CHAPTER NINETEEN
 
 

Gerian stepped off her ship and looked around.  She looked at Brast.  "It's peaceful?"

"Yeah, she threatened everyone with extinction if they tried it again," he said blandly, hugging her.  "I missed you."

"We missed having you underfoot too," she promised, smiling over his shoulder.  "Hi, Sivya.  I'm not stealing him."

"I doubt you could.  He's been moping again."  She walked out to get her own hug.  "How are things going?"

"Much nicer now that we've got those stupid marines off our planet.  Not many people liked them and now that the negotiators are gone it's a lot more like a party all the time."  She looked up at the palace.  "This is really nice.  Nicer than the one on Alesar."

"The one on Alesar was there for centuries," Brast said dryly.  "Come inside.  Cabiael is presently torturing a cub by cuddling it to distraction."

"I asked, he said he didn't mind," Sivya said with a small shrug.  "Like mother, like son."   She took Gerian's other side.  "You missed it.  On the way back, I called up and said I'd hurt people if they tried it again.  I only came home to a few problems and there's only been one attack, and it was a person who decided I had been false to my vows."
 

"Congratulations," Gerian said happily.  She smiled at Rethna.  "It looks like a problem."

"It had better not be unless it's an emergency."  She looked at the message, then at him.  "Leave papers?"  He nodded.  "Fine.  I can agree to that.  Pen?"  He handed his over so she signed it.  "There you go."  She kissed him on the cheek.  "Have a good vacation, Rethna.  I promise I'll behave so you get to relax this year."

"That would be nice," he agreed quietly, heading to pack his things.  He looked at Kathal, handing over the forms she had signed.  "She agreed."

Kathal looked at them, then at him.  "You're leaving our service?"

"She thinks I'm going on vacation but I'm leaving," he admitted.  "I can't take the failures."

"It's not your fault they're slippery women."

Sivya walked down the hall and pushed Rethna against the wall.  "Did I say you had failed?"  He slowly shook his head.  "Has Brast said you failed?"

"I took the wrong orders."

"Which is your job.  If I give stupid orders in the middle of combat, you're not going to get me to go along with it.  As for losing Constantine, I doubt you could have kept her here with a handcuff on her tied to your wrist.  She was determined to go, the same as I was.  There was no way you could have stopped either of us.  If you leave, I'll have to hunt you down and bring you back, then make you an advisor so you have to listen to complaints."  He shuddered.  "Kathal, rip up those papers.  I thought they were only for a vacation.  That's all he may do.  Otherwise I'll get pouty and then things will go back to the way they were."  She let him go.  "Then I'll have Brast hunt you down."  He shook his head.  "Yes, Rethna.  Don't believe me, I'll tell him that myself.  Kathal?"  He handed over the forms.  "Are you going on vacation or leaving?"

"Leaving.  Everyone sees me as a failure."

"You and me both, Rethna, and you keep telling me I have to suck it up and deal with the cranky people who make me miserable.  If I have to, you have to.  Or else I'll take off again and then no one will be able to find me."  She ripped up the papers, staring him in the eyes.  "You may have a month's leave, with pay.  You may go wherever you want, but you will be coming back.  Or else I'll get to practice my hunting like the Ferganis showed me."  She walked off, leaving the papers on the floor.

"She is very tough," Kathal told him.  "I don't believe you failed.  I agree with her.  No one could have kept her or Constantine here when they wanted to go.  Women like that you don't keep as much as you watch."  He shrugged.  "Should I put your pay on your chip or did you want it in gold?"

"My chip," he sighed.  "I can't stay."

"I said you are!" she yelled from up the hall.  "Don't make me hunt you down!"

"Empress, be reasonable," he called back.

"You're staying!" Brast called after a short lag.  "Otherwise I'll go insane doing it by myself!"  He yelped.  "Ow!  Wench!"

Rethna smiled in spite of his intentions.  "Fine!" he called back.  "I'll be back in a month."  He looked at Kathal.  "My chip if you wouldn't mind."

"Not an issue.  Did you need anything out of the stores?"

"Maybe some food and a tent.  I plan on going somewhere no one has ever heard of me or her."

"Fat chance that, unless you're going to go to an uninhabited world?"  Rethna shook his head.  "Then everyone there will probably know her at least.  Go, have fun and relax.  We'll be here," he said, waving a hand around.  "She was serious by the way," he said when Rethna walked off.  "She's been wanting to hunt something like she used to."

"I'll keep that in mind considering she used to hunt naked."  He walked into his room, grabbing his things.  He didn't have much.  The kitchen gave him a nice sized package of food and the cook had a kiss on the cheek for him.  Then he walked off to book a flight somewhere else.  He could do what she did and send in his letter of resignation while gone.  She couldn't force him to stay if he didn't want to.

"Oh yes I can," her voice followed him down the halls.  "You're not quitting."

"Blasted woman," he muttered, getting into a kabaan outside to take him to the space port.

~*~*~*~
 

Sivya looked around the suite they were staying in and groaned.  It was a mess.  She got up, starting the picking up process.  She wasn't sure what she had done to her maid but she was apparently frustrated and leaving them alone.  She got the laundry picked up and put into the correct baskets when her husband came in with breakfast.  "Is it a holiday?"

