I felt tense as we boarded Nitomahan's ship. Our 20 Earthans and about 400 Esta Fahoans sat in the floor with nervous looks. A beautiful, sunny day for travel. If I could enjoy it.

Via came to the opening briefly. "My bae and sae, be well! I am happy to know you. Galarsmen, if you need help, call on me. Porting is easy." He smiled. There were less lines on the old healer's face these days.

I reminded myself, Farley had a good night. He looks good—maybe a bit pale. All of the Zheien were looking a bit pale. I held his hand and smiled. We're married, we love each other, life is good! We don't know this future, but we know that we had a happy life. Just a little longer and we'll be like an old married couple.

Tis stood at the bulge in the smooth console that marked the navs. Watched Nitomahan as he stood in the middle. "My bae and sae, I will speak longer when we arrive in our city. Tismaran, please, pilot us."

He waved for the ship to close up and people paled more. "Sir, I am Tis. My name is short, but it's not a shortname."

Our king oranged. "I am sorry. Names—are difficult at times." He sat down and Galarsmen looked worried. His red-gold eyes filled.

"Galar, your measures saved us. Nae—"

"Mican trained me to ignore Via, Master Healer Of All Ishah! And, I did."

"You learned well of him and healers of Leiea."

"Mican nearly had my herbs! I heard his loud thought that he had a prog to port them to his ship, and my databases with notes of their use I had from many healers of Leiea! I thought to attack him—then I was on my ship. Did he get them? All appear to be in my chamber, but how can I be sure?" He trembled.

Farley showed him that memory that I pulled out of someplace, and he watched it in awe. "You can access the Diplomatic Link?" I felt Galarsmen hiding our convo.

Farley gasped. "Dear wife, such a talent! I thought nae but our emperor did such!"

"That's where it came from?"

"The memory is from Tanorsen, of our council. He represented those who worked in our weapons facility, and Science Council. He had injury as diplomat and became leader of Science Council. O, he shall be missed!"

Galarsmen looked sad. "Pirad tried to revive him, but he is damaged by Eriganh, and one of Earth must find time to revive him. Many asked of Ray, and she is yet on Earth with her husband, Asha, Trade Minister Of Elshar Zheiea. When she comes, perhaps she can."

"By Eriganh!" Farley paled to light yellow! "When did he see him?"

"I nae know! Surely, on D'gharr, but how did he escape? From what we are told, Eriganh stayed in his Fortress he built there. They study it now, to see what secrets he had. I think it unwise." Galarsmen trembled. "Pirad thinks Tanorsen went there, for he was clever with all manner of ways doors are hidden in buildings. He studied with many of the Weapons Council."

Farley trembled.

But, clicking stopped and the hull slid open. Tis smiled. "We're here!"

Nitomahan got up and smiled. "Ah, our air smells of home. This part of Elshar Zheiea was planted with many flowers of Calladia, that would grow in our gardens. Each prov has his scent, from his choices of flowers. Even in our home, we had a little of this, but smell that fragrance!" He took in a deep breath, not like I would sniff.

It did smell heavenly, and I recognized the floral component. Esta Faho always had metallic smells that made me not want to breathe deeply. Especially knowing that gentle breeze had things in it to damage my heart! I mostly stayed indoors, at Farley's insistence! When I wasn't sitting by him in Konomai's Chambers.

They were the deep blue hall of this huge yellow building. Galarsmen had yellow borders on his robes, kind of a greenish-yellow but like some plants on Earth. A bright, but not neon, color.

Healers put all of us who had Konomai as their healer on one bed, as they did in Rainbow.

Galarsmen stood in the middle of the huge building. Each of his nine healers had a bed in the greenish-yellow. Other healers had colors of their ennead leader's color. There were nine enneads. So there were 81 beds. Farley counted 'em for me. All 400 people fit on 81 beds. They made some bigger if the families were larger. Not many couples had more than 2 kids and most had one. Older people seemed to have more brothers and sisters.

"Friends, we had nae severe unwells in this past week. I think we nae must keep you long." Suddenly, one of his arms dropped.

A healer jumped up and eased him to the bed. Laid him flat.

Pas—this one that is our family's healer—jumped from sitting and landed sitting by him! "Ne try to heal him. Speak softly. Galarsmen, I am with you."

"What—noise--where we go?"

"We are in your chambers. Feel this softness?" He gently brushed the fingers of his right hand on the covers.

"I need nesfa! O, you gave umar seg. Had we—slaversss? Nnn." Breath hissed out of him. His eyes didn't close. Red-gold eyes like Konomai has, and Pas.

Pas motioned to the members of his ennead, who sat watching. He put his hands on Galarsmen's head. Waited.

Galarsmen's body went limp and he led healing. This wasn't frantic, loud singing like in emergencies in Rainbow. Everyone sang softly, as if their voices were tiptoeing through his points.

While they did this, Pas had me open my prog screen. Gave fast directions for herbs, check progs, suspended some of his herbs for others. I could barely follow, but Farley recovered and helped me. Work helps him. Some people cried, but there were plenty of healers. More came to help the Esta Fahoan healers, who were weeping.

More of them perked up after a while and sang comfort to people, or carried a few out to bathe.

Outside, there had been a festival. Nitomahan got up quietly and went out there. "Friends, continue our festival. I dedicate this day to our friend Galar, who is—unwell." He sobbed, then got his composure. "Pas helps Esamie with him, and those who wish him well, please go to our temple and pray for him! I go there now. Tom? Where is my bae?"

He ran to him, with Becky. "O, I am sorry! Becky wished to see a ternimpan, and I wished nae to frighten him with our leaving. He came with us?"

A tiny animal like a furry lizard climbed down from his diplomat's sash on Nitomahan's arm and he froze.

"Fa, I showed him you. I think he is curious. Rest your arm and he climbs."

He slowly lowered it and the animal did climb up, all the way to his shoulder. Then, he chirped!

Tom guided his hand to the lizard's head, and he rubbed against it like a cat! Chirped louder! "Fa, I do believe you charmed a ternimpan!"

"Let us take him to Galar. He has interest, eae?" Slowly, the three of them went to his bed where Pas and his ennead still sang. When Nitomahan reached for Galar's shoulder, the creature went down it and stayed on Galar's shoulder. Rubbed against his face.

Galar chuckled. "O. Soft."

Pas looked very surprised that he talked, and stroked his head. "Our healing helped you much, Galar, my friend. Sleep. Is safe."

I saw something and poked an icon to run one more check, on his prog. Pas had his screen open making adjustments.

Galar shivered. "Pah~!"

Pas startled and held his head down! "Rest, Galar, you lie in healing. Esamie, talk to him!"

Esamie laid on the part of the bed behind his head and laid his hands very gently on his red curls. They were very orange, like Allison's, on both men. "Rest, Ba. You are unwell, but regen comes, to heal you."

"Ba." His eyes turned very light.

"I will stay."