fortuneswheel (54 page)

* * *

Kusac was so tense that he was instantly aware of Rala's and her brother Talgo's arrival. He went downstairs to join his family, preferring to go voluntarily rather than suffer the indignity of being sent for.
He greeted her with a curt nod, taking a seat as far from her as possible. Despite his heavy shielding, he felt his father's annoyance though Konis remained silent.
Kusac sat through the interminable round of pleasantries and small talk, contributing only monosyllabic answers, barely managing to conceal his impatience with the whole proceedings.
As an attendant came out to announce the second meal at midday, he reached for his mother.
Where are Carrie and
Taizia?
He didn't want to open his link to Carrie because of Rala's presence.
They've gone to the coast for the day,
came the reassuring reply.
Meral and Kaid are with them.
"Kusac, verbalize if you please," said his father curtly. "It's hardly courteous to use telepathy in the presence of a non-telepathic guest."
Kusac stiffened, then forced himself to relax. Anger wouldn't benefit him now.

* * *

After lunch, Konis claimed urgent work to be done and his mother took Talgo with her to the estate pottery. Talgo had spoken of an interest in setting up such a facility on his family's estate. Kusac and Rala were left to their own devices. So far, Rala had surprised him by behaving impeccably.
Kusac invited her to accompany him into the private garden away from the immediate vicinity of the house. He didn't want any of his family overhearing what he had to say to her.
As he led her along the path to the seclusion of the private garden, T'Chebbi began to follow them at a discreet distance. He'd forgotten she was there, but then she would have been watching him all along. He allowed himself the smallest of grins as he realized her presence would have a dampening effect on Rala should she try her seduction tactics again.
Rala walked silently at his side until they passed the high hedges that concealed them from the house. Ahead of them was a carved stone seat. She stopped and sat down. "We've a lot to discuss, Kusac," she said, looking up at him. She frowned, catching sight of T'Chebbi. "Hasn't she got other things to do?" she asked. "Like polishing her swords or something?"
Kusac looked toward the Warrior, managing to flick one ear just enough to invite a conspiracy with her as he answered Rala. "She's merely doing her job, Rala. There was an attempt on my life several weeks ago. One of the males is still at large."
"Surely you're in no danger here with me?" she said persuasively, her mouth opening in a smile.
"Not with T'Chebbi here, no," he agreed.
Rala sighed. "Kusac, send her away. I want to talk to you privately."
"She stays. There's nothing we have to say to each other she can't hear anyway."
"Very well," she said, her tone dissatisfied. "My father thinks it's time we formalized our betrothal, especially now you have a Leska, and I agree with him." She waited for a response.
Kusac moved away from her to where an ornamental tree stood beside the hedges. Leaning against it, he picked idly at the flaking bark with one claw.
"After that, we need only wait a couple of months before becoming life-bonded," Rala continued.
Kusac had let enough of his shielding down to be aware of Rala on a basic level and he could feel her absolute confidence. This time she was playing the mature young female, not the giddy youngling anxious to see her betrothed.
"It's all just one big game to you, isn't it?" he said. "What do you expect to gain by marrying me, Rala?"
"I don't know what you mean by a game, Kusac," she said, her tone slightly baffled. "I expect what any wife expects, naturally. To become part of your Clan, and in time have the position and respect due to the Clan Leader's wife."
"And me? Where do my feelings fit into your picture of marriage?"
She shrugged prettily, smoothing a fold in her robe. "It's an arranged marriage, Kusac. You have your Leska for love if that's what you want. I'll run your household and be the mother of your children. We'll do our duty to our Clans."
Kusac's eyes changed, the pupils contracting until almost all the black was gone. "This is very different from what you said that night at my Guild, Rala," he said coldly. "If I marry you, there will be no children. It will be purely a bonding of convenience. If position is all you want and I can't find a way out of our marriage contract, then you can have it, but you'll have none of me."
Rala's eyes flashed briefly. "Our betrothal is irrevocable, Kusac," she said mildly. "I'm sorry you don't want it, but it's a matter apart from our wishes. Once we're life-bonded, I've no doubt I can change your mind. There's no reason we can't have affection in our relationship."
"Any marriage will be in name only," he repeated firmly. "There will be no children."
"We'll see," she said confidently, getting up and walking over to him. "Surely marriage to me wouldn't be that unpleasant? We could even exchange torcs now."
Her lithe body pressed against his and her perfume filled his nostrils. He pushed her aside, aware that for him there was a subliminal wrongness in the feel of her body against his. Only the softness and smell of Carrie felt right.
Kusac moved sharply away from her, backing down the path. "There will be no exchange," he said. "I'll give you nothing of mine save the position you want."
"Kusac, I am entitled to..." she began.
"No," he interrupted. "You are not entitled to my torc. It's mine to do with as I wish! There will be no exchange."
"I warn you, Kusac..." she began, her eyes flashing angrily, but he cut her short.
"It'll be as I say," Kusac said flatly, turning away from her, T'Chebbi following him. "I've nothing more to discuss with you, Rala. Good day."
"How dare you treat me like this!," she said, her voice rising in pitch, brittle with anger.
Kusac was out of earshot, but he felt her anger hit him like a wave. Shutting it out, he returned to the house, heading for their rooms. Once inside, he stripped his tunic off, throwing it on a chair. The belt he kept, fastening it round his waist again and making sure the knife was firmly in its sheath.
T'Chebbi would be waiting outside on guard. He couldn't leave that way. He went to the balcony, walking the few meters to where the household shrine roof projected below him. It was a leap of only a meter or so to the rooftop.
He landed with a thump and froze, hoping no one had heard. When there was no response, he made his way cautiously to the edge and looked over. There was no one about. He jumped, absorbing the shock of landing on all four limbs, then ran for the undergrowth nearby, dodging between the bushes for cover until he was in open scrub land. Moving into a lope, he ran till his ribs ached and his mind was too numb to think coherently, heading instinctively for the hideaway he had used in younger days.
It was still there. Limbs trembling with fatigue, he scrabbled at the debris covering the entrance— more now since it hadn't been used in so many years— and pushed his way through the thornbush into the cave in the rocky outcrop behind. Sides heaving, he flopped onto his side and put a hand to his mouth to suck out the stray thorn that had penetrated a finger pad. That done, he curled up, trying to get comfortable.

