“It wasn’t relevant, Liege,” said Kaid. “I told you his association with her had engendered feelings of xenophobia among certain elements of the crew, and this was the truth. As for the shooting, she wasn’t the intended target. It happened two days ago and there hasn’t been time to report to you. You saw for yourself the female is fine, it was only a flesh wound. I made sure there wasn’t a second shot.”
“I don’t expect economy with the truth from you, Kaid,” she said. “It’s not what you’ve been retained to do.”
“You know how I work, Liege. I made it perfectly clear from the outset that I would use my own judgment. Those were the terms of the contract. You agreed to it and have no call to question it now.”
Only the swiveling of her ears betrayed her frustration. “My husband is being starved of information, too. I hoped this wouldn’t be the case for me when I engaged you to see my son and his Leska were brought safely home. Her father had the right of it. There is a conspiracy of silence from everyone involved with them. Why, Kaid?”
“No one wanted to be the first to tell you that your son has an alien Leska, Liege. Especially when the fate of the treaty depends on their parents.”
“That explains the Commander and the guild,” she snapped, “but not you!”
“I sent you your son’s file,” he said. “It confirmed your suspicions. You knew then that she was Terran.”
Her temper evaporated. “Thank Vartra you did. My son owes his life to you finding that file and sending it to his physician. Without her intervention both of them would be dead. Gods, Kaid. This is a mess!” She moved over to the seat opposite him. “Do you know what he plans to do?”
“Yes, Liege. I learned yesterday when you did,” he said ironically.
“He’ll give up everything to marry her. Position, family, his hope of children, the lot, all for this Terran female. I don’t understand it, Kaid. What is there about her that he feels this strongly? You’ve seen them together, do you know?”
“No, Liege, but I can hazard a guess. She’s unlike anyone else he’s ever met. He feels she needs to be protected where our females are independent. Then there’re their experiences on Keiss, and lastly the Link. All this has bonded them to each other in a way nothing else could.”
She sighed. “Well, it’s done now, and I’ll do what I can to help them. This antiTerran movement, what are you doing about it? What was the shooting about?”
“The Commander preempted my plans because of the shooting and had them moved up to the Ambassadorial level. The male involved was one of the dissidents and he was intending to murder their leader because of a personal disagreement. At the last moment Kusac and Carrie came between him and his target and he decided to shoot her instead.”
“The situation is far more complex than I had realized,” said Rhyasha. “What have you done about the other dissidents?”
“They have all been terminated.”
“What? I didn’t authorize you to kill people!” Her tone was one of outrage and horror.
“My experience and judgment are why you hired me, Liege. Restructuring their social outlook wouldn’t guarantee the safety of your son and his Leska. Termination makes it definite,” he said, a note of tiredness creeping into his voice.
“Once Kusac and Carrie are home, then your contract has been fulfilled,” said Rhyasha coldly. “I’ll have no more killings.”
“Would you have left the dissidents to start again?” he asked, raising an eye ridge.
“Of course not! But I didn’t wish them killed.”
“In my judgment, the risk to your son and his Leska warranted that course of action, and the Brotherhood will back me. I’m afraid that my contract won’t be done when we return to Shola.”
“What do you mean?”
“When I took your contract it was concurrent with another to guard the same people. That won’t expire when we return to Shola.”
“You can’t accept two contracts at the same time!” exclaimed Rhyasha. “It’s against your guild principles. Without that certainty of knowing you will honor a contract, it makes a mockery of what you do!”
“The two are concurrent, Liege, not disparate. My second contract doesn’t expire with their return to Shola.”
“Who’s it with?” she demanded. “You have compromised our agreement and I wish to know with whom.”
“I can’t tell you, Liege, just as I wouldn’t betray you to them,” said Kaid.
She searched his face. “Your mind is too still,” she sighed. “I can sense nothing on its surface. Will you swear that you have my son’s and his mate’s welfare as your objective?”
