Riane eased off, but this only allowed the tentacle to gain purchase farther up Eleana's leg. Riane looked around. What am I to do? she thought. I can't pull her up, and I can't let her go.

Drip-drip. Her sweat and blood plinked down like rain.Marethyn went limp. There was no use in fighting Ka.s.stna, not like this, anyway. He had every advantage, and she had none. "I know when I am beaten," she said. "You will pardon me if I choose not to believe you." Like a serpent, Ka.s.stna's head came down, and he pressed his mouth against hers. It was all she could do not to gag. He gave her a short, hard jab to her solar plexus. All the breath went out of her. He sat back on his haunches and allowed her to turn on her side in a fetal position.

"You see what I mean, Tuskugggun?" He untied her wrists. Then, abruptly, his face empurpled, he threw her onto her back. "Do you see what I mean, Tuskugggun!" His spittle spattered her face. He trembled with rage and something even more primitive.

Crossing her hands, he rebound her wrists, pushed her arms over her head, ran a cord to the trunk of the nearest kuello-fir, where he tied it off. His fingers fumbled with the ties of her tunic, and he began to pant as he uncovered her b.r.e.a.s.t.s. He used his powerful legs to spread hers as he ripped off her tunic.

"I've never had a hairless female," he said thickly, as his hands pinched her bare flesh. "Though I have heard stories of what it is like to lie with a Tuskugggun."

In order to numb herself, Marethyn turned her mind to the beauty of the world around her. She absorbed the endless fulminations of the dark sky, felt the soft wind rustling over her skin, heard the restless swooshing of the kuello-firs. She let the tactile rumble of the approaching thunder run through her. And then the rain came, hissing down through the forest, turning the nearby glade into a blue-grey blur.

Ka.s.stna pulled down her leggings, raised her thighs, and put an ion cannon to her temple.

"Give me even one small reason to use this," he whispered.

With his bulk about to lower upon her, Marethyn felt the hotness of tears mingle with the raindrops on her face.

Eleana, her dagger out, slashed at the living elastic binding without making even the smallest cut. The Hagoshrin's free tentacle whipped up and, as it had before, s.n.a.t.c.hed the droplets of blood as they fell.

Riane could see the end of the tentacle expand into a cuplike shape that had absorbed her blood in a wink.

Riane let go of the Veil with one hand, scooped up a rock shard, and ground it into her lacerated shoulder.

"Riane, this thing has skin like V'ornn alloy. I can't get through." "Just hold on!" Her teeth were gritted in pain, her shoulder was on fire from the self-inflicted wound. "Get ready to climb!" "It won't let go. It's got too tight a hold on me-Riane!" Eleana saw the blood flowing freely from the open wound. The creature's free tentacle whipped up to catch the stream, but it could not expend the tip enough to catch all of it. In a heartbeat, the second tentacle unwound from Eleana to join its mate in feeding.

"Now!" Riane shouted, and Eleana, banged against stone, swung herself up. Riane bent, helping her, the tentacles slithering after them both, the Hagoshrin humped across the entire plinth, in places oozing off it. Eleana whirled, brandishing the dagger's tip, warrior to the last. Riane backed them away, one step, two. The tentacles pursued, narrowing the gap. It was impossible to move fast or to maneuver at all on the d.a.m.nable bridge. A tentacle reared back and slapped down against the ancient stone. A groaning, a great crack, and Riane lifted Eleana off her feet where the stones were giving way. Another crack, another as they retraced Riane's steps, the bridge falling apart under their combined weight.

Almost at the steps and Riane knew the bridge was failing-all of it. She hoisted Eleana and threw her across the remaining s.p.a.ce. Knees, one shoulder, then the palms took the brunt of the impact. But then Eleana was scrambling up the steps.

"Come on, Riane! Come on!"

But Riane had turned. Surely there was some way to reason with the Hagoshrin, some way toconvince him of Riane's ident.i.ty.

"Hagoshrin," she cried, "do you not recognize the Dar Sala-at when you see her?"

"The Dar Sala-at opens the Storehouse Door with the Ring!" the Hagoshrin bellowed.

"I have the Veil." Held up a fistful. "The Veil of a Thousand Tears."

"The Veil is Dragon seed." Eyes blazing, the Hagoshrin shook his head. "I d.a.m.n all Dragons to the Abyss."

The tentacles, curling, he reached for Riane. The bridge gave one final crack that reverberated through the cavern, and down Riane plunged.