* * *

The afternoon drew on, and finally Kaid called a halt to the training session.
"We've made a good start," he said as Carrie collapsed, panting, in a heap on the sand. "You're beginning to use the knowledge you took from me in that transfer, but your body needs to know what to do as well as your mind. You also need to improve your stamina. You can't rely on skill alone to beat Rala, you need to be able to stay the course for however long the Challenge takes. Whoever tires or gets angry first will take the risks and make the mistakes. Don't let her emotions get to you. Better still, make sure you shield them out."
"How long does a Challenge usually last?" she asked, trying to breathe deeply and slowly.
Kaid shrugged, wiping down the blades of the short swords with an oily rag. "It could be over in the first few seconds, or it could take ten minutes. Who knows? You need to be at peak fighting performance for as long as it takes. I'd like to get you to the pitch where you take her in less than a minute."
He slipped the blades back into their case and closed it, turning to give each of the small punch shields a wipe, too.
"That means daily training until the day of the Challenge," he said, looking at her. "Can you keep this from Kusac until you've actually issued the Challenge?"
When Carrie hesitated, Taizia answered for her. "You'll have to," she said. "He's bound to try to stop it, and it really is your only chance to prevent his marriage to Rala."
"Can you keep it from him?" Kaid asked again.
"Yes, I can block it, but I'll need you," she nodded to Taizia, "to help give me an excuse to leave the guild regularly so I can practice."
"No problem," said Taizia, grinning at Meral, "I'll be happy to accompany you."
Carrie pushed herself groaning to her feet. "I'm as stiff as a board again," she complained, grabbing a towel to scrub at her sweating face.
"You can have a shower when we get back," said Taizia, putting the book and weapons in her bag.
"Taizia, what would happen if Kusac and I just got lifebonded? What's to stop us? We're adults after all."
Taizia gave her a horrified look. "You couldn't do that, Carrie! It's a question of honor, Kusac's honor, even though he had nothing to do with making the bonding contract. Even if he did try, the priest at the Temple would refuse."
"I'm not thinking of suggesting it," she assured Taizia hurriedly, "I just wondered what the position was."
"I thought you understood Kusac's position," she said, a worried look on her face.
"I know all that Kusac does about your culture, but I don't understand it until I'm told or I experience it for myself," Carrie said. "I can't explain it any better. I'm sorry," she said helplessly.
Taizia gave her a quick hug. "It's all right. I understand, I think," she said with a little laugh.
Picking up the bag, she headed back to the aircar. Meral ran after her, taking the bag from her and helping her into the craft. Taizia thanked him, her hand lingering in his for longer than was necessary.
Carrie and Kaid exchanged glances, then Carrie linked her arm briefly through his. "Thanks, Kaid. I know you don't approve, but I do appreciate your help."
When they joined them at the hatch, with a flick of her tail, Taizia ducked into the passenger area, leaving Meral to help Carrie up.

