Drogoya: Book 3 Circles of Light series, page 38
Thryssa bespoke Fenj then, asking gently if he understood the reasons behind her refusal of his intended plan. Affection poured through the mind link and also some puzzlement – he did not understand why she or her people should worry over the fate of an old Dragon. Thryssa laughed and broke the link, sending most of the mages to their beds to catch up on lost sleep.
Fenj brought a lumen to lay beside Gremara’s sleeping form during the afternoon. He had brought one earlier for the humans to cook. Now he stirred, bending his head down towards the Silver One. A shudder rippled through the length of her frame and she whimpered softly.
‘She may have need of some restorative dear Lorak,’ Fenj murmured when Gremara’s eyes flickered open.
But Gremara politely refused the medicinal drink and ate a small amount of the fresh kill Fenj had brought her. Jeela removed the carcass when Gremara had fed – Dragons disliked meat left to rot close to where they spent any length of time. Gremara studied the three Vagrantians and greeted them formally, her tone warming affectionately towards Pachela. She spoke no word of her travels but only of what they must do now.
She twined her sinuous silver neck against Fenj, then drew back a little. The onlookers did not hear her words to him, only saw the sudden blaze in the black Dragon’s eyes. Gremara turned next to Lorak the gardener and spoke at length to his mind. When she spoke to Jeela, Lashek saw Lorak reach for Lula and hold her tight to his face. Finally Gremara spoke to all their minds.
‘The creature in Fira is careless. He believes himself quite secure for the moment. His mind is seeking others of his kind, many leagues across this land. Lashek, you must call your Council now to ready their full strength. This being will return to Fira at great speed once his body is attacked and destroyed. He will probably try to take another body as his habitation but do not lose sight of the fact that he can easily exist without a solid form. As he returns, he must be unmade. Your mages will see the thread that links him with the body he uses now and they will have one chance to destroy him.’
The Silver One of Talvo Circle pressed her brow first to Pajar, then Lashek and Pachela. Her wings suddenly unfurled, enclosing Lorak before she twined necks with Jeela.
‘Stars guard you,’ she called and she and Fenj lifted together into the air.
Lorak sat down with a thump, watching the two Dragons race to the western rim of Talvo, rise up and then vanish down into Fira Circle. Lashek remained linked to the mages in the Corvida and gasped as fire seemed to engulf not just their minds but their bodies.
‘It is illusion,’ he muttered aloud. ‘It is illusion. It is illusion.’
Pachela cried aloud as fire exploded against the rim of Talvo where Fenj and Gremara had lately vanished, and a great pall of all too real smoke rose slowly into the sky. Jeela paced. Back and forth, back and forth, her eyes glittering and whirring. Gremara had warned her that she must not fly until they returned.
The sun sank from sight as Jeela screamed. Two Dragons flew low from the high crater walls separating Fira from Talvo. One flew steadily. One wavered and faltered. Smoke streamed from that Dragon as slowly, so very slowly, she flew back to her favourite ledge.
Gremara flopped onto the ledge and Fenj stood below her. Her silver was gone. She was charred, encrusted with black burnt flesh. The rainbow eyes flickered towards Jeela and closed, steam rising from the length of her.
Lorak climbed up to the ledge where he dropped to his knees by Gremara’s head and collapsed forward to lie against her poor body. Pachela ran forward but Jeela barred the way. Tears streamed down the ivory Dragon’s beautiful face.
‘You will not touch her. I will guard her and if any of you choose to remain, you may do so. But no one save Lorak shall touch my Lady.’
Chapter Thirty-Three
Search though they might through library and archives in the Asataria, no trace could be found of the tale Thryssa had related – of the world infiltrated by a maggot named Petak. Ryla, the most ancient Discipline Senior, had eventually been ordered to bed, although the battle to enforce that order had reduced everyone involved to nervous wrecks. Now only Nolli, Wise One of the Delvers, sat in Lady Emla’s hall. All Seniors and Discipline Seniors with any talent for healing had been sent to check every reported case of the affliction.
