Razor's Edge

by Lisanne Norman

  Involuntarily, her hands went to his waist and as she held him, a familiar magic returned.

  It is you! she sent, her hands tightening in his pelt. That was a mean trick to play on me!

  Not so, Kusac replied, his mouth now finding hers. You admired the dancers this morning. I wanted to surprise you, that’s all.

  You certainly did. She relaxed against him, too swept up in their shared sensations to argue. She could feel his heart beating faster now, feel a desire as strong as her own rising in him. We shouldn’t be here. Our Link’s started.

  I know. Slowly they parted, then he bent to lift her in his arms. “Are you wearing the new damper Vanna and Garras gifted to us this evening?”

  “Yes.”

  “Then we can try them out tonight.” He looked over to where his sister now stood with her mate. “Taizia, Meral, thank you for watching her for me,” he said.

  “Go,” she said. “I can feel you both from here! And switch on those dampers now!” she called after them.

  From the doorway to the banquet hall, Konis, Rhyasha and Sub-Lieutenant Myak stood watching.

  “Who’d have thought they’d both be so constant after all they’ve been through?” said Konis. “And we have a granddaughter as well. Harvests ripen in the strangest of fields.”

  “I knew it would work out,” said Rhyasha, linking arms with him. “I know our son, and I had faith in the Gods.”

  “Hmm. What about you, Myak?” asked Konis as they threaded their way through the tables back to the inner hearth. “Or will you give me more of the bland platitudes you used back when they turned up on the Khalossa?”

  “I felt there was more at work than just the whim of an adolescent male,” said Myak. “They needed to be given a chance. As for the rest, I merely followed orders, Master Konis.”

  “Aye, but whose orders? You have as many links as the Brotherhood!”

  Myak looked reproachfully at him. “You appointed me to be an aide to Commander Raguul. I merely do that to the best of my ability, Clan Lord.”

  “Don’t tease him, Konis,” said Rhyasha, taking hold of Myak with her other arm. “The past is gone now. We all played the parts we had to, and all has come out well. Let’s leave it at that. More wine, Myak?” she asked as they reached their seats.

  “Where d’you think you’re taking me?” Carrie asked, sitting up in his arms. “I’m not going to some cave tonight!”

  “Absolutely not,” he agreed. “There’s a small garden shelter nearby—you’d call it a summer house—which I made ready for tonight. With these new dampers on, we don’t need to change our plans. And,” he said, stepping over a low hedge, “if there’s anyone near enough to be affected, they’ll enjoy tonight even more!”

  “What’s with this carrying me everywhere?” she asked. “I can walk, you know. In fact, Vanna says I can join you at the Warriors Guild in a couple of weeks.”

  He stopped dead and set her down on her feet—in snow almost a foot deep.

  She shrieked as the damp coldness instantly soaked the lightweight shoes she was wearing. “Kusac!”

  “What? You wanted to walk.”

  “You know I can’t walk in snow dressed like this!”

  “Would you like me to carry you?” he asked, grinning.

  “Yes, please,” she said between gritted teeth, determined not to let him hear them chattering with the cold.

  He lifted her up and began walking again.

  “You’re getting too sure of yourself,” she said as he stopped in front of the summer house.

  “Will you open the door, or shall I put you down again and do it myself?”

  She leaned forward, pressing her hand on the palm lock. The door slid open, spilling warm air out around them. As they stepped inside, it shut behind them, leaving them standing in the gentle glow cast by the heating unit. On the floor, a wide sleeping pallet covered with cushions and rugs almost filled the main room.

  As Kusac set her down, she looked around. “I thought from what you said we were roughing it.”

  “Time enough for that on Jalna. This is Nylam’s night, let’s enjoy it,” he said, helping her off with her cloak. “Sit down, and I’ll see to your shoes.”

  Carrie lowered herself onto the cushions, making sure she kept her wet feet off the bedding. While she adjusted the setting on her personal damper, Kusac knelt beside her and began to pull off her shoes.

