Survivors: Book 4 Circles of Light series, page 15
‘This is the first time you have done a minor healing,’ Khosa whispered in her mind.
Tika realised the Kephi was right. The other healings she had done had been for Farn and to extract the gijan’s wings – never had she healed a small hurt. Tika stood back, leaning against Farn’s chest for comfort rather than support. The healing had taken scarcely any strength.
‘Those trousers are the best I’ve seen,’ she said suddenly. ‘Did you buy them here? Where did you get coin?’
Leaf wriggled from Sket’s arms and hurled arms and wings round Tika.
‘Salma made them for me – aren’t they splendid?’
The priests and Hariko were amazed at Leaf’s next words.
‘Thank you for mending my feet Tika. My life is yours.’
There was something in the way Leaf said the last four words: she meant them utterly, they were not a ritual form of gratitude.
Gan lowered the lamp and watched Tika go to every person of their company, bestowing a quick hug and kiss to each. She reached Sket and the armsman whispered something which made Tika splutter with mirth. Then she turned to Gan, peering up at his face nearly lost in the darkness above her. She tugged at his sleeve and he bent nearly in half to bring his head nearer hers.
‘I always thought I was alone,’ she told him quietly. ‘Until I found Farn, Kija, the Dragon Kindred. But when I left you in the forest, I discovered I missed you all too.’ She rested her forehead against his chin. ‘We’re family aren’t we Gan?’
Gan’s long fingers brushed back the tangle of dark curls and he smiled. ‘I was thinking the very same thing myself. We’re not family because we have to be, but because we choose to be.’
He saw those strangely altered eyes glinting up at him and a beaming smile. She stretched her arms up to hug his neck and then she’d gone back to Farn. She climbed onto his shoulders.
‘It is not safe for Farn to land here but we will come back should you need us. We are close by.’ She looked down at the three priests. ‘Your names will be remembered in the histories,’ she told them gently. She met Hariko’s gaze. ‘Zeminth longed to meet your father and you also, but he fears this City. Why could you not have travelled to him?’
Without waiting for a reply, Farn lifted from the roof, immediately lost to sight in the gathering clouds. Piper and Willow, surprisingly, enfolded the three priests in their wings and then they too were gone.
The first spots of rain were falling as they made their way back indoors, Khosa leading the way: she detested being wet even more than she detested being cold. Salma and Zada disappeared with Leaf, leaving Taza and Hariko with the visitors.
‘Finding a ship for you is proving more difficult than I’d hoped,’ Hariko began as soon as he’d sat down. ‘All ships have been ordered to await orders from the Grand Master. He will requisition some of them for sure, not all of course, for conversion to fighting ships or for transporting armsmen to the Outer Islands. No large ships are allowed to leave Harbour City until the Grand Master decides which ones he wants.’ He shrugged. ‘There was uproar of course – traders have schedules to keep and delays cost them much coin. Traders do not appreciate losing coin. My other piece of news is that word has reached both the Higher Academy and the Mage Council of the arrival of two sacred ones in the City.’
Ren looked alarmed. ‘What exactly does that imply?’
‘Both scholars and mages will be very anxious to speak with you. You can expect courtesy from the scholars even should you refuse to meet them but the mages may be more – persistent.’
‘Hariko, just how powerful are these Mage Councillors?’ Maressa asked.
Hariko took his time in framing his reply. ‘Compared with the little I’ve seen of the Dragon Kindred’s mind strength, and your own ability, I would estimate most are less strong than you. That is individually. Together I think they could overwhelm you quite easily. I do not know if you can combine with the Kindred and the gijan and I do not know the strength of the other sacred one.’ He inclined his head in Ren’s direction.
Maressa made no comment, waiting for Hariko to continue.
‘There are a handful of mages who are very strong. Vorna for example; she is deeply involved in the cabal I spoke of last night. Taseen is very old. He claims he played a part in the last War of the Elders, although no one believes that of course. He would oppose Vorna – he has always and publicly claimed it is our duty to protect this land and its people above all other interest. We should do this for no reward other than the continuance of land and people. He teaches that all life exists in harmony and should so continue – that no one person should dictate how others live their private lives.’
