Nero Awakening

dozens of stairs that rise to the Tabernacle without a falter in my step. The sun h

ine happiness in her eyes when she sees me. Maybe she re

small, controlled smile. In many w

honestly as I tuck my

acle. “Welcome to your new home,” she says as sh

cted it to be bright and white inside. And maybe it is. All the w

our heads. A great staircase is toward the back of the building, rising u

white or yellow. A great chandelier hangs from the ceiling above our heads,

ro

de, and light spills in through the massive wi

t is on fire. Blue fire. It dances across ev

next. I understand now why everything is neutral tones. It’s so t

at the beautiful piece. “It’s been installed on over sixty planets since then, moved every

uch a big number I ca

says. “And if you’ll follow me

’s tall. Taller than me with long legs and a lithe body that’s covered by a diff

hat are twice as tall as I am. And before us, is a room smaller than I expec

ables, are doz

my eyes widening, my blo

in gray clothes. They look at me with excited

r knees and sink their foreheads down to the floor, imme

to do that,” Za

nsure and overwhelmed an

the Bahiri, is a group of norm

as decided to join us here on Salypso. While they obviously may not enter the Tabernacle, s

seem friendly. But I’m no

ng at me like I’m th

walks right up to me. She gives a dip of her head, not quite meeting my

n’t recognize. “I will be taking care of you an

t as a question, but I find myself looking at Zara, not

s my hand and takes off. As soon as she leaves, the rest of the Bahiri break off, head

,” Zara explains. “We really thought the rest had been lost to

h

a what to say

ve people wearing normal clothes, looki

ir, and pale blue eyes, stands and crosses the spa

I take it,

he says in a voice much smoothe

it. This was a normal reaction. No bo

oo,” I say, my voice

her instructor h

It’s kind of nice, actually. His teeth are crooked, but it makes him seem softer. Normal. “You

ld are

was the question I ask

aciously answers my question. “I just