“Excuse my ignorance, but if they’re twins, why are they listed as having different fathers?”
“Because they have.” She was getting a little irritated at all the obvious questions.
He turned round to look at her. “I must be missing something here. I thought you were married.”
“I am, to both their fathers,” she replied shortly. “We’re one of the Triads, the first in fact.” She watched him trying to digest this without the shock he felt showing on his face.
“Isn’t it asking rather a lot of Human women like yourself to follow their polygamous customs?” he asked finally. “I see that Rishu is also a child by one of your husbands.”
“I’m not Human, I’m gene-altered, like my husbands,” she said, going over to fold up the playpen. “And Triad marriages are only practiced here on our estate. Most Sholans never marry, they just take out bonding contracts to have families. As for T’Chebbi’s cub, those of us who marry for dynastic reasons, as we did, are allowed to have a socially acceptable Companion. T’Chebbi is Kaid’s. You should have been told all this at the induction course.”
“We were, it just seemed very academic till now. Seems to me that system favors the men rather than you women if they can also have mistresses.”
“A Companion isn’t a mistress, she’s more,” she said sharply. “And we can take lovers, just like the males. Shola’s a matriarchy, we just don’t rub our mates’ noses in it. Sholans are very like Earth felines in that way.”
“In what way?”
She stared at him as she stood up, making full use of her feline eyes. “In every way you want to mention,” she said, a purr underlying her words.
It was Ray who looked away, unable to take the unblinking stare from eyes no Human but she possessed.
“In every way you choose to mention,” she said softly.
“There’s a big difference in being told about a culture and actually experiencing it,” he said finally. “I don’t know what you think of me, but I came here to get that experience because I am genuinely interested, not as some thrill-seeking voyeur.”
She instantly felt contrite. “I’m sorry,” she said. “I was the first person to meet the Sholans, and have a Leska, so I got all the flak from every direction. I still tend to stay away from Humans because of it.”
“You’re very different, even from the others here,” he said, allowing a small smile to lift the corners of his mouth. “Those eyes of yours are a real put down, never mind the vocal effects.”
She laughed and moved over to the cupboard where the playpen was stored, putting it away. “They come in useful, but they do identify me far too easily at times,” she agreed.
“What happened?” Ray asked, turning round in his seat to watch her. “How did they change?”
She sat down on the other chair. “No one’s completely sure,” she said. “It happened not long after our Link was established. My father and I had a rather public row and I seemed to . . . change.”
“Change? Into what? A Sholan?”
She nodded. “Just very briefly, and not completely. When I changed back, my eyes stayed as they are now. It’s never happened since.”
“They’re very beautiful,” he said. “How are things with your father now?”
“Fine,” she said, more briskly, slightly embarrassed by the compliment. “He adores Kashini. He’s seen the twins on a vid call, of course, but not met them yet.”
“Doesn’t it feel strange, looking at your children and seeing them so very different from Humans? How do you cope with it?”
That did it. Her face froze and she got to her feet. “It’s all in the medical records,” she replied coldly. “I told you, I’m half Sholan now. My children reflect my genetic makeup, not my outward shape.”
Ray was out of his seat in an instant, hand on her arm to prevent her leaving. “I’m sorry, I really didn’t mean to offend you,” he said, letting her go and stepping back hurriedly as her eyes narrowed again, this time to vertical slits of anger. “Let me make it up to you somehow—take you out for a meal or something. It’s just that all you Humans—hybrids,” he hastily corrected himself, “seem so very—Sholan. It fascinates me.”
She hesitated, using her senses to see if he was telling the truth. He was, there was none of the murky undercurrent she found too often in the minds of those who professed an academic interest in her people.
“I really am sorry,” he repeated, backing off till he was sitting on his chair again. “I’ve so many questions I would love to ask, but you’re the first hybrid Human person I’ve had the chance to talk to. I’m not a telepath, I’ve not even got the hope that one day I could belong to a group like yours. If you want outsiders like me to understand you, you have to talk to us,” he ended lamely.
He has a point, sent Vanna from her room down the hallway. Let him take you out for a meal, ask you questions. Who knows, he might even make a difference when he does go back to Earth. And we’ll find out what it is about us that they’re all so fascinated about!
You go if you think it’s such a good idea! she sent.
It isn’t me he’s asked, cub. Kaid’s been neglecting you. Go, you could do with a little male flattery for a change.
Why not, she thought. Everyone, Kaid included, had been telling her to get out more.
“All right,” she said. “I’ll go with you, and you can ask your questions.”
“What? You will?” he said, grinning from ear to ear as he pushed back the lock of hair that had fallen over his eyes. “That’s great! When? Tonight?”
She nodded, sending to Kaid to tell him what she was doing.
Very well, he replied. Take him to The Hunter’s Rest. Dzaka and Kitra plan to be there in an hour or two. My son can act as your bodyguard if needed.
She was about to object when he sent again.
Raiban has agents in Valsgarth. I don’t want any of them getting overenthusiastic. If you don’t want to travel with Dzaka and Kitra, get Ni’Zulhu to arrange an aircar for you. He can get permission to break the transport curfew and set you down outside the restaurant, the same to bring you back. There was a small silence. Why didn’t you ask me if you wanted to eat out?
