thefiremargins (32 page)

* * *

Strick followed Davies back to their table, settling himself in the empty chair.
"Said you wanted to talk. What about?"
"Order us some more drinks, Davey," said Kris. "Seems like we might have something in common, Strick."
"Oh? And what would that be?" asked the foreman, resting his elbow on the table and propping his chin on his hand.
"A wish to see free trade established on Jalna."
"Free trade?"
"Look at all the goods that come into the spaceport. Does any of it actually benefit the people? No, most of it goes into the coffers of a few greedy Lords, doesn't it?"
"It's always been that way."
The drinks arrived and Strick accepted his with a nod of thanks. "From the northwest, you said."
"West, actually."
"What really brings you to our parts?" Strick looked round their little group.
Kris sighed. "You got us there," he admitted, gently touching the edges of the foreman's mind with his. "We travel around a lot. Get to know all kinds of folk, some stranger than others, if you know what I mean."
"How strange?" Strick took another swig of his ale, his eyes never leaving Kris' face. "As strange as the Sumaan?"
"At least as strange as them," Kris agreed. Slowly he increased his mental contact, sensing, probing for an area where he could enter unnoticed.
"You weren't working on another ship." It was a statement.
There was a sudden burst of raised voices from the other end of the tavern. Startled, they all looked round, except Kris. With a sure touch, he pushed past the barrier between Strick's surface and deep thoughts. He had the contact he needed.
He relaxed now, waiting for them to turn back to the table. "You're right," he said when they did. "We came in on the Sumaan craft."
Caught as he was taking a drink, Strick began to cough, spilling ale over the table. Solicitously, Jo took his tankard from him and thumped him on the back.
"Enough!" Strick croaked, twisting away from her.
Kris felt his shock, and his almost disbelief.
"Why're you here?" he demanded. "What do you want?"
"We've a job to do," said Davies. "For our contacts."
"The crashed ship."
"That's the one," said Kris, gently steering Strick away from thoughts of contacting his people. "The species that own the craft are warriors. My contacts need information on them. They think the ship can help."
"They want the ship?" Strick was confused. How could the ship help them?
"Not the ship," said Davies. "It has information inside it. We want the information it carries."
Strick was running through the options in his mind. There were quite a few even Kris hadn't considered. Helping them was one. He steered Strick's thoughts gently in that direction.
"If I help, what's in it for me?" he asked at length.
"They'll trade ..." began Davies, but Kris cut him short.
"Medical supplies," he said smoothly.
Strick nodded. "Next to weapons, that's what we need most."
"No weapons," said Kris firmly, reinforcing the negative mentally.
Strick frowned and put his hand to his head, rubbing the side of it.
Kris swore under his breath. Too strong, dammit! He'd noticed. He tried to relax his hold, make it less obvious.
"Something wrong?" asked Jo, shooting an angry look at Kris.
Strick shook his head. "Thought I had a headache starting," he mumbled. "Gone now. Medicines. Yes, we need them. How do I know I can trust you?"
"You're in the port tomorrow, aren't you? I'll give you a code word to give to one of the Sumaan and he'll see you're paid. How you get the stuff out is up to you," said Kris, mentally backing off a little way.
"And in return, you want contacts at Kaladar. I can do that," nodded Strick. "First I want the medical supplies. Once I've got them, then you get my help."
"It's a deal," said Kris.
Half an hour later, they trooped upstairs to their room. The door safely closed between them and the world, Jo threw her kit down on the nearest straw palliasse.
"You overdid it with him," she said, rounding on Kris.
"It's an inexact science, Jo," he said. "We're all still learning how to use it. I didn't intend to hurt the man, believe me. I overdid it because I don't make a habit of using my Talent this way."
"Lighten up, Jo," said Davies, dropping his pack at the end of his straw mattress and flinging himself down on it. "We got the help we needed. All we have to do is hang around tomorrow till Strick comes off duty, then we're on our way." He clasped his hands behind his head, looking up at them. "I reckon you should be thanking Kris. He did a good job, and he convinced Strick not to ask for weapons. Not bad at all, Kris."
