“The Link’s no respecter of feelings,” she said quietly, her fingers curling round his.
Suddenly he was aware of her desire, a twin flame to his own. It rushed through him shattering his self-control. He reached for her, pulling her close as he slipped back down on the bed beside her. As his mouth closed on hers, it was as if it was for the first time. She was so soft and warm, her skin tasting like honey. He fumbled at the fastening of her robe, his hands suddenly clumsy. Forcing himself to slow down, he pushed it aside to find her naked beneath it.
With a groan, he suddenly became aware of his own physical discomfort and began to haul at his belt buckle. She helped him, her hands trembling in their combined urgency. Finally he pulled her naked body against his, gasping at the strength of the compulsion to mate that now surged through him.
Not yet, she sent, guiding his head down to her breasts. It gets better.
Greedily he fastened his mouth over her nipple, catching it between his teeth, feeling it harden, hearing her moan in pleasure as she pressed herself closer, her fingers tightening almost painfully in his hair. Her sensations coursed through him, merging with his, increasing his desire.
She drew her fingernails down his back, making him shudder. Then, cupping his face with one hand, she drew him up and began to kiss him as her other hand trailed down his side to his hip.
Reluctantly he pulled back from her. “What are you doing to me?” he whispered, moving until he was kneeling between her legs. “It was never like this before.”
For answer, she pulled him down on top of her, lifting herself up to meet him. As they joined, their minds merged once more, this time so absolutely that he lost all sense of his identity: there was only them, their hearts beating as one, their bodies moving in time as they climbed higher and higher to the climax that sealed them together.
As they lay catching their breath afterward, their minds began to part.
Leska Link. We’re the only Human Leskas, he heard Mara say.
*
Dawn’s light began to filter down through the canopy of trees, illuminating the gloom around them. They’d been walking for hours, it seemed to Keeza. They’d had two brief stops. On both occasions, Kezule had her startle the wildlife. Both times he’d managed to make a kill with the pistol. The first had been a large catlike predator distantly related to the Sholans. She’d had to run and fetch the body. Touching it made her gorge rise. Though offered some of the flesh, Keeza had refused, unable to stomach eating a creature that so closely resembled her own kind.
Kezule had shrugged and begun to eat.
The second kill had been a rhakla, and this she had shared with him. That stop had been shorter as the general had swiftly skinned and butchered the carcass then wrapped it in its pelt to take with them.
“The Aldatans, how long are they expected to be off-world, and where have they gone?” he asked.
“On a rescue mission,” she said without thinking as he mindlessly put one foot in front of the other, praying that he’d call another halt before she collapsed. She was feeling decidedly unwell.
“How long?”
“Month to get there, same back, and however long it takes in between,” she muttered. “They’ve been gone three weeks already.” Her foot snagged in a chiddoe hole, jerking her out of her daze as she stumbled.
His hand caught her, the fingers firm yet gentle on her arm as, taking care his claws didn’t hurt her, he pulled her upright again.
She stammered her thanks, feeling her body become slick with sweat and her temperature start to rise as he continued to hold her.
“You’re hot,” he observed, tongue flicking out toward her.
“The poisonâ your bite,” she began. “I’m dying, aren’t I? That’s why you didn’t bother killing me.” Her vision was beginning to blur now, and she had to blink to keep the sweat from her eyes.
“Not dying, no.” There was a grim look on his face as his hand tightened. Stooping, he set down his bundle of raw meat.
His unblinking eyes held her as if paralyzed; the thought of struggling didn’t occur to her. Raising a shaking arm to her face, she wiped away the sweat. His skin had darkened, was now a deeper green, more like the vegetation around them. Suddenly she was frightened.
He pulled her closer, moving his grip till he held her by the wrist.
“You promised to neutralize the poison,” she said, her disorientation making her reckless.
“Is what I’m doing,” he said, his tongue flicking out to touch the hairless palm of her hand.
