Krov barked a laugh. ‘Don’t you worry Lady. I know more than I should. My father taught me a thing or two then he beat me hard enough that I never would be inclined to give myself away.’

  Maressa looked puzzled. Krov laughed again and nodded at her cloak, rolled and slotted through her pack straps. It was Maressa’s turn to blink as the cloak suddenly wriggled itself free, rose in the air and draped itself around her shoulders. She grinned at Krov.

  ‘That was very good Master of Arms!’ She pushed the cloak out of her way and stooped for the pack.

  ‘Look. I made this map for Lord Seboth. It shows two routes to the coast. There are places with sweet water marked.’ She pointed to her map. ‘This northern one is the way we first crossed the barren lands, and this one ends here, or a little further south anyway. It is about two and a half days to the first water, then two to the next. The longest gap is on the northern route, between the fourth and fifth watering places. It took us nearly four days between those.’

  Krov took the map, his expression one of deep interest.

  ‘We took fifteen days in all to reach the coast that way. Brin takes only four to fly the distance but I think this more southern route might be a day or even two less than the northern one.’

  Krov rolled the map with care and tucked it inside his jacket. He gave her a shrewd look.

  ‘Lord Hargon’s going to come looking for you, you know. He is determined that he will kill all strangers and all the Dragons.’

  ‘But from all I have heard, he does not know of the watering places through those lands. He could easily get caught too far out without water.’

  Krov met her gaze. ‘I have thought during this trip, and over the last ten day. I think that Hargon has his very own tame power user. Too unlikely that they found you so fast and so easy Lady. I suggest you keep sharp watch when you meet up with your friends again.’

  Maressa nodded slowly, feeling somehow that veteran Krov could well be all too correct.

  To the north east, Hargon had again divided his men: a hundred to keep Tagria nervous and uncertain, and a hundred to follow him to the west. Messengers had ridden to Return to order every available armsman to reinforce the band surrounding Tagria. To the men around him, Hargon seemed to be acting as if fevered. He ate little, drank water but sparingly, and apparently needed no sleep. Hargon was unaware of the exact location of the circle near Tagria and could spare neither the men nor the time to search for it now. He demanded that all the flasks from the armsmen staying behind be distributed among those travelling on with him.

  M’Raz had observed all with interest, but was growing a little bored. The countryside did not impress him, seen through Hargon’s eyes. He had yet to discover the significance of the patterned circle which appeared obsessively in Hargon’s thoughts, and the methods of killing were tedious in the extreme. These simple creatures seemed quite unaware of the delicious delights of savouring a protracted means of destroying another creature. And it could be such fun. He had decided to allow Hargon only a short while longer to prove himself worthy of hosting M’Raz’s spirit.

  He would let him make this trip to the coast and then he would finally make up his mind. M’Raz was interested in the younger man, Trib. He had shown himself to be concerned only with himself, much more so than Hargon or any of the other men. M’Raz too was only concerned with himself and he appreciated finding a similarity at last in one of these beings. Yes. If he discarded Hargon, Trib would do very nicely as a replacement.

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  The two children travelled down the Sy River, protected by the high bank, for most of that afternoon. When the sun began to sink below the trees ahead, Tyen grabbed at an overhanging branch and pulled them close into the side. He looked over his shoulder at Mena and his teeth showed white in the shadows when he gave her a quick grin.

  ‘Look behind us girl.’

  Mena twisted round and gasped. The huddled ruin of what had been the town of Syet lay about seven or eight leagues distant already, but towering high above the town was the mass of the Menedula. Its walls gleamed a dull black in the fading sun but as before, Mena thought the black stone sucked in the light rather than reflecting it as she believed it once had done. It seemed to stretch upwards forever, but Mena shivered. It was as if the great building was clawing at the very sky, trying to pull it down inside itself. Again, she had the sensation of having seen it before, when it raised itself joyfully skywards – she shook her head to clear the suddenly blurred image. How could she imagine a vast edifice such as the Menedula could laugh and be merry?

  The strange little boat rocked when Tyen moved towards her.

