thefiremargins

by Lisanne Norman

  "Nothing," he said, reaching down to pull the two halves of her robe together so he could close the seal.

  "You wouldn't tell me even if you knew," she said in disgust, looking up at him.

  He blinked, then looked away from her for a moment. "No, I wouldn't," he said, bending down to scoop her up into his arms.

  Aware that he was suddenly ill at ease with her, she reached up with her good arm to pull at his ear. "Look at me, Kaid," she said. "I won't bite you."

  He looked down at her again. "I never thought you would," he said quietly.

  "You're a strange person," she said, letting her hand slide down to touch his cheek. "So many dark stillnesses surround your mind, yet I know you've sent to me. Are you ..."

  "You can pick up anyone's strong thoughts, Liegena," he said, interrupting her as he began to walk toward the open door. "Yes, I've thought in your direction when you've needed me. Don't read more into it than there is."

  Carrie tried to relax against him as he carried her downstairs, letting the rhythm of his movements and his breathing lull her. There was more to him than he wanted her to know, of that she was sure. When she'd heard Kaid mind speak to her, Kusac had been unaware of him. That in itself was unique. Then there were his visions regarding her, before he'd even been aware she existed.

  A wave of utter exhaustion swept over her. She closed her eyes, unable to keep them open any longer. Later. She'd think about it later. It was too much of an effort right now.

  * * *

  He felt all the tenseness suddenly leaving her body as she rested her head against him. He almost sighed with relief but stopped himself just in time. She'd caught him unawares on this occasion, probing a little too deeply for his comfort. He'd have to watch her: what she knew, Kusac knew at exactly the same moment, and between them, they were too damned sharp.

  His mouth twisted at the irony of his situation. Vartra gave him visions of a future that must be, then placed him at the heart of the matter, where he would be at his most vulnerable. Oh, yes, here he could help shape matters, but he could also be discovered— by her. Rhyasha's kitchen door was ahead of him and it was with relief he tapped on it.

  * * *

  Choa, Ryasha's cook, opened the door to him. "You've managed to bring her down!" she said, mouth opening wide with pleasure. "Come in, in, come in! We've a chair all made ready for her." She stood back, giving him room to enter, then followed after him, hovering in case she was needed.

  "Over there." She pointed to the soft chair that had been placed at the far end of the table. "Put her down gentle, now. Is she sleeping? Poor little thing, with all she's been through. We'll get her better, never fear." She bustled past Kaid as he gently lowered Carrie into the chair.

  Choa picked up the lightweight rug from the chair back and placed it over Carrie, tucking it in around her legs, then looked up at him. "You can leave her with us now. She'll be safe. With your folk tramping all over the house and round the estate, a jegget couldn't get in!"

  "I'll stay nonetheless," said Kaid, moving backward out of her way.

  Choa sighed loudly. "Then you'd best get down to the other end of the table out of my way. You can help yourself to c'shar, I'm not running around after you." She turned back to Carrie, dismissing him.

  Rhyasha came in from the main preparation and cooking room next door. She looked toward Kaid, mouth opening in a friendly smile, ears flicking forward in pleasure.

  "I knew you'd be able to bring her downstairs," she said. "It's a brave person that would even think of arguing with you!"

  "You're both tyrants," said Carrie, opening her eyes and looking tiredly from one to the other. "You abuse me terribly."

  "Only for your own good, cub," said Rhyasha, gently patting Carrie's hand as she sat down beside her. "Choa, please fetch Carrie's meal."

  Carrie stirred. "I'm really not hungry," she protested. "I'm just tired. I'd rather sleep."

  "I'm sure you would, cub, but we can't let you," said Rhyasha. "Your body, as well as your mind, has been badly traumatized. You have to eat, cub, or you won't have the energy to heal yourself. That's why you feel so tired. You'll make the effort for me, won't you? After all, you don't want me to have to ask Kaid to feed you."

  Kaid's strangled growl of protest made Carrie look back over at him. His ears were laid back and his eye ridges met in a frown.

  She chuckled despite herself. "It might just be worth it," she said.

  "Good," said Rhyasha. "You've got your sense of humor back at least. Now, from today on, you're going to come downstairs and be with us. You can have a sleep after you've eaten, either in the lounge or in the garden, but there'll be no more staying up in your rooms brooding."

  Carrie could see and feel Rhyasha's determination. Like everything else, it exhausted her. She bowed to the inevitable. "Yes, Rhyasha," she said as Choa returned with her food.

  * * *

  Kusac joined Vanna by the vehicle park entrance just as Meral turned off the aircar's engine.

  "Any idea what all this is about?" he asked her.

  "None. I thought you'd know."

  "No. All Father said was he'd tell me when he returned. I think the general idea's to keep the kitlings in the main house until Kaid's security expert has his surveillance equipment set up, then they'll be moved in with one of the estate families."

  "Whatever it is, it spells major trouble if your father thinks we need all this extra security. Has it anything to do with last night?"

  Kusac shook his head as he watched Garras help the two kitlings out of the aircar. "I didn't have time to tell him."

