Drogoya: Book 3 Circles of Light series, page 16
It appeared that everyone intended to see the visitors on their way until they reached the guarded Chamber where lay the circle. Only a few were allowed inside and Kera shut the door behind Daro with a groan.
‘I promise Lorak will be taken severely to task tomorrow. What has he been brewing?’
Kwanzi laughed. ‘An occasional party -’
Kera snorted in disgust.
‘An occasional party can be most beneficial. You must take my word Lady Kera – I speak as a healer!’
Thryssa clung to Elyssa briefly then stepped onto the circle. Lashek kissed everyone he could reach.
‘We made our farewells to the Dragons earlier,’ he said. ‘But oh, I do hope to be back with you soon.’
Chakar handed him a napkin full of pastries which cheered him a little as he followed Kwanzi and Imshish onto the circle.
A soft implosion of air, and the circle was empty. Kera turned to Jal and Nesh.
‘Let’s get back down to the hall and make sure it is still intact.’
She turned on her heel and strode from the Chamber. Nesh and Jal exchanged glances and trotted after Discipline Senior Lady Kera, trying to wipe the grins off their faces. Mim caught Babach’s arm.
‘A word before we sleep old friend.’
Babach sank into the armchair, watching Mim poke at the fire until it began to brighten.
‘I had intended to speak to you tomorrow anyway,’ said the Observer.
Mim laughed and Babach noted the Dragon Lord’s side teeth had lengthened. He wondered absently how far the physical changes to the Nagum body would go.
‘About the Orders of Sedka and Myata?’ Mim raised his brows. ‘I noticed that you changed the subject rather suddenly. All that fussing for paper and pens, and busily scribbling your letters.’
Babach nodded. ‘Quite so. But I needed to think you see, as it had only just occurred to me.’
Mim sighed. ‘You told us that Sedka was an ordinary word, not really a name, and that it meant plantation. Then you said that Dalena meant a glen, but was still used as a name for country girls. Then you changed the subject.’
Babach rested his recently unbandaged left hand on his egg pendant. It was scarred far worse than his right hand had been, but he noticed that the scars faded much more rapidly if he kept contact with the pendant. Now, he smiled at the Dragon Lord.
‘Do you recall asking me if I had heard singing?’
Mim frowned. ‘Yes. You said you had not. But then you asked if I could smell mint.’
Babach’s smile widened. ‘Well Dragon Lord, Myata in the old tongue, simply means mint.’
Chapter Fourteen
Pajar was crawling into his bed when a scribe knocked at his door to inform him of the High Speaker’s arrival. He scrambled back into his clothes and reached Thryssa’s study at the same moment as Thryssa herself. Lashek immediately offered him a rather squashed pastry, which Pajar took without noticing.
Thryssa sat at her table with a sigh of relief. ‘It is good to be home, but the things we have seen Pajar! We will bore you to tears with our tales.’
She studied her new first councillor’s anxious face.
‘Should I hear your reports now, or can they wait till the morning?’
Pajar saw the weariness etched round the High Speaker’s eyes and shook his head.
‘I came only to welcome you back. It can all wait until tomorrow.’
Kwanzi smiled approvingly from behind Thryssa’s chair. Pajar turned to go back to bed, absently biting into the pastry he discovered in his hand. He stopped.
‘Where did you get this Speaker Lashek? It is amazing!’ he mumbled through the pastry.
‘Ah hah,’ Lashek beamed. ‘A wonderful lady in what was once Valsheba. And – I have the recipe.’
Pajar waited next morning until a scribe came to tell him that the High Speaker was now in her study. Entering, he saw papers he had worked on neatly stacked to her left. So she must either have worked last night after all, or before breakfast today. He had an enormous respect for the High Speaker’s capacity for work. She worked far harder than most people would have believed, overseeing every administrative detail of Vagrantian life.
‘Good morning Pajar. I am most impressed with your efficiency in my absence. You dealt with that dispute in Kedara’s main market very well indeed.’ She smiled at the young man. ‘And you have been most discreet regarding my last wishes.’
Pajar blushed, his red face clashing abysmally with his flaming hair. ‘I was most worried High Speaker. But Speaker Orsim was here and he spoke kindly and wisely to me of my fears.’
