CHAPTER 6

"I must protest, Clan Lord," said Guild Master Esken, his brows meeting in a deep frown. "Had you told me you intended your people to meet Interpreter Zhyaf and his Leska at Chagda, then I wouldn't have bothered to send Sorli. We had made preparations to receive them here."

"I wouldn't feel so put out, Esken," said Konis, his tone silky. "As head of the project, had you contacted me when you should, you'd have been told. You can take it as understood that any new Leska pairs will be brought straight to the estate for evaluation. Those who have a normal Sholan Leska Link will be brought to the Guild as soon as possible, the rest will stay here."

Esken's expression didn't change but Konis could feel the anger radiating toward him from the screen of his console.

"As you wish, Clan Lord. In that case, I have another matter to take up with you."

"Certainly. How can I help?"

"Since we no longer have any mixed Leska pairs here, I tried to dismiss the Warriors who've been guarding the Guildhouse for the last several weeks. They tell me I have no jurisdiction over them and that their orders are to remain guarding the Guild and its grounds until told otherwise. When I checked with the Warrior Guild, they told me their personnel are taking orders directly from you."

"That's correct. While there are no Human Leskas at the Guild, there are some eighteen Terrans in residence with you. In the past, feeling has run high against Humans in some areas of the population. I'm sure you wouldn't want to find yourself in the middle of an interplanetary diplomatic incident, as you would should any Human telepath be killed while in your charge. They need to be protected. And, of course, Guild Master Esken, if one of them should form a Leska Link, then they will need to brought here for the level of protection only we can offer."

Esken's anger washed over him, reaching a new high. "Is this utterly necessary?" he demanded. "As a Telepath yourself you should understand that my staff and I find the presence of Warriors in our Guildhouse extremely offensive, not only because of the mental noise and attitudes they bring with them, but also because of the atmosphere their presence creates. It's most unsettling for us all, especially the cubs."

"On the estate I warrant we have three times the number of Warriors and Brothers you have," replied Konis, his voice becoming more clipped. "You'll get used to it. We did. Fit dampers in all the rooms, Esken, then you'll get your peace."

"And just who's supposed to pay for this? The cash outlay will be ridiculous! We can't afford it, and on principle, I have no intention of fitting dampers all over the Guild to accommodate your Warriors!"

Konis lifted his shoulders in a shrug. "That's entirely up to you. However, I suggest that if you change your mind, you contact the offices of the High Command and request your funding from them. Now if that's all, Master Esken, I will have to go as I'm extremely busy. Good day."

Konis leaned forward and cut the connection. During his conversation with Esken, he'd been aware of the noise from outside but had been able to ignore it— just. Now it resolved itself into something recognizable: the kitlings and his daughter, Kitra. He frowned, getting to his feet. They weren't allowed to play on the south side of the house, Kitra knew that. Apart from any other consideration, Carrie was resting in the room immediately above his.

He strode out of his office and into the corridor, heading through the archway, calling for his youngest daughter.

"Kitra! What in Vartra's name is all this noise about! Shouldn't you be at school or something?" he demanded, then stopped dead as he surveyed the scene before him.

"I'm not to go to school, Father," said Kitra, turning round toward him. "Don't you remember? You said we weren't going to the Guild any more for the time being."

Four guilty faces were turned toward him, and one of them was human.

"Did we disturb you?" the Human asked brightly. "I'm sorry. We were just playing."

In her hand she held the end of a rope that was attached to one of the lower limbs of an old, gnarled fruit tree.

Konis took a long, slow, deep breath before answering. "Kitra, that tree is one of the oldest on the estate," he said, unable to stop the tip of his tail from flicking in anger. "It's also one of the more fragile ones. It isn't up to holding even Jinoe's weight. You should have known better. Return with Rrai and Jinoe to the play area, then go and find your brother. Ask him to meet me in my office." He looked over to the Human girl.

"You must be Mara Ryan, Interpreter Zhyaf's Leska," he said as the three younglings dashed round to the back of the house. "I'm Konis Aldatan. I hope you've found your rooms comfortable?"

"Yes, thank you," said Mara. "I'm afraid this was my idea," she said, letting the end of the rope dangle free. "Shall I untie it for you?" She turned toward the tree again.

"No, just leave it, thank you," he said, pushing her very inexpert mental probe aside. "One of the gardeners can see to it. It really is too fragile for anyone to climb. You're lucky you didn't fall."

"Oh, don't worry about me," she said brightly, a Human smile splitting her face. "I was born climbing trees."

Konis refrained from saying anything and even managed not to let his ears flick.

"Have you met your aide yet?" he asked, wondering what he or she was doing allowing all the young people outside on their own.

"You mean Rulla? He's upstairs talking to Zhyaf."

"I think it would be a good idea if you rejoined them for the moment," he said. "This is the time when we try to relax after work. Third meal will be ready in an hour or two, but if you want anything to drink or a light snack, there's the dispenser in your lounge. I take it you've been shown where everything is?"

"Not really," said Mara, backing away slowly toward the corner of the house.

Konis could feel her embarrassment. "Don't worry," he said in what he hoped was a reassuring tone. "You'll soon get used to our ways. Carrie did. I know how much of an upheaval in your life this has all been, but the worst is over now. You're not only among friends, but also with others who have a Sholan partner. Just take your time and everything will be fine."

"Yes, sir," she said before turning on her heel and sprinting back in the direction the younglings had gone.

Konis sighed. He remembered Zhyaf. He was a good person and a fine interpreter, well suited to his intellectual profession— but to have a Leska who was no more than half his age? He shook his head as he returned to his office. Zhyaf had been born staid and middle-aged. It looked like Mara was going to be a handful.

Kusac joined him a few minutes later. "Kitra said you wanted me, Father. What can I do for you?" he asked, coming over to perch on the edge of Konis' desk beside him.

"Kitra and the two kitlings," he said succinctly, mentally opening their private family link.

"Ah, their schooling," Kusac nodded. "I was about to come down and see to them myself, but you beat me to it."

"Did they disturb Carrie?"

Kusac shook his head. "No, she's still sleeping. That Healer Kaid took her to must be one of the best around. She's really on the mend now."

"I'm glad. We've been very worried for both of you," Konis said, reaching out to lay his hand on Kusac's arm.

I'd be careful, Father, warned Kusac. Tomorrow's our Link day. Already the sensitivity's increasing.

Konis moved his hand, smiling faintly. "I know. Is she up to it? There are drugs Vanna can use if she isn't. I know her system was too weak after the Challenge, but she's stronger now."

Kusac shook his head. "No need. She's fine," he grinned, dipping his head to one side. We weren't sleeping all afternoon.

Konis gave a small purr of laughter. "The kitlings," he reminded his son. "Among the people you requested, is there a teacher capable of educating not just the three young ones, but also Mara?"

"There will be when Ghyan joins us," said Kusac. "Dzaka has been teaching them meditation and self-control techniques. Until Ghyan leaves the temple, how about letting him start training them in combat? It would keep them busy and out from underfoot."

Reluctantly Konis nodded. I dislike the whole concept of any of you learning combat. I know it's necessary, not only for your own personal safety, but because it's what the High Command wants. You know they want you all trained as special field operatives, don't you?

Yes, we know, Kusac replied with a sigh. If Vanna and Brynne, as well as Zhyaf and Mara develop the same way we did, then they'll have their elite telepath fighting force.

I'm torn two ways, Konis admitted. In my official capacities, I know you'll be an asset to the Forces and to Shola, but as a parent and a telepath, I don't approve of it at all.

Neither do we. We haven't an option at the moment. All we can do is go along with them and see where it leads us.

How's the work on your estate going?

It's taking time for them to start, sent Kusac. Before they can begin they must assess the state of the buildings still standing and see what's needed in the way of repairs. Once that's done, then they'll be free to start work on the new structures. At least all the people involved are camping out down there rather than staying up here.

Believe me, Kusac, your mother and I are very grateful for that! sent Konis. "You're still determined to become En'Shalla? There's nothing we can do to dissuade you?" He looked anxiously at his son.

Kusac met his gaze. "Nothing, Father."

"Have you any idea what it entails? You realize no one has survived the journey in over ten generations?"

"So I keep getting told," said Kusac, flicking his ears in faint irritation. "Carrie's been using the authorization you gave us to get files from the Telepath Guild, the Warrior Guild, and everything she could find in the public sector on the Brotherhood. She's trying to see how far back their records go. We've also seen how the number of telepaths is dropping with every generation despite the breeding program that's been going on for over a thousand years. It's worrying."

"That's my problem, not yours," said Konis.

"Did it ever occur to you that perhaps the reason for the decline is that our bloodlines have become too inbred? Maybe what we need is some of the outside blood, like that from the Brotherhood."

"You mean because of their lesser Talents?" Konis frowned. "Surely they're not worth taking into consideration?"

"I've been told that some of their Talents are far from lesser ones. Look at the Healer, Noni. She's got to rate as highly as one of the best in the Guild, if not better. Think it over at least. You'll have Vanna's research shortly. I've asked her to do DNA tests on everyone who's been exposed to that virus Carrie and I had a few months ago. It'll show up the changes in our genes and tell us who's compatible with whom. I'm hoping that those who don't find Leska partners will be essentially Sholan so that we don't lose too many of our telepaths to the new genes."

"I'll ask Vanna to give me copies of all her work, including weekly updates. We should know one way or the other fairly soon. Now," Konis said, standing up, "I'm going to raid your mother's kitchen for a mug of c'shar. Coming?"

"Right beside you," said Kusac.

* * *

"You agreed to what?" demanded Ghezu.

"I agreed to an alliance with them in return for their support at the All Guilds Council meeting," said Lijou patiently.

"Dammit, Lijou! You had no right to agree to that! An alliance is no good to us! We need them as Brothers or we have no claim!" He got to his feet and began pacing between the desk and the window, tail lashing angrily from side to side.

"Ghezu, you're not listening to me," said Lijou. "I've just told you that publicly they will be seen to join us. Only we will know the reality."

"You haven't the right to make decisions like that on your own," snarled Ghezu, stalking over to the less formal seating where the Head Priest sat.

