Soul Ties

By WE Kelton

The kry-an are an ancient race of creature. Ever since the Rakki Imperium conquered the home world of the Te’ik, the kry-an have chosen those of the Te’ik as their mind-sibs. In return for the protection offered by the kry-an, the Te’ik who are bonded to the creatures dedicate themselves to continuing the races existence. Despite every attempt made by the Te’ik, the kry-an are headed for extinction, except for those who are part of Clan Koof’na upon planet Shi.
Since the tans-dal, a soul test that bonded Ana von Lou to her Te’ik soul sibs, Ana and kry-an Maul have shared a bond of leader to leader. Ana is the Shte’ik, the lead healer and head of a healing clan within the Rakki Imperium. She was the first Terran and the first non-Karrish to claim both the title and the protection of the healing caste. Maul is the highest ranking female in the ever growing nest of kry-an and mind-sib to Ferin, Ana’s remaining soul brother.
The clan has a deadly enemy in the Lady Healer of Rakki, Lady Anlon, the highest ranking healer within the healing caste. Through her endeavors Clan Koof’na has lost members and Ana has lost family, both old and new. When the fight is brought to the clan home on Shi and one of their own turns against clan, Ana and Maul become conjoined in their anger. Despite the presence of Hold warriors and Ana’s personal guards, it is the might of the kry-an that is unleashed upon the lackey’s of Lady Anlon in retribution for injury dealt to clan. Is Clan Koof’na strong enough to overcome the anger of the Shte’ik or will it be swallowed by the fury of the kry-an?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Pandora's Press
• Release date: Nov 9, 2011
• ISBN: 9781937916039

WE Kelton

You would think a person with an advanced degree in a science discipline would have more sense than to be a fiction writer. Alas, I apparently skipped that session of course work and ran full bore at the Science Fiction and Fantasy wall. If you heard a teeth rattling sound a while back, pay it no mind - it was just me trying to knock sense back into my own head. Apparently all it did was knock a couple more story lines loose. Go figure.

Book preview

Chapter 1 – Kry-an

Ferin’s lavender eyes glittered with joy as he watched the last of the seventy-three kry-an kits settle into the stable. They were all less than two seasons old and at this point in their growth still looked more reptilian than the adults. They had tufts of hair by their ears, though the rest of their bodies were furless and dark skinned. Their hind legs were shorter and paws still webbed, making them prone to tumbling over their own feet. He rubbed Maul’s ears as they watched the parade of kits. Maul was the oldest female and one of the remaining original kry-an of Clan Koof’na. She had been fully grown when she’d chosen him as her mind sib, fifty-three years ago. She had long ago grown out of the uncoordinated movement that plagued the kits.

His attention shifted from watching the kits to watching Shte’ik Ana von Lou. Her Terran features were as familiar as his own, now. When she had first presented herself to be judged worthy of being their Shte’ik, she had submitted to the soul test; the tans-dal. He and his six clan sibs had been surprised when Maul had been the one to greet the Terran female. His mind sib had formed the blood connection that her race was capable of. When the kry-an joined with him to connect their minds, he’d known that the kry-an approved of the Terran female. Through the mind bond, the kry-an connected to their mind sibs and they all walked the Shte’ik’s soul plane. What they had seen within the heart of the Terran woman convinced them that she would not abuse them and they judged her soul strong enough to guide them.

Through everything that they had been through over the years, he’d never forgotten the strength of their Shte’ik when they touched her mind for the first time. They had accepted her and to the surprise of all, had formed a telepathic bond to her. Each one of the Te’ik clan sibs had a unique soul bond with the Terran female. Over the past two years, his own bond with her had become as familiar as Maul’s presence in his head.

He continued to watch the Shte’ik as she laughed and followed the kits to the stable. She and her tor-in were responsible for freeing thirteen adult kry-an from the flesh merchants of Druitiree. She and the tor-in had also saved nine immature Te’ik, who had all been claimed as body heirs of clan Koof’na. They were safe from those who would abuse his race’s ability to provide healing energy.

