Home Is...Series Vol.12 Home Is Not Ye~

12th Volume in Home Is Series.

Dovetails with Rainbow Stories, 2nd volume in Rainbow Series.

Zhea~ Year 7829

After a year of slavery, the Yeff join all of Zhea~ in hiding after King Lyyyrah's rescue. When will they be safe? They hide on a world of Sghan Mas that simulates home.

ASIN: B002JCSIOW File Size: 370 KB (Kindle Edition - July 27, 2009)

Home Is Not Ye~: Home Is v.12 Kindle Edition

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

‘Ao nodded, but did ne smile. Ryee stood, and put an arm about his friend. “Ket, Cev will need all our reports. W~Via, you never reported, did you?”

My son trembled. “Ne. What happens, when one reports?”

Gently, our friend’s fourfingered hand gave comfort to the back of our son’s dark curls. “See my memories.”

I heard echoes of many reports, and from Ket also. My husband took many, when he saw DS personnel on missions! W~Via nodded. “Perhaps I fear needlessly.”

‘Ao laughed. “My son, you can see how I tremble! All of us fear when reports are difficult, when missions fail. Ne fear Cev. I think we all shall need healers near. I bring Ahstam. Cev lands now.”

Ahstam and Pas walked to us, and Ahstam made our Pas sit by Father. The yellow ship came from a spot in our sunset lavender and pink sky, to large as Ryee’s twoperson green ship, in an eyeblink. It set arm’s length from us, and Cevit Ion sprang through the hull. He embraced ‘Ao. “Nae think to bow! I—“ Then, the Emperor saw us.

Cevit Ion saw me and bowed low in his gray vest with more pins than Ry’nao! My son also bowed in the Old Forms, which pleased all of our family. Father and Mother then gave theirs, and I grieved that Father wavered.

“Are you unwell, Ean? Ejis! Ket, make ‘Ao comfortable, please. Ean, sit with—“

“Cev, take Ean’s report first, if you will.” ‘Ao sat with Ket holding him. He cried, and his tears made white crystals on the purple sands.

Cevit Ion held large Father on his lap, his silver-curled head in large hands, and stared into them with black eyes. The Emperor appeared barely middle age, if that, with straight, light hair and ne wrinkles in his round face! He is 51, ne even middle. But, his yellow skin paled to white.

Father cried as his mind opened:

Mehnopt ported to our ship in King Dai’nos’ death, and I had shock that a Gowan breached our security so! He gave my younger Exorbar that poisoned my eldest as he leaned over him to offer healing, and ported both to Gowa. I feared the effect of porting on them, without other harms! Laura went also.

A portal opened for my poor daughter, Adia, and our brave healer Geor~geh pulled his wife, Deci to it also! Their daughter cried, and Ahstam took her into his arms. Made her to sleep.

W~Via tried to attack him, and a containment held him in stasis. “You think I don’t know about the Council? You can’t do much in stasis, can you?” Then, he turned to me. “Eanne~, I want your kingdom. Sign this.” The document had impossible provisions.

‘Ao came near. Mehnopt waved, and he frowned. Quickly, ‘Ao attacked him with his mind, but suddenly sat on the floor, staring.

All of us attacked Mehnopt, but felt the same emptiness of mind. I woke signing the document, but altered my sig. He ne noticed. Greg and Be~saech pretended unwell, but worked.

Greg held his hand under my nose, and I woke. He appeared very weary. “Ean, are you harmed? Be~saech ported Mehnopt.”

“Ported him? To Ih Esta?” I shuddered.

Greg put me in the arms of my Pai. Looked down.

Be~saech held Greg’s head and stroked the blonde hair straight. “Ne fear me. What did you?” His yellow eyes widened dreadfully.

Our friend cried. “I was angry. When you ported him, I altered it. I gave him Exorbar, and set course for intergalactic space! By now, he is dead.”

I held my friend in my arms and wept. Ea, he will suffer that he caused death, but we rest well tonight knowing the evil one returns ne more.

