strongholdrising

by Lisanne Norman

  Too preoccupied to notice her thoughts, Rhyaz stopped and opened the door to his small lounge area, letting her enter first. Following her in, he unfastened his belt and stripped off his uniform jacket, throwing them both onto the nearest chair as he headed for the dispenser that had been set up on one of the drawer units. Pushing his thoughts of work aside, he concentrated on selecting a drink for her.

  Now that he’d begun to relax, Alex could see how exhausted he was by the set of his ears and the way he was letting his tail hang down close to his legs.

  “I want you to try a protein drink,” he said, waiting for the tall glass to fill. “Our energy levels can affect each other, you know.”

  “I’d forgotten that,” she said, glancing round as she ventured farther into the room. Apart from the clothes he’d just discarded, it was spotlessly tidy and clean.

  “Not me, I’m afraid,” said Rhyaz, picking up the glass and bringing it over to her. “Lyand sees it gets kept tidy. I don’t have time to do it. Here, try this. Don’t force yourself to drink it, but at least try it. Make yourself comfortable, I’m going to have a shower.”

  “Rhyaz,” she said, reaching out to catch his arm as he turned away. The touch brought more information; he didn’t like what he was doing to the Valtegan captives, the shower was as much to wash himself psychologically as physically. And the drink was for her, because she was tired, not just because her tiredness was Linked to his. With everything that was on his mind, he was still thinking of her.

  “Can I help? I didn’t realize how important what we’re doing here is. I don’t mind if you need to work tomorrow. I’m sure we can manage it somehow.”

  His expression changed briefly to one of surprise, then relaxed back into tiredness. “Using the last three or four hours of our day would help,” he said. “That’s more than enough, thank you, Alex.”

  “I did what you said, I looked at your memories,” she said, taking a mouthful of the drink and finding it quite pleasant after all. “I saw how close to the Valtegan worlds we are. I know the danger we’re in. I meant it, can I help?”

  “You really want to help? Then please give me one less thing to worry about,” he said, touching her face. “You. I’m not being unkind, just practical. If you want constant attention, take a lover, Alex, someone younger than me. Young males under thirty, ideally one around twenty, are focused on finding a mate. One of them would give you all the attention you want. You’re entitled to have a lover, just as I am. Being Leskas doesn’t mean we have an exclusive relationship. And try to find something in the Brotherhood that you want to do so I can get on with the job of running it.” He turned away from her and went into the bathing room, closing the door quietly behind him.

  She stood there, looking at the door, too stunned to react. The light rapport he’d allowed her was gone now, closed off as firmly as the bathing room door had been. Finishing the drink, she returned the glass to the recycler at the side of the dispensing unit and began to take off her own jacket, thinking through what he’d said. It hurt that he saw her as shallow, but then she supposed she could see why. She hadn’t exactly made an effort to dispel that impression.

  There must be something she could do to convince him that this time she was serious. His memories scared her. In coming to Shola, she and Kai were in far more danger from the Valtegans than they’d been on Earth. Why hadn’t she thought it through properly before they’d sneaked onto the merchant ship? On Earth, the Valtegans were a distant threat, no more. Not here. Rhyaz was one of the few leaders who stood between them and certain death. And she was disrupting his life so much it was affecting his work.

  Tears started to her eyes and she began to cry. She didn’t want constant attention, all she wanted was someone to care about her and let her lead her own life. Rhyaz had offered her all those, and a fresh start, and she’d messed it up by not taking him seriously.

  Wrenching the bathing room door open, she ran inside, flinging her arms around him as he stood in the shower.

  “I don’t want anyone else,” she sobbed, plastering herself to his wet body. “I want you for yourself, not because of who you are!”

  Rhyaz staggered back, grabbing for her as he tried to keep his balance. “Alex! Vartra’s bones, you nearly had us both cracking our skulls on the tiles!”

  Shoulders heaving, she clung to him, winding her hands in his slick pelt when he tried to break free. Abruptly, the jets of water stopped.

