Except for Jeela, the Dragons were badly tired by the time they had travelled the tunnels and arrived at Amud. As they neared the settlement, more tunnels merged into the broad one they marched along. Delvers came from these side tunnels, most with handcarts, and apparently in family groups. The company noted the carts were laden with various kinds of produce.
Serim explained: ‘They heard of the arrival of strangers from Outside and they use the excuse of bringing supplies so that they can see you.’
Soran and Trem were looking at the contents of some of the carts. As Serim moved on to speak to Tika and Mim, Soran said quietly to Gan: ‘These goods, Sir, surely they cannot all be produced underground? These Delvers must have contact with someone Outside.’
Gan replied equally softly: ‘I have noticed, Soran. They must indeed trade goods somehow. Go among the men and tell them to say as little as possible if they are questioned about Gaharn, or the Lady, or our Realm. And the little they do say, should be as unhelpful as they can manage. Just in case.’
‘The Guardian?’
Gan nodded grimly. ‘I have never heard even the wildest rumour of these Delvers before, so they cannot be trading with any races that we know of.’
The settlement appeared spread below and around them. A roughly circular bowl of a cavern, with dwelling places honeycombing the sides. All was brightly lit with glow lamps, and water poured into a narrow stretch of a pool to one side. The smoke, which the company now knew to be steam, rose from this water as it had from the first pool.
The doorways and window spaces of the dwellings were screened with a roughly
woven, fibrous material, although most such door hangings were hooked open as the company arrived. They were offered adjacent dwellings in which to spend the coming night. Mim and Tika hurriedly explored one such, finding three modest-sized rooms behind the first one. They threw their packs into a corner, Tika leaving her cloak as well although Mim still kept his around him. Then they ran down the sloping rock towards the pool where the Dragons were paddling.
Fenj was, in fact, almost totally submerged beside Brin, their eyes closed in pleasurable relief. Ulla and Meppi were with them, laughing at Farn’s attempts to go underwater without drowning himself. Jeela turned as Mim and Tika arrived. ‘Is it not amazing?’ she asked. ‘This warm water is wonderful!’ Her eyes whirred all colours in her excitement. ‘And to think Mother tried to stop me coming with you all!’
Ashta came dripping from the pool to Mim’s side. Tika heard him say: ‘No, Ashta, this one is warming now.’
If he was not still cold, what was troubling him? Before she could ask, Farn rose, snorting and showering them all as he burst up from the water. He looked as excited as Jeela and Tika was reminded again of how very young he, his sister and Ashta were.
There was a festival atmosphere as Delvers called them to come and eat. Meppi took the Dragons off with him as Tika and Mim joined Lorak in the central area. Low tables had been set up and were covered in an amazing assortment of different foods.
‘Have you learnt where these fruits grow Lorak?’ Mim asked, sitting down by the old man.
‘They told me they grow some of this themselves. They did not reply when I asked to see.’ He leaned closer. ‘Can you feel if they have Powers, Mim?’
‘They can all use the mind speech,’ said Mim, his mouth full of an extraordinarily juicy, oblong fruit. ‘This person feels there is shielding around some.’
Lorak nodded and muttered under his breath.
Tika was sampling some dark squares of what looked like bread but tasted of tea and nuts, when Khosa pushed her head against her arm. The Kephi lay on Tika’s legs, her front paws tucked neatly beneath her and her eyes half closed. ‘They have secrets.’
Tika did not pause in eating and she smiled at a Delver opposite her as she asked: ‘Did you learn these secrets?’
Khosa’s ears twitched. ‘Not much. They speak with ones who live in the Wilderness.’
Tika’s mind registered blankness. Khosa tutted. ‘The Wilderness. The land beyond these High Land Mountains, where no one ever goes. Or if they do, they do not seem to return.’
‘But I thought it was a place made up by the storytellers?’
‘Oh you.’ Khosa began her crooning hum. ‘You thought Dragons and Nagums were monsters not so long ago!’ A stretch rippled her spine and she rolled over on Tika’s lap, suggesting her paler orange belly now be rubbed. ‘Several are shielding their minds,’ Khosa continued. ‘Of course they may suspect you of being servants of the Guardian.’
‘But the Shardi attacked us!’
Khosa yawned hugely. ‘The Shardi attack everyone. But I advise caution now Tika.’