* * *

Kusac had awakened and was on his way back to the house. Lowering his shield to a normal level, he sensed that Rala and Talgo were about to leave, and his sister and Carrie were returning. A sudden dread and a premonition of danger filled him and he began to run in earnest.
Meral set the craft down at the front entrance and opened the hatch.
"Keep the bag out of sight at the back," Taizia said to him. "We need to take it with us when we leave. Can you keep it in your quarters? I'm afraid that weapons in the Telepath Guild House are likely to be discovered."
Meral nodded, waiting until Kaid and the two females were out before following them.
Carrie turned to Taizia as they walked round the front of the vehicle. "Do you think the other Terrans will have arrived yet?" she asked.
Taizia grabbed her by the arm, hauling her sharply to one side.
"Hey!" exclaimed Carrie, stumbling against her in an effort to regain her balance.
An angry growl made her turn her head. In front of her stood Rala. Taizia had just prevented Carrie from knocking the Sholan female down.
Carrie stood frozen to the spot, facing a mental blast of rage as Rala took a long look at her and the torc that she wore.
Rala took a step forward. Claws extended, she reached for Carrie.
There was a blur of black and Kusac slewed to a halt, sending a spray of gravel in Rala's direction, making her start back in surprise. He rose suddenly to his hind feet, towering between the two females, making Carrie's senses reel at the sudden change. His mouth opened in a warning snarl and he made no attempt to control the lashing of his tail.
Rala took another step backward. "I see now where your torc is! She's changed you into a savage to come at her beck and call," she hissed.
Carrie stole a quick look at him. There was a kind of barbaric splendor about him at the moment, clad as he was only in the torc and knife belt.
"How could you betray your own kind and place her above me?" Rala demanded angrily. "I thought it impossible for a Clan Leader's son to behave in a way that went against the good of our race and his own honor, but you have!"
"Those aren't accusations for you to make, Rala," said Kusac's father as he emerged from the house. "So far my son hasn't done anything to let either our Clan or Shola down."
Now! now! now!
yammered a voice in Carrie's mind, a mixture of her own urgings and Taizia's.
She stepped out from behind Kusac. "I Challenge you..." she began.
Kusac, knowing her mind, whipped round to face her. Grasping her by the shoulders, he tried to shake her into silence, but she continued, her voice getting stronger as she feared he would prevent her from finishing.
"I Challenge your right to marry my Leska by the rules of En'Shalla!"
Kusac released her. "You can't," he said flatly.
"Accepted!" growled Rala, seeing her chance for blood.
"Father," demanded Kusac, turning toward him, "tell her the Challenge can't stand."
"I demand that it stands!" said Rala.
"I'm afraid Carrie has the legal right to issue this or any Challenge," his father replied slowly, a concerned look on his face.
"Telepaths can't be Challenged!"
"Nothing says a telepath can't issue a Challenge," said Konis.
"Then she'll have a Champion," said Kusac.
"Oh, no," said Rala, "she's not getting out of it that easily! She issued the Challenge, I demand she fights it!"
Kusac glanced from the unholy glee on Rala's face back to his father.
"I'm not sure of the law in this case, but I do know the last time this Challenge was fought it led to the banning of telepaths being Challenged," Konis replied.
"Then how can she fight Rala?"
"It's an anomaly. Although this incident made telepaths inviolate, the Challenge itself was never removed from the statute books as far as I remember. I'm surprised Carrie knew about it," said his father, frowning thoughtfully at Taizia.
