The Crucible of Empire (45 page)

"But I have a number of Jao in my unit," Tully said, "Won't that freak these guys out if we all just drop in on their settlement?"

"You are their commander," Wrot said. "The Lleix will see that all the Jao answer to you. That will only reinforce the idea that my kind are now human slaves and put off the time when we must make a full explanation." He turned to Caitlin. "You can use the opportunity to continue negotiations with them, evaluate their preparations for the diaspora, and generally learn all you can about the situation, so that when we return, they will be ready to leave."

Go down to that planet with only a few jinau to back her up? Caitlin closed her eyes, seeking for calm. He was going to strand her with the Lleix who had been so brutally mistreated for such a long time that they were quite likely to look upon contact with any alien species as nothing but the direst of threats.

But she had lived in the eye of the storm raging between human and Jao for most of her life before the deposing of Oppuk and the formation of Terra's new taif two years ago. She knew better than anyone what existing in that sort of maelstrom was like. Venturing among the Lleix mostly likely would not be pleasant, but she could manage, and they deserved what help Terra Taif could provide.

"All right," she said. At least he would have to be the one to explain all this to Ed, including the part about her being left behind on a potentially hostile world. She didn't envy Wrot
that
. "When do we get started?"

"As soon as we can work out the logistics," Wrot said. "Tully, requisition enough supplies to last at least three weeks and get the assault craft prepared."

"What about Mallu and Kaln and the rest of the Krants?" Tully said. "They've been under my temporary command."

Wrot considered. "They will remain under your command for the duration of this assignment. Anyone who can deal with the human Resistance on a regular basis can handle a few obstinate Krants."

Tully looked unhappy, but didn't argue. Caitlin took a deep breath and tucked up a stray lock of hair. The Queen of the Universe should always look her best. "Okay, now we have to go in there and sell this whole idea to the Lleix."

She nodded at the guard who reached over and opened the conference room door for her. Holding her head high, she sailed back into the room, trying to exude confidence.

"Jihan," she said with a calm that she most definitely did not feel, "we have a proposal for you, one that might save all Lleix, not just two thousand."

The bright black gaze turned to her. "All Lleix?" Jihan said.

"All," Caitlin said, taking a seat across from the silver-skinned trio. "I cannot promise yet, but we will try."

Jihan spoke to the other two in the lilting Lleix language. They answered, eyes narrowed, and then all three focused upon her. "How save?" Jihan said.

"If we can work out the logistics," Caitlin said, "we will summon our own ships to transport the Lleix to safety."

"Many ships?" Jihan said. Its silver corona stood on end. "And what is lo-jiss-tix?"

"Many many ships," Caitlin said. "I'll explain logistics later. But, as I said, I cannot promise. For now, while we are trying to work out the details, this ship will take you back to your world, and I will go with you to meet the rest of the Lleix."

"Cat-lin, Queen of the Universe, goes now to Valeron?" Jihan said.

"Well, something like that," she said.

Wrot left Caitlin with the Lleix while he went up to the control deck to give Terra-Captain Dannet her new orders. One hundred thousand Lleix! The number chased itself round and round in his mind, both a wonderful and frightening revelation. The marvelously many descendants of those who had escaped the Jao's ancient brutality now translated into the same number who were, as a human would say, in harm's way. When they had all been believed extinct, the Jao could feel regret at having exterminated such a wise species, but now that the Lleix had been discovered alive, they became a responsibility, and a heavy one at that. What had been a matter of regret was now a matter of conscience.

The lift doors opened and he stepped inside, his thoughts racing. The Lleix had to be moved soon. There was no time to scout out-of-the-way worlds for a suitable new permanent home. Taking them to Terra was the best option available at the moment, unless Preceptor Ronz had a better idea. But settling them there, even for a short time, could draw the attention of the Ekhat once again. If they realized that Terra Taif had cheated them of their prey, they might well launch another major attack on Terra.

Therefore, speed was of the essence. The sooner the Lleix were removed, the less likely the diaspora was to be detected. The Ekhat
were
coming back. He felt it with every fiber of his being. Not now, or even "tomorrow," but soon.

The lift stopped and he stepped out onto the busy control deck. Lights were flashing, crewmen darting from station to station to station. Dannet was leaning over a console, pointing out a discrepancy to a human technician.

"Terra-Captain," he said, striding across the deck. "We have new orders."

Her eyes blazed green, but her body said only
respectful-attention
. They both knew who had
oudh
now that the battle was over, however little she might like it.

"We will achieve orbit around the fourth planet in this system for a short time," he said, "then head back to Terra with all speed possible."

Humans actually bore little resemblance to Jao, Jihan thought, as the little transport soared down through Valeron's buffeting atmosphere. They were shorter than their ancient enemy, even the oldests, and much slighter in build. Their ears were not mobile. Their skin was mostly sleekly bare like that of a Lleix, a variety of shades, none of them even close to silver. Some of them, though, possessed sparse scatterings of fur on arms, legs, and chest, and even occasionally on their prominent-nosed faces.

She was already picking up some English words, which seemed to surprise Cat-lin—no, Jihan reminded herself, the correct pronunciation was "Caitlin." Evidently humans found it much harder to learn new languages. On this short journey from the big ship, she was doing her best to decipher as many terms as possible, though, since most of the humans spoke in this English language, not Jao, unless addressing their slaves.

