Survivors: Book 4 Circles of Light series, page 23
Seela carried the tired gijan through the rest of the day. Grek stayed with the Dragons, alert for the seeking mind from Wendla. The rain water Sket had tried to collect was tainted and brackish and did little to quench their thirst. The islet Maressa and Brin led them to was higher, more rock than sand, with weathered cones rising up several man lengths. Piper found places among the higher rocks where rain had collected and found it far fresher than the little they had left.
Brin told them, after flying high ahead for some leagues, that Wendla had been visible. He wondered if it really was an island. It appeared much as the coast of Malesh had done – an endless line of cliffs rising from the sea. The setting sun at last broke through the clouds, sending light dazzling across the water. Grek informed them that the questing mind had passed over them yet again.
‘I suggest you continue to shield,’ he said. ‘I will do a little investigating in Wendla.’
The gijan had revived but were subdued by thoughts of the ships now far behind them. They ate the fish Storm caught for them then lay against Seela, quickly falling asleep. Seela peered down at her strange brood.
‘Their bodies are tired still but their minds are busy.’
‘I asked last night why it is that they only communicate with you. Leaf let me into her thoughts only briefly in the City of the Domes.’ Tika stifled a yawn.
Seela turned from her inspection of the gijan. ‘They ask me things. Sometimes things you say or do confuses them – they do not understand. It is mostly a matter of them asking me questions rather than learning anything of them.’ Her eyes whirred in the twilight. ‘I have opened my mind to them as an example of my trust but they keep their minds tightly closed to me.’
Grek announced his return just after dawn. ‘Namolos’s information is out of date,’ he said. ‘The Captain of the Ship, Star Flower, has done what I did in Sapphrea.’
Only Khosa knew precisely what he meant and she sat up straight, a piece of fish forgotten under a paw. She waited until Grek deigned to continue.
‘Sefri joined her mind with a member of her son’s bloodline several generations past, with their knowledge and consent.’
The unbodied entity became pensive. ‘My consciousness travelled within the bloodline; Sefri seems able to transfer from one adult to another of the next generation.’
‘Did you do the same thing?’ Maressa asked in a faint voice.
‘No. I joined with a child in its mother’s belly when I first came here. I transferred my mind through succeeding members of that one family. I had to live through countless infancies until that particular host began to fail and I began again with a new foetus. They were unaware of my presence’
Tika clenched her hands on her knees. She spoke very calmly.
‘Which family did you choose Grek? Who was your last host?’
The sky lightened while the four Dragons and three humans waited for Grek’s answer.
‘The family was of the old Valsheban people, which then became Hargon’s line. I was within his mother and then -. Then I was part of his daughter.’
Tika gasped. ‘What did you do to her Grek? Where is Mena now?’
‘She is alive and in Ren’s land.’ More than that Grek refused to say.
Khosa crossed the patch of sand to butt her head on Tika’s arm. ‘Mena is well. Namolos told me.’ Khosa dug a claw into Tika’s leg, forcing her to look directly at the Kephi. ‘Namolos said her eyes are like yours.’
Farn poked his head over Tika’s shoulder, close to Khosa’s. ‘This Namolos – he is sure the child is well?’
‘He’s sure.’
‘Then it must be so my Tika,’ said Farn confidently. ‘We’ll probably meet her somewhere on these adventures. Another girl!’
Tika met Sket’s grin and reluctantly smiled herself. She stroked Khosa’s head lightly. ‘We must believe Mena is safe then.’ She tried to convince herself as she spoke.
Khosa did not reply; Mena was well, but perhaps not as safe as Tika would like to hope. Brin rattled his wings.
‘If we fly now, I would estimate we reach the coast of this land before dark.’
Maressa nodded agreement. ‘We can find somewhere safe while there is light to see.’
Sket stood up. ‘We could rest through the night and take stock tomorrow morning,’ he said.
‘Grek?’ Tika asked.
‘He’s gone,’ Leaf told her. The gijan were already perched on Seela’s back, their packs clasped before them.