  The two young Sholans were dressed in oversized purple tunics that made them seem even younger than they were. They moved stiffly, obviously still in some discomfort from their injuries. Garras stopped to pick up the smaller one, the female, and as they slowly crossed over to where Kusac and Vanna waited, the boy reached out to hold onto Garras' free hand.

  Kusac stepped forward to meet them. "Hello, Rrai, Jinoe," he said. "I'm Kusac Aldatan and this is Physician Vanna Kyjishi. I hear you're coming to stay with us."

  The young male nodded. "Garras said we were. He also said that my mother would be coming, too." He looked around, ears and tail flicking anxiously. "Is she here yet?"

  "Not yet," said Kusac. "She shouldn't be long now. Shall we go up to your rooms and get you settled in while we're waiting for her?"

  Jinoe nodded.

  "Please," said Rrai. "Why are we coming to stay here?"

  Seeing Kusac hesitate, Vanna stepped forward to take Rrai by the hand and lead him into the house. "You don't want to stay at the hospital any longer, do you? Since you can't go back to your Tribe, we thought you'd like to come and live here. The grounds are huge and there's lots of space for you to play in— and other younglings to play with."

  "Will we have to be in separate rooms?" Jinoe asked.

  "No, you'll be in the same room," said Kusac, walking beside Garras so he could continue talking to her. "You'll have a suite of rooms. That's a bedroom for you two, one for your mother, and a large room for playing in. You know all about your Link days, don't you?"

  "Yes," said Rrai, eyeing him cautiously. "That's when they come and do lots of tests."

  "Well, there'll be no more tests on your Link days," said Vanna, her tone outraged. "You'll be left in peace from now on."

  Picking up Jinoe's concern, Kusac added, "You can call us if you need us, or if you just want company, but you won't be disturbed on your Link days unless that's what you want."

  Are they still virgins? he sent to Vanna. Have they been allowed to pair yet?

  Vanna threw him a wry look. Not yet. They're on medication to suppress their libidos until they're a little older. It appears to be working, probably because of their age.

  They'd walked deeper into the house and were now going up a smaller staircase that led to the rear courtyard area.

  "You're the telepath who has the Human Leska, aren't you?" Rrai asked, looking up
at Kusac. "Can we meet her?"

  "Of course, but not yet," he said. "She got hurt in a Challenge and is too ill to see anyone at the moment."

  "Tell her I hope she gets better soon."

  "I will," said Kusac, stopping beside Vanna.

  "Can you give Jinoe to Kusac, please, Garras?" she said, turning to her mate. "I think it best if we take them from here. I'll see you downstairs shortly."

  Garras handed Jinoe to Kusac who took charge of her rather gingerly. "I'll see you later," he said, his hand touching his mate's cheek gently before he left.

  Vanna opened the door and led the way in, Kusac following her. As soon as he was inside, he realized where he was.

  "It's the old nursery," he said, recognizing it with a shock. He froze, his mind going numb as he remembered why this wing had been reopened.

  Kusac! Vanna sent sharply. Don't let the kitlings pick up your distress! It's not just Carrie that has to come to terms with the loss of your cub, you need to as well.

  He took a deep breath to steady himself, then set Jinoe down on her feet.

  "Kusac will show you round," said Vanna. "A food and drink dispenser has been installed in your room so you don't need to worry about meals on your Link days. Do you know when your next one is?"

  "In two days," said Rrai, letting go of her hand to wander over to the window that looked out on the gardens.

  "Do we have to stay in?" he asked, half turning back to her.

  "No, you can go out when you want, so long as you take a den-mother or your mother with you," she said, following him over to the window.

  "This isn't like the hospital," said Kusac, making an effort to concentrate on the two kitlings. "This will be your home."

  "Will it be better than home?" asked Jinoe in a small voice. "Home wasn't very nice."

  Kusac looked down at her. Large brown eyes looked up at him from a small face that was so thin it looked pinched. The purple tunic drowned her, adding to her air of frailty. Her light tan pelt was thin and patchy around her face and scalp, testifying to her lack of proper diet and her recent ordeal.

  Gods, Vanna! She's no older than my sister Kitra! he sent, reaching down to touch the kitling's face reassuringly. How could that priest justify beating these children like that?

  I know. They're safe now, though. You show them where everything is while I get my medikit. I want to give them a quick checkup.

  "It'll be better than home, Jinoe, that I promise you," said Kusac. "Would you like to meet my sister, Kitra?"

  * * *

  Twelfth hour came and, as agreed, they met in Kusac's rooms. There was c'shar and coffee on the lounge table, and while they waited for T'Chebbi and Dzaka, the others helped themselves. Kusac prowled restlessly between the room and the balcony overlooking the front garden. Despite what Vanna said, he was more worried about Carrie than he wanted the others to know. Their Link had become fainter since the morning and he was suffering none of her symptoms. It almost felt as if she was separating mentally from him. The worst part was there was no one to whom he felt he could go for advice. They were the first; what they experienced was becoming the rule for all mixed Leska pairs.

  T'Chebbi arrived, and quietly brought Kaid up to date on her trip with the Clan Lord to the Telepath Guild.

