Drogoya: Book 3 Circles of Light series, page 12
Soran snapped orders. Nomis and half the Lady’s men moved carefully towards the deep blackness within the Gathering Chamber while a dozen others raced to surround the Lady Emla and the High Speaker Thryssa. Bagri remained by the doors, sending a ball of multicoloured fire over Nomis’s head to lighten their advance. He looked back towards Thryssa in time to see a Discipline Senior beginning to lift his hand. Another spear of green fire shot from Bagri’s fingers to lance through the Discipline Senior and the men near him.
But then separate red flames, man high, danced across the hall, catching one of Soran’s men in a hideous embrace. The Guard fell, writhing and screaming as the flame engulfed him. Emla watched in horror, still concentrating on keeping a shield about the High Speaker and Shan. Thryssa’s face was expressionless and turned only to the open doorway to the Chamber of Gathering.
Within the Chamber, the creature that was using Fayet’s body shuddered with anger. These useless fools! Millennia he had waited to be summoned again by Cho Petak. Millennia had passed since those promises were first made and look at this shambles. Those animals looked human, looked intelligent, but he was convinced now that they were neither. This body he was using: it became breathless at the least exertion, which had certainly put paid to some of the diversions he had dreamed of in his long imprisonment. He had destroyed Fayet’s mind extremely quickly, if mind it could be called. Twittering and fearful, yet believing he was a genius. Oh no, that mind had to go at once.
He who had once been Rashpil, friend of Grek, allowed a tiny piece of his rage and frustration to escape and the tiered ranks of seats around the Chamber burst into flame. He watched a group of these pathetic beings scramble back from the doorway while he reviewed his options. Clearly this body was of no use to him. How had D’Lah found that tall intelligent body the very day he reached this world? Rashpil fumed: he was going to have to unbody and then spend some while in serious consideration of his next move. He had been too hasty and eager when released from the Void
The only part of his thousands of plans that he had fulfilled was to reach this side of the world. His fellow prisoners also planned vengeance on Cho Petak but only he, Rashpil, had thought of distancing himself this way. Cho Petak was too clever. He would know those who wished him harm and would protect himself accordingly. Rashpil was craftier. By putting the world between himself and that accursed Cho Petak, he had thought to gain time to form the perfect plan for Cho Petak’s utter destruction.
Only he had found himself here, in a place with appalling inhabitants, set in a grotesquely inconvenient land. Abruptly, Rashpil unbodied and what had been Fayet, slumped to the floor. The flames roaring round the sides of the Chamber vanished, the City Guards still fighting in the hall faltered, their faces becoming confused and uncertain.
Nomis shouted from the Chamber that Fayet lay dead along with several others.
‘Keep the shield Emla,’ Thryssa murmured.
Bagri hurried to the High Speaker, watching her intently. Emla felt Bagri’s strength weaving into her shield and was aware not for the first time, how much more the Vagrantians knew of magic than did the Asatarians.
Soran’s men were disarming the City Guards and forcing them to sit on the floor, arms behind their backs. Nomis came from the Chamber looking pale.
‘The bodies in there are not fit for the Ladies to see Sir,’ he said quietly to Soran. ‘Fayet was standing on the far side of the circle when we first went in. He waved his hand at the galleries and they caught fire. When he collapsed, the flames disappeared. The seats are charred but not as damaged as they should be Sir.’
Soran nodded. He had absorbed every word Nomis spoke but his attention was on the High Speaker and the Lady Emla.
‘Open the doors Nomis, then organise a complete search of the building. Get Lady Emla’s Seniors to use power to check anyone you find worthy of suspicion.’
Unbodied, Rashpil drifted through the hall, looking down on the animals with distaste. He paused as he saw the brittle shimmer of a mental shield. He discounted the tall woman, but the smaller one intrigued him. Despite the shield, he felt the power within her. He considered Thryssa for a moment. No, he absolutely refused to take on a female form, but to leave her thus untouched meant he may be leaving a serious opponent behind him. Not a good idea.
