Home Is... Series Vol.14 Home Is Elders

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Home Is Elders

Unfinished

14th Volume in Home Is Series.

Dovetails with Rainbows Growing, 3rd volume in Rainbow Series

Dovetails with Second MarKu

Zhea~ Year 7831-32

The New Healing begins in Rainbow with the arrival of Elder Pirad of Bisillipia. W~Via finally gains contact with Kieta, who forms Rainbow’s Collective. But, she is young and inexperienced. Can she help them against the rogue Councillors?

Excerpt. © Dannis Cole. All rights reserved.

[From Ryonne~’s Journal]

Molly walked into the Hospice, and I watched her holo. “Rainbows, I have to make a trip to Samar Thaae to get more healing for you!”

People cried. Other healers prevented them from grasping at her legs. She waved her hands in the air. “I love you, Rainbows! Don’t cry. Binneas will stay here to watch over you. I’m coming back soon. Honest. Everybody love each other. Take care of each other. I’m going to negotiate, just like a diplomat! Besides healing, I want more ships of rescued slaves so we can welcome ‘em to Rainbow, too! Maybe people you know’ll come back with me. While I’m gone, I’m declaring a festival. Everybody get lots of rest and healing, and I’ll be back soon!”

Many of the diplomats I knew, Fubret, Theaspaura, Goes: we asked to accompany. She ignored us.

I asked Ahstam to follow, for he loves to travel on ships. “Ryee wishes me to accompany. Which is well, very well, Molly! I wish to learn from Taredias, and my clones!”

I held Bin in my arms as I lay in my sleeping chamber. Prince Ishmarel—I ate with Mesapans, and had my first regen after—I shuddered at what I had seen.

“Ryee, are you okay?” Laura touched my head.

“Laura, you cannot know how dear Ishmarel is to us of Zheiea! To know of his unwell distresses me!”

She hugged me, and brought Ay to my side.

“Soon, Ishmarel was to complete enough missions to take the Reign. He is Marel’vanrah’s only son, Ay. If he dies, Marel’vanrah is without heir; I fear for us if Zhea~’s governance falls! Slavers wait for such an opportunity. Zhea~ nearly fell when Ye~ fell.” I became moist, and seizures stopped my speech.

Bin startled awake, and I held him.

“Molly!” He tried to lift his head from his leiwege; I pulled it gently to my shoulder. “Where is this chamber of red-violet?”

I lacked strength to lift him, for it was late in our sleeping. J~oie woke and adjusted our leiwege to hold us half-sitting. “My liege, we are in Ryee’s sleeping chamber.”

“She left me!” Bin sobbed and held to me tightly. “Where goes Molly? My mind sleeps!”

“My friend, she travels to Samar Thaae—”

“I must go with her. Sally, a ship!”

Behind J~oie, Laura brought up a vidi. Waved. Her herbs had little effect on my friend; this unwell made him nearly unsound!

Fubret, who governs the Thordes Colony, came to him. “My liege, we cannot send you—”

“I must go! I cannot let my wife go alone; she knows nae of dangers—”

Theapet of Fhiah came to us, yet dressed in green sleeping garments; he and Bin are very close, as M’Naga is to me. He smiled to see me. Bin looked up at him. “Eap, make them prepare a ship—”

Eap took him from my arms. “My friend, you cannot travel. Your body shakes, even now. Molly left you because Laura advised her you cannot stand travel on a ship in this condition. Surely you know—”

“I cannot bear this parting from my wife, Eap!” He wept. O, I would also, if a mission took Ay from me! Eap kept my arms about our friend.

“She has all protections. Ahstam himself travels with her, Ahstam who traveled among pirates to heal dying slaves. All Rainbow’s finest healers go with her. I sent progs from Biehshah to keep them safe. They travel to Taredias, who surely has protections even Biehshah does not! Do you know he kept Samar Thaae veiled from all for hundreds of years, my friend? He operated a mine there before he befriended Siasch and decided to take his family there. I spoke with Siasch at length. Their skills with cloning are unmatched!”

Bin yet wept in a way to rend our hearts. Eap looked to me.

I sighed. “Bin, should we bring other friends to you? Fubret is here. Would you like Goes to come, if he is well?”

“Eae, bring Goe, and Butres! Fa and Mea are far on a mission.”

Laura and J~oie stayed near, because Bin had another seizure; J~oie spared his awareness for our friends.

Ron brought Goes, who rubbed his eyes. Doug helped Butres climb onto the bed.

Goes took Bin’s hand. “My friend, why do you cry so? Ron said you asked for me.”

