razorsedge

by Lisanne Norman

  “Let’s say the atmosphere at the Warrior Guild is more to their taste than that of their Forces. There are a few Human agents both in the Telepath Guild and the Warrior Guild. One we know was put there for us to find, the rest suspect nothing. It’s difficult for them to be mentally covert when they don’t have much faith in their own abilities as telepaths to start with,” said Kaid with a snort of amusement. “All it needs is a couple of good telepaths and a Brother or three. When it comes to interspecies spying, the Telepath Guild will swallow its high moral stance with the rest of us, especially since Esken is so suspicious of the Humans in the first place. We make sure the agents tell Earth what we want it to know.”

  “These two,” said Kusac, tapping the files, “how did they come to be military telepaths? I understood Earth didn’t recognize telepathy at all.”

  “Turns out they did, at least within certain top secret military units. They’d done work previously on seeing and describing locations from a remote source, sometimes half a planet away— analogous to what you and Carrie did when you looked for the life pod on Keiss. It’s all down in the files,” said Kaid. “I’m leaving them with you.”

  “Have you actually met these men?” asked Carrie.

  Kaid’s ears flicked momentarily before righting themselves. “Of course. I foresee no problems in our being able to work together.”

  Carrie reached out to put her hand over his. “I was only asking, Kaid. I wanted your own assessment of them.”

  “I’ve chosen them,” he said. “They both have previous covert mission experience and seem genuine enough.”

  “Apart from you, are any other Sholans going with us?” asked Kusac.

  “No. We’re pushing credibility having me on the outside anyway. If I’m caught, it could start the interspecies incident we’re trying to avoid.”

  “Why can’t you come with us as a U’Churian?”

  “I’m not black-furred, and we haven’t any operatives near enough the right color and build who are,” said Kaid.

  “I don’t see the problem. All you have to do is dye your pelts black. They’ve already developed a drug which will increase the growth of Kusac’s fur so it matches the U’Churians’. Surely including you with us reduces the risk.”

  Kaid stared at her openmouthed.

  “What did you say?” demanded Kusac.

  “Excuse me?” She looked from one to the other in surprise.

  “Dye.” He repeated the English word. “What is dye?”

  She realized she’d used the English term as no Sholan equivalent existed. “It’s a permanent color for hair. It grows out eventually, but if you keep getting the roots of your hair touched up, no one could tell it wasn’t your natural color. Don’t Sholans change the color of their hair?”

  “No. Never,” said Kusac. “It’s considered immoral to conceal your identity. The younger females will occasionally use a brightly colored paintlike substance on their hair, but it brushes or washes out the next day.”

  “Check at the Telepath and Warrior Guilds as well as among the archaeologists. There’s bound to be one of the Human females who uses a hair dye.”

  “It’s so simple a solution, it’s brilliant,” said Kaid, leaning his chin on his hand. “If we can get hold of some of this chemical, then our scientists will be able to reproduce it.”

  “You’ll have to test it first,” Carrie warned them. “Different hair types absorb dyes at different rates and sometimes the color goes badly wrong.”

  “Badly? How badly?” asked Kaid.

  “Blondes going green overnight, or bleached hair becoming so porous in certain areas that the color goes on unevenly. That kind of thing.”

  He relaxed. That level of problem would be easily solved.

  “We need more people anyway,” said Carrie. “There’s the five out at Kaladar to rescue, and the four the Valtegens sold to locate. I’d say we need two sizable groups.”

  “Has there been any contact with the telepaths in Kaladar yet?” asked Kusac.

  “None since they were first taken prisoner. It has to be said that they may already be dead,” Kaid said quietly. “I’m sorry, Carrie. I know you liked Jo.”

  “They’re not dead,” she said firmly. “We’d know if they were. I, at least, would have sensed something from Rezac.”

  “You’ve been otherwise occupied since our return,” said Kaid, busying himself with the papers.

  “It hasn’t affected my Talents,” she said, a little sharply.

  “It has tired you, though,” Kusac said placatingly. “Kaid’s right. You might have missed it.”

