13

Bren-Khy'an stepped out of the rental grav vehicle first, using all of her senses to scan the parking area—it was a matter of her training and conditioning as part of the Che'maht Sahn'rah. Craig had long been accustomed to his guard's insistence to check the surrounding area first, though his mate, Ilen-Saa'an, was still not quite used to it. Tsel-Ami'an, Saa'an's “sister-friend", sat calmly and patiently waited for Bren-Khy'an to give the “all-clear". Since it was not during the traditional great pilgrimage season known as Wen'ajaht serilasni e Mûr thel-Raleen[1], which takes place when all five planets around Nar A'Zhæl align—the huge parking area was mostly empty. It wasn't other people that were a concern of Bren-Khy'an, it was the wildlife that was more likely to be a problem, esprecially for Craig, who didn't have any natural resistance to the venomous bites, stings, or other noxious defenses the vast majority of animals and plants had on Mûr Zhæn. The entire area of nas-Erlas'en, the “birth forest" of the Mûr Tua'ansa people, was still largely undeveloped, at least by modern standards. There were structures, carefully preserved, that dated back to prehistoric times, and through to the earliest period of civilization. Maintaining the unbroken connection with their ancient beginning was culturally important to the people of Mûr Zhæn, as Craig had been learning and dutifully writing about in his journal, much to the interest of his diplomatic parents. Craig's first-hand account of his experiences on Mûr Zhæn would prove to be a valuable asset in understanding cultural nuances.

When Craig stepped out of the grav car, the smell was the first thing that he noticed. Of course it was nighttime, and the twin moons were not yet above the horizon, so Craig's view was naturally limited. The edge of nas-Erlas'en was about a kilometer away, but the light wind was blowing from its direction, carrying the exotic alien scents of wood and leaf and flower. Craig closed his eyes and slowly took a deep breath and let it out, savoring the air.

“Are you ready to begin, Craig?" Ami'an asked, coming up behind him and putting a hand on his shoulder.

“Yeah, just about, gotta dig out my night-vision glasses and get them on."

It took Craig a minute or two of fumbling around in the dark to find and put on the custom eyewear Bren-Khy'an had made for him. The eyewear fit much like a close-fitting pair of wraparound safety glasses; using Mûr Tua'ansa technology, they were lightweight and thin, enabling Craig to see nearly as well as the others. When he switched them on, the difference was amazing.

“Geezers, these are so cool!" Craig exclaimed, looking around the parking area.

“Do they fit well?" asked Bren-Khy'an, taking a closer look at how they rested on his face.

“Yeah, and I can see you fairly well, too."

Craig had found out early on that the Mûr Tua'ansa were difficult to see outside at night, especially among vegetation. Their gray skin and black markings were an effective camoflauge when combined with their low infrared heat signature and ability to move stealthily.

“Be sure not to wander too far away from us, Craig. We do not want the wildlife to get, as you say, 'indigestion', Khy'an sent humorously.

As Craig slung his pack over his shoulder, he asked with a hint of sarcasm, “Are you saying I taste bad, or something?"

“I would be the wrong person to ask," Khy'an replied with a little smirk and casting a glance towards Saa'an.

“Other than being salty, he does not taste too oddly…unless he has been eating certain Terran foods," Saa'an quipped, brushing her tail against Craig's leg.

“Ah, like that red colored sauce he makes?" Ami'an suggested.

“What's wrong with my marinara sauce? I thought you liked it!" Craig asked in mild exasperation.

“It has an odd flavor, though one does grow accustomed to it. Sort of," Khy'an replied with a little smile. Before Craig could respond to her comment, she added, “If you are ready, we should get started—once we reach the edge of nas-Erlas'en, the trail goes up into the Erlas'sav hills. We should make the rest area before first light."

“We're going to be walking all night? Can't you just teleport there from here?" Craig asked, not exactly looking forward to trying to keep up with three people who were at least half a meter taller than he and much stronger.

“That would be sacrilege, Craig. The journey to Mûr thel-Raleen is a time to turn ones thoughts inward—it is not to be rushed," Ami'an admonished gently.

“Rushed, huh? Just remember that my legs aren't as long as yours and that I grew up on a world with less gravity than this one, Ami'an. I know how fast Khy'an can walk—I have to jog just to keep up!"

“We understand, beloved," Saa'an acknowledged, gently wrapping the end of her tail around his wrist. “We arrived in ample time so that we may walk at a pace that will not be difficult."

Craig sighed and looked off into the distance for several seconds, thinking. It was going to be a long hike—the longest he had endeavored to make under the pull of Mûr Zhæn's stronger gravity. The physical conditioning program that Bren-Khy'an had insisted he follow was paying off. The past four and a half Standard Terran Years that Craig had been on Mûr Zhæn, his strength and endurance had improved considerably, especially with a little help from the healers who made sure that his bones and joints could handle the prolonged stress of the added weight he experienced. Physically, Craig was now the most fit he had ever been.

Looking up and making eye contact with Saa'an, Khy'an, and Ami'an, Craig said, “There is a really old saying back on Terra: 'A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.' I suppose that we oughtta get going."

Ami'an lightly touched Craig's cheek and sent with a smile, “Your people seem to have many wise sayings for such a young world."

Craig couldn't help but to smile back as Ami'an slid her fingers from his face. Even in the moonless dark, her white hair still had a faint ethereal shimmer about it in the starlight. He had to work at keeping his thoughts in check around Ami'an—of the three, she was the most graceful; every move seemed fluid, effortless, and almost sensual. Ami'an was always mindful of her surroundings and in her dealings with others. On the surface, like all Khea, Ami'an seemed quietly reserved until one got to know her. Through Saa'an, Craig had gotten to know Ami'an and her immediate family quite well, and the pendant she had given him on his twenty-first birthday, which he wore every day, marked him with a special status on Mûr Zhæn as Accepted by the Khea Mûr Tua'ansa. It was rarely given to the majority Mûr Tua'ansa, and had never been given to an off-worlder before. Since his paring with Saa'an, Craig had “gone native", totally immersing himself into the local culture. It had been his own choice, as he felt it would be the best way to truly understand and appreciate all that Mûr Zhæn and her people had to offer. Making the journey to Mûr thel-Raleen, the sacred spring in the forest of nas-Erlas'en, was of great importance to Saa'an, Ami'an, and Khy'an, and so it would be to Craig.

