"We would like to give truth," Farzi stood, followed by Nenzi. "The King and his mate, they take Reah's girls. Give them everything. Except they not give. Reah supports Kifirin with gishi fruit. She pay bills and make sure King's palace and King have money. Reah supports those girls. King and his family live off Reah." Nenzi nodded the whole time Farzi spoke. Farzi and Nenzi sat down.
"That's telling it like it is," Drake muttered.
"Nefrigar says to tell all of you that we will be able to visit Reah in five days. She is getting the best of care," Connegar announced.
"Where is she?" Ry asked.
"At first on the Larentii homeworld. After that, she will receive specialized care elsewhere. You may visit her then. He will keep you informed when her location changes."
"Is Reah all right?" Nenzi asked.
"He is keeping her asleep much of the time. She is still suffering from her ordeal on Stellar Winds and Cloudsong. She should have been placed under care when she returned, but she was not. The mute was still in place and nobody thought to do it," Connegar replied.
"I don't know about the rest of you but I am angry with Kifirin." Lok wasn't mincing words.
"Yes, but it sounds dangerous to be angry with a god," Corolan grumbled.
"He said to tell you that you're all entitled to be angry," Lissa said. "And he knows I'm pissed as hell, too."
"We can be angry, we just can't do anything about it," Ry nodded to his mother. "Honestly, if he felt he owed us anything, then he or his parent should help Reah. That would help the rest of us."
"I agree with my brother," Gavril nodded to Ry. "Kifirin put us and Reah into this mess and we almost lost her today. Who knows how long this is going to affect all of us?"
"I'd like to have her back here now," Lok said. "I feel as if I've been absent or asleep for the past twenty-five years." His remark had several nodding and agreeing around the room.
"We'll just have to wait the five days, I suppose," Tory said. "And I have a higher mountain to climb than the rest of you."
* * *
"Kevis?" Karzac knocked on his son's open study door.
"Dad! When did you get here?" Kevis looked up from his comp-vid—he was completing notes on a patient. He entered the last bit of information and stood to greet his father.
"Kev, I have a patient I'd like to put in your clinic," Karzac said, walking in to sit beside his son's beautifully polished wood desk. Kevis, a physician for the past thirty years, ran a private clinic for patients with difficult mental problems.
"Dad, surely not one of the Saa Thalarr," Kevis sat down again and hit an electronic key on his deskcomp. Kevis looked very much like his father—nearly six feet tall with light-brown hair and green-gold eyes. He'd opened his private clinic twenty years earlier on Refizan, his father helping financially. Kevis was doing very well for himself.
"No. Not one of those. And I think when we get her, the Larentii will have already made a great deal of progress in her treatment. What we really need for her, I think, is peace and quiet, where there isn't anyone troubling her with something that needs to be done. She hasn't had a vacation in years, has been attacked and made very ill recently and there are other circumstances that have affected her. She almost killed herself three days ago."
"Is there anything unusual about her?" Kevis lifted an eyebrow at his father. He suspected that the prospective patient might not be completely human.
"She's High Demon, son, and hasn't been treated well for a very long time."
* * *
"Reah, wake up my love." Nefrigar touched gentle fingers to my forehead. I blinked at him. I'd been difficult to wake lately. And asleep much of the time, too. I was grateful for it, actually. Nefrigar had a way of making me sleep without remembered dreams. That was most welcome. Otherwise, I might have been screaming or crying. I wasn't aware of how many days it had been since I'd thought about taking the dive into Baetrah. It was a few, at least. Nefrigar woke me to eat and bathe, let me sit for a while and if the memories threatened, he'd let me sleep again.
"I am taking you elsewhere, today," he told me. "A private place where you will receive very good care. Visitors will be allowed but if they upset you, they will be asked to leave. I will also visit often, and if you have need of me, send mindspeech. I will come immediately."
"Where am I going?" I asked as Nefrigar lifted me and carried me to the shower. I liked the shower; it was warm against my skin. I felt cold more often than not, although my Larentii warmed the air around me at all times.
"To a private clinic on Refizan, which will allow you to be alone if you want or to interact with others if that is what you desire," my Larentii replied.
"I don't want group therapy. I don't think I'm crazy, Nefrigar. Not that crazy, anyway. I just want the pain to go away."
"I know. We will attempt to deal with that, my love. You will not be locked away or restrained. I ask that you inform me if you wish to leave, however."
