by Shannah Jay
moved.'
'Not to mention two huge wagons loaded with trade goods.'
'We'll have to report this to Robler. No one in the Confederation has instantaneous transportation. How did they manage it? Confex has been trying to find it for aeons, without success.'
'Let's watch it through a few times ourselves before we tell Robler, just in case there's something we want to conceal.'
'Are we being disloyal to Confex?' Soo worried, leaning against him and slipping her arm round his waist.
'No. Just being wary. We can't prove it yet, but we know he’s become unbalanced.'
* * *
The healing of Katia's wounds proceeded rapidly, but afterwards, before they could disengage themselves from the mindmesh, Herra held up her hand. 'Wait. Katia is with child. I must check that the foetus hasn’t been injured by the mother's shock.'
She laid her hands on Katia's still-flat stomach and frowned. 'Katia! You didn't tell me you'd planned for twins!'
'I didn't, Elder Sister. And I didn't conceive twins!'
There was a moment's silence. 'Are you sure?'
'Of course I am!'
'Well, there are two babies here. Most distinctly. Twin sons.'
'But there weren't two! Elder Sister, I know my own body. There can’t possibly be twins.'
'Well, there are. Our escape was impossible also, yet we are here. When you're feeling better, we'll try to find out from the deleffal how they moved us. I can't communicate with them like you do.'
Katia nodded, but her mind was still on her body. 'The babies - are they all right? They weren't harmed by our escape were they?'
Herra turned back and concentrated on the emanations from the unborn children. 'They're healthy,' she said, after a few minutes.
QUEST Shannah Jay 180
'But?' Katia insisted. 'There is a "but", isn't there? You're hiding something. Tell me, Herra! I have a right to know.'
'Yes, there is a "but". Your sons - one of them, at least, is different from any unborn child I've ever sensed before.'
'How do you mean, different?'
'I don't know. Just - very different.' She laid her hand on Katia's. 'I can tell you no more. You’re carrying two sons and they're both healthy. In the fullness of time we shall understand this difference.' She looked around the circle and spoke slowly. 'We must offer love and warm acceptance to these children when they're born. I know not why, but they must be bound to us by the deepest ties of love. Twin sons! The God has blessed his Manifestation with many, many children.'
'You never told me that before,' said Davred, who still resented her insistence that he share his seed with as many of the Sisters as possible, though Katia accepted the necessity without demur.
'It was not the time. And you never asked. Your seed, Lord Davred, flourished in every case. And as the mothers were dispersed throughout the Twelve Claims immediately after conception, whatever may happen to us, your line is safely assimilated. We haven't wasted our Brother's Gifts.'
'The God be praised,' said Katia very softly, 'for all his Gifts.' She put her hands on her stomach protectively.
Cheral interrupted, 'I can hear Carryn moving, Elder Sister. Will you tend her now? And Benjan, you may help Jonner prepare some food. There must be something on the wagons that isn't spoiled by the water. Katia, you must rest. Lord Davred, you should take more care of your wife and not worry her with unimportant matters.'
The spel was broken - and perhaps it was as wel .
#####
Chapter 29: DESERT TREK
The night was cool, and although the Sisters and Davred had enough body control to minimise their discomfort, Jonner and Benjan, missing their still-damp blankets, found it harder to sleep. They ended up huddling against each other for warmth.
When morning came, Herra decided to allow Carryn a limited period of full consciousness in order for the slower process of healing her mind to begin. She asked Benjan to carry the girl to the centre of their group, so that the morning Gathering could focus on her.
Jonner, still shivering slightly, hunched over the fire, his sharp face drawn and unhappy. Herra paused for a moment to lay her hand on his brow, then stooped to clasp his hands in hers. She concentrated on speeding up his circulation, and soon his face regained some colour. His embarrassment at these ministrations changed to voluble gratitude as he began to feel more comfortable.
Benjan, who had gone out to scout the area as soon as it was light, had warmed himself by running up and down the valley. When he got back, he let Jonner's flood of words pour over him for a moment or two, then poked the small man in the ribs.
'Shut up!'
'Who do you think you're talking to?'
