Survivors: Book 4 Circles of Light series, page 42
‘Easier I think,’ she said, surprising him. ‘Knowing she is still there, knowing life goes on in her House as it has for so long.’
Zerran nodded. ‘And you,’ he said softly. ‘You are much changed little one. Valesh did not infect you with her madness but you are changed deeper than I had thought you might be.’
‘What do you know of the places Between?’
Zerran’s shock was palpable. Tika continued before he could answer.
‘Valesh somehow got me to such a place. Seela called it the place Between life and death.’
‘Seela was there?’
‘Yes but only briefly. She said she was not permitted to stay long.’
Zerran stretched his hand to rest it on Tika’s tangled dark hair. ‘She was dead; she should have been beyond the place Between.’
Tika told him of the tunnels, the windows which showed scenes she neither recognised nor understood. Zerran listened, asking no questions, until Tika stopped speaking.
‘We have long known of the places Between. They are extremely perilous places.They are Between time, Between worlds, Between life and death as the one you were cast into. I do not understand the reason you say you smelt mint, but I understand your concern that it may be connected with the smell reported by the Vintavoy woman in the desert city.’
He thought for a while, his fingers absently working to free a knot in Tika’s curls. ‘The smell of mint is benign, I am positive. You say Ren and Sket have also smelt it?’
Tika’s head nodded under his hand. ‘Nirian said their Mages sense Qwah’s presence moving north. If Orla left the Domes, I would guess she goes at Qwah’s bidding, whether she is aware of that or not. But it worries me that there is no information about Kertiss. Orla was the one who would consider every possibility before she acted – Kertiss was not as clever as her I suspect. I would much prefer to know exactly where he is.’
Tika moved, her legs dangling from the bench as she stretched her arms over her head. ‘I think we must go soon. Orla is too far ahead of us.’
Zerran got to his feet, hands in the small of his back. ‘I’m too old to stay up all night and then sit on a damp stone seat,’ he groaned. ‘I’ll ask Tashi and Sheoma to far speak the Mages nearest the desert.’ He looked down at Tika. ‘You told us the journey through the desert from the City to Malesh was bad: can you manage that again?’
Tika stood up. ‘We had to travel at the pace of their animals. The Dragons will fly much more quickly.’
They began to walk back down the path. ‘Why have you no horses here?’
‘I don’t know. We only know of them because the desert tribesmen ride them when they raid the northern villages. The local people believed them to be monsters, years ago.’
To Zerran’s relief, a team of burly armsmen were wrestling the enormous council table out of the doorway and down a corridor, no doubt to wedge itself somewhere further in the palace. Sheoma and Tashi were already in the chamber.
‘Tavri says that the Wendlan Mages have split up. Ten of them and two Maleshans, with a group of two hundred and fifty warriors, are already in the desert. The other Wendlan Mages are either shielding them from the heat or doing something to the weather – he isn’t entirely sure.’
Sheoma bowed to Tashi. ‘The Wendlans manipulate power very differently than we do.’
Tashi returned the bow: Wendlans seemed far more formal than Maleshans. ‘We have much we can learn from each other Mistress Sheoma when these naughty times are past.’
Tika blinked.
‘You mean bad times,’ Sheoma corrected kindly.
Chevra was mortified that he could offer no supplies for the companions’ journey. His City had been famed for its wealth and prosperity, and now it was no better than the poorest village. Tika quietly asked Jakri if he’d prefer to stay with his countrymen but he declined at once.
‘If it is acceptable Mistress Tika, I would journey on with you and your friends.’
‘We go into yet more danger Jakri,’ she warned.
‘I know. But I have come to feel much respect for your abilities and affection also.’ His faintly golden skin flushed slightly at his admission but Tika smiled.
‘If you come, you must accept being counted friend, equal among us all.’
It was late afternoon when they saw the dark line of the great forest ahead of them and Brin spiralled lower, looking for somewhere to rest overnight. The small towns they’d flown over had suffered some damage in the earthquakes but nothing to compare with the devastation in Harbour City. Brin found a large patch of pasture close to the first trees, and the party landed. They had seen a cluster of farm buildings about a league back, hidden now behind a low hill. Navan suggested he walk back and ask for food. Maressa produced some coins which Sheoma had insisted she take for just this sort of situation. She suggested she and Gan accompany Navan while the other four found firewood and began brewing the inevitable tea.
