strongholdrising

by Lisanne Norman

“She’s fine,” said Lijou, his features relaxing. The thought of so many concerned for their safety humbled him. “So is our son. And yes, you may release the news to Stronghold.”

  “Vartra be praised!” said Chaddo, his ears standing more erect in relief as he cut the connection.

  “You’re better loved than you know, Lijou. I’ll come with you,” said Noni, beginning to lever herself out of her seat. Teusi was at her side instantly to help.

  “No,” he said firmly, waving them back as he got up. “I’ll go alone.”

  She stopped, eyeing him. “Take it easy with Raiban, Lijou. There’s trouble enough brewing from her quarter.”

  “Neither I nor Stronghold will be threatened by the likes of Raiban, Noni, nor will Kha’Qwa. Dammit, she knew Kha’Qwa was pregnant!” he said, heading for the door as the temple bells began to ring out.

  “That’s a new tune,” she said, raising an eye ridge.

  “It’s what they used to ring when a birth took place here,” said Teusi, breaking his silence. “Last time I was here, Yaszho asked me if we knew of one. I’d come across it some time ago when we started looking through our histories.”

  “I didn’t know they planned to do that,” murmured Lijou, embarrassed, as he opened the door.

  Noni looked at Teusi in respect. “Well remembered, lad.” Her eyes seemed to unfocus slightly and she heard herself saying, “Likely we’ll be hearing them more often in the years to come.”

  *

  “We’re not accountable to you, Raiban. I’ll remind you that the Governor himself gave us a mandate, with the agreement of the High Command, to deal with the threat of the Primes in our own way. We have. Our resources are not common Forces property. We get no funds from central government. For generations all we’ve been able to afford is your outmoded ships, and it’s cost us dearly to recondition them. Until now, you, like everyone else, have been content to ignore us. You had no right to demand my presence on the comm and threaten my mate when she told you I was unavailable!”

  “When a member of the High Command leaves Shola without warning in a time of global crisis…” she began.

  “What crisis?” interrupted Lijou, cutting across her. “We have a treaty with the Primes now, due entirely to the Brotherhood. We escorted Captain Tirak back to Jalnian space as a gesture of goodwill on behalf of Shola, and as thanks for aiding our people when they needed it. Your threats of reprisals against me were directly responsible for my mate’s fall. You nearly killed both her and our son, Raiban!”

  “You can’t blame that on me,” she countered, equally angrily.

  “I can, and I do,” he snarled. “I’ll pass your message to Commander Rhyaz when I get the opportunity.” He cut the connection, gratified by her final exclamation of anger. Then he called for Yaszho, telling him to contact the Striker as soon as possible.

  “I took responsibility for sending Master Rhyaz a message as soon as Noni arrived, Father,” Yaszho said, checking his comm unit for the time. “I also took the liberty of apprising him of the full situation. He should have received it by now.”

  Lijou looked at him a trifle uncertainly. “Was it necessary to worry him over Kha’Qwa?”

  “He wouldn’t have thanked me if I hadn’t, Father,” Yaszho assured him. “He will see to General Raiban.”

  Lijou nodded, privately glad that matters had been taken out of his hands while he’d been sleeping off the effects of Noni’s potion. “I’m in your debt, Yaszho. I don’t know how I’d manage without you. I’m going to the infirmary,” he said. “If I’m not there, I’ll be with Noni.”

  *

  Lijou found a stranger in Kha’Qwa’s room. She was a female of about the same age as his mate, dressed like one of the villagers. As he entered, she put down the comp pad she’d been reading and got to her feet.

  “You must be Father Lijou,” she said quietly, her Highland burr very noticeable. “I’m N’Gaya, here to look after your mate and the berran.”

  Noni has been quick, he thought, surveying her. There was nothing remarkable in her appearance, she looked like any of the villagers who lived in the Dzahai range. He realized he didn’t know what he should say to her.

  Her jaw dropped in a slight smile. “No need to say anything, Father. Been a day of shocks for you all, so it has. Best let them sleep for now. She needs to heal, and the berran will wake soon enough when he’s hungry.”

