fortuneswheel (53 page)

* * *

Despite her broken night's sleep, Carrie woke at the same time as Kusac. Seeing a square of white lying at the foot of the door, she got up to investigate. It was a note. She read it, then put it down on the dresser.
"What does it say?" asked Kusac.
"Don't you mean, who's it from?" she teased.
"It could only come from Taizia," he grinned. "Has she come up with something? She's usually very good at dreaming up involved plots to get her own way."
"It just says that she wants me to meet her in her room at the fifth hour, when Rala arrives."
"I've half a mind to leave now," growled Kusac, his grin fading.
"You'd only be using half a mind if you did," she responded tartly, picking up her clothes and starting to dress. "We need the time this meeting will give us."
He grunted, unconvinced. "Last night I asked for breakfast to be sent up to us. I can't face another meal with my father."
"Thank God for that," sighed Carrie.
Kusac rose and went through to the small lounge, checking the comm unit in the desk for any messages. Carrie followed him, going across to the doorway that opened out onto the central balcony. She leaned on the balustrade, looking down into the courtyard below. The sound of water rushing over the small artificial waterfall filled the air. It was restful even to her raw nerves.
She returned to the lounge as Kusac, now dressed, reemerged from the bedroom.
"Are all the rooms like this, with no doors?"
Kusac gave her a baffled look.
She pointed to the lounge doorway. "It opens straight onto the balcony, and the bedroom's the same."
Kusac grinned. "I left the doors open last night because it was so warm. During the day, you'd cook in these rooms if it wasn't for the current of air going through them. There is air-conditioning, but I had enough of that on the
Khalossa."
"So where are the doors then?"
"On the left-hand side, concealed in the carving around the doorway, you'll see the switch mechanism. Do you like the rooms?" he asked. "When Mother heard you'd admired the paintings in the courtyard, she put us in here. Apart from their suite, these have the best paintings in the house."
Where the walls were bare of furniture, they had been decorated with a frieze of wild animals making their way toward a seated female dressed in green. Clustered round her feet and hands were those creatures which had already reached her.
Perched on her lap was a small, furred animal the painter had caught so well that Carrie held her breath, waiting for it to move. A fine, bushy tail, fully as long as its body, lay across the female's knee. The lithe body was standing balanced on its back legs, paws reaching up toward her face. Bright eyes sparkled against the almost white fur.
Carrie went over to the wall, gently touching the vibrantly colored birds and animals. "I saw it last night," she said, "but daylight brings the colors alive. Who is she?"
"She's the Green Goddess," he said, coming over to join her, "the Mother of our world. She looks after the creatures of nature, and our cubs."
Tracing the outline of the ears and head of the animal on the Goddess's lap, Carrie turned to look at him. "I'm just waiting for her to turn and speak to me," she said. "The artist who painted them has a rare talent. Who is he?"
"She, actually. She's a member of our Clan who belongs to the Guild of Artisans. She works from the estate. Her paintings are very popular and usually command a high fee."
"No wonder," said Carrie.
"The little creature on her lap is a jegget, by the way," he said. "It's the only other truly telepathic species on our world."
"Apart from me," she said.
"Apart from you."
A noise from the doorway drew their attention. An attendant with a breakfast tray stood there casting dubious looks at T'Chebbi who stood beside him.
"Your breakfast, Liegen," their guard said. "I checked him out, he's a member of your mother's household."
"Um. Thank you, T'Chebbi," said Kusac, at a loss to know quite what to say. "Have you eaten?"
"Three hours ago, Liegen, before I came on duty."
"Was there someone outside our room all night?" asked Carrie.
T'Chebbi looked offended. "Naturally, Liegena. Kaid was on duty. He will go with you today, Liegena, and I will remain here with you, Liegen."
"Of course," said Kusac. "Thank you. You can bring in our breakfast now," he said to the attendant as T'Chebbi stepped back out of sight.
Carrie sniffed the air, then followed the tray to its destination on the lounge table. The attendant put it down and hurriedly disappeared, glad to leave the proximity of their guard.
Two jugs sat on the tray amidst the bread and sliced meats. Sniffing again, Carrie lifted the lid of the larger jug.
"Coffee! I thought I smelled it! There's a note here for you," she said, passing it over to him before pouring out two mugs of the steaming drink.
Kusac read it and put it down on the table. "A peace offering from my father."
"Does it actually say it's a peace offering?"
"No, but..."
"Then we can drink it," she said, taking a large mouthful. "Come and get some breakfast before I eat it all." She picked up a chunk of newly baked bread and a knife. "Did you grow up here?" she asked, spreading the dressing on it.
"Yes and no," he replied, piling several slices of meat on his plate. "I went to the guild as a day student until I was sixteen, then the more intensive work began and I had to live in." He looked over at Carrie with narrowed eyes, the merest slit of black showing in the amber.
"As homes go, I wasn't here much, despite the fact that I was fairly close to my parents. Neither of us have really had much of a home life, have we?"
"Was your mother's an arranged marriage?" she asked, changing the subject as she sat down.
"They all are in our family. Not out there amongst the Clan," he said, waving an arm in the direction of the bedroom. "They're free to choose, but in here, it's different."
"Tell me about Rala." She felt his surprise and gave a small laugh. "Know the enemy," she said. She couldn't keep the touch of bitterness out of her voice though she knew it distressed him.
He flicked an ear, dipping his head to one side. "What's to tell? She's a couple of years younger than me, brought up by her father and spoiled to the point where if she doesn't get what she wants, she throws tantrums. I dislike her intensely. She isn't Talented, but her bloodlines match well with mine. They— both families-expect to strengthen our telepathic gift until it breeds true for every child in every generation."
"I thought both your sisters were Talented."
"They are, but last generation, my mother's, of four children only she was a telepath. She was one of her generation's candidates for the position my father was finally awarded, Lord of the Clans. She has one of the most powerful Talents around, almost the equal of my father."
"Until now," said Carrie sardonically, helping herself to more meat.
Kusac frowned, then picked up her thought. "The gestalt? Yes, it's far more powerful, but to what end? So far it has initiated some minor body changes in us, and made you briefly appear Sholan. That isn't exactly useful."
"Oh, ye of little faith," she said grinning at him. "I'm sure there will be a use for it yet. Wait and see."

