thefiremargins

by Lisanne Norman

"Going back to the drug, what Ghezu used on me isn't the same as what Fyak uses for his trances when he communicates with this Kezule. Apparently Ghezu got it when he was obtaining supplies for Fyak. I think it was responsible for me going to the Shrine, and back to the time of the Cataclysm."

  "You're getting ahead of yourself, Kaid. All of what you're talking about is news to me."

  "Wait. There's a Chemerian merchant trading in Valsgarth. Can you go to him— take the phial with you— and see if he recognizes it? And try to ... encourage him to obtain at least another two doses."

  "I can do that. Now, for the God's sake, tell me the news!"

  * * *

  The next day Kaid was up and about before anyone. He headed over to the Shrine where, some time later, Ghyan found him sitting at the foot of the statue of Vartra.

  "I'd heard they'd brought you back to the estate," he said, coming over to stand beside him. "How are you?"

  Kaid squinted up at him. "Not bad," he said. "It isn't a bit like Him, you know."

  "Excuse me?"

  Kaid pushed himself to his feet with his good arm. "Vartra doesn't look like this. Have you come across a reference to Varza, God of a Warrior priesthood that existed back then? The statue up on the hill was like this, like the one at Stronghold. He's your real God."

  "A moment, Kaid," said Ghyan, reaching out to take him by the arm.

  This time, Kaid made no effort to conceal what he was feeling from the priest, and no sooner had he touched him, than Ghyan drew back in shock.

  "It's different when you feel for yourself the effect you have on others, isn't it?" Kaid said. "Perhaps now you'll see me, not what you think I am. It makes no odds to me, but it would make it easier for us to work together."

  As he stepped over to the side braziers, he could feel Ghyan's utter confusion. Taking a piece of incense, he crumbled it over the coals, quietly repeating the ancient ritual. Having finished, he decided to take pity on the priest: he was just being over-protective of those he loved.

  "I told you, Ghyan, we're both working for the same goals."

  "Kaid, if I misjudged you, I apologize," said Ghyan. "If it's any consolation, after the last time you and I talked, Father Lijou held up the same mirror you just did."

  Kaid raised an eye ridge in surprise.

  "He'd read what his predecessor wrote about you. I hadn't realized you'd been attached to the priesthood for so long."

  "I had Dzaka to care for, I needed to stay on Shola for him. It wasn't all religious work, though, I had secular duties as well during that time. That's how Garras and I became a team."

  "With your telepathic talent, no wonder you became a Special Operative. It must have helped enormously in locating those with rogue talents, and in assessing whether or not they could be helped at Stronghold."

  "You have been talking to a few people, haven't you?" said Kaid with a slight grin. "What's past, is past, Ghyan."

  Ghyan's ears flicked in assent. "You mentioned Vartra. Have you seen Him?"

  "We all did, but it was Kusac's dream. You'd best ask him."

  Ghyan shook his head. "You tell me. What's He like? Those who've seen Him in dreams or visions never seem to see Him clearly."

  "Tall, and slimmer than most. More like a priest, certainly no warrior," he said. "Plains born, with the narrower ears and a dark tan pelt." Kaid gestured to the statue. "Certainly not with muscles like those!"

  "I don't understand you, Kaid. You've consistently had visions and dreams of Vartra, and you've spent years as a lay-Priest. Why do you still burn incense for Him if you believe He's only a person, not a God?"

  "He did what the legends tell us," said Kaid, shivering despite the long woollen robe he wore. He suddenly felt bone-weary. He realized that coming to the Shrine had been too much for him. "He may have started out no different from us, but the things He achieved!" He shook his head thoughtfully. "He is the one who speaks to us in our Visions, Ghyan. Only a God can do that. I have no problems with His having been a mortal, in fact, I prefer it. Godhood should be earned, not conferred at birth. If Gods are born," he added as an afterthought. "We have to work closely now, Ghyan. We travel to the Fire Margins within a fortnight."

  "I didn't realize you'd finalized it. I've studied the texts on the Pathwalking used for the Margins. I can handle it. I think we could all do with a couple of practices first, though."

  "I know the Path, Ghyan. We'll need you here to guard us while we're traveling."

  "How do you know the path? You couldn't have been there, surely!"

  "All three of us have been there at some time," he said. "Whether it was a replay, or a vision, we saw His world. I'll describe it to you, and you can monitor us. When we travel, if need be, you can reinforce what I'm showing them. But not now. Not today. I'm sorry," he said, reaching out to hold onto the stone pillar for support as a wave of nausea and lightheadedness swept through him. "It's too soon after ..."

  "You don't look well. Let me help you," said Ghyan, slipping his arm under Kaid's sound one.

  * * *

  Carrie was in the den at the time. Sensing that Kaid was reaching the point of collapse, she went looking for Dzaka in the staff quarters. There was no reply when she touched the buzzer, so she went in, heading through the tiny sitting area to his bedroom door.

