01 Taxilas Children

TAXILA'S CHILDREN
"I'll take what I can have, Steve Holt. Our love must count for something - even with
whoever your mysterious someone is. If it wasn't an accident which brought you to me, then
you still have to do what you came to do. That might take all your life - "
"Or it might take a day - or I might have already fulfilled the purpose when I found the
second Pentacle. I don't know and neither do you. It isn't much of a basis upon which to build
our future. It's a huge risk, not for me but for you. You'll be flying in the face of your culture
and traditions and the prejudice of your people. Our children might be despised and rejected -
there will always be some who will see them as part Scarn. It won't matter if I'm proved to be
what I say I am, the prejudice will remain. I'm serious, Maia. You need to think this through
and make sure you can live with whatever decision you make!"
She stirred restlessly.
"I have thought it through - I have made my decision. I said to you in the forest that I
wouldn't have allowed you to come close to me if I hadn't wished it. I've thought about all
these things. My decision was made long before we crossed the stream and made love!"
After that statement, there was nothing more to be said. Steve tried to keep the feeling of
desperation and uncertainty out of their love making and for her part, Maia tried to blot out
the thought that this man from the stars might one day return to where he had originated - or
move on to some other world at the instigation of the unknown forces which controlled him.
The Bole maintained his silent watch throughout the night, perched on his six mandibles.
There was no disturbance in the Thanehold, other than those who tossed and turned on their
beds, troubled by thoughts of the disaster which threatened their household and which was
somehow coupled to the untimely visit of the High Thane.
Steve woke early on the following morning. Maia still slept and he had to ease his arm
from under her. Her body was like ivory in the dawn light, haloed in a golden haze of hair. He
felt his desire awaken again, but this wasn't the time to satisfy it. He slipped away from the
bed and to the window, to watch the star rising in the east. For some reason, he remembered
Hara and another morning where he had stood naked, waiting for the star to rise, not knowing
what was awaiting him a few moments later.
He shivered, not with the cool air, but with the memory. The High Thane was not another
Jabez, but his authority was such that even Lyot could not save him if it was decided that it
would be best for him to be eliminated as an unwanted aberration - a blot on the Lynxe
psyche. He wondered what their form of death penalty was. The answer came into his mind.
"There isn't one! Why do you think such morbid thoughts, my love?"
Her arms curved around his neck and her body was pressed against his back. She put her
tongue in his ear - it was too much! He twisted round and she looked him up and down and
laughed and then blushed. He picked her up and carried her back to the bed and their loving
was wild and abandoned. Afterwards, she stroked his hair and whispered.
"I love you, my blue-eyed Scarn! Nothing will ever separate us!"
He lay quietly and hoped she was right. It sounded as if she was trying to tempt their old
gods. Somehow, he couldn't get rid of the thought that they were somehow bound up in his
destiny. He didn't know much about gods, but he knew enough to realise that they usually had
their way when it came to fulfilling their grand designs.
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