"Every mixed Leska pair is another strut in the bridge be-tween our worlds, allies who stand between us and the Valtegans, helping prevent tragedies such as those on the colony worlds of Khyaal and Szurtha from ever happening again. Their children will be equally important to us, a sign that the God trusts us to build for the future, a future which includes these children."
Once more, Rhaema returned to the screen. "Let your dis-pleasure be known. Tell your guildrepresentative how you feel about these people being kidnapped and drugged, about the life of the first ofthese cubs being risked in what is now a pointless Challenge. You have the power to change all this. Doit now, and work toward a better future which honors those brave enough to take up the God'schallenge. This is Rhaema Vorkoh of Infonet."
Konis switched the comm off. "Well, she certainly did her best," he said, looking over to where his wifesat. "That re-porter knows how to deliver an impassioned speech."
"That's because she spoke the truth," said Rhyasha.
"You really believe what she said about your God," said Carrie from where she sat curled up beside
Kusac.
"Of course. How else could all these impossible things have happened to you?"
Leave it, cub. Let her believe it's the work of Vartra, sent Kusac.
At the far side of the lounge, the comm unit began to beep, making it unnecessary for her to reply.
Konis got up and went over to answer it. "Governor
Nesul, what a pleasure," he said, his voice a purr of almost-contempt. "I take it your meeting is over?"
"Subtle, Konis, very subtle," said Nesul. "I detected Rhyasha's hand behind that broadcast, by the way.
Compli-ment her for me."
"How can I help you, Governor?" Konis' voice was silky now.
"I've got a job for you," Nesul said. "You want these Leska pairs under the jurisdiction of AlRel, don't
you?"
"Yes." Konis was puzzled. What was Nesul up to?
"Then I suggest you take on the job personally. You base yourself at the guild and monitor the progress of these pairs. You wanted someone impartial who was prepared to gainsay the dictates of the guild, someone to protect the interests of our mixed Leskas? Who better than you?" Nesul grinned, teeth showing whitely. "After all, you have a vested interest in preventing the guild from monopolizing these people and their cubs."
Konis stood there, his face frozen in a polite mask. "I don't think…"
"Good, then I'll tell Esken to expect you tomorrow. Good night, Konis." The screen went blank.
Uttering a few choice epithets, Konis turned and headed for the door. "Excuse me, I'm going to call thattoothless, tree-climbing bastard back!"
Kusac watched his mother's shoulders start to shake as she hid her face behind her hands. Finally, thelaughter es-caped her.
"I think your father has overplayed his hand this time," she chuckled. "However, I can't think of anyone better to fill the post. Neither Esken nor anyone else will intimidate your father. I think they'll rue the day they put him in charge!"
We're still no nearer getting the Challenge stopped, sent Kusac.
Maybe. With AlRel in charge, and your father head of AlRel, he can perhaps pull a few strings byhimself now. We'll see, sent his mother.
* * *
It was well into the next day before Jack was able to lo-cate Vanna's whereabouts on Shola. Last timethey'd been in touch, he'd never thought to ask for her address. There was more delay while Vanna hadto request the main guild office to send the data transfer. By the time he was able to actually sit down andexamine her findings, it was getting on toward evening and Carrie's father was beginning to get extremelyedgy.
"Damn it, Jack, couldn't you have done it quicker?" he demanded, pacing round his friend's now enlarged
office in Valleytown.
"Have you ever tried to locate one person on a planet larger than Earth when you only know their first name?" said Jack. "Even the fact that she was with Carrie and Kusac on Keiss wasn't any real help. I was as quick as I could be. If it hadn't been for that Myak chap on the Khalossa, I'd never have found her."
"We've got to have it ready for tomorrow. The Council is heavily committed, but I intend to bring this matter up first thing and get it over and done with, so we can contact Kusac's father and get this fight stopped." He snorted. "The whole concept of a combat duel is barbaric!"
"No more barbaric than some of our sports," said Jack, marking areas of text on the screen that he
wanted to print out later.
"This isn't a sport. Win or lose, it's got legally binding consequences."
"Not essentially different from our martial arts competi-tions."
"People don't get hurt on Earth!"
Jack looked up, his eyebrows raised. "You're forgetting the boxing matches, to say nothing of some ofthe forms of contact karate. To my mind they're far from civilized."
"Dammit all, Jack, my daughter's life is at stake!"
Jack heard the fear in Peter's voice and turned around to see the older man slump down into an easychair, his head in his hands.
"Come on now, Peter," Jack said, getting up and going over to him. "This isn't going to help Carrie, is it?"
Awk-wardly, he patted him on the shoulder. "Where's Richard to-night?"
"Looking after the inn," said Peter, his voice muffled by his hands.
"You need to rest, or you'll be too worn down with worry to handle the Council meeting tomorrow. You're over-stretching yourself, Peter. I'll get Richard to come over and take you home for an early night. Will you promise to rest?"
As Peter nodded, Jack gave his shoulder another pat. "Good man. Try not to worry about this, I'm sureeverything will be all right and the Council will cancel this Challenge. I'll work through the night on this. It'll be ready for tomor-row, I promise."
