Veiled Planet (Hidden World Trilogy Book 1)

by Teagan Kearney

  She shivered. Rishi’s prediction—if they’d been caught out in the open, the result would have been catastrophic—hadn’t been an exaggeration. "Will the tribe be okay?" She had a sudden vision of the wind smashing into the column of wagons, with bodies broken and thrown aside like chaff.

  "Don’t worry. If we saw it, they saw it. We always cross the desert before the arravata season. This one came early. Normally we are never taken by surprise. The early ones are less strong. No one survives the later storms."

  For yet one more time, Kara wished she’d paid more attention in her Planetary Studies course. Topping up her lessons through experience hadn’t been on her schedule. On the plus side, though, now she could lecture on one variable in the planet’s weather pattern—and how to survive it.

  "We’ll have to spend the night here; they won’t be able to rescue us till tomorrow.” Rishi said. “Let’s clear the top while there’s still daylight."

  Kara looked at the sky. Not a single lonely cloud wandered in the blue bowl above them. The sun was nearing the horizon, and they’d best be under cover before dark seeing as they didn’t have the security of others around them. The notion of other night predators crossed her mind. Hopefully they’d be as scarce as life itself in this empty wilderness. If there were any, she hoped they didn’t run in packs, but she wasn’t going to ask. She’d save that question for another occasion.

  They shoveled, using broken wood from a smashed trunk, ensuring the entrance stayed clear. They uncovered two more trunks—battered but unbroken—under newly created dunes, and dragged them back to the cart. They spotted two more mounds in the distance, but as the desert night descended, rapidly cooling their sweat-drenched bodies, they decided to leave the search till morning.

  Exhausted and hungry, they crawled back into the upturned cart bringing with them some dried food, blankets and the one water container they’d found. Inside their darkened haven, there was enough light to lay the blankets out, and they sat, hunched over, in companionable silence munching the dried fruit. Kara was pleased she’d identified the sweetberries.

  "Take what you want," he said with a smile, pointing to the small pile of food in front of them. "I know you’re not helpless."

  She ignored him. She wasn’t sure whether he was complimenting, insulting or teasing her. Maybe he was being kind? The berries didn’t fill her in the same way soup and flatbread did, but it was better than going hungry.

  After they’d eaten enough to keep the pangs of hunger at bay, Rishi packed away what was left for morning.

  Kara’s eyes had adjusted to the gloom, but she could make out Rishi taking off his shirt and outer leggings, and settling himself on their provisional bed.

  "Come on," he told her, "get in. We need to keep warm. The night will be cold." When she didn’t move, he added, "Oh, do you think I’ll force myself on you? Is that what's bothering you?”

  She couldn’t see his face but could tell by his tone he was baiting her. She’d have preferred two separate, if less comfortable sleeping arrangements, but what he said made sense. Night temperatures in the desert dropped, and there was no campfire or warm meal to heat their bodies.

  She yanked her boots off, keeping the rest of her clothes on. She wasn’t so grateful to him for saving her life that she was going to have sex with him. Besides, she didn’t know how the Maruts viewed such liaisons. From what she’d seen of their culture, they were conservative and family oriented. She crawled under the covers, and lay with her back to him. She sensed him turn toward her.

  "Kara?"

  “Mmm.” The less contact she had with him in this particular situation, the more secure she felt. Or was it herself she didn’t trust?

  “I want to try something.”

  This didn’t bode well. “What thing?”

  “Humor me.”

  “Okay.”

  “Lie on your back and clear your mind. Don’t think of anything, but focus on your breathing.”

  Maybe he wanted her to relax before he tried to seduce her. Though he’d said he wouldn’t take advantage of her. “Why?”

  “Please.”

  Well… he was begging. She turned on her back. Lemnas must have risen because she could make out Rishi’s shape as he propped himself up on one elbow, his eyes glinting in the dimness as he examined her. “Can you not lie there staring at me.” She closed her eyes, and felt, rather than saw, Rishi lie down on his back next to her.

