Page 37 of Family Found

The bagua were really interesting to watch. The students, especially the younger ones in copper, were extremely well-behaved. Sonyo running in the hallways had been the exception, and to a one, all the kids and teens in copper bowed my way when I passed them.

I’d just considered heading toward an inner courtyard I’d spotted through a window when I saw Luëris. He was walking toward me, the doctor from yesterday, Gesango, next to him.

Luëris tilted his head while Gesango nodded. “Rory. Are you lost?”

“No, just exploring a bit while Vergis is picking ligua to murder. Inkiri and Lissir are talking with Hove, so there’s nothing for me to do.”

Luëris smiled at me.

“We will be leaving soon.” He looked at Gesango. “The healer had many questions about what supplies would be needed on Earth and what we could find there. I know you are not a healer yourself, Rory, but maybe you can answer him better?”

I nodded. “I can try, at least. But I don’t know the names for medicines. Well, the Lugarran words.”

“That will be fine, sir.” Gesango bowed. “I’m uncertain of some of the words you would use for the things a healer might use, and your knowledge might help. Say we find a human who’s hurt, I’d want to explain to him as best as I can.”

Luëris nodded. “If that is acceptable, I’ll leave you to it and will see about other supplies.”

I was actually excited to be useful, but I tried to not let it show too much. I didn’t want to seem desperate. “Fine by me.”

Luëris bowed. “I’ll leave you to it. Did I say this correctly?”

I nodded. “Yup, that’s what we say.”

He thanked me and then he was off. Gesango led me back to the hospital area, through the triage room, and into the back. The storage room he showed me was well organized, with shelves and anatomical drawings of bagua like the ones doctors had in their offices back on Earth.

I stopped and stared at one in particular—a bagu skeleton, complete with the curving horns.

“Wow.”

Gesango clicked. “You need not be scared. I know humans find skeletons scary, though this just shows students what they need to know.”

I stepped closer to the drawing. “It’s not scary. It’s… I’m just surprised. This is not all that different from a human.”

Gesango smiled as he pulled a box from a shelf. “That’s good. If the differences are small, the medical attention will be similar.” He tapped his chin in thought. “But for the future, we must study human medicine. I have filed something with Hove to tell him this. The best thing would be finding human healers so they can share what they know, and then as soon as possible, we should start teaching young healers the combined knowledge.”

“I…never even thought about that.” I reached out to touch a corner of the illustration, feeling the weight of the heavy paper it had been drawn on…or printed on. “There’s really going to be a place like this on Earth, huh?”

Gesango tilted his head. “You mean, a place to treat the injured? Of course. Just like any Raiken, we’ll treat everyone too, both humans and bagua. This is why it’s so important to learn more.”

I shook my head. “No—I mean yeah. Yes, that’s important. There’s going to be a Raiken though. A Raiken on Earth.”

Gesango smiled. “More than one, quite soon.” His smile faltered. “I apologize. We do teach history, and we learn that not all Houses were always eager for the Raiken to impose certain rules. Is that a worry for you, sir?”

“Call me Rory. I’m not worried, but a lot of humans might see that differently. I’m actually happy.” I gestured toward the door and the entirety of the building. “I like it here.”

Gesango nodded. “You are of the Raiken now, and a koa. Any dena should worry if you didn’t feel welcomed.” He narrowed his eyes. “Although your mate’s House must be a welcoming place as well.”

I shrugged. “I’ve never been. Not yet. Ink hasn’t brought up the in-laws yet, which is good—not about his folks, but my family is far away. Far, far away. They don’t expect us to visit.”

As I spoke, I realized that they didn’t expect us to visit because they had no idea I’d gotten hitched to someone as hot as Inkiri. Or as horned. They were completely unaware, and I had the sense that maybe possibly it was something I’d have to bring up with them at some point. In the future. The distant future.

Gesango tilted his head again. “Humans will be very welcome to visit the Raiken. We would welcome them here, I’m sure.”

Uh-oh. I got the sense that I’d stumbled into something. Gesango didn’t look offended though, so I smiled—and batted my eyes.

He clicked right away. This was a powerful weapon.

“Should we continue to pack?” I asked.