razorsedge

by Lisanne Norman

  Taradain’s face was frozen in a look of bland politeness, but his eyes were fully dilated and staring out at Rezac in sheer terror.

  “Is the conditioning holding?” he asked her, touching her face briefly to reassure himself she was all right.

  “Yes, but I’m holding him, too,” she said, her voice sounding strained.

  “I’ll take over,” he said. “Kris is helping Zashou.”

  She nodded, releasing her hold on him, and sagged briefly against the wall.

  Moments later, the others joined them. Davies shut the chamber door, turning the key that still sat in the lock. Removing it, he lifted his robe and placed it in his pants pocket.

  “It’ll take them a while to get them out,” he said with satisfaction, moving up to the front to be with Jo.

  She led the way down to the level below, waiting at the foot of the stairs while Rezac checked mentally to see if the way was clear. Turning left, they headed quickly down the corridor, stopping at the second door on the right.

  Empty. And it is the Queen’s chamber, sent Rezac. Despite my conditioning, Taradain’s aware of what’s happening so I can follow his thoughts.

  Davies pushed the door open a fraction, peering into the room before opening it wider. They followed him in, blinking at the sudden glare of his flashlight.

  “Taradain was as good as his word about our stuff,” he said. “Everything there bar the gun. Where now, Jo?” he asked, playing the beam around the obviously unused room.

  She preceded him, going over to the large, ornate bed. A carved wooden panel formed the headboard and it was over this that she began to run her fingers, obviously looking for some catch or depression. There was a click, then a faint rumbling sound came from the wall to her right.

  Davies shone the torch on it to reveal a slowly widening black gap. “Now that’s what I call a secret passage,” he murmured, stepping up to it and peering inside. “Queen’s Chamber, eh? The Queen who had this built must have had some love life!” Then her remembered Taradain. “Not that I meant to infer that it might be your mother,” he added hastily. “Anyone can see this is an old tunnel.”

  “Two hundred years old.” said Jo. “She was a so-called virgin queen whose exploits were the talk of her generation. She left her crown to her cousin, Taradain’s three or four times great aunt.”

  “Hurry up,” hissed Rezac. “We haven’t any time to lose! We’ve got a four hour start if no one checks on the guards before then!”

  Davies stepped cautiously into the gap, shining his torch down the passage before sticking his head back out. “It’s fine. Cobwebs here and there, wood paneling on one side, stone on the other. We’d best keep very quiet. We’ve no way of knowing who’s in the rooms on the other side.”

  “What about Taradain?” asked Jo.

  “Bind and gag him and take him with us,” said Rezac. “We can’t afford the energy to monitor him.”

  The tunnel seemed to stretch for miles as, stumbling along in almost pitch-blackness, they followed the bobbing light of Davies’ torch. Stairs there were, two flights of them, leading down, their surfaces treacherous because of the uneven treads. Finally they saw a faint glow ahead of them: It was Railin’s lantern.

  “You made it,” he said, a relieved smile splitting his face. Then he saw the two Sholans.

  Rezac was past caring what anyone thought of them. Zashou was on the point of collapse. He’d had to carry her for the last part of their journey. Staggering out of the tunnel entrance, to his surprise, he found willing hands ready to take his burden from him. A water container was offered to him.

  Parched, he leaned against the rocks and drank his fill while Railin’s soldiers saw to Zashou and the others. When he’d finished, Railin came up to him, placing his hand on his arm and urging him to one side.

  “Your wife,” he said quietly. “No one said she was pregnant. We must ride hard and fast if we’re to outrun Killian. You risk the child’s life, perhaps even hers.”

  “We have no choice,” said Rezac. “Believe me, if we had, we’d take it. We’re linked in a way that makes our lives dependent on each other. If she dies, so do I. And unless we meet up with our friends, she will die.”

  “Where are you to meet these friends?” Railin asked. “How will they get you to the Port?”

  “They have a shuttle,” said Jo, joining them. “They’ll meet us at the pad outside Galrayin. It isn’t guarded, is it?”

