. Other places—but those 5 cities made me feel cold.

That Elshar guard who tried to attack me lives in Elshar Zheiea, in Marenalay. There’s Elshar Marenalay and Zheien Marenalay. His house is in the former. He apologized, and I made him Governor Of Elshar over my Elshar colonies there. I figured I’d test his loyalty by monitoring him on the trip up there, and he learned how to be a healer helper. Most Elshar guards act extra tough if they’re really kind-hearted, so they can pretend to be cruel and really do healing. Other slaves clued me in with their leaky telepathy. “Asha, how are you today?”

He bowed low. “Queen Molly, I visited all the councils and sent holos to others. Most are KhaZha. I organized traders. Artisans are happy to let traders do that for them and I didn’t make them trade. Should I?”

“No, I’m happy to let Elshars do whatever work they like. If someone hates trading, they can choose to do something else and have a tutor to help them find it.”

“They can? I will change how I do things, immediately!” His eyes stayed dark. One hand pulled at his dark curls. Scars like a road map.

“Asha, did you see a healer? After I healed you?” Did I heal him?

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“I—was afraid.”

I sent Siasch’s healer clone to him, the one who stays with Ashapat. Most of my Elshars lived on Elshar Zheiea, because it looks like a pleasant Elshar Mashai. “Let Siasch look at you, will you?”

“Esta ay! It is one of your rules, Master.”

“You’re doing a great job, Asha! I’m pleased with your work. You visit my colonies and you didn’t make people trade. I like what you did. You don’t have to be scared, my friend.”

A tear got on his cheek and he swatted it.

Siasch came running. “Hae, Asha! Do you need healing? Molly worries.” He flashed me a smile.

Asha nodded, then shook his head for an Elshar yes. “Heal me quick! I have to tell Molly a lot of things. Every time I walk in the colony, progs run to prevent violence. How should I punish them, to discourage this?”

I smiled. “There’s no need to punish anybody! As long as the progs keep anyone from getting hurt or yelled at, that’s all we need. People will learn not to do these things.”

“Some of them are leaving! I can’t stand it! They didn’t learn yet!” He started to pull curls out and progs stopped him.

“Asha, they don’t have to learn anything. If they want to learn, fine. But, if they don’t like my colony, they can go where they want and live how they want.”

“But, you’re the master! We have to obey you!” He sobbed. Siasch held him.

“Asha, I’m only the master until they don’t need a master any more. If they’re able to ask for their freedom, I give it to them. Then they’re not slaves.”

He trembled harder. “People can just ask for freedom, and you give it to them?”

“Esta ay! Do you want to be free? I’ll keep paying you to work for me.”

“Esta.” A whisper.

“Then, Asha, my friend, you are free.” I waved, and his Alliance record already had his freed date as of last night.

He stared at it. “You freed me and I forgot it? Habis ha!”

“Asha, I’m not mad. Siasch, show him our reminder prog. A lot of my Rainbows have memory problems, but you can use these to help you, and if you need one written for you, just ask. I know it’s upsetting to forget things, but you can have healing anytime you want.”

“Even during an important meeting with you? Habis ha!”

“Even during meetings. I don’t mind. I like it when my people have what they need.”

“Even leaders?”

“Especially my leaders! Who can tell me what my people need better than you? That’s why I asked you to lead my Elshars, Asha, because you care about my Rainbows.”

He stopped crying and let Siasch heal him. Fell asleep. “Thanks, Molly. I’ve been trying to heal him but he says you did. His record shows his last healing was a slaver healer trying to get secrets out of him. Taredias found it.”

“Please thank Taredias for me! Asha was a diplomat?”

“He was Elshar Mashai’s Planetary Diplomat for a short time, but an enemy brought Ih Esta. You know what they do.”

I shuddered. “Take good care of him, Siasch. Are Verach and Pata Fie around?”

“Oh, yes, and their clones are in every one of your colonies! I’ll bring them when he wakes.”

I felt something. Ella, a new programmer, is furiously writing progs to remove poisons from Esta Fahoans’ bodies. Poisons that aren’t from our tech level! And someone creepy is watching her! Becky’s touring Rahn Estar and an artisan leader’s turning in a slaver in the last provs of Elshar Mashai. They’ll bring ‘em to Elshar Zheiea! I thought about porting there, but Millie, another of my cloned sisters, is there. She’s planning a visit now.

But I saw something else on Adia’s Ship.