force they can't control. It won't be long before the other guilds are seeing us in the same light."
"You're being overly pessimistic, Kusac," said Konis.
"Am I?" Kusac turned round to point at Kaid. "Then tell me why his Brotherhood have issued an edict
banning any contracts involving Terrans or mixed Leska pairs, unless they're protective contracts."
Kaid blinked in surprise. He hadn't realized that Kusac had been aware of his presence.
"A brake must be put on the Telepath Guild now, before it's too late. I know more about our Leska Links than they do," said Kusac. "Our daughter isn't going to spend her life having her mind dissected and analyzed to please them, any more than we are. It's over, Father. You can tell them. We'll no longer cooperate with them." With that, Kusac turned and strode out of the room, Kaid following hastily after him.
"He's right," said Rhyasha as the door closed behind them. "You weren't on the Khalossa. Mnya was terrified that Carrie would be uncontrollable. I don't say Esken is equally worried, but he'll certainly protect the guild's inter-ests first, and controlling the Leskas like our son and his mate will be high on his list of priorities. For their own pro-tection, we need to place them under the jurisdiction of Alien Relations. One of our people, a telepath naturally, should be in charge of their training at the guild. Someone forceful, who will make sure their rights are respected."
"Perhaps you're right," said Konis, thoughtfully rubbing one ear. "The next All-Guilds' Council meeting at the Gov-ernor's palace is due to be held in a few weeks. If you'll as-sist me, we could perhaps have a feasible solution to bring before the council by then."
Chapter 18
Raid's room was on the ground floor at the back of the house. Unable to settle, he went outside into thegardens. Coming to the large tree outside the lounge, he squatted down under it, resting his back againstthe bole.
"Are you actually off duty, Kaid? I don't think I've ever seen you relaxing before."
"Occasionally even I take a break, Liegena Taizia," he said, pulling a stim twig out of his top pocket and
putting the end in his mouth. "Waiting for Meral?"
"Actually, yes," she said, dropping down from the branch above him where she'd been sitting. "Carrie's lying down and Kusac's waiting for Vanna to finish bathing. T'Chebbi's on night duty for them, so Meral's free."
Kaid looked up at her, his mouth opening in a slight grin as he flicked an ear at her. "I'm not worriedabout him shirking his duties, Liegena. He's free to do what he wants in his off-time." . ,
"Don't you have a companion, Kaid? Isn't there a female somewhere whose heart beats faster for you?"
she asked.
"No one special, Liegena."
"I expect it's difficult to find someone with the right… Talents to suit you."
"Meral's coming, Liegena," he said quietly, taking the twig out of his mouth and regarding her
unblinkingly.
"I know. We'll have to talk again," she said, moving away from him toward the house.
He put the twig back in his mouth, waiting till their foot-falls died away. He needed the peace to think. Now that Kusac had voiced his decision to break with the Telepath Guild, he should put forward thecase for the Brotherhood. It was the sensible option for telepaths who could fight.
Lijou ran the Priesthood of Vartra from Dzahai Stronghold as well as being co-leader of the Brotherhoodwith Ghezu. They had the facilities which the other two guilds lacked. It wasn't the only option, however. Kusac had put a name to what had been troubling him for weeks. En'Shalla. It was a risky path,especially when you took the opposition into ac-count. They'd be fighting against fifteen hundred years oftradition, not to mention the Telepath Guild and the Brother-hood.
So far, events had followed the path he'd anticipated, the one the God had shown him only a few daysbefore he'd heard from Garras. What did Vartra want of him now? He had no idea because since thatnight, the God had remained unreachable. If Carrie and Kusac could have visions here, then surely hecould.
Getting up, he walked back into the house, heading for the shrine. There, if anywhere on this estate,surely the God would be reachable.
* * *
Vanna had preferred to shower on her own. It seemed to take forever to rinse the loose hair off herbody—a by-product of the drug that Khafsa had given her. Turning the water off, she reached out for thelarge towel that Carrie had left for her and began to rub off the worst of the water.