At first there appeared to be many such cases throughout the farming plains to the south west of Gaharn. All cases were of a change in eye colour to red only, and all cases ended in death. So far, none of Emla’s own people had been affected, only the indigenous humans. There had been no new cases near Gaharn for a full ten day although Nolli wailed aloud to hear of the first deaths in the settlement of Amud. They all feared that the illness would race through the Domain of Asat but after a dozen cases were reported in Arak – all resulting in death – no more had been reported in the settlements further north.
Kera had written from the Stronghold, telling Emla of Babach’s departure for Drogoya with Kija, Kadi and Elyssa, the young Vagrantian whose eyes had silvered. Kera reported concern over Mim. He was shut in his room with Chakar, Dessi and Daro. Motass seemed calm but puzzled whenever he emerged from Mim’s room to collect food but was stubbornly uncommunicative when questioned. Ashta had been asleep for three days and Kera suspected the Delver healers were keeping her in that state with the assistance of the Snow Dragons.
Emla’s mind reeled from all these reports. She was increasingly worried by having no news from either Sapphrea or from Vagrantia. Jilla, the Vagrantian air mage, was also concerned and had discussed with Emla the possibility of trying to far see either area. Emla could not decide whether to condone this action or to forbid it.
This morning she sat on a windowsill in her private study, gazing down into the grounds of her enormous House. Blossom frothed along the walks and circled the Pavilions. She watched Grib trundling a large barrow between tall hedges, Lilla, one of Hani’s daughters, pacing beside him. Grib halted beside a freshly dug oval bed and Lilla settled to watch.
Emla sighed. If only life was so simple for all of them, but her own life seemed to grow ever more complicated by the day. She watched Grib unloading new plants under Lilla’s interested eyes a moment longer then got to her feet. These few private moments were getting rarer in her life and she regretted the loss of them. She walked from her apartments to the winding staircase and ran lightly down to the ground floor. A maid was leaving Ryla’s room as Lady Emla approached. The maid bobbed a curtsey when Emla asked how the patient was this morning.
‘The healer, Senior Kollas, is with her now my Lady. She is very frail and weak but she is determined to be well.’ The maid shook her head and lowered her voice further still. ‘I truly can’t see how she survives my Lady. She is so very tired in her poor body but her mind forces her on.’
Emla touched the girl’s cheek, noting the tears on her lashes and was glad to know she had such caring helpers to nurse Ryla.
‘She can’t seem to eat,’ the girl whispered. ‘Pushes food away time and time again, even the thinnest broth. Cook’s in despair.’
‘I thank you for your concern for her. She has always been one of the most stubborn people I know. I think the time has come when we can only keep her comfortable.’
Emla opened the door and entered Discipline Senior Ryla’s sick room. The tall figure of Senior Kollas was stooped over the bed by the window. Emla waited quietly until he straightened, his voice a low murmur as he spoke to Ryla. The maid Bara was folding towels onto a chest of drawers and she gave Lady Emla a sad smile. Senior Kollas leaned to touch Ryla’s hands lightly then turned from the bed. Emla caught his eye as he passed her on his way out. He gave a fractional shake of his head and closed the door softly behind him.
Emla went to sit beside the bed, reaching in her turn to enfold Ryla’s hand. Ryla’s head turned slowly towards her and a smile twitched at the corners of her mouth.
‘Such a damnable nuisance, dear one.’
Emla bent closer to hear the words scarcely louder than a breath. Ryla had grown thinner during the last twenty cycles although none of their people tended much to fat, but now she was almost transparent.
‘So much still to learn and to know. Just when everything becomes so fascinating again. And I hate to let you down Emla. Do you think Nolli could visit for a while? And Jilla?’
Emla’s green eyes were magnified with unshed tears although she smiled.
‘Of course my dear. I will have someone bring her right now.’
‘I’m sorry Emla.’
‘You have given us all a very great deal throughout the cycles dearest. You have nothing at all to be sorry for. Hush now, and I’ll fetch Nolli.’
Emla glanced up as a shadow crossed the window. Ryla turned her head again with great effort and a real smile lit her face.
‘Hani,’ she breathed.
