Dark Nadir Read online

  “Why should we tell you?” demanded Kate. “You’re one of them, a U’Churian.”

  Kaid glanced at T’Chebbi who raised a sardonic eye ridge in reply.

  “I haven’t told them,” she said, reverting to lowland Sholan like Kaid.

  We’re Sholan, he sent to the girl and her Leska. Posing as U’Churians. We were sent to rescue you.

  Taynar hissed his disbelief as Kaid joined them at the dining table. “Telepaths can’t fight.”

  “He’s your bond-brother,” snapped T’Chebbi. “Show a Clan elder proper respect!”

  “My bond-brother?” Taynar was startled into sitting up. “How? My sister died years ago!”

  “So your father would have you believe,” said Kaid. “Khemu died only a few months ago, bonded to me. Our son lives on the Valsgarth estate. Like us, he’s a member of the En’Shalla Aldatan Clan now.”

  “Your son? But how . . .”

  “The Chemerians wanted a mixed Leska pair for themselves,” interrupted Kate. “Taira said he’d met Carrie and Kusac on the Khalossa.”

  Kaid nodded. As he’d thought. Ambassador Taira had shown an unhealthy interest in his Triad partners while on board the Khalossa. Opportunity had presented itself, and Taira was not one to let it slip by. “How did Tirak get involved?” He watched the female’s jaw tighten as she lifted her chin defiantly.

  “I made him,” she said shortly, gray eyes flashing. “We thought they were Sholans at first.”

  He raised his eye ridges in respect. “No wonder they were so wary of telepaths. I presume you gave them their mental blocks.”

  “I was as much to blame as Kate,” interrupted Taynar sullenly. “He promised to return us to Shola. I thought it a fair price.”

  Kaid ignored the challenge in the youth’s voice. Faced with few alternatives, they’d had little option but to agree to Tirak’s demand. “No one is faulting you,” he said. “You handled a difficult situation very well.” He turned his attention to the other side of the room where Rezac sat. This was his first real opportunity to meet the male, who, despite being half his age, was his father.

  They weren’t that alike, he thought, surveying the younger male. How could Jaisa have seen a resemblance? There were superficial similarities, true, but they were just that. They both had the distinctive broader and lower set ears of the highland Clans, and the brown pelt, but. . . .

  “Are you related?” asked Jo suddenly, looking from one to the other. “You look very alike.”

  “Hardly,” snapped Rezac. “I’m from his far past! Fifteen hundred years ago to be exact.”

  Kaid could feel T’Chebbi’s gaze burning into him as she waited for his answer. “Highland Clans always tended to breed among their own. It’s a possibility,” he said, trying to avoid her scathing look. He touched the edges of Rezac’s mind with his, instantly aware of the link between him and Jo. “You’ve formed a Triad,” he said, surprised, glancing back at the dark-haired Human female.

  Jo flushed and looked away.

  “You know about these links?” Rezac’s antagonism was quiet for now in his desire to learn more.

  “We have two mixed Leska Triads back on the estate.”

  “That’s why you can fight,” said Taynar. “I knew telepaths with a Human Leska were able to fight, but I hadn’t realized it affected the Triads as well.”

  He was getting drawn in deeper than he wanted here, but there was no point in dodging the issue. A simple answer would do for now. “That’s so,” he admitted.

  “With Carrie and Kusac?” asked Jo, concern in her voice. “How awful for you. You must be feeling pretty bad right now with both of them in cryo.”

  “What are these Triads?” demanded Rezac impatiently. “What causes them?”

  “The bonds began forming after the Cataclysm for a mixture of reasons. For the better protection of small breeding groups of Talented, and because of Vartra’s work with genetics. You and Zashou were one of the original enhanced Leska pairs, so it’s not surprising you should form a Triad once you’d been exposed to Vartra’s modern virus.”

  “Our Link is the result of Vartra’s work?” asked Jo.

  “Not the original work Rezac was involved with,” said Kaid. “It’s due to his genetic manipulations after you were taken by the Valtegans.”

  “You know, your talk is full of wrong-spoors,” said Rezac, an edge of ice in his voice. “You might fool your own people with all this speculation about what Vartra did, but I lived then. I knew him! How could he possibly have done anything that would link Human and Sholan DNA?”