"No, but the staff is doing an observance this morning," he offered.  He looked around.  "We need a new maid."

"I'm not sure what I did to her.  I'm usually nice to her, except a few months back when she woke me up."  She sat down, taking her usual muffin and restorative drink to inhale.  She was hungry this morning for some reason.  She looked around.  "Cabiael?" she called.  No answer.  "He was in here when I went back to bed."

"He was in here when I ran down to the kitchen," Brast admitted.  "Son?  Want a story?"  Still no appearing son.  They got up to find him.  He was barely walking, it wasn't a good idea to let him out on his own.  They found him curled up next to Gerian, hugging her stomach.  "Are you loving your newest friend?" Brast asked softly.  His son grumbled something and snuggled into the gravid stomach, one arm thrown over it.

Sivya took a few pictures of that, smiling at her husband.  "Gerian?" she called softly.  "Watch out, you've got a visitor."

Gerian looked down at her stomach.  "Did she need comforting?" she asked sleepily.  She yawned.  "That had better not be a camera."

"What camera?" Sivya said innocently, going to hide it as soon as she sent one of the pictures off to Brailian.  He'd get a good chuckle out of it.

Brast came over to lift his son up, getting a true growl this time.  "Shh, son, you're not a cub, you may not growl."  He walked his son out, and his mother turned suddenly, putting a hand over his, keeping them shut.  "Another explosion of frustration?"  She nodded.  "Good job.  How do we combat these?"

"I don't know.  Mine never showed up that early."  She slowly let him go since Cabiael was asleep again.  "There, that should be fine."  Brast nodded and put their son down on his favorite couch in the sun.  Sivya stuck her head into Gerian's room.  "We're done with the bathroom if you want to borrow it."

"Thanks, I think I might," she agreed, heaving herself up.  Sivya came over to help her when she wobbled. "I bet you missed having someone there."

"All the time, but the birth was the worst," she admitted.  "One of the elders was sitting with me to keep me calm but no one was there to help me or to do the necessary stuff, like cut his cord or help me with the afterbirth on the ship."  She walked her into the bathroom, finding the tub filling and the tub set at a shallow depth.  "There, climb in and then lower it.  Much nicer than a lake."  Gerian laughed at that but did as ordered.  "Yell if you need anything.  The servants are off doing something with an observance.  So we're cleaning today."  She smiled before walking out, going back to her cleaning up.  She never realized how messy they were.  "Is he all right?"

"No, he's growling again," Brast said quietly. She came over to pick up their son, which calmed him down.  "We've got to talk to someone about him."

"There's someone here who might have a clue.  He's here for that trade summit next week," she admitted.  "I'll talk to him if you want.  I do understand these things more," she said at his long stare.  "A water one was much easier than a fire one every will be."

"Fine.  Go ahead."  She handed back their son, getting dressed quickly before taking him back and heading out to find that ambassador.  "Gerian, if you need help, yelp for me.  I'm doing some minor dusting."

"That's fine, Brast.  I'm very comfortable in here.  It's a very nice tub.  I need one of these at home."

Brast looked up at the sound of gurgling, going in there to raise the tub up again.  "You can't quite go down that far," he chided with a small smile.  "There's a catch to this one.  She nearly drowned too."  He set it at the limit and then left her there.  A few minutes later he brought in something for her to drink and something for her to nibble. "Here, be decadent.  I won't tell him," he said with a wink, heading back to his dusting.

~*~*~*~
 

Sivya tapped on the ambassador's door, bowing to him.  "I came to talk about this one," she admitted.  "Do you have a few free moments?"  He nodded, letting her into his room.  "He's starting fires for no reason.  Most of the time he growls first but he nearly went off twice this morning while asleep when thwarted of what he wanted to be doing."  She sat down, putting her son upright again so he could lean against her chest.  "Wake up, son.  We're visiting," she whispered.  He growled and she grabbed his hands before he could start off again.

The ambassador held out his arms. "May I?"  She handed him over. The baby fussed and wiggled.  "Stop it," he said quietly.  The little boy frowned up at him and he could see a touch of fire come into being in his small fist.  "You may not do that except when necessary," he chided, taking it from the boy and putting it out.  The boy gave him a scared look so he smiled.  "You must learn some control, Cabiael.  You're too young for training."

"That's what I think too, but I don't know what to do with him.  One of these days he's going to hurt someone.  Mine didn't come into being until I was six.  I suddenly decided not to wash the floors in my room the usual way," she explained when he looked.

"It's often that way with us.  For lights or heat usually."

"His first one was the day I got sick, he lit up a wall because it was dark."

"He's very powerful," he agreed, looking at the boy again.  The boy was letting out a small sniffle.  "No, I'm not mean, Cabiael, but we must figure this out before you harm someone you like, like that nice pirate woman who came to visit."

"That was the first one this morning. He was curled up around her stomach and refused to let her go," she admitted.  "I stopped that one and another one when he got whiny about waking up."   She almost leapt over there to stop him again but the ambassador stole the fire and put it out again.  "Is there anything we can do at this age?"

"Live in a stone house with inflammable objects?" he suggested with a small smile.  He felt the bigger fire come into being and had to put it out before the boy burned him to a crisp.  "No."

