Authors: Lisanne Norman
* * *
Lijou headed straight for the night desk, requesting that the duty messenger meet him in his office immediately. He'd no sooner sat down than the Brother was scratching at his door.
"Take this to Noni," Lijou said, handing him a portable comm unit. "Apologize for disturbing her at this hour, then give her the note. If she doesn't let you in, suggest it. Set this up on her table, dial into Stronghold, then leave. Understand?"
The Brother nodded once, picked up the comm unit, and left.
"Damned cloak-and-dagger stuff," Lijou muttered.
"What is?" asked Kha'Qwa as she pushed his office door open. "What's happening that's so important it can't wait till morning?"
"Kaid. Noni wanted to know immediately he was ready to go to the Retreat."
"Ready to go? To do what?" she asked, going over to his less formal seats and curling up in one of them.
"It's one of our rituals. Not everyone is suitable. In fact, very few are, but Tallinu is."
"What ritual?"
"Ghyakulla's."
"Ghyakulla? I know she's both mother and consort to Vartra, but I've never heard of anyone doing a ritual of hers here at Stronghold. Which ritual do you mean?"
"Some rituals are known only to senior members of the Brotherhood, Kha'Qwa. It's a dream time one. When I heard that Tallinu had actually escaped from his body during his captivity, I knew that one day he'd need to take the ritual. It'll help center him, give him the strength he now needs to complete his healing."
"If he's still feeling betrayed by Vartra, then how will a ritual involving Ghyakulla help?"
"I met him in the temple not an hour ago. He chose to go there. Trust me, Kha'Qwa, this is my field. He's ready to meet Ghyakulla."
"Meet? How can he meet Her?" Her voice was high-pitched with surprise.
"Ah, well, I suppose you ought not to know," he mumbled, avoiding her gaze. "But I need someone to share these burdens with! Yes, there are such rituals, and yes, I've taken some of them in my time. Who can say who it is you meet on these dream walks. I choose to believe it is Ghyakulla."
"How many have taken this particular ritual?"
"Not many," he admitted. "I have. It does involve some danger. People have been lost in the dream worlds and been unable to return, just like those we lost in the Margins rituals."
"Is it wise for him to try this so soon after his trip to the Margins?"
"He must. He's been called by Ghyakulla Herself."
"How do you know?"
"I was there, Kha'Qwa," he said gently, getting up and going to join her. "He saw the light in Ghyakulla's shrine shining off a crystal set in the rock face. I saw nothing till he'd scraped off the lichen and muck that covered it."
"Good grief. I'm sorry, Lijou. I shouldn't have doubted you, but we seem to be suddenly living in such active times! There were always one or two who heard the Gods, and if you looked, you could sometimes see their hands at work in your life, but now... They're so active!"
"Think of them as the spirits of our ancestors, and remember that we went back in time to disturb them. Doesn't their intervention seem less fantastic?"
"I suppose," she agreed dubiously.
The comm beeped, calling him back to his desk.
"He was fast," said Kha'Qwa with a sigh, pulling her robe more firmly about herself.
"Aircar," said Lijou shortly, turning the unit on.
"You'd better have a damned good reason for hauling me out of my bed in the middle of the night," Noni said, ears lying sideways in anger.
"You wanted to know immediately when the Goddess called him, Noni," said Lijou. "You were most specific. Immediately, you said."
Her ears lifted. "Already? By Vartra, when I get it right, I really get it right," she muttered. "What'd you do? What'd you tell him?"
"I'm sending him to the Retreat for a few days to see the Guardian. I hope that fits in with what you wanted, because that's what he's doing."
"Fine, fine. You did well, Master Lijou," she said. "And you were right to disturb me. Now tell that lad of yours to get back in here and take this contraption away with him."
"It stays, Noni. Please do me the courtesy of keeping it there. It makes communications between us much easier."
"I told you, I hate these damned..." She stopped in mid-flow and regarded him for a moment. "It can stay," she said abruptly. "You and that young mate of yours get back to bed and let an old woman get some sleep. Goodnight."
Taken aback by the suddenness of her capitulation, Lijou stared at the blank screen for a moment before turning it off.