Emla opened the casement by the bed and the pale green Dragon’s long face immediately poked in and lowered to touch Ryla’s. The Kephi Bakra, identical to his mother Khosa, buzzed encouragement from his position under Ryla’s right arm. By the time Emla returned, she was part of a small procession. The Vagrantian Bagri, carried Nolli in his arms while her Delver maid Lanni trotted protectively beside him. Then Jilla and Shan walked with Soran behind Ryla’s assistant Khalim. And the Kephi Resh danced through everyone’s feet. The Discipline Senior Doochay hurried to catch them up. As a healer of renown and a long time verbal sparring partner of Ryla’s, she’d been in residence at Emla’s House since Ryla had taken to her bed.
There was a small fuss when Bagri would have settled Nolli in a chair and he placed her instead on the bed beside Ryla. Emla’s throat tightened when she saw three small blue Dragons and two green pressed close around Hani. In the short space of time since Emla had been with her, Ryla’s dark eyes had clouded and were half closed. The healer Kollas stood behind Emla, his hand resting lightly on her arm.
There was a stillness in the room despite the low murmurs as people spoke quietly to Ryla and then Hani began to sing aloud. Her song began softly and made her listeners think of the burgeoning growing season just beginning outside, of blooms and bees, of fragrances and fair breezes. Her song swelled, filling their minds as well as their ears, swelled to a peak and gradually subsided. There was an instant’s silence and Hani withdrew her head from the room, rising erect beyond the window, the five young Dragons following suit. Then she began to sing again but this time it was the song of final farewell.
As tears began to flow down the faces of those in Ryla’s room, Nolli admonished them.
‘Why do you weep, when Ryla is free? Free of the body that caused her such pain for so long. Be happy for her. Talk of her. Remember her with gladness.’
Nolli twisted on the bed, placing her gnarled hands to either side of Ryla’s face, then bent to kiss her lips. Bagri stepped forward, bowed, and picked up Nolli’s tiny body and carried her from the room. Her Kephi Resh wound himself round his brother, buzzing and crying then settled to wash Bakra’s face thoroughly – the Kephi way of giving comfort. His actions brought faint smiles from Doochay and Jilla, but Shan was blinded by tears.
Lady Emla finally drew the girl away from the bedside, holding her close.
‘Hush Shan. You heard Nolli’s words. She is right. We must not grieve.’
‘But I was so cross with her,’ Shan sobbed. ‘I was cross about all those papers and boxes cluttering up your hall. I was cross all the time.’
‘And do you not realise how Ryla loved to make you cross? I’ve seen her drop a pile of papers and peek at you to see what you’d say!’
Shan sniffed. ‘I loved her truly Lady. Both those old ladies mean a lot to me. I’d get cross when neither of them would rest, because I feared they’d make themselves ill. And that’s just what Lady Ryla did.’ She ended on a wail.
Emla gave her a little shake. ‘Shan. Say your farewell to Ryla now and then join us in the hall.’
So saying, Emla first bent over Ryla herself and kissed the cooling forehead, whispering a private goodbye. She reached for Khalim’s hand and tugged him gently with her out of the chamber.
Funerals were rare occurrences in Gaharn, at least among the long lived Asatarian People, and crowds thronged the roads and market squares as the Discipline Senior Ryla’s body was carried on an open litter back to the Asataria buildings. She was formally received by a full Gathering of Seniors, Juniors and students. Then she was taken to an open square in the centre of the complex called the Courtyard of the Future. All who had accompanied her now left her with the Discipline Seniors and Lady Emla. But those barred from the final Rites of Fire, could hear the singing of the last chants rising over the rooftops as smoke rose, carrying Ryla’s essence Beyond.
Once all the ceremonies were concluded, the outer gates of the Asataria were thrown open and all welcomed in for a great feast of celebration. Asatarians mingled with the humans of Gaharn and many high ranking Discipline Seniors were persuaded to perform small magics for the crowd’s entertainment. The festivities would continue until dawn but Emla gathered her retainers and slipped away. She knew Nolli would be waiting to hear of all that had taken place to venerate Ryla this day. Jilla and Bagri, Shan, Captain Soran and the maids Lanni and Bara had all chosen to keep Nolli company on this occasion for which Emla was grateful. Despite Nolli’s brave words at Ryla’s deathbed, Emla knew how sorely the ancient Delver missed her friend.
