In the middle of the cavern Casnar completes a model of Chiata Sanctuary. Setting a rock atop the final corner of the fortress, he taps it down to wedge between two other stones, representing towers on the pile of wet sand. One of his fingers pushes delicately down upon the rock's tip to ensure it does not fall off the model plateau he makes. Leaning back on knees, he looks at them all. With a shrug, "…That's it."
"They'll see us miles away." Mandibles clack to Garrus's jaw.
"Has to be Thane…You now know why I am adamant about him," he looks to Thane, studying the diagram, "…You. Konis's Al'Kin would not notice. They know my face. You could go in as a convert. Dangerous, yes, and Konis could be there. If you can deceive him and his Al'Kin, you could find where Tetonbaum and Kasumi are being held."
"And neither could be there." Thane notes, with a look at Casnar, "…This is different from the operation you described in your letter."
Casnar rises as they talk amongst one and other.
Miranda follows Casnar to the flat stone. He takes a seat, lifts water in a bottle from a bin to uncap and set to his lips. "How's Thane to find wherever Kasumi and Tetonbaum are if you don't even know for certain that they're alive, Casnar?"
"Tetonbaum mentioned Konis kept prisoners underground, all with access to water pipes. No toilets, just drinking water and maybe for which to bathe oneself."
"Why any hospitality," Garrus asks, who overhears them speak. "Seems unusual for him to care about his prisoners' hydration and hygiene statuses."
"A cistern will likely be near the prisoners." Casnar looks at Thane, standing with Grunt and Garrus just over Miranda's shoulder as both turn at Garrus's statement. "Konis prefers victims hydrated. Poison, rape, torture…Fluids are important to him. Blood and poison, not to mention what else, all runs better with a hydrated victim."
"Sick man," Miranda grimaces.
"At least he keeps them hydrated," Grunt says. Thane and Garrus both glance at the krogan.
"I will look for water sources," Thane says.
"I'm grateful, Thane. Tetonbaum could be dead, Kasumi, I don't know..."
"We have to try."
"You'll need to change into the ba'tran I have on its way here. I couldn't transport it with me to Kahje, other arrangements have been made."
"I don't understand something…Why," Garrus ventures to ask, "…if Konis were only after Casnar and his family, why did he take Kasumi…" Thane looks back at Casnar.
"Why was Kasumi here?"
"They're involved…Deeply…involved." Casnar shrugs in their stares. "It was love...They fell at first sight. Tetonbaum's not allowed to," he passes his hand over his jaw, "…I shouldn't have told you—You cannot say anything!—"
"Why?"
"Because he's a th'ane—"
"Thane's Thane."
Casnar stares at Grunt. "Thane was named…after th'anes of Merce'des. Tetonbaum my half-brother, is a th'ane. Being with Kasumi has compromised him, a high th'ane at that. If he's alive—we get them out of this mess, the Isle of Tears cannot know of their relationship. Th'anes are a specialized class of fighter, made in Merce'des. More clandestine, dagger and cloak, heavy with purpose. They have the power to put kings on thrones—or kill kings on thrones." Grunt lifts his nostrils in a widening sniff.
"I don't have any imprints for th'anes then."
"No one does." Thane knows—his memory's retentions of conversations with his deceased wife, Irikah Soterios-Sousan, whom grew up on the Birutise'ahan shoreline. "They have never left Rakhana. Sworn agents, I'd assume."
"They are bonded to their belief in the Terje Tierrea, the Five Towers. It is all they believe in." But Kasumi…
"Kasumi is not the type to be considering of Drells, isn't she?" asks Miranda towards the others.
Casnar grins, "…You've not met my half-brother. Hopefully you will meet him." He replaces his bottle in the bin.
"I thought Irikah once mentioned Tetonbaum was assigned as your personal Menjaga," Thane says carefully and Grunt echoes the word.
"Menjaga," he grumbles, "…What's a menjaga."
"The Menjaga is a Tyrannus's kill-blade…" Casnar peers at them all from the shadowy edge of the cavern, "…Tetonbaum will kill me when I act out of place…In other words, if I cause too much trouble for the country's alliance under the Terje Tierrea."
"A tactical policing agency," Garrus muses, mandibles raised, "…Like a cabal of assassins."
Casnar nods, "…Correct."
