Dark Nadir

by Lisanne Norman

  “Yes, I will,” she said firmly. They mustn’t know how physically dependent on each other Leska pairs were.

  “As you wish,” the Seniormost said, then turned and left, the guard following him.

  Stunned, she stood there for a moment, then sank down on the bed. He was going to let her starve herself? Maybe he didn’t believe she would.

  Her mouth watered as she smelled the food standing on the night table. She was hungry. Resolutely, she climbed back into bed, curling up with her back to the enticing smells and burying her face in the pillow. It helped, a little.

  Kaid’s scent came back to haunt her. She knew it was futile, but she reached out mentally for him, finding the same barrier as before. Remembering the Jalnian effect, she tried other mental frequencies but found nothing. Whatever they were using, it was thorough. They knew how to disable telepaths.

  Her efforts had exhausted her more than she’d realized, more than they should have. Then she remembered she’d had major surgery only two weeks before and spent much of the time since in stasis while they tried to heal her. Unbidden, earlier memories of waking in pain, seeing the bright lights and the white tiled ceiling overhead, then the helmets of the Primes as they bent over her, came back again. With an effort of will, she pushed them aside and began to recite the litanies Kaid had taught her. A gentle warmth began to spread through her limbs and gradually, as her drowsiness increased, she let herself drift off to sleep.

  * * *

  Deciding to leave for the estate a day earlier because of the risk of Keeza being discovered, Brynne’s first stop after seeing his companions settled in his house was to visit Vanna and his son.

  “He seems to know when you’re here,” said Vanna, as Brynne took the squirming bundle from her.

  Excited mewls and squeaks greeted him as his son, now a hefty size, climbed up his chest to wrap his arms around his neck and nuzzle him. A small rough tongue began to lick him madly under the jaw.

  He laughed, supporting the cub with one hand while he ruffled Marak’s ears with the other. “And hello to you, too, young fellow! It’s a good job I’ve got a beard, you’d be licking me raw otherwise!” He turned to look at Vanna. “How’s our young lad been since my last visit?”

  “He’s into everything now he’s mobile,” she said, sitting down beside him. “He might still be unsteady on his legs but that doesn’t stop him, I assure you! He and Kashini drive their nurses to distraction. Still, it’s good that they’ve got each other to play with. How have you been?”

  “Fine,” he said. “I’m home for five days this time.”

  “That’s longer than usual. Any special reason?”

  “Yes,” he said, making a grab for Marak as the cub tried to climb over his shoulder onto the back of the couch. He tried vainly to disengage him, but Marak clung on for dear life, refusing to be moved. “Vanna, can you help me here? He’s got his claws caught and I can’t get him down.”

  Laughing, she leaned across him to free their adventurous offspring and let Brynne lift him down onto his lap.

  “What’s the reason for the long visit, then?” she asked.

  “I’ve met someone,” he said, looking up at her. “Someone who’s important to me.”

  “Jurrel? He’s been here with you before, surely,” she said raising an eye ridge.

  Brynne met her curious stare this time, something he’d never been able to do before. “Does everyone know my private business?” he asked, keeping his tone light.

  “Only those who care,” she reassured him gently. “We want you to find your own place in our world, and someone to make you happy. So is it Jurrel?”

  “Someone else,” he said. “A female, though you’re right, Jurrel is important to me, too.”

  The eye ridge arched higher. “Have you brought her with you?”

  “She’s with Jurrel and Banner right now. Banner is Jurrel’s Companion and sword-brother.”

  She digested this for a moment, and he could sense her thinking that with him, nothing was straightforward. “Will I get to meet this female—what’s she called, by the way? She must have a name. Where did you meet her?”

  “Ghaysa, and I met her at Vartra’s Retreat. Yes, but in a day or two, when I’ve sorted some things out here first,” he said, letting Marak distract him from her penetrating gaze. Their link might be lessened while she was carrying Garras’ child, but she was still too damned intuitive by far for his comfort right now. “You’ll like her. She’s not as strong as you. Much more vulnerable. She needs me, Vanna.”

