thefiremargins

by Lisanne Norman

  "As we approach Jalna, the Captain will scan the surface, taking images of it which he'll print out for you as a map. You've got a direction finder, haven't you?"

  Davies nodded.

  "Then you should be all right. Just remember that maps don't exist on Jalna yet and don't get caught with it. I'm glad to see you all wearing Jalnian clothes," she said, glancing at them each in turn. "By the time we get there you'll look like you've lived in them rather than just put them on."

  Davies scratched vigorously at his upper arm. "Damned tunic is itchy," he complained. "I never did like natural wool next to my skin."

  "You'll be grateful for its warmth on Jalna," said Jo. "Modern fabrics don't have the same insulation or natural waterproof qualities as this stuff."

  "Smells, too," he grumbled.

  "Natural oils," said Kris, speaking for the first time. "We could do with rolling in some dirt. These clothes are far too clean."

  "There's plenty of dirt in the cargo area," grinned Vyaka. "You can roll about there to your heart's delight."

  "What happens if we get caught by the Jalnian authorities?" asked Davies.

  "We'll try to get you out the best way we can. With us we have ten Sumaan warriors specifically here as an assault unit in the event of trouble. We won't abandon you, believe me, but it would be best if you weren't caught in the first place," Vyaka said.

  "We must find out why the vessel crashed, what it was doing, and if it has anything on board that will give us a clue as to where the Valtegans come from, is that right?" asked Jo.

  "That's about the size of it," agreed Vyaka.

  "Is there some way we can communicate with you when you aren't on Jalna?" asked Davies. "In case of emergencies."

  "None, I'm afraid."

  "I'm not happy about that," he muttered.

  "There shouldn't be a problem," said Vyaka. "If you stick to your cover of itinerant gypsies, then you have a reason to be out in the middle of nowhere between villages. When you find the vessel, your cover is that you're using it for shelter."

  "I'm still concerned with the initial information gathering from the Jalnians at the spaceport," said Jo.

  "I'll be working with Kris throughout the trip to improve his transfer skills," reassured Vyaka. "Now I know you've a Talent for languages, I'm more confident we'll get what we want."

  "I do hope you're right," said Jo.

  * * *

  Meral had been concerned about Taizia, but since he'd received the cryptic message to meet her at The Warrior's Respite in Nazule, his worry had turned to annoyance. He'd only seen her once in the last six weeks, and then she'd just faced a dressing down from her mother because of inviting the Keissian physician, Jack Reynolds, to Shola without permission. She hadn't been in the best of moods that night. Now this.

  As he entered the garden at the rear of the inn, he saw her sitting on her own at a table near the riverside.

  He slid down on the bench seat opposite her, frowning in surprise when he saw what she was drinking. "Milk? That's not like you."

  "I need the calcium," she said, wrapping her hands around the glass.

  "What d'you need calcium for? You aren't ill, are you?" A note of concern had come into his voice.

  It made Taizia feel worse than ever about what she'd done to them both. In the past few weeks she'd come to realize the enormity of her actions.

  "I'm pregnant, Meral," she said quietly, keeping her eyes focused on her hands. "Remember that night I came to you in your room? I decided then."

  His stunned silence lengthened until she had to look up. "It seemed like a good idea at the time," she said lamely. "I wanted to be with you. I didn't want Father finding a mate for me. It would have meant ending our relationship." She looked back down at her drink, unable to stand the stillness of his face and mind.

  "I wanted us to be together— for a year or two at least. I did it, it's my responsibility. I don't expect anything from you. There's no need for us to take out a bond-contract."

  Her heart sank as he got to his feet. "You needn't worry," she said, her voice almost a whisper, "I won't tell them who the father is. I won't involve you in my dishonor." A knot of unhappiness was tying itself around her heart now, making her feel ill.

  He reached out, grasping her by the arm. "I want to talk to you— in private," he said, his voice low with anger.

  She got up, walking beside him along the riverside toward the small bridge. His mind was still closed, no thoughts or emotions beyond his anger that would give her a clue as to what he was thinking.

  He stopped when they reached it, turning round to face her.

  "Kusac was right about you," he said angrily. "You're as impulsive as a cub half your age! Did you stop to think of the consequences of your actions before you decided to conceive? You don't bring a cub into the world just so you don't have to marry, or because you don't want to lose a lover! There's a little person growing inside you now! A life you've made me equally responsible for, without even asking me!"

  She couldn't look at him. "I know. I'm sorry. I've said I'll take full responsibility for it— I'll say it isn't yours."

  He gave a hiss of exasperation and she could see his tail flicking from side to side. "Be realistic, Taizia! Who's going to believe that?"

  "There's nothing more I can do now," she said, blinking rapidly before dashing her forearm across her eyes in an effort to stem her tears. She knew her ears were flat with distress but she couldn't raise them.

