She stopped for a moment to watch properly, rising up on her haunches to get a better view. Reshaping of buildings didn’t happen that often, but when it did, whether by her people or theirs, it never failed to entrance her and fill her with a sense of wonder. Gradually the blurring decreased and the outline became more pronounced until, minutes later, the basic reshaping had been completed. This was only the first level of changes, there was more still to be done as the design was strengthened and refined.
Remembering her meeting with Azwokkuss, she dropped down to the ground again and hurried toward the moving walkway.
She arrived at the Council chamber refectory panting slightly, and hurriedly threaded her way between the other diners and through the ornamental greenery and water features till she saw Azwokkuss at their usual table.
“Apologies,” she said, flopping down onto the cushions at her side of the low eating table. “Were reshaping the Assembly House for summer. I had to watch.”
The TeLaxaudin nodded, his eyes glowing as the lenses spun and adjusted themselves to close vision. His mandibles clicked gently and he began to hum. “Never can you resist watching,” he said. “I know this.”
As she composed herself more comfortably, a bronze-colored arm as thin as a twig pushed a plate of assorted salad toward her, followed by a divided dish filled with other delicacies.
Her long snout began to quiver as the delicate scent of the rare mushrooms and the bittersweet vegetables wafted up to her.
“Azwokkuss, is real treat,” she said, top lip curling back in a smile. Her colleague had chosen all her favorite foods. “Thank you.” She reached into the dish for a slice of mushroom. “Is too expensive.”
The TeLaxaudin watched her eat it daintily and with obvious pleasure before reaching into his own bowl for one of the fried insects he enjoyed. He peeled it carefully, dropping its chitinous covering into the side bowl he’d been provided with for that purpose.
“We eat well now, enjoy now, as no knowing how Council meeting will go yet. Potentialities being read at moment.” One elegant hand waved toward his right where a group of TeLaxaudin sat deep in discussion. “Hkairass and Isolationists plot already.”
She sighed. “How long before he starts change? Then we get few years peace at least!”
Azwokkuss’ humming had an unmistakable chuckle to it. “Irreverent female! Gender change not matter of humor, very serious.”
“Maybe motherhood makes him tolerable, sweetens disposition,” she retorted, eyes twinkling as she helped herself to the salad.
Mandibles trembling, Azwokkuss laughed in his own peculiar way. “Maybe,” he agreed. “But sadly more like him to take his place.”
“Are more of us, and every time he fights us in Council, more commit to our view,” she said. “Today important, Annuur will talk of debt we owe Child race, that their trust of us abused by likes of Hkairass.”
The oval bronze head bobbed in agreement. “I know. Keep fine speech for him in Camarilla Council meeting.”
Her short ears drooped a little. “I find difficult to deal with Hkairass in Council. He intimidates me,” she admitted.
“Does it purposely,” Azwokkuss replied, reaching out to push her bowl of delicacies closer. “You young, depends on it. At home, you rule one hundred of your people. Are you not Phratry Leader, equal to him? Let him not do this, then he will stop.”
Shvosi smiled and took a handful of sliced red peppery vegetables. “Easy to say. Today he wears the reds and yellows of determination, as well as exuding the scents to match.”
“Gives too much away. I wear blues and lilacs of tranquillity for me, not to show others. Say to Hkairass you sit on him if upset you,” he advised, nibbling the last of his food.
She looked at him in shock.
“It squash him if you sit on him,” he elaborated, mandibles quivering in amusement. “Think it in mind when he at full flow. Flat TeLaxaudin no menace to you.”
She laughed.
“You not alone today. I there in Unity with you, also Kuvaa, and Khassiss moves nearer our beliefs every time it comes up. Female TeLaxaudin opinions carry great weight with us as are older, more experienced. Also others of our belief will vote our way.” He picked up his bowl of fruit-flavored water and gently lapped at it.
“I know,” she began as through Unity they all heard the call to gather in the Council chamber.
Skepp Lord Hkairass has a matter to Speak on that needs urgent discussion before the session involving Phratry Leader Annuur.
