Page 29 of Offering Herself to Darkness

For the first time, Nora began to feel sorry that their marriage was going to be so short-lived. As soon as she got a cure for Anna, she would have to let the big Kindred go. She knew from bitter experience that most men didn’t want to raise someone else’s kid. And it wouldn’t be fair to tie Xarex down when he?—

“Hello. I am the One who Cares for All. Please give me your names and let me know if you are currently in your male or female cycles.”

The warm, neutral voice came from the leaves and the trees in front of them. At first Nora thought whoever was speaking was standing behind a rather large plant. But then the plant came towards them and she realized it was actually a person whose skin coloring blended in with the leaves around them.

She thought “them” because she couldn’t immediately tell if The One Who Cares for All was a male or a female. They had green skin with a golden tinge and braided hair that fell to their shoulders. The long garment they wore—which appeared to be made of leaves—was too shapeless for her to tell if they had breasts or not.

But then, maybe the people of Primus Nine didn’t have secondary sexual characteristics, she thought. They were, after all, aliens. Even their language sounded funny—like the rustling of leaves. She was glad she’d gotten a shot of Translation Bacteria so she could understand them.

“Hello, I am Commander Xarex from the Kindred Mother Ship and this is my bride, Nora,” Xarex introduced them. He put an arm protectively around Nora’s shoulders as he spoke, keeping a watchful eye on the person who had greeted them.

“Ah yes, it is very good to meet you.” The One who Cares for All inclined their head in a kind of half bow. “But could you tell us, please, whether you are in your male or female cycle at the moment?”

“Um, I don’t know about cycles but I’m a female,” Nora offered.

“And I am male,” Xarex said.

“Ah, I see that the male of your species is much larger than the female.” The One Who Cares for All sounded interested. “Tell me, do you change sizes when you change sexes?”

“Actually, we’re not the same species, though our species are sexually compatible, which allows us to intermarry,” Xarex said. “My people, the Kindred, have been calling human brides for over fifteen cycles now.”

“And we don’t change sexes at all,” Nora said. “The sex we’re born with is the one we stay. I’ve been female all my life,” she added.

“Truly? You remain just one sex your entire lifetime?” The One who Cares for All opened their jeweled eyes wide. They seemed to change color, Nora thought, going from dark purple to deep green and back again.

“We do.” Xarex nodded. “I hope that won’t be a problem?” he added, frowning.

“Oh no—no problem,” the One who Cares for All assured him. “But how sad for you, to only experience one body—one sex.”

“It’s normal for us,” Nora told them. “As I’m sure, uh, switching back and forth is normal for you,” she added diplomatically.

“Yes. You have come to us on the eve of transformation,” the One who Cares for All informed her. “So you will see us change.”

“Um, forgive me for asking, but are you going to change into a male or a female?” Nora asked. She hoped she wasn’t being offensive, but she honestly couldn’t tell if the One Who Cares for All was a woman or a man.

A soft, neutral laugh was her answer.

“Ah no, I am afraid I do not change myself. I remain in the In-Between Place. In this way I can guide others in their journey back and forth,” The One said, smiling. “Please let me know if you wish me to help you to try a new sex. The berries of the Mandalay plant which we prize for its transformative qualities, should make that possible.”

“Thank you, but we haven’t come to change sexes,” Xarex said. “We are here to pluck the Healing Flower.”

“Ah, Syrilla’s Bloom—the Flower that Heals All.” The One nodded mysteriously. “This is indeed the perfect time to pluck it for it always blooms during the time of Transformation.”

Nora couldn’t hold back her anxiety any longer.

“Will you let us pick it?” she asked, twisting her fingers together. “Oh please—my daughter is so ill! I have to bring it back to her!”

“Whether you are given an opportunity to pluck Syrilla’s Bloom will be based upon your performance at the Feast of Transformation tonight,” The One said mysteriously. “It shines only for those who are willing to bare their true nature completely and pay the ultimate price.”

“I’ll pay any price!” Nora promised recklessly. “Please—I can’t let my daughter die!”

The One looked at her with wide, jewel-like eyes and nodded thoughtfully.

“Please, do not distress yourself. I can see that your need is genuine and I do believe you will be granted the right to pluck the Bloom. But for now, come—we must go, for the Feast of Transformation is about to begin.”

16

XAREX

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