Sket sat down beside Tika. ‘Their food is good anyways Lady. Have you tried these?’ He offered a plate with tiny purple berries upon it. His free hand landed gently on Khosa’s exposed throat and he rubbed down from her jaw to her chest and back upwards. Khosa moaned in delight and Tika dumped her unceremoniously onto Sket. ‘Excuse me a moment Sket.’
Tika moved through the crowd, looking for Gan. Several Delvers spoke to her, to whom she replied with a smile but without stopping. She saw him sitting on a rock, slightly apart, with Kija reclining nearby. As Tika wandered casually in their direction, she was aware that they were mind speaking to each other on a very tightly directed beam of thought.
She went to Kija, reaching to stroke the golden cheeks as she asked: ‘Do you have any idea how we would get out of here if these Delvers are not what they seem?’
Kija lowered her head to press against Tika’s brow. ‘The Delvers believe the Snow Dragons to be totally open and under their control.’ There was a trace of amusement in her tone as she went on: ‘Although it suits them to live closely with these Delvers, they keep much of themselves very private. As the Golden Lady thought she knew us, so the Delvers believe they know everything there is to know of the Snow Dragons. They will lead us out of here if we ask it of them.’
‘I had just asked Kija the same question,’ Gan said aloud, smiling, as a Delver passed quite close by them.
‘Do you know when this Wise One Serim spoke of will arrive?’ Tika asked, also aloud.
Serim himself replied, having approached suddenly behind Gan. ‘The Wise One is very old, oldest of all in fact, and is much fatigued by the journey. The Wise One sends greetings and regrets, but must rest now and will speak with you in the morning.’ He smiled faintly as he spoke, aware that his sudden appearance had not startled them as perhaps might have been expected.
Gan stood, his great height towering over Serim, and bowed gracefully. ‘Of course Serim. We look forward to speaking with your Wise One. We will all have clearer minds after a good night’s rest, I am sure.’
‘Without freezing, or wondering if Shardi will attack, or worse!’ Tika added cheerfully.
‘Do you set watchmen?’ Gan asked.
Serim laughed. ‘We need no watchmen here, Lord of the People.’ He said no more but stood smiling gently.
Gan nodded and glanced at Tika. ‘I suggest we all get that rest then.’
‘I will be here,’ Kija said, her words clear to all. ‘Farn and Ashta will probably insist on sleeping near you.’
Tika felt affection again from the She Dragon and she smiled. ‘Good night then, Kija.’
‘Sleep well, small one.’
Sket and Motass had already spread out their bedrolls in the entrance room of the cave Tika and Mim had chosen. ‘We’ll take turns, Sir,’ Motass announced as Gan and Tika entered.
‘Just in case,’ Sket added as he cleaned his sword.
Khosa appeared from the rear rooms. ‘Lorak and Soran and Trem are playing one of those games with small stones. When I try to play, they become quite ill mannered.’ Her expression was one of injured majesty.
‘Where is Mim?’ Tika asked, remembering she wanted to ask him several questions.
Gan looked out of the doorway. ‘He is near the pool, with Ashta. Is he all right Tika, he is still w
rapped in his cloak yet it is not cold here?’
‘That is one of several things I mean to find out,’ she replied.
Much later, Gan was still wide-awake. He went quietly through to the back rooms. Soran, Trem and Lorak all slept, snoring inharmoniously. Gan moved to the next doorway and looked in. Mim lay curled in his cloak, his head on Tika’s lap. She sat leaning against the wall, seemingly asleep, her arm protectively across Mim’s body. Her eyes were closed but Gan realised her face was wet. Before he could do anything, Khosa wound between his feet. ‘Leave them,’ she commanded.
He stood a moment longer then crept back through the rooms to the entrance. He nodded to Motass and, pushing aside the screen, he slipped out of the cave, nearly treading on Ashta’s nose. He held his breath but Farn and Ashta did not stir. The Kephi leaped lightly over them and walked away down the slope, her tail waving upright.
Gan looked into the central space of the cavern. A few Delvers lay asleep beside their carts but most seemed to have found accommodation in the many holes and caves lining the cavern. Fenj, Jeela, Brin and Kija looked to be asleep, against one of the rocky walls. Quietly, Gan followed the Kephi as she walked purposefully away from the Delvers towards the pool.
As Khosa sat herself on a convenient rock she said: ‘If any come, I suggest you tell them you could not sleep because your feet pained you.’
Obediently, Gan sat next to her, pulled off his boots and dangled his long feet in the warm water.
‘What troubles them?’ he asked.