He had lost a clan sib and the clan had lost a kry-an, while the Shte’ik and tor-in worked to free those who they could from the flesh merchants. The Shte’ik had lost a soul sib as well as two of the tor-in that had become clan. Even now when he looked upon the imperial warriors he felt the same relief he had felt the moment they stood between Clan Arn-sul and his clan sibs.

Ferin’s lavender eyes shifted to observe the tor-in that was body protector to the Shte’ik, Sorrell. He was of the Karrish, the race that had enslaved the Te’ik over three thousand years ago. The empire of the Karrish, the Rakki Imperium had once been the strongest force in all of known space.

The Karrish were the ones who traveled the stars and were more aggressive than the merchant Tagash, who introduced star travel to the Karrish. The empire would have been content to continue to expand its protectorates and borders, but they attempted to invade Terra. The Terrans were the first to effectively defend themselves and their world from the invading Karrish. In a single battle, the Empire was stopped.

The empress of the time determined that it was in the best interest of her people to avoid confrontations with the Terrans. In hopes of avoiding a retaliatory strike against Rakki, the home world of the Rakki Imperium, she offered other worlds – the Federation of Aligned Worlds, treaty and charter. The Federation of Aligned Worlds was created as a peace keeping body with both a Space Corps and a Ground Force. The ruling council of the FAW was the member worlds and all races were eligible for entrance into the military arms of the FAW.

The creation of the FAW ensured the Rakki Imperium that they would not suffer retaliation from the Terrans. It also ensured that all free worlds were allowed to retain the right to govern themselves. Those cultures and beings that had already become absorbed into the Imperium, remained a part of the Imperium.

It had been his Shte’ik that had become the first non-Karrish to claim Caste status as healer. Making their clan the first healing clan, since the world of the Te’ik had become enslaved, to be led by a non-Karrish. Their clan was a danger to the Caste of Rakki. The Shte’ik had been close to crossing over a handful of times already and they had been a clan for less than three years. To all of the clan’s relief the Shte’ik, despite her small stature and impulsive heart, was unexpectedly difficult to kill. Even if someone managed to kill her, she had a body heir and a second heir already claimed; ensuring that Clan Koof’na would not become arraya, without leader. Would in fact, be safe from those who wished to enslave the Te’ik or any of the other members of clan.

Ferin shifted his long white hair with a grin as two of the kits attempted to climb up the long braid. He lifted them from his hair and set them on Maul, whose great head swiveled around as she hissed at the kits and glared them into obedience. He adored the kits, every birth and life of each of them lessened the loss of his clan sib, Kumo, and her mind sib, the kry-an Dorath. Both Te’ik and kry-an had given their lives to save the Shte’ik.

Seventy-three, Ana sighed from between Ferin and Sorrell. Clan has responsibility for ninety-seven kry-an. Isn’t that a bit much? I mean what are we going to do with them all?

Ferin stared at the Shte’ik, Do?

Ana sighed, Yes do. Beside little So’va, who chose Serva as her mind-mate, Maul and Tesl’d the rest are known to me only because I know we are the only ones on Shi with kry-an. They can’t just be pet’s they are sentient and what do we do with them?

Shte’ik? Ferin frowned.

Ana stared at the Te’ik. She was distracted for a moment as she watched Maul carry two kits to the stable. We know how to breed them Ferin, we know what they need to be strong enough to breed and to survive after their fifth month. What we don’t know is what to do with them when they are grown. We can’t just keep breeding them, what happens when there are so many that the Wilds will no longer sustain them? What happens when all the big predators are killed and they’ve nothing to hunt? We have to figure out how to spread them out into the universe, so we can continue to increase their numbers. Surely you see this?

Ferin stared at his Shte’ik, You want to sell the kry-an?