  “No, there’s nothing there to guard until our caravans are there. but if they have a shuttle, can’t they come closer than Galrayin? The ride will be too much for her, believe me. I have children of my own, and from the look of her, she’s near her time.”

  “Six weeks,” said Jo.

  Railin shook his head. “Too close at twice the time. Can you not use this mind-speaking to contact them, ask them to meet you sooner?”

  Jo looked at Rezac. “I’ll try,” he said, reaching out to take Jo by the hand. “Link with me, Jo,” he said tiredly, tugging her till she rested against him. With a sigh, he leaned his head on her shoulder, letting go of the block he’d been trying to keep on their Link compulsion.

  Instantly, their minds merged, sweeping them up in a kaleidoscope of memories and sensations. They fought to control it, using it to focus a sending to Carrie, but they sensed only the sleeping minds of those who’d come to rescue them. Exhausted and suffering from the effects of holding back a Link day, Rezac broke the connection abruptly before it took them down a path they couldn’t yet tread.

  I daren’t hold you any longer, he sent to Jo, resolutely pushing her away. “We can’t reach them, they’re asleep,” he said to Railin.

  The older man nodded sympathetically. “Then we must ride with all speed. We only have a few hours grace before Killian discovers the imprisoned guards and learns that his son is missing.”

  “What do we do with Taradain?” Jo asked.

  “We’ll leave him with the caravan as we pass it,” said Railin. “He’ll be safe with them and it’s the first place Killian will look. He’ll not harm the caravaneers, so they take no risk in looking after him for us.”

  Nodding, Jo picked up her skirts and began to walk toward the others. “Did Taradain return my clothes?” she asked of Davies.

  “Yes. Do you want to change here?” he asked in surprise as he reached into his backpack for her coveralls.

  “Damned right, I do,” she said firmly, beginning to unlace her dress at the side as she turned her back to him. “Undo the back, please. I want to forget we ever stayed here.”

  *

  An hour before dawn, Ashay, the Sumaan pilot chosen by Kishasayzar, warmed up the engines of the shuttle resting in the hold of the Hkariyash. Kaid had run through the controls with him earlier. Nice little craft, she was. Ashay was proud to be trusted with flying her. Concealed guns were but a button’s touch away, and as for speed— she compared with ground to space vessels of twice the size. Beneath her hull were hidden many things that did not by rights belong in such a vehicle, and his captain as well as the Sholan, had given her to him to pilot on this most important mission.

  Lips curled back in a happy grin, Ashay let the craft rise off the deck and gently nosed her out of the Hkariyash’s cargo hold into the Jalnian night. He took her higher, opening a comm link to the Port. He knew what to say, and he would stick to it. Briefly, his finger hovered over the firing button. No, they wouldn’t need him to shoot his way out. He sighed. Stealth was acceptable in a warrior, but fighting was best. Maybe he’d get the chance to shoot his way back in, though. His marksmanship might yet save the day.

  Then he remembered what his captain had said. His was a peaceful mission. Unless he was ordered to do any shooting, he should refrain from opening fire on those who would willfully thwart his purpose. He sighed and got ready to respond to the Jalnian voice that demanded answers from him over his comm. A warrior could dream, couldn’t he?

  *

  The shuttle had left as planned
and now, as Carrie and Kusac headed back to the ship, it was time to gather their belongings and join the caravan. They didn’t need much, but they were carrying their own drinking water and food in packs that would tie onto saddles.

  Kaid and T’Chebbi came with them as far as the outer gates. The permit was only for them and the guard would not allow the two Sholans to pass through for long enough to see their friends depart.

  The small shantytown was a hive of quiet, efficient activity as the caravan, which had been loaded earlier that evening, gathered in a line, waiting for the guards and outriders hired to protect it. The draft animals stood patiently: They knew they had a long haul ahead of them, they weren’t in a hurry to leave. Not so the riding beasts. Carrie’s pranced and danced beneath her, pawing the ground with impatience.

  At last the command to move came, and slowly, the wagons jolted forward as the beasts took up the slack and began to pull.

  *

  Kaid looked at his wrist unit as they walked back to the ship. “We can stay awake and eat an early meal, or go back to bed and sleep a little longer,” he said. “What do you want to do?”