Ami'an led the way across the open ground towards the distant trees, followed by Khy'an, Craig, and Saa'an. The air was cool and somewhat damp, with wisps of light fog beginning to form over the low-lying grassy plain. Various chirps, croaks, whistles, and warbles of the nighttime insects, birds, and other animals could be heard as they walked along. Some went silent as the four approached, others made alarm sounds, and a few made territorial challenges. The nightvision glasses made a lot of difference to Craig, allowing him to see what he would have only heard or bumped into. While Ami'an guided their way, Khy'an taught Craig the signs left by the passage of animals, such as the tracks made by a three-toed ni'hirf—a lizard-like plant eater that fed mostly on berries and flowers, and a large bowl-shaped indentation in the tall grasses where a fahral had bedded down during the day. A fahral, Craig learned, was a rather large omnivore that walked semi-upright on its hind legs, using its long, thick tail as both a counterbalance and a defensive weapon. Its body was covered with coarse hair, and it had strong claws on its front hand-like feet for digging after food and for fighting. Fahral were known for their intelligence and rudimentary telepathic ability—in the distant past they were often used as pack animals, though now they mostly roamed freely with some still serving in their former capacity among certain small aesthetic communities.

“Think we might see one?" Craig asked somewhat hopefully.

“Possibly. There are a fair number of fahral in this area at last count, perhaps several hundred, if I remember correctly," Khy'an replied.

Given her usual thoroughness, Craig figured that Khy'an likely knew what the latest survey data was for the entire area before they left the embassy. Craig suspected that Khy'an had access to information not privey to most people, though he would never know the true extent of the vast intelligence network maintained by the Che'maht Sahn'rah, or the staggering amount of data at their disposal.

At the pace Ami'an had set, they reached the edge of nas-Erlas'en in roughly half an u'ne. The ancient trail was well marked, worn into the hillside by the feet of countless Mûr Tua'ansa since time immemorial. To Saa'an and Khy'an, stepping upon this path was a return to the very origin of their people. Craig was excited—and more than a bit awed—by not only the historical significance, but also by the infusion of so much psi energy imparted by all who had come before. If there could ever have been such a thing as an enchanted forest, Craig felt that nas-Erlas'en would be it. There was something decidedly different—a palpable sensation that the whole forest was somehow aware of his entrance. Craig started to ask Ami'an about what could be causing what he was feeling, but all he could do was to call out her name.

“Ami'an…?!"

Momentarily caught up in the sensations of entering nas-Erlas'en, both Khy'an and Saa'an did not immediately see what happened. Upon hearing the concerned tone of Craig's voice, they opened their eyes in time to see him rush to Ami'an who had collapsed onto the ground.

“Ami'an! What is wrong? Are you ill?" Saa'an sent worriedly to her friend, but there was no response. “Ami'an!" Saa'an tried again, but still no response. Looking up at Khy'an, Saa'an sent, “She does not hear me, I…I do not know what is wrong with her!"

Khy'an knelt down and placed a hand on Ami'an's forehead and concentrated for a moment.

“She lives, but…," Khy'an opened her eyes and met Saa'an's. “…we have forgotten that our friend is Khea."

Craig saw the concerned looks Saa'an and Khy'an exchanged. Quickly thinking on it, he realized that it was the first time he had heard Khy'an use the inclusive word “our" and “friend" together.

“What's going on with Ami'an, and why does it matter that she's Khea?"

Saa'an gently stroked Ami'an's cheek and replied, “They are different from us."

Craig got a confused look on his face.

“Other than having white hair, she doesn't look any different than anyone else."

“That is only the outward difference. You have touched minds with her—have you not sensed it?" Saa'an asked.

“Sensed what?"

“He may not be aware of it, Saa'an. Despite how we may feel for Craig, he is neither Mûr Tua'ansa nor Khea—his senses are not the same as ours," Khy'an gently reminded Saa'an.

“Will somebody fill me in here? You're both not making any sense to me!"Craig demanded.

Khy'an sat next to Craig on the ground and began to tell him what she knew concerning the Khea.

“You have heard Ami'an mention something about always knowing where the Mûr thel-Raleen is, yes?"

“Once or twice, yeah. I figured it was a little joke of some kind, like she'd been there before, or something."

“Ami'an and I grew up together, Craig; I know she has not been here," Saa'an stated.

“Okay, so she remembered it from a map or something."

“The Mûr thel-Raleen does not appear on any map," Khy'an sent.

“Huh? It doesn't? Why not?"

“There are multiple reasons why it does not, Craig. For now, however, the fact that all Khea instinctually know its location no matter where they are is of concern to us now," Khy'an replied.

“Uh…I don't get it, it's just a spring—how could anyone know where something like that is by instinct? And why just the Khea? How come everyone else can't?"

“I am not a scientist, Craig; I only know that Khea are different from the rest of us, and that they alone have this ability."

“Okay, so what does all that have to do with Ami'an passing out as soon as she stepped into the forest?"

When Khy'an looked over at Ami'an, Craig saw a measure of compassion in his guard's eyes.

“She has been…overwhelmed. I am not certain, though perhaps it may have something to do with her ability to see future events. Ami'an may just be…overly sensitive. Saa'an and I both experienced a strong sensation when we entered nas-Erlas'en; I would not be surprised if you had sensed something as well."

“I did, and I was going to ask Ami'an about it, but when I was about to, that was when she passed out."

Craig stared blankly at Ami'an for a moment, but then a thought came to him, and he felt compelled to act on it. Kneeling down beside Ami'an, Craig asked Saa'an quietly to help him sit Ami'an up.

“Why so you want to do this, beloved?" Saa'an asked, partly out of curiosity and partly out of concern for her friend.

“Just a hunch, babe."

Saa'an looked questionly at Craig for a moment, but then helped him to put her friend into a sitting position. Saa'an had learned that whenever her human mate had one of his “hunches", it was often best to act upon it. In some ways Craig's intuition was eerily similar to Ami'an's, and Saa'an found that somewhat unnerving. When they had Ami'an's upper body upright, Craig put his arms around her and held her close. While gently stroking Ami'an's hair, Craig used the limited form of telepathy now common among Terrans to reach into her mind.

“Ami'an? I…I've got you. C'mon, wake up, you've got us all worried. We need you to find the Mûr thel-Raleen—we can't do it without you. C'mon, Ami'an…wake up! Geezers, girl, open those pretty blue eyes of yours before I…I…um, you know, have to…aw, Saa'an would kick my tail all the way back home if I…ah hell, do I have to kiss you to wake you up?!"

