thefiremargins

by Lisanne Norman

  "Don't bother hiding behind polite conversation, Vraiyou. You agreed to have Rhijudu watched and if Kaid turned up, to take him into custody and inform us. Instead of which, I find him training your people! Just what the hell are you playing at?" he demanded, eyes narrowing and ears folding even flatter.

  "The Prophet was told that we could benefit from his skills for a few days before handing him over to you."

  "He's not even under guard out there, Vraiyou! He's wandering around as if he owned the place! And just what do you think he's teaching your fighters? He's exhausting them to no purpose! In the few minutes I was watching them, I saw one fall and sprain his ankle. How many more have been injured trying to carry impossible loads?"

  Vraiyou's eye ridges met in a frown. "Excuse me? Are you saying he's purposely working them into a state of collapse and injury?"

  "What would you call it?" Zhaya demanded. "He's sabotaging your troops under your very noses! He's treating you like the fools you are, Vraiyou!"

  Vraiyou rose to his feet in one fluid motion. "Come with me," he said, his robes billowing around him as he stalked from his room into the main cavern. They headed back toward the exit, detouring by a group of the off duty elite who were drinking c'shar.

  "Rrurto, L'Seuli, come," he ordered before continuing out into the area in front of the lair's entrance.

  They halted by the vehicle, which was all but unloaded by now, and watched the troops under Kaid's instruction. As if aware of their presence, Kaid turned round briefly to look at them.

  "He seems unconcerned by your presence," observed Vraiyou.

  "He doesn't know me."

  "Tell me what they're doing, Rrurto," the head acolyte ordered.

  "Endurance. He's getting them to run an obstacle course in full kit," the older male answered.

  "Is their load excessively heavy?"

  "That's not something I'm qualified to judge, Liegen. I have no experience of the Brotherhood's training methods, and it's a long time since I was in the Forces."

  "Would you have them carrying that much?"

  Rrurto hesitated. "No, Liegen, I wouldn't. And there's no need for them to be dressed in heavy winter clothing yet."

  "L'Seuli? You've lately come from active duty."

  "No, Liegen Vraiyou, I wouldn't either."

  "How many have been injured in the last two days?"

  "Six, Liegen," replied Rrurto. "And about as many down with heat stroke."

  "Arrest him. Take him to the Prophet's room and wait for us," Vraiyou ordered, his voice a low growl of anger. "Zhaya, we'll handle it from here. The unloading is complete. I suggest you return to Stronghold now. You'll be contacted in good time."

  Zhaya opened his mouth to argue, then saw the set of Vraiyou's ears. This was no time to argue over priorities. "I'll inform Master Ghezu," he said.

  "You do that," said Vraiyou shortly.

  * * *

  Kaid was released by the guards as soon as they entered Fyak's office. They stood behind him, blocking the doorway. He didn't have to wait long before Fyak and Vraiyou, followed by the commander of the guard, entered. With them was a female. Kaid recognized her as Rhaid, the telepath who had been taken from Laasoi guildhouse.

  Fyak went straight to his desk. He stood behind it looking dispassionately at Kaid. "You've betrayed my trust. Why? Are you so anxious to become Ghezu's guest?"

  Kaid sensed the movement from behind before he heard it. Turning to keep all three guards in view, he backed a few steps away from the desk.

  "I won't help you take the lowlands, Fyak."

  "You disappoint me," said Fyak. "Still, if I can't trust you to train my followers, perhaps I can get some information about Stronghold from you. There's still time for us to come to an agreement. I believe there are several hidden entrances to the mountain fort. I want to know where they are."

  "There may be no love between me and Ghezu, but I'll not tell you how to get into Stronghold."

  Fyak gestured to the female. "Rhaid, how strong are his convictions? Am I likely to persuade him to cooperate?"

  She raised her head to look at Kaid for the first time. He felt the touch of her mind against his, but knew she couldn't read him. He saw the confusion on her face as she realized that she was unable to penetrate his mental shields.

  "I can read nothing, Liege," she said.

  "Nothing? How can you read nothing?" demanded Fyak, turning to look at her.

  "His mind is closed to me, Liege."

  Quick as the movement of a snake, Fyak cuffed her round the side of her head, causing her to lose her balance and stagger to one side.

  "Try again."

  She looked at Kaid again, ears tipped backward, eyes full of fear as she fingered the gold collar she wore round her neck. Light flashed within the heart of the green stone set in its center.

  Kaid glanced back at Fyak, seeing him touch his gold bracelet. The bracelet! He was using it to control her! Then he felt the touch of her mind again. He knew that nothing either of them could do would improve his situation, but he could make things easier for her. He let his resolve not to cooperate leak from his mind, praying she'd pick it up.

  She hesitated, and he knew she didn't want to betray him. "He will never yield, Liege," she said at last, her voice flat and emotionless.

