He thought furiously. Who could have helped them? Abruptly, he got to his feet. “Give me half an hour,” he said. “I think I might know how it was done. Meanwhile, get in touch with Master Konis and tell him what you’ve found out. If you’re right, the implications of this are going to hit both our species at the very foundations.”
He went back outside to Jeran and Giyesh. “Come with me,” he said. “We’re going to see someone about a cub.”
As he headed out into the street, he reached mentally for Zashou, tying to locate her. He found her at the training center mess.
“I don’t see what the fuss is about,” said Jeran. “This is no one’s business but ours.”
“As far as I’m concerned, it is. You can face the consequences on your own. However, there’s the small matter of who helped you, and how she did it.”
“They’d recalled me Home to take a mate, Kaid,” said Giyesh, trying to keep pace with him. “What Jeran and I wanted didn’t matter to our Matriarch.”
He glanced at her. “I don’t think you’ll need to worry about it for much longer,” he said. “I think your Matriarch is going to have larger concerns on her mind soon.”
“What concerns?” asked Jeran.
“Patience,” he said. “I want to find out what Zashou did.”
“We never said it was Zashou,” said Giyesh, grinding to a halt.
“Didn’t have to,” said Kaid, turning back to look at her. “Only she and Rezac have the ability to do this, since you didn’t get help from Vanna.”
Stronghold, the same day
“Governor Nesul says when the new allocations come around in two months’ time, he’ll make sure you get your own funds,” said Konis, speaking from his office in the Palace. “To ask Raiban to return a portion even of the last half-year’s allocation would only inflame the situation between the two of you to no purpose.”
“Meanwhile, we’re being starved of funds,” said Lijou. “I don’t mean to sound ungrateful, Konis, but our situation is desperate.”
“Is this line secure?” asked the Clan Lord, eye ridges meeting briefly.
Lijou smiled briefly. “Your office comm is, Konis. We make sure of that on a regular basis. You can speak freely.”
Konis raised a sardonic eye ridge before continuing. “Raiban has been asked to submit accounts and an explanation of where the funds are going. Given the current situation, it’s sensible to do a review to see if extra funds are needed. Confidentially, Nesul says he’ll put what contracts he can your way in the meantime. At least you have the Rryuk contract to tide you over as well.”
“Thank him for us, Konis. His gesture is greatly appreciated.”
“How’re Kha’Qwa and Chay’Dah? Doing well, I hope.”
“They’re doing well, Konis,” he said, mouth opening in a slow smile. “Chay’Dah is more hard work than I imagined, but the joy he’s already brought us…” He laughed gently. “I must sound like a fool to you.”
“Not in the least,” said Konis with a matching smile. “I know exactly how you feel. I’ll tell you now since we plan to announce it to our family tonight. Rhyasha and I are expecting twins.”
“Twins? Many congratulations, Konis!” said Lijou. “And we thought one was hard work!”
Konis laughed. “You have a nurse, surely.”
“Noni wouldn’t let us be without one. It’s her assistant Teusi’s mother. But we like to do as much as we can ourselves.”
“So did we, but when you have the responsibilities we have, it’s necessary to have the help. Give Kha’Qwa and your son our warm thoughts, Lijou.”
“I will, and thank you again for interceding for us, Konis. We’ve no wish to make an issue out of this unless Raiban does.”
The call over, Lijou switched his comm link off and sat back in his chair, his eyes going automatically to the wooden box that sat on the shelf at the opposite side of the room. He shuddered at the memory of what he still considered a desecration despite the fact he was following Vartra’s orders. When he’d returned to the temple with Yaszho, his aide had offered to do the deed for him but he’d refused. He couldn’t ask others to do what he balked at.
Even now, a Shrine was being constructed on Haven to house the relic, but it would be some time before it was ready. Until then, Vartra’s head and he would continue to share his office. His wrist comm buzzed gently, reminding him he had an appointment with Sister Jiosha, who would lead the Shrine. It was with relief that he got to his feet and left.
