darknadir, page 47
"More important, who's the father?" asked Chaidda, his male voice deep among those of the females.
"The father didn't know about the cub till four years later," said Konis. "As luck would have it, Khemu managed not only to escape, but to take him with her. She left him outside the gates at Stronghold for his father to find."
Khas'ih Rakula began to laugh softly. "I know whose son he is. His father's the third in your son's Triad, isn't he, Konis? Dzaka is Kaid's son." She looked over to Garras. "One of your En'Shalla Clan. Father and son both, I'll be bound. So the Brotherhood has had a telepath in its midst all these years."
Garras said nothing for now, letting Konis continue uninterrupted.
"You're right, Khas'ih," said Konis. "Kaid found the cub and was able to foster him. He suspected who he was, but had no proof. Using his friends among the Brothers, he kept his ears alert for any word of Khemu Arrazo. When he found out where she lived, he went to her. That's when he found out the truth of what had happened. She's dead now, of a wasting sickness, but they bonded before she died. Dzaka has been entered in the records as her and Kaid's legitimate son. He promised her he'd ensure Dzaka got his legitimacy, as Khemu had already given him her torc and knife. Today, the truth has come home to nest in Naeul Arrazo's hall. May Vartra grant Khemu's soul peace at last."
Murmurs of agreement went round the room.
"Wasn't Khemu his firstborn and heir?" asked Khayle. "If memory serves me, she was. That makes Dzaka his heir now."
"No," said Rhyasha. "Dzaka is an En'Shallan, a gene-altered Brother with a psi gift. He's an Aldatan now."
"That's the one your Kitra wanted, wasn't it?" asked Mnae, clicking her tongue disapprovingly. "Would never have done, Rhyasha. No cubs, y'see."
"You didn't say why she chose to have his cub," said Lossa. "We thought Khemu was pleased with our contract. I find it all very confusing."
"If I may answer that, Clan Lord?" Garras asked, catching Konis' eye.
"Please," said Konis, relieved to be spared that answer. "You were Kaid's sword-brother in those days, you knew him better than anyone."
"As you said, Khas'ih Rakula, Kaid is a telepath, but he'd suppressed it until he was with Khemu. He'd never known another telepath before, and when their minds touched..." He spread his hands expressively, leaving the rest unsaid.
Chaidda gave a rumble of annoyance. "Too damned convenient," he said.
"Wasn't he one of the fosterlings with Nuddoh M'Zushi?" asked Mnae, tapping her stylus against her comp. "Big scandal about Nuddoh some thirty-odd years ago. Got himself killed, didn't he?"
Konis began to feel uncomfortable as he saw all eyes turn on him again. From the surprised look on Garras' face, he realized he couldn't pass this one over to him.
"Quite right," said Rhyasha smoothly. "He was found murdered, and thank Vartra he was! He'd been abusing the younglings in his care for years and no one knew a thing about it till then. Wouldn't you suppress your Talent if forced to live in circumstances like that?"
Mnae nodded. "Remember it well," she said. "Rhuna Dzaedoh got called in to help out. 'Course, didn't call himself Kaid back then, it was Tallinu. He was all set to become her apprentice then he up and left, just like that, the night Nuddoh was murdered. Was another three years before the Brothers found him and brought him back."
Konis could feel them scenting more of the scandal but was powerless to stop them now they were on the trail. Any attempt to do so would only make it worse.
"He killed Nuddoh?" asked Dzaio.
"It was never proved," said Rhyasha. "Charges against him were dropped. All that was a very long time ago, and it's his son, Dzaka, we're discussing."
Did he do it? Konis sent to his wife.
Of course he did! Wouldn't you if you found an adult male about to rape one of your fellow fosterlings? And he didn't just run off, he told Noni what he'd done before he left. He was in a bad way, too, according to the records.
How old was he?
Not much older than Kitra is now.
Had he been...
Sometimes, my dear, you are touchingly naive! she sent.
"What're you trying to tell us, Rhyasha? That Dzaka has as good a background as any of us here?" asked Khayle dryly.
"As far as I'm concerned, he has," she snapped back. "But no, I'm not. I'm reminding us all that this isn't the time or place for gossip!"
"Point taken," said Konis, seizing the opportunity. "A letter will be sent to the Arrazo Clan to invite Naeul's successor to take over his place on the Council. My main business today concerns the arranged marriages that our heirs have to make as part of our breeding program." While he was talking, he activated his comm unit, waiting for the screen and keypad to raise itself from the concealed recess in the table in front of him.
"If you'll look at your own comms, you'll be able to see the data I've had assembled for you. Both graphs cover a fifty-year span."
When everyone was ready, he continued. "As you can see from the graph, despite our best efforts, the birthrate of Talented cubs among the main Clan families is dropping." He looked up at them. "And before anyone asks, yes, it takes into account those lost to the En'Shalla Clan. So, our breeding program is no longer working. Now if you look at this chart," he flipped to the next page, "you can see that the intake at the Telepath Guildhouses on each continent have gone up over the last fifty years. Which leads me inevitably to the conclusion that we, in this room, are breeding ourselves to the point of extinction." He looked up again, taking advantage of the silence. "Either we abandon the breeding program completely, or we must introduce new blood into it."
