Chaamga looked toward the bound Valtegan. "He's Kezule?"
"The drug Fyak took allowed him— and us— to travel back to those days. Kezule used Fyak to try to destroy our civilization so that when his people returned to Shola, we'd be unable to defend ourselves against them. They may be returning already, Chaamga; it was the Valtegans who destroyed Szurtha and Khyaal."
Chaamga looked from Kusac to Rrurto who nodded. "I believe them. They arrived together, appearing out of nowhere, riding on a wind as hot as the breath of hell itself. Fyak seemed to fade, only to reappear with the others. When Kaid called the Valtegan by the name Kezule, he answered. We've been used, Chaamga. Used by enemies worse than the other tribes ever were!"
"It seems we have," said the chief Elder slowly. "Our people must hear of this." He turned to his nearest guard. "Go to my encampment and tell my warriors to call a meeting of the tribes. Tell them to do what's necessary to ensure we have no trouble from Vraiyou or the Faithful. Send a messenger when you're ready."
"Tell our tribe to send us an escort, Father. I'm not risking our lives while we wait," said Rrurto.
Chaamga nodded. "Do it." He moved closer, finding a rocky outcrop on which to sit down. While his companions did the same, he turned his attention back to Kusac and Carrie.
"You actually walked the Fire Margins?"
Kusac nodded as he found somewhere comfortable for Carrie to rest. "Kaid, the third member of our Triad, is a priest. He can tell you about it better than I can," he said, returning for Kezule. As he took hold of the Valtegan's bound wrists, his captive protested.
"My capture is worthless," he said. "Unless we leave immediately, we're all dead!"
"Look at the sky, Kezule," said Kusac, yanking him upright. "There's no sign of the meteor, is there? No fire in the sky. Your world and everything you knew has long since gone."
"Then what use am I to you?" Kezule hissed as he was dragged over to the chief Elder.
"We'll find a use for you, never fear," Kusac reassured as he made him sit in front of Chaamga. Leaving him there, he looked round to check on Fyak. One of the other Elders had given Kaid his headcovering and his aide was now binding the unconscious prophet's wrists.
"You want Ghezu," said Rrurto. "You can have him, but Fyak and the others are ours."
Kaid looked up at him, hesitating, unsure what to say.
"They're yours," said Kusac. "Provided as well as Ghezu, we have your word that this will be the end of the tri-bal wars, and that you'll disband and return to your homes. Aid and rehabilitation teams must be allowed into your territories."
Rrurto looked at the other three Elders. There was general nodding of heads and agreement.
"We won't turn down the help this time," said Chaamga. "We've more need of it now."
"Have you got the clout to make this agreement stick?" asked Rrurto.
"Yes."
"We've been to the Fire Margins," said Kaid quietly. "That alone gives us the authority." He handed him Fyak's bracelet. "This controls the collars you and the others wear," he said.
Chaamga nodded his thanks, taking it cautiously from him and handing it to Rrurto. "You were going to tell me about your journey," said Chaamga. "Now would be a good time."
* * *
Their escort arrived shortly. Kaid recognized them. Ten of the best veterans in what had been Fyak's army. He glanced curiously at Rrurto.
"My warriors have always been well-trained," Rrurto grinned. "It helps that I'm an active fighter myself. Gives them a high standard to achieve before they begin."
* * *
By the time a runner arrived from the Lair, Chaamga had been appraised of the main details of their journey.
"To have met Vartra ..." Chaamga found it difficult to continue. "To have met Him while He was working among our people, pulling them together after the Cataclysm!"
"We met him before the Cataclysm hit Shola," cor-rected Kaid.
"No matter! That is an irrelevance! You still met Him and received His blessing!"
"He's blessed us in many ways," Kusac murmured, drawing Carrie closer to his side as they rose to their feet.
"We'll take Fyak," said Rrurto. "You can bring the Valtegan."
Kaid nodded. "Where's Ghezu?"
"Detained," grinned Rrurto.
* * *
As they walked into sight of the main camp, there was a general disbelief and hush among the fighters gathered there. They watched and waited, seeing what their Elders intended to do. Fyak's teachings had only gone flesh deep, respect and obedience to the traditional Tribal leaders had been bred into them from birth. As well as that, though they'd heard of the Valtegans, very few of them had even seen a vidicast of one, or of Humans for that matter. The presence of two aliens among them was enough to make the most volatile silent for the moment.
"They're too quiet," said Kusac, keeping his voice low.
"Stop worrying. They're assessing the situation," said Kaid, tightening his grip on Kezule.
"A bit slower, please, Kusac," said Carrie. "I can't keep up any more."
Rrurto looked at Kusac. "Take your bond-mate into the cavern," he said. "It's better she's not in front of our fighters in such an advanced state of pregnancy. Our own females are kept indoors from the time they reach their twentieth week."
Kusac nodded and they veered to one side, heading for the caverns.
"The cheek of it," Carrie muttered, limping across the hot sand.
