Drogoya: Book 3 Circles of Light series, page 29
Arryol had been watching Sarryen’s face throughout and now he leaned forward, putting a hand over hers.
‘I doubt that we could stop her Sarryen. And I rather wonder if we should. She is the most powerful far seer for generations, or so I heard, and she is an Offering, senior to us all. If she deems it useful or necessary to expend her life in this cause, have we the right to try to forbid her?’ He squeezed her hand and released it. ‘Think on it Sarryen, but my opinion, as her healer, is to take such care of her as she will accept. But the final choice and responsibility must be hers alone.’
Sarryen walked slowly through the passages to give herself time to think and to come to understand and accept Arryol’s view. Melena opened the door as Sarryen was reaching for the latch. They exchanged smiles and Melena went on her way. Finn looked a little better in the short time Sarryen had been absent, the flush high on her cheeks faded to a more general rosiness.
‘Loathe as I am to admit it, but Arryol’s medicines seem to be quite effective.’ Finn spoke in a whisper, fearful of giving the cough an opportunity to begin tearing her chest again.
Sarryen gave her a genuine grin.
‘Surely you cannot be thinking of abandoning healer Volk’s potent cure alls?’
Finn managed a smirk and lifted a fragile hand to wave at the cupboard by the bed.
‘He visited while you were eating,’ she murmured smugly.
Sarryen went to inspect the squat green glass bottle. She uncapped it and sniffed.
‘Light above! You could fell a horse or three with this Finn. Don’t you dare even smell it.’
Finn dozed the afternoon away while Sarryen continued to study the selection of books discovered in one of the sealed chambers in the cave system. Most of them she had never heard of, nor seen references to them anywhere. Nearly halfway through the pile, she found a slim volume which purported to be Myata’s “Last Teachings”. To Sarryen’s extreme annoyance, Myata seemed to take undue delight in the most elliptical phrasing and downright riddles. She must have been the most infuriating woman, Sarryen thought, sitting back for a moment.
Her gaze rested on the slight figure lying unmoving on the narrow bed. Just like Finn Rah in fact. The thought drifted through Sarryen’s mind and she frowned. She turned a few more pages then set the book aside. Perhaps it would occupy Finn, although Sarryen could already see it hurtling across the room, thrown by an Offering irritated out of all patience. A rap at the door roused both Finn and the Kooshak and they were astonished to see the bean pole cook standing shyly outside. He held a tray before him and, after one glance, Sarryen waved him over to Finn’s bed. She glared at Finn, daring her to be rude to Povar.
A lace cloth, delicate as cobwebs, was spread on the tray and a tiny pot held a cluster of violets. Two small, newly baked soft rolls sat between a bowl of broth and a dish of stewed fruits.
‘Why, that looks delicious Povar. How kind you are,’ Finn whispered.
Povar put the tray carefully across Finn’s lap and twisted his hands together.
‘Most don’t care about food. Long as it be hot and plentiful. I like to make it look nice, but no one notices when I do.’ He gulped another lungful of air as if unaccustomed speech used up breath far more quickly than just plain silent breathing.
‘Children found the flowers. Teal made the bread.’
He nodded and marched from the room, leaving the two women gaping after him. Sarryen turned to Finn, expecting some comment and saw the jade green eyes magnified against the silver by huge tears. Sarryen wordlessly passed her a handkerchief and perched on the end of the bed.
‘You had best try some of that broth before it cools.’
Obediently, Finn lifted the wooden spoon and took a mouthful. Sarryen watched until Finn had finished every drop and leaned back against her pillows.
‘As delicious as it looked,’ she whispered.
Sarryen replaced the soup with the fruit but Finn shook her head.
‘I’ll eat it later. Sarryen, I have never been a lovable person. It touches me more than you could guess that this gesture of affection should be made to me.’ She touched a fragile violet with the tip of a finger. ‘It also indicates that those children have been outside,’ she said, the old glint back in her eyes.
Sarryen laughed then remembered the book she had found. She retrieved it from the table and handed it to Finn.
‘I thought you might be able to understand some of this – Myata had a most devious mind.’