  Vanna reached out to stroke his cheek. “I’m glad for you.” Her eyes narrowed. “Was she the one in your nightmares? Are you still getting them? I’ve been really concerned about you, Brynne. They’ve been affecting me, and that upsets Marak.”

  “It’s not something that I have any control over, Vanna. Tutor Kha’Qwa says it’ll lessen after a while, that the intensity is because it’s new to me,” he said, letting his son chew gently on a finger. “I’m picking up things from all over the place. You know I wouldn’t upset you and Marak if I could avoid it.”

  “Maybe getting involved with the religious side wasn’t such a good idea after all.”

  “It got involved with me, if you remember.”

  She sighed. “I suppose you’re right. So how’s Jurrel taking the arrival of this female? Or Banner for that matter?”

  “They’re amused,” he grinned, turning to touch his lips against her hand as she moved it away again. “Banner particularly. I think he sees me the same way he sees Jurrel, like an enthusiastic cub discovering the world for the first time.”

  She laughed again. “I think I’m going to like this Banner! I never quite saw you like that, Brynne, I must admit.”

  He nodded, stroking his son’s back as the little one curled up, his purr becoming a slightly deeper buzz of pleasure. He could feel it, a warm, contentment that stemmed from having his mother and father together with him.

  “He misses me,” he said, surprised.

  “Of course he does. You’re his father. He cares for Garras, but he knows who his father is, Brynne.”

  “You did put up with a lot from me, didn’t you? Yet you’ve never been anything but fair.”

  She shrugged his compliment off. “It was you who said it, Brynne. We had to make this Link between us work one way or another. Who knows? If you’d had some chance at an independent life on Shola before our Link formed, things might have been different, but it didn’t happen that way. I’m happy now with Garras, and it looks like you’ve found someone, too. You’ve changed, you know. But you had to find out for yourself what you wanted from life here. No one could tell you what you needed to know.”

  “Enough of the serious stuff. Bring me up to date on what’s been happening here. How are things?”

  Her face clouded over. “Bad news, I’m afraid. I didn’t want to tell you right away. Kusac’s and Carrie’s ship is missing. Been overdue now for nearly a month, and the searches have turned up nothing.”

  “I know. It’s dreadful news. I was told a short while ago because some of my visions involved them,” he said.

  “You saw something?”

  “Bits and pieces,” he replied. “But I’m positive they’re alive, somewhere.”

  “Somewhere?”

  “I was seeing a white-tiled room, and experiencing an overwhelming feeling of terror. Bright lights, too,” he added, eyes unfocusing briefly as he tried to call the images up before him. “Like the shower in my room at Stronghold.”

  “Have you spoken to Father Lijou about this?”

  “He knows, but there’s not been enough information in what I’ve seen to be of much help.”

  “Dzaka said he’s felt Carrie’s presence several times,” she said thoughtfully. “I think you two should talk.”

  “I will,” he said. “Strange he’s picking up Carrie, though. I’d have thought it would be Kaid who’d try to contact him.”

  “You know Carrie was i
njured, don’t you? They had to leave Jalna on a U’Churian ship because they had cryo facilities. She was too badly hurt to wait for the contact ship.”

  “That I wasn’t told. I hope to God she’s all right. If she’s in cryo, it’s even more strange that Dzaka should think he’s sensing her. I know they’re still alive, Vanna.”

  * * *

  Rhyasha and Mara were taking the Touibans to their new quarters. It had taken a few days to adapt a house unit to their special needs, but now it was ready for them to move into. It had been decided the best place for them was next to the Brothers’ accommodation. Luckily a house had been kept vacant beside theirs against just such a need.

  Six excited Touibans were something to see. To be at the center of twelve of them was like riding a roller coaster as they swirled and danced round the two females in a state of high excitement. That morning, they’d had the Touibans’ personal belongings moved from their temporary quarters in the medical building to their new home. Several villagers had been drafted to help the Touibans rearrange their furnishings as closely as possible to the way they’d been before. Now they wanted to show it off to those who’d made it all possible.

