Authors: Lisanne Norman
* * *
"Burn it, but he had me scared back there," said Na'qui as they stopped just outside Kezule's room. "Weren't you terrified? I was."
"Not really," Zayshul said, her mind on other matters. She called the lab assistant over. "I see you're training as a medic. I want you to take General Kezule his meals from now on. If anyone, especially the steward called K'hedduk says they'll do it, you're to refuse."
Surprised, the lab assistant looked at her. "But that's steward's work."
"Not this time. I need someone like you to stay with the General while he eats, answering any questions he might have. When do you go off shift?"
"I'm due off in half an hour."
"Good. Come to my lab then and I'll give you a sleep tape to use. It'll brief you on what you need to know about his background, the subjects you can and can't discuss with him. As of now, you're working with us, and I'll ensure it counts toward your next grading. Think of it as expanding your clinical observation skills."
The lab assistant narrowed her eyes, the rainbow-colored skin around her eye ridges creasing. "Are you still concerned over Doctor Chy'qui's staff? I thought Commander Q'ozoi had had them all questioned and those loyal to the Adviser were in the brig."
"Let's say I'm being cautious, Khiozh. It is Khiozh, isn't it?"
She nodded. "Yes, it is. I'll be there. But why would anyone want to harm the General?"
"I didn't say they did, but he is the last Prime alive who bears any of the true Warrior caste genes, and we need those."
A touch on her arm from Na'qui drew her attention. "Our other work," she reminded her. "The purge should be over by now."
"Na'qui, would you..." she began.
Na'qui sighed. "Yes, I'll go and edit Kezule's tape for Khiozh."
Zayshul turned to the guards. "Amend your orders to permit Assistant Khiozh to enter General Kezule's room," she said.
"Yes, Seniormost."
Shola, Zhal-Zhalwae, 23rd day (May)
GENERAL Raiban exploded out of her office at the Governor's Palace, yelling for her aide. "Myule! Where the hell are you?" She looked around the deserted corridor, seeing only the Warriors on ceremonial guard duty outside her door. She turned to one of them.
"Find Commander Rhyaz and bring him to me," she snarled, spitting the name out like it was a bitter snow berry. "Bring him here. I don't care what he's doing, don't return without him!"
"Yes, General," said the Warrior, backing off before turning tail and fleeing down the corridor.
When he'd gone, still fuming, she stalked back through the small inner office usually occupied by Myule to her own room, slamming the door behind her. She hadn't missed the guard's look of panic at being sent to fetch the Brotherhood Warrior Master.
Where the hell was her damned aide? Surely second meal was over by now? She checked the clock and realized Myule had only been gone for a quarter of an hour. Her hand hovered over her wrist comm, but she decided to let Myule finish her meal in peace. A guard had been sent, he'd find Rhyaz.
It was another half an hour before she heard a scratching at her door. "Come in," she called out, knowing from the sound that it wasn't Rhyaz, or Myule. "Well?" she demanded. "Where is he?"
The Warrior stood at attention before her desk, eyes averted from her face. "Commander Rhyaz isn't in the Palace, General. He left."
"Left? He can't have left! He was here an hour ago! What the hell do you mean left? Get him on his personal comm!"
"I can't, General," he said, concentrating his gaze on the wall behind her. "He's left Shola."
"What?"
"He's left Shola, General. His personal comm won't respond at that distance."
"Where? Where's he gone?" she demanded.
"I don't know, General. No one could tell me more than that he'd been met outside the Palace by a speeder and taken to Lygoh Spaceport where a Striker was waiting for him."
"One of my own fighters," she muttered to herself. "One of the two he stole from me!" Then she remembered the Warrior. "Dismissed!" she snapped.
When he'd left, she called Stronghold. Staring at the Brotherhood symbol of the nung flower amid three ceremonial swords only served to anger her further. They were part of the High Command now, they should be showing that symbol, not their own.
The symbol cleared. "General Raiban," said the elderly Brother on duty. "May the sun shine on you this day. How may we help you?"