  “Empty your mind and just breathe.”

  At first her mind skittered all over the place. Images from the past days flitted before her mind’s eye. She didn’t even know how long it was since she’d set off up a hill following her classmates nor how long the tribe had been traveling. It could have been ten days, it could have been twenty days. Gradually as she focused on her breathing, her mind’s frantic ricocheting slowed, and all she could hear was her own breathing.

  At first she didn’t quite understand. Then she heard a soft whisper in her head. “Kara? Can you hear me?” The next instant Rishi laid his hand on hers, and his voice boomed loud in her head. “Kara? Can you hear me?”

  “What are you doing?” She flung his hand away and sat up, banging her head on the wooden slats, and jerked her body as far away from him as she could. “What was that? How did you get inside my head?”

  He rolled on his side, his eyes gold jewels in the dark. “I knew it. We can mind speak.”

  “What are you talking about?” If she sounded frightened, that’s because she was. Telepathy? She’d been assessed as a child, as were all citizens of the Triumvirate. The results had showed she had a small passive degree of psi talent, but not enough to be taken away from her family. The Triumvirate removed all children identified as possessing any degree of active psi talents, placing them in special programs.

  “Now it’s your turn. Don’t be afraid, gradhaig, this is natural.”

  She turned away from him. “No. I don’t want to.”

  He shifted closer, and heat from his body warmed her back. “Kara?” he said speaking aloud.

  She lay still. She wanted to sleep, not practice this weird telepathic mind speak thing with him. How could she have heard him? He must have tricked her somehow. “I’m tired and I want to sleep.” He’d get the hint if she pretended to snore, but then she felt guilty at the thought. He had saved her life—twice now. Didn’t she owe him the politeness of an answer? "What?"

  " I felt our connection the first time I saw you—and deny it all you want—I know you did too. But I couldn’t believe it, couldn’t accept a mind link might be possible with a woman who wasn’t a Marut.”

  Was that a conciliatory tone? She turned over and faced him, seeing only his shadowy outline. “You looked at me like you hated me.”

  "I am sorry. Ever since your people landed on our planet, we have been divided. For us, many basic things are a struggle, finding food, shelter, defending ourselves, but these are easy for you. We cannot stay unaffected by your presence and it is splitting our society."

  He had her attention. She knew her social anthropology tutor would sacrifice a year’s leave to hear this kind of insight.

  "Our tribes are divided and within each tribe divisions exist. Some would give anything to gain the advantages your knowledge brings. Others are fearful thinking it will destroy us, and others will not even listen if the word colonist appears in the conversation."

  The Central Academy on the Triumvirate’s home world of Arkarus would award her a scholarship if she could get home and share this knowledge. "One of the first things we’re taught about the Maruts is that you want nothing to do with us. Ever. No matter what."

  "Ikeya wants our tribe to move forward, to change. But with caution in a way that we don’t lose our traditions and culture."

  She tried to ignore how much the close warmth and clean musky scent of his body disturbed her ability to think. She could barely focus on what he was saying. "Mmm…,” was all she could manage as a response.

  "I
don’t want to argue with you. I would also like you and I to make progress." He stopped speaking,

  Kara knew he’d changed the subject under discussion, and when his lips met hers and their bodies touched, she said nothing. There was no point. She'd already lost this battle.

  Chapter Eleven: A Binding Decision

  Marut Proverb:

  When you make a decision, you must accept

  there may be consequences you cannot control.

  "They’re here, Shanwatah. Over here," a voice shouted with relief.

  Bright morning light sliced into the dark space as someone jerked open the blankets at the entrance. A tribesman crouched and stared inside, as Ikeya peered into the shadowed darkness.

  As Kara woke, her eyes bleary with sleep, Rishi sat up and tugged the blankets over them. But it was too late. Ikeya's expression said everything.