"No," said Kusac. "It's for sound reasons, Carrie. The heat in the desert is really fierce for a large part of the year. Pregnant females would be more comfortable indoors."
Carrie muttered under her breath as they made their way through the entrance. She stopped dead, looking up at rings set high in the wall.
Kusac's arm was round her shoulders. "I know. It's past now," he said, urging her on.
A short way further on, she stopped again, refusing to go any further.
"No, I've walked far enough," she said, sitting against an outcrop of rock. "Go and join Kaid, I'll rest here."
"Can I get you some water?"
"Water would be wonderful," she said. "Please."
He made his way down to the cooking area where the only two females he'd seen so far were seated.
"Have you some water, please?" he asked.
One got up to fetch him a mug. The other's stare made him turn round.
"Liegen Aldatan! It is you!" she said. "Vartra be praised! Don't you recognize me, Liegen? I'm Rhaid!"
"Rhaid! Yes, I remember you," he said, leaning forward to look at her more closely. "What happened to you? You're so thin!" He reached out to take hold of her chin, turning her head to the light. "Who's been beating you?" he demanded, the rumble of anger audible in his voice.
"Fyak. He made me his property," she said, keeping her voice low. She looked up at him. "What's happening, Liegen? What brings you here?"
"It's too complicated to explain now, Rhaid, but you'll hear about it, I promise. Fyak's been taken prisoner. The tribal Elders are taking over again. I'll see you're picked up by our people as soon as possible."
"Vartra be praised! Her, too. She's a Warrior, taken like me from Laasoi."
He looked at the other female as she handed him the mug. Every line of her body spoke of her defeat at the hands of Fyak's troops. "Both of you. You have my word on it. Will you sit with the Liegena? I must join Kaid."
"Of course, Liegen," Rhaid said, getting to her feet and taking the other female by the arm. "We'll sit with her."
Kusac headed back to Carrie and gave her the water. "I've asked the telepath, Rhaid, to sit with you till I return. Are you sure you'll be all right?" he asked, catching her free hand in his.
"I'm fine. You worry too much," she said, taking her hand back and stuffing it into the ample pocket of the robe. "Go."
He flicked her cheek with his finger before leaving.
Once he'd gone, she leaned back against the wall, hands clenched tight against the pain in her b
ack and belly. Now she really was afraid, but she couldn't let him worry when so much was at stake. They'd all been right, her cub had been growing too fast, and even she could no longer ignore it. She could still feel her moving— the butterfly sensations as well as the kicks. She winced as another one came. This daughter of theirs felt more like a kangaroo than a cub! That was the other thing. Her talent hadn't diminished at all. She tried not to think about it. There were so many factors that could have harmed her baby over the last few days— and fifteen hundred years.
"Liegena, are you all right?" asked a concerned female voice.
Opening her eyes, she saw Rhaid and the other female. "I'm fine, just tired," she said. "Let me sleep here till the males return."
"As you wish, Liegena."
It was over an hour later when she opened her eyes.
Rhaid was shaking her awake. "Liegena, we've been called to the meeting to hear the Elders pronounce a sentence on Fyak and Vraiyou. This warrior will stay with you till we return."
Carrie nodded. "Go. I'll be fine," she said.
Mildly curious, she listened in through Kusac to what was happening. His mind was tightly controlled, unusually so for him.
You don't want to watch, he sent. He's been sentenced to death. So has Vraiyou. The females have demanded they be involved carrying out the sentence as they suffered under his rules too. They're tying him to the banner-pole now. Many of the females are in a hunt state.
He thrust her from his mind as she saw the foremost female— Rhaid's companion— advancing on their terrified victims. The silence was suddenly broken by a loud chorus of hunting cries, audible even as far away from the meeting place as she was. The images kept coming, though, broadcast by the enraged minds of the desert tribesfolk as, using any instrument that came to hand, they hacked their false prophet and head acolyte to pieces.
Carrie leapt to her feet with a cry of pain and disgust as she tried to block out the awful images. Then someone held her close, shielding her mind and murmuring comforting words.
"It's all right, Liegena," soothed Rhaid, smoothing Carrie's hair comfortingly. "I couldn't stay either. It's only what he deserves though," she added, her voice taking on a hard quality that made Carrie pull back.
"How can you say that?" she demanded. "No one deserves such a fate!"
"I agree. Not even the telepaths that he had torn to pieces, nor those whose minds he destroyed." Rhaid's voice was implaccable. "He was shown as much mercy as he gave. He betrayed these people, Liegena."
A disturbance at the cavern mouth claimed their attention. Ghezu was being dragged toward the entrance, where his wrists were lashed to the rings in the wall where Kaid had been flogged.
"What's happening?" she asked sharply. "What are they doing to him?"
"Nothing, Liegena," said Rhaid, "only securing him so he can't escape. He's to return with you so he can be handed over to the proper authorities for trial."
Tiredly, Carrie leaned back against the rock, content to let her argument with the telepath drop. She waited for Kusac and Kaid to appear. When they did, she knew instantly all was not well between them.
