I've be-come now that my mind is linked with an alien's."
Sorli looked startled. Master Esken merely smiled. "I'd have been disappointed in you if you'd failed torealize that," he said. "Thank you both for your insights into the test results. I'd better let you get on withyour work if you're to have it ready for tomorrow."
Sorli and Kusac rose.
"Good day, Master Esken," said Sorli, inclining his head before turning toward the door.
The Guild Master looked up from his comm. "Would you mind remaining a moment longer, Sorli? I needa few more minutes of your time."
"Good day, Master Esken, Tutor Sorli," said Kusac, open-ing the door and closing it softly behind him.
"Sorli, sit down again, please. Normally we don't involve ourselves in civil matters, but I'm concerned about these two. You're constantly involved with the training of our Leska pairs. Just how close are they?"
"Closer than if they had been born Talented twins," said Sorli. "As you observed for yourself, there is a constant communication between them. Unlike Sholan Leskas, they don't have to search for the knowledge of what their partner is doing, they know."
"That's what I thought from the data I've been sent by their physician and by you. It's a damned shame she isn't a Sholan. If she had been, then there might have been a chance of his father trying to negate this life-bonding con-tract with Vailkoi. It would also mean we wouldn't have a problem over their ability to fight. As it is, I'm afraid they're both going to be bitterly disappointed. How do you think Kusac will react?"
"I believe Kusac will disobey his father if it comes to it," said Sorli thoughtfully. "He's equally determined to have Carrie as his legal lifemate. Has anyone stopped to consider what the effect would be on the Terran if Kusac does marry and mate with Rala? Since they're bound so closely, I feel sure the effect would be devastating to both of them. She'd be sharing his intimacy while he mated with Rala."
"That's just another problem they'll have to face when diey come to it, along with Konis' wrath when he finds out Kusac has given the human his tore," sighed Master Esken. "It's at times like these that I'm glad to take the coward's way out and claim political and civil neutrality. It isn't up to us to inform him about Kusac's unofficial betrothal gift to her."
"Hardly the coward's way, Master, more the diplomat's.
At least she conceals the tore most of the time," said Sorli quietly. "Was there anything more?"
"No. You've given me much to think about."
* * *
Though religion on Shola was a matter of personal com-mitment and not organized, this wasn't the casewith those who chose to live a life of service to their God.
For Ghyan, a telepath and a Priest of Vartra, this meant he owed allegiance to Lijou, head of the cult of
Vartra and co-Leader of the Brotherhood of Vartra at Dzahai Stronghold.
Ghyan's position with the cult was high since only to someone of his ability—and commitment—could therun-ning of the Temple at Valsgarth, the main Telepath Guild town, be given. Equal to him in senioritycame Joaylah, the priest at the Temple at Nazule, the Warrior Guild town.
Only the senior Priests and Brothers were aware of the true nature of Lijou and Ghezu's program toachieve full guild status, and of their belief in the mortality of their God.
Ghyan didn't have a problem about the duality of his God. Whatever the original nature of Vartra, the factthat He ap-peared to new Leska pairs at Valsgarth Telepath Guild, and that by following the templerituals he could achieve a one-ness with the God, made Him divine in his eyes. At Dzahai Stronghold, the Brothers often had God-visions of a personal nature—prophetic ones.
Ghyan was taking his turn at trimming back the candle wicks and checking the torches. It was a job heenjoyed doing—probably because it wasn't a regular task of his, he admitted with a grin to himself. Notfar from him, one of the younger acolytes was polishing the metal features on the plinth of the statue of the God.
The youngster was handling the task with a lot of appre-hension, not completely convinced that standingon the plinth and polishing Vartra's weapons wasn't an act of sac-rilege. He was afraid that the Godmight come to life before his eyes.
"Come on, lad," said Ghyan. "Put some effort into it! The God's far more likely to censure you for not
doing the job properly!"
"Yes, Father Ghyan," said the youngling, his hands now scrubbing faster as he burnished the steel.
Ghyan felt the stillness of the mind before he heard the soft footfall. It had the mark of one of the Brothers. "Good morning, Brother. What can we do for you?" He turned round to see a black robedfigure approaching him.