Why didn’t you offer?
You know I lack the social skills and don’t always notice when . . . he began.
That’s too convenient an excuse. You used to make an effort, once.
I don’t want to argue with you, Carrie. There was a weariness in his tone.
Neither do I.
Then I’ll see you when you get home.
“Yes, tonight,” she said to Ray.
When they arrived, she discovered Ni’Zulhu had also rung ahead, reserving them a table.
“Liegena,” said the owner, coming forward as soon as they entered. He bowed his head to her, beckoning an underling forward to take their heavy outer coats.
“Please, come this way. We’ve provided cushions for the Djani’s comfort.”
“Thank you,” she murmured as they followed him to their table.
“Djani, what’s that?” asked Ray, looking round the manyalcoved room. “I’ve never heard that word before.”
“Honorific—translates to gentleman,” she said, sending a return greeting to Kitra and Dzaka whom she could see were sitting in easy line of sight of the table to which the owner was escorting them.
Though not full, the restaurant was busy. Many heads turned to look at them, but were quickly turned away again when she stared at them and they took in the fact she was wearing a Brotherhood purple-edged black tunic over the same color trousers. Inside, she cringed slightly, strengthening her mental shields. She’d known that the scandal Kusac had created when he left Shola would draw some unwelcome attention to her when she’d accepted Ray’s invitation because this was her first public outing.
“Enjoy your meal, Liegena, Djani,” said the owner, bowing slightly to them before leaving.
“Seems a lot of people know you,” said Ray
as he sat down on the high-backed, curved padded seat.
“They know of me,” she corrected him, drawing her legs up into the bowl-shaped seat and arranging herself comfortably. “Valsgarth town grew up to serve the needs of the Aldatan Telepath Clan, of which we’re a branch.” She’d no intention of telling him exactly why the interest in her tonight.
Their table was one of the few two person ones, and inside a small alcove which gave them a degree of privacy.
She watched him with amusement as he tried to get comfortable in a chair obviously not designed for the more rigid-limbed Humans.
“I give in,” he said at last with a slight grin. “How do I get comfortable in this chair? Come to think of it, how do you make it look so easy?”
She laughed, suddenly feeling a lessening of the tension that had dogged her for so long. “For me, it is. Another result of my change, I think. My joints move more easily than yours, and I’m used to them. Just fill the dip in the center of the chair with the cushions, then pile them behind your back until you can sit on the chair as you would normally do. It’s designed for curling up in, not sitting.”
He turned and began moving the half dozen small cushions around until he’d achieved something he was comfortable with.
Sighing, he leaned back slightly. “That’s better. I take it they’re used to us Humans in here.”
“They’re used to our Clan members coming now and then,” she said, picking up the menu in front of her. “But few non-telepath Humans come here. Several Human specific outlets have opened up in Valsgarth. Not many, because the town caters to our needs.”
“You keep saying that. What does it actually mean? That they’re run by telepaths, or they sell things telepaths need?”
“Kind of a mixture. Some establishments are run by non-telepath members of the main Aldatan Clan, but many are just run by traders prepared to have telepaths as customers.” She looked up at him. “This is the heartland for telepaths. The Telepath Guild is here, also the main Temple to Vartra, and the hospital has the main branch of telepath medics working in it. Not everyone is comfortable in our presence, some people actively dislike us because they’re afraid we’re constantly reading their minds. We need the town nearest to us to be sympathetic.”
“So the traders here are all happy to serve you,” he nodded. “I understand now. It’s not that obvious when you read about it.”
She smiled. “I don’t suppose it is.”
Having decided what she wanted, she put the menu down and relaxed back in her seat, waiting for Ray to choose. Opposite, Dzaka made a few sparse hand gestures, asking if all was well with her. She replied in kind, assuring him they were fine.
“Uh, a little help would be appreciated,” he said after a few minutes, as a waiter approached and put down a pitcher of lightly fruit-flavored water then hovered near her elbow. “I can read Sholan fine, but menus are slightly different.” He grinned up at her, his smile self-effacing. “It’s the first time I’ve been to a restaurant here. The inns, yes, but not somewhere as classy as here.”
“Do you like Sholan food?” she asked, and receiving a nod in reply, tilted her head at the waiter who came forward instantly. She reeled off a selection of dishes and handed him the menus.
“Sharing a meal has social significance here,” she said as Ray poured out a glass of the water for each of them.
“I read about that, too,” he nodded. “It’s a hospitality and friendship issue.”
There was a small commotion at the other side of the room as a group of people got to their feet and began to leave. Carrie glanced up at them as they came level. The lead male, a local community leader, stopped dead and snarling, began to spit out a string of insults at her, aimed at how Kusac had betrayed them all.
Instantly Dzaka was there, gripping the male by the arm and firmly escorting him to the door. At the same time, Kitra bounced over to greet her enthusiastically.
“Carrie! It’s good to see you out again!” she said, leaning forward to embrace her. “How are you?”
