Drogoya: Book 3 Circles of Light series, page 7
The Delver shuddered, moving her hands and revealing a patch of new flesh that looked sore, but was at least whole. Berri pushed a flask of water at the child, urging her to drink. Then Dessi knelt straight again and moved her hands to the next great pit in Babach’s body. The day passed unnoticed by all those watching in the great hall of the Stronghold, until finally, Dessi toppled bonelessly to one side. But Mim was there, waiting it seemed for the moment Dessi reached the end of her strength.
All who had witnessed this feat of healing seemed to exhale their long held breath in gusty sighs that swept around the hall. Other healers came now to assist the four who knelt still at Babach’s side. Imshish and Kera came to help Chakar to her feet, but her legs screamed in agony and Imshish simply carried her to a chair. Lorak appeared silently at Chakar’s elbow and without a word, she held out her hand for his flask.
‘Kija’s all right, but the old fella, he be a bit shaky.’ Lorak frowned. Chakar had a firm grip on his flask. ‘Well then, you keep that ’un. I’ve more in my workroom.’
Chakar managed a wobbly grin as Voron bent over her.
‘Try some,’ she suggested.
Voron sniffed cautiously and politely declined. ‘The Offering Finn Rah would no doubt appreciate it better than I,’ he smiled.
‘I will hear all your news later Voron.’ Chakar groaned, straightening her legs carefully and bending them again. ‘For now I have Babach to tend and I cannot concentrate on anything but that.’
‘No Observer.’ A quiet voice spoke above her head.
She twisted and saw the Vagrantian boy with the silver eyes smiling shyly at her. ‘There are more than enough of us to care for Observer Babach now. You must sleep and be fresh for your turn of nursing tomorrow.’
Chakar’s mouth opened, closed, and so did her eyes. Imshish caught her before she slid off the chair.
‘What have you done to her?’ Voron asked in panic.
But Imshish chuckled, gathering up the small body in his arms again. ‘An extremely good example of a sleep suggestion,’ he told Voron. ‘Or Lorak’s restorative.’
Daro bowed and moved across to Fenj where the massive black Dragon reclined against the wall.
Imshish stood watching Daro murmuring to Fenj and Lorak, then smiled at the still frowning Voron.
‘Somehow the silvering of Daro’s eyes has accelerated his abilities. I understand that he seemed an average boy until this change in his eyes. Now, he could equal Maressa in air magery I would guess – he has been working with Dessi a great deal. But he seems able to do much more than just work with air.’
Voron followed Imshish towards the fire where the four Delver healers and Dessi already lay on pallets in the deep sleep of total exhaustion. Voron thanked Imshish for his kindness and settled beside Chakar. He saw the boy they called the Dragon Lord sitting cross legged at Dessi’s side, the pale green Dragon who seemed his constant companion was curled against another Dragon.
Despite Voron’s weariness, his panic and confusion, he had registered that Dragon when he arrived here as being one of the most beautiful creatures he had ever seen. Now he found himself staring at the gold scales glittering in the lamp and firelight until his gaze was drawn to the many faceted honey coloured eyes. Kija’s voice spoke in Voron’s mind.
‘The stars must surely have lent strength to Baryet’s wings, Voron of Drogoya, to bring your old one here so swiftly. I think only Dessi or perhaps my daughter Tika, could have effected such a healing.’
‘Is she your daughter?’ Voron asked, looking at Ashta.
Laughter rippled through his mind.
‘No. This is Ashta, Hani’s daughter. She is soul bonded to the Dragon Lord. Sleep now Voron and I will tell you stories tomorrow such as you will find hard to believe. But they are true nonetheless. Sleep Voron of Drogoya. You are safe here.’
And so Voron slept while Berri and other Delvers watched over Babach’s unconscious form.
Berri had accompanied Mim to the hidden cave in the Domain and watched when the Dragon Lord moved directly to one niche. His taloned fingers closed around an egg and a gold chain winked as it swung loose from his hand. Now that egg, its back shelled in black obsidian and its front filled with a bright yellow topaz, nestled at the crook of Babach’s neck and shoulder, pulsing in unison with the Observer’s own heartbeat.