"Thanks." Kris knelt down by the remaining mattress and began to unpack his cloak from his kit bag.
"You did all right," said Jo grudgingly as she sat down on her bed. "Staying here an extra day will allow us to shop around for the provisions we need."
Kris made a noncommittal noise as he put his cloak over the mattress.
As the last one to settle down, Davies extinguished the oil lamp, plunging the room into darkness.
Try as she might, Jo couldn't sleep. She tossed and turned restlessly, wishing she was back on board the
Summer Bounty
again. At least there she could have got up and gone into their common area for a hot drink.
"What's the matter?" asked Kris at last. "Bugs biting?"
"Bugs?" she said. "Don't do that to me, Kris," she said, a note of pleading in her voice. "Tell me you're getting your own back because of what I said about the telepathy earlier, for God's sake!"
"I'm serious," he said. "The cloaks should keep the worst of them away."
She groaned. "I might as well be back on Keiss!"
"Was it bad there?" he asked after a moment.
"What? Keiss?"
"No. The domed cities."
"I never mentioned them!"
"I wasn't prying, Jo," he said quietly, shuffling his bed closer so he couldn't be overheard by Davies. "You were projecting earlier."
"They were bad," she said, her voice taut with remembered pain and lost friends.
"Sorry. I could see how using my Talent on Strick brought it back. Were you close to Elise? She was Carrie's twin, wasn't she?"
"Yes, she was. Elise and I kept each other sane when I was there." Memories she'd hoped were lost began to return. The clammy feel of Valtegan skin against hers; hands and minds that pawed and took, that couldn't understand any gentler emotions. She shuddered, trying to push them back where they'd come from.
Kris' hand touched her arm, making her jump and cry out in fear.
"It's only me," he said quietly, his hand searching in the dark for hers, then curling round it. "I didn't mean to bring back the past."
She felt his mind alongside hers, helping to nudge the memories down below her conscious mind.
"Thanks," she said, taking her hand carefully away from him. "I'm fine now. And I'm sorry I snapped earlier."
"That's all right," he said. "If the bugs get too bad, let me know. I can zap them mentally for you."
She grunted disbelievingly as she curled up again and tried to sleep.

* * *

"What are you doing with spades?" asked Mara as Carrie walked past her out of the house.
"We're going out to look at some ruins today and I want to do some digging," she said, stopping briefly to look at the younger girl. She felt sorry for her. There wasn't much for someone her age to do out here on the estate. Not that she'd have been much better off had she lived on Keiss, she reminded herself.
"A treasure hunt! That sounds interesting. Could I come?" she asked, getting up off the step.
Carrie hesitated. It wasn't exactly a private trip since they were taking Meral and Kaid with them, but it was the first chance they'd had in the last six weeks to have some leisure time. Mara she didn't mind too much, but Zhyaf? She could feel Mara's unspoken plea.
"Why not?" she said, giving in to her better self. "See if Zhyaf wants to come also, then tell Choa to put some extra food in for you. We're leaving in half an hour."
"Thanks!"
As she watched Mara head off at a run, Kusac sent to her.
Carrie! You were the one who persuaded me we needed this time as a break! There's a lot I should be doing at the new estate.
Don't talk to me about the estate! You come back every day covered in dust and plaster. You'll set into a statue one of these days!
she warned.
I just want everything to be right.
I told you before, the builders know what they're doing, and you've got Garras out there whenever Vanna's at the lab. You don't have to see to everything yourself.
The worst's over now, I promise. Another couple of days and they'll be finishing off the house and the other main buildings. I don't need to oversee their work on the estate homes.
His mental tone was even more conciliatory now.
She smiled to herself. She couldn't stay angry with him for long, and he knew it.
Mara I don't mind, but her Leska?
he sent.
Zhyaf might choose not to come,
she replied as she headed for the front of the house to put the spades in the aircar.
Mara's almost more isolated than I was, Kusac. I'm here, another human, and she's been kept away from me. A break like this with us is what she needs, too.
