thefiremargins

by Lisanne Norman

  "See to it, please," said Kusac, shutting the bedroom door firmly behind them. He turned back to Mara.

  "Have you any idea what trouble you've caused?" he demanded. "Kitra isn't a child, she's just entered adulthood, and your behavior could have spoiled what should be a pleasant time for her! The family knows all about Dzaka. We're all in favor of their relationship, and anyway, it's none of your damned business! You have a Leska, you don't need to try and spoil my sister's first relationship!"

  "But ..." began Mara, backing away in the face of Kusac's obvious anger.

  "If you're interested in someone, you ask them! If they say no, you leave them alone! Did you bother to ask Dzaka if he was interested in you?"

  "No, but ..."

  "Then you had no right to pursue him as you have! This matter isn't over, Mara. I'll be seeing you and Zhyaf tomorrow! Now get out of here and go home!"

  Mara fled.

  "See she reaches her home," Kusac ordered T'Chebbi. He knocked on Dzaka's door and opened it. "Kitra, I'm sorry you've had all this bother. You should have told me before now," he said, going over to sit on the bed beside her. He took hold of her hand, giving it a comforting pat. "This won't happen again."

  "Liege," began Dzaka.

  Kusac looked at him. "At this time of night? Don't be foolish, Dzaka."

  "Kusac, if Mara could get in unnoticed, then we need to check the security," said Dzaka.

  "We will," said Kusac. "I'm getting Ni'Zulhu onto it immediately." He stretched forward to stroke his sister's cheek. "I'll see you in the morning," he said, getting up. "Sleep well," he said, with a humorous look at Dzaka.

  * * *

  They'd passed on their findings concerning the drug and the green stones, along with Kaid's recent "dreams," to General Raiban. No trace had been found of Ghezu, and Kaid's claim that he was with Fyak came as no surprise to her.

  Back on his feet, over the next few days Kaid worked with Ghyan on the En'Shalla ritual, learning the different phases that led to the gate, and what the gate itself looked like.

  He'd read the description himself some time before he'd been captured by Fyak's warriors, but now it held disturbing echoes for him.

  "Twin pillars of flame between which are two wooden doors bearing the sign of ..."

  "A burning sun," finished Kaid. "I also saw it on the doors of the temple at Khezi'ipik, Fyak's lair."

  "Is that doorway the Gateway? Will it take you there?"

  "I don't know. There are three sites that I know of for the crystals, Ghyan. Khezi'ipik, Stronghold, and the ancient monastery up on the hill. All of them have something that represents pillars of fire at their entrances. Perhaps the other travelers arrived at the wrong temple, maybe even the one Kezule controls, and were killed by him."

  Ghyan put the book down and leaned forward on his desk. "So how will you decide which is the correct one?"

  "I'll know," said Kaid confidently. "I've seen the one at the monastery. I'll take us there."

  "How? Will you change the nature of the gate?"

  "As far as I'm aware, I didn't use a gate, but yes, I can try to make it look like that one."

  "Kaid, what you did, what allowed you to travel back and return, won't necessarily work for Carrie and Kusac as well. All three of you have to travel together. Your way is untested. You were called. You didn't travel there voluntarily."

  "I went there and returned alive," said Kaid. "That's better than any other traveler has done, isn't it? Yes, it's a risk, but so's the other way. I'm sure the two can be combined."

  "What we need is the time to test your theory."

  "Time's what we haven't got. This is a one-shot journey, Ghyan, we all know that," said Kaid, making sure his private thoughts stayed just that.

  Ghyan sighed. "We don't have to like it, though. Incidentally, how is your telepathic training progressing?"

  "It's going well. Kusac gave me the knowledge I needed and he and Carrie have been making me practice using my abilities whenever they can. It's hard work, Ghyan," he said, opening his mouth in a small grin. "I never realized how tiring it could be."

  "Everything has it's price," said Ghyan.

  "That, I do know!"

  * * *

  Toward the end of the week, Garras came round to the villa to see Kaid. He came across the back gardens and in through the lounge, heading for the family kitchen.

  Second meal was not long over, and Kaid was still sitting at the table over his mug of c'shar.

  "Where is everyone?" asked Garras, joining him.

  "Kusac's around, and Carrie's resting. As for the others ..." he shrugged.

  "Good. I'm glad I caught you on your own." He reached into his coat pocket, pulling out a small box and handing it to him. "The la'quo. He could only get one phial, I'm afraid. Profuse apologies and all that, naturally."

  Kaid picked it up, opening it to check. Wedged in protective packaging was a glass phial of the green liquid.

  "Thanks, Garras," Kaid said, taking the phial out of the box. He'd been both dreading and anxiously waiting for it to arrive.

  "What d'you want it for?" Garras asked, helping himself to the jug of c'shar on the table.

  "Research," he said. "I've a couple of theories I want to try out and I need this to do it."

  "Tell me more," his friend said, lifting his mug.

