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rockstar singing sensation back in the modern age. While most of the
races have been mean to my people, you have been a friend, giving
me hope that the world is still good and there’s a place for the
Galatians in it somewhere. If you ever need a favor, ask me and
I’ll see what I can do. Please forgive me for being a
whiny-baby-jerk-face.
     
    Sincerely,
     
    Josephine Albright
     
    She tiptoed to his traveling bag, and folded
it into the teeth of his comb where he would find it in the
morning. Second-guessing her words, she wondered if the note was
too informal. Sometimes it was easy to forget the guy was royalty.
Good grief, she slapped her forehead, I’ve probably made everything
worse. Loyl stirred and she skittered away, fearful that he’d
wake.
    The next morning, Josie couldn’t bear to see
his reaction. She hid in the underbrush and waited for him to
finish his morning routine of combing his white mane, preening his
triangular ears, and sharpening his weapons. When she got back, his
hair was smooth and standing straight out in every direction. He
gave her a formal tip of the head.
    “I forgive you for being a
whiny-baby-jerk-face,” he said, the pomp of his tone and manner not
quite matching the words, as he stumbled over the alien phrase.
    She tried to match his formality as she
returned his nod. A great weight lifted from her shoulders. “Thank
you, kind prince. I am humbled by your graciousness.”
    “I am forty-six-years in this world and
counting,” he said, reminding Josie that the average lifespan for
his species was around a hundred and thirty, and their maturation
process was correspondingly lengthened relative to humans’. “And
yourself?”
    “Seventeen years and counting.”
    “I didn’t realize you were quite so
young.”
    “If you count the time travel, I’m pushing
two hundred thousand. Not so young after all.”
    They shared a chuckle as the rest of the
squad packed, but Josie knew the others were watching out of the
corner of their eyes. When she returned to her blankets to roll
them into a bundle, Lars knelt down to help her, whispering in her
ear, “See, I told you a note would work wonders.”
    Josie nudged him playfully in the ribs. “OK,
you were right. Miracles do happen.”
     
    .............................
     
    (Larsen Drey Steelsun)
     
    After another week of whining mosquitoes,
buzzing horseflies and pole-vaulting deer ticks; plus two river
crossings with ensuing sodden girths, the endless trees started to
thin. The girls’ rivalry had softened into teasing, which helped
pass the time as they drudged through the same old scenery, with
the same old people, having the same old conversations about the
weather being too hot, too cold, or too rainy, and the ground and
saddles being too hard and too uncomfortable, while the food was
too bland or too gamey.
    On the positive side, clear skies, mild
weather, and good luck helped squad travel at a fast pace. The
usual routine consisted of packing camp at daybreak, resting for
two to three hours at the peak heat of the day, and hitting the
trail again until dusk. Night was for sitting around a campfire,
eating, and exchanging tales. Lars learned that Hogard and Loyl
knew his father quite well, having battled the Slivens together.
According to Hogard, ‘Doc’ was a great fighter, which meant a lot
coming from a Bulwark.
    Prince Loyl said that over
the last ten years the Regalans had spent more time getting to know
the Galatians than anyone. He had a personal affinity toward human
pop culture. It was weird hearing the prince discuss his favorite
movies like Star Wars, Star Trek, The
Hunger Games, and Glory Alley and the Star Riders . He
really enjoyed the Thundercats cartoon because the characters
looked somewhat Regalan.
    The prince’s personal
favorite, however, was The
Terminator . “Hasta la vista, baby,” he
said with a playful show of claws and fangs. Lars, Josie, Lindsey
and Dante laughed so hard they were crying.
    “Quit