5

It was late by the time Ilen-Saa'an left the Terran Embassy, and it was later still by the time she was finally able to get to sleep. Of course her mother, father, and siblings all wanted to know what it was like to be with the off-worlders, what the embassy was like, did she have any exotic alien foods, and so forth. Ilen-Saa'an shared most of her experience, though she held back some things until she could sort them out—with the help of her best friend, Tsel-Ami'an.

* * * * *

Tsel-Ami'an had always attracted attention wherever she went on her homeworld of Mûr Zhæn. She stood out, as the saying went, like the moons in the night sky. Tsel-Ami'an's pure white hair marked her as one of the Khea Mûr Tua'ansa, a rare ethnicity among the Mûr Tua'ansa.

The Khea were said to be doubly blessed by the twin moons, nan-Raleen and sen-Raleen—“Brother Soul" and “Sister Soul", in the language of Tu'an. Every Khea instinctually knew the location of Mûr Zhæn's most sacred spring, the Mûr Thel-Raleen, or “The Source of Souls", and therefore could never become lost. This unique ability served them well through the long history of Mûr Zhæn's people. In ancient times, the Khea proved to be excellent trackers and guides, and later, navigators. The Khea tended to be less excitable than other Mûr Tua'ansa, making them more reserved. Throughout their history, the Khea kept themselves neutral in disputes, paid little attention to politics, and generally did not meddle in things that didn't concern them directly. Because of this impartiality, as well as their innate ability to always know the location of the Mûr Thel-Raleen, the Khea Mûr Tua'ansa had maintained a certain level of reverential respect.

Among the females in the ancient line of Tsel, the ability to sense the future manifested itself typically in every other generation. Like her mother's mother, Tsel-Ami'an had also inherited the ability. Ever since she had met Ilen-Saa'an when they were both younglings, Tsel-Ami'an knew that “their vines would become tangled"—an euphemism that meant their fates were bound together.

“Poor Saa'an," Tsel-Ami'an mused to herself, “the off-worlder's vine is beginning to tangle itself with yours, and hence with my own as well. Will you, my friend, poison it and allow it to die, or nourish it, allow it to flower? Ah, for all our sakes, I hope you will see past your own nose for once, Saa'an."

* * * * *

“But what am I to do, Ami'an?" Ilen-Saa'an pleaded.

“I suggest the wiser of two things, my friend," Tsel-Ami'an replied.

“And, pray tell, what might that be?"

Tsel-Ami'an smiled mischievously and sent, “Get Closer."

“To the off-worlder?!"

“Who else have we been discussing at length, Saa'an?" Tsel-Ami'an asked with playful sarcasm.

“Aaah! You are unhinged! My Honored Mother would have both our tails! Worse, if my Honored Grandmother were to find out...," Ilen-Saa'an exclaimed with a shudder.

“Then I will explain things to my own Honored Grandmother, who will then explain it to yours," Tsel-Ami'an sent with a little smile.

Ilen-Saa'an gave her friend a worried look.

“You are going to be the end of me yet, Ami'an, you know that."

“Doubtful, Saa'an, as long as you do not stupidly let the fruit of the h'rat-bahni tree strike you in the face even as you watch it fall towards you."

Ilen-Saa'an sighed and downed her drink.

“Na'suan Craig, a message has come for you," Taen-Gar'ta announced, holding up a data crystal.

“A message, for me? Who sent it, do you know?" Craig asked, wondering who could possibly have sent him mail.

“This was delivered by local courier service, na'suan Craig," Taen-Gar'ta replied.

Craig to the data crystal over to his small desk, inserted it into the crystal port, and activated the player. When the sender's face appeared on the holo-viewer, Craig's jaw dropped.

“Oh, geezers!" Craig exclaimed out loud.

“Is there something troubling, na'suan Craig?" Taen-Gar'ta asked with concern.

“Uh, I…I think I need a little help here…"

Taen-Gar'ta stopped what he was doing and came over to the desk to see what Craig was having trouble with.

“Ah, the shu'suan of House Ilen."

“Yeah. Uh, any idea what this is about?" Craig asked, replaying the message from the beginning so that Taen-Gar'ta could view it in its entirety.

“Here she thanks you for the hospitality you have shown her, and…she insists that the way between you has been cleansed. That is our way of saying that there are no ill feelings and peace has been restored. That is simply a formality, na'suan Craig."

The message continued, however, and as Taen-Gar'ta watched and listened, his tail began twitching.

“Na'suan Craig, this is…most irregular."

“What is it?"

“Perhaps you should bring this to your Honored Mother's attention, na'suan Craig."

“Why?"

“This is a matter that Heads of House should negotiate."

“That," Craig said with a little sarcasm, “would be my dad."