  “Sleep,” yawned T’Chebbi. “Be fresher when we need it. If I stay up now, might fall asleep at wrong time.”

  *

  Jo signaled frantically to Railin to slow down till she could shout across at him.

  “We must stop! Zashou’s gone into labor!”

  He signed to his men and within moments their headlong flight had ground to a halt. Turning her beast around, she urged it back to Rezac’s side and dismounted. Kris’ and Davies’ willing hands had already taken Zashou from him.

  “Over here!” called one of Railin’s soldiers, beckoning to a small grassy knoll a few feet away.

  While Kris carried Zashou over, Davies helped Rezac down from his beast. He was hardly able to stand and needed Davies’ and Jo’s support to make the short walk to where Kris had laid Zashou in the grass.

  “She’s gone into premature labor,” said Jo, terrified for them both as Zashou, wracked with pain, began to whimper. Rezac suddenly sagged and they had to grab him before he fell. “Their Link’s come back,” she said. “He’s suffering her pain, too! Rezac, you should have told us sooner!”

  “She wouldn’t let me,” he said, staggering slightly as they lowered him to the ground. He reached out for Zashou, drawing her close so her head and shoulders were cradled on his lap. His eyes, dimmed with his Leska’s pain, looked up at her. “What of you, Jo? Do you feel it too? Are you all right?”

  She crouched down beside them, taking Zashou’s hand in hers, wiping the sweat-soaked tendrils of hair back from her face. “I’m fine, I feel nothing Rezac. But I don’t know how to help her!”

  “Try contacting them again. They must be awake now,” he said, shuddering and closing his eyes as another spasm wracked them both.

  She waited till the contraction had passed before withdrawing her hand from Zashou’s and moving away from them. Railin was waiting.

  “We can’t go on,” she said. “I’m going to try reaching them again. Railin, I know nothing about childbirth. I don’t know how to help her!”

  Railin turned to his men. They stood with their beasts a decent distance away from them, watching the road for signs of pursuit. Though daylight, it was not long after dawn and still cool.

  “Lanris! You birthed your last child, didn’t you? Over here and help us! Jored, collect all our water and bring it here!” He turned back to Jo as he began rolling up his sleeves. “You get on with what you have to do, we’ll take care of her,” he said, patting her comfortingly on the shoulder.

  Dazed, she nodded, watching as he strode purposefully over to Zashou and Rezac.

  “Lord Tarolyn,” said the one called Lanris as he rushed over. “We know nothing about her kind. She may not be the same as us,” he began.

  “Rubbish! All young come into the world the same way,” said Railin brusquely, glancing back apologetically at Jo. “Get some of your gear stripped off, man, and lend a hand!”

  “Lord Tarolyn,” said Jo, looking in confusion to the soldiers.

  The nearest one nodded. “Lord Railin Tarolyn, Lady. Our Lord.”

  Jo found herself suddenly sitting on the ground looking into the blurry face of the soldier who’d just answered her. His face cleared as she blinked up at him. He held the spout of a waterskin to her lips.

  “Drink, Lady. You just fainted, that’s all.”

  She held onto the skin, drinking greedily till her thirst was quenched, then pushed it aside. “Does he do this often?” she asked.

  The soldier looked from her to his Lord then back, and he grinned. “That he does, Lady. Says it keeps him in touch with what’s going on. It’ll be the death of him and us, one day, being as we’re his special guards. But there’s worse jobs, as they say.”

  A yowl of pain from Zashou brought her back to what she was supposed to be doing. With a smile, the soldier offered to help her to her feet. She shook her head. “I’m better sitting down now,” she said.

  A shadow falling across her made her look up as Kris approached and squatted down beside her. “I’m not much use back there, but I can help you reach Carrie,” he said. “Rezac says to tell you now he’s Linked with Zashou, he knows the cub’s dead.”

  “Oh, no. To go through all this pain and have no child at the end,” said Jo, sadness for them both welling up inside her. She sighed. “I’d be glad of your help, Kris.”