* * *
The next day, Kusac called Vanna at the Guild.
"You know that it looks like the Challenge will have to go ahead," he said to her.
"I gathered that when Jack Reynolds contacted me last night," she said, ears flicking backward despite
her efforts to stop them.
"What did he want?"
"The results of the genetic tests I ran on you. Apparently Carrie's father needs them to put before the
Keissian/Sholan Council in an attempt to get them to overrule the law on Challenges."
"If they needed medical evidence, why didn't they get back to us?"
"You go to a medic for medical evidence, Kusac, not usu-ally to the patient," she said dryly.
"Personally, I think they're wasting their time," he said. "I can't see that Council helping us any more than the author-ities here. I've actually called to ask you yet another favor," he said, tilting his head slightly to one side, unable to look her straight in the eyes.
"I'll be there," she said, "I hope I. won't be needed."
Kusac's ears twitched slightly in surprise but he said noth-ing. "Father has asked me to request that youbring another medic with you, and everything that might be needed."
The physician in her noticed that his eyes were almost completely black with the white of the inner lidsshowing at the edges.
"I anticipated this. I've already got permission from the head surgeon to take what I need from the guild hospital. I had some trouble convincing him that I should come at all since he would rather handle the matter himself." She hesi-tated. "You might be better having someone more qualified than me. All the top medics at the guild now have a working knowledge of Terran physiology."
"No. I don't want anyone else," he said in a rush, afraid she wouldn't come after all. "I don't like imposing on you, especially when things are…" he hesitated, "difficult, but I'd rather it was you. We trust you. I don't trust anyone else from the guild."
She nodded.
"If you have any trouble with your surgeon, tell him to contact my father as head of AlRel."
She nodded again, aware that an awkwardness was devel-op
ing between them. "What time is the
Challenge?" she asked.
"Fourth hour, the day after tomorrow."
"I'll be there," she said, "without Brynne."
"Thank you," said Kusac. "I'm sorry I have to involve you yet again."
"I'm beginning to think I was born involved. I couldn't leave it to someone else," she said, distress showing on her face and in the set of her ears. "Until I knew you were both all right, it would be like living through hell."
Kusac's ears went completely back and he opened his mouth to speak.
"I'll see you then," she said hurriedly, breaking the con-tact.
He sat looking at the blank screen for several seconds be-fore leaning forward to switch it off. Inwardly,he cursed whatever cruel trick of fate had decreed that the three of them be so closely involved with eachother.
* * *
The day before the Challenge came, and there had still been no word from Keiss. The house seemed tobe full of tension despite the fact that everyone tried to behave nor-mally. By mid-morning, Kusac couldstand it no longer and announced that he and Carrie were going to town.
Taking a small aircar, he flew them there, parking in the Telepath Guild grounds. They spent the daywandering around the shops, Kaid following them like a silent shadow.
By some unconscious mutual consent, though they stopped several times to haggle over prices of itemsthey liked, they bought nothing. When night fell, they went in search of food, preferring to sit and eat on aseat in the cor-ner of some parkland rather than in one of the many restau-rants the town had to offer.
When they finally returned home, Kusac left her at the foot of the stairs while he went into the kitchen. Heemerged carrying a large jug of wine and two glasses. Taking her by the hand, he led her upstairs to their
rooms.
"Tonight," he said, shutting the door, "we're going to get drunk. Don't worry," he added, feeling her surprise and con-cern for the morning, "it's early yet, and you won't get a hangover with this wine."
He put the jug and glasses down on the table beside the settee, pulling her closer.
"I'm sure everything will go well tomorrow," he said, stroking her hair, "but this could also be our last
night to-gether. I want us to enjoy it."
"Please God, it won't be," she murmured, putting a hand up to either side of his face and drawing it down
to kiss him.
* * *
Vanna knocked on the door, waiting for Garras to answer. She knew she had to talk to him, but shewasn't looking for-ward to it.
"Vanna, this is a surprise," Garras said, standing back for her to enter. He frowned, noticing the nervous
set to her ears and the flicking of her tail. "What's wrong?" he asked as he shut the door behind her.
"Nothing, I just needed to talk to you," she said, walking into the center of the room.
Garras already knew what she needed to tell him, and had since she'd first found out. He was preparedto wait for her. She'd either tell him or not in her own good time. "Want some coffee?" he asked, goingover to the kitchen area.
"Please," she said, following him. "I thought you didn't like it."
"I've gotten used to it because you like it," he said, pour-ing out two mugfuls then adding whitener and
sweetener to both.
"Garras, I'm carrying Brynne's cub." There, she'd said it.
He continued to stir the sweetener into the mugs.
"If you want to get Kaid to choose someone else to watch over me, I'll understand," she said in a small
voice.
Garras turned and handed her a mug. "Why should I want to do that?" he asked, leaning back against thecounter, watching her carefully. "I already knew, Vanna. I've only been waiting for you to tell me so Icould reassure you that it makes no difference."
She looked up, eyes wide with shock. "How did you know?"
"If you had a Sholan Leska, it'd be no different," he said, ignoring her question. "You'd be expected to bear his cubs, too, whether or not you were bonded. What's different, ex-cept that you and I can't ever have cubs?"