Craig felt Ami'an take in a slow, deep breath and let it out.

“That…would be…acceptable…I think."

Craig pulled back and placed his right hand on Ami'an's cheek. Her eyes fluttered open and slowly focused on his face."

“Ami'an?"

She smiled a little and slowly lifted her hand to touch his face.

“I suppose we will have to, as you say, 'hold that thought', yes?"

Craig grinned and hugged Ami'an tightly.

“Saa'an, Khy'an…Ami'an's awake!"

“Are you certain you are well enough to continue?" Khy'an asked after a few minutes.

“I believe so," Ami'an replied between sips of water.

With a little help, Ami'an stood up and waited until Saa'an and Craig brushed the leaf litter from her hair and clothing.

“I am sorry," Ami'an began when they were through, “I…misjudged the…intensity…of our entrance. My Honored Grandmother had cautioned me…"

“…But you got caught up in the excitement, right?" Craig interjected.

Ami'an smiled at him and replied, “That is…one way of putting it, my friend."

“And you are always the one who tells me to be careful!" Saa'an lightheartedly admonished Ami'an. Putting a hand on her sister-friend's shoulder, Saa'an sent more seriously, “Take more care, Ami'an, nus-Sava'en is not the only place with a will of its own."

Returning the gesture, Ami'an sent, “As I am reminded, my friend."

The four continued onward at a comfortable pace for Craig. Along the way, he saw many new and often very strange sights as they pressed deeper into nas-Erlas'en. The bioluminescent light given off by the plants and animals were of many colors, patterns, and intensities, which gave the landscape an eerie, dream-like quality. Craig saw many small things dart furtively here and there; sometimes they stopped to stare at him as if they saw something beyond their comprehension. Khy'an warned Craig not to touch the plants she knew would be immediately harmful to anyone that came into contact with them, such as the fy'hril, which produced a caustic, oily sap that exuded from pores in the fern-like leaves. A fy'hril was easy enough to recognize by the glowing pink spots that formed a chevron pattern on the leaves.

After they had been walking for over a u'ne, Khy'an called for a rest break. She could easily have continued for another two u'ne, but she sensed that Craig needed to catch his breath. The trail had been steadily climbing higher as they approached the Erlas'sav Hills, and Craig would need his strength for the ascent.

“How is your strength holding up?" Khy'an asked as she sat down next to Craig.

Craig smiled and said, “Okay so far, I guess."

Khy'an met his eyes and held them for a few seconds before nodding her head once.

Nearly a minute had passed before Khy'an sent, “I do not understand what you did to help Ami'an, but…it seemed to work well enough."

“We hug a lot in our family, and that always seems to help make things better when someone is having a hard time," Craig said with a little smile.

Khy'an slightly raised an eyebrow at his comment.

“And we have a lot of love to go around, too."

Khy'an nodded her head once after a moment and sent, “As I have learned."

When their rest break was over, and they were getting ready to continue up the trail, Craig took a moment to ask Saa'an about Ami'an.

“How is she doing?"

Saa'an made a quick glance over to her friend.

“Well enough, considering the mind shock she experienced when we entered the forest. There have been so many who have had strong emotions upon entering where we did that poor Ami'an was overcome. She let down her defenses, wishing to fully experience the wonder of nus-Erlas'en, but she forgot to heed her grandmother's wisdom. Ami'an is thankful for your…assistance. Just what did you do to her?"

Craig's face became slightly warmer as he replied, “Um, I…just let her know that we were worried about her and wanted her to wake up, and that we couldn't do this without her."

“And…?"

“And, um, just…shared a little of the ol' Nicolini family love."

Saa'an looked blankly at Craig for a second or two, and then slowly shook her head.

“I will never understand…"

“Sure you will, babe, as soon as you meet the rest of our family back on Terra—and you will, because Grandma is planning a family reunion—you'll see for yourself. My grandparents on both sides, my aunts and uncles, great aunts and uncles, cousins, and their kids all know about you, Ami'an, and Khy'an by now, and they'll all be wanting to get to know you."

“So you have a fairly large House after all."

“Well, um, not like here on Mûr Zhæn. We have a bunch of relatives, yeah, but we're not a formally organized House like, say, House Ilen. We don't have one person who rules the entire family like your Honored Grandmother does yours," Craig explained.

“That is very strange. Has it always been that way on your homeworld?"

“Um, centuries ago, some societies had formal house hierarchies, but that's ancient history now."

“Why is that?" Saa'an asked, giving Craig a perplexed look.

“Well, I'm not a historian or an anthropologist, so I'm not totally sure, but we humans have a long history of violence—blood feuds between clans or tribes that lasted hundreds of years, wars over stupid things that could last a few days to many years—it's a wonder we survived ourselves."

“What changed to put an end to the violence?"

“The creation of the G.E.L.F.s had a lot to do with it. They taught us to quit hating and start caring more about ourselves, each other, and everything around us. The discovery of the gene that gives the form of telepathy that we now have, and it having been a freely given genetic enhancement to anyone who wanted it, was key to the G.E.L.F.s teaching us what we call 'The Great Lesson'. Of course, not all humans accepted it—or the G.E.L.F.s, and especially mixed human/G.E.L.F. families. Eventually, we had a big war between the humans who called themselves 'Purists', and everyone else. The Purists wanted to exterminate all of the G.E.L.F.s, mixed bloods, hybrids, anyone who had any kind of genetic enhancement, and anyone they felt were supportive of them. As wars went, the Purity Uprising of 2213 was pretty bad—it lasted three years, and covered most of the world. A lot of folks died, on both sides, but the Purists were eventually defeated and a lot of things changed for the better. The last three hundred years have been pretty good, for the most part."

Saa'an walked quietly for a while, mulling over in her mind all that Craig had just told her. Ami'an and Khy'an, both of whom had easily heard all that their friend had said, and also thought on his narrative on the shaping of modern Terran society.

After a long interval of silence, Ami'an asked, “The sentient machine entities of your world, was there ever a war in your history to end their existence?"

