Darknadir, p.46
darknadir, page 46
"What about when she was pregnant?"
"Weren't Linked then. The three-way thing happened when he and Kusac swore a sword-brother oath, he said. Probably his Link to her has activated to a full Leska one to save her because of Kusac being dead."
"Or missing," corrected Jo.
"More likely dead, I'm afraid. Anyway, I've created a minor link of my own to him, and I'm watching him carefully. That's why I want to sleep now, so I'm alert during the worst of it."
"How quickly could he go into a coma? Will you have enough warning?"
"Yes, if I'm physically with him. T'Chebbi's watching him now. He's at the vomiting stage."
Jo grimaced. "Sounds awful. Would that have happened to us if we hadn't..."
"But it didn't," he said, cutting her short. "You came to me and now we have a cub on the way." He reached out to caress her belly again. "I can feel it," he said suddenly.
"You can't possibly," Jo replied, feeling for herself. "I'm only nine weeks."
"Are you sure?" he asked, disappointed.
"Positive! It's far too small for that yet. You know, Zashou was right about that at least. You're like a cat with two tails over this cub."
He raised his head to look at her in surprise. "A cat with two tails? What an odd saying." He thought for a moment then grinned. "Still, say it again in a couple of day's time when this is over and I'm sure I can come up with something better than a second tail."
Jo grabbed her pillow and began to hit him with it.
* * *
Day 32
A second wasted day, thought J'koshuk, hissing angrily at the captive hanging limply in the guard's grasp. Oh, not wasted as far as the Seniormost was concerned, but certainly as far as he was. The Seniormost, after making him spend yesterday in his rooms with nothing to do, had given him an extra two days to question Kusac, and finally lifted the worst of the restrictions on what he could do to him. He'd gotten all the answers the Primes wanted now, and it still didn't make much sense, but making sense of it was the Seniormost's job, not his.
It was the Human that he wanted to hear about, and the damned Sholan still refused to tell him anything! He'd tormented him to the point where he'd say almost anything just to be left alone, which meant Kusac could tell the truth now and know it would be suspect. Lately, though, J'koshuk had noticed he'd developed a knack of telling when his captives were lying, so continuing wasn't a problem. Which was just as well, because he only had a few hours left in which to get the answers he wanted.
His own equipment from the M'ijikk had gotten him better results than the sophisticated pain collar of the Primes. Deep bruising that caused no surface wounds that the Primes could see was a great persuader. And the pain lasted.
Reaching behind him, he picked up the animal prod again and put it under Kusac's chin, sending just enough of a current through it to make him jerk his head up. "One more time. You say you met the Humans on Keiss."
Kusac mumbled something indecipherable.
"I can't hear you."
"Yes." Still mumbled but at least he could hear it this time.
"You met this Human female on Keiss."
"No."
"Think again." Turning the power up to full, he touched the prod to Kusac's neck.
He jerked away from it, trying not to cry out. "Not Keiss!"
"Then where?"
"The second ship," he mumbled, head dropping again.
"You're lying. She was on Keiss before your people came, wasn't she?"
"No. On ship." He shook his head slowly for emphasis. "Why important?"
"You dare question me?" he demanded, about to hit him again. Then he stopped. It was always the same answers. A different approach was needed. Perhaps letting him know how much information about her he already had might break down his resistance. "She was on Keiss, wasn't she? More, she was in our city at Geshader."
"No."
Aiming above the guard's grip, he hit Kusac's arm hard with the prod and held it there for several seconds.
Unable to pull away from either the blow or the current as it surged through him, Kusac's body went rigid and he began to whimper— a low, involuntary sound.
That had gotten a better response. The combination of the blow and the charge might just work. J'koshuk removed the prod and Kusac sagged against the guard.
"She was at Geshader, wasn't she? Working as a spy."
"No!"
"She's in a room down the corridor. If you won't tell me, maybe I'll go ask her myself. Would you prefer that?"
Kusac straightened up and raised his head slowly, eyes narrowing as he looked at J'koshuk. "They won't let you near her or you wouldn't need to ask me."
Angrily, J'koshuk hit him again, aiming the prod high up on the inside of Kusac's thigh near his groin and holding it there.
Howling in agony, Kusac fought to escape the prod, trying to wrench himself free from the guard. J'koshuk dodged, keeping up the pressure against his leg until suddenly, Kusac collapsed, gasping, "Not Carrie! Elise! Was Elise, her twin!"
Shocked, J'koshuk removed the prod and stepped back. "Twin? What's twin?" he demanded.
Each word was gasped out painfully as the guard hauled Kusac's limp body upright again. "Like her. Sister. Born at same time."
Two? Humans had multiple young? He had to be lying! Reaching out, he grasped him by the jaw, lifting his head up. Tears streaked the blood-matted, swollen face. But it was Kusac's eyes that told him that he'd at last gotten some of what he wanted. There was no fire left in them.
