thefiremargins (58 page)

* * *

"Stop quartering the undergrowth, Konis," growled Esken. "You're a fair-minded person. You know by rights I should have some involvement with those mixed pairs.
Our
guild has the teachers they need, the experience the Brotherhood lacks."
"You're still playing politics with the future of our world, Esken. If you believe this information is as vital as you say, and that including it with our findings is important, you shouldn't be withholding it from us."
"Your high-handed actions over the last few months have been nothing short of a campaign of ..."
"Be quiet!" said Rhyasha, stunning both males into silence. "Esken, my mate is quite right. If this information is so vital, you shouldn't be using it to bargain with. Konis, it took a lot for Esken to come here and offer to deal with you. Considering the bad blood between you two, it was a noble gesture and should be treated as such. Having said that, Master Esken, the only person who can agree to you having any contact with the mixed Leskas is our son, Kusac. His people are living on his estate, under his leadership, independent of us. They belong to the Brotherhood of Vartra. Kusac is also the person responsible for the database, not us. He passes on his findings, but that's all. Your offer is being made to the wrong people, I'm afraid."
"Then where is he?" Esken demanded.
"I've no idea. Do you want me to locate him?" she asked, already reaching out for her son. "I have to say that if you continue to insist on a trade for this information, I have doubts concerning its importance."
"Just put my proposal to him," snapped Esken.
"My bond-daughter informs me he's unavailable today. He's attending to business in the capital."
Carrie, this could end the hostility between us and the Guild. The level of communication between you and Esken could be at your discretion. I don't need to tell you of the benefits of reestablishing friendly links with him, do I?
I'm coming over, Rhyasha. Kusac says he personally is not prepared to negotiate anything at this time, however I may act for him in the interim and he'll decide later on his course of action.
"Kusac has asked Carrie to join us and discuss the matter with you," said Rhyasha. "Why don't you have a pastry while we're waiting?"

* * *

Carrie, followed by Dzaka and Kitra, breezed in with fond greetings for Rhyasha and Konis. Dzaka and Kitra excused themselves while Carrie settled herself in a chair beside her bond-mother. She looked across the table to Esken.
"So, you want access to us. What degree of access are you asking for?"
"We need to know more about you. What you're capable of, your genetic make-up ..." began Esken.
"Stop right there," said Carrie. "There will be no tests conducted by you, nor will any of our people attend the Guild for assessment or training. We have no intention of returning to the situation that existed when I arrived on Shola. We're in charge of ourselves now, Master Esken, and we intend to remain so. However," she said, cutting him short as he opened his mouth to speak. "However, we
are
prepared to make available to you the results of any tests we conduct on ourselves. I've been told to inform you that it would suit us to have the open hostility between you and our people at an end. It's going to be a long time, though, before many of us are prepared to trust you enough to set foot in the Telepath Guildhouse again."
"You're offering nothing!"
"On the contrary," said Carrie quietly. "We're offering a fresh start, with no restrictions for future relationships between ourselves and your Guild. All we're saying is that
we
are in control of our own lives, not you, nor anyone else. We've got a greater incentive to discover what's happening to us and why, and what the limits of our talents are than you have, believe me! On the basis of that, are you prepared to trade?"
Esken sat there barely concealing his anger.
"Your position over the last two months has been eroded, Master Esken," said Carrie. "You've lost us, very publicly, to another guild. You've been completely excluded from any involvement with us by Governor Nesul and the Forces. You've lost respect and support on the council because of this. If you can reestablish links directly with us, it'll be seen that you are still a force to be reckoned with.
You,
personally, have more to gain by accepting what we offer than we have."
"You said you can't make a firm commitment," said Esken between clenched teeth.
"Any deal Kusac agrees to will contain what I've outlined as a minimum, that I can promise." Carrie looked to her bond-father. "Konis, you can witness my agreement to that, can't you?"
"Certainly."
"Then I accept." The words were ground out grudgingly.
"No more attempted kidnappings? No more hostility from your staff toward us?"
"Agreed, if you start supplying us with information as soon as possible."
"This is legally binding, you realize that, don't you?" said Konis, looking at them both. "If either of you breaks the contract, you will be called before the Judiciary."
Carrie nodded.
"Agreed," Esken said.
"Then this proposed contract, agreed in principle, is to be ratified by both parties tomorrow. It is legally binding and will be registered as such from now," said Konis.
"Your comp," said Esken, pushing it across the table to Carrie. "If you need to know more, contact Sorli. He prepared the document."
"Thank you, Master Esken." She let it lie in front of her while the two Guild officials got to their feet.
"You and I should get together tomorrow, Esken," said Konis, also getting up.
Esken turned a surprised face to him.
"We've got to map out a policy of cooperation over the Mixed Leska Project."
"If I may contact you later today, Clan Lord, I'll be able to arrange that for you," said Sorli. "Without Master Esken's diary ..."
"Speak to my secretary," said Konis as he escorted them from the kitchen.
Rhyasha let out a large sigh. "Thank goodness that's resolved! Being at odds with one's Guild is most uncomfortable, no matter how good the reason for it."
"The fewer enemies we have, the better," agreed Carrie. Reaching out, she picked up the comp. "Shall we see what this holds?"
"When Konis returns."

