Sheala (13 page)

That was the signal Marljas had waited for. Vaulting over the railing, he landed lightly at Brianna’s side.

Bare-chested, with his Alalakan dragon and leaping lion tattoo glowing in the bright light of the chamber, he answered Brianna’s challenge. “I, Marljas Drefeson, answer my bloodsister’s call for vengeance.”

Unsheathing a claw on his right hand, he drew it across his left forearm, three separate times, reciting each accusation against Bakom clearly.

“I call bloodfeud on you, Rodak don al’ Bakom,” he snarled as the first rivulet of blood began to flow,

“for your harassment of my bloodsister Alalakan dem al’ Brianna and failure to honor her humanity.

“I call bloodfeud,” he continued with the second cut, “for the kidnap and rape of my wife, Alalakan dem al’ Sheala.”

Audible gasps filled the Council chamber. A Gattan–Alalakan alliance of marriage could have profound interplanetary trade implications.

“Finally,” Marljas finished with a roar, “I call bloodfeud for the kidnapping, rape, and inhuman scientific experiments on the Gattan woman Sosha Kanicsdotir!”

Again, loud voices demanded explanations as the third rivulet of blood joined the other two.

Only the light pressure of the hand Brianna placed on his arm kept Marljas, who stood on the balls of his feet sheathing and unsheathing his claws, from attacking the man who’d hurt Sheala.

“How do you answer these accusations, Rodak don al’ Bakom,” she demanded in a voice loud enough to be heard above the growing uproar. “Tell the members of your government how you kidnap women for sexual use by you and your friends.”

“That is a lie!” Bakom screamed. “I know nothing of such women! How dare you accuse me, the First President of the Academy of Science!”

Brianna simply held her hand out to her husband. “Char?”

Angrily nodding his head to the guards, Chardadon picked up a sealed envelope from where it lay on the table and walked to stand in front of the Council president. “Mr. President, would you care to view the rape of my sister and the goddaughter of the Gattan ambassador by Bakom and his assistants now or later? We obtained enough evidence to support these and many other accusations when my family rescued my sister and the Gattan ambassador’s goddaughter from a secret laboratory Bakom had for his private use. Even now, the police are combing through files and samples taken from three separate floors where he performed ‘experiments’.”

All eyes in the room returned to Bakom. The silence thickened.

“Well, Doctor…?”

The Council President never finished. Bakom leaped from the platform where he stood and fled the room much more rapidly than anyone had thought possible.

Snarling, Marljas leaped to the knife embedded in the floor and jerked it free. His catlike reflexes sent the blade flying after Bakom, who screamed and tumbled to the floor.

“Guards!” shouted the Council President, “arrest him!”

Council guards streamed into the chamber. Disgruntled—and panicked—Council members milled and darted about the room. Some returned to their seats. Others scuttled from one door to another, seeking escape. All were now guarded.

Ignoring the pandemonium that flowed around him, Marljas stepped to meet the guards that were hauling Bakom to the front of the room.

Brianna’s voice was soft but the command in her voice cracked like a whip. “Let the guards have him now, Brother. We’ll have our blood another day.”

Still furious, Marljas grunted with approval. In that moment, Brianna was as much a Gattan as any inhabitant of his planet.

A furious Char halted any further conversation between the two. “Bandalardrac,” he said in a tightly controlled voice, “take Brianna to the shuttle. I’ll join you momentarily.”

Brianna ignored Char. “Brother, I wish to go home now.”

Snarling one last time at Bakom, Marljas extended his arm to Brianna. “Come, Sister. My wife has need of me.”

Both Brianna and Marljas ignored everyone else as they left.

Once in Marljas’ transport, Brianna sagged against the seat. “Get me home,” she said with a grimace.

“Then go get Deni.”

Marljas’ rage cooled considerably when he saw her drawn, white face. “What…?”

Brianna gasped and clutched her stomach. “Your nephew has decided to put in an appearance early.”

* * * * *

Horror rolled through her mind as sobs exploded from her throat, and she wanted to bury herself under the blankets and never come out again. Then, slowly, she regained control.

