Shades of Gray (18 page)

In the flickering light, he created the illusion of himself growing taller, broader, more threatening. “Take his blade from him,” he ordered the guards who stood by the high table.

Briac lurched across the table, grabbing the nearest knife.

“Stay away from me,” he said, holding it before him as he backed slowly away from the table. “He’s lying! It’s all illusions, trickery, can’t you see that?” His hand reached out for Nimue’s arm.

Lightning struck him first, playing along his limbs, wracking his body with convulsions. Briac screamed, a high-pitched, thin sound that continued for a few seconds after his scorched body fell to the floor. The smell of overcooked meat began to fill the air.

“You have your proof, Rhydderch. See to your Angle guests. I serve only the Goddess, and She bids me return to the woods. Remember that well, and don’t seek me out again!”

Turning on his heel, he extinguished all but the candles by the now surrounded Angles and strode out of the hall.

 

“You were very restrained with them,” Noni repeated.

“Unh?” he muttered, blinking up at her.

“I mean Llew was,” she corrected herself.

He reached up to rub his hand over his eyes. “I slipped again, didn’t I?” He was still groggy with sleep.

“You did, but I reckon that could be the last time,” she said, moving out of his line of sight.

Soft fur slid against his naked hip and awareness of where he was returned as he realized sunlight was streaming in through the window.

“At least we know why Llew’s memories have been plaguing you these past months,” she continued, sliding an arm unself-consciously across his belly. “He was given a vision of the far future, one that affects us now.”

“It would seem so,” he said, tensing as he tried to remember anything other than Llew’s memories from the night before, but they were so entwined with his own, he couldn’t tell one from the other. It could be nights with Llew’s Nimue, or his own . . . Had anything even happened between them?

A low vibration against his side surprised him moments before Noni began to chuckle. It was a deep, rich sound, echoed in the purr that was now vibrating through them both.

“You can’t remember last night, can you? Don’t know how to behave!”

He could feel her amusement at his predicament.

“First lover I’ve had in some thirty-odd years, and he can’t remember. Don’t ever say the Entities have no sense of humor, Conner!”

He shifted, turning on his side to look at her, being careful not to touch her. Her arm, he noticed, moved with him, keeping its proprietary hold on him.

“Lovers?” he asked, his senses taking in her relaxed body, the slightly openmouthed Sholan grin as well as her widened yet relaxed ears. Obviously his attentions had not been unwelcome.

“It was bound to happen sometime, Conner,” she said, more serious now. “We both knew that on some level. No point prancing around each other at our age. Besides,” the grin dropped into a full smile. “The attraction was mutual. You play a grand tune, my man, for a male of any age!”

He laughed at her outrageous compliment, finally moving in close to her.

“Shall I remind you?” she asked as he embraced her and began rubbing his cheek against hers.

“Later, maybe,” he murmured, breathing in her scent as he buried his face in the short pelt of her neck.

Her purr deepened as she arched against him, tilting her head to one side.

“Ah, you’re so like a Sholan,” she whispered, opening her mind to let him feel the sensations he was creating for her.

“And you, my dear, are all feline,” he murmured before closing his teeth on her exposed throat.

 

Conner came out of the bathing room to find Noni sitting at her dressing table, brushing her long hair.

“I’ve got bite marks on my throat,” he said, going around behind her and taking the brush from her hand.

“So you have,” she agreed, watching him in the mirror as he took over the brushing. “Think I’m going to let some young female in Stronghold try to claim what’s mine, to say nothing of Kuushoi?”

He stopped brushing for a moment. “You know about that?”

“I don’t play games with your mind, Conner. Something woke me last night, and I knew Kuushoi was here. When Llew’s memories possessed you, they took me in too.”

“Ah.” He resumed brushing for another minute or two then handed it back to her and began braiding the snow-white hair. “Then you know everything?”

“Not everything. Only that you were afraid of Her returning and what happened when Llew was returned against his wishes to Rhydderch’s castle.” She reached for a hair clasp on her table and passed it back to him.

“You have lovely hair,” he said, fastening the long braid off. Sadness was building in him, and he tried to close off his thoughts from her.