  Dzaka was the last to arrive, the cut on the side of his nose and the swelling around one eye causing raised eye ridges from some of the others.

  "We're all here, Kusac," said Vanna at last, sitting back in her chair and cradling her mug of coffee in both hands.

  Kusac returned to his seat and perched on the edge of it. He looked round the small group. There was Vanna and Garras, Kaid, Rulla, T'Chebbi, Meral, and Dzaka.

  "Brynne should be here," he said abruptly. "He's as involved as the rest of us."

  Vanna stirred slightly. "He'll pick it up through me," she said.

  He nodded. "Very well. I'll have to speak for Carrie as she's not well enough to be with us. There are several issues to discuss. The first directly involves Carrie and myself. We intend to leave not only the Telepath Guild, but the guild system completely."

  As he'd anticipated, a stunned silence greeted his remark. To be guildless was to live on the margins of society, to belong nowhere.

  "I won't have us treated like laboratory specimens any longer. The God willing, we'll have more cubs," he continued quietly, looking down at his hands, "but they'll never be subjected to the scrutiny of any guild. We've had enough. Neither Esken nor the Brotherhood will use us. So we've decided we're going to walk the Fire Margins."

  He let the silence lengthen till he could stand it no more. Looking up at the people in the room, he shrugged. "That's it. You're free to do what you want, you're none of you bound to us any longer unless you want to be. Vanna," he looked over at her and Garras. "You'll have to do what you think best."

  "I'm not staying either," she said, putting down her mug. "But to walk the Fire Margins! I don't know much about it, but even I've heard enough to know how dangerous it is."

  "It's tantamount to committing suicide," said Dzaka quietly. "No one in the last ten generations has walked that path and returned. Even the Brothers won't try it."

  Kusac looked over at him. "I know. But I've been researching all the En'Shalla rituals, and it's our only option."

  "There's no point in asking you if you're prepared to risk your lives on something as insubstantial as this, because I know you are," said Vanna grimly, her ears flicking back in anger. "You never do things by halves, do you, Kusac? It's all or nothing! Why? Why risk everything when you both have so much to live for?" she demanded.

  "If they succeed, they'll have won their liberty," said Kaid. "They'll be beyond all guild and civil laws, subject only to Vartra Himself. But above all, they'll not be outcasts. At the end of the day, it's their only logical choice."

  "You're in favor of this?" Vanna rounded on him. "You're advising him to do it?"

  "Yes. They'll do it no matter what we say or do. I've seen it."

  "Ah," said Rulla, his voice a low purr of contentment as he settled back in his seat. "I was right! You were working toward a goal Vartra had shown you!"

  "It will happen," said Kaid calmly.

  "And has Vartra shown you whether or not they survive?" demanded Vanna, her voice reaching a hysterical note as her hands tightened on the arms of her chair. "Has He done that? No! I thought not! Damn the Gods! Damn the guilds! Damn all of you who're encouraging them to kill themselves!"

  Garras reached out to put a restraining hand on her arm, but she pulled away, leaping to her feet and beginning to pace the room.

  "Why? Why do you have to do this?" she demanded, stopping in front of Kusac, her tail lashing angrily from side to side, ears turned sideways and flicking repeatedly. "For once take an easier option, Kusac! Carrie damned near died a few days ago, and your unborn daughter did!"

  She squatted down in front of him, putting her hands on his knees and looking him squarely in the face. "Let's leave the Telepath Guild, yes, but the rest? Dammit, Lijou's offer holds more hope than this!"

  Kusac had flinched at her comment about their lost cub; now he reached out to cup her cheek in his hand, his eyes looking into hers. "You've got your own life, Vanna. You have Garras, and your own Leska, Brynne, as well as a child on the way. It's time for you to choose your own way and leave us to ours. You heard Kaid. It will happen."

  "Don't wrong-spoor me, Kusac!" she said, batting his hand away. "You believe in the Gods as much as I do! If you've had enough of life and want to commit ritual suicide, why not say so and be done with it! Why this charade?"

  "It's not a charade, Vanna," he said patiently. "I believe we'll succeed. I don't intend for us to die."

  "You infuriate me, you ... you ... Ah!" She sprang to her feet and spun away from him to the other side of the room, pelt bushed out round her head and tail. "Someone talk some sense into him, he won't listen to me!"

  "Your decision affects all of us, Kusac," said Kaid, le
aning forward. "I have no intention of leaving you. Apart from Garras, the others belong to the Brotherhood and they are subject to Ghezu's orders. If they remain with us against Stronghold's orders, they face death. Ghezu will have them hunted down and killed."

  "Let him try," said Rulla, his voice a deep rumble of menace. "I've told you that I intend to leave and follow you."

  Kaid cast an exasperated glance in his direction. "Enough, Rulla," he said.

  "What's to talk about?" said T'Chebbi, looking hard at Dzaka. "I follow you. When Stronghold stoops to placing undercover operatives among us, we're all at risk. Even on the streets of Ranz they trusted me." She turned her head away from Dzaka to look at Kaid. "You knew. You chose me for your Liege and Liegena. I stay."