"I'll do my best," I said.
"May I have a kiss before we fold away?" Nefrigar smiled at me as he helped me dress."Yes." Larentii are always so warm. Like sunlight on a summer day. Nefrigar's mouth was no exception.
* * *
"This is Doctor Halivar," Nefrigar set me down inside a quiet, restfully appointed study. Several holographic diplomas were displayed on the back wall, while beautiful artwork adorned the others. The desk was real wood, something that most people didn't get nowadays. A lovely, hand-woven rug was on the stone-tiled floor and everything was tastefully decorated, if a bit austere. I figured it had to do with the type of patients the doctor treated. Doctor Halivar looked familiar, but I didn't think I knew him or had ever met him. I nodded to him when Nefrigar offered one of the chairs in front of the doctor's desk.
"Reah Nilvas?" Doctor Halivar consulted his deskcomp.
"Yes. That is the name I use most often," I said, nodding at the doctor.
"You go by other names?" His left eyebrow rose slightly.
"I have several aliases, through the ASD," I said.
"Ah." Doctor Halivar entered information into his deskcomp. Likely, the deskcomp was also recording the conversation, vid and aud, so he was making notes of some kind. It made me want to get up and see what they were, but I held back. I'm sure he wouldn't appreciate my curiosity in the least.
"I hope these records will be kept private," I said.
"I think sir Larentii there would separate my particles if I didn't," Doctor Halivar smiled. "This is just a preliminary meeting; I have a session scheduled with you later this afternoon. We'll talk more then. A room has been set up and I hope we have all your preferences correct on soap, shampoo and other personal items."
"I'm sure it will be fine, I've learned not to be picky," I said.
"You'll let us know if the bed and the accommodations are acceptable?"
"Of course."
"Good. Welcome to Sea Winds, Ms. Nilvas. Someone will show you to your suite now." Doctor Halivar pressed another button on his deskcomp. A nurse walked in. "Take Ms. Nilvas to the suite on the end, Ceerah," he said.
"Yes, Doctor. Come, Ms. Nilvas." Ceerah's voice was stiff and unrelenting. Somehow, she made me think of Ardalin for a moment. She didn't look like Ardalin, though. Ceerah was prettier than that, with dark hair and green eyes. I watched her closely as she walked down the hall while I followed. I still had my strength and my skipping skills, in addition to being able to turn. If Nurse Ceerah bothered me, she would regret it.
"This is pretty," I said, glancing around the spacious suite. Plexi windows lined one wall and provided a very nice view of the ocean roughly a quarter click away. I was on the second floor of the clinic and it looked more like an exclusive resort than a facility that treated mental patients.
"I will go now," Nefrigar had to duck to get through doorways, and I think that irritated him.
"Thanks, hon," I said, giving him the best smile I could.
"Remember to contact me if there is any difficulty."
"I'll try." Nefrigar disappeared, causing Ceerah to frown. She didn't like non-humanoids, I think.
"You have a limited comp-vid, a vid-screen, access to almost any book and most news programs," Ceerah pointed out the comp in the sofa table and the vid-screen on a wall facing the sofa. The bedroom was close by, with more plexi windows and another pretty view of the ocean. Comfortable chairs were spaced evenly near the windows, allowing occupants to sit and watch the waves if they wanted.
"By limited comp-vid, you mean?" I asked, turning back to Ceerah.
"That some applications are blocked," she huffed.
"Ah. Can't have that," I said.
"Do not get smart with me. This room is normally reserved for our wealthiest patients. You are here as a favor to a friend." The claws were coming out, now.
"Do you treat all your patients this way?" I asked, "Or only the non-wealthy ones?"
"We had other rooms available. This one was requested for you, when we might have filled it with someone who could pay. Enjoy your stay, Ms. Nilvas." Ceerah stalked out of the room.
"You know, I don't have to stay here now," I said. My bags were already inside the room, waiting to be unpacked. I lifted both of them and skipped away.
* * *
"You managed to lose her already?" Karzac stared accusingly at his son.
"I asked Ceerah if she said anything. She can be somewhat abrupt at times," Kevis wanted to tug on his hair. The Larentii had been contacted; he was attempting to coax Reah back.
"Then don't allow her around Reah again," Karzac said more gruffly than he intended. "Reah is an extremely special case, and I can get the truth out of your nurse if she is unwilling to offer it voluntarily."