It was dark enough for early stars when they returned, although no stars penetrated the dust hanging in the upper air. They brought fresh bread, a large round of cheese and a string of pungent onions, which occasioned moans of delight. Navan told them the farm people said they’d felt the earthquakes only mildly: the domestic animals had panicked but there had been no damage to land or buildings.
When Tika curled against Farn’s chest he rumbled softly.
‘I’m glad you aren’t going to walk through these trees without me my Tika.’
Tika remembered the horror of being parted from Farn for three days when they’d come south, and pressed closer to her soul bond. Farn had not yet mentioned their being apart when she’d gone off with Seela. Tika wondered if he actually remembered or whether Brin and Jakri had kept him unknowing all that time.
‘Will we see Zeminth’s village?’ he asked.
‘I hope so. I hope they didn’t get caught in the fighting but they may well have done.’
It took a full day of strenuous flight to cross the wedge of forest which spread right across Malesh. Navan estimated it was perhaps three hundred leagues west to east, from studying his maps. (Tika’d heard Sket ask why the drawings were maps on land but charts on ships, but Navan hadn’t known the reason.) The second day from the forest they saw the first burnt out farms. Wooden roofs, their timbers charred stumps, and stone walls blackened and cracked. Maressa was by now within far speaking distance of the Wendlan mages and she told Brin to fly further to the east.
‘That takes us close to Zeminth’s village,’ he replied. ‘Shall we stop there?’
Maressa explained to Jakri as they flew, of the first village they’d encountered after leaving the desert. He laughed at her description of Storm’s inquisitiveness towards donkeys. The buildings were badly fire damaged they saw as they flew lower, but then Farn trumpeted. People were working around the buildings and they stared up as Farn called again. By the time all three Dragons had landed, villagers were running towards them. Best of all, Tika saw two young boys supporting the frail figure of Zeminth.
The village had withstood several assaults on it, the companions learned, and Zenidor led them to a huge stone lined cellar beneath the ramshackle ruins of the barn. He grinned at them.
‘Big enough for all our people and our animals. We can get everyone hidden very quickly – we practise quite often. So when the raiders get here, they think the place is abandoned.’
Gan was impressed, both by the ingenuity of the scheme and the discipline needed to make sure everyone knew what to do and did it as fast as possible. The villagers were disturbed to hear of the devastation in Harbour City – there had been no tremors this far away. Tika and her companions did not tell these people a great deal of what had befallen them since they’d last met, but they did warn them of the gijan Elders. Old Zeminth was much shaken by the mental picture Brin gave him of Rainbow’s fierce anger.
Food was still plentiful under Zeminth’s careful management and the companions enjoyed the best meal they’d had since they could remember. They were given generous supplies when they set off the next morning. Towards afternoon they were following the thin silver thread of the river leading to a long lake beside which they’d camped while Tika freed the gijan’s wings. In the place where they’d camped for several days was now another camp neatly laid out in regular rows of tents.
Brin guided Farn and Storm lower and the purple plumes of Imperial Blossoms became clearer. Tavri was hurrying towards them when the Dragons landed at a little distance from the nearest tents. When the riders had dismounted, Brin lifted into the air again followed by Storm and Farn on a quest for fresh meat. After the first introductions, Tika wandered away from the large encampment, Sket trailing her as always, and Akomi winding himself round her ankles.
‘It was somewhere about here, wasn’t it?’ Tika asked.
Sket came closer peering at the ground. He toed at a small pile of stones. As they toppled, black marks of fire showed on many of them.
‘Exactly here, Lady.’
Tika sat down, gazing out over the lake. ‘I was so very afraid Sket. I thought I might kill Leaf, and even when she survived, the idea of having to do the same for the other two scared me witless.’
Sket hunkered down beside her and poked at the stones of their old campfire. Tika noticed the bandage round his left hand was grubby and she touched it lightly. Before she could speak, Sket glared at her.