  “What about you?” she asked as he began to rub her feet gently with his hands. “Your feet are bare and you walked all the way here.”

  “I’m used to it. Wearing shoes like you would seem stranger. Better?” Lifting her foot, he began to gently lick her instep with the smooth tip of his tongue.

  “Hey! That tickles,” she said indignantly, trying to pull free.

  “I decided to start with your feet tonight,” he said, his voice a velvet purr.

  “Idiot,” she murmured, relaxing back against the cushions as he began to lick her ankle. She could feel their Link drawing them closer again, bringing them shared sensations. Already the distinction between her and him was beginning to blur.

  Her skin was soft and cool, tasting faintly of honey. He pushed her robe farther up, letting his teeth and tongue gently find the softness and warmth of her calves then her thighs, feeling her begin to tremble as her body came alive under his touch. He stretched out beside her, finding her arms waiting to hold him close. She’d already undone her robe and he pushed it aside, his mouth covering her throat in a reaffirmation of his love for her. He felt her need for him flare deep in her belly, the fire leaping out from her to surge through him too. In one almost painful spasm, he was ready for her.

  He tugged the rest of her robe open, lifting her free of it and tossing it aside. I want to hold you, he sent, covering her face in flicks of his tongue and tiny bites as her arms closed round him, pulling his body close.

  Wherever he touched her, it was as if an electric current passed between them, focusing all her awareness there. His hand caressed her neck, his tongue and teeth following, drawing a river of fire through her. Moments after his mouth closed on her breast, for the space of a heartbeat, he stilled.

  I forgot, he sent, lifting his head, but she drew him down again.

  It feels good. She could feel his response, the shock of possibly breaking an unknown taboo of hers, if not his peoples’. No. Tonight is ours, she sent, arching her body against his as her hand clenched in his hair. You know I’m no longer feeding our cub. She felt herself begin to fragment, to merge with him.

  This is like the first time, they thought as their joined minds spiraled upward taking their bodies with them until they were one.

  Afterward, Kusac reached for the edge of the blanket and pulled it across them both, drawing Carrie back against the curve of his body. Lazily he licked the back of her ear as she pressed herself closer to him.

  “Welcome back,” he murmured.

  “Welcome back yourself,” she said sleepily. “Was that us or the dance?”

  “Probably a bit of both,” he said. “It’s more intense for our Clan because we’re telepaths.”

  “I can see why you pack all the younglings off under supervision before the dancing starts.”

  “Tonight was particularly strong. I don’t remember it being so compulsive before,” he murmured. “But then, last time I didn’t have a Leska who was my life-mate.” His teeth closed briefly on her ear lobe. “I think we should sleep, unless …”

  His only answer was her gentle breathing.

  The next morning, Jissoh came to their villa to speak to Carrie. Only because it touched on Mara did she agree to speak to her on their Link day.

  “Last night, Mara was with one of the Humans from the digging,” said Jissoh. “I followed them, but I didn’t get a close enough look to identify him. They didn’t stay talking for long.”

  “You’re sure it was one of the archaeologists?”

  She nodded. “Yes, Clan Leader. One of the males.”
<
br />   Carrie tapped her fingers on her chair arm in an unconscious Sholan gesture. “Continue watching her. Ask Garras to appoint someone to keep an eye on the Human males. Let’s see if she meets up with him today. It’s the last day of the festival, their last chance to meet inconspicuously.”

  “Yes, Clan Leader.”

  Sorli sighed to himself as he began packing the last of his possession into his bag. This was not going as he’d hoped. He’d been here for nearly two hours now, and not a word, not a mental touch from the Guild Master. He’d gone to the library first to collect his books, thinking that perhaps Master Esken might prefer a more public meeting. Finished there, he went to the classroom, then his study. Now here he was in his living quarters with his packing almost complete.

  He didn’t want to initiate a meeting himself because to do so would be backing down from his stance that Esken should accept the changes gracefully since the alternative was unthinkable. But what was he to do if Esken didn’t come to him? Then he felt it; the Master’s presence. Collecting his thoughts behind his shielding, he waited.

