Authors: Lisanne Norman
* * *
As soon as he'd recovered enough to escape from Vanna's and Garras' home, Brynne had returned to his room at the Terran house on the estate. It seemed as if everyone with a vested interest in either the Humans, or the mixed Leska pairs, had been to visit him as soon as he was well enough to be questioned. From Clan Lord Aldatan down, they wanted either information on Derwent's teaching, or permission to do brain scans to find out for themselves what, if anything, was different.
He'd refused to cooperate out of embarrassment. He wanted to drop the whole issue. His experiences with Derwent when he fell ill had made him face what he'd really known all along. Derwent's gifts were minor in comparison to those of the Sholans; his knowledge was a self-acquired, crazy mixture of annexed traditions he considered useful from the many different Earth cultures. However, as far as he was concerned, the Sholans had nothing of value to teach him as his knowledge was the only truth. That had been why he'd refused to accept the reality of Brynne's Link with Vanna.
Brynne realized his own ignorance had contributed to Derwent's ability to convince him he was a great teacher. In that, Vanna had been right. It was time for him to face reality and catch up with his own long neglected studies. So here he was, at the Shrine, with Father Ghyan.
Ghyan's voice broke into his wandering thoughts. "One of my advanced students is taking the acolytes for their meditation this morning," he said, standing up. "Normally I don't go to these sessions until they're ready to sit their final tests. However, I'm finding it hard to concentrate today. A little meditation might help me focus. Would you like to accompany me?"
"A break would be good," Brynne agreed, stretching his arms and rotating his shoulders to free them of tightness. He hadn't realized how much writing was involved in learning to use his mental abilities.
As they walked down the corridor to the Shrine room, Ghyan began to tell him about the statue of Vartra and its dedication. He barely listened, managing to make appropriate responses when he felt one was expected of him.
"You're not really interested, are you?" Ghyan asked gently, touching him on the arm to insure that he had his attention. "Perhaps you've not allowed yourself enough time to recover from your illness."
"I'm sorry, Father Ghyan," he apologized. "I'm fine, just a little tired."
"It takes a while to build up your strength after a fever like that. I think we should find you something less demanding to do for a few days. The Litanies would be good as, in fact, would meditation. It's part of your course anyway. Leave it with me," he said, opening the door into the Shrine and waiting for Brynne to enter. "When we finish here, I'll get someone to accompany you to the training hall. Have a long, hot bath, and then go home and rest. Tomorrow's another day."
"I really am fine, Father," he tried to protest, but Ghyan cut him short.
"Half-day sessions are more than enough for this week, Brynne. There's no rush, you know. No one standing over you demanding you finish the course in a finite time. Here on the Valsgarth Estate, the teaching is tailored to the individual: It takes as long as it takes. Were you under pressure from your Mr. Derwent? I assure you that's not the case here."
Brynne eyed him carefully as they approached the braziers flanking the God. What was he up to? Was this just a more subtle approach to find out what Derwent had been doing?
"No, Brynne, it isn't," replied Ghyan, stopping to pick up a piece of incense to crumble over the flames. "I want to know only what you wish to freely tell me. Anything we discuss will stay within our Order."
Brynne grunted and picked up a piece of incense, copying what the priest had done. "Ross was like a man driven or possessed. He was never still, always on the go testing one or another of his theories. Yes, he pushed me. Said I was wasting time when I was with Vanna, or went to see our son."
"Someone like him, with no ties, no loved ones, would think like that," Ghyan murmured, approaching the God. He crossed his forearms over his chest, bowing in respect before passing the statue. He stopped, obviously waiting for Brynne.
As he made the same bow of respect to the statue before joining his teacher, Brynne remembered his visit to the Retreat with Derwent. He must go back there some day. On his own, though. He owed it to Guardian Dhaika.
Walking along the side of the curtain, Ghyan stopped and pulled back a section to reveal a door. He laughed as he opened it. "No, not some secret place, Brynne! Merely the storage for the prayer mats! Come, help me set them out. They're light enough that shifting them won't tire you unduly."
* * *
The last mat had just been laid as a group of ten younglings scampered into the hall, their plain black robes flapping around their bare feel. They ground to an ignominious halt as they saw who was there.