"Get me Father Lijou," she said without preamble, cutting across his greeting.
"I'll see if he's available, General." The screen blanked to display the symbol again.
When it finally cleared, she was through to Tutor Kha'Qwa. "General Raiban, I'm afraid..." she began.
"Get me that damned mate of yours! Five minutes I've been sitting waiting for him! He obviously has time to waste, I haven't!"
"He's not available right now, General..."
"Has he left Shola with that misbegotten jegget, Rhyaz? I want to know what the hell's going on, Kha'Qwa! Why did one of my Strikers— stolen, incidently, by you— meet him at the spaceport, then take him off-world without so much as a by your leave to me? I've been more than patient! I said very little when he took the ships I'd agreed to lend and left my crews stranded at Chagda Station and elsewhere. Now on top of this, I discover he's got an alien destroyer class ship, the existence of which he's purposely concealed from me! So just what the hell is going on?"
"Father Lijou hasn't left Stronghold, General," Kha'Qwa said patiently. "He cannot be disturbed right now, that's all. As for the rest..."
"I want to talk to him
now
!" Raiban snarled, ears tilting forward as she let her short hair rise in a display of anger. "I don't care what he's doing! I need to know— the High Command needs to know— why he didn't turn this ship over to us for examination long before now!"
"He cannot be disturbed, General," Kha'Qwa said firmly. "As for the ship, I have no idea what you're talking about."
"I'm talking about the ship that escorted the U'Churians back to Jalnian space! And if you continue to prevent me talking to Lijou, by all the Gods, Tutor Kha'Qwa, you'll have me arriving on your doorstep..." She stopped dead, her eyes narrowing as she regarded the younger female in the comm screen. "You're lying. He's gone with Rhyaz, hasn't he? They're on their way to Haven, aren't they? What's happening out there?"
"Father Lijou is here..." Kha'Qwa began.
"Then fetch him to the damned comm!" she roared. "Prove to me he's there, before I dispatch a unit to bring him to the Palace on charges of aiding and abetting the theft of Forces' property, namely my two Strikers, and of concealing for personal use ships and resources in a time of global crisis..."
"General Raiban!" Kha'Qwa interrupted loudly. "Father Lijou is in the temple. He'll be finished shortly. I will get him to call you then."
"It'll take more than prayers to get him out of this," snapped Raiban.
"The Guild Master will call you shortly," said Kha'Qwa, and cut the connection.
* * *
The call from Raiban worried Kha'Qwa. She knew some of what was happening, but not all. With their cub due in just over two weeks, Lijou— and even Rhyaz, Vartra bless him— had tried to create an atmosphere of calm around her by protecting her from the details of the ongoing crisis.
Rhyaz had indeed left Shola for Haven, hoping to return before the ships carrying Kusac and his people arrived home. With the treaty now signed and so many of the Brothers gathered there, he was determined to speak to them before they were reassigned. Until now, his presence had been needed on Shola to coordinate the Brothers during the Prime crisis, and help in the defense of their home world had events not ended peacefully. Now was the time for him to be with those who had stood on the front line.
Still shaking from the shock of Raiban's threats, Kha'Qwa pushed herself up from the chair and got to her feet. Her life-mate was in the temple, working on one of the more dangerous meditation techniques. He was not to be disturbed under any circumstances, the guards at the temple doors would see to that. But they would let her in, and her presence there would be enough to bring him to consciousness again.
She turned around too sharply, unbalanced by the weight of the cub she was carrying. Stumbling, she clutched at the desk, her hand landing on a pile of books and papers instead. They gave instantly under her weight, pitching her forward to the floor. Crying out in shock, her outstretched hand hit the ground first, sending a stab of pain up her arm. As she landed heavily on her side, something hard struck her head from above.
the Haven Belt, the same day
In the heart of one of the smaller asteroids in the Haven Belt, the Instructor sat in his quarters contemplating the small incense burner sitting on the floor before him. The meditation had brought him peace, as it always did, though he wished he was home at Stronghold, amid the halls where Vartra had once walked. It had been his own choice to deny himself the comfort of his fellow Brothers and Sisters as a penance and nine years still remained. His reason for being during the coming years was to continue guarding and training those who Slept here at Haven.
