strongholdrising
Page 36
“There’s no need for that. At least not till the end of the second month,” she said, coming forward to touch his cheek. “It’s stopped bleeding already. What did you do?”
He could hear the surprise in her voice. “It’s a Warrior skill,” he said. “I’m accelerating the healing process. You must know that from your records. The Royal family always had Warrior caste wives— most of the main families had some Warrior blood mixed with their Intellectual blood. It gave them the aggression needed to lead or to challenge the leaders.”
“Not much was documented about the Warriors. Could the Intellectuals of your time control their bodies the way you can?”
“Some,” he said, aware that in her desire for information, she’d forgotten her anger. This might be the common ground he needed to win her friendship. Friendship with a female? The concept would have been utterly impossible in his day, but without it, he’d get nowhere in this time. “Perhaps you have the glands and the ability to use them. I can teach you if you have.”
Shola, Valsgarth Estate, evening
As soon as they got home, Carrie went up to see Kashini. Kaid and T’Chebbi exchanged glances before heading to the small kitchen for hot drinks and a snack.
“Kusac staying on at Stronghold was a surprise,” said T’Chebbi when Zhala had left them with jugs of c’shar and coffee. “Did you know he was planning that?”
“He told me before we left for Stronghold,” said Kaid. “Said Rezac had spoken to him, said that what’s happening to Kusac happened in their time when they rescued telepaths who’d been tortured by the Valtegans.”
“Could they help them?”
“They knew very little about telepathy then, and all their efforts were redirected into the war and turning them into a weapon against the Valtegans. Of those they saved, several returned to their captors. The rest either committed suicide or lived on the edge in an effort to feel some emotions. None lived for more than five months.”
T’Chebbi sighed. “Stronghold is definitely best place for him, then.” She lifted her mug, taking a drink.
“Kusac actually came to me to apologize for what happened to you.”
She dipped her ears. “He spoke to me, too. Said he’d lost control, didn’t intend me any harm. I said I was fine, not to worry.” She looked up at him. “You didn’t tell him different, did you?”
Kaid shook his head. “He knew. Rezac must have told him to drive the point home. It did,” he sighed. “He was expecting me to take it out of his hide.” He caught her look of concern and hastily reassured her. “I didn’t say or do anything, T’Chebbi. There’s no point in being angry with him. I told him Stronghold was a good idea, that’s all.”
She banged her mug on the table. “Damn, why’d it happen to him?” she asked angrily. “It’s a wonder we didn’t get him back insane! Bad enough for one of us, let alone a Guild-trained telepath!”
“We did get him back partly insane, T’Chebbi. You know I trained him properly,” he said, taking a sip of his drink. “At the time, you said I was too hard on him. I wasn’t, I should have been harder, spent more time doing interrogation survival techniques, taught both of them what to expect if we were captured. I didn’t because of Kashini. But I never expected us to be in a situation where we could be captured! I’ve been over it again and again in my mind. I should never have let them send us to Jalna so soon.”
T’Chebbi raised her eye ridges in a frankly disbelieving look. “I can really see you having their hides beaten raw to learn that! If we hadn’t gone when we did, Rezac and the others would have been dead, you know that. Choice of when to go wasn’t ours.”
“No one I train will get caught short again. We incorporate our Special Op training for everyone, T’Chebbi, from now on. Starting tomorrow.”
Again she raised an eye ridge. “Everyone? The U’Churians, and Carrie?”
“Everyone, especially her, especially now,” he said, his voice taking on a hard edge. “I’ll have her and any other pregnant Sister monitored carefully. No one could have anticipated what happened to us, but if it happens again, I want everyone prepared for it. On a mission, the enemy isn’t going to respect her condition.”
“The Sumaan?”
He let himself smile. “Not the Sumaan. Kisha is preparing data on their training methods for me. They have their own ways of questioning their people. But we need to be prepared for questioning by them.”
“How do you practice dying as flat as a pan-fried cake?” she asked with a grin of her own. “Are you serious about Carrie? Who you going to get to do this?”