"Father Ghyan," the foremost one stammered. "We hadn't expected anyone."
Brynne watched Ghyan frown at the youths. "Running within the building is strictly forbidden, let alone within the Shrine! Have you no respect for the God? Dzio, I had expected better of you! Chya, have you learned nothing in your time with Rulla? You will both report to me when you finish your studies today! Now attend to your chores! The rest of you, snow clearing detail after lessons until it's too dark to see!"
The group dispersed to their various jobs, faces sullen, ears almost invisible. A couple of minutes later, Rulla arrived.
"Take a mat, Brynne," said Gyan. "The lesson will begin shortly."
Brynne watched him go over to the Brother and exchange a few, terse words with him before he returned. Rulla, meanwhile, began organizing those fetching the meditation lamp, oil, and incense from its cupboard.
Not knowing the words for the Litany of Preparation, Brynne couldn't join in, but he found the cadence soothing and relaxing. Under the watchful eye of Father Ghyan, he let himself go, let his mind gently join with those of the students. Without a senior telepath present, this would not normally happen, but since he was here now, Ghyan had decided to work them harder and stretch their abilities.
As instructed, Brynne focused his attention on the meditation lamp, watching the flame's gentle glow, letting it fill his vision. Ghyan was providing the instructions mentally, and gradually the glow grew and filled his mind till nothing else remained.
He felt light, as if his body were floating. Relaxing into it, he found an inner peace start to build. Images began to form, images of snow-covered hills. Trees, their green-needled branches coated with frost, swayed slightly in the wind that came down from the high lands above. High overhead, he heard the cry of a hunting bird and looked up, watching it soar against the sharp, blue sky. The throaty yowl of a catlike predator drew his eyes back to the land, and he scanned the tree line, looking for a movement against the carpet of white that covered everything.
As he watched, the wind changed direction and the snow began to melt, sliding from the trees to the ground below. Throughout the landscape, patches of green started to emerge, and beneath his feet he could now feel grass. Color flooded the land as flowers rose from the soil, opening their petals to the warmth of the sun. He could smell the spring.
Khuushoi's time will not last for long, then I will rule again.
It was the last thing he remembered, as with a start and a cry of fear, he found himself suddenly sprawled across his mat, his face pressed against the wooden floorboards.
* * *
Later, Ghyan called Father Lijou, who listened attentively to him.
"He's the second," said Lijou. "I think the Gods have decided we've been too complaisant. They are creating work for us, Ghyan."
"What should I do, Master Lijou?"
"Nothing. Continue with his training as if he were one of us. Report to me if this, or anything else unusual happens. It's possible it was just an isolated vision rather than a calling. He is a Human, after all. We need to be sure."
"If it is Ghyakulla, then she's showing her acceptance of the Humans among us."
"I'm sure She is. That may even be why She's spoken to him. They are a force in our lives, and on our worlds. We cannot ignore them, so why should She? Better to have them bound to Her than against her, especially with the likes of Derwent around."
"There's bad news concerning him," said Ghyan. "He managed to escape from the medical center and they haven't yet been able to locate him."
Lijou frowned. "When did that happen?"
"Yesterday."
"They haven't requested any of our personnel."
"They will," said Ghyan. "The memory of Fyak is too fresh for the authorities to allow another religious fanatic to run loose."
"Let's hope they find him before Khuushoi does the job for them. The weather here has been bitter. How is it with you?"
"The same. You'd hardly think that spring begins in a couple of weeks."
"That soon? Well, our calendar never did reflect the weather accurately. Keep me posted on this, Ghyan, but I wouldn't worry unduly."
* * *
Mara hung around the upper cavern of the dig, waiting for Josh. It was coming up to second meal, time for everyone to take a break. He'd been working with Bob and Meral, and as the three males came level with her, Josh stopped.
"Catch you over there," he said to the other two. He waited till they'd gone. "You shouldn't be here. Pam's on the warpath this morning."
"I've every right to be here," she said mildly. "It is my Clan's land, after all."
"It's not worth arguing over it with her, believe me. Look, I'm still in deep shit because of last time. I'd appreciate it if you didn't come here to see me."