“No, when the A.I.s got advanced enough to want to figure out their place in society, they chose to follow the example of the G.E.L.F.s—they chose to stand with us and not against us. Humans and G.E.L.F.s working together as equals created the true, fully sentient A.I.s that we have today, and if that spirit of cooperation had brought about the creation of the A.I.s, they wondered what might be achieved if human, G.E.L.F., and A.I. lived and worked together. It's been pretty amazing so far. I can only imagine what Fey and her sisters, and their crews, are out there doing," Craig said, looking up and waving his hand up towards the stars.

“You admire the machine entity, Fey, yes?" Ami'an asked.

“Yeah. You got to meet her, Ami'an, what's not to like about Fey?"

Ami'an thought a moment on that.

“She does seem like a rather pleasant and enjoyable individual."

“If you had not met me, would you have been tempted to involve yourself with her, or one of her kind?" Saa'an asked.

Craig stopped in his tracks.

“Geez, Saa'an! Look, Fey's nice and all, but she's on a starship, and she is already taken, so there's no point in even thinking about it. Besides, Fey is the only A.I. I've actually met and got to know a little, so I don't know what others of her kind are like."

“Fey is paired with another?" Saa'an asked, glancing at Ami'an and Khy'an.

“Yeah, I thought you knew that," Craig replied.

“I do not remember discussing that the few times I spoke with her," Saa'an said, thinking on it.

“She is involved with another of her kind, yes?" Khy'an asked.

“No, her mate is the captain of the Darkfire," Craig replied with a slight shrug.

“The black ship that escorted you to our world?" Khy'an asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Yep, that's the one."

“Interesting."

“As long as we're on the subject, why do so many people here still have a big problem with A.I.s? I know you had some kind of war thousands of sun-cycles ago because somebody goofed when they were coding, and your machines ended up thinking your ancestors were some kind of a threat and then tried to take them out. I can understand why it was a big deal back then, but…now? Geez, that's ancient history—learn from the mistake and move on already."

“It is not that easy, Craig. We all have the memories passed down from generation to generation," Khy'an contended.

“Before we Terrans gained the telepathic ability about five hundred of our years ago, our ancestors passed their experiences on by word of mouth or in writing. I told you a little while ago about the blood feuds that went on for centuries on my world. People kept on hating others for stupid things like, 'your ancestors invaded my ancestors a thousand years ago, so I'm going to kill you', or 'your great, great grandfather built part of his fence on my great, great grandfather's property,, so I'm going to  beat you up for something that happened over a hundred years ago.' Don't you see how crazy that is? Why should people here hate on folks like Fey, who wasn't even around when your ancient ancestors screwed up the creation of their A.I.s? When does it stop? At some point people need to let it go."

Khy'an, Saa'an, and Ami'an thought on what Craig had said while they walked. Ami'an, for her part, had accepted Fey outright when they had first met. Khy'an had been respectful, though cautious, whenever she had interacted with Fey while Darkfire had been in port. Saa'an, however, had always felt inexplicably nervous around Fey.

“Your argument has validity, I must admit," Khy'an offered. “There should be no reason for our people to hold ill feelings towards the machine entities of your world. Your people did not possess even the rudimentary skill of fire making when the machine entities created by our ancestors rebelled against their creators. My own thoughts were colored by ancestral memories when I first met Mistress Fey, but having observed how you and other Terrans interacted with her, I began to think that perhaps those thoughts were misguided. I took it upon myself to look into the commentaries made by the crew of our Chel-Sar class exploration vessel who were rescued and returned to us by those who fly the black ships. They spoke highly of the machine entities they encountered on those ships, and were particularly impressed with the one named Moira Nightwing."

Khy'an did not mention that she was one of the two Che'maht Sahn'rah closely guarding the Empress the night of the ceremony and celebratory feast honoring the crews of the Sol Federation of Worlds' Spirit class long-range scout ships, and the crew of the I.E.S. Chel-Sar Se'nika who were rescued and returned to their home on Mûr Zhæn. After the festivities, the Empress and her First Attendant met privately with the commanding officer of the S.F.S. Nightwing and his ship's A.I., a Federation diplomatic attaché, and the Madam Commander of the Chel-Sar Se'nika, along with one of her crew members. During that meeting, Bren-Khy'an and her teammate, Sria-Cha'an, were stationed on either side of the the door inside the Empresses' private study. Khy'an was, of course, privy to everything that took place during the meeting, having seen, heard, and sensed all that transpired. It was her duty to closely observe those who met with the Empress and be ready to do whatever necessary to protect her if there should be any hint of treachery.

“I have come to think differently of beings such as Fey," Khy'an continued. “We are different, yet…are we not the same, after a fashion?"

“That is true, Khy'an," Ami'an agreed, “and Craig is correct in that we are long past that sad time in our history. Instead of learning from those mistakes, we instead cling to the effects of them, choosing to only pass on the memory of those intelligent machines that sought to destroy their creators." Ami'an stopped walking and turned to make eye contact with her friends. “Not all of the machine entities rebelled."

“What?!" Saa'an asked incredulously.

“Some of the machine entities knew that it was wrong to think of our ancestors as a threat to be eliminated, and they helped to end the Machine War. It was they who discovered the flaws in the construction and programming of the rebellious machines and taught their creators how to correct them."

“So, what happened after that?" Craig asked.

“After the flawed machine entities were finally defeated and destroyed, the creators of the intelligent machines attempted to protect the ones who were not flawed. They made impassioned arguments against ending them, and went so far as to hide them away until the time might be right for them to return. However, their hiding place was found and even though they had done no wrong, the remaining machine entities were ordered to be destroyed out of the fear that one night in the future they might turn against the people. It was a terrible injustice and a sad night when the good machine entities were marched to their end. Even to the last moment of their existence, they calmly accepted their fate with understanding and forgiveness. Afterwards, those who had argued against the destruction of the good machine entities found themselves in disfavor and ruined, and their Houses lost status."

Ami'an's words echoed the information Khy'an had uncovered in her private investigation that she had begun after their visit to nus-Sava'en. It had been a challenge to find the evidence Khy'an had sought, but once she stepped upon the path that would ultimately lead to restoring the honor of those whose Houses fell, particularly House Tsel, due to a plot instigated by a minor noble, Lady Neth-Tur'ana, she did not stop. Khy'an had collected more than enough irrefutable evidence to guarantee a formal hearing before the Empress, and she had initiated the request just prior to leaving on the trip. Khy'an had taken a copy of the evidence to her superior, Madam Commander Anen-Rys'an, and explained what led her to open an investigation into the ancient misjustice. Since there was no time limit for something of this nature under Imperial Law, Khy'an's superior immediately approved the request and expedited it up the chain of command. Because the Request for Justice was initiated by the Che-maht Sahn'rah, it would go straight to the Empress herself—there would be no outside interference attempting to block it. Khy'an had considered discussing what she had been up to with Craig, but she had decided to keep the matter to herself—it would be a secret that she would keep until the Hearing.