"The one I questioned was called Elise," J'koshuk said. "How like her sister is she?"
"Exact."
He remembered how the female had laughed in his face as he'd tortured her. No one had ever laughed before. More, she'd told him nothing. Never had that happened either. There wasn't a person living who couldn't be broken somehow— except her. Had it been the other— twin— that had been the spy? Had he gotten the wrong one? He dropped Kusac's head, losing interest in him.
"Leave him. I want to see the Human female." He began striding toward the door.
"No! Leave her alone! She wasn't the spy!" Kusac cried out as the guard pushed him aside and followed J'koshuk.
Staggering, his abused leg buckled under him, pitching him forward to sprawl on the floor. He lay there, unable to move as the door closed behind him. "No! Not Carrie!" he howled, clenching his hands and thumping them uselessly against the steel floor in despair.
* * *
"We're here, Commander," said Nara, putting her head round the door of the cramped common area on Striker Two.
L'Seuli grunted and uncurled himself from the narrow bed on which he'd been sleeping. Standing up, he tried to stretch his cramped limbs and tail.
"You should get some rest while you're here, Commander," she said sympathetically. "This is the fourth outpost you've been to in the last two weeks."
"It's also the last one, Nara," he yawned, running his hands across his short, sand-colored hair and scratching behind his ears vigorously. "I head home tomorrow."
"Captain Kheal is waiting on the flight deck. Said to tell you there's hot food waiting for you in his quarters."
L'Seuli's ears pricked up. "There is? Now that does sound good. What about you and Chima?" He tugged at the hem of his tunic before readjusting his jacket. His grays were still stiff and new, but he'd needed them to reflect his current rank during this mission.
"Crew rations," she said, making a face. "Still a hell of a lot better than the muck on board Striker."
He frowned, then changed his mind. "Anything is, Sister Nara. Let's get going, then."
Kheal was waiting for him just inside the exit. He stood to attention, saluting him. "Commander L'Seuli. Welcome to Haven."
L'Seuli returned the older male's salute. "At ease, Captain. My pilot tells me there's food waiting for us. After Striker's rations, it's a welcome thought."
"I hope to make your visit here as pleasant as possible, Commander. This way, if you please," said Kheal, indicating the waiting elevator.
"How's work progressing?"
"Fair. The station had a skeleton crew, which we've assimilated. All the essentials were up and running, it's just been a question of expanding to accommodate a crew of sixty and five assault craft."
"You have everything you need?"
The elevator halted, door opening to let them out onto the second level. Again, Kheal let L'Seuli precede him.
"Yes, Commander. Is this your first visit to our outpost?" He stopped outside his office, opening the door for them.
"It is, but I have been fully briefed, Captain," he said, well aware the captain thought him too young for his rank. "The original asteroid was found here two hundred and fifty years ago during part of the Brotherhood's regular policing activities in this region after the Chemerian/Sholan wars. Charts discovered here led us to the other three outposts, and the conclusion that they formed part of an early warning system of unknown alien origin. Like the other three, it was abandoned and showed signs of a fierce conflict. In light of current discoveries, it's now thought to have belonged to the ancient Valtegans. Over the years, other asteroids have been excavated at each location, including this, our main one, and outfitted with parts salvaged from obsolete craft bought from the Forces. They now serve as our forward observation posts to protect Alliance space and thus Shola. How am I doing?" he asked, raising an eye ridge.
Kheal's ears dipped in embarrassment. "I was told your last assignment had been in the Ghuulgul Desert during the tribal rebellion. I assumed that..."
L'Seuli touched the flash of purple at the edge of his jacket. "Perhaps in fairness I should tell you that the purple on my uniform does reflect a telepathic ability, which was why I was picked for that mission. May I suggest, Brother Kheal, that we forget our current ranks and collaborate as equals on this matter? You obviously have more experience of this outpost than I have. The point of my mission is to see that Guild Master Rhyaz is as fully briefed as possible on your current state of readiness. I'd appreciate your assistance to do that."
Kheal's mouth opened in a half smile. "Certainly, Brother L'Seuli. We can inspect the facility as soon as we've eaten. Would you like to take a seat?" He gestured to his desk where plates and covered dishes of food sat.
Within a few minutes, L'Seuli was helping himself from one of the several large casserole dishes on the table.
"I don't suppose you've got any further orders for me, have you?" asked Kheal, helping himself to vegetables. "Something that would explain why we're suddenly increasing our presence in space?"
"Why do you think we're here?"
"Possibly because of some threat to Shola, possibly because of the new treaties."
"A reasonable hypothesis. I expect the troops are rife with speculation."
"And bets. It would be useful to have something concrete to tell them."
"I'm afraid I've no additional orders for you beyond remaining vigilant."
