“This is all new information? I don’t remember reading about it.”
“Yes, culled over the last week. As for Keeza, her reactions to her captivity have been interesting. It’s the first opportunity we’ve had to study someone in a controlled hostage-type situation. She’s been personalizing Kezule, making him hers as if trying to give herself an illusion of having some control over what’s happening. She’s been copying him too, using the herb on her own food.”
“This spice or herb that he uses. You don’t make any mention of lab results yet.”
“Still analyzing it. It’s a complex chemical. I’m no scientist, but as I understand it, it gives him dietary supplements he needs. His general health and his mental state have both improved since he started taking it. Look at the way he’s prepared to interact with Keeza now. My gut reaction is that it makes them more sociable, able to cooperate with each other.” He shrugged, putting down the mug. “Of course, I have nothing to back up this feeling, and recent events have called the hypothesis into question. It could be a drug that is specific only to Valtegans of his age, or only to males. The list of possibilities is endless, and until we have something conclusive from the labs, it’s all speculation.”
“Hunches are valid, Rhyaz, that’s one thing I’ve learned as a telepath. Your people are so close to us in talents that you’d do well to listen to them, too. Even certain Humans set a lot of store by them. What effect is it having on her?”
“No idea. We need blood samples, and to get those …” He left the sentence hanging.
“Yours is a task I don’t envy, my friend,” sighed Lijou. “But you said something about recent events. Has something happened?”
“We had an incident yesterday. She got overconfident, made a sexual approach to him. The control team thought they’d have to terminate.”
Lijou took a sharp breath. “How is she?”
“She’s all right, luckily. He stopped as they were about to go in. He gave systematic beating a new meaning, Lijou. With his extra strength … And he used it more effectively than we do.” He looked up at the priest. “This ancient breed of Valtegans is totally different from the ones we’ve met on Keiss. I pray that we never meet the likes of him.”
Lijou shut his eyes briefly. He’d visited the center at Shanagi where Kezule was being held. Only once, but it had been enough for him. “This is what I was afraid of. May the Gods forgive us for what we’re doing to Keeza Laasah. We should never have decided to put her in with him, Rhyaz. The cost to her physically and emotionally surely isn’t worth it.”
“I dislike what’s happening as much as you, Lijou, but you mustn’t lose sight of the fact that she entered willingly into this contract. She knew exactly what was expected of her, even observed Kezule before she agreed to being processed by you and Konis. When it’s over, she’ll remember nothing of this, and she’ll be given a new start in life. She can return to the Consortia House to finish training there if she wishes, or choose a cash settlement to do with what she wants. Remember she’s a convicted murderer. If it weren’t for this experiment, she’d be dead by now. She is being well recompensed for this.”
“I know, Rhyaz. But what she’s suffered at his hands! And it could still cost her her life! She hasn’t deserved such treatment, even if she did consent to it!”
“We have the greater good to consider,” reminded the Brotherhood Warrior Master gently. “I don’t need to remind you of the destruction of Szurtha and Khyaal, do I? Millions of lives lost to the Valtegans. The information we have already gathered because of her is invaluable. We are all tools, Lijou, used by someone or something. Even you and I. Who’s to say that the idea to use her didn’t come from Vartra Himself? Through Kaid and the Aldatans, we know that His later work with the telepaths was to find a solution to the problem of the Valtegan invasion. He could be influencing this matter in ways that we can’t yet recognize.”
“I thought philosophy was supposed to be my provenance,” sighed Lijou. “I know you’re probably right, and I know that one life—particularly that of a convicted murderer—is very little when put in the balance against so many, but someone has to care for her, Rhyaz. How long will you let this go on?”
“I haven’t decided yet. For the foreseeable future. He may experience remorse, start opening up to her. If not, we begin beating Kezule again as soon as she’s healed.”
“I can even feel sorry for him,” said Lijou quietly. “The fact he’s kept his sanity for so long when he knows there’s no possibility of escape is incredible.”