"I'm the only one clearheaded enough to see that we weren't going to get anything more from him!" Lijou's temper broke. He'd had enough of making allowances for Ghezu's increasingly unbalanced behavior. "Stop letting your prejudices rule your thoughts and actions! For Vartra's sake, Ghezu," he continued more quietly, "we're on the brink of a new era for the Brotherhood. Let's make the best deal we can with them and ensure we get our full Guild status. That's surely more important than any other consideration."

Ghezu flung himself down on the settee opposite Lijou, glaring at him. "He only wants twenty-five of my best operatives, Lijou! It's all right for you! He doesn't want your best lay priests!"

"On the contrary. I'm losing Ghyan and four of my religious Brothers— five people I can ill afford to lose, considering there are fewer of them than your warriors in the Brotherhood. Don't be so blind, Ghezu. Think of what we're gaining."

Ghezu growled deep in his throat. "I know who's behind this, it's Kaid! And he's not having Dzaka, that's final!"

Lijou sighed inwardly and closed his eyes for a moment, silently offering up a prayer to Vartra, asking Him to make his colleague see some sense.

"Let Dzaka go, Ghezu," he said. "You've had your fun from all accounts. Kaid has come near to killing him because of you. Surely that's enough to satisfy any revenge."

"You know nothing about it, Lijou, so don't presume to make my mind up for me," Ghezu snapped. "It's not Dzaka I want."

"By the sword of Vartra, Ghezu! What the hell did Kaid do to you all those years ago to make you hate him so much?" demanded Lijou, sitting forward in his chair. Then he sensed what it had been. "A female? All this over a female? Gods, Ghezu, don't you think you're getting this completely out of proportion?"

"Stop reading my mind, Lijou, it's none of your damned business!" he growled, getting up and heading back to his desk to pick up the offending document.

Lijou turned in his seat, following him with his eyes. "Whatever it was, it was long ago, Ghezu. It's time to let it go."

"Like hell it is! They can have everyone except Dzaka," he said, taking up a stylus and scoring through one of the names before signing the document with a flourish. Tossing the stylus back on the desk, he picked up the agreement and stalked across to Lijou, thrusting it into his hand.

"Here, take it! It's not time to let go my revenge, Lijou. I can't wipe out thirty-five years of waiting and hoping to find her again just like that, even if you could. It's time to have my reckoning with him for two reasons. Now she's finally been located, I find out she's dying. I can never have her now, but I'll be damned if he does! Somehow he'll find out where she is and go to her. I can't live with that again."

Lijou took the document from him. "You should be caring more for her approaching death than plotting revenge because she preferred him to you. Where's your compassion gone, Ghezu? You never used to be like this. What's it all got to do with Dzaka anyway? Why involve him in your schemes? Only a couple of months ago you said Kaid was once a friend. What's suddenly changed to make you want to destroy him now?"

Ghezu turned away. "He's thwarted me at every turn since this business began, Lijou. The Brothers that knew him before— and some of the newer ones, damn him— want to follow him! It's beginning all over again, as if he'd never been away!" Angrily he turned back to his colleague.

"I've led the Brotherhood well. You know it's prospered under me. The day I was appointed Loed's successor, they all gave me their loyalty. Then he turns up again. A flick of his ears and it's all forgotten. I won't have my Leadership challenged by him, Lijou!" he said, his tail beginning to lash angrily from side to side again.

"He's not challenging you, Ghezu, you're imaging it," Lijou said in what he hoped was a placatory tone.

"If you can't see it then you're blind! Everyone else can. Look at what he's demanding through that damned Aldatan cub! He's got some of my best people completely under his own rule— his own Brotherhood, Lijou! He's making his own territory, Challenging me on my ground! And I'll never forgive him for what he did to Khemu!"

"What did he do?" The question was asked before he could stop himself.

"He didn't care about her, he just used her. He paired with her once, then never again, leaving her so damaged by the experience that she wouldn't look at another male outside her family. Nothing I said or did made any difference. I tried to find out what had happened, but the one time I saw her, she refused to tell me. So did Kaid."

"It was their business, not yours," said Lijou. "You hadn't the right to interfere."

"I had!" He spun round again, teeth bared in an angry growl. "I wanted her, too! And I wouldn't have treated her like he did! She was from a good family, Lijou, not just one of the village females. She shut herself away, wouldn't talk to anyone. Her betrothal was called off because she refused the mate chosen for her. They told the Clan Lord she'd died in a mountain accident, but he was the only one that believed that! Her family disowned her because of her behavior. After a year or two, she ran away and just disappeared."

"Then how did you find her?"

"I had our people keep a lookout for her. She's living at Rhijudu, with one of the desert tribes. She has one of those damned wasting diseases; she won't last till the winter."

The emotions Lijou felt from Ghezu were strange, owing more to anger and revenge— against both of them— than to love. That had withered and died long ago, to be replaced only by jealousy and hurt pride. He also sensed Ghezu's anger that she'd not responded to the glamour he'd tried to use on her. Lijou felt appalled that Ghezu had sunk so low as to use his Talent to make a young female want him.

Ghezu turned and walked back to his desk. "I won't tolerate him any longer, Lijou. Dzaka's younger and faster than him— and has good reasons to hate him," he said, sitting down. "I want him to kill Kaid. I'll make sure he does." His voice had dropped, becoming silky with the contemplation of his final revenge.

"Ghezu, you're mad," said Lijou, getting up from his chair, sickened by the other's attitude. Their talk had devolved into a hate session. There was no point in him remaining, nothing of any use could be accomplished now, and his continued presence was only fueling Ghezu's desire for revenge. "Dzaka won't kill Kaid."

"Do you want to bet on it?" asked Ghezu as he watched Lijou walking to the door.

"No!" Lijou snapped. "I want you to give this foolish idea up! It's beneath you— a scheme born of utter insanity! Leave Dzaka alone to make his peace with Kaid, and, for Vartra's sake, leave Kaid alone, too! I was only appointed the year you expelled Kaid, but I've seen you do enough damage to both of them these past ten years or more. What you did before that, I don't know, but I do know that if you pursue this course, you're more likely to come out of it dead than Kaid is!"

He shut the door firmly behind him, taking a deep breath of the clean air in the corridor. Not only was Ghezu heading rapidly toward insanity, but the feel of his darkening soul was like a miasma of evil. Something had to be done about him, and soon, before he destroyed Stronghold in his desire for revenge. A sudden conviction hit Lijou like a punch in the gut: Kaid had to survive to walk the Fire Margins. Why, he didn't know, but the conviction that he must was already growing stronger.

* * *

It was the following day when Kaid got a call from Ghyan requesting him to go to the temple in Valsgarth. When he arrived, an acolyte led him out of the ancient building and into the gardens where Ghyan and some half a dozen younglings were picking redberries from the bushes.

The priest looked up as soon as they stepped through the archway from the temple precinct. Handing his basket to one of the youths, he made his way back through the bushes toward Kaid.

"Thank you, Sonjhi," he said, nodding his thanks to the young female as she moved off to join the others. He turned back toward the temple.

Kaid followed him in silence. Ghyan wasn't happy— it took no talent on his part to know that.

Once inside, the priest went to his desk, indicating that Kaid should sit on the chair opposite. He handed him the envelope that lay there.

"That's the agreement, as arranged, between Liegen Aldatan and the Brotherhood. It's been signed by both Lijou and Ghezu. When your Liege has signed both copies, return one to me and I'll see it reaches Stronghold," he said.

"They agreed to all the people we wanted?" asked Kaid, putting it away in his inner jacket pocket for safety.

"Not all. Ghezu refuses to release Dzaka."

Kaid's ear flicked briefly in annoyance. "I rather thought he might," he sighed.

"I've also got some information on the En'Shalla rituals," Ghyan continued, handing him a data cube. "It includes the transcripts of the last two attempts made to reach Vartra through the Fire Margins some thirty years ago. Both were unsuccessful, but the words of the officiating priests were recorded."

"Thank you," said Kaid, pocketing the cube and moving to get up.

"Haven't you got anything to ask?" Ghyan demanded, face creasing in a frown.

"Excuse me?" Kaid looked at him in surprise.

"Lijou says you're to be the third— to make up the Triad necessary to follow the Fire Margins ritual. You do know there needs to be three, don't you?"

Kaid's eyes widened in shock. "You're wrong. He can't have said that."

Ghyan nodded, obviously not pleased. "I hope both he and Vartra know what they're doing," he growled. "Have you any idea what it entails?"

"Some, and I'm not doing it," Kaid stated flatly.

"I told you, you've no choice. Kusac's agreed. By Vartra, Kaid," he said angrily, "You'd better start living up to the job! You have to be part of their Link, in rapport with the Liegena so Kusac can sense you. As the Warrior, you have to guard them from any physical and spiritual danger! You need to keep a clear head and watch what's going on around you as they'll be too involved. You need to care what happens to them or none of you will return! Do you think you can learn to do that, Kaid?" he asked sarcastically. "Learn to care? You'll have to if she's going to accept you— if Kusac is."

"Stop it, Ghyan," said Kaid, turning away from him and getting to his feet. "You've no call to preach at me. I know how to do my job, but I've told you, I'm not going."

Ghyan reached out across his desk and grasped his arm, holding him back.

With a snarl, Kaid rounded on him just as the priest suddenly released him, his ears flicking back and staying there in shock.

"Don't touch me!" Kaid could feel the blood pounding in his head and knew that the priest had felt his anger. He had to be more careful, his control was slipping too often these days. He took a deep breath.

"You misjudge me, Ghyan," he said, speaking more slowly. "If I'm to help them, I have to keep some objectivity. Only then can I see their best course of action. You know that like all the Brothers, I was a lay-priest in my time. I still follow our God. If He's called me— truly called me— then I'll go with them."

"You've been chosen," stated Ghyan, rubbing his palm against the side of his robe. "You've obviously got a strong enough Talent to do the job. Read the data. You'll need to get closer to her, on a personal level. She needs to trust you almost as much as she trusts Kusac because she'll be the link between you and him. If she trusts you, so will he. It's all on the cube. See that you read it, Kaid."

"I'll read it," he said, turning and walking to the door. "You've been chosen, too, Ghyan. You're on the list of people we need at Valsgarth. Kusac's opening up the old estate for the mixed Leskas to live on. We'll need a real priest, not one of the Brothers, to teach the cubs."

