Soul Bonds Book 1 Circles of Light series

by E. M. Sinclair

  Nomis and Kran were detailed to go back through the barracks to meet the next group of Guards who should soon be nearing the stronghold. Gan left Sket and Trem to stay in the entrance hall as he, Kemti, Emla, Soran and Baras followed Bark to the upper levels.

  ‘We must dispose of all the bodies in the lower levels fairly quickly.’ Gan commented to Bark. ‘What is the usual procedure here?’

  ‘I don’t know Gan. I’m sorry. I’ve never thought where bodies are laid to rest when servants die.’

  Gan sensed Bark’s guilt at his ignorance in this matter.

  ‘Could you ask one of them then, for we must remove the corpses soon.’

  They had reached the chamber where Iska lay and conversation ceased. Quietly, they all went to the great bed and looked down at Iska. Emla bent and kissed the already cold, smooth brow and straightened, turning as Bark gave a grunt of pain.

  The five Gaharnians crossed to the hearth where Bark slumped in a chair, his hands over his face. The servant Galt, stood helplessly beside him, his arm across Bark’s shoulders. Emla looked at the servant enquiringly and after a glance down at Bark, Galt stepped towards her and bowed.

  ‘Bark asked what was done to the bodies of the dead,’ he whispered. He glanced again at Bark. ‘The Master sometimes took a corpse, we know not for what purposes.’ He shuddered. ‘Usually, the dead were taken below – to be fed to his beasts.’

  Emla swallowed the bile she felt rising in her throat.

  ‘There is no burial chamber, or place of cairns, for the proper laying of the dead?’

  ‘No Lady.’

  ‘Dear stars! What has he become?’

  ‘We could put them in one of the chambers in the lowest level and then seal them within,’ Soran offered hesitantly.

  Gan nodded at him. ‘Make such arrangements when we return to the hall, Soran.’

  ‘Where are Rhaki’s quarters?’ Emla asked.

  ‘Further along this passage. But beware, he will have warded the door. He always does when he wishes to be sure of no interruptions.’

  ‘Hmm.’ Emla spun on her heel and headed for the door.

  ‘Emla,’ Kemti hurried after her. ‘Wait Emla! I can feel the wardings already, surely you can also sense them?’ He caught her elbow. ‘Wait I say!’

  Reluctantly she stopped a few paces from a door, which looked exactly like all the other doors they’d seen in this place. They probed the wardings, seeing wavering lines of red flickering in an inconsistent pattern all around and through it.

  From behind them, Bark said: ‘The Balance is beyond the study. I know how to unseal the hidden doors but Rhaki will have warded them all. My power is so limited I can only tell that wards are set, I could not begin to unravel them.’

  ‘They are complex indeed, Bark,’ Kemti wiped his forehead where concentration had caused sweat to run.

  Emla agreed. ‘We will have to wait for Tika, I think. And I have no idea how long that will be. But at least Rhaki is no longer in this stronghold. We can reach the Balance without interference from his presence.’

  A Guard approached and saluted the Lady, hand on the insignia above his heart. ‘Lady, the reinforcements are arriving.’

  ‘Well. We had best go and meet them, and arrange quarters for everyone. There can be no planning until Tika recovers.’ Emla frowned. ‘I had hoped that we could deal with the wards and save her some of this work.’

  ‘No,’ said Kemti. ‘It is clear. Rhaki has greatly increased his knowledge of many things over these Cycles, not least these wardings. At least we know we must be ever more wary if this is his idea of just a simple door ward.’

  They joined the much larger crowd now gathered in the great entrance hall. Brin and the Snow Dragons had gone to find food. Gan wondered where that could be. On his brief excursion outside, he had seen only snow-covered peaks and crevasses. Soran went to arrange the removal of bodies and confer with the officers of the newly

  arrived squad of Guards. They had been appalled at the grotesque creatures lying in the tunnels and were amazed that so few Guards appeared to have been able to slaughter them all.

  Sket was sitting beside Fenj and Lorak, all three watching Tika’s sleeping form. Kija had Jeela and Ashta lying beside her as she still curled protectively round Farn. Gan pointed out that Farn’s scales were brighter, seemed to have lost the dull, tarnished look they’d had since his wounding. Fenj told them that Tika was stronger but she was burrowed under the blankets and all that was visible was tangled black hair.

