thefiremargins (29 page)

* * *

Rhyasha was waiting for them as they came in from the garage area.
"Well come home," she said, embracing first Carrie then Kusac. "You'll have to shower quickly if you intend to make the opening of the Council meeting. I'm sure you don't want to arrive there still smelling of sweet-grass! That would be something of a giveaway! Have you had first meal?"
"Not yet," said Kusac as they accompanied her toward the main bathing room.
"I'll have a snack ready for you to take with you. Your father has already left. There's a couple of people he needs to talk to before the meeting convenes."
"Is Kaid back?" asked Kusac.
"He's with Vanna and Garras in the kitchen eating. Don't worry. Everything's in order. Your father anticipates no real problems today. Vanna says Brynne has decided not to go with you. Like Zhyaf, he feels that there are enough of you going. Now go and shower!"
"Yes, Mother," said Kusac.

* * *

Konis was standing talking to Nadu Kayal when Esken and Khafsu, followed by Sorli, entered.
"Clan Leader," said Esken, essaying the barest movement of his head in greeting.
"Master Esken. I trust you're keeping well," said Konis. "I haven't seen you around the Guildhouse for the last couple of weeks."
"My health is of the best," said Esken, his voice as cold as his look. "I'm kept busy with the new schedules for the Terrans. Which reminds me. I haven't seen Kitra or Taizia recently. They're falling behind in their work. If they don't return soon, they'll miss their gradings." He smiled, showing his teeth. "Now if you'll excuse me?" With that, he and Khafsa swept into the Council hall, Sorli casting an apologetic glance in their direction as he trailed after them.
"Sour-faced jegget," muttered Nadu. "How long is it until we can force him to retire?"
"Too long, my friend," said Konis quietly. "Let's deal with the Brotherhood matter first. If we win, they'll give us another two votes on this Council when the times comes to depose Esken."
"I know Lijou and Ghezu are already here. What about your son and Physician Kyjishi? Have they arrived yet?"
"Stop fretting, Kayal. They've just arrived. All is as it should be. If you continue to fret like this, you'll never last the day. There's a lot of business to attend to before we hear the petitions. Now let's take our seats. I think we're about to begin."
The Council hall was circular with a staged rostrum opposite the doorway. On the higher level, Konis saw that Sister Tokui of the Sholan Goddess cult was sitting in the Moderator's chair. Mentally he sent her a courteous greeting as he walked to his seat on the level below her.
Greetings to you, Clan Lord Aldatan,
she sent in reply.
It looks like we have a full attendance today. I wonder why.
Her mental tone was dry. She knew from the agenda why so many of the sub-guilds had turned out. They smelled a challenge and wanted to witness it.
Planetary Governor Nesul and High Commander Chuz were already in their seats. They greeted him with nods. The rostrum was where those few major government figures like himself, the Governor, and the High Commander of the Forces sat. They represented the world and interstellar views that transcended the Guild system yet affected them all. Nesul, in fact, was hypothetically guildless, belonging to a guild with no voice— the Diplomatic Guild. Konis, as head of Alien Relations, was also a member and it was in this capacity that he was attending the meeting.
He looked out across the hall, his gaze immediately drawn to the two empty seats flanking that of Colony Governor Jayafa. Draped in the traditional red-stained white cloth of mourning, they were a stark reminder of the deaths of the people of two worlds.
Beyond them, in seats separated for privacy, sat the eighteen Guild Masters. Behind each sat their sub-guild leaders, close enough for them to confer with their Masters during the debates. To either side of the rostrum sat the clerks and recorders who were already busily involved with their comp pads. At the Speaker's table, the official recorder was leafing through his papers and checking his comp while the Truthsayer sat quietly, his eyes closed in meditation. The low buzz of restrained chatter filled the hall.
"Quite a gathering today," said Nesul, leaning over to him. "I see Esken isn't talking to Lijou or Ghezu. He seems quite hostile in fact," he said with a chuckle as he watched the Telepath Guild Master talking to Khafsa and patently ignoring the two Brotherhood Leaders.
"Esken will have a few tricks up his sleeve," said Konis quietly. "Remember, he's not beaten on this issue until we've won."
Chuz leaned over. "Who's seconding Ghezu's petition?" he asked. "Is it still me? I haven't heard a word from him in the last two weeks."