‘How many times must I tell you it doesn’t matter? And it doesn’t hurt no more, a bit sore is all. I can leave all this bandage off in a day or so. Jakri said so.’ He forestalled any argument.
‘It seems I’m scared most of the time these days.’
Sket nodded. ‘I know my Lady, but it doesn’t show.’
Tika’s laugh rang across the water and she punched Sket’s knee. Akomi sat in front of them staring from one to the other with huge golden eyes. Tika scratched behind his ears and he collapsed in blissful delight.
‘Lady Emla will watch for our gijan. Farn’s brother and sisters are still at her House, and Hani and her daughters. She said they follow Lorak’s replacement everywhere.’ Tika met Sket’s gaze and they both chuckled.
‘Who’s taken old Lorak’s place then?’ he asked.
‘Someone called Grib – I don’t know him – do you?’
Sket’s grin broadened. ‘Lorak’s cousin, or nephew – a relative of some sort. Very like him too.’
‘Six Dragons and three gijan should keep them all busy.’ Tika stood up: Gan had called from the main camp and she waved acknowledgement.
They walked slowly back, Akomi buzzing happily in the crook of Tika’s arm.
‘Zerran thinks the smell of mint means something helpful,’ she said quietly. ‘But he could tell me nothing more.’
Sket grunted. ‘Then let’s hope we smell it all the way home.’
Tika was still laughing when they reached Gan and it gladdened his heart to hear it. Sket joined Navan who was squatting by one of the tents talking to Wendlan warriors.
‘We leave tomorrow Gan, no matter what the news. There is an urgency in finding Orla.’
Gan nodded. ‘Why hasn’t Grek been around?’
‘Khosa thinks something’s happened to him but stars know what. He can find us if he’s able to, but we can’t count on him suddenly reappearing any time soon.’
They ate their evening meal in company with several Wendlan Mages and Imperial Blossoms as well as with Tavri and his two colleagues. Conversation was general; Gan encouraging the Blossoms to relax enough to comment on their and their warriors reactions to the very different terrain here. It transpired that the Blossoms were much worried by the prospect of entering the desert. They had scouted a very few leagues in from the cliffs glowering behind the camp and were not happy at the thought of an eleven day march despite the considerable help offered by their own Mages.
Tika found her eye caught by one of the Wendlan Mages. He offered her a shy smile and left his place to bow before her.
‘You were in the Audience Chamber with – with House Amethyst!’ She was glad to remember correctly when she saw the surprise on the Mage’s face.
‘You have an excellent memory Mistress,’ he said. ‘I am Siko, of that House. My sister is with the advance party – she says they are within the City of the Domes.’
Tika sat up straighter. ‘Did they meet any desert fighters?’
The group round the fire had fallen silent to listen to Siko. ‘They met some alarm in the Valley at first but when it was clear they intended no harm they were made welcome. They were guided to the City. My sister has spoken with the Vintavoy woman, Hezwa, who seems to have taken charge of the place.’
Tika mind spoke Brin who, with the two young Dragons, was dozing, replete, a small distance away. ‘How long will it take us to get to the Valley Brin?’
‘Two days small one, three at most.’
A helmetless Imperial Blossom, his shaved head making him seem strangely vulnerable and diminished, now told Gan that another squad of warriors was to be deployed forward tomorrow afternoon. Although their Mages were able to shield the warriors from the worst of the heat, travel by night was deemed safest.
‘How long did the first squad take on the journey?’ asked Navan.
‘Eight days,’ Siko replied, watching Khosa washing her whiskers with great thoroughness.
Gan nodded. ‘They made good time. Are they intending to go north, as we are? Your Emperor ordered his warriors to Malesh to assist in repelling the desert tribes – they have done so.’
‘Three quarters of this force still here,’ an Imperial Blossom waved towards the rows of tents, ‘are to rejoin their ships. We sail for Harbour City to be of whatever help we can to the civilian population. His Gloriousness so commanded through far speakers two days ago.’
‘About five hundred warriors will be in the City of the Domes within ten days,’ another Blossom clarified.