Taen-Gar'ta looked oddly at Craig a moment, but then briefly bowed his head.

“As I am reminded, na'suan Craig. My apologies."

“No problem, guy. Anyway, what is it about whatever she said that got you, um, worked up?"

“The shu'suan, she wants to arrange a…private…meeting with you."

“Say what?!" Craig asked in astonishment.

“Taen-Gar'ta is right, Craig, this is most irregular," Bren-Khy'an agreed after viewing the message. “Perhaps I should investigate this matter discretely."

“Huh? Since when do you ever do something that isn't over the top, Khy'an?"

Bren-Khy'an folded her arms across her chest and looked down at Craig.

“The Che'maht Sahn'rah do have other skills not involving killing."

“Oh, like, I dunno…like putting people to sleep?" Craig shot back sarcastically.

Bren-Khy'an raised an eyebrow slightly.

“You are still upset over that?"

“Well, it was kinda…rude, knocking me out like that!"

“It was for your own good, Craig. Besides, it was late, and you did need your rest. I merely made sure you did," Bren-Khy'an sent with mild humor.

“Yeah, right. All I wanted to do was show you  that I care, and you make me take a snooze."

“Would you rather I had tossed you across the room?"

“No, I…"

“Your thoughts are unguarded again, Craig…"

“Yeah, well…maybe I…"

“Perhaps you should direct your attention back to the issue of the shu'suan."

Craig let out an audible sigh, and replayed the message.

“Okay, I don't get it—what's the big deal about this?" Craig asked after the message finished. “Is she asking me out or something?"

“If I understand your question, I believe the answer would be 'yes'," Bren-Khy'an replied.

“Geezers—the first time a girl asks meout on a date, everybody acts like it's the end of the world or something! Yeah, I've had girls back home tell me that they wouldn't go out with me even if I was the last guy on Terra. So, here I am, thousands of light-years rom home, and the only girl in the whole galaxy who seems to want to go out with me, is making people think it's doomsday already!"

“Na'suan Craig, please, do not say such things!" Taen-Gar'ta pleaded nervously, touching the tips of his horns, then his eyes, then his ears, and then crossing his arms right over left and touching his shoulders.

Totally confused, Craig watched the ritualistic gestures made by Taen-Gar'ta, and then looked at Bren-Khy'an.

“What's with him?" Craig asked, jerking a thumb towards Taen-Gar'ta.

“You should not speak of that event, Craig. There are certain beliefs pertaining to it that, while they originated in ancient times, are still within the ancestral memories passed from generation to generation. It is a topic off-worlders should avoid," Bren-Khy'an explained.

“Oh, okay. I'll add that to my list of things not to do while on Mûr Zhæn." Turning to Taen-Gar'ta, Craig said, “Sorry, I…I didn't know. I didn't mean to upset you."

“Accepted, na'suan Craig."

“Okay, um, anyway…what's so bad about Ilen-Saa'an wanting to…go out on a date with me, or visit, or whatever it is that she wants to do?"

“If you will recall what we had discussed in an earlier conversation, it is not the place of an unpaired Fourth Daughter of a low Third Circle House to take upon herself to arrange a meeting with an unpaired First Son of a House of this stature," Bren-Khy'an explained.

“But, geez, back home I'm just a normal, everyday guy. My friends don't care that my folks are in the Diplomatic Corps—that's just their job. We live in an apartment complex, not a big fancy place like this, and we don't have servants or guards or anything like that. The last country on Terra that had a caste system, got rid of it centuries ago, and we don't have royalty anymore, either."

“Then you truly have no experience to guide your understanding in our ways, yes?" Bren-Khy'an asked.

“Not in stuff like this, no," Craig acknowledged, gesturing towards the display screen. “This is all new to me. Sure, I've read about how it was on my world—ancient history stuff, but that doesn't help when your parents drag you halfway across the galaxy for an assignment they got, and suddenly everything you grew up knowing gets tossed out the window. It would be the same for you if you were on my homeworld," Craig argued, looking first to Bren-Khy'an and then to Taen-Gar'ta.

Bren-Khy'an thought a moment and then sent, “Perhaps so. We have only viewed this from our perspective—we have not considered how it might be seen through your eyes. Even so, we must deal with this according to our ways."

“I suppose you gotta do what you gotta do, but…geez…I don't want anybody getting hurt just because one person tries to be nice to another! Other than when she freaked out just because I touched her, trying to get her attention, she…I mean, um, Ilen-Saa'an…she seemed nice enough," Craig said.

“You know next to nothing about the shu'suan, Craig."

“Well…yeah, I guess you do have a point there, Khy'an."

“Then I shall discover what I may. Remain in the embassy, na'suan Craig, until I return. I will not be long."

