thefiremargins

by Lisanne Norman

  Jeran's chain was just long enough for him to reach her and while the water was playing on the other two, he crawled along the floor toward her. The jet hit him again. Ears plastered flat to his head, he held her close, turning his back to take the worst of the torrent of water, lending her what little strength he had in an effort to keep her from falling back down to the deck.

  The water stopped suddenly, gurgling as it flowed down the drains to the reservoir. He let Miroshi go, not wanting to add to her pain by continuing to touch her. As he turned back to the guards, one of them stepped forward and threw a bundle of cloths at him. Jeran grabbed at them instinctively, managing to catch them before they fell onto the wet floor.

  The guard snapped an order at him. Confused, Jeran shook his head, blinking as he wiped his forearm across his eyes. The officer at the door spoke and the guard stepped forward. Leaning down, he snatched a cloth back from him and began rubbing it across his own arm.

  The officer spoke again, this time addressing Jeran briefly, then they all turned and left.

  Tesha looked over at him. "What did he say?" she demanded, curling her tail, which now resembled a piece of old rope, protectively round her haunches.

  Jeran handed two towels over to her. "We're to dry ourselves."

  "Even I got that!" she said acidly, passing the other to Tallis.

  "I didn't get it all, but it had something to do with us being put down on this planet we're orbiting in exchange for ... supplies, I think," he said, hunkering down beside Miroshi again.

  She stirred, taking the towel from him.

  "Can you manage?" he asked.

  She nodded, beginning to wipe the cloth along her arms.

  "So why the cold shower?" asked Tesha, shivering as she began to rub herself.

  "Don't want the goods to be seen covered in matted fur and dried blood," said Tallis bleakly as he made an equally half-hearted attempt to dry himself.

  "There was an implicit threat concerning J'koshuk," added Jeran.

  "He's selling us," said Miroshi, speaking for the first time in days. "He said if he doesn't get a good price, he'll give us back to J'koshuk."

  Tesha broke the silence that followed. "Well, what do we do? Make a break for it so that they kill us, or go down to this world like tame rhaklas?"

  Jeran began to dry himself, trying not to knock the scabs off the half-healed wounds. His fur was matted into the cuts on his face and arms but there was nothing he could do about it.

  Before he could answer, the door opened again, this time to admit the ship's medic, flanked by two guards, one carrying a tray holding four beakers.

  "Eat," said the medic as the guard came over with the tray. "Been cooked. Need eat. Soon you leave."

  A beaker was thrust at Tallis. Reluctantly he took it, sniffing the contents. "It has been cooked," he said, surprised. "It's some kind of stew, not raw meat."

  Jeran was given his. It wasn't worth the beating that would ensue if he refused it. He raised the beaker to his lips.

  As he drank, the medic came over and deftly grasped his arm, pressing the hypo gun against it, then he was gone. A brief surge of giddiness, then almost immediately he felt a warm glow spread through him.

  "It's some kind of sedative," he said, watching Miroshi flinch as the lizard touched her. There was no point in objecting.

  The guard collected the empty beakers then followed the medic out, leaving the soldier with his rifle trained on them.

  Tesha sat down suddenly. "I don't feel so good," she said faintly.

  Jeran looked up, seeing her inner lids beginning to show at the edges of her eyes. "You'll be all right," he said, aware that he should be feeling more concerned than he was. With an effort, he kept his mind on what he wanted to say. "You know their drugs do strange things to us, especially you. It's not lethal. They wouldn't kill us like that. There's no amusement for them in it."

  "If you focused your thoughts, you'd be able to control the effects of the drug," said Tallis.

  "I can't, you know that," said Tesha, wrinkling her nose. The skin visible around her eyes had an unhealthy greenish tinge.

  "You just won't ..." began Tallis.

  "Stop it, both of you!" said Miroshi tiredly, sinking back onto the floor. "Must we fight among ourselves? All we've got left is each other, and we may not even have that for much longer! In Vartra's name, shut up!"

  Jeran moved over to Tesha, the chain dragging behind him. "Leave it, Tesha," he said quietly. "Just ignore Tallis. Being telepaths, it's been worse for them. Every time they've been touched, they've been mentally tortured, never mind what they've done to them physically. It's only when they use drugs on us that Tallis and Miroshi can feel they're fighting back."

  "I know," she muttered, leaning her head against his shoulder. "It's been bad for all of us. What do you think our chances of being rescued are?"

  "If they know we're missing, they'll make an effort to find us, but from the size of those craft we saw around Szurtha, I'd say they'll have a lot more to worry about than the four of us."

  "They're coming back," said Tallis, ears flicking in distress as he moved closer to the other three.

  CHAPTER 1

  As Kusac opened the door to the staff lounge, he caught the tail end of their conversation.

  "You gave him the right to decide, Kaid," Rulla was saying. "No one made him choose Stronghold." Hearing the door open, he looked up.

  Kaid sat at the table reassembling his rifle.

  "What's going on?" Kusac asked, watching Rulla's eyes flick from him back to Kaid.