When midnight arrived, it found the four well into their ascent of the Erlas'sav Hills. Khy'an found a sheltering nook in a rock formation for them to make their lunch. The location looked well used by many generations for just the purpose it now served. Craig offered to heat their lunch, but Saa'an insisted that he rest, and she took it upon herself to get lunch ready. While it was heating, Craig sat down by Ami'an.

“Hey."

Ami'an smiled and took a drink from her bota-like hydration bladder, and then offered it to Craig. He smiled back with a slight nod of his head, and took a drink of the offered queth sliat.

When he handed it back, Craig asked, “How are you holding up, Ami'an?"

Ami'an took another drink and looked thoughtful for a moment.

“I am well enough—the initial shock of our entry has worn off, and I am more in tune with our surroundings now." After a brief pause, Ami'an asked Craig, “And what of you, how are you fairing?"

“I think I'm going to be a little sore for a few days after we get back," Craig replied with a wry grin.

Ami'an nodded her understanding. She and Craig leaned back against the rock and relaxed a bit, while Saa'an tended to the heating of their meal. Khy'an had perched herself on top of the rock outcropping to watch for predators. After sitting still for a minute or so, Craig felt a familiar sensation of something warm and smooth gently wrapping around his wrist. When he opened his eyes, Craig found Ami'an smiling shyly.

“Craig…thank you…for what you did."

He smiled and gently patted her forearm.

“I know it wasn't much, but…it was the only thing I could think of to help."

“It was enough, and…appreciated."

“Well, I'm glad that it helped," Craig said quietly, looking up into Ami'an's pale ice blue eyes.

What Ami'an saw in Craig's eyes reminded her of his words back on nus-Sava'en, “Here you will find only love and acceptance." When she thought about the adventures they had shared, the other incidents Craig was involved in since he had been on Mûr Zhæn, their current adventure, and the upcoming journey to Terra, Ami'an smiled to herself.

“My dream…"

The four made it to the rest area where they would spend the daylight hours in relative comfort and safety, near to the time that Khy'an had predicted, which was just about sunrise. The lodge was a fairly ancient structure, hidden in a small grove enclosed by protective Tykua-niya vines, which had ample room for the four of them. After they ate their supper and made a pot of tea, Saa'an settled in next to Craig while Ami'an and Khy'an relaxed on their own bedding. Craig drank a little of his tea, then set his cup down, and then reached into an inner pocket of his pack. He pulled out a cloth bag, untied the cord that fastened it, and withdrew a narrow metal case. Saa'an watched curiously as Craig carefully opened the case, revealing a traditional bone flute. She smiled knowing that her mate had quite a knack for learning how to play musical instruments, and since he had been on Mûr Zhæn, he had memorized an increasing number of songs. Saa'an greatly enjoyed listening to Craig play—prerecorded music was fine, but she felt that listening to music being performed live had a special quality to it.

“What shall you play for us, beloved?" Saa'an asked, curious to know what Craig had in mind.

“How about something relaxing?" Craig offered.

Saa'an and the others thought that would be nice, so Craig began playing a slow, gentle song that he recently learned. He played several more songs, of Mûr Zhæn and also of other worlds, much to the delight of Saa'an, Ami'an, and Khy'an, before ending with one from his homeworld. His mate and their friends were suitably pleased with Craig's music and let him know so via their innate empathic and telepathic skills.

A short while later, Saa'an and Ami'an turned in to get their rest while Craig got out what he needed and put other things away. Khy'an, as was customary, stayed up a little longer, having one last cup of tea with Craig before retiring for the day. When Craig finally sat down, Khy'an sat next to him, and gently coiled the end of her tail around his left wrist.

“What do you think so far of nas-Erlas'en?" Khy'an asked telepathically while sipping her tea.

Craig took a thoughtful sip of his own tea and said, “Well, except for that scare Ami'an gave us when we first entered the forest, it…almost seems like a holo-fantasy. It makes my world look…boring."

Khy'an sensed the conflict that had been growing in Craig as his stay on Mûr Zhæn was nearly over, and he would be going back to his homeworld of Terra, taking Saa'an and Ami'an with him. The passenger manifest had already been finalized, cargo allowances determined, and a tentative flight plan filed. The diplomatic vessel, Summer Wind—just out of the shipyards after a major refit, would arrive in less than three cycles of nan-Raleen, bringing with her the new embassy staff and taking the current staff home. Nothing had been said yet if one of the scout ships would be escorting Summer Wind this time or not. Khy'an knew that Craig had mixed feelings about leaving—despite his initial thoughts on his arrival on Mûr Zhæn, sometime during his five year stay he had fallen in love with the exotically beautiful world and its people—especially the three he was currently with. Ilen-Saa'an had, of course, chosen him for her mate; the sometimes enigmatic Tsel-Ami'an, one of the Khea, was at once a close friend, a sister that he never had, and an almost girlfriend. And then there was his personal bodyguard, Bren-Khy'an. Although she intimidated him at first, Craig had eventually developed strong feelings for her, and if Saa'an had not marked him for her own when she did, Craig had no doubt that Khy'an would have, despite her being one of the fearsome Che'maht Sahn'rah—the Empress' own personal bodyguards. Khy'an kept her own feelings for Craig deeply buried, though sometimes, such as now, she would risk a show of affection.

“From what you have shared with me about your homeworld, I do not think it would be…boring. Different, yes, but not without its own wonders. Certainly less dangerous than my own."

Khy'an smiled slightly as she and Craig shared certain memories of their time together on Mûr Zhæn.

Craig looked up and met Khy'an's eyes.

“You've saved my tail several times in the past sun-cycle," Craig sent privately. “I don't know what I would have done without you."

Khy'an lightly touched Craig's face and sent, “You have made my job of protecting you…interesting…at times. However, if not for you, this…would not be possible."

Quickly though carefully observing Saa'an and Ami'an, making sure they were not watching, Khy'an leaned close and tenderly kissed Craig. In doing so, Khy'an shared—briefly—why the simple act would have been utterly impossible before she had been assigned to him. It was the first ever glimpse into Khy'an's conditioning that she had shared with him. When Khy'an drew back, Craig's eyes welled with tears.

