by Candy Rae
“Kolyei and Radya were patient,” he said, “they did not want to rush you.”
“You don’t think?” queried Tara, doubt seeping into her voice.
“No,” was his categorical reply, “they never once tried to influence us, of that I am sure.”
He nibbled her ear again. Tara giggled. It felt good.
“It’s you I love. It always has been. I would have felt the same about you even if we had never landed on Rybak.”
Tara nestled against him.
“Say it again,” she commanded.
“What?”
“That you love me.”
He did so.
It was some hours later when the two began to wonder if perhaps they should make an appearance. Kolyei and Radya were returning, full of beans and eager to see their two humans together at long last.
Engrossed in their enjoyment of each other, both couples, Lind and human, remained blissfully unaware of the events unfolding outside the domta.
* * * * *
“Come to help?” asked Janice with a smile of welcome as her adopted daughter entered the Randall cabin the following morning..
“Thought you might do with some, if Louis and Ustinya are due later today. I know how much they eat.”
Janice laughed and hugged the young woman she always thought of as her own daughter.
“Messages aren’t enough, are they?” she said as they broke apart, “where is Kolyei?”
“Reporting to Afanasei, Jim and Larya. He shouldn’t be long.”
Janice nodded.
“Louis and Ustinya will be here this evening,” she announced in a satisfied manner. “It’ll be good to have the whole family together again, even for a short while.”
“How is Louis?”
“Always busy and goodness knows what he and Ustinya are up to half the time. He hasn’t said, but I think he has been in the south again.”
“In the south? Are you sure?”
“Pretty positive. I’m in a permanent state of worry about their safety. One hears such tales.”
“I shouldn’t worry,” said Tara, picking up one of the kitchen knives and beginning to pare the roots, “Louis can look after himself.”
“He told Jim and Larya that this is a flying visit only, one night. I wish he could stay longer.”
Janice busied herself cleaning the whiteroots and gestured Tara to put down the knife and take a seat at the kitchen table.
“Do you remember Cherry Howard?” Janice asked suddenly, “daughter of the Captain of the Electra?”
“Of course,” answered Tara, greatly wondering.
“She joined the Vada after you left,” said Janice. “She’s almost at the end of her training. She and Louis have an understanding, Ustinya and Baltvei too of course, same as you and Peter.”
“I am glad.” Tara’s face broke out into a smile.
“The hand-fasting is planned for the end of summer. Will you and Kolyei be here?”
“We don’t have any exact plans for the moment,” said Tara. “I was going to teach for a semester at the new University in Argyll, they are crying out for Lindish tutors, but now, who knows.”
“Winston thinks there is something afoot.”
“What do you mean?”
“I’m not sure, but he says the Lind are edgy and it’s strange that Louis is coming for one night only. He usually stays for at least a week.”
“You worry too much,” advised Tara with a smile of affection.
Janice smiled an answer but her uneasiness refused to go away.
Louis arrived home, welcomed back his brother, sister-in-law and Tara, ate a gigantic meal, talked with his father for some hours then went to bed.
When Tara woke the next morning, he and Ustinya were gone.
* * * * *
The first real indication the revellers had that ‘something was up’ was when Brian and Sofiya received orders to report to the Vada stronghold at once. Their extended leave of absence was, as Emily succinctly put it, ‘terminated herewith’. Emily and Ilyei were not to join them, the maternity leave for human mothers inaugurated by Laura McAllister-Merriman was two years so she still had over a year’s grace although Laura’s Faddei warned Ilyei privately that every trained medic might be needed if events transpired in the manner Jim Cranston thought they might.
Peter and Radya received their call later the same day Brian and Sofiya left.
“I am a serving vadeln,” said Peter, sad that their honeymoon was to be of so short a duration. “When the call came for Brian and Sofiya I knew me and Radya’s orders would not be long behind them.”
“But why?” asked the perplexed Tara.
“Jim and Larya have put the Lindars on alert.”
“The Larg?” asked Tara with a stab of panic.
“A precautionary measure,” Peter tried to reassure her, “no more than that. It happens most summers. There’s no need to worry.”
Tara gazed at her husband of a week but forbore to say more. Peter returned her look, a bland expression on his face, not for worlds did he want to spoil their last day together.
Privately, Tara decided to speak to Jim and Larya herself before she was much older, but a quick telepathic question to Kolyei as to Jim and Larya’s whereabouts left her none the wiser. He was not at domta Afanasei.
At lunch at the Randall cabin, conversation, naturally enough, was full of the Vada recall and Tara learned that Peter and Brian were not the only ones. Hilary and Gsnei were also to return to take up their medical duties again.
Tara also learned that Jim and Larya had left domta Afanasei for an unknown destination early that morning. Winston Randall, Tara’s adoptive father was saying little. Tara did manage to glean a few bits of information but none that shed any light on what was bothering her. He looked worried, not a good sign.
“Where is Louis?” she asked at last and intercepted a sharp glance between him and Janice. So Louis and Ustinya are a part of this.
“Louis and Ustinya are on a mission with the Avuzdel,” Winston informed her, adding in a whisper, “don’t ask any more questions. I don’t want to worry the girls.”
