strongholdrising by Lisanne Norman

males. They wanted to be sure they'd eradicated the worst of their phobias from their racial memory of the Fall."

"And how did they check they won't go as psychotic as the M'zullians the moment they smell us?" Rezac asked.

"They use chemical scent stimulants and holographic images of us created from their data files to finish their conditioning, but it takes time and doesn't work for all of them. That's why they wanted Kezule. He's pre-Fall, with none of those psychoses." His wrist comm buzzed gently and he pushed himself up from the table. "I have to get back now. L'Seuli sends that they're ready to reconvene. It'll be late when I finish. If you can find a way to discreetly tell Carrie I'll sleep in the dorm tonight, I'd appreciate it. She and Kusac need some time alone."

"Is that wise?" asked Rezac, getting up. "After hearing what J'koshuk put him through, I'd say he's walking too narrow a trail right now to be left alone with her."

"I walked that trail myself not long ago, Rezac. I've no reason to keep them apart. The sooner he's normalized, the quicker his recovery will be. The bio-monitor on his wrist will trigger either mine or T'Chebbi's alarms if there are any abnormal changes in his telemetry and we'll be there instantly."

Rezac grunted softly. "I've had personal experience of J'koshuk's interrogation methods, though obviously not for as long as Kusac. I think it's too soon to leave them alone, especially when he could take the view that you've betrayed him with Carrie."

Kaid's ears folded briefly sideways before righting themselves. "He won't. We don't acknowledge jealousy the way your culture did. He knows why our Link happened. I do intend to leave someone on duty outside his room overnight. I hate playing into Rhyaz' claws like this, but if I don't keep Kusac guarded, Rhyaz will get Vriuzu or Jiosha to try probing him again, and I won't risk him having another seizure."

"I don't think Vriuzu would be that stupid after the pain he experienced. Or Jiosha," Rezac said, accompanying him to the door.

Stronghold, Zhal-S'Asha, 19th day (October)

The wind howled round the towers of Stronghold, gusting through the courtyard to whip his hair about his face as he crossed to the aircar. Fighting to hold his Brotherhood uniform jacket closed, he attempted to buckle the belt one-handed. Already dawn brightened the eastern sky, illuminating the roiling clouds overhead. He was committed to leaving now, there was no turning back. Today would be stormy in more ways than one.

Takeoff needed his full attention, but once he was high above Stronghold and heading for the spaceport, the air currents grew calmer and he switched on the autopilot. His thoughts soon began to wander back to Haven.

Haven, Zhal-Zhalwae, 22nd/23rd day (May)

He hadn't been aware of falling asleep, let alone being undressed and put to bed, but when he woke, the room was quiet and the light had been dimmed. A quick glance around had shown him he and Carrie were alone. He lay there for some time, just listening to her soft breathing, and that of the jegget curled near the foot of the bed. Since they'd brought him to this room, either T'Chebbi or Rezac had been with them, trying every now and then, like Carrie, to draw him into some conversation, but there was nothing he wanted to say. All he'd wanted was to be left alone with Carrie.

Among the belongings she'd given him back from the Profit were his wrist comm with the psi-damper he didn't need anymore. To please her, he'd put it on next to the bio-monitor the physician had given him. He supposed it would provide him with some mental protection, meant he didn't have to rely on his natural shielding alone. His torc, like Carrie's, was lost, taken from them by the Primes. Its loss seemed symbolic.

Turning round carefully, he raised himself on one elbow so he could watch her. Her face was relaxed in sleep, the taut lines that had creased her forehead all day were gone now. Realization that he was no