Father cried loudly, then his mind opened again:

I felt great dread as we left Zhea~. Then, near Na Tes, we had capture by slavers.

We walked into a large chamber. One of them, a very large man, pulled Ryee from us. Others directed us into a standing circle about him. Ryee trembled badly. “I want total obedience from your people, Ryonne~. Tell them to obey us.”

Ryee looked from one frightened face to another among us, orange eyes past wide. “My house, we must obey or be harmed. Please do all that is asked of you without question. For your well depends on it.”

The man took Ryee’s right arm roughly. “If you do not obey, Ryonne~ will take your punishment. See how he shakes before he even performs the work!” He held Ryee’s quivering hand out to us. “I think he will not survive our life long. But, he survives more days if you obey. Your first task is to learn mine work here. See the white rock; it disables all devices. We use heavy tools to crack it out of the colored deposits. I don’t want you to worry about names for these minerals. Those of you who know them, don’t teach the others. Any conversation will bring punishment to your friend.”

He made Ryee to walk to the wall, find, and mark cutting lines with a blunt, pointed stick. Then my bae had to take a heavy metal bladed tool and hammer to gouge the white from the gray. It cracked and fell at his bare feet as fist-sized rocks; he had to dodge these blows as he worked. Every sound echoed in the large chamber. The next task was to take a heavy metal tray, load it with rocks, and dump it into a large sled. Various trays held steadily finer grades of rock, put into differing sleds. Another blade helped him to scrape the finer gravel into other trays. Fine dust he scraped into small trays until the cavity squared off into an empty space. It took my bae a Standard hour at least to empty a cube the dimensions of his lower arm! O, I wept! Laura spoke, and the man struck him. We worked very hard. M’Naga took me and rested me beside Ryee, at the sorting. My bae tried to touch me with his mind, and I felt pain from him. Gently, I helped him even his sortings by touching his stiff hand, his very cold hand. Healing I gave to him helped ne, this first day of slavery. I sorted, and W’Vie brought Cara to me. I ne expected a child of 2 to attend, but I taught her to sort, and she sat by Ryee, and increased his sortings. Min also learned, and helped him that his exceeded mine, after injury. The guard came near, saw his work, and I felt his surprise. He said nothing and walked past. But, he chastised another group near us that their sortings were ne as neat or as much. I felt sad. They had several Elshar children who scattered their sortings. Cara went to them and taught them, as I taught her, and they avoided punishment this day.

The cruel guard made Ryee show him our learning, and Doug had unwell. Because he spoke, again he struck my bae, my innocent bae, before we were allowed rest. All of us slept as near him as possible, to try to warm him. Since I am large, I laid under him, and held Adia next him, in my arms. His head rested against my shoulder, and I feared to disturb his rest, so I struggled ne to cry. Inside, I wept, for my dear ones, in this misery!

Beside me, I looked, and ‘Ao put a hand on Ryee’s head, over my shoulder. His mind touched, and Ryee warmed slightly. I feared for our Emperor, for his red skin had ne color. Guards seemed ne to notice him. He touched all of us, and for a short time, we had well rest. I know he found a healer in his links for us. I felt his touch of healing many times before their probing injured him too much. Most of the guards lacked telepathy, but a few were Elshar, and they used these to probe Ry’nao. I expected all of us to bear this harm, but only Ry’nao had it.

In the second mine, on Bisillipia, we worked to earn freedom, and my bae was released. We sent Laura to find him. Many others of us earned freedom, but I had injury, and remember little. It seems I woke in pain and stood in an apartment where Ryee lay sleeping on a sofa. I could ne help him. But, the man who showed us kindness, Kasuta, a Waf, found others absent from his apartment. As he searched it and I heard his memories of it, we were in the building of Diplomatic Service! I rose and thought to find Berto, or one of the other Assignment Specialists, but could ne use my telepathy enough to touch his mind. Something blocked all of us! Guards came and took us back to the mine, and all were very unwell. W~Via lay where he fell 3 days previous, but Laura’s healing helped him. That night, they took us to another ship.