Thryssa nodded. ‘I am glad that you were sensible enough to discuss your concerns with him. I do not approve of secrecy between the Circles and especially not between the Speakers or Councillors. But this worries me greatly.’
She tapped the documents before her. Pajar knew at once that she referred to Fira Circle and Kallema’s arbitrary closing of all access to that Circle.
‘The gates to Parima and Kedara were blocked the day you left, but the reports I received from Chornay regarding Fira’s treatment of its residents came a few days later.’ Pajar frowned. ‘There is no way of knowing how long Kallema has authorised this “culling” of her people – which is what it amounts to.’
Thryssa shuffled through the papers to find the one she wanted. ‘The three young ones who I ordered to be brought here. They refer by name to several who are on the census lists. As they are apparently no longer in Fira Circle, and there is no record of them residing here or in either of the other Circles, what is your conclusion?’
Pajar did not hesitate. ‘They have been murdered and disposed of,’ he replied.
Thryssa nodded. ‘There can be no doubt of it,’ she agreed. ‘The question remains, how long has this been happening? These children mention names of students two and three cycles in advance of them. Has it only been happening for three cycles, or will we find it began much earlier?’
‘Kallema has been Speaker for nearly twenty cycles. But I have made some enquires. There was nothing out of the ordinary until about seven cycles ago.’
Thryssa raised a brow. ‘Is there a significance there?’
Pajar shrugged. ‘Prilla became first councillor at that time.’
Thryssa pushed her chair sideways and stared out of the window, the rim of Talvo Circle a black line in the distance against the blue sky. After a while she turned back to Pajar.
‘I was trying to think back,’ she said. ‘And I do believe that Kallema became more withdrawn then. I will ask Lashek and Orsim what they can remember.’
‘Speaker Lashek left at dawn for Segra High Speaker.’
Thryssa nodded, then grinned. ‘Did he take his precious recipe?’
Pajar smiled back. ‘He has given it to everyone here, not just the cooks.’ He fished in his shirt pocket and drew out a scrap of paper. ‘I had to copy it too.’
‘Gremara seems to speak with the Dragon Lord in the Stronghold frequently. Has there been any problem from Talvo of late?’
‘No High Speaker. But several people have said there is another Dragon with her, smaller and cream coloured.’
‘She is Jeela, daughter of the most beautiful golden great Dragon Pajar. In the Stronghold, they believe that Jeela will be Gremara’s successor.’
‘Pachela speaks very often with Gremara. She says the silver one is no longer mad?’
‘So Mim believes.’ Thryssa sat in silence. ‘Gremara told the Dragon Lord to give myself and Lashek, each one of these.’ She lifted a silver chain free of her shirt and held the pendant across the table towards Pajar.
He stared in astonishment at the beautiful thing. It swung slowly on its chain, just below Thryssa’s hand, first the jade back catching the sunshine, then the olive front seeming to trap the light within itself.
‘Look closer,’ said Thryssa softly.
Pajar leaned forward, his vision enhanced as he concentrated. The tiny shape within the oval turned and quivered. Pajar sat back with a thump and looked at the High Speaker. She hid the pendant beneath her shirt again.
‘Mim told us that Gremara said we would have need of them. But we have no idea what she might mean. We know that they have been beneficial in healing situations, but what more they might help us with, we cannot guess.’ She reached behind her and tugged a bell rope. ‘But you say that Pachela speaks often with Gremara, and yet you did not know of Jeela?’
‘Pachela chose to stay here in the Corvida.’ Pajar could still see the tiny twisting form within the pendant as he answered Thryssa. ‘According to first councillor Shema, Pachela was an average student, like Daro, although their assessors said she had the capacity to be extremely powerful in both earth and fire magic.’
He paused while a maid brought in a tray of tea, setting it at the end of the table. Once they were alone again he continued.
‘Since Pachela’s eyes silvered, she still seems shy of people but there is a confidence within her and an awareness of her own abilities.’
‘I will speak with her alone later I think Pajar. What of these three Firan children?’
