complaining that the area was indefensible from below; but he did admit he liked the warmth. “Makes me sleepy…”
“Ten days…” Macao groaned.
Schaffer shrugged. “After ten years, it seems an incredibly short time to have to wait.”
When Macao reluctantly pulled himself out of the pool, he had to crawl to the sleeping area.
Xalier came and sniffed him. “Your back? You’ve injured it before.”
“Aye…Dana warned me.”
“Doctor Dana?” Xalier purred. “You should obey doctor’s orders, Captain. Rest now. I’ll watch over you.” The Felidae picked up the corner of a blanket between his teeth and dragged it to cover Macao, ordering, “Rest.”
Schaffer watched from the pool, amazed by the gentleness the big cat creature exhibited. Xalier sank down beside the Enturian lieutenant and purred, “You’ve never met a Felidae before, I can tell. Yet you are accepting. For that, my thanks.”
“I served Navitor as an Exchange Officer and met many member races to the Republic, but none like you.”
Xalier murmured, “I am…an oddity.”
Schaffer chuckled. “Not so very odd… Now Tresgans…they’re odd.”
Xalier sneered in agreement, tail twitching, “And not very tasty.” He began to preen, licking his paws and rubbing them behind his ears.
Janz Macao listened for a time to the conversation between Xalier and Schaffer, but soon drifted off to sleep. He awoke after an hour or so, in agony.
The Felidae sat between him and Schaffer, preening fur, ever alert.
“You are experiencing more pain?” the cat noted.
“Aye.”
“We need to get you to a doctor. Can’t wait ten days. If I go up and prowl about…”
“No,” Macao countered. “I know what to do. We need you here to protect us.” He closed his eyes, calling to Shalee.
Can you help, Beloved?
Her response was sweet and clear. Be gentle, my love, not as you were to your brother.
Can’t help it, Kieran’s such a…boor.
Ambassador Kord is a doctor, my love. He can help.
Macao frowned. Kord? He’s really old; probably retired by now.
The younger Kord, the young prince, is a Master of the Elect. Plead to him, my love. Plead for Schaffer’s sake.
Macao sighed and once again entered the shadow realm of true initiates, this time as a penitent.
Prince Korwin Kord responded quickly, a ghostly form wearing Alphan ambassadorial robes and the ring of the Elect.
Adept, how may I help? However, the Ambassador retreated a step, exclaiming, Jad?
I am Janz, High Prince, former captain of the Republic, Janz Macao.
Still suspicious, Kord stepped forward again.
In the etheric realm, they were ghostly spirit bodies, but had recognizable forms.
Your Highness, will you attend the conference in two days?
I shall.
To save a life, would you detour?
How may I help?
Thresher rescued three of four Enturian officers held captive over ten years. The last and I are left behind, with an SSID officer. We need your help, High Prince. We need a doctor and a ship.
I shall come, however, I require co-ordinates.
Thresher has the co-ordinates. Captain McHale can guide you. Hurry, Your Highness, for Lieutenant Schaffer’s sake.
Macao felt Prince Korwin end the contact.
Shalee whispered in his mind, Well done, my darling. Well done.
Prince Korwin took up his wife’s mitten hand, placed a gentle kiss upon her china doll cheek, leading her to a jewelry chest. Inside was an N-link on a silver chain.
“My love?” Princess Micah looked up to him.
“Wear this, my beloved, for I fear this Alphan, a brother to Jad. With this, he cannot reach beyond me to you.”
He slid the silver necklace about her and fastened the clasp, letting the small, lozenge-shaped device dangle upon her chest, just below the neckline of her gown.
Micah leaned against him and welcomed an embrace.
“The device generates an energy field about you. While you wear it, no Alphan or telepath but I, your mate,” he grinned, “can touch your mind or read your
“Ten days…” Macao groaned.
Schaffer shrugged. “After ten years, it seems an incredibly short time to have to wait.”
When Macao reluctantly pulled himself out of the pool, he had to crawl to the sleeping area.
Xalier came and sniffed him. “Your back? You’ve injured it before.”
“Aye…Dana warned me.”
“Doctor Dana?” Xalier purred. “You should obey doctor’s orders, Captain. Rest now. I’ll watch over you.” The Felidae picked up the corner of a blanket between his teeth and dragged it to cover Macao, ordering, “Rest.”
Schaffer watched from the pool, amazed by the gentleness the big cat creature exhibited. Xalier sank down beside the Enturian lieutenant and purred, “You’ve never met a Felidae before, I can tell. Yet you are accepting. For that, my thanks.”
“I served Navitor as an Exchange Officer and met many member races to the Republic, but none like you.”
Xalier murmured, “I am…an oddity.”
Schaffer chuckled. “Not so very odd… Now Tresgans…they’re odd.”
Xalier sneered in agreement, tail twitching, “And not very tasty.” He began to preen, licking his paws and rubbing them behind his ears.
Janz Macao listened for a time to the conversation between Xalier and Schaffer, but soon drifted off to sleep. He awoke after an hour or so, in agony.
The Felidae sat between him and Schaffer, preening fur, ever alert.
“You are experiencing more pain?” the cat noted.
“Aye.”
“We need to get you to a doctor. Can’t wait ten days. If I go up and prowl about…”
“No,” Macao countered. “I know what to do. We need you here to protect us.” He closed his eyes, calling to Shalee.
Can you help, Beloved?
Her response was sweet and clear. Be gentle, my love, not as you were to your brother.
Can’t help it, Kieran’s such a…boor.
Ambassador Kord is a doctor, my love. He can help.
Macao frowned. Kord? He’s really old; probably retired by now.
The younger Kord, the young prince, is a Master of the Elect. Plead to him, my love. Plead for Schaffer’s sake.
Macao sighed and once again entered the shadow realm of true initiates, this time as a penitent.
Prince Korwin Kord responded quickly, a ghostly form wearing Alphan ambassadorial robes and the ring of the Elect.
Adept, how may I help? However, the Ambassador retreated a step, exclaiming, Jad?
I am Janz, High Prince, former captain of the Republic, Janz Macao.
Still suspicious, Kord stepped forward again.
In the etheric realm, they were ghostly spirit bodies, but had recognizable forms.
Your Highness, will you attend the conference in two days?
I shall.
To save a life, would you detour?
How may I help?
Thresher rescued three of four Enturian officers held captive over ten years. The last and I are left behind, with an SSID officer. We need your help, High Prince. We need a doctor and a ship.
I shall come, however, I require co-ordinates.
Thresher has the co-ordinates. Captain McHale can guide you. Hurry, Your Highness, for Lieutenant Schaffer’s sake.
Macao felt Prince Korwin end the contact.
Shalee whispered in his mind, Well done, my darling. Well done.
Prince Korwin took up his wife’s mitten hand, placed a gentle kiss upon her china doll cheek, leading her to a jewelry chest. Inside was an N-link on a silver chain.
“My love?” Princess Micah looked up to him.
“Wear this, my beloved, for I fear this Alphan, a brother to Jad. With this, he cannot reach beyond me to you.”
He slid the silver necklace about her and fastened the clasp, letting the small, lozenge-shaped device dangle upon her chest, just below the neckline of her gown.
Micah leaned against him and welcomed an embrace.
“The device generates an energy field about you. While you wear it, no Alphan or telepath but I, your mate,” he grinned, “can touch your mind or read your
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