Tara knew the Avuzdel’s main theatre of operations was in the south. One did not need to be a genius to guess that that was where the duo were and Tara’s brain worked overtime as she tried to work out the implications behind what Winston had said and what he was not saying. If Louis was in the south, that, taken with the recall orders of the vadeln-pairs, could mean only one thing.
War.
She had to know.
“Are the Larg coming back?” she got out at last, dreading the answer her ‘father’ might give her.
A wide-eyed and startled look from Violet was the result and Winston glanced at Janice. His wife sat white-faced for a moment then, with hands that shook, began to gather together the dirty dishes, ordering in unusually curt tones, Violet, Lucy and Juliet to help her.
Left alone at the table with Tara and Peter, Winston sighed.
“Jim warned me that you would not be kept in ignorance.”
“Tell me.”
“The Lords of Murdoch are planning something,” he admitted. “It’s difficult to get reliable information but our man down there has told us that an attack might, and I say might, be in the pipeline.”
“We do not know for sure,” interposed Peter.
“Better safe than sorry,” was Winston’s comment, “the Garda are manning the fortifications at the beachhead.”
“As a precaution, nothing more,” reiterated Peter.
“I’m sure there is nothing to worry about,” Winston tried to reassure her, looking with concern at Tara’s whitening face, “Malcolm Chambers … you knew Robert Lutterell died didn’t you?”
Tara nodded.
“Go on,” she urged.
“He’s head of the Council now, a good man if a bit narrow minded. He forced through conscription the other month. If the Larg do come over the island chain, they’ll not get furthe
r than the immediate beachheads, the fortifications are now so extensive.”
“Do you think the Larg will return?”
“Quite honestly, I don’t know. We don’t have enough information, now stop worrying about what might never happen and finish your meal, Janice knows how much you enjoy redfruit pudding. We’ll know more when Jim and Larya get back. I for one would like to hear more about your adventures in the west.
Janice and the girls sat down again and in the animated story telling that followed, Tara forgot her worries, at least for a little while. The events that were spiralling beyond anyone’s control would have severe repercussions for all who sat round the table.
The rest of the day passed in a blur, Tara had never seemed gayer for she was trying to forget that on the morrow Peter was to ride to rejoin his Ryzck.
They spent more time loving each other then reminisced about the hours spent together as teenagers. It was surprising how much they remembered, how much they had enjoyed each other’s company even then.
“It should have been obvious that we were meant for each other,” Peter said, “I only had to bide my time, I always knew that.”
“There are added benefits now we are older,” Tara answered in a prim voice.
“What are you suggesting?”
Her reply was a long and lingering kiss and Peter responded. When Kolyei and Radya returned from their hunt, they were still under the bedcovers.
“Still not up?” asked Kolyei with a twinkle. He looked at his own mate, “perhaps we should go away for while, come back later?”
Radya whined her amusement, “I’m sure that if I think very hard that I could think of something pleasurable we could do.”
Kolyei wagged his tail.
The two Lind made for the doorway.
“We’d better get up,” said Tara regretfully.
“Not on our account surely?” teased Kolyei as his tail swished out of the daga.
“Why my love, don’t say that you’re tired of my company already.” Peter leant over, eyeing the shape her body made under the covers. “I can think of something far more interesting to do, something similar to what Kolyei and Radya have in mind.”
Tara and Kolyei watched Peter and Radya leave at dawn.
: We’ll see them soon :
: How? :
: The Larg will not attack yet … we have time :
: But where ? : Tara fretted : and what or who will we be facing? I ask you that :
Kolyei deemed it wiser not to answer.
Janice Randall had known Tara would come to see her once Peter and Radya were gone. To take her adopted daughter’s mind off things she and Winston had arranged a surprise for her.
“We have a present for you Tara,” said Winston. With an air of a conjuror he brought out from under the table a square brown package.
“Call it three birthday presents rolled into one,” said Janice, “you’ve been away quite some time.”
“What is it?”
“Open it and see,” suggested Janice with a smile, “hope you like it.”
Tara began at one corner of the rough brown covering and peeked inside, her eyes wide and incredulous, “it’s paper,” she exclaimed, “how did you manage to get paper? Real paper to write on.” She raised a glowing face to Janice and Winston.
“Where did you get it? I’ve been writing using parchment but this is wonderful.” Tara’s eyes shone, why, she and Kolyei could write thousands of words on the thick wads of pristine sheets.
“We know about your ambition to write your great history of the Lind. Janice and I thought this might help.”
“It’s the most wonderful present I have ever had, but where did you manage to get it?”
“From Settlement,” explained Winston, “there’s a paper manufacturer there now. With the durapaper stocks finished, an alternative had to be found.”
“I thought we’d have to write on parchment forever and it’s expensive,” said Tara, “was this expensive?”
“Moderately so,” grinned Winston, delighted at the effect of the gift, “it was Violet’s idea, she thought you’d like this more than anything.”
