Survivors: Book 4 Circles of Light series, page 25
Tika leaned forward and tentatively touched the button. A dark square the size of her hand began to lighten in the desk top.
‘These are images of volcanoes on another world. Watch.’
The screen cleared to show a range of mountains – it was as if Tika was on Farn’s back, high in the air. The view closed to focus on one mountain. Tika bent closer. The mountain seemed to swell and tremble. The top exploded, boulders, dust and smoke roaring up into the sky. Then she saw red rocks, a river of redness pouring down from the topless mountain. She swallowed.
‘That was only a small one,’ Flower apologised. ‘But you get the idea?’
‘Yes I think so.’
‘Well, of the five active volcanoes on Kel-Harat, three are in the seas. Leaf told me it is believed the Bound One in the sea between Malesh and Wendla is stirring. I can tell you that if indeed a Bound One was imprisoned there, somehow he has travelled the fault line, back into the land of Malesh. The instability of the area of which the mages speak is simply the volcano waking once more.’
Chapter Twenty
Tika’s strength returned more quickly over the next days and she heard about the immediate country around Green Shade. Although she’d have said they’d flown a considerable distance inland from the coast, she discovered the sea in fact poked long fingers through the forests. Ammi informed her of small communities along these inlets, the nearest some four leagues from Green Shade. The people of this area regarded themselves as true Wendlans and deliberately kept apart from the more heavily populated regions to the south and east. Khosa spent her days inside the Ship and her evenings as close to the kitchen stove as she could manage. Tika asked Maressa where the ships carrying their companions were now and was told vaguely that they approached the Wendlan coast.
Seela, Brin and Storm disappeared one morning leaving Farn swooping after the gijan in an odd game they’d devised which seemed to amuse them all greatly. Maressa finally remembered the parcel Salma had given her in Harbour City and took Tika up to the room they shared. Tika unwrapped the parcel with an odd feeling. She glanced at Maressa.
‘I don’t think I’ve ever had a parcel to unwrap before,’ she said.
She could only stare at its contents. A dark green jacket was folded on the top. It had silver blue Dragon faces exquisitely embroidered on both ends of the collar. As she held it up she saw the Dragon face was worked in miniature along the bottom edge of the jacket.
‘It’s beautiful,’ Maressa murmured, moving closer to examine the workmanship. ‘Salma asked me how big you were and the colour of your eyes and hair, but she didn’t show me her work.’
Next was a pair of trousers of the same dark green with the Dragon face motif stitched down the side seams. Tika put the jacket aside, standing with the trousers held against her in stunned delight.
‘There’s more.’ Maressa was poking in the parcel.
‘More?’ Tika sounded quite faint.
She found three shirts of a thin fabric unknown to her, one a deep pink, the second palest green and the third a vivid yellow. Tika touched each garment, speechless at the surprise. Maressa moved to the window and drew the curtains across, shutting out the noon sunlight.
‘Put them on – you can surprise everyone at the meal. Oh those gijan would be peeking in the window otherwise,’ she explained when Tika raised a brow at the closed curtains. ‘Here,’ she rummaged in her pack and pulled out a small leather pouch with two straps attached. ‘Put the pendant in there and tie it round your waist until the burn’s healed.’
Tika pulled on the new trousers: they fitted perfectly.
‘Which shirt?’ she asked helplessly.
A flurry of heavy wings in the garden meant the Dragons were back as Maressa pointed to the pink shirt.
‘It was Leaf who asked Salma to make something for you. You should wear Leaf’s colour first.’
Maressa helped Tika on with the jacket, overriding her protests that it was far too warm. ‘Leaf will appreciate it and you can always take it off once she’s admired you.’
Tika laughed, twirling in front of the air mage. Maressa stared at her for a moment: when had the child turned into such a lovely young woman – surely new clothes couldn’t make such a difference?
Sefri called from the garden. ‘Tika, Maressa! There is food ready! Come down and eat!’
