Jeanne G'Fellers - No Sister of Mine (18 page)

“A pass and a half is what I heard.” Belsas rocked on her heels. “Couldn’t make a commitment in a pass and a half, but now you want to make a serious go of things with someone you’ve known three days?”

“Well, I—”

“Kimshees are not known for stability in their personal life.” Belsas’s fiery tone increased. “You’re willing to give up apprentices and take reassignment for LaRenna?”

“LaRenna is Kimshee, too, Grandmaster Belsas, and very mature.” Stubbornness sparkled in Krell’s eyes. “I know that this means I can no longer train her and that reassignment will be necessary for me. I am also aware of the implications on my career, but I feel it is important, no, necessary for LaRenna and me to find out just how deep this bond of ours can go.”

“If all this is true,” Belsas inquired, “how could you let her take this post?”

“She accepted the post before they met,” Chandrey interjected.

“They began bonding before she went undercover. Krell could have stopped all this simply by calling us sooner.” Belsas turned back to the screen. “Why didn’t you, Krell? Her welfare fell on you until she posted. If there was anything questionable about her readiness, if there was a chance your bonding could have interfered with your judgment of her readiness, then it was irresponsible of you to send her on.”

Krell folded her arms across her chest. “The post means everything to her. She thinks it will prove her capabilities. I couldn’t very well deny her the opportunity with her thinking so.”

“Her wants matter little, First Kimshee. I am speaking of her readiness. She was your charge until she posted!” Belsas’s face was fiercely red. “And you denied your bond call to let her meet danger? ALONE?”

“Belsas, dear.” Chandrey’s soft soprano was calm yet demanding. “You’re not angry with Krell for allowing LaRenna to take post. You’re furious at yourself for sending your daughter against the Creiloff twins.” The name sent sharp chills down her spine, catching hard at the scars creasing her back. “Look at this objectively.”

“I am!”

“No, you’re not.” Chandrey leaned across the worktable, hands extended, palm up, toward her guardian. “You’re angry at yourself. You decided correctly that LaRenna was the best suited for the post, so you sent her to Langus. It was a good decision at the time.”

Belsas sagged against the worktable. “If I had known for certain the Creiloff twins were involved in the unrest on Langus, I’d never have sent her. Those two and their supporters have been thorns in the Kinship’s side for far too long.”

“Eventually, they will become too elderly to be much of a bother, just as we will.” Chandrey patted Belsas’s hand.

“Belsas.” Krell spoke in the low, rambling drawl guardians used when discussing personal matters. “This was her first post. It would have been selfish to deny her the right to prove herself. Surely you can understand that.”

Belsas drummed her fingers under Chandrey’s touch. “Maybe you’re right.”

“Generally I am,” Chandrey teased. “About what this time?”

“This situation. LaRenna is such a free spirit that perhaps she needs a steady mate.” Krell breathed an audible sigh. “Maybe you can tame her quick mouth, Krell.”

“There’s nothing wrong with stating your mind,” retorted Chandrey. “Krell, you do know she’s physically different, don’t you?”

“I am aware LaRenna’s true female, if that’s what you are referring to,” replied Krell. “Her capacity to have children has increased her phasing abilities to amazing heights. She’s a powerful mind. She just needs to refine her skills.”

“I’m glad she’s able to explore her potential with you.” Chandrey squeezed Belsas’s hand. “If she’s anything like her gahrah, she’ll learn fast.”

“I’m sure she will. I believe her determination derives from her mamma?”

Belsas shoved a precautionary hand into her pocket. “As does her trickster side. Word to the wise: always check your clothing before sending it to be cleaned. The fabric maintainers at the Training Grounds once came across a note Chandrey had left in my pocket. They still refer to me as, well, I’d rather not repeat it, but the name has stuck to this day.”

Ringing laughter filled rooms on both Langus and Saria Three. “And it still fits you.” Chandrey’s eyes danced merrily. “Think of it, Bel, we could be grandparents, not grandraisers, grandparents!”

“Don’t rush them.” Belsas chuckled. “They aren’t oathed yet and besides, LaRenna is young.”

Chandrey refused to let pessimism douse her spirit. “LaRenna is only one pass younger than I was when we oathed.”