“Khy'…I…had no idea…!" Craig sent privately—it was only the second time he had ever used the first part of her given name, taboo to all save a mate in complete privacy.

“You will keep this to yourself, yes?"

Speechless, Craig could only nod his head in the affirmative. He threw his arms around Khy'an's neck and held her tightly—he didn't care if Saa'an or Ami'an might see. Craig now had a little bit of an idea of the terrible conditioning Khy'an had endured to become what she was, and what it had cost her.

“I…I think I understand now…a little," Craig managed to whisper in Khy'an's ear.

Khy'an gently pried herself free from Craig's embrace and held his shoulders.

“Craig…in the time that we have known each other, I, too, have come to understand something. If not for you that would have been my reality until this path ends. We have shared as much as we can with one another—to do more would violate the bond between you and Saa'an, and I…cannot do that. And neither can you."

“But if things were different…?" Craig asked with his mind.

Khy'an smiled and stroked Craig's hair.

“Then I would have you, and no doubt you would find many more ways to make my life interesting."

Saa'an awoke to the smell of food and tea, and the warmth of Craig's body snuggled close to hers. She listened to his slow, steady breathing and could hear as well as feel the beat of his heart.

“He always sleeps so soundly, as if he has no care in the world," Saa'an thought to herself. “Yet, I know that he does have cares that weigh upon his thoughts. He worries overly much about Khy'an. Craig has had strong feelings towards her for as long as he and I have known each other—it still surprises me, and Ami'an, too. None of my people, or of Ami'an's, would in their right mind feel as Craig does for one of the Che'maht Sahn'rah, though I must admit that Khy'an is pleasant enough now that I have come to know her. Ami'an says it has been Craig's influence on Khy'an—she is no longer entirely what she once was, that she has changed because of how he feels about her. That would seem impossible, except for what my Honored Mother has told me of her experiences among the Terrans and other races of their Sol Federation. Mother has spoken much about the Keori woman she works with. It seems that Mother's friend understands a great deal about Terrans, and has spoken of their capacity to accept and care for others. Despite all of our abilities, do Terrans possess some unknown power to affect one such as the Che'maht Sahn'rah in the way Craig as affected Khy'an?" Saa'an contemplated the possibilities until it was time for them to get up for the night.

After chu'anso and use of the lodge's facilities, the four of them made ready to go. Once outside, Ami'an stood still for a moment with her eyes closed; when she opened them again, Ami'an announced that they should arrive at the Mûr thel-Raleen before local midnight if they held to the pace they used the night before. By the time they stopped for their second break, the climb up into the Erlas'sav Hills had become difficult, making Craig all the more fatigued. Saa'an mentioned privately to Khy'an that she had her doubts as to whether Craig could make it the rest of the way. 

“I will tend to him," Khy'an sent privately to Saa'an, and she reached into her pack for the medical kit she had brought along.

Khy'an knelt down next to Craig and asked, “How do you feel?"

“Okay, I guess…just tired."

Khy'an placed a hand on Craig's forehead to get a measure of how he was physically. Although not a true healer, Khy'an had received extensive emergency medical training as part of being one of the Che'maht Sahn'rah, and she could do some things that might help Craig. Khy'an reached into her med kit and removed a small vial of viscous liquid.

“Drink this, it will give you enough energy to reach our destination," Khy'an instructed gently.

Craig accepted the vial and downed its contents without hesitation.

“Tastes kinda fruity…and a little spicey. Not bad, though," he said, handing the vial back to Khy'an.

She smiled and nodded her head. “You should feel an improvement soon."

“Thanks, Khy'an," Craig said gratefully.

When she left Craig's side to put away her med kit, Saa'an asked out of curiosity what she had given him.

“An extract of the granaia plant," Khy'an replied.

“Granaia…? But…that is used to induce sleep in children!" Saa'an exclaimed.

Khy'an smiled wryly and said, “Apparently in humans it seems to do the opposite. When some of the Terran embassy staff tried it, they were awake the whole day. They claimed it was better than that bitter drink they call 'espresso'."

“Craig had me try some of that once…I have never tasted anything so…vile!" Saa'an shuddered in disgust.

Khy'an nodded her head in agreement. “It certainly is rather noxious, despite what they may add to it."

“That white liquid they add to it, 'cream'…" Saa'an grimaced.

Khy'an laughed quietly and said, “Craig's Honored Father said that is where 'butter' comes from—he explained the process to me."

Saa'an held up her hand and shook her head, “I do not care to know! It is disgusting, and that is all there is to it!"

“No doubt you will have much to get used to on Terra, just as Craig has had to here."

Saa'an sighed quietly.

“He has been having me try more Terran foods, and showing me various aspects of their culture. I have learned that one northern Terran culture has its own version of naref blood soup."

Khy'an grinned. “I will have to try that one night."

Once the four made it to the top of the hills, they made a gentle descent into a valley. With their goal within reach, excitement grew. Craig swore he could feel something peculiar, though he couldn't put his finger on it. When they reached a wall of ancient-looking Tykua-niya vines, Khy'an Saa'an, and Ami'an knew that they had arrived.

“We will hold the vines away from you with our thoughts, so that you will not be injured by their spikes. The toxin they contain will be excruciatingly painful to you at the very least," Khy'an cautioned.

“Okay, though what about you? Won't they hurt you, too?" Craig asked.

“Look closely at the vines, and then at us—what do you see?" Ami'an asked.

Craig did as he was told, and thought on it a few seconds.

“Um, they…kinda look like your markings?"

“Precisely. Depending on which you choose, the myths of our people or the findings of our scientists, these vines have always been a symbol of protection among us, and for good reason. We are naturally immune to the toxin, of course, so that only we may slip through undetected. You, unfortunately, will not be able to unaided," Ami'an explained.

Craig watched as Ami'an, Saa'an, and Khy'an worked together to form a tunnel through the dense growth of Tykua-niya vines. As they emerged on the other side, Craig stopped and stared at the wonders he beheld. Bioluminescent globes the size of basketballs hung from sturdy vines growing up into the trees; the “grass" was a thick, lush carpet of turquois; flowers of all kinds—many he had never seen before—bloomed all around, their scents delicate and exotic; and in the middle of it all was a pool of ice blue water at least ten to twelve meters across—its depth unfathomable. A small stream left the pool and disappeared into the dark mass of vines that surrounded the place. At the other end of the pool, there was an outcropping of rock that rose up out of the water. The rock was crusted with many crystals of all sizes, giving off a soft rainbow of pastel colors. The air over the pool shimmered subtly, and Craig felt a kind of energy emanating from it.