  Dzaka lay sprawled across his bed, dead to the world. The lightweight cover was tangled round his limbs— and Kitra was nestled in against his side. Kitra had obviously stolen down from the main house to be with him, only to find she was unable to wake him.

  Stopping at the foot of the bed, Carrie ran her fingers down the pads of Dzaka's foot, making him jerk in his sleep. Repeating it, she watched in amusement as he began to wake, then feeling the warmth of someone else beside him, discovered Kitra, then her.

  He sat bolt upright, looking from one to the other, mouth open in an "Oh, my God!" expression.

  She laughed at his confusion. He obviously wasn't used to being disturbed when he was sharing his bed. "Dzaka. Kaid's overdone it by going to the Shrine. Will you take the floater chair over and fetch him back, please? Once you've returned you can go back to bed if you want. You're not on duty till evening," she said, unable to hide another grin.

  Dzaka carefully untangled himself, throwing the cover over Kitra once he'd gotten up.

  "Sorry, Liegena, I didn't know she was there," he mumbled, rubbing the sleep from his eyes as he staggered over to his shower cubicle.

  "It's not a problem, so long as Rhyasha knows she's here. I thought she'd been visiting less often."

  "She has, now she's gotten things into their proper perspective. She's still a kitling, after all."

  "True. I'll leave you to it. Let me know when you've got Kaid settled," she said.

  * * *

  Carrie had just finished organizing Zhala and first meal when Kitra came bouncing into the family kitchen.

  "May the sun shine on you this morning, Carrie," she said, heading for one of the chairs in preference to the benches. "Can I eat with you?"

  "Does your mother know you're here?" asked Carrie, pouring out some coffee for herself and Kusac.

  "I always leave a comm message for her when I come to see Dzaka," she said archly. "And if it's night, then one of the guards brings me."

  "You come here at night?"

  Kitra frowned. "Why not? I don't disturb anyone, except perhaps Dzaka," she grinned.

  Kusac came in on the heels of her comment and stopped to ruffle her hair before sitting next to Carrie.

  "Kusac!" Kitra's tone was outraged. "I just did my hair, and it took me ages! Now I'll have to do it again."

  "It's fine, kitling," said Kusac, reaching for the plate of freshly cooked meat. "I'm sure it had the desired effect on Dzaka. Where is he, by the way?"

  "I don't know," she said, putting her hands up to try and smooth the mass of waves down again. "He wouldn't wake up when I came last night, and this morning he was gone when I woke." She sounded very disgruntled.


  "Did you know your sister was coming over here in the dead of night?" asked Carrie, helping herself to some meat as well.

  "No, but I don't mind so long as she doesn't come bouncing in to see us the way she used to at home," said Kusac. "Coffee, Kitra, or c'shar?"

  Kitra's brows met in a frown. "You would remind me of that," she said. "I was only a cub then. I'm a lot more grown-up now. C'shar, please."

  Kusac choked slightly on his mouthful of food.

  I know it was only a month ago, but don't you dare remind her! cautioned Carrie, casting him a look that spoke volumes.

  When he'd swallowed, he said, "So long as someone walks or drives you over, I don't mind. Someone does, don't they?"

  "Of course. I just told Carrie that," she said, picking up the plate of meat and helping herself from it.

  "Where is Dzaka?" Kusac asked Carrie.

  "Fetching Kaid. He went to the Shrine this morning and it was too much for him. He'll come for his meal when he sees Kitra's not in his quarters."

  True to her prediction, Dzaka arrived a few minutes later. "Kaid's settled upstairs, Liegena," he said, sitting down on the last of the chairs beside them.

  "Help yourself," said Kusac, "if you can find anything my sister's left for you!"

  "Huh!" was all she said, passing the single piece of meat left on the plate to Dzaka.

  Carrie pushed her chair back and was about to get to her feet, but Kusac stopped her.

  "I'll see to something for Kaid," he said. "You eat your own meal. You'll get few enough peaceful mealtimes in a couple of months time."

  "You'll have more than a few disturbed ones yourself," she said pointedly as he got to his feet.

  "Try stopping me," he said, his hand touching her cheek gently as he walked past her to the main kitchen from which Zhala ruled the household.

  When he came back with more food, he glanced at the time. "I've got to go. I'll be up at the caverns with the Touibans all day, I'm afraid. My father's using their presence as an opportunity to accelerate the rest of my training in AlRel. He says the sooner I've got my final qualifications, the better." He smiled down at her as he picked up his mug.

  "He did say that my practical experience with you was counting for a lot with the Board of Regulators. That's why he's had permission to speed up what's left of the field work."

  "I always knew I had another purpose in life," she said with a sigh. "Field work. They might have phrased it a bit better."

  He was still laughing as he left.

  Carrie looked over to Dzaka and Kitra. "So what do you plan to do today?"

  "Hunt," said Kitra firmly. "And visit Father and the Touibans."

  "Hunt and visit the Touibans," repeated Dzaka with a shrug when Carrie looked at him.

