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  “When he’s done, Lieutenant, give him some water and take him to the medical unit. They’re expecting him.”

  “Aye, General Raiban.”

  Now rid of what little had been in it, his stomach spasms began to ease, and he was able to straighten up. Still shaking, he was temporarily beyond embarrassment. His bonds were cut and he slowly pulled his arms round in front of him. Then metal cuffs were snapped on his wrists. A canteen was handed to him. He could smell the water and took it gratefully.

  “Does he understand Sholan?”

  “Oh, yes,” was the reply. “He spoke to Fyak. He was Kezule!”

  “So you’re the god, are you?”

  He drank deeply, already feeling better, before even looking at the speaker. He’d recognized the scent as female. They still hadn’t learned to keep their females decently locked in the breeding room. He considered not replying, or insisting that he speak only to a male, then decided on a safer option instead.

  “I only speak to Commander.” He hated their language almost as much as he hated them.

  “I am the commander,” was the soft reply. “I’m General Raiban.”

  He closed his eyes as the canteen was taken from him, trying to force himself not to react, not to let them see his revulsion at the presence of the female. It would be viewed by them as a weakness.

  “I am General Kezule,” he admitted, opening his eyes.

  “Well come to the future, General. I think you’ll find it somewhat different from the Shola you so recently left behind.” She turned away abruptly and began to walk toward one of the larger vehicles accompanied by three of the desert males.

  A tug on his arm brought his attention back to his immediate situation.

  “You’ve an appointment with the physician,” said the trooper, leading him toward one of the larger tents. Two armed guards followed close behind.

  *

  Here the indignities to his person started. His hands were released, and when, scenting yet another female present, he refused to remove his clothing for the medical examination, they held him and forcibly stripped him. He was dragged to a table and held there prone while they prodded and poked at him until they were satisfied he had no broken bones or internal injuries.

  Released and allowed to get to his feet, his clothes were held out to him by the female. He snatched them from her, his crest rising and his tongue flicking out in anger.

  “How dare you treat me like this! Don’t you know who I am?” he demanded of the nearest male guard. “Not even the basest criminal is exposed to females and not only do you let this one see me naked, but you allow her to touch me!”

  With one backhanded blow of his arm, he sent the female flying across the room till she collided with a metal cabinet. “Get her stinking body away from me!” he roared.

  The room exploded into activity. He was instantly grabbed by the guards as the physician ran to the side of the unconscious female.

  He struggled against them, this time using what he could muster of his full strength. Then he felt the coldness of a gun muzzle at the base of his neck and froze.

  “That’s better,” a voice purred in his ear. “I wouldn’t kill you, but a stunner shot right here would be excruciating, don’t you think?”

  “Get a stretcher in here on the double!” the physician was shouting. “I want the theater ready immediately, we’ve got a fractured skull here!” He paused to look up at Kezule. “Take that tree-climbing bastard out of here! There’s nothing wrong with him an execution wouldn’t cure!”

  He was dragged out of the tent into the sunlight, then across the site to the vehicle where their commander had gone.

  *

  “What is it, Myule?” Raiban asked her aide, not bothering to look up from her comm.

  “Lieutenant Naada, General. There’s been an incident involving the Valtegan captive.”

  “What happened?” she demanded, her attention instantly on the lieutenant.

  “One of the medics. Rashou Vrenga. The general hit her. It’s serious, I’m afraid, General Raiban.”

  “Hit her? What d’you mean hit her? What the hell was she doing in there in the first place?”

  “She’s one of the on-duty staff, I imagine, General,” Naada said, taken aback by her question. “The physician thinks her skull’s fractured. She’s been rushed to the theater.”

  “Of all the incompetent, idiotic…” She stopped, obviously remembering herself. “Why weren’t my orders that no female personnel were to be allowed near him carried out?” she demanded coldly as she got to her feet.

  “I’ve no idea, General Raiban,” Naada stammered, taking a step backward. “I wasn’t aware of the orders myself.” The general’s temper was legendary and he was not enjoying being this close to it.