"I'm actually here for a valid reason," she said. "I've come to ask you to share third meal with us. It's my thank you for coming to visit me when I was in the medical unit."
"It was the least I could do," he mumbled, looking away from her. "I wasn't exactly responsible, but I was involved."
"I really am sorry for what I did, Josh, but it would have been even worse to have gone on with..." she faltered, unsure what word to use.
He looked up, a slight smile on his face. "I understand, Mara. Hell, I'm not ready to be a father yet, so why should it be different for you? Look, are you all right? With your Leska, I mean? To put yourself through what you did, the suicide attempt and the pregnancy, just because of him, you must have a pretty terrible relationship."
"It hasn't been good," she admitted, stuffing her hands in the pockets of her long overcoat. "Zhyaf's a good person, just so reserved and staid. We get along a lot better now he's working in the capital."
"What's he doing?" Josh asked, slowly beginning to walk toward the upper level.
Mara fell in step beside him. "Government work. I'm sorry, I can't discuss it. I better not go any farther," she said, reaching out to stop him. "Don't want to get you into trouble. Will you come over tonight?" Anxiously she searched his face, hoping he'd accept. She gave a small laugh. "You know, if you were a Sholan male, I'd know exactly what to say and do, but..."
"If it makes it easier, why not pretend I am?" he said gently.
Frowning, she turned her head sideways in the Sholan gesture of embarrassed questioning. "You're serious," she said, beginning to smile as she picked up his tentative sending. "All right. I have cooked a meal for tonight and would like you to come and share it with me. I would like us to spend some time together— a lot of it, in fact." The words came out in a rush and she could feel her face turning crimson as she said them.
"I'd be delighted to come," he replied, taking hold of her hand. "And if your invitation means you'd like us to get to know each other better, I'd like that, too. There's something about you, Mara Ryan, a wildness in your soul, that appeals to me."
She felt his hand tighten on hers briefly as he moved closer, leaning forward to kiss her.
"And just what do you think you're doing?" demanded the sharp voice of Pam Southgate.
"Wonderful timing, hasn't she?" murmured Josh, his lips brushing hers before they separated.
"I made it quite clear that you were not to set foot in these excavations again, Mara Ryan. Leave immediately." She turned her back on the girl, letting her know in no uncertain terms that she considered the matter closed.
"As for you, I warned you last time what would happen if I had reason to speak to you again about fraternizing with the natives. Obviously that piece of trash is more important to you than our work here. Pack your bags, Mr. Lewis, you're on the first shuttle back to Shanagi!"
"Now just a minute," began Josh.
"Who are you calling a piece of trash?" demanded Mara, grabbing the woman by the arm and swinging her back to face her.
"Take your hand off me," Pam said angrily, shaking her arm free. "Now get off this site before I call one of the men to have you thrown off!"
"Excuse me," said a deep, feminine voice from behind them all. "Did I hear you making a specist remark about my fosterling?"
Mara turned round. "Ruth!"
"Don't be ridiculous!" Pam snapped. "I'm not a specist!"
Ruth smiled lazily. "I beg to disagree. Calling Mara a native and a piece of trash tells me exactly what you think of the Sholans."
"I beg your pardon, but I have a high regard for the Sholan people! And I don't care whether she's your fosterling or not, she's a piece of trash! She'd slept with just about every Sholan male here before she started on my team! That's trash in
my
book!"
Mara cringed back, moving out of the line of fire. "I did not! Josh is the only one!" As she did, she realized a small crowd had begun to gather round them. The fluting trill of Touiban voices caught her attention and moments later, they'd pushed their way into the center of the group and were milling round the four of them.
"You've upset the Touibans," Josh accused Pam.
"I've upset the Touibans?" Pam demanded, rounding on him. "If you hadn't encouraged this... person... to visit you, none of this would have happened!"
Mara tugged at Ruth's sleeve, ready to die with embarrassment. "Ruth, can we leave it? Please, let's just go."
"No, my pet. There's more at stake here than just you," Ruth said, patting Mara's hand reassuringly. "This is harassment and specism and I'm not standing for it."