Maressa nodded. ‘And you would share the view of Vorna, or of Taseen?’
‘Taseen.’ Hariko didn’t hesitate. ‘But he is very old, though some say that Vorna is near to him in age.’ He lifted a shoulder in a half shrug. ‘She appears in her late middle years.’ He paused and frowned. ‘Now I think on it, she has looked exactly the same since I was a child. How could that be?’
‘The highest – mages I suppose you would call them – in my land are able to extend their lives,’ Ren told the scholar.
Gan had listened closely and watched Hariko’s expression throughout. ‘Would we be able to specify who we would meet then? Is it permitted that we could visit Taseen perhaps and then two or three scholars? Would that satisfy them?’ he asked.
‘I could ask Taseen to dine at my house in the precincts of the Higher Academy. I don’t think it would be wise for you to enter Xantip Palace. Taseen has not been known to dine outside the Palace for years – whether he’d agree is doubtful.’
‘I will invite him.’
Hariko looked round nervously.
‘It matters not where you think I am Hariko, only that you listen to what I say.’ Grek’s tone was acid. ‘All this company will attend,’ he continued. ‘I’m sure there are one or two scholars whom you trust? When shall I tell Taseen to call upon you – tomorrow would be best?’
They felt almost sorry for Hariko: conversation with Grek clearly rattled his nerves badly. He stood up.
‘I’ll make the arrangements at once,’ he said and waited for Grek’s response.
Khosa chewed busily between her toes. ‘Grek’s gone to offer your invitation to Taseen.’ She closed her eyes, the better to concentrate on her cleaning.
‘Aah. Well, I too will go then. I will expect you at dusk tomorrow.’ He turned back at the door. ‘Shall I send someone from my household to escort you? It isn’t far but I know the City is confusing to visitors.’
Gan stretched out his long legs. ‘Taza will be kind enough to show us the way I’m sure.’
Hariko nodded. ‘I will see you at dusk tomorrow,’ he repeated.
Leaf brushed past him as he left.She was followed by Salma and Zada, their arms full of material.
‘We have looked through the chests of clothes,’ Zada explained. ‘You must all choose what you wish. I should have thought of it before: your clothes all need cleaning and most need some mending.’ She stared pointedly at a tear in Pallin’s sleeve.
‘I will have another pair of trousers finished for you tomorrow sacred one,’ Salma murmured shyly to Leaf.
‘Truly? What colour will they be?’ Leaf asked.
The awe with which Salma had regarded Leaf changed to something close to mischief. ‘I think you’ll have to wait and see sacred one.’
Leaf pouted and then laughed. ‘And my siblings – shall they have new trousers?’
Salma blinked and saw she’d been trapped. She smiled wryly. ‘I will make trousers for all of you,’ she agreed. ‘But it will take time.’
Maressa was sorting through the heap of garments, several bright shirts already under her arm.
‘We give clothes to any who ask for them,’ Zada told them. She held up a finely worked shawl. ‘Some who still follow the Way, make such things to bring as offerings to the temple when they have no coin to spare.’
‘It is not far to the Higher Academy,’ Taza said, looking at Leaf’s feet. ‘But there are always people on the street until long after dark.’
Zada rummaged in the pile of clothes and produced two brilliant green socks, causing groans of horror from all – except Leaf. She fingered them admiringly and Zada smiled.
‘You like bright colours sacred one?’
‘Oh yes. The world is filled with bright colours after all.’
Zada stretched a foot of one of the socks and then squatted to measure it against the gijan’s slender foot. ‘There are some scraps of leather in my sewing box I’m sure. I can stitch leather to the sock which will save your feet a little.’ She stood upright again. ‘And wearing these will conceal your feet sacred one. Beautiful though I think them, they are very different from human feet, and people in this City are the most curious in the world.’
Maressa impulsively kissed Zada’s cheek. ‘You are the kindest of women Zada dear. I hope our presence in your temple doesn’t completely exhaust you!’
