every-one who'd reached Vartra by walking the Fire Margins had died, their minds trapped somewhere in the far past while their bodies suffered the same fate at Stronghold or Vartra's Retreat.
It wasn't until now that he'd begun to realize what that part of the vision meant. Yes, he'd seen Kusac and Carrie traveling the Margins, but Vanna was right, he hadn't seen them return. He'd been the one advocating taking that path, the one telling them it was the only answer, and now he was doubting the wisdom of his own advice. Was Vartra calling them only to destroy them? He'd wondered that before the Challenge and somehow they'd managed to survive. Everything was leading them toward the God: if it was meant to be, then nothing he did would matter one way or the other. They would go, and Vartra would decide whether they returned.
He turned over, exhausted by the strength of the memories, hoping sleep would claim him, hoping it might bring another vision, this time a happier one.
* * *
It was mid-afternoon by the time Konis returned home. His mood was thoughtful. As they approached the perimeter of the estate, he was surprised out of his reverie when T'Chebbi was challenged over the comm for their identity. He waited while she reeled off an arcane code and they were given permission to enter.
"What was all that about?" he asked her.
"Ni'Zulhu, the new head of security," she replied. "We've been allocated passwords to use whenever we approach the estate."
"Isn't that a little excessive?"
T'Chebbi turned her head briefly in his direction. "We're taught at Stronghold that the only effective security is total security."
Konis grunted. Rhyasha was going to be none too pleased. He'd have to have a word with Kaid. This level of security could bankrupt the estate very quickly.
* * *
Rhyasha was in her office and her mental greeting was very welcome as he made his way there to join her.
"How's Carrie?" he asked, sitting down beside her. "I sensed Kusac's concern the moment I arrived."
Rhyasha handed him a mug of c'shar and settled back in her chair. "We could hardly get her to eat anything today," she admitted. "All she wants to do is sleep. If she's the same tomorrow, then I'll be concerned. Vanna says it's to be expected after all that she's been through. She's taken the precaution of contacting Dr. Reynolds on Keiss and is waiting for him to get back to her."
She stopped, unconsciously tapping her claw tips on the arm of her chair.
"For the moment it's Kusac I'm concerned about. The last few months have matured him mentally, but emotionally and physically, he's still a young male whose hormones are not yet stable. He's in control of his feelings, but only just."
"Is he suffering any of Carrie's tiredness?"
"None. The opposite in fact. He's unable to relax at all. The loss of their cub has hit him as hard as it hit her. Then there's the demands of their Link. Thank the Gods that Carrie is free of them for the moment, but he isn't."
"It looks as if this Link of theirs has stripped away most of his training," said Konis thoughtfully. "We're going to have to assume this will happen to all our people who have a Human Leska. A new system has to be devised, one that doesn't rely on the assumption that our males will remain in control of themselves and their talents."
"Kusac will be able to help you on that, once he's got over their loss. Meanwhile, he needs something less demanding to absorb his interest and tire him out. Bringing those kitlings home was inspired," Rhyasha said, leaning forward to touch her mate's hand. "Just what he needs. He can help them settle in, start teaching them. He'll be able to find out if their Link is anomalous in any other way. Kitra can help him."
"Interesting use of the word help," he said. "Kitra's not much older than those two. I have to admit I didn't bring them home for Kusac's benefit. I brought them home because Esken was doing exactly what you predicted he would do. He
It wasn't until now that he'd begun to realize what that part of the vision meant. Yes, he'd seen Kusac and Carrie traveling the Margins, but Vanna was right, he hadn't seen them return. He'd been the one advocating taking that path, the one telling them it was the only answer, and now he was doubting the wisdom of his own advice. Was Vartra calling them only to destroy them? He'd wondered that before the Challenge and somehow they'd managed to survive. Everything was leading them toward the God: if it was meant to be, then nothing he did would matter one way or the other. They would go, and Vartra would decide whether they returned.
He turned over, exhausted by the strength of the memories, hoping sleep would claim him, hoping it might bring another vision, this time a happier one.
* * *
It was mid-afternoon by the time Konis returned home. His mood was thoughtful. As they approached the perimeter of the estate, he was surprised out of his reverie when T'Chebbi was challenged over the comm for their identity. He waited while she reeled off an arcane code and they were given permission to enter.
"What was all that about?" he asked her.
"Ni'Zulhu, the new head of security," she replied. "We've been allocated passwords to use whenever we approach the estate."
"Isn't that a little excessive?"
T'Chebbi turned her head briefly in his direction. "We're taught at Stronghold that the only effective security is total security."
Konis grunted. Rhyasha was going to be none too pleased. He'd have to have a word with Kaid. This level of security could bankrupt the estate very quickly.
* * *
Rhyasha was in her office and her mental greeting was very welcome as he made his way there to join her.
"How's Carrie?" he asked, sitting down beside her. "I sensed Kusac's concern the moment I arrived."
Rhyasha handed him a mug of c'shar and settled back in her chair. "We could hardly get her to eat anything today," she admitted. "All she wants to do is sleep. If she's the same tomorrow, then I'll be concerned. Vanna says it's to be expected after all that she's been through. She's taken the precaution of contacting Dr. Reynolds on Keiss and is waiting for him to get back to her."
She stopped, unconsciously tapping her claw tips on the arm of her chair.
"For the moment it's Kusac I'm concerned about. The last few months have matured him mentally, but emotionally and physically, he's still a young male whose hormones are not yet stable. He's in control of his feelings, but only just."
"Is he suffering any of Carrie's tiredness?"
"None. The opposite in fact. He's unable to relax at all. The loss of their cub has hit him as hard as it hit her. Then there's the demands of their Link. Thank the Gods that Carrie is free of them for the moment, but he isn't."
"It looks as if this Link of theirs has stripped away most of his training," said Konis thoughtfully. "We're going to have to assume this will happen to all our people who have a Human Leska. A new system has to be devised, one that doesn't rely on the assumption that our males will remain in control of themselves and their talents."
"Kusac will be able to help you on that, once he's got over their loss. Meanwhile, he needs something less demanding to absorb his interest and tire him out. Bringing those kitlings home was inspired," Rhyasha said, leaning forward to touch her mate's hand. "Just what he needs. He can help them settle in, start teaching them. He'll be able to find out if their Link is anomalous in any other way. Kitra can help him."
"Interesting use of the word help," he said. "Kitra's not much older than those two. I have to admit I didn't bring them home for Kusac's benefit. I brought them home because Esken was doing exactly what you predicted he would do. He
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