  Shan brought a tray of tea and honey rolls to the Lady. There was a difference in her Emla thought, as she accepted the tea gratefully. There was a new awareness in the round blue eyes and Emla realised that her flighty maid had seen things during the last few days for which she had been quite unprepared. If Guards had paled at the sight of those monsters, how much more shaken must this simple child have been? And yet there must have been a core of strength within her, which made her able to offer a tray of tea with steady hands. Emla confessed to herself that she had expected Shan to collapse in hysterics, but though the girl proved her judgement wrong yet again, Emla was proud of Shan’s steadfastness.

  A Guard trotted out from the barrack tunnel and craned to look over the scattered crowd.

  ‘What now?’ Kemti asked ruefully as the Guard headed purposefully in their direction.

  He saluted as he stood before Emla. ‘Officer Soran is escorting a party of – Delvers – to your presence Lady.’ The blankness in his eyes indicated that very little else would surprise him after recent events. ‘It is their leader. She is very old,’ he added.

  Emla was suddenly aware of what a mess she must look but Shan was beside her, holding a bowl of warm scented water and a towel over her arm.

  ‘Thank you, dear one.’ Emla scrubbed her face and hands, noticing that the water turned an unpleasantly dirty red, as did quite a lot of the towel.

  ‘Sit, my Lady, there is time for me to brush your hair,’ Shan ordered.

  Kemti’s eyebrows rose but Emla glared at him as she meekly sat on the floor at Shan’s feet.

  The buzz of conversation died gradually. The silence spread as the Guards nearest the barrack tunnel rose to their feet to stand to attention.

  First to appear was a Snow Dragon, prismed eyes like sparkling crystal. He paced steadily through the Guards, halting a short distance from Emla. Two male Delvers drew Nolli’s travelling chair up beside the Dragon and took one step to each side, turning to face each other. Lanni and Berri moved forward, each supporting one of the Wise One’s arms. Nolli batted the helping hands aside and stood, leaning on her stick. Her sharp black eyes flicked over the four tall People, then she gave a gummy grin.

  ‘Manners, Lord Gan! Can you not offer an arm to an ancient crone?’

  Gan grinned back at her and went to her side, bowing with a rather over embellished flourish.

  ‘At your service, Wise One.’

  Leaning heavily on her stick and Gan’s wrist, she crept the few paces to stand before Emla. Tilting her head far back she gazed up at the Golden Lady.

  ‘Greetings at last, Golden One.’ The naked gums shone pinkly again. ‘It is most

  uncomfortable – talking to you People whilst standing.’

  Emla seemed lost for words faced with this diminutive female of such great age, until Kemti nudged her rather sharply.

  ‘Oh. Will you not sit in your chair Wise One? We will sit on the floor.’

  The male Delvers pulled the odd little cart up behind Nolli and she sank back gratefully. Gan signalled his men to carry on as before Nolli’s appearance and sat on the floor with Emla, Kemti and Bark. Even then, the People’s heads’ were still level with the Delvers’. Khosa stalked between them and leapt to Nolli’s lap. A twisted hand settled on the Kephi’s back.

  ‘So, my little queen, you keep your eye on all that passes as usual.’ Nolli chuckled. Then she looked at each of the People and said in her oddly young voice: ‘The Grey One has fled. Bu
t he will have to be dealt with before much more time has passed. I offer you our sympathy for your Lady Iska.’ Nolli’s gaze settled on Bark. ‘And you are the damaged one.’

  He inclined his head in silent assent.

  ‘Long we have sung to you, knowing your pain. I tell you, it will soon cease.’

  Bark nodded, his lips stretching in the unfamiliarity of a smile. Dessi stood beside Bark and Nolli stared steadily at her.

  ‘You took life.’

  ‘Yes, many-times-grandmother. I could not see a friend die.’

  Nolli waited.

  ‘It is not so straightforward as I had believed.’

  Emla and Kemti studied the Delver child and they both slowly realised she had altered since joining them in the tunnels. Faint lines were scratched at the corners of her eyes and her mouth. She had aged. Nolli stretched out a swollen hand and Dessi moved to her chair. The twisted knuckles brushed lightly over Dessi’s face as Nolli said: ‘This time I can help, but you know now what taking life will do, child.’

