thefiremargins (10 page)

* * *

"Ghyan," said Kusac, "this is a surprise, but a welcome one. What can I do for you?"
"Can you come over to the temple tonight?"
"Tonight? Why?" He wrinkled his nose in surprise. "Is something wrong?"
"No, nothing like that," his friend assured him. "One of the senior temple officials has asked me to contact you. There's a matter he needs to discuss with you."
"With me? Who is it?" Kusac was puzzled. He knew of no reason for the Priesthood of Vartra to contact him. Surely his plans to take the Fire Margins ritual weren't already known?
"I can't say more, Kusac. It is important. Can I expect you at the eighteenth hour?"
"Ah ... Yes, I suppose so," he said reluctantly. "Are you sure there's nothing wrong?"
Ghyan opened his mouth in a faint smile. "I'm sure," he said. "How's your life-mate? She looked so tiny and frail at the funeral. I'm concerned for her."
Kusac's ears flicked back in worry. "Her wounds are healing, but not her spirit. She's growing mentally distant from me, Ghyan. Even Kaid's concerned about her."
"Kaid?" Ghyan was obviously startled.
"Yes, Kaid. What's so strange about that?" frowned Kusac.
"Nothing. I just wouldn't have expected him to be so sensitive to her condition," his friend reassured him.
"How do you know him?"
"Vartra's Priesthood is ruled from Stronghold by Father Lijou, Kusac," said Ghyan.
"So it is," said Kusac thoughtfully. "One tends to forget that." So Kaid and Ghyan had had dealings with each other, had they? "Very well, I'll be there," he said. "Until then."
"Till then," echoed Ghyan.

* * *

Kusac decided this time he had to talk to his father. He still hadn't had a chance to tell him what had happened at Stronghold that morning— both of them had been so busy— and his father really should have been informed. Maybe he'd be free now.
Checking with Vanna on his way downstairs, he was told to stay away from Carrie until after she and Jack had examined her. Sighing, he continued on to his father's study.
He knocked on the door and waited. His mother answered, opening the door only a crack.
Not now,
she sent.
This is too important to interrupt. Later.
Her fingers brushed his check, then she was gone and the door was closed again.
Frustrated, he headed back to the kitchen. Kaid was there. He looked up as Kusac entered.
"T'Chebbi's watching her," he said. "Physician Reynolds and Physician Kyjishi are with her."
Kusac regarded him speculatively for a moment, then, picking up his empty mug, went over to the hot plate to refill it.
"We're going out tonight, Kaid. At the eighteenth hour," he said, resuming his seat at the table.
"Where?"
"The temple," he said, watching him carefully over the top of his mug as he took a drink from it. "Ghyan has been asked by one of the senior priests to arrange a meeting with me."
"It'll be with Lijou," said Kaid, pulling his stim-twig out of his pocket. "I've just been talking to Ghezu. He wanted confirmation that your father was heading the Mixed Leska Project and that the two cubs from the Telepath Guild were here."
"Why would he need to know that?"
"Esken's requested an escort for Interpreter Zhyaf and his Leska. He wants to be sure they reach his Guild. Ghezu's discussing this with your father now."
Kusac nodded, then glanced across at the timepiece on the wall. "Vanna and Jack have been in with Carrie for quite a while. What's taking so long?"
"It's her first contact with the life that she had on Keiss in a long time, Liege," said Kaid. "She must have missed him. Can't you sense what's happening?"
"Not really. It's confused," he said, putting his mug down. "I don't like this, Kaid. It's as if we're losing everything we had." He got to his feet, beginning to pace, tail flicking from side to side in agitation. He could feel her sudden distress. Ears flicking flat and sideways, he headed for the door only to find Kaid there before him, barring his way.
"Let me pass," he said, trying to move the older male aside. "She's upset. She needs me."
"No. Let her be upset with him. He's the nearest thing she has to her own Human family," he said, refusing to move. "If she really needs you, you'll know. Now sit down and wait till they're done."
"By Vartra's fire, Kaid ...!" he began angrily.