The third mine belonged to Ilios, and I suspected we went to the other mines to weaken us for his probing! He discovered M’Naga’s group mind link we held and gave us heren, to train us. I woke oft on my feet working, and looked for Ryee, and he was sorting with the women and children. Ry’nao suffered much from Ilios’ probing.

I spoke with Belle, because Laura’s memories were confused, as were many of us, after injury. She had ne severe injury, and lost ne memories. She cared for Geor~geh, who had probing many times for New Healing knowledge:

I gave George and Huih yllis. Several corruptions of yllis in the herb terminal, but I knew enough to give the right one. They didn’t have much to regen with. As they laid there and shook, I stroked their heads and whispered comforts.

Slowly, I was able to get the men up and moving. Cara happily walked beside us. But, when the guard checked and found us on our feet, he led us to a new area, with rainbow-colored rocks. Lots of people carried rock, kind of like other mines. I led my friends to the dust and helped them sort, but I carefully arranged their tunics so bare skin wasn’t exposed. Every time Cara tried to get up, I pulled at her tunic to keep her on mine. We sorted. Min and W’Vie sat with us.

George and Huh didn’t try to talk.

I saw rocks fall on a lot of our friends, and Laura did miracle healings. She didn’t even try to carry rock. Just went from person to person healing people. Joey tried to get her to rest when we got breaks. She didn’t seem to tire, not when they made us climb in our bins, not when he tried to get her to sit and eat. We got rest breaks and three small meals a day. Some tasteless bread. All the Zheien looked drugged. Starey. Except Joey.

Ry’nao laid in a bin except when Laura took him out for walks. I took George, Huh and Cara for a walk.

One of the guards fed Laura a gel that glowed. “Go heal my slaves. Did she heal you, Emperor?”

He groaned. “Yes.” His red-violet eyes stared.

The guard startled. Put the gel up. “You can’t talk. Don’t try. Ilios thinks your mind is destroyed. Let him.”

Laura stayed put until he left, then she came to life. Sang healing for Ry’nao. “You have to rest, ‘Ao. I’ll heal Ahstam for you. I’ll get Ket.” She led him back. When she brushed white dust off his arm, it was white, too. Should be deep red.

George stumbled, and I needed to get him off his feet, too. We followed them. Laura put him in his bin and got Peshana, his wife to sit in there with him. She was scared.

I put George in the bin above them where we usually got put.

Laura brought Ket, and left. He cried. “’Ao! I haven’t got anything left—“

“Ket. Do not weep.”

“You have to stop! You lost your links, all of them! Stop reaching—“

“Wslarc—“

“W~Via can’t talk to him, ‘Ao. You can’t.”

“Laura healed us, Ket. Listen.”

I heard voices that were the Council we spoke to on Thorde! W~Via begged them for help. They said they couldn’t do anything for us. Laura’s mind can’t keep the contact any longer. I felt discouraged. Everybody on the Council argued. We fell asleep.

The next day, Laura snapped out of it as she healed Be~saech. She talked about Ahstam’s house, and he saw it, too.

I helped George sort. Kept Huih near us. Cara just sat in my lap and leaned on me. So did W’Vie and Min.

A rockslide hurt a lot of our group! George, Huih, and Huh tried to help me dig people out. Laura did marathon healing. None of us could help much with healing or we couldn’t dig.

“J~oie! Wslarc, help us! Jo, you’re so cold!”

Joey wheezed from Be~saech’s arms. “Angel, you hold me ne! Loose T~o; he is beyond any healer’s help now.” T~o, who helped me learn to use my new telepathy. Dad liked him a lot. We all did. I put my grief into digging. Later, I’ll cry.

Martel pulled him out and carried him across to a hall cut into the rock. Laura sobbed. “Oh, Jo. I’m crazy, Jo. Every time I open my eyes, I’m someplace different! I spent the night in Ahstam’s house, and Wslarc opened a portal there.” She raved.