Aldatan Estate, later the same day
Konis’ office was in the main Aldatan house on the first floor. It was in his capacity as head of Alien Relations that they’d come to see him.
He listened in silence to what they had to say, then read the comp pad Kaid handed him.
“Just let me get this straight,” he said, looking at each of them again from his side of the desk. “Giyesh is pregnant and you’re responsible, Zashou?”
Zashou confirmed with a brief nod of her head. “They asked for my help, and I couldn’t refuse them,” she said. “They so obviously cared for each other.”
“How, in Vartra’s name? I still don’t understand how you did it!”
“How do you decide to speak mentally on a private level to your mate?” she countered. “If you had the Talent to do what we did, I could show you, but tell you?” She shook her head.
Konis sighed. “Point taken.”
“I’m glad you understand, because by Kathan’s beard, I still don’t,” said Tirak with a rumble of anger.
“Cell manipulation,” said Kaid. “Zashou and Rezac used this Talent of hers to make the eggs of the Valtegan females in the City of Light sterile. That’s why the Primes are so different from the Valtegans. She used a reverse technique on Giyesh and Jeran.”
“I can’t tell that to the elders expecting me to send Giyesh Home for her first mating!”
“There is a way out,” said Kaid. “You’re carrying a cub, too, aren’t you, Zashou? It’s Kris’, isn’t it? You did the same for yourself.”
Braids chiming as her pelt started to rise, Zashou turned her cool amber gaze on him. “You had no right to read me,” she said, ears folding in anger.
“I didn’t,” he said. “I can tell. It’s one of my gifts.” He looked back to the Clan Lord, “Master Konis, everyone knows Sholan females are far from rational when carrying cubs,” he said quietly. “We offer our sincere apologies to the Rryuk Matriarch, offer whatever bride price they demand— within reason— and explain that this is a Talent Zashou didn’t know she possessed, one of the strange ones that sometimes emerge briefly when our female telepaths are carrying a hybrid cub.”
Konis regarded him thoughtfully. “It might work at that,” he said. “There’s a lot at stake here, Kaid. We can’t afford to have this become an interspecies incident.”
“I take it Father Lijou hasn’t mentioned that we have our own contracts with the Rryuk family. The Brotherhood can’t afford this to escalate either.”
“I’m aware of them, Kaid,” said Konis uncomfortably. “Sometimes I feel as if I’m an undercover Brother because of the amount of information I’m privy to.”
“You joined our hunt, Master Konis,” Kaid said quietly. “If you give the Matriarch the information proving our common ancestry at the same time, then it may divert her from Giyesh’s news.”
“It’ll certainly do that,” said Konis dryly. “Captain Tirak, given you can see why we can’t be candid about what really happened, are you willing to present this reason to your elders?”
“Don’t see I have much option,” he muttered. “But as her uncle, I insist on a marriage between them! Her honor’s been compromised enough. If they don’t accept the explanation, she could be disowned, cast out of the Family.”
“I’ve offered,” interrupted Jeran, speaking for the first time. “You see if you can make her accept me, I can’t.”
“She’ll do it if she wishes to remain here,” said Kaid sternly,
looking over at Giyesh. “In asking Zashou to help you, you knew you were abusing our Clan’s hospitality, risking our reputation to get what you wanted. Now it’s time for you to repay the debt. If you and Jeran don’t take out a bonding contract, you could jeopardize our contracts with your people.”
“I think a three-year contract should be sufficient,” said Konis. “Have we your agreement on this, Giyesh?”
The young U’Churian female scowled angrily before slumping down in her chair. “Agreed,” she muttered.
Kaid checked the time on his wrist comm. “If we leave now, we can catch the registrar in Valsgarth before the office closes. Unless you still need us, Master Konis?”
