Drogoya: Book 3 Circles of Light series, page 27
‘Little help though it is.’ Thryssa shivered. ‘I know that the archives will be in chaos now Pachela, but see if you can find a scribe who might know where a book called “Tales of Valsheba” might be found. It is a very worn copy, pages loose. I think a purple binding, or a dark blue. Have it brought to me if you can.’
Pachela returned with the book by the time Thryssa had changed into dry clothes, her braid loose and the dark red hair streaked with white lying damp on her shoulders.
‘Stars, that was quick work,’ she smiled at the girl.
‘It was actually in the box they were packing at that moment,’ Pachela smiled back. ‘Unless you have need of me High Speaker, I should be attending Healer Chola.’
‘Of course. It seems crazy, but I must read this closely even as darkness approaches and that creature expects his answer.’
The last light was draining away beyond the windows when Orsim and Lashek came to join Thryssa. A full dozen healing mages, old and young, also arrived, Chola and Pachela with them, as the time approached when Zloy would demand their submission. Thryssa indicated the book lying open on her lap.
‘Gremara said that we must remember the story of Cheok,’ she explained to the assembled company. ‘I have been over and over it. One thing pulls at my attention each time, but I do not see its relevance to our situation here.’
‘And what is that?’ asked Lashek.
‘Petak was betrayed to Cheok by one of his closest followers.’ She shook her head. ‘I do not think Zloy is a close follower, rather, he is acting independently, and I also do not think that he could be persuaded from his present intent. So why should I feel there is a clue there?’
Gremara flew high, her slender body racing through the upper air. The voices sang wordlessly through her whole frame as she sped towards the west. She felt a small pang of concern that she must leave Talvo to cope with the entity that was Zloy, particularly with Jeela so newly and early come to the knowledge of the ancients. But Gremara was confident that others would watch over the events in Vagrantia and do what they could to help. She could feel neither the child’s mind nor Grek’s, but she had been told that he at least would soon reach Sapphrea. And M’Raz was already there, she had felt his mind for days. Untiringly, Gremara flew beneath the stars, lands she had never seen far beneath her wings.
In the Stronghold, Mim stood outside the great gate, staring up at the night, stars glinting and shivering against the blue black sky. He turned his head to the south west and sent out his thought.
‘Good hunting, silver one.’
He walked slowly back into the hall. It was late. Only the Dragons, and Lula, were there, everyone else was abed. Fenj rumbled softly when the Dragon Lord paused beside him.
‘Where does she fly to Mim?’
Mim tilted his head to one side, studying the aged black Dragon.
‘To Sapphrea Fenj, but whether to find Tika or for another reason entirely, I know not.’
Fenj rumbled again and rattled his wings. Mim waited: clearly Fenj had something on his mind.
‘I cannot remain here for my last days. I believe that I should journey to this Vagrantia, whence came Thryssa and her friends.’
Fenj’s eyes whirred the shadows on snow colour when he felt Mim probe further than politeness dictated.
‘I am fit and healthy for one of my age. The cold season has abated and there are wapeesh and lumen upon the grasslands, all the way south to Vagrantia.’
‘What of Lula? And Lorak?’
‘They wish to accompany me.’ Fenj’s tone held a note of puzzlement.
Mim smiled, laying a taloned hand on Fenj’s massive shoulder.
‘Of course they do. I will sorely miss you my friend, but if it is your wish to go, then go you must. I have been honoured and proud to have shared your company this long.’
Fenj lowered his head, carefully, for fear of disturbing the sleeping Lula, and pressed his long face against Mim’s.
‘The last message from Thryssa said they are in trouble. Perhaps I may be of help. I do not like to think of little Jeela being there alone now.’
Mim chuckled. ‘You will say nothing of Gremara’s departure to Kija will you Fenj? Or she too will be rushing off to Vagrantia.’
Prismed eyes whirred faster. ‘I will say nothing. But Kija could not go from here just yet.’
Mim frowned. ‘Could she not then Fenj?’ He sighed. ‘Secrets within secrets, and riddles within riddles is all I encounter of late.’