  She felt him grasp her by the arm again, then pull her close before folding his arms around her.

  "You damned, stupid, idiotic child," he said, lowering his face to hers before capturing her cheek with his teeth and beginning to gently nip it. "I'll not have you telling anyone it isn't mine," he growled as he moved his mouth downward to her throat. "We'll sign a bonding contract before we tell your parents. No one else is claiming our cub, Taizia."

  She tipped her head back as his tongue rasped across her throat, then his teeth closed over her larynx and tightened till they marked her flesh.

  "If I go home now, my mother'll know I'm pregnant," she said. "I'm not ready to face them yet."

  "Where have you been staying?"

  "With a friend, but I had to leave for the same reason. And the Guild's so oppressive since Father and the Guild Master fell out."

  "You're not going back there," he said firmly. "We'll go to the judiciary and take out a contract today, then I'm taking you home."

  "Home?" she said, startled.

  He held her close again. "Yes, to my parents' estate," he said, rubbing his face against hers. "You'll be safe there until I've seen your brother and your parents."

  "You can't tell them on your own," she said, pulling back from him.

  "I can, and I will," he said. "If you hadn't been an Aldatan, I'd have asked you to be my mate. The God knows I wanted to, but telepaths don't life-bond to outsiders. And I'm insisting on a five-year contract. I wish it could be longer— because I love you, Taizia."

  Her laugh was slightly hysterical. In her mind, she'd faced every possible reaction from him but this.

  "You must be mad," she said, hugging him tightly. "I love you, too, and I wish we could be life-mates, Meral, but at least we'll have some happiness."

  "Don't think about the future," he said, letting her go before they turned round to walk back to the inn. "We'll find a way to stay together. You may have to marry but you can still choose whom you love."

  Her mouth opened in a smile as she looked up at him. "Yes, I can, can't I?"

  * * *

  Kaid was sitting in the staff lounge when Garras came in.

  "I've been hoping to find you on your own all day," he said, going over to the drinks dispenser. "Can I get you anything?"

  "Please," said Kaid, pushing the disposable mug aside. "This one's well and truly dead."

  "C'shar or coffee?"

  "C'shar."

  He watched Garras bring the two mugs over to the table, pu
tting one down in front of him before sitting down opposite.

  "Thanks," said Kaid, leaning his elbow on the table so he could prop his head up on his hand. "How's Vanna?"

  "Fine," Garras said, taking a sip of his drink. He gave a little purr of amusement. "Carrie keeps teasing her about looking more like a Human female now. I suppose she does."

  Kaid raised an eye ridge questioningly. "I would have said Human females look like permanently pregnant Sholans," he said. "Vanna does look well, though. How did Brynne react when you signed the bond-contract?"

  "Indifferently. All in all he's been acting rather strangely in the last week or two. He's taken up with one of the new batch of Terrans— an older man. Now he's a strange one. He refuses to live at the Terran building on the Guild grounds, and has taken a room at the Accommodation Guild instead. Apparently Brynne has been spending a lot of time with him. That's not what I wanted to talk about, though."

  Kaid sighed and picked up his mug in his other hand. "I know. Go on, get it over with if you must," he said, taking a mouthful of the c'shar.

  "It's about the En'Shalla rituals. You know there has to be a third person for the Margins, don't you?"

  "I know all about it, Garras. If I didn't, I'd be the only one on the estate. Lijou told me to copy the data before giving it to Kusac."

  "Why'd he do that?" asked Garras, ears pricking forward. "What's Lijou got to do with it?"

  Kaid frowned. "You're getting too good at receiving, Garras," he said.

  "I wouldn't say that. It's come in very useful on several occasions, notably when we were chasing Chyad, but you're not going to put me off my trail, Kaid. All our people are gossiping about the En'Shalla rituals. They know there has to be a third, and they're taking bets on who it'll be."

  Again Kaid raised an eyebrow. "Oh? Who's the favorite?"

  "The priest, Ghyan."

  "He won't choose Ghyan."

  "You sound sure of that," said Garras. "You're the second choice, by the way."

  "Am I? I hope you're discouraging them from betting."

  "You don't sound surprised."

  "You know there's very little gets past me, Garras."

  "It's more than that," his friend said slowly, studying his face.

  Kaid looked away and took another mouthful of his drink. He could sense the way Garras' mind was working. Better to weather it out now than leave it till later.

  "You've not been yourself since you came back from Noni's," said Garras abruptly. "I know what she's like, always probing at any sore spots she can find, manipulating you into dropping your guard so she can pick up stray thoughts. What happened while you were there?"

  "Nothing," said Kaid, suddenly aware of the warmth of the crystal he wore hung in a small leather bag round his neck.

  "What's Lijou's involvement in this?"

  "I've no idea what you're talking about, Garras," said Kaid tiredly. "What's the point in all this?"