  ‘We have to leave the boat now. River gets narrower and goes under a bridge. Too dangerous for us.’

  Mena pictured her map in her head. They needed to move away from the river with the setting sun well to their left. At the moment, it shone straight into her face. She recalled how the river squiggled away west and south on the map: yes, they needed to leave it now and make their way across the land.

  Tyen tugged her arm and motioned her to follow. So far, the only hint of any threat had been the inhuman screams she had heard in the drain. Now there was the sound of the river murmuring and gurgling on its way, unfamiliar birdsong fluting from hidden places. But no sounds of human life. Tyen was indicating that she should continue to move as quietly as she could, informing Mena that they were far from being out of danger. A breeze sprang up from the east, rattling branches over their heads. Leaf buds showed on nearly all the bushes and trees around, although Mena noted that a few trees stood starkly bare still. Tyen led her just below the lip of the riverbank, then paused. Carefully, he crept to the top and peeped over. He beckoned urgently and Mena scrambled up beside him.

  She saw a road in front of them, paved with great slabs of grey stone, wide enough for two or even three wagons to travel abreast. Tyen pointed straight across to where fir trees lined the edge of the road. He drew her to her feet, gripping her hand. Without warning, he was darting forward, dragging her with him. They plunged into the firs and kept running for more than a hundred paces. Tyen released her hand and leaned on a tree trunk, half bending to catch his breath. Mena too stooped, hands on her knees as she tried to slow her panting.

  Tyen straightened, looking about him. Twilight by the river had become virtually full dark beneath the thick needles of the fir trees and no sky was visible above them. Looking back, Mena could just glimpse the blur of grey which was the road they had crossed, and knew they must keep it to their left whilst angling further away to the right. Glancing at Tyen, she pointed in the direction she felt they must go. He shrugged and nodded.

  When it was too dark to walk without bumping into a tree trunk, Mena sank onto the thick needles at the bole of a tree. Tyen slid down beside her and she handed him two biscuits from her pack and a handful of fruits. They both froze as a wailing cacophony began to sob in the distance. Mena felt Tyen tense against her side and put her hand on his arm. The sound continued but grew no louder or closer, and slowly Tyen relaxed again. Mena was more worried right now about Cho Petak trying to find her mind.

  Hazy memories of old Mayla instructing her on how to hide her thoughts drifted elusively in her head, mixed with things picked up from Kadi and the other Dragons. She yawned hugely and tried to concentrate her thoughts again. But her eyelids were too heavy and after another jaw cracking yawn, she slept. Tyen was already asleep, slumped against Mena’s shoulder, so neither child noticed the fragrance of mint which enveloped them like a blanket.

  They spent two days getting deeper and deeper among the firs. At the end of the second day, they rested in a small clearing caused by the fall of a great tree which had brought down several others when it had crashed to the ground. A small clear stream ran noisily under the fallen trunk from which Mena refilled her flask. She and Tyen had spoken even less since leaving the Menedula than they had within the garden, and Mena noticed Tyen seemed far less sure of himself now.

  ‘Have you been in these woods before?’ Her voice felt rusty from so little use when she spoke that night.

  Tyen hugged his knees to his chest. ‘Only been from Syet to Paril – the next town down river, past the bridge I spoke of.’

  She waited, but Tyen said nothing more and soon they were both asleep.

  By midday of the third day, the trees were clearly thinning and when they stopped for a few of the remaining nuts and biscuits in Mena’s pack, Mena unfolded her map and spread it on the ground. Tyen squatted next to her.

  ‘Do you understand maps?’ Mena asked.

  ‘I only seen maps of Syet,’ he said. ‘Easy to work them out.’ He jabbed a finger onto the paper. ‘Reckon we must be somewhere here. And you want us to get there?’ Another jab and a raised brow.

  Mena nodded. ‘Three days and we’ve done this much.’

  She measured the space with her fingers between the Menedula and where they guessed they now were. Then she measured the same distance again, and again until she reached the Oblaka.

  ‘About nine more days.’

