Kusac allowed himself to be led from the room. His father was waiting on the stairs for him. He wastaken to the study, sat down in a chair, and a drink placed in his hand. He sat looking at it, ears now lyingflat against his head.
"It's my fault," he said, his voice low and taut. "If I hadn't triggered the gestalt with my own fear, then she
wouldn't have been injured and lost the cub"
"You can't say that, Kusac," said his father, pushing the glass toward his mouth and making him take a
drink. "Your fear was perfectly natural."
Kusac coughed, tears streaming from his eyes.
"What's this?" he asked, looking at the glass for the first time. "What are you giving me?"
"Neat arrise."
"I don't want any more," he said, trying to hand the glass back.
It was pushed toward him again. "Drink it," his father or-dered. "You need it. We haven't any medics tospare for you. As for the gestalt, obviously I wasn't there the other times, but from experiencing it today, I'd say that the initial effect is lessening. I expect that in time there will be no dis-orientation at all."
"But if it hadn't happened, she wouldn't have been in-jured."
"Undoubtedly, but do you really want to go through the rest of your lives blaming yourself for the loss of this cub? If you do, you'll also be constantly reminding Carrie that she should never have Challenged Rala. Can she live with that? Leave it alone, Kusac. You're not to blame, the cir-cumstances are."
"I don't know," he said, putting down the glass and bury-ing his face in his hands. "I'm just so afraid, and
there's nothing I can do to help! With all our abilities, I have to sit here and wait!"
His mother got up and went over to him, wrapping her arms around him. "She's not going to die andneither are you," she said, hugging him fiercely. "You've faced death before, on Keiss, and coped with it."
"That's just it!" he said, pushing her away. "I'm not the one facing it this time. She is, and that makes it
worse for me."
'Take your drink," said Rhyasha, putting the glass in his hand again. "It'll numb your mind just enough to
be able to cope. It was used before we developed suppressant drugs."
He tried to fend the glass away, but she grasped his hand in hers. "She'll live, I tell you! I can already feelher strength coming back. When she comes round, she'll need you there to give her the will to go on, notsuffering from useless self-recriminations."
She sat back on her heels, letting his hand go.
"Now drink it. It helps no one for you both to suffer the same pain." She looked at her hands and
frowned, then reached out to touch his shoulder. He flinched, spilling a lit-tle of the drink.
"You've been hurt," she said, disbelief in her voice.
"He was shot," said Kaid's voice from the open doorway. "It was one of the assassins who killed Sevrin.
I've got a medikit here if you'll let me use it."
A moan of fear escaped Rhyasha as she got to her feet and moved aside for Kaid.
"He's dead, Clan Leader," said Kaid, kneeling down in front of Kusac and opening the kit. "It's over.
There are no more of them."
* * *
More than two hours passed before Kusac was allowed to rejoin Carrie, the longest two hours of his life.
Vanna was in their lounge talking to Kaid, taking a well earned break.
"Good God! What happened to you?" she demanded, see-ing the dressing bound round his shoulder.
"It's nothing. How's Carrie?"
"She's stable, and conscious. You know she lost the child." It was a statement. They'd all felt the cub's
death. She hesitated. "I need to take the body back to the guild to study it. Do you mind?"
"No, she remains here," he said flatly. "I'm sorry, Vanna, but she'll be cremated here on the estate."
"As you wish, of course," she said. "Will you at least let me take blood and tissue samples? I promise I'll
do it gently."
He hesitated then nodded.
"Thank you. Now, what happened to your shoulder?"
"There was a sniper, the one that got away when Sevrin was killed. We were lucky. He shot me as I ran toward Carrie. Kaid killed him." He stopped, unsure how to put what he wanted to say. "Vanna, thank you," he said simply.
She got up, turning away from him and going toward the bedroom. "I saved her, that's thanks enough,"she said tiredly. "You'll find her in a bit of a mess," she said. "We haven't had time to clean her upproperly. Speaking of which," she said, glancing back over her shoulder at him, "you could do with ashower and a change, too."