No! Ana corrected immediately. Do you believe they would be content to only live on Shi with clan? To only hunt in the Wilds and breed?

Ferin glanced at Maul for a moment, No Shte’ik, he replied at last.

Me neither, Ana said, they aren’t going anywhere yet Ferin, but when they’re grown they are going to need mind sibs or mind mates if they find them. We need to have an idea of what we are going to do with them.

Ferin watched the kry-an for a moment before he exclaimed, Only So’va has bonded! What are we going to do with the rest?

Ana glared at her soul sib and shook her head as she continued toward the hold. Some days she really wondered if she was speaking in yet another foreign language that no one understood. She left Ferin and the kits at the stable and headed for her private stairs.

Shte’ik? Sorrell asked as she walked away from the main doors.

Ana stared at her tor-in, he was mated to Kia. Though she and Kia were no longer soul sibs, he was bonded to the other woman. She didn’t look away from him, nor did she answer him. She didn’t want to fight with him anymore. She couldn’t openly take him to her bed, so she stared into his eyes and took the cowards way; by letting him decide to follow her or return to his mate. She turned away and continued on toward her stairs.

Sorrell watched his Shte’ik head to her private rooms. Maker he wanted to follow her up those stairs. His bond mate would be angry with him if he did not sleep in her rooms this eve. He remembered that his bond mate was already angry with him. He turned away from the main doors and followed the Shte’ik to her private rooms.

Chapter 2 – Changes

Ana leaned against Sorrell as they drank their morning cup of Terran Bal’astral, coffee. It was one of the few Terran items that she had near. The coffee and her bathtub were two of the best things about living in the Clan Hold on Shi. Shi was a small planet that served as an in between point for the Rim Worlds and for the major systems. She loved looking out over the Wilds, a jungle like area that started at the edge of their Hold wall and filled over half of the land mass of the southern continent.

Her eyes fluttered closed as she felt the heat that Sorrell produced and the softness of his fur. He had stayed with her last night, all night, and she had woken this morning to find herself wrapped around him. His blue-black eyes had burned while he looked into her own eyes and she felt his hunger, echoed within her own body.

She knew their time alone couldn’t last, but she was unwilling to end it before she absolutely had to. Sorrell, she sighed as she continued to lean against him.

I know my Qattan, he purred into her ear. Finish your bal’astral, I have already readied the water for your bath.

Ana drained her cup and handed it to him, before she turned once more and snuggled into his chest for a moment. Thank you Sorrell, she said as she smiled into his eyes before she moved out of his comforting embrace. She headed immediately for her private bath and soaked in the warm scented water. She giggled when she smelled the scent of orange. He couldn’t get enough of the citrus fruits when they visited Terra.

She glanced at the box of essential oils that the Tagashi merchant had called flavorings and chuckled as she thought about trying to feed anyone in her clan anything that smelled like pine. Her smile faded when she thought of her now deceased Uncle Mike. Maker she was tired of losing people. In time the memory wall that was being constructed by the Wilds Gate would ease this aching hole in her chest, but for now she’d just have to endure. She sunk down into the water and the tears that escaped her eyes mixed into the water of the bath.

Feeling somewhat relaxed she descended into the main hall of the Hold. Waiting for her at the bottom of the stairs was Na’Sul, the new Lead hold tor-in. Ana stood on the last stair and waited for the blond Karri female to speak.

Shte’ik, Na’Sul began, then stopped. She faced the Shte’ik, looked her in the eye and said, Shte’ik Ana, one of the Generals of Ground Force on Shi has come.

Ana continued to wait.

Na’Sul stared at the Terran female and wondered how it was that the smaller female managed to be imposing, A General Guiyr waits for you in the lounge.

That surprised Ana and she smiled at the lead hold tor-in, Thank you Na’Sul. She moved around the taller blond Karri and walked fast to the lounge. General Guiyr was known to her from the time she was reunited with clan on Ursa IX. It was due to a request he had made of her that she had added tor-in fist Frost to Clan Koof’na and through them she had also claimed both Galle and Bryee, adding a second healing clan to Koof’na.