Hurriedly, she snatched the last of her delicacies up and stuffed them into her mouth, chewing furiously.
“You choke,” he warned. “Got time. No can begin till all there.”
“Being late won’t help,” she mumbled, swallowing her food down then picking up her own drink and lapping furiously at it.
“How is . . . ?”
“Annuur fine,” he said. “Took Tirak to him yesterday.” The mandibles quivered again. “Payment for causing so much trouble to us in Camarilla.”
She laughed as she shuffled back from the table then dropped down onto her hoof-tipped forelimbs. “Was evil! Explanations would be demanded.”
“Yes,” agreed Azwokkuss cheerfully as he got to his feet. “Was point. Tirak will forget when all Children are processed anyway. Annuur will not, maybe teach him circumspection.”
She was still chuckling at the thought as they made their way into the arboretum that was the Camarilla’s Council chamber.
When they were all gathered and settled on the various cushions and low seats, Khassiss made her way up the pathway to the Speaker’s dais.
“We meet to discuss matters pertaining to Annuur’s case before he accounts for himself,” she said. “Hkairass asks to Speak first.” The female TeLaxaudin moved to one side, settling herself down on a low seat to arbitrate in the proceedings.
Hkairass stalked down the path, draperies moving constantly round him, leaving a not so subtle trail of determination scent behind him. He was making sure the whole Camarilla knew his mind on this matter, even though they were already aware of it through Unity.
He faced them all, and mandibles clicking, his humming a sharp, almost dissonant sound, began to speak.
“Latest actions of Annuur only highlight . . .” he began
“Phratry Leader Annuur,” interrupted Kuvaa, rising up on her haunches. “Do not disrespect him, Hkairass. He is Leader of one hundred Phratrys, a Camarilla member in the field.” She emphasized the last three words.
“His rank is known, Phratry Leader Kuvaa,” said Khassiss, “Our thanks for reminder.”
From the convulsive movements of his mandibles, it was obvious the look Hkairass shot Kuvaa was one of pure dislike.
“Latest actions of Phratry Leader Annuur only highlight dangers of contact with younger races,” he continued. “Phratry Leader Annuur put concerns for Children before orders from Camarilla. Actions endangered us all.”
“That matter waits till Phratry Leader Annuur is with us,” interrupted Khassiss firmly.
“He should be fetched now to answer this,” said a younger TeLaxaudin from the floor.
“Soon, Zaimiss,” said Khassiss. “This discussion first. Keep to topic, Skepp Lord Hkairass.”
“Isolationists do not support any intervention in affairs of younger races,” said Hkairass. “If no intervention, no need of agents in the field, then disasters like this not happen.”
Azwokkuss unfolded himself and rose to his feet. “If no intervention, tell us what use is Camarilla?” he asked, then sat down.
“To protect ourselves,” said Hkairass, looking round the hundred or so people gathered in the hall. “We are Oldest, have seen many younger species rise and fall in our time. None advanced to any degree worth discussing. All fell because of war or stagnation. We survived, have wisdom, knowledge, Unity, a harmonious existence. No need to interfere in their self-destruction. No benefit to us doing that, only expenditure of people and energy. We say w
ithdraw from younger races’ conflicts, open gateway and move our world far beyond them.”
A shocked murmur of voices spread throughout the Council chamber. It was Khassiss who voiced what was in all their minds.
“Is only theory this is possible. Energy required even attempting it would destroy our sun.”
“Calculations have been checked many times by us,” said Hkairass, turning to look at her. “Is more than theory, is reality.”
“Those calculations done only for extreme solution in time of dire emergency,” said Azwokkuss, shocked at his suggestion. “No such emergency faces us now.”
“The potentialities show the probability of a sand-dweller reunification with disastrous consequences we keep being told,” said Hkairass. “We offer alternate solution to interference. One where no agents in field to risk our discovery by going native and favoring others before Camarilla.”
“Going native!” exclaimed Kuvaa, getting up again. “Who has gone native, as you put it?”