"I know all about that so don't think to divert me, Kaid. There's more," said Ghyan, coming out from behind his desk.

Kaid stopped, his hand on the door lever. "Well?"

"The bond you'll share with her is the same as any telepathic link, only weaker. Weaker because you aren't a telepath."

"Get on with it, Ghyan," snapped Kaid, annoyed at the way the priest was still standing in judgment over him. None of this was his doing. Vartra knew he hadn't looked for it.

"The bond will grow until you're drawn to pair, then it's sealed, completed so you can work as a Triad. Sort your mind out, Kaid, or you'll never get close enough to her. For the God's sake and theirs, try to care about her!" he said earnestly. "If you hurt her in any way, Kusac will quite literally have your hide."

Kaid shut his eyes, leaning against the door, glad that his back was to Ghyan. There was no way he could do this. Pair with Carrie? It was impossible. He felt a rising tide of panic which he ruthlessly suppressed. Ghyan must not know how he felt— no one must know. He felt hounded. First the visions, then Noni. Now this.

"He'll likely try to have it anyway," said Kaid tiredly. "He does know about this aspect of the En'Shalla ritual, doesn't he? He agreed, knowing this?"

"If he doesn't, he will when he's read the data."

"You'd think Vartra would have had the sense to choose a Sholan pair, wouldn't you?" said Kaid, attempting to sound more like his usual self as he opened the door. "Humans with their confused morality and odd religions aren't the likeliest candidates for any of our rituals."

"We're all in the hands of the Gods, Kaid. Frankly, I don't know why Vartra picked you either." Ghyan's reply was sharp. "I haven't forgotten our last talk, before the Challenge. Perhaps He's chosen you to teach you compassion— He knows you need some!"

"You presume too much, Priest," growled Kaid, opening the door. "What I do or don't feel for them is not your concern!"

He walked along the narrow dark corridor, cursing under his breath. With any other female, he'd just approach her and after some talk, ask her to spend time with him, then let nature take its course. At least that's what he'd done before ... Khemu. He was sure customs hadn't changed that much in the last three decades. But he couldn't do that with her. Afraid as she still was of Terran reactions to her marriage with Kusac, she'd never understand he meant no insult to her. And Kusac? He was so protective of her, so strongly tied to her every thought and action! If they intended to take the En'Shalla path to the Fire Margins, then someone would have to be the third, that was an inescapable fact. Why him, though? If they did achieve a Triad between them, what effect would he have on it— and them?

His senses suddenly began to swim, and, dizzily, he stopped, leaning against the wall for support as the corridor before him seemed to lurch and then vanish.

He stood on the darkened edge of a brightly lit field. Around him the immense shadows of cargo ships loomed out of the night, their access ramps glowing golden in contrast to the intense white of the surrounding illuminations. Kusac stood beside him and he could feel the rage his Liege was directing against the small group of people ahead of them. He shifted his stance, accommodating the weight in his arms, looking down to see if she was all right.

Once more, his surroundings seemed to lurch, then he was back in the corridor, his cheek pressed against the cold stone walls. With him came the memory of the pain he'd read on Carrie's face and in her mind, and the way she'd been clinging to him.

Closing his eyes, he took a deep breath while he searched his memory for an appropriate litany— but there wasn't one for what he'd just experienced.

* * *

Jo's and Davies' first port of call had been the Khalossa. Their stay couldn't have been briefer. In line with current policy, they stopped only long enough for a crash course in the orientation program on Sholan culture and language given to all visiting Humans. They still needed to practice the skills and experience the culture for themselves, but it saved months of time and many potential misunderstandings.

Then they embarked on the adapted shuttlecraft. Seven days later they docked at Chagda Station, the mercantile and military space station in orbit around Shola. The regular shuttle service delivered them to Valsgarth, home of Shola's main Telepath Clan, the Aldatans, and the largest Telepath Guild town.

They were met by Telepath and Warrior Guild personnel who were there to escort them in a private vehicle to the Guildhouse.

It was early afternoon and as they looked down on the crowded streets below, Jo turned to the Telepath beside her.

"No ground vehicles?" she asked.

"Only the Chemerians' powered chairs," she replied. "All deliveries of goods are made in the early morning before the stores open for business. Vehicles arriving at Valsgarth at any other time wait in the goods area at the spaceport till the next day."

"Where are we going now?" asked Davies as the craft rose, then banked slightly to clear a high wall.

"Here. This is the Telepath Guild where you'll be welcomed by Clan Lord Aldatan. From there you'll go to the Warrior Guild where you will stay during your time with us."

"Kusac's father," Jo said quietly to Davies.

As the craft set down in the large courtyard it sent clouds of dust billowing up around it. The students caught in it scurried away, coughing and choking.

As the dust settled, Davies leaned forward over the seat to talk to Jo.

"The place is built like a fortress," he said, nodding toward the huge wooden doors that stood open at the entrance to the Guildhall.

"Our past included a time of superstition and fear, just as yours did," said the female beside Jo.

The extent of the building, which reached in places to the height of three or four stories, was palatial. The ancient central hall had been added to over the centuries, expanding that modest building into a rambling complex. Despite this there was a harmonious look and feel to the whole.

"It's at least a thousand years old," agreed the female as she moved to get up.

They were ushered into the ground floor room that served as the Clan Lord's office.

"Well come," said Konis, getting up to greet them. "So at last I meet some of the Terrans who worked with my son and bond-daughter. Please, be seated." He indicated the comfortably padded chairs. "Hot drinks are on the table in front of you. Would you prefer some of your coffee or our c'shar?" he asked, indicating the two sealed jugs.

"Coffee, please," said Jo, glancing at Davies for confirmation as she sank into one of the chairs. A look of surprise and pleasure crossed her face.

"I'm sure the chairs are a most welcome change after the scant comfort on our military shuttles," said Konis, sitting down again.

"I regret having to break your journey like this. I'm sure you want to reach your final destination as soon as possible, but I wished to see you first. Not least of all you, my dear," he said, watching Jo carefully as his mind gently touched the edges of hers.

Surprise made her tense.

"Why did you choose to keep your Talent to yourself and remain on Keiss?" Konis asked.

Jo looked at Davies in panic, then back to Konis.

"You're mistaken," she said. "I'm not a telepath. What on earth gave you that idea?"

"As Clan Lord, I know the mental feel of every telepath on this continent, my dear. When a new Talent is born, I know. Before your shuttle landed outside the town, I sensed you and knew you had an untutored Talent. You keep it walled away, using only a fraction of its true potential. Why?"

Jo frantically tried to think of a reason that the Clan Lord would accept, but he forestalled her.

"So you worked in the Valtegan cities, too," he said. "Then it's no wonder that you desensitized yourself. But why continue to hide it now?"

"I like my job," she said, a note of desperation creeping into her voice. "I don't want to give it up to be a Telepath."

"It's your Talent that helps you be the linguist that you are. It gives you the insight into understanding cultures foreign to your own. However, be that as it may," he said, reaching for the coffee jug to pour them a drink, "you are under no obligation to come here and train, my dear. The choice is yours. Even as a trained Telepath, you could continue in the career you've chosen. I'm not trying to coerce you, I was merely curious."

Jo looked relieved. "Elise and Carrie were always considered freaks because of their abilities. I don't want to be seen the same way," she said, casting another sidelong glance at Davies, who for once had the good sense to be looking in the opposite direction.

"As you wish. The third member of your group, Kris Daniels, is already at the Warrior Guild waiting for you. He's a Terran Telepath and will be the one keeping in contact with the Chemerian vessel that regularly trades on Jalna. He's well trained and capable of helping you if you have any difficulties with your Talent during your mission."

"Is there any reason why I should have difficulties?" Jo asked anxiously.

"None at all," said Konis calmly. "After all, you've been coping like this for many years, as have all the Terran Telepaths. We are merely able to help train your Talents and utilize them more fully."

He held out a mug to her. "Help yourself to whitener and sweetener while I tell you what I know of the planet Jalna and give you a brief outline of the information we have so far. You'll get a more detailed briefing from your contact on the Chemerian cargo vessel. You rendezvous with it at Chagda Station in three weeks' time."

"Three weeks!" exclaimed Davies. "How are we expected to pick up the weapons skills in three weeks?"

"The Guild Master assures me that this can be done," said Konis. "Don't worry. It's their responsibility to have you ready on time."

When Jo and Davies had departed for the Warrior Guild, they left a very thoughtful Konis behind them. He returned to his desk, sitting down and activating the display screen. As it rose from its recess, he tapped out the access codes for the data on the Terran Telepaths currently on, or in transit to Shola. Of the sixty persons on his list, thirty-three were in the Guild, two were on his wife's estate and the other twenty-five were in transit from Earth.

Of the four mixed Leska pairs, including the pair who had died at the Guild, all except Vanna were Sholan males with Human female partners. Of the rest, there were only three single Terran females here, with another four on their way.

He keyed in another sequence giving him the personal information on the single females' backgrounds. All but one were in their early to mid-forties, the other was thirty-nine. Frowning, he stared at the screen. If the Terran, Jo, was right, then there was something here that he was missing, but what?

Coming to a decision, he took the unusual step of contacting Vanna mentally. He wouldn't afford Esken's spies the opportunity of finding out what was on his mind, so to speak. They might tap his internal communications between departments, but they wouldn't dare attempt to mentally eavesdrop on either him or Vanna. As the acknowledged Sholan specialist in Terran physiology, she would surely be able to close her teeth on what he was looking for.

Vanna, Konis here. Meet me in my office as soon as possible, please, he sent.

Coming.

Five minutes later she knocked and entered. "What can I do for you, Clan Lord?" she asked, approaching his desk.

Konis reached out for the nearest chair, hauling it behind his desk till it was beside his own.

"Thank you for being so prompt, Vanna. Come, sit down and look at this data."

Vanna sat beside him and regarded the screen. "What are we looking for?"

"These are the details of the female Terran Telepaths. Out of sixty Terrans, we only have seven females. Apart from the fact there are so few of them, there is something here so obvious I'm missing it. With your knowledge of Terran culture, perhaps you can tell me what it is."

"I hadn't realized there were so few," she said, leaning forward toward the control panel set into the desk surface. "May I?"

"Please," said Konis, moving his chair back.