CHAPTER 16

As if the contents of Esken's transcript hadn't worried all of them enough, later in the day Kusac sent to Carrie saying he'd been able to speak to the agent working for General Raiban in Fyak's camp. His name was L'Seuli. He was one of the Brothers permanently attached to Intelligence and his news was mixed.
Fyak's power over the tribes relied on several factors. Once a tribe was subdued, the Elders were taken captive and sent to Chezy. The social structure of the tribes was then demolished so the people had no one to look to but Fyak and his Faithful. Fyak's gift of rhetoric and persuasion was what had initially drawn the people to him. Now fear held them; fear of retaliation if they disobeyed, and fear of the return of the demons that Fyak preached about so convincingly.
This last fear was justified by the tales Fyak's bodyguards brought with them from the heart of his lair. The inner corridors and the temple itself were decorated with carvings and paintings of the lizardlike beings who'd originally inhabited the complex. L'Seuli could testify to the veracity of the rumors, having seen for himself these images of what were undeniably Valtegans.
Despite all this, lately there had been a lot of grumbling against Fyak because of his increasingly violent rages. It had come to a near-mutiny over the issue of the warriors' wish to return to their villages and tribes to help them prepare for winter. Fyak had been compelled to back down and sanction a leave of one month commencing in two weeks time.
Fyak would then be at his most vulnerable as the majority of his troops left to plant winter crops in their villages, and the nomads moved to their winter quarters. Those who were left would be the ones who'd been under Fyak the longest— and they were thoroughly disenchanted with him. It wouldn't take much to turn them against him.
Because of the deaths of the two fighters who'd led the assault on Lassoi, L'Seuli and his partner Rurto had been promoted to the rank of inner bodyguards. While this had allowed L'Seuli to see the prophet at first hand, it had carried a price. Like the others close to the prophet, he'd had to wear one of the gold collars set with the green stones.
Before Kaid had been taken to Stronghold, he'd managed to confirm what L'Seuli already suspected, namely that the collars were controlled by a bracelet Fyak wore. It had taken all L'Seuli's training with the Brotherhood to be able to resist the effects of the collar long enough to remove it while fleeing from Fyak's lair and rejoining the Forces.
"I had to leave," L'Seuli said to Kusac. "The collar would have visibly compromised me when my contact next communicated with me."
"How?"
"My contact was a telepath. The collar monitors the brain waves of the person wearing it; if it identifies telepathic activity, then a circuit behind the stone lights up and triggers the release of the chemicals trapped within it. I couldn't even warn him not to contact me!"
L'Seuli went on to say he'd discovered that as well as supplying illegal arms to the desert tribes, Ghezu was also supplying Fyak himself with an illegal drug known as la'quo. It was the psychotropic plant extract that the prophet used to put himself into trances so he could communicate with his God, Kezule.
Fyak's original supply had come from a clump of plants found in the main cavern near the well that supplied their water. This had now been depleted and he'd had to look elsewhere. L'Seuli had seen Ghezu himself hand Vraiyou a box containing several phials of the drug. Little was known about it beyond the fact that its unauthorized use had been declared illegal by the Chemerians.
Kaid's deception concerning the training of Fyak's warriors had been discovered when Zhaya, chief of Ghezu's guards, had arrived with a shipment of arms. The punishment Fyak had inflicted on Kaid had been extreme and though L'Seuli said he'd been alive when Ghezu had taken him to Stronghold, he couldn't vouch for his condition now.
Raiban intended to arrive at Stronghold at dawn the next day, but she was giving them thirteen hours grace because of fears that Kaid might be killed when they arrived with the warrant to arrest Ghezu.
"General Raiban, I can't thank you enough for giving me this information and the opportunity to get Kaid out," said Kusac, "but I don't understand why ..."
"We've had dealings in the past," said Raiban in a tone that made it clear nothing further would be said on the matter.
As Kusac rose to leave, L'Seuli stopped him, handing him a small package. "Give this to Kaid. I was able to retrieve it for him from the medic, Anirra," he said.

