Heart's Lair (35 page)

The party split up outside the lab area. On an impulse, Karic continued to follow Liane's trail which led to the Analysis lab. Her scent was quite strong here, no more than a half hora old. That heartened him.

The lab was in physical chaos. Two white-garbed scientists lay sprawled on the floor, one with a half-severed hand, the other with a mutilated face. Liane again, Karic realized with a twinge of pride. She was getting to be quite a little warrior.

Morigan was discovered in an adjoining room, barely conscious and secured, hand and foot, to an exam table. Karic winced at the sight of his father's seared and swollen face. He quickly freed his father and gathered him into his arms.

Morigan's eyes opened. ''KKaric?" he mumbled. "Is it really you? II've had so many unexpected visitors this nocte. First Liane, now you."

Karic's grip tightened on his father. "Liane. Where is she? I must find her before Necator does!" "She left but a short time ago, I think. Sheshe stunned Necator, and they carried him away." Morigan managed a weak smile. "You've got quite a little she-cat on your hands."

"Was there ever any doubt?" Karic lifted his father into his arms. "Let's get you out of here."

The Lord of the Cat Men stayed his son. "Some of the others can assist me. You need to find Liane."

Karic hesitated. "Are you certain?"

"Quite certain."

"See to our lord," Karic instructed two of his men, "then search out our countrymen."

With a fleeting smile of farewell to his father, he ran from the room. Liane's track was more erratic now, her scent tinged with fear. She'd left the lab in a hurry, pursued and frightened. Karic followed through endless passages until her spoor finally led back to the upper level. He was drawing close to her now; he could feel as well as smell it. Her path led down a long, dimly lit corridor of what appeared to be sleeping chambers, ending at one particular door.

Karic halted before it, puzzled. Why would Liane enter someone's room? And whose was it? He doubted it was Necator's. This didn't appear to be the part of the palace where a Lord Commander would have his quarters. His hand moved to the door, when the sound of voices within stopped him.

The thick stone walls muffled the actual words, but Karic could make out two male and a female voice. The soft feminine voice was definitely Liane's. Confusion filled him, and he almost succumbed to the impulse to rush inside. Then reason returned. Cloaking himself, Karic cautiously pushed open the door and slipped into the room.

Across the span of but three meters, the broad backs of two tall men confronted him. One was dark-haired, the other blond. Keeping to the shadows, Karic watched and listened.

"Ah, yes," the dark-haired man was saying, "I remember now. You were the only one with the courage to tell the truth. I've thought about you these past monates. Wondered what Necator would do to you because of that honesty. I am glad you're safe, Domina."

"And I am glad you have returned, my lord," Karic heard Liane reply. He tried to catch a glimpse of her, but the two men blocked his view. "We are in the direst straits and desperately need your assistance!"

"So Gage has been telling me."

Karic's gaze swiveled to the man's blond companion. Bardwin, he thought grimly. Strange that he should once again find the tracker with Liane. Uneasiness snaked about Karic's heart.

"When I arrived on Aranea and found problems of Imperium magnitude, I knew I couldn't return soon to Agrica," the dark-haired man continued, "so I sent Gage in my stead to covertly continue the investigation." He smiled over at his friend. ''And only this nocte has he finally returned with the information I've been seeking."

"That runaway scientist was harder to track than some of the cleverest criminals," Gage muttered. "I almost caught up with him in Fodina, before he once again slipped away." He glanced at Liane. "That's who I was looking for in the pits, that nocte I took you there."

"And did you finally find him?" Liane asked.

"Yes, of course."

"Of course."

"My Lord Ardane," Karic heard her begin again, "Necator has a secret weapon that reprograms men's minds. We fear he means to use it to take over the Imperium."

"Does he now?"

"Yes, my lord."

"And how do you know this?"

"The Cat Man I rescued from Necator told me of the machine. It is called the Guide."

