CHAPTER TWENTY: TOGETHER

Yesui had spent hours getting dressed in her rooms, but when she finally appeared it was in the plain, black robe of the Moshuguang. A trace of rouge was on her cheekbones, a hint of green around her emerald eyes, a colorless gloss enhancing the normal redness of her lips, and she'd pulled her hair away from her face to hang as a single tail reaching nearly to her waist. Kati looked her up and down, a bit surprised.

"I thought you might wear something more colorful," she said.

"This is what I am," said Yesui, and that was the end of that.

Kati herself was dressed in formal gold and her hair was in buns for the occasion, but when her father arrived he was dressed like his grandaughter.

"Lovely," he said, looking them over, then offering an arm to each of them. "Our guests will be impressed by the sight of my ladies."

Mengmoshu led them to the elevator and down to the ground floor of the palace where Huomeng and Mengjai awaited them with an honor guard of six troopers in sparkling armor. They paraded to the monorail station by the Hall of Ministers where a crowd watched them board a car that took them up to the flyer port above the palace, and there they crowded into two flyers, the royal family in one, troopers in the other. Two other flyers would leave with them to bring back the delegation from Meng-shi-jie.

Mengjai was her pilot, but Kati still clutched at her knees as they lifted off.

Relax, Mother. I know what I'm doing. 

Of course, dear. Yesui reached over to pat her hand in assurance as Kati swallowed hard to numb her usual liftoff nerves.

They lifted straight up, a panel in the dome opening for them, the four flyers forming into single file and heading north to the shuttle field on a butte above the valley where an invading army had once been evacuated from Shanji. On that day, the valley had been blackened by Kati's purple light, but now it was green with unripened barley used in central stores for the sick and elderly.

The freighter from Meng-shi-jie would come down later in the day to land at the large field east of Wanchou and begin loading for its return. With Yesui there to jump the ship, there was now sufficient fuel for a liftoff and the old days of shuttling materials to an orbiting freighter were over.

The shuttle bearing Meng-shi-jie's delegation was already gliding at high altitude as Mengjai brought them in to land with a gentle thump on a pad of concrete near the small terminal building. As they came in, Yesui's eyes had closed briefly, and she'd smiled.

"Does he know you're here?" asked Kati, for Yesui had masked herself for that brief moment.

"Yes," said Yesui, and twisted the fingers of her hands tightly together. "Oh, Mother, I am so nervous."

They barely had time to reach the proper shuttle pad before they saw it coming, high up, a shape like some great bird gliding lazily towards them. The honor guard formed a line, the royal family in a line opposite them, both some fifty meters from the landing pad as the craft came in on magnetic lifters, hovering, then dropping the last meter with an impact that sent a shuddering wave beneath their feet. Workers scurried to position a ramp of stairs for descent from the exit hatch.

Yesui's anxiety was now awful. Mengjai put an arm around her and squeezed, but it didn't help. And when the hatch finally opened, they were all in agony from the waves of apprehension and fear coming from the Mei-lai-gong. She stood firm, but her eyes were wide, her breaths short and rapid.

Four men emerged from the hatch and descended the stairs, then walked towards them in single file. As they came closer, Yesui's agony was suddenly joy, and Kati felt something pass through her like a warm breeze, soothing, but transient. The honor guard snapped to attention at port arms as Kati smiled and held out her hand in greeting.

The first man was the oldest of the delegates, perhaps sixty; he bowed deeply when Kati extended her hand, then shook it warmly and smiled.

"I am Wang Mengnu-Shan-shi-jie," Kati said softly. "Welcome to Shanji."

"I am Mongke-Temur, Madam. Mandughai has chosen me as her ambassador, and I'm honored to serve her world and yours. She sends her regrets that her husband Kabul is not here to meet you in her stead, but with the imminent birth of their second child he simply refused to leave her side."

"He's where he should be," said Kati. "There will be many opportunities for us to meet in the future. This is my husband, Huomeng, my son, Mengjai, and Yesui, my daughter."