*Bamf!*

It was late by the time Ilen-Saa'an got off from work. Light was growing in the east; sen-Raleen had set hours ago, though nan-Raleen was still directly overhead. Ilen-Saa'an headed to where she regularly parked her Tal'esna Je-mah, pausing just long enough to look up.

“Ami'an's scheme has been set into motion, Brother Soul. May your Unseen Hand guide the off-worlder wisely," she whispered to the farther of Mûr Zhæ's two moons. Ilen-Saa'an thought a second and then added, “…and me."

Continuing on her way, Ilen-Saa'an entered the public vehicle pad—there were several grav vehicles, mostly smaller commuter types, though there were a few larger multi-passenger vehicles. At one corner of the pad area, by the outer walls of two buildings, were the spaces for speeder bikes. Ilen-Saa'an's Tal'esna Je-mah was the only bike there. She pulled the remote from her jacket pocket, entered her security code, and powered up her bike. The soft sound made as the initiators kicked in, activating the three grav units, always gave Ilen-Saa'an a certain level of satisfaction, as did watching her bike rise up slightly and the parking struts retract smoothly.

Just as Ilen-Saa'an was putting her work clothes into one of the storage compartments on her bike, she heard, “You are playing a fool's game, shu'suan Ilen-Saa'an."

Ilen-Saa'an spun around, searching to see who was near, though she found no one.

“Who is there?" she hissed quietly, unable to sense the person who sent to her. “I have no desire for nonsense—show yourself, or be gone!"

“You forget your place, shu'suan."

“And I said show yourself!"

“Does your Honored Mother know yet of your little game?"

Ilen-Saa'an was becoming irritated with the unknown person. To make matters worse, the voice seemed disturbingly familiar. Using her mental abilities, Ilen-Saa'an sought the small stunner she kept in the same storage compartment she had just put her work clothes in. The lid was still open, making it quicker to retrieve the personal protection device.

“I have no mood for your game!" Ilen-Saa'an said sharply as soon as her stunner was in her grip.

There was a brief shimmer off to the right, next to one of the buildings. A cloaked figure appeared—dark fabric nearly hidden in the shadows. Ilen-Saa'an quickly pointed her stunner at the person.

“I will use this if you do not leave me be!"

“If you attempt to do so, a great number of others will soon be quite distressed, including your family, your friend Tsel-Ami'an, and a certain na'suan and his family."

The person in the shadows threw back their cloak and walked towards Ilen-Saa'an.

“Threatening one of the Che'maht Sahn'rah carries a harsh penalty, shu'suan Ilen-Saa'an."

When the person stepped into the light of nan-Raleen, Ilen-Saa'an nearly screamed.

“AI!!"

“Quiet your voice," commanded Bren-Khy'an, “and put that away, lest I become annoyed and officially charge you."

Ilen-Saa'an meekly bowed her head and quickly did as she was instructed.

“What do you want of me?" 

Bren-Khy'an pulled her cloak about her and replied, “Why do you wish a private meeting with na'suan Craig?"

Ilen-Saa'an's eyes widened.

“He told you?"

“I reviewed the message myself."

“But, it…it was meant for him!"  

Bren-Khy'an resisted the urge to roll her eyes.

“He required assistance with interpreting."

“But the communication system should have…"

“The language techs are still adapting their translation matrix."

Ilen-Saa'an felt her chest tighten.

“How many know?" she asked pensively.

“Aside from na'suan Craig and myself, only his onnaf," Bren-Khy'an replied. After a moment she added, “You still have not answered my question."

Ilen-Saa'an slumped her shoulders and leaned against her bike.

“Truthfully, I…I find him…unnervingly nice," she replied softly, looking up into the sky.

Bren-Khy'an got a mildly amused look on her face and sent with a chuckle, “He is that. Still, why did you flaunt tradition and take it upon yourself to contact na'suan Craig?"

Ilen-Saa'an thought quickly—there was no way to lie to the guard, though she was loathe to admit all.

“My friend, Tsel-Ami'an…she has seen the off-worlder's vine, and …it…it…AH! By the All Mother, why me?!" she exclaimed, putting her face in her hands.

Bren-Khy'an considered this information along with what she had found out earlier.

“She has the gift of Foreknowledge."

“Yes! And…and she's never wrong!" Ilen-Saa'an moaned.

“Your Honored Mother does not yet know," Bren-Khy'an stated, watching to see what Ilen-Saa'an's reaction would be.

“No!" Ilen-Saa'an said emphatically, pulling her hands away from her face, and looked pleadingly at Bren-Khy'an. “She must not! At least…at least not until Tsel-Ami'an's Honored Grandmother is convinced to speak to…"

“I understand," Bren-Khy'an interrupted. Before Ilen-Saa'an could continue, Bren-Khy'an held up her hand. “As it is my duty to protect na'suan Craig during his stay on our world, I must be a part of this…endeavor. You will not bring dishonor upon House Nicolini—if you do, I will kill you myself. Am I understood?"