Mim’s still smooth palm closed round the pendant hanging from his neck. Gremara refused to tell him of these strange eggs, but this was the second time they had been used in a great healing. Observer Chakar had brought her egg from the land of Drogoya, saying it had belonged, once upon a time, to Myata, the founder of the Order of which Chakar was now the head.
Dessi was strongly attracted to the teachings of Myata, in which Chakar had been instructing her. Mim too found the ideas of great interest: they felt somehow familiar to him, as if he had heard them long ago and now nudged at his memory. He knew though, that no Nagum in his village had spoken to him of such things.
There were similarities of course between Nagum beliefs and the Drogoyan Myata: both cared for growing things, revered the life giving land, and abhorred violence. But Mim could see clearly still the devastation wreaked by Linvaks – his village destroyed, himself the sole survivor. And he knew that he could never stand by and allow such murder to take place – he would fight now, fight and kill. He glanced down at Dessi, glad to see some colour tingeing her ashen cheeks, knowing she was undamaged by the great effort she had expended save for the need for a long sleep.
The Dragon Lord appeared relaxed but part of his mind travelled his Stronghold, touching a Snow Dragon’s thoughts within the Domain of Asat, drifting lightly over Kadi. Briefly, his thought flared far to the south east and the Circles of Vagrantia. Instantly, Gremara was alerted to her Lord’s presence.
‘Is all well my Lord? The healing was successful?’
‘Yes,’ Mim replied. ‘All rest here now. What of the trouble in Vagrantia?’
He felt a tremor of amusement pass through their linked minds.
‘Worry not of Vagrantia yet, my Lord. I watch carefully, unknown to their mages. Rest now yourself Lord, and all will be well.’
In the morning, Kera and Nesh busied themselves helping the chamberlain’s staff distribute mugs of tea to the many who had slept in the hall. Pausing by Babach, Kera looked anxiously at the Observer’s blistered face. Berri smiled.
‘We are keeping him asleep Lady Kera. His body will fully heal more rapidly while he is still. He will wake in a while then we shall make him sleep again, and so on for the next days.’
‘Those great holes,’ Kera ventured, still unable to believe that Dessi had managed to close them.
Setting down her mug, Berri gently raised the light, dampened cover over Babach’s chest. Kera stared in awe at the smooth skin which looked healthy although tender. She shook her head in wonder and Berri replaced the cover.
‘Kija touched his mind twice during the night and she told him what had been done. He understands the need for rest now – he is old, even by Dragon reckoning so Kija says.’
Kera’s next call was to Lorak. The gardener had just emerged from his workroom, Bikram bleary eyed at his shoulder. In answer to Kera’s question Lorak gave a brief nod.
‘Fenj sleeps now. That young lad Daro, he came and sent him to sleep. Best thing for the old fella.’
Lula tiptoed down Fenj’s neck and wound herself around Lorak’s ankles. He scooped her up and she buzzed urgently, butting her head under his chin.
‘I know. I’ll find you some food, don’t you fret.’
Guards who had fallen asleep where they had sat watching Dessi heal the stranger, now roused and quietly went to the tables where breakfast had been set. Gradually the hall emptied, Guards going down to the lower growing areas with Bikram and Lorak, and many Delvers returning to the Domain.
Mim and Ashta left to fly to Arak to visit the slowly recovering Kadi. Voron sat with Kera, Imshish and Jal while Nesh spoke with the first awakening Delver healer. Lula suddenly chirruped and raced down Fenj’s back to sit in front of the long black face. His eyelids lifted and prismed eyes whirred the shadows on snow colour.
At the same moment, Kija moved towards the low pallet on which Observer Babach lay. Her golden head lowered to study him closely. The first thing Babach saw in the Night Lands, was the most beautiful face he could ever have imagined.
High on her favourite ledge in Talvo Circle, Gremara lay, soaking up the warmth of the sun. She rejoiced that she should be sane again after so very many cycles. Tilting her silver scaled face against the black rock, she watched Jeela indulgently. The small ivory Dragon was playing in the air currents, occasionally swooping to frighten a small flock of lumen from their grazing.