"Son!" she snapped.  He wilted and quit.  "Do not do that!  You nearly hurt your father and Gerian this morning.  That's bad!  You only do that when someone tries to hurt you!"

"You're being a bit harsh.  He may not understand yet."

"He knows who is father is and who his favorite aunt is," she pointed out.  "He knows it's not right to make them burst into flames."

"True," he agreed.  "A child his age should be able to deal with that.  Have you thought about a power inhibitor?"

"I have but they're painful," she told him.  "I had one on when I went for my training on Alectran.  I ached so badly it was in my joints by the time they took it off me."

"They can cause pain, but you were probably reaching out as well."

"Yes, but that's not good for a child his age.  I barely understood it and I was nearly my first stage of adulthood."

"Very well.  I will ask my brethren.  Wait here."  He handed the baby over and went to call his home.  "Father," he said happily.  "I had not expected you to be up this early."

"What is wrong?" his father asked, looking at the other person.  "Empress, you honor us."

"Actually, I'm desperate and I know that your son might have a cure for my son," she admitted.  "He nearly burned his father up this morning."

"Ah.  Yes, that can be very bad."  He looked at his son.  "How strong?"

"I'd nominate him to be a fire priest if he wasn't one of his father's faith."

"Interesting."  He looked at the child.  "He's very young."

"He is.  He's too young to understand most training," Sivya agreed.  "He barely understands 'mommy said no' and 'bad'."

"Let me talk to someone," he offered.  "There may be some help from a fire priest.  Are you coming this way?"

"Possibly," she agreed.  "We were told to look among your people for help with training him.  If we have to move the palace there, I'm all for it."

"Good.  Let me check with some and I'll call back soon.  Son, did you need anything else?"

"I was going to ask Mother for some treats."  He smiled.  "She is very strong, but she is a water talent."

"That may be what's needed at the moment," the father admitted.  "You didn't manifest until your adulthood ceremony."  He shook his head.  "I'll ask.  Good day, Empress."

"Thank you, sir."  He smiled and cut the connection.  "I'm sorry if I took over the conversation."

"No, it's fine," he promised with a smile.  "It cut a long conversation about why I'm not married very short."  He came over and sat down again, taking the baby back.  "Perhaps he should stay with me today?"

"He's supposed to be helping us in the ship today.  Brast said he wanted to get him used to it.  I guess we could stay in today and we do have that trade summit to go over so we could do that."  He nodded.  "Thank you.  Let me get him bathed and dressed for the day.  Come along, son."  Her son scowled at her.  "I don't care that you don't like baths you have to take them.  Come.  We'll put on some pretty clothes that make your father grin at you."  Her son toddled over to her and allowed her to pick him up.  "Thank you.  I'll see you later?"  He nodded.  "Thank you for your help."  She walked her son back to their rooms, going to make sure he was presentable today.  "I talked with the ambassador and his father.  He's asking around about what we can do."  She looked over, seeing her husband very still.  She looked at the other side, frowning at the man there with the blaster.  "I can and will kill you," she noted dryly.

"By what?  You don't have a gun."

She looked at him, then snorted.  "Beg!" she snapped, backing it up with a mental push to make him obey.  He fell to his knees, whimpering.  "Brast, are you all right?"

"Fine," he admitted, coming over to take the baby from her.  "I take it we're going to be here today so he can find out what to do?"  She nodded.  "Are there any ideas?"

"One I don't really like.  A power inhibitor would cause him pain.  I ached when I had one."  She opened the door and cleared her throat at the guard.  "Should we throw the person with the weapon out the window or would you like him?"  The guard came in and grabbed the person, taking him off.  "Gerian, are you all right, dear?"

"Fine.  I found the hidden passage too.  That's why the tub drops.  It opens a small passage."  She got out and walked out with a towel around her body.  "Is he all right?"

"He's fine, he's just been trying to light up people around him again," she said grimly.  "We're trying to figure out what to do about him."  She looked at Brast.  "I got asked if we were going to Zapasia."

"I wouldn't care to," he offered.  "Especially if it fixes him.  He can't do that on the ship, it could burn up all the available oxygen."

"So he starts little fires, I'm sure he'll be fine," Gerian offered.

"He nearly set Brast on fire twice this morning," Sivya told her.  "He nearly set you if we hadn't moved him.  He's in a grumpy mood."

"But he likes me," she said with a grin.

"He likes me too but he nearly burned me to a crisp for daring to make him move from your stomach," Brast said sarcastically.  "Son, we've got to work on that.  Come along, let's bathe you."   He handed over the baby when he started to feel a bit warm, watching his mother douse the fire on the baby's hands.  "See," he said to Gerian.

"Such strengths usually come with a reason," she said wisely.

Sivya nodded.  "The same reason he'll be a priest.  We've been warned about that part.  It's the part where jokes about living in stone houses make sense that no one warned us about."  She walked her son into the bathroom, stripping them both down to get into the bath with him, the only way she could control him in there.  He squirmed and fought but he couldn't set her on fire and he couldn't set the water on fire either.

Brast looked at Gerian.  "Now you know why we're worried," he admitted.

"I do.  He was starting one while...."  She looked at his shirt, seeing the scorch mark.  "He really was going to light you on fire," she said, touching it.

