Becky's Gift

Alb Seer Portal

Four minutes isn't long. I shot past Esta Faho. How did I know that's Esta Faho? Because that low black rectangular block is the weapons facility. I shuddered. Something about it's just—evil, maybe?

I got a good look at the area. Barrens. Sand. Rocks. It's against a rocky wall, foothills of a mountain range that's between it and where Esta Faho used to be. Red sky, bright red. They moved mines here, and they made the mountain range longer. Moonlight—they look like moons, but the 5 worlds were small as Earth's moon. One, tiny Kin Para, is the one that crosses the others sometimes. They all look yellow because the sand is yellow on all 5 of 'em. Not the rich, canary yellow of our new world, Elshar Zheiea. No, barely yellow at all, almost white.

Then, I got nearer to Alb Seer. I never saw it from up high, but I spotted lots of rings of seven buildings, all alike. Blue sky, with a few blue clouds, almost like Earth. A yellow sun. One moon. With pink and green and blue--

The ground zoomed up! I got a little scared. What do I do? Will it land itself?

A green streak came up and a Zheien hand grabbed the top of the portal. "O, Yea Becky? Why came you alone? Did one become unwell in your portal?" This man had orange skin.

"No, I came by myself. I need to speak with Pirad without anyone knowing."

He steered down, and it was fast! But, just as I grabbed his shoulders, he pulled down with a twist. The portal shot into the white sand. We landed gently. "Oh, I'm sorry!"

"Lady Becky, I am well. Let me take you to Theaspaura, our king. He is enjoying the festival—"

"But I don't want anyone to know—"

We stepped out by Theaspaura, his son, Theapet, and an Earthan. Oh, Kerjie! But, she's still Earthan. Pirad made her Zheien, in the other future. I froze.

Theaspaura also had red-gold eyes. When they didn't go lighter, I got nervous, but he's not Esta Fahoan, he's Fhiahan! They don't do that. He and the man—not a diplomat's uniform, but light armor. They have military?

He nodded to the man. "Eap, you and Kerjie enjoy the festival. This is Becky, 1st Princess of Esta Faho—"

Theapet gasped and bowed. "Fa, may I accompany? Kerjie, I wish nae to bore you with meetings." His bright blue eyes opened wide.

She also bowed, just as low as he did. "I am sure nae to be bored, for I must learn much to be a princess, also."

Oh, no! Another Earthan who might blab something!

The three of us ported into a green room. They all wore beetle-green. Kerjie's dress was like mine, with Tessite trim and jewels around the wrists and hem. Mine is sky blue, Tom's color.

I bowed to her. "Yea Kerjie, I am happy to meet you."

"And I am happy to meet you, Yea Becky."

The trio sat on a padded bench, and I had one to myself. Theapet spoke first. "This is nae a social visit, eae? Ziron tells me you came alone, and wished nae to know you came. What is wrong? I nae heard Tom or Nito in my Link today."

I trembled. "There is a matter of great importance that I must discuss with Pirad. This concerns Mican."

Theaspaura frowned. "Pirad, come to us, please."

He just appeared. Clicked his face into a frown. "Becky. I heard that you have a Gift for finding Dosilians—"

Both Theapet and Kerjie gasped! Theaspaura was more poised, but still, his red-gold eyes widened.