  She looked into Tyen’s face. ‘We will soon need to find food.’

  He nodded. ‘No berries about, too early.’ He shrugged and stood up.

  ‘Why did you need maps in the town Tyen?’ Mena asked as they began walking again.

  He walked in silence for some further paces then shot her a crooked smile.

  ‘I had to learn everywhere in the town: roads, alleys, every footpath, the drains and the sewers. Then the ways over the rooftops.’

  Mena frowned, trying to work out why Tyen would need to learn all that. He laughed.

  ‘Don’t matter now. Town’s so burnt down, drains were the only safe places left.’ He faced her defiantly. ‘We was the best thieves in Syet, in all Drogoya I shouldn’t wonder. Anything anyone wanted off someone else, we could do it.’

  Mena grinned at him. ‘I have never met a thief before. Not that I know of, anyway. I wondered why you should know your way through those drains so well.’

  ‘One of the Kooshak told my father he should send me to the Menedula for a student, years ago. But my father got very angry, said he’d never allow such a thing.’

  Mena glanced at him curiously. ‘Would you not have liked to study?’

  ‘Oh yes. Good in ordinary school I am. Was. Liked reading, specially tales of long ago days.’

  As Mena drew breath to speak again, Tyen put his arm out barring her way.

  ‘Hush now. See, the trees end soon. Light knows what may lie beyond.’

  Mena dropped a little behind him when Tyen began to move from tree to tree until they had reached the edge of the woodland. They crouched together, staring over rough pasture land towards a sturdy stone building. No animals grazed there but Tyen pointed silently to where a few hens scratched alongside a broken fence. No smoke rose from either of two chimneys and nothing moved but the hens.

  ‘Follow me exactly,’ Tyen whispered. ‘Maybe we’ll find a couple of eggs at least.’

  He led them through the tree line to the fence and they crept along the side furthest from the building. Mena’s heart thudded so hard that she thought it would be heard paces away, but she stuck close to Tyen’s heels. He gestured her to wait in the angle between a water barrel and the house wall, and he slipped around the corner out of sight. Mena crouched, ready to run, and kept watch in every direction. She jumped when a hen poked its head round the barrel and advanced to scratch the ground at Mena’s feet. She heard the sound of someone being sick and was round the corner of the house in a flash. Tyen was doubled over, his face ashen. Mena glanced at the open door but Tyen grabbed her arm.

  ‘Don’t! They’re all dead in there.’

  Mena wiped his wet forehead with her hand. ‘But there might be some food we could take,’ she said gently, and turned to the door. ‘Wait here – see if you can find some eggs.’

  She did not hesitate, walking straight through the door into a stench worse than any she had smelt before. She kept her gaze up, only seeing jumbled shapes on the floor with her peripheral vision. The room was plainly the main living area of the house and Mena carefully crossed to a row of cupboards attached to the wall at the furthest end. Still not looking down, she dragged a chair with her towards the cupboards, biting her lip when something impeded the chair’s movement.

  Climbing up to the cupboards, she was surprised and thankful to discover food was still stored within them. She shrugged her satchel from her back and began to put in whatever she found. She breathed through her mouth in an attempt to mitigate the smell, but she knew she could not be too long in here for fear of copying Tyen’s reaction.

  She left the grains and dried vegetables: she doubted the wisdom of lighting any fires to do proper cooking, and her notions of cooking were fairly limited anyway. Behind the door of one cupboard hung a small canvas sack and she filled that as well as her satchel. She stepped off the chair and made for the door but she stopped when she reached it.

  Tyen stood waiting for her a few paces away, his ragged shirt held bunched to hold the eggs he had found. Mena straightened her shoulders and lifted her chin. Slowly and deliberately, she turned around and took one step back inside the door. She looked down at the floor and saw the bodies which were sprawled there. Two men, a woman, three children all smaller than her. None of them had eyes, though whether that was due to whatever had killed them or to the hens, she couldn’t guess. Their bodies were bloated and contorted. An arm lay several paces from a body. The two biggest children had their stomachs ripped and coils of intestines spooled around them.