Ilen-Saa'an nodded wide-eyed, the look of fright was upon her face.

With a little snort, Bren-Khy'an reached into a hidden pocket in her cloak, and handed three plastic-like strips to Ilen-Saa'an.

“You will give one of these to na'suan Craig and one to your friend. I will see to it that he has the opportunity to join you. Before then, I suggest both you and your friend come to this location," Bren-Khy'an said, handing a small folded piece of paper to Ilen-Saa'an. “Do not be late."

Bre-Khy'an swept her eyes across the tops of the nearby buildings, made a gesture with her hand and then…

*Bamf!*

Ilen-Saa'an sat on her bike in utter astonishment. When the guard teleported away, Ilen-Saa'an could of sworn that she had also sensed others teleport away.

“The guard was not alone, she had others watching at a distance—I'm sure of it!" Ilen-Saa'an fretted over the possibilities of that, until she remembered what was in her hand. Unfolding the paper first, she saw a location hex grid co-ordinates had been crisply written by hand. Entering the co-ordinates in her bike's navsystem, Ilen-Saa'an's tail twitched sharply. “Nus-Sava'en! Ai! It is a dangerous place—it does not tolerate fools! Oh, Ami'an!" Ilen-Saa'an refolded the paper, and then looked at the strips. “Tickets?! Ah, these are to the Ne-char'oo match!! But…these have been sold out for over thirty nights! I wanted so much to get these…and the seats! Mid center field, no less! How…?!"

“Saa'an, I do wish you would slow down," Tsel-Ami'an sent with a measure each of alarm and sarcasm. “Nus-Sava'en, as you well know, does not suffer fools. This is one of the Ancient Roads, you should be cautious."

“The nav system has the way, we will be early."

“You trust too much in such things, my friend. The Ancient Roads are prone to change themselves when they will. Go slower."

“But that would be boring, Ami'an."

“Take care with your thoughts here, Saa'an. You have lived too much in the city—we are in the Untamed Places, it is dangerous. I know the way."

Ilen-Saa'an cast a quick glance over her shoulder, just long enough to meet Tsel-Ami'an's eye. She considered her friend's words, and then remembered something she had learned as a youngling.

“Ami'an is right—she is Khea, after all, and it has always been their domain to guide," Ilen-Saa'an thought to herself.

She slowed the bike considerably, and then chose a place to stop.

Getting off of her bike, Ilen-Saa'an sent, “Perhaps, then, you should take us the rest of the way."

The two went much slower along the Ancient Road that had been made by hand far into Mûr Zhæn's distant past. Tsel-Ami'an had traveled its full length, on foot, twice in her life. She noted subtle changes—a few stones lifted here, a slight depression there, plus signs left by various animals. Stopping by a senathi tree, Tsel-Ami'an gently placed her hands on its smooth bark.

Aloud she said, “You were over there the last time I saw you. Did you find the soil tastier here?"

“Ami'an, what are you doing?" Ilen-Saa'an asked, giving her friend a skeptical look.

“Talking to an old acquaintance, Saa'an."

“It is a tree."

“Yes, oh observant one, that she is," Tsel-Ami'an agreed with playful sarcasm.

“Trees do not talk."

“Oh? Spend much time with them, do you?"

“Trees provide cover, sometimes food and medicines. They do not talk."

Slowly shaking her head, Tsel-Ami'an turned back to the senathi tree and said, “Pay her no heed, she prefers metal and stone to growing things. What is that? One encased in metal has passed by recently? Then we should go. If you are still near the road when we return home, we shall visit again." Tsel-Ami'an walked back to Ilen-Saa'an's bike and took the front seat. “Come, Saa'an, they are ahead of us."

Climbing on behind her friend, Ilen-Saa'an sent, “Trees not only do not talk, they also do not move."

As they proceeded on their way, Tsel-Ami'an sent, “Senathi trees do."

“You seriously believe that?"

“Saa'an, there is a good reason why you do not find senathi trees in gardens—they do move about, and it is well documented. They are also more intelligent than you think. Perhaps you should read about them. I am sure that your Terran friend would find them quite amazing."

The mere mention of the Terran male caused Ilen-Saa'an to think about him. With her mind preoccupied on meeting him, Ilen-Saa'an did not notice right away that they were slowing to a stop.

“What is it, Ami'an? Have we arrived already?"

No sooner than she asked, Tsel-Ami'an's tail began twitching strongly.

“Hold tight, Saa'an—we are about to find out just how quickly your Tal-esna Je-mah can…FLY!!"