A chime sounded, alerting him to the arrival of Lieutenant Dzaou and his unit. He sighed, and reached out for the lid to seal the incense burner. Time to greet them and give them their new orders. Dzaou, for one, would not be pleased. He sighed again. Brother Dzaou was not adjusting quickly to the new circumstances of this era, which was why Master Rhyaz had decided the unit should remain awake for an unlimited tour of duty on Shola. Hopefully, they could be stationed on the Valsgarth Estate, Brother Kusac's home, to get close firsthand experience of the aliens, and the telepaths, living there. Dzaou needed to rid himself of the prejudices that were crippling his outlook or he'd be of no use to the Brotherhood now or in the future.
* * *
"Under T'Chebbi!" exclaimed Dzaou in stark amazement.
"I know about the incident in the sick bay," said the Instructor calmly. "Sister T'Chebbi can rise above it. Can you? You've all been reassigned to her command until you reach Chagda Station. There Brother Kaid's party will transfer from the
Hkariyash
to the
Couana
for the journey down to Shola and their estate. You will then be under his command until further notice."
"Why? Why T'Chebbi and Kaid?" Dzaou asked, interrupting the Instructor again.
The Instructor frowned, eye ridges meeting and ears slanting sideways in a show of annoyance.
"Not that I'm Challenging your orders," Dzaou began hurriedly.
"Of course not. We in the Brotherhood outgrew the need for the Challenge system long ago, didn't we, Dzaou? Suffice it to say that the En'Shallans and their estate are virtually autonomous. Kaid and T'Chebbi were the first to take on the roles of guardians to Carrie and Kusac Aldatan, then the rest of their clan of altered Human and Sholan telepaths. They therefore see to the disposition of personnel on the estate. As I said, it is Master Rhyaz' hope that you will be able to remain there for several months."
"Why are we being kept awake so long this time, Instructor?" asked Zhiko, sitting back in her chair. "With the treaty signed, I'd have thought we'd be Sleeping again. Not that I'm complaining. With all these new alien allies, this looks to be an interesting time."
"Master Rhyaz wishes to reassign some of the Brotherhood personnel currently at the estate out to Haven for training. Within a month, the Prime Ambassador and his party will arrive at the capital, Shanagi. Those who've had dealings with them here will be useful at the Governor's Palace in those first few weeks. There is no better place to become accustomed to dealing with the different Alliance species than on the Valsgarth Estate. These are challenging times," he continued, looking at each of the five sitting round the briefing table with him. "As you have discovered, we have alien Brothers and Sisters now. One, the Human Brynne, is even training at Stronghold under Father Lijou. We must learn to accept them because of their differences, because of the strengths they bring to our people."
"Will we be allowed to visit Stronghold?" Ngio asked, breaking the silence that followed.
The Instructor glanced at him. "Of course. You will each be allowed two weeks' leave to use as you wish. I suggest you spend some time in one of the towns, or the capital, Shanagi, and see for yourselves the people whose lives and liberty you are protecting. You'll be better equipped for whatever the future holds after your next Sleep."
"What if we change our minds and choose to remain awake?"
He turned to look at the only other female present. "You apply to Stronghold for reassignment, Taeo. That decision rests with the Guild Masters and the Chief Instructor." He glanced around the small group once more. "Are there any other questions?" When none were forthcoming, he inclined his head to one side in a Sholan nod. "Then, Brothers and Sisters, I bid you fare well, till we meet again. When you return to Haven, report to Sister T'Chebbi on the
Couana.
You leave in two hours."
* * *
"So this is where you're hiding out these days, Tanjo," said a lazy drawl from behind him. "Nice little speech you gave Dzaou. I was impressed, but I don't think it'll work."
At the unaccustomed sound of his name, the Instructor froze. "You shouldn't be here, Tallinu," he said quietly, turning to face the robed figure that lounged by the entrance. "In fact, you shouldn't even be aware of this facility."