‘All things unfold in time,’ Fenj murmured. ‘I think often of Bark these last days. I would like to have known him before the Grey One damaged him so.’
Mim was surprised at this remark and also rather concerned. What was going through the old Dragon’s thoughts to make him dwell upon the poor crippled creature who had rectified the Balance and died in Tika’s stead?
‘When had you thought to leave us?’ he asked.
Fenj sighed. ‘Tomorrow seems a good idea. Otherwise it will be put off for one excuse after another.’
‘But Fenj,’ Mim was openly concerned now. ‘You do not sound as though you really want to make this journey?’
Fenj rumbled. ‘Oh I do, but I have ever hated farewells.’
Mim reached his scaled arms around the thick black neck and hugged him tightly for a moment.
‘Then this shall be our private farewell. May the stars always guide your path and guard your heart Elder Fenj. Our love and our thoughts will go with you wherever you journey.’
He felt affection and – something else, surge from the Dragon, then it was gone. Fenj moved his head carefully back to rest between his wings and Mim moved across the hall to where Kija, Kadi and Ashta reclined. Ashta’s neck snaked across his shoulders with a sigh of contentment. She was warm, well fed, and her soul bond sat leaning against her: all was well in Ashta’s world.
Kija studied the young Dragon and the changeling who was now called Dragon Lord, her eyes a buttery gold in the light of the dying fire.
‘More changes then Mim?’
He looked at her sharply and heard her laugh chime in his mind.
‘I heard Gremara call to you. I know my daughter must take on the silver one’s responsibilities.’ Her tone saddened. ‘She is so young and so small. But – if Gremara has confidence in my child, then so must we all.’
‘I too will leave soon Mim,’ Kadi spoke softly.
Mim nodded. ‘You go with Babach to his land of Drogoya? I had thought that was a likely possibility.’
‘And I.’
Mim stared at the great golden Dragon.
‘Surely not Kija? Your children are here – will they not have need of you still in their growing?’
‘Hani cares for the three in Gaharn with a patience beyond belief.’ Kija sounded rueful. ‘Jeela is under the care of Gremara, absent though she may be. Farn,’ She hesitated, and Mim took advantage of the pause.
‘We all know that Farn was hurt as much mentally as physically in the battle to gain this Stronghold. Is he truly safe, with only Brin to safeguard him? Brin is good-hearted and loyal, but he is also easily distracted by everything new. Are you sure Farn will be kept safe?’
When Kija’s eyes began to whirr in distress, Kadi replied on her behalf.
‘Mim, do not try to put doubts in our minds. It is a great and difficult decision that we have made – do not undermine it.’
‘Babach’s words have led me to guess that he would try to return to Drogoya, but I do not understand why either of you should need to go with him – surely Chakar could order the Plavat to take him?’
Kadi’s eyes whirred all shades of blue. ‘It is imperative that I go Mim, for reasons I choose not to give you.’
Mim was confused by the wave of shame and remorse that briefly came from the Dragon.
‘And I go for my own reasons, only one of which I can tell you. That is the fact that Kadi is my clan sister and clan do not let clan fly alone into danger.’
The serious tone lightened.
‘Surely you realise that Chakar could no more command the Plavat now than she could fly herself?’ Kija’s laugh rang again. ‘I heard a whisper that Syecha has now ten eggs to hatch, and the first child will come from its shell before the next full moon.’
Mim groaned. ‘They will move back to the coast won’t they? Baryet said that they prefer to eat fish than meat.’
Kija chuckled. ‘It takes half a cycle for their children to grow feathers and to learn to fly – unlike Dragon children of course.’
Mim caught a hint of smugness, which reminded him achingly of Farn’s confidently sweeping statements. He knew he had not the faintest hope of learning more than the Dragons chose to tell and he gave up trying to tease more information from them.
‘Fenj leaves tomorrow, so he says.’
Kija rumbled, her faceted eyes palest honey. Again Mim sensed a confusion of emotions from both adult Dragons: Ashta was snoring gently against his back.