Tsel-Ami'an jerked the speed control and swerved hard.

“What the…AI!!!" Ilen-Saa'an screamed when the monstrous dark-skinned reptile, a ghe-wazi[1], burst through the trees with a deafening roar.

“AMI'AN!!!" Ilen-Saa'an screamed, ducking to avoid the snapping jaws of the ghe-wazi.

Tsel-Ami'an shoved the speed control forward, which greatly increased their speed to beyond that Ilen-Saa'an had been going earlier. She wove through the twists and turns of the Ancient Road, climbing higher and higher up the mountain.

“Ami'an! We have lost the beast—slow down, this is much too fast this low to the ground!"

Tsel-Ami'an flew through two more nearly hairpin curves before slowing down and stopping.

“Well…that was…exciting," Tsel-Ami'an sent after a few moments, pushing some loose strands of hair from her face.

“Exciting?! That thing nearly had me, Ami'an!!"

“Oh, it was more than three tail spans away, Saa'an…"

“That was too close!"

“I have not seen a ghe-wazi that large on this side of Nus-Sava'en before," Tsel-Ami'an sent as she looked down the mountainside to where they had encountered the reptile. “Perhaps Nus-Sava-en tests our resolve."

“Do we have much further to go? I do not wish to sit around only to be food for something bigger than me!" Ilen-Saa'an asked warily, looking about.

“I did tell you it was dangerous in the Untamed Places, did I not?"

“You did," Ilen-Saa'an acknowledged with a nervous sigh.

Tsel-Ami'an smiled slightly and sent, “It is not much further. We should be able to see it from here…there, do you see it?"

“I do. What is it?"

“A most fitting place your Terran friend's guard has picked for us to have this meeting," Tsel-Ami'an replied softly.

The two went on foot the last nine hundred or so paces, with Ilen-Saa'an's bike in “follow me" mode. Tsel-Ami'an had insisted upon this as being respectful—there were stories in the library archives of the place, where odd things were said to happen. Few still dared the journey up the mountain; mostly it was the Khea, though others sometimes would join them. When they reached the edge of the clearing, Tsel-Ami'an and Ilen-Saa'an stopped.

“What is this place, Ami'an?" Ilen-Saa'an asked nervously.

Arranged in a semi-circle were hewn stone statues of Mûr Tua'ansa, dressed in an ancient style that Ilen-Saa'an remembered from story plays. The statues stared down at the center of the semi-circle, where a stone bench in the shape of a log was located. At the open end of the semi-circle, slightly above the others, was a seated statue that was flanked by two others that were standing, one female and one male. The seated statue was that of an old woman whose head was adorned with a simple crown fashioned from vines.

“This is the Council of Krel-Ani'ana, the First Empress, Saa'an. It is said that she ruled from this very place over one hundred thousand sun circles ago," Tsel-Ami'an sent with reverence. “We should show respect."

Before Ilen-Saa'an could say anything, Tsel-Ami'an walked towards the statues.

“Well, it appears that the shu'suan and her friend are here, Craig," Bren-Khy'an sent as she looked towards the Ancient Road.

“Where? I don't see anybody—I can't see much of anything!"

“They are not yet in sight, though they will be shortly."

“If you can't see them, then how do you know they're here? Are you using a scanner or something?"

Bren-Khy'an quietly snorted at Craig's question.

“You still know very little about us, Craig."

“Yeah, another thing you keep saying, Khy'an. You're supposed to be teaching me your ways and all that stuff, remember?"

Bren-Khy'an glanced quickly at Craig, and then resumed watching for the others.

“I have not forgotten." After a long pause she added, “The shu'suan would be a better teacher for you than I in many things."

“Yeah, and if I do something wrong, she might go ballistic on me, and I'd be dead meat in a minute! You know, maybe that's why you got picked to be my bodyguard, teacher, and that."

“What do you mean?"

“Well, you have a lot more control over yourself—all that mental discipline stuff because of what you do. You're not likely to spaz just because some fool guy thinks you're…um, you know…"

“Your thoughts are, again, unguarded…"

“Yeah, well…"

“This is not the time or place for that, Craig."

Quietly Craig muttered under his breath, “Is there ever?"

Although she gave no indication of having heard what Craig, said, Bren-Khy'an found herself considering his words. She found that somewhat annoying.

“You are not a fool," Bren-Khy'an stated after a couple of minutes. “Misguided, perhaps; annoying, yes, but a fool…no."

Coming from her, it seemed to Craig that it was almost high praise.

“You have arrived in a timely manner," Bren-Khy'an addressed the two in their native Tu'an as they approached the semi-circle of statues.

“We almost did not—a large ghe-wazi nearly caught us!"  Ilen-Saa'an exclaimed.

