Dark Nadir

by Lisanne Norman

  “It isn’t as easy when you’re sitting up,” objected the young male. “Don’t complain at me when it was you who said to carry on. I’m only doing what you asked.”

  Brynne was grateful for the interruption. He was sure his shock at knowing Dzaka had experienced Keeza’s flight would have been only too plain on his face. When Dzaka turned back, he’d managed to compose himself again.

  “I had a strange one a few nights ago. I was with Kashini in the nursery and I swear I saw Carrie, yet it also felt like my father. Very confusing,” he said, shaking his head. “She was warning me of danger, I think.”

  “Who’s in danger, though? Us or them? I think it’s us, because why try to warn us otherwise?”

  “Carrie was in cryo, Brynne. How could she warn us? And even if she weren’t, she couldn’t reach us over such a vast distance. It could have been just my own wishful thinking.”

  “I seem to remember hearing that it was Carrie who picked up Rezac’s sending all the way from Jalna. And what better focus could she have than her daughter if she thought she was in danger?”

  “How would she know anything about what was going on if she was in cryo?”

  “I heard that Carrie dreams in cryo,” said Meral, continuing to knead Dzaka’s left shoulder. “Might be no more than gossip.”

  “Where d’you hear that?” asked Brynne.

  “On the Khalossa, when I was first assigned to them as bodyguard. Heard it from a Human called Skai.”

  “Gossip,” dismissed Dzaka. “Nothing more than gossip.”

  “I don’t think so. Skai and she were both on that first crossing from Earth. As soon as they woke her, Carrie told them her mother had died. That was the beginning of the Humans’ fear of her.”

  “I never heard of anyone either dreaming or being aware in cryo before,” said Dzaka.

  “She’s Human, remember? Not a Sholan. Just because no Sholan has experienced it doesn’t mean she didn’t. Hell, this world has done weird things to me with all the visions I’ve been having! Whoever heard of anyone actually meeting a God, for God’s sake!” said Brynne.

  “You met a God?” Dzaka leaned forward intently, ignoring Meral’s exasperated exclamation.

  A chittering at the far side of the room, followed by raised voices, drew their attention.

  “’Scuse me,” said Brynne, getting up hurriedly. He returned with Belle.

  “Get that damned piece of vermin out of . . .” they heard as the door banged open. “Oh. Excuse me, Brother Dzaka, Brother Meral, but . . .”

  Dzaka had caught sight of the jegget in Brynne’s arms and now turned to meet the angry intruder. “Yes, Lasad?” he asked, raising an eye ridge.

  “He’s got a jegget in here!”

  “Brother Brynne has, indeed, got a jegget. Full marks for noticing it,” Dzaka said dryly. “Perhaps you also noticed that we’re busy? Or don’t your powers of perception stretch that far?”

  “Yes, Brother Dzaka, but . . .”

  “She’s a gift from Vartra, and approved to live with me at Stronghold and the Retreat by Father Lijou himself,” said Brynne. “I thought all Brothers had to acquaint themselves with the daily updates from Stronghold. Seems to me you forgot to do so over the last couple of days or you’d have been aware that.” He stopped for a moment, picking up the other’s thoughts. “And the Aldatan colors are red and black, not what I’m wearing. I’m a Brother like yourself.”

  Lasad’s ears laid back in shame as he mumbled an apology and backed out hurriedly.

  “See that the rest know about her,” Brynne called out as a parting shot. When he resumed his seat, he could feel both Dzaka’s and Meral’s surprise and amusement.

  “Seems that Stronghold suits you well,” murmured Dzaka. “Where did you say this jegget came from?”

  Brynne hesitated. He wasn’t sure if he was supposed to talk about his dream-walks. He decided he needed to be honest with him. “I haven’t told you this, you realize. Derwent called me to a dream world one night. Had it not been for Vartra, he’d have dominated my mind and made me take him to Stronghold.”

  Dzaka and Meral stared at him.

  “It’s what I was doing with Derwent,” he said. “Going into other realities, entering dream worlds. He wanted me to join him in the forest and lead him to Stronghold.”

  “Vartra saved you?”