He looked down then nodded, taking it off to throw into the basket.  "He was," he agreed.  "Go get dressed, I'll help you do the tourist thing today," he offered with a small smile.  "I don't have to be here for the trade summit stuff."

"Will she be all right with him by herself?"

"She'll be fine.  She's got a water talent," he admitted.  "That's how we've managed so far."

"That's good at least.  Lord Aragoness had a plan when he put you two together."  She stroked his cheek.  "Give me ten minutes and I'll be ready."

"That's fine, I'm going to find a new shirt."  She chuckled and went to her room while he did as he needed to do.  "I need to buy more shirts," he complained.  Sivya came out with their scowling son so he took him before he put on his next shirt.  "That's the sixth one this month," he complained.

"Ask Kathal if we have someone who can fix them.  If not, we can always go shopping," she pointed out, putting on some clothes for formal meetings today.  She took back her son, struggling to put him into clothes.  She didn't quite manage to damp down the fire this time but she only lost her top and it was quickly put out.

Someone pounded on the door.  "Empress, are you all right?" Kathal called urgently.  "We saw the fire equipment come online."

"I'm fine, the son is not happy this morning," she called.  He walked in so she handed him the baby so she could change tops.  She and her husband shared a look, then she looked at him.  "Expect to add a trainer for him soon," she told him.  "He'll need it."

"He's too young to be trained as a thinker," he complained.  Sivya pointed at the collars she wore, which made him go pale.  "He is?"  She nodded.  "Water?"

"Fire," she said grimly.  She finished doing up her top for the day and took her son back, putting him into something.  "There, stay in it, son.  No more burning things today."  She looked at him, then around.  "Did we scare off our maid?"

"She left to get married," he reminded her.  "She left last week."

"Oh.  Okay.  Can we have another one?  I'll explain to her that she's not allowed to touch my altar, my books, or my scarves so you don't have to this time."

"I'll see if there's one available," he said with a small smirk at her back as she walked off.  Brast held up his last shirt, making him wince.  "Is that what causes those?"  Brast nodded.  "I'll warn the wife.  Isn't he still too young?"

"There's not much we can do.  She said a power inhibitor would cause him pain."

"I don't know, I've never had one," Kathal admitted.  "I'll ask around.   It definitely wouldn't look good if he burned down the palace.  They only built it a few years back."  He hurried off to talk to his wife, who was over the household duties.  "Wife?" he called from the doorway.  She came out of her office and waved him that way.  He walked in and shut the door.  "You didn't give Sivya a new maid?"  She groaned, hitting herself on the head.  "Remind them not to touch the altar, books, or scarf making materials.  Also, we'll need to do something about training Cabiael."

"Is he a Thinker like his mother?"

"And worse.  Did you know she wore dual collars?"  She shook her head.  "She does.  The other's for a gift with water."  She winced.  "The boy's got one for fire.  That's why there's been all those scorched shirts you were complaining about."

"Are there people who can train them?"

"Fire priests on Zapesia.  I think there's a few other fire cults but I'm not sure if they could come for training.  He needs one.  He set his mother on fire for trying to put clothes on him this morning.  He's a bit upset."

"He'll be in a better mood later," she assured him.  "He'll get to play in the garden and it'll cheer him up."  She looked around the office.  "Any other news?"

"Why would she have a chain between them?  I've never seen that configuration."

"I don't know," she admitted.  "I'd suspect it was the reason why we had a sudden lightening storm on Tovar."

He nodded, that made sense to him.  "Thank you, dear.  Hopefully we'll have something done soon.  Before he hurts someone for real."  They shared a kiss and he went back to his office.  He would have to up the household shopping account to make sure they had clothes that were presentable.  If the baby kept scorching things they'd run out of clothes soon.

The head of the house walked out into her kitchen. "We never assigned Sivya a new maid," she announced.  "Who wants it until we can?"

"Is she going to fuss us to death?" one of the maids asked.

"She only fusses when you touch her altar, her books, or the little scraps of fabric she's always sewing on," another one said dryly.  "I would but I don't want to go near her son.  He's dangerous without an inhibitor."

"They cause pain," one of the cooks told her.  "I wore one for six weeks while pregnant thanks to my second daughter.  He's much too young for one of those."  She looked at the cook.  "There's that new girl coming in from Riven."

"True," she agreed.  "I'll assign her and let her know what not to touch.  I'll expect you lot to help the poor thing.  By the way, his mother has a talent with water so she's keeping him from doing harm."

"So far.  She can't be with him all the time."

"Yes, but they're working on it.  She was down in the Ambassador's wing earlier," of the maids in the back of the room noted.  "I saw her as I was delivering breakfast to Rraaaal's family."

"How is his son?" the head of the kitchens asked.

"Still sniffling.  He's called the healer back.  I told one of the guards in the Throne room that one was coming up."

"Thank you.  For now, we'll deal with the child the best we can," the head of the household said firmly.  "He's too young to really understand much."

"That's why she had to get into the bath with him the other morning?" one of the maids asked.

"Probably," Kathal's wife agreed. "That way she could control his gifts and get him clean.  What do they do when Thinkers come out that early?"

