"We've still got that Fire Margins ritual to do," she said, resting her head on his arms. "That's worrying."
"We can do things that no one else on Shola can even imagine," he said. "The two of us combined are more powerful than any other Leska couple who've tried the ritual. And we have Kaid with us."
"So we have." She sighed. "Let's hope your God knows what He's doing. The timing is all wrong as far as I'm concerned. I'd rather have gone before I was pregnant again. I don't suppose we can leave it till after?"
"We'll go when we know the time is right," he said. "Vartra's your God, too, you know. My belief is enhanced by yours. Maybe your pregnancy is also necessary. Maybe it'll give us yet another edge toward succeeding."
She nodded, putting her hand up to try and stifle a yawn. "Maybe."
"You're tired," he said, letting her go. "Let's get some sleep. We've enough food in for tomorrow, so we can just relax and enjoy our day." He held out his hand, helping her to her feet. He kicked some loose earth from the cavern floor over the fire, reducing it to a tamed glow.
"The Leska link takes precedence," said Viaz, turning to look at her. "The cubs you will bear will be Rezac's, that's why your link to him has formed."
"No!" Rezac spat the word out.
"You'll find it impossible to deny the link," said Viaz gently.
"I'll choose not to conceive," stated Zashou flatly. "I won't have cubs, Mentor."
"You do have the choice," agreed Viaz, "but you'll find that eventually you'll want his cubs. It's a biological imperative."
"Viaz," said Rezac, his voice dangerously low, "you'd better do something to break this link because it's obvious neither of us wants it."
"There's nothing I can do, Rezac," Viaz said, meeting the angry young male's gaze calmly. "It's the will of the Gods. You're linked now for life."
"Then I'll deny the link! Dammit, she's got a husband to give her cubs, she doesn't need me!"
Zashou looked over at him. "Don't flatter yourself that I want you either, Rezac," she said, her tone sharp and biting as her ears swiveled to the sides of her head. "You know nothing but violence and killing! A fine mate you'd make any female!" Anger and hate exploded from her mind, touching them all, spiraling Carrie to another time.
* * *
The wind blew cold across the wasteland to the rear of the enclosed cargo storage lot, bringing with it the promise of more snow. Underfoot, the ground had been turned to slush by the tramping feet of the distributors. Now it was frozen solid, making the ground uneven and painful to walk over.
Tallinu stood beside Chertoi, trying not to shiver as they watched the leader of the Fleet Pack come toward them, his second obviously as twitchy as he was.
They stopped ten meters away, on the edge of the designated neutral zone.
"You wanted to talk, so what you got to say?" Koszul's voice was a low growl as he stood there, his pulse rifle cradled at a ready position across his chest.
"We've lost people same as you," said Chertoi. "Good pack members. We fight, we expect death to come to us sooner or later. We know the risks. This last killing, though, was bad. It's got to stop."
Koszul snorted in contempt, tail swaying angrily. "You're telling me? Your people killed the cub. You've killed two of my pack as well! The killing will stop, all right— when we've wiped you out!"
Chertoi shook his head. "Not us. Whoever it is wants you to think that. When we found our people, it looked like your pack had done it. Someone is trying to get us to kill each other. Trying to start a pack war."
Aware that something wasn't right, he filtered out the speech, listening only for key words as his eyes scanned the other pack, then his own. Not there. He looked further, beyond them into the night, then as he turned his head toward the container lot, he saw a slight movement from behind a pile of rubble.
"Sniper!" he yelled, raising his rifle at the same time as he rammed his leader aside.
His shot lanced out, lighting up the darkness so the fleeing shape was briefly visible. He'd missed, but by then he was racing after the killer. Several shots flared around him as both packs reacted to the threat they thought he posed. He dodged the ruts in the frozen snow, feeling the space between his shoulders twitch in anticipation of a hit. Mercifully it didn't happen. The rubble was ahead. He leaped high, feet barely touching the ground, then he was over and pounding after the retreating shape.
He brought his rifle up, aiming purely by instinct, and fired. His quarry yelped and stumbled, but continued running. Out in the rough, the going was more difficult as tussocks of frozen grass almost invisible in the dark, grabbed at his toes, threatening to trip him. With a growl of annoyance, he slipped the rifle across his shoulders and with an easy movement, switched into a four-legged run.
He made better speed and was less visible to his target now. This close to the ground he could also follow the scent. Dodging between the low bushes and patches of tall grasses, he knew he was gaining ground. He could hear the heavy breathing, labored and erratic now, could smell and feel the fear. Gathering himself, he leaped, catching her cleanly in mid-back, bringing them both tumbling to the ground.
She twisted and writhed under him, trying to break free. With a powerful blow to the side of her head, he stilled her. She slumped limply under him. Panting slightly himself, he rolled off her still body and got to his feet, squatting down on his haunches for a moment to catch his breath.