“A ghe-wazi…here. Interesting," Bren-Khy'an sent with skepticism.

“Truly! If it had not been for my friend here, the beast would be having me as its meal!" Ilen-Saa'an sent emphatically.

Bren-Khy'an started to think of a sarcastic remark about city people, but dismissed it quickly when Craig interrupted her thought.

“Um, Khy'an…who is the new gal? I haven't seen anybody like her so far on Mûr Zhæn."

“What? Oh, she is one of the Khea Mûr Tua'ansa…you likely will not see many."

“Oh. Uh, is somebody going to introduce her?"

“Of course. That would be proper," Bren-Khy'an replied.

After a quick mental prod by Bren-Khy'an, Ilen-Saa'an held her hands out to Craig with palms up.

“Na'suan Khrayg, suema na-suoi," she greeted him aloud, bowing her head.

“Shu'suan Ilen-Saa'an, chéma suoi," Craig said in response when he placed his hands on hers palms down and bowed his head appropriately.

When Ilen-Saa'an introduced Tsel-Ami'an, instead of holding out her hands as Ilen-Saa'an had done, she lightly touched Craig's left cheek near his eye and then laid her hand on his chest.

Smiling gently she said, “B'han suoi, tha-wen suoi, na'suan Khrayg."

This wasn't a greeting that Bren-Khy'an had told him about, and it threw Crain off. Not knowing what else to say, he cleared his throat and said, “Shu'suan Tsel-Ami'an, chéma suoi."

Tsel-Ami'an chuckled lightly and smiled.

“His understanding of our words and ways is limited," Bren-Khy'an sent to Tsel-Ami'an.

“Ah, but he does try, one must give him that, do you not think?"

“True enough," Bren-Khy'an was forced to agree.

“We should enter The Circle and show our respect, as is proper, and then we may proceed," Bren-Khy'an stated, gesturing towards the center of the formation of statues.

Leading the way, Bren-Khy'an escorted Craig, Ilen-Saa'an, and Tsel-Ami'an to the Place of Submission before the seated figure.

Bren-Khy'an saluted the statue of Krel-Ani'ana, just as she would Krel-Mri'ana, the current Empress.

“I am Imperial Guard, First Grade, Bren-Khy'an, of the Che'maht Sahn'rah—I currently serve your descendant, Her Majesty Krel-Mri'ana, Empress of the Mûr Tua'ansa Star Empire. It is with honor, respect, and reverence that I stand in this place where once you, The First Empress, ruled so many sun-circles ago. Those who have come with me before your ancient council seek wisdom in a matter that is not covered in our traditions. Hear their words, their thoughts, and see into the center of their soul. Guide them, if it is your Will, O' spirit of Krel-Ani'ana."

Bren-Khy'an took a position before the statue of The First Empress, just as she would before the current Empress.

“Um, what do I do, Khy'an?" Craig sent to his guard.

“Kneel before Her, as I have instructed you. Give your name and house; say where you are from, and why you are here. The others will do the same."

Craig knelt before the seated statue—while he cleared his head of stray thoughts, he could have sworn that he heard…murmurs.

“My name is Craig Nicolini. I, um, am the First Son of House Nicolini, of the planet called Terra. My home is out there, among the stars, far away from here. I…I'm here because Ilen-Saa'an, one of your people, er, wanted to meet with me. I guess it's something not proper according to your ways and all, but…I can't stop thinking about her and the way we met. She's kinda nice, I think, and, well…I'd like to—if it's okay—to get to know her better."

Finished with what he had to say, Craig, slowly stood and stepped back.

Ilen-Saa'an stepped forward next and went down on both knees in the manner of her people, bowing low and exposing the back of her neck.

In Tu'an she spoke aloud," I am Ilen-Saa'an, lowly Fourth Daughter of House Ilen, Third Circle. Majesty, I…I find that something draws me to the off-worlder male, Khrayg Ny'cholinee—I cannot explain it. My Honored Mother does not know of this, as I dare not tell her yet. Though we met badly at first, we have made peace between us, and I…I find him…likeable. My friend tells me that his vine and mine are growing towards one another—she is never wrong in such things. If it is Your Will, guide me in this, please."

When Ilen-Saa'an got up and stepped back, it was Tsel-Ami'an's turn.

“I am Tsel-Ami'an, of the ancient Khea line of Tsel-Sight Giver, Grand Daughter of Tsel-Vsa'an, First Daughter of Tsel-Una'an, and sister-friend[2] of Ilen-Saa'an of House Ilen."

Tsel-Ami'an stood up, walked over to the first statue in the semi-circle, and placed her right hand in reverence on its chest.