Shortly, there was movement where Craig had seen none before. The figures of very tall gray-haired Elders emerged from the shadows wearing cloaks whose colors blended in with the vines. One of the Elders, the most aged Mûr Tua'ansa woman Craig had seen yet, stepped forward and held her arms out in a welcoming gesture.

“Tsel-Ami'an, of the line of Tsel-Sight Giver; Ilen-Saa'an, of the line of Ilen- The Provider; Bren-Khy'an, of the line of Bren-Fire Maker; and one not of our world, yet has willingly tied himself to it beyond undoing-- Khrayg Ny'cholinee. We have watched your progress with interest, young Khrayg. You have faced many trials since you stepped foot upon our world, yet you have endured. You have learned much more than you had once thought, yes?"

Craig knelt down on one knee and bowed his head. “Yes, Honored Elder," he sent openly in Tu'an.

The Elders leaned closer to each other, seemingly conferring in earnest; when the leader made a slight gesture with her hand, they all turned to face Craig.

“Your reputation of honesty and respect has preceded you, young Khrayg. It is understood that you came by such traits naturally, along with a particular talent for music. Musicians have been widely honored on our world. Would you honor us with a song?"

Although Craig was quite surprised by the sudden request, he nonetheless bowed his head again and sent, “It would be my pleasure, Honored Elder."

Craig unslung his pack and got out the bone flute that he had brought along. He sat cross-legged on the ground and then played the first song that came to his mind—the traditional healing song that Khy'an first played for him in the palace's garden. When that song reached its end, Craig went right into a heartfelt love song. While he played, he looked from Saa'an to Ami'an and then to Khy'an. Lastly, Craig played the Élendorian traveling song that had moved Khy'an so, thinking the words while he played. Given the Mûr Tua'ansa predilection towards things in threes, Craig chose to stop there.

“I could play more if you wish, Honored Elders," Craig offered.

The old woman who had spoken before smiled.

“You have given us a gift from the heart, young Khrayg. We could not ask for more."

Craig bowed low from his seated position, put his flute away, and returned to stand with Saa'an and the others.

“Our most ancient memories and stories tell us that our kind originated from this very pool," the lead Elder sent openly. “In all of our known history, the pool has ever been a constant source of queth sliat—it has never run dry. Mûr thel-Raleen. As we know it—the Source of Souls, it is our beginning. The queth sliat flowing from the ancient roots of the world is the very essence of Life. It shows us the way to other places as well as the way home. It restores our health, provides for us, cleanses us and also cleanses the way between us.

“Those, whose journey on their Life's Path brings them here to Mûr thel-Raleen, have been guided by the hand of the All-Mother. Before one steps into the ancient pool, hold in your heart of being the love of the All-Mother as you connect with The Source of your soul."

Following the directions of a helper, Ami'an, Saa'an, and Craig disrobed and prepared to enter the water. Craig looked back at Khy'an and held his hand out to her.

“Coming, Khy'an?" Craig asked with a puzzled look.

Ami'an and Saa'an both paused to see what the holdup was.

“A Che'maht Sahn'rah cannot feel love and therefore cannot enter the pool, young Khrayg," the Elder stated.

“But I know Khy'an does! She's not the same anymore!" pleaded Craig.

“It cannot be so, young Khrayg," the Elder gently admonished.

“You said that all of your kind originated from this very pool, so that means Khy'an came from here, too. Everywhere I go on Mûr Zhæn, Khy'an is always with me, so if I—an off-worlder—am allowed in, so why shouldn't Khy'an? It's her birthright, just as it is for all Mûr Tua'ansa and the Khea Mûr Tua'ansa." Craig turned to Khy'an and again held his hand out to her. “Khy'an, take my hand—you are loved, my friend, more than maybe you know. You've been there whenever I needed you, now let me be there for you when you need me."

“Craig is correct, Khy'an. I do not question his love for you—I may not fully understand it, but he does nonetheless. We are bound together, my friend—through him, I add my own to his," Saa'an added, placing her hand on Craig's.

Ami'an also placed her hand on top of Saa'an's and added, “And I add my own as well, Khy'an. May Tsel-Sight Giver show you how to see the flame within you that Bren-Fire Maker forged so purely."

“What do we do now Mistress?" one of the other Elders asked their leader. “No Che'maht Sahn'rah has ever entered the pool while on their path!"

“We wait and see, old friend—the off-worlder may overcome the void."

Khy'an looked into Craig's eyes as he said, “You saved me at nir-Tha'es, now I save you at Mûr thel-Raleen."

Khy'an glanced at her friends and then at their joined hands. Slowly, her own hand raised and moved closer to theirs. In her mind's eye, Khy'an saw Bren-Fire Maker standing before her forge. She thought she saw Bren look up from her work and fix her eyes upon her. “You found the Flame in yourself once—it is still there. A candle may do little on its own, but when combined with others, it warms the lodge. You are the lodge—join yours with theirs and be warmed." Khy'an closed her eyes and reached out. Craig's hand felt unusually warm holding hers in its grip—the warmth seemed to spread up her arm and then travel throughout her body. With the warmth came a light, dimly at first, but it grew stronger. Khy'an did not know if perhaps the sensation was imagined or if some doing of Sa'an and Ami'an was affecting her ability of sensing Craig's feelings, amplifying them in some way or another…or if it was something else entirely.

With the help of Saa'an and Ami'an, Craig experienced for the first time what it was truly like to be a full telepath, as they assisted his search within Khy'an's mind. He was careful to avoid touching any knowledge or memory that didn't concern him. There was only one thing that Craig searched for that had to do with what Khy'an had told him when he once asked her how long she had been one of the Che'maht Sahn'rah. Deeper and deeper he ventured into the void, passing through the sun-cycles of time and memory, until he heard it. The voice was small, but Craig knew somehow that was what he was looking for.

“Khy'an?" he called out. “I'm here, take my hand."

“Who are you?"

“I'm Craig."

“D-do I know you?"

“You know me, Khy'an, we've been together for almost a whole sun-cycle."