"New blood?" exclaimed Lossa. "New blood? Do your charts tell us how many of those telepaths outside the main families are Grade Ones?"
"Almost as many as we've had recently," replied Konis. "Our bloodlines have become too inbred. We must open the program up if we want to survive."
"You're scare-mongering, Konis," said Chaidda. "Trying to push through alien ideas under the guise of a crisis."
"You think so?" Konis's voice had an underlying purr to it. "Out of forty-six cubs born to our generation here in Kaeshala, our main continent, do you know how many were either Grade One or Two Talents, Chaidda? Eight, that's all. And six had no trainable Talent. Tell me now there isn't a crisis! And remember, we've lost both Szurtha and Khyaal. No telepaths from there to swell our numbers any more."
Chaidda looked uncomfortable. "I thought there were more than that," he said.
"I'll not have my younglings marrying outside our families," said Khayle firmly. "I don't hold with your new ideas, Konis. You're too ready to throw tradition to the winds these days."
"Depends what he's suggesting," said Mnae thoughtfully. "Cough it up, Konis. What you got for us?"
"I'd have thought better of you, Mnae," said Dzio, his eye ridges meeting in a frown. "You've always spoken up for the old ways."
"Seems to me the old ways aren't working right now," she said. "Been noticing that for myself lately." She reached for the jug of water in front of her and poured herself a glass. "Take this history thing, now, and all the Humans digging up Valtegan bones. Seems to me if we'd been able to talk more between the guilds, they might never have been needed. We'd have known our history all along. Guild secrets made us stronger in the past, but we have to become a community now, unless we want some of them new aliens that're joining the Alliance to take over our position at the head of the table. So tell us what you're suggesting, Konis." She raised the glass to her lips and took a sip.
* * *
It proved to be a long day, and one Konis had to fight hard to win, but win he did in the end. It was with relief he collapsed into his seat in the aircar he and Rhyasha were sharing with Garras.
Opening the locker beside him, he pulled out three containers of c'shar. Handing two to the others, he pulled the tab on his can, waiting for it to heat up before taking a sip.
"Gods, this tastes as foul as ever," he groaned as Mnesu took off.
"Still, it's over— till next time," sighed Rhyasha, leaning back against the seat, her can still unopened. "You got the changes pushed through, and backdated for those families that want their younglings to have a choice this time."
"I don't know how you cope," said Garras. "It would drive me mad doing this every two months!"
Konis looked over at him. "You'll get used to it," he said tiredly. "I'll be interested to see how Lijou intends to make eligible Brothers and Sisters available to our fragile Clan kitlings."
CHAPTER 13
It had taken Carrie a while to realize what was happening to her, but when the fever and the stomach cramps started, she knew. Would Kaid understand what it was? There were several people who could tell him. He'd find a way to get them together again, surely. If she called for the Primes and told them, they'd know their Achilles' heel. She had to let Kaid deal with it.
Sitting up, the covers wrapped around her, she tried to stay awake. With Kusac, she'd almost slept herself into the coma. Not this time, this time she was going to fight it. Nausea hit, making her run for the washbasin. She'd eaten nothing for nearly four days, so all it did was leave her throat and stomach feeling raw and painful.
Trembling, she returned to her bed just as the door opened. It was the Valtegan priest, and he was alone. She recognized him from Kaid's memories. The door closed behind him, sealing the guard outside.
"Come here," he ordered, his voice sharp and sibilant. "I wish to examine you."
"You're not supposed to be here," she said, releasing her hold on the covers so her hands were free. "Only the Primes are allowed in."
"Don't tell me what I can do. You're the captive, not me. Come here!"
"I'll call the guard." Under cover of the blankets, she began to slide her legs over the far side of the bed.
He came toward her, tongue flicking out, tasting the air, and her fear.
When she saw his skin began to darken, she jumped to the floor, putting the bed between them. She knew the signs from the days when her sister worked in Geshader as a prostitute for the resistance. Too many times she'd seen what had gone on through Elise's eyes and experienced the pain and injuries they'd caused her while at the height of mating.
"You shouldn't be here," she repeated.
"Call out if you want," he said. "There's no one to hear you. The guard outside is mine. He does what I say."
With the speed of a striking snake, he lunged for her but she'd already moved. Hissing in anger, he came after her, catching her by the hair as she tried to dodge past him.
Screaming and clawing, she was jerked toward him. Her wrists grasped firmly in one of his hands, he took hold of her jaw in the other, pulling her face close. He started back in surprise as he saw her eyes. Vertical pupils— a hunter's eyes— glared back at him.
"Your eyes! Your sister didn't have eyes like those!"
