Authors: Lisanne Norman
* * *
"What's taking so long?" fretted Fazzu, pacing the control room. "Is he performing some damned ritual or something?"
"I don't believe it! She's lying down with him!" exclaimed Nayla. "I saw the tape of what happened last time she approached him! You'd think she'd have learned her lesson."
"He's asked her to join him," said L'Seuli from his perch on the edge of the counter. "Her body language is too confident for it to be her idea. Zhyaf? What do you say?"
"Her fear's abated, certainly but she's still nervous. I'd have to agree with you, though. This looks like something he's told her to do."
"Why?" asked Dzyash. "We know he hates the thought of any intimacy with alien females, so why is he inviting it now?"
"Why do people lie close, apart from for paring?" asked L'Seuli. "Warmth. He's had her add her blanket to those on his bed, now he wants her lying on the top beside him. Not for sexual reasons. Some desert tribes males allow their favored herding beasts on their beds at night in the winter, especially the pregnant females. Remember, he sees her as a pet."
"His readings are falling," said Dzyash suddenly. "Falling rapidly. Heartbeat, respiration, temperature, the lot!"
L'Seuli leaped down to get a better view of the screen over Dzyash's shoulder. "What's happening?" he demanded.
"I think we're about to see him go into a hibernation state," said Fazzu. "It's a theory we've been discussing, given that he's got similarities to our reptiles, but I didn't expect it to actually happen." He pointed to the screen. "Look, increased brain activity. He's certainly doing something to himself."
"What about the sedative gas?" asked Nayla.
"Leave it till he's stabilized. If we interfere in what's obviously a natural process for him, it could be fatal. For now, we watch and wait."
* * *
Mentor Sorli had been allocated an office on the ground floor: one of the reception rooms which would be converted for him. He'd refused, deciding instead to have one of the Leska suites.
It was his favorite part of the building, reached by a narrow spiral stone staircase. Dubbed the bird run, the corridor that connected the half dozen or so suites was wooden floored— not stained, highly treated wood, but rough, scarred by generations of clawed Sholan feet and bleached almost white by scrubbing and sanding. It was where the newly Linked Leska pairs lived while learning how to cope with their partner and combined abilities. It was also where established pairs would stay while visiting Valsgarth. They were isolated to a degree from the bustle and hubbub of the daily life of the Guildhouse.
He'd chosen the suite at the end of the corridor. Coincidentally it had what he considered the best views of the grounds. His office looked out across the plain to the woodland, beyond which the ornate white-domed roof of the temple was visible.
As he stood by his desk, the door burst open, admitting Esken. Sorli's aide, Maeshou, trailed unhappily behind him trying to apologize for the disturbance.
"Tell this assistant of yours not to try and keep me out of your office again, Sorli," snapped Esken. "I've had a bad enough day without her adding to it."
Sorli gestured to Maeshou, letting her know there was nothing more she could do.
"Master Esken, won't you take a seat? What brings you here?" he asked, indicating the comfortable chairs just beyond his desk.
Esken was already on his way there, grumbling. "D'you know what Challa's doing now? Redecorating
my
apartments! First she moves in— despite my direct orders not to, mark you— then her damned cubs join her! They could board downstairs like the others, but no, that's not good enough for her! Now this! I can't move for painters and carpenters hammering and sawing everywhere." He stopped as Sorli sat down opposite him.
"Why the hell did you have to have your office up in this Gods' forsaken bit of building?" he demanded. "Must have climbed at least a hundred steps. Damned inconvenient of you, Sorli."
"Not a hundred, Master Esken," Sorli murmured. "About thirty-nine in all. I'm sorry to hear of your troubles, but to what do I owe this visit?"
"This is no call to exchange pleasantries, Sorli. I'm disappointed in you, damned disappointed. I expected a report from you concerning the latest happenings with the mixed Leskas. Instead I have to hear the news from Khafsa when the female's brought into the medical center because she's lost her Talent! And I knew nothing about the Aldatans testing all the telepaths! They've taken some thirty from all over the continent to live at their estate! Just what d'you think you're doing, Sorli? Do I have to remind you that I'm still the Guild Master here? You've let your promotion go to your head!"