They spent most of the next day within their rooms – rain poured down outside but the same crowds of people seemed to hurry along the street in front of the temple. Grek told them Taseen had seemed highly amused when Grek announced himself.
‘He is indeed very aged,’ Grek told them. ‘But he encourages the general belief that he is frail and weak – about to pass from this life at any moment.’ Grek sounded amused. ‘He told me Vorna discounts him completely now as a senile old fool. Which means of course that he is very far from being that. Two Mage Councillors will accompany him. Tavri, who is his constant companion and disciple. He plays the part of a gentle simpleton to perfection.’
Now Grek sounded admiring. ‘The other is Sheoma towards whom Vorna is showing increasing interest. Taseen told me Sheoma has far travelled – to Wendla. Only he and Tavri are aware of Sheoma’s powers in this skill.’
‘And Hariko?’ Gan asked the question in everyone’s mind.
‘Taseen says he is trustworthy within limits, but he will not speak to us freely in front of Hariko or the other scholars Hariko will invite to dine.’
‘What limitations does Taseen put on his trust in Hariko?’ asked Ren.
‘He says Hariko was the only child of his parents and while he has a good mind and a willing aptitude for scholarship, he has a rather grander opinion of himself than is truthful. He does not take kindly to being made to look a fool, or to have the gaps in his knowledge exposed. He is a still young man, who was born to an elderly father and a mother nearing fifty years who spoilt him.’
Khosa yawned. ‘I will of course join you tonight. Was there more we needed to know Grek?’
‘He was aware of my presence – like you and Leaf can tell where I am.’
Khosa paused in the act of tucking her tail round her front paws. ‘Was he indeed?’ she said thoughtfully.
‘It’s stopped raining!’ Leaf called from her stool by the open window. ‘Will it soon be time to go out?’
‘Well, we’re all ready,’ Gan laughed. ‘As soon as Taza comes for us, we’ll leave.’
But it was Salma who arrived first, a roll of dark cloth in her hand. She bowed before Leaf and handed her the roll. Leaf took it with eager anticipation. The company laughed at the gijan’s trill of excitement as she examined the trousers. They were sooty black, with birds and butterflies exquisitely embroidered down the length of the outside of each leg. She spun round, her wings shielding her, and put on the second pair of new trousers she’d been given in two days. Maressa moved to examine them when Leaf spun again to face the room.
‘Salma, tell me you haven’t spent all last night and all day today doing this?’ Maressa exclaimed.
Leaf’s smile changed to a concerned frown.
‘I had the black cloth by me and I had been working on that particular design for some time. It was surely a prompting from the Elders that caused me to choose that shade of pink. I only had to cut the cloth and sew the trousers – I did no fancy work today. Do they please you sacred one?’
Leaf extended one wing, drawing it close to her leg. The pink of her under feathers exactly matched the pink of the embroidered pattern.
‘Oh they please me mightily Salma!’
Salma blushed with pleasure as her father appeared at the door. Maressa flung the white cloak around Leaf and knelt to tug on the green leather soled socks. Ren was already cloaked and hooded and he held out his hand to the gijan.
Outside the temple in its small front courtyard, the company formed protectively around Ren and Leaf. Gan took up the rear with Maressa close beside him again. Sket walked at Leaf’s right side, Navan at Ren’s left. Riff and Pallin positioned themselves directly in front of them while Olam took the lead with Taza. Pallin started grumbling within moments of their emerging into the street.
‘Nearly dark and all these folks still rushing about. Have they no homes to go to?’
Gan heard Taza’s voice as a soothing murmur but Pallin sounded more belligerent with each step.
‘Eating in the street! Just look there sir – can you believe it? Do they not shut shops in this stars forsaken place when it grows dark?’ Pallin choked to silence and Gan stared over the heads of his companions to see what had caused Pallin’s complaints to cease. He grinned.
Pallin recovered enough to voice his outrage in a loud hiss at Olam.
‘Those girls are wearing nothing! Sitting there on those balconies look, drinking! They’ll catch their deaths!’