  "Kitra, do remember Dzaka may have things he needs to do in his off-time," she said, looking back to her bond-sister.

  "You don't need to come to the caverns with me," Kitra said to Dzaka, "just so long as you do take me hunting."

  "We'll go hunting," he said, reaching out to take the hand that lay on the table. "And I actually do want to go to the caverns later, if you're sure you don't need me to help with Kaid," he said to Carrie.

  "No, we'll be fine. T'Chebbi's around somewhere and Meral's on duty today. You enjoy your rest day," said Carrie, getting up from the table. "I've got a few things I want to see to myself today."

  * * *

  Konis had taken a hopper down to the Valsgarth estate village. As well as meeting up with his son in the caverns, he wanted to see how matters were progressing regarding Pam Southgate. He'd called one of his AlRel team in the day before and had him added to Kusac's people working in the dig. His job was to observe the Human and report back to him. He arranged to meet him at the village medical center.

  "It's her personality that's the root of the problem, Master Konis," he said, using the informal AlRel title. "She's no different with the members of her own team. It's not a species problem, it's a personality one."

  Konis put his elbow on the chair arm and rested his chin on his hand. "What do you suggest we do? Request someone else in her place?"

  "We can't. She's got connections with the head of the Cultural Exchange back on Earth. She might be difficult to get on with, but at least her work is good." Falma spread his hands expressively. "Every now and then we all come up against abrasive people who get appointed to their positions because of their connections, she just happens to be Terran as well. We wouldn't send one of our own back for those reasons, so why should we do it with her?"

  "You're saying our people need to learn to cope with her type in Human form."

  He nodded. "If I might make a suggestion, it might be better for the Liegena if she stays away from the caverns while the archeologists are here."

  Konis turned a chilly gaze on him. "My bond-daughter should not have to be careful of people living on her estate," he said. "There has to be another solution."

  "Why not pair the archeologist off with one of our folk interested in learning their trade. Make sure they'll watch out for the Liegena as well."

  "It might work," said Konis thoughtfully. "Perhaps her opposite number from my son's people. Thank you, Falma. What are you scheduled to do now?"

  "Since I was coming here anyway, I've been asked to observe your son working with the Touibans for the examination board, so I'll be around for a few days yet."

  Konis nodded. "You're staying in the Human's house, aren't you? Have you everything you need?"

  "I'm fine, thank you, Master Konis," he said.

  "Then I'll see you down there," said Konis, getting up.

  * * *

  Twelve Touibans in any one area made it seem crowded. Living their lives at a slightly faster pace than their Alliance allies, they darted about like glittering points of light, first here, then over there, with no apparent in-between. The trick was to not watch them too closely, otherwise motion sickness would set in very quickly.

  Carrie had once told Kusac that they reminded her of the mythical human trolls. Just over a meter and a half tall, they seemed impossibly long-limbed for the size of their bodies. Their eyes appeared to be sunk in dark sockets, and their noses were thin and flanged with stiff bristles. A shock of sandy-colored hair sprouted from the crown of their heads and their chins. By Human and Sholan standards, they might be ill-favored when it came to looks, but that paled into insignificance by comparison with their dress sense.

  No color or combination of colors was too loud or garish for them. The more, the brighter, the merrier seemed to be their motto. Then there was the jewelry.

  Vartra help the Touiban who falls into a lake, thought Konis. With the amount of gold chains, bracelets and rings each one of them is wearing, they'd sink to the bottom never to be seen again!

  The lab, as the cavern behind the steel door was now be-ing called, was literally a hive of activity. The Touibans had had their own power source set up. While some were experimenting with the ancient machines, others had made room on the long bench for their own comms and scanning equipment.

  Their high-pitched trills filled the air, varying in pitch and volume as they put the disks through all manner of scanning devices. A light and pleasing scent hung in the air: the scent of happily busy Touibans. A small group sat amidst the ruins of one ancient device, examining every component as they systematically took it apart.

  In the midst of this sea of colorful activity, Konis could see his son sitting on the end of the bench talking to the Touiban who was the designated Speaker for the two groups. This being's job was to communicate with their Sholan employers and make sure they understood exactly what was being done. This was achieved partly by their own design of translating device, which each of them wore, and partly because their minds could be read, and sometimes even understood— if the telepath were good enough and had the experience. This experience was what Kusac was aiming to gain over the next few days.

  Konis decided not to disturb him and sent a questing tho
ught toward his son, looking for an opportunity to send telepathically to him.

  * * *

  Kusac raised his hand in acknowledgment and continued listening to the Touiban. From the corner of his eye, he saw Pam heading in his direction. He sighed inwardly, knowing what was coming.

  She stopped behind the Touiban, fixing Kusac with an angry look over the top of that person's head. "I don't know how you expect me to work under these conditions," she snapped. "Look at the place! These damned little people are everywhere! My folk can't move for them! Not just that, but..."