thefiremargins

by Lisanne Norman

  "Rrurto, keep your voice down," L'Seuli whispered. "It will do no one any good if we're the next two victims."

  Rrurto growled again but started toward the doorway into the temple, pausing between the twin carved pillars of flame to take up his post.

  As L'Seuli took up his position, he risked a glance through the open doorway. Filling the area in front of him was the huge circular altar on which the Eternal Flame burned. He wrinkled his nose as the faint aroma of singed fur drifted out into the corridor.

  Minutes later, the medic, Anirra, came rushing toward them carrying his medikit. Rrurto stepped in front of him, barring his way with his rifle.

  "Get out of my way! There's an injured person in there!" said Anirra, trying to push past him.

  "L'Seuli, go check with the Prophet that he's expecting the medic," said Rrurto, grasping Anirra by the arm.

  L'Seuli stepped cautiously between the pillars and through the doorway into the temple. As he entered, a blinding light filled the room, making his eyes water and blink. Instinctively holding an arm in front of his face, he looked upward for the source. In the roof of the cavern was a hole that let the sunlight stream down into the temple, hitting the polished mirror below it.

  "Who are you to dare disturb the peace of Kezule?" demanded Fyak.

  Still blinking, L'Seuli looked toward the voice, seeing the Prophet sitting in a large carved chair a short distance from the altar.

  "The medic Anirra waits outside, Liege," he said, gripping his rifle more firmly. He was not enjoying being so close to Fyak.

  "He may enter."

  L'Seuli bowed low. "Yes, Liege," he said, backing out of the temple. A slight movement at the base of the altar caught his eye, and head still bowed, he glanced toward it. Lying huddled on the ground was the female. She caught his eyes, her look and the message she dared to send him, begging for a swift end. He looked away, hardening himself against her. He could do nothing for her, just like he'd been unable to help the many others who had looked at him in just that way.

  Once beyond the doors, he swung round to face Rrurto and Anirra. "The Word of Kezule says he may enter," he said.

  "About bloody time," muttered Anirra as Rrurto let him go.

  In the meantime, Vraiyou, followed by the youth, had come round the corner and was observing them with raised eye ridges.

  "I trust you don't intend to detain me," he said, approaching them, a small wooden casket held before him in both hands.

  "No, Father," said Rrurto, standing to attention. "You may enter."

  The chief of Fyak's Faithful inclined his head in gentle sarcasm as he passed between them. The youth shot them anxious looks, tail down and ears flicking as he followed.

  L'Seuli exchanged glances with Rrurto. They both knew that if Fyak planned to take the sap of the holy plant then he intended to speak with the God that evening. They were in for another night's vigil in the desert.

  Raised voices came from within and L'Seuli and Rrurto edged closer to the middle of the doorway in an attempt to hear what was being said, but they could distinguish no words.

  "What did you see when you went in?" the older male asked quietly from the side of his mouth.

  "Not a lot. He'd just had the ceiling opened to the sky and the brightness almost blinded me."

  "Did you see the female?"

  "Yes. She was at the foot of the altar."

  "What sort of state was she in?"

  "Not good."

  "Where was he?"

  "Sitting in some kind of carved throne."

  "I know the one you mean. That throne wasn't made for folk with tails," Rrurto muttered.

  "What d'you mean?"

  "What I said. It was made for folk more like those demons the Prophet's always on about."

  L'Seuli forced his ears and tail to stay still. He might just find out more than they'd dared hope. "The demons? You think they exist then?"

  "I know they exist, lad. That's what keeps a lot of us with Fyak! Fear of them returning! You didn't think this place was built by us, did you? Me and my partner— the one you replaced— were on temple guard duty when they were getting it ready for some service or other. We had the chance to look round. On a couple of stretches of wall in there are carvings and paintings that have lasted better then the ones out here. You can see enough to tell that the folk in them look more like the Terrans than us."

  "Like the Terrans?" L'Seuli edged even closer.

  "Sort of," said Rrurto, looking at him. "They were furless like them. No hair, even on their heads, and their eyes were larger. Noses looked to be just slits on their faces. Their hands were all shown clawed so I reckon they couldn't retract them like we can."

  It took all the self-control he possessed to stop himself from reacting. "Sounds interesting. Any chance of getting a look at these carvings?"

  "Forget it," said Rrurto sharply. "You go poking about around this temple and Fyak'll make raw meat of you! Besides, all you have to do is look at the walls of this corridor as we leave here. You'll be able to see their likeness now you know what to look for."

  The voices suddenly got louder and hurriedly they separated. Anirra emerged and grasped Rrurto by the arm. "Get rid of that rifle. I need you to carry the female down to the infirmary for me," he said.

  Slinging his firearm over his shoulder, Rrurto disappeared into the temple to reemerge moments later carrying the unconscious female, the remains of her purple robe draped around her.

  Concerned, L'Seuli watched them leave. He didn't like being left alone here. He didn't trust either Fyak or Vraiyou. Ears flared wide and turned as far backward as they would go, he hovered close enough to the open doors to hear without, he hoped, being seen.