Maressa glanced up at Gan and lost her battle with giggles. Sket chuckled and Pallin turned to glare back at them.
‘Disgraceful it is and not to be laughed at!’
It was perhaps fortunate that it was only a short walk before Taza led them through a wide gateway into an expanse of green garden. Navan glanced over his shoulder as the hubbub of the City was abruptly muted.
‘Why do the people not come in here?’ he asked Taza.
‘Once through that gate we are within the precincts of the Xantip Higher Academy. Many rumours abound about what Mages might do to interlopers here or at the Mage College or the Palace itself.’
They followed a winding flagged path between lines of perfumed shrubs until they reached another wall in which was set a narrow gate. A man in a grey robe greeted them and took them on to Hariko’s quarters. In the deepening twilight they made out a low single storey L-shaped building set among several other similar structures. Hariko met them at the door.
‘Taseen arrived moments ago. Please, come in and meet him.’
He took them straight to a dining room where a large oval table was set with a multitude of dishes. Four men and two women were already seated at the table. Hariko drew out chairs, inviting the company to sit, placing Leaf and Ren opposite the man they guessed at once was Taseen.
A white beard frothed over layers of shawls, and thick robes wrapped his thin body tightly. Hariko introduced everyone and urged them to help themselves to food.
‘Councillor Taseen fears he will be unable to stay long. Sadly he is plagued by summer ague.’
Ren, looking directly at the old man, saw startlingly sharp blue eyes for an instant when Taseen peered across the table from beneath overhanging eyebrows. Taseen reminded the Offering, with a pang, of old Babach. The Mage Councillors spoke little. Tavri seemed more concerned with his ancient master – who managed to spill his soup into his beard. Sheoma, a woman of Maressa’s age, listened closely while Hariko and the two other scholars argued, with boring persistency, whether the tales of Namolos could possibly be based on fact.
Pallin and Riff ate steadily and silently, not even pretending to pay attention to the talk. Leaf said nothing neither did she eat, leaving Ren to reply to the scholars. Taseen groaned and bowed his head even lower.
‘I fear I must take my master home,’ said Tavri, getting to his feet. ‘Perhaps the sacred ones would visit him in the Palace when he is a little better.’
Sheoma and Tavri held the tottering figure between them and helped him to the door. The company remained, listening to Hariko and his friends talk in ever more convoluted terms until they had no idea of what they were hearing. Pallin yawned loudly and Gan rose from the table.
‘We thank you for your hospitality Hariko, but we too should be leaving.’
Hariko looked a little surprised – he had been speaking of the theory of disharmonics in the time of the Ancient Elders – but nodded anyway.
‘I will call on you tomorrow,’ he said as they filed from his front door. He lowered his voice. ‘I may have news of a ship.’
Gan bowed. ‘We look forward to that then Hariko.’
The same servant led them back to the narrow gate where Taza waited. Making their way back to the temple, Leaf exploded with irritation, both at the exclusion of Taza from the meal and at the utter nonsense they’d had to listen to.
‘Taza is a priest of the Elder Races,’ she hissed. ‘He should have been included with us. And those were scholars? Zeminth had more wisdom than those three put together.’
They walked through streets far less crowded than they’d seen so far but still busy enough. The rain clouds had moved further inland and fistfuls of stars were strewn across the night sky.
‘What was the point of all that?’ Navan asked Gan, turning in to the temple entrance.
‘I have no idea. Let’s hope Grek may be able to enlighten us.’
Gan released Khosa who had been silent throughout the evening. Now she bounded up the stairs ahead of them. Ren and Leaf were already unfastening their white cloaks as Olam opened the door to their apartments. He halted and hands went automatically to weapons. Olam moved on into the room, followed by the others who saw that they had visitors.
Tavri was pouring tea into bowls, Sheoma sat on Leaf’s stool by the open window. Taseen, divested of many of his wrappings, sat upright in an armchair, his feet on the fender round the fire. His face wore a grin they found difficult to resist. Khosa stalked forward and sat in front of him.
