Braxi-Azea - In Conquest Born Part 11

'But-" Torzha began. Ebre put a hand on her shoulder.

"If they say no, then it's no. She's not technically a citizen of the Empire, Torzha-she doesn't come under our jurisdiction."

"But in a matter regarding military security-"

"StarControl can't override the prerogatives of a Darian medical facility unless the subject is an Azean citizen. Special amendment to the Treaty of Conquest."

He paused for a moment and watched her; at last he urged, "Look, I could use a breath of fresh air. Didn't the guard say something about waiting on the terrace?"

After a moment she nodded, and led him there. The Darian night was cool and he breathed deeply as he stretched.

"Eight Standard Days in that d.a.m.ned transport," he muttered. "Not for anyone but you, Torzha. A man needs a planet to stand on."

She was amused. "What about the five years in s.p.a.ce I keep hearing about?

Heroic sacrifice of ground leave rights? Endless battle and bloodshed and not a moment's rest for the weary?"

"That was quite some time ago-and a desk job cures you of that kind of endurance. You'll learn that soon enough." He leaned on the primitive metal railing and shook his head, incredulous. "Halfway across the Empire to see some child prodigy for Hasha knows what purpose-Founding forbid you should tell me that-and the primitive natives won't let a crowned head of the Empire into their precious medical facility. What idiot came up with the idea of a const.i.tutional empire, anyway? Hasha, it's times like this I realize just how much power we don't have."

"Nothing personal," she said dryly. "You're just outranked."

"By some primeval killer who forbade visitors." He had switched into Ikna, which they both spoke, just in case someone was listening. "How foolish of me- of course."

Footsteps sounded lightly on the rough stone floor behind them; they turned and found a native waiting for their attention."

"Laun Set," Torzha explained. "A Bloodletter, and the man who's been watching over Anzha lyu." She introduced Ebre: "Director ni Kahv, of StarControl."

The Darian ignored him. "I heard you were here. If you want to see her, I'm willing to allow it."

Torzha started forward and Ebre moved to follow, but the Bloodletter stepped between them, his eyes cold with authority. "Only that one."

Ebre hesitated, then shrugged and backed off. "Evidently you outrank me, Starcommander. Please go ahead-I'll wait here." Then, in Ikna: "And when you come back please don't forget to explain to me why I came here."

Laun Set ushered Torzha out and with a gesture indicated the direction she should travel. Before joining her he looked back at Ebre.

"She's not one of you," he said to him, quietly. "She's far more like my kind than yours. It would be better if Azea just left her alone while she healed. My people know what to do."

Do they? he wondered, but he said nothing.

The Bloodletter led Torzha down a heavily guarded corridor, to a private room at the end. While they walked, he explained the situation. "She'll live, I'm glad to say. These things happen sometimes: the drugs go bad, or there's a mistake made in mixing them. Usually that means death. In her case we were able to compensate. But full recovery will be long in coming. Here." he indicated a door.

"She's asked after you. That's why you're here. But I have to remind you that her mind is as exhausted as her body. Mask your tension, if you can."

She looked sharply at him. "Is it so noticeable?"

He laughed, and seemed about to voice a mocking answer, but at last said merely, "Yes. Go in, please."

The child lay in a primitive hospital bed, barely breathing. Light from the corridor flooded the room as Torzha opened the door, driving back the shadows which had dominated prior to her arrival. When she shut the door behind her she was left in near-darkness; the window had been adjusted to an eighty-five percent screen and the little light that pa.s.sed through it was barely sufficient for human vision.

"My eyes are over-sensitive," the child explained, as though Torzha had voiced her observations. "Laun Set says this is normal, under the circ.u.mstances."

Her voice was a whisper, yet physical weakness did not seem to be the cause.

"Your hearing?" Torzha asked softly.

The child smiled. "Also." She stirred as if she meant to rise to a sitting position, but lack of strength forced her back again to the pillows. "This isn't what you've come to talk about, though."

"Do you know that?"

"You mean, am I reading your mind? Yes and no. I'm not . . . how should I say it? . . . reaching inside you for information. But your surface thoughts, your immediate emotional concerns, these are obvious to me-I'm trained to take note of them as casually as I breathe. Think of a book-one can grasp its purpose by observing the cover, without opening it." She paused. "I'm sorry if-"

"I'm familiar with books."

"Few are."

"But those who study the Braxins have to be."

She was intrigued. "Transculturalist?"

Torzha nodded.

"And that does have something to do with why you're here."

"In that it concerns Braxi, yes." Torzha pulled a chair close to the bed and sat beside her. The child's sun-scorched lids, she noticed, were nearly shut, but beneath them there was a hint of vibrant life in the movement of her eyes. It would take a lot to kill this one. Torzha thought. "I'll admit I was more than a little hesitant to let you negotiate with the Braxin as you did."

"Then I'll admit I was surprised you let me." Her lids flickered open briefly and dark eyes studied the Starcommander. "Why?"

"I'm not certain I can answer you. I trust my hunches- they're usually reliable.

I'm a good judge of people, and you inspire my faith. Also," she admitted wryly, "there were few real alternatives." She leaned forward, then said softly, "Anzha lyu, do you know just what you accomplished?"

Again that bright, piercing look shot out from beneath the sunburned eyelids.

