“Hello,” she said, letting Taizia push her down onto the bench.
“That’s Taiba next to you,” said Taizia, “and Laesu, Vekki, G’hiled and Changu.”
Carrie looked at each of them in turn. It was getting easier to tell the Sholans apart these days. She was even beginning to appreciate the Sholan ideals of beauty. Each of the females nodded at her in greeting.
Taiba reached out for the large jug that sat in the center of the table. “Would you like some wine?” she asked. “We ordered enough for all of us.”
“Please,” said Carrie, pushing her glass and Taizia’s forward.
“What about you, Kaid?” Taiba asked as she filled them.
“Thank you, no. I’m on duty,” he said, slipping onto the bench beside Changu.
“Isn’t it a little ridiculous for her to have an escort?” said G’hiled, lifting her glass for a drink. “Only the female heirs of Clan families need escorts, and then only just before they’re married.”
Under the table, Taizia’s hand clamped over Carrie’s thigh, pressing it warningly. “I see the wine hasn’t sweetened your nature yet, G’hiled,” she said. “If my brother feels his Leska needs an escort, who am I to disagree?”
“Your friend is quite right,” said Kaid smoothly as he helped himself to a glass of water. “I’m actually Liegen Aldatan’s adjutant. Today I am merely escorting her to prevent the sort of unwanted male attention that she suffered from on the Khalossa.”
“If you’re going to be snippy, G’hiled, then perhaps you’d better leave now,” said Changu. “I, for one, would prefer to sit and chat with Carrie rather than criticize her. You’re only saying that because your nose is out of joint. You’ve had your eye on Kusac for a long time now, and he’s never even been aware you exist!”
“I think enough private opinions have been aired in public,” said Vekki, her tone reproving. “This isn’t exactly the way we intended to welcome you, Carrie. I’m afraid you’re getting a rather poor impression of us.”
Strangely enough, the bickering had actually helped her relax and feel part of the group. It reminded her of some of the teenagers she’d taught back home.
“Don’t worry about it,” she grinned. “I’m used to it. I was a teacher on Keiss.”
G’hiled hissed at the implied insult, then subsided as the others began to smile.
“Have you ordered any food yet?” Taizia asked, taking a sip of her wine.
“Of course. We ordered a variety of dishes for all of us. We didn’t know what Carrie likes to eat, so we thought this way she’s bound to find something that takes her fancy,” said Vekki.
“Good, I’m famished,” said Taizia.
Carrie picked up her glass and cautiously tasted the wine. It was pleasantly fruity and not too sweet. Her father would have liked it, she thought.
Then we’ll send him a crate of it, sent Kusac.
She grinned as she put her glass down again.
“What is it?” asked Taizia.
“Just a comment about the wine from Kusac,” she said, without thinking.
“Your minds are that close?” asked Taizia in disbelief. “What did he say?”
“Only that if the wine was that good, we’d send my father some. He grows vines, you see.”
“Vines?” asked Vekki.
“Don’t you have vines? What kind of fruit do you use for your wine?”
“All kinds,” said Taizia. “This one is made from redberries.”
“My mother makes her own wines,” said Laesu. “Perhaps we can exchange recipes. I’m sure she would love to try some Terran wines.”
“Not Terran, Keissian,” corrected Taizia. “The Terrans are from Earth. If we don’t distinguish between the two worlds now, it’ll only cause confusion later.”
“So I’m no longer a Terran, then,” said Carrie in amusement. “I’m a Keissian.”
Taizia’s mouth opened in a grin. “That’s right,” she said. “Nothing like having your identity changed for you, is there?”
“Tell me about it,” said Carrie with a laugh. “I’m still learning to cope with the Sholan part of me!”
“The Sholan part?” asked Taiba curiously.
“All the memories I inherited from Kusac,” explained Carrie.
Taizia gave a loud purring laugh. “You want to be thankful Kusac didn’t notice you, G’hiled! If he had, Carrie would know all about it!”