  A tap on the open door, then Esken stood inside. “Thank the Gods you’re back, Sorli! I’ve need of your counsel,” he said, coming into the room. “Did you enjoy the festivals? We had the Terrans visiting ours on the last two days. The first they spent celebrating the birth of their own God.”

  “I spent it at the Chekoi estate, with my betrothed’s family,” said Sorli, continuing to fold his clothes and place them in the bag.

  “You, too, eh? I hope she’s a better choice than mine. They tried to foist a widow with two kitlings on me. Me! A Guild Master, with all the work it takes to run this place and oversee all the other telepath guildhouses on Shola!” He snorted his disgust before seeming to take in what Sorli was actually doing.

  “Packing? What are you doing, Sorli? I thought you’d returned to your post.”

  Sorli hesitated. “It depends, Master Esken.”

  Esken frowned, coming round to sit on the chair opposite him. “Depends? What kind of talk is this? You’ve had a break. Surely it’s time for you to resume your duties now.”

  “I made my position clear the last time we spoke, Master Esken,” said Sorli, looking across the bed at him. “This hasn’t been a break.”

  “Oh, that,” said Esken, waving his hand dismissively. “That’s dealt with, Sorli. You made some good points, ones that Khafsa echoed when I had to see him later that day. I need to take it easier now, my health’s not up to all the recent stressful events. It’s time for you to take on some of my duties, help me run things around here, move up in the world. Having a mate will make it easier for you, I’m sure.” His mouth opened in a large smile as he positively beamed at Sorli. “Now, start unpacking while I tell you what I’d like you to do.”

  Sorli stood dumbfounded. He hadn’t expected this at all. Was it genuine though, or was Esken hoping to bribe him into staying?

  “What duties would I be taking over?” he asked, finding his tongue at last.

  “The mixed Leskas for one. You get on far better with the Aldatans than I ever did,” Esken said frankly. “The less I have to deal with them, the better it will be for my blood pressure. If Governor Nesul is agreeable, you can replace me on the World Council. I’ll brief you fully, and you’ll keep me informed as to what’s going on, of course. I’m going to handle the business of overseeing all our guildhouses and the Terrans. You can see to the day to day running of this guildhouse. You’ve been involved in it anyway for several years now. It’ll mean giving up most of your teaching duties, but you’ll still have your Leska pairs to work with.”

  Sorli found his legs didn’t want to support him, and as a consequence, he sat down rather more heavily than usual on the bed. “Your health must indeed be bad, Master Esken,” he heard himself murmur.

  “It’s nothing that taking it easy and the right treatment won’t cure,” said Esken. “Now, Mentor Sorli, are you going to unpack?”

  He pulled his thoughts together hastily. The promotion seemed genuine, even down to him now being recognized officially as the next Guild Master. While he hesitated, Esken began to speak again.

  “There are a few people I can afford to lose, Sorli,” he said quietly. “You, however, are not one of them.” He sighed. “You want the cold truth? My only way out is through you; I cannot back down. All that’s left to me is to retire from the fight gracefully. Now will you stay?”

  “Your health?” Sorli asked.

  “That’s genuine. Anger will be my undoing if I let it, Sorli, and I won’t.”

  “If your offer is genuine,” said Sorli, “then I accept, but should it happen that you …”

  Esken waved his hand again. “There’s enough to keep me busy in the areas I intend to pursue. I was spread too thin anyway. If I concentrate my efforts, I can still make my mark on this new society we’re building.” He leaned forward. “Now to what I want you to help me with. I need you to find out which of the Consortia Houses would be the best for me to contact regarding finding a wife.”

  Sorli began to frown.

  “I have the right, Sorli,” said Esken hastily. “My age alone qualifies me to choose a Consortia. Even Konis Aldatan has admitted that. Can you honestly see me with a young wife and two kitlings?”

  “The purpose of these marriages is to have cubs,” Sorli felt obliged to point out. “Telepathic cubs.”

