Drogoya: Book 3 Circles of Light series, page 33
‘No, I think not.’ Finn replied after a pause. ‘The girl would understand and act upon whatever advice we could offer.’
Sarryen said nothing although her face reflected her doubt. Finn glanced at Soosha as though asking him to defend her argument. He caught Sarryen’s gaze and held it.
‘Sarryen, this child is very special. Although totally untrained as far as I can guess, yet she could see Finn Rah fully when Finn sought her. You know that when minds meet when far seeking, they only appear as faint lights. If you choose to reveal yourself in an illusion to the recipient, you can do so – in whatever guise you wish. But the girl SAW Finn Rah. It was almost as if she traced the mind link back here and saw Finn for herself.’ The old Observer shrugged. ‘How could that be done so fast, even as the child was speaking with Finn? No Sarryen. We have to accept that this child has strengths beyond anything we have known, aware of them or not. She would understand and act upon the advice of a dream walker.’
Finn’s head jerked towards the door before an urgent knock sounded. Lyeto entered, ablaze with excitement.
‘We found them,’ he blurted at once. ‘About twenty five leagues north west of the Menedula.’
‘Any suspicion of Cho Petak or his minions near them?’
Lyeto shook his head. ‘The Menedula felt, even at that distance, like a cauldron of heat – anger, hatred, perversion – streaming from it to about five or six leagues round about.’
Finn looked worried. ‘Cho Petak can reach here easily – as we know all too well. How is it that he has not tracked two children still so near the Menedula?’
‘I keep telling you my dears, the child is strong and is also protected by someone, something, that we cannot fathom. It will not be easy but they will survive the journey here.’
‘I wish I could be so positive,’ Finn muttered.
Lyeto turned to each speaker in turn, following their words. He went to the table and dug a book from the pile, thumbing through its pages.
‘This is where they are, as far as we could judge.’
He laid the book opened to a map of northern Drogoya on Finn’s knees. He pointed to the forested region called Glair. Soosha and Sarryen joined him at Finn’s bedside and stared down at the map.
‘They have many leagues of hill country to cross, then the Gara Mountains and down into Valoon.’ Finn’s finger traced the line she was guessing the children would take. ‘The cold is scarcely past, where will they find food?’ Jade silvered eyes looked up at Soosha in real concern.
His eyebrows rose. ‘They may get a little hungry, but Finn, they will reach us.’
Finn turned back to the map. ‘It is mostly small farms scattered there as I recall. Probably safer than towns or villages.’
‘We have found minds, few in number, which are no longer normal. No longer human,’ Lyeto said quietly. ‘I would guess that the great majority of people in this area are dead.’
‘And no doubt throughout Drogoya.’ Finn leaned back into her pillows. ‘Light above, does Cho Petak desire this land emptied of all life?’
Lyeto bit his lip. ‘We find no trace of animal minds Offering. A few birds, but no animals.’
‘What is he doing? In fact, what is Cho Petak? And why oh why did we not act on our suspicions centuries ago?’
Soosha patted her hand and returned to his armchair. Sarryen began to make a pot of tea when, late as it was, another knock came on Finn’s door. Lyeto opened it to find the beanpole cook outside. Finn lifted her hand.
‘Come in Povar. The hour is late – surely you are not still busy in your kitchen?’
Povar went to Finn’s bedside and handed her a folded, sealed paper.
‘On a table by the common room door,’ he said gruffly.
Finn turned the oblong paper over and saw her name written across it. Her thumb nail broke the seal and she spread the paper on top of the book still on her lap. She scanned the few lines and shook her head.
‘Now will someone please tell me how Volk knew something that Lyeto has only just told us?’
Blank faces stared at her. She waved the paper. ‘Volk feels that he should go back to Valoon, and further, to the other side of the Gara. He says that blizzards can still descend on the passes and children would never make it across alone.’
Lyeto frowned. ‘Volk uses a cavern quite near the viewing ledge – could he have heard us speak of this among ourselves before I came to tell you?’