  Fyak sighed. "I'd hoped to be able to rely on you at least, Kaid. It seems, however, that none of the Brotherhood can be depended upon. That's a pity." From beneath the desk, the blunt shape of a stunner emerged.

  Kaid spun round, leaping for the male nearest the door, hoping to use him a shield but the stunner caught him full in the back, felling him instantly. He lay there, his muscles convulsing as wave after wave of pain coursed through him. Once more his body was on fire with the agony of over-sensitized nerves, though this time, it was a hundred times worse than before.

  "You know what to do," he heard Fyak say.

  He was grasped firmly by the arms and hauled to his feet. The slightest touch brought fresh agony and he was unable to prevent a low whimper of pain escaping him. Incapable of standing, he was dragged through the main cavern and along the corridor to the entrance. There he was dropped on the ground and while one of them stripped him of his jacket, another bound each of his wrists with an individual cord.

  Once more he was pulled upright, his arms held above his head while they tied them to the two metal rings set into the cavern wall. Then they released him. He hung there, toes barely touching the ground, his face pressed against the sandstone.

  Already he was breathing in short gasps, trying to focus his mind on controlling the pain of inflamed nerves when he felt the searing cut of the lash across his back. As his body hit the wall, he gasped for air, trying to pull his wrist free, trying to twist himself out of the way of the next blow, but suspended as he was, he could do nothing.

  The second cut flicked across his shoulder blades and under one armpit, catching his upper arm. Pain shrieked along nerves hypersensitized by the stunner, then exploded in his mind as he let out an involuntary yowl. He clamped his jaws shut, trapping the sound, trying to focus on at least remaining silent. He wouldn't give these bastards the satisfaction of hearing him cry out again. As the third blow fell and the rock wall in front of him began to spin crazily, he felt the hot blood running through his pelt.

  The shock of being deluged by cold water made him gasp, bringing him round only to have the lashing start again. Twice more they did this to him, finally leaving him hanging where he was, barely conscious, blood slowly trickling down his back and legs to pool on the ground around his feet.

  Through the fog of pain that held him in its grip, he heard voices approaching him. Hands that were rough but not unkind touched his back and his wrists, making him shudder as fresh pain lanced through him.

  "The ropes are embedded in his flesh!" he heard the medic say. "If you wanted him dead, there are easier ways to do it, for pity's sake! What do you hope to achieve by doing this? Get him down from there immedi
ately!"

  "I want his cooperation, Anirra. Just get him conscious, I need to talk to him," said Fyak.

  He was grasped round the hips and lifted up till the strain on his wrists was relieved. His teeth closed on a lip already bloody from being bitten as the ropes were cut through and his arms fell down by his sides. A low moan escaped him and once more he blacked out.

  The sting of the hypoderm brought him to semiconsciousness. "That's the second dose, Prophet," said Anirra, his tone one of suppressed anger. "What else have you done to him? One dose of this stimulant should be enough. I need to know what you've done if I'm to treat him properly."

  * * *

  "He had to be stunned to prevent him killing anyone," said Fyak blandly.

  "You use those stunners on too high a setting, I've told you that already. You're lucky he's still alive!"

  Gradually the pain seemed to decrease a little and he surfaced to full consciousness again. He was lying face down on the ground, the cool stone of the cavern floor a comfort to him. He winced as the medic put a hand to his neck to feel for his pulse.

  "He's conscious," said Anirra. "If you want him to live, get your talking over with and let me treat him."

  "Watch your tongue, medic," snarled Fyak. "Remember, I do the will of Kezule, not my own. Bring him round fully. He's too doped with your drugs to even think sensibly!"

  "I can't give him another stimulant, Prophet," said Anirra firmly. "In his condition, it would kill him."

  Fyak snarled and reached out to take hold of Kaid by the hair, pulling his head backwards till he was looking him straight in the eyes.

  "Well, Kaid. Will you deal with me now?" Fyak demanded.

  Kaid's neck was arched back, making breathing, let alone talking, almost impossible. He sucked air into his straining lungs before launching a few basic expletives at the prophet.

  "You tree-climbing bastard son of a toothless krolla! You know what you can do with your proposal!" he hissed.

  Fyak lashed out at him with his other hand, making his captive's head rock before he dropped it. Standing up, he aimed a kick at Kaid's side.

  Anirra threw himself between them, protecting Kaid from any more blows.

  "Prophet! Think what Ghezu will say if you hand him over dead! It could jeopardize your agreement! Revenge against this male isn't worth that, surely."

  Fyak stopped, breathing heavily. He looked at the medic. "You're right," he said. "Take him then. See he doesn't die, but no more than that. I'll send word for Ghezu that we have him."

  Lying there retching, Kaid was barely aware of Fyak's retreating footsteps.

  "Get him up," said Anirra. "Take him to the infirmary, and try not to hurt him any more than you have to. He's suffered enough."

  Every movement was agony as he was carefully helped to his feet. His head buzzed with the noise around him and the world seemed to swirl first one way then another in a sickening dance over which he had no control.