  Mena stared at the carnage, willing herself to remember this scene in every horrific detail. Cho Petak had allowed this, and Cho Petak would pay. Although quite how she could make him do so was yet unclear to her.

  Sarryen realised that Arryol’s diagnosis was correct. Finn Rah made no more fuss about keeping to her bed and taking whatever pills and potions Arryol presented to her. Occasionally Finn showed her impatience with her illness by a sudden irritation and a short tempered retort but mostly she was resigned. Soosha spent the evenings with the Offering giving Sarryen a chance to escape the sickroom.

  Lyeto had led small groups of students onto the much widened viewing ledge where they attempted to approach the Menedula’s immediate vicinity with their minds. They were all shown Mena’s mind signature and told that was what they must trace. So far they had no success to report.

  Melena frequently sat with the Kooshak in the common room and Sarryen had begun to see that the girl would become her pupil. Melena had a similarly broad spectrum of talents to Sarryen’s own, and had been worried that she seemed to have no specific calling.

  ‘Accept the many talents you have,’ Sarryen told the girl one evening. ‘Work on them all until one may begin to predominate. But accept your gifts first of all,’ she repeated. ‘Many students whom I have encountered are excellent in their one particular area, but they are often blinkered by that exclusivity. One such as you or I can see many parts that go to make up a whole, which those others cannot see.’

  Melena nodded slowly. ‘I had not considered that before,’ she said and gave Sarryen a shy smile. ‘I could not understand why my eyes silvered and yet I am unable to excel at any one thing.’

  Sarryen studied the girl for a moment. ‘If things were as before, I would ask you to travel with me, as my pupil Melena. But things are not so, no matter how we might wish them to be. You know that Finn Rah is very sick?’

  Melena nodded.

  ‘My time must be given to her for now but I will set aside some time each day – when it is convenient for your other studies, and I will begin to instruct you in Kooshak generalities – if that is your wish.’

  Sarryen grimaced as a group of students burst into noisy laughter across the common room. ‘Amidst this noise, is not a good idea.’

  ‘I am free of duties around mid morning most days. Would that suit you Kooshak?’

  ‘That would be fine.’ Sarryen frowned. ‘It will be busy again in here at that time, so come to my room. I will make a note of some of the texts you will need to work on, which you can start should Finn Rah delay me.’ She looked into the girl’s grey silvered eyes. ‘Yes,’ she thought. ‘I will enjoy teaching you.’

  Making her way back to Chakar’s sitting room, she tried to work out how long it was since she had chosen a pupil, one who was called to be Kooshak rather than continue the climb up the ranks within the Menedula. It must be nearly thirty years she realised with some surprise. That last one had been a boy, but wrack her brain though she might, she could not think of his name. Surely the longevity inducements could not be failing yet – she had not reached her first hundred years! Sarryen resolved that she would remember that boy’s name before she allowed herself to sleep again and marched into Finn Rah with a scowl on her face.

  ‘You look in just the mood to cheer an invalid,’ Finn remarked brightly.

  Sarryen’s scowl gave way to a smile. ‘I’m becoming forgetful Finn Rah. I have forgotten the name of someone thirty years in my past.’

  ‘Happens to us all. I can’t remember the names of half the people here – doesn’t mean that I am falling apart.’ Finn scoffed.

  Soosha chuckled from his armchair. ‘Finn called me “erm” for years.’

  ‘I did not.’ Finn was indignant, then held her breath for a moment as the hated cough threatened to erupt.

  ‘Sit,’ Finn ordered the Kooshak in a quieter voice. ‘Soosha and I were wondering about the chance of finding the children by dream walking. It is far less strenuous than far seeking. That is probably why old Babach used that method so often.’

  Sarryen took the other armchair. ‘I have used dream walking occasionally, when I have needed advice from other Kooshak on cases I was dealing with.’ She nodded. ‘I had no difficulty with such a means of communication. But if we found the children through dream walking, would they comprehend its reality? They might simply think that they had experienced a rather odd but vivid dream?’

 

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