Jahrae felt at a loss for words, though she did brokenly choke out an emotion-laden “thank you so much, llhaesa!”

Carried on board was Jahrae’s obvious wish when she sprang into llhaesa’s arms, a wish with which llhaesa happily and easily complied and fulfilled.

Although tall, llhaesa was rather lanky, now as she was when she and Jahrae first met, and few suspected her actual strength until they actually witnessed llhaesa in action in some way.

Such a time unfolded when llhaesa lifted Jahrae off Jamila’s stage and spun thrice, Jahrae’s legs out flowing, despite llhaesa having two fractured ribs. Carrying Jahrae onto Ambassadorial Revolutionary a minute before was another example of llhaesa’s understated strength, and the six adults accompanying the couple spontaneously broke out in applause at the touching romantic gesture.

Once across the rail and onto the boat, llhaesa softly lowered Jahrae to the deck, accepted Jahrae’s instant, excited, and thrilled offering of a hug and kiss, from which it seemed neither partner had any wish to conclude.

Conclude they did though, for there were guests waiting on the dock, and llhaesa, ever a gracious host, quickly held out a steadying hand for the other boarding passengers to grab as they climbed aboard.

Accompanying Jahrae and llhaesa on Ambassadorial Revolutionary’s initial voyage were M’traliel and Khahishra, Ronnie and Elsrensia, and David and Vicki, along with Serada, Addison, Sean, Rafferty, and Pegasus, Addison and Serada’s Newfoundland puppy.

Ronnie held the puppy, and passed him to Jahrae before making her crossing onto the boat. No one feared the combination of puppy and sea, for this was a Newfoundland, renowned for instinctive swimming prowess.

An impromptu tour of the boat deck began, with llhaesa leading the way, explaining features, information on the sail, and technical details.

“Jahrae,” llhaesa called out, “one of the trips made by the crew on Chekresu was not to work on the homes, rather to work on this boat. They replaced the auxiliary engine – an internal combustion engine – with a more compact and state of the art engine from Equality. For those of you unfamiliar, this new engine runs on water, somewhat convenient on a boat, is it not?

They also upgraded the communication and navigation equipment with Arrhazonan equipment, but recalibrated it to display and interface in English, rather than Arrhazonan – in case David, Vicki, Ronnie – or others – use or pilot the boat.

Shall we go below and see how things look down there?”

Llhaesa once again led the way as the group toured the inner spaces of the spacious sailboat.

After they finished and returned topside, Jahrae found her voice. “Llhaesa, this boat is a beauty, and I shall treasure it for as long as I am alive.

You know my love of water, which I know you now share with me. I know of no better way to spend a day, so long as you are with me.

You are a sweetheart, though I should not say this, for fear my words shall return to haunt me!”

Llhaesa already searched for words to pounce upon, and sensing Jahrae felt ready to spar, offered, “Just think, Jahrae. You remain in command of a ship, even after the departure of Equality!”

“My love, do you conveniently forget I am head of the diplomatic mission to this world, and as such, the highest Arrhazonan authority here? Do you also forget you are an Arrhazonan, not an Arrkarharan, and as such I am responsible for your conduct?”

“Perhaps you should reconsider this position of authority you hold, my dark haired goddess T’srha. Accepting responsibility for me is an unenviable task I would wish upon no one else, particularly upon someone who loves me.”

The group seemed to settle in for the show of the exchange, for the llhaesa -Jahrae teasing was legend amongst everyone but Vicki and David.

As if sensing their expectations, Jahrae sat down on the seating built in a U shape around a securely fastened table, finding a place of comfort for the exchange. “My most rambunctious and aspiring blonde, dreadlocked nymph, you would do well to see to the refreshment needs of our guests, rather than risk displeasing the goddess who concedes to let you share a bed with her.”

“You undoubtedly refer to the same dark haired goddess who journeyed for fourteen weeks and across fifty light years, just in search of the aspiring nymph. I accept the risk of potentially displeasing, for the dark haired goddess accepts the greater risk of sleeping with a pregnant woman under whom the boat relentlessly pitches, rolls, and yaws.”

“Point taken, my love; point taken! Now shall the dark haired goddess and the blonde nymph of fantasy team to see to the needs of our guests?”

“We can certainly team, but perhaps we are wise to clarify what the needs of our guests might be? I am reluctant to leave such an all inclusive invitation in their observant hands, T’srha dear.”

Jahrae’s eyes reflected the inner joy she felt at hearing llhaesa tease and play with her middle name, recalling the long years of regret for never having shared the name. “You seem taken with my name, ahrella.”

