Survivors: Book 4 Circles of Light series, page 26
‘Who are you? Why do you spy on us?’
Somehow Maressa’s voice seemed to thunder in their minds. The woman flinched.
‘I was not seeking you stranger. I seek a mind in Malesh.’
‘Who?’ hissed Taseen.
‘Who?’ repeated Maressa.
‘His name is Taseen. I have been told he can help us stop one named Vorna. Who are you and where are you? You feel close.’
Maressa did not hesitate. ‘My name is Maressa. I am in a place called Green Shade.’
They all saw the woman’s eyes widen in shock.
‘Mage Taseen is with me, as are others.’ Maressa deliberately let her gaze sweep over the four Dragons, the three gijan, Ren and Tika and Taseen himself.
‘Green Shade,’ the woman whispered. ‘May I tell my Master what I have seen, and ask him to speak with you?’
‘Who is her Master,’ Taseen asked urgently.
‘Say your Master’s name stranger.’ Maressa’s mind tone had not diminished.
‘Master Jakri, son of Oniko and grandson of Jael, of House Jade.’
Taseen clutched his beard, thinking furiously. ‘Yes!’ His hand trembled as he pointed at Maressa. ‘I remember House Jade. She speaks true so far as it goes.’
‘Let your Master speak with me when the moon rises. I would know your name also – I have given you mine.’
‘I am the least of Master Jakri’s apprentices – Hiramo is my name.’
Maressa cut the link between her mind and the Wendlan woman abruptly and let out a long breath. Tika studied Taseen.
‘Who is Master Jakri and House Jade?’
But the old mage was lost in thought: it was Ammi who answered.
‘Wendla has always been divided into Houses – everyone in the land owes allegiance to one particular House.’ She sniffed. ‘We in the northern forests belong to no House and never will.’
Sefri pulled her lower lip between her finger and thumb. ‘I’m sure I stayed in House Jade – but it was so long ago.’
Ammi nodded. ‘House Jade has always stood for the middle way. Even in the oldest tales of intrigue and fighting between Houses, House Jade was trusted by all to listen to every argument and judge fairly.’ She frowned. ‘House Jade bred many powerful mages but even when mages have come under suspicion of any wrong doing, House Jade stayed true. I’m sure there is a tale of a mage from House Jade having his powers stripped from him by the Jade Master for transgressing mage laws.’
There was time to eat before moon rise. The mood was subdued as they anticipated Maressa’s meeting with the mind of a Wendlan Master Mage. They moved from the kitchen to gather near Star Flower as the thinnest shard of moon cleared the horizon. Again Maressa sat against Brin’s crimson chest and linked minds with Ren and Tika. Through the air mage’s mind they saw a man, cross-legged on a wooden floor as the woman had been earlier. He spoke first, eyes as blue as Farn’s staring directly at Maressa.
‘I am Jakri. Hiramo gave your name as Maressa.’ There was the faintest hint of a smile about his mouth. ‘I do not believe you are of Malesh?’
This time Maressa kept her mind tone at a normal level. ‘I am of Vagrantia, far north of the great desert. But for now I am of Green Shade.’
The man inclined his head. ‘You told Hiramo that the great mage Taseen is with you. Can he stop the one called Vorna?’ Jakri answered his own question. ‘I suspect he cannot if he is in this land at this time. I am able to offer mages from several Houses if he requires it.’
Maressa looked to the old man. ‘Speak directly to him through me,’ she said.
Taseen fluffed his beard then concentrated on the man within Maressa’s mind.
‘You suspect correctly Master Jakri. I have not regained enough power since the last battle to thwart Vorna let alone a single one of the Children.’
Jakri gazed down at his loosely clasped hands. ‘Hiramo said you are accompanied by Dragons? How long would it take them to bring you to Bracca?’
Tika glanced at Brin. ‘Two or three days,’ he replied promptly.
‘Then could they do so? I will visit the Emperor tomorrow and arrange an audience for you as soon as you reach us.’
‘Have we guarantees the Dragons are safe from attack in your land and your city?’ Tika asked.
The man in their minds showed no reaction to Tika’s green silvered eyes. ‘My life is forfeit should any attempt to harm the Dragons or you,’ he said simply.