  Brynne nodded. “Belle bit me at the crucial moment, then Vartra arrived and brought me back.”

  “I didn’t know that was possible,” said Meral.

  “I think you’re not supposed to know about it,” said Brynne apologetically. “It’s what happens when we have visions, as best as I can tell. We’re somewhere else, outside time and space—a dream world.”

  “What did Vartra say?”

  “To keep faith with those I trust,” he said, looking up and locking eyes with him. “That’s why I know they’re alive,” he said, stroking Belle’s head as she purred and chirruped happily. “He also gave me a coin.”

  Dzaka jumped down from the massage couch. “We’ve work to do,” he said briskly. “Ghyan keeps records of the dreams and visions from the estate. We’re going to see him. What do you call her?” He stopped to scratch behind the jegget’s ears. “She’s rather cute.”

  “Belle. It means beautiful in my language.”

  “I’m coming with you,” said Meral, recapping the oil and wiping his hands on a towel. “Wait for me.”

  * * *

  Keeza couldn’t believe the size of the house that Brynne lived in. While he went off to see his Leska and their son, Banner and Jurrel remained with her. They were content to leave her to her own devices so long as she remained within the building.

  It was large compared to anywhere she’d lived, having a lounge, a den, and three bedrooms. The kitchen was so spacious it even had room for a table! As for the bathing room, it had both a bath and a shower. All this space for one person overwhelmed her.

  She decided to try out the delights of a bath while the two males started cooking something for third meal.

  * * *

  “Keep an ear on Ghaysa, Jurrel,” said Banner, going over to Brynne’s desk and activating the comm. “I want to see what I can find out about her.”

  “He’s my pupil, Banner. Unless I have good reasons, I won’t go behind his back like this,” he said, his tone carrying a low rumble of annoyance.

  “You aren’t, I am,” said Banner, punching in a Brotherhood security clearance. “It’s not Brynne I mistrust, it’s Ghaysa. Damned convenient, this memory loss of hers.”

  “It’s genuine, as are the times when Brynne picks up her returning memories.”

  “We’ll see,” he said, entering Ghaysa’s description into his search of the Protectorate’s data bank. “You said that in his dreams, she was running from something. Chances are she’s escaped from some correction facility.”

  Jurrel continued to mutter his disapproval. “Even if you do find something, we still have the problem of there being a bond between them, one we’ll not easily break, if at all.”

  “We’ll face that problem when we have to. She’s not on any wanted list. I’ll have to go deeper into their files.”

  “You’re trying to find proof to justify your suspicions. She’s a telepath, probably a Level One like Brynne. She could be innocent of anything except running away from her bond-family.”

  “I’ve found something,” Banner said. “An anomalous entry. A female called Keeza Lassah, executed five months ago. That’s all the information there is. The rest is locked. Not even an image of her, or description of her crime.” He looked over at Jurrel. “This has our mark on it, Jurrel.”

  “Now you’re being ridiculous. If it was her, Stronghold would be looking for her, and we’d know about it.”

  “Not if her mission was known only to a few. And remember, we’ve been off-world for the last year.” He turned back to the comm, beginning to enter a new destination. “If she was to be executed, then the newscasts
must have carried her story.”

  “You’re on the wrong trail. This is such a long shot, Banner, that it’s not worth considering!”

  “You think so?” he asked quietly. “Come and look at Brynne’s Ghaysa, convicted of murdering a Pack Lord.”

  * * *

  After her bath, Ghaysa joined Banner and Jurrel in the den. Immediately she sensed a difference in their attitude toward her. They concealed it well, but now they were wary of her, one of them keeping his eyes on her all the time.

  When Brynne finally returned, it was with relief that she rose to greet him. As he put the jegget down and made his way over to her, Jurrel spoke up.

  “Brynne, there’s something you should know,” he began.

  “I know already,” he said quietly, before giving Keeza a hug. “Leave it for now, please. We’ll talk later.” He could feel their concern at being put off, but all he could do was send reassuring thoughts in their direction with no guarantee of how well they could receive them. He hoped it was enough.