"I've known about it for years," said Kaid, unfolding his arms and pushing himself away from the doorway. "Was a time you'd have heard me coming and been waiting for me."
Tanjo wasn't deceived by the younger male's apparently relaxed manner. As he watched Kaid draw closer, he slipped his hands inside the wide sleeves of his robe, signaling his wish to keep the meeting peaceful. "You overrate my abilities, Tallinu. You were always my best student, far better than I was."
Kaid stopped some ten feet away, resting his hand on the back of one of the chairs that surrounded the briefing table. "Ghezu's dead. I killed him at Chezy."
"I heard. Stronghold does keep me fully briefed. I also heard what Ghezu did to you. If only I'd..."
"This is the last place I'd have expected to find you, Tanjo," said Kaid, cutting him short as he made a point of looking round the rather austere room. "When I heard you'd left Stronghold, I always imagined you living in more comfortable surroundings. What happened? Was Ghezu less generous than he promised? Or was it fear that drove you to this godforsaken Outpost?"
"Not fear. I requested this post from Father Jyarti as a penance for my involvement in your failure at the Leadership Trials." He said it in a rush, not wanting to be interrupted a second time.
"You expect me to be impressed? Penance is for Vartra. The least you owe me is some justification for what you did." There was no trace of the drawl in Kaid's voice now.
"I have none, Tallinu. My actions that day were indefensible," said Tanjo, flattening his ears and tilting his jaw upward in the ritual gesture of surrender. He could hear his heart pounding. It was one thing to be intellectually prepared to face the male he'd wronged, another to actually do it. "I trusted the wrong people. It was my lack of judgment that lost you the Leadership of the Brotherhood and..."
"Trust? Lack of judgment? I never wanted to be Leader, Tanjo! You were the one who persuaded me to stand against Ghezu because of your reservations about him. I
trusted
you, then out of the blue, you betrayed me and conspired with him to put my son's life at risk so I'd fail!"
Shock flooded through Tanjo. "Dzaka's your son? Your natural son?"
"My legitimate son with Khemu Arrazo," said Kaid, his voice hardening. "It's because of Dzaka I'm here. Because you sent him on a mission which could only end in either his death or a kin-slaying!"
Tanjo let out a low moan of horror as he drew his arms free of his robe and clutched the chair beside him. Unsteadily, he sat down. "I had no idea. I swear by Vartra, I had no idea he was your son, or an Arrazo. Had I known, there's no way I'd have sent him after a member of his birth Clan." To be a kin-slayer was to be consigned forever to the eternal torment of L'Shoh, the Liege of Hell.
A shadow fell across him and he looked up to find Kaid towering over him.
"But you did, and at Ghezu's request, on the last day of the trials when you knew I'd have to go after him, even if he'd only been my foster-son," Kaid said, reaching out to take him by the throat.
Tanjo swallowed convulsively, feeling the pressure of the encircling hand. He could sense Tallinu's anger, controlled and deadly. Strangely, instead of fear, he felt an icy calm descend on him.
"You were the senior tutor, Tanjo, in charge of the Warriors till the new Leader was chosen. You knew exactly how green Dzaka was— barely more than a youngling, no age to be sent alone to kill a rogue telepath. You hadn't even briefed him properly about what he was up against!"
An underlying snarl of anger had deepened Kaid's voice, but the hand round Tanjo's throat didn't tighten.
"I didn't send him alone! He was one of three, sent to observe, nothing more!" said Tanjo, stung into defending himself by the accusation. "How could I know that the other two were Ghezu's creatures and had no intention of going with him? You heard them yourself at your hearing— they swore they'd accompanied him! I didn't even realize till afterward that matters between you and Ghezu were still so strained. Why wasn't Dzaka there to defend you, to tell the Tutors' Council the truth?"