Mongke-Temur shook hands with the men, then bowed deeply to Yesui. "We are in your debt, Mei-lai-gong," he said simply.

Yesui smiled faintly and nodded, but she was looking past him towards the others, all dressed like Mongke-Temur in tailored, single-piece suits, powder blue, with wide, black belts and short boots.

"These are my assistants Toktamish and Kharloin," said Mongke-Temur. Both men were in their thirties; they shook hands and bowed silently. Behind them, last in line, was a tall young man with a long, chiseled face and eyes that seemed green until he came close, and then Kati could see the eyes were light brown with green flecks in them. He was lovely, almost delicate in appearance, but it was his presence that struck her, a quiet serenity about him that made her feel comfortable, and then he looked past her, towards Yesui. His eyes seemed to glow, lips parting in a beautiful smile, and the feeling of love was so intense that Kati reached instinctively for Huomeng's hand.

"With your permission, Madam, we are not delegates of Meng-shi-jie alone," said Mongke-Temur, "but of the entire Tengri-Nayon system. Antun Wizera, Governor of Lan-Sui, has requested representation and sends his own son as ambassador. This is Nokai Wizera, who will represent Lan-Sui and its moons if that is acceptable to you."

"It certainly is," said Kati, extending her hand as Nokai bowed to her. "Welcome, Nokai. We've looked forward to meeting you for a long time."

Nokai's grip was warm and light, yet firm. "It's my honor to serve The Mother, and her worlds," he said, looking straight into Kati's eyes.

So this is the face that has captured my daughter's heart, thought Kati.

My heart is also a captive, came a soft reply in her mind.

"This is my husband Huomeng," said Kati, and the men shook hands.

Mengjai grinned as Nokai turned to him and said, "I believe we've met before, Mengjai, but not like this."

Their hands clapped together. "Good to see you at last, Nokai," said Mengjai, and turned the man left to face Yesui.

Kati would never forget that long moment of beginning, when there were unmasked feelings that made all hearts ache in such a wonderful way, and yet few words were spoken. Nokai stepped up to Yesui, and it seemed to Kati that Yesui's face had never been more beautiful.

"Hello, Nokai. Here I am," said Yesui softly.

"Yesui," said Nokai. My darling. My love. I'm here for as long as you'll have me. 

That will be forever, said Yesui, her mask down, but then it was quickly up again.

The moment was missed by the other delegates, for Mengmoshu had stepped forward to greet them and was leading them back towards the flyers. Mengjai followed, then Huomeng, but Kati held back for a moment as Nokai and Yesui came close together without touching, Yesui's head at the level of his shoulder. They looked at her expectantly, and Kati smiled.

Together at last, and we know how you feel about each other. It is all right to show it. 

Kati turned away from them. She did not see the kiss, but felt Yesui's pleasure from it. And when she risked a glance over her shoulder, she saw them walking behind her, shoulders touching, hands at their sides, fingers intwined. For one instant after her glance, their masks were down.

How did you manage to do it, Mister Ambassador? asked Yesui.

Oh, I have my methods, said her Love.

 

It was near dawn of the day following Nokai's arrival when Yesugen called to Kati in sleep.

Kati, it's Yesugen! Can you join me in the gong-shi-jie? I have something special to show you. 

The call drew her from deep sleep to a state of dreams, but it was guilt that brought her awake. The presence of Yesugen reminded Kati that she'd said nothing to the woman about what had happened to Abagai. Such wonderful news, kept to herself, distracted by Yesui and Nokai finally being together on Shanji.

Kati yawned, but kept her eyes closed, Huomeng's body warm at her back. I'm coming, Yesugen, she answered. You caught me asleep. 

The purple matrix flickered once, then the flash of transition, still so quick for her, and she floated in the shimmering clouds of creative light. There was a column of green coming towards her from the direction of Tengri-Nayon's vortex and Kati moved quickly towards it. It was Yesugen, her manifestation smiling serenely, then gesturing to a little fan of green that followed it.