"He's been busy with some research, so Father Lijou told me," said Konis. "As you, say the idea is for you to second him and Rhayfso and myself to back you both."
"Damned lax of him not to have confirmed it with me," grumbled Chuz, sitting back in his seat. "Not military at all."
Nesul raised his eye ridges at Konis who gave the barest of ear flicks in return.
A chime rang out and within moments, the hall was silent.
"Today's gathering of the All Guilds Council is now in session," said Sister Tokui. "Before we begin, I ask for you to join me in showing our respect for our deceased brothers and sisters from the worlds of Khyaal and Szurtha."
The assembly took the note from her and as the low-pitched keen for the dead filled the air, all thoughts were with those who had died at the hands of the Valtegans. Two of those present also prayed for the safety of the four Sholans they hoped were still alive on a far distant world.
Their respects paid, Sister Tokui opened the meeting by referring to matters outstanding from the last session. She asked for the report from the Science Guild on their findings from the samples taken from the two colonies.
Guild Master Chafsu took his place at the Speaker's table. "We have very little to report, Moderator," he said, his tone apologetic. "Samples of every kind of tissue, plant and animal is well as Sholan, were taken from a hundred different locations on each world. They were transported in sealed containers to the Nijidi Science Station where they've been subjected to every test we could devise. We found nothing. In almost all cases, the level of decay in our animal and Sholan samples was already too high to ascertain the cause of death. As for the plant and soil samples, there was nothing present to give us a clue as to the vehicle for such widespread destruction. We are no wiser now than when we landed on Khyaal and Szurtha."
"You've been unable to discover anything?" asked Sister Tokui in disbelief.
"Nothing at all, Moderator," Chafsu confirmed. "We gave the identical report to the World Council only a month ago. We have found nothing new since then."
"I find this worrying in the extreme," she said. "Then have we no defense against this mystery weapon if they should come toward either Shola or Khoma?"
"With respect, Moderator, that isn't my field," said Chafsu, with a glance toward High Commander Chuz. "I can say that whatever this weapon was, it wasn't deployed against us in our engagement with the Valtegans at Keiss, the Human colony world. Perhaps it is incapable of being used in space."
"Vyaku of Communications, you have a question?" asked Tokui, looking over to the standing figure.
"I have, Moderator. What is our current defense state? How close could the Valtegans get to Shola or Khoma?"
"Commander Chuz, your field, I think," said Tokui.
Chuz looked over to the Guild Master. "The situation's unchanged since I gave you the last press release, Vyaku," he said. "The Alliance as a whole is patrolling the relevant sectors of space, and the Home Fleet is positioned at the edges of our solar system and that of Khoma. Our early warning satellites will give us at minimum a week's notice of the approach of any vessels. We know that like us they have to come out of jump outside the system, and when they do, we'll have them before they've had a chance to confirm their location. Neither Shola nor Khoma is in danger. Hell," he said, hitting his hand on the table in front of him, "we can't find the damned lizards to fight them! Personally, I don't think it's us they're interested in. They've completely disappeared. They're as elusive as their damned weapon."
"Any more questions, Vyaku?" asked Sister Tokui.
"Have you been back to take fresh samples since the last ones were so inconclusive?"
"No. As we left, the sterilization procedure was activated. Fire was used so the dead could be honored in accordance with all Sholan religious beliefs. If our samples showed nothing some two or three days after the event, there would certainly be no traces now even had we not sterilized the planets," said Chafsu.
Vyaku nodded, then returned to his own seat as another Master stood.
"Zadoh of the Merchants Guild. Will you still be providing escorts for the merchant ships trading within the Alliance?"
"Mine again, I think, Moderator," said Chuz. "Yes, all the merchant routes will continue to be patrolled for the fore-seeable future, you need have no fear of that. The work to outfit the Keissians with suitable craft continues and they will soon be able to take their place with the rest of us in keeping Alliance space defended."
"Any more questions?" She looked around the hall but no one else rose to speak. "No? Then I suggest we move on to the next topic."

