Page 72 of Dark Destiny: The Turning Of The Loom

"Forty-eight seconds is impressive." Annani motioned for Gertrude to sit down. "Ogidu, please bring a cup for Gertrude."

"Thank you, Clan Mother. I could use some tea before we begin." She turned to Khiann. "How did your week go? Did you use the walker?"

"A little," he said.

"How little?"

"I use it to get from the bed to the bathroom, but not every time." He glanced at the motorized chair he was sitting in. "This is such a convenience. It fits through all the doors, and I can be mobile without getting winded."

Gertrude shook her head. "It's true that the chair is a convenience, but it's not good for you. If you don't put weight on your legs, how are they going to get stronger? The only thing that will grow those muscles is using them. You can start with two minutes at a time, if that is all you can do. Then three. Then five."

Khiann did not look happy, but he nodded.

"So, here is the new rule," Gertrude said. "The motorized chair stays by the front door. It is for going out of the house, and nothing else. Inside, you use the walker. To the bathroom, to the kitchen, to the couch, to the window. Next week I will bring a crutch, and instead of leaning with both hands on the walker, you will only lean with one."

Khiann nodded again.

"Is that not too much?" Annani asked. "It has been only one week since Khiann was discharged from the clinic."

"No pain, no gain," Gertrude said. "Khiann is a god. He doesn't need as long as a human to get back on his feet. The chair is great, but it's working against him now. Time to wean him off it."

"I want to push myself," Khiann said. "I have been doing better over the last few days. I do not need as many naps anymore."

"Good." Gertrude stood. "Where is the walker?"

"In the guest bedroom," Annani said. "Ogidu⁠—"

"I will get it." Gertrude headed toward the room and returned a moment later with the aluminum frame. She set it beside the chair and locked the wheels with her foot. "Okay. Up you go. Hands on the handles, then push up with your thighs."

Khiann put his hands on the chair's armrests and pushed. His arms were stronger than they had been only a week ago, and his shoulders filled out his shirt instead of sticking out like two ends of a hanger. But his legs were lagging, and the moment they took his weight, a tremor ran through his thighs, and his knuckles turned white on the walker's grips.

"Good," Gertrude said. "Today we walk the length of the corridor, from here to the end and back. Tomorrow, we go outside to the backyard. Deal?"

He nodded and took the first step, more of a forward shift of his frame and a drag of his body after it than an actual step. The second was the same. The third was a little better. Gertrude walked beside him with her hand hovering behind his back, not touching.

As the sounds of rubber feet on the hardwood floor faded down the corridor, Annani reached for her phone and dialed Aru's number while stepping out onto the back porch.

She closed the door behind her and sat in a lounge chair.

He answered on the fourth ring. "Clan Mother. What a nice surprise. What can I do for you?"

"I hope I am not disturbing your morning."

"Not at all. I just escorted Gabi to the door. She is going shopping with Karen, Kaia, and Cheryl, and leaving me all alone here. I was just about to make myself fresh coffee."

"I would like you to come over if you have the time, and we can have coffee together. I want to hear whatever you have about the queen, and I also want you to meet Khiann."

There was a brief silence. "Does he know?"

She had known Aru would ask.

"Yes. I told him. I apologize for not checking with you first, but I assumed you would say yes. Khiann is my truelove mate, and I do not keep anything from him. Still, I would not have broached the subject, but it came up while I was explaining Ell-rom and Morelle, how I knew who arranged for their spaceship's malfunction, and why. I asked Khiann to tell no one, and I explained why it was crucial to keep it secret."

Aru let out a breath. "That's fine. Who is he going to tell? He doesn't even speak English, from what I hear."

"That is correct. You should wear the translating earpieces if you have them."

"I'll stop by the lab and pick up the new model." There was the sound of a door opening and closing on his end of the line. "I'll come over in about half an hour."