I'll take your word for it,
he sent with a mental sigh.

* * *

"I don't know what you expect to find," said Kusac, as they climbed into the aircar where the others were waiting for them. "There's not going to be much of the ruin left standing after so long."
"Aren't you curious about the building? It is part of your family's past."
"Not when it's that far back," he said, getting into the pilot's seat. "I told you, we don't have the same preoccupation with the past as the Humans."
"It's not a preoccupation," she said, sitting beside him. "It gives them a sense of continuity, and by studying the past they feel they can better understand themselves."
Kusac made a noncommittal noise and waited for Rulla and Zhyaf to get seated before sealing the door and starting up the engine.

* * *

He could feel her thoughts become still as she looked out at the scenery below. It wasn't far and within ten minutes, they were circling round to land on the top of the hill.
I want you to take it easy today, Carrie. There's bound to be a lot of overgrown rubble at the ruins and I don't want anything happening to you. No falls, please.
There are times when you are too cautious,
she sent.
I'll be as careful as I usually am. You need to loosen up, stop seeing what could go wrong, otherwise life will get boringly predictable and pass you by.
With you around? Not likely! You attract the unpredictable like a magnet!
"Look, there's the ruin below us," he said, pointing toward the ground. "As I said, there's not much left. I'll set down to the rear of it. There's a sizable clear area there."
"There's more of it standing than I thought there'd be from what you've been saying," Carrie said, peering below as Kusac brought the craft down to land. As soon as he'd cut the motors and unsealed the door, she scrambled out.
"Don't go off on your own!" Kusac shouted after her. "I told you, the ruins are probably unstable and dangerous!"
"Then hurry up," she said, stopping and turning back to look at him through the doorway. Her brown eyes, the vertical pupil an amber-edged slit in the bright light, regarded him with humor. "And stop fretting over me, I'll take care." With that, she was off.
Kusac gave a small growl of annoyance as he scrambled out after her. "Keissians," he muttered.
"Carrie strikes me as being more of a Sholan without fur than a Keissian, particularly when you see her eyes," said Meral as he followed him out. "She's very like Taizia."
"Worse," said Kusac. "I wonder how much of that is due to my sister's influence."
"Almost none from what Taizia says."
"I feared as much," he sighed as they headed after Carrie. Kaid and Rulla ambled behind them with Zhyaf and Mara.
"Would either of us want a female from the Clan estates?" asked Meral, turning an amused look on Kusac. "One who only thought of duty and position and looking attractive?"
Kusac returned the grin. "Gods, no!" he said. "Think of Rala Vailkoi! Actually, I'm surprised you and Taizia are still together. Her relationships don't usually last this long." When Meral didn't answer immediately, Kusac stopped and looked at him. "You are still together, aren't you?"
"We have a fondness for each other," Meral said evasively.
"And Taizia being named as the mother of the Clan's heirs after me has upset your plans," he said quietly. "You now have the problem Carrie and I had up until three months ago. I'm sorry," he said, starting to walk on again.
They joined Carrie by the outer wall of the ruin, and waited there for the others to catch up with them.
Meral's ears flicked back, then righted themselves. "Liegen, I've something I must tell you. Taizia and I, we took your example and went to the temple. Ghyan witnessed the signing of our five-year contract," he said, the words coming out in a rush.
Kusac looked at him, his mouth dropping open with sheer surprise. He found himself unable to say anything as the young warrior before him braced himself for what he felt was the inevitable explosion of anger.
As his surface thoughts came to her, Carrie began to laugh gently. "She's pregnant! So
that's
why she's hiding with your family on the Nazule estate! I wish you both happiness, Meral."
Kusac closed his eyes, a pained look on his face. "Just wait till I get my hands on her! That cunning, conniving little she-jegget! How
could
she choose to compromise you both..."
"No," interrupted Meral. "The decision to sign a contract was mine, and I insisted on a five-year one. There's nothing you can say to her that I haven't already said, and more."
Kusac closed his mouth as Carrie nudged him mentally.
Leave it to him, Kusac. He needs to accept the responsibility for this. You're touching his sense of honor now.