“Oh, I do. We’ve got stories already; some history from the oral traditions and some tales of our own, Kolyei’s head is clogged up with them. He’s been complaining about it, now I can write them down and he can forget them. He’ll keep his favourites in his mind, ones we like to listen to but the others, he’ll just shunt them into the back part.”
“The back part?”
“Hilary calls it a sort of inner consciousness. I think it’s how the Lind remember so much, they put it in there until it is needed then they take it out. They learn how to do it when they are young at the same time they are learning how to control their telepathy. I must remember to thank Violet, you couldn’t have given me a better gift if you’d tried a million years.”
“Even a new harness for Kolyei?” Janice teased.
Tara stared at them.
: I like it very much :
Tara smiled, “Kolyei says he likes it very much.”
“The girls have put it on, they made us promise not to tell,” said Winston, “Jathan had something to do with it.”
“Jathan?”
“Jathan arrived last winter from Argyll,” answered Janice. “Lucy finds him deeply attractive, a feeling he appears to share thank the Lai.”
“He’s a vet?”
“He’s a doctor,” corrected Janice, “here for the year to increase his skill-set amongst us.”
“Like Hilary then?” queried Tara.
“Not exactly, Hilary has Gsnei and her life is here, in Vadath. Jathan’s is not, he returns to Argyll when he is ready to take up a permanent position there. You knew they were building a town up at Lake Stewart?”
“They’d started building before we left,” said Tara.
“Well, it’s coming along, many have already relocated there. The Council moves next spring; the main medical facility and the University are already there, just about everyone. After a lot of debate they’ve agreed that Stewarton is to be the name.”
“So Lucy intends to go back with this Jathan,” surmised Tara, pleased that her little ‘sister’ had found someone. “I’m glad and it isn’t that for away on a fast Lind.”
“Jathan has accepted a position with the Garda,” said Winston, “It remains at Settlement; they’re turning it into their headquarters so she will be a long way away. He’s set to become their medical officer. He’s a nice young man; he suits Lucy, especially as not a solitary Lind has expressed an interest in her. Best she goes away, especially as Juliet will, in all likelihood, pair, at least that’s what Zhenya tells me and I see no reason to disbelieve her.”
“Violet is settled as well,” said Janice with some satisfaction.
“What?” exclaimed Tara.
“You’ll see,” replied Janice with a mysterious air.
When Janice looked like this there was no point in questioning her. “What news of Tina and Daltei?” asked Tara instead, “did she come and visit as she promised?”
“Tina and Daltei have visited more than once,” answered Janice as she spooned an evil smelling concoction out of a steaming pot and into some jars. “She and Eitel arrived their last leave-time, full of tales about their adventures with their Ryzck, the Tenth if I remember correctly.”
“I’d heard they were with Richard and Dahlya,” said Tara, pushing the full jars away, careful not to burn her fingers and putting the empty ones nearer the pot. “Ugh, this stuff stinks. What is it?”
“Smaha salve, unbga root and jillyflower, mixed in with nettleweed,” grinned Janice, “much better than plain salve.”
“It doesn’t smell any better,” vouchsafed Tara with an answering grin at her foster mother. “I’d speak to Hilary before she returns to the stronghold, I’m sure she’ll be able to suggest another ingredient more pleasing to the nose. Nettleweed is so bitter.”
“It is the nettleweed that holds
the salve together,” said Janice, “if I didn’t include it the ingredients would separate. I tried to find an alternative but nothing else works as well.”
“Perhaps it’ll smell better once it has cooled,” said a hopeful Tara.
“Didn’t last time,” answered Janice, sniffing the half-filled jar in front of her with caution, “in fact, I wonder if I’ve got this batch right, it smells different to the last one, more pungent.”
“Try it on the back of your hand,” suggested Tara.
“Thanks but I’d rather be excused,” Janice Randall answered as she spooned another dollop and promptly missed the jar.
“Darnation,” she exclaimed, “I can’t concentrate today. It’s the worry about Brian and Sofiya. I didn’t expect them to leave so soon and the recalls were unexpected.”
“I’m sure they’ll be back,” comforted Tara, “Jim gets the wind up about the Larg every summer.”
“He did say the recall was merely a precautionary measure.”
“So did Peter,” said Tara. “It’ll be a false alarm, you’ll see.”
“It’s strange,” continued Janice, “but I’ve never worried as much about Louis and Ustinya as Brian and Sofiya though I’m sure they are in as much danger. Now that’s finished, I’m going over to see Emily and the baby whilst it is cooling. Care to come?”
“I’ll go and visit Hilary,” Tara decided. “Kolyei told me she and Gsnei are leaving tomorrow and I promised to say goodbye.”
As Tara walked to the dispensary, she felt restless and uneasy; there was a feeling in the air that something unpleasant was about to happen.
She found her friend assembling medpacks. Already there was a large pile of them in the ‘ready to use’ corner.
Tara sat on one of the stools to watch.
“Why are you preparing so many?” she asked, her unease growing.
“Winston asked me to.”
Tara thought about that for a moment. She was finding it hard to breathe. “You’re scaring me.”
Hilary looked up.
“The Lindars are running,” she said in a too calm voice.
“The Lindars?” exclaimed Tara, “already?”