Survivors: Book 4 Circles of Light series, page 31
‘No one pays us any attention,’ he murmured in Khosa’s mind.
‘I found that a tremendously useful fact in my dealings with humans in Gaharn,’ Khosa agreed.
Akomi turned left at the top of the stairs and trotted more speedily down a long passageway. He turned right onto another, much narrower staircase which ended in another corridor. Tall windows on their right striped the floor with patches of light and shade as the two cats padded soundlessly along the stone floor. They passed several closed doors on their right until Akomi halted outside one.
‘They call the human who lives here a mage,’ Akomi explained. ‘He is the oldest of all mages in the palace, perhaps even in all the land. Kasheen told him he would not expect him to continue as chief advisor to the Crystal Throne when he became Emperor. From what I’ve worked out, Kasheen never liked him and used his great age as an excuse to have him put aside. Of course, the mage has hated Kasheen ever since.’
Khosa noted that Akomi’s mind tone had brightened enormously since his first words to her on top of the cupboard. And from what he’d just told her, he had followed the human intrigues within the palace closely, even though there was no other cat with whom he could share his gossip and amusement. Akomi crouched, his tail round his front paws. In the shadow he was scarcely visible.
‘You can hear them quite easily – perhaps not their words but their thoughts are loud enough.’
Khosa squeezed between the wall and Akomi’s side and crouched comfortably. Akomi sniffed her ear and licked it a couple of times then both settled and opened their minds.
The patches of sunlight and shadow moved position and a bell rang from the floor below and still Khosa and Akomi sat listening.
‘Close your eyes,’ Akomi warned, pressing Khosa tighter to the wall.
The door flew open and a grey robed figure hurried out, his sandals flapping against the floor as he went quickly back along the passage in the direction of the stairs. A querulous voice barked a command and other feet approached. Then the door was firmly closed again. Khosa eased away from Akomi, did a tail end up, front end down stretch and blinked.
‘Can you get us to the Empress’s garden now? Preferably without meeting that insolent female again?’
‘Certainly. Do you have friends there?’
‘Aah.’ Khosa paused. ‘I haven’t had a chance to explain much have I? Well, I’ll tell you what I can on the way.’
By the time Akomi had led them, in and out of chambers, along outside window ledges and then down a dark, seemingly abandoned corridor, his whiskers were quivering with excitement. He took them into a brighter part of the palace and dashed between ranks of Imperial Blossoms to arrive, a touch breathless, outside a large iron studded door. He turned to Khosa.
‘These are the Empress’s day rooms.’
‘Tika?’ Khosa sent the thought through the door. ‘I would like you to meet a friend I have found.’
In a very few moments the door opened and Khosa slid through Tika’s feet, Akomi close behind. Tika shut the door and turned to stare at Khosa’s new friend.
‘His name is Akomi and he is the only cat in this place who can use mind speech – if you can believe that’s possible.’
Tika regarded the new cat. His fur was splotched with black and brown and flecks of white, but the eyes that stared solemnly back at her shone like old gold coins. Tika knelt, reaching a hand to him.
‘Welcome Akomi.’
She looked at Khosa to try and ascertain what else she was expected to say and saw Khosa’s ragged ear.
‘What happened to you? Oh Khosa, that must hurt – come here.’
She scooped Khosa into her arms, exclaiming over the wound even as she began to heal it. Khosa began her throaty croon and Akomi crept nearer, watching as the tears closed and Khosa’s ear grew whole again. A little bald but whole.
‘Thank you,’ Khosa murmured. She looked up into Tika’s face when she’d slid off the girl’s lap. ‘Twice today I’ve had to offer thanks.’
Tika grinned. ‘Then we should mark this day as most unusual, shouldn’t we?’
Khosa’s tail whisked upwards and she stalked towards the courtyard in dignified silence. Tika reached for Akomi, lifting him gently.
‘I thank you for coming to Khosa’s aid,’ she began and felt the old cat tense in her arms. She rubbed her cheek against the top of his head. ‘This is Farn, my soul bond.’
Farn had managed to squeeze halfway into the room, his long neck extended to reach Tika.
