Crystal Healer Read Free Page B

death for something as minor as questioning an order issued to me by any male. So, for that matter, could Marel.
    It struck me then how dangerous this situation with Xonea was. If I did not make peace with him, he might repudiate me, Reever, and Marel from HouseClan Torin. I did not know the laws governing those who had been thus expelled, but I doubted I would remain a member of the Ruling Council or be permitted to make a home among the Jorenians here unless I also remained a ClanDaughter of the Torin.
    If I did not settle this and secure our place among the Jorenians, we might have no homeworld.
    Like the Iisleg tribes on Akkabarr, the Torin resided together, only in much larger numbers than the people of the iiskar I had known. Each HouseClan occupied a native pavilion, a massive complex of adjoining structures in which every member of the HouseClan dwelled under one roof. The Torin pavilion, built of glowing white stone, was so large that it resembled a small range of ice cliffs.
    The only time Torins left their pavilions was when they selected mates, joined the crew of a HouseClan vessel on a sojourn, or traveled to visit friends or blood kin who resided elsewhere. Females were obliged to Choose a husband from an outside HouseClan, and leave their natal HouseClan to reside with their bondmate and his blood kin after their joining ritual; this likely to prevent inbreeding.
    When Reever and I had departed Joren the last time, we had asked Salo and Darea Torin to keep Marel and watch over her.The parents of Marel's favorite playmate, Fasala Torin, Salo and Darea had taken our daughter with them on an extended journey to visit other HouseClans. Reever and I never wished to be separated from our child, but after Marel had been abducted with me and Reever on Vtaga, we were determined to take stronger measures to protect her from harm--even if that meant leaving her behind to be protected by our friends.
    Reever and I were greeted by every Torin we passed at the pavilion, so it took some time and many promises to meet again before we could go to the private room where our child and friends were waiting. But Marel found us before we reached the dining chamber; she rushed around a corner and threw herself into her father's arms, pressing noisy kisses against his cheeks.
    "ClanFather! You're back. I've missed you so much."
    "As I have you, avasa ." Over her head Reever exchanged a glance with me. The activation and translation from my vocollar indicated that Marel had spoken to him in flawless Jorenian.
    I did not mind if she preferred to use the language of Cherijo's adopted people over her cradle tongue. From what Reever had told me, Terrans had not done a great deal to distinguish themselves among the sentient species of the galaxy--other than becoming hostile isolationists and xenophobes who liked to start wars.
    "Was I not missed as well?" I asked the wall panel.
    Bubbly blond curls bounced as wide, clear blue eyes fixed on me. "ClanMother." She wriggled until Reever set her down on her feet, and then gazed up at me solemnly. "Your pardon, Mama," she said in Terran. "I know you don't speak Jorenian."
    "I have no doubt they will force me to learn it someday soon." I crouched down in front of her and performed a quick visual assessment. My small, delicate daughter didn't weigh much, but she practically glowed with good health. "You have behaved well for Salo and Darea while we have been gone?" I watched her nod. "You have studied your lessons and attended your teacher's directions faithfully?" Another nod. "Did you kill anything interesting during your journey?"
    "Mama, I told you before, we don't use animals for . . ." Dimples appeared in her soft, round cheeks. "You know I didn't kill anything."
    "I thought I should check, just in case." I touched my brow to hers in Jorenian fashion. "Daddy and I missed you every day." As her arms encircled my neck, my love for this small, beautiful creature clawed beneath my breastbone,