Grib amazed everyone with a surprise for Nolli. He thoroughly irritated Shan by coming into the hall of the House and insisting on speaking to the Golden Lady in person. Emla, mystified, went down to speak with him but then found she had to go out to his workshop. Remembering Lorak’s notorious workshop, Emla braced herself to refuse any sort of beverage Grib might offer her. But no. He suggested she sat on a stool some distance from the workshop while he produced “something he’d happened to think of.”
Lilla and Shar emerged from some dense shrubbery and sat beside Emla, their eyes flashing with glee. The door of the workshop was flung open and Grib appeared, pushing an odd looking barrow. Utterly confused, Emla nodded encouragingly as Grib approached. The barrow had two wooden wheels at the front, which was broader across than a usual barrow. And it had the usual two legs at the back to rest upon. But the body of the barrow was a chair, unmistakeably a chair. Grib came to a stop beside Emla and flourished a grimy hand in the air.
‘I thought someone could fetch that little ole thing out for some good fresh air,’ he explained earnestly. ‘Do she more good to be out ’ere than stuck in that stuffy ole ’ouse all day. An’ now ’er friend be gone like, nothin’ like lookin’ at bright new flowers for cheerin’ a soul. My ole grandfer used to say that, and ’e be more right than many a cleverer person, I do say.’
Emla had raised a brow slightly at mention of her stuffy old House but let it pass in the delight she felt for Grib’s invention. She got up from the stool and examined the chair-in-a-barrow. It was sturdily made with no pretensions to comfort or beauty, but a heap of pillows and quilts would solve both those difficulties. She beamed at Grib.
‘Well! I think it is the most brilliant invention I’ve ever seen. I’m sure Lady Nolli will love it.’
Grib’s face turned purple with embarrassed pride. ‘They Dragons be tellin’ I ’ow lonely she be these last days. Said they thought she needed a adventure like.’
‘Oh absolutely!’ Emla turned to hug first Lilla then Shar, their mind voices chiming together.
‘Do you really think Nolli will like it?’
‘We thought we might carry her, but someone would be bound to tell us off!’
‘I really like it,’ Emla assured them. ‘A chair-in-a-barrow is a perfect solution for getting her outside.’
Grib scowled. Emla paused. ‘Did I say something amiss?’ she asked.
‘T’aint no chair-in-a-barrow Lady. This be a chariot. Like in they ole stories.’ He looked at the Golden Lady pityingly, doubting that she’d ever heard any such old stories.
‘A chariot!’ Emla breathed in delight. ‘Of course it is! Nolli’s chariot!’
Nolli’s chariot was a huge success. Piled with bright cushions and quilts, and propelled by an amiable Guardsman, Nolli took a vast delight in exploring the Golden Lady’s extensive gardens. She blithely ignored the disapproval which greeted her instant affection for Grib. Emla noticed the lightening of the atmosphere from the moment Nolli made her first spectacular excursion. But watching Nolli’s retinue of Jilla, Bagri, Shan, Lanni and six Dragons made her weep for lost Ryla again.
The weather remained clear, the sun warmer each day, and there was no keeping Nolli within doors. Thus Emla was working alone when a Guard brought a scroll tube just arrived through the Pavilion Circle. Emla saw from the seal that it came from Vagrantia and she opened it with some trepidation. She’d had no word from Thryssa since the High Speaker had returned home to face a similar problem to the one she had dealt with in the Asataria. Emla flattened the rolled paper with her long hands and began to read.
Thryssa wrote in considerable detail and Emla was horrified, imagining the terror caused by the steadily rising waters within the Circles of Vagrantia. She reread Thryssa’s description of the being called Zloy, and the detailed account of how her mages had unmade him. She finished reading the first page and sat back, glancing once more into the gardens. Thank the stars that the Vagrantians were safe! Thryssa told of exhaustion but no deaths among her people.
Emla turned the large sheet of paper over and began to read again. Her relief turned rapidly to anguish as she learnt of Gremara’s fate. A section on this page was written in a different hand and after a moment she recognised it as Pajar’s script. She quickly realised that he had written this as an eye witness report from what he’d seen in Talvo Circle. He had returned to Parima, leaving Lashek, Pachela and Lorak with Fenj. Lorak had not stirred from his place beside Gremara. Neither Fenj nor Jeela would open their minds to Speaker Lashek or to Pachela.
