“Didn’t catch that last remark, Dzaou,” said Banner’s voice inside his helmet. “Please repeat it.”
With a low growl, he screwed the paper up and tossed it aside, aiming a vicious kick at the rubbish.
“I said, repeat your last message, Dzaou.”
“Nothing, Lieutenant,” he said, trying to keep his snarl of anger out of his voice. “I tripped over a pile of wreckage, that’s all.”
“Copy that. Report to your next location. Zhalmo’s team is waiting for you.”
That evening
Kusac came round slowly. Despite his muzzy and sore head, he knew something was wrong. Remaining still, he checked that his mental shields were still intact. Finding they were, and none of his alarms were going off, meant he wasn’t actually in danger.
The sound of someone’s quiet breathing, and a scent—Banner’s—told him he wasn’t alone. Letting himself come to full wakefulness and extending his senses brought the final pieces of information. He’d been drugged, by Banner, probably with half the normal dose from a trank capsule, and he was lying on an unfamiliar bed with his wrists bound—lightly—to the bed frame. He could almost feel his body working hard to process and purge the drug, but not fast enough for him. Even as he thought it, he felt the process start to speed up, triggering his adrenaline levels among other things. With a detached curiosity, he realized he’d only been out cold for fifteen minutes, half the time expected for a dose that size.
Even as he cursed himself for getting caught like this, he was reaching out mentally to read Banner’s surface thoughts. He felt his heart rate and breathing begin to increase and his head began to clear. Time to admit to being awake, before his Second noticed it for himself.
By now he’d recognized where he was—the bedroom of the suite attached to their temple. Originally it had been provided as living quarters for the four Valtegan priests serving the temple, but although the rooms had been opened up and fitted out, they were unused.
Banner was sitting on the chair beside the bed opposite reading something on his comp pad.
“Is this your idea of a joke, Banner?” he asked quietly, resisting the temptation to test the strength of the knots on the bonds.
Banner looked up, his surprise hidden by the time their eyes met. “It’s no joke, Kusac,” he said quietly, putting his comp pad away. “Believe me, it’s no joke. I’ve done this to draw your attention to how far you’ve let yourself slip since we got here.”
His Second got up, and lifting the chair, brought it over to sit closer to him.
Kusac measured the distance between them.
Banner smiled gently and shook his head. “You can’t reach me with your feet. I’ll let you go as soon as you’ve heard me out, don’t worry. This isn’t some kind of takeover of your authority, I’m doing it as a friend.”
That explained why he’d used a trank—it was known to make the recipient amenable. He didn’t feel like being that cooperative, especially when he’d been hijacked like this, but he’d better try to play out the part he’d been given.
“I’m listening,” he said, moving his wrists as if to ease them. No give there, and the rope was the fine, silken Brotherhood one, nearly impossible to break.
The muzziness had gone completely now, but he was still left with the feeling of being distanced from everything and everyone but the Doctor that built up in him in the days between his encounters with Zayshul.
“As I said, you’ve let yourself slip, Kusac. I couldn’t have managed to drug you like this when we first arrived here. If I can do it, anyone can.”
He was about to ask how he’d accomplished it when the knowledge came to him—a poison ring with a small extending needle as the delivery system. The Brotherhood manufactured and carried a few of them for its agents, but it wasn’t regular issue. It must have been something Banner had brought along himself. Slowly he moved the wrist farthest from Banner, making the bonds taut, then began to rub them slowly up and down the edge of the frame.
“You’re my Second in Command, I shouldn’t need to keep watching you over my shoulder. I should be able to trust you,” he said.
“That’s my point,” said Banner, leaning forward slightly. “Maybe now you feel a little of what I’ve felt over the last three months. Three out of every five days it’s as if you are off on another world. Everyone’s noticed it, not just me. They look to me for an explanation and I’ve none to give them. Khadui suggested it was almost as if you were drugged. I put his mind at rest, but I took the liberty of taking a blood sample from you in case you are being drugged and know nothing about it.” He hesitated. “I take it you haven’t a dependence on any medication you’ve used here?”