‘We will let you know our decision by dawn.’ Maressa broke contact and Ammi appeared with trays of tea.
‘So much for our plans,’ Gan remarked, smiling thanks for Ammi’s refreshments.
Tika held a tea bowl under her chin, letting the fragrant steam dampen her face. ‘I think you’ll have to stay here Maressa,’ she said. ‘Clearly Taseen’s opinions will be needed and if he doesn’t travel with us you are best to link us to him.’ She sat back against Farn. ‘Gan will come with me. Ren and Navan.’ She grinned at Sket. ‘Is there any way I’d be able to stop you coming?’
Gan stretched his long legs out carefully. ‘Will you mind staying here?’ he asked Olam.
‘If no one objects, I’d like to go back down to the river and help with the repairs.’
Riff nodded vigorous agreement while Pallin scowled. The Survivor Captain exchanged glances with Ammi and cleared her throat. ‘Perhaps Pallin could remain here at Green Shade?’ she suggested. ‘Several young ones among the families here, long to learn the use of swords.’
Olam kept his expression straight although his eyes gleamed in the lamp light.
‘There is no better man than Pallin to teach weapons drill,’ he nodded solemnly.
Pallin didn’t know whether to appear annoyed or pleased so he settled for his usual scowl. ‘I’ll see what I can do,’ he grunted.
Tika stood up and put her empty bowl on the tray. ‘Tomorrow then, we leave for Bracca.’
Chapter Twenty-One
Jakri blinked, his mind restored fully to his body once more. He got to his feet and went out through the open screen wall onto the balcony. Dark green leaves shone against the pale walls of the lamp lit courtyard and great heavy headed flowers were scattered like pillows among the foliage. The whisper of slippers on polished wood turned him back into the room.
A woman wearing a simple long gown of pale gold entered, carrying a tray. Jakri hurried to take the tray from her hands, scolding gently.
‘Since when do you play servant to your son Oniko?’
Her face, so similar to his and just as young, smiled. ‘Don’t pretend it is unusual for me to bring tea to you.’
Jakri put the tray on a low table near the balcony. Oniko waited patiently while her son sipped his tea.
‘The Maleshan witch is close to raising a Bound One. Oniko, I have never killed, but I believe Kasheen is right in this – she must not be allowed one more step along the path she is making.’
‘You would imperil your essence, committing such an act?’
‘Oniko, you haven’t felt this woman – this Vorna. That so few of our mages survived the cataclysm of the last battle is a loss to be bitterly regretted now. The few left were still in first training and the shock damaged the longevity mechanisms within them.’ He bit his lip, rose and stepped onto the balcony. ‘Why do I always tell you what you know far better than I?’ He grinned ruefully.
‘It is the teacher in you my son. But Jakri, Maleshan mages did survive – there must be some who could stop this Vorna now were they made aware of her intent.’
Jakri leaned back on the railing and folded his arms. ‘So very few survived.’ He paused. ‘Taseen is in Wendla, at Green Shade.’
His mother’s beautiful oval face flushed. She leaned forward. ‘Here? He should surely be in Malesh, dealing with the witch woman.’
Oniko joined her son on the balcony.
‘His powers are minimal. In all this time he has not recovered.’ Jakri frowned. ‘He is with a strange party. A man and woman with eyes such as I have never seen, a woman strong at far speaking, and more I’d guess. There are Dragons with them.’
Oniko’s flushed cheeks paled. ‘Dragons have not been seen in Wendla for millennia!’
Jakri smiled. ‘There are four here now, and I asked the far speaking mage, Maressa, to send them here.’
Oniko stared down into the gardens. ‘I agreed with Kasheen that perhaps another trade dispute, even a small war, might distract Vorna from her plans.’
‘You have doubts now?’
Oniko looked up at Jakri, a frown marring the smooth gold skin of her brow. ‘I fear we may have to fight much harder – against the Grand Harbour Master’s naval and military forces, against Vorna and, spirits save us, the Bound Ones as well.’
A chime sounded from beyond the inner door and Oniko moved along the balcony to study the garden as Jakri stepped inside the room.