For the first time, the haughty Kephi seemed hesitant. ‘It is not for me to say. Something has happened which upsets Tika more than Mim, but you must take great care with them both now.’
Gan puzzled over this gnomic statement, trying to make some sense of it. Khosa spat.
‘Oh you two-legs are so stupid! And you are surprised that many of us of other races choose not to involve ourselves with you mentally?’
Gan was completely perplexed. ‘Do you mean that they will marry?’
Khosa stared at him contemptuously. ‘Of course not! Your minds are very limited, are they not? No, no. I only try to warn you to be careful of them. I cannot tell you more, that must be their choosing. I think Ashta knows, and perhaps Farn, but Tika will need more help than Mim.’
The water lapped a little harder against the rock on which they sat and Khosa moved back, shaking a fastidious paw. She leaped down and stalked off, saying: ‘I go to listen to dreamers.’
Gan spent the remainder of the night trying to estimate the distance north they had travelled. He was fairly sure the Delvers had led them north continuously, although the tunnel had curved gently, and perhaps deceptively, in places. He felt certain he would sense any major change of direction. He reckoned they must be nearing the White River, which bordered the Waste Land, which, in turn, bordered the Realm of Ice. He had no idea if the Snow Dragons and Delvers had tunnels leading right into the Guardian’s Realm – that was a question he hoped their Wise One would answer.
The men seemed to be a cohesive group at least. He had seen that all of them had drunk sparingly of a beer the Delvers offered. He had tasted it, to be polite, finding it had a pleasant taste and promised a powerful effect. He had given no instructions to the men and he knew his officers had not either, yet the men had taken care to keep their wits about them.
And now a problem of some kind with the human girl and the Nagum boy. He had half expected Khosa would say they had become more involved with each other than with the task ahead of them. They had somehow been changed into uniquely different beings – it would not be surprising if they clung to each other for more than moral support.
Delvers were beginning to stir as Gan made his way back to the dwelling cave.
‘Everything all right Sir?’ Sket asked softly as Gan entered.
Gan stretched. ‘I hope so Sket. Tell the men I was proud of the way they conducted themselves last evening. I am sure they must have been sorely tempted by that beer!’
Sket grinned. ‘Very tasty it were, Sir. But we are all determined now Sir, after them nasty Shardi killing so many comrades.’
‘Yes Sir.’ Motass emerged from his blankets. ‘You won’t find any letting you down Sir.’
Gan smiled. ‘Thank you. And don’t forget to tell the men what I said!’
Shortly after, several Delvers arrived with breakfast, which they were obviously intended to eat within the dwelling. Gan noticed that Tika looked very pale although Mim was his usual self, but for the fact he held his cloak tight around him. Before long, Serim was bowing in the doorway.
‘The Wise One approaches,’ he announced.
They went out onto the rock walkway and saw Delvers standing quietly down in the central space. As they stood there, a drumbeat began to echo from one of the tunnels – impossible to tell from which one. Four Snow Dragons paced steadily to the centre of the cavern where they took position facing outwards at the Delvers. Then two young Delvers appeared, pulling a cart very similar to the ones the company had observed the supplies arriving in. This one, though, was elaborately carved from a very dark wood and held an equally ornate chair on which sat the Wise One. A solitary drummer walked behind. A sigh of respect whispered through the cavern as the Wise One was carried in and placed in the midst of the four Snow Dragons. The two Delvers bowed low, both extending a hand to help the Wise One rise from the chair.
Lorak muttered, ‘Stars, another female in charge!’ He grunted as Tika stepped back onto his foot as heavily as she could manage.
The Wise One was looking up in their direction now and Serim said quickly: ‘Come down now and be received by our Wise One.’
As they descended, Ashta and Farn moved close beside Mim and Tika, and the four other Dragons flanked the company. They halted by the first Snow Dragon, who reared erect for a moment, then sank gracefully back to a reclining position. Fenj moved forward, past the Snow Dragons, to within a man length of the Wise One. Then he too reared erect, his huge black bulk giving an impression of enormous strength. His words rang through every mind: ‘I am Fenj, Eldest of the Broken Mountain Treasury. I offer greetings from all this company to you, Wise One of the Delvers.’
Close to, they saw the Wise One was indeed an incredibly old female. She leaned on a stick, the hand grasping it swollen and misshapen. But her voice was surprisingly strong and almost youthful as she said: ‘Thank you Fenj. I offer welcome to you all. My name is Nolli and I would prefer you to call me that.’