She tried to remember what had happened but from the moment Khafsa had taken her into the roomwith Brynne, it was all very hazy. She remembered the slight sting of the hypo against her neck and thefeel of the drug surging straight to her brain, making her feel even more disoriented. What with that andthe nausea caused by the Link, it hadn't needed much strength on Khafsa's part to pull her across to thebed where a naked and equally disoriented Brynne was sitting slumped against Sorli. They'd been literallyflung to-gether and from that moment onward, neither of them had had any control over the situation.
Phrases she'd used to describe Kusac's Link with Carrie came into her mind as she realized howinadequate language was to describe that initial moment of the meeting of their minds and bodies. It hadbeen heaven and hell at the same time.
She shook her head, trying now to rid herself of the shards of memories as she discarded the towel onthe bench oppo-site. Gods, had it only been someone she knew, someone she cared about, not astranger, then… She sighed and turned on the hot air. Having experienced something of what theyshared, she knew Kusac would never come to her.
As she left the bathing room, she found him waiting out-side.
"You look a lot better," Kusac said, looking at her criti-cally. "Your eyes are clearer."
"I feel better," she admitted as he took her by the arm and drew her along the balcony. "Thank you for
lending me the robe."
"Don't mention it. Taizia's picking out one or two things for you to wear while you're here. How's
Brynne?"
"He's asleep," she replied without thinking, then stopped dead, eyes wide with fear as she clutched his
arm.
Kusac smiled down at her and urged her on. "You'll get used to it," he said reassuringly. "It's always
there, that knowledge of what your Leska's doing, but after a few days it doesn't seem to occupy quite
so much of your conscious mind." He stopped in front of a door and hesitated. "Vanna, I'd better tell you
now. Carrie and I were life-bonded last night."
"I'm glad," she heard herself say as if from a great dis-tance. "Carrie will feel a lot more secure."
"We both do," he said, opening the door. "The betrothal contract was cancelled and even if Carrie should
lose the Challenge, there's no question of me marrying Rala now."
Stepping into the lounge, she held onto the doorway as the world jerked back into focus.
"You'll find everything you need in here. Do you want to join us in half an hour for something to eat
before you settle down for the night?" he asked as he moved away from her.
She shook her head. "I think I need sleep more than any-thing else."
"If you change your mind, use the comm. There's always someone on duty in the house in case my
parents are needed. You're welcome to stay for as long as you like," he added before turning to leave.
"Kusac, I need to speak to Kaid," Vanna said.
"I'll ask him to come up."
She knew it was Kaid before she opened the door. "I have to see Garras," she said, steeling herself foran argument.
"Word has already been sent, Physician Kyjishi. He'll be here by morning."
"Thank you," she said, relief sweeping through her. Garras was the only stable factor in a life suddenly
gone mad around her.
"Is that all?" Kaid asked.
She nodded.
"Then good night, Physician. T'Chebbi will be outside Lie
gen Kusac's room if you should need her."
* * *
Once he'd left Vanna, Kaid headed downstairs to the kitchen to get a cup of c'shar. He didn't hurry,making sure that he wouldn't be needed again before he finally decided he could take the time he neededin the shrine.
The light came on as he entered, but once he'd lit a candle and placed it on the altar, he turned it off.
Settling himself on the bench, he relaxed, concentrating on the flame and let-ting his mind drift.
The mist thinned and parted, coalescing into a room he'd never seen before. A real fire of logs burned ina corner and he could almost feel the heat. He stood at a doorway looking in. Before him, obscured by apool of shadow, a male sat in a chair. He broke off talking to shudder and look around die room.
*What is it, Vartra?* a voice asked.
*A shadow walked by me,* he said, *nothing more. The world we knew has changed, especially for us. The old ties of family have broken down and we must survive as best we can. Your loyalty can only be to each other, no one else. Those of you who survive will write the rules for the future.