“My angel,” he whispered. “Your mind is well. The food affected you adversely; it leaves you now.”

“What have I been doing? And for how long?”

He hugged her with shaking arms. “Laura, you have healed most of us! I witnessed incredible skill in you. You saved my brother’s life, and that of Be~saech.”

“Then, why didn’t I save T~o?”

A pause. Jo sobbed. “You could ne save T~o. He lay buried in a rockslide. My ba, W~Via, M’Naga, ‘Ao, Peshana, Fa, Mea. You healed all of them, for they all exceeded their regens.”

“She also healed you, my ba.” She looked up into Ryonne~’s pained face. Took his shaking hand as he lay beside them. “You said you saw Wslarc.”

Laura nodded. “And he gave me this–“ She patted where a pocket would be in the stiff black tunic. Her hand came up empty, and she smiled as if she held something.

Suddenly, two Bisillips fought against two large Columbians near them. The Bisillips didn’t have a chance. Laura grabbed Kasillan and helped him move, then herded the three kids and two other kids that belonged to another group away from the fight. Rainbow-colored rock in a large cavern many groups worked together.

“Laura, are you well?” Ryonne~ took her hand, and she saw orange blood. She healed his hand.

“Does that answer your question?” Laura smiled.

Ne speak aloud. His orange eyes opened past wide.

Suddenly, guards took the fighting men away. The Bisillips looked nearly dead. They also grabbed Ryee and Laura. One of the guards slapped the back of his head. Ryee gasped loudly three times. Laura held onto his arm to steady him as the guards dragged him along. He leaned over his knees.

“Stand straight and walk, dust!” The shorter guard yelled. Ryee stood up and moved his legs. She had to steer him, so they let her keep touching him. We watched in horror as they took them away. But not towards the hall of bodies. Up.

My bae returned with terminals, and I wept. But, Geo, Geor~geh’s cousin, was the slaver healer, and purposefully misplaced them. Later, with slaver Harry, he was able to remove them without further harm to my bae.

Harry traded for all of us, but gave aandats to our friends without, and allowed Laura to direct healing. We had to trade long hours, and needed too much. He yet lives among us, and I fear him!

Father wept, and Cevit Ion also. “O, my friend, I am sorry! Your report was very painful. Here is your dear wife, to comfort you. I must remove your Diplomatic Link. Pa’isha, hold him.” Gently, he folded her arms around him.

“Must you remove it? I lost it, with Ilios—“

Cevit Ion stroked the length of his silver curls, to his shoulders, with a sigh. “The Link returns if one regains telepathy. Feel you nae, Ean?” Slowly, he put a flat finger at the left side of Father’s head above his ear. Father cried loudly! “O, I am sorry! Ahstam—“

He held Father’s head in his hands. “Eanne~, we must remove it. I think your well increases after. For one unwell, he is a burden, ne help.”

His hand groped for Mother’s. “Pai, help me!”

“Ean, we are with friends. Be calm. My liege, please, remove it quickly!” Mother’s brown eyes opened very wide.

Cevit Ion pressed very gently between Father’s eyes, and his mental scream shook us! Ryee wept. But, Father sighed, and relaxed in Mother’s arms. Ahstam sang healing, then he slept. “I fear to ask, Pa’isha, but I must also have yours, and remove your Link, or your husband uses it and harms himself.”

Mother startled. “If I must, ea.”

I saw many of high station in Ilios’ mine. Also, several slaver healers known for severe cruelty, such as Mehai Of Ishah, Heden Of Gowa and Girfir of Elshar Mashai, and Aryllans.

Cevit Ion heard much we ne heard, I think to spare us more upset, for we all needed much bis tia! He took Mother’s report and Ahstam sang her to sleep. Then, held out his arms for our son. We ne heard his, but they wept much. “I leave your Link, for you are nae harmed, even after such trials! My son, I am happy you reign over Ye~.”

