“Why—we’re empaths,” I answered, immediately trying to figure out what she was talking about this time. “We’re a bunch of human beings born with the empathetic ability.”
“Something we’ve always been told and can even prove,” she said with a nod, the cup of kimla at her lips doing nothing to hide her amusement. “Now tell me this: what does healing, and precognition, and telekinesis and-something we haven’t even named yet that increases a person’s thinking and planning ability-got to do with empathy? You can 8o all the rest of that, you know. Ashton saw you doing some of it. The balance you told us about yourself.”
“When did I ever increase anyone’s thinking and planning ability?” I demanded, then took a good swallow of the wine I held. With my head spinning the way it was, those were the only two things I could think of doing.
“Ashton saw you doing it with our strategy and tactics people,” Kaila said gently, throttling back her amusement. “They were having all sorts of problems with details until you got there, and then everything began clearing away like magic. Our approach to the complex, the number and size of the transports we needed, who would command where, how the complex residents were to be handled-one thing after another just fell into place, letting us move faster and more efficiently than any of us thought we could. All because you were in a hurry to get the attack going and needed it done.”
“Just like you needed the attack on the Chama’s palace in Vediaster,” Ashton put in, her own amusement more evident. “When we were there, I heard someone mention how well their planning had gone with you there. And in case you were about to ask, that block you removed from Leelan was very fine telekinesis. No need to look so surprised. If you think back, I’m sure you’ll come across some other instances when you did the same things without knowing it.”
I wasn’t surprised; I was stunned, but being stunned didn’t stop me from remembering more than one odd incident—the conversations I’d had with Garth, the unexplained insight Dallan kept showing-hell, I could even remember getting answers I needed from my own reflection in a goblet! It was all very unsettling, but Kaila ignored my state of mind as she leaned forward with a smile.
“You’ve proven to us that all the talents we’ve been considering odd residuals are just part of the whole picture,” she said, and again her voice was gentle but firm with conviction. “Empathy isn’t all there is to it, it’s just the first thing we can do, the crawling that comes before the ability to walk. Even if it turns out that we can’t go back and start over, our children and children’s children won’t have that problem.”
“And also must we investigate more closely the differences between Centran and Rimilian abilities,” Lamdon put in, looking very pleased. “We who are part of the community have learned Centran ways, doing naught with that which was given us by our own. Your memabrak has been forced to finding his own way about much as were you, wenda, with results somewhat different from what has been considered the norm. His efforts were, of course, necessitated by your presence, therefore must we thank you for this as well.”
Tammad’s hand came to my shoulder and squeezed gently, a gesture of approval and agreement according to his thoughts. Everyone seemed to be looking at me with the same sort of reaction, which was an odd incident all by itself. The reaction I evoked in people wasn’t usually approval, and I didn’t know how wise I would be getting used to it.
“And now would seem to be the time to point out the reason for all these happenings,” Murdock said, shifting just a very small amount in his chair. “A Prime was needed to do the job Rathmore Heilman wanted done, and that’s why Terrilian was sent with Tammad to Rimilia. That single decision was meant only to save Rimilia and yet it precipitated events which caused all the rest, Rathmore’s downfall included. For many years I’ve sought the reason for my having had to bring very great pain to my own flesh and blood, and most of that reason was just given you. The final point is that now we have the opportunity of righting the wrongs done by those who were our enemy, of establishing a government capable of feeling the needs of the people it governs, not simply assuming what we believe those needs should be. For this, also, we have Terrilian to thank, and Irin and Rissim as well, for the sacrifice they made. There was indeed a reason, and now we know it in full. ”
To say Murdock glowed would not be completely accurate, but his mind was certainly lighter and brighter than I’d ever before seen it. Irin was staring at him in an effort to maintain stubborn anger, but the anger was dissolving too fast for her to keep it together. If everything they’d said turned out to be true, our forced separation would bring benefit to uncounted numbers of people. Since we weren’t missing knowing each other entirely, there was a lot of room for forgiveness.
“Well, that seems to settle most of it,” I said, standing up as Ashton, Kaila and Lamdon did the same. “Now maybe we can get back to kicking around a problem that isn’t quite planetary in scale.”
“What problem?” Ashton asked while Tammad came over to put his arm around me. “Come to think of it, you four have been spending an awful lot of time with your heads together. For a while Murdock and I were afraid you were planning a revolution of your own.”
“We’re not really into revolution,” I said with a headshake, wondering if Ashton was capable of being serious for longer than fifteen minutes at a stretch. “And what we have come up with is so meager, I can’t say I think much of that planning-enhancer ability you claim I have. With all the skull-sweat we’ve put into it, we should have had an answer by now.”
“Maybe you four aren’t capable of coming up with an answer,” Kaila said, her wrinkle-browed expression showing she wasn’t trying to be insulting. “Possibly the person you enhance has to have the ability to do the answering to begin with. If it’s a technical problem, you may not have that sort of expertise among you.”
“In a manner of speaking, our difficulty is precisely that,” Tammad put in, his thoughts pleasantly surprised. “The woman is possessed of a conviction, one we have thus far found no basis for, yet is there no doubt within her concerning its veracity. Should we be unable to resolve it, all we have attained will be meaningless for us.”
“Then let’s get Murdock working on it,” Ashton said, immediately turning brisk and efficient. “I’ve been watching him develop convictions for years, so he’s the expert you need.”
“What’s this?” Murdock asked as we turned to him, Irin and Rissim coming over to join us. “What is it I’m needed for?”
“Murdock, Terry is sure something is going to keep her and Tammad from being together,” Irin blurted, looking at her brother anxiously. “She doesn’t know what, but the feeling is so strong she can’t simply forget about it. What are they going to do?”
“I get nothing of the same myself,” Murdock answered with a frown, his stare unfocused, and then he was silent for a moment before asking, “Is that precisely the conviction you have, Terrilian? That you and Tammad will not be together?”
“Just about,” I admitted, more disappointed at his lack of immediate help than was rational or reasonable. “Not long ago it came to me that I would never belong to him, and the feeling refuses to go away.”
Murdock shook his head helplessly, frustration strong in him, which made my disappointment even stronger. I was just about ready to suggest we simply give up, when suddenly Ashton began laughing. She was so truly and completely amused that all we could do was stare at her, and finally she noticed the silence and shook her head.