"Father Ghyan," the Brother said, inclining his head be-fore slipping back the hood.
He was still young, just entering the prime of life, Ghyan judged. A Highlander, his color an unremarkabletan. Wider than usual ears were pricked toward him, and brown eyes re-garded him lazily from arounded, stocky face.
"I requested leave to attend the Temple. Leaders Lijou and Ghezu appointed me to Valsgarth. Until now
my posting had been on board the Khalossa. My name is Rulla."
"Well come, Rulla," Ghyan said, laying his paring knife down on the bench below where he'd been working. "Leader Lijou had mentioned I might expect one or more of the Brothers." He felt a faint flare of surprise from Rulla. Not an agent, then. Curious.
"Have you luggage?" he asked, going over to join him.
"In the passage," replied Rulla. "I didn't like to bring it into the Temple."
"I'll get one of the younglings to take it to your quarters. You'll join me in a mug of c'shar?"
"Please."
"See to the rest of the candles when you finish, Vrazo," he said before leading Rulla toward the door to
his private quarters.
Settled with a plate of cold meats and bread between them, Ghyan sipped his c'shar, eyeing Rullacuriously.
"What do you plan to do with your time here, Rulla?" he asked.
Rulla put down his mug and helped himself to a slice of meat. He placed it meticulously on the bread,then rolled it into a cylinder.
"I'd like to study, if I may, Father Ghyan," he said before taking a bite of his meat roll.
"We do have an extensive library here," said Ghyan with a pleased smile. "In fact, it's my own particular pride that I've been able to add to the wealth of books—real books, not the cartridges for the comp pads. What are you wanting to study?"
"Comparative religions." He hesitated. "With particular reference to the Keissian religion."
Ghyan's mouth fell open in surprise. Recollecting himself, he shut it almost immediately.
"I have to admit I was hoping to be posted here," Rulla continued. "You see, I know you have a friend
with an— intimate knowledge—of Keissian customs."
Ghyan frowned. "I can only authorize your use of the fa-cilities here at the Temple," he said stiffly. "Wehave nothing yet on Keissian religions. As to my personal friends, they re-main just that. Personal."
"Oh, I appreciate that, Father Ghyan. I merely hoped to contact a friend of mine who's in the employ of your friend. I trust you would have no objections to me conducting some research outside the Temple, if I can get permission to speak to Liegen Aldatan and his Leska. I would, of course, leave a copy of my studies with the Temple when I depart."
"I think you'll find it highly unlikely that you'll get per-mission," said Ghyan. "Should you be lucky enough to do so, then I'd have no objection." This was no coincidence, Ghyan was sure. If Lijou hadn't sent him, then who had? A word to Kusac was the least he could do. If he was mis-taken, it would cause no harm. If he wasn't…
* * *
Kaid accompanied Taizia and Carrie to the inn where they were meeting some of the other students fromher year.
"I don't know that this is a good idea," said Carrie as they stepped out into the guild's sunny courtyard.
"Of course it is," said Taizia, taking her by the arm. "Tell her
it is, Kaid. She's been shut up in this
mausoleum of a guild for far too long. She needs to get out and meet peo-ple."
"She's probably right," Kaid agreed, falling into step on her other side.
"Your life is here on Shola with my brother, so you need to meet people and make friends."
"I have friends, Taizia. I have Vanna and you as well as Kaid, Meral, and Sevrin."
"I mean more friends, then! Come on, don't dig your claws in, we'll be late," she chided, pulling Carrie on
when she tried to lag back at the main gate.
Carrie allowed herself to be drawn into the street. It was only her second visit to the town. Over the lastfew weeks they'd been kept busy with tests for the guild. At least Vanna's tests were less frequent now. Taizia was right; she needed the break and the fresh air.
"Where are we going?"
"To the Green Goddess Inn. It has a wonderful garden out the back."
"Green Goddess?" asked Carrie as they walked past the food stalls. "I thought Vartra was your main
God."
