‘What is it Baras? Tell us quickly.’
‘My Lady,’ Baras laid his right hand above his heart on the insignia of his blue cloak. ‘Four Guards are dead, in the Upper Pass.’
‘Dead? How – dead?’ Kemti asked sharply.
‘Slain my Lord. Their throats cut. Their heads near severed.’
‘Iska,’ Emla whispered. ‘Oh dear stars, it is for Iska they died. You did not find her?’
‘No Lady, and because of the snow, no trail to follow, no way of knowing who, how many, or where they have gone.’
‘Such a thing would only be planned and executed by the Guardian.’ Yash sat down beside the fire. ‘But why would he want to take Iska?’
Emla rubbed tears impatiently from her cheeks. ‘To learn what he can of us here. He must know of Tika and Mim somehow, but not enough. Therefore he would question Iska. Iska would be the easiest of us to take – you two would no doubt put up more of a fight, and Iska is the one of us who travels most frequently between this House and Gaharn.’
‘Surely she would have bespoken us?’ Yash asked.
Emla shivered as Kemti answered. ‘There are herbs to cause instant sleep if only inhaled lightly – as you well know. If he wanted her alive, that would be the obvious way to get her to his stronghold.’
‘And what will he do with her there?’ Emla shivered again. ‘She is strong, but not strong enough to hold out against such a one as he.’
‘Lady,’ Baras spoke hesitantly.
‘Yes Baras?’
‘When I visited Gaharn but a few days past with your message for Discipline Senior Kera, she did not really seem aware of my presence.’
‘She is always like that when she’s busy, she meant no rudeness.’
‘No, no, Lady, I realise that. But she was talking to herself – I took no special notice then, but you speak of the Guardian taking the Lady Iska to the Realm of Ice.
Discipline Senior Kera was muttering, over and over, “Is Bark still with Rhaki?” I have not heard the name of “Bark”, though I know “Rhaki” is the name of the Guardian.’
Baras looked at the Lady and the two Seniors. All were now seated and looking at him as if they saw a ghost.
‘Bark,’ whispered Emla. ‘I had forgotten Bark.’
‘He went north with Rhaki at his Raising did he not?’ Yash asked. ‘I was away in the Lower Plain at that time.’
‘Yes.’ Kemti sighed. ‘Bark, the Silent One. The few words I spoke with him led me to believe he was of a true mind. What could have made him stay, all this while, in the northern Realm? Perhaps he no longer lives.’
‘Ask among the Archivists – they would know if he had gone beyond.’ Emla said. ‘I spoke with him a few times also, and I found him kindly and gentle. Iska spent more time with him.’ Her eyes met Kemti’s. ‘I cannot believe Bark could fall into Rhaki’s twisted ways, but then why would he remain with him?’
‘Could Rhaki hold Bark so long without using the Power? But surely, he could not maintain such a holding force continuously over these ages?’
‘I don’t know, I don’t know. But it is not Bark we must concern ourselves with now, but Iska.’
‘Emla,’ Kemti leaned to touch her arm. ‘Perhaps a Merig would have some information?’
She stared at him, then her eyes went blank and he knew she called to the Merigs. Baras remained where he was, unsure if he should discreetly depart or await orders. A harsh screech sounded beyond the main door. Emla rose and hurried to let the Merig inside. Baras’s jaw dropped as a scruffy Merig walked stiffly across to the hearth and hopped up onto a stool. His feathers rattled with a brittle noise as he shook snow from his person.
‘More questions?’
‘Do you know anything of the Lady Iska’s capture?’ Emla asked, remembering as she spoke that the Merig had seemed to admire Iska. He blinked at her and answered, clear in Baras’s mind as well as the People’s:
‘We did not see this, but heard her call – very faint and short. It was only because we were near that we heard her. We flew at once in the direction of her cry and saw many men carrying her in their midst.’
Baras managed to close his mouth at last as he listened in astonishment to this dishevelled creature.
‘Do you know who the men were, who ordered them?’
The Merig blinked again. ‘The name “Commander Jal” was spoken. They travelled fast to the north. I followed them until I was sure they were aiming for the tunnels.’