"That's it?" asked Kha'Qwa. "Nothing more? No Üxwexplanation?"
He shook his head. "We won't get one either. Not till it's over, and then only if we're lucky."
* * *
Within an hour, Noni, accompanied by her assistant Teusi, was waiting in Guardian Dhaika's private lounge.
"Noni, what in the God's name are you doing here at this hour?" Dhaika demanded, then stopped, catching sight of Teusi. "By your leave, Noni. Teusi, fetch some hot c'shar for us, please." He waited till the youth had left before continuing. "When does he arrive?"
"Tomorrow morning. Lijou dragged me from my bed, so I didn't see why you should get to sleep on undisturbed." She grinned an evil grin. "Remember, don't teach him how to dream walk alone."
Dhaika sat down. "I have to if the Goddess has called him, Noni, no matter what's been decided."
"You'd turn your back on the Council? Knowing what it could cost us— could cost Shola?" she demanded.
"You tread your own path all the time, Noni," he retorted angrily. "You ignored the ruling on noninvolvement with the Human female! Don't talk to me about my duty! My duty is also to this Retreat, to the God, and Goddess!"
"I'm not saying neglect the Goddess!" she snapped. "Take him there, let him meet Her! Just don't let him take the ritual! It's too soon. We need them all, not just him, Dhaika. Shola needs an En'Shalla Triad as Guardians!"
He remained silent, glowering across the space that separated them.
"Let Ghyakulla decide, if you prefer it put that way," she sighed. "The rituals are ours, our way of understanding the entities. All you are being asked to do is not to teach him how to dream walk."
"All, Noni? When did the Council ask for a small matter? Believe me, this is nothing small they are demanding! This touches on the heart of my faith, what I believe in and stand for!"
"Then trust Her to know what She wants to do! If She wants him taught to walk, She'll do it, right? His mind is beginning to heal. A shock like this could unhinge him. He needs to bind himself more tightly to his Triad first. This is not the time for leaps of faith. One step at a time, Dhaika. Let him meet Her, feel Her power, understand Her Link to Vartra first."
"If he needs to be more tightly bound to them, why haven't you seen to it? You're always meddling in other people's affairs!"
"Because last time, I leaned too hard, I admit it," she said, her voice suddenly quiet and tired. "This time, he needs to do it himself. He went to the temple for the first time tonight. If you push him into this too soon, we could lose him altogether. He could turn his back on us all. Do what the Council asks, Dhaika."
"Demands, more like," he snorted. "You know the Council usually does what you want, and the odd time it doesn't, you do it anyway!"
"No one is ordering you. You're the one in charge here."
"There are Guardians and Guardians, as you well know, Noni!"
"Yes. There are, aren't there?" Her voice was like ice. "It is well within the purview of our Council to ask you to do a lesser ritual and let the Goddess decide, and you know that."
"I wasn't even at the meeting when this was decided!"
"It wasn't our fault you were at your granddaughter's Validation. Your protests have all been recorded, don't worry. If not for the Council, do it because at the end of the day, the Goddess can look after Herself, and Kaid Tallinu can't. He'd be out of his depth in this."
"Don't tell me that finally someone has come along who matters more than all your plottings and schemings," he said, the incredulity obvious in his voice. "I don't believe it!"
"Stop gloating," she snapped, leaning forward on her stick. "Whatever you do or don't think you know, you know nothing!"
"I'll do it, Noni. Not for you or the Council, for him. For Kaid Tallinu, the cub who appeared out of nowhere on my doorstep forty-odd years ago!"
"Do it for whatever reasons you like," she said, leaning back in the chair and closing her eyes, "just say you'll do it, then we can all get back to bed."
* * *
Rezac heard footsteps in the corridor outside. Turning his head, he saw Goran enter. "We've got a job on tonight, and I need your people to help," Goran said, taking his stim twig out of his mouth. "I'm taking the outdoor patrol with me, so your security will be down to the people inside the monastery until we get back."
"Job?" said Vartra, his brows meeting in a frown. "What job? My people are here to be protected, not risked in guerrilla fights."
"That Jaisa girl of yours. Got a message that her family's back and the Valtegans are doing a raid on their area tonight. We need to get in first and pull them out, but we need more people. I haven't enough, and there's no time to wait for another cell to arrive."