She tapped a few keys, checked the files of the fifty-three males, then ordered the computer to find the common factors.

"The females are older, their average age being forty-two, the males being only twenty-eight," she said. "Apart from that, I can't see any correlation beyond the fact they come from the major cultures on Earth."

She turned puzzled green eyes toward him. "What exactly are you hoping to find? What did Jo tell you?"

"She thinks Earth is still restricting the number of telepathic females they're sending to us. Why would they do that? You know more than any Sholan about the Human culture, even if it is on Keiss, not Earth. Can you think of a reason for them to do that?"

"I wonder if age is a key factor," she said, pressing more controls. "There is a large discrepancy in the averages." Again she turned to look at him. "Being a shorter-lived species than us, they mature earlier. Clan units like ours don't exist, and they form a bond with one partner for life. They tend to remain possessive of their females, treating them almost as if they own them."

"They're shorter-lived? I hadn't realized," Konis murmured. "What is their life span?"

"Sixty or seventy seems to be the average for the males, with the females living for perhaps another ten years."

Konis blinked in shock. "So short a time?" His thoughts hung loud and clear in the silence. Were his son, and Vanna, doomed to so short a life because of their Human Leskas?

"We've changed, Clan Lord," said Vanna. "The Humans, too. Who knows how long either of us will live now? Only time will tell." She looked back at the screen.

Konis refocused his mind on the current problem. "So what Carrie faced on Keiss is not uncommon among Terrans. The females are not perceived as equal citizens but as a form of property. Presumably they don't want them in situations where they can mix freely with males, so they prevent them from coming to us."

"Perhaps they don't want them mixing with Sholan males," said Vanna. "We know they suffer from xenophobia to a greater extent than we do, so keeping them away from our males could be more important."

"In my dealings with the Earth delegation, I found them more xenophobic toward each other than us, but it is part of the same pattern. What of the age factor in the females? Why do you think they're older?"

They're too old for childbearing, came Brynne's thought. No chance then for any alien half-breeds. They'll leave that to the Sholan females. Then his presence was gone.

Vanna looked acutely embarrassed, ears flicking backward despite her attempt to keep them upright.

"My apologies, Clan Lord," she began, but Konis silenced her with a wave of his hand.

"No need, Vanna. I know how difficult things are for you, and Brynne's insight has been most useful."

She looked back to the screen. "Yes, Clan Lord," she said, her voice barely audible.

Konis frowned at her. "You're forgetting my name," he said gently. "No more Clan Lord, please." He looked back at the screen. "It looks like Jo was right. The Terrans are restricting the Telepaths they send us." He leaned past Vanna to key in more data.

"At least the ones we get here are in the main people with genuinely useful Talents," he said, reviewing the screen. "These are the ones that have been vetted on the Rhyaki before being sent here. I hear there've been a great many sent to the ship who've had only the delusion of having a Talent."

Vanna looked questioningly at him.

"Because telepathy isn't recognized on Earth," said Konis, "the people have developed a subculture of their own based mainly on their abilities to foretell the future or to contact the deceased. The Tutors on the Rhyaki complain that for every three people with a genuine Talent, they're sent twenty who have nothing of any use to us, far more than one would expect in a random sample. They feel sure the Terrans are aware of this."

"It seems I've been too engrossed with our new Leskas," said Konis, his ears beginning to lie flat with anger. "It's time I involved myself more in Alien Relations. I think another visit to Earth is called for, one with full Ambassadorial status, to inquire into their selection procedure for suitable Telepaths. I'll speak to Commander Chuz and Governor Nesul about it today," he said, switching his comm off. "I want another batch of people sent out here as soon as possible, and it had better include more younger females! These Terrans are as devious as the Chemerians. Thank the Gods we are dealing with people we know on Keiss. That at least goes smoothly," he said, turning to Vanna.

"Changing the topic completely, what's the state of the ni'uzu epidemic here? Have you managed to find a workable vaccine yet?"

"Not yet. Since Carrie and Kusac first caught and mutated it, it won't respond to our vaccine. So far it only appears to be affecting the single telepaths. Existing Leska pairs seem to be immune, yet we can't find what it is that gives them the immunity. It's not just our Guildhouse either, the other fifteen Telepath Guildhouses have been similarly hit. In fact there have been several deaths directly linked to the new strain of ni'uzu."

"Why only telepaths? I don't suppose it could be some Terran virus, could it?"

Vanna shook her head. "Unlikely. The DNA mapping of the Humans is far enough advanced for us to rule that out. So far we can't trace the cause, but even when they've recovered, it's leaving many people weak and ill for several days."

"Have you got all the facilities and staff you need?"

"Yes, Clan Lord."

Konis frowned.

"Yes, Konis," she amended, feeling self-conscious at the use of his personal name.

"Right," he said, getting up. "Keep me informed, Vanna. I want to know if there are any more deaths due to this virus and if it leaves those who've contracted it with any enhanced abilities or altered genetics. I need to go and see the Governor now."

* * *

After more than two decades of life in the military, Kris, the telepathic member of their team, came as something of a shock to Jo and Davies. The shoulder-length fair hair held back by a plain suede headband, the T-shirt and jeans, and the bare feet in open leather sandals all firmly proclaimed him a civilian, despite the Sholan uniform jacket he carried. However, as their days at the Warrior Guild merged into weeks, they realized the differences between the soldiers that they were and the Warriors they needed to become.

This Guild had never turned out obedient ranks of soldiers; traditionally they fulfilled a totally different role. They trained males and females to fight with any available weapons, including their natural ones; to search out the enemy's weaknesses; to assess and plan tactical advantages; to survive and ultimately win in the most extreme circumstances. In short, unless they were Warrior-trained first and foremost, there was no way junior officers could gain access to the upper echelons of the Sholan military.

The three of them found that they were expected to be able to act independently of each other yet mesh instantly into a tightly knit unit when the need arose. Without a conscious decision having ever been made, Jo found herself being regarded by the two males as the natural leader.

Their training included not only the traditional Sholan swords and daggers but also modern energy weapons. Unarmed combat, too, both Sholan and Human style. The knowledge of the existence of new martial arts had caused an immediate demand— diplomatically rephrased as a request by the Alien Relations Department— from the Warrior Guild for practitioners to be sent to Shola. They had not been long in arriving.

Though Jo and Davies had years of experience in guerrilla warfare on Keiss, Kris had more than a head start on them at the Guild, having been training there regularly since he had arrived on Shola some five months earlier. Despite his time still being divided between the Warrior and the Telepath Guilds, he never completely lost that lead. By the end of their three weeks on Shola, the bonds of trust that had been forged between them were strong and they knew they were as ready as they would ever be for their mission on Jalna.

* * *

Almost before they realized it, they were at Chagda Station, boarding the Summer Bounty, the Chemerian merchant ship of Chijuu Liokso. Like all Chemerian vessels outside their home worlds, it was run by the Sumaan, the only species the Chemerians trusted, and then only because the heavy worlders and they had no common needs.

Jo and Davies didn't meet the last member of their team until they were ushered into the lower level crew lounge. Because of the fever still raging through the Telepath Guild, the Clan Lord, Konis Aldatan, had delayed his choice until one of those he had short-listed for the mission had recovered.

Vyaka was her name. Of average height for a Sholan female, she was stockily built with an air of competence about her. Her coloring was light gray with dark bands round her tail and tipping her almost-tufted ears. The hair between her ears was dark and worn short, the military style fitting in with the sleeveless Forces jacket. Unusually bright green eyes regarded them steadily while Kris and Jo felt her feather-light mental touch at the edges of their minds.

She held her palm out toward Kris in greeting. "You must be my contact on Jalna. I'm Vyaka, from Alien Relations. The Clan Lord thought someone with my background would be best suited to your needs." She turned to the other two. "You must be Jo, and you, Davies," she said, offering her palm to Jo who hesitantly returned the gesture, knowing that her Talent had been acknowledged by the Sholan female. To Davies, Vyaka inclined her head.

"I'll show you to our quarters," she said, walking past them to the door. "This level is the one used by Chijuu, the Chemerian. We have the two passenger cabins."

The three Terrans followed her back out into the corridor, past the lift shaft to the two cabin doors. Vyaka stopped, turning to Jo. "I thought you'd prefer to bunk with me. The Terran females I met at the Guild were no different from us in enjoying some time away from the company of the males." Her mouth opened in a broad Sholan grin.

"Sure, suits me," said Jo, smiling back.

"In which case," said Vyaka turning to Kris, "that's your room next door. You'll find the toilet and shower through the door at the rear. We'll meet you back in the lounge in five minutes." She placed her palm on the door mechanism.

"Oh, no," groaned Jo as she looked in through the open door. "Now I've seen it all! First it was curved beds, now it's bowls in the floor!"

"You haven't seen the crew quarters," said Vyaka, making a noise Jo recognized as a laugh. "They sleep on heated sand. At least we have covers and a padded mattress. As for Chijuu, wait till you see his suite. He rarely leaves the Summer Bounty so his quarters approximate how he would live planetside." She waited for Jo to enter.

"What are they like?" Jo asked, unslinging her bag as she headed over to the ubiquitous drawer unit near the unused bed.

"The Chemerians? Difficult is the best word to describe them. The ones we meet, like Chijuu, are the gregarious ones, misfits in their society because they are willing to actually meet aliens face-to-face and trade with them. Don't worry, though," she reassured Jo, "we'll probably only see him a couple of times during the trip. He'll keep to his quarters because of the gravity. The Sumaan worlds are heavier even than Shola, and since the Sumaan run the ship ..."

"Sounds like a fun journey," said Jo, putting the last of her possessions in the drawers.

"It shouldn't be too bad. The Sumaan will probably set their gravity nearer ours for our convenience, they're good that way."

"How do the Chemerians cope?"

"They've developed a device that allows them to have their own gravity in their quarters. No one knows how it works, and they aren't telling us. They won't even discuss it, let alone allow anyone else near it. Pity, the medical benefits alone would be worth almost any price they asked. Ready?"

Jo nodded and followed Vyaka back to the lounge area. Kris and Davies were already there. The Sholan went over to a hatchway in the far wall while Jo sat down on one of the couches.

