Ry’nao tried to lift his head, and groaned. “I do not think any of us can teach a Wausen anything! You may be willing to learn, but your telepathy is far more powerful than a Ty’nirrhan’s. I think your species has not the capacity to thin the contact enough for any of us. But if you can allow me use of my Gray Cube, I can give you contact through it. The Gray Cube is not, and cannot, be used as, a weapon.”

  Yamotenanten laughed. “I do not fear any of you except her.” He looked at me, and his face turned into Eriganh’s. “She holds a forbidden Cube and must be destroyed, but I cannot do that.” His voice shook.

  “I don’t want to hurt anyone. You don’t have to be scared.” This fella’s just doing his job. He didn’t sound threatening. But, I guess they do have a death penalty. I trembled.

  Ry’nao hugged me. “She is a child! Surely they know this—”

  “Age is unimportant. She used a weapon to alter many timelines.” He looked sad.

  “I tried to undo what Rentappenen did, to save lives! He was killing galaxies filled with people!” I sobbed. What I saw made me sick.

  “I saw some of it. But I need to see all. Ry’nao, you may have your Cube.” He put the Gray Cube in Ry’nao’s hand. Ry’nao stared at Yamotenanten and his eyes turned gray, too.

  It scared me, and my chest hurt. My stomach hurt, too, because we hadn’t had anything to eat. All of us looked thin. How are we alive?

  Finally, they finished staring at each other and Ry’nao’s eyes went red-violet as usual. “I am sorry I frightened you, Azure. I never knew my appearance changed when I shared memories from it.”

  I nodded. Hugged him back. Barely.

  Wtensau staggered over to us and sat harshly on the floor. “If you will allow me, I can make food for all of us. I promise not to make poisons or attack you in any way. I can also make healing herbs for the healers.” His light blue skin dripped sweat.

  “I will allow you. We do not eat or need healing. I do not want any of you to die before we reach the Padrisa!”

  Wtensau sang and flowers grew in the floor. Bushes with fruit. Herbs. All of it, within reach. I picked a berry. Oh, it was sweet! I ate more.

  Wtensau ate some from it too, and as he ate, he fed Ry’nao, Ryee, and Adia. Put some berries and leaves in Molly’s shaking hand.

  I felt better. Still couldn’t lift a hand, but my heart beat a little faster. Didn’t feel like I couldn’t get a good breath, now.

  Molly wasn’t as pale. We kept eating for quite a while. More fruit grew on the bushes.

  Ry’nao passed me what looked like an apple and held it while I bit it. Wonderful fruit! Skin like an avocado, but sweet, and even that was edible.

  He kept getting other fruits. Finally, I got too full to eat more. Molly reached a hand and touched my forehead. Hummed. Then I could eat more. I gained weight.

  Yamotenanten smiled. “Now I know all that happened. Please, tell me what you think the Padrisa should do.”

  Ry’nao spoke first. “I wish to offer my life for those of all here. I am Emperor Of The Unified Seven Galaxies. I bear the responsibility for all that happened.”

  “But, I broke the rules first because my Cube did.” My voice shook. “They should kill me, not you! You tried to protect everyone.” I looked down.

  “Azure, you are not grown. You told me you did not want the Cube. But I think you used it wisely. I saw all that you did from the moment you held it, in the other future, and in this one. You shared memories with me at your death, in Rainbow. Forgive me, but my Cube records all, from all who hold them.”

  Yamotenanten nodded. “Yes, and I saw all. But all of you must share the penalty, and the verdict of our Council. All here are guilty.”

  Dromie and his father, Andy came forward. “I did bad things. I helped Rentappenen. This girl did not. She decided to fight him when she knew of him. Our people should not exist. My father agrees.”

  Andy nodded, but he hugged Dromie against him. “I threw my son away because he wasn’t strong when he was born. But a lady fed him and he got strong. I deserved for him to kill me. But, he brought me and all of our people back. Now we love each other. We evolved. We learned. I think we could do good things for the Padrisa.”

  Stolen novel; please report.

  “Perhaps so, but the Council must decide. Our Council has many created species, but none that can bring back dead ones. Many think you are too powerful to be on our level. We may send all of you back to the 15th, but that is not for me to decide.”

  Andy spread his tri-fingered hands wide. “But, we never lived in the 15th! We were born of the Padrisa.”

  “Those who are born with upper level abilities must live with those who can prevent them from doing harm.”

  Dromie frowned. “Then why didn’t you send Rentappenen to the 15th?”

  “We did not have a way to send him up!” Yamotenanten spread his hands wide and glowed whiter! His blue robes turned white, too, and rippled in the breeze he created.

  “What are you doing?”

  “You ask too many questions! I am supposed to ask you questions.”

  “I’m sorry.” Dromie looked down. “Teach me and I’ll act better.”

  “I do not know how to teach a weapon manners! Ask Ry’nao. He is a diplomat.” Yamotenanten shook his head.