‘Tunnels?’ Emla gasped. ‘The tunnels you spoke to us of before?’
‘No no.’ The Merig clattered his horny beak testily. ‘I spoke of the Domain of Asat.’ He blinked at Baras. ‘These tunnels are in this side of the mountains.’ He fidgeted. ‘Delvers sealed off all tunnels to their Domain, leaving only one or two for the new Guardian to discover.’
‘Did the old Guardian then know of Delvers and their Domain Merig?’
‘Mmm.’
Baras cleared his throat. ‘Could I take a company through these tunnels my Lady, in pursuit of the Lady Iska?’
Emla looked at the Merig for his opinion. As usual, he blinked.
‘I could show you where the tunnels begin, that lead to the Guardian’s stronghold.’ His feathers creaked as he shivered. ‘Stars know what you might meet in them.’ He leaned forward perilously from his perch on the stool. ‘Shardi,’ he explained succinctly.
‘Shardi use these tunnels?’ asked Baras.
‘Sometimes. When the Guardian wants them to move rapidly down into this region or further. Mostly they don’t actually live in the tunnels. They fear them, only use them when the Grey One orders.’
Emla was pacing, her hands knotting and unknotting at her breast. ‘Baras, ready a company. We will accept the Merig’s kind offer to guide us. Within the hour.’
‘We?’ asked Kemti.
Emla stopped beside the fire, her chin raised firmly. ‘Yes Kemti. I at least will travel north now. I can do no less. I have been worried sick since those children left, but now Iska has been taken from us in such a fashion, I WILL go after them all.’
‘Then I go too.’ said Kemti.
Yash frowned. ‘I would also come with you, but I feel one of us must stay in Gaharn.’
Emla hugged him gratefully. ‘I agree. I know you would prefer to come with us, but one must stay, and you in fact can far speak best of the three of us. You have also worked most with Iska. Your thoughts may reach her, even from here, and I ask you to go to Kera as soon as we leave. Tell her all we know. Between the two of you, you may be able to reach us, if not Iska.’
The Merig said: ‘I am a messenger, as are all my race. I will gather some of the others in the neighbourhood and we can carry news for you. This once. It is a hard flight back and forth, especially against the wind and snow.’
Emla knelt by the fireside stool. ‘I thank you for your offer of help and your kindness in speaking to us. May we know your name -–it seems impolite to keep calling you just “Merig”’
The Merig gazed at the Lady, their eyes level. ‘Merig will do, thank you. It is not that we don’t wish you to know our names, but I think you could not say them.’ He gave a guttural squawk with a rasping trill in the midst – it sounded very much as if he was being done to death, agonisingly. He bent forward slightly, head to one side. ‘That is my name.’
Emla sat back on her heels and gave him a faint smile. ‘Perhaps “Merig” is safer,’ she agreed. He hopped to the floor and walked stiffly to the door. ‘I will visit others and ask who will come. Oh.’ He turned back. ‘The Kephi Queen wants some of her young ones sent to the Delvers.’ He stared down at his scaly toes morosely. ‘I don’t know if you are to deliver them now, or later.’
Kemti had opened the door and the Merig plodded through. ‘And how do we explain kidnapping various small Kephis? Will they allow us to mind speak them, as their “Queen” has decided to do so?’
‘That is the least of our troubles Emla,’ Yash said impatiently. ‘You tol
d Baras to be ready to leave within the hour. Go and ready yourself. I presume Baras will use fengars for speed – will they venture inside these tunnels do you think?’
‘I have no idea,’ Emla was hurrying up the stairs. ‘I hate sitting on them, but we do need their speed.’ She disappeared along the upper gallery.
‘I pray you get to Iska before Rhaki does her harm,’ Yash said. ‘And by the stars, ensure Emla’s safety. She has named no successor yet; she is the Lady. You must bring her back to us.’
‘I know, Yash. And you must call another Gather of the Discipline Seniors and stir them to some sort of action, preferably within a few days rather than a few Seasons or Cycles!’
Yash grimaced. ‘I’ll do what I can. I think once I can get Kera’s mind focused on these events, she will be like a whirlwind. Getting her attention, that will be the worst problem.’