‘Ashta and I will remain here.’ Mim shrugged. ‘I still do not understand what my own role is to be. I am called Dragon Lord, but no one seems to have heard of such a one before, or to have a clue as to what a Dragon Lord’s duties may be.’
There was no reply from either Kadi or Kija. Mim looked at each Dragon in turn.
‘If you have need of me, I would come to you. You do know that do you not?’
Warmth swept into his mind, warmth and affection.
‘We know Dragon Lord,’ Kadi told him. ‘We will not forget your words and if our need is great, then we will summon you to aid us.’
The dark blue of her eyes faded to muted sapphire.
‘We will rest now Mim, to be ready to sing strength to Fenj in the morning.’
The two Dragons rose, Mim marvelling as ever at the graceful lightness and silence of their great bulks even on the ground, and crossed the hall to where Fenj lay sleeping. Gold Dragon and midnight blue curved themselves around the huge black shape and Mim heard Kija’s croon. He frowned. He had heard it before. Then he nodded to himself as he curled against Ashta’s chest. It was the song that Hani had sung over her three eggs on the day Mim was brought to her nesting cave.
Fenj slept on, both Kija and Kadi seeing in the misty blur of his dream, his beloved Skay, long since gone Beyond. They were aware that Fenj’s thoughts dwelt more and more often on both his mate and on the Asatarian Bark, long imprisoned here by Lady Emla’s brother Rhaki. They understood his longing for Skay, but Fenj’s preoccupation with Bark was a mystery to them both.
High above the great hall of the Stronghold, in the rooms Dessi had offered to share with Elyssa, the Delver girl clung to the Vagrantian and sobbed out her terror of what was to come. Elyssa sat on the cushions by the small fire, Dessi’s head buried in her shoulder. Blue and silver eyes stared at the narrow window where the glimmer of stars insistently drew her attention. Between their bodies Elyssa was conscious of the oval pendant Dessi wore. It was warm, not hot, and it pulsed in time with Elyssa’s own heartbeat. Dessi raised her head, copper curls tangled on her forehead.
‘Must you really do this thing?’ she whispered, her throat thick with tears.
Elyssa’s smile was as serene as Babach’s as she kissed Dessi gently.
‘But of course I must. It is the only reason for my being.’
Chapter Twenty-Four
Tika learnt nothing more from Mist than had Mim from Kadi and Kija. She returned to the ground level caves to find Gan and Sket awaiting her. Gan climbed to his feet, towering over both Tika and Sket. Pallin’s snores came rattling from the shadows of the cave.
Tika grinned. ‘At least his cooking is good, so I suppose he can be excused moving sand with the rest of us.’
Sket walked beside her as they followed Gan, winding between the fallen masonry.
‘Easy to get lost in this lot,’ he remarked cheerfully.
‘Not if you are tall,’ Gan said over his shoulder.
Sket pulled a face but made no reply. They walked for nearly a league Tika estimated, until they found the rest of their party working on a horizontal block under Ren’s instructions. He glanced up when Tika reached his side.
‘This one had some sort of carvings on it,’ he said, running his palm along the lowest part of the newly exposed side.
Tika drew her hand after his and felt indentations and extrusions in too regular a pattern for them to have been made naturally. She squatted beside him, squinting at the black stone.
‘Was it a picture carved there, or words?’
‘Words I think,’ Ren began when there was a shout of alarm from behind the block.
Sket and Navan drew their swords even before Tika had straightened up, but Olam’s voice called reassuringly.
‘It is all right. Riff has fallen down a hole. He is about five man lengths down, but not hurt.’
By the time they had gathered about the opening in the sand, they could all hear Riff’s steady heartfelt curses.
‘The Lady Tika is here,’ Sket called sharply and Riff fell silent.
‘I will go back for a rope,’ Navan offered and jogged off towards the cliffs.
‘Is there anything of interest down there Riff, or do you think it is just an old well shaft?’ asked Ren.
The silence continued then finally Riff shouted back. ‘Not a well shaft. There are steps. I landed on them,’ he added feelingly.
‘Just what I had hoped for,’ Ren was practically rubbing his hands together in glee.
