“There could be. You’d have to ask Vanna about that. What happened with the priest?”
“The Protectors went out to pick up this self-appointed priest, but he’d disappeared and the villagers won’t say where he is. I’m concerned that they’re going to see him as some kind of martyr figure and the whole thing’s going to blow up out of proportion. That area’s ripe for it. We’ve had several seasons that have brought droughts there and despite the aid they’ve been sent, the people are dissatisfied. I don’t want to see a Modernist anti-telepath movement starting to build.”
“We’ll be having a plague of snakes followed by locusts,” said Kusac darkly.
“Excuse me?”
“Oh, something from Carrie’s Terran culture,” Kusac said. “Their God called these plagues down on unbelievers. I think it’s worthwhile getting Vanna to follow up the virus idea, Father. I suppose if they were carrying the virus, Rrail and his mother could have spread it through the desert community. That doesn’t explain the translator on the Rhyaki, though.”
His father turned back to the comm. “It could, if I had become a carrier through picking it up from one of my guild contacts before I went out to the Rhyaki.”
Once he’d reached the Khalossa’s comm office, he asked to be put through to the Terran Ambassador on Keiss, Mr Hamilton.
“He’s no longer the Ambassador, Liege, he’s their Prime Councillor now,” replied the adjutant.
“Put me through to him anyway,” said Clan Lord Aldatan.
“It’s the twenty-first hour, three a.m. local time on Keiss, Leige,” said the adjutant carefully.
“I said put me through.” Konis’ voice brooked no argument.
“Yes, Liege.”
It took some five minutes until Carrie’s father appeared on the screen. He frowned, obviously trying to place the Sholan.
“Clan Lord Aldatan? Aren’t you Kusac’s father? What can I do for you at this late hour?”
“Yes, I’m Konis Aldatan. I’m sorry to disturb your sleep, Mr Hamilton,” he purred, “but the matter is somewhat urgent. I’m sure that as Carrie’s father, you will share my pleasure in hearing that my son and your daughter have become lifebonded.”
Peter Hamilton frowned in puzzlement. “Do you mean married?”
“That’s right. Frankly it’s the best thing that could have happened to Kusac,” he continued, glancing at his son over the top of the unit. “It’s brought out qualities in him he didn’t know he possessed. Your daughter, too; she’s become a brighter and livelier person since she’s been with us.”
Peter Hamilton ran his hand through his hair, obviously unsure as to what to say. “I hope they’ll be very happy,” he said at length.
“I’ll pass your wishes on to them. However, I didn’t disturb you at this time of night just to tell you that. It’s the news that we are to become grandparents that has me more worried.”
“Grandparents? You aren’t saying she’s pregnant, surely,” said Mr Hamilton, disbelief on his face.
“I’m afraid I am. You are, I know, aware of some of the changes that their Link has caused, but apparently there have been some far more far-reaching than any of us thought possible— with the result that Carrie is expecting my son’s child. My concern,” he continued, drowning out the other’s exclamations of shock, “is for the child. I think it wrong and unfair to bring into the world a new life that will be neither Sholan nor Terran. What will this strange offspring of theirs look like? Should they have the child?”
“What does my daughter want?” Mr Hamilton asked in a strangled voice.
“She and her mate want the child, of course,” he said. “But what, as loving parents, should we do? Should we advise them of the problems, or leave them to decide on their own?”
“Let them decide,” her father said firmly. “If they can’t live on Shola with their child, there’s always a home for them here on Keiss.”
Kusac’s father sighed. “You’re right, of course. Their decision is the one that matters, but we have an even more pressing problem than that to deal with.”
Peter Hamilton winced visibly. “What else has happened?”
“Your daughter has foolishly issued a Challenge— a duel by combat— to one of our females. Despite our efforts we have been unable to get the Challenge dropped, even taking Carrie’s condition into account. If she fights, at the least she could lose the child. At the worst, we could lose all three of them.”