W~Via gave a bow ne commonly seen in the Old Forms, which began with one leg far behind, then quickly switched to the other leg with the far leg bent ahead, then up. His graceful and quick execution of it delighted Ryee. And, our emperor returned it. “I am ever happy to serve you, my liege, and Ry’nao, and you, my family.”

Next, Cevit Ion heard Ket’s report. The old Elshar healer oft reached for Cevit Ion’s forehead to heal grief bruising deep red across his nose. As with W~Via, he left Ket’s Link so he could take reports.

Ahstam needed healing from Pas during his, and Pas laid in Ahstam’s arms for his. Ket helped Ahstam with his healing after, which left him sleeping. Ahstam sighed. “Pas is unwell for this, Cevit Ion. I will remove his Link, but we shall require my ennead from Zhea~ for it!”

Cevit Ion’s eyes remained black. “Should I stay, then?”

“Ne. Pas has more comfort with healers.”

The Emperor nodded, then turned those black eyes on me. “I fear for you, Queen Adia. Should Ryee hold you, or should I, as on my ship?”

I moved to my husband’s lap, and he put both arms tightly around me. “I can help my wife.”

Ahstam added a trembling hand on the back of my husband’s silver curls. “Ea, you are well for it.”

“Thank you, Ahstam.” Ryee sighed. He also trembled.

I tried to think lightly of our trials in slavery, and could ne! Cevit Ion removed my Link, that I thought absent because I ne felt it, and nearly fainted! But, I felt my love’s mind more strongly without it and brief peace refreshed me.

He turned to Ryee. “My son, you have ne Link, but have you memories you wish to add?”

His golden eyes opened very wide, and his mind fell open, to his Inner Circle! Cevit Ion gasped, and gently held it shut. ‘Ao wept. “Dear friend, you must nae open so to anyone!”

Ryee cried loudly as the Emperor pulled him into his lap. “I am unwell! Slaver herbs harmed me, and I have ne skill to control it!”

Ahstam waved up Yetza and put a triangle on Ryee’s tongue. “Think of one memory to share, Ryee. Which is most painful, of those in your report? I help you, my son. One memory.”

My poor husband! D’gharr, and the stone platform on Ndibph that reminded him of it, and the black chamber when slavers took him on Sghan Mas with Laura, tore through our minds at full speed! Then, Aegelis with Doug, Jen, Vonn, and Derees. The Change, and all our unwells then. It seemed we lived every terror and he could ne choose only one, until he found the memory of our capture and that terrible first day in the first mine. But, the worst was in the third.

Ilios led him into a chamber—when was this? ‘Ao trembled, for he did not remember, and Ryee cried.

In the chamber, ‘Ao lay on the rocks, white as moons, none of the deep red that should be in his skin. “How badly do you want to save your friend suffering?”

‘Ao tried to speak, and could ne. His struggles brought our tears.

He shoved Ryee down on the rocky floor. “Bow to your Emperor, King.”

I tried to give my most respectful bow and kept my eyes on ‘Ao, who looked very frightened. His redviolet eyes poured tears. His lips quivered. I must ne show pain. Slowly, more slowly than I wished, my leg quivered as I moved it back, and I did bow. But then, I could ne rise. Sight left me.

Cool arms held me. ‘Ao wept. I had bruises on my face more than—where is this?

“Habis maif! Lie still, both of you. I have yllis.”

“Idiot! They’ll beat you again if Ilios knows you’ve been at his herbs!”

“They gave Belle an herb terminal so she can heal Geor~geh. Nobody watches her to see who she gives an herb, hah? Be quiet and don’t upset these men. Watch for me.”

A laugh, and footsteps left. I looked up, and Ket put leaves in my mouth. “’Ao needs you to sleep, my friend. For ‘Ao, you need to trust me, you need to let me give you a partial regen. If you won’t let me help you, I can’t help him, he’s too upset. Feel how his arms shake as he holds you? For your friend, close your eyes and try to rest, so he’ll rest. Do you know me?”

