Authors: Lisanne Norman
* * *
Konis stiffened suddenly before leaping to his feet. "Kitra's gone in with Kezule!" he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "Rhyasha agreed to a truce and to give him supplies. Kitra ran in when Kezule was taking them. I've got to go there, Lijou, be with her!"
"Absolutely. We can drop Keeza off at the medical center on the way," Lijou said briskly. "Use your comm to call a vehicle for us." He strode to where Keeza lay on the couch and picked her up, slinging her over his shoulder.
CHAPTER 16
VANNA stroked Brynne's forehead gently with her fingertips. His breathing was light now, he'd be waking soon. She'd never considered the possibility of him being exposed to any danger before. Unlike Carrie and Kusac, he'd spent more time in Valsgarth town than on the estate. She'd gotten used to him leading an almost charmed life.
As she closed the door quietly behind her, she heard raised voices in the next room. Angrily she walked down the corridor and flung the door open.
"What the hell's going on?" she demanded. "This is a medical unit, people are trying to recover here!" She found herself facing the Head Priest of the Brotherhood. "Master Lijou!" she stammered.
"You're quite right," he said. "Sister Jissoh is just leaving."
The Sister, her jaw set in a hard line, briefly inclined her head in his direction before stalking out, tail flicking angrily.
"May I introduce..." he began, but was cut short by the female sitting on the bed.
"Keeza Lassah," she said, standing up. "And who are you?" She looked Vanna over with a manner the other found insulting.
Seeing Jurrel hovering to one side, she put two and two together. She could feel her pelt start to rise on her neck and shoulders. "I'm Brynne's Leska," she snarled, voice deepening with her underlying rumble of anger. "You're the one who shot him. Do you realize you put not only his life at risk, but mine and my unborn cub's, too? But then, I don't suppose that you'd care about that! Life is pretty cheap to someone like you!"
"Hold on a minute, Vanna," began Lijou, stepping toward her.
Keeza thrust herself in front of him. "Just what do you mean by that?"
"What's the count so far? Since the Pack Lord, two soldiers and almost my Leska! Pretty good going for someone who's officially dead, don't you think?"
Keeza began to growl deep in her throat as, around her face, her hair began to bush out in response.
Jurrel moved quickly, placing himself squarely between them, his back to Vanna. "Keeza, she's pregnant. The accident scared her, that's all," he said quietly, grasping her by the arm and shielding her from the physician.
"Damned right I'm scared," snapped Vanna, trying to push Jurrel aside. "Scared that this murderer tries it again! I want her out of here and off the estate, d'you hear me? Keep her away from my Leska!"
"Vanna, you're being unreasonable," said Lijou, putting an arm across her shoulders and forcing her away from them. "She cannot be held responsible for her actions at Shanagi. Jurrel told you she was being slowly poisoned by Kezule's bite and the herb he used on the food."
"Stop defending her, she's a killer, for the Gods' sake!" snarled the enraged Vanna, trying to twist free. "She was forcing you at gun point to tell her what you'd done! Nothing's changed! Even if she isn't responsible for the guards, she still killed the Pack Lord! Someone like her sees violence as the answer to everything!"
"Someone like what, Vanna?" asked Brynne quietly from the doorway. "You know nothing about her. You're making assumptions, just as the telepath at her trial did. Tell them, Keeza," he said, holding onto the doorframe for support. "You've got a reason to clear your name now. Our cub."
Jurrel abruptly let go of Keeza to go to Brynne's aid.
Vanna froze. "Your cub?"
"You shouldn't have gotten up," said Jurrel, slipping his shoulder under Brynne's.
Clutching his bandaged side, with his friend's help, Brynne limped across the room to Keeza's bed. "I heard these two squabbling like kits," he said, gasping in pain as Jurrel helped him sit down. "I had to come."
Blood was beginning to seep through his bandage as he reached for Keeza's hand. "I told you the truth, Jurrel," he said, as the Brother knelt to check his dressing. "She only killed in self-defense."
"Keeza? Is this true?" asked Lijou, steering the stunned Vanna toward the room's only chair.
"Let them think what they want of me," she said, her voice harsh. "It's done. They got what they wanted, a murder conviction. Only one person other than Brynne believed in me without proof, the Brother who came to the prison for me. That's enough."
"L'Seuli?" said Lijou in surprise. "He knows? Why did you offer no defense? You said nothing at your trial."
She returned his look with a steady one of her own but said nothing.
"I'll tell them," said Brynne, clasping Keeza's hand more tightly as his face began to turn pale.
"No!" said Keeza. "Let it be, Brynne. My name's dead anyway. I'll take your Clan's as is my right as your life-mate. I'll be Keeza Aldatan." Lifting her chin, she glowered challengingly across the room at Vanna.