'You. It's time to gather, so shut up!' A light tap on the chest by Benjan's massive fist cut short Jonner's protestations, then the same fist hauled him to his feet and pushed him in the direction of the others.
Davred followed Katia into the circle, smiling at the exchange between the two men. Benjan took the Gatherings very seriously, but then, Benjan took everything seriously. The smile faded as Davred looked at the slight figure of QUEST Shannah Jay 181
Carryn lying in the middle of the circle, cheeks pale, amber hair dull and lifeless. Cheral, greying hair neatly drawn back and robe as smooth as if she had just taken it from a temple coffer, settled down opposite him. She immersed herself in her preparations as though they were still in the Great Hall of Temple Tenebrak. Fiana, quiet as ever, sat down beside Benjan. Davred took a deep breath and began to clear his own mind, feeling the tensions drain away and peace lap around him.
Only Herra noticed that the deleff had stopped browsing and were staring at the circle of cross-legged figures. She turned towards them and inclined her head in a gesture of greeting, which was returned by the deleffal. Then, ignoring the breeze which was moulding her robe against her body, she adjusted her breathing and settled into the familiar ritual.
Silence descended on the small valley. The deleff remained as motionless as the humans. The sun caressed the still figures and even the breeze dropped. Jonner was now able to ignore his surroundings and clear his mind for meditation.
He enjoyed the morning Gathering almost as much as Benjan did, though he wouldn’t have admitted it.
'We shall gather.' Herra's voice was a warm thread, tying them all together.
Eventual y she brought them back to ful consciousness, but didn’t let them separate. 'We shal now focus on our young friend, Carryn. Today she must begin to face the world again. Benjan, will you move to the centre and sit next to Carryn? She feels more secure when she sees you.'
Without hesitation Benjan moved over to the girl and took her hand in his. 'Wake up, Carryn. Wake up. You're safe now.'
Herra looked at him in surprise. She hadn’t asked him to speak.
Carryn's eyelids fluttered, then her eyes flew open and she gasped, 'Don't let them . . . Oh!' Her hand clutched Benjan's convulsively. Her breathing came in painful gasps that could have easily turned to sobs.
'You're safe,' repeated Benjan. 'We rescued you. We've left Tenebrak.'
Herra sank to the ground and took the girl's other hand in hers. 'Look, Carryn. Look around you. We've travel ed far beyond the wildwoods. You're safe, quite safe - safe with us - far away, beyond the wildwoods.'
The gasps slowed down into a near-normal breathing pattern, though Herra could sense the underlying tension and panic that threatened to surface at any moment. She automatically surveyed the functioning of the girl's body. The skin on Carryn's back had completely healed and the marks were fading. The girl's life processes were beginning to speed up to a more normal rhythm. Herra's sudden intake of breath as she sensed something else went unnoticed, and she quickly masked her surprise. No time now for that. No need for the poor child to face anything but the problems of her own recovery for the next few weeks.
'Where are we?' Carryn struggled to sit up.
Benjan put his arm round her for support. 'We're in the Lands of Nowhere, ho
me of the deleff.'
'Where’s that?'
Herra laughed, a laugh exactly calculated to dispel the tension in the circle. 'That's what Jonner keeps asking. We're not quite sure where we are exactly. The deleff saved us by taking us along a secret trail and through a sort of tunnel. All we know is that we're far away from the Claim of Tenebron. Quite an adventure, is it not?'
Carryn leaned her head against Benjan's broad chest. 'I thought it was just a trader's tale. About the land of the deleff, I mean.'
'It seems not.'
'I must thank the deleff, if they saved us, Elder Sister. One should always thank them for a service. Father says they're the most courteous of creatures. Oh!' Carryn's eyes filled with tears as the memories flooded her mind.
' Calm yourself. You cannot spend your life grieving, child. Your father has sent you with us. He's now engaged in undermining the Evil that rules in Tenebrak, and the God has whispered in my ear that he will be very successful. Also, that you will see him again one day.'
'Are you sure of that?'
QUEST Shannah Jay 182
'Yes. So if Aharri Bel-Ashkaron can set aside his grief for his beloved wife in order to fight Those of the Serpent, can you do less?'
