Fa and Mea waited. My parents were out in the festival already, looking at diff professions. There wasn’t anything like real estate or marketing, so they were pretty upset.

Most of my friends were napping. Returned slaves sleep a lot. I felt guilty to just walk into a festival, but my family needs me, too. I put my hand on Ben’s arm.

Just as we walked off the ship and Eap ran to us with Kerjie in tow, Theas raised his arms and everything stopped. “Everyone, we enjoyed hosting you all this hour. Now, your ships will take you home! Rest well!” He saw me and bowed low. “O, Queen Molly, I am most sorry that you missed! Will you stay longer with us, and port later?”

I felt Ben’s eagerness to try no-pain porting! We agreed. I’m not that tired. In all the years I governed Rainbow, I never went to a festival on this side of the brook. We always had a shipful of slaves to heal, or Ben was sick, after Ceaceadis.

Fa carried Neasem, and Mea carried Keeas! Ben gave me a table he carved for Keeas that had him carved on the top, looking at the sky. When we met, he was grieving him. Neasem died just after we met, after Esteerr.

Ben took Keeas and wept.

“O, Ba, nae this sorrow! I am almost finished with my nesfa.”

I tried to hum and didn’t have anything left!

Fa startled and did it for me. Poor Keeas couldn’t stay awake. Sweat-powder dripped yellow clouds off his blond curls. He and Ben looked very alike in the face and the wide shoulders, but he has dark curls and bright blue eyes.

Neasem couldn’t hold on to his telepathic trick, either, and his dark curls did the same. He has brown eyes and a smaller frame.

Their healers startled and ran for us!

Fa sighed, and it rumbled. “O, I hoped they could enjoy just a small part of this!” His mind indicated a group of young men being juggled, friends and cousins their ages. Keeas is only 14 and Neasem’s 18, and they are both diplomats-in-aid. These folks are on respite from Sigan Mas, that big space school. Their giggles made everyone smile.

But, I felt something and waved for containments to yank them all down! Where they’d been was an explosion! Healers came from all over to go to them! Limp bodies floated to them.

People ported underground! We landed on Goes’ ship and he and his bae gave calcs! Clicking snapped under us and we all fell, glued to the gel-like floor!

“Wh-what happened, Goe?” Penny shook all over as clicking stopped.

“I nae know! Molly?” He’s asking me? Sweat glistened on his skin!

That explosion would’ve rained bodies on us! “I’m glad your bae slept through that!” I hugged Ben and cried. Some brave Queen!

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

We all had frightened faces. Mom rushed over. “I thought you said—” Her abuse progs snapped on, and she seemed to vanish!

Ben hugged me tighter. “She is frightened, Molly. We are all frightened.” I felt sweat on him and got scared!

Goes hugged us all, and what his arms couldn’t reach, his mind did. “Friends, we are safe. Soldiers come to escort us into Rainbow. As we planned, all of us stay here for a short time. Healers bring pleasant riding animals for us. Rest. Some of you are unhappy you can nae go to your homes, but we had fright, and fright is harm. I ask your patience. We learn from Esta Faho.” What’s Esta Faho? Ben showed me it’s a city on Elshar Zheiea with the worst health of the yellow Zheien. He has friends there, but they told him not to visit. Whoa.

“King Challet brought all of his Elshar Zheien together when they landed, into festivals in every prov. All were happy, but when they gathered in their homes, they had fear, and progs warned healers to go to all of them.

“Healers decided all must dwell in Rainbow for a time, that all Zheien could acclimate to these changes. Changes are greatest for our worlds that are new, much like a colony start. But MarKu is changed, for his sky differs then what we remember, and his gravity is less, to spare us unwell in these changes. Others of our worlds differ nae in gravity, but there is yet this sky so filled with stars.

“Is beauty, but we are Zheien, and expect our homes nae to change. When MarKu’s colony ships arrived from Zhea~, we tried to duplicate all conditions. Our scientists tried very hard. We moved star systems for mining and farming worlds, and most assumed orbits close to those of near stars. Nae scientist can duplicate such a largespace exactly. Even Pirad can nae, and he has greater tech than Zhea~, or even S’ai.

“Our sky differs, and in every colony start, healers felt it too much for our leaders to bear, to reveal how many died in the shock of these different skies. Only now, in this move to Alb, did Ahstam reveal it to Queen Alice. Because of this knowledge, we take extra precautions.

“Friends, please forgive us this delay in your plans, those of you with Zheien husbands or dear friends. We need your comfort, o, we need it! Can you abide? Tell me now, and our Alb Council hears.”

Tears dripped in great yellow clouds from his cheeks! I expected an angry mob of Earthans to yell at him, but no one’s abuse progs went off. Mom’s won’t let her say anything, thank goodness!

Uncle Tom stood up. “Prince Goes, we know Zheien have needs that Earthans do not. I will be happy to take my family to Rainbow first. Our house will still be there.” He and Aunt Meg and Brian all smiled at him. Jog Sa was in Meg’s lap, and his parents sat between her and Brian.

A lot of Earthans nodded in agreement.

I didn’t see my parents, but people who did saw my father holding her, and she was quiet. Meg looked relieved. They’ll be going to their house in the Earthan Colony, on the Beltline by the skating rink.

There were 164 Earthans, and only 29 didn’t have a reason to stay in Rainbow. They had people from off the ship to escort them home, and most of ‘em didn’t wait for the riding animals. Some needed houses and Mark eagerly did that for ‘em.

I was scared, but Goe let me see that he had soldiers who would hide in the Earthan Colony to watch for trouble. One of the Earthans who came to Adia’s was a lady who influenced Aegelis, largest mining colony of a bigger colony, Fazteaer. Because of her, they offered Aegelin soldiers to Alb. These little fellas looked like us but with flattened limbs. They couldn’t even visit MarKu until it had reduced gravity. Now they are watching over Earth MarKu. Many of ‘em are helping the bakers and candy makers, doing demonstrations, and keeping the festivals going in a lot of provs here! That’s just one of the many species coming to Alb to help out while the Zheien adjust to new homes.

How can I sleep, Goe? What if they’re just waiting for me to sleep so they can attack us?

Goe hummed, and I felt peaceful. We will watch, Molly. You must have this rest. Many friends came to help in this.