I nodded, and closed my eyes. Warmth soothed me, as did his healing. For ‘Ao, I can take this comfort. Though I knew I had ne regen capacity, sensations of regen overwhelmed me! Mirth brought ne shame. Ket watches over my honor, for my liege, so he ne worries for me.

I woke, and ‘Ao wept. Ket put me on my feet, then lifted ‘Ao, and gently led us to sorting. Cara hugged me as I sat, then my dear wife pressed my hand warmly and left a sorting rod in it. My hands shook. At times, I felt ‘Ao’s cold hand as he helped me sort. His sortings strayed oft on his side and mine, but Min used his rod to correct them as he sorted. I dared ne look in ‘Ao’s face, but his white color, his quivering, I knew he was very unwell.

Beside, Ay also quivered, and her color was very light. Laura went from one to another and offered strong healing. After her healing, I woke refreshed, and all around me had brief color. Until T~o’s death. I think ne felt comfort after our loss.

Ryee cried loudly. “Was I near my friend, my dear servant, when he had injury? Eja fae ne!”

Cevit Ion showed him from all our reports, working to gather rocks, when the wall slid down and buried perhaps, 50 people, mostly strangers. T~o shoved a child to his parents, and he was ne buried. Our dear friend! “I think he nae suffered, Ryee. O, I am sorry! Will you let Ahstam give you relief from this mind pain? You need rest—“

“I wish to wait and help ‘Ao with his report, Liege.” Ryee sobbed, and held out a quivering arm to him.

‘Ao sat next Cevit Ion and put his arms around both men. Sobbed.

His mind fell open also, and I heard none of his report. Ryee yet held tightly to my hand, and grew cold. Moist. ‘Ao’s report did ne take long. Cevit Ion paled to white from yellow! As ‘Ao stared at him, he cried wet tears, ne the usual crystals gathered by servants. Ket gave him sips of lu mer, a clear syrup to replace moisture lost in crying. Ryee tenderly wiped ‘Ao’s wet face as he cried. Cevit Ion oft kissed both their foreheads.

Afterwards, we all shared Yetza. Father and Mother woke for this. We held Remembrance for T~o, C~spea, Deci, Lydda, and Gahrahee, who died in slavery with us. For all the Yeff lost in slavery and War. Then, servants carried us to our chamber. ‘Ao held to Ryee, so he and Cevit Ion, Ket and Ahstam with Pas stayed also on our bed.

Ryee had a nightmare of D’gharr, and when I reached for the back of his head, I found the hand of Cevit Ion. “My son, may I offer comfort?”

My husband wept, and clung to our Emperor. He served missions with Cevit Ion when he was Seventh Galaxy Minister. “Cev, there is ne.”

W~Via added his hand. “Fa, I wish to offer bis tia. Will you take it?”

Ryee sobbed. “Ay, is it well?”

I ne expected him to ask me permission, and Cevit Ion’s shock came to me! “Ea, Love. Take it.”

W~Via gave three leaves, and hummed as he touched his father’s throat. He relaxed completely. But, my son’s disappointment came to me. This healing was a normal healing, ne with the past skills, and he expected Ryee to calm more. My husband yet sobbed.

“W~Via, are you unwell?” Gently, Cevit Ion touched the back of my son’s dark curls.

He nodded. “Once, I was more help to my fa.”

“Dear bae, you are ever help to me! I am also a healer, W~Via.” Ryee’s hand shook as it held W~Via’s.

Cevit Ion sighed. “’Ao said the Council needed to regain strength. W~Via, I take reports from many men who lost skills, and I see how it affects them. Feel nae guilt that you can nae do what once, you did easily. Those skills may return, when the Council is strong. You must preserve the skills that remain, and guard your health. It is rare that I must take a report so painful from an entire family! Keep your healers near you. Ahstam and Pas are unwell, and share little of it with me, so keep their healers near, also.”

His words shocked me, but then, we all saw slavery and they are old. Ea, we must take care to watch over our healers also, now that we have nae Zhee healers much on Ye~.