  It seemed an age before his partner returned, though in reality it was only some ten minutes.

  "How is she?" he whispered as Rrurto resumed his post.

  "She'll live," he said, his voice, though quiet, full of anger. "She's been knocked about some, and has burns on her hands and arms where he held her against the altar."

  "That's desecration!" L'Seuli hissed, shocked.

  "Not when you're the Word of Kezule and you claim He told you to violate the female telepath! Just remember, we know nothing about it, hear me?"

  L'Seuli nodded, keeping his thoughts to himself. If there were other old-timers like Rrurto who were beginning to see the insanity of some of Fyak's actions, then perhaps all wasn't lost. It meant that at least there was hope for the future.

  They stood in silence for perhaps another half hour, aware that the brightness from the hole in the temple roof was gradually dimming. Then, as it was abruptly cut off, Vraiyou emerged.

  "Come," he said to them. "We'll take the temple exit."

  Glancing questioningly at Rrurto, L'Seuli waited for the other to step in front of him before following. Though he'd done guard duty during a vigil, he'd never been there at the start before.

  The temple was now illuminated by the same units that were used elsewhere in the cavern complex. On his throne, Fyak sat slumped against one carved wooden arm. They could hear his heavy breathing and as they drew nearer, see that his eyes were almost covered by his inner lids.

  "The drug the Prophet uses to enable him to travel to the realm of Kezule takes a heavy toll on his body," said Vraiyou, his tone urbane. "We are all grateful for his sacrifice."

  "Kezule be praised," L'Seuli chanted in time with Rrurto as they waited for the senior member of the Faithful to help the staggering Prophet to his feet.

  L'Seuli's mind turned to the drug Fyak had used. Underlying the odors that permeated the air in here, he could smell a sharp, almost pungent, vegetable smell, unlike anything he'd come across before. He let his eyes roam around the floor by the throne, hoping against hope that there was some fragment lying there that he could pick up, but predictably, there was nothing. He had to find out more about it— get a sample if he could. He knew most of the plant-extract drugs and this smelled like nothing he'd come across before
.

  As they began to walk slowly through the temple toward the wall hanging that covered the exit corridor, he took the opportunity to quickly glance round the chamber for the carved paintings that Rrurto had mentioned. He saw a blur of color on a far wall, but it was too far away to distinguish any details.

  "Father," ventured Rrurto. "Would you send the lad for our cloaks? We're not blessed by Kezule as the Prophet is. The nights are sharp enough now to freeze a warrior's hands to his gun."

  Vraiyou gestured to the youth who sped off in the opposite direction.

  * * *

  It had been a month or two since Konis had attended the Council of Leaders. What with one thing or another, his life had been rather complicated since his people's first contact with another telepathic species, and by his son's Link to one of those individuals.

  Governor Nesul had contacted him in advance, asking that he attend as General Raiban had requested the opportunity to address the council on the issue of the Valtegans. Normally Konis' position was filled by one of his senior members of staff at AlRel and he would attend in person only when he had a report to make or his presence was necessary to the issue being discussed.

  The current debate concerned another plea from Tayangi, head of the Civil Protectorate, for more resources to be allocated to combating the pockets of organized crime that flourished in the major cities, Ranz in the highlands of the Dzahai mountains andthe capital Shanagi itself being prime among them.

  Konis reached for his glass of water, glancing as unobtrusively as he could at his wrist comm in the process. It was nearing the end of the day's business. If Nesul intended Raiban to speak, he'd better do something soon.

  Almost as he thought it, the governor interrupted the discussion.

  "I've asked General Raiban to attend the meeting today because she has some news that concerns us all. Hanaz," he said to his aide, "would you ask the General to come in, please?"

  A few minutes later, Raiban entered, carrying a large, flat case and followed by a Human. As Konis sat up, he was aware of the sense of outrage, and expectation, from the assembled Guild and Clan Leaders. This was going to be heated and controversial, he realized— if he'd correctly interpreted the presence of the box and the Human.

  Raiban walked round the oval wooden table, stopping at the places left vacant for herself and her companion. Placing the case on the table, she looked over at the Governor.

  "This is completely out of order, a breach of security," said Guild Master Mnoeshi, her ears twitching in anger. "Since when has our Assembly been open to members of other species?"

  "Dr. Michaels is here by my invitation," said Nesul. "If General Raiban, head of Military Intelligence, doesn't consider him a security risk, then neither should we." He turned to look at Raiban. "General, please. When you're ready?"

  Raiban nodded and as her companion sat, she leaned forward to open the case fully. As she pushed it into the center of the table, clearly visible in their nest of form-fitting padding, lay the skull and several large bones from the limbs of a Valtegan.

  "These remains were found at one of the ancient city sites," she said, looking directly at where Master Esken sat, "before it was destroyed by members of Esken's Guild. They're the bones of a Valtegan who walked on Sholan soil over a millennium ago."