“He’s a strong person in many ways, Lijou. We take no chances with him. One Valtegan at large is enough,” Rhyaz said grimly.
“Then it’s been confirmed that it was a Valtegan? What actually happened to the missing Leska pair? I was never fully briefed on that.”
“We’ve good reason to believe that at least one Valtegan was involved because of the nature of the wounds on the bodies. The Leska couple were due to be picked up by a deep space shuttle at the Human female’s home, a settlement called Hillfort. We know their shuttle left Keiss as their departure from the planet was logged, but nothing is known of their whereabouts from then on. The dead bodies of the female’s relatives were found later that day at the landing site. They’d been shot by a Valtegan energy weapon. It’s being kept quiet because Governor Hamilton doesn’t want to start a panic. We do have a potential problem with the young male’s family, however. He’s Taynar Arrazo, the youngest son of the Arrazo Clan Leader. They’ll have to be told soon that he’s missing.”
“What about Keiss? They can’t risk the lives of the people there by not starting a search for any more Valtegan survivors.”
“The Khalossa is still based there. Her troops are on training maneuvers on the planet’s surface at present, with the help of the Keissian military. Commander Raguul has been recalled, of course. Given the identity of the captain of the missing shuttle, though, it’s a forgone conclusion that there was some conflict and the ship was damaged. They could be drifting anywhere between Keiss and Vartra knows where. We have very little chance of finding them at all.”
“Surely there’s a homing signal or something you could track them by?”
“We’ve looked, but that presupposes the ship is still functioning and that they are still in this sector of space. I imagine that the Valtegan was headed for his home world, wherever that is. If we find that craft, I believe we’ll have found at least one of the four Valtegan worlds. It’s an impossible task, Lijou. I’m afraid that young couple and their captain are as good as dead.”
“It grieves me to say so, but let’s pray that they are. It’s preferable to being held captive by the Valtegans.”
“I agree with you on that, Father.”
Kusac turned away from his comm and looked down into the lower level of the den where Carrie sat on the floor fletching arrows to take to Jalna. Normally it was a job she enjoyed doing, but today nothing seemed to be going right for her.
With an exclamation of disgust, she threw the offending arrow across the room. “I loathe binding! I’ve got glue all over the flights again!” she muttered angrily.
Kusac knew exactly what was wrong with her. It had been two weeks since they’d been at the Retreat and they’d still had no word from Kaid. He pushed himself away from the desk and went to join her. Crouching down beside her, he gently turned her to face him.
“Leave the arrows,” he said. “You’ll only ruin more of them. It’s time you dealt with what’s really bothering you.”
“I’m trying to,” she said, refusing to look at him as she picked up another. “It’s just that I keep getting the glue over everything!”
He took it from her, laying it back on the low table. “Go and see Kaid.”
“I don’t want to see Kaid, I want to finish these damned arrows!” she said, trying to move away from him.
“Carrie, do you think I can’t sense what’s happening to you?” he asked, holding her tighter. “You
need to spend time with him. I can feel that bond you have calling you together. You’ve both tried to ignore it for too long. Go to him. You need some time together.”
She sat back on her heels, looking up at him. “No, Kusac. If he can ignore it, then so can I.”
“This could jeopardize our mission, Carrie. Nine people are depending on us. Will you let this stand between them and their rescue?”
“Kaid is.”
“One of you has to have some sense! Why not you? Go to him, Carrie. Have it out with him if you will, but resolve it. For my sake if nothing else.”
“For your sake?”
He could feel her questioning thought. “We’re a Triad, and he’s my sword-brother. There is no male dearer to me save my father, and it hurts me to see this barrier between the two of you.”
“I’m angry with him, Kusac. He has no right to ignore me like this.”
“I don’t understand it either, but there must be a reason. Ask him.”
“I’ll do more than ask him,” she muttered. “I’ll give him a piece of my mind!”
