Benar Sen didn't move from Nan's side. We all wanted to stay, but he had his healer take us all outside a few at a time for a walk. Except for Ranada, who laid in his healer's lap crying. He told him his regen didn't fix everything, either, and he has to leave his job, just like his son.

We barely got back and Sib, my healer, made me comfy on my leiwege.

Kioso sat nearby holding his wife and son. He helped us when we first came. Fenoberan, King Of Para sat holding Naronaber, Minister Of Spaceport Fig. Optersen, Diplomat Of MarKu, who brought my uncles and aunts from Earth and got hurt, laid in his healer's lap trying to stay awake. And Serotae held Ser while his wife slept leaning against him. They had two kids.

Molly was here, too, but going from group of anxious healers to another, then left for another building. All the healers talked about Molly's miracle healings. But, she went to dying people in the yellow room. Every room here was busy. I had plenty of time to watch everything. Most of the healers had telepathic convo with other healers. Sometimes it was comical, like a movie on fast-forward.

Nan startled awake and everyone watched him. His huge blue eyes darted around, like mine when I first came here.

"Bae, we are home."

"This is nae home, and this is nae Ben's Chambers!" He shook all over.

Benar Sen came to hold him. "Here is Rainbow. I have much help here. When you are more well, we go to my chambers."

Nan trembled. "How long shall I be there?"

The healer pulled at his silver hair, very thick curls on his shoulders. "My son, nae ask this of me. I see nae futures."

"There is a prophetess on Ye~. Should I ask of her, Ba?" Tir held his hand.

"Nae think to go there! She had grave injury on Earth!" The healer's sorrow rumbled on me.

"Queen Adia had injury? O, I am sorry! She discovered new fuel so our worlds could move here." Tir sighed.

"As if her fuel was nae enough, she defeated Eriganh also!" Dad nodded. "I wonder nae that Ryonne~, as talented as he is, would choose such a fine wife!"

The king startled awake. Laughed as he sat up. "Do you know what she did to attract him? She put humor into her reports of research that mostly failed! Once, she held a vial of ANW, a very explosive substance. She tossed it over her shoulder as she stood on Areon's Barrens! The explosion was large, yet she stood still. I think I would run! But, she made a holo of her co-workers fleeing in panic! When one of my scientists watched it, I was receiving a report from them. O, how we laughed when we saw! A scientist, during war, when all reports were quite serious, especially those from Areon, and she used humor to cheer us!

"Ryonne~ saw these frequent reports and knew a woman so unflinchingly brave must be the kind who could stand at his side during the most difficult missions in the Thirteen! One of Ryonne~'s very talented friends is his Trade Minister. We trade oft with Ye~, but who has time to speak of such things during trading? Nae, one of my diplomats spoke with M'Naga on Adia's Ship, on Earth! He thought the information in these reports might benefit our Science Council, so he brought all.

"To his disappointment, they already had them, but they enjoyed the story of how the two most important persons of our time short of our lieges met and married! Then, Lamr came to ask if our scientists had anything to balance trade on of all places, A'laf! This moon orbits Alb Seer and resumed trade with Fhiah recently. They nae understand humor, but a Thordes scientist remarked, that he trades everything remotely humorous and they crave it. So Lamr balanced a great trade with Queen Adia's reports. It is very well that we had these copies at this time."

Nan held my hand, so I looked into his deep blue eyes. "O, Cho, would that I had skills to attract you. I fear I lost all that I had, that Ben thinks I must enter Decision again." His sigh rumbled on me.

My face burned. "Nan, I like you a lot, but we're only 14. We have a lot of time."

"It takes much time to prepare for Decision, and all my work—" He looked away with tears in his eyes.

"I don't know much about what Zheien do to get ready to have a career, but it doesn't matter to me what job you end up doing, as long as you're happy. I'll still want to be friends, and we can still paint plates together. You don't have to 'attract' me. I like being your maiden."

"You do? Even if I have nae skills?" Powdery tears dripped off his face.

I wiped mine and started to touch his face, but Benar Sen blocked me, like a shot! "Pardons, Maiden, but you can nae. When there is love, you must nae touch. Nan, remember the Protocols."

"Ejis nae, did I forget? O, teach me quickly, Ben!" He sobbed.

"Nae this upset. Eat of bis tia." He held three little leaves.

"Three! I nae ever needed more than one!"

"If I thought you needed but one, so I offered."

Nan breathed in, but the leaves didn't move. He paled. "Ejis!"

The healer frowned. "Open, and I give."

He sobbed and he let go of the leaves, and they went in. "He nae helps me!"

"Ah, mind injuries are difficult. Breathe, my son. Emotion rises, so we must think of calming."

"I must do something that she nae leaves me!"

"You don't have to do anything. I don't want to leave."

"I—I tried to recite Persennon to Vinaean last year and she said—I have nae skill for poetry!"

"I thought your skill was very well!" Tir wiped his face and mixed their tears. His face fell when his brother didn't calm down. I'd never seen that not work!

Poetry? He wants to get romantic? I didn't feel ready for that! I'd have questions for Ava tonight! But she looked very surprised when I looked in her wide brown eyes. She and Tir didn't talk about poetry or flowers, just art and school stuff.