"This area has been set up for passengers," she said. "This is the food and drink synthesizer. It works on a similar principle to the Sholan ones. It's been programmed with ten dishes which have proved popular with your people as well as several drinks, including your coffee. The menu is here," she said, pointing to a display panel above a row of recessed buttons. "Press one of these and your choice will come on the screen; press this one to confirm your selection. I take it you all want coffee?"

"Please," said Jo.

As they sat down with their drinks, several loud clanks and booms reverberated throughout the craft.

"We're under way," said Vyaka, taking a sip of her c'shar. "I think now is the time for your final briefing." She put her mug down on the low table in front of her.

"When we reach Jalna, we'll all transfer to the cargo section control room and travel down to the planet's surface. Jalna has no space station so trading takes place planetside in the spaceport. Once we've landed, the Captain will request an unloading team. They'll be Jalnians who have passes allowing them into the port area. The whole spaceport is rigidly controlled by the Port Lord, Lord Bradogan, who restricts the flow of off-world goods onto the planet. He also restricts the movements of the natives and the spacer crews. No aliens are allowed to go outside the Port town perimeter."

"So how do we get out?" asked Davies.

"We have a fake ID for each of you," she said. "While the Jalnians are unloading, I will attempt to link in lightly to one of them, then you, Kris, will link with me and hopefully be able to pick up all you can about their language and culture." She frowned briefly. "I know you've been practicing this particular skill. You Humans seem to have a talent for it. Hopefully the combination of our minds should be enough. Really we needed Carrie and Kusac for this, but it wasn't to be," she sighed. "We have to have this information or the mission has little chance of success."

Jo hesitated. "If you can give me what you do pick up, like we were given a knowledge of the Sholan language and culture on the Khalossa, then perhaps I can make some sense of it."

Vyaka looked at her in surprise.

"The Clan Lord said my Talent was with languages," Jo said quietly.

"Of course, you're the Keissian expert on the Valtegans! That will certainly give us the edge we need," said Vyaka.

"Vyaka," said Jo worriedly, "There isn't a problem with Carrie, is there? I thought she was doing well. She seemed all right when we spoke to her a couple of weeks ago."

Vyaka raised an eye ridge. "You were lucky to be allowed to speak to her. Since she lost her cub, no one has been allowed to contact them. The Clan Leader has been most protective."

Jo and Davies exchanged a glance.

"You didn't know?" said Vyaka in surprise. "It was widely publicized on Shola. The genesis of a new species is not something that can be kept quiet, especially when the heir of the largest Telepath Clan is the father."

"Carrie and Kusac?" asked Davies, frankly disbelieving. "That's impossible."

"Not with the mixed Leskas. Somehow a genetic drift was initiated in both of them until they were compatible. Kusac's child would have been the first but Carrie lost it when she was injured in the Challenge. Now it'll be Vanna's cub."

"Not the Vanna we know? The medic?" asked Jo incredulously.

Vyaka nodded.

"But she's not a telepath!"

"Oh yes, a wild Talent to be sure, but a Telepath nonetheless, and one with a Terran Leska."

"Good God," said Jo, still stunned by the double shock of the news.

"How many more pairs are there?" asked Davies.

"I think another two or three. But enough of that," Vyaka said, picking up her mug again. "Back to the mission. Once we've managed to pick up something of their language and culture, you'll mingle with the Jalnians in the hold. When they leave, so will you. According to the Sumaan, the guards only glance at the Jalnians' cards, they don't do a head count so they shouldn't notice there are three more of you leaving than arrived." She took another drink.

"Once outside, you'll make your way to the crash site in the nearby hills. We'll return to Jalna every week, so I'll contact you as soon as we arrive and you can pass on any information you have. Luckily there's some in-system work we can do over the next couple of months or so, trading directly in space with the other species. When you're ready to leave, you make your way back to the native shantytown outside the spaceport perimeter and we'll pick you up the same way we dropped you off. Any questions?"

"How do we find this crashed vessel?" asked Davies.

"As we approach Jalna, the Captain will scan the surface, taking images of it which he'll print out for you as a map. You've got a direction finder, haven't you?"

Davies nodded.

"Then you should be all right. Just remember that maps don't exist on Jalna yet and don't get caught with it. I'm glad to see you all wearing Jalnian clothes," she said, glancing at them each in turn. "By the time we get there you'll look like you've lived in them rather than just put them on."

Davies scratched vigorously at his upper arm. "Damned tunic is itchy," he complained. "I never did like natural wool next to my skin."

"You'll be grateful for its warmth on Jalna," said Jo. "Modern fabrics don't have the same insulation or natural waterproof qualities as this stuff."

"Smells, too," he grumbled.

"Natural oils," said Kris, speaking for the first time. "We could do with rolling in some dirt. These clothes are far too clean."

"There's plenty of dirt in the cargo area," grinned Vyaka. "You can roll about there to your heart's delight."

"What happens if we get caught by the Jalnian authorities?" asked Davies.

"We'll try to get you out the best way we can. With us we have ten Sumaan warriors specifically here as an assault unit in the event of trouble. We won't abandon you, believe me, but it would be best if you weren't caught in the first place," Vyaka said.

"We must find out why the vessel crashed, what it was doing, and if it has anything on board that will give us a clue as to where the Valtegans come from, is that right?" asked Jo.

"That's about the size of it," agreed Vyaka.

"Is there some way we can communicate with you when you aren't on Jalna?" asked Davies. "In case of emergencies."

"None, I'm afraid."

"I'm not happy about that," he muttered.

"There shouldn't be a problem," said Vyaka. "If you stick to your cover of itinerant gypsies, then you have a reason to be out in the middle of nowhere between villages. When you find the vessel, your cover is that you're using it for shelter."

"I'm still concerned with the initial information gathering from the Jalnians at the spaceport," said Jo.

"I'll be working with Kris throughout the trip to improve his transfer skills," reassured Vyaka. "Now I know you've a Talent for languages, I'm more confident we'll get what we want."

"I do hope you're right," said Jo.

* * *

Meral had been concerned about Taizia, but since he'd received the cryptic message to meet her at The Warrior's Respite in Nazule, his worry had turned to annoyance. He'd only seen her once in the last six weeks, and then she'd just faced a dressing down from her mother because of inviting the Keissian physician, Jack Reynolds, to Shola without permission. She hadn't been in the best of moods that night. Now this.

As he entered the garden at the rear of the inn, he saw her sitting on her own at a table near the riverside.

He slid down on the bench seat opposite her, frowning in surprise when he saw what she was drinking. "Milk? That's not like you."

"I need the calcium," she said, wrapping her hands around the glass.

"What d'you need calcium for? You aren't ill, are you?" A note of concern had come into his voice.

It made Taizia feel worse than ever about what she'd done to them both. In the past few weeks she'd come to realize the enormity of her actions.

"I'm pregnant, Meral," she said quietly, keeping her eyes focused on her hands. "Remember that night I came to you in your room? I decided then."

His stunned silence lengthened until she had to look up. "It seemed like a good idea at the time," she said lamely. "I wanted to be with you. I didn't want Father finding a mate for me. It would have meant ending our relationship." She looked back down at her drink, unable to stand the stillness of his face and mind.

"I wanted us to be together— for a year or two at least. I did it, it's my responsibility. I don't expect anything from you. There's no need for us to take out a bond-contract."

Her heart sank as he got to his feet. "You needn't worry," she said, her voice almost a whisper, "I won't tell them who the father is. I won't involve you in my dishonor." A knot of unhappiness was tying itself around her heart now, making her feel ill.

He reached out, grasping her by the arm. "I want to talk to you— in private," he said, his voice low with anger.

She got up, walking beside him along the riverside toward the small bridge. His mind was still closed, no thoughts or emotions beyond his anger that would give her a clue as to what he was thinking.

He stopped when they reached it, turning round to face her.

"Kusac was right about you," he said angrily. "You're as impulsive as a cub half your age! Did you stop to think of the consequences of your actions before you decided to conceive? You don't bring a cub into the world just so you don't have to marry, or because you don't want to lose a lover! There's a little person growing inside you now! A life you've made me equally responsible for, without even asking me!"

She couldn't look at him. "I know. I'm sorry. I've said I'll take full responsibility for it— I'll say it isn't yours."

He gave a hiss of exasperation and she could see his tail flicking from side to side. "Be realistic, Taizia! Who's going to believe that?"

"There's nothing more I can do now," she said, blinking rapidly before dashing her forearm across her eyes in an effort to stem her tears. She knew her ears were flat with distress but she couldn't raise them.

She felt him grasp her by the arm again, then pull her close before folding his arms around her.

"You damned, stupid, idiotic child," he said, lowering his face to hers before capturing her cheek with his teeth and beginning to gently nip it. "I'll not have you telling anyone it isn't mine," he growled as he moved his mouth downward to her throat. "We'll sign a bonding contract before we tell your parents. No one else is claiming our cub, Taizia."

She tipped her head back as his tongue rasped across her throat, then his teeth closed over her larynx and tightened till they marked her flesh.

"If I go home now, my mother'll know I'm pregnant," she said. "I'm not ready to face them yet."

"Where have you been staying?"

"With a friend, but I had to leave for the same reason. And the Guild's so oppressive since Father and the Guild Master fell out."

"You're not going back there," he said firmly. "We'll go to the judiciary and take out a contract today, then I'm taking you home."

"Home?" she said, startled.

He held her close again. "Yes, to my parents' estate," he said, rubbing his face against hers. "You'll be safe there until I've seen your brother and your parents."

"You can't tell them on your own," she said, pulling back from him.

"I can, and I will," he said. "If you hadn't been an Aldatan, I'd have asked you to be my mate. The God knows I wanted to, but telepaths don't life-bond to outsiders. And I'm insisting on a five-year contract. I wish it could be longer— because I love you, Taizia."

Her laugh was slightly hysterical. In her mind, she'd faced every possible reaction from him but this.

"You must be mad," she said, hugging him tightly. "I love you, too, and I wish we could be life-mates, Meral, but at least we'll have some happiness."

"Don't think about the future," he said, letting her go before they turned round to walk back to the inn. "We'll find a way to stay together. You may have to marry but you can still choose whom you love."

Her mouth opened in a smile as she looked up at him. "Yes, I can, can't I?"

* * *

Kaid was sitting in the staff lounge when Garras came in.