  "Everything's under control, Liegen," Kaid replied blandly, snapping the power pack into place. "There's nothing for you to be concerned about."

  Kusac could feel the tension in the room. Something wasn't right. He shut the door behind him, mentally scanning Rulla's surface thoughts. "Where's Vanna?" he demanded. "I know this concerns her. Where is she?"

  "She's paying a brief visit to Stronghold," replied Kaid, getting up and turning to face him. "I'm on my way to collect her now."

  "Stronghold? What in the name of all the Gods is she doing visiting there at this time of night?"

  "That's what I intend to find out," said Kaid, his voice grim as he picked up his rifle. "I'm afraid one of my people took her there." He walked toward Kusac, stopping in front of him, obviously waiting for him to step aside.

  "I'm going with you," said Rulla, getting up and moving over to join him.

  "No, you're not," said Kaid, throwing a glance at him over his shoulder. "You could be concussed after that blow on the head. You'll remain here. I'm going alone." He looked back at Kusac. "Excuse me, Liegen."

  Kusac shook his head. "I want to know what's going on. Who hit Rulla? Vanna's been kidnapped, hasn't she?"

  "You can't go alone," insisted Rulla. "It could be a ruse on Ghezu's part to get you to Stronghold."

  Kaid snorted in disgust.

  Kusac could feel himself getting angry. "No one's leaving here till I know exactly what's going on!"

  "Liegen, I haven't got time for this now," said Kaid, his ears giving the faintest flick of annoyance. "It's already over an hour since Vanna was taken."

  Kusac leaned back against the door. "Then you'd better tell me now why Stronghold's suddenly so interested in Vanna— and us." He watched Kaid's eyes narrow as the other male sized him up. "Remember your oath," he said quietly.

  "I don't need you to remind me, my Liege." Kaid's voice was emotionless now. "You have your Leska to look after. She's still very weak."

  "Dammit, Kaid!" Now he was really angry. "You two woke me with all the mental noise you were making, and that despite the psychic damper in our room! Luckily Carrie's still sedated. Vanna's one of my people— as are you. I want to know what's happened, and I want to know now!"

  "I haven't the time, Liege. T'Chebbi's waiting outside in the aircar." Kaid's tone was equally implacable.

  Abruptly Kusac reached behind him and pulled the door open. "Then tell me on th
e way." He turned and headed down the corridor toward the side exit that led to his family's private vehicle park.

  He'd barely taken half a dozen steps when he heard the sound of feet behind him and his left arm was grasped firmly.

  Trying to bite back the yelp of pain that rose to his lips, he turned round, his good arm unconsciously going up to cradle the wounded one.

  "Liege, you can't go," said Kaid. "You're injured. I did no more than touch you and you're gray with pain. You'd be a liability to me."

  "Liege is it now, Kaid?" Kusac kept his tone light as he attempted to move away from his bodyguard. "Then release me, and stop wasting more time."

  "Yes, it's Liege now, since you chose to remind me of my oath." His eyes flicked across Kusac's face. "What the hell's got into you?" he demanded. "This isn't like you at all."

  "Maybe not," replied Kusac, breathing more rapidly to try and ease the pain from his shoulder. "You told us it was over, that the last assassin was dead, and now we find that we still have enemies. It's time we started not only looking after ourselves, but also our friends. Carrie and I've faced death too often recently, Kaid. It doesn't hold any fears for either of us anymore. We won't hide behind you or anyone else again."

  "It's not that simple, Liege." Kaid let go of his arm. "This may be why Dzaka took Vanna to Stronghold— to flush you out and bring you there after her. Particularly as he knew you'd spent the night together."

  "Then we'd best not keep them waiting." Kusac turned again toward the exit.

  "Liege! I can't protect you and fetch Vanna back!" His tone was exasperated.

  "Rulla," Kusac said over his shoulder, "How's your head?"

  "I'll survive, Liegen," said Rulla.

  "Good. You'll accompany us."

  "Yes, Liegen," came the satisfied reply.

  Kaid let out a low rumble of anger as he stepped yet again in front of Kusac. "You still don't understand. If I arrive at Stronghold accompanied by you, Rulla, and T'Chebbi, it'll mean a showdown that we can't afford at this time."

  Kusac stopped again, staring Kaid straight in the eyes. "A showdown, Kaid?" He cocked one ear forward. "Why should there be a showdown because I arrive with an escort to collect my friend Vanna?"

  "Vanna didn't go voluntarily."

  "I gathered that when you mentioned Rulla had been hit on the head," said Kusac dryly. "When I left her a couple of hours ago, Vanna had no intention of going anywhere but the Guild. I can also tell you that she's probably unconscious, in a shielded area, or they've given her a psychic suppressant. What else should I know, Kaid? How about telling me why Stronghold's so interested in us."

  Kaid's eyes narrowed again. "Very well, Liege," he said abruptly, moving aside and drawing Kusac forward by his good arm. "The Brotherhood wants to get full guild status. To do this, they need to recruit you and any other mixed Leska pairs. They have the facilities and staff to train you there."

