The great hall of Emla’s House did not seem quite so great once Fenj and Kija had entered and settled themselves. They were as interested as Jeela to see inside one of the strange dwellings two-legs used. When all were comfortable, Emla looked around at them.
‘The time for any concealment is past,’ she said. ‘One of the Weights entrusted to my care has been stolen. Linvaks took it, how I do not know. In all our time of having charge of the balance, we have never enquired into how the Weights remain in their suspension.’ She spread her hands. ‘We know it is a complex use of the Power, but complex in a way we have long forgotten – if we ever knew it. Some of our Seniors are experimenting, in Gaharn, to try to replicate the means of suspension. But that is beside the point. We do know that the Linvaks went towards Death Pass in the Spine Mountains, at the juncture where those mountains turn north, to the Realm of Ice.
‘Gan’s scouts report a great killing took place near there. There were remains to account for all the Linvaks who guested here. Therefore, none escaped that slaughter. If the Guardian had got hold of the Weight from the Linvaks, his Power would already be too great for us to contain. I believe he would not hesitate to demonstrate that Power to us. That he has not done so, leads me to conclude it is not yet in his possession.
‘Thus, for whatever reason the stars alone know, the Linvaks have either hidden the Weight, or passed it to someone, or something, else.’
She paused. Fenj had been rumbling for a while and he now asked: ‘How did these Linvaks die Lady?’
‘Shardi.’
Fenj hissed. ‘I did not know they came so far south Lady.’
‘There have been reports over recent generations that they venture further south from the Realm of Ice with each Cold Season.’
Emla continued: ‘The Shardi, and the Linvaks are creatures of the Grey Guardian. We believe there are others but we do not know for sure. Jerak, our ancient one, went to the Realm of Ice last Growing Season, to try to reason with the Guardian. He did not return. We know only that there was a great use of Power, but we have not heard from Jerak since then. I believe he is still with us, but wounded, trapped, imprisoned - I cannot guess.
‘We have to decide whether Tika and Mim should try to reach the Guardian’s stronghold and the place where his Balance Weights lie, or search for the one that is hidden somewhere in the Spine Mountains.’
‘It would seem neither option will be a pleasant or easy task,’ Kija remarked. ‘With Shardi helping us look for the Weight no doubt.’
Emla gave her a quick smile. ‘Truly said, Kija. There is one more thing.’ She looked now at Tika and Mim. ‘These two have been altered.’ Kija and Fenj both rumbled, their eyes beginning to glow. ‘No, not intentionally, and not by us,’ Emla said quickly. ‘You, Fenj, are far more than the intelligent little hatchling you were when first we met. Maybe you can understand better than I, if you study their life patterns.’
Fenj and Kija both stared hard at Tika and Mim. They gave no indication of surprise at first, then suddenly both Dragons half rose, their eyes flashing. Tika and Mim also rose, standing close beside Farn and Ashta. Jeela stared in fascination from the two legs to the elder Dragons and back. The Seniors realised with growing alarm that they were quite unable to penetrate the Dragon minds, or Tika’s and Mim’s.
Tika broke the spell. ‘You see,’ she spoke so all could hear her, but specifically to Fenj and Kija. ‘I will do what I must and what I can.’ She looked at Emla. ‘You have neglected the Dragon Kin too long, Lady. Though their minds follow different pathways, they have grown over the generations. They are as strong as you are.’ She moved forward a few paces, facing Emla and the Seniors directly. ‘See then, what they have just seen.’ And she laid open her mind, and the Seniors saw, with considerable shock, what the Dragons had seen.
The web Tika had reshaped had grown. It was now a glittering complexity, far beyond their understanding. It was beautiful, symmetrical, intricate. And it evidenced an enormous increase in Power.
‘Even so,’ said Tika, ‘I do not know if I can overcome the Guardian. I know much, but as before, there seem to be pieces missing, gaps across which I cannot guess how to bridge.’
‘Will this happen with all humans cross breeding with the People I wonder?’ Kemti was enthralled.
‘I do not think so. I do not know why it happened to me.’ Tika paused. ‘Jerak did not tell me that, when his mind spoke to me.’