Kaid had been trying to avoid this moment. He knew he was at the decision point. With his mind as bruised and battered as his body was, he didn’t want to make this kind of decision now. He hadn’t had enough time and he couldn’t afford to get it wrong. Tiredly he closed his eyes. “Yes, Liege, I have their interests at heart,” he said. That, at least, wasn’t a lie.
“Then I’ll have to be content with that,” she said, getting to her feet. “I’ll have to go now. I’ve a meeting with the Commander shortly.” She gave him a last penetrating look. “You’re close to my son now. Though shortly you’ll cease to be under my contract, keep them safe for me, and you’ll have my blessing.”
*
When she’d gone, Kaid slumped down in the chair. This meeting had taken a heavy toll on what little energy he had left. Once again he began the litany to banish pain, pushing the thought deep into his subconscious till his mind repeated it automatically and the pain began to ease a little.
Garras came in. “I contacted Draz,” he said as he went to his friend’s aid. “He says he’ll be along later to talk to you about what happened on the scouter.”
“Dzaka?”
“He knows, too. He’s insisting on coming to see you as soon as Vanna gives her permission.”
Leaning heavily on Garras, Kaid got to his feet. “It wasn’t my doing,” he said as he limped through the rear door into Vanna’s medical lab. “Didn’t get the chance to ditch us. I had to wing it. I’m not convinced I got Chyad. I survived, he could have.”
“They’ll search the wreckage for remains,” said Garras.
“Messy job, Garras, not knowing if he’s dead. Didn’t anticipate this crash and being injured.”
“I know you, Kaid. You’d have taken every precaution. Now stop worrying about it,” he said, helping him sit on the edge of his bed. “Let’s get your robe off.”
*
“He’ll probably sleep now till morning,” she said, pulling the cover back over him. “It’s the best thing he can do.”
Garras took her by the arm. “Where do you want to go to talk?” he asked quietly. “It’s third meal time. How about coming to eat with me?”
“All right,” she agreed.
“Mess or restaurant?” he asked as they left the lab.
“Restaurant, and you can pay,” she said.
“At least you’ve got your sense of humor back.”
*
Early next morning as Vanna was checking on Kaid, Kusac walked in. He stood by the doorway watching.
“Vanna. Kaid,” he said, acknowledging them and drawing their attention to his presence.
Vanna looked up. “Hello there. You’re up early,” she said.
“I came to see Kaid.”
“How did you know he was here?” she asked.
Kusac shrugged. “A knack. Look, Vanna, I need a private word with him. Do you mind?”
“Not at all. I’m finished here,” she said, clearing her instruments away.
Kusac waited till she’d left, then moved over to Kaid’s bed. Folding his arms across his chest, he stared down at him.
“Are you feeling better?”
Kaid looked warily at him. “Yes. I want to be up and back to work, but Physician Vanna won’t let me, sir.”
“You’ll be back when you’re fit. Meral and Sevrin can cope for now. We o
we you our lives at least twice over. Thank you.”
Kaid’s ears flicked in acknowledgment.
“Why kill them, Kaid? They’d done nothing.”
“I don’t know what you mean, sir.”
“You want them catalogued? The oxygen pipe in the aft landing bay, the shuttle engine explosion… Shall I go on, Kaid Tallinu?”
Kaid regarded him balefully. “Another knack?” he asked.
“No. Our telepathic abilities were enhanced yesterday. You were broadcasting while you spoke to Garras. We couldn’t avoid picking you up. Don’t worry, your mental training is still more than adequate to frustrate most telepaths.”
“Not you, eh?”
Kusac shrugged. “It varies,” he said noncommittally. “Why them, Kaid? They’d done nothing.”
“They were planning to murder you and they were capable of succeeding.”
“I can understand Chyad and Maikoe, but the others?” He narrowed his eyes, studying Kaid’s face. “You’d do the same again.” It was a statement.
“Yes. Without a second thought.”
“Who are you working for, Kaid?”