Rashpil drifted closer. He found it suddenly disconcerting to find the woman staring directly at his position. He was so astonished that he almost missed the slight movement of her hand and that of the man beside her.
He had time only to propel himself up, through the timbers and stone, out into an early dawn sky. His rage was terrible. What had that woman attempted to do? She had known he was there! She had known what he was! Rashpil soared beyond the Asataria, following the line of mountains westwards. He needed to think: about his revenge on Cho Petak, and how to deal with that woman and any others like her. The man beside her had merely been following her direction, Rashpil was sure, but she – she had known him!
He must hide himself away and consider what bearing this might have – on himself or any of the others of his kind, including Cho Petak. He was unaware of any others here – most had blindly rushed one after the other, to the place Grek, D’Lah and Cho Petak could be found. Nonetheless, Rashpil sank himself deep within the mountain rock, where it was most unlikely he could be tracked, and settled in for a lengthy period of meditation.
Discipline Seniors true to Emla, now came from their homes in the City and began working to help the many wounded of both sides. Emla and Bagri sat with Thryssa on the stairs. Several Seniors had already come to report a great degree of severe disorientation in the City Guards.
‘It is as though they genuinely do not remember fighting against their brother Guards,’ one Senior said, squatting in front of Emla. ‘We know that can be done, but Fayet was not powerful enough surely, even with Harak and the others who joined him lending their support?’
Emla shook her head. ‘I do not know. Let us just get this place cleared and the wounded cared for. There will be time enough for talk later.’
Bagri leaned in towards the High Speaker. ‘What was it Thryssa? I but followed your mind, I could see nothing.’
Emla shivered. ‘I felt a malignancy all around, not from any one direction.’
Thryssa had been sitting, head sunk on her chest, but now she straightened. ‘It is not to be spoken of here and now. We will talk when we are safe within your House Emla. Suffice it to say, it is gone from here. If someone could fetch Kwanzi and Elyssa – the circle here can be used to take us back.’
Soran, standing nearby, cleared his throat. ‘There are several bodies within the Chamber Lady Thryssa, some on the circle itself. The – erm – remains are not pleasant to see.’
Bagri squeezed Thryssa’s hand and stood up. ‘Then let us see about clearing the circle Captain. It will not take us long.’
Soran raised a brow, called a pair of Guards to him and followed Bagri into the Chamber. It was indeed only a short while before Bagri and Soran recrossed the hall and Thryssa did not fail to note Bagri’s waxen pallor. She said nothing, allowing him to help her up just as Kwanzi and Elyssa came from above.
‘Soran, I will need no personal Guard now. Keep Shan with you,’ Emla said as she followed the Vagrantians.
Soran smiled. ‘In spite of the irregular training she has been able to do, I can tell you privately Lady, that Shan is officer material.’
Emla returned his smile. ‘Then make her earn her officer’s badge Captain.’
Lashek and Jilla awaited them at the Pavilion in Emla’s garden and, seeing their weariness insisted they go to bed at once. Thus it was late afternoon by the time Emla joined Ryla and Nolli in the great hall. It was strange that they asked no questions, were in fact unusually subdued. Then Emla remembered that they had seen all that had occurred in the Asataria. The air mage Jilla had watched all the events, relaying them directly to the old ladies’ minds.
Emla kissed each old cheek before sitting on her favourite stool by the fire. Lashek appeared carrying a large tray and was followed by two maids, equally laden.
‘Lady Lallia’s specialities! I suspect we will need sustenance through these imminent discussions.’
His beaming smile was answered with Nolli’s toothless grin. She had become as addicted to these sweet pastries as was Lashek.
‘You will get so fat that no one will be able to move you from your chair,’ Ryla sniffed.
Nolli ignored her completely, already taking one of the pastries Lashek offered.
Elyssa came down the stairs next and was given a muffled but warm greeting from Nolli. She sat by the Wise One’s chair and was promptly fed morsels of pastry. Kwanzi and Thryssa arrived together with Bagri and settled themselves on the heaps of pillows scattered around the hearth. Ashta’s mother the pale green Dragon Hani reclined behind the old ones, but only Shar and Lilli were present of the five hatchlings. It was Nolli who asked Thryssa the question that was in all their minds.