"It's nearly mealtime!" said Vartra.
"Better that way. Less to go wrong if you get hit on an empty stomach," said Rezac.
"What's going on?" demanded Zashou as she and Jaisa came in. "Wh..."
"Sit down and listen and you might find out," said Rezac.
With an angry glare at him, Zashou sat.
"Jaisa," said Goran, turning to the girl, "your folks have shown up back at home. There's a roundup scheduled for your village later tonight. We're the nearest unit. Idea is to go and get them before the Valtegans do. Can you draw us a plan of the area immediately around your house?"
Jaisa looked dazedly around the room as she lowered herself into a chair. "Yes, but..."
Goran reached in his pocket and pulled out a notepad and stylus and handed it to her. "You just do that drawing and leave the worrying to us."
"I'm coming," said Rezac, picking up the gun that lay on the small table beside him. Slipping it into his side holster, he folded away his cleaning kit.
Goran looked at him and nodded. "Glad to have you. Pity you're part of this program. I'd have you on my team any day."
"Count me in," said Tiernay. "I won't ask others to do something for my people that I'm not prepared to do myself."
"Shanka and I'll come," said Zashou, glaring at Rezac.
"You're not a fighter," said Rezac. "Don't come just to make an impression. You'll be more liability than help."
"Who elected you leader?" demanded Shanka. "And stop insulting my wife! We're coming, Goran."
"I'll need folk to stay with the van, give us covering fire if needed once we've got them. You can do that," said Goran, his eyes still on Rezac.
* * *
Two hours later, they were crouched against the hedges lining the street where Jaisa's family home stood. The night was bitterly cold: An icy wind gusted the scudding clouds across a jet-black sky. From behind them, the twin moons cast an intermittent, pallid glow. Though the snow had been cleared from the pedestrian paths, it still lay deep in the gardens and surrounding fields.
"I don't like this," Rezac muttered to Goran. "It feels wrong. Like a trap."
Goran nodded. "Can you sense any Valtegans?"
"Can't tell. I'm picking up the usual static, but too much to be able to make sense of it. It isn't what I'd expect so close to telepaths, though."
"Suppressed?"
"Could be. Jaisa, what d'you get?" He turned to the female behind him. "Don't try to reach them. If they've been collared, it could warn the Valtegans."
"It doesn't feel like them at all," she said, her nose creasing with concern as she mentally scanned the house opposite for the thought patterns of her family. "Are you sure they're here?"
"They were seen earlier today," confirmed Goran. "Come up here with me. I'll get us closer."
Rezac let her pass him. Then, as Goran and Jaisa moved nearer to the end of the lane, he and Lamas got ready to give covering fire if necessary.
While Lamas checked the hedge for any openings, Rezac began checking the houses opposite. His gentle probe brought him a contact and, without warning, he suddenly found himself sucked into the other's mind.
The Valtegan towered over them, energy rifle trained at their heads in case they made the slightest sound. Three more stood at the window, watching the street.
Shock catapulted him back to his own mind. Dazed, he reeled against Goran.
"What the hell... !" exclaimed the other, grabbing hold of him to prevent him crashing through the hedge.
"Trap," Rezac managed to gasp.
Even as he steadied Rezac, Goran issued the animal call that was their alarm signal. Jaisa sent to the others but it was too late; one of Tiernay's group had already vaulted into the garden alongside them. They'd disclosed their presence.
Across the street and beside them, doors were flung wide, the lights within briefly silhouetting the Valtegan soldiers as they rushed out.
"Over the hedge!" yelled Goran, diving into the bushes for cover as energy beams lanced through the night.
Adrenaline hit Rezac's system like a shock wave, and grabbing the nearest person, he flung her over the hedge then followed himself. He rolled as he landed. Leaping to his feet, he grabbed his companion, dragging her across the garden to the far side of the house. Vaulting the ornamental brick wall at the rear of the building, he ran, keeping his head low, till he reached Goran and deposited Jaisa at his feet.
"Lamas?"
A quick mental check of their group confirmed his fears. Rezac shook his head. "Didn't make it. Rest are fine." As he unslung his gun, he noted that Jaisa had managed to keep hold of hers.
