Kyla stumbled as she came into the vestibule. Her mind reeled. It’s so vast! The expanse of floor ran front to back, a hundred feet, and from side to side, at least another fifty feet. Its surface glistened with a pearl-like finish. The ceiling seemed to vault overhead without end and sparkled with hundreds of faceted panes of crystalline stone glowing from the golden sun. She shook her head trying to regain her equilibrium. On ships, a step in any direction brought one against walls, machinery, or furniture. She saw David stagger as he peered up and appeared as stunned as she felt. Troy leaned against a stone pillar and seemed mesmerized by the massive wall tapestries brimming in opulent colors.
Awel’s hand on Kyla’s back urged her to a curving flight of stairs. “Come, we must get you into proper clothes.”
She glanced down and wondered what was wrong with her cover-all. The one-piece garment enveloped her from neck to ankles. However, as they hurried down hallways and up another staircase, she understood why her form-fitting garment might shock the residents. Every female wore soft, flowing gowns, over layers of petticoats effectively hiding their physical attributes. She tried not to stare at the smaller women, unsure if they were human. Wide black eyes darted looks at her from tiny, hirsute faces. Everyone stared at her with startled expressions.
Somewhere in the distance, metal clanged and a cacophony of women’s voices talked and laughed. Strange, wonderful smells filled the air. Kyla stopped and sniffed. What is that odor?
Surprised, Awel looked at her guest. You don’t know? It is food. Kyla felt her stomach grumble.
I hear women chattering and metal clanging. What’s happening?
Awel stopped in her tracks and looked at Kyla, her chin dropped. The women are cooking and banging the pots around. You’ve never seen people cook?
Kyla shook her head and realized no way could the girl know that in her world these scents and sounds didn’t exist. After endless hallways, stairs, and turns, she became completely lost before arriving at Awel’s suite of rooms. As she walked into the sitting area, Kyla gasped. The translucent exterior wall gave the illusion she could step off the plush carpet into the sky. The draperies and furniture, lush with soft colors, harmonized with the color of the sky. Her senses vibrated. A fire in a large, head-high opening in the wall emitted a wonderful aroma of an unfamiliar spice.
Awel hurried over to a massive wardrobe, with intricate carvings of leaves and flowers, and pulled out garments in various hues. She held up an emerald green gown and gazed at Kyla with critical eyes. “Yh-ees. For you.” She held the gown up to Kyla’s hair, and passed her thoughts over. Very good with your rhosyn hair. No one has ever seen such hair. Let us show it off.
Kyla held up the gown and thought of freshening up before putting on the soft, sweet-smelling garment. Awel immediately reacted to her concern, took her by the hand, and led her through a doorway camouflaged in the damask covered wall. Steam rose from a huge stone basin in the middle of the spacious room. Kyla stepped up to the caldron and looked into it in amazement. Should I get into the bubbling water? A person could drown. The only baths she ever experienced were tiny shower stalls that gave fifteen minutes of tepid water, if you were lucky.
Awel opened a cabinet, pulled out large fluffy towels, and laid them on the side of the tub. She motioned for Kyla to disrobe and when the tylon suit fell down around her ankles, Awel fled from the room. The young woman’s behavior puzzled Kyla—comfortable with the intimacy of touching another’s mind, but embarrassed with nudity—the opposite of shipmate sensibilities. Once undressed, she placed a toe in the water, caught her breath in pleasure, and then sank into the water with a moan of satisfaction.
As Kyla lay back in the heated water, she thought of how different Awel, Cymry, and Eiddyl looked today. They were solid, more real. Although, they were still beautiful to her, compared to their previous angelic appearance, they looked quite human. They still possessed the long, silvery hair and pale complexions, but were vibrant with good health, having bright blue eyes and rosy cheeks. She smiled, thinking of Cymry’s interest, but felt uneasy and unequipped to deal with it. On ship, no man noticed her as a woman. She wore the uniform of the neuter, insuring the same treatment as any man on ship.
After soaking as long as she considered decent, she struck a hard object with her foot causing it to move. She felt around in the pool and pulled out a small crystal the size of a coin. The water stopped bubbling and began to cool.
She stepped from the bath and rubbed her hair until it squeaked. Wrapping a towel around her body, she went into the sleeping chamber. Awel had left a selection of garments with the green gown spread out on the bed. “If they wear all this stuff under their clothes, no wonder I shocked the ladies. They must have thought me quite indecent.”