"That only happens in a few places and usually there's someone there to push them back into their own heads," the cook told her.  "When my daughter's powers came online at her first birthday, they told us we'd have to move or else she'd go insane from all the people around the palace.  That's why we took that leave of absence."

"Interesting.  So with a talent like this?"

"I don't have any idea," the cook admitted.  "It's easier with a Thinker of Thoughts."

"Then we'll just have to see and stay away from him when he's in a bad mood, like first thing in the morning," the housekeeper announced.  "Back to work.  Someone go clean their suite, they had to come down themselves to get food this morning."  One of the cooks nudged a maid, who sighed and trudged off.  "Better."  She went back to her office, going over the plans for the upcoming dinners.   Some diplomats were so picky nothing was ever good enough but you had to at least appear to be trying.  It'd shame their Empress any other way.

~*~*~*~
 

Brast was walking Gerian through the marketplace, letting her stop and look at the various things this educational planet grew and made while he picked out some new shirts, when someone ran into them.  He steadied the young woman, looking down at her.  "Are you all right?" he asked.

"No, let me go," she panted.  "I can't stay here."  She tried to run on but Gerian stopped her this time, staring into her eyes.  "You need to sit down," she ordered, looking at the nearest stall.  "She's in labor, get her a seat!" she ordered.  The man hurried off, coming back with a seat for the young woman.  She helped Gerian into it.  "There, breathe deeply to ease the pains."  She started to leave but Brast caught her by the arm, shaking his head.  "You must let me go.  You're in danger if I'm here."

"Lord Brast," the shopkeeper asked fearfully.  "Should I call someone for her?"

"Gerian, would you like to go to a healer or back to the palace and have her there?" he asked softly, keeping a hand on that other girl's arm.

"She'll need a healer.  I doubt the palace has things for the pain."  She got free and knelt beside Gerian's seat, taking her hand to hold.  "It is shifting but will be over with soon.  Get her a healer, they can follow us back if she wants the palace.  Shh, it will be over soon, Empress."

"I'm not," she panted, giving the child a look.  "Who're you?"

"I'm Illanin," she said softly.  "I'll leave so you're not in greater danger as soon as the baby quits moving."  She looked up at the boy the man was carrying, scowling at him.  "Do not even think about it, young man.  If you harm me, you harm her.  That is very wrong."  She continued to stare at him until the baby started to fuss.

"What did you do?" Brast asked. "Usually it takes his mother to make him stop."

"I showed him the fear he was creating.  He's old enough to know what being scared is.  He is a feeler of feelings."  She laid a hand on Gerian's stomach.  "It's all right, young lady, just a few more hours," she soothed.  The baby calmed down and Gerian relaxed.  "There, now you'll have an easier time," she promised, standing up.  Brast grabbed her before she could get away.  "You're in danger with me here," she said coolly.

"I like danger," he told her sarcastically.  "You're staying and we can shield you."  He looked around.  "Lasarae!"  Her head popped up from a stall further back and she jogged over.  "Gerian is about to give birth, this one was helping her and stopped Cabiael from hurting her."

"My queen," she said, looking at the girl.  "Why are you here?  It was not announced!"

"I'm not the queen any longer," she said, getting her arm free.  "I must go.  They're in danger if I'm near them."

Lasarae snorted.  "Pirates attract trouble like Ferganis attract biting bugs in the desert.  We can handle trouble."  She looked around.  "Where's your son?"  The girl sniffled but pulled herself back together.  "Shh, my queen," she soothed, hugging her awkwardly.  "We will help you solve this.  There is no need to run further."  She glared at the men coming their way at a run with weapons.  "They're her trouble, Lord Brast.  Guard her."  She handed the girl over.  "Halt!" she ordered.  "How dare you bring weapons around Lord Brast, the Empress' husband!"  That stopped them.  "State your business before I have you arrested and questioned."

"Give us the girl and we'll go," one of them told her.  "She is wanted for treason on her world."

"The only treason I committed was trying to get my son back," Illanin snapped, pulling herself as straight as she could.  "You are the treasonists.  You took my son," she spat.  "You demand my cooperation with your petty schemes for power.  I will see you dead!" she shrieked, pulling power to her.  A wind started, swirling around her body.  She raised a hand and a flash of light came from it.  One of them guarded the group of hunters so she sent another one.  This one was purple, where the first had been bright white light.  This time they all fell and Illanin broke out in tears.

Lasarae turned to catch her, holding her tightly.  "Lord Brast, I'll bring her to the palace.  This is something that will be occupying your wife for many years," she said gently.

"Why do they want her?" Gerian panted, holding her stomach.

"Someone foresaw troubles if she had a son.  So they took the son and brought it on their heads," Lasarae told them.  "She's from Quosin."  They all shuddered.  "Exactly.  Lady Gerian, let me get another guard to go with you."

"I'm fine with her," Brast promised.  "Get her and Cabiael to the palace."  He handed him to the young woman and she hugged him tightly.  "Take him back to his mother.  She'll help you if we can," he promised.  She nodded, letting Lasarae lead her off.  "The healer?" he asked the shopkeeper.

"On their way.  The nearest is a few blocks away, Lord Brast.  Can I get her anything else?"

"Less pain," Gerian complained.  "Daughter, please!" she begged.  "Stop moving!"  Someone came running toward them.  "That had better be a healer."