  “Where’s Kezule now?”

  “Outside your office, General. They’d finished the medical before he attacked the medic,” he added.

  “Bring him in, then when he’s been escorted to the brig, you will find out who’s responsible for not implementing my orders. By Vartra, I’ll have the hide of the person responsible for this!”

  “Yes, General Raiban,” he said.

  “Myule!” she called. “Myule, I want to be kept informed about the condition of Medic Rashou Vrenga,” she said when her aide appeared. “I don’t care what I’m doing, you keep me updated. You heard what’s happened?”

  Myule nodded.

  “See that those on duty in the brig are aware that no female personnel are to be allowed near the area while we have Kezule on board— in fact, clear that section for the next three hours!”

  “Yes, General.”

  “Bring in your prisoner, Lieutenant,” she ordered. “I’ll see him now.”

  *

  Eyes still hurting from the rapid changes in light, he stood blinking in front her. Owlishly he watched her get to her feet.

  “Where are his clothes?” she demanded. “I ordered him examined, not brought here naked!”

  One of his guards held them out to her.

  “I don’t want his damned clothing! Take the General to the brig and let him dress himself! See he’s fed and given whatever it is he drinks.” She turned her attention back to him. “General, I apologize for the indignity you’ve suffered. It won’t happen again, I assure you,” she said with stiff formality. “However, while you are our guest, I expect you to refrain from lashing out at my staff. Medical personnel are not warriors; in any conflict, they are recognized by both sides as neutral. I hope I’ve made myself clear.”

  He said nothing. What was there to say? Every time he was brought into the company of these females, they insulted him. Worse; he, one of the Emperor’s Faithful, had let his disgust overcome his senses. He’d made a tactical error in letting them realize just how much the presence of their females angered him.

  She made a gesture of dismissal and the guards pulled him away.

  “General Raiban, what do we feed him?” he heard her aide ask her as they left the room.

  “How the hell should I know! The data from High Command should be here by now. That’s your job, Myule, not mine!”

  *

  As he was led through the echoing corridors to the detention area, he realized that he was on no military atmospheric vehicle. This craft was space going as well. He could feel his fear glands begin to tighten and fought to control them. The Sholans were capable of reading his scent messages, and he would be damned before he’d let them know he was afraid.

  So it hadn’t been the hairless female’s species who had found the Sholans as he’d surmised. It had been the Sholans themselves who had advanced to this technological level. Obviously his own kind had never returned to reclaim this world. Why not? The Empire had desperately needed the raw materials this system had to offer. What could have happened to prevent them returning?

  They knew his kind, though, and in this time, but they were obviously not a current worry of theirs. What did they want from him? What
could he know that would be of use to them after all these years? If they found what they wanted, it would mean his end— ripped to shreds by an angry mob such as had dealt with Fyak and his companion in the desert before they left. There was no real difference between the sharpness of the Sholans’ teeth and claws and the ferocity of Valtegan females at mating time.

  Again he felt his fear gland muscles tighten, but this time he was unable to prevent them emitting their telltale scent. He tensed, waiting for the inevitability of their attack on him.

  “By Varta, he stinks!” said one of the troopers. “Another like the Touibans! Pity he doesn’t smell as pleasant!”

  “Shut up! You know he understands us,” warned the other, pulling him to a halt in front of a broad windowed cell. Slapping his hand on the palm lock, he gave a voice code and the door slid open.

  He was pushed into the cell, his clothing thrust into his arms, and the door sealed.

  “They’ll feed you soon,” said the first guard, his voice sounding slightly remote through the speaker. “Water’s in the faucet by the basin, and behind that half-door you’ll find sanitary facilities.”

  Left alone, he was confused at their reaction. They hadn’t turned on him as would his own kind. Why not? Still puzzled, he walked over to the bed. Doubtless he’d have plenty of time ahead of him to find out more about his captors. Now he regretted being stationed out in the desert rather than in one of the Sholan cities. At least if he’d been there, he’d have had more experience of this species. Throwing his clothes down on the bed, he turned his mind to other things and proceeded to check out his cell.

