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  “They would seem so,” said Kris. “The one who answered you was Human, a Human female with a Sholan Leska.”

  “Impossible!”

  Jo shook her head. “No. He’s telling you the truth. There are several Sholans with Human Leska partners now, but Carrie and Kusac Aldatan were the first.”

  “Aldatan?” exclaimed Zashou. “That’s my family name! But how…?”

  “Vartra,” said Rezac. “His tinkering with our genes led to that. Your sister must have been enhanced, too.”

  “Sister?” asked Jo.

  “My sister Zylisha was Vartra’s Companion when we were taken by the Valtegans,” said Zashou. “The enhanced genes must have passed on to their children. Vartra did what he originally set out to do.”

  “He did more than that from the sound of it,” said Davies dryly. “Carrie and Kusac would have had a child if she hadn’t lost it when she was injured. Another mixed Leska pair were expecting one when we left Shola.”

  “Cubs,” said Zashou faintly. “Human and Sholan cubs.”

  “No wonder he’s achieved godhood!” said Rezac. “Maybe Shanka had the right of it after all. Without Vartra playing god with our lives, none of this would have happened.”

  “Leave Shanka out of this, Rezac! Just remember, when I offered you the serum, you chose to take it! You could have refused.”

  Rezac snorted angrily. “What good would it have done? Once you’d taken it, we were all going to catch it.”

  “What does it matter now anyway! It’s history— ancient history!”

  At that moment, a knock came at the door. It opened to admit an obviously self-important man dressed in long robes, followed by a peasant woman carrying a large pile of clothing.

  “I am Durvan, in charge of the smooth running of Lord Killian’s house,” he said, gesturing to the woman to follow him as he approached their table. “My master has asked me to bring you these clothes. He insists that you wear them as he doesn’t want to advertise the fact that he’s, shall we say, entertaining off-world visitors.” His mouth split into a too-cheery smile that showed off his teeth.

  Rezac began to growl low in his throat.

  Humanoids show their teeth when they smile, sent Kris. It isn’t threatening— usually. In his case, I’d make an exception.

  “Put them down on a chair,” Durvan said sharply to the woman as he strolled over to Jo, eyes roving across her face and those parts of her anatomy he could see. “The red dress, I think, for this lady,” he said, holding his hand out for the garment.

  Hurriedly the peasant pulled the dress from the pile and handed it to him.

  Taking it from her, he advanced on Jo, ready to hold it against her.

  Kris rose to his feet in front of him. “I’ll take that,” he said, reaching out for the garment.

  Durvan frowned but handed it over. “I was merely going to hold it against her to see if it suited her coloring.” He stepped back and looked around the little group. “I was told there were two ladies. Where is the other?”

  “Just leave the clothes,” said Kris. “We’re capable of working out who should wear what ourselves.”

  “I’m sure you are,” said Durvan. “However, the servant will remain to show the ladies how the dresses are fastened.”

  “We can manage ourselves,” said Jo.

  Still angry, Rezac decided to put an end to the intrusion. Slowly he stood up, stretched his arms, and flexed his claws. “I think you should leave,” he said, his voice a low rumble that carried to every part of the room. “We’re tired and wish to sleep.”

  Durvan had begun to back away from the table as soon as the Sholan moved. The servant fled with a squeal of terror. Realizing he was alone, the steward beat a hasty retreat. “Should you need help, ask the guard,” he said before closing the door behind him.

  Rezac reached for the clothing and began sorting through it. A dress of blue he handed to Zashou, the rest he put over the backs of the nearest chairs.

  “Help yourselves,” he said. “They’re all robes such as that character was wearing. Nothing practical, I’m afraid, but at least they’re warm, which is more than can be said for what we’re wearing.” He looked down at his own clothing, then over at Zashou.

  Both of them were dressed in garments that offered very little in the way of either covering or warmth. Rezac’s consisted of a brightly colored woven belt from which hung two short panels of the same patterned material; one larger one in front, the one over his rear partially split to accommodate his tail. It most closely resembled a loincloth. From both ears hung gold rings, and on his wrists were broad bracelets inset with jewel-colored enameling.