"Once I've seen her. If it's safe, I'm sure Taizia and my mother would help with Carrie."
"If they could, that would be wonderful. Chena and I are dead on our feet." She stopped outside the door. "Brynne's here," she said. "Without him she could have died. He han-dled the anesthetic when she started to abort."
Kusac frowned. "Does Carrie mind?"
"Funnily enough, no, she doesn't seem to mind, and he's been marvelous with her."
"Then what I think is unimportant," he said as she opened the door.
Carrie was lying propped up against several pillows, her eyes enormous against the pallor of her face. Her injured arm was held elevated in a sling across her chest. The other was firmly bandaged over thesite of the drip catheter. Vanna had managed to find a fresh shirt for her to wear.
She smiled faintly as he came across to her. "I'm afraid I've really been in the wars this time. Whathappened to you?"
He found a space beside her on the bed, leaning forward to stroke her hair. "Nothing worth talkingabout," he said quietly. "I'm just grateful you're all right." He touched his cheek against hers, gently lickingher ear.
"I can't touch you back," she complained. "I need to hold you."
He laughed, feeling a sudden relief from the fear and grief that had gripped him far too tightly these lastthree hours. Carefully, he put his arms behind her and moved closer until she could put her head on his
uninjured shoulder.
She rubbed her face against his neck, taking comfort from the feel of his fur and his warmth. "Did Vannatell you I lost the baby?"
"Yes, but we still have each other and that's more impor-tant," he said quietly. "For the last five or six months we've led a life with very little privacy. I promise you that once you're well enough to travel, we're going away somewhere on our own with no Kaid, Meral, or T'Chebbi. Much as I like them, I want you to myself for as long as possible. Whenever we're among other people, all my plans concern-ing you go wrong."
"What plans?" she asked, her voice sounding drowsy.
"Those concerning our betrothal and life-bonding for a start," he said, grinning. "I'd planned it very
differently, then we ended up in circumstances that gave me little choice but to do it quickly."
She chuckled. "I don't think I could ever forget either of those two occasions even if they didn't happenaccording to your plans. We got there in the end, though," she yawned.
Vanna came over. "If she's going to have that wash, and some clean bedding, it had better be now. Iwant her to sleep for the rest of today."
Kusac gently hugged Carrie again before carefully letting her go. The fingers of her sound arm reachedfor his hand and he held them briefly before getting up. "I won't be far away. Send if you want me," hesaid, giving her cheek a gentle lick before leaving.
Kusac left her, following Vanna back into the lounge where Brynne and Chena were replacing theequipment that was no longer needed. He staggered, feeling suddenly weak and faint, reaching for Vannato steady himself.
She caught hold of him, realizing as she did that he was beginning to shiver convulsively. Feeling his palm,she called for Kaid to help her. Between them they guided him to the settee and made him lie down.
"Brynne, get a couple of blankets, please" she said, prop-ping Kusac's feet up with a cushion. "There's a
chest full of them at the end of Carrie's bed."
A quick check of his eyelids while she took his pulse told her what she'd suspected. "Don't worry," shesaid, "you're only suffering from shock, a compound of your own injury and Carrie's. You'll be fine and itwon't affect Carrie." She wrapped one of the blankets round him when Brynne handed it to her. "Ithought we'd gotten off too lightly with you. Rest and warmth is what you need. We'll get a bed made upfor you here. Does your shoulder hurt?"
He nodded, teeth chattering as he tried to keep his limbs still. He nodded again, jerkily, clutching theblanket closer.
Vanna threw the other blanket over him. "Chena will give you something for it while I go down to seeyour mother. Kaid, will you get him out of those clothes, please? He can't be comfortable in them. I'mafraid your shower will have to wait."
She left him with Kaid and Chena, going downstairs to ar-range with his mother about getting a bedmade up for him as well as organizing sleeping arrangements for herself and Chena.
Taizia was sent for the housekeeper while Rhyasha ac-companied Vanna back upstairs.
