fortuneswheel

by Lisanne Norman

  As one, they began to move again, bowing and nodding to her while apologizing vociferously in their fluting voices. Then as quickly as they’d mobbed her, they were gone, leaving a cloud of sharply scented air behind them.

  Kusac sneezed loudly, followed by Meral and Kaid. Even Carrie felt her eyes begin to water and her nose smart until the storekeeper pulled out a bottle from under his counter and sprayed the air liberally.

  “Thank you,” said Kusac, his nose twitching as he tried not to give in to a second sneeze. He lost the battle.

  “Being popular with the Touibans can have its disadvantages,” the jeweler said. “Their scent will be neutralized in a few moments. Don’t let it drive you from my store. I’ve many lovely pieces for you to consider, especially some delicate enough even for your Leska, Liegen Aldatan.”

  Sure enough, the air was beginning to clear.

  “What on earth was that all about?” asked Carrie, watching the motley colored group as they scuttled off down the street.

  “Touibans,” said Kusac. “The last members of the Alliance. You’ve met us all now. They’re insatiably curious beings, wonderful with electronics. Nearly all the computers we use were at least partially designed by them.”

  “What was that smell they left behind?”

  “An apology scent. They communicate almost as much by scent as by words. I told them that you were the Ambassador of a new species and deserved at the least the honor accorded to the Leader of a Hundred Swarms. That’s why they disappeared so fast,” he grinned. “It can be intimidating to be surrounded by a group of them, but the ones you’re likely to meet are harmless.”

  “Do they always go around in groups?”

  “Yes. They’re a breeding unit, a small clan if you like, but their females don’t leave the home worlds.”

  Carrie shook her head slowly and turned away from the doorway. “Strange,” she said.

  She wandered round, leaving the males to look at various arm and wrist bracelets. Several pieces took her fancy even though the style tended to be on the chunky side for her because of the larger size of Sholan wrists.

  Kusac, what do you do for money here?

  He looked up from where he stood at the counter talking to the trader.

  What do you mean? he asked.

  What do I use for money?

  If you want something, I’ll get it for you, he sent.

  That’s not what I mean. How do I go about getting some money of my own? How do I earn some?

  Ah, I see what you mean. I should’ve thought to tell you sooner. When we became Leskas, you were automatically recruited into the Forces with me. They’ll be paying you wages, too.

  But I’m not doing anything for them.

  We’re here at the Guild on their orders. I’ll check with the commerce center later. There should be an account in your name by now, probably with quite a tidy sum in it. Are you wanting to buy something?

  I want to get something for you.

  “What?” he asked, surprised, as she joined him at the counter.

  “I’d like to get you another torc.”

  He looked down at her, putting an arm round her shoulders. “That’s a nice thought,” he said, “but it isn’t necessary.”

  “I thought I was beginning to make sense of the memories I inherited from you,” she said. “Isn’t it the right thing to do since you’ve given me yours?” she asked.

  “Well, yes,” he admitted. “Torcs are usually exchanged, but there’s no need for you to get me one. It isn’t necessary for me to wear a torc.”

  Why did you give me your torc, Kusac? came her thought. Why is it important that I wear it?

  Kusac was startled. He hadn’t anticipated her question and had no ready answer.

  Carrie let herself be drawn by him to the rear of the store, away from the interested owner and the other customers.

  Circumstances forced me to give you my torc sooner than I wished. I wanted to ask you first, but at least I did make sure you were willing to wear it, and that you actually took it from me.

  What circumstances, and why was it important that I took it from you? You aren’t making much sense, Kusac, she sent, turning round to look at him. And what’s happened again?

  With you and me, nothing happens the way I want it, he replied with a sigh. That’s what’s happened again. The circumstances were my mother’s unexpected arrival.

  He put his hands up to gently hold either side of her face. I intended to ask you before we met my family so that if you were willing, you’d be wearing my torc then. The right moment has never arrived, and I think with us, never will. His mouth opened slightly and his lips curved up in an almost human grin.

  Kusac…

  Hush, let me finish. When I gave you my torc, I couldn’t tell you that it was a betrothal gift. There wasn’t time. It was more important that I was the one to tell my mother you were Terran, and that she knew how I felt about you from the start. You had to be wearing my torc when she met you for the first time. The night we became lovers, you asked me what kind of life I wanted for us. I said then I wanted you beside me always. I meant it, they weren’t just idle words, cub. This is hardly an appropriate place to ask you, but will you take the life-oath with me and become my mate?

  She could sense his hopes and fears for the future, and with it his uncertainty that she would accept him.

  I wasn’t trying to mislead you by not telling you its importance before now, he sent anxiously. I was trying to protect you. I intended to ask you tonight.

  Are you sure that’s what you want? she asked, aware now of what he was prepared to give up, what would probably be demanded of him if he married his alien Leska.

  For an answer, he leaned forward to kiss her. “Nothing less will do,” he growled as he released her. “I find I’m becoming unnaturally territorial when it comes to you.”

  “So, will you wear my torc?” she asked.

  “You know how much it would please me to wear it,” he said quietly as they returned to the counter at the front of the store. He pulled her close, rubbing his cheek against the top of her head.