"I've been hoping to find you on your own all day," he said, going over to the drinks dispenser. "Can I get you anything?"

"Please," said Kaid, pushing the disposable mug aside. "This one's well and truly dead."

"C'shar or coffee?"

"C'shar."

He watched Garras bring the two mugs over to the table, putting one down in front of him before sitting down opposite.

"Thanks," said Kaid, leaning his elbow on the table so he could prop his head up on his hand. "How's Vanna?"

"Fine," Garras said, taking a sip of his drink. He gave a little purr of amusement. "Carrie keeps teasing her about looking more like a Human female now. I suppose she does."

Kaid raised an eye ridge questioningly. "I would have said Human females look like permanently pregnant Sholans," he said. "Vanna does look well, though. How did Brynne react when you signed the bond-contract?"

"Indifferently. All in all he's been acting rather strangely in the last week or two. He's taken up with one of the new batch of Terrans— an older man. Now he's a strange one. He refuses to live at the Terran building on the Guild grounds, and has taken a room at the Accommodation Guild instead. Apparently Brynne has been spending a lot of time with him. That's not what I wanted to talk about, though."

Kaid sighed and picked up his mug in his other hand. "I know. Go on, get it over with if you must," he said, taking a mouthful of the c'shar.

"It's about the En'Shalla rituals. You know there has to be a third person for the Margins, don't you?"

"I know all about it, Garras. If I didn't, I'd be the only one on the estate. Lijou told me to copy the data before giving it to Kusac."

"Why'd he do that?" asked Garras, ears pricking forward. "What's Lijou got to do with it?"

Kaid frowned. "You're getting too good at receiving, Garras," he said.

"I wouldn't say that. It's come in very useful on several occasions, notably when we were chasing Chyad, but you're not going to put me off my trail, Kaid. All our people are gossiping about the En'Shalla rituals. They know there has to be a third, and they're taking bets on who it'll be."

Again Kaid raised an eyebrow. "Oh? Who's the favorite?"

"The priest, Ghyan."

"He won't choose Ghyan."

"You sound sure of that," said Garras. "You're the second choice, by the way."

"Am I? I hope you're discouraging them from betting."

"You don't sound surprised."

"You know there's very little gets past me, Garras."

"It's more than that," his friend said slowly, studying his face.

Kaid looked away and took another mouthful of his drink. He could sense the way Garras' mind was working. Better to weather it out now than leave it till later.

"You've not been yourself since you came back from Noni's," said Garras abruptly. "I know what she's like, always probing at any sore spots she can find, manipulating you into dropping your guard so she can pick up stray thoughts. What happened while you were there?"

"Nothing," said Kaid, suddenly aware of the warmth of the crystal he wore hung in a small leather bag round his neck.

"What's Lijou's involvement in this?"

"I've no idea what you're talking about, Garras," said Kaid tiredly. "What's the point in all this?"

"Noni told you something, didn't she? And Lijou said the same thing. What exactly did they say, Kaid?"

Garras was pushing him, determined to find out. "Nothing that need concern you, Garras. It was personal."

"They told you that you'll be the third, didn't they? That's why you know Kusac won't choose Ghyan. Has Kusac discussed it with you?"

No point in denying it. "He hasn't spoken to anyone yet as far as I'm aware."

"If he doesn't choose you, he's a fool," Garras said abruptly. "I don't understand you, Kaid. You sit around looking morose, yet you're likely to get what you want most handed to you without any problems."

"You know nothing about it, Garras. I don't care what anyone says, I can't be the third! I've been through it with Noni, Lijou, and Ghyan! I'm sick of the whole damned thing. I hope he doesn't ask me because I'll have to refuse, and I can't tell him why!"

"Can't, or won't? Is it because of that female all those years ago? What was her name?"

"Khemu."

"Yes, Khemu. You never did tell me what happened."

Kaid sat up, ears flicking backward in annoyance. "I'm not about to do so now either."

"As you wish," he said. "Has it ever happened since?"

"No, because I haven't dared go near another female since then," Kaid snapped, angry at having to admit to even that.

Garras leaned forward, grasping Kaid by the wrist. "When he chooses you," he began.

"He won't," interrupted Kaid, trying to pull his hand away.

"Listen to me," said Garras, ears folding sideways as he tightened his grip. "When he chooses you, you'd better have put that demon to sleep, because if she means as much to you as I think, you don't want it happening with her! Find yourself a female, Kaid. Take the edge off this fear— now, once and for all."

"Garras," he said, his voice holding an edge of ice. "I'm warning you. Don't meddle in my life." Again he attempted to pull away from his friend, but Garras held on even more tightly.

"Kaid, he'll ask you, and you'll have to accept."

Kaid got abruptly to his feet, the chair falling over behind him as he wrenched his wrist free.

"You have to go, Kaid, can't you see that? He trusts you to look after her personally. He's already put their lives in your hands. He isn't going to choose someone else!"

"If he trusts me so much, then why has he said nothing?" demanded Kaid, stalking over to the door, his tail bushed out and lashing from side to side. "He won't ask, and if he did, I wouldn't accept!"

"You'd let them go into the Fire Margins with someone other than you guarding them?" said Garras, turning to watch as Kaid pulled the door open. "Don't make me laugh, Kaid! If you do, it'll be the first time I've ever known you to give up without a fight!"

Kaid slammed the door behind him and headed down the corridor to his room. Damn him! Garras was right, and he knew it! He was sworn to protect them, he couldn't refuse— and he couldn't accept.

* * *

As he reached the corridor that branched off to his room, he saw Vanna approaching.

"Just the person I wanted," she said cheerfully. "If I didn't know you better, I'd say you've been avoiding me. I need a sample of your blood for the DNA tests Jack and I are doing."

"I'm afraid I haven't the time right now, Vanna," he said. "Carrie's waiting for me. It's time for her therapy."

Before he could pull away, he felt the sharp prick of her test needle.

"There, it's done," she said, turning to leave.

He watched her walk away, cursing under his breath. More problems, as if he didn't have enough.

* * *

Carrie was waiting for him in the massage room next to the main bathing area.

"Hi there," she said as he entered. "I thought you'd forgotten about me."

"No, I wouldn't do that," he said, taking off his jacket and placing it on one of the benches. "Garras and I were talking, that's all. You're not usually quite so prompt."

"Kusac's at the estate lab today," she said. "He wanted to see for himself how it's all going. The main buildings we need should be ready soon, he says."

"That's good news." He rolled his tunic sleeves up as he went over to the massage couch where she was perched. The scent of her soap hung in the air. It was a special preparation made for her by Vanna's sister, Sashti, as was the small container of oil he picked up.

Carrie swung her legs up onto the table. "Sitting or lying, Kaid?" she asked.

"Lying, please. It's easier to work on your leg. How's it been today?"

"Not quite so stiff," she said, lying back on the couch. "I think between you and Sashti, not to mention Noni, you've worked a miracle on my injuries."

Kaid paused, looking up toward her head. "Would you like a cushion?" he asked. "You don't look very comfortable."

"Please."

Still holding the bottle, he went over to the cupboard by the door to get it. Returning, he handed it to her and began pouring some of the oil on his hands.

"What were you and Garras discussing?"

"This and that," he said vaguely as he pushed her robe aside and began spreading the oil over her injured thigh. "The wound has healed well, hasn't it?" he said as he carefully smoothed it over the scar. "I think you'll only have the faintest of marks in another couple of weeks."

"Mm," she said.

He looked up at her. Her eyes were closed and she seemed relaxed. "Are you all right?" he asked.

"I'm fine. I just thought I'd practice one or two of the litanies Dzaka's been teaching me."

He continued smoothing the oil into her skin, then began to gently knead the muscles at the sides of her thigh. "Which one are you practicing?"

"Right now? The one for relaxation. Then I'll go on to the one for clear thought."

He could sense the amusement in her voice. "What's funny?" he asked, beginning to work gently over the scarred area.

"You, Kaid. You're never just you, are you? Always on duty, holding yourself back. Are you like this in your leisure time too? I don't suppose I'd recognize you if you weren't."

"People spend their leisure time in different ways, Carrie," he said. "I tend to read, or ..."

"Sit drinking c'shar in the common room with Garras and the others, if you're not out on the training ground at the new estate," she finished for him.

"It seems it's a day for people telling me how I should spend my leisure time," he said wryly. "Turn over, please."

Grabbing the wrap-over front of her robe, Carrie obligingly rolled onto her stomach and laid her head on her folded arms.

He felt her wince as she moved the damaged arm. "Still paining you?" he asked sympathetically.

"A bit," she admitted. "And before you ask, yes, I've been doing the exercises!"

"It takes time," he said, moving her robe so he could reach the back of her thigh. "You know how deep that cut was. It nearly cost you your life."

"I know," she said, and he could feel the shudder pass through her body.

"Go back to your litanies," he said. "I'll be a while yet." He knew the rhythm of his massage would relax her, it always did, and within a couple of minutes he could feel her muscles losing their rigidity and becoming supple again under his fingers.

He stopped to put more oil on his hands and began gently pushing her flesh with his thumbs, rolling them upward one after the other as he worked toward the top of her leg, then back down again. He had to be careful that the pressure he used didn't trigger his claws. That had taken a little getting used to as her skin was much more yielding and soft than a Sholan's. He had to use the more sensitive parts of his fingers so he could gauge more accurately how much pressure was needed.

The feel and texture of her skin was unlike anything he'd come across. And her scent, already overlying the aroma of the oil and soap, was something he was trying hard to ignore. The preparations seemed to enhance her natural smell, but then that wasn't surprising considering Sashti had blended them specially for the needs of Carrie's human skin. Sashti was a professional, a much sought after professional at that. Her oils and soaps fetched the highest prices around these days, and to have one specially crafted for one's own use said something for the way Sashti felt about Carrie.

"She's coming over today," said Carrie quietly.

"I though she might," he murmured, moving to work on the softer skin on the inside of her thigh. "What is it today? Just a social call on you and Vanna?"

"Mm."