As Brin predicted, they approached Wendla as the sun sank into the sea stretching away behind them. This coastal region was thickly wooded with small clusters of buildings sparsely scattered through it. Brin and Maressa shielded them from both eyes and minds as the group flew lower. Trees filled valleys and climbed hills until, the land rising again, they saw an open plateau ahead. They were following Seela to land when Grek spoke, an amused note in his mind voice.
‘So you didn’t need my help to find Star Flower then!’
Seela stumbled, off balanced by Grek’s words. Grek laughed outright.
‘You were shielding but so were they.’
By then all four Dragons stood on the grass covered ground, prismed eyes whirring as they stared around them.
‘Release your shielding,’ Grek suggested, and Maressa obeyed.
The air shimmered slightly, then shivered again.
‘Their shields are gone too,’ Grek murmured.
What had seemed a simple plateau, empty except for grass, a few shrubs and a handful of taller trees, looked very different. Sket was at Tika’s shoulder, his sword loose in its scabbard. The gijan slid from Seela’s back, trilling at the feel of the cool grass tickling their ankles.
‘Wait children,’ Seela ordered but Leaf unfurled her wings.
‘There is no danger here Seela,’ she called over her shoulder.
Maressa moved beside Tika and Sket, staring at the long low building set against grey rock. Smoke rose lazily from one of several chimneys. Every direction they looked plants grew – some twining up a verandah fronting the building, others in pots large and small set all around the plateau. Far more trees edged the area than they’d been aware of with the shielding in place. Flowers of every colour bloomed amid leaves of so many different greens their eyes were dazzled after three days of grey sky and sea. They stood gaping helplessly until Khosa’s demands to be freed from her sack roused them. Tika stooped to let Khosa loose.
‘Visitors!’ A husky voice called from behind the vine covered verandah.
A moment later a woman walked into view. She was of moderate height, mid brown hair hung over her shoulder in a braid and her face was a smooth skinned oval. She came a few more paces towards them and bowed low.
‘Welcome to Green Shade. I rarely have unexpected guests.’ She spoke the Common Tongue with no trace of an accent.
Tika moved forward, Sket and Farn flanking her. Hand on her sword hilt she returned the woman’s bow.
‘We did not mean to intrude; we believed this was an empty piece of land where we might rest.’
A small orange shape darted through the grass, disappearing into the flower smothered verandah. The woman turned to watch Khosa then back to the Dragons.
‘We had no idea such creatures were real let alone that they still live in this world,’ she said quietly.
The four Dragons reared erect, their formal greetings ringing in the woman’s mind. She took an involuntary step back as Brin and Seela towered over her. When the Dragons lowered themselves, Seela introduced the gijan. Leaf, Piper and Willow stepped forward and bowed, their wings fanning out on the ground behind them. The woman stared, as helplessly as Tika and her friends had stared at the transformed plateau. She gathered herself with a visible effort.
‘My name is Sefri. Please accept the hospitality of Green Shade.’
‘We would prefer to stay out here,’ Willow announced.
‘By all means. You have only to call and someone will come to bring you to us or to fetch food or drink for you.’
Sefri hesitated then instead of leading her visitors towards the door through which she’d appeared, she walked to where the flowers seemed even more profuse. The vines climbed thick wooden poles set wide apart, but tendrils draped the edge of the roof and hung down like a living curtain. The husky voice rang out again and Tika realised it hadn’t been Sefri who’d called to them before.
‘Sefri! They have spoken with Singer! We thought him lost! Sefri, they come from the darling boy!’
Sefri turned a look of astonishment on Tika then hurried to hold back some of the greenery. She looped the ends gently over a curved hook set in a post and moved to repeat her action on the other side. Storm moaned softly as the Ship was revealed.
They all saw at once that this Ship was hurt far worse than Singer might be. Its colour was dulled; dark grey mottled with almost black patches where Singer had glowed a soft grey blue.
‘This little creature told me she’s spoken with Singer.’ The voice was full of delight.
Tika swallowed hard and bowed again. ‘Star Singer spoke of you Star Flower and so did Namolos.’
There was a gasp from both the Ship and her Captain.
‘Namolos did not know if you still survived,’ Tika continued. ‘And Kertiss believes you are no more.’