  “The Liegena wishes to buy a bronze torc,” he said to the trader. “One bearing the Aldatan sunbursts.”

  *

  The next couple of hours were spent in one of the larger stores, ordering tabards and long tunics to be made to fit her uniquely human shape. They also picked up a couple of the ready-made shirts and short tunics to do her in the meantime.

  Rather than return to the guild, or spend the requisite two or three hours in a restaurant, they stopped for lunch in one of the taverns that served meals for the students.

  Like nearly all the buildings in the center of Valsgarth, the tavern was old. Several mutually connecting small rooms gave it the size necessary to host large numbers of students yet still retain its antique charm. At the back was a small room reserved for diners. They pushed their way through the lunchtime throng until they reached it.

  For once, no one seemed to notice her, Carrie thought with relief as she sat down in one of the high curve-backed wooden chairs. A large soft cushion compensated for the lack of the usual bowlshaped seat. In this chair, at least her feet touched the ground!

  Tentatively, she let her shield down a little, curious as to what it would feel like to be in such an enclosed area with so many student Telepaths. A myriad of unsubtle probes pricked at her mind. She winced, replacing her shield hurriedly.

  Instantly even the echo of their probes was shut out as Kusac extended his own shielding to include her.

  Now you know what it feels like, he grinned. And the importance of shielding and manners in our community! Though I must say, they aren’t exactly showing much courtesy to you.

  She felt him send a loud mental reprimand to those who had been too curious. As she watched, several pairs of ears were suddenly laid flat and remained so for a good few minutes.

  Was I that unsubtle? she asked.

  I’m afraid so, but you’ve
improved immensely, he replied as a harassed waitress came in to take their order.

  They’d just finished when Kaid got to his feet. “Stay where you are,” he said quietly. “Some public information reporters have just come in. I’d lay odds they know we’re here.” He moved toward the rear of the room, checking that the exit was clear. Disappearing from sight, he returned moments later and beckoned to them. They rose hastily and with backward glances, slipped out the rear door into the yard.

  “I suggest we head back to the guild now,” said Kaid, leading the way out into the lane beyond. “They know you’ve arrived on Shola, so they aren’t likely to give up until they draw a blank at the guild. You’re going to have to speak to them at some point, but I suggest you leave it until I’ve checked in at Dzahai Stronghold. I want to see what the official line on your Link is first,” he said as they made their way through the narrow back streets to the Guild House.

  “Contacting your father would also be a wise idea, Liegen. Leave it to me to talk to the Master, that’s part of my job as your adjutant.”

  As they passed the porter, Kaid stopped briefly to leave instructions that the Liegen Aldatan and his Leska were not willing to be seen by any callers.

  Once they were in their quarters, Kusac went to the comm and placed a call to his father.

  “Why call him when you can use telepathy?” asked Carrie, moving out of the viewer’s range.

  “Courtesy and safety,” he replied. “I don’t wish to intrude on his personal thoughts, especially when he could be involved in important business. He’s the head of Alien Relations and as such is a member of the Sholan High Command, as well as doing his duty as an occasional circuit judge. If he’s busy he won’t thank me for interrupting him. Now hush, please,” he said as the Telepath Guild symbol blinked off the screen to be replaced by his father’s image.

  “Kusac, I hadn’t expected to hear from you so soon,” said his father. “Naturally, I sensed your arrival last night. I won’t ask how your journey was as I expect it was as tedious as they usually are. So to what do I owe the pleasure of this call?”

  “The public information reporters, Father,” he said without preamble. “I took Carrie round Valsgarth today and they tracked us down to the tavern where we were eating. Kaid, my adjutant, got us out of there without being noticed. What do you want us to do about them?”

  “What do I want you to do?” said his father, lifting an eye ridge. “You were the one who wanted to take charge of your own life, Kusac. Are you now asking me for advice?”

  “You’re head of the Clan while Mother is away,” he said, trying not to let his irritation show.

  His father regarded him for a moment. “If the decision were yours, what would you do?” he asked abruptly.

  Kusac blinked in surprise, ears flicking slightly. He began to run several possibilities through his mind. “I’d issue a statement through Kaid to the effect that we were suffering time lag from the long journey and that my Leska, never having visited Shola before, needs time to adjust. That we’d appreciate being left in peace for the meantime.”

  His father nodded. “Then say that,” he said. “You can add that Alien Relations can supply them with all the details they need about the Terrans, including images of your Leska. You’ll have to get used to fending them off for yourself, Kusac. You’re the first person to ever have a cross-species Leska. That in itself is newsworthy, never mind the fact that Carrie and her people have lived under the Valtegans for many years.”

  “Yes, I know,” said Kusac. “I assume you’ve issued a statement regarding both our link and the Valtegans on Keiss.”

  “Only the barest of facts. I’ll leave it to you to flesh out the details.” His father grinned, letting Kusac feel his amusement at the situation. “It’s good training for your future in Alien Relations. After all, who should know more about intimate relations with the Keissian Terrans than you?”

  “Thanks, Father,” he said, trying to contain his annoyance yet again.