"You're lying. Dzaka was alone when I found him prowling the margins of the Arrazo estate," said Kaid, his voice now deathly quiet. "He should never have been included in such a mission at his age. Did you never wonder how I found out what you'd done? That morning, before the final test began, Ghezu and his— creatures— told me what they, and you, had done, then held me at Stronghold until I swore to remain silent about the conspiracy. I couldn't save Dzaka without swearing, and once I'd given my oath, I couldn't defend myself without breaking it! I was prevented from even saying I'd sworn one! I had to kill the rogue telepath myself, then take Dzaka straight to Noni's. Did you really think I'd risk exposing him to you or Ghezu again so quickly, even to defend myself?"
"I didn't know, then," whispered Tanjo, closing his eyes. He should have known, it had been his job, his sacred trust to guard and guide all those at Stronghold until the appointment of the new Warrior Leader.
"But the repercussions didn't stop there, Tanjo. I watched Father Jyarti begin to die the day of my Hearing. His protege had chosen to go running off after a fosterling instead of facing the final test of leadership! No one dared mock me to his face, but he heard it!" His hand tightened around Tanjo's throat, claws just touching the flesh. "Why did you betray me?"
"As Vartra's my witness, Tallinu, I didn't knowingly betray you! Yes, Ghezu did suggest I send your son with Jebousa and Vikkul, but I knew nothing about the rest until two years later, after you were expelled! Ghezu told me the following day what he'd done— how he'd become Leader by changing Dzaka's orders, sending him on his own to terminate Faezou Arrazo. How he'd told you, binding you to silence with an oath you couldn't reveal: how he'd now driven a wedge between you and Dzaka by expelling you and preventing your fosterling from following. I went straight to Father Jyarti, told him everything. With you discredited for a second time, Ghezu had made himself untouchable. We could do nothing, and Ghezu knew it. We couldn't even risk telling Dzaka the truth for fear he'd try to kill Ghezu."
He stopped, putting his hand up to touch Kaid's wrist. "Take my life if you wish, Tallinu. I owe you it for all the reasons you've given, but as Vartra's my witness, I didn't knowingly betray you. I know you won't believe me, but my only defense is that I fell victim to Ghezu's Glamour."
A sharp pain stabbed through his temples and as he cried out in shock, he felt Kaid brutally push his mental shields aside, take hold of his mind, and examine it.
You're a telepath! I should have known!
he thought before the contact was terminated.
Kaid let him go. "You were almost as much a victim as we were. Ghezu used you, played you like a fish on a line, then threw you away." He turned away and pulling up his hood, began to walk to the exit.
At the doorway, he stopped and looked back. "You can keep your life, Tanjo, on one condition. We never met here at Haven."
"We never met," Tanjo agreed quietly as he raised a shaking hand to massage his head. "Tallinu, for what it's worth, Father Jyarti never doubted you, even after your expulsion."
"I know."
Shola, Stronghold, the same day
Lijou was dream-walking in Vartra's realm. He'd found the cottage in the sunlit clearing, but of the Entity Himself, there was no sign. When knocking on the door had brought no answer, he decided to look round the lean-to forge.
It was summer and the sunlight shone down through the chinks in the roof, making a dappled pattern on the floor and workbenches. He went over to the hearth, but both it and the ashes were cold. It hadn't been used in several days.
He'd quickly learned the knack of ensuring which season it was when he visited the realm— he only had to fix in his mind the weather he preferred before opening the gateway— but as yet, he'd found no way to be sure of the month, let alone the day. As for whether or not Vartra would be present, that was a matter of sheer luck— or perhaps the will of the Entity.
Idly, he turned to the nearest bench, seeing the tools laid out ready for use. His eyes were drawn to a narrow metal cylinder about four inches high sitting near the far end. Curious, he picked it up. A seam ran round the middle, dividing it into an upper and lower section. Parting them, he saw the top section had a rod, about an inch in diameter, protruding from it. The lower piece had a corresponding hole— and there was something at the bottom of it.
Even more curious, he placed the top section down on the bench then tipped the contents of the bottom part into his hand. With a shock, he realized it was a Brotherhood coin, the token that each junior Brother or Sister was given when they had completed their training and were finally accepted into the Order. Only this wasn't made of bronze, it was silver, and like the original in Stronghold's safe, it had a tiny nung flower at the center of the triple spiral. He was holding Vartra's die and one of His coins.