"It's more guards.  Clean them up, take them before my wife.  They tried to attack a young woman, claimed she had committed treason for having a child."  They only looked stunned for a moment before picking up the unconscious people and carting them off.  The healers pushed through the clean-up effort, picking up Gerian and carrying her off before Brast knew what was going on.  He was left to follow at a trot.  They were clearly very efficient.   They got her settled into a room and he sat down beside her, doing what her husband should be doing.  He remembered to call him, getting him on the room's communications system immediately.  "She went into labor in the market.  A young woman named Illanin was helping her because we wouldn't let her run away."

"That's a dangerous one to know," Brailian warned.  "They're starting a civil war over what she's done."

"They took her child from her," Brast told him.  Brailian nodded.  "You know more of this?"

"I do, but mostly rumors.  It seems that they're near those new humans who're on Watch status for immigration purposes.  Illanin was the queen on Quosin, which is about the last stop of civilization near there.  One of the humans came up claiming to be a priestess of Aragoness.  She wasn't, but she was a seer and he's the only God she knew of that had true foresight so she claimed kinship."  He shrugged.  "They discovered her falseness when another priest was called but Illanin forgave her after hearing why.  The priest claimed her as distant kin, from a thieve's family down there."  He shifted some.  "Gerian, are you all right?"  She shook her head, eyes squeezed tightly shut.  "You hurt Brast like you would me," he soothed.  "If I could, I'd be there instead of him."

"I told you I had bad timing," she panted.  "Ow!"  A healer ran in to check on her, giving her some liquid to sip.  "Will that harm the baby?" she asked once the pain was lessened.

"No, it is specifically to help with the bearing of young," the woman said, bowing to Brast.  "I will be back, let me check on one more patient.  You will be going in a few hours and she is closer."

"That's fine," Brast agreed, nodding her to go.  "Go on, Brailian."

"Illanin's new friend had a vision in open court.  If she had a child, specifically a son, there would be many problems for years to come.  If she was allowed to raise the child, then the child would be a great ruler for them.  If she did not raise the child it would be an impotent ruler.  If she had the child then bad things would happen and wars could break out."

"So they fulfilled that by taking the child?" he guessed.  Brailian nodded.  "The child?"

"No one's sure if it lives or not," he admitted.  "The poor girl is not quite yet a full adult.  She's a few months shy of her first adulthood celebration at sixteen.  She was knocked unconscious and the child was taken from her body.  Others had made sure that she would have a child, even though she didn't believe the prophecy. She went after those who took the child.  Her people are at war.  She abandoned her crown and walked away after destroying part of a city where the people were hiding.  She's a broken Thinker, Brast, and that's a dangerous thing."

"Her mind felt fine earlier, and she helped Cabiael," Gerian offered quietly. "For being broken, she is in control.  Most of them go suicidal."

"I know, love, but you cannot step into the middle of this one."

"Too late, she calmed the daughter down earlier after she nearly ran us over," Brast told her.  "Lasarae realized who she was and took her to Sivya."

"I'll talk to your wife in a moment.  Adding force to that situation will only make it worse.  They're a fierce people and hate her already," he warned.

"That's fine.  It's not the first battle and it won't be the last.  Perhaps we can find the child or at least call a truce."

"Maybe, but I hold no hopes," Brailian told him.  "There is nothing short of elimination of that planet that will stop that fight."  He looked at his wife.  "I wish I was there with you this time."

"Me too," she panted, gripping Brast's hands again.  "This still hurts."

"Shh, it is much better than being the only being with hands on a planet," Brast soothed.  "I'm much more comforting than a Ferganis."

Gerian laughed, pinching him, then let out a scream as the pains got worse.  The healer came rushing back with a tray.  "What's that for?"

"For the child," she told her.  She looked at the screen.  "Are you her mate?"

"I am," he agreed.  "Unfortunately I'm on another world.  My sworn-brother may stand in my stead."

"Thank you."  She got to work on the poor girl, helping her deliver this child.  It came out and started to scream without any encouragement, so the healer smiled and sent soothing thoughts to her.  "Shh, little one, you are among your family.  You are loved," she soothed as she cleaned the poor thing off.  She handed the baby to the stand-in father and worked on helping the mother through the afterbirth.  Once she was done and cleaned up, she hurried out to note the birth in the records.  The tray kept all the measurements needed and did a first scan of the child.  She came back with the certificate.  "Perfectly healthy," she promised, handing it to Brast.  "She'll be able to head home tonight."

"I can fly that soon?" she said, looking up from her daughter.

"No.  I thought you were local."  She looked at the child, then at the person beside her bed.  "Not for at least six months and no jumps at that time."

"Fat chance I'm going to be without her," Brailian said bitterly.  "We can put her on a slow ship."

"Going into orbit can cause pressure, which will harm the child," the healer told him.  "If you want this child healthy, you could come this way."

"Oh, no, they stepped into a situation that could get them all killed.  I want my wife nowhere near that," Brailian demanded.

"We wouldn't let her get hurt, Brailian," Brast said with a grimace.  "You know I'll protect them like they're mine."

"Yes, but you're going to be attacked over this new one showing up, Brast.  It's dangerous.  I lost one of my mates, I can't lose her too," he said calmly.  "Please."