"I've been given two telepaths," said Kheal after munching in silence for a few minutes. "Brother Vriuzu from Stronghold, and Sister Jiosha from our guildhouse on Nalgalan."
"So Jiosha's been reassigned from Jalna," said L'Seuli, helping himself to more stew. "I wondered if she'd be posted here. We started training at Stronghold together."
"Why have we two when the other outposts have only one?" asked Kheal, doggedly pursuing his point "And why any at all? Normally they stay at the guildhouses to avoid recognition."
L'Seuli finished his mouthful. "How are you deploying them?"
"You're ignoring my question, Brother. Why?"
"Did you know Vartra's been seen in the temple at Stronghold? He's been visiting our Brothers and Sisters with visions again. You did receive the directive on reporting all such occurrences direct to Stronghold, didn't you?"
"Yes, we received it."
"Don't censor them. Send them all immediately, no matter how strange."
Kheal sat back in his chair. "Some idea of what we're watching or waiting for would be helpful."
L'Seuli rested his elbows on the desk, watching him. "All I can tell you at this moment, Captain, is that four of our people are missing, and have been for twenty-seven days. Three of them are an En-Shalla Leska Triad. We've found some debris but not a trace of their craft so far— no drive emissions even. They're out there somewhere, and it's possible a message from them might come at any time. This outpost is nearest to their last known position."
"Whatever's responsible for them being missing could be heading for Shola."
L'Seuli sat unmoving for a moment longer. "I did not say that, Captain Kheal," he said softly, then resumed his meal.
Almost word for word, he'd had the same conversation at each of the other three outposts, and each of their commanding officers had drawn the same conclusion. Inspecting the facility was almost a formality now he'd completed his main task.
* * *
The Clan Council meeting had been delayed by a week and they were sitting for the first time since Konis had withdrawn his resignation. As he looked round the chamber, he was pleased to note the wary looks on the faces of four of the newly appointed Clan Leaders. It wouldn't do any harm at all for them to remain cautious of him for the next few months. He would not let Azkuu's little power struggle be forgotten.
He tapped the table in front of him loudly with his stylus, waiting for the chattering to cease.
"Before we begin, there's some long overdue business I have to attend to," he said, picking up an official letter from the folder in front of him and getting to his feet. He walked round the table till he came to Naeul Arrazo, holding the document out to him.
"What's this?" demanded Naeul, taking it from him. "What're you planning now, Konis? Isn't it enough you've replaced four of the Council?"
Konis ignored his outburst. "My predecessor should have seen to this years ago, Naeul. He didn't, but the matter was brought to my attention and I'm dealing with it now."
Naeul had opened the letter and was reading it.
Konis looked at Falma, nodded once, then turned back to Naeul as his deputy opened the door and slipped out.
"That is your indictment for the crime of assault against your daughter Khemu Arrazo; for illegally imprisoning her on your estate; for falsely reporting her death to various officials, including the ruling Clan Lord; for failing to register the birth of your grandson, Dzaka Arrazo, and finally, when the cub was born, taking him from his mother and having him fostered, against her will, in your estate nursery. The Protectors are waiting for you, Naeul Arrazo." As he turned away to walk slowly back to his seat at the head of the table, the door opened and a senior Protector entered.
"Now look here," began Naeul, getting up and angrily starting toward Konis.
"You can argue your case with the judiciary, Liege," interrupted the officer, taking him firmly by the arm.
Rhyasha smiled a small smile to herself as she watched Naeul being led, protesting, from the room. The rest of the Council sat in stunned silence till the door shut behind them. It was satisfying to see them so rattled after what they'd allowed Azkuu and her little group to do, not only to Konis, but to Kitra. And finally, justice had been gained for Dzaka and his mother, Khemu. She hoped the poor female's soul would now be at peace.
"I remember that business with Khemu," said Lossa, the first to speak. "She was supposed to life-bond with my eldest. What happened, Konis?"
"Khemu Arrazo became pregnant and Naeul, fearing the scandal, told this Council that she'd died in a climbing accident," said Konis. "He refused to let her see the father and locked her up in her room till her cub was born." He stopped, looking over the Council members. "Naeul didn't stop at that, though. He took the infant from her and placed him in the estate nursery, then moved his daughter out of the main house into one opposite the nursery, imprisoning her there. As he grew older, Khemu could see and hear her son every day, but was never allowed to speak to him. Naeul made sure she never forgot the shame she'd brought to his family."
"Naeul did that?" exclaimed Khayle. "I'd never have thought it of him!"
"You were always a bit soft on Naeul, even as a youngling," said Mnae with a cackle. "Never looked twice at you, though."
"Just as well," snapped back Lossa. "How did you find out about this, Konis? What became of the cub? And why did she choose to become pregnant in the first place?"