  “I’ve some friends coming over later that I’d like you to meet,” he said to Jurrel. “You too, Banner. He remembers you. Dzaka Arrazo, Kaid’s son, and Meral, Taizia Aldatan’s mate.”

  “Dzaka Arrazo? Are you sure? The Dzaka I knew wasn’t an Arrazo, and he was only Kaid’s foster son.”

  Brynne shook his head. “No, he’s Kaid’s true son, and his mother was Khemu Arrazo. Dzaka and I are combining our visions and dreams with those Father Ghyan has collected from the estate over the last few weeks. We want to see if we can pick up anything he and Father Lijou may have missed. I’d like your input, especially as you were with me when I had the dreams, Jurrel.”

  “Surely, but what about Ghaysa?”

  “I’ve arranged something for Ghaysa to do,” he said, steering her to the nearest chair. “Vanna’s sister Sashti is here. She’s a masseur, has her own business. You’ll like her, Ghaysa. She’s agreed to come over tonight to—as she puts it—spoil you rotten! All the works—a massage, oils, shower, everything. Does that sound good?”

  Bewildered, she looked up at him.

  “No, I don’t think you need it. I think you’d like it after living rough for so long. Come on, humor me, please?”

  “It sounds wonderful,” she said, as vague memories of similar sessions came back to her. A house in Ranz, it had been, one she couldn’t leave for some reason. Despite that, she remembered her stay there had not been unpleasant. It frustrated her, wanting to know more, yet fearing it at the same time. She wished she could remember only the good things.

  Stop worrying, he sent. Just stay upstairs with Sashti in case anyone recognizes you.

  What about Sashti?

  She won’t know you, trust me.

  * * *

  Sashti arrived just after they’d eaten third meal, and whisked Keeza upstairs, leaving time to talk before Dzaka and Meral arrived.

  “I know she’s Keeza Lassah,” he said without preamble. “But I know she killed that Pack Lord for a good reason.”

  “The judge thought otherwise,” said Jurrel. “I’m not saying I agree,” he added, “just stating facts.”

  “She’s dangerous, Brynne.” Banner’s voice was deep with concern. “There’s more. The fact she’s listed as dead means she was released into custody, and that can only be to one of two groups. Us, or the Forces’ Intelligence. Whatever they wanted her for, she’s escaped from them. If we try to dig deeper, we’re going to draw attention to ourselves, and inevitably, her. Meanwhile, you particularly are at risk when you’re alone with her.”

  “She wouldn’t hurt me,” he said. “You’re not telling me anything I hadn’t worked out for myself. Whatever she’s done, she was used by powers that she couldn’t refuse. Dammit, she’s been treated abominably! And I want those responsible!”

  “In doing that, you’ll give her away,” Jurrel reminded him. “Which is exactly what you want to avoid. She’s been convicted of murder, Brynne, before she was recruited. We’re all at risk here—the whole estate is. If she’s frightened, there’s no saying what she’ll do, who she might kill. You’re playing with someone who’s capable of going totally feral. I don’t think you realize that.”

  “I know I trust her,” he said calmly. “And I trust you. What are you going to do now you know?”

  “Watch her carefully for now,” said Jurrel.

  Banner gave a rumble of disagreement. “We should turn her over to the authorities.”

  “What are you going to do?” repeated Brynne, looking at him.

  “I haven’t decided!” Banner said, exasperated.

  “I need some time,” said Brynne. “She’s a telepath, and I think an unregistered one. That being the case, she needs to be tested for the altered genes. She’d have been in prison when they did the tests. They wouldn’t have thought to check condemned criminals. Would it help any if she’s like me? She’d be an En’Shallan then, subject only to Father Lijou.”

  “It wouldn’t wipe out what she’s done,” said Banner.

  “No, but given she’s forgotten so much, perhaps if she agreed now to personality reprogramming, they’d pardon her. She had that choice before and turned it down,” said Jurrel. “Now she’s got Brynne, she might just change her mind.”

  “She’d not be Keeza any longer if they did that,” objected Brynne. “I’m not surprised she turned it down.”

  “Depends what she’s done in the meantime,” said Banner. “They rarely use people like her for anything but suicide missions.”