Kemti headed for the stairs. ‘I must ready myself.’ As he passed Emla’s open door, he saw Shan, scarlet faced and indignant. He heard: ‘How dare you, my Lady, even think of travelling off, stars know where, among all these rough men, with no maid to tend you? Of course I will travel with you, don’t you even think of trying to stop me my Lady!’
Kemti groaned and hurried on to his own chamber.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Iska knew nothing. She had been deep in concentrated thought as she strode along the path from Gaharn back to Emla’s House. She saw men leap at the two Guards trotting in front of her and blood fountained as those Guards fell silently to the ground. She began to turn when a moist cloth slapped across her face. She managed to register the strongly astringent smell of the herb verain mixed with other herbs and then – nothing.
She was unaware of being bumped carelessly along a narrow gully for half a league and then being thrown across the back of a fengar. Ropes secured her hands and feet beneath the animal’s belly as a leading rein was held securely by Jal who rode alongside. Jal forced a hard pace, choosing speed over caution. His band rode on, the moon shivering on the snow, giving enough light for a reckless rider. He knew the risk he had taken, creeping not only within the bounds of the Realm of Gaharn but advancing so close to the city where minds could sense his presence all too easily.
Despite the cold, sweat trickled down his back as he chose the place to snatch the Senior Lady Iska. Rhaki had instructed him on how to call Iska from the city. Jal could not remember just what he’d had to do – he called his Master, and emptied his mind. Afterwards, he reckoned only a short time had passed before he came to himself again. The notion was clear in his mind that the Lady Iska would walk this pathway within a few hours, but he had no idea of what Rhaki had wrought through him.
Jal called the order to halt and his men were glad to do so. Moonlit riding over ever steeper terrain was wearing on the nerves, coming at the end of a stealthy journey deep into enemy territory, a kidnapping and an excessively rapid retreat. Even the fengars were blowing hard and their heads dropped down between their knees. Iska was pulled carelessly from the fengar and left to lie where she fell.
When Jal returned to her from giving orders for a brief meal and rest to his men, he muttered under his breath. Pulling a weatherproof cape from his pack, he laid it on the snow, rolled Iska onto it and then wrapped it across her. He squatted beside her, noting she was as pale as the snow she lay on, her dark hair strewn wildly about her face. Jal thumbed back one of her eyelids, then put his fingers against the pulse in her neck. Not good. But he had only administered the herbs in the exact amounts and at the regular intervals Rhaki had explicitly commanded.
Jal had never seen one of the People unconscious or sick. He had no idea id herbs worked in the same way on them as they did on humans. He knew all the People could summon the Power, which was the main thing that set them apart. He had more experience than he wished as to how that Power could be used, since entering Rhaki’s employ.
He knew only that this Lady was a Senior in the Asataria and therefore she had a talent in the Power. About half of the People chose lives connected with the Buildings of Learning. The other half lived in almost human fashion – almost. Never could they be mistaken for humans though. Apart from their tallness, thinness and dark hair, which made them such a contrast to the stockier, smaller, fair-haired humans, there was this presence of Power in each one of the People.
The People of the Asataria lived and worked surrounded by knowledge, learning, and – the Power. Those who dwelt in the city or the surrounding countryside administered the running of the day to day lives of themselves and the humans who shared the Realm of Gaharn with them. Cycles past, Jal had met some of these more ‘ordinary’ People, but always he had felt a tingle of apprehension, nervousness, in their company. And yet he had still taken employment with Rhaki.
As Jal sat, sleepless, through the short halt as most of the band slept, he thought of Rhaki’s charm, his flattery which had seduced Jal into going to the stronghold from his birthplace beyond the Ancient Mountains. Such dreams of riches Rhaki had convinced him of! He knew the reality now, enough of it anyway to terrify him. And he had captured this Lady of the People.
He groaned quietly as he held the special cloth, carried in the bag Rhaki had provided, firmly over Iska’s face as he counted slowly to eight. If she lived and woke, what might she do to him? If she died – his mind fled from the thoughts of what the Grey One would do to him in that event. Jal removed the cloth from Iska’s face, replacing it quickly in its bag and fastening the latches securely. He checked the pulse at Iska’s throat again – rapid still, and stars help him, fainter.