  “I’m not a clan heir, the law doesn’t force me to accept the Clan Leader’s choice, nor to father cubs, you know that as well as I do.”

  Sorli sighed. “Very well, I’ll do what I can, Master Esken.”

  “Thank you, Sorli,” said Esken. “If you wish to leave your unpacking, one of the younglings could do it for you later. You’re entitled now to appoint an assistant.” The Guild Master got to his feet. “Why not come and have some c’shar with me?”

  “You know,” said Sorli, getting up and turning his back on the packing, “I think I will do just that. Thank you, Master Esken.”

  As he followed Esken from the room, he resolved that from now on, he would take full advantage of his new position. In the past he’d been too readily available for the Guild Master to call on, to the extent that he’d ended up replacing any assistant Esken might have appointed to do his day to day running about. Not any more: never again would he contribute to his own servitude. Esken would find him a changed person indeed.

  It was two days since the incident in the temple, and Kaid had been released from the infirmary back to his own room. For the time being, there was a guard outside his suite, and Vriuzu and a couple of the Brothers who also had enough telepathic ability were keeping him under constant surveillance. So far, there had been no more episodes.

  Noni had located every memory from his childhood in the Margins, and from the time when Vartra had called him back. She’d made him relive each one and had tried to help him understand it before finally pronouncing that nothing was left to resurface unexpectedly. What did remain, however, was his sense of betrayal and outrage at what Vartra had done.

  He felt empty, without a purpose. Now he saw everything to do with the Margins—including the Triad—as a plot on the part of Vartra to fill him with a need to return to the past. Turning over on his side, he winced. His shoulder and head were healing, but slowly. Noni’s ointments worked, he’d say that for them, but he’d have preferred fastheal.

  Noni had argued with him for hours, trying to get him to admit that the Triad was genuine, nothing to do with Vartra, but he wouldn’t accept it.

  “You were pulled to her by the bond you share,” she insisted.

  “No. It was nothing but an obsession.”

  “It works the same as a Leska Link, only slightly weaker, Tallinu!”

  “If that’s true, then it’s because of Vartra’s tampering with our genes.”

  “It is not!”

  “The Triads came after the Cataclysm, after the enhanced telepaths.”

  “It didn’t enhance the war
riors, it couldn’t! Why won’t you listen to me, boy!”

  “They had minor talents, like the Brotherhood today. It enhanced that as it’s enhanced the Brothers today.”

  “Dammit, boy! Does it matter? You have the female you wanted, and legally, not just as a lover! You belong with each other, all three of you! Would you now break the oaths you made with them?”

  He refused to answer, and in a rage, she left.

  “What is it, Noni?” asked Kusac as her attendant opened the door to him.

  “Come in, young Aldatan, come in! How’s that cub of yours, eh? She’ll be beginning to get lively now, I’ll be bound. You’ll have some c’shar with me?”

  Realizing she didn’t want to talk in front of anyone else, Kusac said no more. As he joined her at the table he handed her a large package.

  “I brought some more coffee for you,” he said, sitting down.

  Noni accepted the package and sniffed at the wrapping. “So this is the instant stuff. Then we’ll try it now. Teusi, you can go for the next hour. We’ve business to discuss.”

  Teusi nodded. “I’ll get the supplies from the village for you now,” he said, collecting his coat from the hook near the door.

  Noni pushed the tray of dried herbs she was mixing aside, waiting till they were alone.

  “What’s all the mystery?” asked Kusac, getting up and going over to the stove to heat some water. “You said you’d tell me when I got here.”

  “Rhyaz asked me to go up to his bird’s nest once a week to hold a clinic, as he calls it,” she said.

  “That’s good, isn’t it? You usually treat the Brothers and Sisters anyway.”

  “Don’t know that I want to do it,” she grumbled, watching him spoon the brown granules into the mugs.

  He turned to look at her, leaning against the cold portion of the hob. “You’re flattered, but it would mean there’d be fewer of them coming here to see you. I expect you see their visits as social occasions. If you had a clinic, you’d have less time with them.”