  He found himself nodding agreement and backing toward the door before realizing what was being done to him.

  “Are you Highlanders all so Talented?” he asked, keeping his voice as low as hers as he pushed her thoughts aside and advanced slowly toward the bed to see his mate. “I don’t appreciate being manipulated, N’Gaya. My place is by the side of my life-mate and son. Neither you nor anyone else will keep me from them,” he said warningly. Kha’Qwa lay on her side, Chay’Dah held close against her, both of them fast asleep.

  “They said yours was a love-match,” she said approvingly. “Like as not, we shall get on well, Father. I have no wish to work again for a home where the mate is just an acquisition.”

  He looked at her again, this time seeing the angle of her ears and the firm set of her jaw. “The Arrazo Clan?” he hazarded. “You raised Taynar, the youngest son?”

  She frowned. “I did not. That was all his father’s doing. The cubs I raise are not spoiled brats. I hear he has a Leska now. I pity her.”

  “Don’t,” he said, looking back at Kha’Qwa and reaching out to gently touch her cheek. “His Leska is Human. A resourceful young female, from what I’ve been told. They’re due back in about a week.” Satisfied that all was well, he moved away from the bed. “Have you been given quarters? Is there anything you need?”

  “All is being taken care of by your aide,” she said. “For now, I’ll be staying in this room with Mistress Kha’Qwa. A bed will be set up for me so I can spend the nights here until she’s well enough to return to your quarters.”

  “I’ll see a junior is assigned to you in case you should need anything. Did Yaszho give you a wrist comm, show you how to use it?” When she nodded, he continued, “I’ll be with Noni. Please send for me when my mate wakes.”

  She inclined her head in agreement, resuming her seat as he left.

  *

  “A telepath, Noni?” he asked as he relaxed back into his chair. “The Telepath Guild requires everyone with a trainable Talent to go to one of the Guildhouses for assessment and training.”

  Noni looked at him from under hooded lids. “Ah, well, it all depends on your definition of trainable, doesn’t it? We start them at a much earlier age, but even so, most just couldn’t handle the life down there in the plains. Look at what you do up here in this aerie of yours with those hunted down as rogue Talents. You teach ‘em, don’t you? It’s the same with us. I look after quite a few villages around here, you know. Several years ago I trained up those who’d do the teaching for me now so’s I can concentrate on Teusi. Isn’t that right, lad?”

  Teusi stirred, and Lijou felt the touch of the youth’s mind gently against his for the first time. Not probing, not listening mentally, just a gentle touch that was gone almost immediately. It was enough for him to realize just how strong and disciplined Teusi’s mind was.

  “I think Mistress Kha’Qwa and my mother will get on well,” Teusi said, mouth opening in a grin.

  “Your mother?” He looked from the lad back to Noni.

  “You think I’d trust anyone less with your son?” she asked. “Or place anyone else up here in Stronghold? Even Master Rhyaz will be able to find no fault with her as your son’s nurse.”

  “You keep your Talented out of the Telepath Guild, don’t you? Why?”

  “Not all. I told you the truth. A few are chosen to go, mainly those better suited to life in the towns and cities, and those whom we don’t want to be part of our community. And the Arrazos, of course,” she said. “As to why, look to the politics of it, Lijou. The plainslanders do nothing but take from
us here, be it minerals as in the past, or people, but they give damned little in resources back. We struggle to make a living from this harsh land. They don’t help us none, so why should we help them? You at Stronghold get a goodly portion of our people, you know, but then, you always have.”

  He could see her mouth opening slightly in a smile, and caught a sense of gentle amusement from her.

  “We see they’re taught properly, one way or another, never fear.”

  “Does Rhyaz know?”

  “I don’t tell the Masters,” she said. “Don’t need to. Usually they work it out for themselves after a year or two. You know the book you were given when you took over as co-Leader and Head Priest here? Well, there’s one for the Warrior Master, too. They both cover the need to see the one in the position I hold as an ally of Stronghold. Ghezu was the second Warrior Leader to try to keep me out. But the Brothers and Sisters still came to my door.”