Sorli's temper had been rising during Esken's tirade. Now it had reached its zenith. "Master Esken, I am in charge of the mixed Leskas. You yourself appointed me to the position, and to oversee the daily running of this Guildhouse. I am doing this. The testing of the telepaths was not my concern. It was requested at a higher level, by the military, I believe. It's no longer my job to keep you informed of gossip! You have aides in plenty to do that, and your legions of whispering jeggets like Khafsa!"
"You forget yourself, Sorli." Esken's tone was arctic. "An appointment can be reversed as easily as it is made."
Sorli got to his feet. He hated confrontations, and prayed that Esken couldn't tell how badly this was upsetting him. "You forget, Master Esken, that I returned on the clear understanding that I would be independent of you. Do you realize just what damage you've done to our Guild? You refused Governor Nesul a legitimate request for a knowledge transfer to bring him up to date on the off-world political situation. You blackmailed and frightened members of the ruling council into voting your way at meetings; you antagonized the Aldatan Clan, and the Clan Lord, to the point where he removed his daughters from their training here and none of his family will visit this Guildhouse without bodyguards! You kidnapped and drugged Physician Kyjishi and her Leska, Brynne Stevens... Do I need to continue, Master Esken? Don't threaten me with demotion, because before you can do that, I will very publicly leave here and join the Brotherhood of Vartra as a priest!"
He stopped, taking a deep breath, then turned and walked slowly to the door. Pressing his hand to the lock, he stood back. "Good day, Master Esken. I've nothing more to say to you."
Esken got silently to his feet and walked to the door. He stopped as he drew level with Sorli and opened his mouth.
"Good day," repeated Sorli, looking past him into his outer office and the bird run beyond.
Esken left, and Sorli thumbed the door closed. Letting out a sigh of relief, he leaned against the wall for a moment, shaking.
In the adjoining room, his mate, Mayoi, looked across to where Lijou and Kha'Qwa sat. Their door had been open and they'd heard everything. "Would you excuse me a moment," she murmured, getting to her feet.
Kha'Qwa reached out a comforting hand. "Tell him we wish to take him out for a meal. I think you both need a change of scene right now."
Mayoi smiled. "That should help, but give us a few minutes first." As she left, she made sure to close the door behind her.
"We must do something, Lijou, else Sorli will leave and we'll be back where we started. It's time for the Brotherhood to get involved."
"Involved?" Then he realized what she meant. "Oh, no. We're not going to start intimidating..."
"Esken's proved himself to be untrustworthy, Lijou. Should we lose Sorli because of him? I don't think so. I'll speak to Rhyaz when we get home. Now hush, I can hear them. Help me get up. I've been sitting in this position long enough."
Instantly Lijou was at her side, helping her out of the chair. More than halfway through her pregnancy, she was beginning to find herself less agile than usual.
* * *
Events took their own turn as, a couple of days later, Master Esken was struck down with a heart seizure in the middle of one of his rages. While he was recovering in the medical unit next to the Guildhouse, he requested a truthsayer and notary and tendered his resignation as Master of the Telepath Guild. A week later, Mentor Sorli was confirmed in his new post as Guild Master.
* * *
"Was the Brotherhood involved?" Lijou asked Kha'Qwa when he heard the news.
She shrugged prettily and reached for another rainbow fruit. "How could they be? Master Esken had a heart seizure, Infonet just said so."
He looked at her suspiciously for a moment, but when she winced and tried to make herself more comfortable as the cub inside her kicked, he decided there were other things he'd rather think about.
* * *
Left to her own devices, Keeza had quickly developed a rhythm of resting, eating, and sleeping. The resting drifted into trancelike states where more of the strange dreams came to her. Most importantly, though, the food and the enforced rest were returning her to full health.
The dreams were troubled, all about a time she had no memory of, a time of conflict and fighting, the night around her laced with the glow of energy weapon beams and the screams of the injured and dying. There were others, more peaceful ones, of gardens and flowers, and an old female who spoke kindly words. These she liked and when she could, returned to them, enjoying the quiet of the garden and the scent of the blossoms there.