“Rulla, Dzaou, me, and you,” he said.
“Is it necessary to put Carrie through this? What about you? You’ll feel everything she does.”
He locked eyes with her. “I’m only as strong as the weaker of us now, T’Chebbi,” he said quietly. “We have to know our limits.”
She nodded. “How’s she coping with Kusac staying at Stronghold?” she asked, changing the topic. “Can’t be easy for her.”
A strange expression crossed Kaid’s face, then he got hurriedly to his feet. “Badly, though she’s trying to hide it. I just got called by Kashini. At least this training will keep Carrie’s mind off him. I’ll catch you later.” He stopped briefly at the door. “Forgot. It’s our Link day. Start the intensive training tomorrow anyway for the U’Churians and those who’re up to it. Usual drill, make sure we’ve got enough Brothers acting as medics. Garras has the training records, go through those with him. Only those designated nonactive personnel, or unfit for health reasons, are exempted.”
“Aye,” she said. “I’ll take Kashini with me tomorrow.”
He nodded, heading along the colonnade toward the stairs. It was unusual for T’Chebbi to volunteer for anything that involved cubs, then he remembered what Noni had said about her being broody and sighed.
CHAPTER 9
Valsgarth Estate, evening, the same day
AS Kaid came into the nursery, Carrie looked up from where she’d been playing on the floor with Kashini.
“Thought I’d come see how you two were doing,” he said awkwardly, standing just inside the door.
“We’re fine,” said Carrie as Kashini dropped down onto her fours and loped toward him. “Someone’s pleased to see you.”
Kashini stopped in front of him, rearing upright to walk the last few feet.
She had grown again, he realized, almost coming up to his knees, standing straighter than he did because of the slightly different shape of her legs. He knelt on one knee, resting on his haunches till he was nearer her height. “Hello there,” he said, reaching out a hand to her.
Her small hand grasped his fingers firmly as she stared up into his face and began to chatter.
Surprised, he looked over her head to Carrie. “It sounds like she’s talking.”
“Won’t be long now,” agreed Carrie. “Kashini’s pleased to see you. She says you don’t come into the nursery often enough.”
“She’s sending you all that?” Focused on Carrie, when the cub began to climb carefully up onto his knee, he barely noticed her, but his hands were there automatically to support her.
Well aware of her daughter’s ability to go unnoticed when she chose, Carrie sat back to watch.
“She’s been sending for some time, but over the last few days, she’s been managing to put her message across more clearly.”
A tug at the torc round his neck drew Kaid’s attention to the cub. “Not to pull it,” he said gently, detaching her hand and holding onto it for a moment. “You’re getting heavy, you know. Too heavy to sit on my knee like that.”
She clutched at his neck hair as he got up, making him wince slightly until he’d settled her firmly on his forearm with his other hand gently supporting her, making her feel more secure.
Watching him, Carrie remembered that he’d had some experience of cubs before, albeit older ones. Dzaka had been four when he’d been left by his mother at the gates of Stronghold.
She began to make a sound halfway between a trill and a purr, her hand reaching up to touch Kaid’s cheek, her small face alight with joy.
“Then let’s get you both fed,” he said, turning to Carrie. Kashini leaned against him, wrapping her arms around his neck and laying her head against his shoulder. “Why don’t you take a break yourself, Yashui?” he said to the nurse. “Get yourself a snack from Zhala. Come to my room for Kashini in half an hour.”
“Thank you, Liege, I will,” murmured the nurse, slipping out past him.
Linked as she was to both of them, Carrie was still surprised at the expression that flitted across Kaid’s face. The softness she’d glimpsed once before was there, and in his mind, astonishment. Then she felt for herself her daughter’s unconditional outpouring of love. It was so familiar to her that it had never occurred to her that Kaid might never have felt it. As she watched, he began to stroke the shock of dense blonde fur that still covered her cub’s head.
She scrambled to her feet, surprised to find his hand held out to help her. He was being unusually attentive for him.