  “Alex,” he said, giving her a shake. Then he felt her terror at the images she’d seen. This was something neither he nor Lijou had even considered, and they should have. “It’s all right, Alex,” he said more gently, putting an arm around her and stroking her wet hair. “The danger is there, yes, but not imminent. The Valtegans don’t know we exist. They think they killed us all when they destroyed our two colonies. They’re at war with their own kind right now, they aren’t interested in us.”

  “I should have looked at your memories like you said, learned about you and what you’re doing. I didn’t mean to kill the Valtegan prisoner!”

  “You didn’t,” he said, then when she looked up at him, blinking the water from her eyes, “We found out it was the chemicals. I’d forgotten just how much I’ve seen and done that you shouldn’t be aware of, Alex. You’re too young to be exposed to all my experiences. All I wanted you to do was to understand the importance of the Brotherhood and the work I do and not— behave like the kid you are,” he sighed, holding her close, realizing that despite their caution, he’d still expected too much of her.

  “I really want to help, and to understand you and what you’re doing,” she said earnestly.

  “I know your intentions are good, but you forget them, Alex. You can’t help it. We get the odd youngling like you who’s not grown up with the discipline of the Warrior or Telepath Guilds before they come to us. It takes them a long time to settle in. They have to grow up fast to do it, and I don’t know that you could do that. Or that I’d want you to,” he added truthfully.

  “You’re afraid I’m like Mara was.”

  Reaching behind him, he unfastened her hands and gently propelled her out of the shower cubicle. “Mara’s doing well,” he said, feeling guilty that she’d picked up on that. “She has a Human Leska now, they’re the only pair we have. The problem wasn’t really her, it was Zhyaf. He was too staid for her, couldn’t adjust to having a young Leska.”

  “And I’m younger than Mara, that’s what worries you,” she said, shivering now as the wet clothes drew the heat from her body.

  “I’m not Zhyaf, Alex,” he said firmly. “If you would only make an effort to work with me, we wouldn’t have a problem.”

  “I just said I would. I can do what I’ve been doing with Nezoa. Lyand said we were helping you both.”

  “It’s a possibility, of course,” he said, the cold she was feeling beginning to affect him. “But now isn’t the time to talk about it. You need to get out of those wet clothes.”

  Miserably, she nodded, hands fumbling with the fatigues as she tried to stop shivering.

  He sighed and began to help her. What harm would it do to tell her he cared about her? She probably knew it anyway. “All right, yes, I did miss you,” he admitted. “I don’t know why, but I did.”

  “I do want you for yourself, Rhyaz,” she said, concentrating on what his hands were doing. “Sure, I like it that folk look up to you because of who you are, and are envious of me, but is that so wrong? You used me to make Raiban mad when we were at Chagda Station.”

  “You’re too observant,” he growled, struggling with her clothes and giving up. “And this has too many buttons. When we get back home, I’m getting you a more practical uniform made, a Sholan one, with sealing strips.”

  Frustrated, he tugged sharply at the fastenings, sending the remaining buttons skittering across the bathing room floor. “Till then, you can borrow some Juniors tunics and enjoy showing your legs off,” he continued, peeling off her soaking garments. Gathe
ring her close, he drew her back into the shower with him and turned the hot water on again.

  “My bed was empty without you,” he said, catching her earlobe gently with his teeth. “Was yours?”

  “Yes. I missed you, Rhyaz.”

  Prime world, the same day

  “Majesty,” said Khayikule patiently, “the reason there was no attempt on your life is precisely because General Kezule foiled it by attacking their headquarters!”

  “Very convenient. And the reason there’s no evidence is because, according to you, he blew the place up!” said Counselor Q’iou sarcastically.