He got to his feet, unslinging his rifle again, and bending down, grasped hold of her by the back of her jacket, pulling her up enough to see her. The ears were narrow and long, her face the same. Her coloring was tan and unremarkable, as was the short fuzz of hair on her head and neck. Lowlander, probably from the desert regions. He hissed angrily as he noticed the silver disk set in her left ear. One of the Runners. That figured. Kill off a few of the Fleet and the Claws, make it look like they were killing each other and you had a pack war. While they were occupied slaughtering each other, the Runners took everything. Not original, but effective.
He dropped her again and fumbling for the belt round her waist, unfastened it and pulled it free. Pulling her arms behind her, he lashed them together before retrieving her rifle and slinging it across his back.
Finally he reached down and clawed up a handful of frozen snow, rubbing it none too gently over her face till she began to splutter and come round. Grasping her by one arm, he hauled her to her feet and began to head back to the container lot.
She trudged along in silence, stumbling occasionally only to be yanked upright again. Words weren't necessary. They both knew what the outcome would be. There was no mercy for pack killers. Ahead of them, the glow from the container lot's security lights grew brighter and as they rounded the pile of rubble, he could see the two packs standing facing each other, guns drawn, waiting for his return.
He held his rifle aloft. "One of the Runners!" he yelled, pushing his captive forward.
The sentries from both packs kept their guns trained on them till he reached the space between the two leaders.
With his free hand, he pulled her ear upright. "See. A Runner. We've both been set up by Nizoh. He's after all of us."
The female snarled and pulled her ear away from him.
Chertoi looked round at his people and signed for them to lower their guns. "Told you, didn't I, Koszul. Now maybe you'll believe it isn't us."
Warily, Koszul gestured to his second. "Check her, Lebbu," he said. "You know some of the Runners."
Lebbu stepped forward into the neutral area, approaching the female. Grasping her jaw in one hand, he turned her head one way then the other before he began to nod. "Recognize her. She's a Runner sure enough."
With a low growl, the female bared her teeth at him and spat in his face.
Lebbu's hand went back to deliver a blow that rocked even him. "Filthy tree-climbing qwene!" he snarled. Reaching for his belt, he pulled his knife free. There was a flash of silver and a howl of pain from the female.
"Al
ways wanted a Runner trophy," he said, holding her severed ear aloft as he walked back to his leader.
Still howling, she struggled in his grasp as blood poured down the side of her head, splashing onto him.
Koszul stepped forward, beckoning Chertoi to do the same. "Shut her up," he snapped as he passed them.
He looked to Chertoi.
"Do it, Tallinu. We don't need her," he said, pass-ing him.
He drew his knife, then clamped his forearm across her chest and pulled her head to one side. His blade slipped easily into the juncture of jaw and neck. The howling stopped abruptly. As he removed his knife, he wiped the blade on her jacket, letting her lifeless body fall to the ground. Stepping over her, he returned it to its sheath as he joined his leader.
"A joint raid on the Runners would solve both our problems," Chertoi was saying. "There'll be more trophies for all of us."
She woke screaming, babbling incoherently about packs and wars till Kusac finally managed to calm her. He'd experienced nothing of her dreams, and what he now received from her, he found just as confusing as she had.
Kaid woke abruptly, his hands slick with sweat, his fur damp. Sleep still fogged his brain and it took him a moment or two to remember where he was. Not Ranz: that was far in his past. The Rezac vision must have triggered the old memory.
Unable to sleep, he got up and padded down the corridor to the Shrine. From the far end of the room, the braziers cast a red glow on the ceiling and walls. Beyond them, the statue sat in semi-gloom. Now He seemed to brood, a sense of almost-menace surrounding Him. A shiver passed through him and Kaid wished he'd put some clothes on before leaving his room. Taking a deep breath, he walked toward the image, remembering to pick up a piece of incense.
Stepping between the braziers, he looked up at the statue while he crumbled the incense into one of them. Smoke coiled upward, making his eyes smart.
I ask you for enlightenment, and You send me more and more riddles. Why? Who is this Rezac that so resembles me? What joins us, calls to us across time? Why are you doing this to me?
He didn't expect an answer, but he squatted down at the foot of the plinth anyway, trying to still his mind until it was receptive should Vartra deign to acknowledge him. He was still in the same position when Ghyan came to make his early morning prayers.
* * *
Brynne had gone to see his friend at the Accommodation Guildhouse in Valsgarth.
Ross Derwent was a tall, lean man past his middle years. The brown hair might have been thinning on top, but the mind beneath was as sharp as the pale blue eyes that stared piercingly out at the world. He'd been among the last group of Terrans brought to Shola. He had a measurable Talent, but exactly what it was baffled the Sholans at the Telepath Guild. He claimed to be a guider of souls, one whose mission it was to walk the paths of the spirit and commune with the dead. He said he was reborn from the past to herald in the New Age of Consciousness. The Sholans merely observed him, listening to his stories and teachings, adding them to their increasing knowledge of Human spiritual and religious beliefs.