Kyla chuckled as she pulled up a pair of pantaloons which reached her knees. A soft linen chemise, that snuggled and lifted her breasts, followed. “Wow. This is too much.” She quickly braided her hair and stood a minute to study the two petticoats, trying to understand which went on first. After pulling on the emerald gown, she stepped over to a full-length mirror and looked at herself, incredulous. As she turned and admired herself, Awel entered and clapped her hands in delight.
Cymry will fall over in a faint. He is enthralled with you in the star suit—I can’t imagine how he’s going to react to you now. I’m smaller than you so it’s a bit short, but the men won’t notice.
Kyla blushed and dipped into a curtsy, something she had only seen in historical vids. In spite of the ridiculous clothing, she felt so feminine, so delicate, so pretty, even if the dress hugged her body so tight she could hardly breathe. “If you haven’t anything in mind for me to do, Awel, I’d like to learn enough of your language to address your people. We may not be here long, but I want to be able to thank everyone for their hospitality.”
Awel pointed to a skirted table with an arrangement of feathered pens and paper. For the next hour, Kyla struggled with the language without much success until Awel began to write out the letters. Then she began to understand the language somewhat conformed to ancient English, but the pronunciations were unfamiliar. Soon, her native ability with languages came to her rescue, amazing Awel with her progress.
When they stopped for a break, a servant served tea and small sweet cakes on a large silver tray inscribed with an ornate crest. Kyla asked, “Troy—David. Where be they?”
Awel corrected her, and smiled. “Where are Troy and David?” Before Kyla could repeat her words, she answered, “They’re with Eid and Cym being questioned by the Council. Soon it will be time for dinner and you shall see them.”
She could understand about half of the words. “Question? Council?”
Awel answered in mind speak and Kyla now had two new words added to her vocabulary. Are they in trouble?
I don’t know. I do know Cym, Eid, and I are in deep trouble.
“I’m sorry we be trouble.”
Again, with the power of her mind, Awel corrected her.
In any language, the tenses of verbs were always the most difficult, Kyla thought.
Awel walked behind her and began unbraiding her hair. She knew the girl found her hair fascinating, but wondered what she was going to do.
It must dry before I can dress it.
Now that was a puzzle. Dressing hair?
Awel brought out a harp-like instrument that fit perfectly in her lap, cradled it against her shoulder, and began playing. When she sang, Kyla’s intently listened. After an hour, she mastered more words and thought she recognized some of the tunes. As the music entertained her, the mass of red hair dried, curling around her face.
Although Awel seemed pleased by Kyla’s response, she laid the small harp aside and motioned for her to come to the dressing table. She reached into a silver container, filled her hand with a thick cream, and worked it through Kyla’s hair. She brushed her hair until it shone.
“
That’s amazing stuff,” Kyla said, as her hair fell smooth with no frizzy curls. She smiled as Awel coiled, curled, and pinned up the hair until she couldn’t recognize herself.
Nodding her approval, Awel motioned for her to follow. “We’re going to have dinner in my brothers’ suite. We didn’t want you to feel uneasy with how a large, unwelcoming crowd might respond to people from the stars.”
When they arrived at his suite, Cymry held the door open. When Kyla followed his sister into the room, he stood frozen, blinking his eyes. “Oh, Alpha and Omega.” He continued to stare at Kyla until his sister slapped him on the arm. “Awel, I can’t help it. How could it be possible, she is even more beautiful than before?”
Kyla bit her lip and swore to herself not to blush. His reaction couldn’t be misunderstood, even by one having never experienced it before. She wanted to run, but couldn’t do that to Awel. Her hand crept toward her bodice to pull it up, but she caught herself. That would be too obvious since his eyes seemed to rest below her chin. She felt a blush start at her bosom and travel upward. Damn!
Awel gave her brother a kick on the ankle. He placed each woman’s hand in the crook of his arms and led them across the room with a restrained noble look. Let’s take dinner in the alcove. He pointed to a table beyond two massive supporting columns.
Eiddyl entered, with David and Troy in tow, and joined them. He pulled out a seat for his sister. Cymry did the same for Kyla.
Awel looked at her brother and asked, “How did the Council react to David and Troy?”
Understanding Awel, David’s eyes lit up. “My God. Thought they would kill us. Never been that frightened before.” He shuddered.
Troy settled back in his chair and looked at David. “Not as awful as being in close proximity to that horrible dragon monstrosity, surely. I shall never recover from that experience.”
Awel clapped her hands, and glared at David and Troy. Hasn’t anyone noticed how wonderful Kyla looks besides Cymry?
Troy turned to Awel, his face reflecting confusion. She held his and David’s wrists to transmit an explanation.
“That’s Kyla? I wondered what happened to her—why she did not join us.” Troy winked at his friend.