The man named Ardane, who Karic had quickly recognized as the Bellatorian Liane had spoken so highly of, grinned at Gage. "It seems knowledge of the Guide is becoming quite common. That scientist of yours must have been determined to spread the news far and wide. We are fortunate Necator hasn't already disappeared with the weapon. This nocte is none too soon to carry out our plan."

He took Liane by the arms. "Will you help us, Domina? Gage speaks highly of your courage, and you've worked well together before. With your knowledge of the palace, we should easily find the Guide."

Anger and disbelief roiled in Karic. Was it possible? Had Liane been working with these two men from the beginning? It almost seemed so, and yet to suspect her of such treachery . . .

"I've been with you since that first sol we met, my lord," Liane breathed. "I'll help in any way I can. And there are others, not far away in the forest"

At her words, spoken with such joyous enthusiasm, something in Karic snapped. He stepped out of the shadows. "How easily you betray us, Liane!" he snarled.

"Karic!" she cried. In the momentary confusion, she slipped between Gage and Teran.

Before she could take another step forward, Teran pulled her behind him. He'd seen the blaster in the Cat Man's hands.

In the dim light, Karic's eyes gleamed like smoldering embers. He scathingly surveyed the tall Bellatorian who stood before Liane. "What is your purpose here?" he harshly demanded. "And what are you to my mate?"

"He is Teran Ardane," Liane frantically explained as she simultaneously attempted to squirm away from Teran. "He is the man I told you about. The one who can help your people. And Gage," she quickly motioned in his direction, "is also here."

Karic momentarily eyed Teran's hands upon Liane. "Yes, I can see how adept he is at helping," he muttered. Then his icy glance swung to Gage. "A strange coincidence, isn't it, that once again I find you with Liane. How long have you two been conspiring together?"

"There's no conspiracy," the blond tracker calmly replied, "save what you've fabricated in your mind."

Karic's face darkened. He rounded on Liane. "Have you betrayed my people to these men? Have you and Bardwin been lovers all along? Was that the price he asked for his help?"

"How could you think such a thing?"

His glance raked her seductively garbed form. "You stand there, dressed like an alley walker, plotting with two Bellatorians, and wonder how I can think such a thing? What else
would
I think?"

Liane's fists clenched at her side. "And how do you imagine I was able to get into Primasedes, you ignorant, loin-crazed male, except to play the whore? And do you perhaps also think I took on half the guard barracks to secure my way into the alarm system room? Why not lay that at my feet as well?" Gage moved forward, all the while struggling to keep the amusement from his voice. "This reminds me of a similar discussion we had at Fodina, and once again, Cat Man, you are mistaken."

"Am I now?" Karic growled. "Well, one way or another it doesn't really matter. I can't take any chances." He cocked his blaster. "Both of you are going to die."

"Karic!" Liane's horrified voice filled the room. "Don't you dare!"

Teran turned to her. "Give me your word you'll stay out of this. Trust me. It'll be all right."

"But you don't understand. Let me talk to him"

"Domina," Teran sharply cut in, "go stand with Gage. That's an order."

Liane choked back further protest. Her lifelong Bellatorian training effectively quelled her impulse to argue. And she did trust Teran Ardane. Her Sententian abilities had ascertained his courage and innate goodness long ago. Now, if only Karic could be made to see reason . . .

She moved to stand beside Gage. Teran shot her a brief, reassuring' smile. His gaze, however, when he turned to meet Karic, was wary.

Teran eyed the blaster still pointed at him. "Do you mean to use that on me like a coward or fight for her man-to-man?"

Liane gasped.

The taunt shattered the last of Karic's control. The challenge to fight for his mate overcame his Bellatorian logic. Instinct, Cat Man instinct, took over in one wild rush of emotion. Karic tossed aside the blaster. With a low growl, he leaped at the other man. Teran was ready for him. A past assignment on Agrica had well acquainted him with the various races and their unique qualities. He knew the highly emotional nature of Cat Men, and as a former warrior, he vastly preferred bringing disputes to a swift end, even if it necessitated the use of force. Indeed, the wiser of the two courses was to disarm the younger man in a fight, rather than risk a sudden outburst of anger and use of the blaster.