She was almost purring, he could feel it through her skin. Once the worst of the pain had gone from the newly-forming scar tissue, she'd enjoyed the massages almost as much as he did. It was a time of trust and almost-intimacy between them, probably the nearest he'd ever get to her. He'd tried to work out what it was that pleased him so much and had come to understand it was simply that— her trust, and being able to touch her without her fearing him, giving her pleasure in fact. The feel and sight of her skin— something alien to him as a member of a furred race— was in itself exotic, a fascination that hadn't faded for him, as obviously it hadn't for Kusac— or for Zhyaf, despite the fact that his young Leska, Mara, ran him ragged.

He stood back, sliding his hands from her leg. "If you'll sit up, I'll do your arm now," he said.

Carrie groaned. "Just as I was getting comfortable! You pick the worst time, Kaid!"

He grinned. "You were falling asleep."

"Rubbish! I was practicing my relaxation litany," she said, sitting up and slipping her left arm free of her robe.

"Sleeping."

"No. Relaxing. It shows how well I've learned the litany!"

"Hmm." Kaid wasn't convinced. He moved round to stand beside her, pouring more oil on his hands. "Here, you hold the bottle," he said, handing it to her.

"Hey! Careful, Kaid!" She had to grab for it as he let it go, assuming she'd catch it. As she did, she had to pull her injured arm away from him and clutch at her robe to prevent it falling. "I have my modesty to protect, you know."

His ears flicked back briefly. "Sorry. I forgot," he said, taking hold of her arm as she held it out to him again. He knew she wasn't Sholan, so why did he keep forgetting it? Probably because if she were, he could have approached her. Because she was human, it wasn't that easy for her— or him.

"Don't worry about it," she said, still clutching the bottle to her chest.

He reached out and took it from her, putting it on the couch beside her. "I forget sometimes that you aren't Sholan," he said.

She smiled. "I know. You've told me before."

He was just finishing as Sashti arrived.

"I'll wait for you in the main lounge," she said. "I'll get us drinks."

"I'll be about fifteen minutes," said Carrie, slipping the robe back over her arm. "A quick shower, then I'll be down."

Sashti waved as she disappeared through the door again.

"Thanks, Kaid," Carrie said as he helped her down from the couch. "You'll join us?"

"If you wish. I'll keep Sashti company till you arrive," he said, wiping his hands on a towel as she padded over to the door through to the bathing room.

* * *

After she'd left Kaid, Vanna rejoined Jack at the newly installed lab on the Valsgarth Estate. He and Kusac were sitting drinking coffee at one of the lab benches.

"Well, I like that!" she said, arms akimbo as she surveyed the two seated males. "I go up to the main house for an hour or two, and what do you two do? Nothing, that's what!"

"Vanna, lass," said Jack, getting to his feet, "we were waiting for your return. See, we even put a real brew of coffee on for you!" He indicated a mobile external heating unit with a glass beaker perched on top of it, the brown liquid contents gently bubbling. "Can I pour you a cup?"

Kusac turned away, hiding a grin as the rotund Human physician picked up a strainer and, lifting the beaker with a pair of heat-resistant tongs, poured some into a mug for Vanna.

"The comm is still crunching the data," said Kusac, turning round to pour some whitener into her mug. He looked at his wrist unit. "Another five minutes and it should be done."

Vanna came over to them, accepting the stool that Jack had vacated for her. "Hmpf!" she said, picking up the mug and tasting the drink. A smile crossed her face. "I'd forgotten it could taste like this," she said, tail flicking with pleasure.

"The ones from the dispenser units just aren't the same, are they?" said Kusac.

"Definitely not," she said, holding out a vial to Jack. "There's Kaid's sample. Once you've processed this, we've got a fair selection of DNA to compare with that of the latest ni'uzu victims. Thank goodness, it looks like the epidemic has burned itself out."

Kusac got down from his stool. "I'm going home now," he said. "Carrie's finished her therapy with Kaid, and Sashti's come to visit. When shall I tell her you'll be back?" he asked Vanna.

"Oh, for third meal," she said, sipping her drink with obvious pleasure. "I want to get the results from the DNA matching first. I hope to be able to confirm our first findings, that all the telepaths who contracted the mutated ni'uzu have had their Talents enhanced, and that these changes will be passed on to their children."

"Like us," said Kusac.

"Yes, and no," said Jack, moving round behind Kusac to take his stool. "You mixed Leskas are still unique. We think some of our Brotherhood members may just be genetically compatible with you, but we aren't sure, which is why we're running a second set of tests."

"As for all the other telepaths," said Vanna, "we know they're not genetically compatible with you at all. They're still normal Sholans."

"Father will be pleased to hear that news," said Kusac. "Have we heard anything from the Brotherhood yet? Have they had anyone else down with the virus?"

"I contacted Lijou," said Vanna, "and he says there are no more cases. Perhaps their isolation in the Dzahai Mountains has kept the virus away from them."

"They're not that isolated," said Kusac. "We know they have a fair turnover of personnel going in and out on active service, as well as several full telepaths who can't ever leave Stronghold."

"Perhaps it's taking longer to reach them," said Jack.

"Perhaps," agreed Vanna.

"I'll see you both later," said Kusac, turning to go.

* * *

"Vanna, lass," said Jack, coming over to join her at her desk. "The results have just come through."

Vanna looked up at him. "Great! Just in time. If we want to make third meal we'll have to leave in ten minutes. What's it say?"

"What we more or less expected. It's virtually the same as last time. There are some four or five of our Brotherhood friends who appear to be genetically compatible with the mixed Leskas. What's also interesting is this," he said, leaning over her to point to a section of text. "Seems we've got a couple of people here who're closely related."

Vanna frowned. "What do you mean? Who are they?" she asked, scanning back up to the top of the results. "No. They can't be," she said, looking up at him. "There's no way they're related."

Jack shrugged. "It's there in black and white, m'dear," he said. "You yourself told me he's been avoiding giving you a blood sample. I'd say that's why, wouldn't you?"

"Then he knows about this."

"Looks like it."

Vanna folded the paper over and put it down on her desk. "Gods! What do we do about it, Jack?"

"Only one thing you can do. Take his data out and make sure these results are erased. Just run a duplicate of our first program. Knowledge like this could cause them both a lot of trouble if it got into the wrong hands."

"Should I speak to him? And what about Kusac? He ought to know."

"Talk to Kaid, yes, but no one else, Vanna. The information we have is confidential, we can't go telling anyone else. You can suggest Kaid speak to Kusac, but that's all."

Vanna unfolded the results again, checked through them, then crumpled them into a ball. "Destroy them, Jack," she said, getting to her feet and handing him the ball. "Burn them. I'll see to the comm files now, I'm not leaving it till later. At least we're not linked into the main house comm yet. No one else could have seen this data. Let's keep it that way."

"Right, m'dear," nodded Jack, walking over to the sink. He put the paper down, then dug in his pocket for a lighter.

* * *

When Kusac had returned to the main house, Kaid excused himself to head off for a shower. He stood under the ceiling faucet, ears flattened back, face turned up to it, letting the water stream down over him while the lower jets sent their needles of pressurized water beating against him, massaging the tiredness out of his body. Tilting his head back, he smoothed his hair away from his ears and stretched a hand out for the container of soap.

At the same moment he realized it wasn't there, he sensed someone else in the room. Pulling his head away from the stream of water, he reached out and grabbed hold of the person, dragging them in beside him and flinging them flat against the back wall. His hand closed over the throat, claws out, his own body kept well back.

A definitely female Sholan shriek resulted, which he confirmed moments later when he'd dashed the water from his face with his free arm.

"Sashti! What the hell d'you think you're doing, creeping up on me like this?" he demanded, letting her go. "That's a good way to get yourself hurt!"

Sashti stood there, the water cascading over her shoulders turning her fur black. The bushy mane of hair was flattened now, clinging in long, wet strands to her face and shoulders, and she was laughing.

"I was going to offer to join you anyway," she said, one hand going to massage her neck, the other to push her hair aside so she could see him properly. "You've just made it more difficult for you to refuse now."

Kaid spotted the container of soap lying on the floor and stepped out of the shower to pick it up. "You're welcome to join me," he said, "but don't come in unannounced like that again. If it had been anywhere but here, where I know the security is tight, you might have found yourself getting hurt. Old habits die hard, Sashti, and I'm Warrior trained."

"I'll remember," she said, holding out her hand to him. "Give me the soap and I'll wash you first."

He handed her the container reluctantly. It had been a long time since he'd shared a shower.

"Turn round," she said, and as he did so, she began rubbing the soap into his back. "How's Carrie coming along?" she asked. "She seems a lot more mobile than I've seen her since the Challenge."

"She's doing fine," said Kaid. "The scars are healing without tightening the skin. I think you'll have to look really hard to find a scar in a few months' time."

"That's good. Without fur, a scar that would be invisible for us would show up quite badly against her bare skin."

He was beginning to feel uncomfortable under Sashti's ministrations. What should by rights have been a sisterly wash was beginning to turn into more as her touch across his shoulders and arms became lighter.

"You must work out every day to keep yourself in such good shape," she said, her voice sounding quietly in his ear as he felt her body touch his.

"I do," he said.

"I thought so." It was almost a purr as she stroked her hand across the back of his neck then turned him round to face her. "I've wanted to get to know you better." The soap container was forgotten as she ran her hands across his chest, down to his hips. "We've got a little time to ourselves now," she said, looking up at him. "No one else is coming for a shower before third meal."

He looked down into her brown eyes, trying not to see someone other than Sashti. She was beautiful, there was no doubt about that, and with a personality to match. Maybe Garras and Ghyan were right. Maybe she was what he needed, someone of his own age, not a skittish youngling. She was here, and she was asking for him.

He reached out for her, putting his hand behind her head and drawing her closer with his other arm. Her body pressed against his was warm, and as he laid his face against hers, her mouth closed on his cheek, nipping him gently.

His fingers clenched in her hair, and as he pulled her face away so he could reach her, he felt the first stirrings of desire. Leaning back against the shower wall, he drew her with him, his mouth reaching for hers, his teeth catching hold of her lip. As he moved on, alternately licking her cheek and nipping it gently, her hands began to slide lower. He could hear his heartbeat echoing inside his head, getting faster, more urgent. Then like a sudden deluge of cold water, he felt it begin to start again.

Pushing her away, he backed out of the shower, water dripping everywhere. "No," he said, his voice calmer than he felt. "I can't. I'm sorry, Sashti, it isn't you. It's me. I can't."