"He's in shock," said Lijou, noticing Brynne's color. "You should be lying down, Brynne."
"I'll see to him," said Jurrel firmly, going round the other side of the bed to pull back the covers.
"Life-mate?" Vanna echoed. He'd taken her as his life-mate?
"Tell Master Sorli he needs to give the Court telepaths a shake-up, Father," said Brynne as Jurrel, with Keeza's help, eased him onto the bed. "They didn't even recognize a latent talent in her. She hid the truth from them."
"Enough, Brynne!" said Keeza, straightening up and trying to pull away from him, but he grasped her hand again and held it firm in his.
"You have Garras, Vanna, and his cub on the way. I've made my choices, accept them as I accepted your mate. Gratifying though it should be, I don't want the two of you fighting over me again. At least give Keeza a chance."
"Don't flatter yourself, Brynne Stevens," Vanna said sharply, but his words hit their mark and she couldn't meet his gaze.
"I'm going to look into this matter, Keeza," said Lijou. "You were determined to keep your own identity a few minutes ago. If I can prove your innocence, will you let me clear your name?"
"Let him, for our cub if not for yourself," said Brynne quietly, tugging at her till she sat down beside him. "Keeza Lassah is who you are, not Ghaysa, or any other name the Brotherhood might give you."
"It could prevent another— next time perhaps fatal— injustice from happening," said Lijou.
Keeza closed her eyes and leaned back against Brynne, hiding her face against his chest. Even Vanna picked up her memories of that last terrifying night in her cell, when she'd faced the certainty of her execution. Then L'Seuli had come for her with his offer of a pardon. She understood now what had made Keeza accept the Brotherhood's terrible offer, and why they'd made it.
Brynne looked over to Lijou and nodded.
Vanna got to her feet. "Perhaps I judged her too quickly," she said, her voice low. "But I was afraid for you, Brynne, and angry with her for risking our lives."
He nodded again. "It's all right, Vanna. I understand." His voice was quiet, very quiet. "I'd like to rest now, if you don't mind."
* * *
"No wonder Konis was in no fit state to help you," said Rhyaz compassionately.
"I have restored all Keeza's memories, but it occurred to me that during this crisis, her knowledge of Kezule could be vital, so I asked her if she'd agree to wait till this is over. She agreed, and her help has already been of enormous value. General Kezule is first and foremost a soldier. He prides himself on meeting his responsibilities and being fair. Because Rhyasha gave her word to him, the cub and Kitra are now his responsibility. Provided Dzaka plays it straight and does nothing underhanded, they should all be safe— until Kezule realizes returning to his own time is impossible."
"Good thinking. I'll have Keeza's background thoroughly investigated, and pass on to Master Sorli Brynne's comments about the trial telepath, and speak to L'Seuli. Now that you mention it, I remember him being concerned about Keeza at the time, but he never said anything to me. If an injustice has been done, then thank the Gods it was Keeza we chose. At least she's still alive. Meanwhile, have Garras and Ni'Zulhu cut the estate off from all incoming and outgoing transmissions and visitors. Isolate yourselves, except from the Stronghold operational frequency," said Rhyaz. "We don't want Raiban getting wind of this and trying to march in and take over."
"Already done. Ni'Zulhu wants to force an entry to the lab but Garras has overruled him. For now, he wants to do it Kezule's way."
"Get Garras to try negotiating with Kezule. See if there's anything else he'll accept. I wish I felt confident enough to tell the Aldatans that Carrie's safe, but until the
Profit
arrives at Haven, I daren't risk raising their hopes. How are they coping?"
"Vanna's persuaded them to rest at the villa, even managed to get them to take a light sedative. They've spoken to Keeza about Kezule, and she managed to reassure them somewhat. What worries me is that Kezule has nothing left to lose any more. That makes him more dangerous than he was at Shanagi, when he had at least the hope of escape. He's got to know that's impossible this time."
"Tell him we're in negotiation with Valtegans and we'll give him safe passage to their ship," said Rhyaz. "He might just fall for it."
"We aren't in negotiation yet."
"I know that, Lijou, but we already know who they want, and we will be in a couple of days' time. Lie for now! Hell, even if we have to hand him over to save the hostages, it's worth it! We were getting damned little information out of him anyway."
"I'll tell Garras."
"Are you sure Keeza's no danger to you? She's not still protecting Kezule, is she?"
"Absolutely not. I told you how she and Brynne came to meet. There was no way it could have been planned, Rhyaz. Besides, Brynne would know about it by now."
"I'll take your word for it. Stay in touch, Lijou. And, well done."