  Though Mara had been involved in much of the work, she wasn’t prepared for the sight that met her eyes.

  The impression was of walking into a brightly colored pavilion tent. Jewel bright patterned draperies covered every wall and hung looped down from the ceilings. On the floor, plush rugs in similarly bright colors overlapped each other, creating a feeling of warmth and soft opulence. The already subdued lighting was even more diffuse for being above the tented ceilings.

  Low tables and large, soft cushions were spread in the middle of the main room, while at the four corners stood taller tables bearing precariously placed bronze statuettes. Before each of them, sticks of incense and scented oils burned.

  Oh, my goodness! sent Rhyasha. Such opulence! How can they live among so many bright things!

  It’s wonderful! Mara looked around, obviously in a daze, breathing in the scented air. I’ve got to have my room done up like this! It’s like desert tents back on Earth! You know, nomadic folk.

  That explains it. Several of the Touiban swarms are nomadic. This must be one of them. You have your room decorated like this if you want, child I’m glad you enjoy it, since you’ll spend quite a bit of time here working with them! I’ll stick to the archaeological dig, I think. Much calmer surroundings. This is so loud!

  Isn’t it just? Mara beamed at her. She turned to the anxious Toueesut. “It’s absolutely wonderful. Is this what your homes look like?”

  He nodded. “This is but a poor example of the decorative harmony we enjoy at home, but it will suffice for the moment. Now we have gained the kind permission not only of your ambassadors but our own to establish a small hive within the heart of your family, we can request much more finery. Such drabness is not conducive to the starting of a new life, and our ladies rightly expect far more glorious decorations than these.”

  “When will your ladies arrive?” asked Mara.

  Toueesut released a scent that reminded her of a babbling stream on a hot summer’s day. She looked closely at him, seeing his heavily mustached mouth split in a very Human grin. A trill of laughter surrounded her as the six who’d been hanging back while they had their tour of the premises, clustered round her.

  “Our ladies are always with us, how could we be without their songs that touch the softer sides of us all?” asked Toueesut.

  “Good gracious,” said Rhyasha faintly, looking down at the almost identical sea of whiskered faces. She glanced again at the five around the Speaker. “Why didn’t we realize?”

  “Because they usually work in sixes?” asked Mara quietly. “We must have one of the few full swarms on Shola.”

  “Indeed, we do. I wondered at the time when they asked to send twelve.”

  “Their scents, Rhyasha. I’m finding I get pictures in my mind when I smell them.”

  Toueesut nodded almost violently with enthusiasm. “Now you see and hear the music of the minds that we make use of among ourselves. Never have we spoken of this before, because never have we found that harmony of mind outside our hives.”

  A gentle perfume permeated the air, bringing images of cool springs welling from dry rocks to both Rhyasha and Mara.

  Toueesut sighed gustily, making the stiff bristles round his nose quiver. It was echoed by all of them.

  “We have worked many, many times with the Sholans, but it is only here we have heard a song of harmony of spirit and mind that is like enough to ours. We had thought ourselves alone capable of making such glorious music and it is a joy to all of us to know this is not so. We bless the Makers for bringing us to your Hive land and for letting us hear your songs.”

  “We’re happy to be able to hear yours, too, Speaker,” said Rhyasha, bowing toward him as the six females danced and wove their way back to their mates. “Which one of the lucky ladies is yours?”

  He looked confused for a moment.

  Rhyasha moved her hand toward the translator she wore tucked into a pocket in her belt.

  This is why we need to carry translators, she sent to Mara.

  “No need for mechanical speakings,” he said, waving his hands expressively. “Only a misunderstanding that is natural on your part when you are not even knowing six of our number are our ladies. They are wives to us all as we are husbands to them, with each one of us having a unique tune to bring to our swarm.”

  “We have a lot to learn from you about your people, Speaker. I hope you’ll be willing to allow your swarm to help us.”

  “It is for the joy of sharing such knowledge that we wished to come together within your larger Hive. We hope you will be willing to share yourselves in just such a way with us.”