  “Then you’re going to take up the offer of running a surgery here?”

  She sighed. “Once every two weeks, that’s all. I have to, for the lad’s sake. You’ll be needing him more, and it’s right the old ways should be reestablished now we got rid of Ghezu. Enough of that. I want something from you. News of Tallinu and his Triad.”

  “I had a Brother sent over with the news that he was safe as soon as we had it,” he said. “And tried to ensure you were kept updated even when I was at Valsgarth Estate.”

  “I know, and I thank you for it. But I also know you’re keeping something back from me. So spit it out, Lijou.”

  He hesitated, wondering again if it was better left to Kaid Tallinu to tell her.

  “Tell me!” she said insistently.

  He did, leaving nothing out, including the fact that Kaid was now Carrie’s Leska.

  As he did, the sparkle left her eyes and her ears dipped back till they were all but invisible against her white hair. “I wish for all their sakes that events had worked out otherwise. Tallinu worked hard at his Triad, Lijou. What’s happened to Kusac will have hit him badly, though he’ll try not to show it.”

  “The trust they built between them is what ultimately gave them the strength to survive, Noni,” said Lijou. “Do you think you can do anything to help Kusac?”

  “Clan Leader Rhyasha and Physician Vanna have both asked me to see him when they return, but I had no idea the situation was as bad as this. Alien technology worming its way through his brain.” She shook her head sadly. “Doesn’t sound hopeful. And he’s killed using the power of his mind. Was hard enough for Tallinu to train him to kill in the first place. For a Clan Heir, brought up as he was to respect sentient life, he’ll find it hard to justify having broken the rules bred into him. That I will probably be able to help him with, but as for the rest…” Again she shook her head. “It is possible that he’s subconsciously repressing his Talent because he killed, maybe even because of Carrie’s Link to Tallinu. He’ll be well aware of the potential trouble it could cause them all if his Talent returns. I’ll be staying here for the next few days. Get me copies of the tests they ran on him at this Haven place. Now I’ve gotten Physician Muushoi’s experience, it’ll help me to understand better what was done to him.”

  “I can have it for you within a couple of hours,” he said.

  Kz’adul, Zhal-Zhalwae, 25th day (May)

  Kezule woke. He was not alone, the female was there with one of the soldiers. Dressed in black coveralls, the guard wore the gold insignia of the royal house on the left side of his chest. One of the Enlightened One’s guards.

  He sat up as she walked across the room toward his bedside.

  “Good morning, General Kezule. How do you feel today?”

  “Well,” he said, realizing that he did. He turned his neck, rotating his shoulders experimentally. All the small aches and pains that had plagued him since he’d been brought forward to this time had actually gone. He flung back the covers, then realized he was still naked and hastily covered himself up again. Even though he knew— somehow— that his lack of clothing in front of this female doctor wouldn’t be construed by her as a threat, a lifetime of conditioning told him otherwise.

  Glancing sideways at her, he saw a look of amusement, quickly suppressed, flit across her face.

  “There are clothes for you in the drawers of the night table,” she said, walking round to the chair beside his bed and picking up a robe. “But since you’ll be remaining here until tomorrow, perhaps this would be more comfortable.”

  He took it from her, wishing she wasn’t watching him. It was unnerving, and embarrassing. He slipped one arm into the appropriate sleeve and began fishing behind him for the other. Warring reactions fought briefly, then his temper broke.

  “I’m not used to being watched!” he hissed, glaring at her, his crest rising in anger. Why the hell was it that these days, those in charge always seemed to be females?

  She took a step back, and he smelled the faint scent of her fear as she turned aside. “I apologize, General. I forgot you aren’t used to sentient females.” Her voice was low and held a touch of uncertainty.

  The guard shifted slightly, hefting his rifle, ready for trouble.

  Kezule hissed again, showing his teeth, then continued fumbling his other arm into the sleeve. Wrapping the robe across his chest, he pulled the tie belt round and fastened it. Then he flung back the covers and, pulling the rest of the robe across his nakedness, eased himself out of the bed.