Ignoring the pain coursing through her body, she shoved herself up and swung her head from side to side, straining to see through the darkness. As her hands clenched the sheets, she winced. In the dim light that filled her chamber, Sheala lifted her left hand and stared at the three parallel scratches on her palm.

It hadn’t been a terrible nightmare. Bakom and his assistants had beaten and raped her—then Marljas had come. The events of her rescue were foggy, but Sheala remembered the blood rite she’d demanded.

Marljas had not hesitated. He had married her and promised never to leave her again.

Where was he?

A dark shadow moved.

“Marljas?”

“No.”

A light flashed on.

Tensing, she locked gazes with a man she had never seen before. Tall and completely white, he was without a doubt Deslossian. However, her initial fright vanished to be replaced with a feeling of deep empathy as she stared into brilliant blue eyes. Her aches intensified. Was he a doctor? “Who are you?

Why are you here?”

“I am Bjin. Your clan has agreed to—shelter me for a while.”

“Why?”

“My wife died, and the Elders fear I will seek a way to join her.”

He stepped closer, away from the mirror he’d blocked. When he did, Sheala saw her reflection. Both of her eyes were black, and the left side of her mouth was cut and swollen.

“You were given something for the pain,” Bjin said gently as tears began to run down her face.

Bjin held out his hand. “Please, come with me.”

The entreaty in his eyes was so poignant, Sheala hesitated only a moment. Placing her left hand in his, she allowed him to help her up. Wiping the tears from her cheeks, she asked, “Where are we going?”

“To Sosha.”

“Sosha?”

“A Gattan woman who was held captive by Bakom for almost a year. She endured far more than you.”

Sheala followed Bjin through the door of the room next to hers. A slight Gattan woman with haunted eyes sat in the bed. What Sheala could see of her body was covered with new and partially healed bruises. Every now and then, she shook with a convulsion she couldn’t suppress.

Aching as she was, Sheala was appalled.

“Bakom addicted her to mithrin,” Bjin murmured quietly by way of explanation. “Help me with her.”

The slender Gattan didn’t fight them as Sheala gently wrapped a robe around her and Bjin lifted her in his arms.

“Where are we going?” Sheala repeated as they left Sosha’s room.

“To save our souls,” was his enigmatic answer.

Char sat on the bed with Brianna lying back against his chest as Sheala followed Bjin into the room and stepped as unobtrusively as possible. Bjin sat Sosha on the settee before the heavy drapes covering the bedroom window. Slowly, Sheala lowered herself to sit next to the young Gattan woman. She felt terrible, but Sosha had obviously suffered far more than she. Grasping the Gattan’s hand in hers, she smiled into her face then looked towards the bed.

Except for a quick glance from Denieen, everyone in the room ignored them.

Sosha’s hand tightened around Sheala’s. Sheala glanced towards her, but the young Gattan was staring intently at Brianna. Meri came over to them, and she and Sheala helped Sosha to the bottom of Brianna’s bed. There, Sosha used Sheala and the bedpost for support. Both Sheala’s and Sosha’s expressions changed as they watched Brianna give birth. Pain they understood. Sosha, especially, had experienced much worse. But Brianna’s pain brought joy, not suffering.

Brianna screamed, and her son slid into the world. Both girls watched with awe as Brianna’s joy conquered her pain when her child was placed in her arms. Both perceived the deep and profound love Char and Brianna shared.

Turning to them, Denieen demanded,“What are you doing here with them?”

“We came because we were called,” Bjin answered.

“Explain,” Denieen snapped.

“The Flame of Mediria,” Bjin answered, using the name the Nissian Patriarch of Mediria had given Brianna, “called to us.” He nodded towards Sheala and Sosha. “We have all been damaged in mind or body or both. Now, life holds little or no joy for us. This is not what the Creator wants. Because she is bringing a new life into the world, she has the ability to help us heal. Alalakan dem al’ Brianna O’Shea of Earth can help us relearn the meaning of life.”

“Well, it’s time to go back to your rooms. Brianna needs to rest and so do Sosha and Sheala.”

After Meri placed Connor in the baby cot, she joined Deni. The two women guided Bjin, Sheala, and Sosha from the room.