From behind, he felt a hand clasp hold of his shoulder, making him jump in surprise. He dropped the die to the floor even as his other hand closed round the coin.
"You found it, then," said a quiet voice he recognized. "This one is yours to keep."
Lijou tried to turn around but the hand tightened, forcing him to remain where he was.
"You must leave now," said Vartra as gradually, the light in the forge began to dim. "Don't linger in the temple, return to your room with all speed. Your mate needs you."
"Kha'Qwa!" he exclaimed, breaking free of the Entity's grasp. "What's happened to her?" But there was no one there, only the darkness of the void lit by faint ribbons of colored light.
He spun back around, finding himself looking at the familiar wooden door with the carved triple spiral. Light sparkled off the crystal at the heart of the carving.
"Return in two weeks," said the voice softly from behind him. "I will be here."
Swiftly, he turned again, this time to a blinding glow of light. He put his hand up to shield his yes. "How? How can I be sure I arrive when You say?"
"Picture Me there, then think of the month and day," came the faint reply. He felt a hand touch the small of his back before he was pushed firmly into the light. "I will be there."
He was falling, and instinct made him cry out— seconds before he jolted himself back to consciousness.
The flames in the braziers flickered lazily, casting long shadows across the seated statue in front of him. He blinked several times, uncertain if he was really back in the temple. Then, as he put his hand up to rub his eyes, he dropped the coin and remembered Vartra's warning.
Snatching it up from the floor, he scrambled to his feet and ran for the doors at the far end of the main aisle. Using his wrist comm, he called Yaszho while mounting the stairs three at a time.
When he reached his office, through the open door, he could see Yaszho crouched behind the desk. The metallic scent of blood filled the air, so much so that he could taste it in his mouth. Heart pounding, he clutched at the doorpost, too afraid to enter.
Hearing him, Yaszho looked up, sympathy and compassion clear in his face and in the set of his ears. "Best you stay there, Father Lijou," he said gently. "I called Physician Muushoi. He'll be here any moment."
Lijou pushed himself away from the door and walked unsteadily over to the desk. "How bad?" he asked, surprised to hear how ragged his voice sounded as he tried not to look down at the still form of his life-mate.
Yaszho hesitated, obviously unsure how to answer him.
Lijou could sense his thoughts, knew his aide was wondering whether to treat him as he would a Brother, or an outsider. He looked, then gave a mewl of horror.
"Bad," said Yaszho, pressing a wad of cloth against Kha'Qwa's temple. "She's losing a lot of blood."
"Call Noni," Lijou said, crouching down beside her unconscious body. "What happened?" He reached out to push back the hair that had fallen over her face.
Kha'Qwa— my bright and beautiful love! How could this have happened to you?
"She must have fallen and hit her head," he heard his aide say as he got up to use the desk comm. "I wouldn't move her, Father," Yaszho warned, grasping him by the shoulder to get his attention as he was about to move her head to a more comfortable position. "Leave her till Muushoi arrives. He should be here any minute now."
"She's bleeding," Lijou said as his fingers came away covered in blood. Then he saw the crystal chiddoe paperweight lying under his desk. He reached out and picked it up. A smear of red marred the smooth surface. "It was on my desk, on the pile of books," he said numbly, looking at the scattered papers and books that surrounded her.
He gave a soft moan as he saw the dark stain on the carpet beside her. Dropping the paperweight, he put his hand on her swollen belly, feeling it ripple beneath his fingers. He realized then that her black robe and the carpet beneath her were glistening, saturated with her blood.
Vartra, I beg you, don't take her from me! Great Goddess Ghyakulla, protect them! I couldn't bear to live without her!
"She's bleeding heavily and has gone into labor," Yaszho was saying to Noni over the comm.
"Get that physician to see to her till I arrive," he heard the elderly healer reply. "Maybe cluttering up my garden with your aircar and teaching Teusi to land it in that bird's nest of yours wasn't such a bad idea."