"Rhyaz, I need to talk to Kha'Qwa," said Lijou awkwardly. "Our cub's due in just over three weeks."
"That soon? I'm sorry, Lijou. This is a bad time for you to be away from here. I saw Kha'Qwa a couple of hours ago, she's fine. I'll get her to call you in an hour, how's that?"
"I'd be grateful."
* * *
Day 39
The sound of pattering feet and a strange yet familiar scent drew Kusac's eyes to the door. Coming toward him was the alien he'd seen just before he'd been shot. Slightly over three feet tall, it wore an assortment of colored strips of transparent gauzy material that hung from a band above its broad hips. Its bronze-colored limbs were spindly, the joints large, and the three-toed feet wide and splayed. The stick-thin arms were bent across its body, hands held up near its face, the three long fingers moving restlessly.
Kusac looked higher, seeing the large eyes with their strange dual lenses. Below them, at the lower end of the oval head, was a small mouth with quivering mandibles. Round its neck it wore more of the bright strips, and as it drew closer, it brought with it a cloud of scented air.
Beside it walked a Valtegan, the skin a slightly darker green than that of the commander he'd seen earlier. This one's skull was totally smooth, but around the eyes and across the cheeks were bands of iridescent skin.
They stopped a few feet from his bedside, and he saw that the Valtegan carried a metal tray. Despite the many short periods of sleep he kept having, he was still exhausted, but he forced himself to concentrate on his visitors. This must be the treatment the commander had spoken about.
"I'm Doctor Zayshul and this is my colleague, Kzizysus. He's a TeLaxaudin, and our medical bio-engineer. We'll be looking after you until we reach our destination."
The species name was familiar. "One of the founders of the spaceport at Jalna," Kusac said.
"Yes," said Zayshul, her tone pleased. "We're going to get you fit to rejoin your own people. The TeLaxaudin design and make the implants for us, so he'll be adjusting that for you under an anesthetic."
"You're different from the commander."
Her visible skin darkened, turning almost black. "Of course. You were on Keiss. You've only met M'zullian males. And Kezule. I'm one of the female members of our crew. How did you get hold of Kezule?"
"Our God gave him to us, in the temple in the plains." He could remember telling J'koshuk that. "It was ruined, there were ancient devices..." He let his voice trail off tiredly, hoping she'd not pursue it. A female Valtegan, sentient and almost friendly. He'd be past being surprised now, if he could feel any emotions at all.
She lifted a device from the tray and reached out to apply it to his neck. "This will relax you, make you sleep for a short time. The procedure isn't painful, but it is unpleasant, I'm afraid."
He reached up to stay her hand. "He said you put the implant in because I had seizures."
"I wasn't present when you were awakened, I'm afraid, but Doctor Chy'qui said that's what happened. You were a telepath, weren't you?"
Past tense. "Yes."
"The doctor tells me the implant has neutralized that ability because it was threatening your life. There's a lot to be grateful for, though. At least he saved your life."
Either she was lying, or telling what she thought to be the truth. When J'koshuk first took him, he could use his Talent, if he was willing to endure the pain. When he awoke after that first time, his mind had been quiet until J'koshuk had gone to Carrie. Then, for a brief moment, his Talent had returned. Even now, a tiny portion of it remained, but not telepathy.
A humming sound seemed to come from the TeLaxaudin. An electronic voice began to speak in Sholan. "Begin we cannot until hand remove. That shouldn't he be able doing."
Kusac let his hand fall back on his lap, realizing he might have given himself away. "I'm tired," he said, closing his eyes.
He felt the faint sting of the hypo, then the surge of the drug rushing to his brain. Lassitude and nausea gripped him, and he knew immediately what he'd been given. La'quo. Shock made him fling his arms out, hands grasping the sides of the bed. Didn't they know what it did to Sholans? He couldn't tell them he knew what it was because it would betray a knowledge of their past that he'd been denying. He tried to remember more about the drug. It caused hallucinations, and the images seen depended on the state of mind at the time it was administered. Kaid had fought the stronger narcotic version Ghezu had given him. He'd only taken the weaker sap when they'd traveled back to the Fire Margins. This had to be the narcotic version.
The hypersensitivity began to build. He could feel every hair in his pelt, could hear the blood surging through his body. He focused on that, trying to slow it down, then realized it was futile. The drug had already reached his brain. Now he felt light-headed and disembodied, and the particles of the TeLaxaudin's scent hurt his nostrils— his lungs felt as if he were breathing in perfumed fire. It hadn't worked this fast with the plant extract.
A gray mist was beginning to fill the room, everything was losing its color. He felt lighter than air and utterly terrified.