"Dammit, Kusac! Stop acting like a youngling! You're only a year from adulthood, you should be able to control your pheromone responses to her. You're going to be the Clan Leader of a new clan, you can't keep overreacting like this! You don't have to prove anything to her— she knows how well you can look after her, she knows you'll be a good father to her cubs, and you know you don't have any rivals for her. So, in the name of Vartra, calm down!"
Blinking in surprise, Kusac took a step backward. He'd never seen Kaid so agitated before, and no one had spoken to him like that for a long time. He took a deep breath, forcing his heart rate down and trying to release the tension from his body. Kaid was right. He wasn't thinking straight. If she'd really needed him, she'd have sent. She was probably telling Jack about their cub. That was good, she needed to speak to another of her kind about their lost daughter. He pushed aside the grief that threatened to sweep through him, too. This was no time to think of himself. Carrie was the important one.
"If she can speak to Physician Reynolds about your cub, then that's to the good. She was terrified that Humans would react badly to the news of her pregnancy, so the fact that she can talk to Jack about it shows she's beginning to mend," said Kaid quietly. "They shouldn't be much longer now."
Kusac nodded slowly, ears beginning to rise again as he turned and walked back to the table.
"I think you and Carrie would both benefit by learning our mental exercises," said Kaid, keeping an eye on him as he sat down again. "It's how we control not only our gifts but our bodies. We learn litanies to help to focus the mind in times of crisis. In fact, all of you could benefit from them. Why don't you ask Ghyan to visit you here daily and teach you?"
"Is it like the meditation Dzaka was teaching Carrie on the
Khalossa?
"
"Yes, the same. Ghyan knows it too and he teaches it at the temple. We've long thought that all telepaths could benefit from adopting some of our training methods. Those we recruited certainly became more stable once we'd taught them to meditate." He paused as a thought struck him. "You were helping Sorli put together a schedule for training the new mixed Leska pairs, so why not learn our methods and incorporate some of them in that program?"
"I have to admit I've never met anyone with such effective self-control as you," said Kusac. "It's almost impossible to read your body, let alone your mind."
"Oh, I have my less controlled moments like anyone else," said Kaid with a faint smile. "At least give our exercises a try. They were very effective for Carrie."
Kusac flicked his ears in assent. "Why bother Ghyan when Dzaka's here already?" he asked, watching for Kaid's response.
"Of course, if that's what you wish," said Kaid, looking down at his mug. "You and Carrie as well as the cubs could work with him, but I doubt either Vanna or Brynne will have anything to do with him now."
"Why the animosity between you two?"
"I wouldn't call it animosity," said Kaid, taking a drink.
"I would."
Kaid shrugged. "It's personal."
"I think as your Liege, I'm entitled to an answer," said Kusac softly. "Anything that could affect your relationship with the people working here is my concern."
There was a long silence. Kusac kept his eyes on his aide's averted face. At last Kaid sighed and nodded.
"When I had to leave the Brotherhood ten years ago, he wanted to come with me," he said reluctantly. "I wouldn't let him and he still resents it, that's all."
Kusac frowned. "Why should your leaving affect him? I don't see the connection."
Kaid said nothing as he swirled the dregs of his drink around the bottom of his mug.
"Why should your leaving affect him?" Kusac repeated patiently.
"He's my foster-son," said Kaid very quietly.
"He's what?" Kusac was stunned. "How did that happen?"
"He was found abandoned outside Stronghold's gates. Occasionally the Brotherhood will admit cubs, though they aren't usually left on our doorstep in the depths of winter. I agreed to bring him up, that's all," he said, looking up at Kusac as he raised the mug to his mouth and drained it.
"That's why you were so angry when he took Vanna to Stronghold."
"I treat him no differently from anyone else."
"I didn't say you did," said Kusac.
Kaid changed the subject. "Lijou will want to see you tonight to extract a firm commitment from you to join the Brotherhood. He'll also want you to go to the All Guilds Council meeting to back their application for full guild status." His ears cocked forward quizzically. "What do you intend to tell him?"
"What we discussed earlier."
"I wouldn't mention the Fire Margins ritual yet. The fewer that know, the better."
The kitchen door opened and Jack, followed by Vanna, came in.
