Iyal must have seen the puzzled expression on her face. “Electronic communications, Arla, are wonderful things.”
In response to Iyal’s prodding, Arla related what had happened since she’d left the labs. In return, Iyal told her how she had woken up the Diet members who knew her family and had gotten enough votes together to call a counterdebate on the Vitae resolution. Then, when Perivar had called her from the docks where the U-Kenai was coming in with still more news, she had gone to meet him.
“Then Eric Born is here,” said Arla.
“No, he isn’t.” Iyal stared out the windscreen. “The Vitae got him.”
Arla felt like the ground had dropped away from her. All she could do was hang on to the door handle and listen to her own harsh breathing.
At last, Iyal walked them through the arched gates of the Shessel Embassy. She explained their reason for petitioning entry to the automated security system in a few shockingly blunt words. The gates opened to let them into the inner courtyard and white lines lit up along the pavement to guide them to the squared-off doors reserved for human entrance.
Perivar, his arms wrapped possessively around the capsule led them into the reception chamber and showed Arla and Iyal how to put on the oxygen tanks. Then he led them through the shimmering membrane that was the real entrance to the Embassy.
As soon as they crossed the threshold, Ere opened the capsule and lifted herself halfway out, sucking great long breaths of air. An inner door folded back and three Shessel flowed into the room, ringing the humans. Perivar set the capsule on the floor. Ri shoved past her sister and swarmed up into the arms of the smooth-skinned, earth-toned Shessel and clung there, shivering and keening.
“Can you help her?” pleaded Ere, climbing all the way out of the capsule.
“We’ll sedate her,” said the Shessel. “That’s all we can do for now.”
Ere shivered along the entire length of her body. “I need to talk to somebody. The Emissary Voice. I need …”
“We’re here.” Three more Shessel entered from one of the corridors and Ere made a beeline for the earth-toned one. He embraced her with all his arms.
“Kiv is with the Sky Fathers now and your sisters are waiting to be reborn,” he said. “I feel them. They wait and say how brave their sister is to go on. She will live for us until we can live again.”
“I know, I know.” Ere burrowed under the crook of his neck.
“Emissary,” said Perivar. “Ere says that it was murder, done by the Rhudolant Vitae.”
“There are two of their Ambassadors here,” said the squat, greenish Shessel. “They will answer.” He looked toward the Shessel who held Ri.
“Are you ready to speak with the voice of your family, Ere?” he asked. “The Vitae are already here.”
Ere nodded and let herself be put on the floor. She extended her neck to stretch herself as tall as possible.
The greenish one extended his neck toward the cluster of humans. “The Vitae claim property rights over Arla Stone. She will come with us so we can determine the legalities involved here.”
Arla swallowed and glanced around her. Nowhere to run. She would simply have to brave this out for now.
“I can add my witness to Ere’s,” said Perivar.
The greenish one retracted himself until his eyes were level with Perivar’s. “That is not permitted. You will be shown where you can wait with Sar ki Maliad.”
Arla kept her eyes straight ahead as she followed the Shessel through the domed rooms. The oxygen pack dragged at her sore shoulders and the breathing mask itched where it pressed against her temples, and she wanted to tear the gel off her skin. Ere kept swiveling her eyes back toward Arla in a manner Arla could have sworn was furtive, but she couldn’t tell who the child was afraid for, Arla or herself.
They reached the chamber where the Vitae waited. It was Basq again, and Round One from the bus. The webwork of steel and gel that housed the two Vitae made them look for all the world like they were in a cage. The sight gave Arla some slim measure of satisfaction.
Basq stood near the membrane and his eyes glittered as he saw Arla move to stand beside the Shessel.
“Thank you for bringing our artifact, Sar Gov,” said Basq. “The Vitae will remember that the Shessel honored and respected the process of reclamation.”
“That has not yet been determined,” said Gov. “There are conflicting legalities and there is a charge to be leveled.” He dropped one of his lower hands and stroked Ere’s neck. “There have been numerous developments since your delegation spoke to us this morning.”
“This morning?” Basq repeated. “No delegation was sent this morning.”