I know, but they shouldn't have done this!
They've done no more nor less than we did. Found a way to take the happiness they want,
came the gentle reminder.
Have we the right to be moralistic with them and begrudge them their happiness?
I don't, Carrie, the God knows that. I love my sister dearly.
So tell him that!
Kusac refocused on Meral. "Stop looking so worried," he said, mouth widening and opening in a grin. "A five-year contract with my sister is enough punishment to wish on any male, as I think my parents will agree when you tell them. You do realize she'll still have to provide the Clan with heirs?"
"Yes, but she'll be mine for those five years," Meral said, relaxing now as he realized that the anger he had expected wasn't coming.
"Bring Taizia over to stay at the villa if you wish," said Kusac. "You shouldn't have to be apart at this time."
"She'd love to come," said Meral, face breaking into a wide grin. "But wouldn't her condition upset ..."
"No," smiled Carrie, reaching out to touch his arm. "It won't bother me. By the end of spring, our cub will be born. I would love some female company, especially Taizia's, in our house full of men. I'm glad Kusac suggested it."
She looked over her shoulder and called out to Kaid, who, having a fair idea of what they were discussing, had kept himself and the others a short distance away.
"Kaid, you and Rulla can help us explore while Kusac and Meral indulge themselves in your species' peculiar passion for genealogies."
Kaid came walking over to them. "Meral's spoken to you? His family is the Nazule Clan, Liegen," he said. "He's the second son, and a fitting mate for Liegena Taizia."
Kusac nodded. "I know, Kaid. Meral told us about his family when we were still on the
Khalossa.
"
He turned to Meral. "I know your qualities as a person, and I know you're good for each other, Meral. That matters more than anything else."
Carrie looked from Kusac to Meral, seeing the latter's tail tip swaying with pleasure at the praise he'd just received. She reached for Kaid's hand and tugged at him. "Come on, Kaid. These two need to talk," she said, towing him round the low wall toward the center of the ruin.
"Over here," she called to Mara. "This is where your treasure hunt starts, Mara, though I doubt we'll find any treasure here! Zhyaf, are you coming?"
"I think I'd prefer to sit in the shade, thank you, Liegena," he said, ambling over to one of the trees that offered a broad trunk for him to lean against.
Within ten minutes Carrie was calling Kusac over to where she and the others stood in front of a large mound of rubble. At the base lay the weathered remains of a clawed foot.
"This was obviously part of a statue, Kusac," she said. "I get the feeling it was a religious one." She scuffled in the loose rubble with the toe of her boot, then bent down to pick something up. "What's this?" she asked, rubbing it against her trouser leg before holding it out to him.
Kusac took the stone from her, turning it over in his hand. "It's a piece of worked crystal. It's common all over this area. Must have been set in the statue somewhere," he said, handing it back to her.
"It's shaped like an egg," she said, holding it up to the sun and squinting through it. "What would they use a piece of clear crystal for? Could it have been an eye? How do your sculptors portray eyes in statues today?"
Kusac shrugged.
"Can I see it, Liegena? The civic statues are usually all carved from the same stone," said Kaid. "However, the ones at the Warrior Guild and the Brotherhood are a good few hundred years old and they have crystal eyes."
Carrie handed it to him and watched as he turned it over in his hand.
"It's not clear, Liegena, it's a blue white," he said, handing it back to her.
She had to grab for it as he almost dropped it in his haste to return it to her. Puzzled, she glanced at him but he was already turning away.
"You say these crystals are common here?" she asked Kusac.
"Yes. We've got several worked pieces in the house. Ancient heirlooms Mother calls them. There's an old story that says a hermit priest lived up here. Apparently he survived by carving crystal animals and flowers which he exchanged on the estate for food for himself and the wild creatures that lived up here," said Kusac. "There were seams of the same crystal in the cave lower down where we stayed, Carrie. Remember?"
She nodded, putting the piece in her trouser pocket. "I remember. I wonder what else is buried under that pile of rubble," she said, looking at it wistfully.
