J~oie, he’s First Prince, he came in. “Friends, will all of you come to Ryee? He will ne rest until he knows all of you are safe!”

We all got up. Deb and Greg followed first.

Irdatkin kept his arms around Kia, who needed the support.

Suma and Neal went, and Jarfus, and Mike and Mica.

Ray and Asha came, too. Asha was pale, not his sunny yellow.

We went in Ryee and Adia’s room. Their two sets of clones stayed outside to fend off visitors. Still a crowd on the ship.

On the red-violet bed, Ryee and Adia shared a leiwege, and on Ryee’s other side, he kept an arm around Ry’nao. Laura and Ket sat at the head of the bed behind them, ready to sing healing. Laura’s apprehension made me a bit nervous. She felt like we were too much.

The way Ryee shook, I think we were.

I got up there first. “’Ao, how’s it going?”

He chuckled. “I am happy that my brother can take care of things. My wife is waiting—where, Molly?”

“On, Ye~. Your room will be where it always—”

“No. Cev has it now. No, my brother. Which is it?” His eyes teared up but it wasn’t Tessite crystals, just wet tears.

“Don’t worry. Peshana will be waiting.” I wiped his face with a white cloth. It steamed, because he’s too cold.

Then, looked at Kia. “Kia. Because of you, I am alive. Come.” His hand didn’t move.

J~oie lifted her up, and she took his hand. His telepathy strayed.

“Thank you for saving me. My men. You healed so many of my—diplomats. Ryee. Is Ryee all right?”

Ket put Ryee’s limp fingers in his.

“O, I am well enough. Liege.” His voice had that high-pitched tone I got used to in Rainbow. Made me sad!

“Liege? No. Just ‘Ao now. I’m retired, as Laura would say.”

“A well-deserved retirement! Rest up, and soon we’ll have to tie the dornas to keep you off!” Laura giggled. Her auburn hair was sweaty.

He chuckled.

“Ir, are you all right?”

He smiled, big. “I married Kia! Der and many of my friends stay with me. We will go to Ye~ together!”

“Are you all right—Ket!”

“’Ao, I can’t look at her. Pirad has to—”

“I will see her.” He put a hand on her forehead. “She is healthy. I put Ty’nirrhan, Chor and Dosilian in her.” He stayed nearby. His body’s not clicking as usual.

Ry’nao smiled.

Then looked at Suma. “Are you all right, my dear? Ni.”

They took his hands. He startled and looked at Neal’s tri-fingered hand.

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“Oh, Doug and I are fully Ishah now. We were always half Elshar, but now we are healthier. I think I’ll be Zheien next!”

That got a smile.

He looked at Deb. “Are you and Greg all right? You fought so hard, all of you!”

Greg held his hand. “Oh, I should bow. I don’t know which rhythm—”

“My son, you are different. Don’t worry about rules. I’m retired. Don’t have any. I like Zheien customs. I moved my house to Ye~. Yeff are my favorite people. Couldn’t have a favorite, as Emperor. Now, I can think as I please.”

He still watched Deb. She smiled. “I think we will all enjoy living on Ye~. We found Greg, Briahh and Sika’s parents in Bremen Ye~!”

“Oh, I’m glad! Are they good people?”

Greg smiled, big. “They are kind. I remember them, ‘Ao. Father taught me to—names of flowers. And Be~a. I wanted one to fly me around, but Father was afraid I’d get hurt. So he put me in a flower and swung on it so it was like flying, to a boy. Once, he lost his grip and off I went! Into the next flower! Father climbed up and cried, because he expected that I was hurt! I laughed, and he carried me down. Mother cried until she saw I wasn’t bruised. We will visit, and I must remember not to use shortened words.”

“I am happy for you, Greg. You suffered so, when you couldn’t remember.”

They moved so he could speak to Ray. “I was so surprised when you defeated Satauuver! Did I ask you if you were hurt?”

“I did not get hurt. Asha was worried, and healers saw him. Everyone is glad that Aryllans love to trade flowers! All the worlds of Alb have new foods that are safe, and new flowers and plants! This is for you.” She gave him a shriveled plant in a tiny pot that floated. Her black hair had yellow sparkles in it.

Helped him lift his hand to it and a finger stroked it. “Oh, a pin dat shea? Thank you, Ray! I wanted one for years.”

“This one knows you should not share memories yet. She will listen. We gave her lots of love, and Bess picked her out for you. She was on Earth, hidden in a magnolia seed.”

“In a magnolia? I did not know Earth had pin dat shea.”

“I think Pirad did it.” Ray shrugged.

“Llsam had one and went to Earth, but he died there.

“Now we know this pin dat shea heard Bess and woke up, and taught her plants to grow big. Plant her in your garden, and all of your plants will also grow big. Bess has others to help her, because there are many on Aryll and Abyll.” Bess married the 1st prince of Aryll. Wish I’d met them!

Ry’nao smiled. “Imagine that! I miss Llsam. Maybe this baby stored his memories, Pirad. Asha—” His eyes closed.

Asha took his hand and stroked it. “O, he is weary. Perhaps we should-” He started to let go.

“Cev! I can’t last!” He looked up and Asha stroked the hand that clinched his. “Oh, sorry. Dreams.” Tears jumped in my eyes, to see him in this shape! Not even in Rainbow--

Cevit Ion ran in and took his other hand over Ryee. “Are you well, ‘Ao?”

“I’m not well. I mistook Asha’s hand—” He sobbed.

“Should I take you to your chamber?”

“My ship. I want to go home!”

Ket got up. “We can use a white portal and arrive in an hour.”

“Dear friend, will travel so soon frighten him?” Cev had black eyes.

“No. I think he’ll rest better knowing he’s leaving.”

Ryee watched them port with tears in his golden eyes.

“Wanna go with ‘em?” I stroked his dark curls.

“I wish to go home—o, friends. Let us speak first. Ea. Ba, ne let me forget—”

“Ryee, you asked for these friends, but Ry’nao wished to speak first.”

“Ay! Are you well? I can ne—”

“Love, I am beside you. Feel you my hand?”

He pulled, then startled. Felt it. Five fingers. Not the Zheien twin fingers or the deep orange skin I got used to seeing! “O, were you unwell, Love, to wake so?”

She sighed. “I have fewer pains. Pirad made me Elshar, if you can bear—”

“Love, your hands are well for me. You sound as if is a trial, to hold your gentle hand. She is cool on me.” He held it against his face and closed his eyes. “O, ne sleep. Jo.”