‘Come,’ he called.
The door was opened by an Imperial Blossom, a warrior whose height was accentuated by the tall purple plume of his rank attached to his black lacquered helmet. The warrior saluted.
‘His Imperial Greatness requests your presence Master Jakri.’
Jakri nodded and simply followed the man from the room. He made no comment to Oniko – he’d watched the Imperial Blossom’s eyes flick round the room but he thought Oniko was unseen at the dark corner of the balcony. Down the stairs, through the lower reception rooms, across the courtyard garden and the old doorman scurried to pull open the door to the outer world.
An escort of six warriors waited at attention in the shadowed street. Jakri took position in the middle of the squad, the Imperial Blossom at its head, and they marched off past the walls of neighbouring Houses. This was the highest level of occupation in the city of Bracca: only elite Houses could live this close to the Emperor in his palace above them.
The next level down was where wealthy merchants, the most skilled artisans, and richest men of business lived in a broad swathe of luxurious buildings circling the hill. All too soon in Jakri’s view, trying to sort out his thoughts as he was, they passed the last noble House and marched across a hundred paces of open ground towards the towering blank perimeter walls of the palace. Their small party halted at the great bronze doors and from high above a challenge was called. The Imperial Blossom barked back his name and a password, and one half of the doors swung open enough to allow them entry.
Inside, four of the escort strode off to the right while the Imperial Blossom led Jakri and two warriors to the left. Jakri knew his way through the labyrinthine passages perfectly well but protocol demanded he be escorted every visit. It took as long to wind their way past guards at every intersection, up tiers of the palace to the Emperor’s chambers, as it had to walk from Jakri’s House to the palace’s outer gates.
An elderly man in a grey robe, a purple quill embroidered on the left shoulder, awaited them at the top of a final flight of stairs. The Imperial Blossom saluted and departed with his two warriors. Jakri nodded at the man in the grey robe.
‘Greetings Jalan.’
‘Greetings Master Jakri. His Imperial Greatness awaits you.’
Jakri followed him, marvelling as always that he and Jalan had begun first lessons together: were in fact the same age. If he had not shown mage talent, he would now look as grey and old as Jalan. Not for the first time, Jakri wondered if Jalan harboured resentments over such obvious signs of their differences in status. They arrived in front of the round silver covered moon door, two Imperial Blossoms barring their way. The Blossoms moved one pace to each side and pushed the two halves of the door inward. Jalan also moved aside.
‘The Mighty One will see you alone.’
Jakri left his sandals by the door, walked forward and heard the doors click shut behind him. Eyes on the floor, he waited until a rustle of silk ahead told him the Emperor Kasheen was in the room. Jakri bowed, his upper body parallel to the floor.
‘Come and sit down Jakri. We are informal here.’
Jakri straightened warily: informal became formal without a lot of warning in Kasheen’s presence.
‘Tell me then – what news of the witch?’
Jakri advanced towards the plain wooden chair where the Emperor Kasheen sat. He was the same age as Jakri and Jalan but looked younger than poor Jalan because his head was quite bald rather than covered in sparse grey hair. He wore a loose sleeveless blue robe over the usual green gown and his favourite blue and silver earrings swung from his ears. The large gold and diamond ring of state flashed as he waved Jakri to a lower chair to his right. Jakri drew a careful breath.
‘Her plans advance Imperial One. She has tried to tempt other Council Mages to work with her but she failed to win one of the strongest. I believe, and my colleagues concur, that she is perilously close to unbinding one, if not two of the Children: Sekira and Valesh.’
Long, manicured fingers tapped on the arm of Kasheen’s chair. ‘Valesh was relatively pleasant but if Sekira is loosed – spirits save us! Is it really possible Jakri? I find the whole idea bizarre in the extreme that creatures of ancient myth should not only exist but be a threat to us now.’
‘Great One, the histories record facts, not myths, so yes, these monstrous Children existed, were bound in darkness at enormous cost to the mages of the time. And now they may be freed once more.’
‘Because of one stupid meddlesome woman.’ Kasheen scowled.
‘Far from stupid Ineffable One. Would that she was, then her dream of freeing the Children would remain only a dream.’