* * *

Once outside, Kusac sent to Carrie.
Get yourself, Dzaka and Garras over to Dzahai village. Whatever you do, keep out of sight of the Brothers. Go to Noni and explain the situation. I'll join you as soon as I return. I want Kaid out of Stronghold before Raiban's forces arrive at dawn.
Why's Raiban doing this for us?
She knew Kaid. Just thank the Gods she is! Tell Garras to take whatever he thinks we'll need in the way of weapons— and emergency medikits. The news about Kaid isn't good. I'll see you there.
In the aircar on his way to Noni's, Kusac opened the package. Within it lay a broad silver bonding bracelet. The engravings were worn but still visible as a scene of the Dzahai Mountains around Stronghold and Dzahai village.
T'Chebbi leaned over to look at it. "Kaid's. Wore it most of time."
Thoughtfully Kusac rewrapped it and put it into the inner pocket of his jacket.

* * *

"For the God's sake, if you need me after tomorrow, call me," said Vanna, handing Garras yet another case of analgesics from her store of drugs. "They're all clearly labeled, showing the different strengths."
She stopped, turning to look at him. "Are you sure you remember enough of your medic training to use these properly? Start with this type," she said, waving a blue pack at him, "and if he gets breakthrough pain, you can use these," she said, picking up a white pack, "every four hours."
Garras took the packs from her and put them in the medikit he was carrying. "Vanna, I'll remember, stop worrying. You've given me everything I could possibly need. By the time we have Kaid, we'll also be able to use Stronghold's physician and medic, as well as Noni." He put the case down on the countertop and wrapped his arms round her.
"I wish I didn't have to go now," he said, gently nuzzl-ing her cheek. "I wanted to be with you while Marak's in hospital."
"I know," she sighed. "But he'll have the best possible medical care; Kaid won't. I'd be with you myself if it wasn't for that."
"Marak'll be fine," Garras reassured her. "Nowadays ops like that are commonplace, you know that."
"Yes, but when it's your own child and he's so young ..."
"He'll be fine," repeated Garras, giving her a fierce hug. "We'll have a comm unit with us, you can contact me anytime. Now I must go." He released her to look down at the cub that lay sleeping in the carrier on her desk.
The little one lay stretched out on his side, the cover up to his arms. The fingers of the tiny pawlike hands lay open in relaxation. Garras reached out and touched his head gently, making his ears flick.
"You must have looked like this when you were a cub," he said, turning back to her.
"Hmm," she said, the tone mock-critical. "I think my markings weren't quite so dark."
Garras laughed, gently touching her cheek. "I have to go now. I'll call tonight if possible. Let me know as soon as you can how his op has gone."
"I will," she said. "
You
take care! There's no prizes for the worst injuries, you know."
He grinned, showing a flash of white teeth. "It won't be us with the injuries, believe me!"