  Kara fumed with righteous indignation at the looks given her and Rishi, and their treatment by Ikeya as he and the tribesman re-righted the cart and salvaged what they could of the goods the storm had scattered. She continued to nurse her outrage as she and Rishi rode in silence next to Ikeya with their damaged vehicle roped to the back of his cart. They had done nothing wrong.

  When they reached the new camping site, the satyrs were happily grazing on lappa bushes, people were cooking, airing blankets, sorting their goods, and generally going about their business as normal. The tribe had seen the storm coming and successfully taken steps to protect themselves and the animals.

  “I will have to call a Clannad for this evening,” Ikeya told them, his face grim, as they climbed down from the cart.

  Rishi was sent to look after the animals, and stayed away all afternoon. Yleni told Kara to stay by their camp where she stewed through the long slow hours, ignoring the stares and whispers from people who passed. She paid no heed to the ache in her jaw from gritting her teeth to stop screaming with frustration.

  Neither she nor Rishi were invited to attend the meeting that evening, but were told to wait with Yleni. Ikeya returned remarkably quickly, ordering them to follow him. As they left, Yleni shushed the boys, telling them to get ready for bed.

  Kara’s eyes shot daggers at Rishi. She was infuriated by this state of affairs. He was a Marut tribesman, and must have known what he was doing when he’d kissed her that first time. The more she thought about it, the more she suspected Ikeya of doing everything possible to engineer such a situation by throwing the pair of them together—except for the arravata storm, that is.

  Rishi stalked along beside her, his lips in a snarl though he didn’t utter a word.

  Ikeya walked ahead of them, and the muted buzz of voices faded as they walked out into the dark silent desert. Above them the stars spread a sparkling lace shawl across the roof of the sky. Soon they started up a path that led to a thornbush-protected cave, similar to the one where she and Rishi had been sent to fetch the sweetwood on another evening not too long ago.

  "Sit,” Ikeya ordered, “I'll start a fire. There's no point in freezing and being miserable."

  Kara neither looked at nor acknowledged Rishi's presence.

  "Kara, I am sorry," Ikeya began as the three of them sat hunched close to the blaze, making the most of its warmth and ignoring the chill at their backs. "Until we found you this morning, I did not realize your relationship with Rishi had progressed beyond friendship."

  "Until last night we were only friends," she ground out. "Though now, I'm not even sure that’s true."

  Ikeya fed the fire before answering. "That’s not what Rishi disclosed to me." His gaze fixed on her face. "I don't judge you, Kara," he continued, "you did not grow up amongst us. You are ignorant of our ways."

  "Then take me home," she snapped at him, clenching and unclenching her fists, feeling her nails dig into her palms each time.

  Ikeya shrugged. "Yes, I gave you my promise and I will keep it. But the situation has changed."

  She turned to Rishi. "What did you say? What lies have you made up? You know we slept together only once," she hissed at him, glad to see him flinch.

  "I did not lie, gradhaig," He avoided eye contact. "I let Ikeya know we had exchanged vows."

  Kara exploded to her feet. "Exchanged vows? What vows? We kissed once and we made love once. That’s it. There were no vows."

  "Kara," Ikeya’s voice emanated soothing calm. "Anger will not help."

  "But it’ll sure make me feel better." Kara was beyond caring what either of them thought. She stalked off and stood at the cave mouth staring out into the darkness.

  In the colony, people conducted relationships by mutual consent. No one person imposed their will on another individual. Not unless they were looking for a mindwipe. But she wasn’t in the colony. She was out traveling the universe knew where with a bunch of Maruts. He gave his word he’ll take me home, she reassured herself. I still believe him and I can live with whatever happens, so long as I know I’ll be going home. She stood for a while breathing in the dark stillness of the desert night, her gaze settling on the glittering stars in the heavens, and letting her raw feelings ease.

  The two Maruts sat in silence behind her and waited.

  She returned, slumping onto the ground. "Explain," she said, "in a way I understand." She ignored the softening in Rishi’s shoulders.