  “Think what you want, but I know they’re alive,” she muttered, slouching back in her chair. “And tell me why we’re going in after them if we think they’re dead?”

  “They might not all be dead,” said Kaid. “It’s only the telepath, Kris, we’ve lost contact with.”

  “What about the four Sholans? There’s no mention of any contact with their two telepaths at all.”

  “Jo’s group were told not to try and contact them.”

  “I still consider it strange that out of five telepaths, not one has been heard from recently. What about our folk in orbit above Jalna? Haven’t they tried reaching the two captured by the Valtegans— Rezac and Zashou?”

  “They’ve tried over the last few days, but without result.” Kaid looked up. “Yes, I agree it’s strange, but given the fact that the planet has been called hostile, we have to assume the telepaths, for one reason or another, haven’t survived, or are incapable of broadcasting. And yes, we’re facing the same risks.”

  “I only asked.” Carrie’s tone was mild now.

  “Worrying, though,” said Kusac. “What about finding the four sold as slaves? How do you propose we approach the problem of locating them?”

  Kaid grinned, human-style, all teeth. “That’s your contribution, Kusac. T’Chebbi, Dzaka, and Garras are going to teach you both some specialized Brotherhood skills. Concealment, surveillance, information gathering, that type of thing. Then you’ll work out a plan, and we’ll discuss it. You’ve already got a start through your AlRel training. It isn’t that different in certain areas. Meral can join you. It’s a good opportunity for him to begin his training, too.”

  “Uh huh.” He looked dubious.

  “Field agents, that’s one of the prices of our freedom, and what the Brotherhood of Vartra do, unless you want to be based at one of the temples or the Retreat?”

  “Not really.”

  “Thought not. Carrie,” he looked over at her. “You can’t start the physical training yet, but you can work on the other Brotherhood skills.”

  She nodded and pulled the map toward her. “Explain this to me.”

  “These are the maps made by the Summer Bounty while it was in orbit, that Jo, Davies, and Kris were using,” said Kusac. “The spaceport is there, by the coast,” he pointed to the anonymous mark. “That’s the trade route they followed to Forestgate at the edge of the mountain range. From there to the end of the tree line is about sixty miles. After that, it’s uphill to Kaladar in the mountains.”

  “Do we have to go via the crash site?”

  “No. They got whatever there was to be had from there,” said Kaid. “We go straight to the city, hopefully across the plains. It’s an easier route.”

  “Then what?”

  “Then we observe the situation and try to get them out.”

  “Who’s going in?”

  Kaid sighed. “Well, we can have two teams. You inside the spaceport and us on the outside. Hopefully our four enslaved Sholans are close to the port, which means you can concentrate on that area while we— Conrad, Quin, and I— head out for Kaladar. That’s a working hypothesis, at least. The reality is going to be wait and see till we arrive on Jalna.”

  “We’ve got to be flexible,” said Kusac. “A major consideration is how violent these people are.”

  “They’ve got to have a system for dealing with it, th
ough, or they wouldn’t have evolved to even this level,” said Carrie. “What about Jo? Surely she observed their culture long enough to draw some conclusions and report them?”

  “She saw nothing to support the Chemerians’ allegations,” said Kaid. “However, the indisputable fact remains that all the species that trade there want the Jalnians to remain planet-bound.”

  “Have we a detailed map of the spaceport?”

  Kaid handed it to her. “It’s a fairly standard layout, given that they’re providing the combined facilities of an orbiting satellite and a ground port facility. The main difference is that the traders and spacers only have access to the port itself and the traders’ town, the planet being interdicted by the Port Lord. Just as the alien traders don’t want the Jalnians in space, so Bradogan doesn’t want aliens and off-world goods freely available on his world. He controls what goes in and out of Jalna.”

  “Sounds more bother than it’s worth.”

  “According to the Chemerians, it’s a convenient meeting point for trade for the species involved.”