He turned, and grabbing his towel from the bench, bolted for the door to the massage room.

Hurriedly he wiped off the worst of the water before leaving, still rubbing himself dry as he went. In the privacy of his room, he leaned against the door, letting himself slide down it till he sat on the floor, his eyes closed.

Nothing had changed. He'd felt his control slip, but this time he'd recognized it for what it was, and thank the Gods, had been able to stop in time. Lifting his head, he took a deep breath, trying to control his heartbeat, slow it down to its normal rate. Now he knew for sure he could never be their third, could never pair with Carrie. He couldn't bear to see written on her face what he'd seen on Khemu's all those years ago, and for his own sake, too, he couldn't risk losing control. Another deep breath, then another, and he was ready to repeat the litanies that were his mainstay.

* * *

Vanna found her sister sitting in her lounge when she returned to the Aldatan household. "Hello there. Kusac said you were here," she said, going over to her and giving her a hug. "Are you staying tonight?"

"No, I don't think I will," said Sashti, returning the hug. "I want to get back. I saw Carrie and had a nice chat with her, and with Kusac." She leaned down and reached into her bag. "Here you are, the oil I promised you," she said. "Don't let Garras overuse it on you," she grinned, flicking her little sister's ears as she got up and moved toward the door. "I only waited to give you this and say good-bye."

"Thank you, Sashti," said Vanna, walking her to the door. "I wish you were staying."

"Next time," Sashti promised.

"I don't suppose you've seen Kaid, have you. I need to have a word with him?"

"Not recently," said Sashti, turning away from her. "I think I saw him heading for his room earlier. I'll see you next week, Vanna."

"Bye, Sashti." Vanna shut the door behind her, a slight frown on her face. She was concealing something, but what? She shrugged. It obviously wasn't important or she'd have told her.

She changed out of her work clothes, putting on something more casual, then headed downstairs to Kaid's room.

He took longer than usual to answer her knock.

"Could I come in a moment, Kaid? I need to have a word with you."

He hesitated, then opened the door. "Come in. I've been expecting you."

"We've just finished running DNA tests on our group here," she said carefully.

He turned away from her. "You know about Dzaka."

"I'm sorry, Kaid. It wasn't our intention to pry into your private life," she said sympathetically, aware of the slow movement of his tail tip. "I came to tell you that we've erased all the data pertaining to you. We'll rerun our original program again tomorrow and use that as our final result."

She saw his ears dip in thanks. "Who else knows?"

"Only myself and Jack. Not even Brynne will be able to find out."

He turned round to look at her again, reaching out to pick up an unopened pack of stim-twigs from his desk. Meticulously, he opened it, taking one out and putting the pack back down on his desk. "Dzaka doesn't know, and I want it kept that way." He put the end of the twig in his mouth.

"Of course, but I think you should tell Kusac. He ought to know about your true relationship."

"Why? What difference does it make to him that I'm Dzaka's biological father?"

"It could be relevant later."

"If he needs to know, I'll tell him, Vanna," he said, taking the twig out again.

"How did it happen, Kaid? How did you become his foster-father?"

"It happened just as I told Kusac. Garras and I found Dzaka abandoned in the dead of winter, outside Stronghold's gates. I knew the moment I picked him up that he was mine. Say it was blood calling to blood if you like, but I knew."

"Why? Why was he left there? What happened to his mother?" She found it beyond understanding. "To leave him there like that, how could she? He could have died!"

Her words hung in the air unanswered, then she realized that had been the intention. Kaid returned the stick to his mouth. "I'm sorry, Vanna, but that's my business, not yours."

"I shouldn't have asked," she murmured, still shocked at what had happened to Dzaka as a cub.

"I asked myself that for years, till I found the answer," he said quietly. "I think we should go in for third meal, don't you? Otherwise your worthy mate will start regarding me with suspicion."

She grunted derisively as she turned to leave.

* * *

After their meal was over, as everyone was drifting off either to the lounge or their rooms, Kaid felt a light touch on his shoulder. He turned round to see Kusac standing beside him.

"I need to talk to you, Kaid," he said. "Not here, though. Will you come to The Limping Jegget with me?"

"When?"

"Now. Carrie wants to rest so I've told her we're going out for an hour or two."

As they walked from the parking area outside Valsgarth into the town, Kusac could feel Kaid glancing at him out of the corner of his eye.

"What is it?" he asked, turning to look at him.

"I never put you down as the sort who'd go out in the evening for a drink," said Kaid.

Kusac grinned, a human grin, showing his teeth. "I do a lot of things now that I never did before. And do you know what? Life is sweeter for it!"

Kaid laughed. "I know what you mean."

They'd come in by the clothing quarter, and as they walked along the busy sidewalks, the color and noise of the night began to wash over them.

Most of the stores were still open, their doorways spilling golden light onto their path as they threaded their way among the late shoppers and the early evening revelers.

"Doesn't the noise get to you?" said Kaid curiously.

Kusac shook his head. "No, not really. I was trained to block it out as a cub. I had to," he said, stepping off the curb to make way for a group of Touibans who skittered by them trilling in their high-pitched voices. "My Talent started early and was strong even then."

Kaid reached out to pull him back onto the sidewalk as a Chemerian powered chair rushed past.

"Thanks. It's busy tonight."

"A bit," said Kaid. "There's a performance by the storyteller, Kaerdhu. That's probably attracting people into the town."

"Isn't he the one who started the new technique of using a group of people on stage with him to portray the story he's telling?"

"That's the one," said Kaid, as they turned into the entrance of the inn. "Seems to be catching on with his audiences. Apparently he's booked in at the Governor's Palace later this year. A charity performance to raise money for those left Clanless after the destruction of Szurtha and Khyaal."

"When? I'd like to take Carrie."

Kaid shouldered his way through the throng of people standing by the bar until he came to the back room— the less crowded area.

"Sometime in the next two months," he said, finally able to turn round. "I'll find out for you if you like. I would quite like to go myself. I've heard a lot about Kaerdhu but never seen him."

They went up to the counter, waiting for one of the harassed bar staff to serve them.

"Why don't we get a group together?" suggested Kusac. "I'm sure Vanna would enjoy it, and Garras. Jack would probably be interested as well."

"I'll contact the Entertainment Guild office tomorrow," said Kaid.

Finally, holding their drinks, they headed over to an empty booth. Once settled, Kusac made some more small talk until they were onto their second drink.

"When you were in the Brotherhood, you were a qualified lay-priest, weren't you?" he asked, idly playing with his glass.

Kaid looked surprised. "Yes, I was. We all did some time at Vartra's Retreat with the Head Priest, but I spent several tours as a lay-brother. Why?"

"You're our main bodyguard, Kaid. You need to know where we are and what we're doing," he said, keeping his eyes on his hands. "Under the old rules of En'Shalla, as you're a qualified lay-priest, I can tell you what I intend to do and ask you to be a witness to that intent."

"You're talking in riddles, Kusac," said Kaid. "What old rules are you talking about, and what're you planning to do?"

"Even though you're no longer a Brother, under the old rules governing the Priesthood of Vartra, you remain a lay-priest unless dismissed by the Head Priest of your Order. Were you dismissed by Lijou when you left the Brotherhood?" asked Kusac, looking up at him.

"Lijou had only just been appointed Head Priest then," said Kaid, pulling his stim-twig out of his pocket and beginning to chew the end thoughtfully. "No, I wasn't. What's this all leading up to? I might still have my lay-priest status, but..."

"Nothing else matters," said Kusac firmly. "If I tell you of my intention to follow one of the En'Shalla rituals, then you're a witness to the fact I intend to do it."

"Intent doesn't prove anything."

"In three days we have the All Guilds Council meeting. The day after tomorrow is our Link day," said Kusac. "Tomorrow I intend to take Carrie on an En'Shalla retreat for two days. I'll tell you where so you can satisfy your protective urges by keeping an eye on the area, but I want us left alone. I want you to confirm that we did go on retreat and remained there for two days. Will you do that for me?"

"Yes, but ..."

Kusac interrupted him again, locking eyes with him. "Carrie's fertile again, Kaid, for the first time since we lost our cub. She'll conceive on our Link day if we don't do it now. Neither of us wants to go through what happened last time. I swore then our next cub would be conceived when we chose, and would be an En'Shalla child."

Kaid nodded slowly, his eyes still held by Kusac's.

"Everything's been done the way the ritual is laid down." He broke the eye contact and grinned. "Collecting all that sweet-grass without coming home smelling of it was a job in itself!"

Kaid gave a faint grin. "I can imagine."

"So, now I've told you my intent, and as you'll be guarding the area, you can be a witness that we were in fact there for two days. That's all that's required under the old laws."

"Of course I'll be a witness to that, but why me, Kusac? Why not Ghyan? He's not only a priest but your friend."

"I'm telling you because we want you with us as our third when we walk the Fire Margins."

He watched Kaid's eyes widen with shock.

"I want you, but more importantly, so does Carrie," he said. "It's our choice. I don't care what anyone else has said about it, none of that mattered when we made our decision, least of all who had the favorite odds." He gave a half grin.

"You knew about that?"

"Of course we did! Will you do it for us?"

He looked away. "I can't, Kusac, and I can't tell you why."

"I don't care why you think you can't do it. I'm having to place our lives in the hands of a God I don't quite believe in. I want a male I can trust implicitly with us. I want ... We want you."

"You don't understand ..."

"I don't need to understand!" he said forcefully, reaching out to cover Kaid's hand with his. "You and Carrie have a rapport of some kind, I know that, I can feel it. Trust it, Kaid, as we trust you. I don't know why you say you can't, but surely you can work it out between now and when we decide to go."

"When's that?"

Kusac shrugged. "When the God tells us," he said with a wry smile. "Will you come?"

The silence lengthened until Kaid's hand began to move underneath his, turning over so it clasped his. "I'll go if the God calls me. I can't say fairer than that."

Kusac's hand tightened briefly round Kaid's before he let him go. "Thank you, Kaid. Now I know you'll be with us."

"I didn't promise!"

"Trust your God, Kaid, that's what you told me. He's got work for you, for us. Changing our world, you said. Did you really think He'd leave you out of the center of the picture?"

"No, I have to admit I didn't."