Every five days! That was the same pattern as a Leska Link dependency! He felt himself about to break out in a cold sweat until he remembered that they had set this time limit themselves to lessen the risk of being caught.
“I’m not taking any meds right now. Put the sample in the med kit analyzer, did you? You’ll be unable to make sense of it,” he said confidently. “Neither you nor it knows what you’re looking at in gene-altered blood, never mind finding something foreign.”
“We’ll see. I’m a good enough empath to know that there’s a lot going on that you’re keeping to yourself. I’m worried about you, Kusac, worried about the amount of stress you’re under. You’re piling up extra grief for yourself when we get home the way you’re so possessive about Shaidan.”
“I’ve brought Shaidan to eat with us for the last few days, Banner, and taken him to the gym afterward to play or train with all of us. I can’t do any more. Remember it’s Kezule who makes the decisions about the cub, not me.” He tried not to let his anger at that show in his voice. “Try asking him, you’ll see that he’ll only allow Shaidan to be alone with me.”
Banner sighed, and he could feel that his Second was aware of this, but hoped that Kusac hadn’t been.
“It comes down to trust, Kusac. You expect me to trust you, but you refuse to give me the same level of trust. You’re letting yourself and the Brotherhood down, as well as insulting me by your attitude. I have no idea what your real agenda here is because you tell me what you think I want to hear, then do your own thing. You know very well that only the rawest of recruits believe they can handle everything themselves. For Vartra’s sake, show me some trust and let me help you in whatever you’re trying to do!”
Banner’s very real concerns were beginning to penetrate the daze he felt surrounded him, and he knew that his Second had made some valid points.
“If you don’t start trusting me, Kusac, you may wake up one morning to find your sorry ass back on Shola because I’ve drugged you and put you in cryo as mentally unfit to lead us!”
There was a hardness in the other’s tone he’d never heard directed at him before and he realized he needed to take him very seriously right now.
“You were right about me using subliminals and voice commands on the M’zullians,” he said abruptly. This he could now tell Banner because it no longer mattered. “I was trying to subvert them away from Kezule so they saw us as their natural superiors. I thought it might be of use to us at some point. Only they went and blew it during the hunt.” The cord round his wrist was getting hot now because of the friction, and cutting into his wrist, but he felt a few strands begin to give.
Banner nodded. “I thought that might be the case. Why didn’t you tell me at the time?”
“I didn’t know if it would work, and the skills I used none of you have. They’re advanced ones in either AlRel or the Brotherhood. You couldn’t have been of help for that.” His brain was ticking over at high speed trying to think up other plausible reasons for keeping him at a distance, and continuing to do so.
“At least I would have known you were planning ahead. Right now it seems all you’re doing is living from day to day!”
“Did you read that file on the Valtegan Queen yet?” he asked.
“Not yet. Jayza got to it first.
It was only made available yesterday. Why?”
“Then you don’t know that some Valtegan females were telepaths. Zayshul is one.”
“Excuse me?”
He chuckled at the sound of disbelief in the other’s voice. “You heard. Zayshul and some of the other females in Kezule’s original group are telepaths. They don’t yet know it in most cases, but Zayshul does. Shaidan told her.”
Stunned, Banner sat back in his chair. “Tell me this isn’t true.” “It’s true, and Kezule isn’t exactly happy about it either. He’s wearing a small psi damper these days. What does concern you, though, is the fact I have to work with her every day. The time will soon come when she figures out how to read people for herself. When that happens, I want as few of you knowing any of my plans as possible. She can’t read me because my mental shields are still too strong.” He was almost through the rope now.
“When did you find this out?” Banner asked. “This changes things.”
“I suspected it quite a while ago. Some of the Ch’almuthians are also telepaths. M’zayash was.”