‘You say a Maleshan Councillor refused to help her. Of the seven, how many will definitely oppose this fool?’
‘Imperial Glory,’ Jakri chose his words with caution. ‘The edict of your grandfather, Lian of revered memory, ordered that far seeing be severely restricted. It is only in these last weeks that we have sought out Wendlan minds – by your command.’
Kasheen continued to scowl and Jakri wisely remained silent and expressionless. Kasheen’s fingers tapped on his chair again.
‘Our fleets are ready to begin an attack on the outer islands under Maleshan control. The new ships can carry a large warrior force. My feeling, and that of my advisors, is that time is limited – the witch is too close to succeeding.’ He began to rise, indicating the audience was ended, but Jakri slid from his chair to his knees.
‘Serenity,’ he used that honorific in sincerest hope. ‘One of the Council Mages is here in Wendla now. It is Taseen, he who survived the last battle.’
Kasheen sank back onto his chair, eyes boring into Jakri.
‘I do not know how he reached our shores undetected. His mage powers are mostly lost, but he is here, with at least three other mages. And none of them are Maleshan. He is in the company also of four Dragons and rests now at Green Shade. Mighty One, I asked that some of these people come here, to your palace, to speak with you personally. I trust I did as you might have wished.’
In the ensuing silence Jakri held himself motionless.
‘Dragons you say?’ Kasheen stared across the room at the great hearth, empty now in the warmth of early summer. Above the fireplace was a Dragon face, viewed full on: a long, exquisitely beautiful face painted a silver blue which shimmered in the light of many lamps. Feathered wings flanked the face, bright scarlet tipped with gold. Jakri, following the Emperor’s gaze, gave an involuntary gasp of surprise.
‘But,’ he began, and bit his lip hard.
Kasheen swung to face Jakri. ‘But?’ he asked softly.
‘I have seen that depiction so many times Great One.’ Jakri found himself stammering like the youngest student. ‘The face – it is identical to one of the Dragons I far saw at Green Shade.’
Kasheen stood up, walking towards the hearth. ‘Tell me of this,’ he said. ‘Or better yet, show me mind to mind.’
Jakri swallowed. It was death to attempt mind touch with any members of the Imperial House Crystal but Kasheen had not voiced a request. He forced himself to relax, sitting back on his heels and breathing slowly. His mind quested towards his Emperor and received a shock. Children of the Imperial House were never publicly tested for mage talent although it was widely believed to occur: many in the generations of House Crystal had been revealed as powerful mages. It therefore followed that the testing was carried out by House mages, and any talents were nurtured within the House rather than through the Colleges. Jakri had often wondered whether this was wise or not. Within the Colleges students of all Houses mixed together, some making lifelong friendships, others the opposite.
If House Crystal trained its children isolated from all others, one assumed their loyalty was never divided but always given to their own Imperial House. He had wondered occasionally if Kasheen was mage gifted: now, touching the Emperor’s mind he realised he was, and powerfully so. Jakri simply opened his thoughts, offering Kasheen the true memory of his recent contact with Maressa at Green Shade. He recognised that Kasheen was absorbing the memory rather than merely observing, and as Maressa had broken contact so Jakri withdrew swiftly from the Emperor’s mind.
‘This will be considered more thoroughly.’ Kasheen indicated that Jakri should rise. ‘Notify me the instant these – visitors – approach the city. You will instruct them to come to the Family Garden. You will attend me there. I will hold back the fleet until we have spoken with them.’
He gave a brief nod and Jakri bowed deeply, backing away until he felt the door behind him. Grasping the handle, he pulled open one side of the moon door and left the Emperor’s presence. The Blossoms stood impassively while Jakri pushed his feet into his sandals and began to walk down the stairs. Jalan waited at the first landing and walked ahead in silence until they neared the base of the palace buildings.
‘Go safely Master Jakri,’ said Jalan, as an Imperial Blossom approached and saluted.
It wasn’t the same Blossom who had brought him to the palace Jakri noted, but this one was just as silently efficient in escorting the Master Mage back to House Jade. His mother awaited him in the third reception room. He recounted Kasheen’s words and nodded at her exclamation of surprise.