  “If they did, then whatever she’d done would be part of the mission imperative,” argued Jurrel. “I think if she agrees to reprogramming, it would go a long way to helping. The newsvids said nothing about her being a telepath. If she’s a latent, just awakened, then being gene-altered wouldn’t hurt either,” he added.

  The door chime sounded and Brynne got to his feet. “This’ll have to wait. I appreciate you saying nothing for now at least.”

  Day 30

  Ghyan’s records proved to be unable to add anything to what Dzaka and Brynne had experienced. However, they did manage to drag more details out of Brynne concerning the room. The general consensus was that it was a medical area. When discussing Dzaka’s experience of thinking he saw Carrie, they kept in mind that she’d traveled back in time, and that she’d picked up Rezac mentally when he sent from Jalna. It was possible that she’d been trying to warn them of danger yet to come, but equally possible she was just concerned about her child. The rest they put down to a forewarning of the ship going missing, and the cryo area in the U’Churian ship.

  Brynne had offered to return the files to Ghyan the next day. He was up early, making an unscheduled call at the medical unit, then back home before leaving for the Shrine. When he arrived at the priest’s office, he found Ghyan interested to hear about his studies at Stronghold.

  Eventually, he got the chance to ask the questions he wanted. “On Earth, our priests make vows that anything revealed to them as a confession is never spoken of to anyone else. It’s private and above the law. Is that the case with our Order?”

  Ghyan looked consideringly at him. “There are special occasions when that’s so,” he agreed. “Are you wanting to discuss such a matter with me?”

  “I might,” said Brynne, “if I knew that it would remain private, no matter what it concerned.”

  “Something’s troubling you deeply, isn’t it? Obviously you’re afraid of the action I may feel obliged to take once I know what this is about.”

  Brynne nodded.

  “And am I right in saying you won’t tell me unless you get those assurances?”

  “Yes. I’m not asking for selfish reasons, Father. I want to help someone.”

  “Someone more scared than yourself? That would be very troubled indeed,” Ghyan said, sitting back in his chair, watching him.

  “It’s not my story to tell, Father Ghyan. The person concerned trusts me.”

  “A vulnerable person?”

>   “One who’s been badly mistreated. One who has no place to go to, no one to turn to but me.”

  “I can’t withhold my help, Brynne. I’m not happy about granting this anonymity to your friend. I dislike doing it when I have a feeling the matter is likely to involve the law. Is this person one of Vartra’s followers?”

  “I honestly don’t know, Father Ghyan, but this person is one of us and comes under the God’s protection.”

  “One of us? In what way?” His brows met in a frown.

  “En’Shalla. A gene-altered telepath, and linked somehow psychically to me.”

  “You have proof? If I’m going to get involved with something that concerns the Protectorate, I need to be sure of the facts beforehand.”

  Brynne took a piece of paper out of his pocket and handed it to him. “The gene test result. Obviously it can belong only to the person concerned.”

  Ghyan took it from him and examined it. “Can I keep it?”

  Brynne reached out to retrieve it. “I’m afraid not, Father. It’s my proof for this person. I can’t let it out of my possession.”

  Ghyan sighed. “Very well, you have my word that this will be a matter between ourselves and Vartra.”

  * * *

  Kaid lay awake that night, able to rest his body but not his mind. He’d been gone almost three days this time, T’Chebbi said. The Primes had had enough opportunity to watch the pairs to know about their five day cycles and recognize he and Carrie had a mental bond. Thankfully, they’d let them remain together for their first Link day. And gave them another for good behavior, he added cynically.

  He thought back to when he’d had the first of the pain attacks, now eighteen days ago. It should have been obvious to him even then, with the pain over the ribs, exactly where Carrie had been hit, what was happening. No, it hadn’t been then. That had happened a day earlier, when he’d had difficulty breathing and first seen the bright lights.

  Remember Winter’s kiss. The words echoed in his mind again, as did the touch of a cold tongue. He shivered, remembering he’d thought Carrie looked as if she’d been touched by Khuushoi, Goddess of Winter, when he’d left her in cryo. Maybe she had. The thought unnerved him and he turned his mind away from it.