They found us too soon. Too many of us have been lost, too many deaths.*
The voice and the vision began to blur and he had to strain to hear the last words.
*On you few depends our survival. *
The mist writhed and twisted, parting again to show the temple he knew so well, the temple that didn'texist in this world.
This time there was only the voice from the flickering lights that alternately showed and hid the statue ofthe God.
*So many of you calling on me. I tire. Even the Gods need
to rest. Don't come to me. Look to the God within you for the answers. *
With a jolt he was awake again, his hands damp with sweat, his head aching, and his limbs trembling. Herubbed his palms against his jacket to dry them while trying to force the fur around his neck andshoulders to lie flat again.
He'd never had a vision like that before. His hand shook as he raised it to smooth down the hair on hishead. It had been so real, the room with the fire, as if he'd actually been there! Inside his mind he almostheard a faint, mocking laugh as the memory of how it had been a few months ago and how it was nowcame to the front of his mind. He couldn't ignore it any longer: his sensitivity—he hesitated at calling it a Talent—had been enhanced. Why, or how, he had no idea. A thought came rushing forward. Maybe itseemed so different because the visions were stronger at Valsgarth. After all, it was really only here or atthe guild that the new Leska pairs had their visions, and until Carrie, always the same one. He closed hismind. He didn't want to hear the mocking laugh again.
Still shaken, he stood, and picking up his candle, put the light back on and blew the flame out beforeleaving. This time the God had told him to think for himself, and by God—he grinned mirthlessly at hisunintended pun—he meant to do it.
* * *
Vanna woke to the gentle touch of someone stroking her cheek. Garras' mouth opened in a faint grin.
"Good morn-ing, pretty one," he said.
"You're here so soon?" she said, confused. "I didn't ex-pect you till morning." She pushed herself up into
a sitting position. "What time is it?"
"Around twenty-fourth hour."
She rubbed her hands across her eyes and ears, trying to wake up. "It's the middle of the night! Have youeaten? Do you want a drink?"
"I've eaten and drunk," he said quietly. "Kaid met me when I arrived. Stop worrying about me. How are
you?"
"Tired," she said. "Garris, did you know that I'm a tele-path?"
"Yes, I know. Kaid told me what's happened. I can't say
I'm surprised at the telepathy. I've always thought you might have some Talent in that direction."
Her ears flicked backward. With an effort she pulled them upright again. "Then you know about…"
"I know all about your Leska," he said, interrupting her as he once again reached out to touch her face. "I'm back now, to stay with you if that's what you want. I seem to remember we made a commitment to each other, unless you've changed your mind?" He put his head on one side and re-garded her quizzically.
"No. No, I haven't," she said, relief plain on her face as she reached out for him.
* * *
In the morning, Vanna insisted on returning to the guild.
"I'll be all right," she assured Kusac and his parents. "I've got work I have to complete. Now Garras is with me, I don't think I'll have any trouble from Khafsa or Sorli." She hesitated, looking from Konis to Rhyasha. "What is our world coming to when we need to be protected from the very guilds that have by tradition been almost a home to us?"
"The existence of our Leska Links with the humans threatens to upset the established order, Vanna," said
Kusac. 'The guild needs to control us because they're afraid of what we could become."
"I think you're seeing too many jeggets in the shadows," said Konis. "I do, however, intend to take this
matter further. This must never be allowed to happen again."
"When do you plan to return to the guild?" Garras asked Kusac.
"Not in the foreseeable future," he said. "We've that damned Challenge in thirteen days. Carrie can't train
at the Telepath Guild."
"I'll be in touch in a few days," said Vanna. "I need to run some checks on her."
* * *
Ghyan watched the young female as she lifted a piece of incense and crumbled it into the glowing coals ofthe bra-zier. The pungent smoke rose in a thick cloud, making her cough before a draft of warm air fromoutside caught it and lifted it toward the rafters where it dissipated.