"If there's even the hint of violence coming, we'll send her to a safe house with Lasarae," he promised.  "You have my oath, sworn in blood, that I will protect your family as my own.  You are my sworn-brother."  Brailian nodded at that.  "You know I'll protect her.  If I could have, I would have protected Tyvana.  Had I known I would have been there to help.  I had no hint of it."

"Neither did we.  Just an uneasy feeling on Sivya's part," Gerian offered.  "She wasn't sure why.  We talked right before the festival with the trees and the picnic.  That's why she wanted you two to leave that night."

Brailian sighed.  "I know.  She told me, we agreed.  It doesn't ease the pain any.  I don't want you to leave me alone."

"I'm not," Gerian reminded him.  "I'm the true pirate in this family, Brailian.  If I hadn't been pregnant, I would have been beside you that whole time and we would have solved those fights quickly.  I'll be safe with Sivya and Brast.  As will this one.  Come see us as soon as you can."

"I'll try to come up tonight.  I can't stay more than a few weeks though."

"That's fine, we'll guard her while you're gone until she can travel home to be with you," Brast reminded him.  "I love her like she's my own wife, brother.  She'll be as safe as we can make her."

"Thank you, brother. I do trust you, just not the omen of that child coming."

"Our troubles won't start for many years yet," Gerian assured him.  "They said Cabiael would be the one to keep us strong, and he can't do that until he becomes a priest.  That gives this one time to grow up."

He nodded.  "I agree.  Thank you, Brast.  You'll be a godfather of course."

"Of course," he agreed with a smile.  "Go celebrate and announce her birth."  Brailian smiled and went to do that. He looked at her.  "Am I that paranoid?"  She nodded, smiling at him.  "Then I probably have good reason, as does he.  He's usually very smart about such things."  He stroked the back of the baby's hand.  "There, all better now?" he asked.

"She's thinking?"

"I think so. We'll have to see."  He smiled at her and called the palace, getting Kathal.  "My man," Brast said with a smile.  "Gerian's had her daughter.  The healer said she'll be able to come home tonight."

"Good.  I'll have my wife send up some food for a celebration and make sure it's something a new mother can tolerate," he said with a gentle smile.  "That means she can't leave for a bit I'm assuming?"

"The healer said six months."

"Really?  Then I'll make sure you've got a bed in your room for him and we'll reserve a place for Lord Brailian's ship.  When are we expecting him?"

"Within a week.  He's got to settle some things first."  Kathal nodded at that.  "How is Sivya?"

"She's throwing a fit worthy of one of those Wind Goddesses on Tayis."

"The ones known for blowing storms that would destroy the planet if not placated?" Gerian asked.  He nodded.  "I'm sorry."

"She hasn't destroyed anything yet.  She did thank her for solving your son's problems this morning.  Then she heard why she was there and what was going on and the storm started.  We had to move the trade summit to a drier room.  Should I be expecting your packages to be delivered?"

"Please.  I brought hers with me," Brast offered. He covered up the baby since she was probably cold.  "How soon before we can test her as a Thinker?"

"Today most likely.  I'll have someone sent down there, Lord Brast.  Is there other news?"

"No, but Brailian did have some information on that planet's happenings."

"As have I, he sent it to me," he agreed.  "You do know that when I retire it will be a more peaceful time in my life, but I'll miss all the strife and conflict?"  Brast smirked at him.  "I'll have to take time to adjust."

"You could come visit.  We can always threaten your life," Brast offered with a grin.

"No, I believe I and my wife will be quite happy on our lands and at peace for a bit. She's found her successor as have I. I'll brief you both on them when they get here."  Brast nodded.  "Then I congratulate you, Lady Gerian.  I hope she's healthy and happy."  He cut the connection.

"He'll be back some day," Gerian said calmly, smiling at him.  "He'll miss all the pressure and excitement."

"The first time she really faced him down was over some expectations," he told her.  "She called him out over it.  He was ready to quit a few weeks before her coronation.  They managed to work that out and then move on.  He's very calm about most everything.  He reported people getting through the guards in the same voice he did dinner."

"Hopefully his replacement will be just as good."

"Hopefully his replacement will be able to work with my wife.  Otherwise we're in for more battles."  He smiled as she yawned.  "You rest.  He'll bring Fyester up to see his new sister in a few days."  She nodded, handing over the baby while she got comfortable.  "Hello, precious," he soothed, making her stay calm and unfussy. "We'll let the mother sleep for now, then we'll go see what's going on at the palace.  You'll like it there, Cabiael will try to hug you all the time.  He's the one who was hugging you the other day."   She laughed.  "I'm hoping Sivya doesn't yell at her for what she did earlier.  I hadn't thought of using his Thinker skills to stop him."

"Why would you?  You're not one of them," she reminded him sleepily.  "Sivya wasn't trained that way.  I'm sure Illanin will do just fine while under the overprotective wing of your wife.  She's still very young but Sivya seem to be able to deal with people that age."

"Hopefully," he agreed quietly.  He smiled down at the baby.  "You hungry?"

"Go ask the nurse."

"Of course."  He got up and went out to see the healers.  "Is there anything you can give us so she can eat?  She's hungry."