  "Noni told you something, didn't she? And Lijou said the same thing. What exactly did they say, Kaid?"

  Garras was pushing him, determined to find out. "Nothing that need concern you, Garras. It was personal."

  "They told you that you'll be the third, didn't they? That's why you know Kusac won't choose Ghyan. Has Kusac discussed it with you?"

  No point in denying it. "He hasn't spoken to anyone yet as far as I'm aware."

  "If he doesn't choose you, he's a fool," Garras said abruptly. "I don't understand you, Kaid. You sit around looking morose, yet you're likely to get what you want most handed to you without any problems."

  "You know nothing about it, Garras. I don't care what anyone says, I can't be the third! I've been through it with Noni, Lijou, and Ghyan! I'm sick of the whole damned thing. I hope he doesn't ask me because I'll have to refuse, and I can't tell him why!"

  "Can't, or won't? Is it because of that female all those years ago? What was her name?"

  "Khemu."

  "Yes, Khemu. You never did tell me what happened."

  Kaid sat up, ears flicking backward in annoyance. "I'm not about to do so now either."

  "As you wish," he said. "Has it ever happened since?"

  "No, because I haven't dared go near another female since then," Kaid snapped, angry at having to admit to even that.

  Garras leaned forward, grasping Kaid by the wrist. "When he chooses you," he began.

  "He won't," interrupted Kaid, trying to pull his hand away.

  "Listen to me," said Garras, ears folding sideways as he tightened his grip. "When he chooses you, you'd better have put that demon to sleep, because if she means as much to you as I think, you don't want it happening with her! Find yourself a female, Kaid. Take the edge off this fear— now, once and for all."

  "Garras," he said, his voice holding an edge of ice. "I'm warning you. Don't meddle in my life." Again he attempted to pull away from his friend, but Garras held on even more tightly.

  "Kaid, he'll ask you, and you'll have to accept."

  Kaid got abruptly to his feet, the chair falling over behind him as he wrenched his wrist free.

  "You have to go, Kaid, can't you see that? He trusts you to look after her personally. He's already put their lives in your hands. He isn't going to choose someone else!"

  "If he trusts me so much, then why has he said nothing?" demanded Kaid, stalking over to the door, his tail bushed out and lashing from side to side. "He won't ask, and if he did, I wouldn't accept!"

  "You'd let them go into the Fire Margins with someone other than you guarding them?" said Garras, turning to watch as Kaid pulled the door open. "Don't make me laugh, Kaid! If you do, it'll be the first time I've ever known you to give up without a fight!"

  Kaid slammed the door behind him and headed down the corridor to his room. Damn him! Garras was right, and he knew it! He was sworn to protect them, he couldn't refuse— and he couldn't accept.

  * * *

  As he reached the corridor that branched off to his room, he saw Vanna approaching.

  "Just the person I wanted," she said cheerfully. "If I didn't know you better, I'd say you've been avoiding me. I need a sample of your blood for the DNA tests Jack and I are doing."

  "I'm afraid I haven't the time right now, Vanna," he said. "Carrie's waiting for me. It's time for her therapy."

  Before he could pull away, he felt the sharp prick of her test needle.

  "There, it's done," she said, turning to leave.

  He watched her walk away, cursing under his breath. More problems, as if he didn't have enough.

  * * *

  Carrie was waiting for him in the massage room next to the main bathing area.

  "Hi there," she said as he entered. "I thought you'd forgotten about me."

  "No, I wouldn't do that," he said, taking off his jacket and placing it on one of the benches. "Garras and I were talking, that's all. You're not usually quite so prompt."

  "Kusac's at the estate lab today," she said. "He wanted to see for himself how it's all going. The main buildings we need should be ready soon, he says."

  "That's good news." He rolled his tunic sleeves up as he went over to the massage couch where she was perched. The scent of her soap hung in the air. It was a special preparation made for her by Vanna's sister, Sashti, as was the small container of oil he picked up.

  Carrie swung her legs up onto the table. "Sitting or lying, Kaid?" she asked.

  "Lying, please. It's easier to work on your leg. How's it been today?"

  "Not quite so stiff," she said, lying back on the couch. "I think between you and Sashti, not to mention Noni, you've worked a miracle on my injuries."

  Kaid paused, looking up toward her head. "Would you like a cushion?" he asked. "You don't look very comfortable."

  "Please."

  Still holding the bottle, he went over to the cupboard by the door to get it. Returning, he handed it to her and began pouring some of the oil on his hands.

  "What were you and Garras discussing?"

  "Thi
s and that," he said vaguely as he pushed her robe aside and began spreading the oil over her injured thigh. "The wound has healed well, hasn't it?" he said as he carefully smoothed it over the scar. "I think you'll only have the faintest of marks in another couple of weeks."

  "Mm," she said.

  He looked up at her. Her eyes were closed and she seemed relaxed. "Are you all right?" he asked.