  Zashou was similarly clad, but her garments included a short tabard top, and her earrings were larger.

  “What favored Valtegan drone slaves wear at the Emperor’s court,” said Rezac.

  “Drones? They have drones?” asked Jo, getting up to examine her dress.

  “Who do you think does all the domestic work? You know their females are feral, don’t you? They keep very few females because of that. Once they’ve mated, they’ll fight off any other male that comes near them until they’ve laid that clutch of eggs. The drones are the only ones who can get close to them most of the time,” said Rezac.

  Jo looked at him. “You’re serious, aren’t you? I’d figured they were egg layers, but they have such a high sex drive that I’d assumed females were common.”

  “The males have a high sex drive because they need a high incentive to mate. Without the control collars on the females, the males would be ripped to shreds even approaching a female, let alone trying to mate with one. They are seriously feral. Mindless eating and laying machines that have to be separated from their eggs just before they hatch, or they’d eat them, too.”

  “So that’s why they put those damned pleasure cities on Keiss,” said Davies as he reached out to pick up the green robe. “They need to direct that sex drive elsewhere. On Keiss, it was our women in Geshader and Tashkerra.”

  “That’s what they use the females of the slave races and some drones for,” agreed Rezac, then he felt the sudden flare of fear mixed with pain and revulsion that came from Jo. It was gone almost immediately.

  “Excuse me,” she said, dropping the dress and heading for one of the bedrooms.

  Rezac looked to Kris for an explanation.

  “Look, guys,” said Davies, drawing their attention. “It wasn’t for me to say before, and still isn’t, but I think you should know that Jo did undercover work with Elise, Carrie’s twin, in one of the pleasure cities. I wouldn’t have had the guts to do what they did with the Valtegan officers to get information for our movement. When Elise got caught and tortured to death, it hit Jo very hard.”

  “Yet she tries to understand these… creatures,” said Zashou.

  “Hey, it’s her way of coping with it,” said Davies. “I know how you feel about her, Kris, just go easy, hear me? She still has nightmares about those damned lizards pawing her. If you wouldn’t mind, Zashou, it might help if you went to her. Another female, that kind of thing. We males just can’t imagine what it was like for her.”

  “I can,” said Rezac grimly. “Zashou…?”

  “I’ll go,” she said, getting to her feet. “Perhaps it might be better if she spent the night with me.”

  Kris looked at Rezac. “If you wouldn’t mind, just for tonight?”

  Rezac nodded briefly, keeping his personal feelings under control. Tonight only, Zashou. Do not shame me in front of these people. We are Leskas.

  I know only too well what we are. Nothing has changed, Rezac. We will share the room, but not the bed, she replied as she made her way into the room where Jo had fled.

  “I suggest for tonight we use the other room,” said Kris. “Tomorrow we can see if Jo is willing for us to share the larger room with her, then you two can have the smaller one. I think we should avoid leaving her alone, if possible. The Jalnian attitude toward females is archaic, to say
the least, and she’s too easily mistaken for one of them.”

  Chapter 1

  Landing the aircar immediately in front of the Valsgarth estate house, Kaid powered down the engine then took a moment to rest his head on his forearms. Kusac’s voice from the rear of the craft roused him.

  “Kaid, would you carry Kashini in for us?”

  He pushed himself away from the console. He was dead tired; all he wanted to do was sleep. “Coming.” Getting up, through the side window he caught sight of the small group of people waiting impatiently outside. “You’ve got a welcoming committee.”

  As he bent down to take the newborn infant from Carrie’s arms, Kusac put a restraining hand on his arm. “Kaid, everyone’s going to want to debrief us on what we saw in the Margins. I think your origin should remain your business; it should be your decision whether or not to reveal it.”

  Surprised, Kaid looked at him. Kusac flicked an ear, then tightened his grip briefly on his friend’s arm before releasing him.

  “I would prefer it to remain unknown,” Kaid agreed as he took the sleeping cub from Carrie.

  *

  Kusac, Carrie cradled in his arms, was the first to leave the craft. Kaid and their cub followed behind.