“I’m fine, kitling,” she said, hugging her one-handedly, still a little shaken by the encounter. “This is Ray, one of our two visiting Earth doctors.”
As Kitra let her go and turned to look at Ray, she surreptitiously replaced her stunner in its holster. “Ray, this is Kitra, my husband Kusac’s youngest sister—and this is Dzaka,” she added as he returned. “He’s Kitra’s husband.”
Ray tried to rise from the chair and gave up, holding out his hand instead as Kitra giggled at his efforts.
“Pleased to meet you,” he said as they brushed fingertips. He offered his hand to Dzaka who did the same. “What was that all about? Nothing to do with me being here, I hope.”
“Absolutely not,” reassured Dzaka. “It was politics. Some people just can’t leave them at home when they come out to enjoy themselves.” He smiled, displaying his canines.
I’m sorry, Carrie, he sent. Would you like us to join you? You’ll be less vulnerable to incidents like this with four of us here.
Carrie looked round the room. Everyone else was concentrating on their food. No, thanks. I don’t think from the looks of it anyone else is wanting to make a scene.
True, they are eating, he chuckled mentally. “Looks like they’re bringing our meal, Kitra,” he said to his mate, putting an arm round her shoulders. “See you later, Carrie.”
The owner was bustling over to them, full of apologies. “That this should happen here,” he said, shaking his head, his ears held at half height. “I have told them they will never be welcome here again, Liegena. Please, accept the meal as a gift to make up for the insult.”
“That’s all right,” she began.
“No, I insist,” he said firmly before disappearing again toward the doorway.
She looked at Ray who was sitting watching her. “It isn’t usually like this,” she said. “I do apologize.”
“Not your fault,” he said slowly. “I didn’t realize that you carried a gun.”
“A stunner, nothing more lethal,” she reassured him.
“You drew it. I saw you.”
She shrugged, settling back in her chair. “You never know with some people.”
“Not exactly the usual response.”
“I’m Brotherhood,” she said quietly. “In case you don’t understand just what that means, let me explain. We’re Shola’s Warrior Elite, independent of any other force of arms or law on this world. We’re sworn to protect the Sholan species, telepaths particularly, at all costs. When I first came here, there were threats against my life. I don’t take chances. Some Sholans still resent the fact I have Sholan Leskas. He was one of them. I told you eating had a social significance. It’s also a time of truce between enemies. He and his party left because they didn’t want to eat in the same place as me. If you’d like to leave now, I’ll understand.”
“No,” he said hurriedly. “It was just a bit of a shock, that’s all.”
A slightly uncomfortable silence fell until their meal was brought out. As well as a serving of a stew rich with meat and applelike fruit, served in a creamy sauce, there were side dishes of various vegetables placed in the middle of the table, and a bottle of wine, also courtesy of the owner.
“You said that couple who came over to us were married. I’m not that good at judging Sholan ages, but she looks very young,” he said. “And he looked rather old to be her husband.”
“Dzaka? His gray pelt makes him look older than he is,” she said, pouring out wine for them both. “He’s only just into adult-hood, despite his coloring. Yes, Kitra is young compared to him, only just fifteen, but they’re very much in love.”
He looked at her in shock. “She’s a child! He’s got to be twice her age.”
“Kitra, a child?” She grinned. “Don’t let either of them hear you say that. You wouldn’t believe the lengths they both went to in order to get each other! She may not have reached her majority, but she’s an adult in all that matters. They eve
n have a young cub.”
He shook his head. “It’s sad when that happens.”
“No, you’re getting it wrong,” she said, passing the glass over to him. “They’re Leska life-mates, joined mind and body for life. Their cub was very much wanted by both of them, and they’re still of an age when having a family is everything to them. It’s not like it is on Earth.”
“Obviously,” he said, glancing round the side of his chair at them for a moment. “They certainly look happy together.”
“They are.”
“And they’re one of your dynastic marriages?”
“Not exactly,” she said, amused, looking up at him from her food. “They chose to marry, I told you. But Kitra is from a Clan Leader’s family. Under normal circumstances, as a member of a Telepath Clan Leader’s immediate family, she’d have been betrothed by now, to be married in two or three years, but not expected to have cubs for several more years.”
“And this Leska Link thing, it can happen to all telepaths?”
“No, only those with the strongest Talent, level ones, and it doesn’t happen for everyone, thankfully, only a few of us.”
“And how does it happen?” he asked, helping himself to the side dishes of vegetables and cooked fruits.
She stopped eating momentarily, fork poised in midair. “No one really knows. It’s a breeding imperative, though, so we think it has something to do with meeting your perfect match genetically.”
“Yet you’re of totally different species, and you said you both change—Humans become more Sholan, and Sholans more Human.”
“Vartra knows,” she shrugged, with a little smile at the truthfulness of what she’d said. “We’re a new species, Ray, the best of both our people.”
The rest of the meal passed pleasantly. Ray’s questions continued to be thoughtful ones, showing he was making an effort not just to understand the Sholans, but also her people, the gene-altered ones. By the time they were ready for coffee, she decided to invite Kitra and Dzaka to join them.
“So what brings you here tonight?” she asked them eventually when the general conversation died down.
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