let anything happen to him, trust me."
"I do," she said as he gave her arm an extra squeeze before letting her go as they stopped beside Kishasayzar and T'Chebbi.
The Sumaan's long reptilian neck snaked round toward them, lowering his head till his face was level with Kaid's. Lips pulled back from his mouth, exposing the huge teeth and thick pink tongue in a grin that would have been disconcerting had they not known him.
"Novelty it is for our people being in right place to make good trades," he said. "Thanking you for introduction to Merchant Tirak I am, Kaid. The word I be spreading among my kind for news of drug smugglers both your peoples wish to apprehend. Bad trade for all Alliance that is." He grimaced, wrinkling his snout.
"Glad I could help," said Kaid.
"I go now. Docking we are once Profit leaves. Venture returns then for you to embark."
Carrie watched their bulky Sumaan captain turn and pace off toward the shuttle parked by the landing bay entrance. His thick tail barely touching the ground, Kishasayzar moved with an ease and grace that was belied by his size.
She turned back to Tirak and his crew, feeling slightly awkward at this leave-taking. Having spent most of her time with them either in stasis or a cell, she didn't know them as well as Kaid and T'Chebbi did. Then she caught sight of Jeran, his light sand-colored pelt standing out amid the universal black of the U'Churians.
"We speak to them," suggested T'Chebbi.
Skirting round the edge of the group, they made their way over to him and Giyesh.
"Take care, you two," Carrie said. "It's not easy trying to become part of another species' culture, Jeran, so when you feel weighed down by how little you know, just remember how much you've already overcome to be together."
"We will," said Giyesh, grinning widely as Jeran put his arm across her shoulders. "Knowing it worked for you and Jo gave us hope."
Carrie shrugged. "Remember, it takes time, and don't let anyone else decide what it is you want, you make your own decisions. Kus...We did."
"We intend to. I learned that one already," said Jeran, with a sideways look at Giyesh. "Talking of Kusac, where is he?"
"In our quarters," she said. "He didn't feel up to saying good-bye and sends his apologies."
"He'll find it difficult getting used to such large, open areas again, and so many people," said Jeran. "I'm still finding it strange."
"Takes time," agreed T'Chebbi. "Least you still on ships."
"He'll be fine," reassured Carrie, inwardly praying he would as Tirak made a move to catch her attention. She turned to the U'Churian captain. "I never really thanked you for coming to our rescue the way you did," she said to him.
"No thanks necessary," he replied. "I had to know what you were up to. Your group was too good at frustrating most of my efforts to find out!"
"It's the Brotherhood training," she said lightly.
"You may well hear more from me in the future regarding that," he said. "I have many recommendations to put in front of the Rryuk Family council— starting with improving some of our basic skills." He turned to Kaid, extending his hand to him, Human style.
Kaid held out his and found his forearm grasped firmly.
"A warrior's handshake for you," Tirak said. "We'll be in touch, for trade reasons if nothing else."
"You're continuing to pose as a trader?" Kaid raised an eye ridge at him in amusement.
Tirak grinned, then scratched his ear in embarrassment. "Till we met you, it worked. Yes, we'll be keeping our cover for now. I told you, I have plans. You will be hearing from us in the future, but as for now, we must leave. They're giving us an escort back to Jalna."
"So I heard," said Kaid. "At least you can be sure this trip will be uneventful."
"Say good-bye to Annuur for us," said Kate. "And give him these." She handed Tirak several packets of candy. "Sorry I took over your mind like I did on the Chemerian station."
"Is all right, taiban," he said, ruffling her hair. "Without that, think
"I do," she said as he gave her arm an extra squeeze before letting her go as they stopped beside Kishasayzar and T'Chebbi.
The Sumaan's long reptilian neck snaked round toward them, lowering his head till his face was level with Kaid's. Lips pulled back from his mouth, exposing the huge teeth and thick pink tongue in a grin that would have been disconcerting had they not known him.
"Novelty it is for our people being in right place to make good trades," he said. "Thanking you for introduction to Merchant Tirak I am, Kaid. The word I be spreading among my kind for news of drug smugglers both your peoples wish to apprehend. Bad trade for all Alliance that is." He grimaced, wrinkling his snout.
"Glad I could help," said Kaid.
"I go now. Docking we are once Profit leaves. Venture returns then for you to embark."
Carrie watched their bulky Sumaan captain turn and pace off toward the shuttle parked by the landing bay entrance. His thick tail barely touching the ground, Kishasayzar moved with an ease and grace that was belied by his size.
She turned back to Tirak and his crew, feeling slightly awkward at this leave-taking. Having spent most of her time with them either in stasis or a cell, she didn't know them as well as Kaid and T'Chebbi did. Then she caught sight of Jeran, his light sand-colored pelt standing out amid the universal black of the U'Churians.
"We speak to them," suggested T'Chebbi.
Skirting round the edge of the group, they made their way over to him and Giyesh.
"Take care, you two," Carrie said. "It's not easy trying to become part of another species' culture, Jeran, so when you feel weighed down by how little you know, just remember how much you've already overcome to be together."
"We will," said Giyesh, grinning widely as Jeran put his arm across her shoulders. "Knowing it worked for you and Jo gave us hope."
Carrie shrugged. "Remember, it takes time, and don't let anyone else decide what it is you want, you make your own decisions. Kus...We did."
"We intend to. I learned that one already," said Jeran, with a sideways look at Giyesh. "Talking of Kusac, where is he?"
"In our quarters," she said. "He didn't feel up to saying good-bye and sends his apologies."
"He'll find it difficult getting used to such large, open areas again, and so many people," said Jeran. "I'm still finding it strange."
"Takes time," agreed T'Chebbi. "Least you still on ships."
"He'll be fine," reassured Carrie, inwardly praying he would as Tirak made a move to catch her attention. She turned to the U'Churian captain. "I never really thanked you for coming to our rescue the way you did," she said to him.
"No thanks necessary," he replied. "I had to know what you were up to. Your group was too good at frustrating most of my efforts to find out!"
"It's the Brotherhood training," she said lightly.
"You may well hear more from me in the future regarding that," he said. "I have many recommendations to put in front of the Rryuk Family council— starting with improving some of our basic skills." He turned to Kaid, extending his hand to him, Human style.
Kaid held out his and found his forearm grasped firmly.
"A warrior's handshake for you," Tirak said. "We'll be in touch, for trade reasons if nothing else."
"You're continuing to pose as a trader?" Kaid raised an eye ridge at him in amusement.
Tirak grinned, then scratched his ear in embarrassment. "Till we met you, it worked. Yes, we'll be keeping our cover for now. I told you, I have plans. You will be hearing from us in the future, but as for now, we must leave. They're giving us an escort back to Jalna."
"So I heard," said Kaid. "At least you can be sure this trip will be uneventful."
"Say good-bye to Annuur for us," said Kate. "And give him these." She handed Tirak several packets of candy. "Sorry I took over your mind like I did on the Chemerian station."
"Is all right, taiban," he said, ruffling her hair. "Without that, think
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