Dark Nadir

by Lisanne Norman

  Rezac was right, and he’d be failing in his duty if he didn’t accept the offer of help. His father had an uncanny knack of knowing when something was wrong with him. He wondered if Dzaka thought the same of him. Do it, then.

  I’ll need to monitor you, Rezac warned him. And tell the others if necessary.

  Kaid shut his eyes. He was deathly tired and ached all over. No.

  It would be better to tell the Primes now. You’re only going to get worse and there’s nothing we can do to ease it.

  You know I can’t. To do that would be showing them our weakness. It’s academic anyway. They don’t come when we call them. He could feel the compassion in the other’s thoughts. How could the Leskas live like this, tied so completely to another? He was so used to his freedom, his independence.

  But no more loneliness. You’ve only had one Link day, sent Rezac. You wait, it’s worth it for that one day in five that’s yours.

  He remembered saying something similar to Kusac. Now he would be finding out for himself. Do what you have to, he sent with a sigh.

  You’ll tell T’Chebbi? That one’s like a feral when it comes to defending you.

  He opened his eyes, smiling faintly. “I’ll tell T’Chebbi.”

  “Tell me what?” she demanded from by his elbow.

  See what I mean? sent Rezac with a slow grin.

  “Go and read Jeran,” said Kaid, pushing himself out of the chair. “I’ll talk to T’Chebbi now.”

  * * *

  “You got till midday tomorrow? That’s all?” T’Chebbi asked, shocked.

  He nodded, holding his arms open for her. She went to him, clutching him tightly as his arms closed round her and he rested his head against hers.

  “I need you to understand how much I love you,” he said, the words coming slowly, as if he was having difficulty saying them. “One day, you and I will share cubs, because I don’t compare you with Carrie, don’t love either of you more than the other, just differently.”

  “I know,” she whispered, clenching her hands in his still long pelt. “I know you don’t. I love them and you that way, too.” She could feel tears beginning to course down her cheeks and pushed away from him, scrubbing at her face. “Look at me, some warrior I am!”

  “The best,” he said, capturing her again. “I chose you to guard Carrie, didn’t I?” He licked her tears away, making her laugh, and cry again. “I’m not that bad. Rezac’s watching me, he’ll not let me go into a coma.”

  “Wish it was me. I’d know how things were then, when to worry.”

  “Ask Rezac, he’ll tell you. You have to trust him, T’Chebbi. I am, with my life.”

  “Should be me!”

  “No, you’re my Second. You have to lead for me, that’s more important this time,” he said, stroking her head, smoothing back her ears as if he was soothing a cub. “And ease off on Zashou, please. It hurts Rezac when you go for her. She can’t help being afraid.”

  T’Chebbi stiffened slightly. “Where is she? Didn’t see her in the lounge with everyone else.”

  “This would happen now,” Kaid sighed. “With any luck she’ll remember nothing when they return her.”

  “What do you want to bet she’s hysterical?” grumbled T’Chebbi.

  “Well, it’ll be your problem, your chance to show her some patience. I won’t be well enough to deal with it.”

  She could hear the sudden strain in his voice and looked up at him. His face was creased in pain. Instantly she reached for his hand, feeling the heat and the sweat as he began to sag against her. Grabbing him, she steered him over to his bed, helping him lie down.

  “It’s all right,” he said, holding his belly. “It’s part of it. Just a stomach cramp. It’ll pass in a moment. Go see if you can find Zashou.”

  “I’ll go find Rezac first,” she said, getting up.

  “Don’t panic everyone about me, T’Chebbi,” he whispered as she made her way to the door. “We don’t need it.”

  * * *

  Zashou proved to be there, still asleep in the room she shared with Jo and Rezac. Kaid rested for a while, T’Chebbi keeping him company. Then, anxious not to worry any of the others because of his absence, when he felt a little better, he returned to the lounge. Rezac joined him, carrying an herbal drink.

  “Try this, might help ease your stomach a little,” he said quietly.

  Kaid accepted it, finding it surprisingly pleasant. “What was going on between Giyesh and Tirak earlier?” he asked. Keeping his mind busy was better than the alternative.