Thane looks at Miranda, thinking the same thoughts. "Why Konis would only take the two of them if he access to the rest of your family," Miranda says.
"It must not be ruled out," Thane warns everyone, "…There is a possibility Konis could be using Kasumi to force Tetonbaum into a premature initiation of that device against Casnar."
"He had the opportunity to take out most of you," Garrus thinks aloud, "…but if, instead…He couldn't find you, Casnar—"
"The others can wait, sitting in their castle, awaiting Death," Grunt growls, caught on quickly to their line of thinking, "…He chose the one asset—assigned to end him," a thick claw points at Casnar and drops to his side with a clunk against metal, "…Who I'd bet my credits—If Garrus hadn't won them in the last card game—will know how to locate Casnar."
"Tetonbaum knows what you'll do, I'd wager," Garrus scratches the scarring on his neck, "…You said he definitely knows where this place is…He could tell Konis—"
"Tetonbaum would never betray me," Casnar whispers morosely, "…but Kasumi…She's a vulnerability…"
"My son," Thane suddenly looks up from the fire, burning with his own considerations of what—were he Konis Traus—Tetonbaum could also be used for…His stomach sinks. "He knows Kolyat is alive…"
Casnar and Thane's eyes meet. "I've thought of that and already sent the warning ahead," Casnar says quietly, "…But Tetonbaum has raised Kolyat as much as I have since he came to live among us on Rakhana…Tetonbaum is a terrible weapon for Konis to wield against the entire family…if he can be broken and made to do what we fear Konis will want him to."
"Now I understand why Tetonbaum was taken," Miranda says, flames dancing shadows under her eyes from the rocks. "He was your family's shadow…"
"And Konis knows now, because it was Tetonbaum who rescued Kasumi and killed Konis's Al'Kin to do so," Casnar shares…Everyone grows very quiet…The fire rises higher and falls from a release of trapped wax in the wood beams Casnar's provided from a stack in the cavern's storage…
"Let us assume that is Konis's plan," Thane says, "…But time has gone by, hasn't it?…Tetonbaum would have given Kolyat and you to Konis by now…So something must have happened, or time is still on our side…"
"Or Tetonbaum is being tortured," Casnar hisses out with his breath, "…and not relinquishing the information…and Kasumi—"
"We need to act," Garrus steps forward, "…When do we do this, tonight?…Next sunrise, when?"
"A good question," Miranda says. Casnar rises from his seat to pass her.
"He chooses Tetonbaum, too," Casnar talks aloud—as if to himself, "…instead of taking out my father, a powerful I'lorie who could punish Konis; Cartira—a cripple…My helpless, defenseless mother…"
"Is she still sick," Thane asks before Casnar can finish.
"Under the spell of a permanent tu-fira…but lost in her memories collectively."
Casnar paces the floor of the slanted cavern.
"Konis will send Tetonbaum after Kolyat and I. Perhaps Konis's desire to only take Tetonbaum, with Kasumi, that day may be as well for vengeance?…Tetonbaum was a spy at Chiata Sanctuary, managed to keep below Konis's radar for years…"
"Spy," Garrus echoes. "Spies get a bullet on Palaven."
"Or worse on Earth," Miranda shares.
"It would be vengeance," Grunt says—and with morbid optimism, "…Konis's need for vengeance could be prolonging your bloodkin's life."
"Konis will be torturing Tetonbaum for his killing some of the Al'Kin in order to rescue Kasumi in the beginning. Tetonbaum has said—That reminds me!" Casnar stares at Thane, "…Konis likes to kill his own. Partly maintains the ranks, building respect by driving fear into his followers. Partly for his own sense of personal pleasure. If he singles you out, Thane, avoid him getting arms around you…He has strength few possess, but very many appreciate…Try to avoid having contact with him."
"How long since their disappearance."
"One month," Casnar returns to his thinking. "Dead—maybe escaped, but injured…Kasumi could have been moved from Chiata Sanctuary, if she was ever there this time around…Konis sold Braith…" He ignores their comments and questions, too engrossed in his train of thought. "Tetonbaum…My fate, my friend…My brother…I have nothing besides these four, but there are others…I can use…" The options float through his mind, he grabs at all of them, tosses the ones he dislikes, grasps onto what might be of hope but farfetched…and uncertain…
"This a waste of time," Grunt grumbles. Casnar stops to stand in place, turn to them.