"Can I see it?" asked Mara.
"Later," said Carrie. "When we stop for second meal. I want to do some digging here."
"That's not a job for us, Carrie," said Kusac. "That'll take several people a day or more to uncover, and I don't know that it's worth the effort."
"Mmm," she said, drifting off toward a gap in the broken wall beside them. "You could be right. Let's see what else there is here. The story and the presence of the statue certainly substantiates that this was a religious site at some time. If we could find some more of it, we could probably tell if it was a statue of Vartra. I wonder how old all this is."
Kusac accompanied her while she wandered around the rest of the ruins. It covered quite a large area and from the distribution of the pieces of wall sticking up like jagged teeth from the ground, they could tell that it had been quite a complex building.
He could sense Carrie probing at the ground with her mind. Some of what she was picking up he could feel, but it was so subtle, so much a matter of her judgment that he was more aware of her conclusions than how she had reached them.
"I'm sensing a lot of crystal," she said at length. "It's identical to the one we found. Also large amounts of metal." She frowned, perplexed by the conflicting images.
"Probably a crystal mine under here," suggested Meral.
"Could be," she said. "Do you have a scanning device that would show up any tunnels or caverns?"
"We can get one," said Kusac. "Do you really think it's that important?"
"Yes," she said unequivocally, looking up at him. "I also want that statue uncovered. I need to know if it is Vartra. I was getting the sensation of peace and tranquillity from that area of the ruins, but not from here. If this was a monastery or a shrine, then I should be getting the same feelings here, unless the whole building had been destroyed as a result of violence. The violence would then be an overlay on the general feeling of peacefulness. Only what I'm getting here is much more mundane."
She hesitated, unable to find the words to fully explain what she was feeling. "There's a sense of aggression here that wouldn't fit with the purpose of the building if it was a monastery. It feels like the Warrior Guild— you know, controlled aggression. Couple that with large amounts of metal buried quite deeply underground and you have a puzzle that begs for an answer."
Kusac sat down on a pile of rubble. "On Keiss we were able to find the pod using our combined talents so I know it's possible to sense large amounts of metal, but feelings from the past?"
"That dream I had while I was at Noni's with Kaid," she said. "Noni said it was the rocks and stones keeping memories and replaying them in our minds while we slept. You have crystals that store electronic data, don't you? How about a crystal that stores people's memories? It would explain why my dreams in the cave were so vivid. It would also explain why people at the Valsgarth Telepath Guild have dreams only when they stay there."
"What about those we have at Stronghold?" asked Rulla. "Many of us have even seen the God walking down the corridors there!"
"Perhaps there are crystal deposits in the Dzahai Mountains, too," said Carrie.
"Lijou keeps an ornament of blue crystal on his desk," said Rulla thoughtfully.
"Can we find out if there are deposits near Stronghold?" asked Kusac.
"The miners would have records in the Guild of Manufacturers' archives," said Kaid. "The Guild of Artificers might know about it too since the crystal can be carved."
"That definitely should be followed up," said Kusac.
"I'll do it," offered Kaid.
"I knew this place was important from the first time I saw it," said Carrie as she began to wander away from them again. "It's really strange, Kusac. As if it's calling to me. I'm feeling it even more strongly now."
"Then I suppose we'd better do some excavating today," he said. "I don't suppose you have any idea why it's important, do you?"
"None, but I was right about the crystals."
"We haven't proved they hold memories yet," said Kusac warningly. "We'll have to find a way to experiment with them."
"They hold memories," said Kaid quietly.
Carried looked over to him. "How d'you know?" she asked.
"The crystal Noni used to heal you," he said reluctantly. "It retained a feel of you."
"She used a crystal? Then Noni should be able to help us find out more about the piece I've found. Perhaps we can go and show it to her."
"We could ask," said Kaid.
"Where do you want to start digging?" asked Kusac.
"Well, since we can't do anything about what's below ground without a sensor, how about we start on the mound where I found the foot? If it is a statue of Vartra, then we've got a good idea that it's worth looking further."
Kusac sighed and stood up. "Let's get started then."