  “Tirak and his crew, they’re all related, something like a mixture of the Guilds and Clans you say Shola has now. Females take a different husband every five years and are not supposed to see military service until after their first cub. Only Giyesh didn’t fancy that and had her parents pull strings to allow her to come on this mission instead.”

  “How’d you find this out?”

  “Been talking to Jeran. He’s as taken with Giyesh as she is with him,” Rezac said, looking over at the table where the couple were sitting. “Apparently she’s running upwind of custom, and Tirak, over Jeran. She’s not supposed to have lovers before her first mating is over. I think the Captain hoped she’d choose Nayash or Mrowbay, not one of us. Jeran says she’ll be in trouble for it when she gets home.”

  “So they’re a military family?”

  “Yeah. All Rryuks, like the name of their ship. Only reason Tirak’s let them be is because of us.” He turned to look at Kaid. “Because we have lovers who are aliens.”

  “Less alien than a hell of a lot of Sholans I know,” muttered Kaid.

  Rezac grinned, ears flicking in amusement. “How right you are. You better figure out what you’re going to tell Jeran when he comes and asks if he can stay with the Profit, not come home with us.”

  “I’m ahead of you on that,” he said, face creasing slightly in pain. “What did you find out from Jeran?”

  “Nothing. He was out cold the whole time. This can wait, Kaid.”

  Rezac was right. In his current state, he might inadvertently say more than he meant to about the Primes and their motives. “Carrie’s going through this, isn’t she?”

  Rezac just nodded. “It’s nearly third meal. Try to eat something light, like eggs. Then go rest. T’Chebbi can watch you for now. I’ll take over later.”

  “I don’t think I can eat.”

  “Try something. Just eat what you can.”

  Kaid nodded and took another sip of his drink. He’d noticed lately that Rezac had been keeping an eye on everyone, acting like a Pack Second, keeping his hand on the pulse of the group. Especially himself. “I’ll try,” he said tiredly.

  * * *

  Rezac and Jo likewise retired early. Lying beside her, Rezac gently rubbed his hand across Jo’s belly.

  “Tell me how Kaid is,” she asked.

  Rezac rolled back into his own bed and stared up at the ceiling. “Not good,” he admitted. “I’m not completely sure what’s going on with him. This is what usually happens if you try to deny a Leska Link, not after the first pairing. But then, this is hardly a normal Link anyway. He said they once experienced a full three-way bond but apart from then, it’s never been that active for him. They’re all aware of each other during Link days, but he doesn’t feel the compulsion strongly unless it’s time for him to be with Carrie.”

  “What about when she was pregnant?”

  “Weren’t Linked then. The three-way thing happened when he and Kusac swore a sword-brother oath, he said. Probably his Link to her has activated to a full Leska one to save her because of Kusac being dead.”

  “Or missing,” corrected Jo.

  “More likely dead, I’m afraid. Anyway, I’ve created a minor link of my own to him, and I’m watching him carefully. That’s why I want to sleep now, so I’m alert during the worst of it.”

  “How quickly could he go into a coma? Will you have enough warning?”

  “Yes, if I’m physically with him. T
’Chebbi’s watching him now. He’s at the vomiting stage.”

  Jo grimaced. “Sounds awful. Would that have happened to us if we hadn’t . . .”

  “But it didn’t,” he said, cutting her short. “You came to me and now we have a cub on the way.” He reached out to caress her belly again. “I can feel it,” he said suddenly.

  “You can’t possibly,” Jo replied, feeling for herself. “I’m only nine weeks.”

  “Are you sure?” he asked, disappointed.

  “Positive! It’s far too small for that yet. You know, Zashou was right about that at least. You’re like a cat with two tails over this cub.”

  He raised his head to look at her in surprise. “A cat with two tails? What an odd saying.” He thought for a moment then grinned. “Still, say it again in a couple of day’s time when this is over and I’m sure I can come up with something better than a second tail.”

  Jo grabbed her pillow and began to hit him with it.