“Goe, Molly travels to Samar Thaae—”

“O, how you miss her! I miss Penny when she helps Dan Sa with his aandats.” His soft hand rubbed the back of his head. “You are shaking, Bin. Pie makes me lie in my bed and eat his herbs when I shake like that.” His brown eyes looked to J~oie. Blinked. “J~oie, you look well, my friend. Did I come to Ye~?” One hand reached to J~oie’s head, then he looked at me and smiled. “Ryee! I wanted to see you!” His hand pulled my head to his chest. “My friend, Ryee! Look, Bin, it is Ryee!”

Before I could speak, his eyes found Butres and Eap. “O, happiness! Many of us are together!” He trembled so!

J~oie helped Goes lie with us. Bin calmed and rubbed his head. “You are unwell, Goe. Lie in my arms. I am unwell, also. Butres, you tremble also! J~oie, you seem well to watch over us. Will you?”

Slowly, Butres put his head on Bin’s chest, and his shaking arm wrapped about it. Bin used great care with his hand. His eyes yet showed him only colors and vague shapes; surely the dim light impaired him more.

“I will watch. Bin, you should sleep.” J~oie rubbed his head with ea fae. The scent made me very sleepy; Goes yawned. So did Butres.

All of us slept long. Penny bent over Goes and kissed his forehead. Smiled at me. Left. Ay kissed me, then went to her duty as healer. J~oie slept. Laura also. Pas came to sit at our heads.

Goes stretched, then saw me waking. “Ryee. How long is it, since I saw you? Are you more well than I?” He rubbed the back of my head.

“Ne. I drain all healers who bend over me—”

“It is ne so, Ryee.” Pas touched my head, and more alertness came.

“I also. Pie needs to be with his son, Nat, but he spends all his time with me. I had weeks of shakings.” Goes rubbed his eyes. When he looked on me, his brown eyes moved slowly. How my friend changed! His face ne held roundness of youth, or healthy color. The skin of his hands sagged yellow in places. MarKuans are orange, as are we and Fhiahans. Carefully, I rubbed them in mine. “Now, I feel better and poor Bin is unwell! Is he sleeping, J~oie, or did he have shakings?” Goes shuddered.

“J~oie sleeps, Goes. I am Pas. Do you remember me? You were unwell with Heat Sickness when you visited us, to see the Noh.”

Goes laughed. “Ah, I enjoy the Noh. That was when—Ryee, were you home? I saw the Noh, and—Pas! I laughed, when you bent over me. Nae was funny, but I laughed. Was I intoxicated?” He shuddered again.

“Ne, my son. Heat sickness makes one to laugh, when he needs a healer. I went to you on the commons when you played Oa Pas with Lao~ and Ipia.”

“With who? I am too sleepy to remember names. O, I have mind pain this morning.”

“Let me see you, Goes.” Pas saw his points, and warned me ne to try to heal him. I pulled his head against me. Severe mind pain! “I wish you to have a little olsivih engb—”

“May I have choc’late? Tastes more well, Pas.”

“Ea.” Pas laughed, and gave him a square. Offered me one, also, and I took.

We enjoyed FFbah together.

“FFbah taste more well than bahef, but I forget that we may have them.” Goes sighed as he ate.

I rubbed his head briefly, but my hand shook, so I rested it on the back of it. His hand covered mine. “We should enjoy a meal together oft, Goes. I have to eat twice or thrice a day now. You?”

“I get hungry often. Pie wants me to eat often and gain weight. You need to gain weight, too, Ryee, you are thin! Penny worries that she will be fat. I tell her if she gets fat, I will still love her.”

I laughed. Goes’ speech is far different from what it was, but pleasant, as always. Such happiness, to be with my friend again. His negotiations with the Noh allowed me to accompany ‘Ao to Ishah. I remembered peridah treatment, and felt most unwell.

Pas heard my loud thoughts and hummed to comfort me. Goes, who always noticed my slightest unwell, ne knew why Pas hummed; he thought it to help his mind pain. “Thank you, Pas. That feels better.”

“You yet have mind pain? Chocolate should relieve you.”

“I am a diplomat, Pas—” Sudden tears filled his brown eyes, and he stared up at me. “Nae now. O, Ryee, I lost my position, because I let Gowans intoxicate me! Why was I so foolish?”

I held him. “My friend, ‘Ao released you, because you were injured with a memerase! There is ne shame in injury!”

His mind opened, to his Inner Circle. Pas gently closed it. Before he did, I saw the Gowan Council. Smelled their hyssdia. Felt Goes’ utter exhaustion. He neared collapse in that meeting, before Jasen lifted a finger coated in Elohaia.

Goes yet cried because the memory of the effect made him yearn for more.

Carefully, though I felt great unwell, I drew Goes’ head to my shoulder. “My friend, listen to me. Slavers took me. I had many slaver herbs. Though Nufera freed me of them, when I remember, I yet crave the strong sensations—”

“You, Ryee! But, you are strong. You were strongest of any of us, like Cevit Ion!”