  “We can only take the facts into consideration,” said Counselor Chysho slowly. “And the facts we have are that Science Director Zhayan accuses the late Naval Director Zsiyuk of attempting to murder him by sending him an explosive parcel. And that Treasury Director Schoudu was injured during an attack on his life and he lays the blame at the door of the same person, who, incidentally was found dead at the site of the claimed secret establishment. Finally, the General has left Prime space, taking a valuable ship and assorted personnel with him. It bears all the signs of a plot.”

  “We know all that,” said Q’iou testily. “What we don’t know is how loyal these offspring of the General are! They claim to have stopped a coup, but this could be part of an elaborate plan of their own to put Kezule on the throne!”

  “Captain Khayikule is here and he’s sworn allegiance to you, Majesty,” said Shyadd. “Our orbiting platform is capable of performing a scan that will reveal what’s below the ruins of the Directorate headquarters, and Khayikule knows that. I suggest we have this done.”

  Emperor Cheu’ko’h stirred, looking over at the carmine-robed priest that sat to one side of the conference table. “M’zikk, have your Enforcers question Schoudu and Zhayan but warn them I want no forced confessions, I want the truth. In the meantime, Shyadd, order the scan of the ruined animal breeding center. If secret laboratories existed there, they will show up and the guilt of the two Directors will be confirmed.”

  “What about the General?” exclaimed Q’iou. “You can’t leave him out there somewhere with his own private army!”

  “He only took fourteen of his sons and two of his daughters, Majesty,” said Shyadd. “And the fourteen troublesome M’zullians. The rest were friends of Doctor Zayshul. Hardly a personal army. I’d be inclined to believe the reasons the General gave. Namely, if he remained here, he was a focus for discontented citizens to rally round. I think we should be trying to find Doctor K’hedduk. As the leader of this group, he is the most dangerous one. If he remains free, then he could well try again.”

  Emperor Cheu’ko’h picked up the letter that had been left for him by General Kezule and read through it again, especially the portion offering him advice about his counselors. You can’t rule by committee, Majesty. Have one trusted adviser and fire the others— they’re too conservative for the changing times in which you now live. And learn to trust your own judgment more.

  He’d rather liked the General. A powerful and charismatic male, Kezule had managed not to make him feel intimidated or threatened by his presence. And unlike many of the courtiers that surrounded him, he hadn’t wanted to make use of their connection, except in one thing. His choice of wife. Kezule had offered him a bargain— he, the Emperor, had actually haggled with one of his subjects— and he’d quite enjoyed the novelty. And Kezule had kept his word. Standing before him was Kezule’s son, the new Captain of his Palace Guard, a guard that the General had promised would be loyal to him alone.

  And live in changing times they did, which Shyadd, the replacement for the unlamented Chy’qui, seemed to be the only one to appreciate. His son Zsurtul was on the Sholan world, training with those who’d proved to be their deadliest enemies in the past, at the General’s suggestion. Bridges were finally being built with the Sholans. An adviser like him was too valuable to let go.

  Empress Zsh’eungee leaned toward him. “Listen to Shyadd,” she said quietly. “He’s the only one speaking sense. I told you, Kezule spoke to me in the gardens about the danger from the M’zullian Warriors a month ago, before Director Zsoyshuu told us. I trust him, and his wife.”

  He looked at her, seeing in her eyes a glow that reminded him of their early years together, before the loss of children had taken her youth. That look that had been there since Kezule’s wife had visited her only four days ago.

  Cheu’ko’h folded the letter and put it down on the table in front of him. “I have spoken, let it be done,” he said. “I disagree with General Kezule’s concern that he could be a focus for the discontented. I wish him found and brought back to K’oish’ik. His talents are too valuable to be lost to us. Captain Khayikule, you will assume the position the General held, that of commander of the Palace Guard, with the rank of General. I wish this K’hedduk found. I am also raising Councillor Shyadd to the new rank of Prime Counselor. Henceforth, only he will attend me at the daily briefings unless I specify otherwise. You will attend us in our office in fifteen minutes, Prime Counselor Shyadd. This council is dismissed.”