  * * *

  Day 32

  A second wasted day, thought J’koshuk, hissing angrily at the captive hanging limply in the guard’s grasp. Oh, not wasted as far as the Seniormost was concerned, but certainly as far as he was. The Seniormost, after making him spend yesterday in his rooms with nothing to do, had given him an extra two days to question Kusac, and finally lifted the worst of the restrictions on what he could do to him. He’d gotten all the answers the Primes wanted now, and it still didn’t make much sense, but making sense of it was the Seniormost’s job, not his.

  It was the Human that he wanted to hear about, and the damned Sholan still refused to tell him anything! He’d tormented him to the point where he’d say almost anything just to be left alone, which meant Kusac could tell the truth now and know it would be suspect. Lately, though, J’koshuk had noticed he’d developed a knack of telling when his captives were lying, so continuing wasn’t a problem. Which was just as well, because he only had a few hours left in which to get the answers he wanted.

  His own equipment from the M’ijikk had gotten him better results than the sophisticated pain collar of the Primes. Deep bruising that caused no surface wounds that the Primes could see was a great persuader. And the pain lasted.

  Reaching behind him, he picked up the animal prod again and put it under Kusac’s chin, sending just enough of a current through it to make him jerk his head up. “One more time. You say you met the Humans on Keiss.”

  Kusac mumbled something indecipherable.

  “I can’t hear you.”

  “Yes.” Still mumbled but at least he could hear it this time.

  “You met this Human female on Keiss.”

  “No.”

  “Think again.” Turning the power up to full, he touched the prod to Kusac’s neck.

  He jerked away from it, trying not to cry out. “Not Keiss!”

  “Then where?”

  “The second ship,” he mumbled, head dropping again.

  “You’re lying. She was on Keiss before your people came, wasn’t she?”

  “No. On ship.” He shook his head slowly for emphasis. “Why important?”

  “You dare question me?” he demanded, about to hit him again. Then he stopped. It was always the same answers. A different approach was needed. Perhaps letting him know how much information about her he already had might break down his resistance. “She was on Keiss, wasn’t she? More, she was in our city at Geshader.”

  “No.”

  Aiming above the guard’s grip, he hit Kusac’s arm hard with the prod and held it there for several seconds.

  Unable to pull away from either the blow or the current as it surged through him, Kusac’s body went rigid and he began to whimper—a low, involuntary sound.

  That had gotten a better response. The combination of the blow and the charge might just work. J’koshuk removed the prod and Kusac sagged against the guard.

  “She was at Geshader, wasn’t she? Working as a spy.”

  “No!”

  “She’s in a room down the corridor. If you won’t tell me, maybe I’ll go ask her myself. Would you prefer that?”

  Kusac straightened up and raised his head slowly, eyes narrowing as he looked at J’koshuk. “They won’t let you near her or you wouldn’t need to ask me.”

  Angrily, J’koshuk hit him again, aiming the prod high up on the inside of Kusac’s thigh near his groin and holding it there.

  Howling in agony, Kusac fought to escape the prod, trying to wrench himself free from the guard. J’koshuk dodged, keeping up the pressure against his leg until suddenly, Kusac collapsed, gasping, “Not Carrie! Elise! Was Elise, her twin!”

  Shocked, J’koshuk removed the prod and stepped back. “Twin? What’s twin?” he demanded.

  Each word was gasped out painfully as the guard hauled Kusac’s limp body upright again. “Like her. Sister. Born at same time.”

  Two? Humans had multiple young? He had to be lying! Reaching out, he grasped him by the jaw, lifting his head up. Tears streaked the blood-matted, swollen face. But it was Kusac’s eyes that told him that he’d at last gotten some of what he wanted. There was no fire left in them.

  “The one I questioned was called Elise,” J’koshuk said. “How like her sister is she?”

  “Exact.”

  He remembered how the female had laughed in his face as he’d tortured her. No one had ever laughed before. More, she’d told him nothing. Never had that happened either. There wasn’t a person living who couldn’t be broken somehow—except her. Had it been the other—twin—that had been the spy? Had he gotten the wrong one? He dropped Kusac’s head, losing interest in him.