Carrie turned to look at Taizia. “I hadn’t thought of that,” she said thoughtfully.
There’s nothing worth remembering, came the thought from Kusac.
“Kusac again?” grinned Taizia. “These multiple conversations you have must be confusing.”
“They’ve never happened till now,” Carrie said. “I’ve never really been anywhere without Kusac before.”
“Then it’s definitely a good idea for you to come out with me more often,” said Taizia, pouring some more wine into her glass.
“Here comes the food,” said Laesu. “I’m surprised you didn’t notice it before me, Taizia.”
“There’s no justice in the world when you two can gorge yourself on food and stay as slim as a reed and I only have to look at it to gain weight,” moaned Taiba as the waiter approached with a laden tray.
The meal was one of the long leisurely affairs that the Sholans so loved. With the wine and the warm sun as well, Carrie soon found herself relaxing. The conversation became a little too personal at times, but Taizia deftly steered it back onto neutral ground.
“So, what do you think of Shola?” asked Laesu. “Is it very different from Keiss?”
“Very. We were the advance colonists, setting up an agricultural community to support the next wave. They were the people who would build up the industrial side of our colony.”
“Strange way to do it,” observed Vekki. “When our last colony was set up, they started simultaneously with the industrial bases on the moons and the agriculture on the planet.”
“I believe that’s what’s happening now, thanks to your people,” said Carrie. “We didn’t have the technology to send more than one ship at a time, nor to land on the moon and ferry goods to Keiss.”
“What else do you find different?” asked Taiba.
“The climate, but that’s probably got more to do with being nearer your equator than we were on Keiss. I must admit, I like the warm weather.” She stretched her arms, enjoying the feel of the sun on them.
“We had four small villages on Keiss, that was all,” she said. “There was an inn in each village, no stores, and our market day was once a month. We lived a very simple life. Here you’ve got all the benefits of an industrial technological society with none of the problems of pollution and overcrowding.”
“Shola’s no perfect land of the Gods, Carrie,” said Taizia, leaning forward onto the table. “You’ve only seen Valsgarth. Telepath towns are kept small because of our needs— we don’t need the noise of thousands of minds all day and all night. Nazule is our nearest big city, and it’s a different matter. There’s overcrowding and even poverty there. Not everyone has the pride, enthusiasm, or interest to make their life the best it can be. The central government does what it can, but it can’t help everyone.”
“I suppose you’re right. I’m afraid I left Earth when I was eleven, and I remember very little about it. I remember there was pollution and overcrowding and slums, but that’s about all. I’ve spent more of my life on Keiss.”
“How do the Terrans train their telepaths?” asked Changu, picking up her glass and taking another sip from it.
“Didn’t you bother to read the files we were given by AlRel?” asked G’hiled scornfully. “If you had, you’d know that the Terrans don’t recognize telepathy at all. They don’t believe it exists!”
“Some of them do,” said Taizia, catching the eye of one of the waiters. “More iced water, please,” she said, then turned back to their group.
“I’ve seen the encyclopedia they brought with them from their
home world. It’s amazing. Apart from all the other subjects, there’s a large number of articles on their various Talents, including telepathy. The trouble stems from the fact that scientists were trying to devise repeatable tests for a talent they didn’t believe existed. Had the telepaths formed their own guild, there wouldn’t have been this problem.”
“How did you manage to get access to that information?” demanded G’hiled. “Your father shouldn’t have let you see confidential AlRel documents.”
“Father didn’t,” said Taizia mildly. “My mother did. The encyclopedia was sent to Carrie by her brother. She gave the guild and AlRel their copies.”
“Is it going to be made available to us?” asked Vekki. “It seems to me that it would be good experience for the senior year students of AlRel to study the first new culture that’s come along in over two hundred years. Especially when we have a member of that species living in the guild with us.”
