Soul Bonds Book 1 Circles of Light series

by E. M. Sinclair

  ‘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

  There followed a day of bustle and planning. The Dragons were stunned when Emla suggested they would remain at her House. Fengars would carry Mim and Tika, and a full band of Guards would accompany them. Kija became irate enough for smoke to begin wisping from her nostrils. Iska pointed out that the Dragons would only be able to go so far, because of the rapidly approaching Cold Season. Further north, in the Realm of Ice, the Cold Season lasted for nearly the whole Cycle anyway. Food would be scarce the further north they travelled and the icy temperature and increasing snow would speedily weaken the Dragons.

  Kija lifted furiously into the sky to calm herself, and Fenj followed after her. Emla was extremely concerned to have so upset Kija, but Mim consoled her in his gentle way. ‘This one knows you are but concerned for the Dragons well being,’ he said in his soft fluting voice. ‘But they worry for us. They will come with us, whatever you decide Lady.’

  ‘You have to have Guards with you Mim. The two of you will never reach the Guardian alone.’ He smiled sweetly, but did not reply.

  Tika was trying to soothe Farn. He was distraught to think she may travel without him. He could not imagine not having her presence beside him. Ashta was similarly distressed, but her feelings were not so obvious as were Farn’s. Jeela tried desperately to offer comfort to both her brother and to the pale green Ashta, to whom she had quickly become attached.

  The peace and tranquillity the House had become accustomed to for generations, vanished. Gan was busily organising men and supplies, the Seniors were consulting maps and arguing over routes, the household staff were scampering everywhere with messages, and Lorak had retired to his workshop.

  When Kija and Fenj returned, Kija went immediately to remove the young Dragons from the great hall, and took them to the quiet of the guest pavilion. She told them what she and Fenj had decided. She calmed them enough that Farn’s appetite returned, to the point where he suggested they hunt.

  Fenj went to the great hall and faced Emla. ‘We will go on this journey Lady.’

  ‘But Fenj...’ Emla began to protest.

  ‘No, Lady. You do not understand the harm you would cause t
he four bonded ones should you part them. Mim and Tika are not as aware as we are of how they too would suffer.’

  ‘Fenj,’ said Emla firmly. ‘You cannot survive in prolonged cold or snowy conditions. Your Treasuries move to lower slopes once the great storms begin, do they not? And Tika and Mim will surely need help, from trained Guards, sooner or later.’

  ‘Lady.’ Fenj reclined more comfortably along the fireside wall, and Emla sat on her usual stool. ‘Kija and I have thought hard. We suggest your Lord Gan has a band of men begin travelling to the Realm of Ice. They will not travel as fast as we, but they should not be too far behind us.

  ‘Kija and I will consent to carry Lord Gan and three other Guards. She and I should easily be able to carry two each. The young Farn and Ashta can bear only their bonded ones yet, and Jeela is too frail to carry any such burden.’

  Emla looked at Fenj, speechless at his suggestion. Never had he offered to carry her when she had first known him. Never had she heard of any Dragon bearing a rider, until Tika and Mim. And now he was freely offering to carry two Guards. The thought crossed her mind that it might prove difficult to persuade three Guards to the idea of riding on Dragon backs.

  ‘I do not understand these maps you have spoken of, but Tika and Mim seem to,’ Fenj continued. ‘If they know the directions and arrange a place where we may meet the band of Guards, there should be no problem.’

  When all were collected together in the great hall that evening, all were exhausted. Maids were still busy sewing thick cloaks for Mim and Tika to wear over fleece lined shirts and trousers. Boots had been stitched, of the softest but most durable leather, and also lined with soft fleeces. Neither Mim nor Tika had ever worn anything on their feet before and found the boots very strange.

  Gan was reporting that his full band of Guards would leave at first light. They had plentiful supplies and a string of extra fengars. He looked a little uncomfortable but finally came out with: ‘I think there will be only myself and two Guards to travel with the Dragons.’ Emla raised a questioning eyebrow.