“Times were different, Chandrey, and Krell is five passes older than I was. That makes her a full seventeen older than LaRenna.”

“I just turned thirty-nine.” Krell had become sensitive to the subject of LaRenna’s age, quite possibly defensive. There didn’t seem to be any difference when they were together; Krell only knew the rightness of it. “I don’t believe it’s of any significance in our relationship. LaRenna is decades older in her phasing.”

“Well spoken, First Kimshee Middle.” Belsas carefully studied the other guardian’s expression. Whatever Krell may have lacked in reputation she made up for in determination, a trait Belsas admired. “I still think she’s a tad young for all this and she may not appreciate any of what we’ve said here, but Krell is to my liking.” Belsas raised her hands in submission. “I suppose it’s serendipity. If LaRenna agrees then you have my blessing.”

“Mine, too!” Chandrey piped. “Blessed be the day she met you, Krell.”

“Chandrey, please!” Belsas poured a shot of bitterwine from a worktable crystal and held it up in toast. “Happiness to you both.”

“Thank you.” Krell found LaRenna very similar to Chandrey at that moment. “I can see where LaRenna gets her energy.”

“It doesn’t decrease with age,” mumbled Belsas through her glass.

“I also see where she developed her fondness for bitterwine.” Krell’s mouth drew at sight of the thick black concoction.

Belsas grunted, downed the shot, and set the glass back on the table with two quick clinks of its bottom. “Few truly appreciate the taste of bitterwine.”

“I’m not one of them.” Chandrey shared Krell’s grimace. “Blech!”

“It’s an acquired taste,” said Belsas.

“Very!” exclaimed the others in unison.

“I’ll be glad when LaRenna returns. She appreciates fine drink.” Belsas turned when a loud knock interrupted their lighthearted discussion. Rona stood in the doorway.

“New reports have come in, Grandmaster Belsas. You should take a look at them.”

“Lay them on the table. I’ll get to them in a while.”

“No, Belsas, read them now!” Rona thrust a recorder into her hand.

“All right.” Belsas, puzzled by her assistant’s odd behavior, flicked the recorder on and read the report while Rona waited. “Is there a fast frigate in orbit?” Belsas handed back the recorder.

“The
Predator
is in the orbital docks for routine maintenance,” replied Rona.

“Bel, what is it?” queried Chandrey.

Belsas raised a hand for her to wait. “Have it readied. We’ll launch up after the Council meeting late tonight.” Belsas turned to Krell. “Is it possible for you to contact LaRenna today?”

“It would be extremely dangerous.” Krell’s heart skipped one beat then another.

“Wait until morning then. When you see her next, take her and Healer Wileyse directly into orbit. I want all Taelachs off Langus. That’s an order.” Belsas’s arms opened to receive Chandrey. “The Iralians are massing on the truce line. At last estimate, the largest of their ships, the
Blackmore
, will cross the line tomorrow morning.”

Fear contorted Chandrey’s slender hands into pale knots. She watched Rona exit the room then flew into her mate’s arms, trembling with mother instincts for her child. “Tomorrow is the deadline for the High Council to concede to the demands of the Langus Cause!” she cried. “What’s going to happen?”

“Nothing good, I’m certain. We must go to Langus to thwart whatever is unfolding. Our people, the Sarian system demands it.” Belsas made a quick, severe gesture to Krell. “LaRenna’s post did not cover this variable and is hereby withdrawn. Retrieve her at first dawn. The post’s risks far outweigh any reward.”

“My brother is here, too.” Krell’s eyes were wide to the upcoming events. “Let me arrange for him to transport off with us, please.”

“I’d forgotten you were Aut raised. Do what you need, just be in orbit with LaRenna when we arrive. Belsas out.” She shut off the screen and looked grimly down at her lover. Chandrey was in need of her reassurance, but duty also called, and, after a moment’s soothing the call became overwhelming. “Help me into my dress uniform, Chandresslandra.” Belsas pushed away. “The Council will be waiting.”

The only good Taelach is a dead, burned, and ash-scattered Taelach.