A long sigh answered her, followed by a soft, 'I'll try. Though it's hard. My mother and I were very close.'
'Then you'l have many good memories of her. Concentrate on those. Now, enough of that. We're all hungry. Let Benjan carry you over to thank the deleff, then join us for breakfast. Set your troubles aside.' Herra nodded to Benjan, who scooped up the lightweight figure and strode across to the line of deleff.
'That augurs well,' said Cheral to Katia. 'Taken quite a fancy to Benjan, hasn't she? I'll wash her hair for her before we leave. That’ll make her feel better.' She looked round, automatically taking charge of the daily routine. 'Now, we need to prepare some warm food. Fiana, will you help me? Jonner! That fire needs tending. The flames are too high for cooking. Katia, you need to rest. You aren't fully recovered yet.'
Katia went through a series of gentle exercises to tone up her newly-healed muscles, then sat in the rapidly-warming sun and allowed the others to break up the camp. Cheral fed them all with her usual efficiency, then directed the loading of the wagons, for the deleff were beginning to show signs of impatience.
Carryn begged to ride with Benjan, and later Herra found her sleeping naturally, with her head on his lap.
He stroked the now-fluffy amber hair. 'She's only a child, Elder Sister. One day I'll kill that man for doing this to her.'
'I shall not allow you to soil your soul with that type of violence.'
'When I've got you all to safety, I shall do as I please.' His eyes smouldered with suppressed anger. 'Those of the Serpent killed my sister as well as Carryn's mother. How many others are they going to kill? What does my soul matter, if I can rid the world of such as Benner, who lead men into this evil?'
'Such negative thoughts are destructive to your soul. And if you speak like that in front of Carryn, you'l impede her recovery.'
'Yes, lady. I'll be careful with her.' But the muscles around his mouth were stubbornly set, so she stayed to reason with him. She didn't know why, but he was valuable to their Quest.
'Who said anything about this job finishing when we reach safety, Benjan? We shall, I fear, need to spend many years on our task, and I shan’t live to see it completed. And safety - where is that in a world shared with the Serpent cult?'
Ah, now she had his attention deflected from the dark, destructive urge for vengeance. 'I shall require your services up to and even after my death, Benjan Starborn. Never forget that. You chose to join us in the Quest, to fight with us against Evil, and you are now bound to our ways. You made me your promise and I shall never release you from it.
Never.'
With that she fell back to chat to Fiana, then began a series of running and jumping exercises that would have daunted most people two centuries her junior.
Benjan stared after her. How had she known his secret name, the one given to him when he joined the Hashite Guild? How could she have known that? And how could a woman of her age remain so supple? He eyed her body with approval. Would the Sisterhood's teachings do the same for him as he grew older?
'Is that really your name? Benjan Starborn.' Carryn's drowsy voice brought him out of his reverie. 'How can you be starborn?'
'I didn't know you'd woken up, little one.'
'I'm only half awake. I keep dozing. But is it really your name? I never heard a name like that before.'
'It is, but you must keep it a secret, for it's not a name to be told. How the Lady Herra knew it is a puzzle to me. I thought only the Prime Craftsman knew that name, for he gave it to me.'
'The Elder Sister knows everything. You can't hide anything from her.'
QUEST Shannah Jay 183
Can you not? he thought, smiling down at the piquant little face. Then pray the Elder Sister keeps some very personal secrets to herself. 'So it seems,' he said aloud. 'Well, I hope you'll remember to keep my name secret, little one.
I should be dishonoured if it became known.'
'I won't tell, but I'm glad I know it.'
'I am, too. Friends may share each other's secrets. Now, I wish to take a nap myself, so I would be grateful if you would either lie still or find yourself another pillow.'
'You're a nice pillow,' she joked, then shivered. 'Can I - do you mind if I stay here? I'll lie still, but I feel safer when I'm with you.'
'A light weight like you is no trouble, as long as you stay stil . I slept badly last night, because of the cold.'
'All right.' She snuggled down against him. 'It's nice and warm in the sun, isn't it?'