She gazed around the crowded cabin. Oddly enough, the Jao slaves were clad the same as the rest, in dark-blue "shirts" and "trousers" which fit rather snugly and required little in the way of draping to look their best. Jao carried the same equipment, even weapons, and performed the same tasks. To outward appearances, humans did not seem to regard them as inferior or untrustworthy. That was strange—but also boded well for the Lleix. Even in the short time since she'd met them, it was clear that, whatever else they might be, humans were far different from the savage Ekhat.

The ship landed finally with a jolt that wrung a painful throb from her wrenched arm. Jihan sniffed, twisting about in her safety harness to survey the other passengers. They did not seem alarmed, so such carelessness must be standard. She could have done far better with a Starsifter ship. Perhaps human pilots did not get much practice.

The Queen, Caitlin, rose and made her way back to the three Lliex. "You should go out first," she said. "We do not wish to frighten your people unnecessarily."

Jihan wished the queen looked more impressive. She would have difficulty convincing her people of the richness of Caitlin's resources when they had never seen the gigantic
Lexington
for themselves. Perhaps she could have the Patternmakers design traditional Lleix robes that would disguise her seeming frailty. Nothing, though, could hide her distressing lack of height.

The hatch unsealed and Jihan peered out. With a jolt, she saw that the sun was just disappearing over the mountains. It was early evening planet-side. On the ship, it had been considered morning.

A veritable sea of silvery faces watched. Just beyond, she could see the low graceless buildings of the
dochaya
. A murmur went up at the sight of her Lleix face. "There is no danger!" she called, then ducked her head to get through the low door and took up a position on the extended ramp where all could see her. "The great devils who invaded our system are dead, though more will surely come."

They were clad in the simple gray shifts of the unassigned and shifted from foot to foot, unsure of how to react to this unprecedented sight. She knew they were not used to working things out for themselves.

She turned back and motioned Lliant, with his bruised face, and weary Hadata out into the fading light. It was nearly the time of evening-meal. She could smell sourgrain roasting in the communal cooking house. Most likely, they were weary from the day's labors as well as hungry.

Caitlin eased out to stand beside them. The yellow fur on her head fluttered in the chill breeze coming down from the mountains. The human rubbed her arms with her hands, braced against the wind. "Now what?"

Jihan had been thinking about this ever since Caitlin had said they would accompany the three Lleix back to Valeron. "We request meeting of
elian
in Hall of Decision."

She gazed down at the little queen with her delicate hands and felt almost a moment of tenderness, such as usually reserved for the young and helpless of the Children's Court. Really, for one who held a great deal of authority and power, she was so tiny! "You and rest staying here. I go to Grijo, return soon."

"All right," Caitlin said and hastened back into the ship, apparently uncomfortable. Two humans emerged to take up positions just outside the hatch, weapons in hand. The unassigned stared in dumb amazement at the diminutive creatures.

"What are they?" one, bolder than the rest, whispered. "Are they Ekhat?"

"These are humans," Jihan said patiently. "They came in a great ship, bigger than any ever seen before, and defeated the Ekhat, or we three would not be standing here before you now."

Aureoles flared with interest. The murmuring grew and some even pushed forward to get a better look at the aliens.

"Go partake of evening-meal," she told them as Lliant and Hadata followed her down the ramp. "Nothing will happen here until I consult the Eldests."

And then, because this was their sole meal of the day and hunger blunted curiosity, the unassigned turned away to drift toward the cooking house and left the three human ships sitting out on the plain unattended.

"No one will disturbing you now until I return," Jihan called from the foot of the ramp. "I hoping to come back with news from the Eldests soon."

Caitlin stood in the hatch and waved her small arm, possibly a gesture of permission to depart, then Jihan set off, trailed by the other two.

She went first to the Dwellingconstructors to consult Grijo, who was currently Eldest of all the
elian
. He met them in the
elian
's Application Room. The house was redolent with bluebean stew. Jihan realized with a start how very hungry she herself was. The humans had offered food on their great ship, but it all smelled wretched and she had been too excited to think of eating anyway.

Grijo settled his magnificent bulk on a padded bench while Lliant retreated to a corner as if ashamed, staring down at his feet. "News has preceded you," the Eldest said after a few moments of deliberation. "The Starwarders reported that a great ship of unfamiliar design is in orbit around our world."

"They are called humans," Jihan said, her eyes respectfully downcast. Her feet were filthy, she saw. She should have taken time to bathe them before coming into this august house. "They defeated five Ekhat ships with only the one of theirs!"

"And you thought it safe to bring these aliens back to our city?" His aureole rippled.

"They are the Ekhat's enemy," she said, "and they wish to help the Lleix."

"They have Jao among them," Lliant blurted.

Grijo's eyes went to the Ekhatlore.

"The Jao are their slaves," Jihan said, "as once they were slaves of the Ekhat. As long as the humans control them, they are no longer a danger to us."

"Then you were correct, little Jaolore," Grijo said, "that day up on the mountain."

She turned her head aside. It was not polite to acknowledge an Eldest's error in judgment. "Not entirely, Eldest. I believed the Jao had returned with the Ekhat to destroy us. Instead, it seems that at some point, these humans subjugated them, so that now the Jao do their bidding, not the Ekhat's."

"They are very short," Hidata said softly. "These humans."

"They are another kind," Jihan said. "I do not believe height and girth have as much meaning to them as they do to us."

Grijo considered. "We will have to meet," he said finally.

"Tonight, if at all possible," Jihan said, shocking even herself with her haste. "Though they are vanquished for now, the humans believe the Ekhat will return with even more ships. This will be Last-of-Days if the Lleix do not flee to safety."