Maressa led the way, turning where the stairs ended beside the kitchen door, a huge smile on her face. Tika smiled back walking past her and then she froze. Gan’s hands met easily round her waist and he lifted her off her feet. Over his shoulder she saw Sket holding Khosa, beaming across the room at her. Then she was submerged in a tide of greetings and laughter from Navan, Ren, Olam and Riff. Even Pallin managed a grin, which made him scarcely recognisable. An old man with wild white eyebrows sat in Ammi’s rocking chair, watching the reunion with a smile. Leaf hovered over him but she looked up as Tika came closer.
She shrieked with glee bringing Willow and Piper crowding in and they examined every piece of Salma’s gift of new clothes. It was a long afternoon and evening. Tika heard of the slow course of the remaining two ships, Spiral Star and Star Flame, as they fought against contrary winds and unexpected currents to make their way to the north west coast of Wendla.
Maressa had communicated with both Ren and Taseen as Culinth continued to block against the air mage’s mind. Taseen argued fiercely with Kasmi over their course, finally insisting that Culinth’s opinion be ignored as he, Mage Councillor Taseen, had hired Kasmi’s ships and thus ordered their course. Kasmi was doubly distressed by the death of his brother on Eternal Star and by Culinth’s attitude. He had no idea why Culinth suddenly and adamantly demanded they return to the pirate islands, abandoning all idea of reaching Wendla. She withdrew her cooperation as Sister of the Wind and stayed solitary and silent.
When the two ships approached the mouth of the inlet, men came in boats to board both ships. Olam had been fascinated as the Wendlans guided them inland.
‘They ordered us to steer directly towards the more northern cliffs and when it seemed we must surely strike into them, they swung the ship sharply round.’
‘They told us there is a very narrow deep channel up the inlet, allowing ships as large as ours to travel so many leagues inland,’ Navan added.
‘Kasmi was most interested,’ Olam grinned. ‘He’s anchored now to attend to some serious repairs but I think he’s got ideas for a new pirate haven here.’
Tika was up at dawn next morning, glad to know the companions were united again. She thought to make herself some tea and sit with Farn for a while but found Taseen still ensconced in the rocking chair.
‘I spoke with the Ship while you slept,’ he said. ‘Like me, she has little need of sleep.’
‘Taseen, why are we here? Did Flower explain about the volcano under the sea which you thought was a Bound One waking?’
‘She did, and it makes too much sense for me to dispute it unfortunately. We are here because I think we must find out what the Wendlan government is up to. I dare not contemplate a war with Wendla when everyone’s attention must be concentrated on tightening the fraying restraints on the Bound Ones.’
Tika handed him a bowl of tea and sat on the floor beside a snoring Khosa. ‘Ammi and her people showed little surprise at my eyes, or at the gijan, or the Dragons. What does she mean by the term Halfling?’
Taseen held his beard out of the way of his tea and sipped. ‘I haven’t heard of Halflings in all my long life. Ren tells me the silvering of the eyes is a normal development of those with mage powers in Drogoya. But it is not normal among my people or Maressa’s. She told me there are only now cases of such silvering since the advent of a strange illness?’
Tika’s thoughts flew to Elyssa: where was she now, and was she safe?
‘The Dragons say there is no change that they can perceive in my mind since my eyes changed Taseen, so why have they done so?’
Taseen shook his head helplessly, his beard dabbling through the tea bowl. Tika picked at a thread on her old trousers; Salma’s gift would be kept for special occasions only.
‘Grek has been gone’ she counted on her fingers. ‘Why, he’s been gone eleven days now.’
‘Leaf told me. She is convinced he is trustworthy Tika. I thought yesterday that all three gijan seem calmer here, steadier – had you noticed?’
‘Not really,’ she smiled at the old man. ‘What is your advice Taseen? Will you meet the leaders of Wendla and convince them to join your people against the Bound Ones rather than wage war on you?’
‘Tika I am too old to travel far overland: you and your friends will have to go to the Wendlan capital and argue for us. And child, the Bound Ones are not just a problem for my people alone, but for all this world Star Flower calls Kel-Harat.’
Tika groaned and Khosa unwound from the tight ball she’d been curled in. The Kephi yawned, doing a tail end up, front end down stretch. She blinked at Tika.
