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Talent."

Konis leaned forward to take hold of his mug, taking a sip from his drink. "They had a three-way Link, Lijou. One far stronger than Mara and Josh had with Zhyaf."

"I know, Konis. That Link's what saved them."

"There's always a chance that when his Talent returns, his Link with Carrie will reestablish itself."

"There is," said Lijou, hoping his friend was right. To have had a love so closely bound to oneself that you knew her thoughts from moment to moment, then to lose that Link...He hoped they'd be able to keep Kusac sane for long enough to help him; he hoped that the same thought didn't occur to Konis or Rhyasha.

"I want to speak to him, Lijou," said Konis decisively, putting his mug back on the table.

"That isn't advisable, Konis," he said. "Talk to Carrie or Kaid. They can tell you more than Kusac at this time."

Konis frowned. "Why not Kusac? What haven't you told me, Lijou? Surely there can't be worse to come?"

"He was only operated on last night, Konis. He's still under sedation in the IC unit to make sure he has no more seizures, that's all."

"That's not the whole truth, Lijou. I can tell you're keeping something back. And you said these Primes were after a treaty with us. As head of Alien Relations, why wasn't I informed?"

"Because we had no word on Kusac," said Lijou quietly. "I couldn't tell you that Kaid had led a successful escape, unaware that Kusac was still alive and on the Kz'adul. By the time they contacted us, they'd found out about him from their hostage. The blame is mine for keeping that information from you, but I couldn't see you live in hope your son was still alive only to have it dashed if he wasn't."

"Just how long have you known that Kusac was alive?"

"Five days, but we didn't know what state he was in."

"State? I want the rest of the truth now, Lijou," said Konis, his voice deepening in anger. "Kusac's not mentally impaired in any other way is he? You said he'd been kept separately. What else was done to him? I had your word you'd tell us the moment there was news of him— I trusted you to do that, now I find you waited five days!"

"His mind is sound, Konis. I told you as soon as we knew the state of his health," said Lijou. "Till then, we only had a vision of Brynne's, or the word of the Valtegan Prince Zsurtul to depend on. Frankly, as I've already said, I didn't want to tell you he was alive on the strength of either of those. You'd have done the same to me had our positions been reversed, Konis, you know you would. I was only trying to spare you pain if the worst had happened, which, thank Vartra, it didn't."

He'd known his well-intentioned deception would come out into the light of day, and at the time had prayed that his friend would understand. He wasn't yet a father, but he would be in a very few weeks. He knew what his delay had cost Konis, but he also knew what he had spared him.

"As to what else happened to him, he hasn't been debriefed yet, we don't know any details. Look into my mind and see if you wish, Konis. I only meant it for the best," he said quietly. He didn't want to lose this friendship. People like himself, a Guild Master of both the Brotherhood and the Priesthood of Vartra, had few friends. Every one he had was precious.

Konis sighed, his anger evaporating. "I don't need to, Lijou. I know you intended the best. Vartra forbid it, but if there ever is a next time, tell me immediately! What about Carrie and the others? Haven't you debriefed them?"

"Yes, and I have their report with me, along with the proposed treaty between us and the Primes. I need you to take over the negotiations, Konis. I'm sorry to have to ask you at a time like this, but you don't need me to tell you what's at stake right now. You're our best negotiator."

"Who's been handling it up till now?"

"We have, through Kaid. An interim nonaggression pact has been agreed upon. We need you to go over the treaty proposals before we can send them to Kaid for signing. The Primes want our