Chapter Nine- Events Are Set in Motion Deuteronomy 7:2- ".then you must destroy them totally."

Tielle and Chayden settled into their small dwelling- Tielle couldn't bring herself to call it a *house*, although it was far better than any of her homes in the past month -and spent a few days resting and physically and mentally recovering from their ordeal. Finally, they could rest without fear. Finally.

Each morning they slept in, and would rise and get breakfast for themselves. On their third morning on Diresh, Tielle woke first and prepared a simple breakfast for herself, opening the windows and letting the warm breeze blow over her as the meal simmered on the stove.

*Oh God,* she prayed, suddenly feeling overwhelmingly thankful, *thank You for bringing us to this place, where we are safe. Thank You for Tesian and her kindness. Thank You for everything, and just guide our paths and help us figure out where we go from here.*

After a quick breakfast, Tielle washed up and prepared to venture into the small colony for the first time. She was eager to meet and learn about the people who had so willingly opened their home to her.

Chayden was still sleeping when she left- he had proven to sleep into the afternoon when giving the chance, and although he would soon have to rise early to go work in the fields, for now Tielle let him sleep.

Children were playing in the one dusty street that ran through the colony, and they all gazed up at her with open curiosity. "You're the lady that just got here three days ago," one child breathed in awe, and Tielle smiled at him.

"Yes, I am," she replied, even remembering her Farearian accent. "My name is Ella."

"My name is Cariele and you talk funny," a girl piped up, and Tielle chuckled slightly.

"I talk funny because I'm from another planet," Tielle explained patiently. "My homeworld is Fareari."

"My dad hates Fareari," another girl declared. "He says it's a planet of sinful, arrogant idolaters." The girl jutted her chin out stubbornly, and Tielle bit her lip and prayed that they wouldn't have to deal with prejudice.

A teenager ran up to Tielle then, saving her from having to find a response. "Ella?"

Tielle smiled at the brunette. "Yes?"

"My name's Rashea," the girl explained, and Tielle wondered how old she was. Perhaps only a year or two younger than Tielle herself. "I'm Tesian's daughter."

"Oh, then it's a pleasure to meet you. Your mother was a lifesaver."

Rashea laughed. "We all thought Mom was going crazy when she up and said she was going to Paeona. Then she comes home and brings you two.."

"And now after looking at us, you probably think she's even more crazy," Tielle teased, and the younger girl laughed.

"Well, the reason I ran over to you is that Mom told me to give you the tour of the place once you were ready."

"Well then, lead the way," Tielle said, smiling at the girl and somehow knowing that she had found a friend.

**

After her tour, Tielle accepted Rashea's invitation to lunch at the Hamanis' home, and Chayden even managed to wake up and join them. They enjoyed a leisurely home-cooked meal and conversation.

Tielle, being "Farearian" and deciding that asking about Fareari's occupation of Hidon didn't reveal her as a Hidionian, casually asked about the state of Hidon.

"Well," Tesian slowly replied, "our news is always a week old, and from what I gather the situation changes daily, but we've heard that that disease is still killing many, many people."

Valiantly trying to hide the emotions those words invoked, Tielle asked, "But King Faihn is still on Hidon, even though he runs the risk of getting the disease himself?"

Tesian shrugged. "As far as I know, Hidon is still occupied, and no one can get in or out, not that anyone'd want to get in with that plague."

Tesian's husband, a robust man named Viccaros, added, "And last I heard, no other planets are sending any medics to help, since the planet's occupied and its king is still in a coma and unable to negotiate."

*What about Uncle Klane?* Tielle wanted to scream. *Where is he and why isn't he helping my people?!*

Chayden must have sensed her anger bubbling up, because he sent her a warning glance from across the table.

*I know, I know,* she thought. *I won't do or say anything rash.*

Although he couldn't read her mind, he must have gotten the general gist, for he dropped his gaze and concentrated on his meal.

Tielle sighed as Tesian described the dire situation on Hidon and wondered how long she would be able to keep up this façade.

**

Parsecs and parsecs away, Prince Kall of Shansire was wondering the same thing.

He met with his father to discuss the situation on Hidon and his engagement to Princess Tielle one gloomy day. The sky was gray and overcast, perfectly matching his mood as he sat down with his father in his den.

"Father," he started, "I really don't know about marrying the Hidonian princess. If she's even alive, which I doubt, since we've heard nothing about her for so long, I don't want to marry onto a world that is infected with a plague and occupied by the enemy."

His father nodded. "I understand. I too believe that the girl is dead, and I don't want you marrying onto Hidon right now."

Kall sighed a huge breath of relief, feeling immeasurable amounts of stress leave him. "Then I will contact Hidon as soon as the jam is lifted," he declared, secretly wondering if the jam *would* ever be lifted.

**

Klane felt a surge of elation fill him as he read over the newest communiqué from his search party. They had managed to trace the ex-prince and his niece to the planet Surlow and were trying to either find them or find out where they had gone.

"Excellent," Klane murmured to himself, glad to finally have some results. They were on the right track, and they'd find Tielle. They were, after all, the best the galaxy had to offer, and Tielle was a mere teenage girl, alone and defenseless. She'd be no trouble to find, and when she was.....

Klane smiled at the prospect. And when she was, he would become the sole heir to the throne of Hidon.

**

With that communiqué, many events had started in motion, and time was ticking down for the two fugitives on a small planet, left completely unaware...