Konis shook his head, sighing inwardly with relief. “Go. I’ll see Vanna’s findings are passed to Councillor Rhuha with copies for our Ambassador on Home to present to their ruling council. When you contact your elders, Captain Tirak, you can mention that we’ll be sending them in the next day or two. And, Zashou, this must never happen again. I’ll have to report it to the Telepath Guild for…”
“No,” interrupted Kaid as they got to their feet. “We’re En’Shalla, Master Konis, not subject to anyone but Father Lijou. If this becomes common knowledge, then everyone will know they’re from the past. You know we can’t afford that to come out. She won’t do it again without official sanction, will you, Zashou?”
Yet another principle bent out of true, Konis thought, while admitting to himself Kaid was right.
“I don’t know if I could do it again,” she said frankly. “It took more energy than I thought. If it hadn’t been for…”
Don’t complicate matters, sent Kaid. I know you can only do it when you’re pairing. Do you want everyone knowing your domestic arrangements? No need for them to know it took your Triad and Kris pairing together to do it.
Embarrassed, she looked away from Konis. “I couldn’t do it again,” she said. “Since we were woken, our abilities have lessened considerably. I’m told it has to do with us becoming gene-altered.”
Nezule Estate, Zhal-Vartra, 24th day (July)
For the last week, every time he’d turned round, Zsurtul had been there, following him around like some lost cub. He was finding it difficult enough to cope with being in close proximity to the young Prime as it was without this. He’d spoken to Khy about it, and taken a break from training to work with the Warriors for a couple of days, but even then his shadow was there at every opportunity.
He’d been sparring with one of the seniors when Naraan, the Clan Leader called a halt to the bout. Disgruntled, he’d left the gym for the showers only to be called back by Naraan.
“In my office, if you please,” said Naraan, gesturing to the door opposite.
Wiping the sweat from his body, Kusac followed him through the main office into the room beyond. A desk stood in one corner, but it was to the less formal seating Naraan directed him.
“If you don’t ease off, Kusac, I won’t let you work with my people,” he said, sitting down. “I rarely have to stop a sparring session because of excessive force, but you were using Myar as a punching bag.”
“I was fighting fairly,” he said, surprised by the accusation.
“That’s my point. You’re not sparring, you’re fighting, and it has to stop now. There have been too many injuries. Our training techniques aren’t as advanced as the Brotherhood’s. Not even our seniors are able to stand up effectively against you. Just what’s your problem?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said stiffly. “I’m pulling my punches and kicks. Myar was hitting me hard enough.”
“Myar’s a senior. He can’t afford to lose face by appearing outclassed in front of the others, none of the seniors can. These are supposed to be practice sessions, nothing more. You know your skills are superior. What can you possibly gain by beating him into the ground?”
“It was only a friendly match,” he said, aware of the torc beginning to vibrate gently. “I wasn’t aware I was using undue force. I kept pace with Myar, using more advanced moves only when he did.”
“You aren’t even aware of what you’re doing, are you?” Naraan said, getting up. “I’m sorry, Kusac, but until you can learn some self-control, I don’t want you working out with my people again. Stay with your own.”
Realizing he’d been dismissed, he got to his feet. He could feel the vibration increasing and was aware his pelt was beginning to rise. “If that’s what you wish,” he said, turning on his heel and heading for the door as he tried to damp his anger.
In the corridor, he collided with Zsurtul. Grabbing the young Prime by the front of his tunic, he pushed him aside. “Stop following me around,” he snarled. “Haven’t you got something better to do? And in future, stay out of the gym when I’m sparring!”
Pain flickered briefly down his spine, making him stagger as the strength left his legs. Sucking in air, he leaned against the wall, pushing the anger back, frantically reciting the first litany that came to mind in an effort to calm himself. He refused to collapse here in the middle of the corridor in front of a Valtegan!
“Is something wrong? Can I get help?” asked Zsurtul quietly.
“No,” he snarled, pushing himself away from the wall and staggering down the corridor. “Just stay out of my way!”
Valsgarth Estate, the same day
“I’m sorry I had to disturb you on your Link day, Kaid, but you did say to contact you immediately if we had problems with Kusac,” said Khy.
