The Oracles of Mer

Chapter 3: Home

       Essa laid on the soft grass behind her hut, "hiding from the people again?" The strain left at the sound of his voice.

        "Hi lover," she smiled up at him "wearing your long now?" He sat down beside her and she ran her hand through his fluidic crystal hair. "I like it."

     "Dad was impressed by your ability to handle that." He saw the pain in her eyes "is your Oracle okay?" He rested his hand on her chest "your balance is completely gone."

     "Was that necessary?" Her eyes grew moist as the images popped into her mind again. She sobbed lightly as her Oracle shook again.

     "Dad felt so, Mom and I didn't. As for my siblings... they were on the fence." He leaned over and kissed her deeply. "So did you learn anything from the skin samples you took?"

      "Yes, where my people have water in their body your people have a fluidic Oracle crystal. Organs placement and purpose is nearly the same. Your bodies are just fueled by liquid crystal not water like most Mer."

     "Do you think our people could procreate?" He kissed her again.

     "Yes, physically your people are capable of mating you just choose to procreate differently. Our bodies are very compatible, my species of Mer is tougher and able to withstand the stone aspect of your people... and genetically we are a very good pair. I wonder if that is why your people are having difficulties...you are evolving to procreate like the rest of the humanoid species."

     "Your way does seem like it is more fun." He laid down beside her and pulled her into his arms. "So will you be my Mate and teach me your ways."

     Essa giggled "You say that like I'm an expert."

    "Essa..." it was her father "Essa where are you?"

     "Gatta go, Dad says he still isn't ready to see our true humanoid forms." He kissed her one last time and dove into the pond.

    "Back here dad." She sighed

    "There is a screaming match going on just outside the Temple Square, everyone is accusing each other of heinous sins." He took a breath and rubbed his forehead "you have to sort in on this discussion and keep the peace."

     Slowly she got up glancing longingly at the pond. "Okay, lead the way."

     He lead her to the chaos and sat her in a chair right at the front. "One at a time!" Essa growled at them. Half the chaos dropped to their knees still scared of her. The other half mocked her quietly. "Let's get this over with."

      While Essa handled the chaos Cryt looked up how the three princes were doing. "The harem were dealt with properly, good... good..." he sat down on a rock wall near a hut some distance from Essa and the chaos "oh, the council has gotten more determined, not good." He read reports and letters sent from the princes remembering his promise to their father to look after them. He and their father had been acquaintances when the war on Taro started, as a precaution he asked a favor. Cryt pulled up a picture of the boys then heard the screams escalate drawing his attention back to his daughter.

       "Essa," he came up behind her as she stretched and tried to hide her annoyance. She had been listening to the complaints of the people for about an hour now. To Oracles balance is important and this somehow brought balance, boring as it was.

      "Need I remind you there was only 3 rules that all of you agreed to in order to be heard." He frowned at the crowd. "First you cannot ask for anything to be returned to you that was lost the day before. Second she cannot forgive or judge any sins or wrong doings, that are between you and God, those are none of her business. Third she is not going to award any property to those who ask for it simply because they feel they are entitled to it."