“Obvious it is Phratry Leader Annuur,” said Hkairass. “No TeLaxaudin ever swayed by another species into betraying us.”
Shvosi had been listening to Hkairass with growing anger. This second insult was enough. “Why speak of betrayal?” she demanded, leaping upright, her snout quivering in indignation. “Our Phratry Leader has not betrayed anyone! You and Isolationists betray other species constantly, particularly our Children!”
“I deny we have responsibility for any but ourselves,” retorted the TeLaxaudin, eyes swirling and mandibles clicking angrily against each other.
Aizshuss stood. “We have responsibility for our Children. You have. Does your Skepp not make use of them as employees like everyone here? Do you not rely on them for things physically beyond us?”
“We saved them from extinction hundreds of millennia ago. They owe us!” he retorted.
“They owe us for breeding Sholan stock into them? They owe us for bringing those living here from their world to serve us? For isolating them from their kind? Strange debt!” said Aizshuss bitingly, sitting down.
“We recompense them!”
“Have you spoken with Children, Hkairass?” asked Kuvaa silkily. “Or are they beneath noticing by Isolationists?”
“They not our equals,” said Zaimiss, getting up. “Are mere workers. You do not notice insects that pollinate flowers, why notice them?”
“Without insects, no crops,” snarled Shvosi, rising again. “You made Children, but we saved them from solar flare when Isolationists in majority and too busy causing friction in Camarilla for disaster to be noticed! I say Children give more to us than you!”
“Phratry Leader Shvosi!” rebuked Khassiss. “Insults not allowed here.”
Shvosi dipped her head in contrition to the female TeLaxaudin, but remained unrepentant. She turned to look at the whole gathering, throwing her forelimbs wide in appeal. “See what Isolationists do? They divide us! They offer nothing but criticisms of any but their own kind, and mad schemes to destroy the sun and us in attempt to move Ghioass!”
Hkairass looked at Khassiss for support but none was forthcoming. “Skepp Lady,” he appealed.
She stirred and looked up at him. “Sadly, Phratry Leader Shvosi is correct. Cannot remember your last positive input to Camarilla sessions, Hkairass.”
Watch Isolationists all crawl to bushes now, Azwokkuss sent to Shvosi.
“What of Reformers?” Hkairass countered. “Always they apologize for agents’ misdemeanors. Reality is agents go native. Working with other species corrupts them, makes them put others before us! The younger species drag us down to their level by contamination!”
“You discredit agents and younger species,” said Azwokkuss. “Forget they live in situations we only see through watching potentialities. They actually influence and change situations so best possible future can evolve. Forget historically that we protect younger species!”
“Camarilla started to protect us!” said Shumass, standing briefly.
“Was it?” asked Aizshuss gently. “I ask Unity to provide the answer from our records.”
“Do it,” ordered Khassiss. “We will hold this discussion for answer.”
Hkairass began to hum angrily.
“Will have you removed if continue,” Khassiss warned him.
He stopped abruptly and folded himself into a sitting position on the floor, obviously in a huff at her censure.
Unity records the first meeting of Camarilla held because of concern at destruction of three younger worlds in war over misunderstanding. Conflict avoidable if neutral party had arbitrated. Decision made unilaterally to see this not happen again.
Khassiss stood and addressed the gathering. “Unity cannot lie. Is clear what original purpose of Camarilla was—to protect younger species from themselves.”
“Hkairass has had his say,” said Azwokkuss, standing up. “I wish to Speak now.”
Khassiss looked at Hkairass. “Step down, Skepp Lord,” she said in a tone that brooked no argument.
Hkairass rose to his feet and stalked back to his place. As he passed Azwokkuss, he pointedly ignored him.
“I Speak for the younger races and our agents,” said Azwokkuss when he was standing on the Speaker’s dais. “Have two choices before us. We ignore them and isolate ourselves—I not advocate trying to move Ghioass through gateway to another part of galaxy. Erecting a stronger energy nimbus than currently used is enough to conceal this world. Other choice is admit we belong to same space as younger races and work to avert disasters affecting us all—like current one involving possible reunification of remaining three sand-dweller worlds.”