“Then go and do it now, get it over with,” he said, getting to his feet and helping her up. “Before you lose your nerve,” he added.
“Nerve? I don’t need any nerve to do this!”
He could feel her outrage and grinned quietly to himself as they began to walk toward the stairs. “Take what time you need, we’ll be fine, Kashini and I. I’ve plenty to do to keep me busy.”
She stopped. “Like what?”
“Like going over the inventory with Conrad and Quin. Remember, we leave for Jalna in two weeks. It’s time to start checking through the things we’ve put aside to take.”
Pulling a face, she resumed walking. “I’ll leave you to it, then.”
He walked with her to the garage, helping her into the aircar and running his own quick check that all was in order before she took off. As he turned around to walk back to the house, he saw T’Chebbi waiting for him.
“Can you fetch Conrad and Quin, please, T’Chebbi? It’s time we went through that inventory.”
Nodding, she headed off to fetch the two Humans.
Boring though the task was, by midafternoon, they had amassed a large pile of equipment in the den.
It was T’Chebbi who called a halt. “Need to pack in crates and label this. One crate for each category,” she said. “Add any more and we lose things in wrong crates.”
“You’re right,” Kusac said, sitting back on his haunches. “There should be some crates in the storehouse next to where you’re staying,” he said to Conrad.
“Tomorrow,” said T’Chebbi firmly, getting up and surveying the three males. “Go home now. Make own list for tomorrow, things you each want. Done enough for today.”
Conrad got to his feet. “We’ll bring the crates over tomorrow morning,” he said.
Slightly surprised at her taking charge of the situation, Kusac murmured good-bye as she saw them out. Getting to his feet, he stretched, suddenly realizing how stiff he was. He went over to the hotplate and poured himself a coffee. He hadn’t thought it would be such a tiring job. He heard the door open then close.
“Coffee, T’Chebbi?” he asked, looking over at her as she came back down to join him.
“Please.”
He handed her his mug, getting a second one for himself. As he did, the restlessness he’d been feeling for the last few minutes began to resolve itself. He turned to find her still standing behind him.
“Your timing is impeccable,” he said. “You knew she’d reached Stronghold, didn’t you? That’s why you sent them away. Thank you.”
T’Chebbi nodded and slowly stepped aside for him to pass.
“I don’t need company, T’Chebbi,” he said as he settled himself in his favorite chair. “You’re welcome to stay, but I’m fine on my own.” He watched her come round his side of the table, then sit on the edge of it opposite him. She began sipping her drink. He could feel her nervousness as she gathered the courage to speak.
“Why be alone?” she asked quietly. “I would stay with you. Kaid and I spend time together now and then. When they are together, would be nice for us share some time, too.”
Echoes of Carrie and Kaid’s bond were getting stronger now. It was no more than an attraction, a pull that he felt, but he was sure what the outcome would be. That was enough to make him susceptible to an attractive female making an approach to him. And T’Chebbi was attractive. Not the least of it was the air of the competent warrior about her.
He leaned forward, holding his hand out to her. “That could be, T’Chebbi. But I don’t really know much about you,” he said as she took hold of his hand. “Talk to me. Tell me about yourself.” He sensed her surprise, then a quiet amusement as she began to purr gently.
“Knew you were different. What you want to know?” she asked.
“How did you and Kaid meet?”
Carrie braced herself as she got out of the aircar at Stronghold. She wasn’t looking forward to this. Already alerted by security to her arrival, a small reception committee stood on the main steps waiting for her.
“Clan Leader, well come,” said L’Seuli, inclining his head. “We don’t get many visits from the En’Shalla Brothers and Sisters.”
With a bare nod of acknowledgment she continued past him, heart thumping. Kusac had been right about losing her nerve. She was very afraid she was about to do just that. In the main hallway, she stopped, trying to get her bearings. It looked very different from when she’d last been here. Fifteen hundred years had wrought a great many changes.