As Sheala settled back into her bed, a cheer from downstairs slipped beneath the closed door. For the first time that day, she smiled slightly. Connor’s relatives had been informed of his arrival.

Before she could close her eyes, though, the door opened and Char walked across her room and gathered her into his arms. Turning he walked back across the room.

Meri appeared in the doorway. Brianna’s asleep, but the newest Alalakan should meet his family,” she said and laid Char’s son in Sheala’s arms.

Sheala gazed at the sleeping child in her arms and then looked up at Char, who smiled fondly down at her. “Come along, Shea, it’s time you said hello to the rest of the family, too.”

With those words, he scooped her up into his arms, wincing at her shudder of pain. She was smiling at the child in her arms, however, and there was a new light in her eyes. Sheala was on the path to healing.

Char left the room followed by Meri.

Marljas looked over his shoulder and nudged Wendjas out of the way when Char entered the room carrying Sheala.

“Char! What are you doing? Sheala should be in bed!” Xdana exclaimed. “And what about Brianna?”

Grinning, Char placed Sheala into Marljas’ arms.

Shifting his weight to make Sheala as comfortable as possible, Marljas looked down and saw what she was holding. He laughed as Char carefully gathered his son into his arms.

“Brianna’s resting,” Char said as he turned back to his assembled family. “However, I thought you might like to meet our newest clan member, Alalakan don al’ Connor.”

Fully understanding the symbolism of Char’s actions, Marljas had eagerly accepted Sheala. He’d glanced briefly at the child she held, but concentrated mostly on the woman in his arms. A few moments after Char had taken his son, Marljas backed out of the room and disappeared up the steps. In a matter of moments, they were in Sheala’s room where Marljas placed her gently on the bed.

She didn’t meet his intent gaze.

Placing his fingers under her chin, he lifted her head until she looked into his face. “I remember a brave woman who dared me to try her swords,” he said quietly.

“Marljas, I…”

“Shhhh… You must sleep again. We’ll talk tomorrow.” He handed her the medication sitting on the nightstand.

Obediently, she swallowed the pills and closed her eyes. Soon, she slept.

Marljas was staring down at his sleeping wife when Denieen entered the room.

“You gave her the medication.”

“Yes.”

“And the other?”

Marljas shook his head negatively.

“You have doubts now? Do you still wish to give the abortifacient? It could still be done.”

“If she carries a child, there’s a good chance it is mine.”

“And if she has a child, and it is obviously Drakian, what then? By Gattan law, she’s your wife. Can you accept a child of rape? There are many on our planet who would not.”

Marljas finally stopped staring at Sheala and turned to Denieen. Sighing he said, “I would raise a
chigian
swamp rat as my child if she asked it of me.”

A warm smile lit Denieen’s face. Gently placing her hand on his arm, she said, “You made the right choice. If Sheala is pregnant, it must be her decision to end it.”

A long sigh escaped Marljas and his shoulders drooped.

She hugged him. “Don’t worry. Drakians don’t conceive readily so pregnancy is very unlikely. Besides, her mother and grandmother would certainly have explained exactly what was necessary for her to know about contraceptives in a permissive society such as this. However, I’ll raise the subject with one of them when next we are alone, just to make sure.”

Marljas stared at his sleeping wife. “Does she remember, Deni? Does she even realize that by Gattan law we are married?”

“She’s alive, Marljas, and whole of body. You must take one day at a time. Tomorrow will be soon enough to talk to her. Now, you must sleep, too. What woman wants to claim a ragged, ungroomed Gattan as a husband?”

After a final hug, she left.

His heart heavy, Marljas stared at Sheala. Her body would heal, but would her mind? Blinking back the moisture in his eyes, he rolled his shoulders then stretched. He was tired. Silently, he stretched out on the bed next to Sheala, being careful not to touch her.

Soon he too had drifted off to sleep.

During the long hours of the night, Sheala snuggled closer until she slept wrapped tightly in Marljas’

arms.

* * * * *

She shifted and froze. Someone was lying against her back.

“Nooo…!” she screamed and leaped out of the bed.

Marljas leaped from her bed, long, deadly claws unsheathed.

Shaking, Sheala stared at him from across the room.