The Star-Woman

Come to the world that never sleeps. Csylokia is unique in the Republic of Stars; it has two distinct populations, neither of them originating on Csylokia, living side by side with little friction. In the daytime the Terrans do their work, primarily in the cities, taking care of little things on the behalf of the Arkherians, things like food distribution and development of farming tools. The Arkherians do similar work in the cities but do it in the nighttime. Schools operate on the same schedule, educating Terran children by day and Arkherian children by night. Outside the cities are the farmlands, their scheduling dictated by the rhythm of the crops. It is the Arkherians who handle agriculture, a task the Terrans are thrilled to turn over as their crops have been mutating rapidly.Forty years have passed since the turmoil during the time just before Thomas the Green took over the Council as the quabacutal, Jeket the Blue was turned over to the Terran doctors for healing and the Child of the Sun, Kacendra Wyvern, rejoined her mate and friends on the trading ship, Cepheid Variable, her bonds to Thomas blocked and hidden. Much has happened in that time. Kacendra and Jonathan have raised three children and have grandchildren. Jeket the Blue was released and now works in the Journal Rooms, believed to be withdrawn into a state called 'loner'. Thomas the Green is still the quabacutal but he is an enigma, very withdrawn even in the audience sessions with the People and having bouts of major depression where he is very uncommunicative. But times are beginning to change. Jeket the Blue is no longer a loner, but is still isolated and believes himself without friends. Kacendra and Jonathan are preparing a trip along their old trading routes, stopping at planets they wished they had more time to visit and eventually ending at Csylokia, so Kacendra can reconnect with Thomas. Thomas, knowing of the upcoming visit is more communicative, still prone to depression but not as long nor as deep as he anticipates the return of his bond mate. And, starting to become more active, the Republic of Stars continues down the path from a true Republic to an Empire determined to establish a military base and colony on Csylokia. As time passes the Republic becomes more and more of an annoyance to Thomas the Green and the Council. Thomas the Green, Jeket the Blue and the Child of the Sun. Two are already in darkness trying to find the way to the light, and the Child, once in the light, is falling into the darkness, searching for the lost light...