  "Why would the Brotherhood have facilities for telepaths?" Then realization dawned. "The missing talents!" Kusac stopped in his tracks and looked at Kaid with the beginnings of understanding.

  Kaid nodded.

  "You're the people the Telepath Guild has missed— the ones with the minor Talents!"

  "Some of us have more than a minor Talent, Liegen," said Rulla mildly. "We just aren't telepaths."

  "All along, the Brotherhood's been gathering in those people. Why, Kaid?"

  "That's what we are," said Kaid. "Every one of us."

  "Every one of you? Then telepaths who can fight aren't new."

  "Yes, you are," said Kaid. "That's why Stronghold wants you. They have no telepaths among their active members."

  "They want to recruit us?"

  "You and Carrie— perhaps. Vanna and Brynne, definitely. They think they can control them more easily than you."

  Kusac gave a short, derisory laugh. "They don't know Vanna!"

  "No, they don't," said Kaid, his mouth opening in the ghost of a smile.

  "Dzaka is the one who took Vanna to Stronghold," said Rulla.

  "He'll regret it," said Kaid, his voice barely audible.

  Kusac gave himself a small shake, trying to dispel the chill Kaid's comment had caused. He started walking again.

  "Stronghold wants full guild status so they can challenge the Telepath Guild's power in the World Council," said Kaid. "They can't achieve guild status unless they can prove they have a skill that is unique to them."

  "Us."

  Kaid grunted in reply as they emerged into the cold predawn air of the park. An aircar, its engine gently humming, was waiting for them. He passed his rifle to Rulla, clambering into the pilot's seat that T'Chebbi had just vacated.

  Kusac joined him in the front, leaving Rulla to accompany T'Chebbi in the rear passenger area.

  "I won't be used by the Brotherhood any more than by the Telepath Guild," said Kusac in a low voice as Kaid took off, heading northwest for the Dzahai Mountains.

  "I know, but the Brotherhood mustn't realize that yet," said Kaid, equally quietly.

  Kusac looked thoughtfully at him. He touched the edges of Kaid's mind with the usual result: a quiet stillness. Carrie was the only one who really sensed Kaid, and then only on their Link days when their abilities were enhanced. Now, thank Vartra, she was asleep, but her help would have been useful.

  "You can't break formally with the Telepath Guild unless you have the protection of Stronghold," said Kaid. "Esken won't tolerate it; he can't afford to. If you still intend to follow the path of En'Shalla, you need to buy time, to wait until Carrie's recovered. It's dangerous enough when you're healthy."

  "I know," said Kusac, his tone short. Putting their lives in the hands of Gods he barely believed in and certainly didn't trust would not be an easy step for him to take.

  "If you turn down Stronghold's offer, you'll be placing my people in a dangerous position."

  "Explain."

  "If you refuse Ghezu and Lijou, they'll recall all the Brotherhood members I've got guarding you," said Kaid, banking to the right to compensate for the gusting wind.

  "The threat to our lives is over now though, isn't it, Kaid? Surely we don't need so many people."

  "I think we do. Let's just say I prefer being overcautious. Also several of them wish to break from the Brotherhood and join you and your people. If they're recalled, they'll have to disobey Stronghold and we aren't ready for that yet."

  "The showdown you were discussing. I don't understand why they'd want to join us in the first place."

  "Because of Kaid," said Rulla, leaning forward. "You only know one side of him. Before he was 'retired' from the Brotherhood, he had quite a following, especially when it came time to elect the new Leader."

  "Enough, Rulla," said Kaid sharply, banking the vehicle against the wind and causing them all to clutch their seats.

  Kusac turned to look not only at Kaid but at Rulla as the other male picked himself up from the floor. "You were a contender for Leadership of the Brotherhood?" Already he was reassessing his opinion of Kaid. A lot of things were beginning to fall into place.

  "I was chosen," Kaid admitted reluctantly. "It's part of my life that belongs in the past. Rulla and others won't let me forget it. I think they're fools to risk their lives with us, but they're entitled to make their own choices. That's why it's wiser to agree to the Brotherhood's offer for the time being, until you're ready to step outside the guild system. That way you can break publicly from the Telepath Guild with the protection of the Brotherhood, who can then claim what they want— full guild status."

  "They give us their protection in return for our support in breaking Esken's hold on the World Council," said Kusac.

  "As you say. He's using fear of himself and his Telepath Guild to coerce the weaker Council members to vote his way. They're too afraid to speak up against him, and those who do have an idea of what's happening can't prove it."

  "What about my father? He can't know anything about this. I know fear wouldn't stop him speaking
out against Esken."

  Kaid looked at him briefly. "I assume he knows nothing. The Council members Esken controls presume all the senior telepaths are involved. They aren't going to risk their lives by asking one to find out."

  "By all the Gods, Kaid, if this is true it mustn't be allowed to continue! How could Esken claim he was afraid of us abusing our Talents when he behaves like this? What of Governor Nesul? Where does he fit into this?"