The Clan Lord leaned forward. “We must stop that combat, Mr Hamilton. I intend to try to claim diplomatic immunity for your daughter, but I’m concerned that our Governor and the council of guilds won’t allow it because of her bond to my son.”
“What do you want me to do?” Mr Hamilton asked, concern written on his face.
“I want you to contact the Terran/Sholan Council on Keiss and demand that the Challenge be canceled. Say you refuse to let your daughter’s life, and that of her unborn child, be put at risk. Tell them this new species is too precious to risk over a squabble between women— anything— so long as they cancel it.”
“How long until the Challenge?” Mr Hamilton demanded.
“Two weeks. It’s on the morning of the third day of that week.”
“I’ll get onto it now.” The screen went blank.
Kusac just looked at his father in awe as the comm unit slid back into the desk.
“I’m not the head of Alien Relations for nothing,” murmured Konis, sitting back in his seat and folding his hands in his lap. “I think that with her father petitioning the council on Keiss as well as us petitioning the Governor, we might get some action.”
Kusac shook his head. “I don’t believe how easily you manipulated him,” he said. “Now all he cares about is saving Carrie and the child. He hasn’t stopped to think about me being the father.”
“Nor will he, until he has accepted his own desire for his granddaughter to survive. Carrie should have fewer problems from him.” He glanced at his wrist unit.
“I think we’d better go and see your mother now. She’s likely to have our hides for delaying third meal for so long, especially now she’s looking out for Carrie’s health. I remember what I was like when your mother was carrying you. I got it all wrong and would let her do hardly anything. She got so exasperated she finally resorted to cuffing my ears soundly when I began to fuss over her too much.” He chuckled at the memory before looking up at his son.
“I know I don’t need to tell you that Carrie will need a lot of support from you.” It was his turn to shake his head. “I don’t know how you both cope with a Link like that. For me it would be like living without my hide. Its intensity is frightening, almost as frightening as how easily our males are being attracted to the females of Carrie’s species.”
“I wouldn’t know about normal Leska Links,” Kusac said. “I only know I couldn’t be without her. Given any choice, I would still have chosen Carrie as my Leska.”
“You have changed. I told her father the truth. You were too insular, too academic. Your mother and I despaired of you getting emotionally involved with anyone, let alone Rala.”
“Rala was a mistake.”
“I admit that, but when the betrothal was arranged, you were only children. I had no idea she would turn out to be the vacuous and spiteful young female that she is now.”
Kusac gave a little sigh. “I’m well rid of her, but at what cost?”
“Don’t talk up trouble,” warned his father as he got up from his desk. “Let’s assume that either the Challenge will be canceled or all will proceed well and Carrie will win easily. Now, in the name of the Gods, let’s go and eat!”
*
Third meal had finished and while Rhyasha, Taizia, and Carrie sat in the garden enjoying the cool evening breeze, Kusac and his father were busy in the study looking up the various Challenge precedents regarding non-Sholans.
Kusac froze as the cry for help echoed inside his mind. It was so raw and unfocused that even his f
ather had picked it up.
“What in all the hells?” Konis exclaimed.
“It’s Vanna,” said Kusac, mentally reaching out for her. Knowing the feel of her mind, he was able to lock on to her thoughts only to feel the contact dissolve as she slipped into unconsciousness. “There’s something wrong. She needs my help,” he said, pushing his chair back and getting up.
“But Vanna’s no telepath,” said his father. “How could she possibly send to you?”
“She certainly is now,” said Kusac as he headed for the door.
“You’re not going without me,” said Carrie, meeting him in the hallway.
Kusac stopped, reaching out to touch her gently on the cheek. “Not this time, cub. You stay here,” he said. “If her Talent has wakened, then your presence will make it harder for her. Remember, she’ll know nothing about shielding. It’s hard enough for her to have her feelings laid bare without you there to sense them. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
Carrie nodded slowly. “She’s been a good friend to us. I wouldn’t hurt her for the world.”