* * *

The Petitioners' room was not uncomfortable, but it was reasonably sparse. Upright preformed chairs, thinly padded, stood against the walls of the room and formed three rows in the center. They weren't the only occupants. Another two people were hoping to change guilds, and three had unresolved complaints against specific guilds.
After they'd all been treated to the ramblings of one male's case against the Providers Guild for insisting on repairing a faulty entertainment comm instead of replacing it, Kusac and Carrie's little group had had enough and they left for the refreshment area.
They helped themselves from the drinks dispenser and took seats in the far more comfortable lounge.
"You'd think they'd have coffee here by now," Carrie muttered, taking a sip of her c'shar.
"The Guilds are quite conservative," said Garras. "They might stock mild coffee here in another five or so years, when they're convinced it's here to stay."
Conversation was subdued as none of them felt like talking. Vanna curled up beside Garras and began to nod off and Kusac decided he wanted to get some fresh air.
"I'll stay here, if you don't mind," said Carrie. "It's a little too cold for me today."
"Cold? It's barely autumn yet," said Kusac.
"I can't be bothered," she said. "You and T'Chebbi go. I've had enough fresh air for the moment."
Kusac touched her cheek affectionately as he got to his feet. "You enjoyed our break, though."
"Oh, yes," she agreed. "Up until that pack of jeggets woke us up!"
"A nest of jeggets," he corrected her with a laugh as he and T'Chebbi left.
"Jeggets?" asked Garras, raising an eye ridge.
"We went camping over our Link day," said Carrie. "Guess who forgot to put the psychic damper on before we fell asleep? We attracted every jegget in the neighborhood!"
Garras began to chuckle. "Entertaining."
"No, it wasn't," she said tartly. "They gave me a hell of a shock, coming up under the covers and running all over us with their cold little paws! We couldn't get rid of them until Kusac thought to switch on the damper. Then they left."
"Well they would, they're telepathic. You'd spoiled their fun," said Garras, still chuckling. "They only wanted to join in. They're quite harmless."
"I dare say they are," she said drily. "If you know what they are to begin with. This was the first time I'd encountered your wildlife." She heard a faint sound opposite her and looked over to Kaid, who was suppressing a grin.
"Well at least it's raised a grin on your face," she said. "You've looked positively miserable since we met you this morning."
He shrugged. "I've had a couple of bad nights, that's all, Carrie."
"You too, huh?" She leaned across the table toward him. "I think it's time you and I collaborated with each other about our dreams and visions, Kaid. Between us we seem to be having more than anyone else."
"You've had some more?" he asked, tilting his head and ears toward her.
"Yes. The night before last, before our Link day began. I had two dreams, both of them so much clearer than any others I've had. It was as if I was actually there. I'm sure that hill has something to do with it." As she spoke, she could feel him mentally take a step back from her.
"Perhaps you're right," he said noncommittally.
"The second one was in Ranz. I'm not sure of the name of the male I saw, but I don't think it was Rezac."
"We know very few names from those days," said Kaid.
"I'll give you two more. Zashou. That's the name of his Leska. And a pack name— the Runners, I think it was."
Kaid tried to maintain eye contact with her, but couldn't. "Ranz breeds packs and pack wars, Carrie. Some of the pack names are as old as the town," he said, examining his mug.
"For a people who don't remember their history, you know a fair bit, Kaid," she said quietly.
"I lived in Ranz for a few years. You get to know the stories of the past."
"I know. Childhood is short in the mountains, especially for those who grew up at the wrong side of the hearth."
His ears flicked and he looked up sharply, but her head was turned away from him toward Garras and Vanna.
She sighed. "I wish I had her capacity to sleep anywhere. At least when she wakens she won't remember the wait."
"You'll develop that by your seventh week," Kaid said without thinking.
It was her turn to look at him sharply.
"Kusac told me why you were camping out," he said lamely. "I needed to know so I could arrange discreet security."
"Arrange?"
"I wasn't there."
"Oh? Where were you then?"
"At the Shrine for the dedication."
"Dreaming," she said, holding his gaze this time. She wanted him to realize she had heard his name in the dream.
"Carrie." Garras' voice cut across hers and drew her attention away from Kaid. "I don't want to talk too loudly. Will you come over, please?"
Casting a small frown back at Kaid, she got to her feet and joined Garras and the sleeping Vanna on the lounging chairs.
"What is it?" she asked quietly.
"If you're going to work with Kaid on the visions, I suggest you involve Ghyan. From what I hear, he's been collecting them for years for Lijou."