‘Ten of us will accompany them,’ Siko added. ‘As well as ten Imperial Blossoms.’
‘I think you will find the Valley people harmless enough,’ Maressa said thoughtfully. ‘Hezwa made it clear I think, in one of your reports that the people native to the Valley itself, are not of the same race as the desert tribes?’
The Mages nodded.
‘We know of two entrances to the Valley – it would be wise to check for all others in case the tribesmen decide to enter. There must be more than those two ways in and out.’
‘We had thought of that Mistress. We inflicted heavy losses on the tribes. Their wounded, needing a place to recover, could well be a threat to the peaceful farmers we understand occupy the Valley.’ The Blossom who spoke rose as a single drum beat a rapid volley, paused and then repeated.
Sket and Navan reached for their swords but Tavri stayed their hands.
‘The drum tells the warriors it is time for sleep,’ he explained.
The companions discovered the drum also told the warriors to rise, long before dawn. They were grateful to be given extra water skins, filled from the lake, and bade fare well to the Emperor’s men. They flew high and fast, Brin’s memory sure and certain of the route, although he’d only flown it once before.
Chapter Thirty-Four
It was early on the third day after leaving the Wendlans’ camp that Brin, Storm and Farn drifted slowly down to the circular courtyard known as the Sanctuary. They had rested during the hottest part of the two days and had not suffered anything like as badly as during their previous experiences of the desert. Two Imperial Blossoms came from the Ring Complex with several Wendlan Mages and two Keepers, one of whom Tika recognised as the Keeper of Lore, Hezwa. She seemed to carry herself more confidently Tika thought. She realised that Hezwa and her people had probably felt as oppressed as the gijan, albeit in very different ways.
Hezwa was introducing the Keeper with her: Shiro, the highest Keeper of Healing in the Valley. The company were offered the same rooms as they’d used before but all noticed the changed atmosphere at once. Students sat under the verandahs, their occasional laughter sounding across the Sanctuary, and people wandered across the open courtyard.
Tika studied the four Wendlan Mages and suspected one of the two women was Siko’s sister: she had the same rather square jaw as he. Tika sat down in the shade and smiled at the woman.
‘I’m sure you are Siko’s sister – am I right?’
The woman returned the smile as well as a formal bow. ‘You are indeed Mistress. I am Edo, Siko’s older and far wiser sister.’
Tika laughed, liking the woman immediately. Two young students brought in trays of a cold fruit drink and the company were briefly reminded of the gijan who’d served them before. Gan stood near the door while they quenched their thirst.
‘We would like to see the Survivors’ quarters Keeper Hezwa,’ he said. ‘It is of concern to us that Survivor Kertiss has not been seen.’
Hezwa frowned. ‘We have been all through the complex beneath the Great Dome,’ she said, unable to hide her shudder. ‘We found many animals and birds in one room. We had to kill them – they had suffered in unbelievable ways and could not be healed. But of Survivor Kertiss we found no sign.’
Tika drained her mug of fruit juice and stood up. ‘I saw some of those poor creatures,’ she said. ‘I am glad to know they suffer no longer.’
They went from the cool dark of the Ring Complex into the blazing white heat of the Sanctuary, between the Dome of Assembly and the Dome of Knowledge, to the entrance of the Great Dome. The space inside seemed even more vast with only the low plinths to mark where the statues of the Elders had stood for more than a thousand years. They walked across the Dome, dust motes dancing in the beam of light from the transparent capping.
‘It feels different in here,’ Ren murmured beside Tika. ‘Is that because the statues are gone, or the Survivors?’
‘Perhaps it is a mixture of both,’ Navan spoke from behind them. ‘The Elders weren’t the most cheerful of beings and the Survivors were definitely unpleasant.’
They reached the opposite side of the Dome and the plinth upon which, Tika realised, Flute had stood. The ramp was open and they turned down it without pause. The chamber in which Star Singer had rested seemed surprisingly large in its emptiness but they didn’t linger. Tika found herself walking more stiffly and forced herself to relax. But she kept her hand on her sword hilt and noticed Sket and Navan did too.