  "Not a lot to tell. I could do with your help, though."

  "In what way? Are you planning to give it to lab animals? See what happens to them?"

  "Not exactly," he said, holding the phial in his palm. "There's a gate to the Fire Margins, Garras. One with pillars of fire outside it. The problem is, there are three temples like that, each one slightly different. I think the previous travelers may have gone to the wrong one, perhaps one where Valtegans were waiting for them. I saw the doorway of one of them through a dream that Kusac, Carrie, and I shared. It's the monastery on the hill. What I need to know is, can I use the drug to take us there?"

  "Well, you said it responded to your state of mind, so I expect you could," he said. "But I don't see how you can devise a test for that."

  Kaid took the phial between his fingers and broke off the red paper seal.

  Garras watched him, suddenly realizing what he was going to do. "You can't seriously be going to take more of that damned stuff, Kaid! For Vartra's sake, leave it alone!"

  Kaid smiled. "It is for Vartra's sake, Garras," he said, taking off the stopper.

  "No!" Kusac's shout rang through the kitchen.

  Kaid and Garras looked up at him.

  "You will not take that drug, Kaid," said Kusac, coming into the kitchen.

  "I have to. We need to know if it can take us to the monastery, Kusac," he said, raising the phial to his mouth.

  "I said no!"

  A look of utter shock crossed Kaid's face as he realized his body was frozen, incapable of moving. Kusac's fear for his safety resonated through him and he realized what had happened. Helplessly he watched as Kusac strode over to him and took the phial from his rigid hand.

  "You're right, Kaid, it has to be tested, but you've already got too much of it in your system. What's your plan? Try to make it take you to the monastery?" He swallowed it quickly, almost gagging as the thick liquid seemed to clog his throat.

  He grabbed Garras' mug and took a large mouthful of the cold c'shar, then sat down heavily, releasing Kaid from his mental control.

  "What happens now?" he asked, eyes glazing a little as he realized what he'd done.

  Before Kaid could answer, they heard the sound of footsteps racing down the stairs.

  "You fool!" said Garras, pushing his chair back as he leaped to his feet. "You forgot about Carrie! She'll share the effects! Kaid, is it too late to make him vomit?"

  "Yes. He's taken the sap, not the stronger narcotic I was given. I'm not sure its effects are the same. I've seen Fyak take it and he reacted as quickly to it as I did."

  "Dammit, Kaid! Why didn't you stop him?"

  "I con
trolled his mind, Garras," said Kusac. "He couldn't move."

  Carrie came running in. "Kusac, what have you done?" she demanded, stopping beside him. "What have you done?"

  He took her hand in his. "We have to know if the drug will help us reach the past, Carrie. Kaid has too much of it in his system already. It's dangerous for him to take any more. That only left me. I've known for several days what he intended to do and I've been watching him. It had to be me. We'll know then if what Kaid's experienced is real."

  "Kusac ... Oh, God! What do I do with you?" she asked, taking his hand to her cheek.

  Kaid stood and looked over at Garras. "Get him to his room now," he said. "He needs to be kept as quiet and as comfortable as possible."

  Garras looked at Kusac. "Can you stand?"

  "Yes," he said, getting to his feet. He staggered as he tried to turn round.

  "He needs help," said Kaid sharply. "It starts almost immediately. Get him upstairs before he becomes hypersensitive!!"

  Garras nodded, taking hold of Kusac and hurrying him from the room, Carrie following behind.

  Kaid stood still for a moment. Light glinted off something on the floor. He bent down and picked it up: the glass phial. A low growl began deep in his throat and pulling his arm back, he threw the phial as far as he could.

  "Damn you both to hell!" he roared.

  * * *

  Upstairs, Kusac stood like a giant lethargic child with no will of his own while Garras stripped him of his robe.

  Carrie stood watching, feeling her fear pushed aside by the lassitude that was spreading through him and beginning to touch her. She resisted it, pushing it aside as she reached for the cover on the bed and pulled it off onto the floor.

  Going to a cupboard she pulled out a fresh sheet, waiting while Garras led Kusac to the bed and made him lie down.

  "The God help you, Kusac," he said, "Because when this is over, I'll damned well have a few things to say to you!"

  Kusac looked up at him. Everything felt distant, removed from him— or he from it. He wasn't quite sure which, and it didn't really matter. He saw a sheet billow up, then settle over him. Something was missing: someone who was always there. Then he remembered. It mustn't touch her or the cub. He could isolate himself now, he'd been practicing over the last few days in case it came to this. Turning his head, he saw her and reached for her hand.

  "I'll be fine. You look after our cub." He heard the door slide back and Kaid enter, but the lassitude had him in its thrall now.

  "Garras, get the house emptied of everyone but us for the next two hours. He'll hear the slightest noise," said Kaid. "The drug amplifies the senses."

  "If I'd known what you planned to do," began Garras, his voice low and angry.