“Well now, perhaps you and Ronnie will understand why our third child will carry the name Ahrella T’srha T’yaeli.”

Hearing this name for the first time, Vicki spoke up, inquiring. “You know the gender of your child, and you have chosen a name?”

Jahrae fielded the question, knowing llhaesa wished to share this news, but had yet to find the opportunity to do so – until just now.

“Yes, the gender is known, and we have chosen her name. We thought our middle names, symbolic of our reunion – would be a nice combination for our third child.”

Very nice choices,” Vicki sincerely complimented the parents.

Llhaesa made her way into the completely stocked galley, joined by Jahrae. The guests decided amongst themselves they wished to minimise the work required in assembling refreshments, and so they decided to go with Jahrae’s famous Lavender Goddess, which required minimal effort to make a pitcher full.

That done, llhaesa asked if everyone was ready to cast off from the dock, and receiving an affirmative reply, asked for Jahrae and one other volunteer to assist in readying the boat to leave, to which David sprang up, ready to help.

David and llhaesa untied the lines from the shore ties, while Jahrae, making use of the auxiliary engine, slowly moved the boat away from the dock and into the narrow channel between prongs of the main dock.

The boat effortlessly slid out into the bay, heading for the open ocean beyond. Within an hour, the mainsail and genoa exclusively powered the craft, their white magnificence gleaming in the bright, cloudless sky. The auxiliary engine had long since shut down, and there was a special feel to riding the water in a sail-powered boat that each of the guests felt drawn to.

The fifteen-metre boat smoothly plied the waters in a south southeasterly direction, a path slightly askew from one paralleling the coast. The passengers were ready to spend several days basking in the warm fall sun in the waters off Florida, the Bahamas, and various other islands. Eventually, the vacationers wished to make it into the Gulf, though they were uncertain how far they would go before returning to Palm Beach.

Fall was prime hurricane season in this region, and the sailors took special care to check weather conditions prior to actually scheduling the trip. All was tranquil, with no sign of inclement weather. If a problem developed, Equality would immediately inform them of the danger.

The sea was cooperative in its perfection, with just enough of a breeze to keep the boat moving at a moderate pace southward. Their first intended stop was just off the island of Bimini, which they wished to reach before sunset.

Jahrae kept the boat true to course with her masterful sailing, though she sailed waters new to her. Most gathered around the periphery, though the children were below, engaged in a game of Monopoly.

“Llhaesa, this boat is magnificent!” Jahrae casually observed to her smiling partner. Was this retaliation for the ring?”

“Actually, the idea swirled within me for a few weeks now, but it was only with the flurry of music sales after the Jamila appearance that the funding actually was in place such that I could spring for a boat of this nature.”

Ronnie could not resist commenting. “You never bought me a boat of this size. Why the one at camp is a dinghy compared to this one!”

Llhaesa laughed at the teasing, rebutting, “This boat would consume over two years of Tim’s salary, Ronnie!”

“And how long did it take you to earn this?” David asked, curious.

“That depends, David. If you count time to acquire skill, then measure time from childhood. If measured from the time I wrote the music, three weeks. If measured from the time I made the music available for sale, three days. Not to change the subject, but, David and Vicki, we are at a point now where the foundation can begin operation.

I will leave it to you and Ronnie to work out the details, but the money is already flowing into the account. That is the extent of my business talk today.

Did I happen to show anyone that this boat comes equipped with a professional keyboard – which I happened to make certain was on board the boat. Perhaps once we settle down off Bimini, I shall play.”

Meeting their desired goal, the boat set anchor off Bimini an hour before sunset. The water was as glass, carrying an aquamarine hue. All felt the draw of the water, and within minutes of laying anchor, everyone was in the water, excepting the puppy, who watched from the deck, yearning to be in the midst of the water-play that unfolded before him.

Unable to resist no longer and finding his courage for the leap in, Pegasus leapt off the deck, coming down alongside the startled llhaesa, who watched the little guy quickly find his sea legs, swimming from person to person, as if Newfoundland water decorum required him to check in and ascertain the good health of each swimmer.

Satisfied, Pegasus made his way to the children, who splashed and generally seemed far more interesting to spend time with – until two dolphins joined the swimmers, cautiously exploring the lively group.

Llhaesa’s thoughts immediately flashed back in time, back to Empo, and she felt sad for not asking Jahrae if she had any further encounters with her sea friend. Making a mental note to ask later, llhaesa hoped these dolphins would actively desire to interact as Empo did, and whether they chose to was entirely their call.