They were so young for the tasks ahead of them. That was the one thought that brought back a touch of melancholy to Gremara. Her long awaited Dragon Lord was a child, even allowing for the much lesser span his kind could expect. He would live far longer now, with his new Dragon blood but he was still a scant sixteen or so cycles old she judged.
And this little Jeela – only half of one cycle! Gremara marvelled at the workings of destiny, fate, the old gods’ will, that such children would hold the Balance between them. Unknown to Mim, she had bespoken Kija and had learned of the other soul bonded child, the one Kija named as her daughter. That child too carried one of the precious egg pendants, and Kija told Gremara that her eyes were silvered. Gremara understood a great deal since her flight to the limits of the air that surrounded this world. Her memories had become unmuddled, and she exulted in her clarity of thought.
There was so much to teach Jeela. She could transfer the memories, as had happened to her, but Gremara was reluctant to take that step yet. Although Gremara had straightened everything in her head, or at least, those Beyond had done so for her, she was still apprehensive of giving Jeela all the information she held. Jeela would absorb the memories intact and concise, as had the first few silver Dragons. Then the increasing tendency to lonely madness had destroyed the coherence in their minds.
If the Dragon Lord had not come now, young as he was, Gremara suspected that the plans of those Beyond would have been cast into irrevocable disarray. But he had come, and so had Jeela. Jeela would succeed Gremara in due time here at Talvo and out in the wider world. There would be no need for a silver Dragon to live in solitude, waiting for the day of reckoning.
Gremara stretched luxuriously. She had fed well yesterday, her body was warmed by the sun and her heart by the sight of Jeela spinning over Talvo Circle. She sent a wisp of her attention right across the adjoining Circle of Parima to the Circle of Fira, where dwelt the water adepts. She noted that the gateways had been sealed in Fira, the entrances closed and heavily barred which should give access to tunnels leading to both Parima and Kedara Circles.
Gremara’s thought drifted across the lakes and pools of Fira and picked up the rumours of Speaker Kallema’s intentions. Gremara withdrew, tucking the small items of information into a corner of her mind for later consideration and peeped into Kedara Circle. So many air mages’ thoughts were swirling into the upper atmosphere that she pulled back at once. But there was no undercurrent of menace there, as she had felt in Fira. She did not bother to spy on Parima or Segra, knowing already that there was nothing to give rise to her concern within them.
Gremara yawned, giving a rare glimpse of the curved fangs that could inflict fearsome damage. She twisted her long sinuous neck over her shoulder, resting her head between her wings. The silver Dragon slept, while the ivory Dragon danced on the breeze above her.
Thryssa’s new first councillor Pajar, sat scowling over a parchment recently arrived through the circle from the Stronghold. He rested his head on one hand, letting the scroll slowly re wind. One full cycle was all the time he had spent training directly under Alya for this position, and it was usual to spend at least ten times that long in training.
Thryssa wrote of some rebellion in Gaharn and that she personally had allied Vagrantia formally with Lady Emla’s People. She was about to participate in some sort of action alongside the Golden Lady: she failed to specify exactly what that entailed. Thryssa listed several topics with which she had been involved prior to the appearance of first the affliction among the Vagrantians, and second, the Lady Emla’s unexpected arrival here.
She explained to Pajar how she had intended to conclude these many and varied issues and, in the event of her not returning to Parima, all such information was to be presented to Speaker Lashek of Segra when he returned. Lashek was the senior Speaker who would naturally assume the rank of High Speaker on Thryssa’s death. It was at that point that Pajar clutched his head and stopped reading.
Stars be merciful – but what was Thryssa up to? She must have put herself in a perilous position to send her councillor what was virtually a document dictating her final wishes. Pajar raised his head at a light rap at the door. Speaker Orsim of Kedara came into the room. Uninvited, he sat opposite Pajar, glancing briefly at the loosely wound scroll secured under Pajar’s hand.
‘News from Gaharn?’ he enquired.
‘I have not read it all, but the High Speaker is in what sounds dreadfully like a battle situation.’
‘What? May I see it?’
Pajar did not hesitate. Orsim was as trusted as was Lashek: it was merely tradition that barred air or water mages from the High Speakership.