  “Of a certainty, Speaker,” assured Rhyasha, watching while the six females disappeared—at least she assumed they were the females, since the Speaker and five others remained.

  “We would be honored if you will be joining with us to celebrate the new beginnings of our small hive on your garden world. A meal has been prepared using the finest of ingredients and cooking it in the best traditional style.” Toueesut indicated the low table, surrounded by cushions.

  “We’re the ones who’d be honored, Speaker,” said Rhyasha, moving toward it. “I fear we may not be able to do the meal justice. Had we known, we wouldn’t have eaten shortly before we came.” Grin and enjoy it, child, she sent to Mara, even if it tastes foul.

  Startled, Mara took her seat on one of the soft cushions, looking questioningly at Rhyasha. Toueesut sat between them, the other five males arranging themselves around the table, leaving spaces for their wives.

  You don’t know what they eat.

  Her fears proved to be groundless as the six returned bearing plates, cutlery, and several large bowls of hot food. It smelled familiar, Rhyasha realized as the lids were lifted up and the bowls presented to her to help herself. As she spooned a reasonable-sized helping onto her plate, she recognized it. “Isn’t this a Sholan dish?”

  “But of course,” beamed Toueesut. “Chiddoes stewed in red wine and sweet vegetables. What else would we serve our guests but food traditional to our new home?”

  * * *

  It was late afternoon before Brynne was able to go in search of Dzaka. He found him in the bathing area of the exercise hall. Meral was massaging a muscle he’d pulled while training.

  “Hello, Dzaka, Meral. Can we talk?” he asked, walking over to the massage couch.

  “I heard you were back,” Dzaka said, looking up at him as Meral echoed Brynne’s greeting.

  “News gets around fast,” said Brynne, pulling a chair over to the couch and sitting down.

  Meral stopped working on his shoulder. “Shall I go?” he asked.

  “No, don’t stop,” said Dzaka. “If you leave it now, the joint’ll stiffen.”

  “Look, I’m sorry to bother you, but I need to know about the dreams you’ve h
ad concerning Carrie, Kusac, or Kaid.”

  Dzaka frowned, eye ridges meeting. “How does what I’ve seen involve you?” His tone was sharp.

  This was obviously not one of his better days, thought Brynne. “Brotherhood business,” he said quietly. “I’ve also been seeing things. It’s time we put them together, see what we have.”

  Dzaka put his head down on his forearms again. “Father Lijou’s doing that. What need have we to duplicate it?”

  “The need to know if we can help our friends and family,” said Brynne, his voice taking on a hard edge. Self-pity was all very well, but not when lives were at stake.

  He caught sight of a concerned look from Meral and wondered why.

  “You bring discredit to Jurrel’s teaching!” said Dzaka, lifting his head again, this time to glower at him. “Strengthen your shields or turn your psi damper up, dammit, you’re broadcasting!”

  Brynne stiffened, then reached for his damper, acknowledging the reprimand and the truth in what his senior said. “I apologize, Brother Dzaka,” he said. “I was with Marak and forgot to turn it on again.”

  Meral leaned over the prone Sholan, speaking quietly in his ear, but Brynne caught it anyway.

  “If you tense up like this, Brother Dzaka, then nothing I do will be of much use.”

  It was Meral’s turn to be growled at. “Don’t you Brother Dzaka me, you impudent cub!”

  As the youth stood up and reached for the massage oil, he exchanged a meaningful glance with Brynne.

  Relieved it wasn’t just him, Brynne plowed on. “I’ve told Father Lijou what I’ve seen, but they’re only glimpses of a room, nothing more. I thought perhaps if I told you about them, you might have seen something that would help to make sense of them. The bottom line is that I know they’re still alive.”

  That got his attention. “What have you seen?” he demanded, sitting up.

  Brynne told him of the tiled room and the bright lights, then the insubstantial dreams of coldness and fear.

  “Like mine, something and nothing,” Dzaka murmured when he’d done. “I’ve had the odd one about being chased through the forest. Ouch! Watch it, Meral!” he exclaimed, turning to look at his friend.