She remembered him now! "I'm a mind-stealer, a telepath like the Sholans, J'koshuk," she said, voice roughened by fear and hate. "Touch me and you'll regret it. My sister laughed in your face, right until the moment she died. I'll do the same." Reaching out for his mind, she began to fill it with fear of her.
She didn't see the raised hand until too late. The blow stunned her, breaking her concentration. Dazed now, and weak from lack of food and the effects of Link deprivation, she could do nothing as he flung her down onto the bed.
"Your sister might have laughed at me, but you won't," he hissed, grasping hold of her sleeping robe.
Terror filled her, but on the edges of her mind, she felt the gestalt hovering. She reached for it, feeding it with all the energy she had left, and screamed for help.
* * *
Lying in his bed, terror exploded in Kaid's mind. He saw the hand descending, felt the blow to his face, and was suddenly caught up in the memory of the rape dream, watching as the male advanced on him again. He didn't need the warming of the crystal to tell him that this time, it was no dream.
His gasp of pain alerted T'Chebbi, who could only sit and watch in stunned horror as his cheek began to swell and a gash appeared on his forearm.
"Rezac!" she shouted, but the door burst open before she'd finished crying out.
Kaid gasped again, like a drowning man coming up for air, then clutched at Rezac as he bent over him. "Help me up!" The contact with Carrie had been brief, but it had been enough to give him back some of the strength he'd lost. He hauled on Rezac's arm, pulling himself into a sitting position.
Rezac caught Kaid's thought and nodded, helping him to his feet. "I know," he said. "I felt it, too."
"What the hell are you doing?" demanded T'Chebbi. "You're not going anywhere in that state! I sent for you to help, Rezac, not make him worse!"
Kaid reached out and touched her face. "He is. I need to call the Primes."
"You're not strong enough," said Rezac. "You'll collapse. Take some energy from me." He held out his hand.
Kaid looked at him, hesitating.
"You're wasting time," he said, grabbing Kaid's hand himself.
The rush of energy made him briefly light-headed. He staggered, to be caught by Rezac, then it was over. Turning, he ran for the door, colliding with Manesh.
"There's an alarm going off outside," she said.
* * *
On the floor of his cell, Kusac felt the pull of the gestalt as briefly, his mind was swept up with those of the other two. As abruptly as it came, it was gone, but it left something behind. A glimmer of his Talent had returned. Not much, but it was more than he'd had before. With it came a cold fury that he knew could only be satisfied by killing J'koshuk. In the distance, he heard the alarm begin to sound.
* * *
Kaid hammered at the outer door, yelling for the Primes, attempting to force his mind through the barrier to try and contact Carrie again. T'Chebbi had come hurtling after him, medikit at the ready to dress his wound, but it was ten minutes before he'd accept that no one was coming and gave up. Slumping against the wall, he finally let T'Chebbi tend his wound.
"Just dress it," he said hoarsely.
She did as he asked. "What caused this?" she asked, winding a bandage over the dressing.
"Later," said Rezac, touching her on the arm.
She turned her head to look up at him as behind them, the door opened. A Prime guard stood at the entrance, rifle held ready.
"The Seniormost wishes to see you," he said, pointing it at Kaid. "You will come with us."
Kaid got to his feet and stepped out into the corridor. Flanked by two guards, he was led down to the stasis room. A Seniormost and several more guards were waiting for him.
"I know my mate's been hurt. Take me to her now," he demanded.
"There has been an unfortunate incident."
"Just take me to her," he snarled, his hands clenching into fists at his sides.
"It was not due to us," the translator interrupted. "It was our Interface, the one called J'koshuk. He abused our trust and attacked the female. He has been punished."
A footfall from behind made him swing around but not before a hypo had been fired against his neck. It stung, and he resisted the impulse to rub it, reaching out for the Seniormost instead. He heard the sound of weapons being powered up and stopped dead, looking around the ring of guns trained on him.
"What the hell's going on?" he demanded, rounding on the Prime again. "Where is she? I want to see her!"
"It is for that you were brought," said the translator. The Seniormost indicated one of two doors in the opposite wall. "She is in there. You may take her with you. She was not thriving even before this incident. We intended her no harm."
"What?" He wasn't sure he'd heard right. He felt light-headed for a moment as their Link reestablished itself, then he knew what had happened. He'd been drugged, his Talent suppressed!
"Take her with you and return to your room."
Hesitantly, he began to walk toward the indicated door, then he ran. A low whimper of fear greeted him as he stepped inside. She was crouched in the far corner of the room, clutching a blanket.
She looked up, eyes filling with tears. "Tallinu?"
He was at her side instantly, lifting her up and wrapping what he could of the blanket around her.
"I have you now. You're coming with me." He turned and walked back to the stasis room, stopping in front of the Seniormost. "If I see J'koshuk again, he's dead. You understand?"
"You will not see him again," said a voice from behind him. "No harm was ever intended to you or any of your crew."