“From the moment we touch Sholan soil, you.”
“Whether or not I want it?”
“Yes.”
“If I told you no more killings?”
“Then my job would be impossible, if I agreed to it.”
Kusac uncrossed his arms and sat down on the chair by the bed. “Carrie and I talked about you last night. She feels safer with you around.”
“And you?”
His eyes took on a hard look. “We’re too vulnerable, too noticeable. We need you. I don’t like it, but I have to be a realist for both of us now. We can’t afford our vulnerability. Kill one of us and we both die, and I want us to live, Kaid.” He stopped, refocusing his eyes on Kaid.
“I’ll only place one restriction on you. You touch no one we hold dear without our permission. I know that the Brotherhood obeys its own tenets before any contracts if there is a conflict of interest. I want no conflict of interest with us, Kaid.”
Kaid hesitated. “I agree, Liegen. I’m glad you see the need for protection. So much is at stake here.”
“You mean the treaty,” said Kusac. “I’m sick of us being equated with the damned treaty!”
“Not the treaty, Liegen,” Kaid said. “You two are important to Shola. You’re a new force in our world, a force for change. I can see the God’s hand in this.”
“Don’t get religious with me, Brother Tallinu,” warned Kusac. “I’ve never been at ease with any of your Brotherhood. I’ll hear no more about it. Neither Warrior nor Telepath Guild— nor the Brotherhood— will use us for their own ends.” He got up to leave. “When Vanna says you can leave your bed, return to our suite. Even though you won’t be fit to work, having you there will ease Carrie.”
“She fears the Terrans.”
“Very perceptive,” said Kusac. “Her father’s behavior the other night could have destroyed the trust that’s taken me so long to build with Carrie. I won’t risk him or any other Terran upsetting her like that again. Apart from certain people, I want them kept away from her.”
“It shall be as you wish, Liegen.”
Kusac stopped at the door. “Who are you working for, Kaid? I want the truth.”
“It’s against Brotherhood principles to…”
“You’re not a member of the Brotherhood, though, are you?” he interrupted.
Kaid pushed himself up using his good arm and regarded Kusac balefully. “Why ask me when you already know?”
“I want to hear you tell me.”
“Until we reach Shola, your mother, then you.”
“Where does Garras fit into this?”
“You’d better ask him,” said Kaid, his tone final. “I’m not in your employ until we reach Shola.”
“Who hired you to work for me?”
“That’s confidential. Now, if you don’t mind, Liegen, I need to rest.” With that Kaid lay back and shut his eyes.
Kusac had to turn away lest Tallinu see the half-grin that touched his mouth. Despite everything to the contrary, he liked and trusted this male. Why, he had no idea. Who in their right mind would trust a renegade Brother?
*
“Tallinu’s report is overdue. I want to know why the delay,” said Ghezu.
“I’m not privy to his plans,” said Dzaka. “If he delays his report, there will be a reason for it.”
“I’ve heard he’s been injured.”
Dzaka looked stonily at the image on his comm. “If you know, why ask me?”
“You’ll make the assessment of them.”
Dzaka betrayed his startlement. “Me?”
“You. We can’t wait much longer, we need a decision. Shortly they’ll be transferred here, to Shola. If they’re a danger to us, I want them dealt with now.”
“I can’t assess them without observation. I’ll need time— which you say we haven’t got. Besides, Kaid may already have reached a decision.”
“Ask him and send me his report. Then I want yours. You have two days, make the most of it.”
“Why do you want me duplicating his work?” Dzaka was baffled.
“That’s not your concern,” said Ghezu. “Just do your job.”
“You don’t trust him.”
“Just do your job, Dzaka. Need I remind you of your oath?”
Dzaka could feel his hackles begin to rise. “No. You don’t,” he snapped, cutting the connection. It was happening again. Ghezu had no right to use him against Kaid, no right to make him peer over his shoulders. Why hire him if he trusted him so little?