She stopped at the doors to the lounge and grinned at Delilah who was rolling coffee service toward the lounge. Thanks Delilah, Ana smiled at the older brown haired Terran woman.

Delilah nodded at her with a wink, Of course Shte’ik. Though, I’m beginning to feel as though all of our visitors come more for the Terran bal’astral than for business with the clan.

Ana laughed as she replied in English, Probably, so long as we maintain good relations it’s worth the loss of a few cups.

Delilah winked at the younger woman once more as she said, Venn, Kris and Renik are all waiting in the lounge.

Ana shook her head as the names of her newest tor-in echoed around her, Of course they are, she replied. She saw Sorrell slip into his familiar place behind her before Delilah had glanced up from the coffee service. She opened the door to the lounge for the older woman and followed her in. As Delilah arranged the cart to her satisfaction Ana caught the general’s eyes and nodded as she said, General Guiyr. Her eyes traveled from the general to the tor-in. Venn was larger a Karri that was even larger than Sorrell. He towered over her own modest height of five foot four by nearly two feet. He had a dark brown pelt and light brown eyes that noted everything. Kris was Cori, he had silver colored eyes, short white hair and a blue tint to his skin that made him look as though he was covered in a layer of frost. Renik was of the Tollatech race, he had no hair, he stood shorter than Venn and Sorrell though he was taller than Kris. His eyes were wide set upon his face. He had blue bands tattooed around his muscular neck and arms.

Shte’ik, the General replied as he inclined his head to her. You have brought Terran bal’astral? he asked as he watched the unfamiliar Terran woman.

Ana grinned at the general as she accepted a cup from Delilah, I think you’ll like this one general. She said as she waved him toward the coffee service.

The general accepted a cup from the other Terran female and nodded his thanks.

Delilah winked at the older Karri male before she handed a cup to Venn and Sorrell. I’ve a fine breakfast preparing Shte’ik, make certain you don’t miss it.

Ana shook her head at the older woman, she wouldn’t have believed it if someone told her that Mrs. Delilah Langston from Fergus Montana would travel out into the stars. Specifically to bring her the news of her Uncle Mike’s death and choose to stay and take over the Hold kitchens, to everyone’s delight. She waited until the door to the lounge closed before she sat across from the General. What brings you to the Wilds Hold General? she asked.

The general sipped his bal’astral and sat across from the Shte’ik, Command, he replied.

Ana’s eyes widened as she looked to the three aids, Help yourself to the Terran bal’astral, she invited them. You’ve been given command of Shi? Isn’t that a demotion? she asked.

The general chuckled as he relaxed into his chair, My staff believes it to be. Colonel’s Cal’hu, Holn and Major Guiyr, he pointed to the three uniformed officers. Are the only ones of my command staff that have not requested a duty change.

Any relation? Ana asked surprised as she glanced at the light brown pelted Karri female.

She is my body heir’s fourth offspring, he nodded to the female as he returned his attention to the Shte’ik.

Ana smiled as she looked at the general, If she is half as good a commander as you, I don’t doubt she’ll go as far as her ambition takes her.

The General allowed himself a pleased smile as he replied, Thank you Shte’ik.

Beside coming to visit me for my excellent Terran bal’astral, Ana said with a smirk. What brings you down here? I know that Ground Force has a small base outside the hamlet, but the major training area is in the north.

Yes, General Guiyr replied. I have come to present myself to you and to offer your clan a standing healing contract. He held out his hand and Colonel Holn set a contract in his hand.

Ana stared into the General’s eyes as she held onto her cup with both hands and replied, We are not ready General. She paused for a moment before she said, Give me another year before you hand me that contract.

The General maintained his hold on the rolled paper as he considered the Shte’ik’s words. You are willing to consider it? he asked.

