“Allow me to express my gratitude as well, Ïarlucec ,” said Dubeus. “To us who have first drawn breath in Lacmhacarh, terrestrial worlds are strange lands with strange skies. The majority of us were born in the Abh world, and die in the Abh world, without ever having so much as set foot on a planet’s surface. I don’t mean to offend you, but to state the unvarnished truth, we’re afraid of surface worlds, Count Heir. I can’t begin to express how thankful I am for bringing her back from one.”
“Um...” Daringly, Jinto rebutted. “There are people on terrestrial worlds with their hearts in the right place, and without their help, we would have gotten captured by the enemy.”
“You misunderstand, Ïarlucec ,” Debeus smiled. “I’m not saying we think people on terrestrial worlds are typically wicked, or any such thing. In fact, when it comes to wickedness, we don’t plan to be outdone by anybody. The fact is that Lander and Abh lifestyles are extremely different. And the clash of cultures can easily result in people slain. Moreover, that land was ruled over by people who detested us as vermin. If you weren’t there to serve as a mediator, then my daughter wouldn’t be standing here today.”
“He speaks the truth, Ïarlucec ,” said Lamagh. “I have already read the royal princess ’s report. As such, I know of the people who ended up saving you two on the terrestrial world . They, too, have earned my everlasting thanks. However, now is the time for you to be acknowledged.”
“But she saved me just as much. Especially when we were in space .”
“That was the mission that Lexshue had entrusted to her.” At her name, a brief flash of sorrow flitted across his flawless features. “Ïarlucec , you’re unaccustomed to the spacefaring world . My daughter was ordered to help you cross that unfamiliar world. By that same token, no one ordered you to help her cross the terrestrial world . You must credit yourself the venerableness of your deeds, Ïarlucec ,” said Lamagh firmly. “At least as of now, to us, there can be no nobler act.”
“Please allow me to give you my thanks, too, Lonh-Ïarlucec Dreur ,” cut in Duhir, his manner humble. “I’m so happy you’ve reunited me with my sister.”
When Duhir offered his frank, unaffected vote of thanks, Jinto’s heart was finally soothed. The gratitude of the Empress and King was so lofty that try as he might, it didn’t feel real or deserved. While their sentiments had come through, he felt so out of place that the back of his mind insisted they must be alluding to some other Jinto.
“I am honored, Fïac ,” he said, bowing his head. “Érumittonn , Fïac Lartr , your praises are very generous, and I am most flattered and obliged.”
“That’s just how honorable you were, Jinto,” whispered Lafier. “Carry yourself bolder, more confidently.”
“Am I coming across that nervous?” He thought he was already doing everything he could to uphold his dignity, so he was reluctant to go over the top.
“Yes. You’re so blue in the face one would think you’re being denounced.”
“Far frymec (my daughter), my love, your report has a glaring omission,” said Debeus, with an amused look. “You failed to mention how close you’ve become with Ïarlucec Dreur Haïder .”
“Can you blame me, after all the perils we faced, Father?” Lafier replied.
“No, I cannot,” he said, though his devilish grin persisted. “What say you and I go on a walk, Lafier? It’s been a while.”
“Leave Us for the moment, Lafier,” said Lamagh, her tone pensive. “It appears We have an unpleasant duty to attend to. You are to follow Us, Ïarlucec Dreur .”
“Yes... Uhh, what’s this about an unpleasant duty?”
“We must be the bearer of bad news.”
Lafier followed her father, treading across white sand. Pure, clear water formed a streamlet over the sand bed. Suffused with soft reflected light, the walls and ceiling also gleamed white, bereft of even a single blemish.
All over the handful of white columns, glyphs were written in miniscule text; since they weren’t inlaid, they couldn’t be read except up close. They were the names of those who had died for the sake of the Empire , engraved in order of passing without regard to social status (and, in the case of simultaneous death, in alphabetical order). Sufficiently close inspection would turn up people with the surname Abliar amongst the names of the various gentry and imperial citizens . In addition, one phrase was engraved at the top of each of the stone pillars: Frybarec a dal fronédé : The Empire shall not forget thee.