“I’m way ahead of you, my dear.” Taizia’s purr was only a shade higher than her brother’s. “Father’s already agreed. However, it’s going to cost us, and you might not like the price.”
“You and your wheeling and dealing, Taizia,” said Laesu with a laugh. “What have you got us into now?”
“Well, first of all we’re studying Keissian humans, not Earth Terrans,” she said with a sideways grin at Carrie. “He wants a comparative study of their social customs. He wants to see how far from the Terran norm the colony on Keiss has moved, and whether the changes are due to the lack of influence from the home world or to the domination of the culture by the Valtegans.”
“Will you be helping us?” Changu asked Carrie.
“I don’t know that I can be much help. I’ll certainly do what I can. Kusac says he’s working on a similar topic. He’d be glad to make some of his files available to you for crossreference.”
“I thought we’d be looking at the telepaths in Keissian culture,” said Taiba.
“There’s only one of me,” said Carrie, glancing up as the waiter approached with their jug of water.
“That comes next term,” said Taizia, nodding her thanks to him and pouring herself a drink. “We’ve got eight weeks for this study before more Terrans arrive on Shola, then we’re evaluating their ability to fit into our culture.”
“More Terrans?” said Taiba, her interest caught. “Will they be males or females?”
“Both, I expect,” said Carrie. “Our males don’t suffer from the same antisocial behavior that I’m told yours do.”
“What are your males like?” asked Vekki curiously.
Carrie looked across at Kaid. “Taller, more heavily built than me and their voices are deeper than human females. Some of them choose to grow hair on parts of their faces.”
“Are there pictures of them in the encyclopedia?”
“Yes,” confirmed Taizia. “If you come back to our room, I can show you.”
“We’re all finished here, aren’t we?” Laesu asked, looking round the group for the chorus of affirmatives.
“Then let’s pay the waiter and go,” she said.
They each put in an equal amount, Taizia helping Carrie with the value of the different coins.
“Don’t worry, I’ll remember them now,” she said, putting the rest back in the pouch on her belt. “Everything has a familiar look and feel to it, as if I’ve temporarily forgotten the name. Once I’m told, I don’t forget.”
As they walked back through the town to the guild, Carrie could feel Taizia’s growing desire to ask her something she considered important. When the Sholan female touched her hand and sent her a request to slow down, she knew the question was imminent.
“Carrie, what did you collect from the store?”
Carrie gave her an amused look. I’ll trade you, she sent. You tell me why you asked me to cover up my torc, and I’ll tell you what I bought. Deal?
A startled look crossed Taizia’s face. I didn’t realize you could send that well to any telepath.
Don’t underestimate her, Taizia. For all her Terran appearance and lack of experience, she’s one of us. Be careful what you say, Kusac warned her on the private level they’d used as cubs.
Kusac wants to tell our father about you himself. If you’re seen wearing his torc, people will talk and Father will find out before Kusac has spoken to him.
Carrie digested this for a moment.
You’re not Sholan, Carrie, sent Taizia. It’s a big step for Kusac to take. Father is bound to be concerned about it.
Fair enough. When Kusac and I were in Valsgarth before, we arranged for me to buy him a torc. This is the first chance I’ve had to collect it.
Taizia gave Carrie a curious look, then grinning, linked her arm in the Terran’s. Gods, you’ve both got it bad, haven’t you? I’m glad of that because you’ll always have each other.
“Come on,” said Taiba, stopping to wait for them.
“You’ll have to wait another eight weeks to see our men,” laughed Carrie as they caught up.
Why don’t you go with them and show them the encyclopedia, sent Kusac. I’m busy working with Tutor Sorli to draft out a new course to be presented at the staff meeting tomorrow. I’ll be finished by third meal.
*
Carrie timed her arrival back at their apartment to coincide with Kusac finishing his work. Sorli was leaving as they arrived. Seeing all was well, Kaid excused himself and left her there.