“So have you, and no, we didn’t become lovers because of Kuushoi, so you can stop thinking that right now,” she said tartly, rounding on him. “You and I know damned well there’s more between us than that!”

“I know,” he said, reaching out to touch her face. “I have to leave Shola and travel to where Kusac is.”

“But not today, and you’ll return to me,” she said, grasping his hand. “Won’t you?”

“In truth, I don’t know, Noni. The Goddess has given me other work to do there.” He felt her wince as her claw tips began to extend and prick his hand and realized he was holding her too tightly. He relaxed his grip a little. “It’s not wise for us to get so involved ...”

She made a noise of disgust. “We were already too involved before last night!”

“Noni, I’ve said one too many good-byes in my life, I can’t bear another,” he said forcefully.

“Then don’t,” she said, standing up. “Come back to me.”

“Come with me!”

“I don’t travel,” she replied automatically.

“I know, but I must,” he said gently, lifting her palm to his lips.

“They haven’t even retaken the Prime world yet,” she muttered. “We can enjoy the time we have here, then, who knows? Perhaps I’ll join you later.”

He stared at her. “You’d consider it?”

“I must be going senile,” she muttered. “Yes, I’ll seriously consider it if you are away for more than six months.”

“Two.”

“Three months, and no sooner! Take it or leave it!”

He laughed, picking her up and planting a kiss on her cheek, much to her feigned indignant yowl just as Teusi walked in.

“Your pardon, Noni, Conner,” he stammered, backing out. “But there’s a search on for Master Conner—they think he’s missing.”

“Go tell them I’m with Noni and we’re going to the Senior’s room for first meal,” said Conner, putting Noni down.

“Umm . . . That’d be for second meal, Master Conner,” said Teusi, grinning.

“Second meal! Goddess save us, imaginations will be running riot,” Conner murmured.

“Oh, I think not, when they see your neck,” said Teusi.

“Out, brat!” shouted Noni, lobbing her brush at him. “Don’t you go spreading any rumors!”

“Won’t need to, Noni,” he laughed, beating a hasty retreat as the brush sailed harmlessly past him.

“Seems like we’re already an item, whether we want it or not,” said Conner, walking over to retrieve the brush and throw it on a nearby chair as they left.

“You’d think they could find something better to gossip about,” grumbled Noni as Conner ushered her into the corridor. “Wait. I need you keyed into my room,” she said, stopping him by the security access panel.

He inclined his head slightly as he waited for her to input her number then place her palm on the sensor panel. “I’m honored.”

“Now you,” she said, stepping back as a couple of students came out of one of the other rooms.

Pretending not to notice, the young females politely sidled past them before heading off at a brisk pace. A muffled giggle drifted back.

“I have to go to Vartra’s Retreat this evening. If I’m back late, let yourself in,” she said, glaring at the youngsters’ retreating backs. “Teusi will look after you. Why is it that when you do something personal, there’s always someone about to mind your business?”

“It comes of living in an establishment like this,” said Conner calmly, keying in his palm print. “What takes you out there tonight?”

“Business. I’ll tell you about it when I can,” she said shortly, taking hold of his arm as they started down the corridor.

“Your stick ...”

“I don’t really need it every day,” she said with a grin. “Makes me look more intimidating, don’t you think?”

“Oh, I think you manage fine on your own,” he said with a chuckle.

 

“Why did you call this meeting of the Guardians,Noni?”asked Lijou that evening as he escorted her into Vartra’s Retreat.

“Ghyakulla told me to,” she said. “She’s preparing for this war in other ways, you know.”

“Does this involve Conner?” he asked shrewdly.

Noni shot the Guild Master of the Brotherhood priests a glance. “Aye, it does. You know that the Entities have been curious about our Humans since they first arrived, don’t you? Well, they’ve chosen one who is already a Guardian.”

“I knew Conner was more than he seemed. And the fact that he and you are a couple now?”