  *

  Once they’d eaten, Carrie and Kusac fell into an exhausted sleep that was broken only by the need to feed their daughter. Rhyasha sat by the crib late into the night, watching her granddaughter, hardly any more able to credit the miracle of her existence than Carrie and Kusac themselves. She left only when urged to do so by Konis.

  But, Konis! Our first grandchild, she protested as he led her away.

  And their first child. Let them enjoy her alone. Soon enough they’ll want your help!

  *

  By morning, Noni’s advice had proved to be sound, and the mother of a newborn on the estate was hired as a milk nurse. Just as Carrie had needed to supplement her own diet while carrying Kashini, so now did the cub need more than her Human mother’s milk alone provided.

  When Kusac finally awoke around the middle of the day, he left Carrie sleeping and went in search of Kaid. He found him sitting at his desk comm eating breakfast and writing his report.

  “Mind if I join you?”

  Kaid indicated a chair with his fork. “Please do.”

  “What did Noni say about your injuries?” Kusac asked, sitting down beside him.

  “She says I’m fine now. Gave me a pot of ointment for my hand to help bring down the new swelling.” He indicated that Kusac should help himself from his plate.

  Kusac flicked an ear in a negative. “If I can use your comm for a moment, I’ll send down for some more food. D’you want anything?”

  Kaid’s ears pricked forward. “I could eat a second breakfast,” he said hopefully. “Don’t know when I’ve been so hungry.”

  “Time travel,” said Kusac. “Noni said it had depleted our energy reserves, so we have to eat as much as possible in the next few days to build ourselves up again. Carrie’s been hit worst by it. She hadn’t the weight to lose in the first place; neither has Kashini. She was developing at an alarming rate those last four days before she was born. Did I tell you that maintaining the gateway we used to come back destroyed the crystal Carrie wore?”

  “It did?” asked Kaid, eye ridges meeting in concern as he turned his comm round for Kusac. “It didn’t harm mine. What about the cub? Did it affect her?”

  “Not that we can tell. Both Noni and Vanna said she was as healthy as any newborn they’d ever seen. I can’t help worrying, though. If the energy drain could destroy Carrie’s crystal, it must have had some effect on them beyond Carrie’s weight loss.” He leaned forward and keyed into the kitchen, asking Zhala for hot food and coffee to be sent up.

  Returning the screen to its normal position, he sat back. “I think we should tell everyone concerned that the way to the past has been sealed.”

  Kaid nodded slowly. “Our success may encourage more people to try. We want to avoid that. Whatever the reasons, too many people have died that way already. And the gateway has been destroyed, in our time.”

  “Kezule will be able to tell us if other travelers arrived at the temple while he was there.”

  “It didn’t need Kezule and his warriors to kill them. All they had to do was arrive as the temple collapsed,” said Kaid. “But you’re right. We should say the way is closed. Apart from any other consideration, we don’t want the past altered any more than it has been.”

  “How much of the truth do we tell Lijou?”

  Kaid hesitated. “Let’s play that one by ear. See how our debriefing with him goes. The series of events that enabled us to go back are unlikely to recur, but if they become common knowledge, someone could try to duplicate them.”

  “They couldn’t duplicate your contribution, Kaid. It’s unique. There are no other telepathic warriors from the past living on Shola.”

  Kaid stopped what he was doing and reached for his pack of stim twigs. “There is one other. Rezac,” he said quietly. “If the message Carrie— and others— received is to be believed.”

  “He’s not on Shola. Who else is aware of the sending?”

  “I checked through the messages as usual this morning. Lijou heard it, and I’m pretty sure that your father did.”

  “What does Lijou say?”

  “To contact him as soon as possible. I wouldn’t bother. Given the time of day, I’ll warrant he’s on his way over here already.”