The shock displayed by the Seniors at the altered web of her mind, was as nothing to what Tika became aware of now. ‘Jerak?’ Iska queried softly. She looked at Emla. Emla’s hands were over her mouth, her green eyes huge as they returned Tika’s equally green gaze.
‘What do you know of Jerak? Jerak helped you?’ she whispered. ‘Jerak fathered the Guardian and me Tika, but he has been long lost to us.’
Tika closed her mind to them, retreating to sit leaning against Farn. ‘He gave me some knowledge,’ she said. ‘It felt a bit like it did when Kija put memories into me when I bonded with Farn.’ She was studying the gold and amber pendant she always wore as she spoke. She looked up at Emla again. ‘I knew his name somehow. I could not see where he was, but it looked like this.’ She lifted the oval drop on its thin chain. ‘He was in a dark place, but inside something. He said, “go to the Guardian,” so I suppose we must.’
Suddenly, she looked an undersized human child, confused at finding herself in these strange circumstances. Mim stretched his hand to her, stroking her arm lightly. Farn and Ashta were pouring affection and support to her.
Tika looked again at Emla. ‘I would see your Balance Weights now. You have not allowed Mim or me to see them yet – have you feared we also might take one from you?’
Emla looked aghast. She rose, moving swiftly to kneel before Tika. Her long fingered hands caught Tika’s small ones. ‘Oh my dear one, no! I have had no doubts of you since we met!’
She was interrupted as a maid bobbed into the hall. ‘Excuse me, my Lady, but there’s someone as says they must speak with Lord Gan if you please.’
At Emla’s nod, Gan left the hall. He was back almost at once. ‘There is trouble, Lady, on the Middle Plain. Some creatures, never seen before, are attacking the farms near the foothills of the Spine Mountains. I must organise assistance at once.’
As he turned to leave again, Emla called, ‘Gan, you must send men of course. But you will not go yourself.’
‘But – ‘ Gan scowled, then bit his lip, bowed abruptly to Emla and left.
Emla stood for a while deep in thought, then turning to Tika again, she held out her hand. ‘Come, we will go to the Pavilion of the Sacred Balance.’
It was an odd group that arrived at the guarded Pavilion: five Dragons, four of the tall slender People, a small human female and a male Nagum. And an aged human gardener who busied himself unobtrusively among the nearest shrubs. Two of the guards whom Gan had set around the Pavilion opened the doors for the Lady. ‘I am not sure Fenj and Kija will be able to enter,’ Emla looked at the doorway then dubiously at Kija’s golden bulk and Fenj’s black hugeness.
‘We will see well enough from the door, Lady.’ Fenj said.
The Seniors entered, moving round the sides of the Pavilion, leaving the doorway clear. Ashta, Farn and Jeela peered in, Fenj and Kija’s heads above theirs. Tika and Mim stood one each side of Emla, staring at the golden Weights.
It was quiet. The Weights hung, apparently unsupported, in the centre of the Pavilion above a crystal and gold mosaic circle. Six disks of gold, a hole in the centre of each, as though a chain, or a rope, should have threaded through them. The lowest disk was a man’s fist in thickness and a man’s arm length across, the one above was slightly smaller, and the next smaller still.
‘So the one that has gone would be the smallest?’ Mim asked.
‘Yes,’ agreed Emla. ‘About a handspan across and one finger thick. They are all immensely heavy we believe, heavier than they might appear. Kemti can show you later how the one that is lost might
look and feel. We can only estimate their heaviness though. We do not know who made them or whence they came. They were here when we first came. The Seniors of those days were more knowledgeable then in certain matters. This land did not really need their skills it was decided, once our city was built and functioning.’
Kemti shook his head. ‘In those long past days, it was decided the People would live simply, without many things that were once thought essential to our lives.’ He sighed. ‘Knowledge should never be forgotten though; set aside perhaps for use in a future time unknown, but never discarded.’
Mim and Tika were not listening to this exchange. They were studying the suspended Weights. ‘This person sees, Tika,’ said Mim, his words bringing the Seniors closer.
‘Yes,’ agreed Tika. ‘It is quite a simple knotting of threads really except...’
‘Except for the way Time is woven into it as well,’ finished Mim. ‘It is Time, isn’t it? That silver line this one sees?’