Thank you, he sent, bending to lick her ear. You’ve nothing to fear, cub. I’ll give her the help and privacy she needs, then come back to you as soon as I can.
Take care, she sent as he held her close, rubbing his face against hers.
“Meral, get the aircar and meet me at the front of the house,” he said, letting her go and turning to the waiting Warrior.
“Do you need any help?” asked Konis.
“I think not, Father. This is a personal matter.”
*
As soon as he got into the craft, Kusac took over the controls from Meral and within a record forty minutes was landing illegally in the guild grounds opposite the medical facility. During the journey, he’d tried to maintain a light contact with Vanna’s mind. He’d felt her return to consciousness, but with a sudden flare of fear from her, the contact had been severed as a psychic inhibitor more powerful than any he’d come across before cut in.
He knew exactly where she was, and as he rounded the corner to the aura unit, ahead of him he saw Khafsa and a Warrior on guard outside one of the patient treatment rooms.
“We’ve been expecting you,” said Khafsa as Kusac stopped in front of them.
“What’s going on?” he demanded. “I want to see Vanna.” He tried to push them aside, but though Khafsa let himself be moved, the Warrior stood firm, glancing apologetically at Meral where he stood behind Kusac.
“She’s fine, but you can’t see her yet. Sorli’s with them.”
His reply stopped Kusac in his tracks. “Not Vanna,” he said, the shock evident on his face. “At best she’s a latent. You must have made a mistake.”
“Why do you think we’ve got the room heavily blocked? Working so closely with you two must have catalyzed her latent ability, and believe me, she’s not got a minor Talent. It took us several hours to locate who he was paired with because she’d managed to hide herself mentally from us. She’s already triggered the gestalt that’s worried you so much.” He took Kusac by the arm, turning him slightly away from the door.
“Look, my office is opposite, why don’t you and Meral come and wait with me? There’s nothing you can do at present.”
“I’ll wait outside, Liegen,” said Meral quietly.
Kusac accompanied Khafsa into his office.
“Please, take a seat,” said Khafsa, indicating the couch as he went over to his desk and picked up a thermal jug.
A familiar smell made Kusac’s nostrils twitch. The physician held out a mug toward him.
“Coffee. I said we were expecting you,” said Khafsa with a slight smile before he turned away to pour himself a c’shar from the hot plate.
Cautiously Kusac took a sip. “You’ve even got it the right strength,” he said, the surprise evident in his voice as he took a larger mouthful.
“I should have. Vanna’s made me the occasional mug of it when we’ve been working late in the labs. At this strength it seems to lose most of its intoxicant values.” He pulled his chair out and sat opposite Kusac.
“You said Sorli was with them. What’s happened that necessitates his presence?” asked Kusac.
“She has a human male Leska.”
“That makes four pairs,” Kusac said quietly. “We really are looking at the emergence of a new species.”
“I doubt it, Kusac. Even though the Gods give us Leskas to improve our children’s talents, it can’t be the same with you mixed pairs. Our species just isn’t that compatible with the humans.”
Kusac said nothing. They’d learn soon enough.
“Neither of them have taken it well, I’m afraid. We may have trouble with them,” Khafsa continued.
“What sort of trouble?”
“The Terran is refusing to acknowledge the Link.”
“It’s always the humans, isn’t it?” said Kusac with a rumble of anger. “Why do they always let their restrictive sexual code get in the way?”
“With respect, I heard that was what happened to you.” Khafsa’s tone was deferential.
“Then you heard wrong.” Kusac’s tone was cold. He didn’t appreciate the liberty Khafsa had taken. “I no longer have a human Leska, you should know that from the aura readings that you took.”
“I think you’re splitting hairs, Kusac. Anyway, this time it was Vanna who first refused the Link and we had no intention of losing her or her Leska. Master Esken ordered that we were to make sure their Link was completed in the hope that after their initial pairing, there would be no further difficulties.”
In one fluid movement, Kusac had leaped to his feet and taken the older male by the throat. Khafsa’s hands came up to clutch at Kusac’s forearms, bracing himself to take the pressure off his neck.