"The law in this case states that the Challenger and the one Challenged must be the ones to fight," said Rhyasha's quiet voice.
"Father, this is nonsense! Stop the Challenge," pleaded Kusac.
His father shook his head. "I can't interfere. As your mother says, the Challenge is valid, and legally issued. It's also En'Shalla— in the hands of the Gods. No judge can stop it, only a priest."
"In that case, I set the date for..." began Rala.
Kaid stepped forward. "Liegena Vailkoi, the Challenge was issued by Carrie. She decides the place, time, and weapons." He glanced at Carrie and, receiving the barest of nods, continued.
"It will be held here two weeks from now, and the weapons will be the ritual shield and short sword provided by the Liegena Taizia Aldatan. The time will be the fourth hour."
"Those are the weapons from the shrine," exclaimed Kusac, turning on his sister. "They were used in the original Challenge! How could you suggest she use them when they've already caused two deaths? They're cursed!"
"The weapons sound ideal," purred Rala, ears flicking in anticipation of the fight to come.
"That's superstition," said Taizia. "Surely you don't believe it?"
Kusac turned away from her to Kaid. "Are the arrangements complete?" he demanded, his voice as cold as ice.
"Yes, Liegen Aldatan."
Kusac grasped Carrie firmly, ignoring her pain as his claws dug fiercely into her wrist. "We're leaving now, Father," he said, walking toward the stairs and pulling Carrie with him. He turned briefly to Rala.
"We'll see you in two weeks, Liegena Vailkoi," he said before stalking into the house, dragging Carrie behind him.
"You may win your Leska, Terran, but watch you haven't lost his love," Rala called after her, laughing.
"Damn you, Carrie," said Kusac, his voice harsh as he dragged her along the balcony and into their suite. "Why did you have to do that to me?" He changed his grip to her upper arm as he activated the lounge door. Dragging her over to the settee, he flung her down on it, watching while she recovered her balance and examined her wrist.
Blood trickled slowly down her forearm, making him shiver with an icy premonition of worse to come. Acutely aware of her pain and distress as well as his own, he went over to her, crouching down on the floor. He took her by the shoulders, shaking her more gently this time.
"Don't you realize the risk you're taking, not just for yourself but both of us? I know the Challenge is to First Blood only, but something could go wrong. What possessed you to allow Taizia— and my mother— to talk you into this wild scheme?"
"It's the only way to break the contract."
"I would rather have disobeyed my father and left the Clan than risk you in a Challenge. The only good point, if you can call it such, is that if anything happens to you, I won't survive either," he said heavily, pulling her close.
"Don't say that!"
"It's a fact," he said, lifting her injured wrist and beginning to lick it. "No," he said in response to her look, "I don't like the taste of blood, but it'll help the wounds close. I'm sorry I hurt you."
"I'm sorry if I did the wrong thing, but your mother and sister desperately wanted to help us. They're afraid of losing you if this bonding ceremony couldn't be stopped." She sighed, relaxing against him.
"It was my problem, I should have solved it!"
"Is there any other way?" she demanded.
"No," he admitted, letting her wrist go. "Gods, cub, no one could say life with you was boring. What the hell am I supposed to do with you?"
"Love me?" she suggested, wrapping her arms around his neck and pulling him close enough to kiss.
His canines bit her lip a bit more sharply than usual. "I'm still angry with you." His voice was a low growl. "Come on, I want to be out of here within the hour. Go and pack."