  “Ry’nao is too busy to teach me. I will sit with Ryee.” He got in Ryee’s lap and the Zheien tried to sit up.

  Ry’nao grabbed his shoulder, then flinched. “Molly, help me not to hurt him!” He carefully pulled his head against his chest.

  Ryee giggled. “Liege, I am ne harmed, ne at all!”

  “See his arm! I grabbed his right shoulder!”

  Molly felt it, then smiled. “It doesn’t dislocate easily now. Ryee got recloned—”

  “Oeket harmed him, then Eriganh injured him!” Ry’nao wept.

  “I had healing, ‘Ao.”

  “Not enough! I never saw someone attacked by two different Councillors and live! Molly, keep me from thinking!” He pulled her hand to his forehead.

  I heard it all. In the other future, Eriganh tortured Ry’nao, and when he saw him to tell him he had to leave his position as Unified Diplomat, it irritated him that poor Ryee didn’t keep his eyes on him! Ahstam explained how badly he got hurt, then he stopped expecting so much of his diplomats after they got hurt. Guilt really stung him. He’d never gotten hurt until his own son nearly killed him, in slavery with the Yeff.

  Ilios is on Ye~ taking care of his father’s pastself. He’s terrified, and wants his son to hold him.

  Molly hugged all of us together. “I love you, ‘Ao, and Ryee, and Azure! We need to try to sleep. All of you, come close! We need each other.”

  Ryee pulled Dromie into his arms, too. But Dromie and Andy pulled Adia there instead. “You need her, Ryee. We have each other.” He smiled and tears dripped onto his broad cheeks.

  Adia pulled him against her. “We will all help each other through this. Who knows what other Councillors will ask us to do? All we can do is love each other.” She sighed and it rumbled on us.

  Molly insisted that all of us have yllis. Yamotenanten watched with sad eyes as they all went to sleep. I tasted it and he was still watching me when I woke up. Didn’t feel any stronger. Most people could sit up by themselves. She had to hold my head up while Ry’nao fed me.

  “You hope I will have sympathy for you. I do not.”

  “You are scared of me, but even if I had my Cube, I wouldn’t hurt you with it.” I sighed. Holding Rentappenen still while Ray finished him made me want to scream, just at that memory. People I held until planetary motion put them in airless space. I didn’t enjoy any of that! People have to do bad things when war comes. Even if I die, I’ll still have to deal with all these horrible memories and feel this guilt!

  Ryee pulled me against him. “Ea fe, Azure. You saved our Thirteen, and the Padrisa by your acts. I think Father Of All would forgive you.”

  I sobbed. “Could He? It’s against the Ten Commandments to kill.”

  “Do you know that Zheien Kings are also religious leaders? Ea, I advised many, and I spoke long with our Prophet, Peri concerning this as we prayed for each of them. In War, we must do things we regret, that in peacetime we ne did. I sent men to die, as King Of Ye~, and as Unified Diplomat. But Peri assured me, Father Of All shall forgive me, and He shall forgive you. The men you killed tried to kill you first, or one who fought against Rentappenen. You took their lives to save many. Think on this. I sent men to die who saved many. They were my innocent cousins, who told me they would gladly die for me, to save others. I miss them all, ea, I miss them, but they died as they wished to die, in service of others and our Emperor.” He smiled at Ry’nao, even as his hot tears splashed on my arm. “O, I am sorry, Azure.”

  I laughed. “Zheien tears are easy!” I blew and yellow sparkles flew away. Not one stayed on my arm.

  But, Ry’nao sobbed. “My dear servant! I am happy never to send you into danger again!”

  “Ah, ‘Ao, think of the worlds we saved. Now they are free, and risk of slavery, far less. See how happy the people of Kajar tonight! Look on this beauty.” He looked up into a black sky with giant spires that showed peaceful scenes of people trading in markets.

  “How can you think of Kajar when your people suffered so, there!”

  “Then, look on Vohl, how happy your Elders—tell me of these flowers.” A beautiful garden stretched out before a man, who kissed a flower with a sweet scent.

  Ry’nao startled. “Fahie? Which flower is this? I never saw one like it.”

  The scene faded. He rubbed an eye and startled, staring at the wetness. Looked at his lap, then at the floor.

  Ryee watched him with sad golden eyes. “’Ao, your tears are wet now?”

  His skin, barely pink, went white. “I cannot survive this. How did I touch the Gray Cube and live?” He shuddered.

  Yamotenanten startled. “I would not let you die—”

  “I do not feel any strength! What did they do?”

  “’Ao, be calm—”

  “I had centuries of Pirad’s modifications, to carry my links, and I cannot feel any of them! Ryee, you yet have your Diplomatic Link? Molly?”

  “Ne. I can ne explain how I saw Kajar, or Vohl!”

  “Maybe both of you better lie down—” Molly hugged us all.

  “I cannot explain this except to say that Gifts cannot be Taken, not even by Councillors.” Yamotenanten shook his head. Faces blurred on him in succession.