His Talent was in being able to assess people and their needs, a skill admirably suited to his calling as apriest. He knew Rala, knew that the weaknesses in her character had been allowed to flourish by herdoting father. Now the el-derly male had, to his cost, discovered that he had a virago for a daughter. Ghyan had seen enough of her over the last few weeks to realize that though her moods appeared tofluctuate with the wind, they were actually carefully calcu-lated to make sure she achieved exactly whatshe wanted.
The set of her ears as well as the tone of her mind was smug, yet he sensed an anger behind it. Her headturned sharply toward him as he came out of the shadows by the door to the private quarters of thetemple.
She tipped her chin up, baring her neck by the minimum needed to show respect for his position.
"Father," she said, her eyes flicking away from his as he approached her.
"I was hoping you would come today," said Ghyan. "I think it would be wise for us to have a talk, don't
you, Rala?"
Her ears pricked forward to face him. "About my forthcom-ing bonding?" she said brightly. "There's a lotto discuss."
Direct, if nothing else, he thought. "No, about your Chal-lenge," he said, taking her by the forearm andsteering her back toward the temple entrance.
"It's a mere detail, Father," she said confidently as they passed through the curtain and out into the
hallway. "I shall win and Kusac and I will be life-bonded as was intended."
Ghyan opened the door to his office, gesturing for her to precede him. He waited until the Warrioraccompanying her had also entered before following them.
Rala had seated herself in the chair by the low table, ig-noring the more formal one at Ghyan's desk.
So she thinks to dominate this meeting, does she ? He strolled over to the bookcase behind his deskand appeared to search for a volume.
"You'll be able to see what I have to show you better from my desk," he said, keeping his tone mild. He smiled to himself as he felt the flash of her anger quickly suppressed, then heard her stand and walk over to the desk. Now that she was seated where he wanted her, he pulled the book off the shelf and turned to face her.
"How charming," she purred, "you still use books. I
would have thought your records would be on your comm like everyone else's."
"Naturally they are," he agreed, sitting down. "However, I prefer to have the feel of the original volume in my hands when I'm looking up points of law and precedent. This small portion of the temple's book collection that you see behind me is priceless."
"I'm sure it is." Her tone was just short of snappiness. "However, I am rather busy. What is it you want to
talk to me about?"
"The Life-bonding Challenge, being En'Shalla, falls within my jurisdiction," he said, opening his book at the place he'd marked the day before. "Now that your betrothal contract has been dissolved, there is no need for the Chal-lenge to go ahead."
"The Challenge came first, Father, and I accepted it. Even though the contract was later canceled by my
father, that takes precedence."
"That's true," he agreed, "but there have been cases like this before where the families have dissolved the
contract rather than risk their children in a fight. For example…"
"I don't care about them, Father," she interrupted, leaning forward to place her hand over the page Ghyan was looking at. "Even though they are life-bonded, I wish the Challenge to go ahead. When I win, I can have their bonding annulled and demand that ours take place!"
"You have no grounds for doing that, Rala," said Ghyan, removing the book from under her hand. "The
temple will not support you."
"Oh, but I have." The purr in her voice had grown louder. "While betrothed to me, he got his alien playmate pregnant and then married her. That he preferred her to me is now public knowledge. I have been insulted in such a way that only the reversal of his bonding will satisfy me. He was promised to me, and I will have him." The purr ended in a low growl.
"You realize that Liegena Aldatan has empowered me to tell you she withdraws her Challenge?"
The growl became menacing. "She has no right to the ti-tle! I refuse to accept her withdrawal."
"She is his Leska, and his mate. Because there is a cub on me way, he has a duty to support them both, and they have a duty to their guild to provide more Talented children. Re-venge against them is all that's on your mind, Rala. Why?" Ghyan was genuinely bewildered. "You would gain nothing by forcing Kusac into a life-bond with you. He couldn't give you children, he doesn't love you, so why do you want him?"
Fortune's Wheel Page 63