The sight brought back memories of a time when Kati had called Abagai to come and watch Yesui take her first steps in the gong-shi-jie. Yesugen! she shouted. You have a daughter!

They came close together, Yesugen smiling broadly now. I wanted you to witness her first time here, she said.

When Yesui had first seen Abagai, she'd been shy, her little manifestation melding with Kati's, but such was not the case with Yesugen's child. The little green fan had brightened at Kati's approach, turning into a wavering flame, but standing fast.

This is Tirgee, said Yesugen.

I feel her, said Kati. She's very bold, like her mother. She's not frightened by me, only curious. Hello, Tirgee. I am Kati. 

The little flame wavered, still bright, but didn't move.

She's only six weeks old, said Yesugen. I would have brought her here sooner, but the birth exhausted me, and my wounds made it even harder. I will bear no more children, Kati. My physicians have seen to that. 

We're both blessed with two children, said Kati. It's more than enough, with the duties we have. Kati sensed a sadness in Yesugen, and a tired feeling. This past year has been difficult for you. 

Yes it has, but now I can get back to the building of my own world. Has our delegation arrived? 

It has, and Nokai with them. Yesui is helplessly in love with him. I wish you could have seen them together. Did you know that Nokai is to be Lan-Sui's ambassador on Shanji? 

Tirgee's little flame-like manifestation suddenly moved, and began circling the two of them.

Yes. I approved it only after I met Nokai face to face. He seems to have more common sense than his father, and he's certainly more than an Empath. I felt a deep probe while I talked to him, Kati. There is power beneath that passive countenance he shows to people. 

Yesui sees everything, and loves him. That's enough for me, said Kati.

His belief in what he calls The Mother is extreme, added Yesugen. Tirgee! Stay close to me! 

Tirgee had tired of circling them, and was boldly wandering back towards the vortex of Tengri-Nayon. She stopped, wavered, drifted slowly towards them again.

Exploring, said Kati, then, Yesugen, there's something I must tell you, something that happened to Yesui and me a few days ago. I should have told you sooner, but I was distracted. It concerns your mother, Yesugen, and it's wonderful! 

Yesugen frowned at her. Mother? 

Let's take Tirgee on an exploration, and I'll tell you along the way. Kati began to drift in the direction of Abagai's observing place for her special galaxy, and Yesugen followed her. When Yesugen turned to call Tirgee, the little green flame was already hurrying to catch up with them.

They drifted slowly, and Kati told Yesugen everything she'd seen and felt with Yesui in that distant birthplace of new stars, the place that Abagai had taken her to before her death or conversion. She told her about the conversation with the creators, the fact that Abagai was now one of them, but far away, that someday they might talk to her.

The news was cause for joy, but it also stirred hurt and envy within Yesugen. Even up to her death, there were things she showed you, but not me, she said.

I'm sure she didn't mean to hurt you, said Kati. She loved you, Yesugen. In the end, she trusted you with the care of Meng-shi-jie. 

Tirgee had darted ahead of them, and the rim of the galaxy was visible, vortices ending, only shimmering violet beyond it. They picked up their pace to stay close to the child.

Will you take me there? asked Yesugen. I don't know the way. 

I'll show you the way, and soon. I promise, Yesugen, and someday you can take Tirgee there to meet her grandmother. 

If she doesn't run away before then. Tirgee, stay with us! 

Tirgee had reached the galactic rim, and stopped at Yesugen's call. As they approached the child, Kati pointed out towards the violet shimmering, and beyond it to something sparkling with many colors. That is the place, and it's not as far as it seems. 

They stopped to gaze at it. Tirgee was still exploring, back and forth along the edge of dust and gas ringing their galaxy. Her mother was distracted, but Kati saw what the child did, and knew what it meant, for she'd seen the same thing done by her own daughter several times.

At several places along the rim, Tirgee's little flame flickered, dimmed, then disappeared for only an instant before returning brightly again.

They watched Abagai's galaxy, and talked, and then it was time to leave.

Tirgee reluctantly followed them home.