He clenched his fist till his claws started to cut into his palms. Now Ghezu was making him choose again. He brought his fist down hard on the desk. The pain helped stop the memories, the feelings of his unwitting betrayal of Kaid on that day. And the memory of Kaid’s eventual abandonment of him. The only reason he’d stayed then was because Kaid wouldn’t take him.
*
“The Valtegan prisoner will be here within the next hour,” said Raguul, looking round the table at the heads of staff gathered there. “This time I want some information out of him.”
“What is his current state of health?” asked Chiort, head of Medical.
“Alive, uncommunicative, but not yet catatonic,” said Raguul. “Have you been able to isolate a hypnotic drug that would prevent his withdrawing from reality?”
“I’ve got one in the developmental stage. It’s our best bet yet, but I’ve only tried computer simulations. I need to test it on a live Valtegan to see if it will really work.”
Raguul nodded. “Mnya, can your people work on him if he’s drugged?”
“Debatable, Commander. Neither I nor my people know enough about the Valtegan mind to work with it at all except on the most basic level, let alone be able to compensate for drugs. It takes time for us to be able to read a new species, and with respect, Commander, every one of the Valtegans you have had brought on board has been catatonic by the time he arrived. We’ve done no better than Vroozoi did.”
“Commander, the Terrans captured this one and delivered him to the shuttle holding cell still alert and in his right mind,” said Draz. “It occurs to me that we may be missing an obvious correlation between the Valtegans and ourselves. We know they don’t become catatonic in Terran company. Perhaps it’s exposure to us that triggers their mental withdrawal.”
“That’s ridiculous!” said Chiort. “Why would exposure to us trigger their withdrawal?”
“The idea’s not as ridiculous as you think,” said Mnya slowly. “If we continued the Terran contact when they arrive on board, making sure that all Sholan scents are removed from their route to the brig, then we’d have a reasonable amount of proof that Draz’s suggestion is at least a working hypothesis.”
“Then what?” asked Chiort. “If you’re right, we can’t examine him either physically or mentally!”
“Not so,” said Mnya. “We
have a potentially reliable Terran telepath in Carrie. It’s time her Talent was actually tested in a real situation. She and Kusac have both been able to enter Valtegan minds virtually from the first. We also have a Terran physician on board who is more than capable of administering your drug, Chiort.”
“We’d need communication devices for the Terran physician so we can contact him and advise him as he conducts the questioning,” said Draz thoughtfully. “We have something that should work.”
“The most reliable of the Terrans are Skai, Anders, and Perry,” said Vrail, head of Alien Relations. “We could use them as guards.”
“Let’s implement Draz’s idea,” said Raguul. “We’ve nothing to lose by trying. Draz, you see to the communications devices and getting maintenance to clear the route from the landing bay to the brig. We also need the air purified of any trace of our scent, the same with the brig. Myak,” he said, turning to his adjutant, “you contact the three Terrans and get them to report to Draz for a briefing. Mnya, you see to our Leska pair, and Chiort, you brief Dr. Reynolds. We’ve got just under an hour to get this together, so let’s move.”
*
Carrie took Mnya’s call as Kusac was still with Kaid. As soon as he left medical, she reached for him.
The Mentor wants us to meet her at the brig, she sent. They’ve captured a Valtegan, and they want us to read him. He’s the first one they’ve had who hasn’t gone catatonic in custody.
I’ll meet you there. Get Sevrin to take you, he replied.
Kusac was waiting for her when they arrived. “They want you to work with the Terrans,” he said, coming forward to meet her. “Can you do it?” he asked, his hand touching her cheek. “They think that fear of us is what makes the Valtegans retreat into their own minds.”
“Who do they want me to work with?” she asked, trying to keep her anxiety under control as she sensed his concern.
“Mainly with Jack,” he replied. “They’re using Skai, Anders, and Perry as guards. None of the people involved in the bar fight that first evening. No Sholans will be visible.”
She nodded. “Where will you be?”
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