strongholdrising

by Lisanne Norman

  L’Seuli looked at the telepath. “Jiosha, you’d explain it better than me,” he said.

  “The younglings were on the Odyssey, Commander,” she said, taking one of the other chairs. “It brought in the last of the Human telepaths from Earth earlier today.”

  “I remember hearing it was due about now. That doesn’t explain why you felt it necessary to kidnap those younglings. You know this could escalate into an incident with us at the core? We don’t need that kind of attention right now.”

  “They sent to me, Commander,” said Jiosha. “They’re telepaths. If they’re returned to Earth, they’ll be sent to one of several military establishments to be trained against their will.”

  Rhyaz raised an eye ridge. “They’re a sovereign world, Jiosha. If they choose to recruit their telepaths into the military, we can’t interfere.”

  “Not recruit,” she said. “Force. These are unregistered ones, hiding from their authorities. They were trying to reach us.”

  “We can’t interfere,” he repeated.

  “We must. They asked for sanctuary.”

  “I heard you the first time,” he said, irritated. “Naturally we can’t grant it.”

  “We have to,” said Jiosha. “They appealed to me. As a priestess and a leader of the Order of Vartra, I have to honor their request. And there’s possibly another reason,” she said, glancing over at L’Seuli.

  “More compelling than asking for sanctuary? I’m all ears,” Rhyaz said with heavy irony.

  I’m not telling him. We might be wrong, she sent to L’Seuli.

  He looked at the ceiling, closing his eyes briefly. If they were right, there was no way they could allow the female at least to leave this ship, and if they were wrong, this could be highly embarrassing for all concerned.

  “If they’re rounding up the telepaths and forcing them into training centers for military use, that’s persecution,” said L’Seuli. “And that is against Alliance laws, Commander. It’s a matter for AlRel. Chagda is considered Alliance soil, so Alliance law takes precedence over Terran ones.”

  Very diplomatic! sent Jiosha, her mental tone highly sarcastic. He wished for the thousandth time he had the ability to send telepathically as well as receive.

  “Contact the Clan Lord, Lyand,” sighed Rhyaz. “And my ship. Tell them to stand down, we’ll not be leaving for several hours. I’m surprised we haven’t heard from the Captain of the— was it the Seattle?”

  “Yes, Commander,” said Lyand.

  “I don’t think we’ll hear from him, Commander,” said Jiosha. “If they’re engaged in illegal acts, they won’t want to argue the matter of those two telepaths with us.”

  “Call Port Control and have them hold the Seattle and its crew for questioning,” he ordered. “I’ll be damned if they head out of here leaving this mess in our den!”

  *

  “Three tugs have been diverted to see the Seattle stays in its berth,” said L’Seuli. “We got them just in time, they were continuing to undock. I also called the Palace and spoke to Master Konis. He’s putting an impound order on the Odyssey and sending troops to escort the Captain of the Seattle down to Shola for an explanation of his actions.”

  Rhyaz got to his feet. “Well done, both of you. All that remains is for us to have these two young people escorted to the Port Protectorate office until AlRel arrives.”

  “I’m afraid it isn’t so simple, Commander,” said L’Seuli. “Master Konis wants us to remain here as well.”

  “And the younglings will have to go to Father Lijou at Stronghold,” added Jiosha. “They’ve been granted sanctuary. They’re our responsibility, not AlRel’s.”

  “Lyand, tell Captain Fyshar to present my apologies to the Rryuk Matriarch but I’ve been detained on sudden and unavoidable Alliance business. He’s to proceed to Home without me,” sighed Rhyaz, getting up.

  Lyand nodded and slipped out.

  “Let’s go and see these two young people,” he said, heading for the door.

  Jiosha threw L’Seuli a frantic look but all he could do was raise his shoulders helplessly, trying to convey the question what did she expect him to do about it?

  She stood up, moving swiftly to reach the door before him. “Commander, it might be better not to see them,” she said.

  “Excuse me?” he asked, obviously baffled by her behavior.

  “I don’t know what your gift is, Commander, but did you experience anything strange when we stopped the Human soldiers?”

  “I’m sorry, you’ve lost me, Jiosha,” he said as L’Seuli joined her between him and the door.