I wept with him. “Ne can withstand slaver herbs, Goe. A diplomat is yet a man. When driven to exhaustion, ea, even if he is fresh—slaver herbs bring intense sensations a Zheien is ne to feel. It is a shock, an injury, just as disabling as a blow to the back of the head. I am trained as a healer, Goe. I see many brave, well men destroyed by slaver herbs. Our bodies are mortal, my friend.”

Goes wept harder. “Your words pass by me. Speak simply, Ryee. I cannot understand as I once could.”

“Ee so ya oeo, my friend. Listen. Ahstam trained me as a healer. Healers see what slaver herbs do. If one struck you in the back of your head, what effect has it?”

“I—I felt—my body fell, and I could nae think.” Many occasions where he felt such a blow came in loud thoughts. My poor friend!

“And, one needs a healer.”

“Eae!”

“Slaver herbs have the same effect on the thinking.”

Goes looked at me, mouth open, tears caking his pale cheeks. I lacked gentle hands, so Pas wiped him of them. “But, it—was pleasant—I enjoyed—”

“Whether it is pain or pleasure, my friend, it renders a man unable to think for himself. There is ne guilt in injury.”

Goes thought of Jasen and the Elohaia. “Injury. Men often act strangely when they are injured. Eae, I was injured. I had mind pain and frequent unwells. I am yet injured. Injured.” He sobbed.

“We have healing, now. Healers attend, now.”

“Eae. Ryee, I have comfort. You give me comfort.”

Bin startled awake and cried for Molly. Butres held his head. “My son, she is nae here, but we stay with you.”

“Butres!”

“Eae, my son. O, Pas has FFbah for us! Wish you some?”

“I can nae eat, without Molly—”

“You must eat, to gain strength.” Pas sang a brief blessing, then broke off a corner. “Will Molly grieve, if we cannot bring you through this unwell?”

Bin ate. Pas’ words moved him to take our comfort. Goes ate very quickly; three FFbah to my one. Pas ate two and urged me to have a second. I did enjoy it. In Rainbow’s environs, eating ne stung my chest so as on Ye~. I ne noticed, for my unwells from slaver herbs left me unthinking of how eating felt. Slowly, my mind wakes, and I compare how I am to how I was. The difference frightens.

I noticed how quiet Butres was. So unlike him! When we shared memories through the Diplomatic Link, he oft reached for many minds. His mind ne reached for me now. All of us are changed. Slowly, a shaking hand took mine over Goes, who fell asleep. “So many of us lie injured now. Goes and most of MarKu. I grieve to see you unwell, Ryee.” Tears made his blue eyes large.

“Butres, I am well enough. Are you rested, after our sleep?”

He took a bite of FFbah. Enjoyed it. “As rested as I ever feel. Diplomats cannot rest!” A short laugh.

“I obtain well rest, when Molly is near me.” Bin sighed deeply.

“But, your wife returns to you, Bin, soon.” Butres rubbed his hand. “My wife, she waits in that world of spirit, and Pie tells me I will nae see her for many years. Think of our emperor, who is without wife or family! You have reason to look after your health. Neither of you must travel now.

“When my dear one waited while I went to missions, I nae thought this time would come, when she would nae be there. My daughter gives me great strength. Gince kept me alive, the thought of her, through my time at Questalod, before Nufera woke me from Exorbar. Gince comforted me much, after.

“How does a man like Cevit Ion survive, without wife, without sae, to sustain him? Ejis, I cannot imagine the weight our friend carries on his shoulders!”

Bin grew thoughtful. “He needs much healing on his respites. But, Ry’nao is close to him. Ry’nao has much strength from his family, and many are here. I see Cevit Ion oft with Ry’nao and Ahstam when nae on missions.”

“I did ne know that, Bin.” The thought made me sad. ‘Ao’s work oft left him in Ket’s care. His position as First Galaxy Minister brought great unwells; I knew Cevit Ion moved his home here, rather than take the Emperor’s Palace back to Vohl, but thought it deference to Ry’nao’s Reign. Perhaps, without help from the Councilors, they have less strength for the links. I knew ‘Ao yet had the Gray Cube, but with far less power than once it held. He avoided discussion of his unwells. I oft heard Pas’ thoughts, for Pas and Ahstam helped Ket with him on his every respite, and Pas worries.

“My friend, your face grows moist. Will you let Pas give you aid?” Gently, Bin pulled Butres’ head down onto his chest and rubbed it. He measured every movement so that his touch was exceptionally light, yet ne too light for comfort. I admired my friend’s ability to comfort. Many times, he gave me that comfort.