* * *

As the fifth hour approached, Kusac became more and more withdrawn. He was only too acutely aware of Carrie's fear that somehow this meeting could make him change his mind about Rala.
"Believe me, it's not what I want," he said, holding her close before she left for Taizia's room. As she returned the hug and pressed her face against his, he winced.
"What is it?" she asked anxiously, letting him go.
He touched his cheekbone gently with a forefinger. "I think one of your fists made contact there last night," he said ruefully.
"Serves you right," she said unsympathetically.

* * *

Taizia was waiting for her. She gave Carrie a shrewd look. "I don't need any talent to know you want to see Rala," she said, taking her by the hand and leading her over to the doorway.
Like theirs, her room had a balcony, but a much narrower one that overlooked the gardens at the back of the house. Below they could see Kusac's parents lounging under the shade of the tree where they'd sat the day before. Beyond them a path led to the less formal area of garden, screened from the house by trees and bushes.
"He'll probably take her over there," said Taizia, pointing to the path. "Whatever he says, he won't want our parents overhearing him. Sit down on the floor and keep your head back or they'll see us," she advised, demonstrating.
"Won't they sense us?"
Taizia shook her head. "No. They'll be shielding themselves from casual contacts. Most people do."
Within a few minutes, Kusac's parents were joined by a female elaborately dressed in a long, embroidered robe of blue and gold that contrasted prettily with her pale gray fur. At each step, the panels of the robe separated to show a brief glimpse of her legs. She was accompanied by a taller male dressed in dark blue edged with the Telepath Guild purple.
There was an ease and a proprietary air about her attitude as she graciously accepted Konis' and Rhyasha's greeting before she settled down in one of the chairs.
"Typical," said Taizia with a low growl. "Overdressed as usual. That's her brother with her. He's quite nice."
Carrie leaned forward, trying to assess every detail of the female's appearance, but right now she knew her judgment was flawed. She turned to Taizia, annoyed at her inability to be objective.
"Is she attractive, young, what? Tell me," she demanded.
Taizia raised her eye ridges, making her eyes appear even larger. "You really have got it as bad as Kusac, haven't you?" she said with a chuckle. Instinctively she put her hand on Carrie's arm.
"She's reasonably pretty, about two years younger than Kusac, and can turn on the charm when she wishes. It doesn't fool a telepath, though. All that is only as deep as her fur, and no one knows it better than Kusac."
Carrie glanced down again. Kusac had joined them by now, and she watched him greet Rala with stiff formality. He hadn't dressed for the occasion, she noticed with a sharp pleasure. He was still wearing yesterday's olive-colored short tabard. The terminals at the ends of his torc gleamed against the short fur at his throat.
"And Kusac?" she asked. "How does he compare with other males?"
Taizia laughed, pulling her to her feet and away from the doorway. "You ask me that when you've been on the
Khalossa
with all those hundreds of males? He'd have broken many hearts if he'd shown an interest in females at the guild. Come to think of it," she said, shutting the door behind her, "he broke several because of his lack of interest."
"How can he prefer me to someone like her, his own kind, who can give
him
all the things I can't?" she asked, stopping dead. "I don't understand it."
"Why did you turn your back on the Terrans for my brother?" countered Taizia. "What did he have that they lacked?"
"I knew him, really knew him, inside and out," Carrie faltered. "And he's different," she said defensively.
Taizia gave a bark of laughter, pulling her forward again. "He is definitely different from your Terrans! And you are just as different for him. Come on, Meral and Kaid are waiting for us at the aircar."
"Where are we going?" she asked, as Taizia led her downstairs and out a side entrance to where the family aircars were garaged.
"Somewhere we won't be bothered." said Taizia firmly, pushing her toward the waiting vehicle.
As soon as they sat down, Meral closed the hatch and took off, heading toward the coast.
"I'm making for a little cove where we'll be undisturbed," he said, turning to grin at them.
"And what would you be needing an isolated cove for?" asked Taizia archly.
"Come with me tomorrow when I'm off duty and I'll show you," he said persuasively.
"I might, if I have time," she said, grinning back. "First we have business to attend to. Where did you put that bag?"
"Over there, in the back," he said, indicating the direction with a backward jerk of an ear.