  A small, purring chuckle from Taynar broke the tension.

  “I’ve just realized what it was about you that seemed familiar,” the youth said to Kaid. “You’re the Triad that went back to the times of Vartra, aren’t you? You met with the God. That’s why you’re En’Shalla.”

  Rezac laughed out loud at this, but there was no humor in his laughter. “You expect me to believe that? Just because this isn’t my time doesn’t make me an idiot!”

  Abruptly, Kaid got to his feet. He’d heard enough. There might be a blood tie between him and Rezac, but that was all. This male was as unlike him as anyone could be. What could he possibly have in common with this arrogant and undisciplined young male who had fathered him so very long ago?

  “I was able to tell Vartra that you and Zashou were safe and alive in our time,” he said. “Zylisha was worried for her sister. The news put her mind at rest. You might tell Zashou that when you see her next. And that Vartra and her sister life-bonded.” He turned aside from the Sholan to look at the Human beside him. “Jo, I have to join Captain Tirak now. I’ll debrief you on your mission after I’ve spoken to him. You’re in charge till I return.” He gestured to T’Chebbi to join him as he began to walk toward the door.

  A chair scraped on the floor. “I want to know what’s going on, too,” said Rezac, the belligerence back in full measure.

  “You’ll remain here till I return,” Kaid said unequivocally, coming to a stop and turning to look at him. “The situation with Tirak is delicate and requires a knowledge of current Alliance politics.”

  “I know a hell of a lot more about the Valtegans than you do!”

  “That’s of no consequence at the moment. Your information is fifteen hundred years out of date, Rezac, and has nothing to do with this. Stay here with the other civilians.”

  “Don’t order me about! I’ve as much right to be involved as you,” the young male snarled, tail lashing from side to side as he unconsciously lowered his body into a crouch.

  T’Chebbi’s hand closed briefly on Kaid’s wrist. “I’ll stay,” she said quietly.

  Kaid flicked an ear in reluctant agreement. “Sit down, Rezac,” he ordered. “You want my credentials? I’m in charge of this mission, and cleared by Sholan High Command for First Contact negotiations. You’re just another civilian as far as I’m concerned. T’Chebbi will stay with you.” He stalked over to the door, slapping his hand on the air lock mechanism. When it opened, he strode out into the corridor where Manesh, Tirak’s security officer, stood waiting for him.

  * * *

  T’Chebbi moved smoothly to block the door as it closed. “Suggest you relax, make some drinks, experiment with food, and get to know each other,” she said to the small group. “Ship not big, these quarters even smaller. Will take us two weeks to reach rendezvous. Better if we get on with each other.”

  “And just who the hell are you to be taking over?” demanded Rezac, striding over to confront her.

  “Sister T’Chebbi of the Brotherhood of Vartra, member of the En’Shalla Aldatan Clan,” she replied, keeping her tone even.

  “A priestess,” he sneered. “You think you can stop me? Go ahead and use the gun, then!”

  “Rezac,” said Jo warningly as he moved to push T’Chebbi aside. “That’s not a good idea. I told you things are different now. The Brotherhood is a Warrior elite, not just a religious Order. They’re specialist fighters
. Kaid and T’Chebbi are Carrie’s and Kusac’s bodyguards. Friends. We can trust them. They came to rescue us, didn’t they?”

  T’Chebbi watched him hesitate. “Art of warrior is to know when to fight,” she said quietly. “And whom. Not now, on alien vessel, with injured comrades. Are you a warrior, or just a fighter?”

  * * *

  As Kaid settled himself in the chair indicated, he watched Tirak pull the tab on the container he was holding.

  “A hot drink,” Tirak said, offering it to him. “The one your colleague Carrie enjoyed in the inn. Didn’t think you’d want a fermented one yet.”

  Kaid accepted it, tasting the beverage cautiously. Not too bad—a bit sweet for his taste, but drinkable, and certainly preferable to alcohol. Right now he needed the energy the sweetener in it would give him. He waited, sipping the drink, knowing Tirak’s first questions would tell him how much he knew, or had guessed, about them.