The Ship hissed but before she could say anything, Sefri laid her hands and her forehead against Star Flower’s side.
‘Do not upset yourself dearest. Stay calm and listen to what our visitors have to tell.’
Sefri moved away again. ‘Sit with my precious Flower and I will have food prepared and brought to you.’
She looked doubtfully at the Dragons and Brin assured her that they would find their own food.
‘Are there any farms close by – my Kindred would not take food from farms,’ Tika added hastily.
Sefri gave her first smile. ‘No one lives within leagues of Green Shade. I have a few goats and hens but there are wild cattle on the hills beyond.’
Sefri looked back at her ship: the Dragons and Maressa had settled themselves in a semicircle and the almost hoarse voice of Star Flower was asking questions. The gijan were investigating the garden, calling to each other from different trees.
‘Come.’ Sefri slipped her arm through Tika’s. ‘Let me show you the house while I ask for food and rooms to be readied for you.’
Green silvered eyes regarded Sefri steadily. ‘Sket goes everywhere with me if Farn doesn’t,’ she said.
Sefri nodded. ‘I think Farn is special to you, as Star Flower is to me.’
‘As Mazan was to Singer,’ Sket added.
Sefri’s eyes widened. ‘You have truly met him!’ She drew Tika from the section of building which sheltered her Ship.
Sket and Tika saw the rooms opened one into the next, right through to a large kitchen. An elderly woman sat in a rocking chair beside a large stove.
‘We have guests Ammi – three hungry people.’
The woman smiled. ‘I’ll have something to fill them shortly Captain.’ She hauled herself out of the chair, giving Sket a sharp look. ‘A bowl of tea might not be unwelcome I’d guess.’
Seeing Sket’s expression Sefri laughed. ‘Let’s sit out of Ammi’s way for a while then.’
From where Tika sat she could see through the length of the house to the bulk of the Ship and the Dragons reclining close by. Sket sat down beside her.
‘What do you think Lady?’ he whispered.
Tika raised a brow. ‘I don’t know yet.’
She smiled as Sefri joined them, three bowls in one hand and a large steaming jug in the other. Sefri poured the tea for them, glancing at Tika.
‘I think you understand why my house is built so?’
Tika met Sefri’s grey eyes: grey she noted, but a warm grey, quite unlike the pale grey of Kertiss and his sister.
‘Star Flower is fearful if you are out of sight?’
When Sefri nodded Tika relaxed a little more. ‘Farn is my soul bond. He suffered a great hurt.’
‘That scar running down his neck?’ Sefri interrupted.
‘Yes. He was barely hatched – less than half a year old. It frightened him badly and his mind was – fragile – for a time. We,’ she indicated Sket, ‘give him herbs if he gets upset or agitated.’
‘We did,’ Sket corrected. ‘But Gremara helped him somehow and we’ve not needed the herbs since then.’
Both Sket and Tika stared when Sefri’s tea bowl was set down by an unsteady hand.
‘Gremara?’ she asked.
‘Gremara was the silver Dragon of Talvo Circle in Vagrantia,’ Tika began.
‘No,’ Sefri whispered. ‘Gremara was Namolos’s daughter.’
Now it was Tika and Sket’s turn to stare in surprise. Sefri picked up her bowl, cupping it in both hands.
‘We have much we must talk of my dears. You must understand at once though that Star Flower can be of little or no help to you and I cannot leave her anymore. I used to be able to travel away but I can no longer risk that. We have shut down as many functions as possible, diverting all energy to her brain.’ Sefri’s lips trembled and her eyes were luminous with tears.
‘If you know of Singer and his Captain, Mazan, you will know of the link between Flower and me. What you call soul bond with Farn is much the same I would guess already.’ Sefri’s voice was the lowest breath. ‘Flower is dying. I cannot leave her – not now, not for any reason.’
They called Maressa and the gijan and sat in the kitchen, lamp lit now that night had fallen, and Ammi served them a most welcome supper. For once, Tika accepted the offer of a bed, knowing Farn was directly below her window, still talking to the poor hurt Ship with the other Dragons. Piper slept on Storm’s back, Willow and Leaf on Seela and Khosa was curled by Brin’s chest. Tika hugged Farn goodnight, trying not to imagine how Sefri must feel facing the loss of Star Flower.