  “No, we lost you. For a full minute. We don’t think you should go near the younglings until we’ve had advice from Father Lijou. You might be forming a Leska Link with the female.”

  Rhyaz’ mouth dropped open in shock as he stared disbelievingly at her.

  “That’s why I couldn’t let the Humans take them away,” said L’Seuli. “We could be wrong, Commander,” he added hastily, “but we couldn’t take that chance.”

  “I appreciate your concern, L’Seuli,” he said quietly, moving them aside and opening the door. “But I will see the younglings.”

  *

  “Commander,” said L’Seuli, catching up with him outside the mess. “If we’re right and you go in there…”

  Rhyaz stopped. “When the Brotherhood recruited me, L’Seuli, I accepted because I believed you can either take life by the throat and fight it, or run and cower in your den. Do me one favor if you will.”

  “Anything.”

  “Get everyone but the female out of there,” he said, reaching for his gun and his knife and passing them to him. “And ask Jiosha to be on hand.”

  He stood back and waited as L’Seuli ordered the two Brothers and the young male out. Then he went in, closing the door behind him.

  She was seated at the first table, holding a mug.

  “Djana,” he said, walking round to the head of the table and pulling out a chair. “Do you speak Sholan?” he asked, sitting down.

  She looked quizzically at him and shook her head. “Sorry, I don’t understand,” she said in Terran.

  He recognized the accent and language. “You come from England?” he asked in her language.

  A smile lit her face. “Yes. Thank you for rescuing us. You did rescue us, didn’t you?” As she frowned, her eyebrows met under the fringe of almost white-blonde hair that framed her oval face. “The one in the long black robes is a priest, isn’t she?”

  “Yes, sanctuary has been granted,” he confirmed. “And yes, Sister Jiosha is a telepath priest. You sent to her.”

  She looked puzzled. “No, I didn’t. I knew by your gray robe you were in charge.”

  Icy shock ran through him and his ears began to flatten until common sense took hold. “You thought you did. It’s easy to make a mistake when you’re an untrained telepath.”

  She shrugged, lifting up her mug and taking a drink. “I don’t make those kind of mistakes,” she said. “Ask her, this Sister Jiosha. She knows it was you I spoke to. She’s outside the door, isn’t she?”

  “Why did you want to come to Shola?” he asked abruptly.

  “Got nothing to keep us on good old Earth,” she said, putting the mug down. “Where have they taken Kai?”

  “To another room. I wanted to speak to you on your own.”

  “What happens now? When do we go down to Shola?”

  “I’m asking the questions, Djana,” he said, allowing a faint growl to creep into his voice.

  “Alex. My name’s Alex,” she said. “I told you everything that’s important.”

  “You told Jiosha,” he said firmly. “Now you’ll tell me. Do you know who we are?”

  “Some religious group,” she said. “You’re telepaths. You’ve got purple on your robes.”

  He frowned, wishing she wouldn’t keep insisting he was a telepath. “We’re the Brotherhood of Vartra, an Order of Warrior Priests,” he said. “Ours is the main relig
ion of Shola.”

  “So I’m impressed. Now will you tell me what happens next? And who are you? I’ve told you my name. You could be polite enough to tell me yours.”

  “Commander Rhyaz. I’m the leader of the Warriors in the Brotherhood,” he said, annoyed by her attitude.

  She smiled, and he knew she was following his surface thoughts. He was being purposely baited for her amusement. He got to his feet. “You’ll remain here for the time being, Alex. Seems the Captain of the Seattle was prepared to leave you here with us. However, granting you sanctuary has put us in an awkward position with Earth. You’ll have to wait till the head of our Alien Relations arrives.”

  He made it as far as the door before she called out after him. “You going to feed us or what? It’s been a long time since we last ate.”

  “You’ll be fed,” he said shortly as he opened the door.

  Once outside, he leaned against the wall, breathing more easily. “Nothing,” he said to Jiosha. “I felt nothing.”

  “Nothing?”

  “Oh, she gave me some tale about it being me she sent to, not you, but she was trying to manipulate me,” he said. “Get a cabin set up for them and put them in there. Show them how to use the dispenser to get some food. We’ll wait here till Konis arrives. Any idea how long he’ll be?”