Finn snorted and tensed on the brink of a cough.
Soosha arrived before Finn could make the mistake of arguing further and Sarryen made a pot of tea.
‘I have spent the day testing some of the students,’ Soosha announced. ‘Several are very capable indeed and more than able to at least give their support to far seers.’
Sarryen bit her lip. How could he suggest far seeing in front of Finn after her nearly disastrous experience last night?
‘Not a one of them must attempt to get inside the Menedula.’ Finn’s words were flat.
Soosha nodded and smiled. ‘Most definitely not Finn Rah. But there is no reason why they should not watch, at a distance of five leagues or so, outside the Menedula. They could then hopefully spot the two children once they are out of that place.’
Finn wrinkled her nose. ‘I saw only one – the girl. I wonder where the boy might be?’
‘I have also pondered why the girl could see you.’
Finn looked at the Observer sharply.
‘And have you a solution?’
‘I think it must be the obvious one. If she is who we think she is, or under the very particular protection of the spirit of Myata, then all things must be possible for her.’
‘That simple?’ Finn sounded sceptical.
‘Finn, how many times have you worried at a problem only to discover the simple solution which you probably first thought of, was in fact the correct one?’
Mena’s store of food was lamentably small, but she knew that she had to make her move very soon. The boy Tyen had told her that the people still within the town of Syet were fewer in number now than ever since the night of madness and fire. He shuddered when he spoke of those who remained though, and Mena guessed they would have to be avoided rather than asked for help.
She sat in the late afternoon, drawing as always, and fighting to keep her mind empty of all but the plants in front of her. She allowed herself to think of the old lady who had said her name was Finn Rah, only when she was outside in the garden. Mena had seen a small person, apparently floating close to the ceiling of her bedchamber. Iron grey braids were coiled around her head, and her eyes were such as Mena had never seen before: brilliant jade green surrounded by silver.
Mena asked Tyen if he knew the name Finn Rah and he had looked alarmed.
‘She be the most senior of the Offerings,’ he said. ‘She would’ve got burned up or worse on that bad night.’
‘She might have escaped,’ Mena suggested.
‘Nobody escaped,’ said Tyen bluntly. ‘I ran here when – when my house burnt down, and I saw such things. One of the Offerings was coming down the outer walk when one of those mad students got him.’ He swallowed hard. ‘Never seen nothing like it.’
‘Then maybe she was away somewhere, visiting perhaps?’
‘That one never left the Menedula, not since afore I were born.’
Mena had let the subject rest, only asking Tyen to work out the best and quickest way clear of both the Menedula and the town.
Now she sat patiently, outlining the whiskery leaves of a nettle while she waited for Cho Petak’s usual visit. As soon as Finn Rah had disappeared, Mena had slept and woken again to find Cho standing by her bed, his face contorted and his eyes red fire. She felt him push into her mind, and withdraw none the wiser. He had said nothing, just turned away and left her to sleep again.
The door latch snicked closed and Mena lifted her gaze from her drawing.
‘Good evening Sir,’ she said politely.
Cho merely nodded, giving her current picture only a cursory glance. He went in his slow way to the window and stared out for a considerable while. Eventually he crept back down the room to Mena’s table.
‘I have not asked you anything of the disturbance the other night child. What do you know of it?’
Mena looked up at him, violet and silver eyes wide and innocent.
‘I thought I had a bad dream Sir. Was there really something wrong then?’
Cho stared at her. It took an enormous effort for Mena to sit still and relaxed under that relentless gaze. At last Cho looked away, down at Mena’s drawing.
‘Nothing wrong, no. Perhaps it was just the ghost of one of the corrupt officials who dwelt here until lately.’
‘Corrupt officials Sir?’ Mena managed to sound both confused and shocked.
Cho waved a hand dismissively.
‘They are all dead. Do not be alarmed child. You are safe here with me.’
Mena smiled. ‘Of course I am Sir,’ she agreed.