He dug in one of his many pouches and brought out a plain grey pebble the size of a plum. He murmured briefly and light flared from the stone just as Navan returned, sweating, with a coil of rope on his shoulder. Olam took one end of the rope and threw it over the end of a tilted block, tying it securely and testing his weight against it.
‘It should be long enough,’ he said, tossing the main length down the hole.
Curses, quickly bitten off, flew back up to those above.
‘Sorry.’ Olam shrugged guiltily. ‘Should have warned him I suppose.’
Ren was already vanishing down the hole while the rest craned to see what they could.
‘I’m going down too.’ Tika caught the rope up and swung over the edge.
Olam looked at Navan and grinned. ‘If they have found something more interesting than endless sand, then I want to see it too.’ Turning to the hole, he saw the top of Sket’s head disappearing.
‘Will there be room for everyone down there,’ Gan asked doubtfully. ‘And I hope the walls of this shaft are stone, not just packed sand.’
Navan peered into the darkness. ‘Stone,’ he said, twisting round and taking hold of the rope.
As he too disappeared, Gan scowled, looked around at the thousands of tumbled blocks, shrugged and followed everyone else into the hole. To Gan’s surprise, he did not land on top of anyone. In fact, there was no one at the bottom of the shaft. When his eyes had adjusted to the gloom he turned slowly round. He saw with some relief a faint light from Ren’s glow stone some paces away along a horizontal passage. The floor was smooth, and stretching his hand to the sides, he found the walls too were without blemish or crack. The walls were high: looking up, Gan could see no ceiling, nor could he touch anything at full stretch. He looked back the way he’d come and saw only blackness.
‘Ren,’ he called ahead. ‘I think we should be a little cautious before going too far.’
The blur of bodies in front of him separated into individuals as Ren came back towards him, glow stone on his palm.
‘And I thought Riff landed on some stairs?’ Gan finished.
Ren nodded. ‘There are four steps, but they disappear under fallen stone both ways.’
‘Was this passage open then? I would have expected it to be filled with sand.’
Ren tugged at his sparse beard. ‘I was just lucky. I put my hands against the walls and must have triggered an opening mechanism which revealed this passage.’
Gan stared down at the Offering in alarmed exasperation.
‘And might this mechanism possibly decide to close itself after a certain interval?’
Ren’s silvered eyes shone in the glow stone’s steady light.
‘I should have thought of that,’ he sounded apologetic. ‘I was so excited to perhaps have found a way into a preserved section that I did not think as logically as I should.’
Gan turned back towards the shaft, Ren’s glow stone revealing the complete lack of sand in the passageway. Gan was greatly relieved to regain the shaft, staring upwards at the circle of sky overhead. Ren passed him the glow stone and told him to hold it so that every piece of the door slab could be thoroughly scrutinised.
‘Aah,’ said Ren with satisfaction. ‘This is how it opened.’
Tika and the other four men breathed heavily over Ren’s shoulder while he showed them three dimples in the upper right corner. They were only visible when the glow stone was held just so, causing tiny shadows to expose the minute irregularities in the otherwise flawless block. Ren plucked the glow stone from Gan’s hand and gave it to Olam.
‘I will have to close the door to examine the other side. If I do not discover the mechanism by the time you have counted to – oh, say one hundred – then you must open it from your side Gan.’
Gan opened his mouth to object and Ren swung the slab closed. He found himself muttering some of Pallin’s favourite oaths and controlling an urgent desire to kick something. Then he began to count. He had reached seventy three when the door swung wide once more to cheers from Tika and Olam. Ren beckoned Gan back into the passage and reluctantly Gan stepped across the threshold. Ren pulled the door shut again and showed Gan where three similar indentations were to be found two paces along the wall from the door’s hinge side.
Gan put his fingertips against the small marks and the door opened, to his considerable relief.
‘It is getting late in the day for too much exploring down here now,’ Gan started to say, and glared when both Tika and Ren laughed at him. But Ren nodded.
‘I agree. I can arrange some better light for tomorrow and I will also devise some way to mark the passages – it divides three ways a little bit further along.’