One of the Touibans darted between them, his trill a high-pitched riff of sound as he reached up to pat Mara's face. The air became scented with a gentle perfume unlike any she'd smelled before. He turned then to Pam, grimacing and shaking his head, his voice now deep and staccato.
From behind and above her, a second voice answered, the Touiban notes sounding slightly mechanical and stilted in comparison to the fluidity of the first speaker's voice.
Pandemonium broke out, with excited Touibans darting from place to place. Mara closed her eyes, feeling suddenly nauseous. Strong hands grasped her, holding her upright.
"You're fine," Josh's voice said reassuringly in her ear. "It happens when you try to watch the Touibans move. Took us ages to get the knack of it. And don't worry about what Pam said, I know all I need to about your past."
The voices had moved, their focus now just behind her. Cautiously she opened her eyes again.
"What happened?"
"Carrie and Kusac are here," he said. "They've got Kashini with them. I don't think the Touibans have ever seen a Sholan cub before, judging by their reactions."
Their rapid movements had stopped and now they stood rooted to the spot, pointing at the cub in wonder. She was equally taken with them, emitting small mewls of pleasure as she reached out toward them and their glittering jewelry with eager hands.
One valiant soul gingerly extended his hand. It was grasped and immediately hauled toward the cub's mouth.
"Not a good idea," said Carrie, shaking her head in a negative as she reached forward quickly to stop her daughter. "Sharp teeth."
"All tiny ones have sharp teeth with which they try their mothers' tempers. It is a fact of life with which we parents have to exist. She is so like her father, yet she is also like you, truly a harmonious blending of both your people."
"Thank you, Speaker. You honor us," said Kusac. "Would you excuse me while I see what is troubling my people?"
"Ah, it is the thin, angry female again, she who knows no gentleness of nature. She says disparaging things about your people and mine, and causes upset. She tries to exclude the fine young Human male from this diggings where his help is most useful and his presence near us a pleasure. Why do you let her remain? For harmoniousness to be achieved it is necessary to tune voices till the harsh notes are gone. She is such a harsh note, and it were better she went than any other Humans."
Kusac looked from the Touiban Speaker to Pam, then back. "Is that a request, Speaker?"
The Speaker hesitated and turned his face to Mara and Josh. "Yes."
Mara could feel Kusac's surprise. For a Touiban to limit himself to one short word was unheard of. They'd not only followed what had been said, but had interfered and taken her side against the head of this team. She could hardly believe what was happening.
Before she had time for that to sink in, she heard another trill of sound, then she and Josh were surrounded by eleven Touibans and being escorted toward the far end of the chamber. As they left, she heard Kusac say, "I will see what I can do, Speaker. Thank you for supporting my people."
Hands gripped the edges of her coat, gently tugging her and Josh forward until they had reached the refectory tables. Their trills blended, forming a gentle melody of sound that was accompanied by the same, strange scent. Then the glittering, brightly colored folk were gone, their bodies interweaving with each other as if performing some exotic dance as they made their way back to rejoin their Speaker.
Handing Kashini to Carrie, Kusac remained talking to Ruth and Pam while the mother and cub came over to join them.
"I've got to hand it to you, Mara," said Carrie, sitting down beside them, "I've never known the Touibans do that before, neither has Kusac! They've certainly taken a fancy to you. Josh, you've made an impression on them, too, and they don't impress easily!"
"I don't know how," he murmured. "I haven't had much to do with them. Mostly I just get on with my work."
"They value dedication to the job in hand, in case you hadn't noticed. I take it they broke up an unpleasant scene."
"She'd just ordered me off the site, and fired Josh," said Mara. "Can she do that? Can she send him back to Shanagi?"
"No, she can't. She doesn't have the power to do that," Carrie reassured her, turning Kashini so she could sit her daughter more comfortably on her lap. She looked from one to the other and smiled. "I take it you've patched up your differences?"
"You could say that," said Josh with a slow grin, moving his hand across the table to take Mara's. "Despite Pam's inopportune arrival."
Mara felt her heart leap as his hand squeezed hers comfortingly.