“Who else among the Primes is a telepath?”
“Shaidan’s going to make me a list.”
“Shaidan’s helping you? I thought he was still programmed.”
“That’s something else none of you can do—help him to help himself break the programming,” he said softly. “I have been busy, Banner, I just can’t tell you most of what I’m doing.”
“Aren’t you afraid Zayshul or one of the others will find this out from me and put the cub in danger?”
Kusac flicked his ears in a shrug. “No. Zayshul knows what I’m doing because she’s the one who started it.” The rope finally snapped and he prayed Banner hadn’t heard it. “My agenda is the same as it always was—do what it takes to get Shaidan back. We should be finished here in less than nine or ten weeks, maybe sooner if I can persuade Kezule to let us go early. I was thinking of asking him to let you go in a couple of weeks and Shaidan and I will follow when we’re done here.”
“No,” said Banner unequivocally. “Kaid asked me to look out for you and I swore that I would. I’m not leaving you here.”
That surprised him. “When did Kaid ask you to do that?”
“Some time ago,” Banner said evasively. “But the only way I’m leaving here without you is in a body bag.”
Damn! “That’s unlikely,” he said, deciding he’d had enough of this. Rolling over and sitting up, he began untying his other hand. “Have you covered everything you wanted to say? Do you now appreciate why I need to keep my own counsel in a lot of matters?” he asked, never taking his eyes off him.
There was slight look of apprehension in the set of Banner’s ears as Kusac finally handed him the pieces of rope.
“Yes, if you’ll give your word you’ll show me some trust from now on by telling me as much as you can,” his Second said. “You know, you shouldn’t have been able to do that,” he said, looking at the raw edges of the piece Kusac had sawed through.
“I get told that a lot,” said Kusac dryly. “I’ll tell you everything I can, Banner. You have my word on that. It isn’t that I don’t trust you, it’s that I don’t trust anyone else around here. And you’d never get away with putting me in cryo until we leave here, you know. Neither Kezule nor Doctor Zayshul would let you do it without their own medical staff examining me because it’s my skills from AlRel he needs most.”
“Worth a try, though,” said Banner with a faint grin. “Try to remember we’re a team, Kusac, both working on the same side. I expect you to let me help when you can.”
“I will,” he said, standing up and putting his hand on the other’s shoulder in a friendly gesture.
Then he tightened his grip so his claws penetrated Banner’s tunic till they just touched the flesh below. “But don’t you ever do this to me again.” Purposely he made his tone harsh. “I do know what I’m doing, and though this might be my first Brotherhood command, I’ve held an equal responsibility on many AlRel missions that you know nothing about. And I suggest you read up sometime on what I was involved in on Keiss when I met Carrie.” He let his Second go. “Now I suggest we go and get first meal before they stop serving it.”
As Kusac released him, Banner put the pieces of cord in his pocket and got to his feet, returning the chair. “Kusac, don’t underestimate me, either,” he said quietly. “While you were still training in the Telepath Guild, I had graduated from the Brotherhood and was out on active duty.”
He looked back over his shoulder at the black-pelted male. “I won’t, believe me,” he said softly, knowing that until now, he had.
CHAPTER 15
Zhal-Mellasha 1st day, Month of Spring (February)
NEXT morning, Carrie called the Touiban Speaker and asked for a meeting.
“Of a certainty it will be most pleasurable to be meeting with you,” said Toueesut in his pleasant, fluting voice. “Today the weather is too severe with this storm and the snow falling to go to the monastery and be working, and not even at the hall is it warm enough. This is an excellent day for staying in the home and being with friends. Please to come over to us at our most well appointed dwelling as our ladies will enjoy their entertaining of you.”
“Thank you, Toueesut,” she said, blinking slightly at the out-pouring of words from the small alien. “We’ll be over in about ten minutes.” In the background she could hear the excited trilling of the other eleven members of his swarm.