"Of course, Lord Brast," one of the assistants said quickly, going to get something for the poor child.  "How is the mother?"

"Sleeping."  He put the bottle into the baby's mouth, watching as she figured out what that was.  "Suck, little one, it's like the mother."  The baby sucked, hesitantly at first then stronger as she got the point.  "There you go.  We're going to go back in there.  Thank you."  He walked back to Gerian's bedside, sitting down with the happy baby.  It was good that she was happy.  Maybe she would make Cabiael quit scowling at everyone.

~*~*~*~
 

Sivya looked at the girl once she had calmed down, keeping her temper in check.  "All right.  What can I do to help you?"  Illanin looked at her.  "That situation is wrong.  It's my job to fight those sort of things.  What can I do to help?"

"All I want is my child.  I don't want to be around them if they do these sort of things."

"Understandable."  Sivya righted two chairs, sitting the other woman down first since she was holding Cabiael.  "He's very calm for you.  How did you do that?"

"Earlier I showed him the fear he was causing by trying to toast me.  He's very sensitive so he stopped at that.  It shouldn't take too many more times to fix this."  Sivya looked stunned.  "It's not the first choice but with powers this strong it was an immediate reaction.  He really should have a trainer waiting."

"We're working on that," she admitted, sitting across from her. "That won't hurt him?"

"It may make him wary of using it to hurt people, but eventually he'll learn when things happen.  Or when his trainer forces the issue."  She looked around at the mess. "I thought I threw a fit," she said with a small smile.

Sivya grinned.  "True.  I don't often lose control of myself that way.  Unfortunately with my water gifts it always starts a storm.  Kathal?"  He opened a door and walked in.  "Tell your wife I'm very sorry and I'll help clean up the mess."

"No, my Empress, she knows why you were in such a fit of temper.  Though she did ask if you were having another child," he admitted with a small smile.  "Is Cabiael fine?'

"Just fine.  I had to show him earlier that he was scaring people with his skills," Illanin said, looking at him.  "Thank you for allowing me in.  A few of the local queens have helped me get from planet to planet but they wouldn't dare to help me with my son."

"If he lives, I will have him brought to you," Sivya promised.  "What they did was wrong.  It should not be happening.  That is a treasonous act in my mind."  Illanin nodded.  "Kathal, do we have any Space Marines left after the other morning?"

"A few," he said dryly.  "Most of them weren't involved in that.  I can have the head sent over from the Academy.  It's relatively nearby."

"Please," she agreed.  "When do I get to threaten your replacement?  Who will not like the fact that we don't really go on a steady budget?"  He coughed and shook his head, but he was smiling.  She looked at him.  "I know how your mind works. I wish you wouldn't retire."

"Yes, but the wife and I want peace for a bit.  Our vegetables and gardens wouldn't dare attack us."

"True," she agreed gently.  "I'm sorry you've had so much stress."

"Ehh, it was that stress or the normal stresses.  At least this was a change from the usual stress.  I'll get him here by tonight, Empress."  She nodded. "Anything else?"

"Can you find her a room near ours?"

"Of course.  She can take over the First Wife's quarters," he offered.  Sivya smiled at that.  "I've also sent a bed to Lady Gerian's rooms since she's got to be here for a bit longer."  Sivya looked confused.  "The healer said she couldn't travel until the child was about six months along."

"I did a jump not even an hour after Cabiael was born," she pointed out.  "And one three days later, and one a day after that.  Plus a longer one when he was about nine days old."

"I'll ask other's opinions," he assured her.  "I know Lord Brailian was worried about any additional strife this would bring."

"I don't blame him.  He's lost one mate to these battles, he shouldn't have to lose the other," she said quietly.  "I hate that he lost the first."

"That is life, Empress.  We all lose things we cherish sometimes."  She nodded.  "Now, calm yourself and I'll have a proper lunch brought up, then you can listen to the trade summit."

"If I must."

"I can easily sit with Cabiael," Illanin offered.

"No, he wanted to go with me," she said with a small shrug.  "We have someone from Zapesia here at the moment."  That got a small, girlish grin from the young woman.  "You can come if you want."

"I refuse to take back my crown. I cannot rule a people that I loathe so much that I want to commit genocide."

"Then you're wise for your age," Sivya assured her.  "We'll let you rest this afternoon, Illanin.  Then we'll talk later tonight after I talk with the Space Marines."  She nodded, handing the child back.  "Kathal?"  He hummed.  "Show her to her quarters and send lunch in to her.  I'll be with the delegates."

"Of course, Empress."  He smiled as he helped the young woman up and walked her out.  "We do have guards down in that section of the palace.  You're around the corner from her suite."

"That's fine," she agreed quietly.  "Thank you for not telling her that my people have branded me."

"Your people were wrong to do what they did, that decision is no less wrong," he assured her. "She feels the same and she is aware of that."  He turned a corner and opened a door.  "Here you go.  There's a connecting door to her suite as well, in case Cabiael starts again or something."  He let her inside and walked off, going to tell his wife this new gossip and get her help for that poor thing. So young to be hunted for something she had no control over.  After all, she hadn't wanted to get pregnant, someone had decided she should.  That girl never had a chance to grow up, but she would now if he had any say in the matter.

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