“Just what have you done to her?” Kusac’s voice was a menacing growl as he dispassionately watched the physician’s eyes dilate with fear.
“In Vartra’s name, Kusac, let me go!” gasped Khafsa, his voice strangled as he fought for breath.
“Tell me what you did to her!”
“We drugged them.” Khafsa’s ears were laid flat and his breath was coming in gasps. “We can’t afford to lose her, Kusac, you should understand that!” He clutched at Kusac’s hands as he dangled helplessly in midair.
“You took their right to choose away from them! You used them, Khafsa! You let them both be raped! What right do you have to do that?” he demanded, shaking the physician angrily. “We’re people, dammit, not animals to be experimented on!” With a final growl of anger, he opened his hand and dropped the other male, turning his back on him in disgust.
At the door he paused. “You can all thank Vartra you’re telepaths, Khafsa,” he said, showing his teeth in a snarl, “because if you weren’t, I’d kill you for this.”
In the corridor, Meral was waiting for him, his energy pistol already drawn.
“We’re going in,” said Kusac, striding over to the door opposite. “Stand aside,” he ordered the Warrior.
The guard hesitated, weighing his orders against the fury evident in the set of the Liegen’s ears. Reluctantly he stepped aside. Kusac slammed the door open, taking the scene in with a single glance.
Ignoring Sorli, who was bending over the human lying on the bed, he turned to where Vanna sat huddled protectively against the wall. Now inside the damped zone, he was able to tell instantly that she was still heavily under the influence of the drugs.
“Vanna,” he said, squatting down beside her and laying a gentle hand on her arm. “I’m here. It’s over now.”
Slowly her head raised and she looked up at him. Her eyes were half covered by the nictitating lids and it was with an obvious effort that she focused them on him.
Through the hand that touched her, he could feel none of the highly charged sensuality nor the compulsion that accompanied his Link time. Vanna’s drug-induced pairing had at least satisfied the needs of her Link this time.
“Vanna, it’s over now,” he
said quietly. “In a few minutes I’m going to take you somewhere safe. Do you understand!”
She nodded slowly.
Kusac turned to look at Sorli. “This isn’t the end of it, Sorli. My father shall hear of this.” His ears were still flat with anger, and on the ground, his tail flicked rhythmically.
“I was against this from the start, Kusac,” said Sorli, moving away from the bed where the unconscious Terran lay. “I persuaded them to only use a hypnotic to make them more susceptible to their Link, nothing more.”
“You were all so terrified that Carrie or I would corrupt the guild’s principles,” said Kusac, his voice a low snarl. “It seems to me that you’re the ones who’ve corrupted our way of life. If this is how the Telepath Guild behaves toward mixed Leskas, then I for one have no further wish to belong to it! What’s wrong with the Terran?”
“He was given a dose sufficient for a Sholan, but it was too high for him. His breathing has become too shallow. He needs the antidote to prevent his autonomic reflexes being affected any further.”
The Tutor shook his head worriedly. “I told Khafsa we didn’t know enough to do this. The only one who does is Vanna, but obviously they weren’t about to ask her. This was ill-considered from the start.”
“Meral, get Khafsa and enough of the antidote for both of them,” ordered Kusac, turning back to Vanna.
“She needs to be in shielded quarters, Kusac,” said Sorli. “We had to use the maximum damper because of her. She triggered the gestalt when she called for you.”
“So it begins again,” Kusac sighed. “She’s coming back to the estate with me,” he said abruptly. “We’ll see to her there.”
Meral returned with Khafsa who warily squeezed past Kusac to get to Vanna. After giving her the antidote, he went over to the Terran.
“I’m taking him, too,” said Kusac, watching the physician. “Get him ready to travel.”
“He needs to be kept under observation tonight, Kusac,” said Khafsa, his voice coming hoarsely from his bruised throat. “If you take him to the estate and he has problems with his breathing, we may not get there in time to treat him.”
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