‘You were healing, my Tika – are you well?’ His eyes whirred grey and cobalt with concern.
‘I’m fine, dear one. Khosa was hurt; she had half her ear ripped off.’
Farn winced at the idea then focused on the creature in Tika’s arms.
‘This is Akomi, Farn. He cared for Khosa and brought her back to us safely. He is the only cat here who has mind speech so Khosa – and I – invite him to join our company.’
Tika was allowing Akomi to hear her conversation with the silver blue Dragon and she hoped Farn realised she was asking him for kindness to this very different Kephi. Farn’s long beautiful face lowered to nearly touch Akomi.
‘Welcome Akomi. It must be very boring to have no one to talk to.’
Tika sent a pulse of gratitude to him, and then one of caution. Akomi, leaning back against her chest, was slowly stretching a predominantly brown paw towards the tip of Farn’s nose. Farn stayed quite still as Akomi’s paw, claws retracted, rested upon the soft blue hide.
‘I have only heard the humans talk of the Dragon folk. I am so glad I have lived to see one such.’
Farn’s eyes flashed with relief and he gently drew away. ‘Then come outside and meet three more,’ he said cheerfully.
He began to reverse out of the room and Tika stood up, still holding Akomi. She scratched her fingers behind the old cat’s ears and he half closed his eyes in pleasure.
‘There are three gijan – other winged folk, Akomi. None of them will harm you,’ she told him as she followed Farn into the sunlight.
They found Leaf crooning over Khosa, the Empress Sariko standing half enfolded in the black and dusky pink feathered wings as they examined Khosa’s ear. Piper and Willow swooped from the trees to enclose Tika, trilling to each other as they regarded Akomi. Curved talons touched him lightly then Piper caught the old cat from Tika’s arms and carried him across to Seela. Tika sent a pleading thought to the Dragons:
‘Don’t let those gijan frighten him – he is not young and has been very solitary.’
Willow looked over his shoulder at Tika, small pointed teeth showing in his smile.
‘We will be gentle Tika.’
Tika frowned. She had sent that thought focused only to the Dragons – how had the gijan overheard? She watched Willow take Akomi ceremoniously around the courtyard introducing him to everyone. Mistress Oniko came to stand beside her.
‘We had no idea other creatures had mind powers.’
Tika laughed. ‘The same mistake was made in my land,’ she admitted. A thought occurred to her. ‘Do you have Merigs here?’
‘Merigs?’ Oniko frowned but when Tika sent her a mental picture of the birds she referred to, Oniko’s frown cleared.
‘Oh yes, they are common birds. We call them crows.’
Tika concentrated hard for some time, Oniko watching her with puzzled interest. A harsh croak echoed from high overhead and Oniko followed Tika’s upward gaze. A Merig drifted down between the blank walls and landed prudently on the highest point of a thinly branched tree. He shuffled dusty black feathers into a semblance of tidiness and clattered his horny beak.
‘Someone summoned a messenger?’
The Empress and Mistress Oniko gaped at the hoarse voice in their minds. Tika moved towards the tree, squinting up at the bird silhouetted above her.
‘I have spoken with many of your kind in my land far across the great sea. In that land they are known as Merigs.’
The beak was clattered again. ‘We are crows in this land. You say my cousins across the water carried messages for you?’
‘They did, and very bravely too on several occasions.’
The crow stretched to make himself taller.
‘Do you know of a place northwest of here, called Green Shade?’
‘Of course. I have been there myself several times. I came from my egg not far from that place.’
‘How long would a message take to reach there?’
‘If you wish me to take it all the way personally, perhaps four or five days. If you ask me to relay it through my brethren, the message would be there by tomorrow’s dawn.’
Tika put her hand on her sword hilt and bowed, her other hand over her heart.
‘Would you relay a message then, to say Tika and her companions are all well and hope to be in Green Shade again in the next few days. The message goes to Maressa, air mage of Vagrantia who abides there.’
The crow repeated the brief message and launched himself into the air. Tika turned, shaking her head at the stunned faces of Sariko and Oniko. Before either could speak, an Imperial Blossom entered from the outer door.
‘His Mighty Gloriousness requests your presence in the lesser chamber of audience.’