“That’s all right,” said Kaid. “You did the right thing by calling me. It’s my brother’s Triad bonding tomorrow, he’ll be over here for that. I’ll have a talk with Kusac then.”
“As Jayza said, it would be so much easier if he could read him,” murmured Khy.
Kaid didn’t bother answering. “How’s he been with our M’zullians?”
“He’s coping, but then he only takes one session a day and Jayza’s there to help. I don’t feel comfortable leaving him alone with them. He’s only doing pattern exercises, no combat.”
“How’s our princeling doing? Have you sent his mistress packing back to the embassy yet? And what about that aide?”
“Zsurtul reluctantly agreed that the Warrior Clan estate wasn’t an appropriate place for a female of such nice sensibilities as she has,” Khy grinned. “As for the aide, he sent him packing himself, with his mistress. He’s as game as any of them, but he lacks their potential depth of aggression. You’ve been getting my reports, haven’t you? I hope we never have to fight them, Kaid. They’re almost faster than the eye can follow, and have the ability to consciously trigger whatever extra hormones or pseudo-hormones they need. Total bio feedback. One of them managed to break his leg yesterday. Believe it or not, he was climbing a tree of all things! Came crashing down through the branches. It wasn’t a clean break, and he was in a great deal of pain when we got to him, but then his eyes just glazed over and he became very calm. When they tested him in the infirmary, he had levels of natural endorphins that were almost off the scale. I hope we’re doing the right thing by training them.”
“The idea is that by exposing them to us, hopefully they’ll see us as friendly, not a threat. Are they enjoying themselves? You’re implementing the entertainment program as well, aren’t you? It’s important they see the other side of us.”
“I’d say they’re enjoying themselves. They’ve got an insatiable capacity for learning and training— can’t get enough of it. They watch the entertainment channels each evening— they like the factual programs about other species and some of the Terran ones about wildlife on their world. Storytelling hour is one of their favorites too. In fact it was Zsurtul who asked if we could visit a theater. I’m hoping to arrange it for next week if you’ve no objections.”
“None. It sounds like they’re doing well,” he said, relieved that his carefully worked out choice of programs was proving popular with the younglings.
“We’re also keeping up the team games, and individua
l sporting activities to build an appreciation of both teamwork and individual attainment.”
“But,” encouraged Kaid.
Khy grinned, ears flicking in recognition of being caught. “Our prince has a bad case of hero worship.”
“Kusac.”
“You guessed. That’s causing problems. I’ve spoken to Zsurtul about it but he says he’s not following him around, only doing what was agreed— observing life outside their training camp. He says he respects Kusac as a Warrior who suffered much and survived it with dignity.”
“Zsurtul’s got too much of the Intellectual in him,” muttered Kaid. “The Primes are right, they need the leavening of the Warriors, and Warriors need the intelligence of the Intellectuals to prevent them becoming like the M’zullians. I’ll come back with Kusac,” he said, deciding he needed to see for himself what was happening. “Until the day after tomorrow, Khy.”
“Until then, Kaid.”
Kaid switched off his comm and rejoined Carrie on the sofa. She held out a plate of cut meats to him as he sat down beside her.
“You better have some more before I finish them all,” she said. “What do we do about Kusac?”
“There’s nothing you can do, Dzinae,” he said, spearing a couple of chunks with his claw tips and popping them in his mouth. He climbed back to his place beside her, lying down with his head on her lap. As soon as they touched, the magic of their Link flowed through him again, sensitizing his body to hers, making it difficult for him to focus on anything but her.
“When I started training Kusac, T’Chebbi accused me of working him too hard, of trying to prove I hadn’t lost my edge because of what Fyak and Ghezu did to me,” he said quietly. “I didn’t think I was, then. But Kusac’s doing exactly that now, only it’s himself he’s driving too hard.”
“What changed you?” she asked, putting the plate down so she could stroke between his ears.
He turned his head and looked up at her. “Two things. Deciding to make Kusac my sword-brother was the first. I didn’t want to do it but he left me no choice.”
“Why didn’t you?”
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