"Tiernay?" demanded Goran as he began returning fire to the garden opposite.
"They're working around behind us," Rezac replied, waiting for a lull before standing up to send off a spray of bullets in the same direction. "Got one," he muttered, ducking down again as a reptilian scream rent the air and Valtegan fire increased.
Fragments of brick from the wall splattered down on them as a shot came too close for comfort. In front of them, sections of the hedge burst into flames, sending clouds of acrid smoke drifting across the road.
"All to our good," muttered Goran. "We need to even the odds a little. On my signal."
The barrage began to diminish as the Valtegans realized there was no return fire. Rezac could now sense a group of them to his right.
"Now!" said Goran, springing to his feet and sending a hail of bullets into the hedge opposite.
Rezac faced the other way, shooting across the junction, barely aware of Jaisa's dogged supporting fire. A few seconds' burst, and he ducked down again. Realizing she hadn't, he reached out and grabbed her leg.
Down!
More screams, none of them Sholan. Sharp, sibilant voices called to each other, then silence fell save for the sound of running feet. Rezac risked a look. Three Valtegans were heading for more substantial cover. He raised his gun, managing to clip one as the other two dived for shelter behind a low wall.
"This lot are as useless as the last," Goran said with satisfaction. "They can slaughter us from the safety of their aircars, but on the ground, they're worthless."
Coming up behind you,
sent Tiernay as the group he led cleared the back gate and began crawling through the snow on their bellies to join them.
What now?
"Tiernay," Rezac warned Goran verbally, as the other, hearing their movements, swung round, weapon pointed at them.
"The door's opening!" said Jaisa, beginning to stand up as she saw a pool of light from her parents' front door spill onto the pathway. The gun in her hand hung loosely by her side. "They're coming out!"
"Get down!" hissed Rezac, grabbing her by the arm and hauling her back beside him. She collapsed on her knees in the snow, the gun falling unnoticed from her grasp. Rezac grabbed it up and thrust it through his belt. She was in no fit state to be carrying a weapon now.
Into the night stumbled three Sholans, held firmly by their Valtegan captors.
"Stop shooting! Surrender, or we kill!" came the shout from the lead soldier. "No escape! We many." Though his Sholan words were mangled, his message was clear.
"I want that van fired up and ready to go," Goran said quietly. "Get the rest, especially Jaisa, down the lane to cover our escape. You stay with me."
Automatically Rezac reached for Tiernay, passing the message on. As he did, he quickly checked on Zashou. She was safe.
"Done," he said, peering through the brick latticework at the prisoners opposite them. He knew their options had just run out. "Jaisa, go back with the others."
"I'm staying," she said, her voice unsteady as she pushed herself up onto her haunches.
As the van's engine burst into life, Jaisa leaped to her feet. "You're leaving without them! If you won't save them, then I will!"
Rezac lunged after her, grabbing her by the belt to prevent her from clambering over the wall. She struggled, trying to pull free, but he held on. "Jaisa, stop it, damn you!" he hissed. "You'll get us all killed!"
"Get a grip on her, dammit," Goran snarled, glancing briefly at them.
Desperately she flailed at him with her fists, knocking his gun to the ground. With a growl of anger, he cuffed her hard enough to stun. Grasping her by the scruff, he bent to retrieve his weapon. She sprawled in the snow beside him, a crumpled, sobbing heap.
Goran caught his eye. He twitched first one ear, then the other, toward the hostages.
Standing up, Rezac hauled Jaisa with him. Pinning her against his side with his free arm, he flicked his gun onto single shots. He watched the hostages, waiting for a clear shot as Jaisa's young brother, kicking and yowling for all he was worth, tried to break free. For a moment, the tussle drew the attention of the other two soldiers.
As Rezac bought his gun up, Jaisa's mother looked directly at him. Their minds touched, then her eyes closed in quiet acceptance. He fired.
She fell instantly, the sudden weight of her body making her captor stagger. Goran's first shot reached the father at the same moment; his second missed the cub, hitting the guard instead as the Valtegan continued to twist and turn, trying to shake off the biting and clawing fury attached to his arm.