“A couple?” Her face softened. “I suppose we are, at that. Seems strange after a lifetime alone to find someone now.” She shook herself. “That’s got little to do with it, Lijou. Shortly he’ll be telling you he has to go to the Prime world. He’s been carrying in his ancient memories a prophecy for our time that the Entities told him to deliver to Kusac. Ghyakulla also wants him to help them heal their world by returning them to their worship of the land. That’s what I’ll be telling the other Guardians tonight.”

“It seems the Humans have been part of our destiny since the beginning. Will they accept Conner?”

“If I’m not mistaken, they’ll have no choice,” she said, her voice taking on a harder tone. “I have Teusi shadowing him. Your Brotherhood training’s coming in useful for the lad, and I thank you for it.”

“It was nothing, compared with what you do for us,” he murmured, nodding to the priests as they made their way to the meeting room. “Why is Teusi shadowing him?”

“Because he’ll be called here by Ghyakulla herself,” she said. “He won’t know why, and he might not even be aware of coming here. That’s why I want Teusi there to help him when it happens.”

Lijou opened the door for her. The scent of nung blossoms began to fill the air as they entered.

“Looks like it may happen sooner than I thought,” she muttered.

Aware of her sudden fear for Conner, Lijou took her by the elbow and steered her toward the nearest sofa. “She won’t let him come to harm, of that I’m sure,” he whispered.

A warm Spring breeze filled the room as in the center of it, the air began to shimmer and shift. Glimpses of another realm, one of trees covered in brightly colored blossoms and flowers could almost be seen as silence fell. Then it was gone, leaving an afterimage of a golden-pelted female—and Conner, very solidly standing there, shocked almost out of his wits.

“See to him,” Noni snapped, but Lijou had already left her side and sprinted over to catch the Human as he began to stumble.

As Lijou began to reassure him and lead him over to Noni, she ignored the sudden demands from the others to know what was going on. Instead, she took the time to answer a mental call from an extremely worried Teusi.

“Who is this Human, and why’s he been brought here, Noni?” demanded Keaal loudly, amid the sudden babble of voices.

“I am sure Noni will explain,” said Rhaid, raising her voice in order to quell the others. “If we give her the chance. And introduce our visitor.”

“This is Conner, a Human Guardian from Earth. He’s been chosen by Ghyakulla to join us as a Sholan Guardian and to speak for the Humans who have become part of us,” she said, reaching out to take Conner’s hand. “He’s been sent to help us in the coming war.”

“EVENTS not going as planned,” Aizshuss hummed, pacing up and down in front of the small fountain that graced Kuvaa’s inner courtyard. “Why? How has Hunter avoided forming mental Link with the Sand-dweller female when Isolationists pressed for it? How he created these ...” he searched for a suitable word, “null areas, blackouts—within Unity, where we cannot see him?”

“Emotional attachment between them been achieved ...” began Kuvaa.

“Is not what we’ve worked for!” The TeLaxaudin stopped pacing as the thrumming sound that underscored his words became louder.

“Giyarishis could try again to influence him while he sleeps,” began Kuvaa.

Aizshuss made a derisive sound. “Unimportant. How our influence he avoids matters now!”

“Perhaps more for this female, he cannot feel,” Kuvaa said. “Emotional ties to his own mate there is, and the Third.”

“Time on
Kz’adul
Hkairass told Camarilla that should have severed,” said Aizshuss. “Said the implant Directorate installed, those ties had broken.”

“Obviously not,” Shvosi replied. “Manipulating deep emotions and ties to others a complex matter; his go deeper than expected. I never in favor of this, nor were you. What we do now is more important. He must be controlled. If not, future could be bleaker than reunification of Sand-dwellers.”

“I think we have underestimated the Hunter all along,” said Kuvaa, trying to keep the nervous tremor out of her voice. “Humanity in him not foreseen. Perhaps from there his continuing need for his partners stems, and instincts to keep Sand-dweller female at a distance.”

Azwokkus stirred on his cushion, leaning toward the young Cabbaran female. “That unimportant, Kuvaa,” he said gently. “Never what we wanted, was plan of Hkairass’ faction. Our responsibility is for enhancements Kzizysus performed, for monitoring and controlling him. This not happening.”