Part 39 (2/2)
”His people have agreed to relinquish their claim.” Dryly she added, ”It will take much debate and bargaining to settle on terms.”
He thought of the Dalvador Plains where he had lived all his life. ”Will the starport stay in the same place?”
”I think so. ISC will probably buy or lease it. Brad has asked to stay on, as a liaison for your people and mine.”
”I am glad. I like him.”
”I too.” She hesitated. ”What will happen with Lord Avaril?”
He grimaced, acknowledging the unease he hid from everyone else except Garlin. ”He has gone away for now. I fear though that someday he will return.”
”You'll be ready for him.” She closed her eyes. ”My people can help. We can do a lot for your people.”
He tensed. ”You must not change Lyshriol.”
”We won't. You will oversee anything we do.” She traced her finger along his arm. ”Perhaps someday we can understand your people, why you are so different from us.”
”These psychologists ask many questions.” He sighed. ”They say odd things, that we are a living 'computer.' They want to know why we interpret symbols differently than your people, why we can do math but not read. I don't understand a lot of it.”
Roca laughed softly. ”They don't, either, yet. Pieces are there, like the way you count in octal instead of decimal, or the binary aspects of your world: two suns, two moons, two sets of opposing fingers.”
”Do you think they will make sense of it?”
”Someday.”
It would be interesting if they did, but Eldri wasn't holding his breath. ”Well, perhaps that will make them happy.”
She smiled. ”Perhaps.”
They relaxed for a while, watching the flames. Every time Eldri looked at his son, he marveled anew that this boy was his. Surely no child had ever been so fine. Even his hands were normal, with a hinge and four fingers.
”Tell me,” he murmured to Roca. ”How many children would you like to have?”
A hint of her mischief sparkled. ”A hundred.”
”Ai, Roca! It would be bedlam.”
She laughed. ”Perhaps so. How about ten?”
”Ten. Yes.” Although he could tell she was joking, he liked the idea. Among his people, ten wouldn't be unusual. He contemplated a family full of laughing children with gold hair and eyes. ”What should we name them?”
”Althor for the next boy, after you.”
”If it is a girl, we must name her Roca.”
A memory stirred in her mind, one so vivid, Eldri picked it up: the statue of the warrior G.o.ddess in the corridor outside his suite, the one Roca had run past when she had gone to Brad's suite during the battle and sent off the fliers.
”Her name should be Sauscony,” Roca said. ”After your G.o.ddess of arrows.”
”Not Roca?”
She shook her head. ”But I would like her to have my mother's name. Lahaylia.”
”She will be strong and beautiful.”
”That she will.” Roca tickled her finger along the back of his. ”Pick another name.”
He considered. ”For a boy, Kelricson.”
She smiled. ”Who is Kelric, that our son should also be his?”
Eldri nuzzled her ear. ”The G.o.d of youth.”
”Ah. I like that.”
”Roca?”
”Hmmmm?”
Eldri spoke with care. ”We must name our children after your family, too.” He made himself say it.
”Including Kurj.”
Her mood turned somber. ”Thank you.”
”Why?”
”For not hating him.”
He brushed back her hair. ”I cannot hate those you love.”
Roca turned to him, with Eldrin cradled between them. Her voice gentled. ”You are my life, Eldri.”
”As you are mine.”
So they sat together, symbols for an empire that had seen too much death, offering instead, in simply their existence, a promise of new life and a future for their people.
Family Tree: Ruby Dynasty Boldface names refer to members of the Rhon. The Selei name denotes the direct line of the Ruby Pharaoh. All children of Roca and Eldrinson take Valdoria as their third name. All members of the Rhon within the Ruby Dynasty have the right to use Skolia as their last name. ”Del” in front of a name means ”in honor of.”
= marriage + children by
Characters and Family History
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