Cho watched a little longer while Mena forced her hand not to tremble as she continued her drawing. Her hands were clammy by the time Cho left in his silent manner. Carefully, methodically, she cleaned the pens and brushes and put them away in the box of coloured inks. She straightened the pile of drawings and the books still on the table. She had discovered a worn leather satchel in the bottom of a cupboard in her bedchamber and hidden her cache of food in it. The map she had so meticulously copied was also there. Mena lay down, convinced she would never sleep, and promptly did so.
Krolik woke her bringing in her breakfast. By the time she had splashed water over her face, he was gone. She stared down at the tray. There was a stack of the hard biscuits, a large bowl full of dried fruits, a jar of nuts. Did Krolik know somehow that she was storing food? Had he guessed she was about to run away? Had he told Cho Petak? Mena suddenly heard that rippling laughter in her head again and shrugged.
She whisked most of the food through to put in the old satchel and then sat nibbling at some she had left on the tray. She had barely swallowed her first piece of fruit when Cho Petak was behind her chair.
‘Good morning Sir.’
‘I thought that Krolik was bringing you more food?’
‘Oh he does Sir. I have eaten most of it already – it is far more than I was given before. I take what is left to the gardens with me, for later Sir.’
Cho considered the child then nodded and left her.
‘Stars let that be the last time I need see him,’ Mena thought.
She went into the bedchamber and fetched the satchel, putting the last pieces of food from the tray in with the rest. On impulse, she crammed the box of coloured inks on the top and looked once around the room. Straightening narrow shoulders, Mena marched out and down to the gardens. She paused at the gate into the herb garden. She had cleared quite a large amount of the ground and the plants now released from the choking embrace of the weeds reached to the sun, leaves and flowers burgeoning by the day.
Slowly, Mena walked around the path, bending to brush her fingers over some plants, murmuring softly all the while. She smiled when she reached the young rosemary bush, its pale blue flowers quivered with life and new shoots sprang from its base.
‘Tyen,’ she called softly.
The boy emerged silent footed from the wooden building.
‘We must go now,’ Mena told him, holding his stare.
He chewed his thumb nail and nodded, leading her along to the heap of rotting weeds. Mena settled the strap of the satchel more firmly across her back, leaving both hands free. Tyen glanced back at her as he stooped to pull aside a branch of the beech hedge.
‘Very quiet, all the time,’ he ordered, and ducked into the dark hole in the hedge.
Keeping at Tyen’s heels, Mena moved in behind him. In moments she found herself crawling on all fours. Her trousers were torn at the knees by the time Tyen stopped and she banged her head into his back. In the dim light filtering through the thick hedge, Mena saw a grating ahead, raised on its edge. Tyen leaned back to her.
‘Once we’re in, pull it down over you.’
Mena nodded and Tyen disappeared. She wriggled round to go feet first as he had done and felt his hand guide her right foot to the rung of a ladder. She descended another rung and reached up to hook her fingers in the metal grill. She pulled, and nothing happened. She tugged harder and the grill fell with a dull thud. Mena wobbled on the ladder but managed not to fall. She had no idea how far down they had to go and no desire to break any bones this soon after leaving the garden.
Tyen touched her back and she found herself taking a last step down into ankle deep water. At least, she hoped it was just water. Tyen gripped her hand, tugging downwards. She felt a roof brush her head and bent lower. Her free hand touched a damp wall of rough brick and the hand Tyen held occasionally bumped a similar wall on the other side.
Tears of exhaustion were trickling down her cheeks by the time Tyen stopped. He dragged at her hand in the total darkness and she realised he meant them to rest. He leaned close as Mena pressed her aching back against the curved wall, biting her lip to keep back a groan.
‘We’re half across the town,’ he breathed in her ear. ‘There’s a way out just ahead and up, but we must go on, right to the river.’
‘Right,’ Mena whispered back.
She pulled the satchel in front of her and dug out a handful of dried fruits which she passed to Tyen. They ate in silence, hearing the drip of water behind and ahead and, every so often, a scuttering sound as of small animals.
‘We have only been gone half a morning,’ Mena thought. ‘Yet I do not know if I can go much further like this.’
