“Maati lives here, too?” Acorna asked.
“Yes,” Grandam said. “I think her parents felt that I could use the assistance and would be grateful for a strong young person to run my errands. Since it has become clear that they were not coming back, and Maati was orphaned, she has remained with me. She hardly remembers them and is useful as a page for Liriili and other government officials.”
“I’m so sorry,” Acorna said. “What became other parents?”
“They could not adjust to the loss of their two sons, Aan and Laarye. They tried to-they were here almost two ghaanyi and had time to conceive and give birth to Maati. But her mother went into a deep sadness and at last the two of them announced that the only way to solve this sadness was for them to return to the old home and try to learn what had become of their sons. They have not been heard of since. This may be a good thing. The Khieevi have not sought to entertain us with films of either them or their sons being tortured to death, so perhaps they met with a diversion along the way or perhaps their boys were rescued in some other way and they are pursuing them still.”
“But-I thought everyone escaped when you left the old “world. Neeva gave me that impression anyway. You mean you left children behind?”
“What could we do? The need to evacuate happened quite suddenly. And they were young men, not children. We had learned of the Khieevi before, of course, and we had already located this planet as our refuge and had our plan in readiness. But not everyone could be gathered in time for the evacuation. A few-very few, I’m happy to say-were left behind to save the majority. Maati’s parents could not accept that their sons could not be found. They would have stayed behind to search but we could not allow that, much as we hated to leave anything behind for those monsters. It was agony to leave at all. I myself could scarcely bear to leave the grave of my lifemate on the same planet with the Khieevi.”
“Will you tell me about your lifemate, and what it was like on the old world?” Acorna asked.
“Oh, yes. But aren’t you tired after your journey and the socalled reception?” Acorna did not have to be very psychic to feel the scorn in the old lady’s tone.
“Not really,” she replied. “But I W(U overwhelmed. I don’t think vlizaar likes me.”
“The vilzaar -was already prejudiced against you long before you arrived, my dear,” she replied. “Your mother was chosen by the lifemate Liriili had already decided was her own. Unfortunately, Vaanye didn’t agree.”
“Oh, that must be it then. Neeva mentioned some bad feeling toward my family. But it doesn’t seem sensible to take it out on me.”
“Prejudice and jealousy are seldom sensible. Liriili’s is not a flexible or forgiving nature.”
“I thought that people who could read minds would be incapable of that kind ofpettiness.”
The old lady grunted. “Except when they are healing, and really concentrating on extending empathy, or dealing with some crisis among their nearest and dearest, most people have psychic communication down to a very superficial art. One’s thoughts and feelings have many layers, contradictory layers at that. And even in thought, some people are more reserved than others-or repressed, perhaps. Liriili is used to filling her mind with the details of administration and can use those to mask her feelings even from herself, as no doubt she is doing in your case.
“Oh. Speaking of feelings, is it true that it’s already decided that Thariinye and I will be lifemates?”
Grandam hooted and in the dark her eyes twinkled like the stars as she rolled on her side and grinned at Acorna, only baring her teeth just a little. “Who told you that? Thariinye? I can see that he did! Of course no one has decided such a thing! Except maybe him! You’ve nothing to worry about there.” “I’m glad,” Acorna said. “I want it to feel-right.” “You’re a very clever girl. Are you very sleepy?” “No, not really. I feel rather restless, to tell you the truth.” “That makes two of us. Would you indulge an old lady and tell me of your life? Neeva indicated in her reports that you had had some adventures. I should very much like to hear of them. Since coming here, our people have been a rather dull lot, and I do like a good story.”