‘What was that “thing” that you forced from the Asataria Thryssa dear? We saw no form, no shape, sensed nothing but a great unpleasantness.’
Thryssa was silent, marshalling her thoughts.
‘I have to begin I think, by telling you an old, old tale. It was old when our people first built the great cities of Valsheba.’
Her listeners waited expectantly. Thryssa sighed.
‘The story tells of a wondrous place: a world of magic and amazing beasts, where all things lived in a Balance of Harmony. As with all such tales, there came a maggot to poison the heart of this beautiful world, and dreadful things befell the inhabitants.’
When Thryssa paused to sip her mug of spice tea, Jilla asked quietly: ‘What was that world called, or had it no name?’
Thryssa smiled. ‘It was called Nachalo, but who’s to say where it was? Now, this maggot was spreading poison among some of Nachalo’s best minds and they were crafty, keeping their evil plans most secret. But one of them suddenly became afraid of all the plotting and dreadful experiments he had got involved in. He fled in terror to the mage who ruled Nachalo with benevolence and wisdom, and he confessed all he had done, all he knew, and the names of those who had followed the maggot’s path.
‘The mage gathered those he trusted and they used their minds to capture the very souls of the conspirators. The mage was appalled by the number of those who had fallen for the maggot’s poisonous lies. It took all of the strength of the mage and his trusted ones to contain the wrongdoers. With their last effort, they constructed a great sphere around the many souls, and the mage cast the sphere forth to hurtle for eternity through the emptiness between the worlds. The sphere he made was called the Void, for within was nothing, nothing except the souls of the evil ones.’
The fire crackled in the silence that fell when Thryssa paused again.
‘That is the story that I recalled when I sensed the presence within the Asataria. I fear the tale is true, and somehow the Void has been sundered and those evil souls so long imprisoned therein, have found this world to settle on.’
‘Who was this good mage who ruled Nachalo?’ Elyssa queried.
Thryssa shrugged. ‘He is not named in some versions, in others he is called Cheok.’
‘And the maggot,’ Kwanzi asked. ‘Does the maggot have a name?’
Thryssa glanced round the ring of faces, her gaze resting last on Emla.
‘The maggot’s name was Petak.’
Chapter Eleven
When Tika woke, a new day was dawning. The instant she opened her silvered eyes, Farn’s long beautiful face loomed over her, eyes whirring in agitation.
‘Oh my Tika, are you well? I could not reach your mind all this time while you slept.’
Tika stared at him, remembering what had happened the previous evening. She sat up and threw her arms round his shoulders.
‘I am sorry. It was so dreadful, I must have shielded myself against everything, even you. I am so sorry Farn.’
She felt his relief although she was also aware of the fine tremors running through his body. She sat back.
‘I think we could both do with some of Lorak’s medicines.’
Farn’s eyes whirred faster. ‘Oh yes indeed – the restorative.’
‘Well, I think perhaps the strengthening medicine first, then a very little of the restorative.’
Tika ignored her soul bond’s disappointment and searched through a pile of packs to find her own, which held several of Lorak’s remedies. The one she sought, Lorak had concocted to calm and soothe Farn’s recurring bouts of terror and distress occasioned originally by his near fatal injury. As she rummaged, she noted that one of the awnings had been stretched across the rocks, and that Maressa and Ren both lay asleep, or unconscious, on the other side of the shelter. Sket ducked under the low canvas, a look of relief on his face.
‘Good to see you’re all right, Lady.’
‘I’m fine Sket. Where is everyone?’
‘They’ve gone to look at all that water. I said I would stay and keep an eye on you.’
‘You wouldn’t have some tea brewed would you?’ Tika grinned at the Guard, knowing he would be making tea all day given the chance.
‘Just made some fresh.’ He looked at the small pouches Tika had dug out of her pack and nodded his understanding. ‘There is sweet water only a few paces along the cliff. They tell me that all that water out there has salt in it so we can’t drink it. Did you ever hear the like?’