‘Up!’ He shouted at the sleeping men. ‘We ride on!’
The sky lightened when Jal’s band had ridden many leagues albeit slower the higher they climbed. As sunlight fingered weakly through the snow flurries, they reached the insignificant looking cave that was the entry to the tunnels leading, eventually, to the far north. The men were subdued. They had been shocked to discover the existence of these passageways, having always had to travel the tortuously winding mountain trails as they went about the world on the Guardian’s orders. The thought of encountering Shardi kept them quiet as their fengars sped down the tunnel, although they knew their Commander Jal could control the Shardi – to a certain degree at least.
They lost track of time, Jal calling brief halts only when the fengars reached the limits of their endurance. An hour or two, slumped against the rock wall, too tired to eat the dried meat in their packs, then up and on again. At each of these halts, Jal lifted Iska’s head, checking her colour, her breathing, her pulse, holding the drug soaked cloth to her face. At the last halt before the final dash to the deep caverns below the Guardian’s stronghold, not one observed a small, orange furred creature crouched by a narrow hole high in the passage wall. It watched, motionless, as Jal checked the Lady’s limp body yet again, and it felt the panic within Jal’s mind.
As the band remounted and hastened on, the creature wriggled round and squeezed into the hole, calling ahead as it crept through to the Domain of Asat: ‘The Lady Iska is held captive. She is near death!’
Khosa popped, corklike, from the other end of the narrow tube of a crevice, dropped onto Fenj’s head and ended perched on his shoulder. Her eyes were slitted, her tail thrashed. ‘One holds a strong smelling thing on Iska’s face. It keeps her deep asleep – so deep she has no thoughts or dreams. Bad smell.’ She spat. ‘The one who leads them is afraid of the Lady, but more afraid of the Grey One. He hurries to get Lady Iska to his Master before she dies.’
‘How far Nolli?’ Tika asked urgently. ‘How far to the stronghold?’
‘Not far. Another one-walk if you take a fast pace.’ She looked unhappy and worried. ‘I will slow you. You must go without me, but now I will follow to the end. I said I would remain in Asat, but that is not to be my fate. Gan, one has been following us.’
Gan smiled. ‘I know. My men knew as soon as we left the last settlement.’
Nolli tutted. ‘So you play games wit
h me Lord Gan?’
‘No. She was recognised as being a child of your line. The men had seen her visit you several times and been informed who she was. So we let her be.’ Gan looked enquiringly at the Wise One as if he expected an explanation. Khosa spat again and Farn moaned, his eyes spinning sapphire.
Nolli glared at Gan. ‘Privately then,’ she said.
The Guards and Nolli’s servants withdrew a small distance and Nolli said softly, looking at Tika: ‘I still had to seek a successor. I did not know a Dragon Lord would come. The one who follows is of my line. She is very young – fourteen cycles only, yet she shows more wisdom, more promise, than I have found in all these ages of seeking. I refused to allow her request to come with us, believing she must be kept safely in our Domain lest anything happen to myself. I did not realise at first that she followed, until she called to my mind saying that she must travel with the Dragon Lord and the Lady of Light.’
Mim nudged Tika, smiling, and she closed her mouth with a snap. ‘And this young Delver of yours is strong?’ she asked Nolli.
‘Yes child. Not as strong as you, but stronger than any other I know of.’
‘Tell her to join us,’ Tika demanded.
They stared at the dark passage behind them and a tiny figure came pattering into the light. Dark curls, shorter than Tika’s and with a definite shine of copper in them, uptilted dark blue eyes, and a wide mouth. She was even smaller than Tika but as she walked through the smiling Guards, her eyes were calm and serious. Unlike most Delvers they had seen, she was dressed in trousers and overshirt, very like Mim’s and Tika’s garments, and she carried a pack over her shoulder. She bowed as she came within a few paces of Nolli and waited patiently, though she studied Tika and Mim with open interest.
Berri wandered over to join them. ‘What made this infant dare follow us?’ she asked Nolli.
Soul Bonds Book 1 Circles of Light series Page 27