Soosha laughed. ‘No, no my boy. Surely Volk would not have had time to prepare for such a trip and write his letter? Has he said anything to you of late Povar – of dreams perhaps?’
Povar looked astonished, as well he might Sarryen thought. She had rarely met two more taciturn men than Volk and his son in law Povar, and she could never imagine them sitting down to discuss something as bizarre as dreams.
‘Well,’ Povar began slowly. ‘Two, three days past, he been grumbling about a smell contaminating his brews.’
‘A smell?’ Finn began to smile.
Povar nodded. ‘Said the children must have hid some herbs in amongst his things.’
Finn’s smile expanded. ‘Thank you for bringing the letter Povar. I think Volk will be all right so do not be too concerned for his safety for a while.’
Povar looked surprised again. ‘Ain’t worried about that old fool. But who’s to make the ale?’
Finn struggled to straighten her expression. ‘Ask the students to help – I am sure they could manage something – not of Volk’s standard of course, but good enough for now.’
Povar nodded moodily and took himself back to his kitchen. Soosha shook his head.
‘Well, well. If it is truly Myata, she must enjoy playing these games with us all.’
Volk rode one horse and led two others as he moved round Oblaka town, his senses taut for any alarm. He had hoped that being outside would clear his nose and his head, but it did not seem to be having the desired effect. He swore under his breath. If there was one herb he had no fondness for, it was that cursed mint and it seemed all about him during the last two days. He muffled another sneeze, swore again and picked his way in the starlight towards the high trail to Valoon.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Mim was more affected by old Fenj’s departure than anyone might have guessed. He longed to have flown south with him, to be free for a while of the darkness besetting the Stronghold. He was touched by Kija’s obvious concern for him despite her own worries. Word had come from Gaharn that there had been inexplicable disturbances in the surrounding countryside. These disturbances sounded very much like the descriptions he had heard of the Vagrantian affliction: people waking, red eyed and mad, and soon dying. So far, none of the cases had reported any silver eyed survivors.
Emla’s messages told of cases beginning in the plains and farming lands leagues to the west of Gaharn, then sweeping south and east. The latest incidents were approaching Gaharn itself and the Vagrantian air mage still in Lady Emla’s House – Jilla, said that she sensed a being close by, similar to the one Thryssa had encountered within the Asataria. Suppose it was this creature from the Void Thryssa had spoken of which brought about the eruptions of the affliction? Would it attack the Domain, work its way north to his Stronghold?
Fenj knew of many of Mim’s worries and his solid presence had been a source of comfort to the Dragon Lord. He’d discovered, as had Tika, that his beloved soul bond, Ashta, despite her size, her strength, her inherited memories, was still only a baby. She offered him unconditional love and support, but she could not help his own understanding of what was happening in these lands. Tension rose once Fenj had flown away to Vagrantia: everyone felt it, down to the lowest of the Stronghold servants. Chakar’s owl, Sava, transferred his allegiance from Lorak to the Delver Bikram but was often to be heard hooting dolefully from under Bikram’s jacket. The timid Kephi Rofu was in the Domain with Chakar and Kera, and Mim missed him more than he could have imagined.
Six days after Fenj’s departure, Kija and Kadi left, carrying Elyssa and the Observer Babach. There were many tears at this departure – no one believed the Dragons would reach Drogoya safely or survive its dangers if they did. Jal gave them formal farewell in the name of the people of the Stronghold, but could barely restrain his own tears as first Kadi, then Kija lowered their long faces to press against his brow.
An atmosphere of empty gloom permeated the Stronghold, with an underlying thread of foreboding. The Snow Dragons were restless and Berri, the acting Wise One of the Delver people, came to consult with Mim. He and Dessi escorted her part way back into the Domain and the three of them paused at the egg cave. Mim explained what he was about to do, Dessi and Berri giving close attention to his words. After one last, lingering look at the cave, brilliantly lit with a light that almost seemed alive, he closed the entrance. Leading the two Delvers halfway back through the twisting passage, he stopped again. Another wall of rock appeared, closing off the way to the cave. He made both women reopen the rock until he was satisfied that they would remember the means of doing so.