“We’ve just written a course for developing three new mental skills,” said Kusac as the door slid quietly shut behind them. He draped his arm across her shoulders as they walked over to the settee.
“You enjoyed yourself, I know. Did you like Taizia’s friends?”
“Yes, I did. I particularly like Vekki and Laesu. I’m going to help them with their work for the next two terms,” she said, sitting down beside him.
“That’s good. It’ll get you out and about. You need to find a niche for yourself,” he said, reaching up to knead one of his shoulders.
“Let me do that,” she said. “Turn around.”
He did as she asked, drawing his legs up in front of himself.
Slipping her hands inside the back of his shirt, she pushed through his fur and began to work the muscles at the sides of his neck.
“They’re absolutely solid,” she said. “I bet you didn’t take any breaks, did you?”
“No,” he admitted, squirming under her hands. “We wanted to get it finished, so Sorli could go over it before tomorrow. Ouch! That hurts, Carrie.”
“Sorry, but it isn’t easy for me when your shirt’s in the way.” She leaned forward to undo the first couple of buttons, then returned to kneading his shoulders, gradually working her way across the top then down onto his back just below his neck.
As well as she knew his body by now, the subtle differences never failed to fascinate her. The heavy muscles around his highly mobile joints were designed to allow him to change to four-legged locomotion at a moment’s notice.
“What you need is a good soak in a hot bath,” she said, aware of his tiredness as she tried to soften the muscles underlying his shoulder blades.
“Later.” His hand reached up for one of hers, tugging gently on it. “Come round this side,” he said, his voice a lazy purr now that she had relieved the worst of the tension and strain.
She got up and moved in front of him, leaning against the arm of the settee. “I got something for you today,” she said, trying to stop him from picking up her thoughts.
He cocked his head to one side, a look of curiosity on his face. “You did?” His ears swiveled round to face her.
She nodded, reaching into her pouch to take out a padded package. Nervously she began to open it, suddenly afraid that despite what he’d said at the time, he wouldn’t accept the gift from her.
“If it’s for me, shouldn’t I be doing that?” he asked.
“No, not with this,” she said, trying to control the slight shaking in her hands as she unwrapped the final l
ayer. Keeping it on its bed of soft paper, she held it out to him. “It’s your torc, Kusac.”
The moment hung there between them, each of them aware of the importance of this promise, both aware of what they were giving up for the other.
Kusac breathed in sharply, looking up at her. He didn’t need to see her face to know what she felt for him, he could sense it clearly through their Link. He reached out to take the torc then hesitated, hand poised above it.
“You realize what this signifies?” he said. “The bonding ceremony is only the final seal to our promises. If I take your torc, there’s no going back.” His eyes searched her face even as his mind searched hers, looking for any trace of doubt. There was none.
His hand touched her face, cupping her cheek. “I’m from the Clan Leader’s family, Carrie, and you’re my Leska. It means no children for either of us,” he said softly. “Neither Terran, nor Sholan. Can you live with that?”
“I know,” she said, resting her hands and her gift on her knees. “We’ll have each other, that’s enough.”
Picking up the torc, he spread the terminals and placed it round his neck, the bronze gleaming against his dark fur. “It’s warm,” he said, surprised.
Carrie grinned. “It would be. I’ve been carrying it around next to me all day. When you gave me yours, it was warm, too.”
He moved his legs, reaching out to pull her closer so he could untie the lightweight scarf she’d worn over her tore. “You don’t need to wear this now. I’ll speak to Father tomorrow.”
As she leaned forward to undo the remaining buttons on his shirt, she felt him running his hand down her side till he reached her bare leg.
“I see you didn’t bother with your trousers after all,” he said, burying his face against her hair and neck, breathing in her scent. His hand caressed her thigh gently, claw tips tracing intricate patterns.
She’d reached his belt and by the time it fell loose to the settee, his other hand had found the front seal of her tabard and released it.
He tumbled backward, arms grasping her and taking her with him.
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