Stars Of Memory

Chapter 17

Kysanden comes into her room to see her kneading out her leg, and strides over, concern evident on his face.

"Are you all right?"

"I'm just tired, and sore from all the walking."

"Make sure you get some rest, all right? We don't want you to relapse."

Jīvitaya waves him off. "I know, I know."

He turns to exit the room but says something before he does. "I brought the levik, just in case. And if you are going to be walking around later, I would request that you use it."

She nods. "Fine. That's fair."

Then she shoos him out and he leaves, chuckling quietly to himself. She falls back onto the bed, still clutching the healing stone, and almost wacks herself in the face with it as she throws her hands over her head. Before she can actually hit herself in the face, she sets the stone on the bed beside her and sits up again to pull out her tablet. She checks the time of the planet, albeit in a time scale she can understand, and her stomach growls once she sees it. 18:57. As if on cue, Kysanden pops back into the room.

"Lady Grania has invited us to dinner."

"How soon?"

"We are to go in a moment, they are sending someone to guide us to the dining room."

Jīvitaya nods and slides off the bed to stand in front of him. They wait together in momentary silence until someone knocks on the door. The pair step out into the hallway and the man waiting for them bows before turning on his heel. They follow, and Jīvitaya is surprised at the number of turns they take through the palace in order to get to the dining room. Finally, they reach the dining room to find not only Grania, but several people already seated. They all rise at once and bow to Jīvitaya and Kysanden.

"We welcome you to our table."

Kysanden inclines his head. "I thank you for the honor of dining among you."

He moves to the table and Jīvitaya follows. He pulls a chair out for her and waits for her to seat herself before pushing it in and taking a seat himself. There is a moment of silence before Grania speaks.

"What brings you to grace us with your presence?"

"Lady Jīvitaya is searching among many galaxies to find her people, and there is a possibility that your people are also her people."

Grania nods sagely. "Ah." She turns slightly towards Jīvitaya. "Lady Jīvitaya, how much do you know about my people and my planet?"

Jīvitaya's answer is nervous but as truthful as possible. "I know next to nothing, but your home is lovely and I wish to know more. Even more so if I am to discover that this is where I belong."

Grania smiles at her. "That is a wise answer, do not be nervous about it. Would you be against meeting tomorrow so that I may teach you about our people?"

Jīvitaya beams. "Not at all! That would be wonderful."

"Then it is agreed."

One of the other people, a purple-skinned and red-haired man at the table speaks up, his voice cold. "And why are you searching for your people, Lady?"

Grania turns to glare at him. "Advisor Landvik! That was uncalled for!"

"No, Lady Grania, it was not." Jīvitaya gets the impression that Grania and Landvik hate each other, which may explain why they were sitting far away from each other. "Lady Jīvitaya, would you care to answer my questions?"