‘Why?’ Dessi asked, just before she and Mim re-entered the Stronghold.
Mim lifted one shoulder in a half shrug. ‘I feel it necessary to make them even more secure at the moment.’
‘The creature in Gaharn?’ She caught his arm to slow him. ‘You think it will come here?’ Her dark blue eyes were intent on the Dragon Lord.
‘I hope it will not, but I think it well may.’ His laugh fluted softly. ‘Too many people know that there is such a hidden place Dessi, even if they know not its exact location.’
‘And the treasures within must be guarded still?’
Mim’s strange turquoise eyes with the vertical pupils rested on Dessi. ‘Their time is soon – but not yet. They must be protected until the proper time, even if it means the deaths of us all.’
Dessi shivered at the intensity of both his words and his stare.
News arrived that evening of the first case of the affliction within the Domain. Amud was the southernmost settlement and as soon as the case was discovered, the Elder Falin caused all access tunnels leading north to be sealed, in a frantic hope that the affliction might thus be contained.
One case of a young boy’s eyes silvering was reported in Amud, but eleven youngsters died, red eyed and insane. Throughout the whole Domain Snow Dragons sang their songs of grieving and farewell, echoing the sorrow of the Delver population. Days passed without any more reports of the affliction. Then the first was found in the settlement of Arak and all knew that there was nothing that would stop it working its inexorable way north through the Domain even to the Stronghold.
When word reached Mim of Arak’s first two fatal cases, he took Ashta and flew high above the Stronghold. His fury him urge her faster, higher, further north, than ever before in a futile attempt to lose his anger.
Why now, he raged aloud to the towering mountains and darkening sky. Why now, with the great Dragons departed when he needed their wisdom; Gremara gone too, stars knew where; disease creeping upon his people. And the pain. Oh the pain was becoming unbearable. Try as he might, he would not be able to hide it from his beloved Ashta much longer, soul linked as they were. Remorsefully aware at last of Ashta’s weariness, he let her take them back to the Stronghold.
Observer Chakar returned hurriedly to the Stronghold with Daro and Chornay. They were informed that Mim had secluded himself in his high chamber, still blazing with fury, and had given orders that he was not to be disturbed. Chakar listened to Jal in silence, fully aware of his confusion. One armed he might now be, but Jal was prepared to fight any who had the temerity to attack this Stronghold and its Dragon Lord. But how did you fight an illness of this kind that could creep through the very rock of the mountains? There was no pattern to it - apparently neither contagion nor infection – utterly random in its choice of victim.
Chakar understood the Dragon Lord’s anger, mirrored as it was in Jal and in most of the people of the Stronghold. How indeed could you combat such an adversary? But Babach had spoken to her before he left for Drogoya and Chakar knew the Dragon Lord had even more to worry him. She sat thinking for a brief while then looked up into Daro’s calm face. He gave the tiniest nod and she smiled.
‘Daro and I will speak to the Dragon Lord now.’
Motass stiffened but Chakar forestalled his protest.
‘If you and your brother will accompany us?’ She glanced across the great hall to where Ashta slept between two Snow Dragons then got to her feet. ‘I have an idea we may need to remain with him for some time Chornay. Please inform Kera and ask that we be not disturbed under any circumstance.’
She reached for the battered bag which held her herbs and salves and potions, and headed for the ramp. She paused outside the door of the smaller chamber to which Mim had been forced to move by the nesting Plavats. She looked at Daro.
‘Dessi?’ she asked.
Daro shook his head. ‘We will call her if we need to, but it is better not as yet.’
Jal and Motass exchanged puzzled looks: they understood Daro to be but a young Vagrantian student yet the Observer Chakar sought his opinion. Chakar drew a deep breath and placed her right palm against the door.
‘It’s bolted,’ she murmured.
A pale greenish light glowed around her hand, quickly deepening to an almost solid seeming colour. There was the sound of metal sliding against metal and the light vanished. Chakar moved her hand from the door panel to the latch.
‘Inside quickly,’ she ordered softly as the door swung open.