  “Several hours, L’Seuli said. Commander,” she replied, reaching out to touch his arm. “It was you she sent to. I received it, too, but it was directed at you.”

  “Come on, Jiosha, you didn’t fall for that, did you?” he asked, heading back down the corridor to L’Seuli’s office. “I’m not a telepath! And I knew nothing about her, you had to tell me.”

  “What is your gift then, Commander?” she asked, almost running to keep pace with him.

  “Empathy,” he said shortly, stopping dead and turning on her. “And don’t say a damned thing about Dzaka and Kitra and how he was only an empath!”

  *

  When L’Seuli returned after escorting Konis down to the cabin where the two younglings were being kept, he threw a handful of cutlery onto the low table beside the sofa on which Rhyaz was lying.

  “You starting a collection?” Rhyaz asked, sitting up and eyeing the assorted knives and spoons.

  “They had the access panel hanging off the wall,” said L’Seuli, sitting down in an easy chair.

  “What?”

  “They had…”

  “I heard you! What the hell were they doing?”

  “Trying to escape again.”

  “And Jiosha wants us to take them to Stronghold!”

  “We can tag them. It’s been done before. I believe there was a time Kaid was tagged. In his early days,” he added hastily, seeing Rhyaz’ expression. “He left to fetch T’Chebbi from one of the packs in Ranz. They tagged him when he returned, but only for a couple of months.”

  “They should go to Vartra’s Retreat. Let Dhaika have ‘em,” Rhyaz grumbled, sitting up and swinging his legs to the floor. He’d spent most of the last three hours fielding official complaints from the Odyssey and the Seattle as well as the Human Ambassador on Shola.

  “The Telepath Guild would be most appropriate,” said L’Seuli. “Not the nicest thing to do to Master Sorli, though.”

  “What do these younglings want here?” he asked. “Is it just to escape from their authorities?”

  “That’s a pretty powerful motivation on its own,” said L’Seuli. “Jiosha says they haven’t thought that far ahead. They’re orphans, ran away from the orphanage about four years ago when it was discovered they had psi talents. They’ve been living on their wits ever since.”

  “Well, they’ve chosen the wrong place to come if they think it’s any easier here. If Konis grants them Residence permits, then they’re not our problem any longer. He can pack them off to the Telepath Guild. Did she find out if they’re a couple?”

  “Just friends. They know each other too well for anything else. You know, it was pretty enterprising of them getting as far as they did with that access plate,” said L’Seuli. “They knew nothing about our power sources or devices. They might just be Brotherhood material.”

  Rhyaz gave him a vitriolic glare. “Don’t talk up trouble,” he said, picking up his mug of cold c’shar. “I should be on my way to Home now. How’s it going to look to the Rryuk Matriarch when she hears I canceled her personal invitation at the last minute?”

  “At least she’s getting our people to teach her specialist fighters,” said L’Seuli. “You can visit her another time.”

  Rhyaz muttered darkly until Lyand put a fresh mug of c’shar beside him and L’Seuli.

  “Would you like third meal now, Commander?” he asked.

  “We’ll wait for Master Konis,” said Rhyaz. “I wouldn’t mind a small snack in the meantime, though. Something to take the edge off my hunger. Thank you, Lyand.”

  As the door closed behind his new aide, Rhyaz leaned back on the sofa. “I’m going to miss you,” he said. “Lyand is good, you trained him well, but he’s not you.”

  L’Seuli folded his ears back in embarrassment. “I’m glad I was able to help,” he murmured.

  “Don’t work too hard out there on Haven. Remember to take time off. And find yourself a Companion, for Vartra’s sake!”

  Again, L’Seuli’s ears disappeared. “I won’t have time to get to know any females, Master Rhyaz. There’s far too much to do.”

  “You know Jiosha. I’ve seen the way you look at her when you think she isn’t aware of you. Father Lijou tells me you and she were in the same intake year.”

  “I’m sure I don’t know what you’re talking about, Master Rhyaz,” he said, his voice sounding distinctly strangled.

