Going to Small Color
Sublyme yawned and stretched. It had been a long ten days. Being part of the Lanstra could be stressful, but she knew it was vital. Althius - always an early riser - came into the room and kissed her tenderly.
She closed her eyes and breathed in the tranquility. Thank goodness they had officially been absolved of any wrongdoing.
Azmin did not 'marry'; they entered into unions with other Azmins, which could include multiple partners if all parties consented. A large enough union could evolve into a clan. The current Azmin Guard commanders were in such a union—the first time in history all the commanders had done so. Having grown up together, the union had been a natural progression.
Sublyme didn't know what she would have done if the others thought she and Althius were traitors. She closed her eyes and silently thanked the Milana again.
The commanders had their own lands on the Azalstin estate on the continent of Azzit. Althius was her heart and soul and he understood her torment. He held her tighter.
"Calm yourself. The children will be here soon. You will not want to leave if even one of them is worried."
It was true.
They would help escort Shain to Small Color with the other guard commanders. Then they would both, quietly, return to their duties with the Conglomerate.
'I need to calm myself. Blyme, get it together and do your duty.'
Rachel hadn't seen so many of her aunts, uncles, and cousins in one place in a long time. The Azalstin was a large, central clan. The Azmin themselves were a collection of clans with no single ruler, governed by a tribune of chiefs for civil and cultural matters and a separate tribunal for criminal cases. Chiefs and judges met only every ten years, often holding their positions for life.
Other ethnic groups often found the Azmin governmental system antiquated, but the Azmin were stubborn and resistant to external judgment.
"Milana, you will escort Shain to Small Color?" Uncle Tristan asked.
Rachel looked impassively at him. He already knew the answer. Rachel was focused on her brother's plan and identifying who was supporting him—or at least complacent—outside the direct Lanstra/Azmin loop.
"Yes, I am, Uncle Tristan," she nodded respectfully. "I want to make sure that he arrives there without incident." She paused, offering no further explanation. She couldn't reveal her doubts about the motives of certain family members.
Tristan, one of her younger uncles who had married into the Azalstin clan, looked at her cautiously. "He is important to our clan... All of you are vital to the Azalstin. We need to—"
"Tristan! Here you are. I have been looking for you everywhere." Rachel's Aunt Bella moved abruptly between them, speaking to her husband without glancing at Rachel. This was typical behavior for her father's youngest sister, Cecil.
Rachel smiled faintly, turning to walk away, but paused when Tristan spoke.
"Bella, give me one moment. I need to speak with Rachel for a moment."
Rachel felt her aunt's shock—a surprise that caused something minute to slip into place in Rachel's mind, a subtle confirmation she tucked away.
Bella kept her eyes fixed firmly on Tristan's. "But we need to get ready for Shain's departure." The familiar edge in her voice signaled that she was upset at being denied.
'Uncle Tristan. We will talk later,' Rachel spoke through the soul connection.
Tristan, unused to speaking through the soul, visibly shuddered but maintained his composure. "Come, Bella."
Rachel had too much to think about.
Rachel and her Antrunie discussed the trip to Small Color and the precautions they needed inside a pocket dimension they created. It was a dimension within two others, ultimately tied to Rachel's soul well and fed by her.
Ambruce had been watching her closely during the meeting. "Do we really need to stay on Small Color for two weeks?"
Rachel looked at Cramnal. "I want to stay there for at least two weeks. We may need longer. Do you need some time at home?" She surveyed the group. "Maybe only I should stay, and I can call all of you if I need you."
The others exchanged complex looks.
"Okay. Rebecca, Smral, and Ambruce are with me. Cramnal and Struns, take time with your families."
"You are our family, Rachel." Struns looked offended.
Rachel smiled. "I know. I also know that you are now in a union with my sister, Anis, and she wants a ceremony to celebrate it. She will need you to help her plan."
She felt Struns's eye-roll but wanted to laugh.
"It was a duty I hated as well," Cramnal offered, trying not to smirk. "But Rachel is right. Anis will want you there."
"See? Take advantage of Cramnal's experience in this one. And if we need help, my connection to Small Color boosts all of my abilities; I can bring you to us quickly."
Rebecca stood and stretched. Rachel noted that both Ambruce and Smral looked at her almost instinctively, both with expressions of longing. Does Ambruce truly want Rebecca, or is she feeding off Smral's desires? Rachel guessed Rebecca was wondering the same thing.
"Let's go. The tribunal doesn't want Shain to teleport to Small Color. It will take us two days to get there."
The Azalstin decided to send Shain via airship. It was one of the larger Azmin ships, deep blue with vibrant yellow vines weaving through the boards, blooming into large purple flowers. Streams of magic flowed across the vines, feeding the vessel.
The crew consisted of guard members under Commander Zolon. Shain was brought aboard and turned to face his family, his clan. He looked upon his siblings, aunts, uncles, and cousins with a deliberate, pompous expression.
"Do you have nothing to say, Azalstin Shain?" The Azalstin Chief, Aunt Claris, looked at her nephew with calculated indifference, calmly awaiting his response.
Shain offered a slight smirk. "I want to save my realm, nothing more. My family has been led astray by values that should have been left in the distant past. We need to grow and evolve, become a better people, and protect our realm."
He went to turn, but was held fast, required to listen to any rebuttal. None came. He was taken to a central cabin deep within the ship.
The remaining passengers boarded. Rachel waited, having one last conversation with Uncle Tristan. She was having many interesting conversations with family members these days.
'Do not worry, Uncle. Nothing will happen to Shain,' Rachel spoke through the soul.
'Even while he is in Small Color?'
This gave Rachel pause. 'Of course, sir. Especially in Small Color.' She frowned physically. 'Is there something I should know?'
It took her uncle a long moment to respond. 'The Conglomerate has a headquarters there, and there is much there that we are not privy to.'
Rachel nodded. That was true. 'I will make sure that my brother is safe, Uncle.'
She felt her uncle nod in both acceptance and satisfaction. Rachel said nothing, but began looking for Althius. She was deeply troubled by the friction between him and Sublyme. She was beginning to think that their emotional collateral damage might be the single biggest unforeseen risk in the entire operation.