Pajar sipped his tea. ‘I would recommend that you see them separately, perhaps with Chornay present throughout to offer familiarity. I would suggest that you tell him he may not intervene at any point but must give you his impressions when each has left you.’
Thryssa considered Pajar’s advice, eventually nodding her agreement. ‘But I will leave you to explain to Chornay. Send him and the first Firan to me shortly, Pachela after the midday meal.’
Pajar got up and walked to the door.
‘Pajar? I do appreciate that it is very difficult for you to be plunged into this position with so little training but I am sure it is the right decision. These last days you have shown yourself capable of the rank of first councillor and I am grateful to have your help.’
Pajar blushed again, mumbled his thanks and fled. Thryssa poured herself more tea, wondering if Kwanzi knew of any remedies against blushing. In Pajar’s case, the result was most unfortunate.
By the time Thryssa went through to her private rooms at midday she was already exhausted. The interviews with the three young Firans had taken much of her strength. Kwanzi frowned as she poked food around her plate, rearranging it rather than eating much of it.
‘Kwanzi, I would like you to attend the Firan children. They are deeply afraid of something, even knowing that they are safe here with us. Graza burst into tears at my first question. The boy, Kralo, has a confident front but it is egg shell brittle just beneath.’ She abandoned her food and reached for the jug of water. ‘They depend on Chornay quite heavily – he is their friend among all these strangers. But Chornay told me their minds have not been investigated as have all the others whose eyes silvered. Kallema imprisoned them at once. No healers went near them. And when they arrived here, they were upset and shocked, so our people only offered reassurance – no assessments have been made.’
‘Of course. I will arrange it this afternoon. Are you going to eat any of that food?’
Thryssa looked down at her plate then up to her husband apologetically. ‘I’m sorry. I promise I will eat my supper. Those children bothered me Kwanzi, there is something badly amiss. Be careful when you try to work with them and make sure you have the best healers with you.’
‘Yes High Speaker. And what have you to do this afternoon?’
‘I am seeing Pachela. Then I will spend some more time with Pajar. Which reminds me.’
Kwanzi hooted with laughter at Thryssa’s query about a cure for Pajar’s blushes.
‘I will think about it,’ he said. ‘But I can make no promises.’
Pachela entered at Thryssa’s call and sat in the offered chair by the window. Thryssa had decided to make this meeting appear more informal, so sat with her back to her work table.
‘I am sorry I had no chance to speak with you before I left Vagrantia my dear. I felt we should acquaint ourselves at once. Tea?’
Pachela accepted with a faint smile. Thryssa sat back nursing her own mug.
‘Tell me first something of yourself.’
Pachela blinked her silver and grey eyes in some surprise and Thryssa congratulated herself on putting the girl a little off balance.
‘I am Segran, as you know. I am drawn to earth and fire.’ Pachela hesitated, then met Thryssa’s stare. ‘Fire calls me ever more strongly.’
Thryssa sipped her tea. ‘Is that because of the connection between yourself and Gremara which has developed lately?’
Pachela looked out of the window, across Parima’s vastness to the black wall between Parima and Talvo. She nodded slowly. ‘I think it probably is High Speaker. May I ask you something?’
‘Of course.’
‘Did you meet the great Dragons of the north?’
Thryssa relaxed. She felt none of the wrongness about this child as she had with the Firans. Then she chided herself: she really must stop seeing anyone under the age of thirty as a child.
‘I rode on the back of a Snow Dragon and a great Dragon,’ she admitted. ‘And they are the most beautiful, kindly creatures in the world.’
Questions bombarded her, to all of which she gave honest answers until finally she laughed, raising her hand for mercy.
‘Enough for now my dear. But tell me, why have you not told anyone of Gremara’s new companion, Jeela?’
Pachela looked astonished. ‘Is that her name? Gremara said that her successor had come, but spoke no more on the matter.’
Thryssa nodded in satisfaction: she had concluded as much.
‘Pachela I have a suggestion – a suggestion, not an order. Will you come with me, into Talvo Circle? Gremara will do no harm now. She instructed the Dragon Lord in the north to give me this, so I think she intends that we be friends.’