—Autlach quote

“Why do I always get the grunt work?” Brandoff carted LaRenna’s limp body up to the living quarters. Cance followed behind, whistling, LaRenna’s slippers and skirts tucked under her arm.

“ ’Cause you beat her half to death, that’s why.” Cance puckered to resume the tune then paused, her mouth flattening in brief contention. “She would’ve responded better if you hadn’t kneed her so early on. Next time, I question her alone.”

“She won’t tell you shit and you know it. You just want a chance to coo over her without me there to laugh.” Brandoff dropped LaRenna close to where Bane lay, frightening him into noiselessness so that Brandoff promptly admonished, “You’re not asleep, old man.”

Cance tossed the clothing into an empty corner then touched her twin’s blackened eye, somewhat gladdened LaRenna hadn’t made things too easy. It showed strength. Cance adored conquering strength. “Have a look at yourself. She made a proper mess of you.” Brandoff peered in the room’s wall-mounted reflecting board. Cance stood behind. LaRenna had gouged long scratches on their faces and a bite ring was clearly visible between the brands on Cance’s neck. She fingered it gingerly, as if recapturing the moment. “What a woman! Fought the whole way through, prock high and all. Imagine what she’d be like if she was willing. Wild is my bet, how ’bout it, Brannie?”

“Yeah, I gotta give her credit for linger ability”—Brandoff’s mouth points stretched a little higher—“and delectability. One of the best I ever had—until she passed out. A little while longer would have exhausted me enough for sleep.”

“I’m there now.” Cance cleaned her scratches with a cloth. “Someone her age, even a Kimshee, shouldn’t have that sense of control. It took everything I had to phase her into submission. Gave me a headache.” Cance surveyed Brandoff’s ruffled appearance then passed the cloth. “Here, doctor yourself then lace back up. You’re leaving nothing to the imagination.”

Brandoff snorted and took the cloth. “Eh, I’m fine.” She spied her sibling’s disapproving reflection. “And if you think differently, take a snort to clear your senses.” She broke her gaze to glance around the room. “You seen Starnes since we came up? He didn’t sneak out, did he?”

“If you’d use that head for more than a prock port you’d know where he’s at. He’s hiding in the washroom, scared senseless. Typical Aut, no mind control whatsoever. I hear everything he’s fretting over.” Cance stepped over LaRenna’s sprawled figure and jerked open the washroom door. “Get out here, Starnie.”

Starnes timidly exited his hiding place holding a small, neatly folded stack of linens. “Just prepping up some clean towels for tonight.” He kept his gaze down. The perfect squares fell from his arms when he saw LaRenna. He gulped and took a backward step. He’d known they’d hurt her, but surely they hadn’t . . .

“Is she—no!” Black char wafted through the air as he collapsed to the floor. Cance stood over him, bow poised to repeat Brandoff’s attack.

“She’s not dead, but you’ll be if you don’t listen. We had a visitor while you slept, little man. Said he saw you and a Taelach from the base cozying up at the Food Plaza, the same one Brandoff saw your new barmaid with this morning. You turned us in, you sorry little—”

“No, I promised. We had a deal!” Starnes held up his hand to ward off the second plasma arrow that scorched through his shoulder. He squealed and drew into a fetal position, sure another blast would be his end.

“I hate being lied to.” Cance ground her heel into his shoulder. “You knew she was Taelach and you knew we found her out, so why didn’t you run while we were using her?” Cance aimed between his eyes. “My patience is gone, Starnie!”

“He didn’t leave because of me.” Bane sat up in his bed. “I’m the reason. Now let him be.”

Brandoff sniffed at the dutiful dedication. “I say we kill them both. They’ve outlived their usefulness.” She aimed at Bane and smiled. “Shame to do away with such an entertaining storyteller.” The bow whined readiness and Brandoff waved goodbye, finger flexed on the weapon’s manual trigger.

“Stop!”

Brandoff downloaded and looked at Cance, who pointed to the lower level. Someone was knocking on the Waterlead’s front doors. “I’ll go tell whoever’s there that we’re closed today—family tragedy.” Cance laughed at what she said. “Singe the first one who opens their yap.” Tunic collar high, sleeves unrolled to cover her bow, Cance blinked to replace her Autlach lenses and trudged down the stairs.