  The floor was warm against his bare feet— obviously heated. He stood, finding himself still a little unsteady. He tried to clench his toes to get a grip on the floor with his claws but it was too smooth. As he clutched at the night table instead, her hand was there to steady him.

  This time he didn’t flinch away from her. Her touch was firm yet gentle, her claws as short as those of the males he’d known in the Court circles, and her scent was…different. Not the raw sensuality of the females in the breeding rooms, it was lighter, subtler, yet just as effective. He looked up at her face and as their eyes met, she let him go and again stepped away from him.

  “Your strength will come back, General,” she said. “As I said yesterday, you’ve been in a laalgo trance, healing. You need to take some gentle exercise.” She gestured to a door opposite. “There’s a dayroom through there where you can go to amuse yourself. You’ll have access to our library, be able to familiarize yourself with our history since the Fall, or watch some entertainment if you prefer.”

  “I don’t amuse myself.” Having said that, he had to admit the library sounded worthwhile.

  The rainbow-colored skin around her eyes creased. “Surely even in your day the benefits of leisure were known.”

  He grunted and pushed himself away from the night table, taking a cautious step toward the dayroom. He managed some four paces before he stumbled slightly, needing to grab the side of the bed for support. This time she didn’t come to his aid. He began swearing, damning his weakness in front of her and the guard, wishing now that he hadn’t placed himself in the position of having to ask her for help. He knew she was assessing him, and was acutely aware that the impression he was creating was not the one he wanted to make.

  He heard her order the guard from the room, and as the door shut behind her, her hand closed on his arm, supporting him.

  “Perhaps it’s too soon for you to leave your bed.”

  “No!” he snapped, trying to ignore his automatic response to her scent. He’d been too long away from his own kind, was too vulnerable to her when she was this close. On Shola, he’d had his own female, one of the Emperor’s many daughters as a wife. He’d gotten used to having her when he wanted, which hadn’t been that often. “I will go to this dayroom. I must get my strength back,” he said through clenched teeth as, leaning on her, he took another step.

  “In our time, it’s no weakness for a male to accept help from a female,” she said quietly as they crossed the open floor to the door. “The Emperor’s heir travels with us. His mistress accom
panies him. Even the Captain has his wife.”

  “And you?” he asked as she opened the door. “Is your husband on the ship?”

  “I don’t have one,” she replied as they made their way slowly to the easy chairs. “When you’re fully recovered, the Commander will take you on a tour of the ship, then you’ll be free to go where you wish.”

  His hand tightened round her arm briefly, then he forced himself to relax his grip. He was tempted, sorely tempted by her, but alien as the concept was to him, she was first and foremost a senior officer on this ship, and second an unclaimed female. And he had no idea how males went about claiming a female in this age.

  Once he could hold onto the chair back, he pulled himself free of her and took the last few steps alone. With relief, he almost fell into the seat.

  “I’ll have Khiozh bring your breakfast to you,” she said, coming round to stand in front of him. “She’ll show you how to operate the entertainment unit.”

  He nodded, not fully aware of what she was saying because something else had claimed his attention. It was a scent, very faint, but unmistakable. Rubbing his palm across the arm of the chair, he lifted it to his nose and sniffed it. Pieces of a puzzle began to fall into place.

  “You had a Sholan here,” he said, hand snaking out to grasp her by the wrist and pull her closer.

  “You’re hurting me,” she said, a pained expression on her face. “Let me go, General, or I shall call the guard back.”

  “Don’t ignore me!” He twisted her wrist until she hissed in pain. “You had a Sholan here, didn’t you?”

  “Yes. He was a hostage for your return,” she said, plucking at his encircling fingers with her free hand.

  “His name!”

  “General, release me this instant or I’ll call the guard!”

  He could hear the genuine note of panic in her voice. Common sense prevailed and he released her. He would get nowhere by antagonizing her. “I apologize,” he said stiffly as she backed away. “This Kusac, he was one of those who brought me to your time.” He had the satisfaction of seeing the shocked look on her face as she rubbed her wrist. “Was he traveling with others, a Human female and another male?”