"Of course Taizia and I will see to Carrie. I'll have an ex-tra bed made up in Kusac's lounge, and you and
Chena can have the guest room you used last time you stayed with us."
"I'd prefer an extra bed in the room with Carrie," said Vanna. "Chena and I will take it in turns to stay
with her to make sure she's all right."
"I'll see to it at once." Rhyasha prevented Vanna from opening the door. "Thank you, my dear. Both my
son and his mate are very dear to us."
Vanna gave a wry smile. "Think nothing of it, they're my friends, too. I just hope life settles down forthem now. They seem to go from one crisis to another."
Vanna left Kusac and his mother together for the moment, going over to Brynne.
"Thanks for coming, and for helping," she said. "I'll have to stay for a few days." She hesitated. "I think it
would be better if you returned to the guild."
Brynne nodded. "They've got enough on their hands for the present," he agreed. "Will you need the aircaror can I return with it? I came in a public vehicle."
"I've everything I need here, so take the aircar."
"I might as well leave now. There's nothing more for me to do, and I'll just be in the way." He went
toward the door, giving her a nod as he left.
She frowned, surprised at his easy acceptance of the need for him to leave, but she could sense nothinguntoward through their Link.
* * *
Kusac's father had called Mr. Hamilton back with the news of Carrie's condition. He then called thejudge on the Kahalossa who had issued the interdiction concerning the Challenge, demanding that stepsbe taken to make all Challenges involving telepaths illegal. It was agreed this matter should be put beforethe Sholan World Council at the soonest opportunity. All the laws of Challenge needed to be reviewed tomake sure no more such loopholes existed. Sholan telepaths were too rare and too valuable among allthe Allied worlds to be risked in the Challenge system be-cause of ancient laws still on the statutes.
A new department would be set up specifically to mediate in matters arising out of a conflict concerningany telepath, whether it was personal or legal. They agreed that an arbitra-tion system was needed todeal with circumstances such as Kusac and Carrie had found themselves in. That done, Konis finallybegan to relax, knowing that never again would any parent have to face the possible death of both his sonand his bond-daughter because of a Challenge.
* * *
After Kusac had been settled upstairs, Kaid called Garras, Meral, T'Chebbi, Rulla, Dzaka and Lhea tothe small in-house staff lounge for a conference.
"It looks like the current threat to them is over now," he said. "We've got the last of the two killers, and all reports from Nazule and other major cities show that on Shola, at least, there is no fear of a treaty with Earth. Similarly, re-ports from the Khalossa and Rhyaki show that the crew ori-entation program is now working. However, we aren't going to relax our vigilance yet." He looked round them all, mak-ing sure each one thought he or she was the sole focus of his attention.
"As new mixed Leskas occur, they will be assigned body-guards until we are sure there are too many of
them for them to be satisfactory targets for any dissidents."
"You expect there to be that many?" asked Meral.
"Yes, I do. Your dues to Stronghold will continue to be paid for you all as well as a basic wage. Where you're living on an estate, the estate will pay you and feed you. This is the arrangement that has been decided will be the easiest to im-plement. We'll rotate you, so you can have some time back at Dzahai for training. Any questions?"
There were negative headshakes and murmurs from two of the four Warriors.
"Who are we working for, Kaid?" asked T'Chebbi.
"Me."
"Not the Brotherhood?"
Kaid shook his head slowly, eyes locked on hers.
T'Chebbi's eyes narrowed as she met his gaze. Abruptly, she nodded once. "I'm with you."
"Anyone else have a problem?" he asked, looking straight at Dzaka. No one had.
"Good. T'Chebbi, take over command of the troops out-side. Stand half down now for a meal and rest
period, then rotate them in for the night shift."
"Aye, sir," she said, getting up and leaving.
"Lhea, you're on duty with Vanna till tomorrow morning. Stay near her and rest when you can. I'm sorry
you have a heavy duty, but I need Garras for something else. Is Maylgu still watching Brynne?"
"Yes," said Lhea.
"When you leave here, contact him and tell him he's on the same shift length as you. You can go."
"Aye."