“I wish I’d shared this with Dzaka,” he said quietly as they walked toward the door together.
“You will, with your grandchild,” she said, smiling at the thought. He was too young to be a grandfather. “And you’re Kashini’s Triad-father. She’s giving you that love now. All you have to do is visit us more often.”
“I intend to,” he said, opening the door for them.
Valsgarth Estate, Zhal-Ghyakulla, 30th day (June)
Kris had arrived at the estate that morning and had checked in with Naeso in the estate office. Naeso was the manager, running the day-to-day minutiae of business, third in the chain of authority after Garras and any one of the Triad Clan Leaders. He was around fifty, with a pelt of dark brown, lighter brown hair that stopped just above his shoulders, and a pair of humor-filled green eyes. Originally from the Aldatan estate, he was known for his sense of humor and youthful outlook. Being a level four telepath helped him keep his finger on the pulse of his community.
The office was a small building, located at the east end of the main street on the edge of the landing pad and vehicle paring lot. Built several generations ago, large sections of the side walls and entrance were set with louvered panels which could be adjusted to allow the passage of air and sunlight yet provide shade when necessary.
As Kris entered, Naeso had come in from his back office, mouth open in a friendly smile. He’d been surprised to find himself in an oasis of cool air until Naeso indicated the concealed environmental units.
“Ingenious,” he’d murmured, dumping his kit bag on the ancient scarred wooden counter.
Kris had declined the offer of accommodation in the Human only building in the smaller western estate village, saying he preferred a couple of rooms in one of the mixed species houses in the main village.
“The choice is yours, of course, Djani,” said Naeso. “Granted only a few of our Humans prefer to live among their own kind, but it is best to offer. Besides,” he said, raising one eye ridge and opening his mouth in a sideways smile that conveyed all the nuances a human smirk could, “the main village is closer to Djanas Zashou and Jo.”
“You’re on the wrong trail, Naeso. Just because I…”
“Then you’ll not be wanting the key that Djana Zashou left for you,” said Naeso, reaching under his counter for the accommodation book for the main village.
“What? She left me a key? And you’ve been stringing me along all this time!”
Naeso opened his ledger before looking up at him, his green eyes echoing the smile on his face. “Ah, you young ones are so earnest,” he said, pulling open a drawer and taking a key card out of it. “And you Humans, so anxious to hide what is natural and so obvious.”
“Less of your assumptions, man! I’ll have you know that you’re still on the wrong trail! There’s nothing going on between us…” he began, making a grab for the card.
“Soon, soon,” said Naeso, waving the card a few inches from his reaching fingers. “Mark my words, she does not leave a key lightly, that one. Too proud for that, she is.”
Scamp solved Kris’ problem by leaping off his shoulder and grabbing the card as he sailed down to the desk.
“Thank you, Scamp,” grinned Kris as his jegget scampered back to him with the offending card before clambering up his arm to perch on his shoulder again. Pocketing it, he picked his bag up. “Are you sure it was Zashou, not Jo, Naeso? When did she leave it?”
“Yesterday, I believe,” said Naeso, entering Kris’ arrival and destination into the book. “You think I don’t recognize an Aldatan, Djani? With so many braids in her corn-white hair that it chimes as she walks?” He turned his eyes up to the ceiling and sighed. “A male doesn’t easily mistake such a female!” He returned his attention to the book. “How long will you be with us? Is this a summer flirtation or something more?” Again the raised eye ridge and smirk.
“Depends on the lady herself,” grinned Kris as he turned to leave the office. “I’m on leave right now. My time’s my own for a few weeks. I’ll check in again with you when I know.”
*
He’d reached for her mentally, only a light touch to find out where she was, and located her in the mess at the training center. Stopping to drop his bag at the house she shared with Rezac and Jo, he made his way there, thinking about the key and what Naeso had said. He hadn’t been expecting to stay with them when he’d contacted Jo to take her up on her offer of a break on the estate, so it was doubly a surprise.