  Rhyasha was at her son’s side instantly. “Thank Vartra you’re all safe!” she said. “We’ve been so afraid for you!” She leaned forward to touch Carrie’s cheek. “Are you all right, cub? Yes, you are: I can feel it. Kusac, let your father carry her upstairs. You look as exhausted as she is!”

  Kusac looked across at his father. “I can manage, thank you,” he said, holding Carrie a little closer, ears dipping in acknowledgment of Konis’ more reserved concern.

  “Let him be, Rhyasha,” Konis said. “They’re a family now. Of course he wants to carry the mother of his cub into their home! I was just the same when you gave birth to him!”

  Kusac started walking up the steps, his mother still beside him as his father fell in step with Kaid.

  Noni’s here, she sent. She and Vanna— exchanged opinions!

  Noni? But she doesn’t travel for anyone!

  She’s here nonetheless. She says not only does she want to see to the cub as Carrie requested, but that Kaid needs her attention, too.

  He does. His hand was injured again.

  I’ll see Noni, sent Carrie, resting her hand on her bond-mother’s arm. Rhyasha, go and look at Kashini. She’s so beautiful!

  I will! Again the fleeting touch for both of them, then, with a smile, his mother went over to Kaid and her husband.

  *

  Noni was waiting for them upstairs in the lounge adjacent to their bedroom. She raised her hand in a negative gesture before either Kusac or Carrie could speak. “A lucky guess,” she said. “Not all of life is visions and portents! Now, young Human. Who do you want— me, or your physician?”

  “You, Noni,” said Carrie, smiling tiredly, “but let Vanna come, too.”

  “Hmpf! I hope you’re not too tired for our arguments, then,” she grumbled, following them into the bedroom. She looked over at Kaid. “You’re next, so don’t bother leaving the suite.”

  At the side of the bed, a crib now stood, and it was in this that Kaid placed the still sleeping cub. From where she’d been laid on the bed, Carrie reached out to stop him from leaving. “What can I say but thank you,” she said, gently squeezing his hand.

  Mumbling an appropriate reply, Kaid escaped to the lounge as quickly as he could. There he found Dzaka waiting for him. They stood looking at each other for a moment, then Kaid took hold of his son by the shoulders and pulled him close.

  “Thank Vartra you’re safe,” said Dzaka as they embraced. “When I heard you were at Chezy, with Fyak and Ghezu…”

  “Fyak’s dead,” said Kaid, letting him go and moving over to the nearest chair. Gratefully he sank down into it. “The tribes executed him and Vraiyou.” His voice took on a hard edge. “Ghezu I killed myself. That nightmare is over for both of us.” He closed his eyes, resting his head against the back of the seat, aware now of the tension in his neck and shoulders.

  “The Gods be praised,” his son said with feeling. “Do you want to sleep now or eat first?”

  Kaid opened his eyes. “Eat. We could all do with food. And c’shar for me, coffee for them.”

  “I’ll get it.”

  “Tell Vanna that Carrie’s asked her to join them,” Kaid called out after him.

  Dzaka stopped in the doorway. “Diplomatic of her. Did you hear Noni and Vanna had a heated discussion over who would treat Carrie and the cub?”

  “No, I didn’t. I pity our physician.”

  “Don’t.” Dzaka’s mouth opened in a grin. “Vanna held her own.”

  Kaid sat back, closing his eyes again. He woke with a start a few minutes later as someone touched his knee. Still groggy, he found himself staring at a smaller version of Rhyasha. Golden-pelted like her mother, the young female’s blonde hair fell below her shoulders in a mass of unbound waves.

  “You’re Kaid, Dzaka’s father, aren’t you?” she asked.

  He nodded, memory beginning to return as he recognized her.

  “I’m Kitra, his Companion,” she said. “We haven’t been properly introduced because last time you came back, you’d been ill. I think we should meet now, before Dzaka decides you’re too ill again.” She offered him her hand, palm uppermost.

  Totally nonplussed, Kaid reached out to touch fingertips with her. “Well met, Liegena Kitra,” he said.