"I'm pleased for you. I suggest you forget about Pam Southgate. Kusac intends to have her returned to Shanagi. I'm sure we won't have a problem, considering the Speaker has officially requested it. Greg's next in command, isn't he? Will he cope? Has he led a team before? If we can avoid bringing in someone new, we'd prefer it."
"Greg can cope," said Josh confidently. "He'd have been team leader had it not been for Pam pulling strings to get the post."
"Hi, kids," said Ruth, settling herself into the seat opposite them. "All settled. She'll not bother you again." She held her arms out across the table for Kashini. "Do I get a cuddle, then, young lady?"
"She'll either sleep like a log or keep the whole house awake tonight," said Carrie ruefully, lifting her daughter up and trying to pass her across the table to Ruth.
Kashini had ideas of her own. As soon as she felt the table top beneath her feet, she scrabbled for a purchase, twisting and turning till her weight meant that Carrie had to rest her on the surface. That was it. With a bound she flung herself at Ruth, knocking the breath out of her as she landed, arms and legs splayed, claws out, against her chest.
It was difficult to tell who yowled louder. Ruth from the insertion of twenty small needle-sharp claws or Kashini at the shock of Ruth's reaction. Nonetheless, Ruth grabbed the squirming bundle firmly.
"You are a handful, madam," she admonished, disengaging the claws and arranging the cub's weight to make them both comfortable. "Thank God my Mandy was nowhere near this big— or active— at two months! Sholan females have my sympathy!"
Rulla appeared at her side, his hand going to touch her shoulder. "Clan Leader," he said, flicking an ear in deference to Carrie. "Is everything all right?" he asked Ruth. "I heard you from the other side of the cavern." His eye ridges were creased with concern.
"I'm fine," she said, gently bouncing Kashini up and down on her lap. "It was this little rascal here. She launched herself at me and drew blood when she landed! It takes a strong woman to handle you Sholans, Rulla," she said, looking up at him. "All teeth and claws, you are."
Wide-eyed with embarrassment, Rulla glanced at Carrie, begging silently for help, and tried to ignore Mara and Josh's grins. "We have our gentler side, too, Ruth," he mumbled. "You know that."
"I suppose you have your moments," she said, wagging a finger in front of Kashini for the cub to catch.
He leaned down till his head was level with hers, his hand stealing round her shoulder till it began to caress her neck. "Ruth, Dzinea, you'll have them thinking I treat you like one of those scratching posts you talk of," he said, trying to keep his voice low. "You know that isn't so!"
Mara suddenly discovered a need to cough and found herself being thumped on the back by a grinning Carrie.
Nice to see him less than his usual pompous self, isn't it? Ruth winds him round her finger beautifully!
sent Carrie.
It's even better at home,
Mara replied, gesturing to show Carrie she was fine.
Josh had turned to look at Kusac and Pam and had missed the byplay. "Is it that easy? He can send her away just like that?"
Mara looked round, too. Kusac had called Dzaka over, and Pam was now being firmly escorted toward the tunnel down to the lower level.
"Not quite, but his father will support his decision," said Carrie. "We can't afford to have prejudice here. We're working to help people like yourself who are trying to come to terms with the fact they they've just acquired a Leska from another species. It's hard enough for them to deal with their own emotions and fears without having to cope with the Pam Southgates of the world. I'm just glad we were here when it happened."
"What if you hadn't been?" The words were out before Mara could stop them.
"Garras would have been informed and the matter put on hold till I'd returned in the evening. And I'd have made exactly the same decision. This is our home, Mara, and Josh's, before it's anything else."
"Mine?" asked Josh.
"Yours, too," she confirmed, rescuing the spoon that Kashini had picked up from the table. "You know your test was positive. That makes you one of us, and a member of our Clan— if that's what you want. The choice is yours. If you decide to join us, then nothing and no one but Kusac has the power to make you leave here."
"So when the team pulls out, I can stay?"
"We can demand that you stay," she grinned. "Not even the Terran Ambassador could order you to leave if you chose not to. It goes with being a member of our En'Shalla Clan. However, we would ask you to start training your Talent so as to give the claim some basis in fact. It could help you in your work anyway. When I pick up items, I sometimes have a feel for their previous owners, who they were and what they used the item for, that kind of thing. It should strengthen those intuitive hunches of yours."