  Kusac grunted. “If he is, he can wait till we’ve eaten.”

  *

  Some ten minutes later, true to Kaid’s prediction, Lijou’s imminent arrival was announced by Ni’Zulhu, followed by Lijou himself shortly afterward.

  “You both look thinner, not that that’ll last from the size of the meals you two are eating,” he said, staring critically at them.

  “Join us,” said Kusac. “You must be missing your second meal by coming out here.”

  “I am. Your young sister Kitra— who seems to be growing up remarkably quickly all of a sudden— appears to have assumed the position of house-head. She said she’d see a meal was sent up for me,” he said, pulling up a chair to join them. “Your son’s been good for her, Kaid— in fact, they’ve been good for each other. I’m glad. I was afraid he’d never recover from the loss of Nnya and his son.”

  “They’re only Companions, Lijou,” said Kaid. “It’s a little early to be seeing a long-term relationship.”

  “The Aldatan females know exactly who they want from the first, and tend to stay with that choice, unfortunately,” Lijou sighed. “Not that you males are much different! Mind if I have some coffee, Kusac?”

  “Help yourself. How do you mean `unfortunately’?”

  “Rhyasha broke many hearts when she forced her choice of Konis as a life-mate on the Clan Lord, that’s all.” He poured himself a drink. “Kitra’s so like her. She’ll have Dzaka, mark my words. I’d stake money on it.”

  “My sister’s barely left childhood, Lijou,” objected Kusac, helping himself to more bread. “She’s not ready to choose a life-mate yet.”

  “You’ve news for us, Lijou. What is it?” asked Kaid.

  “While you slept this morning, Konis and I’ve been busy,” he said, sipping his drink. “He convened a special meeting of the Clan Council and between us, we pushed through the ratification of your new Clan. It’s been done as you asked, you’re an official subsect of the Aldatan Clan and are to be known as the En’Shalla Aldatans or just the En’Shalla Clan. At the next meeting, you’ll be Invested and can take your seat on the Council of Sevente
en.”

  “Seventeen?” Kusac frowned. “Oh. Sixteen plus ours.” Suddenly it felt like the society he’d grown up in was changing too rapidly— yet he realized he was the one who’d initiated the changes. He shook his head to dispel the somber mood and grinned over at Kaid. “We did it, Kaid. We won our freedom from the Guilds and Clans!” He turned back to Lijou. “How are the members of our Clan chosen?”

  “You choose those friends and colleagues you want to be part of your family. If they agree, they must formally accept your invitation and take the Aldatan name. Then they will have En’Shalla status like you. Choose carefully, Kusac,” Lijou warned. “Being a member of your Clan will confer great privileges which could be misused.”

  “You needn’t worry, Lijou. I intend to set it up so only the immediate family, those with Human Leskas, and our Brothers, will have the En’Shalla status. Apart from new mixed Leskas, we’re not recruiting for members. As you know, we have all the people I want living here on this estate. I also intend to set up a ruling council with myself as head to see to all matters of discipline and policy.”

  “That should help ensure that future generations will find it difficult to abuse the responsibilities that come with power. This afternoon, Governor Nesul will pass a bill giving all lay-Brothers and -Sisters the rank of priest. Unlike Esken’s priests, we all belong to one faith— the only faith with its own college of priests. We’re also being granted the right to wear black as our designated color. When acting as warriors of the Brotherhood, our people will wear gray trimmed with black and drop the use of the Warrior Guild’s red.”

  “I said this would happen,” Kusac reminded Lijou. “It’s going to mean a lot of reorganizing for you.”

  “It’s work I will relish,” said Lijou, sitting back in his chair. “Even as we speak, because you are now En’Shalla, your status within the lay-Brotherhood is being altered to show that you are priests. That includes you, Kaid.”

  Kusac watched his friend’s thoughtful expression. Had he realized that now Lijou could ask for his own Guild? The Guild of Priests? It would take yet another portion of Esken’s power away from him, making all priests subject to Lijou.