“Looking forward to that we will be,” assured the Touiban before he closed the connection.
They felt almost cocooned and isolated from the rest of the world by the snow swirling around them as they walked down the main street. A sudden gust of wind whipped by them, making Carrie stagger and slip. She clutched wildly at Kaid for support. His arm was there instantly, steadying her as he murmured reassurances.
“I don’t know how you manage to keep your footing in this,” she said, her breath forming puffs of white vapor. “I can barely do it and my boots are designed for arctic conditions.”
Kaid chuckled. “Maybe, but our feet evolved for this climate. Our pelts grow longer, especially on our feet, keeping us warm, and our claws give us a good grip.”
She grunted, glad that the porch lights for the Touibans’ house were now visible. “Just don’t come to bed with freezing feet!”
He laughed, reaching up to ruffle her hair as they turned onto the path up to the door.
The door opened almost immediately, spilling warmth and golden light into the gray morning.
“Greetings and enter please before you turn into one of the people of snow that the young ones here so delight in shaping!” said Toueesut.
The hallway was redolent with the scent of winter spices and pine resins as two or three of the other Touibans clustered round them, helping them take off their heavy coats, and in Carrie’s case, boots.
“Come, come,” urged one, taking Carrie by the hand and gently tugging her toward an inner room.
The hand that touched hers was hard and callused, the fingers never still as they beat a gentle tattoo against her palm.
“I’m coming,” she said, luxuriating in the feel of the deep pile carpet under her stockinged feet.
She’d never been in their house before and the opulence of their main room stunned her. Even Kaid seemed a little overwhelmed.
The first thing that struck her was the aroma. Here the incense and lightly perfumed oils that had gently scented the hallway were much stronger. She looked around, spotting the tall tables at each corner of the room from which the scents were coming. On them, in front of gold-colored statuettes, sticks of incense and bowls of scented oils burned.
For the rest of the room, there was almost too much opulence to take in as she was drawn across a floor scattered with luxurious animal hides and plush woven rugs to a low table. Large, soft cushions were spread around both sides of the table and it was on these that they were invited to sit.
As their host�
�or hostess, she could never tell them apart—disappeared into a huddle with Toueesut and several others by the doorway, she continued looking around. Each wall was covered with hangings, decorated not just by the weaving, but by rich jewel-colored embroidery and tiny inset reflective disks that glinted in the light reflected from the candles that burned in holders set on any available flat surface.
From the ceiling, fine, almost transparent material was looped and draped until it gave the impression that the room was actually a fabulous tent. Although the overhead lighting was on, it was diffused by the fabric into a warm glow that the candles accentuated. The large window was partially hidden behind more of the fine drapery but the light it shed into the room was softened.
They’re desert tent dwellers, Kaid sent to her. This is not that different from the tents of our own tribes out in the Ghuulgul desert.
Everywhere there was the glint of golden knickknacks and utensils; large urnlike containers stood on the floor on either side of the doorway, a delicate drinking set with various bowls was displayed on the sideboard, and gold inlays glittered on the low table and in the fringing of the cushions.
“My, you have made a difference,” Carrie said, turning her gaze back to the door where the equally flamboyant Touiban now stood alone.
“It is becoming more like the homes our ladies expect,” Toueesut agreed. His face split into a conspiratorial grin and he danced closer to them, stopping briefly to crouch down, his hands folding so that his knuckles touched the ground to give him balance. “This is not what we males would choose, too many ornaments and candles there are but this is also our turn of the year time, which we celebrate for forty days, so we needs must let them have their way.”
Looking over his shoulder, he gave a self-satisfied nod and lowered himself onto a cushion, arranging himself in a comfortable cross-legged position.
“Drinks and agreeable little comfits are being prepared for your delectation,” he said, then grinned broadly, his bristling mustache twitching almost independently of him. “Yes, we can sit still, Carrie.”
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