"Tetonbaum saved three—Mine," Casnar through his teeth, "…Kolyat's…" His emeralds switch from Grunt to Thane's face. "Kasumi…Tracked down Braith, attempted to rescue her. I at least must try reach him, believed dead or not. Kasumi too. He wouldn't forgive me if I did not try for her as he has done for Braith. Before I can rule them out, I must try…When the extremes have been met, only then will I turn to what I must—to preserve others and myself…If it were not for my brother—"
Turning to Casnar, Thane assures him, Drell to Drell, "…No one has said anything about not trying, Casnar..." Fire dances on the onyx shine, "…I will uncover where Kasumi and Tetonbaum are hidden."
"That is what I ask for…" Casnar's ire dwindles. He simmers into quiet. "You should all get rested. Wake before dawn, Thane, to reach Chiata with the suns' rising." Casnar turns towards the eastern tunnel, walks between Garrus and Grunt, both parting for him to pass, "…The rest, will wait in Souir caverns, here…I've a friend on the way, who is to remain with you—while I tend to important affairs you may not join me in."
"Where? Casnar, you can't think to leave," Miranda stares incredulously at him. She steps up—as he turns and glares at her.
"I need return to Nualavera," he grates, "…Then from there, I must go to the Crandal. There are meetings I have missed, what with waiting for you all to meet me on Kahje…Now if you don't mind, I need to be present for the next congregation at the Craig. I am singlehandedly holding back a faction of enemies rallied against my half of the Craig, not to mention they are funding Konis's assault on my peace of mind! I have to go, Miranda, and I don't care if you can't get that through your head…"
They stare at each other—two varrens pissing on each other's turf…Garrus interrupts the unspoken resentment being lasered back and forth by the blue and emerald irises, "…We don't need," he chuckles through his throaty flange of vocals, "…a babysitter. We should be able to handle ourselves. Casnar, you did mention someone is heading to find us, keep us company…" Garrus swings his head behind and forward to see the directions of the tunnel-cavern they are waiting in, "…and we should probably know who and maybe how, we should expect him…to find us, how to greet everyone…So that there aren't," Garrus looks from Miranda and him to Grunt, Thane—rerouting to Casnar's lifting green eyes, "…any misunderstandings by our initial discovery of each other."
Casnar drops his gaze back to Miranda. His emeralds seem to light up anew—the same laser intensity as a moment ago—The battle does not re-engage…The golden drell turns instead and moves towards the eastern mouth, "…His name is Ylyssus Tan'nanshul," his voice echoes back to them, "…He was with Braith when she was a slave, then a huntress of Rakka."
Thane turns to follow Casnar through the tunnel…The others do likewise.
At the Souir mouth, Casnar looks into desert night. While waiting, Casnar sits on the same rock—when he waited for Tetonbaum to meet him and Kolyat, there, years ago…A much similar night, as clear as this.
The others camp behind him, at the mouth of the caves' inner cover, alert with their eyes to the brilliant sapphire night—its infinite stars, pale-blue landscape of dunes…rolling away like a still-motion sea…
Looking up at the stars and not wanting to talk to anyone, Casnar cannot avoid it, "…Chiata will be dangerous, Thane…Not just of Drells and Konis, but of philosophy and belief…It will be dangerous," he lowers his eyes to the desert, "…But not as dangerous as what lies in Rakka, waiting…"
"I will be careful, Casnar…I look forward to the discovery."
They wait. The rest of the hour passes with their silence. Listening, wondering, what is to come from the Mier.
Deep low rumbling heard, and felt underfoot—Everyone senses the rumbling comes from far away, somewhere far away and hidden, there, out among distant dunes barely discernible in the depths of inky sapphire darkness.
"What dare I say," his mandibles aflare with alarm, Garrus murmurs, "…was that, do you think?"
"That, my back-kneed friend, is beren," Casnar picks up a handful of sand and runs it free through his grasp of gold-blue-silver fingers in the moonlight, "…Burrowers of the underground, they search for prey…They are benign, but a problem for me…seeing they have partiality to Rachni eggs."
"Wait." Garrus's mandibles close—only to flick wider, "…There are Rachni, here, on Rakhana, this desert…?"