A year General, Ana replied as she sipped from her coffee.

He nodded and returned the rolled paper to Colonel Holn. As you wish Shte’ik, he smiled at her. His attention was captured by the loud voices outside of the lounge. He watched as the Cori tor-in, formerly Lord Raiden’s tor-in, opened the door. Three immature Te’ik, eight kry-an kits and a Tollatech female tor-in spilled into the room.

Payne? Ana asked the only entering adult.

Shte’ik! cried one of the immature Te’ik as she raced forward with a kit in her arms.

Ana set her coffee next to her and waited for the impact. When the girl never reached her she glared at Sorrell until he set the girl down. Ellean? she asked.

Shte’ik, the girl’s lips trembled as she pointed to the kit, This is Shy, she says we are mind sibs.

Ana smiled at the girl and pulled her in for a hug. After she felt Ellean’s body stop shaking she scratched Shy behind the ears as she said, Hello young Shy.

The little female kit hissed as her tail thrashed. She was half as tall as the immature Te’ik and was content to rub up against her mind sib.

Ana laughed as she watched the kits pleasure, Well now we know your name young lady, she lectured the kit. Ellean, you’d better inform Serva, she’ll want to start your training immediately.

Ellean stared at the Shte’ik with wide lavender eyes, I can keep her? she asked surprised.

Ana tapped the girl on the nose, Of course, she chose you didn’t she? She looked stern for a moment, This does not change anything Ellean, I will expect you to continue your studies with Kia – you are her heir. Now you will have to train with Serva and So’va as well.

Yes Shte’ik, the girl smiled before she bobbed her head and retreated.

Ana watched the other two Te’ik children move toward her, each with a kit by their sides. Who has chosen you two? she asked.

Misx, the male child named Kaan replied as he caressed his kry-an’s back.

Ana scratched behind the ears as she said, Hello Misx, to the kit. Kaan, I will expect you to also present yourselves to Serva and let her know that you’ve bonded.

Yes Shte’ik, the young male grinned at her.

Ana waited for Trisz to speak. Of all the immature Te’ik, he was the most observant and also the quietest.

I present Lo’ra, Trisz announced with a bow.

Hello Lo’ra, Ana smiled as she scratched behind the kits ears as well. When she was about to remind him to present them to Serva, her attention was caught by a growl. She moved from her chair and stood between the body heirs and the growling visage of Colonel Holn. Her eyes widened as she noted the bleeding mark on the colonel’s cheek and the barred teeth of one of the kits.

Enough! she snapped as she moved toward the colonel and the kit. When the kit didn’t back down, she thwaped it on the head and met its eyes. The young male shrunk and started whining as it rubbed against her. She absently scratched behind its ears as she stared at the Karri colonel. What’s this one’s name? she asked in Karrish.

Idan, the male replied before he realized the question.

Ana glanced down at the young male and smiled, Well, well, Idan, you’ve found your mind mate have you.

No, Holn replied as he glared at the kry-an.

Ana stared at the Karri officer and was going to reply when she realized that he was talking to the kit.

I will do no such thing, he growled at the creature.

Idan whined and edged toward the male.

He retreated two steps, No.

Idan kept moving closer. For every step the young kry-an took, the colonel retreated two as he said, No.

Ana watched the young kit, back the officer into a corner and block his escape with his body. She breathed easier when she realized that the officer had not done anymore than deny the kit the connection. Her eyes widened as she realized what was going on. Colonel, she snapped, it’s done. It cannot be undone. Accept him or you will make him unstable.

The colonel glared at the Terran woman.

Now! Ana barked, with all the authority she could muster.

The colonel held out his hand and braced himself as he waited for the kry-an to push against his hand. With his eyes closed, he did not see that it was the Shte’ik who caught his hand and forced his fingers to scratch behind the fuzzy ear. Then draw down the large jaw in a single soothing stroke. She guided his hand twice more before she released him.