Farn had to wiggle a bit to get out under the edge of the canvas, but he was not going to let Tika out of his reach. His long lip wrinkled as she offered him a drink.
‘You first,’ he said sulkily.
Tika shrugged, turning to Sket as she raised the dish to her mouth and pretended to drink. She turned back to Farn and he drank the liquid down with much complaining. Sket produced a flask from his jacket.
‘Only a sip,’ Tika warned.
The taste of Lorak’s restorative banished the acrid taste of herbs and Farn’s good humour returned at once.
‘Shall we look at the sea now, my Tika?’ he asked hopefully.
Tika’s gaze fell on a patch of darkened, greasy soil some paces beyond Sket’s fire. She bit her lip.
‘You go if you wish. I will wait with Sket until the others wake.’
Farn considered this proposal then settled himself beside the makeshift shelter.
‘I will also wait,’ he announced.
Khosa strolled down a sloping boulder and jumped to Farn’s back, where she paused for a quick wash of her whiskers.
Tika sat cross-legged by the fire, sipping Sket’s tea.
‘How did you know of those things Khosa?’ she asked and winced.
She set down her mug and pulled her shirt away from her chest, peering down at herself. The skin between her breasts was red, blisters had risen in places and the inside of her shirt was singed. Sket vanished back under the awning, reappearing with a round pot of Lorak’s salve. Khosa and Farn watched Tika cautiously smear some of the ointment onto the burn before Khosa replied.
‘I could not see the thing as you could, but I could feel it as a nasty gap in the air.’
‘Will there be any more of them?’ Farn asked nervously.
Khosa’s turquoise eyes met the silver and green of Tika’s, and the Kephi refrained from her usual sarcasm.
‘I would not think so Farn.’
Tika smiled gratefully at the Kephi Queen, knowing she lied.
Sounds of movement came from the shelter and Ren staggered into the open. He sank down opposite Tika and groaned, clasping his head. Sket busied himself pouring tea for the Offering when Maressa appeared and also accepted a drink.
‘Shall we go and find the others?’ Tika suggested when neither Ren nor Maressa seemed inclined to conversation.
Colour was returning to Ren’s white face and he looked across the fire at Tika and Farn.
‘I assume they are on the beach?’ he nodded towards the narrow gap in the cliffs.
‘Yes.’ Tika hesitated. ‘I think we should all hear what you can tell us about these things when we are together.’
Ren smiled suddenly. ‘Of course. And I think that neither of you have seen the great sea?’
‘I have seen the eastern sea,’ said Maressa. ‘But only when I travelled the air currents.’
‘It is wonderful! It sparkles, and shines, and goes on forever!’
Five pairs of eyes regarded Farn’s enthusiasm with varying degrees of scepticism, but then Tika laughed and got to her feet.
‘In that case, why are we still sitting here?’ She reached for Ren’s hand, pulling him up. Maressa was already moving round the boulders towards the gap. Khosa hissed and spat when Farn rose suddenly, spilling her majesty on to the ground.
‘Sorry,’ he mumbled. ‘I forgot you were there.’
‘Are you coming Khosa?’ Tika asked in a polite attempt to distract Khosa’s fury.
‘I think not. I watched it for a while earlier. It does not hold a great deal of interest for me.’ She stalked beneath the awning, orange tail fluffed vertically in offended dignity.
Farn rose into the air, twisting and turning and generally showing off, as Tika explained to her companions. Climbing up to the gap, they saw Brin spiralling into the sky.
‘Go and catch Brin,’ Tika suggested. ‘You can see us all the time, after all.’
Farn rocketed skywards, calling out in delight as he climbed after the great crimson Dragon. Reaching the crest of the gap they paused and stared. Water heaved and sank as far as they could see, its edge purling onto a wide sandy beach. They saw the rest of their party perched on rocks some distance to their left and began walking towards them. The sand was dry and difficult to walk through at first, then it became damper and firmer. Maressa dawdled, picking up strange shells embedded in the damp sand. She licked her fingers and pulled a face at the strong taste of salt.
