KINSMAN’S OATH By Susan Krinard

“VelKalevi, is it?” the old man said. “How very interesting.”

Ronan stood up in the human posture of respect. “Ronan,” he corrected. “The other is not of my choosing, Va Jesper.”

“Ah. Of course.” Jesper sat down at the table and leaned his stick against the chair. “Precisely what is ‘Va’?”

“It means ‘of Will,'” Cynara explained. “A designation of high rank among shaauri.”

“Well, young man, you needn’t be formal with me. I’ve taught far too many youngsters in my time to expect rigid manners.”

“A teacher?” Ronan asked.

“Ronan was raised among shaauri, so he tends to categorize people by what he calls ‘Path,'” Cynara said. “You would be of Will, but as a teacher you would also be Reason. Is that right, Ronan?”

“Yes.” He offered a slight smile to the elder. “I know it is not so simple among humans.”

“You’re correct in that.” Jesper studied Ronan with eyes as sharp as a warrior’s. “You speak excellent Standard for a man raised among aliens.”

“He had human instructors,” Cynara said. It was as if she were defending Ronan, and he grew warm with the memory of their touching in her cabin.

“He can also pilot a darter. But that’s not all of it, Uncle. As I told you in the message, he’s a telepath.”

Jesper raised a shaggy white brow. “Like Kinsmen?”

“Like us. His ability was stunted in childhood, but it seems to be coming back. That’s why I asked you to use your influence on the Council. Janek is convinced that Ronan is an enemy of the Alliance. He’s pushing for an immediate debriefing.”

“So I’ve heard. Janek has connections, but his highhanded behavior also wins him enemies. That’s why I was able to get the debriefing delayed until tomorrow. I’ve taken personal responsibility for you and Ronan.”

“Thank you, Uncle. I don’t want the Council or anyone else digging in Ronan’s mind until he’s fully prepared to face such an ordeal.”

“Quite understandable.” He looked at Ronan. “I can offer you a room at my house, young man, unless you have other plans.”

“Will Cynara be there?”

Jesper’s brows rose higher. “Ah. The D’Accorso palace is not far from my residence. I’ll want to hear all the details of the most recent voyage, so I expect my niece will be visiting often. You’ll be staying with me as well, Lizbet?”

“If you please, Magnus.”

“Poseidon’s balls. I haven’t been Magnus to you in years.” He patted Lizbet’s hand. “You can show our new guest around once we’re there.”

As he finished speaking, the server arrived with a tray of glasses and, with a bow to Jesper, asked what he wished to drink. The elder ordered some unfamiliar beverage and turned to Ronan.

“You aren’t comfortable here,” he said, “in this room, this city.”

Was it a reading of his body, or telepathy like Cynara’s? “It is not like Aitu,” Ronan said, carefully brushing the surface of Jesper’s mind.

Jesper seemed unaware. “I suppose it isn’t like any shaauri world. But you have an excellent guide in my niece.”

Ronan withdrew his probe, fully satisfied that Jesper was a telepath at least as strong as Cynara. She had failed to mention this, though she had said that Jesper was of Persephone, not Dharma. Telepathic abilities were not limited to Kinsmen or Dharmans.

The elder human studied Ronan with a slight frown. “If my niece says that you are to be trusted, I believe her. My own senses confirm her judgment. But it will be a great deal easier to convince the Council if I can tell them you’d be of use to the Alliance in our conflict with the shaauri.” He hesitated and glanced at Cynara. “At the very least I can coach our guest in the best way to handle the Council and their questions.”

‘That was what I’d hoped,” Cynara said.

The server arrived with Jesper’s drink, and he took his time savoring each sip. “Ah, Remallan Ale. None better on Dharma.” He noted Ronan’s water. “Very wise of you to abstain, but we old men must be granted our little peccadillos.”

“What is your age, Va Jesper?”

He laughed, and Ronan saw where Cynara had learned her way of showing amusement. “I am eighty-five, by Dharman reckoning… not greatly different from the old Earth calculation. And you?”

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