Ana relaxed when the colonel slid down the wall and allowed the kit to clean the blood off his face and settle into his lap. Well general, Ana sighed, It looks like you’ll be staying for breakfast.

Chapter 3 – Fergus, MT

Siobhan was drinking her coffee in the café, ‘Lil’s Place, the only café in Fergus, MT. She’d lived among the folks of this town since the day her brother Alistair had picked her up from their little cottage in Cork and brought her to Montana. That was over three years ago now. It was her brother and the Shte’ik’s clan that had brought prosperity back to this small town. Her children were growing up among people she respected. Her eldest twins, Camille and Cameron, were twelve now.

Every day they practiced their Trade Common just as Holder Tashi had instructed them to, from the time when they resided with Clan Koof’na. They welcomed the chance to talk to others in Trade Common and of all the people who were interested in increasing their language, Lil was the most dedicated. The twins always came to the Café after school to talk with Lil for forty-five minutes. She was waiting at the counter, drinking her coffee just as she’d done since the school term started.

Her three youngest were being looked after by Marianne Temple, a sweet young woman who had two children of her own and had just recently moved back to her home town. They met because the Misses Lewis decided that they could benefit from knowing each other. They shared a house and Marianne looked after the children while she worked at the brewery and worked on her whiskey craft. Both of them consumed most of the hours of her day, but she sold everything she could make and for the first time in her life she wasn’t worried about the future.

Cameron had just taken the seat next to her when the bell above the door announced someone had entered the café. It was early winter and only the locals weren’t bundled up like it was thirty-seven degrees outside.

The owner of the café set a cup on the counter as she said, Coffee?

The man removed his parka and unwound his scarf from his face as he smirked, Don’t mind if I do.

Lil glanced at the man and pulled the cup away as she said, I won’t have any of that talk in my café preacher.

The man nodded as he replied, I wouldn’t dream of it Lil.

The old steel haired woman’s eyes narrowed as she stared at him for a moment before she slid the cup in front of him and filled it with steaming hot coffee.

The preacher smelled the coffee and sat silently as he breathed in the scent of it. Heard you folks had a pilot that comes to town with the kinds of supplies that come from around the world.

You heard right, Lil replied as she set the coffee on the warmer behind her. One of our local boys. There’s somethin’ the good people of Lewistown need?

The preacher looked surprised when he heard the name of his home town.

Lil smirked, We had ourselves some trouble last summer. Her smirk died as she looked to Mike von Lou’s picture, more than some. It’s made us real careful of who comes to our town Preacher. Especially who comes to town looking for one of ours.

Trouble? the Preacher asked, curious.

Don’t bother yourself about it Preacher, we got it sorted. Now why don’t you tell me what brings you here and I’ll let you finish that nice cup of coffee, she replied as she crossed her arms and stared at him.

I’d like to have a conversation with the pilot, he nodded. I’ve family scattered around that needs gathered back home.

Family? Lil’ asked, curious.

The Preacher nodded as he stared at his cup, Yes ma’am, he replied softly. My family.

Well, Lil nodded, I’ll get a message to our pilot friend and we’ll see what we can do.

The Preacher looked up from his coffee and stared at the steel haired woman in surprise.

Just ‘cause we don’t agree with your beliefs doesn’t mean that we don’t care about our own people, Lil snapped at the man. I’m not guaranteeing anything mind you, nothin’ but a chance to talk to the boys when they arrive.

The preacher nodded, That’s all a body can ask for, he replied.

Camille stared at the black clad man for a long time before she asked him, Why are you sad?

Siobhan’s eyes widened at her daughters question and looked at the man in surprise when he shook his head at her.

I am sad because things I’ve said have made people angry at their brothers and helped cause them to fight each other, the Preacher replied.

Did you mean to? she asked as she sat on the stool next to him.

No child, he shook his head. "I never meant for my words to turn one