Her eyes were drawn to the top of the main staircase where Father Lijou stood. A gesture from him and her reception committee suddenly had pressing business elsewhere.
“Where is he?” she asked as he descended the steps toward her.
In the Temple, through the doors on your right. He used mind-speech, a tight sending that none but she would receive. When he’s not at classes, he’s to be found there. I’m glad you came. He’s become too solitary. I’ve told him he can’t solve this alone, that he needs to speak to you.
It’ll be solved before I leave, she replied, turning toward the temple doors.
If you need me …
Thank you.
The door was heavy, but as she leaned into it, it opened smoothly. Stepping inside, she saw him immediately. He was sitting, his back to a pillar, at the side of the temple near the statue of Vartra. Some half a dozen other Sholans were also there.
She took a deep breath. “Out. Leave us,” she ordered, her voice louder than she’d intended in the silence of the temple.
Every head but his turned to look at her, then they scrambled to their feet, leaving in a hurried flurry of black robes, bowing sketchily to her as they passed.
Her footsteps echoed hollowly as she walked down the central aisle to where he was sitting on his prayer mat. She stopped beside him.
“We need to talk, Kaid. Now.”
He stirred, slowly increasing his breathing as he came out of the light trance he’d been in. Now she could hear the litany he was reciting.
“I’m sure that for once, Vartra won’t mind you shortchanging Him,” she said. If he was trying to annoy her, he was succeeding.
He finished, and with an inclination of his head to the God, turned to look up at her. “Vartra is always due proper respect,” he said, his tone mild as he clasped his hands on his lap.
“And I’m due none?”
The bitterness in her voice startled him and he looked at her properly. She wore Terran style trousers and a long-sleeved military jacket. The colors, red edged with black and purple, showed her Sholan Clan and the fact that she was an En’Shalla Brotherhood Priest. Oddly, it accentuated her alienness.
“Am I due no respect?” she repeated. “Why have you refused to speak to me, Kaid? You’re treating me as if I were no better than a qwene! We’re friends, and a Triad, or had you forgotten that?”
He looked down at his hands
. “No, I haven’t forgotten. I told you I needed some time to myself, Carrie. You shouldn’t have come,” he said quietly.
“You’ve had weeks of it. We’re running out of time now. Just when did you intend to return to the estate?”
When he remained silent, she spoke again. “I’ve missed you,” she said, her voice as quiet as his had been. She reached down to touch his hair, her fingers twining among the uneven lengths that reached just below his shoulders. “You look different.”
He lifted his head, eyes glowing in the dim light of the temple. “I am. The person who was brought out from these dungeons and who walked the Fire Margins with you wasn’t me. Kaid Tallinu was destroyed.”
“You weren’t destroyed, Kaid. You survived the worst they could do to you.”
“They only began it.”
He got to his feet, black robe swirling round his feet as he turned to lean against the pillar, feeling the welcome coolness of the stone against his hands. Just being in her presence had brought to the surface all that he’d fought so long to subdue and try to understand.
“I started having visions, flashes of the future—memories. They came at any time of day or night. I couldn’t stop them. I was confused, couldn’t tell what was real any longer, so I came here. I was afraid I was losing my mind, that I’d harm you or the cub.”
“Why didn’t you tell us? We would have tried to help you at home. There was no need for you to leave, Kaid.” She reached out, but he backed away, moving farther around the pillar.
“Dammit, Carrie, you don’t understand! I had to get away from you! I thought I’d come to terms with it, but I hadn’t. Finding out that I belonged to the past, and your kindness to the cub I was then—our night at Noni’s—all left me with this …” He searched for the word, unable to find it at first. “… this dependence on you that try as I might, I cannot erase! All I thought about while I was imprisoned here by Ghezu was you! You dominated my thoughts so much that I was physically pulled to where you were.” He stopped, turning his face away from her, his ears invisible.
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