Daro closed and bolted the door again behind them. They stood just inside the chamber, a lamp standing on a small table the only illumination.
The Dragon Lord was crouched in a corner to the left of the empty fireplace, his arms locked round his knees, hands clutching his shoulders. He raised his head and they saw the tears pouring down the scaled cheeks. His mouth opened and Motass tensed, expecting to be ordered from the room but all that emerged was a low moan of pain.
Jal could think only of the kindness this young Lord had shown him in his own time of agony and moved quickly to squat beside him, his left hand covering one of Mim’s. Chakar too bent towards Mim but did not touch him.
‘Babach told me Mim. He was torn by his need to return to Drogoya and with your impending need of his support. Let us help you now.’ She reached for Mim’s other hand, tugging gently to loose its grip on his shoulder. ‘Come. It will be better I promise, but you cannot bear this alone.’
She nodded at Jal and between them they coaxed Mim slowly to his feet. Daro had pulled the top covers off the narrow pallet and removed the pillows.
‘Motass we will need a fire and hot water,’ Chakar requested as she and Jal helped the unsteady figure across the room.
Jal’s eyes filled with tears as Daro eased the sleeveless jerkin from Mim’s upper body with such tender care. Then his breath caught when Daro and Chakar helped Mim to lie face down upon the pallet. Chakar bit her lip, studying Mim’s back while the fire crackled to life behind them. Jal stepped away, then felt his brother at his side, heard the hiss of his indrawn breath.
Blood streaked down each side of Mim’s spine from parallel strips bare of scales. The strips were swollen hard nearest the top of his spine, slightly less so where the lines ran below the level of his shoulder blades. Wordlessly Motass fetched Chakar’s bag from where she’d left it at the door and put it beside her. She hooked a stool closer with her foot, sat and began sorting through the pouches of herbs.
Mim’s body spasmed and fresh blood sprang from the top of the swollen ridges. His hands clenched and Daro leaned over, forcing Mim’s hand open and putting a pillow between the bare palm and the taloned fingers. He moved round the pallet to attend to the other hand.
‘Dear stars above, what’s wrong with the lad? Is this the affliction we’ve heard tell of?’ Motass whispered hoarsely.
Daro smiled at him, his silver hazel eyes full of compassion. ‘Oh no, not the affliction. These are wing buds Motass – the Dragon Lord’s wings are emerging.’
Chakar made poultices, muttering to herself while she combined different groups of herbs and fungi to pack between thin gauze before laying them on Mim’s back. The night progressed and Mim was ever more tormented with pain, until finally Daro touched his forehead and Mim’s tense body relaxed into unconsciousness.
‘Why couldn’t you have done that sooner?’ growled Motass.
Daro spread his hands. ‘Neither Observer Chakar nor I have any idea how this transformation is to be accomplished.’
‘That’s right,’ Chakar agreed. ‘We are still not sure if it will help or hinder to have him unaware. He may need to consciously assist his wings to emerge. We just don’t know Motass.’
Motass nodded in reluctant understanding. ‘But how long will this take do you think Lady? It is nearly dawn and I see no difference in his poor back.’
Chakar rose stiffly and went to swing the kettle over the fire again.
‘Something else we have no idea of.’ She glanced back at Daro. ‘You should check on Ashta – maybe the Delver healers could help keep her calm.’
Daro smiled. ‘The Snow Dragons are keeping her asleep for now, but I think we should talk with some of the healers perhaps. And it is time Dessi was informed. I will do so now.’
‘I’ll find us some breakfast Lady. You need to keep your strength up to help young Mim.’ Motass followed Daro from the chamber and Chakar smiled at Jal’s expression.
‘I know Motass meant no rudeness Jal. He is rightly concerned for this boy.’
Jal wedged a couple more logs on the fire then blurted: ‘Why does that pendant not help him then? He wears one. So do you. Yet still he suffers so.’
Chakar sighed, rubbing her eyes. ‘I don’t know Jal. Sometimes these pendants become warm and they pulse as with a heart beat. That hasn’t happened tonight.’