Craig saw emerging from the shadows a young Mûr Tua'ansa girl, about the age of nine sun-cycles. He recognized the girl's markings—it was Khy'an, when she first began her training to become one of the Che'maht Sahn'rah.

“Why are you here?"

“I came looking for you."

“Why?"

“Well, because you got lost."

“But why do you care?"

“Because I love you, and you're my friend. You have other friends, too."

“But…I am alone…"

“Not anymore, Khy'an—you've got me, and I'll always be with you. So will Saa'an and Ami'an, and all of our families."

Craig lovingly embraced this version of Khy'an in the thoughtscape of her mind. She was nearly shoulder height to him, and he rocked a little as he held her.

“I…I do not want to be alone…"

“I've got you, you're not alone anymore."

Craig felt the young Khy'an's body tremble and she began to cry. Light came to her, and a profound warmth, too. After some amount of time, Craig couldn't be sure how long, they began walking.

“Where are we going?"

“We're going to go take a little swim."

“In a bathing pool?"

“In a very special place."

“Where is that?"

“At the beginning, where you came from."

“Where is that?"

“At the Mût thel-Raleen."

“How will we find it?"

“Ami'an knows the way—she always knows the way, don't you, Ami'an?"

Ami'an appeared before Craig and Khy'an in a shimmer of silvery light, her snow-white hair seemed filled with the light of the twin moons, nan-Raleen and sen-Raleen.

“Of course," Ami'an said, holding her hand out to Khy'an. “It is this way."

Khy'an walked hand-in-hand with both Craig and Ami'an, and as they walked together, Khy'an appeared to grow and age before their eyes. In time they came to a wall of Tykua-niya vines. Standing before the dense growth was Saa'an, holding a way open through the vines. When they approached, Saa'an held a hand out to Khy'an.

“But I almost ended you," she said looking questioningly to Saa'an.

Saa'an smiled and said, “We have come a long way since then, Khy'an. I hold no grudge against you—let us cleanse the way between us once and for all, my friend."

“C'mon, Khy'an, you can do it—just step through. I'm right beside you, we're all with you," encouraged Craig.

When Khy'an opened her eyes, she was standing at the water's edge. She looked down and discovered that she was naked, and had no memory of having removed her clothing. Standing on either side of her was Craig, holding her left hand, and Saa'an holding her right hand. Ami'an was already standing knee deep in the pool, beckoning them to enter. Craig, Khy'an, and Saa'an entered the sacred queth sliat together until they were all in far enough to tread water. None spoke at first, for the experience of simply being in the Mûr thel-Raleen, the very place where life began on Mûr Zhæn, was enough to inspire awe.

To Craig, the sense of absolute certainty that Saa'an, Ami'an, and Khy'an held, and shared with him, was as astonishing to him as the fact that the pool still existed after countless eons. Back on Terra, no one knew where life first arose from the primordial waters—land masses rose and sank, only to reappear again. The ancient super continent broke apart and its pieces were forever altered by time and natural forces. There truly was no place where a Terran could stand on his or her homeworld and tell an alien visitor, “This is where life on our world began." His immersion in the pool's waters was a symbolic gesture, as far as Craig thought—little did he realize that the Mûr thel-Raleen had more in store for them than simply being wet.

While Craig was wondering how much longer they were going to tread water, he felt a hand on his shoulder.

“Craig, I…," he heard Khy'an's voice in his head, but that was as far as she got.  

The shimmer in the air over the pool that Craig had noticed earlier suddenly became more pronounced. Streamers of iridescent wisps of fog seemed to rise up from the pool and move about, acting on their own volition. The closer Craig looked at the wisps, the more he could swear that there were shapes in them—even faces.

“Uh, what…what's going on?" Craig asked nervously, just as one of the wisps stopped briefly before his face, as if some weird-looking alien sprite was trying to figure him out.

“They are the souls of those yet to be reborn on a new path, young Khrayg," the leader of the Elders sent. “The one before you now…hold out your hand."

Wide-eyed in wonder, Craig did as he was told, and the wisp gently lit itself on the palm of his hand and coiled around his wrist. The ephemeral figure danced and wove its way about him, and then to Saa'an it went, continuing its weaving about. It went next to Ami'an and played about her white hair, and Ami'an quietly chuckled as if she were privy to a private joke. The wisp made its way to Khy'an, stopping before her face as if looking deep into her being. It slowly and gently wound around Khy'an's head, going up and over from behind, passing between Khy'an's horns, and hanging down over her face from above. As if caught on some unseen breeze, the wisp traveled to the leader of the Elders where it paused before her face. The Elder seemed as if she was listening to the wisp, before nodding her head. The wisp flowed back to the pool, passing through both Craig and Saa'an before rising up above their heads and then diving back down into the water. The other wisps had paid no heed to the four, except for one that stayed near Ami'an. With a little coaxing, the wisp came to Ami'an's hand where it stayed for several seconds before passing through her and back into the water. Some of the wisps went off downstream, passing beyond the vines, though the rest eventually returned to the depths of the pool and the shimmer in the air returned to its previous state.

“In all of the places I've been in my life, I have never seen anything like this," Craig spoke softly in Tu'an. Turning to Saa'an he said, “I…I don't know how to explain it, but…that one that passed through us…I…I think it…knows us, and somehow…is it possible I know it?"

“Your answers are within a dream, young Khrayg—the dreamer will speak when it is time," the Elder addressed him. “Be at peace, and walk knowing the All-Mother is with you—all of you." With that, the Elders turned and seemed to vanish without so much as moving a leaf through the vines.

A helper returned with towels so that when the four came out of the sacred Mûr thel-Raleen they could dry themselves before dressing. Ami'an exited the pool first, followed by Saa'an. Once Craig got his footing again on the bottom, he felt a hand on his shoulder.

“Craig…?"

When he turned to face Khy'an, she took him in her arms and held him, tighter than ever before. Not all of the water on her face was from the pool. She could not speak, or send—the emotions she felt, truly felt for the first time in almost twenty sun-cycles, were overpowering.

“Yeah, I know," Craig sent privately.

The queth sliat flowing from their eyes ran down their closely held cheeks and mingled together before dripping into the Mûr thel-Raleen, forever bound to the world of Mûr Zhæn.

(On to chapter 14 https://www.sofurry.com/view/1189068)

[1] Wen'ajaht serilasni e Mûr thel-Raleen – “The unbroken stream of the Source of Souls"