Kusac's attention switched immediately to them. "How is Carrie? What's wrong with her?" he demanded, half rising, torn between wanting to hear what they had to say and rejoining her in the lounge.
"Physically, she's healing well," said Jack. "But psychologically ... You and Kaid were right about that. We think that the depression she's suffering is caused by a hormonal imbalance. Her body's still manufacturing all the hormones that tell her she's pregnant, when of course she knows she isn't." Jack sat down. "Vanna and I have been studying the hormones not only of Humans and Sholans, but of the mixed Leska pairs, too. The end result we hope will be a contraceptive for the Leska females of both species so they can have a choice whether or not they conceive— and help people in Carrie's situation." He stopped, aware Kusac's parents had returned and were listening.
"Go on, Physician Reynolds," said Rhyasha.
"There isn't much more to add," said Vanna. "We're still only correlating data at this point."
"This depression she's suffering, do our females suffer from it also?"
"Not as badly as we Humans do," said Jack. "At the moment, all we can do is try and keep her spirits up and get her interested in something— anything— other than her loss."
"Is this life-threatening?" demanded Kusac.
"Not of itself, but it can lead to a sense of desperation where the patient can become mentally unstable and harm herself."
"I was concerned about the state of her mind before the Challenge," said Konis.
"It's going to take a lot of patience and care to nurse her through this because I doubt we'll have anything ready to use on her for quite some time."
"Could putting your data through a larger comm unit speed up the process of correlation?" asked Konis. "Because if it would, the one in my study accesses the main government one. I can get permission for you to run your data through it from here."
"That would help, certainly," said Vanna, looking more hopeful.
"Clan Leader, if I might make a suggestion?"
"What is it, Kaid?" Rhyasha replied.
"There's a Healer in the village nearest to Stronghold. She's good. Send for her."
"I didn't know any Healers lived outside the Telepath guildhouses," said Konis in surprise.
"She isn't a recognized Healer," said Kaid.
"Recognized or not, it won't do any good," said Vanna. "We tried Healers on both of you during the Guild tests. They were unable to tune in to either of your minds in order to work."
"She'll be able to."
"What could happen if we have to wait for Carrie to improve on her own?" asked Kusac.
"It's not a question of what could happen," said Jack uncomfortably. "It's just not predictable."
"If she continues to cut herself off from me, she'll die," said Kusac flatly. "It would put both our lives at risk and I'm not chancing that. I know to my cost just how strong her mind is. Send for the Healer now."
Kaid looked at Rhyasha. She nodded briefly. "Have her brought here."
"Rhyasha, she's an unregistered Healer," objected Konis.
"Who's going to know?" she asked, her voice rising in exasperation. "Look around you, Konis. In the last few days, my home has become a high security enclosure housing armed guards, members of the Brotherhood, a Keissian Human and two kidnapped kitlings. My son has an alien Leska as his life-mate, she's just miscarried my first grandchild, and our main adviser is a renegade Brother! What difference could one unregistered Healer make?" Her ears flicked back as she got to her feet, planting her hands on the table and surveying them all.
"Send for the Healer, Kaid. Konis, you take Physician Reynolds to my office, I'll be along shortly. Vanna, you need to sort out if Brynne needs to be moved out here for his own safety before you join us. Kusac, you go and see to Carrie. I'm going to organize Choa and the third meal!" She stopped. "Who's feeding all our security staff?" she demanded of Kaid.
"The military are paying for our security, including maintenance of all their personnel, Clan Leader. They're completely self-contained. They even have their own caterer at the gatehouse."
"The Gods be praised!" Rhyasha said, turning her back on them and heading for the inner kitchen area. "Something in all this mess that isn't my problem!"

* * *

Dawn was approaching, but not fast enough for the two desert males chosen to watch the priest. They shivered, drawing their cloaks tighter about themselves. On the cold stony ground, wearing nothing but his pelt, the priest began to move again: small, jerky movements accompanied by a repetitive low whining.
The younger one looked nervously at his companion. "How much longer will it take?" he whispered.
Leaning forward from his sitting position on the higher rocks, the other squinted through the blue predawn light at the outline of the priest below. "As long as it takes, lad," he growled. "First time you've sat in on a vigil?"