David took Kyla’s hand and looked at her with mock intensity. “Beautiful woman, will you marry me?” You look like a damn dressed-up, painted idiot. Where’s the real person?
Sensing every unspoken word, the royal trio glared at him.
Kyla laughed. “I’m not used to all this attention. It’s almost worth wearing ten pounds of clothing.”
Cymry’s eyes glittered with amusement. I liked the silver thing. It made it clear, you’re a fine figured woman. I felt as if overcome by the rhosyn flower pollen.
Awel slapped her brother’s wrist, and glared at him. Kyla’s cheeks burned with such intensity, it felt painful. Troy stared in puzzlement until Kyla said, “He’s talking about the flower you sniffed. That’s why you . . . ” Her words trailed off as she saw understanding come to Troy’s face.
Women appeared with heaped platters and bowls of food for the table. After the servers filled the goblets with a sparkling rose liquid, Kyla asked David, “What happened at the Council meeting?”
“Eiddyl and Cymry caught hell. We just stood like lumps with our blood curdling.”
“Not exactly, David. They brought out that wizard woman who intruded into our minds.” Troy turned to Kyla. “Please ask Awel what that woman did. My head still feels peculiar.”
A crystal worker. She searched your mind for truth. Her name is Bethan, our tower priestess. Kyla translated the best she could and his eyes narrowed as he searched Awel’s face. “What truth?”
Her orders were to find out about the bath that prevents disease.
Kyla considered what Awel said in mind-merge. “As best I can understand, this Bethan, a highly regarded psi worker, searched your minds to determine your truthfulness.”
Troy dark eyes flashed outrage. “Don’t they have any scruples about this outrageous imposition? It’s a despicable affront to poke around in people’s minds without permission, even considering such a thing is possible. I feel violated, my personal space invaded.”
Awel laid her hand on Troy’s wrist and smiled up into his dark face. “Yh-ee-s.” With her hand clasped around his wrist, she mind-spoke, it won’t happen again. You can understand their fear of people falling from the stars, can’t you?
Kyla watched Troy relax and assume a posture of peace from her touch. “Hey, David. I couldn’t understand her words, but I got the gist of it through feeling—like with the tree.”
Cymry looked up, his eyes widened. Did he say tree?
After Awel translated, Kyla replied, “That’s how we managed to get away from that terrible storm. Troy said a tree warned him.”
All three Argelians dropped their forks and stared at Troy, their expressions holding amazement.
Eiddyl leaned forward. Did you actually hear a tree speak?
Troy darted a look at Kyla. “By God, I think I’m beginning to understand them, if not their words, then their meaning. Didn’t he ask about a speaking tree?”
“That’s my understanding.”
The Elfinistas began talking so fast, their visitors held no hope of understanding them. After a moment of silence, Cymry spoke while keeping his voice pitched low and forced understanding into the three visitors’ minds. “Long ago, a few people here could tree-talk. They’re long extinct now. They were very important to Argel because the results of forest fires were devastating and still are. Through tree-speak, many catastrophes were diverted.”
Kyla, David, and Troy turned to one another and smiled. In unison, they said, “I understood every word of that.”
Transmission of the message felt more powerful than before. Kyla asked, “It’s possible to force understanding into a person’s mind?”
Cymry frowned. Yes. I just did, but we try never to do that. It’s unethical.
Awel grasped Troy’s wrist to make her meaning clear. Troy, you must not let anyone else know you have this power. We are so desperate for a tree mage, you’ll never be allowed to leave.
Troy looked horrified. “It was only a passing feeling, a figment of my imagination.”
Kyla realized David attempted to divert attention from Troy when he leaned back in his chair and groaned with pleasure. “I don’t even begin to know what I’ve eaten, but it tasted wonderful.”
Awel looked at him with interest. What kinds of things do you often eat?
“Flavorless reconstituted food. Keeps you healthy, but is unsatisfying.”
Kyla evoked a picture in her mind of reconstituted food.
“How dreadful.” Awel shuddered and held her nose. That didn’t need to be forced into their minds. Her expression told all.
To Kyla’s amusement, David’s attention stayed on Awel with such intensity, it was possible to read his mind without any special abilities. Of course, the princess noticed. She ducked her head and looked at him through her lashes. Cymry and Eiddyl grinned. David glared. “See, it’s impossible to have a private thought among these people.”
“Is way to block mind invasion?” Kyla stumbled out in the Elfin language.
Everyone looked at her in amazement. Awel proudly corrected her student. “Is there a way to keep out mind-merging?” Kyla repeated the corrected sentence.
If you were to stay, we could teach you to shield your mind. To go into another’s head, as we have done with you, is a serious taboo, but we had no other way to communicate with you, up to now.