9

Three Little Admirals

Star-Admiral Iin Mennus stood peering into the interrogation cells that lined this section of the cavern beneath the regent's palace. Usually, they were filled with Kundalan, who went under the implements lovingly designed to make even a lump of silicon talk. Not this evening, however. This evening the three cells in front of Mennus were occupied by three admirals. All of them had in one way or another proved resistant to the philosophy of their new superior.

By Mennus' side stood two of his most trusted confederates from his West Country base, Pack-Commander Teww Dacce and the newly named Line-Commander Hannn Mennus, the Star-Admiral's younger brother. He had hated taking them away from what they loved best- slaughtering the Kundalan Resistance-but the exigencies of his new post demanded he have those who were absolutely loyal to him close beside him during this dangerous transition phase.

"What is the regent's condition?" Mennus asked Pack-Commander Dacce.

"Moments ago First-Captain Kwenn informed me that he is in remarkable shape," Pack-Commander Dacce said. "For a Bashkir."

Mennus inclined his head, and his brother went to check on their guests.

"I warrant Kurgan Stogggul is like no other Bashkir," Mennus said. "He is a warrior born, and a supremely clever one, to boot. Treat him as anything less at your own peril."

"Yes, sir."

Mennus found that he had begun to harbor a certain fondness for Kurgan Stogggul. This surprised him, since he had little respect for Bashkir, had had even less for the boy's father, the former regent. But he had to admit that Kurgan was special. Possibly that arose from his being trained by Gyrgon. That would change any V'ornn, even a Bashkir! But the instinct that had made Mennus a formidable warrior and a great leader also told him that this Stogggul was different for other reasons. Unlike his predecessors, he was unwilling to dismiss the lad.

"In the matter at hand, Pack-Commander, I want you to strike up a friendship with First-Captain Kwenn."

"Sir?"

"He has the regent's ear."

"I don't think any Khagggun has the regent's ear."

"You aren't paid to think," Iin Mennus barked. "Just do as you are told."

Hannn Mennus reappeared. He was a small V'ornn, even smaller by Khagggun standards. His bronze skull was as scarred as his meat hook hands. Each scar told its story, the raised, whitish fingers like the pickets of a fence onto which the skeletons of those he had killed had been nailed. His eyes, too, were freakish, pale and glaucous as mistfern, ghostly as moons on water. And, though for the most part calm and calculating, he was given to great gouts of ill temper, during which even those closest to him-if that term could be used-kept their mouths shut and gave him a wide berth.

"Deck-Admiral Whon has gone to N'Luuura," he said. "Deck-Admiral Lupaas is on his way.

Fleet-Admiral Hiche is still unconscious."

The V'ornn named were three of the four members of the high command. Years ago, they had banded together to ostracize and banish Iin Mennus to the West Country. Now look at them! Mennus cracked knuckles knotty with scars. He had waited long years for this moment. Now, at long last, he would have his revenge.

While Pack-Commander Dacce went off on his mission, the Mennus brothers entered the cell where Deck-Admiral Lupaas lay dying. He was not a pretty sight, which cheered the Star-Admiral immensely.For years, he had been dreaming of a day when he would be allowed full rein, but in truth he had never really entertained the notion that it would ever come.

The powerful body that lay on the blood-dark stone slab had a face that was barely recognizable.

With an expert eye, Iin Mennus gazed down at the quiltwork wounds. "You have done a fine piece of work, Hannn."

"Thank you. I appreciate you allowing me the honor. In this line of work, experience is everything."

"Quite right." Mennus nodded. "No matter how good the texts are, they never manage to convey the visceral quality of the real thing. Field training. I insist on it for all my troops. That is why you are the best in your caste." He caught Lupaas' eye, and winked.

The Deck-Admiral's bloodshot eyes tracked him.

Iin Mennus made a clicking sound with his tongue. "Lupaas, can you hear me?"

"I have heard everything," Lupaas said in a gratingly thin voice that spoke of severely damaged vocal cords. "Speaking about me as if I were an example in a course."

"But that is precisely what you are," Iin Mennus said. "An example in Disloyalty 101."

"I have never been disloyal."

"Do you deny being part of a conspiracy to a.s.sa.s.sinate Kurgan Sto-gggul?" the Star-Admiral demanded.

"I know what this is about. It is about you!"

"Me? I a.s.sure you I could care less about what you or others think of me, Lupaas. My only concern here is in rooting out the conspirators."

"There is no conspiracy."

"We are beyond that," Iin Mennus said. "You have already been implicated."

"By whom?" Lupaas asked. "Let me confront my accuser."

