Phoebe took a while to explain it to the gathered girls. The most important person in the Sanctuary would be the woman caretaker of the Sky Tree itself, the one who saw to its needs. This woman needed certain standards and types of Life Force and a minimum ability in Psionics to communicate with the Tree. The stronger her Life Force and Psionic abilities, the better. The woman overseer would direct the Tree’s abilities; movement, protective aura, a nourishing fog in its upper branches, even an exclusive Life Force-powered communication method with other Sky Trees/Sanctuaries known as Tree Song. As the spokesperson and overseer of her island, she would be known as the Voice of that Tree and land. If she married, her husband would be known as the Lord of the Sanctuary. His duties would be the protection and security of the Voice, the Tree and the Sanctuary, in that order. Out of the six thousand people who still remained at Three Pines during this crisi

As the hot sun blazed overhead, a black citadel descended from the skies. Six towers ringed the half-kilometer structure, sturdy metallic structures sporting tinted glass that extended down several floors. Even as it approached for a landing, smaller craft streamed out from an upper floor. Dozens of men in black leather and sunglasses rode heavy flying bikes equipped with magic jet engines that roared like thunder and spewed fire and smoke in their wake. “Why do our visitors always like to make an entrance?” Sior’khan-dras rolled his eyes. Remian shook his head wordlessly. Maybe there was some sophisticated reasoning about esteem and involved gains and benefits in some way? Or maybe they just wanted to have fun. Who knew? Just in case, he glanced over his shoulder at Death, noting that he was still a few steps away. Well, then, the arrival of these guys didn’t seem to be all that dangerous. The stream of flying bikes came to a landing and the

If the elves won’t come to him in time, then he would have to go to them himself! Remian began to plan a trip to Elenath Edhellen. Not for the hundreds of thousands he’d been trying to save all this time, but just for himself and Phoebe, maybe a few others at most. He called Ermine. “Can your cousin take passengers back to Tau space?” “What? Not without proper procedures, and a whole lot of legal paperwork! How many people are we talking about?” “Two. Phoebe and myself. Maybe three if you want to come along. I’m hoping to pass through to visit Elenath Edhellen.” “Just you two, huh?” Ermine considered. “Even if it’s just passing through, you’d need full decon and health screening, plus a travel pass. It’s going to cost, but it can be arranged. Mink’s next visit will be in a month. It will be tight, but I think we can get it all ready by then if we hurry. How long do you plan to stay and when would your return trip be?” “Uh… we really do

Over the next few days, demand for Woofer services went through the roof and then some. Woofer ships were hired at elevated prices for practically all the space logistics needs of Sorrel II. “Is there a reason why you’re paying double to rush ahead?” Three Paws had to ask. “It’s not like you’re ready  to start putting up orbital infrastructure.” “Even so, we have to get as many contacts as we can.” Remian explained. “Before…” “Before what?” “Before we bring that Lich up to see Raoul’khan-dras.” Because as soon as that happened, they would have to declare an Interstellar Hazard and close the doors to all new traders. “Any idea when that’s going to happen?” “Day after tomorrow.” “Why so soon?” “The Lich is already chafing at the delays. That day is when the Meorin Galleon is ready for launch.” Remian cleared his throat. “Also, chances are that’s when Mink arrives.” Which, in turn, was also the day he

When Remian first died, it was God who returned him to life. At that point he understood that it was God who had the power to decide his life and death. Therefore he sought to do what God wanted of him, of mankind. That way, maybe, just maybe… God would permit him to live longer. It seemed to work. The next time or two that he died, God actually restored his life. Each time it happened, Remian clung ever tighter to his cause. “I just want to live.” There! It was a simple truth; all his efforts had been for nothing more than his own survival. That was why, when the chance came to save his life and leave his world, cause and people behind, he planned to leave even if it was possible he might never return. Because it was never about them or his vaunted duty. It was always about saving his own life. He had excuses, of course. Reasonable, honorable excuses like having successors to carry on his mission, or even better, leaving in order to give the next generation room to grow… endless