The two men slammed together, the bare flesh of chest and arms meeting in a resounding slap. For long, hard secundae the two adversaries struggled to gain the advantage. Blows fell, hard and bruising, yet neither made a sound. Teran fought with quiet determination, biding his time, awaiting the right opportunity. And, bit by bit, Karic's rage subsided, the red hot mists of high emotion clearing to a hard, bitter resolve.

In the back of his mind Karic knew he'd been goaded, but it didn't matter. Too long had he controlled the anger, frustration and sense of futility over Bellatorian domination of Agrica and Necator's increasingly bloodthirsty reign. In the absence of the Lord Commander, the bearded man he now fought represented all he hated and yearned to destroy. Liane was only part of it, this Karic knew. He fought as well for the sheer pleasure, for a release from all his long-suppressed tensions.

Sweat sheened their bodies. Breathing became ragged and panting, yet still they battled on. Liane watched with rising horror, as the realization grew that Karic would indeed try to kill Teran. She had never seen him like thisa controlled, lethal killerand though she sensed his pent-up rage at all things Bellatorian, she couldn't allow him to make this fatal mistake. To kill Teran would irrevocably destroy all hope for Agrica. But to turn against Karic!

She forced a semblance' of reason past her turbulent emotions. He'd understand in the end. He had to.

Liane turned to Gage. "You've got to stop them. Karic will kill Teran."

"I know," Gage muttered, "but if I interfere, your Cat Man may go wild and use his claws. Teran could easily be slashed to death before I managed to separate them."

He strode over and picked up Karic's blaster.

"No!" Liane cried. "The stunner. Please, use the stunner!" Her frantic gaze searched the room for the weapon.

The two men were on the floor now, each fiercely wrestling to overpower the other. Liane ran across the bed chamber in the direction she'd seen the stunner fly when Gage had knocked it from her. On her hands and knees she felt along the shadowed wall, trying to block out the labored grunts of the rapidly tiring combatants.

For all Teran's commanding physique and intelligence, Liane knew Karic would eventually emerge the victor. The renowned stamina of the Cat Men was an unbeatable advantage, an advantage that gave them an Imperium-wide reputation for invincibility in hand-to-hand combat. If she didn't find the stunner soon, it might be too late.

Finally, her hand closed around the little box. She scrambled to her feet. Even now Karic was behind Teran, throttling him. With trembling fingers, Liane slid the stun setting to light stun and aimed the weapon.

Karic stiffened as the beam touched him, arching back in soundless agony. Then he slumped to the floor. Teran, still in Karic's grip, was pulled backward on top of him. He lay there for a long moment, dragging in great gulps of air. Then he rolled off the now inert form of his opponent and staggered to his feet.

Teran ruefully grinned at Liane and Gage. "Never fought . . . a Cat Man before," he said between panting breaths. "Provoking that one . . . was definitely a bad call."

She eyed him. "He'd have killed you."

"That thought was beginning to permeate my thick skull about the time you stunned him."

"We've got to find some way to convince him to listen to youand quickly," Liane said. "I only set the gun on light stun. He'll awaken soon."

Teran glanced in Karic's direction. "What do you suggest we do? You know him better than I."

Liane walked over to Karic. Squatting, she gently stroked his face, now expressionless in a form of neural sleep. A fierce protectiveness welled in her. He was so helpless now. If anything should happen to him . . .

She forced her attention back to Teran. "It would be wisest to bind him until he calms down enough to listen to reason."

Teran cocked an amused brow. "And how long will that take? He seems pretty hotheaded."

"Not long. His highly logical side will resurface soon enough. He's half-Bellatorian, you know."

"I gathered as much from his appearance," Teran dryly responded. He paused. "What's he doing in Primasedes? Seems like half of Agrica has free run of the palace this nocte. Necator spoke of an alarm system to keep intruders out."