We all gathered for breakfast in our familiar Dining Hall, and ‘Ao wore his familiar gray! When he and Cevit Ion entered, we all rose and bowed, then they returned them. Cevit Ion smiled. “See our new First Galaxy Minister! ‘Ao must leave you for Alb Seer soon. I found him well to pursue this work, important work, for trade grows on Earth and affects Fhiah, Biehshah, Questalod, Perla, and Thorde for the better!”

‘Ao laughed. “Ea, and after so long without a galactic minister to help them, I will be so overworked, I shall soon be an inmate of Questalod, Cev!”

He laughed loudly.

Laura frowned. “What’s Questalod?”

Cevit Ion shoved ‘Ao towards his seat, then sat quickly. ‘Ao led his shy wife, Peshana, to her seat on his other side. She smiled. “We will explain, but first, Ean, would you sing a blessing?”

Father smiled, and sang a long blessing asking for health and strength for all of us, and especially for ‘Ao’s new Reign. He also asked for Cevit Ion to be blessed in this difficult time for escape from slavers, and that for all of us.

As he passed FFbah to Ryee and others who wanted it, Laura doled out generous helpings of Earthan foods to Suma and Jen, who also sat at table with us. Their Elshar husbands had special delights of Elshar Heizgha brought by De’sai, and the patriarch served them. Ket had some xchou foods which he shared first with Peshana, who startled.

One of the FFbah under Father’s hand rose and almost hit ‘Ao in the face! But, he stared at it and it wavered. “Oh, my food’s moving! The pressure of my work is too much for me already! Now I must visit Questalod for treatment—but wait! Maybe you see some moving food also, Cev!” The pastry zipped into the Emperor’s face.

Cevit Ion also stared at it, and it halted. “O, you nae escape me so easily—“

‘Ao laughed, and the pastry loomed near the yellow Zheien’s face. Peshana’s giggles made most at our table laugh harder; she had a funny laugh.

Ket roared. “Oh, it’s a food fight! Battle of the Emperors! Shall I help?”

Cevit Ion laughed loudly. “Nae! A deadly Elshar!”

“Better concentrate on the deadly xchou. We are mysterious and powerful!” The pastry almost hit Cevit Ion and broke in two. Both pieces hovered just before his face.

The Emperor leaned forward and caught one in his mouth.

“Now he can’t make speeches. Get him, ‘Ao!” Ket balanced a FFbah on his hand and flipped it in the air. It broke, and he caught one piece in his mouth, but the other flew at Cevit Ion and hit the other pastry half.

That half suddenly splattered ‘Ao in the face!

Cevit Ion laughed loudly, but the other half did the same to him.

“Ah, revenge is sweet!” ‘Ao wiped a large piece off his cheek and offered it to giggling Peshana, whose long, black hair obscured her eating.

“But, my face can absorb it!” Cevit Ion giggled as he pressed his hand over crumbs on the table. His face slowly absorbed all of the spill as he carefully pressed the flat fingers over creamy FFbai on his vest.

“Hah! I can do that, too.” ‘Ao hummed, and his face absorbed all of his spill, but more slowly than his Zheien opponent. He also made Peshana’s face absorb a smear of white, and she laughed.

Ket giggled. “I think you’re even, Emperors. Maybe I won’t send anyone to Questalod today.”

W~Via smiled and stared at his FFbah. It rose.

‘Ao nudged Cevit Ion. “I think we have some competition. W~Via, shall we challenge you?”

He laughed. “Ah, I would rather serve my Fa.” The FFbah gently floated onto his father’s plate, which brought my husband’s smile.

Cevit Ion floated a FFbah onto our son’s plate. Suddenly, it flew up, and W~Via startled. The FFbah broke into two pieces, and landed on ‘Ao and Cevit Ion’s plates. W~Via giggled. A white flash, and the pieces were four squares apiece. Square dance music played, and the pieces danced on the plates. The Emperor laughed loudly. “Hae! I think our young W~Via has talent, eae? Such quick reflexes!”

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