  She wrinkled her nose at him. “You don’t call my brother or Carrie by their titles,” she said. “I don’t think you should use mine either, since we’re sort of connected.”

  “If that’s what you wish, Kitra,” he said, just succeeding in hiding a grin. “Is there something I can do for you?” He watched as she headed for a nearby footstool and brought it over beside his chair.

  “No. I just wanted to meet you formally,” she said, settling herself on it and leaning against him. “Now I can come and talk to you whenever I want. We can get to know each other.”

  Dzaka returned carrying a tray loaded with cut meats, bread, and cheese as well as a jug each of c’shar and coffee. “I see Kitra’s keeping you company,” he said, carefully placing it down on the low table beside his father.

  “Yes. You should have introduced us earlier, Dzaka,” he said. “It isn’t every day my son finds a Companion.”

  Dzaka frowned as he held a couple of the plates out. “But you know her! She’s Kusac’s sister.”

  “You didn’t introduce her as your Companion, though,” Kaid chided him gently.

  “Ah. You’re right,” he said, tail swaying slightly with embarrassment. “Sorry, Kitra.”

  The door from the bedroom opened, and Kusac came through. He smelled the food immediately. “Is there enough for all of us?” he asked, pulling over another chair.

  “For you and Kaid, yes. The Clan Leader intends to bring something more suitable up for the Liegena as soon as she’s allowed to,” replied Dzaka. “I’ve a message for you from T’Chebbi, Father. She says that General Raiban and Father Lijou wish full reports from you at the earliest possible moment. She told them that you were all suffering from exhaustion and minor injuries and that you’d need to see your physician first. She said you’d not be likely to have the reports ready before the end of the week at the earliest.”

  “Vartra bless her!” said Kaid with feeling as he reached for the c’shar jug.

  “She’s held everyone together since you disappeared,” said Dzaka quietly.

  “A female of hidden talents,” murmured Kusac.

  Kaid glanced over at him. “That’s why I chose her. T’Chebbi never pushes herself forward, but she’s a more than able member of the Brotherhood.”

  “Of the En’Shalla Brothers,” Kusac reminded him. “We bought our freedom— and theirs— in the Fire Margins, Kaid.”

  *

  The riding beasts had shied away as General Kezule was brought
to the tethering line: His scent scared them. It was good to know some things hadn’t changed even if the Sholans were no longer the docile slaves of his day.

  While two of his captors held the beast, one of the males had mounted and then reached down for him. With his hands bound behind him, he couldn’t assist even had he wanted to. They had to thrust him up to the rider.

  The beast danced unhappily from side to side, terrified at having the scent of an alien predator so close to its nostrils. He was thrown against its neck, the bony nodules on its spine pressing into his chest uncomfortably. The rider hauled on the reins, pulling its head up as the two on the ground got a better grip on the halter. Once it was still again, a rope was passed round his waist and the beast’s neck, tethering him in place.

  Their leader, the one wearing the broad bracelet that controlled his slave collar, mounted one of the other waiting creatures. There were twelve of them, and all but his rider were heavily armed. They were taking no chances with him. That was his only comforting thought— that they considered him a formidable enemy even in captivity.

  With a single cry of command, the group began to move. As his rider took hold of the cord binding his wrists, the beast was given its head. Once again he was flung forward against its neck, this time violently enough to wind him.

  The ride was unpleasant. Bounced continually not only against the creature’s painful spine, but also from side to side, it wasn’t long before he began to feel extremely queasy. By the time they arrived at the rendezvous more than an hour later, he was in no state to make a bid for freedom even if the opportunity had presented itself.

  It seemed an age before they hauled him down and he felt firm ground under his feet again. He staggered and would have fallen had he not stumbled into one of the tribe’s males. The sudden strong alien scent was the last straw, and as he was grabbed by the wrists and hauled upright, he began to retch. Doubling over, he was unable to stop his stomach from expelling its contents all over the sand.

  “What’s wrong with him?” he heard a voice demand. “Is he ill?”

  “He’s not used to land beasts,” came the laughing reply as, still retching, he was thrust forward.