Left with only Garras, Rulla, Dzaka, and Meral, Kaid looked over to his old friend, "Well, Garras?" heasked, rais-ing an eye ridge, his ears pricking toward him.
Alone of the five, Garras had relaxed back into his chair from the beginning of the meeting. "Consideringhis com-panion is Liegena Taizia, I think it would be a wise move," he drawled, watching Meral with anamused look on his face. His tail tip flicked lazily from its position on the chair.
Meral's ears went back apprehensively.
"If we adjust the shifts, can you cope?"
"Depends how quickly he learns. We'll need some time at Stronghold, or do you intend to dispense with
that?"
Meral was looking from one to the other of them. "You're not talking about the Warrior Guild, are you?"he asked.
"This conversation hasn't happened, Meral," said Kaid sternly, his eyes locking on the young male's.
"We'll ob-serve the rules for now, Garras."
"No, sir," said Meral, obviously fighting to keep his ears as vertical as possible.
"You can't join the Brotherhood, you know that, donV you? You must be invited in. You've probably
seen us vis-iting the Warrior Guild to recruit."
Meral nodded.
"We pick likely candidates, ones with the right talents, and then approach them. Your guild doesn't like
us doing that, but we have the right. Each person is handpicked, ei-ther as a child or at around your age."
Meral's ears had risen again. "You're not… asking me, are you?" He looked from one to the other.
Garras nodded.
"You have qualities we need," said Kaid. "Are you inter-ested?"
"Yes," he said. "But why me? There's nothing that special about me."
"Telepaths don't tend to choose companions who are Tal-entless," said Garras. "Now what have you got
planned for me to do, Kaid?"
Kaid flicked his ears in recognition of the point Garras had scored. "You and Meral are leaving for Dzahai Strong-hold. I can't leave them now, and I want a message delivered in person to Ghezu. Youcan enter Meral's name on the role of members while you'll there. He'll need a sponsor."
Garras nodded. "I'll sponsor him. What's the message?
"
"Tell Ghezu I said he's had his proof now. I won't allow this to happen again. Remind him I owe them
nothing, all debts are now paid."
Garras got slowly to his feet. "Come on, lad, we're leav-ing," he said. "I think I'll see the clerk before Igive Ghezu your message."
Raid's mouth dropped in a rare grin. "It would probably be best," he agreed.
As the door shut, Kaid turned to look at Dzaka.
"You're planning to break from Stronghold," he said.
"I'm not with Stronghold," Kaid reminded him.
"But the others are. You said next time you left, I could choose to come."
Kaid nodded, watching Dzaka carefully through half closed eyes. He was deadly tired now. He neededto sleep. "When I'm ready, I'll tell you."
"What happens if Ghezu calls me back?"
"That's your decision, Dzaka," he said quietly.
"You expect me to decide to disobey Stronghold without knowing why?" he asked in disbelief.
"The rest of us will," said Rulla. "What makes you think you deserve an explanation when we don't?"
"Trust, Dzaka. You either trust me, or you don't. You have to decide. You wanted the right to make up your own mind, well, you've got it now." Kaid got to his feet. "I'm leaving you on duty, too, Rulla. Dzaka, too, if he's staying. T'Chebbi will tell you what needs doing. I need to sleep."
* * *
Both Carrie and Kusac slept for the remainder of that day and through the night.
By morning, Kusac had recovered from the shock. He was only marginally blocking Carrie's painbecause she was under such a heavy dose of analgesics that they were affect-ing him. As a side effect itwas lessening the pain in his shoulder.
Vanna was using Kusac's desk comm to call up the Med-ical Guild to speak to one of the researchdoctors there. She was explaining her theory that once the Leska Link was es-tablished between a Sholan and a human and the pair were fully compatible, there was a biological trigger that forced them toreproduce immediately. She was hoping that after that first child was born there would be a decrease inthat dependency and fertility, or a return to the normal Sholan voluntary control over conception. Whatever else, some pro-vision had to be made for the Terran .females who had never had the option tovoluntarily control their fertility.
Fortune's Wheel Page 72