* * *

Carrie waited impatiently for Noni to open her door. "We've found him, Noni," she said. "He's at Stronghold. Ghezu has him."
Noni looked beyond her to the two males then flung her door wide. "Get in, all of you. The fewer people who see you the better! And you, child," she said, grasping Carrie briefly by the arm, "you shouldn't be running about like this! Get you over to my table and sit down at once!"
"But, Noni," Carrie began.
"No
but Noni's
from you! Go and sit down," she growled.
Noni's living room seemed smaller by the time they were all seated round the table. The elderly Sholan looked across at Dzaka, narrowing her eyes. "Always thought you had the look of Kaid about you— and a bit of your mother." She looked over at Garras. "Aye, I remember you," she chuckled. "One of the livelier lads from Stronghold, you were."
Garras' ears laid back and his tail flicked in embarrassment.
"Always coming to me to get patched up after some brawl or another."
"Noni ..."
"I'll say no more, never fear!" She looked at Carrie sitting beside her. "Now what's this you were saying about Tallinu being at Stronghold?"
"Ghezu has him. He's badly injured, Noni."
"Then you'll be needing me when you go for him," she said decisively. "I'm letting none of those medics touch him. What did this Fyak do to him?"
"He's been flogged," said Garras. "It happened just before Ghezu took him to Stronghold."
"There's no love lost between those two. Let's pray Tallinu is more important to Ghezu alive than dead."
"He's alive, Noni," said Carrie. "I saw him last night."
"
Saw
him?"
Carrie felt Garras' and Dzaka's minds flare in interest. "I was in the Shrine when he just walked in. I even touched him. I don't know how, but he was real, Noni."
Noni looked down at the table top, one claw tip gently tapping in thought. "I've seen him too. It was only a faint impression, like a pattern in smoke," she said. "Something's not right here. I don't know what Ghezu's done to him, but it's not good. Not good at all." She fell silent.
"We've got to get him out tonight, Noni," said Garras at length.
"We will, we will," she said, coming out of her reverie. "You need someone inside to let you in, don't you? That mate of yours, I take it he's joining us?"
"Yes. He's on his way back from Sonashi now. He's got T'Chebbi with him," said Carrie.
"Then there's four of you." She began to drum the table with all her fingers.
"If we can get someone inside Stronghold, they can open the internal door leading in from the tunnels," said Garras.
"You want to use someone who's already there," she said. "It'll attract less attention. That Lijou male, what's he like? Would he help?"
Carrie looked over at Garras, who nodded. "Yes, he would," she said. "He wants us to go to the Fire Margins. He's been collaborating a lot with our family recently."
"Right, here's what you do. Garras, I want you to go into the village, to the house at the end of the main street. It's painted white, you can't miss it. Knock and tell whoever answers that Rhuna has asked for Lokki to run an errand. It's dark now so you shouldn't attract any attention. We'll send Lokki in with a message for Lijou, one that'll make him contact me but won't get Ghezu, should he find out, suspicious."
"What's wrong with sending to him?" asked Dzaka.
"Dampers have been put in," said Noni. "The place is sewn up tighter than ..." she caught sight of Carrie's curious look and changed her mind. "tighter than it should be. Even I turn off the damper most of the time! That one's up to no good, I'll be bound!"
"He's delivering weapons and drugs to Fyak," said Carrie.
"That explains the dampers. He doesn't want any of the Brothers to know what he's up to."
"I've brought a portable comm with me," said Garras. "Why don't we use the most obvious way of contacting Lijou?"
"Try if you want," said Noni. "If you were Ghezu, wouldn't you have all incoming calls intercepted and monitored?"
"What's the message for Lokki, then?" sighed Garras.
"Let's see. Pass me the writing stuff out of that top drawer over there," she said, gesturing to the other side of the room.
Dzaka brought over the stylus and paper.
"I know what to put," she laughed. "He'll call us so fast, you won't believe it!" She scribbled a few lines, then passed it over to Garras. "You add the address of your comm."
Garras did as she asked, then pushed the paper back to her. Folding it, she returned it to him. "Give it to Lokki. They're used to him running around Stronghold with my potions and messages. He won't cause any concern."