The darkness did not especially bother her, but having to walk bent double for so long was an agony. Tyen sniffed and tensed. Mena turned in his direction and the scent of mint drifted over the two children. Mena breathed deeply and felt her panic subside. Of course she could go on! Half a morning’s walk was nothing, but it was at least a start on the twelve or more days she anticipated to reach the Oblaka.
‘What’s that smell?’ Tyen’s question hissed into her ear.
‘Just one of the herbs from the garden,’ Mena whispered back. She sensed Tyen’s doubts and whispered again to distract him.
‘How far to the river?’
‘About the same. The people who are still here, are usually between this part of the town and the Menedula. Not so many to hear us in the next bit.’
He stood up, Mena scrambled up beside him and they continued through the drain. Mena was only conscious of the hot pain in her back when Tyen stopped abruptly. He pushed her back and put a hand over her mouth. She pushed his hand away, realising that there was a glimmer of light from high overhead. Faint cries grew louder until Mena could make out some sort of speech. High pitched shrieks mingled with guttural howls, making it impossible to understand any words – if words they were.
Tyen drew her further back and held her arm tight. The voices grew louder, reaching a crescendo of dissonance, before fading again. Mena found that Tyen was trembling and could only guess at what meaning those strange cries held for him.
‘Is it safe to go on now?’ she murmured.
Tyen spat. ‘I keep on telling you girl. Ain’t nowhere safe.’
She felt his shoulders lift in a shrug against her arm.
‘We’d best go on. How long before you’re missed you reckon?’
‘Late afternoon.’
Tyen grunted. ‘Got to be out of here well before then. Come on then.’
Mena had not a clue as to how Tyen found his way in this dark warren. Several times her free hand felt a gap in the wall, suggesting other drains joining with this one. Surely the boy could not have learnt to travel this route in the relatively few days since the destruction of the town? Mena stumbled on, pondering Tyen’s unerring leadership. At least it kept her mind busy with something other than cataloguing each new ache. Tyen slowed again, pulling her close to him.
‘Round the next bend – the river. Left a boat there, but don’t know if it will still be there.’
Wavering light began to glimmer as they approached the curve, then dazzled them. Mena threw her arm across her eyes, blinking against the glare of sun on water.
‘Wait here.’
Tyen crept forward to the very edge of the brick built drain and peered cautiously one way, then the other. He beckoned and Mena joined him. What looked to her eyes much like a very small tree trunk, half hollowed out, nestled against the rim of the drain. Tyen was busy loosening a thin rope and pulling the tree trunk closer.
‘Get in,’ he ordered.
Obediently, but very dubiously, Mena climbed down to what Tyen had said was a boat, and stepped into it. It rocked alarmingly and she sat down with a jarring bump. Tyen grinned at her and dropped in front of where she’d sat. He lifted a strangely shaped length of board and dug it into the water. Mena discovered they were moving, close to the bank, following the flow of the river. She clung to each side of this odd tree trunk and hoped fervently that they would not be travelling this way for too long.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Kera had made a carry sack for Lula, like the one her mother Khosa travelled in, and Lorak looped it about his neck. Guards, Delvers, the Stronghold staff and Yoral, the chamberlain, all came to bid farewell to the ancient black Dragon Fenj. The other Dragons waited outside on the still snow-covered crags above the Stronghold to sing him on his journey. Elyssa and Babach had been the last to say goodbye, and Lorak was already on Fenj’s back, giving minute instructions to Bikram regarding the growing areas.
Fenj’s massive bulk paced to the gateway. He turned his head for a final glance at those gathered in the hall. He moved through the gate, onto the span of rock bridging the Stronghold with its neighbouring mountain, and lifted easily into the air. Snow Dragons called and trumpeted, then joined in the song of the great Dragons. Kija and Kadi stood erect, their wings fully extended as Fenj flew slowly past them. He tilted round a pinnacle, heading south eastwards, and the pale green Ashta swung up by his wing tip, Mim on her back. Fenj said nothing, merely increasing the pace of his flight until Ashta swerved away, calling her last goodbyes.