‘You should speak with Sefri and find out all you can about the way the Wendlans rule their land. I would advise waiting for Grek’s report but there is much Sefri, Ammi and Star Flower will be able to tell you.’ She whisked her tail aloft and stalked out of the kitchen. Taseen chuckled.
‘I had never thought that cats could use mind speech, but the arrogance of that particular cat somehow does not surprise me at all.’
Tika stood up as Navan came downstairs. He gave her a hesitant smile.
‘I hoped you might be up. Would it be possible for me to speak to the Ship? I had an idea in the night that she might have maps of Wendla or even one of those pipes Kertiss had – with pictures inside.’
‘Sefri was with Star Flower just before you came down Tika,’ said Taseen.
‘Right. I warn you Navan, Flower is not like Singer. Her outer structure is much damaged but her mind is less excitable.’
‘Storm told us what you did,’ Navan remarked as he followed Tika through the long building. He paused at the Ship’s circular door.
Khosa was crouched just inside, tail tidily wrapped round her feet. ‘They expect you.’ She sounded smug.
Tika shook her head. ‘Eavesdropping again when people think you’re asleep?’ she asked, stepping over the Kephi.
Farn, just waking beyond the verandah, huffed. ‘She is very nosy,’ he began.
Tika turned back to the door to look at her soul bond. ‘You did promise you’d try to be more tactful dear one.’
Farn’s eyes flashed but he didn’t argue. Tika stepped out of the Ship again to give him a brief hug.
‘I AM trying,’ he whispered to her mind.
Tika laughed and rejoined Navan. He was clearly nervous at entering the Ship but followed her without comment. Sefri was in her chair, one hand against the Ship’s wall. She turned to smile at Tika. Tika smiled back.
‘Star Flower,’ she said aloud. ‘This is my friend Navan. He would like to ask you about this land of Wendla.’
‘Welcome Navan.’ The husky voice was warm. ‘Please sit down. I will help however I may – I have much to repay Tika.’
Tika patted the back of the second chair. ‘I’ll leave you to your questions,’ she said.
Sefri walked out of the Ship with her. ‘I spoke with Taseen,’ she said. ‘When you go, as I believe you must, he and I and Flower will go through all the data we have concerning the first orbital surveys.’ She laughed at Tika’s blank expression. ‘Come and have some breakfast. Seriously though my dear, you must act quite soon, to stop whoever has plans to attack Malesh from here.’
Over the next days, the companions studied the maps Navan made from records retrieved from the Ship together with more recent information from Ammi’s people. Ammi volunteered two of her grandchildren to act as guides through the northern wilderness and to continue with the companions to the Imperial City of Bracca. Taseen spent a full day planning a document Tika would carry to the Emperor. The following day was spent writing it out again on high quality parchment suitably embellished with many flourishes and various seals. When he’d finished, it looked convincingly official and it decreed that Tika and her friends travelled under the auspices of the Grand Harbour Master of Malesh.
Sefri also produced an impressive scroll, claiming Tika represented the Survivor Captain and was under her protection.
‘I have no idea whether my words will be given serious consideration or respect,’ Sefri admitted. ‘It is over one hundred years since I left Green Shade and the last Imperial Envoy to visit here was nearly as long ago. Letters and reports stopped arriving soon after Emperor Lian took the Crystal Throne, and he was great grandfather to the present Emperor. They may think Star Flower and I are dead, or of no consequence if we are still alive.’
‘But you were held in esteem before?’ asked Gan.
Sefri nodded. ‘The bio Ships, such as Star Flower, were used for remote surveys and often as first contacts. Our orders were to observe new worlds. We would be dismissed from the service if it was discovered that we had interfered in any world’s development.’ She shrugged. ‘Our crash landing here did not go unnoticed and Imperial troops came quickly. Until Flower’s decline, we were often asked for our opinions and judgements on many matters both large and small. Several Emperors received me at the Imperial Palace and some made the journey to Green Shade as I became unwilling to leave Flower.’
‘Grek has not returned.’ Maressa was thoughtful. ‘I wondered if perhaps we should confront this seeking mind.’
Frowns greeted her suggestion. Sefri had shown them what she called a simple and basic machine which shielded Green Shade from any mental prying. Since Flower’s more rapid collapse during the last year, Sefri had set the shielding to activate the instant any probe was detected.