Herra, watching, was pleased with the way Benjan was handling Carryn. Natural sleep would heal the child's mind far more quickly than the unconsciousness induced by slumberbane. As to his secrets, they were safe with her, as long as he kept his feelings about the child under control.
For three days they trekked across the hot rocky land, learning to rise early and to rest in the shade of some rocks during the middle of the day. The contrast with the wildwoods couldn’t have been greater. But although this land didn’t teem with life, as did the Claim of Tenebron, it wasn’t completely uninhabited. Lizards scuttled for cover as they passed; an occasional flight of birds wheeled across the sky; and insects with large, multi-coloured wings hummed around them, as if curious about those who had invaded their territory.
Katia ranged the countryside as they went, studying its flora and fauna. As Herra could sense no other human life, and the deleff made no objection, it was deemed safe for Davred to join his wife on most of her explorations.
Benjan joined them once, but Carryn fretted when he was out of her sight, so he didn’t repeat the action. To keep himself fit he started to learn some of the Sisters' running and jumping exercises, adapting them to his needs instinctively, for he knew his own body well, it being the main tool of his trade. After the first day he persuaded Carryn to begin some simple exercises too, for her muscles were weak and wasted after her days of unconsciousness.
Jonner, pale face now tanning rapidly in the sun, mostly rode in the first wagon. The lack of habitations seemed to irritate him, as did the heat. Herra spent time patiently listening to his tales, and set Fiana the same task to keep his spirits up. And hers. For being out of the direct struggle against Those of the Serpent irritated their flawed Sister. The peace of the journey was broken on the third morning. The com-unit, which Davred always carried with him, woke them al before it was ful y light, buzzing loudly.
'Answer your friends, Lord Davred,' called Herra. 'It would seem they urgently desire to speak to you.'
He looked at her, surprised she understood what was happening, then pressed the necessary recognition pattern on the featureless surface of the slim black box. He was uneasily aware that all his companions were awake and listening.
* * *
'Davred! Is that you?'
'Soo! Are you all right?'
'Never mind me. I've been a bit busy, but I have a few free minutes now. Davred, did you realise that you moved over five hundred kloms westwards two days ago - instantaneously?'
'I knew we’d moved. Not how far.'
'Robler found out - wel , we had to tel him - and of course he reported it back to Sector HQ. They took the news very seriously. You know how long Confex has been searching for a method of instantaneous transmission. Al of a sudden they want Full Surveillance on the planet and - and possibly Full Contact.'
'No! That would ruin everything. You must stop them.'
'There's worse.' Soo paused, hating to tell him. 'Robler is claiming that Those of the Serpent are the governing QUEST Shannah Jay 184
powers, and therefore the ones to negotiate with, now that the temples are all out of action.'
' Brother, look down in our hour of need! Soo, you have to stop them. It's not just a planet that's at stake; it's a whole new field of knowledge, a unique way of life. It may even provide an answer to the waves of violence in the Confederation, an end to Discord everywhere.'
'Do you really think so?'
'Oh yes. It's why I came down. I am the Manifestation of the God our Brother, who acts through me, and I am also a Cathartic Agent for the Confederation.'
'Still a Cathartic Agent?'
'Of course. That didn't end when I flew down planetside.'
'But how do we prove what you say? How do we persuade them not to meddle?' Soo glanced at her chrono. 'I haven't much time. Look, I don't know if it'll help, but we've got some of the new broad-range, variable tracers. If I can persuade Robler to send them down, will you all wear one?'
Herra's voice interrupted them. 'What exactly are they, Little Sister in the sky?'
'Just a more complex form of the tracer you've already worn for us.'
'Hmm. Machines might impede us. There are new forces developing within us. I wonder whether we should risk anything which might weaken our inner forces.' She tried to listen for that hidden voice. Would her Brother want her to allow this?
'Elder Sister, we have to have more information about your planet if we're to protect it. Otherwise, the Confederation might deal with Those of the Serpent in matters concerning Sunrise. The broad-range tracers could play a vital part in gaining information. Besides, the tracers you're carrying aren’t working well. There seems to be a lot of interference.