Seeing the anger on his face, she cringed back.
He pulled her close again. “I need what your body produced to combat my bite,” he hissed angrily, claws tightening round her flesh. “Blame your people, Keeza. I have never used a pet this way!”
She fought against him as he reached for her other arm, her claws extending as she tried to hit him.
“Fool of a female!” he snarled, raising his hand instead. “Have it your way, then!”
Her last memory of him was of that hand, armed with razor-sharp claws, descending toward her face.
*
It had taken Kezule two days to reach the Ferraki Hills and bypass the Taykui Estate, but now he was as far northeast as was practicable for the time being. He’d also found a suitable place to literally go to earth. A narrow fissure in the rock face, just wide enough for him to squeeze through, provided a place for him to bed down and sleep some of the waiting time away. First he’d need to gather the local undergrowth to form bedding, then hunt and eat. Three months in all, but they’d been gone several weeks already. In a month, he’d start making his way to their estate. Time enough for him to observe their security and slip in unnoticed. He’d be able to locate their home at leisure, then settle down to wait and watch for the Aldatans to return. Then, by the spirit of the God-King, Emperor Q’emgo’hâ may His memory be revered for all timeâ debts would be settled!
*
“So you think Kezule and Keeza are headed for the estate?” Garras asked Rhyaz.
“It’s a strong probability, given the questions he asked Zhyaf,” said Rhyaz. “He specifically asked about the people who brought him forward to our time. It’s my bet that he wants to be returned so he can change the course of history, make sure he and the eggs escape.”
Garras unconsciously drummed his fingers on Rhyaz’s table. “Even though he knows they’re off-world?”
“What other course of action is available to him?” asked the Guild Master.
“He could try and reach one of those home worlds,” said Konis.
“Not possible,” said Rhyaz. “I’m positive he was telling the truth when he said he didn’t know where they were. That’s leaving aside the fact that he won’t be able to get his hands on a deep space vessel and a crew willing to take him.”
“Shuttles land at the spaceport every day,” Lijou pointed out.
“Very few are capable of taking him beyond our orbit, and we’ve sewn up the spaceport tighter than a demon-fish’s arse. No one gets in without a body check and a pass; the perimeter is under heavy surveillance, and every craft is guarded from the moment it lands till it takes off again.”
“Same with the estate,” agreed Garras. “We’re not taking any risks.”
“What about Keeza?” asked Lijou. “She’d begun to remember Zhyaf and the fact he’d been tampering with her mind. That’s a good indication she’s managed to break her programming. Surely once she remembers she’ll try to frustrate him and find a way to help us?”
Rhyaz sighed. “That’s another complication. We finally got the report on how his herb is affecting her. At least we think it’s the herb. There’s his bite to be taken into account, too.”
“What effect is it having?” asked Garras.
“Basically, stimulating her aggression to an almost psychotic level, and inducing mind-altering states just as it did with Kaid in its other forms.”
“I thought the herb had a ca
lmative effect on Kezule. She’s out of the center now, away from the herb, beginning to remember her past. Surely all that will return her system to normal?” asked Lijou, a worried look on his face.
“I can only tell you about its effect on Keeza, not Kezule. We have no clear information on that yet. That damned Valtegan is a walking chemical factory, apparently able to control his body to a degree that’s difficult for us to comprehend! I’m afraid we can’t assume Keeza will be anything but a continuing risk to us. It’ll take time for her to normalize, and we don’t have that. Kezule could decide to head for the estate anyway on the premise Zhyaf was lying about them being away. Keeza herself could goad him into such a course of action as a revenge attack for what’s been done to her.”
“What about the search?” asked Konis. “I thought you’d found the aircar. There must have been tracks to indicate which way they headed.”
“We did. It was abandoned apart from Zhyaf’s body. Supplies and clothing had been taken, but there was no sign of them. Trails for a short distance to the north, then nothing. We’ve got very little chance of locating them in the forest now that it’s well into springâ increased tree canopy, too many heat sources, you name it. It is a game reserve, after all. All we can do is guard the forest perimeter and hope to get him when he emerges.”