  Sitting beside her, he offered her his hand. She took it. It was cool, his skin rough and alien to her touch, so used was she now to Rezac’s furred hand. Mentally, she reached for Kris, establishing a link so she could use his energy to power their search.

  *

  The shuttle, sent Kusac, reining in his beast as they rounded the hill. It sat beside the track some thirty meters away.

  And exactly where we said. Well done for Ashay, Carrie replied as she slowed her mount.

  The cabin air lock opened to reveal Ashay standing in the doorway, rifle slung in a ready position, grinning at them.

  “Good time, you make,” he called out.

  Their mounts, nervous enough with Sholan scent, began to snicker in terror as they caught Ashay’s predator’s smell.

  “Beasts not like Sumaan,” he said, his tone regretful. “Sad. I like to touch them. See if their hide is as soft as it looks.”

  They dismounted, grabbing their packs then releasing the animals. They needed no encouragement. Nostrils flaring, with tiny shrieks of fear, they were gone.

  Running to the vehicle, Carrie grasped Ashay’s outstretched hand first. He seemed to give only a gentle pull and she was sailing through the air to land with a jolt on the deck beside him. She’d just time to clear the entrance before Kusac was beside her.

  They headed into the cargo area where the containers substantiating their claim to have been picking up goods were stowed.

  “Five minutes, Ashay,” said Kusac to their pilot as the young Sumaan closed the air lock behind them. “Good navigating. You were right on target.”

  He joined Carrie, helping her release and stow the inner bulkhead that concealed their tiny medical facility. While she locked the drop-down treatment bed into place and located the various drugs and hypos, he continued releasing sections of paneling that formed the seating for their passengers. The craft was capable of seating ten in the back plus three up front. A multipurpose vehicle, it was a military prototype outfitted to their specifications for this mission.

  Carrie, satisfied that all she needed was at hand, headed back up front where Ashay was observing them in wonder.

  “Amazing what you can find behind bulkheads, isn’t it, Ashay?” she said with a grin.

  “Indeed. Had I not been seeing it for myself, I would not be believing it.”

  She settled herself in one of the remaining front seats and had just finished fastening her safety restraint when she sensed Jo’s presence.

  Carrie, thank God you’re there
! We need your help. Zashou’s in premature labor; there’s no way we can make the rendezvous.

  We’re with the shuttle now. Where are you?

  Fifteen miles northeast of Galrayin, on the caravan trail from Kaladar. How soon can you get here?

  Leaning forward, Carrie punched several buttons on the nav screen display. Beside her she felt the thumps of Ashay resuming his pilot’s seat and Kusac joining her.

  “Ten minutes if I go fast,” said Ashay, beginning to start his ignition sequence.

  “Make it five,” said Kusac.

  Between five and ten minutes, she sent to Jo.

  The cub’s dead, Carrie, but Zashou and Rezac are bad.

  We know what to expect, Jo, sent Kusac. Carrie had our cub in the field like this.

  You have a cub?

  A daughter. We’ll talk later, Jo, sent Carrie.

  Carrie, one more thing. Railin— he’s Lord Tarolyn, leader of the rebellion.

  *

  With only another three customers, the Haven was quiet at this time of morning, and it was cool. Already the heat outside had built up to a level that promised another scorching day. Kaid and T’Chebbi collected their drinks and headed to a table off to one side of the entrance.

  As she sat down, T’Chebbi pressed something to the table’s underside. “Two,” she said.

  Kaid nodded and turned to look toward the window. “I think I see something,” he said, getting up. “Back in a moment.” He made a show of peering out before he returned.

  “Three,” he said.

  “How many more?” T’Chebbi asked as she sipped at her ale and grimaced.

  “Another couple ought to do it,” he said, leaning across the table toward her. A slightly glazed look came over his face for a moment, then he refocused on her.

  “Carrie?”

  He nodded. “They’re on their way again. Zashou’s in shock but stabilizing, and Rezac’s fine now that she’s been given psi suppressants.”

  “The cub?”

  He shook his head. “Dead. Malformed, too, which made it worse for Zashou. Never would have survived. Must be the effects of this damned la’quo. They’ll be here in fifteen minutes.”