  “So, what species do the two hairless females belong to? Human or Solnian?” the U’Churian asked after a moment or two. “And are your species dependent on each other? Do you come from the same world?”

  “They’re Humans. Tell me, Captain, why is a military ship and its crew posing as traders in this sector?”

  Tirak feigned surprise. “Posing? You have us wrong, Kaid. I’ll admit our craft is a decommissioned military one, but we are just what we seem, traders.”

  Kaid shrugged, a very U’Churian gesture, and putting his drink down, got to his feet. “Thank you for your hospitality, Captain Tirak, but I think I should check in again on the Sholan female in your sick bay,” he said. “She was asleep when I was last there.”

  “You can’t push me aside like that!” exclaimed Tirak, ears flicking forward. “I put myself and my crew on the line for you—Nayash was injured in the fight at the spaceport! I let your people come on board, fetch medical supplies for the injured females, let another of them join us—I deserve answers, dammit! I want to know what’s going on!”

  Schooling his face into a look he knew the other would interpret as one of surprise and confusion, Kaid hesitated. “Going on? I know as much about what happened planet-side as you do, Captain Tirak. My people were caught up with yours when Bradogan attacked us.”

  Tirak’s face froze. “Don’t take me for a fool, Kaid. You came here with members of two unknown alien species on a rescue mission. Kusac may look like us, but he’s no U’Churian—his link to the Human female proves he’s as Sholan as Taynar! Then there are the others in your little group! And I have severe doubts about which species you belong to, especially since you admitted to being his brother! Do I have to go on?”

  “All you need to know is that we must rendezvous with an alien vessel at the Chemerian home world.”

  “Alien to whom? Us? Or you Sholans? Don’t try my patience or you might find my hospitality is suddenly withdrawn,” Tirak snarled, baring his teeth. “Your position is far from strong. You have perhaps one able-bodied companion, the rest are civilians suffering from malnutrition and exhaustion.”

  “Don’t threaten me,” said Kaid quietly. “I could take the information I want straight from your mind, despite the primitive blocks the younglings gave you. Instead, I do you the courtesy of asking.”

  Tirak’s low rumble of anger began to build. With an obvious effort, he remained seated as the mane of black hair rose around his face.

  “Brawling like troopers is hardly appropriate for people of our rank,” Kaid said, his voice now deathly quiet. “First Contact is better left to the diplomats of the Rhijissoh when they reach Jalna, it’s too delicate a matter to be argued over with mere traders.” He turned and walked toward the door.

  “Wait!” The growl was gone from Tirak’s voice and his hair had begun to settle around his shoulders again. “You say a ship goes to Jalna to make First Contact?”

  “It’s not your concern, Captain,” said Kaid, keeping his back to the U’Churian as he rested his hand against the bulkhead. “By your own admission, you are, after all, only a trader.” He afforded him a glance over his shoulder.

  “How do I know this isn’t another lie?”

  Again Kaid shrugged. “Confirmation will be waiting at our rendezvous.”

  Tirak’s snarl almost drowned his words. “May Kathan himself damn you! Drugs! That’s why we’re here! Because of an illegal drugs trade!”

  Kaid had to widen his ears to catch the words within the snarled reply. He took a couple of paces back toward the desk and waited.

  “Drugs that turn the users psychotic and violent for days after they’ve used them—drugs that only started appearing a few years ago.”

  Kaid returned to his chair. “And you think the Chemerians are involved.”

  “Some,” admitted Tirak. The knuckles on the hand that held his drink showed white through his pelt and the can had begun to buckle slightly. This was his only outward sign of anger now. “Your turn. Why were your people on Jalna?”

  Kaid regarded him thoughtfully. What to tell him? His Triad was empowered to commence Contact negotiations if it proved necessary, so perhaps the truth was best. “Two Valtegan shuttles landed here several months ago. One crashed outside the port after dropping off an object, the other landed to sell four Sholans in exchange for supplies and spares. We sent a team, consisting of three Humans, to locate the crashed vehicle and discover what it had left behind. They went missing. Our mission was to rescue not only them, but the original four Sholans.”

  “The Valtegans.” Tirak sat back in his chair. “What’s your quarrel with them?”