“My Honored Ancestor, I carry memories of your time among our people, and I possess your gift. It has been many long, long nights since your path wound its way from the Mûr Thel-Raleen, through this world, and back to the All Mother. I have seen the vine of this stranger from the stars grow and become tangled with my sister-friend, and thus with my own as well. You were the most gifted of our kind—will you help us now?"

Ilen-Saa'an's jaw dropped in surprise—she did not know that her friend's lineage went all the way back to the time of the First Empress and her council!

The four sat on the ground holding hands, Bren-Khy'an to Craig's right, Ilen-Saa'an to his left, and Tsel-Ami'an opposite from him. Bren-Khy'an initiated the link and began sharing what she knew of Terran Standard English, with Craig filling in as necessary. He found it somewhat disconcerting to be “embracing in thought" with three other people at once—all very much alien to him. Craig had shared a telepathic experience with one of his Élendorian friends who was teaching him how to play his nine-stringed ha'nureen. This was much different than his earlier experience, however. The sharing of language went both ways, with the three Mûr Zhæn natives helping Craig learn Tu'an. Ilen-Saa'an, for her part, learned why Craig had done what he did that night in the Merchant District—from trying to be helpful in returning an item that she had dropped, to trying to shield her from harm with his own body. The later, it turned out, was just as Tsel-Ami'an had suggested when they discussed the incident. “Perhaps he had thought more of your life than his own," she had said. This was a little difficult for Ilen-Saa'an—aside from finding yet another thing Ami'an turned out to be annoyingly correct on, she felt even more embarrassed at her initial reaction to the Terran male. Tsel-Ami'an smiled slightly during the joining of minds, as she—using her special gift—“saw" the vines of their lives becoming tangled together: the strong, fearless, disciplined warrior; the shy, artistic, caring Terran; the sometimes reckless, practical, “down-to-earth" food service worker; and her own guiding theirs to…where?

“Where are we going, Tsel-Sight Giver? Help me to see more clearly," Tsel-Ami'an privately asked of her ancient ancestor.

“I guess you can understand me now, right?" Craig asked Ilen-Saa'an and Tsel-Ami'an.

“Yes, though it is strange to be using a language so different than our own," Ilen-Saa'an agreed.

“As I recall, you said something similar when I taught you my people's dialect," Tsel-Ami'an said with an amused look.

“And as I recall, your people do not make a habit of sharing that," Ilen-Saa'an sent with a slightly raised eyebrow.

“Only among those we consider close friends," Tsel-Ami'an said, slightly twining the end of her tail around the end of Ilen-
Saa'an's.

That reminded Craig of something he had learned from Fey, the A.I. of the scout ship, Dark Fire, when he saw her android avatar one day in the embassy. Reaching into the small backback he had brought along, Craig pulled out an insulated water bladder.

Pulling open the mouth piece, Craig said, “Since we all kinda know each other now, I think that, maybe since we're in this place, it might be as good a time as any. You folks have a special thing about water, and there's some little ritual or such that you have about sharing it. Well, this," Craig held up the water bladder, “I got from the Dark Fire, that black scout ship that came here with us—it was one of the three that brought back that exploration ship of yours. Anyway…Fey, she's the ship's A.I., said it goes kinda like, “I share the water from my home with you, from my mouth to yours." Craig took a drink and then handed the water bladder to Bren-Khy'an first, since she was eldest, and it seemed appropriate to him to do so.

“Craig, what are you doing? I…I cannot, I am your guard!"

Craig shoved the water bladder into Bren-Khy'an's hands, and then put his hands on her shoulders.

“Yeah, you may be my guard, but you're also…," he paused briefly as he looked her in the eye, “…at least a friend." Almost whispering he added, “Please, Khy'an…it would mean a lot to me if you would."

Casting a quick glance at the other two, and seeing the surprised looks on their faces, Bren-Khy'an looked up at the surrounding statues.

“The off-worlder both fears and respects what I am—yet he also has strong feelings towards me that I do not understand. The bonds between my own family and myself have long been broken, but he would forge them anew, and add his own. This has not been the way of the Che'maht Sahn'rah, I…"

Bren-Khy'antrailed off—she saw the faces of the statues looking down at her, and…could almost swear their eyes had begun to glow.

“AH!" Tsel-Ami'an suddenly called out, and quickly held her hand to her mouth.

“What is it, Ami'an?" Ilen-Saa'an asked quietly with concern.

Looking around himself, Craig asked, “Geezers, what's going on?"

The air shimmered, and their surroundings seemed to change. Craig rubbed his eyes, not quite believing what he saw—the statues were no longer weather worn carvings of stone, but living people who looked the same, yet different, from any other citizen of Mûr Zhæn he had seen. Craig heard unfamiliar voices, oddly accented, yet he understood them.

“A stranger from afar has, with grace, offered the ritual of Rai'thran Zhuw to one of our own. Why is it not accepted with equal grace?"