Kezule had wakened once to drink and gorge again. She'd fed him as before, piece by piece till he was done. When he got her to help him to the bathroom to wash the strips of dead skin from his body she could almost see the shape of the undigested food pressing against his distended belly.
Strangely, it didn't disgust her. Perhaps she'd gotten as used to the coolness of his smooth, hairless skin as she was to his musty scent.
"You felt the sickness?" he asked as she wrapped him once more in the blankets.
"A little," she said, glancing involuntarily at the bite on her forearm.
"Show me."
She held it out for his inspection. The dozens of tiny puncture wounds were healing, but the scabs over them had a greenish tint.
He grunted. It had worked. "No one has disturbed us?"
"No one."
"They feed you?"
"They send your food, and I eat it." Her nose wrinkled in concern, ears flicking back worriedly. "Do I do right, my General?" she asked, risking a touch to his face.
"Yes," he said shortly, turning away from her. Anger began to build within him and he tried to suppress it. His body responded slowly, but it responded: he was healing. He needed to be calm to go back into laalgo, but his anger was justified. They had made it impossible for him to do without her attentions; they were responsible for the indignity of what he'd had to do— what he still had to do. He hissed, then closed his eyes and began to compose himself once more, feeling the laalquoi begin reacting within his stomach. This was a long healing. His ability to cope had been badly lessened by his treatment and injuries.
She watched as he grew still and cool. The chill of his body had frightened her at first, but she'd realized this was part of his laalgo state. Lying back, she settled down, cuddling herself close against the mound of blankets that was him. He needed
her
to protect him. Well, he'd learn his trust wasn't misplaced. She pushed herself up on an elbow and looked down into his still face. He was just different, not ugly as she'd first thought.
His crest lay folded, almost invisible against the central ridge of his skull. Beneath closed eyelids, the bulbous eyes were still: no eyelashes to quiver, no eyebrows above them either. Forehead and cheeks curved upward till they met in a nose that wasn't quite what a nose should be; his nostrils were just two slits which dilated almost imperceptibly as he breathed. Below them, his deadly sharp teeth were concealed behind a wide, almost V-shaped mouth.
She risked touching his cheek, her fingers gently checking the still swollen cut and the yellowing flesh surrounding it. He was healing very slowly for him, but he was healing. Sighing, she lay back down, drawing comfort from the fact that her body warmth was helping him.
* * *
"I want those test results," said Fazzu from the bio-scanner console. "Why haven't they come up with them yet?"
"Takes time," said Dzyash, hovering behind him. He disliked it when the physician took over his station like this, and he'd been doing it a little too frequently of late. "Now they know he can manufacture chemicals almost at will, they've been working on the cadavers as well. They'll have the findings soon. I'm sure they've told you that already."
"No need to be snippy with me, boy," growled Fazzu, pushing the chair away from the work counter and getting to his feet. "Get on with your job and leave me to mine!" With that he stalked out of the room.
Dzyash resumed his seat, his frown changing to a slow smile as Nayla reached out a comforting hand to pat him.
"Don't take it personally, Dzyash. He's as concerned as the rest of us," said Zhyaf, glancing over to him. "It makes him irritable."
"We're all worried for her, Zhyaf," said Nayla, "but we don't all behave like Fazzu."
Zhyaf shrugged and turned back to his work. "I'll be a damned sight happier when I know what Kezule pumped into her," he growled. "She's focusing too much on him, unheathily so. I'm afraid she's going to try approaching him again, and next time, she might not be so lucky."
"Not a lot we can do," murmured Nayla.
"Don't be too sure about that," muttered Zhyaf.
Dzyash turned to look at him. "Don't do anything unorthodox, Zhyaf," he warned. "That could cost her her life. We don't know how she's supposed to be reacting to that bite. It could be this is what he's intended. She's sure as hell as protective of him as a mother with a cub!"
Zhyaf snorted contemptuously. "This is no mothering response, believe me! I take your point, though," he sighed. "I'll leave her alone."
* * *
Keeza lay in the dark, looking at the ceiling. It had been over a week now since he'd last woken. It couldn't take much longer, surely. Faintly, as if at a distance, she sensed an alarm go off.