“But the Taykui Forest is vast!” exclaimed Konis. “How can you hope to patrol it’s perimeter?”
“We can’t, but we can have outposts at every estate or village, then at regular intervals in between. We haven’t exactly got an option, Konis. It has to be done. Commander Chuz is already implementing it with the help of General Raiban and ourselves.”
“But Keeza’s an innocent in all this!” said Lijou. “She’s in this predicament because of us!”
“She killed two guards,” reminded Rhyaz.
“Because of the chemicals in her blood, and because we put her in there in the first place,” objected the priest. “You can’t order her shot on sight, Rhyaz. You have to give her a chance!”
“We will have teams with tranquilizer guns standing by,” agreed Rhyaz, “But our first concern is safety. We must stop them at all costs.”
Lijou got to his feet and began pacing round the office. “It’s our fault,” he said. “We should never have agreed to this experiment!”
Konis stirred. “I’m equally responsible, Lijou, but we had to go ahead. We needed the information we’ve gotten because of her. There was no other option at the time. Rhyaz, please make every effort to take the female alive. Lijou is right. We owe her that at least.”
Rhyaz nodded. “That goes without saying, Master Konis.”
*
Captain Kishasayzar’s distinctive voice filled the Hkariyash’s mess area. “Sholans, go to Trader Chikoi’s lounge for briefing.”
“Not another of Assadou’s damned briefings,” Carrie groaned as she got up from the dining table. “We’ve had more in the last three days than in the month it took to get here!”
“He’s Chemerian,” said Kusac. “The closer we get to landing on Jalna, the more paranoid he becomes. See it from his viewpoint. By being involved in this mission, he’s risking his House’s trade contracts in this whole sector. And as I said, from the looks of the Hkariyash, they’re lucrative contracts. Not many Sumaan captains have indentured vessels of this caliber. Kishasayzar is being kept busy by Assadou.”
“He’s got as much to lose as Assadou, but you don’t hear him complaining,” said Carrie, heading round the corner to the Chemerian’s quarters.
“It’s not in their nature to say much. What they think is another matter, one they don’t tend to communicate with other species.”
“I still can’t understand why they didn’t tell us about Jalna.”
“Not all the Sumaan know about it. Only those families contracted to Chemerian Houses come here, Carrie, and the Sumaan never discuss their employer’s business,” he said patiently.
“Why don’t they go there on their own? They’re Alliance members, traders in their own right.”
“Not exactly,” he said, palming the lounge door lock. “The Chemerians brought them into the Alliance a couple of hundred years ago, funding them and leasing them ships. Most Sumaan Captains are mortgaged to the hide to one House or another, trying to buy out their ships and become independent. They’re getting there slowly. There’re about half a dozen independent Sumaan ships around at the moment.”
“So they’re totally dependent on their employers? Upset them and they get no work?”
“And their debt to the House increases. You got it,” he nodded as the door slid back.
“They’re sharp traders,” Carrie muttered. “Why don’t your people do something about it?”
“It’s a legitimate business practice,” he whispered, nudging her into the room.
Conrad, Quin, and Kaid were already there. They joined them on the settee opposite Assadou, who, as usual, was flanked by his two personal guards.
Gods, it must cost him a small fortune in retainer’s fees! Do they even have to sleep in that artificial forest he calls a suite? she sent to Kusac.
Kusac patted her hand. Calm down, the waiting’s almost over. We’ll be landing shortly.
She subsided with a few mental grumbles.
The door opened again to admit T’Chebbi, pelt still damp and a towel in her hands as she continued to rub at her hair.
“Apologies. Dye needed darkening,” she said, quickly taking one of the chairs. “Briefing not expected when was one earlier today.”