Pushing the scroll across the table, he admitted: ‘I was too shocked to finish it at once.’ He blushed, the colour in his face clashing unfortunately with the flame of his hair.
Orsim raised a brow, flattening the parchment under his hands.
‘I reached the part where she designates Speaker Lashek formally as her successor.’ Pajar clutched his head again while Orsim bent over the familiar, close written script.
‘Hmm.’ Orsim sat back, the scroll whispering into a curl again. ‘Well Pajar, there is absolutely nothing we can do to influence whatever is happening in Gaharn, so I suggest you try to put it from your mind for now. But remember, Thryssa was raised High Speaker because of her many strengths and her wisdom. She is most certainly not a fool. Now, I am here because of new reports from Kedara.’
Orsim crossed his legs and regarded the young first councillor of Parima shrewdly.
‘Chornay, Daro’s friend who chose to come with him here to the Corvida, has made friends with those three poor creatures Thryssa had removed from Fira Circle.’
Pajar nodded. He had been appalled to learn that Speaker Kallema had ordered the virtual imprisonment of the three whose eyes had silvered.
‘They were all severely frightened both by their confinement and by the deluge of hatred directed at them by the majority of Fira’s adepts.’
Pajar nodded again. ‘I heard that even their parents turned against them.’
‘Well, Chornay was outraged at things they began to tell him of their treatment within Fira.’ He paused thoughtfully. ‘I would have said that both Daro and Chornay were average students Pajar, but Daro showed a great increase in ability when his eyes changed.’ The Speaker shrugged. ‘Some of that seems to have affected Chornay – he is far in advance of his standard now. I had to reprimand him, mildly of course, but he sent his mind into Fira last night.’
‘We know that the access tunnels to Parima and Kedara are closed.’ Pajar interjected.
‘Yes, but Chornay said the waters of the two larger lakes within Fira were agitated, bubbling. Almost as though they were being heated.’
Pajar looked alarmed. ‘The volcanoes are long dead surely? There are still the hot springs but no molten rock has ever been seen here in all our time of occupation.’
Orsim wandered over to the window. The Corvida was two leagues from the tunnel to Fira Circle, and four from Kedara’s tunnel. He looked to his right, across the expanse of Parima, to the rim which bordered Talvo.
‘I consulted Pachela. She says there is no activity beneath the earth at present.’
Pajar’s face showed only incomprehension. Orsim restrained a sigh and sought patience. Pajar would do very well as first councillor once he had more confidence in himself, but Orsim found him still far too nervous of his position.
‘Pachela thinks Kallema is planning something, quite out of our experience. I agreed with the child once I had gone over all the facts she could produce. I have ordered that the water supplies for Kedara, Segra and Parima be checked at once.’
Pajar stared at him. ‘But what could they do?’
‘Pachela says – and the three from Fira agree – that Kallema’s mages could redirect the water sources from our Circles, or conversely, overload them, or even open more.’
‘So either drought or flooding would result.’ Pajar’s brain at last began to work in the manner which had first brought him to Thryssa’s attention as a future councillor. Water had always been in abundant supply, even when the air mages reported parched conditions beyond Vagrantia’s towering walls.
‘Flooding,’ Pajar concluded. ‘A much quicker way to ruin our crops, and, depending on the amount of water Fira can redirect, more damage to houses and, stars forfend, to the people.’
Pajar went to the door leading to a larger general office where several scribes sat at work. He murmured something and returned to his chair.
‘I have asked for Shema to join us,’ he told Orsim. ‘And for Chornay to bring the three Firans.’
The Segran councillor arrived first and listened in silence while Orsim outlined their concern. He had just finished when Chornay came in with the three silver eyed youngsters from Fira. Pajar was immediately aware of both Shema and Orsim projecting calmness throughout the room, although he suspected the three Firans were still too upset to notice.
The two girls and the boy had not the typical appearance of most water adepts. All three were shorter and stockier than the average Firan and even more unusually, one of the girls had dark brown pupils in her silver eyes rather than the normal pale blue or grey. The other girl and boy both had blue pupils, made even more brilliant set as they were against the surrounding silver.