‘I think so. We will stay here a while Lady, just to look at the working.’ They sat on the floor staring at the Weights.
Iska asked, ‘Can you both truly see how the Weights are hung?’ Mim looked faintly surprised.
‘Yes of course. Can you not see it Lady?’
‘None of us can,’ replied Yash, and added to Emla: ‘Can Mim see it too, or is he sharing Tika’s sight?’
‘He sees it too,’ Tika said rather shortly. Yash bowed apologetically. ‘We will join you later,’ she added pointedly.
‘We will wait in the House then.’ Emla moved to the door just as a small orange Kephi marched in, tail aloft, settling itself comfortably on Tika’s lap. ‘If that Kephi bothers you, just push it out.’
‘Push it out indeed,’ Khosa slitted her eyes at Emla. Tika scratched Khosa’s ears and the Kephi collapsed, crooning in bliss. ‘It’s not bothering us, thank you.’ Tika returned her concentration to the Weights.
Outside, Emla looked a trifle nonplussed as to how to entertain five Dragons but Kija solved the problem. ‘We travelled here with few stops to eat Lady. We would find food if you permit?’
‘Of course,’ said Emla. ‘As we told Mim and Tika, we will be in the House when you return.’
Farn, Jeela and Ashta looked at Kija. ‘There is a place, quite near, where live many volu,’ Farn told her helpfully.
‘Very well. Show us where then. Fenj?’
‘I do not really hunger,’ said Fenj. ‘I will look at this place where my Lady lives.’
‘You are not going to stop eating again, Fenj, you will need all your strength if you insist on coming with us.’
‘I will bring you hoppers,’ Farn offered.
Fenj pondered. ‘Are they plump hoppers here?’
‘Of course!’ said Farn, eyes whirring in delight. Kija gave him a rather long look, then she began to lift into the air. Fenj watched them go, Farn looping between Ashta and Kija, his small sister following each move. As they disappeared, Fenj looked about him. Guards stood around the Pavilion but the Seniors had vanished into the Lady’s dwelling. A grunt came from some shrubbery.
Fenj moved, extremely quietly for one of his immense size, and extended his neck over the bushes, coming face to face with Lorak. This old human’s face registered alarm as he said, ‘I am a friend of young Mim, that is, I mean Lord Mim, your Lordship.’ Fenj’s eyes shone like grey pearl at this flustered two-legs.
‘I am quite sure you are a very good friend to Mim. I am Fenj of the Broken Mountain Treasury.’ His words rang deep in the old man’s mind. ‘And you are?’
‘Well now, I am Lorak of, of – her Ladyship’s Garden.’ Lorak bowed. Fenj sensed a great obstinacy in this old human, who he reflected, was but a mere child compared to one of his own great age.
‘I would know what you do, Lorak of the Garden.’
‘Oh. Well now. If you would come this way, your Lordship, I can show you some of my work.’
Emla was a little puzzled to see Fenj wandering across her lawns, with Lorak trotting beside him gesticulating vigorously, but she was distracted by Gan’s abrupt arrival.
‘My Lady, I should go with my men. They await my order to depart, but really, I protest that I should lead them.’
‘I know how you feel Gan but no.’ She raised her hand as he began to argue further. ‘The first thought that occurred to me at the news of trouble on the Middle Plain was – is this another false clue? I grant there is probably something unpleasant happening there, and maybe in different times, I would send many men, led by you, there immediately.’
Gan’s expression changed as he realised what she was saying. ‘The Guardian?’ he asked. ‘Pulling our attention, and your Guards, one way, while he moves in another?’
Emla nodded. ‘I will listen to everyone else’s opinion on this, and that includes the Dragons, Gan. Then I will decide. I tell you now I am strongly persuaded that the lost weight should be abandoned in favour of reaching the Guardian.’ She moved back to the window as Gan went to the door. ‘Gan, have you any idea what Lorak could be doing with Fenj?’
Mim and Tika had studied the pattern of Power holding the Weights suspended. They agreed it was a fairly straightforward holding weave, except that time was involved. At last Tika got to her feet, gently passing Khosa to Mim. ‘It comes back to the same thing every way I try to see how it is worked, Mim. What do you think?’
‘Yes.’ He climbed to his feet, Khosa draped bonelessly over his shoulder. ‘This person sees only one result, should it be undone.’