"I knew I smelled Rachni on 'im!" Grunt smacks his fists together fervently.
"Yes, there exists Rachni on Rakhana. My house-clan guards them…The queen bonded to my family, long ago, through my ancestor, Pilar Sousan. My mother, the last direct-bonded to the queen, then there will be I—or my brother. We have yet to establish the bond with her."
"Why not," he hears her voice—soft, the accent deflecting the harshness of the words…He can feel her look, remember her touch.
We wait, he replies, …for one to die first.
Casnar casts his gaze—far as these might reach into the desert-blue darkness.
…Only one may have the bond. I intend to be the one, but first we must survive the onslaught…It is coming…
Casnar stands, and commences forward as he walks into the desert. He sees dim shapes. He knows the direction in which to look.
After greeting the rookers' lead, steering the wagon behind, Casnar waves the others to come from out of the cover of the caverns' mouth.
Ylyssus, easing himself from the wagon's seatbench onto the sand, moves to join hands with Casnar's, ( "…Sered, you made it home…I was worried you'd come across ill entities on your travels…but you are here, just as was said would be." )
( "What news do you bring me from Nualavera, Ylyssus." )
( "Bad happenings," ) Ylyssus begins in Rakhïken, he sees the others standing nearby, ( "…Both your father and brother are angry for the disappearance. War has come to the borders…The Craig will not be a pleasant trip—Are you certain you do not wish me to accompany you, seeing Tetonbaum is missing." )
( "Assuming I enjoy wasting time at the Crandal, Ylyssus? I can take care of myself. In the meantime," ) Casnar extends one arm—Garrus, Grunt, Thane, Miranda—who gets a pair of wide eyes from Ylyssus. ( "Help by watching these ones who may be in need of your helpfulness. They are yours…That one may need to be on his own for a while…Help him if he asks for you, but do not be a hindrance." )
( "All aliens," ) Ylyssus smooths down his tebris and passes a sidelong glance Casnar's way, ( "…aside from him." )
( "Friends of Braith, Ylyssus." ) Slipping out of Rakhïken—into Common Speech, "…Miranda, Thane, Grunt, Garrus, he's Ylyssus. Ylyssus will help while I'm away. Be…reasonable…" Casnar casts an eye the krogan's way…"Questions about Braith," a glance to the drell beside him, "…ask of this one. He can answer what he will about her…Take care…The fool who injured Ylyssus also abused Braith—I killed him. Freed his Sereptas. Slaves…among them were friends Braith had made."
"Slave? Pitiful," Grunt says scathingly.
Ylyssus nods, smiles disarmingly. Casnar, and Thane, sense a subtlety that still speaks of his past as a lethal weapon, hidden by his current state physically, "…I deserve pity," his Common Speech surprises, "…I serve, have seen the light by which I began to understand and move on from my sin that kept me a slave. It was Behe," Casnar hears the drell speak with the strange reverence he's heard before, when Ylyssus was recuperating from his broken body in Nualavera, "…Behe, who set me free. I am blessed to have been chosen by her…She kept me as her friend, and her lover until she had to leave, which I do not resent her for."
"Behe," Grunt, with the question in his bright blue eyes, "…Who's bay-ee…"
Thane is regarding Casnar in a quiet introspective—irritating to Casnar—way, and gives voice to his mind's thinking, "…I understand now."
Ylyssus is assisted by Casnar and the others to unload the wagon of supplies he has brought for their off-world guests. Casnar and he show Thane and the others how to disassemble the wagon. All assist in bringing parts into the cavern's mouth for concealment—until these are needed.
The rookers go in, only after they are done. Ylyssus settles the animals in a separate cave attached to the one Miranda, Thane, Garrus and Grunt will occupy. These four go through the supplies, familiarizing themselves with what the crates and bags and barrels contain. Casnar leaves and, on his way back to Nualavera by foot, he takes the coat off his back to bat at the wheel ruts, spreading sand for several hundred yards.
Shaking out his coat, re-donning it, he was glad for the exercise. It helped take him out from his mind…The Mier's winds would eventually smooth out the remaining ruts in the sand, leading anyone to Thane, and the others.
Casnar treads northeast, over a pale-blue-silver desert…The close, far-off rumble of berens, a lonely comfort to heartache.