"Tell me."

"You are a Bloodletter." She looked pointedly at the girl's left arm-a dark gash was permanently incised above the wrist. Anzha's hand flexed in unconscious response to the scrutiny. "A human Bloodletter. Not some spy who dishonored the Hyarke by competing against the natives, but one whom the Darians chose to raise to their status. The reasons are irrelevant-the fact remains. To the Darian mind, human life had risen immeasurably in status. Not only has the crisis pa.s.sed, but the situation has noticeably improved. Two centuries of diplomacy and you put us all to shame in a single afternoon. Anzha lyu. . . ." Her voice was suddenly lower. "Why did you hunt the Braxin?"

"For my pleasure," she said sharply.

"That answer would do your enemies proud."

" 'To hunt a Braxin, one must think like a Braxin.' Do you know who said that?"

"Darmel lyu Tukone."

"My father. My family had a long tradition of service to the Empire. If not for . .

. the obvious . . . I would have joined them."

Now, Torzha thought. Say it.

"You still can."

The girl looked up, startled. "Do you know what you're saying?"

Torzha smiled, amused. "I think so."

"I can't even become a citizen of the Empire, much less serve in the military. I'm banned from obtaining the simplest Security clearance."

"I'm aware of all this."

"Then how-"

"Let me tell you some things about the rulers of the Empire. The Emperor himself is a practical man, with little tolerance for bureaucratic nonsense. If the military says it needs you, he'll back you. Ebre values my opinion and will act on it; StarControl will support you."

"That's two."

"You'll never win over the Council of Justice. They can't go back on their decisions regarding you or it throws much of their work into question. As for the Combined Council of Nations, the Director of StarControl has an honorary seat in the House of Humans, through which he can argue on your behalf and also observe the workings of the Council to time things properly regarding it."

"Is ni Kahv going to argue vehemently on my behalf?"

"I doubt it. But Ebre's chosen his successor."

The girl's eyes opened wide in understanding. "You."

Torzha inclined her head in affirmation. "The news isn't out yet. I'd prefer it remained that way."

"I understand. That would mean three of the Five would be female. . . ."

"Two females and a T-san Breeder, but the result is the same-a fifty/fifty balance is as abhorrent to the Braxins as a female majority. To us it's a simple matter, not a s.e.xual issue at all-but to them it will mark the changeover from a male empire to a female one. The moment of formal announcement will bring on renewed military activity and symbolic brutality. Just as it always does, in such cases."

She leaned over toward the girl.

"I want to sponsor you into StarControl."

Antic.i.p.ation flashed brightly in those dark, alien eyes. "You're taking on a real battle, there."

"Does that mean you'll do it?"

"The Inst.i.tute won't let me go."

"For two more years, until your basic training is completed. After that you can commute from the Academy."

"They won't take me in."

"Ebre can override their admissions office."

"Will he?"

Torzha smiled. "If approached properly."

"You seem to have all the answers."

"I've tried to antic.i.p.ate all the questions. I have no illusions about this, Anzha lyu--it's not going to be easy. But I see a tremendous potential in you that's wasted anywhere but at the War Border. What do you say?"

The child drew in a deep, thoughtful breath. "What can I say? This is all I've dreamed of doing, all I've ever wanted. And I have nothing whatsoever to lose.

Yes, Starcommander. Yes."

"Then rest, now, and regain your strength. Ebre's on Dan and we can do the ceremony here. After that, the Council of Justice will have to deal with you through me."

And the Council of Nations, she thought, and the Emperor. Not to mention the Inst.i.tute, which claimed actual possession of the girl . . . but that was the easy part.

How in the name of Hasha was she going to explain this to Ebre?

Harkur: The more complex a language, the greater its capacity to influence the thoughts of men.

Six.

149 And as the water receded (antic.i.p.ation to dread, culminating by the end of line 150).

150 A form was left adrift (to sorrow, with a hint of morbid fascination) 151 Pale arm draped over cold stone (finality) 152 A last spray to clothe its hand in death.

I waited.

The a.s.sembled company was silent. Their faces, hidden behind masks of Braxana image, revealed nothing.

Finally Kaim'era Zatar nodded. I permitted myself to breathe again.

"It was well done." He waved for a servant to pay me. "Although I am surprised there was no taste of secondary eroticism in the last image, given your audience."

Mentally I berated myself for the choice; verbally I rose to defend it. "Before such an audience, is not erotic content inherent in the image itself? To fall into an overtly s.e.xual speech mode would seem, to me at least, to be both unnecessary and overbearing, and would sacrifice the subtlety of the image's implications."

"Oh, I fully agree with your choice-but it surprises me that a non-Braxana could be so perceptive." Gold sinias were laid before me in quant.i.ty; I tried not to betray the extent of my surprise. "Take them, woman-the performance was worth it."

I bowed deeply. "I am grateful, Kaim'era."

"A good poet is hard to come by-and a female, even more so. How did you come to the Art?"

I used the speech mode of recall and subtly drew on my mother's inflection: "By abandoning all profitable pursuits and devoting myself to insubstantial folly."

He laughed, and a few others among my audience smiled. The rest were doubtlessly confused by my use of irony without speaking in an ironic mode- complex. How limited are they who can only follow two lines of thought at once!