Craig, Bren-Khy'an, Ilen-Saa'an, and Tsel-Ami'an exchanged astonished looks—all had apparently heard the question.

“We do not repeat ourselves—answer!" commanded the voice.

“Khy'an, uh, I think you'd better answer them," Craig sent a little nervously.

Bren-Khy'an met Craig's eyes and nodded once.

“I am Che'maht Sahn'rah, it is not…"

“We know what you ae, Bren-Khy'an, Second Daughter of House Bren, of the line of Bren-Fire Maker. The offer has been made in good will—do you wish to insult the stranger's House?"

Bren-Khy'an quickly though, “I warned the shu'suan to not bring dishonor to House Nicolini. I am his personal guard for the duration of his time on our world—I surely must not be the one to bring dishonor!"  Facing Craig, Bren-Khy'an held up the insulated water bladder that was still in her hands. Aloud she said, “Craig Nicolini, I thank you for the sharing of queth sliat from your home, from my mouth to yours." Bren-Khy'an took a drink and then handed the water back to him. When he took it from her, she placed her hands on Craig's shoulders. “I…also accept your offer of friendship, and…give you mine in return, though never forget that I am duty bound to fulfill my pledge to protect the Empress at all costs."

Craig took the required second drink, and grinned as he put his hands once again on Bren-Khy'an's shoulders.

“I accept."

When the ritualistic offer of water and friendship had been made to, and accepted by, both Ilen-Saa'an and Tsel-Ami'an, Bren-Khy'an reached into her shoulder bag, pulled out a bota-like water container, and looked thoughtfully at it a few seconds.

“I had not thought of doing this since I knew I had been selected to become one of the Che'maht Sahn'rah," she began. “Since that time, my own family and friends have become terrified of me—and rightfully so!" Bren-Khy'an looked at Craig and continued. “Here, family is all important, more so than you may understand, Craig. To have all bonds of family and friends severed is…difficult…for our kind. You may adapt to being on your own, we…"

“A part of us dies," Tsel-Ami'an finished. “It is so unthinkable for one of us to kill our own family members, that to know one of our own blood would not hesitate to do so, even to protect the Empress, is terrifying."

“That is why I cannot visit my family, Craig," Bren-Khy'an continued, “I am no longer my Honored Mother's daughter."

Craig thought on what he had just been told.

“I know you scared the heck out of me Khy'an, and at first I thought everybody hated me because I'm not like you. But the longer I've been here, and the more I understand, and…um…know what not to do, heh, I think it wasn't so crazy coming here to Mûr Zh. I've been thinking, we've got this saying back home that—the more I think about it, and after what you've told me—the more I realize what it really means." Positioning himself so that he could face Bren-Khy'an and hold her hands, Craig, continued. “Khy'an, by the time you're old and gray, I'll be long gone from this life, but I want you to know something. When you retire, or whatever, and if your own family still won't have you back, I want you to know that you can come to Terra and look up my relatives. I'll leave a message for them about you, and they'll tell you that saying—the one I'm going to tell you right now. No matter how scary your job makes you, no matter what anyone else might think of you, my relatives will tell you, 'Here you will find only love and acceptance.' And you will."

“You would offer such to a Che'maht Sahn'rah? The unseen voice asked.

Craig stood and said, “Yeah, I do…and I meant it." Craig reached for and held a hand of both Ilen-Saa'an and Tsel-Ami'an. “I offer the same to both of you."

“The stranger is most generous to our own. For one of such a young race, there is wisdom in the words and deeds from a House not of our circles. Allow the vines to grow as they will—embrace the differences and be stronger for it," the unseen voice said to the four.

The air and surroundings shimmered again, and everything appeared as it was before. There was a subtle difference, Craig noted—the faces of the statues did not look quite as stern as they had when they first entered the semi-circle.

The four sat silently together for few minutes—they were too stunned to by what they had experienced.

“So what do we do now?" Craig asked.

Ilen-Saa'an remembered the tickets she had in her belt pouch, and got them out.

“Anyone up to see the ne-char'oo championship game?"

Tsel-Ami'an asked in total amazement, “Where did you get those, Saa'an?!"

Casting a quick glance over to Bren-Khy'an, who slightly raised an eyebrow, Ilen-Saa'an replied, “I suppose one could say it was just a fool's luck."

Bren-Khy'an smiled slightly.

(On to chapter 6: https://www.sofurry.com/view/1066881)

[1] Ghe-wazi – a large carnivorous, venomous reptile that is approximately six meters in length and walks on its hind legs. It is capable of a tremendous burst of speed over a distance of approximately one hundred meters.

[2] Sister-friend – the Mûr Tua'ansa equivalent of “best friend".