This was the Graich Fronétara (Hall of Remembrance), the most sacred room to the race that ridiculed all religions. Dubeus halted in front of one of the pillars.
“I forget, did I welcome you back yet?”
“No. You have not graced me with your words of welcome yet,” she answered.
“Then welcome back, dorfrymec (prodigal daughter). I’m glad you made it home.” Dubeus looked back. “Your flesh may remain young, but your mind and spirit will age with time. Even as an Abh, whose body will stay youthful to your dying day, your true youth will be over in the blink of an eye. And I’m wrestling with that reality as we speak. You’ve been through quite the valuable experience, and all during your true youth, at that.”
Debeus looked back at the pillar, and stared at one name in particular. Lafier got closer to see it for herself.
Laicch Üémh Laubér Placïac
“There’s something else I’ve neglected to tell you, far négh (my love). I didn’t alter your genes. You’re all natural. That is why your Abliar ears are so small.”
Lafier looked up. “But why do such a thing?”
“Because there was no need to alter them, of course. Placïac just so happened to give me a wonderful gift, and with my level of talent, if I had adjusted your genes, there was no way I could make you even more beautiful than you already were.”
“Father, I’m not sure I understand why,” she said, confused by her own feelings, “but hearing that makes me happy.”
Debeus laughed lightly. “Is that right? Then I’m glad. I’d been under the impression that you resented me about your ears.”
“In truth, I did, somewhat,” Lafier confessed.
“Well, I suppose that was inevitable, noüonn (beauteous one).” On that note, Dubeus fell silent, fixing his eyes on the name engraved on the pillar. Lafier too stood there, quietly gazing with her father.
“It was a glorious time,” spoke Dubeus at last. “Right by a dying giant star... and also at the edge of an event horizon... and even in a nebula in the midst of becoming a star... Placïac and I loved each other, and we would use each other’s privileges, and we’d annoy each other in grandiose fashion.”
“‘Privileges’? You mean to annoy the other?”
“No. To be annoyed.” A faint little smile floated to his lips. “I’m relieved, asaugec (little baby). You’re still too young to fall in love.”
“Am I really...” Lafier reacted sharply, but she couldn’t issue a retort.
“When that marvelous time began to pull away from me, I couldn’t believe it. But despite my disbelief, I could feel it in my bones. I could practically hear the sound of the footsteps as those days slipped away. That’s why I, at the very least...”
“Father, don’t tell me...” Doubt welled within her heart. “You aren’t saying that you birthed me as a memento of Cya Placér (Lady Plakia), surely.”
“Was that wrong of me?” Dubeus traced Lexshue’s name with a finger. “Back then, Placïac was my everything. Tell me, sériac (shining one), is it not a matter of course to always want a keepsake on hand of such a splendid moment?”
“I am not a memento, Father. Nor am I a copy of Cya Placér !” Her doubt had turned to wrath.
“Of course, my little loreucec isarhotr (slave to fury). You are different from her. Placïac was bright. She would never raise her voice for no reason.”
“FOR NO REASON!?” Lafier’s anger only increased. “I am who I am! To think I thought you loved me for who I am...”
“I do love you. If I didn’t, then why would I call you my love ?” said Dubeus, unperturbed.
“You love me solely as an echo of Cya Placér .”
“Wrong again. I love you for you, gnac abrïarser (Abliar flower).”
“I don’t believe you, Father.”
“I didn’t think you would, clasononn noüa (headstrong beauty). But know this: you were born as a üabœdec Placér (memento of Plakia), but grew into my love . As you are now, you look just like her, but inwardly you’re totally different. I’ll refrain from telling you how exactly you’re different from her. It’s true that in the past, my love passed through you and flew to Plakia, but I no longer see her behind you.”
Lafier was far from convinced. She had respected Hecto-commander Lexshue as a person and as a starpilot . She had looked up to her. Yet she wanted her father to acknowledge her as a person in her own right. And though he was telling her he did think of her as her own person, she couldn’t think of that as anything other than a smokescreen.