  Dessi pressed a kiss on Nolli’s hand and slipped back to stand near Bark, the tiny lines smoothed away from her face.

  ‘This Lady Iska,’ said Nolli suddenly. ‘She was as a sister to you Emla?’

  Emla’s eyes shone even bigger, magnified by unshed tears. ‘She, she was killed. She cannot travel beyond.’

  Nolli shook her head. ‘She prepared for what she did, Lady. Did you not hear her call? Her spirit went beyond, willingly and safely, before Rhaki killed her body. Even as her cry came to you.’

  Emla frowned, trying to remember exactly.

  Kemti remarked: ‘We were a trifle occupied at the time, Wise One.’

  Nolli smiled. ‘Hmm. With those poor creatures I passed below?’

  ‘Poor creatures?’ Kemti repeated in disbelief.

  Nolli tutted. ‘You don’t think they were happy do you? Twisted perversions constructed by the Grey One.’

  ‘Happy or not, they were trying rather hard to rip us to pieces,’ Kemti retorted.

  Nolli laughed aloud. ‘And probably they are glad of their release from torment.’

  Shan offered a tray with a bowl of steaming, fragrant spice tea. Her eyes dropped to the misshapen hands and she put the tray on the floor, knelt and held the bowl questioningly near Nolli’s face. Nolli’s black button gaze pierced into Shan’s round blue eyes, then she nodded slightly. Gently, Shan held the bowl as the old one sipped a few mouthfuls.

  ‘Thank you child.’

  Suddenly, Lorak was there, a grimy hand leaning on Gan’s shoulder.

  ‘Tika’s near waking. Lord Fenj says another short while, and she will be up again!’ He beamed at them all and Nolli beamed toothlessly back at him, then he trotted off to spread his good news.

  ‘He has his task to do in all this, as do we all,’ said Nolli quietly. ‘Obstinate he is, as are many, but he has given his love and loyalty to you and he will be obstinate in that, as in all else.’

  ‘But he’s my gardener!’ Emla objected, and looked surprised when the others laughed.

  Nolli leaned forward. ‘I tell you quickly now, for you to ponder. Rhaki used the circles to make his escape.’

  Her listeners looked blank.

  ‘Circles such as those in your Gathering Chamber and in your Pavilion of Balance. There are many such, but alas, we have no remembrances of how they are used. Clearly the Grey One has discovered this, but I would guess that he would take the book wherein he found such wisdom with him, or he has destroyed it once he had it in his mind. The only place where knowledge of such things may still exist, is in the Wilderness, far, far towards the rising sun.’

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  Guards had checked through all of the lower levels, the kitchens, servants’ quarters, and barracks. Apart from a few Guards on duty, most of the Gaharnian forces had moved into the fighters’ barracks. Brin returned with the Snow Dragons, laden with meat for the Dragons still in the entrance hall. Emla and Kemti had stared in amazement when Mim strolled over to them. He had discarded his cloak and rolled up the sleeves of his shirt as if he at last felt warm again. The tiny gold scales glittered across his face as he smiled, sweetly as ever, at their astonishment. Emla’s finger lightly traced along one of Mim’s arms where more scales gleamed.

  ‘It began in the Delvers’ Domain, Lady.’ Mim’s fluting voice was the same at least. ‘I am glad, for now I am truly of the Dragon Kin and I have a family once more.’

  Bark approached to tell Emla chambers had been made ready for herself and for Nolli. It was late in the evening and a good night’s sleep could only benefit all of them, Tika especially. Gan bent to tell Nolli of the arrangements and a small altercation seemed to take place. Gan stood patiently, arms folded, while the Wise One muttered darkly. Finally she banged her stick on the floor and Gan, his face expressionless, lifted her easily in his arms and carried her up to the next level of rooms. Lanni and Berri trotted along behind him.

  ‘Where is Shan?’ Emla looked around the hall, now nearly empty except for the Dragons.

  ‘She sits with Iska,’ Bark replied.

  Emla looked at him in surprise. ‘I will join her for a few hours Bark.’

  ‘I will take my turn watching when you retire to your chamber Emla, but I have

  been worrying where we should bury her.’ Kemti commented.

  ‘She cannot be sealed in this place.’ Emla was firm.

  Kemti sighed. ‘We will decide tomorrow. I will get some rest while you sit with her Emla.’

