"Of course I knew," Valthyrra insisted. "I knew that if you did not go to him, then he would eventually come to you."
Mayelna turned to Velmeran. "Is that what you really want? In just a few short years I would be gone, and you will still be very young."
"Yes, it is what I want," he agreed. "I have found my purpose. I enjoy flying and I would miss the packs, but it is not enough. My purpose leads me here."
Mayelna nodded. "I understand that now. Back when you were seeking some meaning and purpose in your life, it was here all along. And you are very, very lucky, Meran. Few people ever find the true meaning and purpose of their lives except in retrospect. I made a mistake, and I am sorry for it. I tried to judge this matter for you, because I thought we were so much alike."
"We are not so different," Velmeran said. "Perhaps you were thinking only of what you wanted for me. If you had really looked into your heart, you would have known that I would make this same decision."
"I realize that now," she agreed. "The Aldessan do tell us that our futures lie in shadows, while our pasts are open to the plain light of day. I have been seeking the meaning and purpose of my own life, now that most of my years are behind me. You are the best part of my life, as it turns out. Not only do I leave the best part of myself behind, but something even better. And I am content."
Velmeran smiled shyly, and allowed her to take him gently in her arms. Valthyrra glanced away, as if to hide tears forming in the lenses of her cameras, while Consherra leaped from her seat and rushed from the bridge. The two Kelvessan were left staring in surprise.
"Well, there she goes again," Mayelna remarked. "Now what do you suppose got into those two?"
Velmeran smiled. "Too many wishes coming true at once, if I had to guess."
"Indeed? Well, the first rule to commanding this ship is to make it clear that only a certain amount of this behavior would be tolerated." She walked over to give the camera pod a sharp rap. "Get under way, you aged hulk! We have work to do."
"Right away, Commander," Valthyrra replied in an uncertain voice.
Still flying in close formation, the three carriers cut acceleration from their main drives, diverting that power into their star drives. The immense crystal engines began to glow from deep within, growing steadily brighter as they built to power, and exploded suddenly into life. As one the three ships moved into starflight, each one carried upon twin shafts of brilliant light.
The Starwolves Page 28