  “All life on two colony worlds wiped out,” said Kaid grimly. “Millions of Sholans dead. We don’t know why, we don’t know how, and worst of all, we don’t know where they come from. We didn’t even know they existed until then.”

  “Kate and Taynar said as much,” murmured Tirak. “We didn’t place much credence on it, though. Seems we were wrong.”

  “With a weapon like that, they’re a threat to all species. That’s why we were following up on the crashed vessel—in the hope we’d find something to give us a clue about where their home world is. They subjugated Keiss, the world the Humans had colonized, without destroying them, and used them as slaves, but the Valtegans we captured there died rather than communicate with us. They were ferocious warriors. It was literally kill or be killed with them. We destroyed them all, save for one ship.”

  “The one that came to Jalna.”

  Kaid inclined his head in an affirmative gesture. “We knew nothing about Jalna—or about the species who trade here—until the Chemerians told us the Valtegan ship had been sighted.”

  Tirak began scratching his ear thoughtfully. “A Valtegan ship calls here every fifty years or so, but they come only to take samples of crops and food animals. One left just before this craft you mention arrived. What the Jalnians get in return, my people were unable to find out. The Chemerians have trading agreements with you?”

  “More,” said Kaid, his tone reflecting his feelings toward their two-faced allies. “Treaties for our mutual defense that are several hundred years old. We represent an Alliance of five species.”

  The U’Churian’s jaw fell open in shock. “By Kathan’s beard! The double-dealing . . .”

  “Conniving, tree-climbing little bastards,” Kaid finished for him.

  A slow grin split Tirak’s face. He leaned forward to edge Kaid’s abandoned drink closer to him. “As you say. Against you, their duplicity goes further than with us. We’ve only been dealing with them for about fifty years. The young couple, we found them on Tuushu Station. They had just discovered they were the prisoners, not the guests of Ambassador Taira Khebo and they—persuaded—us to rescue them.”

  “So they told me. There are strict laws governing the use of telepathy among our kind and they broke them. You have my government’s apology on their behalf.”

  “Yet your people broke the same laws.” There was a hardness in Tirak’s voice.

  “Sometimes it’
s necessary for certain individuals to be empowered to operate outside the law.” Kaid’s voice was a gentle purr. “But you know that, don’t you—Captain?”

  Tirak chose not to respond and Kaid knew he’d made his point.

  “The Chemerians implied that beyond their own colonies, we were their only market,” the U’Churian continued instead.

  “I suspect,” said Kaid, picking up his drink, “that we will discover some of our latest imports are goods obtained from Jalna and your—Free Traders Alliance?”

  “Free Traders’ Council,” corrected the captain, relaxing back into his chair. “Then we will have to draft trade agreements and more with this Sholan vessel.”

  Kaid finished his drink and set the empty container down on the table between them. “I would say that negotiations have already started, wouldn’t you, Captain Tirak?”

  * * *

  “What family are you from?” ventured Taynar, looking over at Rezac. “I know you’re from the highlands like me.”

  Rezac glowered at the youngling. He was still high on adrenaline from the fight at the spaceport, and worse: with his Leska mind-mate Zashou sedated in sick bay, his Link to Jo had reasserted itself, demanding their unfinished business be concluded. He was frustrated almost beyond endurance on both counts.

  Jo’s hand closed on his arm. He’s only making conversation, trying to be friendly. He’s terrified, just like his Leska.

  He clenched his hand into a fist, forcing his claws into the flesh of his palms in an effort not to respond to her touch. I know. I’m trying, dammit, but you know what’s wrong with me—with us! Unable to completely suppress it, a shudder of pleasure at her touch ran through him. “Dzaedoh,” he said through clenched teeth. “Likely you’ll not have heard of us.”

  “Noni’s kin?” the youth said in surprise.

  T’Chebbi moved over to sit opposite Rezac and Jo. “Link day?” she asked sympathetically. “Are rooms made ready for us through the door.” She jerked an ear to her right. “Go, take one now. See to your own needs. You put it off long enough.” When he hesitated, she added, “That’s an order, Warrior. I don’t need what you and your third are broadcasting. Neither does anyone else.”