  “So we’re almost as much in the dark as Jo’s team was. What happens if we get caught, too?” Carrie looked at both of the males in turn. “I realize the Alliance doesn’t want any kind of incident at Jalna— presumably they’ll make contact at some point— but how dispensable are we?”

  “We aren’t. Raiban says there are two main options. One, send in the Sumaan and get us out by force, or two, First Contact. Her people approach the leader of the alien Port police and negotiate our rescue. However…”

  “We make sure we don’t get caught in the first place,” interrupted Kusac, reaching out to clasp Carrie’s hand with his. “The basic approach is that I, as a U’Churian, am traveling with a Chemerian trader learning his craft. Apparently some Chemerians do this. Since you can’t pass as a Jalnian with those eyes, you’re a member of a new species we’ve just contacted, a Solnian. You’re their representative to Jalna, checking out the trading opportunities there.”

  Carrie looked skeptical. “What about the other U’Churians? Won’t they wonder why they’ve never heard of my people?”

  “We met you at the Chemerian home world. Our ship is still there,” said Kaid smoothly. “Kusac’s family was offered a contract to escort you here, let you meet the people, see the goods, and assess the potential markets. All acceptable practice according to the Chemerians.”

  She made a noise not unlike a growl. “Too much depends on what the Chemerians say. They got us into this mess with their double standards! If they’d been honest about Jalna in the first place, none of this would have been necessary. How do we know they aren’t still lying?”

  “Again, we don’t. So far, what they’ve said has either been accurate or not disproved, like the issue of violence.”

  “We’re going in too blind,” said Carrie. “I don’t like it.”

  “Most missions aren’t much different,” said Kaid, leaning back and stretching his neck and shoulder muscles. He was feeling cramped from sitting studying the papers for so long. He’d have to put up with it, though. At least at Stronghold there was the exercise yard and the gym. “You’ll get used to it. If it were straightforward, the Brotherhood wouldn’t be needed.”

  Zhala came in with a tray of sweet pastries and coffee which she put down at the end of the table for them.

  “Impeccable timing. Thank you,” said Carrie, grinning at Kusac as she pulled the tray closer.

  Kaid tidied the papers and maps back into their folders. “I’m leaving for Stronghold after second meal,” he said quietly. “Father Lijou’s expecting me.”

  “How long will you be away?” asked Kusac, passing the plate of pastries over to him as Carrie began refilling their mugs.

  “Several months.” Despite his personal damper, he felt the crystal warm against his chest, and with it came the shock Carrie felt at what he’d just said. She didn’t show it though, he thought with pride. She’d paid attention to his tuition. “I’ll be helping to set up the new curriculum for training priests. It’s important work. Garras will keep me posted. If there’s a problem, I’ll get in touch.”

  Carrie handed him his mug. “Will you be living there?”

  “Yes. As I said, I need some time to straighten things out in my own mind as well as learn how to use my telepathic abilities properly.”

  “The time will pass quickly for all of us,” said Kusac. “We’ve got a lot to do.”

  Something drew Kaid’s attention toward the door and, as he looked toward it, a familiar wave of dizziness swept over him. The door burst open. Dzaka stood there, Kashini held close against his chest, pistol in his free hand. Even as Kaid leaped to his feet, gun drawn, the scene had begun to fade.

  “What is it?” demanded Kusac, instantly at his side. “What do you hear?”

  “The wind,” he muttered, reholstering his gun. “It must have been the wind.” It was getting worse! The episodes were more frequent now, and so short, they were of no use to him as a guide to what might happen. In the past, they had only come when he was meditating. Now he couldn’t guarantee one wouldn’t dominate him during a life or death situation.

  The door opened, making him swing his head round sharply again. Dzaka entered— but he wasn’t carrying the cub, and there was no sense of urgency about him. Kaid’s blood ran cold at the thought of what could have happened had his son arrived a moment or two earlier.

  “The aircar from Stronghold’s here, Father,” he said. “I’ve put your bag on board.”