  “Yes, you do. Do it now, L’Seuli, before you get too settled into a routine of nothing but work. Then you’ll never do it. I’ve seen the difference Kha’Qwa’s made to Lijou and have moments when I regret not following his advice. I’m too set in my ways now, though.” He narrowed his eyes briefly. “And no, I’m not trying to convince myself!”

  L’Seuli tried to cover his startlement by picking up his mug.

  *

  Jiosha caught sight of the distinctive red-and purple-edged overrobe of the Clan Lord outside the room the two young Humans were in and hurried over to talk to him.

  “Clan Lord,” she said, dipping her head in respect. “I must talk to you.”

  Konis excused himself from the crewmale he’d been talking to and, taking her gently by the shoulder, led her down the corridor to L’Seuli’s office.

  “Were we right?” she asked.

  “Perhaps,” he said. “I do know the Commander is now capable of receiving telepathically. He isn’t one of the gene-altered Brothers, that I do know, so it would seem unlikely that he’d develop a Leska Link to a Human, but stranger things have happened, as we all know. I’m going to give him my psi damper bracelet. I can get another, but I feel it’s imperative he wear one from now on. L’Seuli and you, too. I’ll see we have some sent out to you at Haven.”

  “Thank you, Master Konis. What about you, though? Surely your need is just as great?”

  Konis smiled. “No, I’m more than able to block any but the most determined attempt to read me against my will, Jiosha, and I’d notice any such attempt. The Touibans have miniaturized the device now to the point it can be inserted into any wrist comm. I’ve always meant to have mine done, just to be rid of the need to wear two, only I’ve never gotten around to it. This will be an incentive.”

  “If you’re sure, Master Konis. And thank you, the personal dampers will be most useful, I’m sure. What do you plan to do with Alex and Kai?”

  “I’m granting them Residence, but in view of your fears, I think it advisable that both they and he stay at Stronghold for the next few weeks. If nothing happens within that time, then likely it won’t. Has he touched her, do you know? Touch seems to be the trigger.”

  “Not that I know of, but he was alone with her in the mess.”

 
“The best thing we can do is let nature take its own course. I’ll speak to Father Lijou about this personally so he can be alert for anything happening. You and L’Seuli just put your minds at rest that the matter is well in hand and head out to Haven to take up your new posts. You’ll have problems enough of your own, I’m sure.”

  “Thank you, Master Konis. I’m sure you’re right and there’s nothing to worry about,” she said, relieved.

  Prime world, Zhal-Oeshi, 10th day (August)

  “General. Nice to see you back from the dark reaches of space,” said Q’akuh, opening the door to him. “Was it a good trip?”

  Several answers sprang to his mind but he satisfied himself with saying, “Yes.”

  “I must admit I was surprised not to be taken with you,” Q’akuh said, gesturing to him to enter.

  “Well, it was you or one of my favorite young females, Q’akuh,” he said lazily, looking round the small lounge as he entered. Two males, both vaguely familiar. “Hardly a difficult choice.” Zayshul had suggested he take at least one of his camp followers with them and pay some attention to her to stave off suspicion. Now he recognized the wisdom of her advice, though at the time he’d balked at any action that suggested he had an unbridled sexual appetite.

  Q’akuh laughed politely. “Then I can’t in fairness complain. Sit down, General. A glass of wine perhaps? This is Zhayan, Director of Sciences in the City, and Director Zsiyuk, in charge of shipping contracts. They’ve been anxious to meet you for some time, but unfortunately your aide said your calendar was full. Under the circumstances, I hope you don’t mind me inviting them here today.”

  The room was small, with three doors leading off it, one in each wall. Furnishings were basic, nowhere near the level of comfort he’d had even in his single quarters. Predictably, there were no windows. It was the apartment of a minor courtier, such as he’d stayed in when summoned to the Court by his Emperor.

  He chose a seat with a view of the door, set to one side of where Q’akuh’s guests were sitting.

  “Of course he minds,” said Zsiyuk in his gravelly voice. “If he’s anything like me, he can’t abide all the claw sharpening that goes on behind the scenes to get anything done around here! Well, we aren’t here to ask you to get concessions for us at Court, Kezule.”