‘Brin and I will support you.’ Tika made up her mind. ‘This evening then, we will join with you while you either confront, or trace back, this overly curious person.’
‘Could anything have happened to Grek?’ Olam asked.
Seela’s eyes whirred lilac and violet. ‘He can be taken apart,’ she said. ‘Gremara showed me how it can be done. Whether many others would know how to do so, I can’t say.’
Taseen reached a hand to touch the purple Dragon’s shoulder where she reclined near the verandah. ‘I know how to disperse the essence of a soul,’ he said quietly. ‘But it is not taught any longer in our academies.’
‘As far as you know,’ said Gan.
Taseen shot him a hard look but then slowly nodded. ‘You may well be right,’ he conceded. ‘What is taught now, particularly in Vorna’s department, is open to debate.’
‘We are decided then?’ Tika stood up. ‘Maressa will try to discover who searches across the sea even as far as Malesh. Whether Grek returns or not, I say we should travel to Bracca the day after tomorrow.’
Heads nodded around the group.
‘We begin by going along one of the rivers.’ Navan spread out a map he’d made with the help of Ammi’s grandson Jaran and Star Flower. His finger traced a winding course south eastwards. ‘Jaran says we can use the rivers nearly to the forest’s edge when they become unnavigable. That will take four days at the quickest.’
‘That’s the route I used to take,’ Sefri agreed. ‘Then you have two days walking through farm land until you reach a market place. Canals start there which lead to Bracca itself.’
‘Canals?’ Sket put aside his oiled sword and picked up Tika’s.
‘Artificial rivers,’ Sefri explained. ‘Dug out long before I came here.’
‘Men would spend their days digging trenches for rivers?’ Pallin asked, his tone one of complete disbelief.
‘The Emperor Zorus used slave labour: the canal system was completed in a very few years apparently.’ Sefri glanced round, aware of the sudden stillness. She found her gaze held by emerald eyes framed in silver.
‘I was a slave.’ Tika spoke softly.
Ammi muffled a gasp behind her hand. ‘A Halfling? Taken as a slave?’
‘My mother was taken as a slave,’ Tika corrected. ‘I was born a slave.’
Fleetingly her eyes met Navan’s. Ammi was pale as she turned to go back through the long room to the kitchen.
‘Of course I knew there was some slavery in the north of the continent. I’m sorry Tika but I didn’t know you had been so treated.’
Tika shrugged. ‘I am no longer a slave but I have no sympathy with those who believe they can own another body and soul. I will fly with Farn for a while, but I’ll be back before that mind comes poking around.’
No one spoke until Farn had lifted from the grass, the gijan shrieking in pursuit. Storm’s head twisted over Olam’s shoulder so he could stare into Sefri’s face.
‘Are there slaves in this land now?’ he asked. ‘I had never heard of such a thing until Tika told her story to my Flight.’
‘No,’ Sefri replied. ‘Slavery as such was prohibited in the time of Omak, fourteen Emperors back. I felt the servants were treated not much better than slaves although they were free men, when I visited the Palace.’
Sket sheathed Tika’s sword with a sharp click. ‘Let’s hope my Lady doesn’t think the same when we get there.’
Olam and Riff both grinned but Gan and Navan frowned. Twilight was near when Tika slid from Farn’s back, her cheeks flushed and her eyes sparkling. The companions were all gathered near the Ship. Sefri sat in Flower’s doorway.
‘We have deactivated the shield Tika,’ came Flower’s husky voice. ‘But we are not skilled in mental communication – we cannot be of much help.’
Maressa sat on the grass, her back against Brin’s huge chest. Tika and Ren sat nearby, their minds lightly linked to hers. They sat thus for some time as the first stars glimmered in the green sky but no one moved. It was Seela who began to relay what Maressa saw when the air mage stiffened, her eyes open but unfocused.
There was not a simple blur of light in Maressa’s mind as was usually experienced if mind met mind when far speaking. Maressa, and the others through Seela, saw a young woman. She sat cross legged on a gleaming wooden floor, staring straight towards Maressa.
