fortuneswheel by Lisanne Norman Read Free Book Online

to push it to the back of his mind where he could contain it.

A low chuckle from Askad drew his attention as the shuttle door was sealed for takeoff. He looked over at the other male.

I can see that being of different species isn't a problem to you or your Leska, Askad sent. The Link is already working its magic.

No, not the Link, Kusac replied. This is ours, the Link only enhances what we have.

Even better. It'll make life easier for you both.

Her mind seems very similar to ours, Rhian ventured. Per- haps being with us on the Khalossa will not be as large a step as you feared.

Perhaps. There hasn't been time for us to get to know each other properly yet, replied Kusac, ears flicking briefly.

What's to know? Your minds are Linked, aren't they? You are aware of each other's feelings and strong surface thoughts; there is no need to know more, chided Askad.

Our Link is stronger than that. I know all her thoughts, I feel all her fears and joys as if they were mine. She's become a part of me now. His attention was on Carrie, and he missed the apprehensive look that the two Sholans exchanged.

Then the problems must be lessened with such close un- derstanding, sent Rhian.

Must they? I know that what she calls pain will hurt me, that what she thinks of as love, so do I, but the rest... His thoughts trailed off into a silence that was filled by the humming of the engines.

     
    * * *
     
    Chyad waited impatiently for Maikoe to open the door.

"The rumors were true," he said, before she had a chance to greet him.

"What rumors?" She moved aside to let him enter.

He nodded cursorily at the others as he stepped over them toward the chair that Kaedoe hastily vacated. "The ones about the Terrans coming on board," he said, turning to face her as she let the door slide closed. "I traveled up in the elevator with one of them, a female."

"What are they like up close?" She returned to her seat.

"They smell strange," he said, perching on the edge of the chair. "Like us but different. Unsettling. This one was either small or a youngling. Her face was flatter than ours and her skin is hairless except for on her head."

"Hm," she said, looking thoughtful as she picked up her mug. "Oh, help yourself to a drink if you want one."

Chyad got up and went to the dispenser.

"I've just been telling the others about my interesting day," she said.

"What did you find out?" he asked, returning to his seat.

"There were Terran collaborators. Mostly their females, many of whom went to work in the domed cities. The female telepath was one of them. I'll bet it was her you saw."

Chyad grunted in disgust.

"Naisha found out that one of the Sirroki crew is facing a court-martial for Challenging their own telepath."

"Who?"

"Guynor," said Naisha. "You remember him, surely? He's one of us. He came from Khyaal."

"I saw them taking someone off the shuttle under guard. Thought he looked familiar, but I couldn't place him. Why'd he Challenge the telepath?"

Maikoe put her mug down and sat back in her chair. "He Challenged the female first, but he was stopped, so he Challenged the telepath instead. He went all the way, too: a Death Challenge, no less."

Chyad sat forward, ears pricking with interest. "For what?"

"Because of the female Terran. He accused him of using his talent to make her pair with him."

"And did he?"

Maikoe shrugged. "The trooper I spoke to didn't know any more."

"I don't like it, Maikoe," he said, shaking his head. "Why didn't the Valtegans kill the Terrans? They killed everyone on Khyaal and Szurtha. What was different here on this world? I have a strong feeling that this could be a trap. Allying ourselves with the Terrans could be the worst thing we've ever done. There are bound to be collaborators still on the planet, and having betrayed their own kind once, they won't have any qualms about betraying us."

"This world has fewer people on it," volunteered Khay. "It could simply be that they didn't see the few Terrans here as a