"He is, if you're a telepath or a Warrior," Taizia said. "But there are others, lots of them. Religion is up to the in-dividual. Most houses have a shrine to one of the Gods or Goddesses. Our religions aren't organized like yours are." She gave her a quick grin. "I've been reading up on your people. That encyclopedia is fascinating." She pronounced the unfamiliar Terran word carefully.
"How did you manage to see it? I thought it was still re-stricted."
Taizia gave a low purring laugh. "It is, but Mother let me use her access code to the locked AlRel files. Ithought that since my brother's Leska is human, I should learn something about her people. Anyway, I'mofficially allowed to have it now."
Abruptly Taizia pulled her over to a stall selling grilled cubes of meat on skewers. 'Three, please," shesaid, digging into the pocket of her tabard for the appropriate coins. "Here," she said, distributing them to Carrie and Kaid. "They smelled so good I couldn't resist them."
"Thank you," said Carrie, gingerly taking a small mouth-ful. The meat was spicy and tender. She took a
larger bite. "I thought you said we were eating at the inn."
"Oh, we are, don't worry," she said, licking the juices off her forearm.
"Don't you get fur in your mouth?" Carrie asked.
"Only if you lick against the lie of the fur," said Taizia, eyes alight with humor. "I thought you'd been with
Kusac long enough to learn that."
Carrie decided to ignore the remark.
The inn was near the jewelry quarter, a part of the town she'd visited before. As they made their wayalong one of the small streets, Carrie stopped abruptly in front of one of the stores.
"Kaid, isn't this the store we visited on my first trip?"
"Yes, I believe it is, Liegena."
Taizia frowned and caught him by the arm. "Don't call her Liegena, Kaid. It'll only draw attention to her.
We don't need that yet," she said quietly.
"I agree," said Carrie, turning back to look at them. "Please, call me Carrie, Kaid. I'd prefer it."
"I didn't think you'd hear me," said Taizia, her ears flick-ing in embarrassment.
"I can hear and smell almost as well as you, Taizia," said Carrie. It was her turn to look amused. "All my senses are sharper since your brother and I became fully Linked." She turned to Kaid. "I need to collect something from the shop. Will you wait outside for me?"
Kaid frowned. "Let me check it out first," he said before biting the last cube of meat off its skewer. Tossing the stick in a nearby bin, he went into the shop. Moments later he was out again. "It's emptyexcept for the storekeeper," he said. "I'll remain outside unless someone else goes in."
Carrie nodded and went in. A few minutes later she re-turned with the belt pouch at her waist looking agood deal heavier.
"What's all the mystery?" asked Taizia as they moved off again toward the inn.
"It would be wiser to be ignorant in this case," Kaid mur-mured in her ear as he moved past her to
Carrie's other side.
Carrie noticed Taizia give him a sharp look, but she said nothing.
The inn was at the corner of a row of stores. A large, closely cropped, open green swathe was at therear of the building. On it were set rustic benches and tables round which groups of Sholans lounged.
As Taizia led them across the green toward a table set a little back from the others, Carrie was aware ofthe curious stares and retreated behind her shield feeling exposed and vulnerable. She straightened herback automatically. Let them look. At least she was getting more used to it. Taizia gave her arm areassuring squeeze as they approached a group of about half a dozen females.
"You're going to be outnumbered, Kaid," Carrie said, try-ing to conceal her nervousness. "I hope you
don't mind."
"Not when the company is so stimulating," Kaid said with a slight grin.
Taizia laughed. "You've got a rare escort there, Carrie." she said. "Few of them are that diplomatic andcomplimen-tary at the same time."
Carrie found her arm taken again by Taizia as they ap-proached the table.
"Hello, everyone," she said. "I'd like you to meet Carrie, my brother's Leska, and this is Kaid, her
escort."
Carrie looked at the circle of new faces. A wave of panic hit her until she felt her arm nipped by Taizia onone side, then Kaid's comforting presence moving closer to her on the other.
Take a deep breath, you'll be fine, Taizia sent. We're all students from AlRel. We've actually hadsome experience with other species. If Kusac has his way and life-bonds to you, you'll have to getused to mixing with other Sholans.
"Hello," she said, letting Taizia push her down onto the bench.