  A stunned silence greeted her statement, then exclamations of surprise broke out from all directions as the Councillors furthest from the case rose to their feet in an effort to see it.

  "I had Dr. Michaels and a team of his chosen archaeologists," she said the alien word carefully, "brought here, not only to date the bones, but because we need their skills if we're going to find out what Valtegans were doing on Shola at or around the time of the Cataclysm. If they've been here once, they may come back. They've already unleashed a weapon of devastating proportions on Khyaal and Szurtha, a weapon about which we still know nothing."

  Looking Esken squarely in the face, she continued. "I think it's time you were accountable for this wanton destruction of our past. I want answers to some questions, and I want them now, Esken!"

  Esken's face and ears remained impassive as he lifted his shoulders in a shrug. "I've done nothing that my predecessors haven't done for hundreds of years, General Raiban. Naturally I'll answer what questions I can, providing they don't touch on Guild secrets."

  "Guild secrets be damned, Esken." Konis' voice was a low growl of anger. "My son and bond-daughter nearly died on the Khalossa because your medics refused his physician guild-specific medical information! We're entering a new era, not only on Shola, but out there," he gestured toward the ceiling. "If we can't learn to communicate freely with each other, irrespective of guilds, then I foresee the collapse of our people under the weight of traditions that will destroy them!"

  Governor Nesul nodded. "Well said, Konis. We're in danger of remaining too planet-bound, my colleagues," he said, talking over the angry exclamations from round the table.

  "We have to learn to see the whole picture. The Valtegans aren't a distant threat out in space. We've lost two colonies to them, and now we've found evidence that they've lived on our home world. Esken, I want to know why explosives have to be detonated in the ruins before the mining and salvage teams can enter. I want to know why your Guild has been spreading a doctrine dismissing our past history as unimportant, and I want to know if you knew about these remains before now!"

  "I think you're exaggerating the situation, Governor. The ruins have always been dealt with in this fashion. Commander Chuz, the explosives are controlled by your people and you knew what they were being used for. Check your records and you'll see that I've only been continuing in the footsteps of my predecessors." He paused, looking round the faces turned toward him. "As for spreading a doctrine against our past— that's ridiculous, as I'm sure many of you will agree."

  Konis watched as Esken looked expectantly from one to another of the people he would normally have expected to back him up. He might dislike him, but as a fellow telepath, he felt some sympathy for this public abandonment. Still, he'd only himself to blame. Coercion and threats were no way to win allies.

  Finally, Clan Leader Chekoi spoke up. "I have to agree with Master Esken," he said. "I don't see how you can accuse him of trying to suppress an interest in our past. What do the achievements of our ancient ancestors matter to us now?"

  "Tell me which God or Goddess you personally worship," said Nesul, looking at the comp pad in front of him.

  "Excuse me?" Chekoi was obviously taken aback at the question.

  "Which deity does your clan look to as its protector?"

  "Nylam, God of the Hunt, but what's that got to do with anything?"

  "There's a temple to Nylam in Taykui forest, near your clan's estate, isn't there? Who runs it?" He looked up at Chekoi, stylus poised.

  The Clan Leader frowned. "The priest, of course!"

  "Uh huh. Nickoe, who does your clan look to?" He fixed his eyes on another of Esken's supporters.

  "The Goddess of Shola, the Green Goddess. Why? What point are you trying to make, Nesul?" demanded the female Sholan as she watched him annotate his pad.

  As Nesul raised his head and looked slowly round his Council, Konis began to purr gently in amusement.

  "I expect each one of you has sent your own and the clan cubs to your local temple, haven't you? As well as taking their turn in helping the lay-brothers maintain the building and the grounds, and assisting in the various rites and ceremonies, I'm sure they, and you in your day, have been taught by the priest in charge, haven't they?" asked Nesul, carefully replacing his stylus beside his comp pad. "Master Esken, please tell us to which guild do all the priests belong?"

  "Mine, of course!" snapped the now irate telepath. "What's your point, Nesul?"

  "Merely that priests spread doctrines, and all priests, bar those of Vartra, answer directly to you because they're all telepaths."

  Konis, sensing the telltale signs that Esken was about to really lose his temper, de
cided to intervene. "Governor, I'm sure that Esken was only following the orders of his predecessors," he said, looking over to the beleaguered Guild Master. "You're doing exactly what every Master of the Telepath Guild has done, right back to the days of the Cataclysm, but have you ever thought to ask yourself why?"

  "You all know why! The ruins are dangerously unstable, full of rooms where tons of rubble are held up by ancient rusting girders. The slightest movement could make them collapse on those within! Blasting them makes them safer for the miners!"

  "The blasting will stop as of now, Esken," said Nesul, his voice taking on a hard edge. "You will also instruct your priests to encourage an interest in our past history."

  "If I may, Governor Nesul," said Raiban. "I feel we need all the guilds to pool their records so a common database can be set up from which we can try to find out what our ancestors knew, if anything, about the Valtegans and their possible involvement in the Cataclysm."