"Nothing, I suppose."
Growling deep in his throat, he leaned forward and took the mug away from her, slamming it down onthe counter. Shaking the spilled coffee off his hand with an exclamation of annoyance, he steppedforward and took hold of her.
. Holding her close with one arm, he used the other to lift her chin up until she couldn't avoid looking at
him.
"Dammit, Vanna, I've spent too long looking for someone like you to let anything or anyone come between us. Your relationship with Brynne isn't one of love, you've told me that and I can see it for myself. Ours is. Your cub will need a father and I intend to be that father, not Brynne, your five-day wonder! As for what I want to do," he said, lowering his face to hers and beginning to nuzzle her ear, "I intend to guard your body intimately until morning, and I don't care whether or not you have any objections," he said, swinging her up into his arms.
"I don't," said Vanna, wrapping her arms around his neck. "I do need you, Garras."
"And I need you, too, pretty one," he said, his voice a low purr.
* * *
"Before business begins," said Peter Hamilton, looking round the table at the assembled Sholans and
humans, "there is a personal matter I'd like to raise. One involving Sholan law."
The Sholan Chairman, Sub-Commander Vioshi, stirred in his seat. "Mr. Hamilton, we have a great dealof civic busi-ness to attend to first. As I've said before, personal matters will have to wait, even for you. In fact, I suggest that the Council chamber is not the place for such items. As Plane-tary Governor you
should be aware of that. We've already set up a perfectly adequate complaints procedure."
"The matter does concern this Council," argued Mr. Ham-ilton, "and it has a time limit to it. We need to
discuss it now."
"If you feel so strongly about it then, if we have time, we'll consider your problem after the day's business
is over," the Sholan sighed.
"I must insist that the Council does find the time," began Carrie's father.
"Raise the matter at the end of business, Peter," said Cap-tain Skinner, the Keissian co-Chairman. "I
understand your concern, but not now."
Peter Hamilton subsided, an angry look on his face as he glanced at the clock.
It was nearing seven at night before he was able to put his case to the Council, by which time it was toolate to make a decision without reference to the full facts. A series of notes compiled by Jack Reynoldswas given to each council member and a firm promise given that the matter would be looked at again thenext day and some decision taken.
Once again there were delays. Some urgent local incident on Keiss needed to be discussed and he wasasked to wait while that was dealt with. By late afternoon, they were ready to consider his case.
"You've all read the documents," he said. "The medical facts are simple. If my daughter fights in this Challenge, she could lose the child. If she does, that could put both her life and that of her Leska, the Telepath Clan Lord's son, at risk. Since they are the first Leska pair of, their kind, and their child is unique, I suggest that the law governing Challenges be put aside in this case and the Challenge be canceled."
"Sholan law cannot be put aside every time a Keissian is involved, Mr. Hamilton," said Sub-Commander Vioshi. "Your daughter knew what she was doing when she issued this Challenge, and she knew she would have to fight it per-sonally. It's also an En'Shalla Challenge, and not in the civil law domain."
"She didn't know she was pregnant."
"That is immaterial as far as the law is concerned, but the fact that she carries the first child of a new
species bears thinking about."
"One of the other Sholan/Terran pairings is also preg-nant," interrupted another of the Sholan councilors.
"The child is not unique."
"That may be so, bu
t is there really that much of a risk to the mother?" inquired Vioshi.
"According to two medics, yes," said Mr. Hamilton. "It's in my notes." Frantically he searched his mind to
see if there was anything else he could say that would sway them.
"One other thing," he said hastily, just as the Chairman was about to speak. "She's a healer, too. Your
people regard healers highly, don't they?"
"A healer, you say?" Vioshi sat up and took note. "You should have mentioned this earlier because without a legal ruling on this matter, we can't intervene. Healers are too rare to risk in any circumstances. If such a decision was in your favor, is there anyone on the Council who would block there being a cancellation of the Challenge in this case?"
He looked round the room, receiving negative shakes of the head from all present. "No? Then I suggestwe leave this matter till tomorrow when I have had time to contact a judge and get a ruling on it," said the Chairman.
"I'll second that," said Skinner.
"We haven't got until tomorrow," said Carrie's father. "The Challenge is at ten o'clock tonight our time. I
need ac-tion before then."
"In that case, I suggest we close our business for today so that I can contact the judge on the Khalossa
and see you get your ruling as soon as possible."
Peter Hamilton sat down, almost light-headed with relief.
* * *
It was dawn when Brynne strolled out into the small courtyard outside the guild medical center. Vannaand her assistant were busy loading a recovery aircar.
"Today's the Challenge, then?" he asked.
Vanna stopped to look briefly at him. "Yes." She turned to the other female. "Chena, bring me therefrigerated box next. Check that it contains the Terran whole blood, type O, and the plasma. Theamount should be as per the label."
She climbed on board and began checking her equipment. Brynne followed her.
"Quite comprehensive, isn't it?" he said, looking round. "Everything up to and including a mobile intensive
care unit. There's been no stay of execution, then?"
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