  If anything else was needed to convince him he had to leave the estate, this had. He had to go to a place where he’d cause the least harm if things went badly wrong for him— somewhere where they could deal with him quickly, where they wouldn’t hesitate to do what was necessary.

  Relieved, he nodded and turned to say his good-byes.

  Carrie came forward to hug him. She felt soft in his arms, smelled of milk and motherhood. It awakened memories of other visions and hurriedly he let her go.

  “Take care,” she said. “Stay in touch.”

  She’d neither said nor sent anything, but still he’d felt her hurt as he’d held her. Flicking an ear in acknowledgment of what she said, he held out his palm to Kusac.

  His Liege looked at him, then slowly shook his head. “No,” he said, coming closer to embrace him. “I’ve told you before, Kaid. You’re family, an Aldatan if you wish it. My brother.” He grinned as he let him go. “Hell, I need one with all the females around me! Even Taizia’s and Meral’s cub was a female!”

  Kaid’s mouth opened in a small grin despite himself.

  *

  “Have you seen T’Chebbi?” he asked once they’d left the kitchen.

  “Passed her on her way to the ruins,” Dzaka said. “Told her you wanted a word, but she said later. Is there a problem?”

  “No.” They hadn’t spoken privately since their night together, but perhaps it was better this way.

  *

  The Valtegans or the Jalnians, it made little difference to Rezac. They’d won free of one set of guards only to wake up to another. Both species had stolen his liberty, abused him and his Leska, and forced them to do their will. Anger surged through him again, and this time he didn’t need to conceal it. On the other side of the room, Zashou lay deeply asleep. For now there was none of her disapproving presence at the center of his mind and thoughts, no criticism of him for the effort wasted in hating their captors.

  Tail flicking in irate jerky movements, he pushed himself away from the castle window and began to pace up and down his end of the room. It had been a bad day, but then it often was in the run up to their Link day. Zashou had never been good at hiding her resentment of their Link. At best he always felt a cool distancing and reserve from her, at worst, out-and-out dislike, though thank the Gods, those occasions were rarer since they’d awakened on this strange world.

  Today he’d gotten into a row with her over the Humans. He was still suspicious
of them, they looked too like the Jalnians for comfort, whereas she believed implicitly in them, even down to the frankly ridiculous claim that the mind that had answered his cry had been a Human mind, Leska-linked to a Sholan! Whoever had sent had been undeniably Sholan, of that he had no doubt. He’d touched enough alien minds in the last year to know the difference. Even Zashou hadn’t been able to argue against that reality despite what the Humans said. The one thing that they all clung to like a lifeline was that the Sholans would come for them. But when? At least so far, this Lord Killian had been reasonable. They were bring held in decent rooms and fed palatable food. Now they waited for better weather so that they could go to the crash site and examine the scouter for onboard weapons.

  Agony shot through his foot as he stubbed a toe against the chest by the window. Biting back the cry of pain, he flung himself down on the pallet by the fire. Soon enough he’d be able to share the bed with her again. Lying there, massaging his foot, he let go of the anger and allowed the heat from the fire to warm him into a reluctant drowsiness, wondering for the thousandth time how it had all gone so wrong from the start.

  Tiernay stood near enough the window to look out without being seen. Of the six in the lab, he had the longest telepathic range, able to pick up the alien presences from nearly a kilometer away.

  They sky was clear, the sharp, bright blue of winter. The Valtegan airborne troop carriers would be visible long before he could hear or sense them— if they came from that direction.

  At the doorway, he stood with Jaisa and Shanka, Jaisa watching through the side window, he and Shanka keeping an eye on the corridor.

  “Hurry up, Dr. Vartra,” said Tiernay. “I want us out of here as soon as possible. You should have moved into the monastery with us days ago. You know how risky this is for all of us, you especially.”

  “While the equipment at the monastery is adequate, Tiernay, since I still have access to the college analyzer it makes sense to use it. It’s saved me weeks of testing and correlation,” said Vartra, continuing to pack each vial in its rack bed in his briefcase. “Zashou, have you got the last of my notes and the computer data from the safe?” he asked.