"Deck-Admiral Whon is dead," LIN Mennus told him.

"I do not believe . . . He would never accuse me."

The Star-Admiral shrugged. "It's a razor-raptor eat razor-raptor world. You deny being part of the conspiracy?"

"To my dying breath."

"It will come to that, Lupaas." Iin Mennus bent over him. "I make you this promise."

Deck-Admiral Lupaas turned his head and spat onto the stone wall.

"This is the respect you show your regent?"

"Foolish stripling]" Lupaas turned back. "It was a dark day when he named you Star-Admiral." Eyes filled with loathing. "Who are you loyal to, save Iin Mennus? You never follow orders, you will not toe the line. If your peers despise and distrust you, you have only yourself to blame."

The Star-Admiral nodded imperceptibly, and Hannn Mennus applied himself to his work.

Deck-Admiral Lupaas' eyes opened wide, but he uttered no sound of pain. Hannn Mennus ceased his ministration just as Lupaas was about to pa.s.s out.

"Really, this is a pathetic sight," the Star-Admiral said. "One of the high command squirming under interrogation. Surely you know your death will be dishonorable."

"What happens to me matters not," Lupaas gasped. "My sons died honorably on the line. My daughter I do not even know, nor care to." Blood leaked out of his mouth. "You are the ill.u.s.tration that proves our system. You are a loose ion cannon, Mennus. You are secretive, selfish, unpredictable, dangerous. In short, you are everything a commander should not be. If we were fighting the Centophennni this very minute, I would use my first round to blow your brains out. I would-"

That was the last word Deck-Admiral Lupaas ever uttered for, with a bloodthirsty cry, Hannn Mennus plunged the implement through Lupaas' hearts.

For a long moment, Hannn Mennus stood panting, while b.l.o.o.d.y foam bubbled out of Lupaas'

half-open mouth.

Iin Mennus said not a word of rebuke. He had always had a soft spot for Hannn and indulged his hotheaded transgressions, this dwarfish Khagggun who had battled all manner of adversity to arrive at this fierce and bloodthirsty state. When his brother had regained control of himself, he said, "Never letyour emotions enter an interrogation. That, Hannn, is your lesson for today, one I wish you to take back with you to the West Country now that you are in charge of operations there."

Eleana, braced, had realized the bridge was near collapse. Even so, she was almost pulled off her feet.

She staggered, one foot precariously over the edge, heel grinding in rubble, slipping a little. She gained footing then, and hauled Riane onto the steps. The Hagoshrin could not reach them. In its towering rage it began to hurl rocks as large as their heads at them. Dodging and weaving, they ran up, up, until they came to the great mouth in the wall. There was a dry, chalky smell to the sundered rock.

"There is no way back to the shaft." Riane pointed to the protection of the fissure. She gave Eleana a rough-and-tumble boost into the rock mouth, was preparing herself to leap up when a rock struck her on the side of the head.

"Riane!"

Eleana caught her as she was falling back, blood running, that stunned look on her face, reminiscent of her sister playing behind a bush, face stunned just the same as the Khagggun skewered her on the end of his shock-sword, letting her dangle there, screaming and crying, then shot Eleana's mother in the belly with his ion pistol when she ran to her daughter's aid. Funny what you thought of at a time like this.

With a groan like a cry of anguish, Eleana hoisted Riane onto the fissure's lip.

"You have not escaped me," the Hagoshrin screamed. "No one here gets out alive."

Eleana turned Riane over on her back. Riane was fast losing consciousness, eyes beginning to roll up, the way they were when Eleana had found her sister and her mother lying together like dolls. Her mother with one arm flung out around her daughter, seizing her shoulders, as if to protect her during their long journey down. All that blood.

"Riane, please, oh, please stay awake!"

All that blood.

Through the soft patter of the rain Marethyn heard the other sound. Ka.s.stna, peeling off his leggings, grunted like an animal.

"Shut up!" she hissed, straining her ears to determine the direction of the sound.

Ka.s.stna at first did not hear her.

"Shut up!" Louder this time.

He lifted his head. "Wha-?"

"Listen!"

He ground the muzzle of the ion pistol into her temple.

"Fool! Listen! Through the rain!"

His head turned as he c.o.c.ked an ear. "Voices."

"Khagggun voices," she said. "They are close, and coming closer."

Immediately, he took the ion cannon from her head and rolled off her. He sat on his haunches, willing himself to full alertness as he pulled up his leggings.

"What are they saying?"

"Untie me," she said.

"So you can run to them?" He glared at her, shook his head.