"Come with me, Carrie," said Taizia, getting up and heading between the seats to the rear.
"What's going on?" demanded Kaid suspiciously.
"You'll find out when I've told Carrie," she replied, crouching down beside the bag and unfastening it. From its depths she pulled out a book. "This was the only solution Mother and I could come up with, if you're prepared to try it," she said, leafing through the pages until she came to the place she wanted.
"This book contains a history of our family," she said quietly, "and the item we want happened about two hundred years ago. This is why it was declared unlawful to Challenge a telepath." She passed the open book to Carrie. "Here, read it for yourself."
Carrie scanned the page, going back to read it more carefully. At length she looked up at Taizia. "As far as I can see, you're suggesting that as Kusac's Leska, I can Challenge Rala for the right to marry him."
Taizia nodded. "Before you say anything, Rala isn't a telepath, and there's no law that says a telepath can't issue a Challenge."
"Liegena, the whole idea is dangerous in the extreme," said Kaid. "Have nothing to do with it."
Carrie took a deep breath, ignoring Kaid. "A couple of points, Taizia. I saw Kusac Challenged by Guynor. I can't fight like that, I haven't got the claws or the strength to do it," she said. "Second, your ancestor died. I've no intention of risking our lives."
"You don't need claws, it isn't like the males' Challenges; it's a ritual one, so you use weapons. A special long knife and a small round shield. And it's only to first blood, not to the death."
"Then how did Kadulah die?"
"She was accidentally killed by her opponent. Khadulah, being a telepath, had never learned to fight. Her opponent, on the other hand, had. A blow that would only have taken first blood became a death blow when Khadulah panicked and turned onto the blade. Female's Challenges are fought by Champions now. Warriors like Meral will fight for their family or their lover if they issue a Challenge," Taizia explained. "This Challenge," she tapped the page, "has to be fought by the two interested parties, so it does carry a small element of risk. It's an En'Shalla Challenge, meaning the outcome is in the hands of the Gods."
"Carrie," said Kaid insistently, moving to sit at the back of the craft with them, "Kusac will have all our hides when he finds out. Leave it to the Gods to work this problem through in their own way, don't take this dangerous path."
Carrie was aware of his fear, the first emotion she had ever picked up from his usually still mind. "The Gods help those who help themselves, Kaid," she said quietly. "Who's to say that this Challenge isn't their way of helping us?" She closed the book and handed it back to Taizia. "Is the result of the Challenge legally binding?"
"Oh, yes," said Taizia, shocked. "If you win, Rala's contract with Kusac is instantly nullified. Rala can't pursue the matter any further. Her family wouldn't let her, even if she wanted to."
Carrie sat thinking for a moment. "What happens if I lose?"
"You're no worse off, but you won't lose, because Meral, and hopefully Kaid, are going to train you," she said triumphantly. "I knew you'd do it! It is the only way," she said, serious for a moment. "Mother agrees with me. That contract is watertight, and nothing would make Father break it. You win this Challenge, and you've broken it yourself. Kusac will be free to life-bond with you."
"I don't know if I'm good enough," Carrie said. "What's Rala like as a fighter?"
"Middling. Meral checked through the Guild," said Taizia. "All non-telepath females learn some form of self-defense, and traditionally the Clan families learn sword skills. You'll be able to beat her easily by the time we've finished with you."
"This is utter madness," said Kaid, grasping Carrie's arm. "You've no business lending yourself to this folly, Meral. Liegena, you must have nothing to do with this mad idea."
"The decision isn't yours to make, Kaid," said Carrie, shaking her arm free. "I hope to God you're right, Taizia," she said, "because it looks like the only chance we've got. Kaid, either you help train me so I can win this Challenge, or you don't. Either way I'm Challenging Rala."
"You give me a hell of a choice," said Kaid angrily. "Either way I could be responsible for your death!"
"I've got no choice, why should you?" she said. "This isn't a problem Kusac can solve, nor anyone else, only me! I'm not one of your spineless lowland females from Kysubi, I'll damned well fight for what's mine!"
Despite himself, Kaid had to grin. "No, you're not one of the lowlanders," he said. "My job is to keep you safe, and if that entails teaching you how to defeat Rala in a Challenge, so be it."