‘The Dragons should be back. Let’s go to the hall.’
Kija and the young Dragons had indeed returned some time earlier, and were already in the great hall. The Seniors had found a great difference conversing with Kija and realised fully for the first time, just how very young Farn and Ashta were. Because of their size, the Seniors had mistakenly assumed they were far more adult than in fact they were.
As Tika and Mim walked back to the House, enjoying the fresh crispness of the late afternoon, Tika paused. ‘There is Fenj,’ she nodded across the wide lawn. ‘He’s with Lorak. I did not know Fenj had an interest in plants.’
Mim watched the great black shape advancing, Lorak at his side. He smiled, his eyes sparkling, but he merely said, ‘Lorak knows many things.’
They entered the hall to find the fire blazing and the smell of spiced tea and hot pies welcoming them. ‘Fenj is just coming.’ Tika took a cup of tea and wrapped her hands round its warmth as she sat beside Farn. It was chillier outside than it had at first seemed.
Fenj filled the doorway. ‘Apologies if I am late, Lady.’
‘Not at all Fenj.’
‘Your hoppers are safe,’ Farn told him.
‘Thank you Farn.’ Fenj reclined opposite Kija.
‘May I ask what you found of interest with Lorak?’ Emla’s curiosity got the better of her.
Fenj’s eyes whirred softly. ‘A splendid creature.’
The Seniors exchanged glances: Lorak – “a splendid creature”?
‘I saw many beautiful growing things, flowers, and I think he called them “vegetables”? Then he showed me his workshop.’ He sighed. ‘I tasted what he called a “beverage” – extraordinary! And very pleasing.’
Emla sat upright. That would bear checking on – Lorak was brewing again was he? But Fenj repeated: ‘A splendid creature!’
Tika intervened. ‘Lady, Mim and I have studied the Weights in every way we can.’ Everyone’s attention was on her now. ‘It would be easy to just reach out and take one. They are not tightly held in their places. We believe the Linvak may have simply taken it on impulse. Do Linvaks know of the Balance, or of its purpose? We think they did not, that one of them saw the gold, and took it. But,’ she glanced at Mim as if to confirm what she was saying, ‘we do not believe the Weight can be replaced, even were it found.’
‘If it is so easy to remove,’ Yash queried, ‘why may it not be just – slipped back into position?’
Mim answered
him. ‘Because Time is woven into the holding pattern. This one also tried many different ways to see how to untangle Time from the suspension. There is no way to do so.’
Kija asked: ‘By taking a Weight entrapped with a thread of Time, what would happen – either to the Weight, or to the one who stole it?’
The Seniors were impressed by Kija’s quick assessment of Mim and Tika’s words.
Tika replied: ‘We believe the Weight is gone, completely – we cannot begin to guess where. The Linvak, by tearing Time from its place, would have torn Time in himself.’ She shrugged. ‘He may suddenly have grown old, or shrunk back to infancy. Either way, he would have been destroyed.’
‘So perhaps the Linvaks were not involved in any “plan”?’ Iska thought aloud. ‘Maybe they were as crude and simple minded as we thought them?’
‘They had wit enough to know they had stolen something of great value, and then to hurry in the opposite direction to the one we would assume they’d take,’ retorted Kemti.
‘We believe they did not know what it was they had taken,’ Tika repeated. ‘They may be servants of the Guardian, but this was not planned or done on his orders. We are convinced of that.’
Emla had been watching Tika closely. Now she said: ‘There is more, is there not Tika?’
‘Yes Lady. I understand now why Jerak said “go to the Guardian” ’. Her audience waited tensely as she paused. ‘I believe that Jerak meant we were to remove the smallest Weight from the seven in the Guardian’s keeping. Thus it will restore an equality again.’
Fenj rumbled, as did Kija. The younger Dragons, especially Farn, were becoming greatly agitated. Tika slid her arms round Farn’s neck, her voice slightly muffled against his scales. ‘Already the balance of the world is changing, therefore action must be taken swiftly. But the one to take the Weight from the Guardian will suffer the same fate as the Linvak must have done. Time will destroy them.’
Chapter Sixteen
Soul Bonds: Book 1 Circles of Light series Page 15