  "Later. Just do what needs to be done," Kaid snapped, moving further into the room.

  * * *

  It was different from what Kaid had described, Kusac realized. Probably because it wasn't the drug, but the sap. His senses were becoming heightened but with it, the room around him seemed to be draining of its color.

  Curious. There isn't the sense of fear that Kaid spoke of. Then he remembered that their circumstances were very different. He was safe at home, with those he trusted around him. Kaid had been a captive in a violent environment.

  He felt himself sinking downward into a gray mist that totally enveloped him, cushioning his senses from the outside world. Turning inward, he could hear his body rhythms, was aware of the slightest changes in his skin and pelt.

  Gradually even the grayness started to fade into darkness. The monastery. I want to reach the monastery, he reminded himself as he began to try and build an image of it.

  * * *

  Carrie sat at his side, watching as his eyes closed and his breathing became shallower. Then their Link began to fade, getting weaker and weaker till she could barely feel it.

  "This isn't the way it happened with me," said Kaid, sitting at the other side of his bed. "This seems far gentler."

  "He's getting cold, Kaid," said Carrie, reaching out to touch Kusac's face with first her palm, then the back of her hand. She was frightened. It felt too like that time on the Khalossa when he'd turned to death rather than be without her.

  Her lassitude had gone now, and as his mind began to still and their Link fade, real panic set in. She reached mentally for him and found nothing. Her hands went to the sides of his head as she tried again. Then the chill started.

  With a cry of terror, she let go of him, looking at hands red with burns. Over Kusac a layer of frost had formed, each tiny droplet a perfect snowflake.

  She screamed again, a shriek that pierced the air and echoed round the house. Flinging herself onto Kusac, she reached for him with all the power she could muster.

  "Carrie! He's all right!" said Kaid, reaching for her, trying to pull her away from Kusac.

  * * *

  She could sense him, just beyond her reach. A little more energy, and she'd be there, she knew it. Then she felt Kaid's touch, and immediately she pulled on him, taking his energy into herself and sending it all toward where Kusac was.

  Reality shattered into a thousand fragments as they were whirled into a maelstrom of sight and sound and smell. Helplessly, all three of them were pulled together, then sucked down and down till there was nothing but the sickening flashing of colors, a roaring that filled their ears, and the flames.

  Caught between the two males, Carrie felt first one then the other almost torn from her mental grasp. It was so noisy, she could barely think. There was something she had to do, something important that involved all of them, if she could only stop the roaring long enough to think.

  Let me lead! It was Kaid, his thoughts faint but unmistakable. I know where we must go!

  Yes. He could lead. He knew the way, he'd been there before. She and Kusac would follow. Kusac. Where was he? She could sense him, closer than Kaid, but so confused by what was happening.

  Which way? I need to know which way! he was sending. The drug was confusing him.

  Why didn't he listen to Kaid? Kaid said he knew the way! Then the memory returned. She was their link to each other. They couldn't communicate without her, she had to join them all together. How? Dear God, how?

  Fear leaped inside her and she felt it transmitted to Kusac. As it rebounded to her, she felt the gestalt gradually begin to wake inside her. Almost sobbing with relief, she grasped it, harnessing its power to strengthen the bonds between them. Slowly it built, reaching the point where it seemed to explode out from her to touch the minds of Kusac and Kaid, binding them to her. The power surged through their bodies, burning and searing the flesh from their bones till they were nothing: only their minds survived, linked together as one. Then, in one blinding second of light, suddenly they were three not one, and they were tumbling downward.

  * * *

  Garras heard her scream. Leaving everything, he headed back to the bedroom at full speed. He stopped dead at the door, holding onto the wall for support as he saw what had happened. The anger that had been simmering since he realized Kaid had intended to take the drug, exploded in one roaring shout of rage.

  Minutes later, Dzaka, Meral and T'Chebbi were there.

  "They've gone," he said, his voice hoarse, waving a hand at the three frozen bodies lying on the bed. "We need Ghyan and Vanna— get Ghyan first. And there's no need to rush."

  "Tell Master Lijou," said T'Chebbi.

  Garras looked at her in surprise as the other two left at a run.

  "He and Ghyan know most," she said. "We may need beds for them. I'll get them." She turned and headed off downstairs.

  Garras went over to look down at them. Kaid was half sprawled on the floor and against the side of the bed. Carrie had fallen across Kusac. He shivered, looking round the room. It was freezing. He went to the window, pulling the drapes aside but the windows were closed. What had caused the huge drop in temperature? He looked at them once more. There was nothing he dared do for now. Shaking his head, he wen
t out to the lounge and activated the desk comm to call Lijou.

  * * *

  The yowls of terror from the temple penetrated through the heavy curtain to the lounge, making everyone look up in surprise. Tiernay was first on his feet and out into the corridor. One of the temple students in his grey homespun robe careened into him, almost sending him flying.

  "Sorry," he gasped, continuing on his mad dash to the office.