Chapter Twenty-Five
Seela and Brin said they would stay outside: they would listen, through Ren, to whatever was said in the audience chamber. The gijan too preferred to remain in the courtyard. As Gan led the others along the passage followed by Storm and Farn, Grek spoke to Tika.
‘I have been to Namolos,’ he told her quickly. ‘Time is of the essence. She who Vorna seeks to free is fully awake. I stopped in Harbour City to urge Chevra to warn his mages to prepare for catastrophe.’
They had entered the chamber by now and found a few Heads of Houses and several more House mages still with the Emperor. Kasheen broke off his conversation with one of the Heads of House.
‘House Amethyst,’ he waved at the man to whom he’d been speaking. ‘Asaji. He has promised a mage for each of my ships to give added protection.’
This was said with some satisfaction although its significance escaped the companions. Gan nodded nevertheless to encourage Kasheen to further revelations. When none were forthcoming, Tika folded her arms.
‘I have been informed that we have little time left,’ she told the Emperor. ‘The one you call witch woman is far closer to achieving her goal than we had thought.’
The Head of House Amethyst frowned. ‘We will do all we can from here Mistress Tika, I can promise you we will spare nothing. This cannot be allowed to happen.’
He bowed hurriedly and turned, his ornately embroidered lavender robes swirling around him and strode from the hall. The Emperor stared at Tika.
‘You have been informed?’ he enquired.
‘She has indeed,’ snapped Grek.
Kasheen stiffened then sat down, forcing himself to seem more relaxed than he was. ‘I should have guessed.’
‘I went as close to the woman’s estates beyond Harbour City as I dared.’ Grek spoke in all minds and people still in the chamber turned puzzled faces to each other.
‘The very air is disrupted for some distance around. Behaviour is changing amongst both humans and animals in the vicinity. I had hoped for help from Namolos but he is already engaging with Cho Petak.’ Grek hesitated. ‘Cho Petak is now unbodied and he knows all about undoing the threads of a soul.’
There were murmurs among those mages still present and Kasheen felt it necessary to explain exactly what Grek was. Gasps of shock replaced the murmurs but Tika spoke over the increasing noise.
‘Can your ships sail today Kasheen? And your mages – have they found any ancient spells that might have relevance to our predicament?’
A mage in a plain dark blue gown nodded. ‘We have found some which may be of use. We are transcribing them now and it has been agreed that all our knowledge will be shared.’
Kasheen agreed. ‘I have decreed that the palace is open to all for now – this chamber is freely available to mages of all Houses and the archives and laboratories are also at their disposal.’
Tika repressed a shudder at the memory of Orla’s laboratory but she trusted such places here could not perpetrate such evil experimentation.
‘The first ten ships will sail on this evening’s tide,’ Kasheen continued. ‘And the second fleet will follow within days. The captains have said that by stripping the ships to the barest essentials, they can carry fifty more warriors each, plus two more Blossoms and perhaps two extra mages. That means the first fleet will have one and a half thousand warriors, seventy Blossoms and fifty mages. The second fleet will carry the same. I have already called in ships from some of the seafaring Houses for conversion to transports for more warriors.’
Ren did some calculations in his head and imagined how incredibly close packed men would be in those ships. Tika took a step forward and saluted Kasheen formally.
‘I and my companions will go at once to Green Shade and from there back to Malesh. I will try to urge the Grand Harbour Master to intensify his efforts – in the north with his armsmen but his mages should concentrate on the Bound One within Malesh.’
A mage in the lemon yellow gown of House Citrine interposed. ‘Excuse me Mistress Tika, but from what you’ve told us, there could be a similar problem rising in the desert. The Grand Harbour Master would be most unwise to send men unaided by any mage craft into such possible danger.’
Tika bit her lip: of course the man was correct. She gave a curt nod. ‘I take your point and will so inform the Grand Harbour Master.’
‘I would ask that Master Jakri accompanies us,’ said Ren unexpectedly. ‘He will surely be more adept at keeping contact with the Wendlan mages than either ourselves or the Maleshans.’
Kasheen thought rapidly. He glanced at the Heads of Houses still in attendance and noted their nods of agreement.