  "You'll have to walk," said the young male at his left elbow. "I'll support you as much as I can."

  Kaid nodded slowly as his arm was placed around L'Seuli's shoulders. Leaning on him, he painfully tried to put one leg in front of the other. His whole body was on fire and he could hardly move. On his other side, the second male matched what his companion had done.

  "He'd no right to do this," the older one muttered. "A lashing is one thing, but to do it on top of a stunner shot is unforgivable. You're lucky to be alive, Kaid. The last two he did this to died."

  Surprise at his criticism registered in Kaid's mind but it was all he could do to concentrate on remaining conscious for the moment. Something else was trying to force its way into his subconscious. Against his left arm, the younger warrior was tapping a fingertip in an age-old Brotherhood code. Too exhausted to interpret it, he found he suddenly knew what the youth was trying to tell him. A message, he thought. He had to send a message. He thought of the cargo of concealed weapons, then of Kusac, picturing Carrie beside him. The bracelet! They had to know about the bracelet and the collars! He was vaguely aware of the warrior starting in surprise but quickly managing to conceal it. At least they'd eventually know what Fyak was doing, and what had become of him.

  CHAPTER 14

  "It's been thoroughly picked over, Jo!" Davies had to shout to be heard above the sound of the wind howling round the wreckage of the Valtegan vehicle. "There's not much chance of us finding anything useful here!"

  "Keep looking!" she yelled before turning back to the ruined consol. Davies was probably right, she thought, carefully moving the sections of electronic panels that hung by wires from the remains of the pilot's control array.

  Inside the craft, despite the gaping split down one side of the hull, they were protected from the worst of the weather. While she picked her way through the controls, Davies was checking out the rear compartment where the cargo would have been stowed. She looked up again, squinting through the breach, checking to see if Kris was visible yet. The whole area surrounding the craft had been trampled down by people and animals dragging a heavy object. Kris, predicting a blizzard, had been quartering the surrounding area looking for clearer tracks. He wanted some idea of which direction the salvage party had been heading before the now leaden sky disgorged its burden of snow, obliterated the tracks and with it any chance of following them.

  Squeezing past the seats, she stood to one side of the gap, narrowing her eyes as she tried to peer through the fast approaching twilight. A dark figure appeared over the ridge and just as it occurred to her it might not be Kris, she sensed his mental reassurance.

  Their trip through the forest and up the lower mountain slopes had proved to be uneventful, the highpoint thankfully being the night they'd spent in the tree listening to the chorus of wild canines in the distance. Kris had relieved the boredom for them both by teaching her how to use her Talent to receive a basic telepathic message from him.

  As he ducked to step through the gap, the first few flakes of snow followed him into the wreck.

  "God, it's freezing out there," he said, unwinding his scarf from his mouth and nose.

  "Any luck?"

  He nodded. "They were headed southeast from here. To the nearest settlement I expect."

  "How old are the tracks?"

  He shrugged. "A day or two at most. They're still fairly sharply outlined." He stopped and half-turned to the gap through which myriads of snow flakes were now gusting. "I think we'd better see about turning this into a shelter for tonight at least, possibly longer if the blizzard keeps up. It's gotten too dark to see in here anyway."

  She turned to look in Davies' direction. "Davies! We're calling it a night! Are there any pieces of wreckage back there big enough to plug this gap?"

  He gestured for them to join him and pointed toward a tangle of debris that had once been one of the inner bulkheads.

  As they manhandled the pieces into place over the breach in the hull, gradually the sound of the wind dropped and they were able to hear each other without having to shout. The temperature began to rise a little too.

  Jo stood back and surveyed their handiwork.

  "It isn't perfect, but it'll keep the worst of the wind out," said Kris as he adjusted the piece of metal he'd just propped against the hull.

  Davies came up from the rear lugging a box about half a meter long by some thirty centimeters deep. With a groan, he carefully deposited it end up against Kris' panel. "It's locked, but I reckon it's a tool box," he said. "It's heavy enough to stop the wind blowing that section down at least."

  "Good idea," said Jo. "Any more like that down there?"

  " 'Fraid not. I think this ship was sent down on autopilot. There's none of the gear you'd expect there to be on a manned drop-vehicle like this. And no bodies," he added.

  "No signs of blood either," said Jo. "With a crash of this nature, I'd expect the crew to have sustained injuries serious enough to kill them."

  Kris walked up to the seats, leaning over them to have a l
ook at the consol. "Is it a Valtegan vehicle?" he asked, reaching out to pick up one of the hanging circuit boards.

  "Definitely. Look at the recessed key pads," Jo said. "They're not quite the same as the Sholan ones we used in the life pod on Keiss, but they're close enough. Sholans use their claw tips too, except theirs retract and the Valtegans' don't. If this was an automated craft, then we're not likely to find any maps or star charts."

  Kris let the panel drop and turned away from the seats. "Let's get ourselves settled and fed, Jo. Anything else can wait for the morning."