“We have to leave.” Troy’s gaze swept around the group. “I really don’t care for this.”
David grunted. “Not unless the Council agrees.”
Sipping her wine, Kyla leaned back against cushions. “I consider this a wonderful adventure and suggest we enjoy it as long as we can. The fact the rulers here might kil
l us is frightening, but I doubt it. Why should they?”
Troy sighed. “If you had been with us in front of all those angry men, you would not be so optimistic.”
“Maybe we should stay.” Kyla made a weak effort to chuckle. “Just think of all the trouble we’ll be in whenever we get back to the ship. I hope all this information we’ve accumulated about Argel will save our necks.”
Cymry stood and gestured. “Come on, fellows. I’ll show you to your baths and beds. I think you’ll find our hospitality agreeable.”
Kyla beamed. “They have fire right in their walls. Wait until you see that, and if you experience a bath such as I had, you’ll faint with pleasure. Make sure to find the rock in the water.”
David nodded his acceptance. “Good, let’s get out of here. I hope where we’re going is private. I’m tired of being stared at as if we’re some kind of freaks.”
Eiddyl looked at David and smiled. They wouldn’t look at you that way if you wore proper clothing. You’re much like us. I suppose Troy will stand out no matter what he wears. He is the darkest person any of us have ever seen.
“No way can a person can hide his skin,” Troy said in resignation.
Kyla laughed. “You should have seen the stares the castle women gave me while I went to Awel’s room. After she outfitted me properly, I realized my uniform must have looked like silver skin and quite indecent.”
Well, I liked it, indecent or not, Cymry reiterated with a twinkle in his eye.
Awel took Kyla’s hand. “Come, I think we need to get you away from this amorous fool.”
Kyla laughed and winked at David. “I’m afraid you are near danger yourself.”
They could hear the men laughing as they walked away. When they reached Awel’s sitting room, she arranged pillows on the floor before the fire and motioned for Kyla to join her. She smiled slyly at Kyla. “What do you think of Cymry?”
“He’s nice. I like him, but I like all of you. And, you’re all really beautiful.”
“My brother has eyes for you.”
Kyla, was pleased they were beginning to speak normally in their individual languages with understanding, but still puzzled over Awel’s statement. “Is something wrong with how I look? I know we’re different, but are our looks unpleasant?”
Awel replied, “He thinks you’re especially lovely.” Kyla dropped her head, and Awel became further perplexed. “Kyla, do you have a mate? Is David or Troy your mate?”
Kyla choked back a laugh. “I’ve never mated. I belong to the Union of Evolved Planets. UEP.”
“You look to be several years older than I; how can it be you’ve never mated. Don’t you like men?”
“Yes. I have many men friends with whom I work and have recreation.” She could tell Awel felt frustrated, but she didn’t know why.
Awel took a deep breath, and blurted, “You say you’ve never mated; does that mean you’ve never mind-melded or bedded with anyone?”
“Mind-meld? I thought you called it mind-merging.”
“Mind-merging is what I do with you. Mind-melding is a complete blending of two minds of the opposite sex—you become completely aware of one another’s thinking and feelings. You become one, a permanent thing, whether you marry or not.”
Kyla squirmed in discomfort, twisting her hands together. She did not feel comfortable with the conversation, but wanted to gain Awel’s understanding. Naturally, she would be curious about a strange woman from the stars. Besides, she wanted to know about the sexual habits of the Argelian people. It was a part of her job, gaining full knowledge of unknown people.
“Awel, I don’t have those yearnings or needs. I cannot even imagine doing what you’re asking. The Union made sure my only interest is Union of Evolved Planets work.”
“How could they do such a thing to a human?”
“I don’t know exactly. It has something to do with the altering of body chemistry.”
Awel took Kyla’s hands in hers and tears threatened to brim over. “That is horrible, but surely, not all your young women are altered?”
“No, not all of us. The ship’s counselor is married to the captain, but most women that stay in space are like me. Women that marry, have children, and form permanent family units stay on planets.”
“I could have sworn you were attracted to Cym. Didn’t you feel anything?”
“I don’t know exactly. I’ve never reacted like that before, don’t understand it, and am not sure I like the sensation. Constantly blushing isn’t fun.”
Kyla felt a deep sense of relief when Awel picked up her harp and began playing a plaintive melody. She sincerely hoped no further conversations concerning mating, or melding, or whatever occurred.
Later, she tossed and turned while lying in bed, and her mind continued to wind itself around thoughts of Cymry. She became angry with herself. What’s the matter with me?
Chapter Seven
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