‘Very well. Summon Master Jakri at once,’ he called to an Imperial Blossom.
‘The Maleshan mage Taseen will remain at Green Shade,’ Ren went on. ‘He is too frail to travel far or fast but his wisdom may still count for a considerable amount.’
Again Kasheen considered Ren’s words.
‘I will send someone to keep him company.’ He saw Tika’s scowl. ‘No – I mean someone to keep him company – nothing more. Perhaps Mistress Oniko would agree.’
Tika had to admit there was some sense, and kindness, in Kasheen’s proposal.
‘He would appreciate that I’m sure.’ She saluted Kasheen again. ‘Perhaps we may meet in happier days Emperor.’ She turned on her heel and left the chamber.
‘Navan!’ Kasheen called, holding out a bundle of parchments. ‘Copies of the maps we looked at – they may be of use.’
‘Thank you sir Emperor. I think they probably will.’
‘Good luck Navan.’
Navan met the Emperor’s dark eyes with some surprise. ‘And good luck to you and your people sir. May the stars guide your paths and guard your hearts.’
Navan saluted and hurried after the others. He found them gathering their few belongings and making their farewells to the Empress. Ren was talking rapidly to Mistress Oniko whose face was alight with excitement.
‘I will go to House Jade at once and ask Hiramo to come to Green Shade with me,’ she was saying as Navan drew level with them.
An Imperial Blossom loomed behind them. ‘Mistress Oniko, the Mighty One offers you passage to Green Shade on a patrol boat. It would reduce your travel time by half he suggests. I am to escort you to House Jade to collect anything you might need and then to the boat.’
Oniko began to bow to Ren but he caught her shoulders and kissed her cheek. ‘Look after the old man when you get there,’ he told her.
Navan smiled at her and she hurried to Tika and Gan to say goodbye.
The Empress pressed a ring into Tika’s hand. It was set with diamonds and garnets and had the Imperial plumes engraved on the gold mounting.
‘A small token,’ she said, folding Tika’s fingers over the ring. ‘Any Wendlan will give aid should you require it if you show this ring. Sell it in Malesh if you need coin.’ She laughed and produced a dark brown bag. Tika started to smile in return.
‘Thank you,’ she said. ‘Akomi will surely travel comfortably in this. And thank you for your hospitality.’
‘I do hope we meet again my dear, in calmer times.’
Jakri arrived panting for breath. He wore dark green trousers and shirt instead of a robe, and carried a shoulder pack.
‘I feared I would delay you,’ he gasped.
Tika was already on Farn’s back with Khosa in her sack. Ren had persuaded a rather dubious Akomi into his own sack and cradled him in his arm upon Seela. He held out his free hand to Jakri.
‘You’re with us,’ he grinned.
Jakri suddenly realised the enormity of what he was doing and swallowed hard. But he caught Ren’s hand and found himself astride the purple scaled back. The Imperial Blossom stepped forward hesitantly.
‘The Great One commanded me to travel with you,’ he said to Gan.
Gan stared into the rather pale face. ‘Chimchoo isn’t it? I think Brin can take you as well.’
‘Of course I can,’ Brin retorted. ‘You and Sket are mere feathers on my back: another will make no difference.’
Navan was already on Storm and the gijan enfolded the Empress Sariko in their wings.
‘I wish I was coming with you,’ she cried when the gijan lifted into the air.
Brin rose first of the Dragons, Sket and Gan waving down to the Empress, the Imperial Blossom behind Sket rigidly upright with eyes firmly closed. Seela was next, then Storm and Farn, rising to the open sky far above the Empress’s courtyard garden. When Farn cleared the surrounding palace walls, Tika looked back, focusing her vision. The Empress still waved, her cheeks shining with tears, and then Farn was wheeling to the north and the courtyard vanished from view.
Sket felt the Imperial Blossom behind him slowly relax as Brin set a fast but steady pace which ate up the leagues from Bracca. The gijan snatched occasional rests on Brin or Seela while Akomi risked a cautious peek from his sack. They passed over all the farmlands, settling well after dark at the southernmost edge of the great forest.