  ‘The men say they are willing to face ice, snow, Shardi and Linvak, but fear they will fall to their deaths as soon as the Dragons fly above tree height.’ He shrugged helplessly. ‘Sket and Motass feel the same, but they say as they have been working with Mim and Tika, and they know how inept they are with weapons, they think it is their duty to accompany them.’

  Fenj rustled his wings softly. ‘So there will be this Sket? And Motass? And yourself, Lord Gan? Why do we not ask Lorak to join us? Splendid creature! He is by the door I believe, so why do we not ask him now?’

  Mim hurried to the door and pulled inside a defensively embarrassed Lorak. Tika was laughing openly, and Emla was struggling not to.

  ‘Now Lorak of the Garden,’ said Fenj. ‘Will you accompany us to the Guardian’s stronghold?’

  ‘Well now, your Lordship, I don’t see as why I shouldn’t. A bit of travelling before I die. New places, new plants. Yes indeed, your Lordship.’

  Fenj said: ‘Wonderful! I shall carry Lord Gan, and yourself, Lorak of the Garden!’

  Emla glanced at Gan’s face, caught Tika’s eye, and bit her lips very hard.

  Emla went to speak privately with Kija and then suggested everyone go to rest to prepare for the start of their journey. They had agreed on a later departure, giving the band of Guards time to get a fair distance along their route.

  As the Seniors moved to the staircase and the Dragons and Mim left through the main door, Tika held back. When the great hall was empty but for herself and Emla, she said: ‘Jerak told me these were real.’ She lifted the amber and gold pendant. ‘He said – “they will serve a purpose”. I do not think he knew what that could be. But somehow I knew they were real, from the beginning.’

  Emla reached to take the pendant in her hand, looking closely at the tiny dark speck. ‘Is it a plant, or a tiny crawler?’ she asked Tika.

  Tika grinned. ‘Fenj told me to “use my mind” to see. Shall I dare tell you, Lady, to use your mind?’

  Emla smiled back, then focused on the egg shaped drop. Her smile faded as she saw what the speck was that was set deep in the amber. She loosed her hold of it and looked at Tika. ‘You say it was real?’

  ‘Yes,’ Tika nodded. ‘I can not quite reach the memory, but yes, it was real. Or perhaps it still is.’

  Emla pulled Tika gently towards her, held her for a moment, then released her. ‘Go to bed dear one. Remember in all the days to come, we will be thinking of you constantly.’

  Tika was surprised to find Mim, Ashta and Jeela fast asleep already when she reached the guest pavilion. Farn was yawning hugely and struggling to keep his eyes open. He managed to say: ‘There you are at last!’ And then he was asleep. Khosa was sitting on Fenj’s neck, glaring at Kija. ‘She even tried to make me sleep!’ she spluttered indignantly at Tika. Tika looked at Kija.

  ‘I only helped them rest, small one. The Lady herself suggested the idea. Like a healing. A long easy, restful sleep, which you also need.’

  ‘I know. I am going to bed right now. Come on Khosa.’ Khosa strutted under Kija’s nose, then bounced into Tika’s bedchamber. She watched as Tika looked at the newly made shirts and moved them from the bed where they had been laid out.

  ‘What is that?’ she enquired, as Tika examined a leather sack, fleece lined, with a drawstring top.

  ‘The maids think it is for carrying underbeneaths. It is really for you.’

  ‘You think a Kephi is going to be carried in a sack? A Kephi Queen?’ Khosa’s eyes blazed and her tail thrashed wrathfully.

  ‘It will be cold where we journey. See how snug this will be.’ Tika coaxed, as she held the sack open. ‘Look at it before you refuse to use it.’ Khosa turned her back. Tika sighed, left the sack on the bed and climbed into the bed herself. ‘Goodnight Khosa.’