  “I’ll look forward to hearing or reading your articles. When can I expect to see you both at the estate? I’m tied up with work on these two treaties at the moment and can’t leave here to visit you.”

  “When we’ve got any time free from our guild commitments,” Kusac replied, grateful that at least he didn’t have to worry about his father descending on them at the guild.

  “See you don’t leave it too long.”

  “Yes, Father,” he said as the screen blanked.

  Carrie kept her thoughts carefully neutral, well aware that there was a long-standing unresolved conflict between Kusac and his father.

  Kusac got up from the desk and yawned. “I’m afraid that I wasn’t exaggerating my tiredness. I don’t know about you, but I could do with some more sleep.”

  “I’ll join you,” she said, going over to him and tucking herself up against him.

  “I’m glad I’ve got you,” he said, wrapping his arm round her and resting his head on top of hers briefly. “Let me go and tell Kaid what I want him to say to the reporters, then we can rest.”

  *

  Garras finished powering down the scouter, then opened the hatch. It had been a long and tiring shift. Flying low over the forest and swamp around the ruins of the Valtegan base searching for any stray Valtegans was not his idea of stimulating work. Even with the new scanners, it was more reliable to physically keep an eye on the ground.

  He sat there rubbing his eyes as the rest of his crew released themselves from their seats and began to move toward the hatch. He acknowledged their leavetakings with a grunt. Maybe he was getting too old for this. He grinned. Better not let Vanna hear him say that. The grin faded. She’d have arrived on Shola by now. Sighing, he released himself from his harness and stood up. He was definitely getting too old for this.

  As he turned round, he heard someone coming up the ramp. Draz stuck his head through the hatch.

  “Everyone gone?” he asked as he came aboard.

  “Yes, Sub-Lieutenant,” said Garras, his tail giving a slight involuntary twitch of curiosity. “Can I help you?”

  Draz leaned past him and sealed the hatch. “I hope you can,” he said. “Are you still in touch with Kaid?”

  “I can contact him if that’s what you mean,” he said.

  “I need a line of secure communication to him. Can you set one up for me through your friend Vanna Kyjishi?”

  “Easily, but as to how secure the communications would be, I can’t vouch. What’s the problem?”

  “Sit down,” said Draz, perching on the arm of the navigator’s seat.

  Garras sat down again, swiveling his seat round to face him.

  “How much did Kaid tell you of what he was doing?”

  “Only what I needed to know,” said Garras cautiously.

  “You knew he’d discovered a small group of dissidents from our two destroyed colonies, didn’t you?”

  “He mentioned that,” Garras confirmed.

  “Kaid overheard them try to involve your ex-crew member, Mito, in their plotting. With her cooperation he placed her as an undercover agent among them. When the six dissidents died, we assumed, wrongly as it turns out, that the matter would end there. A few days ago Mito was contacted by yet another dissident. It seems that those six were not the only ones involved.”

  “What did they want?”

  “Mito was told to intercept an incoming coded message from the Rhyaki when she was next on bridge duty and that she’d be contacted in the mess the following day to pass it on.”

  “I’d heard Mito was quarantined because she’d contracted a Terran illness. I take it that’s not true,” said Garras.

  Draz nodded. “We substituted one of my people for her on the bridge and intercepted the message. We haven’t been able to find out who it was that contacted her in the mess unfortunately, but we have decoded the message.”

  “Oh?” Garras waited.

  “I need that message passed on to Kaid,” said Draz
reluctantly.

  “It’ll take me a day at least to set it up,” said Garras. “Vanna will be staying at the Telepath Guild because she’ll be working in their medical center. Once I’ve contacted her I can pass on your message for Kaid. What do you want me to say?”

  “I want you to transmit data from your terminal to Vanna. The message will be encoded and included with the medical information. All Vanna has to do is pass on the relevant portion to Kaid.”

  “Do I get to know what the message is?”

  Draz shook his head. “On a need-to-know basis, Garras.”

  Garras reached into the topmost pocket of his jacket and pulled out a small bronze disk mounted on a chain. It was inscribed with a cursive sigil. He held it out in the palm of his hand toward Draz.

  The Sub-Lieutenant leaned forward and, with a sharp intake of breath, reached out for it.

  Garras’ hand closed over it, claws extended. “No.” He put it away.

  “Kaid’s?”

  “Mine,” said Garras. “I had to leave for Clan reasons. We’re guild brothers. I think you can tell me that message, don’t you, Sub-Lieutenant?”

  “Captain.” Draz acknowledged the other’s superior rank, ears flicking in annoyance. “The message said Earth has had no contact with the Valtegans, and Keiss is merely what it seems, a first colony. It continues that another motive for rallying the survivors against the Terrans on Earth must be found. There’s a contact address to be visited when the male concerned goes on leave to Shola.”

  Garras’ eyes narrowed as he began to swear softly. “Is there any way to identify him?”

  “None, beyond the fact he has to be one of the career people. There are forty-five due for leave on Shola when the cruiser arrives with their replacements.”

  “When?”

  “Within the week.”

  Garras got up from his seat. “How soon can you get that data ready for me to send to Vanna?”

  “It’s being processed now.”