Page 144 of Return of the Nine

“That is going to be hard on your neck, S’rin.” She smiled. He was a foot and a half taller than she was. It was going to be an adjustment for him.

“I believe that the mating ceremony will let you meet me halfway.”

It took her a moment to absorb what he meant. “You are kidding.”

“No. Most Balance brides gain height as a side effect of the bonding process.”

She blinked. “I just got clothing that fits me. I don’t know that I will be amenable to throwing that all away.”

He stared at her in astonishment. “You would throw away a proper match because of clothing?”

Vida looked at him with narrow eyes. “Do you know how hard it has been for me to keep myself fed and clothed over the last six years? Clothing that is new and that fits is definitely a consideration.”

He sighed. “I will set you up with an account so that you can replace the clothing as needed. Now, would you like to hear my idea on how to see your family?”

She blinked. “Fine, but we are going to revisit the clothing thing. I don’t take. I earn my own keep.”

He grinned and flipped his hood up. “I expected nothing less. Now, come with me. We are heading to the projector.”

He explained his theory as they walked through the Balance section until they reached a theatre.

He led her to the centre of a huge room where a cushion was waiting on the floor. “Sit on the cushion and get comfortable. We are going to be there a while.”

She followed his direction and sat with her legs loosely crossed. He sat behind her and once again wrapped around her. He poured energy into her until her skin was tingling.

“Now, think of your parents and hold their image in your mind.”

Vida pulled her memory of her parents’ energy patterns in toward her and held them tight.

“Good. Now, extend your mind toward them, keeping your mind focussed.”

“Should I close my eyes?”

“Not yet.” He made a small gesture and the theatre above them filled with stars.

“Vida, keep your eyes open and look through those stars. Try to see what they face when they look up through the night sky.”

She shivered and followed his low instructions, trying to fasten more firmly to her parents, hundreds of worlds away. Her parents were blind but they had a feeling for space that she hoped would kick in.

Vida actually felt a flicker on the other end. “I have a connection!”

“Excellent. Hold it and remain calm. Find an image of the night sky through their eyes. Find it and hold it.”

She looked through her father’s eyes and saw the signature of a red star, a blue planet with orbital rings, and a series of moons. Vida relayed them all to S’rin, and he relayed them to the man running the projector.

“Now, close your eyes and look. Tell us what does and doesn’t match.”

He kept her power level high, but she could feel her father fading. She sealed the memory in her mind and said, “I have tolet him go. He is tired.”

“Fair enough. Look and tell us what you see.”

She looked through closed eyes and shook her head. “Not that one. The rings are whiter.”

“More moons.”

“Redder sun.” The feeling on her face needed more energy.

Nineteen different combinations were found, and finally, she opened her eyes and senses. “That is it. That is the one.”

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