L'Seuli nodded. "I've just been released from service in the Forces."
"It's not so bad. He's been out since dusk, so it shouldn't be much longer now," said Rrurto.
"How can he survive this cold? He's got nothing, no clothes to protect him." He shivered again.
"He's the Sun God's prophet, that's how, lad. The fire of the sun burns inside him, protecting and warming him."
"Is he really Kezule's prophet?" L'Seuli asked after a long silence.
The older one's head whipped round sharply, but not as fast as the blow with which he hit L'Seuli across the head. He went spinning from his perch on the rocks, down the decline to where the priest lay. Rrurto watched, waiting while the lad picked himself up, scuttling away from the priest before climbing back up to his post.
"The next time you ask that could be your last," he said. "You don't question the Word of Kezule. Had I been one of the Faithful, my claws would have left you permanently scarred, perhaps blinded for life. Watch your tongue, lad." Rrurto's tone was not unkind.
"I'm sorry," L'Seuli muttered, picking up his fallen head cloth and rewinding it. This time, instead of wrapping the loose end round his neck for warmth, he tucked it up under the headband, letting the chill air cool the heated side of his face.
Movements from the priest drew their attention.
"He's not in our world, lad," said Rrurto. "When he's like this, he's walking with the Gods and demons. It's them he sees, not us."
"The Gods be praised," L'Seuli said fervently.
"Praise Kezule," corrected the other, turning eyes glittering like stones in the cold half-light toward him. "There is only one God— Kezule— and his Prophet lies before us. Remember that, and you might live long enough to sire cubs. It's all changed now, and the Faithful don't allow you a second chance. He's prophesied the return of the Cataclysm," he said, nodding toward the priest, "unless we stop worshiping the false Gods and live the way Kezule says we should."
"The demons! The demons brought their fire raining down on us because of the mind-poisoners! They must die with the demons!" the prophet howled, his voice gathering strength as he leaped to his feet, shaking his fists at the lightening sky.
"Kezule will punish you! All disbelievers will be destroyed by His Holy fire! See! Even now He sends it to cleanse the world anew! The demons will return because of the mind-poisoners, the disbelievers! They'll return to kill again! Kezule, protect us who serve You faithfully!"
As the sun rose over the dunes, the priest collapsed, his body falling to the ground.
The watchers continued to wait as the sun rose higher in the sky, its light banishing all night's shadows.
"He'll have to come round soon," growled the older male. "The aircars fly over here looking for us. We need to get below again."
"What do we do with the prophet? Do we wake him?"
"The God's always wakened him in time before," Rrurto replied, his voice concerned as he shifted his position on the now uncomfortably hot rocks. He squinted up at the sky. "It's later than usual. Maybe we should fetch one of his Faithful."
"The ones dressed in yellow? Should I go for them?" L'Seuli half rose in anticipation of the answer.
"Wait, he's moving," said Rrurto, grasping him by the arm and pointing to the prophet.
Down on the baking rocks below the watchers, the prophet stirred, lifting his head and looking myopically up at the sun. Momentarily, it dazzled him. At his throat, the green stone set in its collar of gold glinted. He blinked his eyes several times, washing away the rime of sand with his tears.
Pushing himself up, he felt the heat in the stones beneath him for the first time. He'd been gone longer than usual. No matter, the God had spoken to him, he had His message for the people.
Shakily he got to his feet, looking round for his watchers. They were already making their way down the decline toward him. The broad gold band that circled his wrist was paining him. Easing it upward, he rubbed away the grit that had gotten underneath it and waited.
He was handed his robe first, then, when he'd wrapped himself against the heat of the day, they gave him the water. He drank deeply, letting it run down his sore and parched throat. His walks with the God tired him more each time but what he saw, what he heard! That made up for it. He alone could tell his followers what the God had shown him.
He handed the empty skin back.
"We must go in now," he said. His voice had returned to the usual deep tone that captivated his listeners. "It's time for the Word of Kezule to speak to His people."
He turned and strode through the sand toward the nearby outcrop of rock. There, hidden from the casual gaze, was the entrance to their lair.
The watchers followed, each wrapped in his own thoughts.