  He rose, holding out his hand to his wife, pleased that his decisions would evoke a furor among his councillors. General Kezule was right. It was time he did more than just listen to them.

  *

  It had taken him a whole day, but when he pushed the final chunks of masonry aside and the night air hit his sweating face and cooled his aching lungs, K’hedduk finally rested. He tried to stifle his coughs, but the fine dust caused by the explosions was cloying, coating not only him, but the inner surfaces of his nose and mouth. He rubbed his hands in the damp grass, using the moisture to scrub at his face. It gave him some relief, turning the dust into streaks of mud, but at least he wasn’t breathing it in any longer. Pushing his briefcase through the gap, he hauled himself out of the ruined building.

  That he’d survived at all was a miracle. After pushing Zsiyuk into the path of the attackers, he’d turned and raced for the exit, throwing himself down the stairs toward the lower level where the explosion had been. There he’d scrabbled among the still settling rubble, managing to burrow a cavity large enough to conceal himself in until Kezule’s soldiers had detonated the final charge.

  While he’d hidden there, he’d faced not only discovery from them, but also from his own guards and staff trapped below. He’d heard them pulling at the rubble almost as soon as he’d taken up his hiding place. They were within feet of him when Kezule had left. Taking ex-Directorate employees with him was not part of his escape plan.

  They had made the mistake he’d narrowly avoided himself. They’d gone back into the main corridor, heading for the elevator in the hope they could get out that way. Gunfire, followed by screams of pain and raised voices, had ended with another explosion, then silence. One of the voices had been Sholan. Kezule must have released and armed the male in the lab. He shuddered at the memory of how nearly he’d fallen into that trap. He had a score to settle with Kezule.

  K’hedduk started walking. Dawn wasn’t far off. It wouldn’t be long before the Palace Guard and the Enforcers returned to start excavating the ruins. Checking the time, he calculated how long it would take him to reach his destination, allowing himself time to change into the coveralls in his briefcase. He’d be late, but only by a small margin. It was regrettable, he didn’t like turning up late for his shift, the Palace chef had a foul temper.

  the Couana, Zhal-S’Asha, 22nd day (October)

  “You look preoccupied,” said Banner, strolling over to his table in the mess and sitting down. “Worried about the briefing?”

  “No. I know how that’s going to go. More memories,” he said.

  “What’s it this time?”

  “Zsurtul’s visit to the estate.”

  Banner frowned. “But that went well.”

  “On the surface, perhaps it seemed so. I’d gone home for a couple of days and they suddenly sprang the news of his visit on me.”

  Valsgarth Estate, Zhal-
Nylam, 14th day (September)

  “I’m not happy about Zsurtul coming here,” he said, sitting patiently on the sofa as Carrie lifted a hank of his hair and began to run the brush through it. “His presence will upset too many people, me included.”

  “Your hair is really long now. I can see the blue sheen in it.”

  “Don’t change the subject. Why do you want to invite him here?”

  “He entertained us and I said we’d return the favor,” she said patiently, moving the length of his hair aside to brush the shorter ones that grew down the sides of his neck. “Would you have us be less hospitable than him?”

  “I can see Kusac’s point,” said Kaid, coming over with a drink for each of them. He put theirs on the low table beside them. “It might be better to leave it for a week or two.” Going over to an easy chair he sat down, sipping the cold drink.

  “That’s too near my due date,” she said. “Anyway, I’ve already set it for tomorrow. Your parents think it’s a great idea. They’re coming too.”

  He stiffened. “You did what?” he asked quietly.

  “Kusac…” began Kaid.

  “No. I want to hear what Carrie has to say.” He could feel his hair and pelt begin to lift.

  The brush stopped moving. “You told us Annuur and Kzizysus said you had to come to terms with what happened to you. The meal with Zsurtul went so well that I thought this would be an ideal follow-up. Surely the more you see of them in normal nonthreatening circumstances, the easier it’ll be for you to get used to them.”