"Mom's one of those people who hates Pendor because every time Terra gets something Pendor has, Terrans give up something that makes them."Mom's one of those people who hates Pendor because every time Terra gets something Pendor has, Terrans give up something that makes them... Terran, I guess." "Why would someone like that come to Pendor?" P'nyssa asked, confused. "To get a good look at the enemy," Aaden replied. "The enemy now has her child," P'nyssa said, darkly. "She must be going out of her mind with worry. I mean, not only are you actually enjoying Pendor, not only are you friends with Pendorians, but it's pretty clear you're in love with Jofuran here." Her eyes widened. "Not only that, but you're a guest of the Shardiks. What was Ken thinking of when he brought you here?" There was a pause, and Furry said "Does it matter?" "I think it does," P'nyssa replied. "No, I mean, does it matter? The point is, Nickolai is here. Other than coming to Shardik Castle, everything that's happened, happened of Nickolai's free will. In fact, coming here did too." "Does my mother know that?" Nickolai asked. "What's that supposed to mean?" Furry replied. "My mother also feels that Pendorians have such an advanced science that if you had wanted to, you could have convinced me to come here and made me believe it was of my own free will, even if I had never wanted to in the first place. I know how I feel. I want to be with Furry. I love her. Or, at least, I think I do." "That's youthful idealism for you," P'nyssa said, smiling. "Whatever. She convinced me to try this silly trek, to come out here and see what happened. I got a wonderful walk in the woods with her. I found a lively, happy home. I've had great walks on the beach, swum in your pool, gone flying out to the Rowan tree. The sheer honor at being one of the few Terrans ever to actually touch the Rowan... and the stone... is incredible. "But that's how _I_ feel. I mean, I love this trip, more than I can possibly describe. But would there be any way to possibly explain it all to my mother, other than having her say you all did something to my mind?" "Do you really think she'll feel that way?" "I don't know," Nickolai admitted. "I'm sure she thinks it's a big deal, me being here and all. And I'm sure she doesn't think it's an honor." "I think it's an honor, your being here," Furry said. |