  Night quiet slipped over the stronghold. The young Dragons slept curled near Kija and Brin. Mim lay beside Ashta. Only Fenj seemed awake still as Gan softly re-entered the hall.

  ‘She is safe.’ Fenj murmured to Gan’s mind.

  Gan settled himself against the wall and waited, sleepless, for the night to pass.

  As the stronghold stirred awake for its first day under a new rule, Kemti joined Gan in the great hall.

  ‘I have been studying the wardings on Rhaki’s door.’ He shook his head. ‘I see no way myself to unweave it. Tika will need to use power to release it, but how strong is she now?’

  Before Gan could say anything, Kemti lowered his voice further. ‘The healing she wrought in Farn – I have never seen the like, Gan. He should surely have died, yet she wrestled the wound, fought every tear. And she has never seen healing like that attempted, let alone tried any such herself before.’

  Gan studied Kemti’s face. The Senior had dark rings beneath his eyes and a frown above them.

  ‘And the fighting, Gan. You said Tika and Mim were scarcely better than useless with weapons, yet her blade moved like a lightning tongue leaving death wheresoever it licked.’

  ‘Do you think she herself was aware of power working through her, or it was doing so unaware, or was she using the skills we tried to teach her?’

  ‘I know little of the art of swordplay Gan – merely the basics we all learnt so many Cycles past, but she looked a champion blade.’

  As Kemti finished speaking Fenj stretched his neck, revealing Sket and Lorak either side of Tika’s waking figure.

  Groans sounded above Lorak’s gravely murmurs and then Tika hauled herself to a sitting position with the help of Lorak’s shirtfront. She sat slumped against the old man for a moment, then lifted her head, squinting at the glare of snow beyond the hole where the great door had stood. Leaning heavily on Lorak’s shoulder, Tika climbed to her feet, staggered, and would have fallen if not for Sket reaching quickly to hold her.

  Gan and Kemti sat quietly watching as the small filthy figure tottered in Kija’s direction. As she closed the distance between them, a silver blue head lifted waveringly over Kija’s golden back and sapphire eyes whirred in welcome. Ashta nudged Mim and he rose, hugging Tika as she drew level. Then he and the younger Dragons headed for the gate and Brin.

  Servants appeared from the direction of the kitchens and bore covered trays up to the higher levels. One male servant came hesitantly towards
Gan and Kemti, offering hot tea and fresh bread.

  ‘Sirs, we will bring a proper meal to you if you wish, but perhaps you will join the Lady and the others?’ He looked nervously towards Fenj and Kija.

  ‘Very well,’ Kemti answered. ‘We will go to her shortly.’

  The servant bowed and retreated. The two Seniors got to their feet and Gan moved in Kija’s direction. Farn’s eyes glimmered at Gan as Gan asked: ‘Will you join us all for breakfast Tika?’

  She looked at him and it was an effort for Gan to keep his expression neutral as his heart tightened with pity. She was really dirty, her clothes stiff with dried blood, her hair a tangled mess and her eyes – so very tired still. She touched Farn’s face gently and Kija’s, then took a pace towards Gan.

  ‘I am hungry I think, but I need to get cleaned up first.’ She gestured at her clothes.

  ‘There are chambers above for you to use, and I’m sure Shan will enjoy scrubbing you.’ Gan allowed a tentative smile to touch his face. ‘Let me clean your sword and I will return it to you at breakfast.’

  Tika looked at her hands and shuddered at the now brown blood clogged under her nails. Carefully, Gan bent and unbuckled the sword belt and lifted it away from her as Kemti held out his hand.

  ‘Come then Tika and submit to Lady Shan!’

  Tika glanced at him as she hesitantly took his hand. ‘I thought I dreamt hearing Shan ordering Emla – it wasn’t a dream then?’

  Kemti chuckled. ‘Oh no. We seem to have a rather different Shan now!’

  When Tika came into the chamber Nolli had been given and where breakfast had been set, her hair was still damp and her skin tingling from Shan’s ministrations. Emla rose immediately to enfold Tika in a close hug, deeply relieved to see her so recovered. Nolli stretched out a twisted hand and Tika went round the long table to kiss the wrinkled old cheek. Shan began to serve their food from another table but Emla caught her maid’s arm.

  ‘Sit down, dear one. You eat with us now.’