Assadou frowned in her direction, his large ears crinkling in disapproval. He turned his head, saucerlike eyes looking unblinkingly at them.
“As we enter Jalna’s atmosphere, Captain will initiate a series of maneuvers to indicate our craft in difficulties. Will make a forced landing to drop two Humans posing as Jalnians, then, after suitable time, take off and head for the spaceport. There we land more conventionally.”
I really needed to hear this yet again, sent Carrie, using a mental channel they could all pick up.
He’s being direct even for him, was Quin’s comment. He must be worried.
A change in the wind worries them. Kaid’s thought held an underlying purr of amusement. Our Captain will execute his maneuvers without risk to us; he’s one of the best. Don’t get drawn up into Assadou’s paranoia.
“You make your way to the Port town and see what can discover about Valtegans,” continued the Chemerian, unaware of their silent conversation.
The rebellion, corrected Kusac. And the missing people. They are our main concern. Through these rebels, in particular one called Strick, we may get news of Jo’s group up in Kaladar.
Don’t rush things, warned Kaid. We have all the time we need. The Hkariyash will be berthed here for some time undergoing repairs for this engine failure we’re about to experience.
You’re not the only professionals, Kaid. Conrad’s tone was acerbic. I told you, we’ve quite a bit of experience of our own in special military ops back on Earth.
Kusac sighed inwardly. Since Kaid had joined them, Conrad had, for no apparent reason, started developing an antagonistic attitude toward the older Sholan.
That’s why I asked for you. Kaid’s thought was unruffled as he turned a calm gaze on the taller of the two men.
Cool it, Conrad, sent Quin. We got a job to do.
“You,” said Assadou, pinning Carrie with a stare, “must pose as members of my crew and…”
“Initiate engine failure in three minutes. Each person in acceleration couch in sixty seconds,” said the captain over the comm.
Assadou’s ears started to fold over at the edges. “Too soon, fool of a captain! Not finished briefing!” His voice was high-pitched with tension as he activated his powered chair. It rose swiftly from the ground, and he circled it to head for the inner door, followed by his two guards. “Leader Aldatan, your people I will see after second landing!”
With a low sound of anger, Carrie
got up and headed out into the main crew area. Kusac followed, reaching out to rest his hand on the back of her neck and knead the tensed muscles there. “At least we won’t have the pleasure of his company all the way back,” he said quietly. “We’ll rendezvous with one of our own ships a short jump from here.”
“Where?” she asked, sitting down on one of the padded reclining seats.
“The satellite orbiting Chemer,” he said, helping her fasten the restraint harness. “AlRel is determined to have a permanent Sholan presence in Chemerian space now that we have them at a severe disadvantage over this matter. They’ve kept us out until now.” The warning klaxon began to sound just as he finished and he had to dive for his own couch.
*
How long the uneven acceleration, followed by the sickening stalls and swoops lasted, Kusac couldn’t tell. Finally, with a screeching of metal, they came to a grinding, slithering halt on the ground. All the while, over the ship’s comm, they could hear the terse exchange between their ship and the Jalnian Port official.
They sat there patiently until the shuddering in the hull finally subsided. As soon as they’d been given the all clear, Conrad and Quin were off their couches and heading for the main air lock, stopping only to grab their packs from a locker beside the exit.
“Be seeing you,” said Quin with a wave as he followed Conrad down the ramp.
“No assistance required,” repeated their comm officer firmly in a patois of the local language. “Repairs underway. Take off imminent.”
As the outer hatch closed, the smell of ozone and seaweed filled the ship.
“He managed a beach landing,” said Kaid, looking over at Kusac with a grin. “Told you he was good.”
“I get the feeling that some of his fancy flying was for real,” said Carrie as they listened to Kishasayzar snapping out terse commands to his crew.
The Port official was cursing them graphically, threatening them with fines for breaking the treaty by landing outside of the designated zone. Patiently the Sumaan comm officer repeated the message, not deviating from their cover story.
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