  As Tika and Mim arrived for breakfast next morning, they found Gan explaining that his Guards would already be many leagues from Gaharn. They had gone through the Lower Pass of Gaharn and would thus keep to the southern side of the Far High Lands. This meant that the mountains would give them some protection from the storms that were battering down from the Realm of Ice. Gan estimated it would take the band at least ten days to reach the Waste.

  As Mim and Tika helped themselves to food, Gan continued. ‘I know the Dragons could do that distance in half the time, maybe even less. But I want them to become entirely accustomed to carrying riders and baggage. I would also like to find out how swiftly they respond to any command. Do you think they will find the panniers cumbersome?’

  ‘This one thinks they should be comfortable enough. Fenj and Kija seemed not to notice them particularly when we tried them yesterday. As long as they are evenly loaded and are not in the way of their wings, there should be no difficulty.’

  ‘How are Sket and Motass?’ Tika asked innocently.

  Gan smiled reluctantly. ‘Extremely apprehensive,’ he said. ‘Has anyone seen Lorak this morning, and can anyone enlighten me as to why he is coming with us?’

  ‘Fenj seems to like him, very much.’ Mim shrugged, his face straight but his eyes gleaming. ‘Will Lorak bring some of his beverage, Lord Gan?’

  Gan’s smile vanished. ‘I trust not.’

  Mim and Tika returned to their pavilion to find Shan checking, yet again, that their new clothes were packed properly in leather carriers. She gazed at the two, her round cheeks flushed with excitement. ‘Won’t you have tales to tell when you come back!’ she exclaimed. ‘Flying off, stars know where, on the backs of great Dragons!’

  ‘Would you like to come with us Shan?’

  ‘Stars, no!’ Shan cried. ‘I like to sit by a nice warm fire and sleep in a comfortable bed. But I like to hear stories of wild adventures.’ She hesitated, then threw her arms around them both, pressing them to her ample bosom. She gave a resounding kiss to each of them, then whirled away to the door. ‘You make sure you look after yourselves and come back and tell me all about it!’ />
  Tika said: ‘It is strange that Shan seems quite bothered about us. I do not remember anyone being bothered about me before.’

  ‘This one does,’ said Mim quietly.

  Before the Golden Lady’s House, the five Dragons waited. They all bore double pouches, linked with a broad strap of soft leather and loosely tied underneath their chests. The company’s clothes and some foods, such as dried fruits, traveller’s bread, herbs and spices were evenly distributed among the Dragons. Kija had at first refused to allow Jeela to carry anything, but the ivory Dragon had thrown such a tantrum as to earn her brother’s deepest admiration. She was now proudly waiting, with a smaller pair of pouches across her shoulders, containing some food, and maps – “things of importance,” Tika had told her tactfully.

  Gan came round the side of the House wearing a thick blue cloak, the Lady’s insignia of a golden blossom embroidered at the left shoulder. He had on a close fitting leather helmet, fastened under his jaw. At his belt, hung a long sword, and the hilts of two daggers were visible at his right side. Behind him marched Sket and Motass, their expressions those of condemned men facing immediate death. Kija regarded them impassively as Gan led them towards her.

  He persuaded Sket and Motass onto Kija’s back, where they perched, pale faced but resigned. Then he walked across to Fenj. As Gan approached, Lorak appeared. He had a strange hat jammed on his head, a thick but shabby cloak, and various bags at which Gan cast a deeply suspicious glare. He said nothing though, as Lorak clambered onto Fenj’s back.

  Emla and the Seniors moved from Dragon to Dragon, bidding them and their riders farewell and safe journeying. Emla took each long beautiful face between her hands and pressed her forehead to each brow. She spoke softly to Mim, her hands on his shoulders, then stooped to kiss his cheek. He turned, blushing and climbed onto Ashta’s back.

  The group of Seniors had reached Fenj now and Gan bowed deeply to the Lady. ‘We will spare nothing in this task my Lady,’ he said.