Ross opened his door to Brynne, a genuine smile of pleasure on his face. "Welcome, Brynne! I'd hoped to see you yesterday so we could continue our discussion of crystals."
"I couldn't come yesterday," he said, stepping inside the lounge. "It was my Link day. I have to be with Vanna."
"Your Sholan partner," Ross said, closing the door and ushering him over to the comfortable seats. "I appreciate your need to be with her, but if you're really serious about becoming a guider of souls, you mustn't neglect your studies. I'm sure you could have spared an hour or two yesterday."
"It's not that easy, Ross," said Brynne as he sat down. "I can't leave Vanna until the Link compulsion starts to fade. Believe me, it isn't wise to ignore it. I know, I've tried."
"Hmm," Ross said noncommittally as he went over to the dispenser. "Coffee?"
"Please."
"What I'd really like to do is take a field trip out into the nearest hills to look for crystal samples from this world. Do you know how to fly one of those little runabouts they all seem to use?"
"Yes, I can fly an aircar. It shouldn't be too difficult to get hold of someone who knows the land round this area to come with us as a guide. Perhaps Lhea or Maylgu knows someone."
"See if you can schedule something for tomorrow," said Ross, bringing over the two mugs and handing one to Brynne. "Now, tell me what you remember about crystals from our last session."
"Certain crystals have a natural resonance to specific functions, you said. Rose quartz, for instance, is good for helping control pain and for healing."
"Good. But you don't just go into a shop and buy a piece, do you? What do you have to do to it to make it work for you?"
"You have to find one that you feel an attraction for," said Brynne, sipping his drink. "You said it can be any shape, even an irregular polished stone."
Ross nodded. "Right, you've found your crystal. Now what?"
"You have to attune it to yourself. Carry it around with you or wear it. Only silver can touch it, not gold because gold can carry feelings just like the crystal can."
"What about other metals, like brass or bronze? They use those metals for jewelry here."
"They're base metals. You can't use a base metal because it contaminates the crystal— it dilutes the effect or something."
"You're not doing too badly," said Ross, putting his mug down to unwrap the small cloth-covered package that sat on the table. "I've got some crystals here and I want you to try reading them. See if you can tell me what they were used for."
Brynne looked dubiously at the older man. "I don't know if I can," he said.
"Have a try. Try and work it out for yourself. If you can't, I'll tell you how."
* * *
Rhyasha was waiting for them as they came in from the garage area.
"Well come home," she said, embracing first Carrie then Kusac. "You'll have to shower quickly if you intend to make the opening of the Council meeting. I'm sure you don't want to arrive there still smelling of sweet-grass! That would be something of a giveaway! Have you had first meal?"
"Not yet," said Kusac as they accompanied her toward the main bathing room.
"I'll have a snack ready for you to take with you. Your father has already left. There's a couple of people he needs to talk to before the meeting convenes."
"Is Kaid back?" asked Kusac.
"He's with Vanna and Garras in the kitchen eating. Don't worry. Everything's in order. Your father anticipates no real problems today. Vanna says Brynne has decided not to go with you. Like Zhyaf, he feels that there are enough of you going. Now go and shower!"
"Yes, Mother," said Kusac.
* * *
Konis was standing talking to Nadu Kayal when Esken and Khafsu, followed by Sorli, entered.
"Clan Leader," said Esken, essaying the barest movement of his head in greeting.
"Master Esken. I trust you're keeping well," said Konis. "I haven't seen you around the Guildhouse for the last couple of weeks."
"My health is of the best," said Esken, his voice as cold as his look. "I'm kept busy with the new schedules for the Terrans. Which reminds me. I haven't seen Kitra or Taizia recently. They're falling behind in their work. If they don't return soon, they'll miss their gradings." He smiled, showing his teeth. "Now if you'll excuse me?" With that, he and Khafsa swept into the Council hall, Sorli casting an apologetic glance in their direction as he trailed after them.
"Sour-faced jegget," muttered Nadu. "How long is it until we can force him to retire?"
"Too long, my friend," said Konis quietly. "Let's deal with the Brotherhood matter first. If we win, they'll give us another two votes on this Council when the times comes to depose Esken."
"I know Lijou and Ghezu are already here. What about your son and Physician Kyjishi? Have they arrived yet?"
"Stop fretting, Kayal. They've just arrived. All is as it should be. If you continue to fret like thi
s, you'll never last the day. There's a lot of business to attend to before we hear the petitions. Now let's take our seats. I think we're about to begin."
The Council hall was circular with a staged rostrum opposite the doorway. On the higher level, Konis saw that Sister Tokui of the Sholan Goddess cult was sitting in the Moderator's chair. Mentally he sent her a courteous greeting as he walked to his seat on the level below her.
Greetings to you, Clan Lord Aldatan, she sent in reply. It looks like we have a full attendance today. I wonder why. Her mental tone was dry. She knew from the agenda why so many of the sub-guilds had turned out. They smelled a challenge and wanted to witness it.
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