Fenj lowered himself as the rest of the company sat on the rock floor and the Delvers crowded round as well. Only Gan, Tika and Mim remained on their feet. Gan introduced the three of them formally. The Wise One’s wrinkled face suddenly split into an almost toothless grin. ‘I fear we will all have to sit, Lord Gan. I cannot stand for long anyway, but staring up at you will make me dizzy!’ She looked at Tika, her dark eyes bright and quick, and Tika knew this Wise One was able to use the Power. ‘Tell me how you come to be calling for our help, and why you travel in these parts.’
One of the low tables was hastily brought from the nearest dwelling and Gan seated himself on it, Tika and Mim perching beside him. Even so, Gan’s head was higher than the seated Wise One. She rested her hands on top of her stick and closed her eyes as Gan started to speak.
When he finished, the Wise One’s head had sunk to her chest and he half suspected that she had fallen asleep. A silence spread like an almost visible cloud over his whole audience. He waited. The Wise One raised her head and stared at Gan. He felt a sudden burst of Power enter him and knew, even though he was a Senior of the People, he could not hope to contest the strength of this tiny old creature.
He knew immediately that she was checking the truth of what he said and he held himself still as she swept through his mind. Tika had sprung to her feet, Mim clutching her arm, the instant Power was called forth, but she restrained herself from forcing away the Wise One’s attention. Ashta and Farn moved restlessly and the other Dragons half ros
e. Then the Power was gone and the silence disintegrated. Bodies shifted, murmurs were exchanged, and Tika and Mim resumed their seat.
The Wise One rapped her stick on the floor of her cart. ‘You have all heard Lord Gan’s words. I know we must help this brave company, although we are sworn to keep ourselves aloof from all the outsiders who live between us and the dying sun. Therefore, I offer whatever assistance we can give. We know more of the Guardian than these travellers –’ There were cries of agreement interspersed with groans. ‘We will tell them all we know and, I repeat, we will help them. If any disagree, they will come to me and speak their reasons and I will listen. You have until the mid mealtime to voice any objections. After that, I will speak with these travellers and tell them in what ways we may help them.’
The two young Delvers escorting her stood up and pulled the Wise One’s cart towards one of the dwelling caves and in through its door. The screen was lowered across the entrance behind them.
‘Come.’ Berri was there, Khosa cradled in her arm. ‘This is my dwelling and tea is ready to brew. All that talking Lord Gan – you must be as dry as a bone!’
Soran and Drak had also come up to Gan and they joined the group entering Berri’s cave. Berri served them tea, similar to what they were accustomed to but fruitier, less spicy, and amused them with innocuous tales. She confessed to her continued teasing of Kran, how the poor man jumped from his skin whenever she appeared. Soran laughed. ‘I had noticed he seemed a little jumpy!’
Tika and Mim listened and smiled but said nothing, until Tika eventually suggested they should return to their dwelling and get their packs readied for the next stage of their journey. Berri at first tried to persuade them to stay chatting a while longer, then, seeing they were determined to leave, she smiled them out of her door.
‘You did notice she arranged that we sat with our backs to the door and the window?’ Gan remarked.
‘But I could see out,’ Khosa said smugly.
‘I know. That is why I made no attempt to move. So Khosa, who did you see enter the Wise One’s cave to object to her helping us?’
‘Serim was the first. There were three more, one of them female. I do not know how they are named, but I would recognise them again.’
Delvers again brought food to them all in the dwellings that had been assigned to them and as they finished eating, Serim bowed at the entrance.
‘The Wise One waits your presence.’
It had been decided that only Gan, Mim and Tika would go to the Wise One and they now walked down and across to her cave. Khosa skipped playfully round their feet and Farn and Ashta pressed as close as they could. Fenj had already taken up his reclining position beside the entrance and the two young Dragons settled beside him. The Snow Dragons were also lying there, all seeming relaxed and calm.
Gan bespoke Tika and Mim as they reached the doorway. ‘I suspect she may tease or test you. Keep a very tight hold on your feelings.’ Although he spoke to them both, it was obvious his words were directed at Tika.
The screen was drawn back and one of the Wise One’s young escorts bowed, directing them through to a room deeper in the mountain. The strangely young voice called’ Come in, come in! Don’t dither at the door! Surely you can have no fear of such a one as I?’
Chapter Twenty-Four
Soul Bonds: Book 1 Circles of Light series Page 23