“Are risks,” said Htomshu, one of the moderate TeLaxaudin females, getting to her feet. “Discovery of what we are and do not wanted by any of us. Are vulnerable if attacked. Have technology to defend ourselves, but not physical form.” She sat down again.
Azwokkuss nodded. “True. But we have our Children. We have the Prime sand-dwellers. They will come to our aid. When they come, the hunters and their Alliance will come. We have allies among younger races. By aiding them, they do not weaken us, we strengthen each other. One day, they will sit with us in Camarilla, enrich us with their talents as Cabbarans do. This what Reformists believe.”
Kuvaa rose up to speak. “Also believe time to admit debt we owe them, especially Children here. We rely on them, trust them with our lives and property, yet they have no status. Cannot vote at elections of Assembly, cannot sit on Assembly, yet Assembly decisions on Ghioass affect them as much as us.”
“Decision on citizenship of Children not ours to make,” said Khassiss. “Must be made by Assembly who govern Ghioass.”
“Recommendation from us would carry enormous weight. Guarantee success,” observed Aizshuss. “I Speak for it.”
“Is insanity to suggest it!” said Hkairass, angrily getting up.
“Sit down, Skepp Lord. Your views made clear already,” ordered Khassiss. “Two issues to vote on, then. Hkairass Spoke for Isolationists, for using sun’s energy to open gateway and move Ghioass. Because so serious matter, I ask those in agreement, please stand.”
There was silence as everyone looked at each other, waiting to see who would stand with Hkairass. Hesitantly, only Zaimiss got to his feet.
Two for the motion, said Unity. No abstentions.
“Let Unity record only two for motion and that it failed. Next issue is recommendation that Children be granted citizenship by Assembly. Again, those in agreement, please stand.”
This time, throughout the chamber, people began to slowly get to their feet. In the main, it was the Cabbarans, but there was a good smattering of TeLaxaudin, too.
Majority of five, Unity informed them. No abstentions.
“Let Unity record this motion is passed by a majority of five,” said Khassiss, “and let Unity now inform the Assembly of our decision.”
The Assembly has been informed.
With a sigh of relief, Shvosi dropped down to her cushion.
We won, she sent to Azwokkuss and Kuvaa.
Forty-five remain to be convinced, replied Kuvaa.
Is more than a beginning this time, sent Azwokkuss. You did well, Shvosi. The next session will not be so bad now you’ve countered Hkairass successfully once.
“We will suspend this session for an hour then reconvene to examine Phratry Leader Annuur,” said Khassiss.
“You can relax for a while,” said Kuvaa, patting her on the shoulder. “The vote surprised me, Azwokkuss.”
The TeLaxaudin hummed gently. “Time is right for change. Hkairass’ mad suggestion frightened many—me included,” he said frankly. “It only served to aid us.”
When Annuur next woke, it was midafternoon. On the floor at the side of his bed, Naacha lay curled up on one of the formfitting heated pads developed for the Primes. Naacha stirred, beginning to sit up on his haunches. Immediately, Annuur felt Unity return and knew that the mystic had stayed by his side during the last day, refusing to move, while the other two took it in turns to keep guard outside his door.
Why? What would I need guarding from here? he sent.
From Camarilla interference before you’re fully healed.
Reaching out along the mental network of his sept, he found access beyond blocked by Naacha. Reluctantly his navigator let the protective barrier drop and Annuur was once more part of the Unity of the Camarilla.
Unity was maintained by a combination of the Cabbaran mystics and the technology of the TeLaxaudin. It was a mental communication and data network that allowed the two species to work together at the speed of thought, and to extend their reach far beyond what was physically possible. For Cabbarans like Annuur, it enhanced their natural abilities, allowing them the skills of their mystics. For the TeLaxaudin, it gave them through technology a form of the abilities they lacked.
His first priority was to update himself on the current situation with the Alliance and the M’zullians, but he’d no sooner begun than he sensed Shvosi.
Between Darkness and Light Page 3