*
The small mess at the training center was a convenient leisure meeting place for all the inhabitants of the Valsgarth estate. It wasn’t uncommon to find even the odd individual from the main Aldatan estate there.
“Here’s Kris,” said Jo.
Zashou looked up to see the Human approaching. He wore the T-shirt and jeans favored by many of his kind, and his long fair hair was now held back by a plain suede headband. As he drew closer, she could see his bare feet through the open leather sandals.
He waved, mouth widening in a smile and she realized his skin had darkened considerably since they’d been with him on Jalna.
“Our skin does darken in the sun,” said Jo quietly with a grin.
Zashou looked at her.
Jo shrugged. “You’re broadcasting quite loudly. Even I can pick you up.”
Hurriedly strengthening her mental barriers, Zashou turned away to watch Kris.
“Hi there,” he said, taking a seat opposite them. “Thanks for leaving the key, Zashou.” He held it out to her. “Better take it back. I don’t want you to be stuck without it. It’s very quiet around here, isn’t it? Hardly saw a soul in the village.”
“Keep the key for now,” said Zashou. “I’ve got another.”
“They’ve started some new training routine down on the west coast of the estate,” said Jo. “They’re camping there for at least the next week. We’ve been designated noncombatants.”
“Sounds interesting,” said Kris. “What does it entail?”
Jo shrugged. “Survival stuff, that’s all I could get out of T’Chebbi.”
“Maybe I should find out more about it.”
“I wouldn’t,” said Zashou. “It’s Brotherhood training, not Forces. Rezac made sure we couldn’t pick up anything mentally from him before he left.” She held out her wrist, showing him the slightly larger than usual comm unit. “It has a psi damper in it.”
Jo leaned forward to look then pressed a small stud on the side of her unit. “Try turning it on,” she grinned then sat back.
Flustered, Zashou examined the unit more closely.
“Maybe not, then,” said Kris, filling the small silence. “I planned to e
njoy my leave, not work through it. Can I get either of you a drink?”
“I’ll come with you,” said Jo, pushing her chair back. “You’ll need help carrying them.”
She waited until they were standing in front of the dispensing machines before speaking. “I wanted the opportunity to talk to you,” she said. “And apologize for what happened on Jalna over Rezac and you.”
“There’s nothing to apologize for,” he said, smiling as he looked up from counting out his change. “How’s it going, by the way? You look happy, and well.”
Jo smiled, putting a hand up to brush her shoulder length dark hair off her face. “We are happy,” she said. “We’ve got our own place now, as you know. Rezac’s really getting into the fatherhood thing, wanting to set a room aside as a nursery and decorate it for our cub. I would never have believed it if you’d told me. None of the men of the same age on Keiss would want to be so involved.”
“Family is everything to Sholans,” said Kris, feeding coins into the machine for a coffee. “Especially the young males. Their biological urge is geared toward finding a mate and siring cubs.” He grinned up at her again. “I did tell you that they were a very sensual and sensitive people. How long is it now?” He eyed the obvious bump beneath her short tabard.
“Six weeks,” she said, leaning against the wall. “I’ll have a mixed fruit drink, please, and Zashou’ll have the same.”
“Apart from training, what’s Rezac doing?” he asked, handing Jo his drink and inserting more coins.
“We’re compiling our knowledge of the Valtegans for AlRel right now. Now, what brings you out here? Zashou?” she asked with an arch smile.
He handed her the second drink. “Not entirely. I wanted to see you for myself and know you and Rezac were doing well.”
“That was sweet of you,” she said. A slow smile lit her face. “I take it you picked up Zashou’s thoughts.”
He picked up the final drink, taking back one of the ones that Jo held. “Kind of difficult not to,” he said with a grin. “Is leaving the key for me some kind of subtle message?”
“That surprised me,” she admitted. “It’s more obvious than I’d have expected from her, but then, Zashou’s changed in the month we’ve been here. I can see what attracted Rezac to her in the first place.”