Thryssa drew out the egg pendant, watching Pachela carefully. The girl focused her sight, then her mouth rounded in amazement and tears poured down her cheeks.
It took three days to traverse Parima. The people who farmed the western end came out to greet their High Speaker with delight and warmth. Thryssa realised how many cycles had drifted by while she had remained shut up in the Corvida and resolved to find the time somehow to come out to talk to her people more often again. As they neared the entrance to the tunnel into Talvo, Thryssa glanced at Pachela. She was pale with excitement but there was no trace of fear. Kwanzi had fumed at Thryssa and Pachela going alone to Talvo, but for once Thryssa became angry with him.
‘I can surely fear nothing in Parima. If I take an escort, it tells people I am afraid to be among them. Of course we travel alone.’
Now the two women, one very young and one far older than she appeared, walked steadily through the twilight of the tunnel towards the early morning light in Talvo Circle. Emerging, they paused, staring around them at the lush creepers clinging to the walls, the many toned greenness everywhere. Hot water suddenly soared up from a pool veiled in steam some distance to their left. Thryssa grinned and reached for Pachela’s hand.
‘I think we should watch our path rather carefully, do you not?’
By late morning the rampant vegetation had retreated to the sides of the widening crater and they walked on thin soil from which only coarse grasses grew. Pachela’s hand tightened on Thryssa’s. Thryssa looked up quickly and smiled. A small ivory Dragon spiralled lazily above them, sinking lower with each turn until at last she landed in front of the women. She reared erect, faceted eyes whirring cream flecked with gold, and spoke in their minds.
‘I am Jeela, daughter to Kija and heir to Gremara of Talvo. May the stars guide your paths.’
Thryssa bowed, Pachela copying her, and returned a formal greeting. At once Jeela dropped to the ground and lowered her brow to touch Thryssa’s.
‘You are one of the honoured,’ she said. ‘I am glad you have come. Have you news of Kadi, and Ashta, and Kija, and Fenj and - ’
Thryssa laughed, placing her hand along Jeela’s face. ‘I will tell you everything, but you must meet Pachela, she who speaks with Gremara.’
Jeela turned her face to Pachela, her eyes whirring faster. ‘I could talk to you too if you like,’ she said. ‘It sometimes seems a little empty here.’
Pachela followed Thryssa’s action and raised her hand to touch the small Dragon’s face. Jeela’s laughter rang in their minds and then the Dragon was in the air again, curving and swooping above their heads.
‘Gremara awaits you. This way. I will lead you.’
This time, it was Pachela’s hand that reached for Thryssa’s. After a glance at the girl’s face, Thryssa spoke not a word, letting her experience the real magic of walking beneath a dancing, laughing Dragon.
They walked for some time before Pachela stopped in her tracks, staring up to her right. Jeela’s amusement rippled through the air and she swung back towards the high ledge which was Gremara’s favourite place. The women waited as Gremara slid from the black rock into the air and glided down towards them. The midday sun flashed and dazzled off each silver scale and her eyes sparkled with rainbow colours.
As on the mountainside above Arak, she did not raise herself upright in the formal greeting of the great Dragons but reclined gracefully on the ground before them.
‘I am glad to see two legs in my Circle again.’ Her voice was slightly higher in pitch than other Dragons Thryssa noted. ‘I have no food to offer you, but fresh water is only a few paces away.’
Thryssa took the pack off her shoulders and sat on the ground facing the silver Dragon. ‘I have food for us should we need it. I am not hungry.’ Thryssa offered the pack to Pachela who shook her head, dropping to the ground beside Thryssa.
There was an interval of comfortable silence while Gremara scrutinised the two women and they in turn, feasted their eyes on the Dragon’s beauty. There was a flurry of wings and Jeela landed near Gremara.
‘I would see what you carry High Speaker Thryssa. I have only seen such things in my memories and I have long desired to see one in truth.’
Thryssa got up and moved closer to Gremara, drawing her pendant from under her shirt. She knelt by the silver Dragon’s head and held up the oval for her to see clearly. To Thryssa’s complete surprise Gremara made no comment but her voice rang out in sudden song: a song without words but with which Jeela joined in a treble harmony. At last Gremara’s song faded into silence.