  "Among our people we allow no physical contact between single men and women until a couple decide they want to live together. A kiss is the unofficial seal on such a decision. Then an official joining takes place witnessed by the tribe, and the couple become husband and wife. The joining is sealed when the couple sleep with each other." He let her digest this. "That you were unaware of this, did not agree, nor ask for such an arrangement makes no difference. Our law states that if these steps have taken place, even if, as in your case, not in that order, the couple are joined for life."

  She tried not to cry. She rubbed at her face, bit the inside of her mouth, but she couldn't help it, two big fat tears rolled down her cheeks. "What happens if I refuse to accept your law?" She sniffed, wiping the tears away with the back of her hand.

  "If you refuse to follow our law in this matter, the tribe will abandon you both without anything but the clothes you're wearing."

  Rishi got to his feet and with shoulders hunched and head down, walked to the rear of the cave.

  She watched him move, silent, graceful, his energy coiled tight within him. Tonight he was without his usual bounce and bravado. An urge to comfort him came over her as she noticed his shoulders suddenly slump. "You'd leave him, your own flesh and blood, to die? I don't believe you. You love him, I know you do."

  "It would break my heart and destroy my family, but I have no alternative. No individual can defy, ignore or change our laws."

  Rishi remained a silent brooding presence in the shadows.

  She heard the anguish in Ikeya’s voice. Not much of a choice, she thought. "Let me get this straight." Kara leaned forward, wanting every detail clear in her mind. "If I perform this joining ceremony with Rishi, then he and I and your family are saved and everything returns to normal?" Rishi had moved and stood behind her. "But your promise to return me to my people still holds good, right?"

  Ikeya nodded.

  "Can you clarify how that’s going to work?"

  Ikeya gave his habitual shrug. “After the Summer Meet, we say you must go visit your family to introduce your partner to them, and if Rishi returns alone...,” he shrugged as if her worries were unfounded.

  Ikeya presented a path out of the predicament, but somehow it didn't sit comfortably. She hated having her life dictated by these strangers. Yet, kallin bears and savage sand storms aside, nothing else in her short life compared to being here with the Maruts. Yes, Ikeya's plan would get them out of the quandary in the short term, and it meant Rishi, Ikeya, and his family would be safe. She could see no other option, even though the whole thing was ridiculous.

  "All right. I agree." The words came out in a rush.

  For a second t
he tribal leader’s expression of triumph confused her. Then it disappeared, and the only thing she saw was relief.

  Ikeya looked at Rishi.

  "Thank you," Rishi whispered, as he squatted next to her.

  She flinched as his arm brushed hers and stared ahead, giving him no indication that she acknowledged his presence.

  "I'll inform Yleni. There are preparations to make." Ikeya stood, brisk and sharp with the worry lines on his forehead erased now the decision was made.

  Kara stood, and dusted her tunic. "Will I have to say anything?"

  Ikeya shook his head. "No, neither of you are needed right now. I’ll return to the Clannad and inform them of your decision. When the ceremony takes place in front of the whole tribe tomorrow, there cannot be any bad feelings between you two. Stay here the night, and sort out whatever is not good between you. As you have agreed to follow our ways, no one will say anything against you."

  After Ikeya left, Rishi fetched more sweetwood and built up the fire.

  Kara thought about her father. Even if this sham had to take place to save lives, she could imagine him looking for a positive side to the experience. She had never confided the hurt of exclusion by her fellow cadets at the Academy to him, and of how alone she'd been without him because she hadn't wanted to worry him. Yet, here she was on her own. Again. For a brief period Ikeya's family had made her feel one of them, but she was no longer under any such illusion.

  "I am sorry, Kara, to have made you sad." Rishi continued to add small branches, feeding the fire.

  "I trusted you." She looked at his profile, his skin gleaming in the firelight, noting how subdued he looked. Maybe he was sorry, but she couldn't read him anymore. She was living in a society where she had no idea of the social or cultural conventions. She was a fool to have thought they had any similarity to hers. On the base when a couple decided to cohabit, it was a coming together of equals, of partners. “Tell me about this husband and wife bit.”