Maressa already slept in the room they were to share. Sket took pillows and blankets, laid his naked sword close to hand and settled across the outer threshold. He sniffed. Tika sniffed.
‘Sket?’
‘Yes Lady?’
‘It’s come back – that smell.’
‘Mint,’ said Sket in annoyance.
Chapter Nineteen
Tika woke to find Khosa sprawled on her chest. The Kephi’s whiskers bristled forward as she matched Tika’s yawn.
‘The female, Ammi, uses mind speech,’ Khosa told her. ‘There are two or three families close by who work for Sefri. Or rather, they choose to live near her and the Ship.’
Turquoise eyes stared unblinking into Tika’s. ‘They were here when the Ship crashed – at least, their ancestors were.’
‘What a busy creature you are.’ Tika scratched behind Khosa’s ears causing the Kephi to croon with delight.
‘They use power differently again from those in Malesh – more like we do. Ammi says the Captain was strong once she’d recovered from the crash; her son less so. But since Star Flower began to decline, so too has Sefri’s use of power.’
‘What of Sefri’s son?’ Maressa asked from the bed across the room.
‘He took one of Ammi’s many times great grandmothers to wife. When she had birthed some children he went with some of the men to explore Wendla. None of them returned.’
‘Killed?’ Tika asked.
‘Ammi says it is believed the party was lost in an accident of some kind.’
Khosa slid down from Tika’s bed and gave her whiskers a brisk wash. ‘Sket’s gone for some tea.’ She sniffed. ‘I don’t know how you can drink so much of the stuff.’
By the time Maressa and Tika joined Sket, the sun was well risen. Tika went on outside to greet the Dragons and the gijan. She knew at once that Seela was disturbed; also that the purple Dragon was not ready to discuss her concern with anyone. Brin and Storm had just left to seek the cattle Sefri had spoken of last night. Tika draped an arm round Farn’s neck and wandered along the edge of the garden. She knew Sefri was inside the Ship but only silence came from that direction.
She paused, seeing the gijan swooping towards her, and lifted her egg pendant outside her shirt. Tika frowned: it was very warm against her skin – not quite hot but too warm for comfort. Then she was smothered with feathers as the gijan enfolded her in their wings. Willow and Piper darted away, their green and yellow under feathers flashing when they dipped among the trees. Leaf held her hand, strolling on beside Farn.
‘Can’t you help her?’
Tika stopped in her tracks, looking down into Leaf’s dark eyes. The gijan’s head tilted, one side then the other.
‘I had wondered that too, my Tika.’ Farn sat back on his haunches, one wing half curved round both her and Leaf. His faceted eyes whirred pearl and sapphire as he regarded her solemnly.
Tika drew a deep breath. ‘You don’t know what you suggest. I have helped both of you but don’t you realise Star Flower is not Dragon or gijan – or even human as far as I know? I wouldn’t begin to know what to do.’
Leaf cuddled close to her. ‘You would know, once you began. And Flower is very near her end. Sefri will not survive alone.’
Again Tika imagined far too clearly how she would feel should Farn die. Stars forbid – she would not recover, she knew.
‘Maressa cannot help me,’ she tried to argue, already aware she was weakening. ‘Ren knows more of healing than she does.’
Leaf’s tiny three fingered hands reached towards Tika’s pendant but did not touch it.
‘We will all help you. This Ship and Sefri are needed.’
Tika looked sharply at Leaf but gained no insight into what the gijan might mean.
‘You would help Mim, or Ashta, wouldn’t you?’ Farn whispered in her mind.
She glared at him. ‘Well of course I would, but Star Flower – what am I to try to mend? I can do nothing for the outer shell, and I don’t even know where her brain is or if I could reach it.’
Leaf hopped on one high arched foot. ‘You could talk to Sefri and then you’d know better what to do.’
Tika tried to glare at the gijan too but succumbed to the dark eyes and sudden smile. The three turned back towards the house, Tika thinking furiously.