Butres nodded. “I am oft unwell in emotion. So many of my diplomats lie injured. Dhuiij tortured us!” He sobbed. Dhuiij, a Zbbat slaver who violated many. I felt unwell. His green skin paled starwhite.

“My son, let me see you.” I heard Pas touch Pie’s mind before he waved up a vidi. Sang a brief healing that left Butres asleep. I entered that state that seemed sleep to all around me. Healers carried us to the muds and bathed us. Comfort surrounds me.

We passed many pleasant days together. Shared memories of missions, respites when we visited one another, times at Sghan Mas together for some of us. Goes spent hours with Penny, then returned to us for sleep. She stayed with Herda’s house; a shy Earthan. Butres ne left. Eap had to attend to business, but spent nights with us. Fubret ne stayed; he felt that Bin ne needed him as us, and was ne bothered by this. My happy Thordes friend! I knew Fubret through the Diplomatic Link only.

Bin had many seizures that left him sleeping. Before each, emotion rose, and he was inconsolable. I slept much, and complained to Pas.

“Did you notice, my son, that Butres sleeps more than any of you? That Goes needs much healing for mind pain? Ryee, all of you are unwell, as much so as Binneas. Sleep. All of you gain much comfort from sharing this bed.” His red-gold eyes shone in his tears.

As I watched the peaceful faces of my sleeping friends, yet moist with unwell, I had to agree. I let my eyes close.

“Ryee.”

Goes’ trembling startled me. “My friend, what is wrong?”

“I—must go to Penny—I will come back.” His face turned a striking orange.

I touched his head and felt great pain from him! “Pas, Goes is very unwe—”

“My son, Penny has healing for him. Ron comes to take him to her.”

Goes embraced me. “I am nae—w-worthy—to share your b-bed!” Sweat dripped from him! I felt the great hunger he had, and realized it was cravings for other pleasure. Slaves oft had these foreign cravings.

I wept. “My friend, you yet have your honor! Slavers injured you.”

His brown eyes opened wide. “Injured?”

“Ea, injured! This pain is from injury, as sure as slavers used a weapon on you, Goes! Feel ne guilt if your wife can heal you of pain.”

Goes smiled as he left with Ron. “I am injured, Ron. Injured, and Penny has healing for me!”

Ron’s eyes turned dark, but Pas reassured him. With Ron came Doug, who stumbled to our bed. “Ryee, are you very unwell? May I sit with you a min?”

I embraced my friend. “We are comforting Bin, who grieves because Molly had to leave on a mission. She returns in a few days; they left Samar Thaae yesterday. Are you well, Doug?”

His eyes turned dark as he looked towards the doorway. Molly insisted all portals be removed, so Fa installed the door that was used on my sleeping chamber before the days of portals. Like on our dressing chamber, the counterbalanced door slid easily, and sometimes Doug enjoyed sliding it back and forth. Ne today. “Goes—and Penny—but, Jen—” His face turned red. “Oh, my chest hurts when I think about this! I can’t talk about it.” One hand grasped the front of his red-violet tunic.

I pulled him into my lap. “Doug, you may speak, and Pas can help you with it. You have pain, at times, as Goes had just now?”

Doug sobbed. “But, Jen can’t—am I bad, Ryee? Because I feel this way?”

Pas leaned over him and hummed. Slowly, Doug calmed. “You are Elshar, my son. These feelings are a part of having an Elshar body. Since you are part Ishah, they are intense enough to bring unwell. You are ne ‘bad’. They are well feelings, if only Jen were well to accept them.” He sighed.

“But, Goes gets sick! Will I get sick, and sweat like that?” He wiped sweat off his forehead and showed it to Pas.

“My son, you will ne die of this. It is unwell, but ne as severe as Goes’ unwell. Our bodies are ne made to stand such sensations. This is why we teach our young that they are decadent. But, when slavers violate one, he must have healing. Goes becomes unwell. Penny heals him.”

Doug wept. “Jen can’t heal me!”

Pas touched his head and hummed. Slowly, Doug calmed again. “I have healing for you. When there is pain, Doug, Ni’olmai wrote a prog to give relief. Are you more well now?”

He smiled. “Ea! Let me go see if Ron needs help. Thank you, Pas!” Doug rose, with strength, and stumbled out. Paused to slide the door closed, open, closed, then open several times.

I asked Pas what he did, that I might help others. He laughed softly. “He only feels pain when reminded of urges, and tension builds. Ni’olmai wrote a prog, years past, to relax him. Music plays that reminds him of festivals on the commons. A lozenge of nash ea~ ports into his mouth. The scent of flowers refreshes his nose. Doug is a poet, and these things inspire him to create poetry, which he usually does on the commons. But, his creative energies also move him to stay by Ron and help him with unwell. Distraction, Ryee, is healing for many unwells.”