  “Leave him. I want to see the Human female.” He began striding toward the door.

  “No! Leave her alone! She wasn’t the spy!” Kusac cried out as the guard pushed him aside and followed J’koshuk.

  Staggering, his abused leg buckled under him, pitching him forward to sprawl on the floor. He lay there, unable to move as the door closed behind him. “No! Not Carrie!” he howled, clenching his hands and thumping them uselessly against the steel floor in despair.

  * * *

  “We’re here, Commander,” said Nara, putting her head round the door of the cramped common area on Striker Two.

  L’Seuli grunted and uncurled himself from the narrow bed on which he’d been sleeping. Standing up, he tried to stretch his cramped limbs and tail.

  “You should get some rest while you’re here, Commander,” she said sympathetically. “This is the fourth outpost you’ve been to in the last two weeks.”

  “It’s also the last one, Nara,” he yawned, running his hands across his short, sand-colored hair and scratching behind his ears vigorously. “I head home tomorrow.”

  “Captain Kheal is waiting on the flight deck. Said to tell you there’s hot food waiting for you in his quarters.”

  L’Seuli’s ears pricked up. “There is? Now that does sound good. What about you and Chima?” He tugged at the hem of his tunic before readjusting his jacket. His grays were still stiff and new, but he’d needed them to reflect his current rank during this mission.

  “Crew rations,” she said, making a face. “Still a hell of a lot better than the muck on board Striker.”

  He frowned, then changed his mind. “Anything is, Sister Nara. Let’s get going, then.”

  Kheal was waiting for him just inside the exit. He stood to attention, saluting him. “Commander L’Seuli. Welcome to Haven.”

  L’Seuli returned the older male’s salute. “At ease, Captain. My pilot tells me there’s food waiting for us. After Striker’s rations, it’s a welcome thought.”

  “I hope to make your visit here as pleasant as possible, Commander. This way, if you please,” said Kheal, indicating the waiting elevator.

  “How’s work progressing?”

  “Fair. The station had a skeleton crew, which we’ve assimilated. All the essentials were up and running, it’s just been a question of expanding to accommodate a crew of sixty and five assa
ult craft.”

  “You have everything you need?”

  The elevator halted, door opening to let them out onto the second level. Again, Kheal let L’Seuli precede him.

  “Yes, Commander. Is this your first visit to our outpost?” He stopped outside his office, opening the door for them.

  “It is, but I have been fully briefed, Captain,” he said, well aware the captain thought him too young for his rank. “The original asteroid was found here two hundred and fifty years ago during part of the Brotherhood’s regular policing activities in this region after the Chemerian/Sholan wars. Charts discovered here led us to the other three outposts, and the conclusion that they formed part of an early warning system of unknown alien origin. Like the other three, it was abandoned and showed signs of a fierce conflict. In light of current discoveries, it’s now thought to have belonged to the ancient Valtegans. Over the years, other asteroids have been excavated at each location, including this, our main one, and outfitted with parts salvaged from obsolete craft bought from the Forces. They now serve as our forward observation posts to protect Alliance space and thus Shola. How am I doing?” he asked, raising an eye ridge.

  Kheal’s ears dipped in embarrassment. “I was told your last assignment had been in the Ghuulgul Desert during the tribal rebellion. I assumed that . . .”

  L’Seuli touched the flash of purple at the edge of his jacket. “Perhaps in fairness I should tell you that the purple on my uniform does reflect a telepathic ability, which was why I was picked for that mission. May I suggest, Brother Kheal, that we forget our current ranks and collaborate as equals on this matter? You obviously have more experience of this outpost than I have. The point of my mission is to see that Guild Master Rhyaz is as fully briefed as possible on your current state of readiness. I’d appreciate your assistance to do that.”

  Kheal’s mouth opened in a half smile. “Certainly, Brother L’Seuli. We can inspect the facility as soon as we’ve eaten. Would you like to take a seat?” He gestured to his desk where plates and covered dishes of food sat.