Kaid wants to kill Ghezu now, sent Kusac, his mental tone furious. I've told him he has to go back for trial.
You can understand why.
I can't allow that in front of the Tribes! I have to keep the laws we want reestablished here! Kaid refuses to see it that way! He put me in a position where I had to uphold the law against him!
There was nothing she could say. She watched them come toward her, their anger only too apparent in the set of their ears and tails. As they passed Ghezu, the situation exploded.
"Well, if it isn't my one-time guest, Kaid! And the Aldatan brat!" Ghezu said, twisting round till he could see them.
Just that bit taller than Kaid, his feet touched the ground, allowing him more freedom of movement, and he was making full use of it.
"Hey, Aldatan! Has he had your mate yet?" He laughed. "You should have heard his drug ravings! What he was going to do to that little female of yours doesn't bear thinking about!" He laughed again. "How'd she like your scars, Kaid? She into that? Cripples?"
It was Kaid who had to hold back an enraged Kusac who roared his hate and anger as he tried to reach Ghezu.
"Leave him!" Kaid said, pulling Kusac close enough to wrap both arms around his, pinning them to his side. "He's trying to goad you, and he's succeeding! It's all lies, you know it is!"
Ghezu began to laugh again. "Got you riled? Shame!" He looked beyond them to the approaching group of Tribal rulers.
"I demand justice, Elders!"
Kaid took his chance to haul Kusac back out of Ghezu's line of sight, giving a yelp of pain as Kusac's struggles hit his injured hand.
Carrie pushed herself to her feet and in a couple of strides, was standing in front of them.
"Kusac! What the hell do you think you're doing?" she demanded. "How could you behave like this!"
He ignored her, twisting in Kaid's grasp, trying to get free.
Carrie reached out, grasping him by the ears and pulling his head down. He yowled in pain, but it brought him to his senses and made him look at her.
"Kusac, stop it! How can you shame me like this! You lend truth to Ghezu's lies by reacting to them, and you've hurt Kaid's injured hand!"
His eyes were black with anger but he forced himself to calm down, to leave the hunt state behind. Gradually he relaxed his muscles till Kaid felt it safe to release him.
"Now you've tasted my anger," said Kaid, facing him. "You tried to do what you denied me! What am I, Kusac? Friend— or liegeman?"
There was no opportunity for Kusac to answer as from behind them, the topic of Ghezu's argument became clear.
"I have the right to trial by Challenge," said Ghezu, pulling at the ropes that bound him to the rings above. "You can't deny me that right!"
"You can request it at your trial," growled Chaamga. "We'll return you to the Forces at the Nyacko Pass when we meet with them tomorrow."
"I have the right to be heard now!" Ghezu howled, enraged by their refusal. "I hold the rank of Guild Master! I demand a speedy settlement!"
"He has the right," admitted Rrurto.
"We've no Warriors here to accept the Challenge," said Chaamga, turning away. "The matter is closed."
"You have two," said Ghezu, dropping his voice to a gentle purr. "You have the Aldatan brat standing there," he flicked an ear in Kusac's direction. "Don't be put off by him being a telepath, he's a member of my Guild now. He trained at the Warrior Guild. And there's Kaid."
Carrie stood there hardly believing what she heard. Pain gripped her again, but she couldn't let it show. Wrapping an arm across her belly, she stepped in front of the Elders.
"Don't listen to him! His Talent is to charm people into believing him reasonable! He's not! He's guilty of treason, and of torturing a prisoner! He deserves the public humiliation of a trial!"
The Elders looked from one to the other, muttering among themselves.
Ghezu laughed. "You'd listen to a pregnant female so close to her time? I ask you, how rational can she be?"
"I'll give him the Challenge he wants," said Kaid, stepping forward, casting a long look at Kusac. "It has to be me. Kusac risks three lives if he fights. I only risk my own."
"No!" shrieked Carrie. "You damned-fool males with your cockeyed sense of honor! You fight between yourselves, then threaten everything I hold dear! You will not fight him, Kaid! I forbid you!"
Kusac reached out for her, taking her by the arm and thrusting her behind him.
"Well, Liegen Aldatan? Do you permit your liegeman to fight?" asked Chaamga.
Kusac stood looking at Kaid, still holding onto Carrie who was now beginning to weep. "Kaid," he began, then he saw Kaid's chin tilt up and his eyes darken.
"My friend is free to do what he must," said Kusac. "He's a member of my house, the third in our Triad, not a liegeman." He watched Kaid relax, his ears giving the smallest of flick
s as he acknowledged the public recognition of their friendship.
Chaamga nodded. "Then release Ghezu under close guard and let him prepare himself for the Challenge. You have half an hour."
Chaamga turned away, leading his party deeper into the cavern. Ghezu was cut down and taken within as Kezule was brought past, bound and heavily guarded. Gradually the area cleared. Finally Kaid came over to them.
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