"That's Taiba next to you," said Taizia, "and Laesu, Vekki, G'hiled and Changu."
Carrie looked at each of them in turn. It was getting easier to tell the Sholans apart these days. She waseven beginning to appreciate the Sholan ideals of beauty. Each of the fe-males nodded at her in greeting.
Taiba reached out for the large jug that sat in the center of the table. "Would you like some wine?" sheasked. "We or-dered enough for all of us."
"Please," said Carrie, pushing her glass and Taizia's for-ward.
"What about you, Kaid?" Taiba asked as she filled them.
"Thank you, no. I'm on duty," he said, slipping onto the bench beside Changu.
"Isn't it a little ridiculous for her to have an escort?" said G'hiled, lifting her glass for a drink. "Only the
female heirs of Clan families need escorts, and then only just before they're married."
Under the table, Taizia's hand clamped over Carrie's thigh, pressing it warningly. "I see the wine hasn'tsweet-ened your nature yet, G'hiled," she said. "If my brother feels his Leska needs an escort, who am Ito disagree?"
"Your friend is quite right," said Kaid smoothly as he helped himself to a glass of water. "I'm actually Liegen Aldatan's adjutant. Today I am merely escorting her to pre-vent the sort of unwanted male attention that she suffered from on the Khalossa."
"If you're going to be snippy, G'hiled, then perhaps you'd better leave now," said Changu. "I, for one, would prefer to sit and chat with Carrie rather than criticize her. You're only saying that because your nose is out of joint. You've had your eye on Kusac for a long time now, and he's never even been aware you exist!"
"I think enough private opinions have been aired in pub-lic," said Vekki, her tone reproving. "This isn't exactly the way we intended to welcome you, Carrie. I'm afraid you're getting a rather poor impression of us."
Strangely enough, the bickering had actually helped her relax and feel part of the group. It reminded herof some of the teenagers she'd taught back home.
"Don't worry about it," she grinned. "I'm used to it. I was a teacher on Keiss."
G'hiled hissed at the implied insult, then subsided as the others began to smile.
"Have you ordered any food yet?" Taizia as
ked, taking a sip of her wine.
"Of course. We ordered a variety of dishes for all of us. We didn't know what Carrie likes to eat, so we
thought this way she's bound to find something that takes her fancy," said Vekki.
"Good, I'm famished," said Taizia.
Carrie picked up her glass and cautiously tasted the wine. It was pleasantly fruity and not too sweet. Herfather would have liked it, she thought.
Then we'll send him a crate of it, sent Kusac.
She grinned as she put her glass down again.
"What is it?" asked Taizia.
"Just a comment about the wine from Kusac," she said, without thinking.
"Your minds are that close?" asked Taizia in disbelief. "What did he say?"
"Only that if the wine was that good, we'd send my father some. He grows vines, you see."
"Vines?" asked Vekki.
"Don't you have vines? What kind of fruit do you use for your wine?"
"All kinds," said Taizia. "This one is made from redber-ries."
"My mother makes her own wines," said Laesu. "Perhaps we can exchange recipes. I'm sure she would
love to try some Terran wines."
"Not Terran, Keissian," corrected Taizia. "The Terrans are from Earth. If we don't distinguish between
the two worlds now, it'll only cause confusion later."
"So I'm no longer a Terran, then," said Carrie in amuse-ment. "I'm a Keissian."
Taizia's mouth opened in a grin. "That's right," she said. "Nothing like having your identity changed foryou, is there?"
"Tell me about it," said Carrie with a laugh. "I'm still learning to cope with the Sholan part of me!"
"The Sholan part?" asked Taiba curiously.
"All the memories I inherited from Kusac," explained Carrie.
Taizia gave a loud purring laugh. "You want to be thank-ful Kusac didn't notice you, G'hiled! If he had,
Carrie would know all about it!"
Carrie turned to look at Taizia. "I hadn't thought of that," she said thoughtfully.
There's nothing worth remembering, came the thought from Kusac.
"Kusac again?" grinned Taizia. "These multiple conversa-tions you have must be confusing."
Fortune's Wheel Page 45
