Dark Realm: Book 5 Circles of Light series

by E. M. Sinclair

  Theap reached for his foster mother, hugging her gently. Then he held her away.

  ‘Then we’ll have to change that, won’t we mama?’

  A movement behind them made them both glance round. Gossamer Tewk spread her hands in an embarrassed gesture. ‘I wasn’t prying, I’ve been following the pictures and I truly didn’t realise you were there.’

  ‘Join us.’ Emas freed her hands from Theap’s and extended one to Gossamer.

  Hesitantly Gossamer came round to the front of the couch. ‘The painting,’ she said. ‘It astonishes me. I’ve never seen anything like it.’

  ‘It is the history of our Tribe.’ Emas tugged until Gossamer had to sit or appear rude. ‘My brother, The Bear’s mage Lemos, is supposed to understand it all, but he’s never really been as interested in it as me or Theap.’ She unselfconsciously rubbed her wet cheeks. ‘Theap will explain some of it if you wish.’

  ‘I would like that but I didn’t mean to disturb you.’

  ‘Oh nonsense.’ Emas stroked Gossamer’s hand. ‘I was just being silly. Did you know, that girl Tika had never had a present given her? And the Dragons have no idea what the giving of a gift might mean?’ Her eyes brimmed with fresh tears and Gossamer frowned.

  ‘I shouldn’t think those two girls know either,’ she said.

  ‘Who are those children?’ asked Theap.

  Gossamer grimaced. ‘Didn’t you know? They are the daughters of the Imperatrix, the ruler, of Kelshan. Their elder sister hanged herself a few days ago.’

  Both Theap and Emas gaped at her in horror.

  ‘Let me explain some of it.’

  Tika had found Kija still beside the veranda. She sat on the edge as Emas had earlier but she leaned into Kija’s shoulder.

  ‘I was speaking with Lady Emas.’ Tika used mind speech. She had already seen the cushion, tiny under Kija’s arm, but she waited for Kija to tell her of it.

  ‘She gave me this.’ As though it was something immensely valuable and fragile, she handed the cushion to Tika.

  Tika held it on her knees, seeing the village picked out in grey and black, the white moonlight and the golden stars.

  ‘It’s very beautiful,’ she said at last.

  ‘She gave it to me,’ Kija repeated. ‘A gift. For me.’ A great finger tracked the line of a snowy mountain. ‘It is of no use, yet it is beautiful as you say. And the lady made it with her sewing and she gave it to me, asking nothing in return. I shall treasure it.’

  Tika handed the cushion back.

  ‘It isn’t just because the lady gave me this,’ Kija said, tucking the cushion carefully between her arm and her chest. ‘But I like these Bear people. I met others too yesterday – a very nice man. He said he was a Mad Goat but I’m not sure about that. I think I would like more time here Tika. I did not know there was so much for me still to learn.’

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Sword Master Favrian and Shield Master Garrol returned to Karmazen very soon after the meeting ended in The Bear’s den. Garrol told Sergeant Essa to stay with the strangers, partly to allow her time to catch up with her family and all the village gossip. Various squads were already escorting batches of the Kelshan guards out of the mountains. They marched them away, knowing supplies would be waiting for them at prearranged points. Favrian did not want any of the surrendered Kelshans to learn of the Dark gateways.

  Most of the horses had begun to recover in the three days since the fighting at Ghost Falls. Jemin remained in the Bear village for now, waiting for a few of his guards to recover fully. His engineers were more morose than usual. He’d been told that Rose had slipped, but from their grim faces he suspected the engineer had lost his mind rather than his footing.

  It was Gold Wing who spoke to Tika of Dog’s badly shattered leg. Tika had healed her easily, but inwardly she worried that healing seemed to be so effortless now. Too effortless. It was peaceful here, within the embrace of the mountains, and Tika had time to reflect on many recent events and try to fit them into a pattern that made sense. Onion and Darrick were present with Gold Wing when Tika mended Dog’s smashed leg. They had watched in such silent amazement that Tika fled in embarrassment to find Farn and escape once again on his back into the sky.

  In the Karmazen Palace, Favrian and Garrol went straight to the First Daughter’s rooms. They saw no change in the woman who still lay unmoving and unaware. Later, they joined Corman and Gan in Chindar’s rooms and Favrian reported on the defeat of the Kelshans. Then he continued with Tika’s report on what she’d felt in the Kelshan Citadel, ending with her accusations. His last remarks concerned Ferag’s unexpected appearance. Faces turned to Gan, who had so recently spent time in Ferag’s domains.

  ‘It interests me that Tika said the ghosts offered to protect her and the others. Then the ghosts are torn from Kelshan and arrive in the Realm of Death. You say that Ferag felt they were proud of having done so, even at the cost of their own total dissolution?’

  Favrian nodded.

  ‘I am presuming they have passed to the full death,’ Gan continued. ‘But they must have been aware of that being the likely outcome. The ghosts may not have stopped the Crazed One, but they did slow his advance. Perhaps Ferag could ask if any of the ghosts who choose to stay in her Realm would be willing to play a part in the defence of this world.’

  Garrol scratched his chin. ‘I know little of the Death Realm,’ he said, almost apologetically. ‘If ghosts stay there by choice, do you think they would offer their help to us? I think if I was a ghost, I might well resent those still in the living world.’

  Gan laughed. ‘I know what you mean, Shield Master. But I spoke with a lot of those in Ferag’s Realm. Many of them are very bored but can’t quite decide to ask for the full death or rebirth. Those may well be interested in such an opportunity to play a final part in something which affects the living.’

  ‘Go out in glory, you mean?’ Garrol grunted. ‘Some of the recruits have that sort of view of their service. We either knock such silliness out of them or send them home to their villages.’

  ‘But the ghosts have nothing to lose,’ Gan argued.

  ‘Do they not? They still have an existence of sorts, their individuality, their memories. We are not sure if the Crazed One might not take their souls for his own twisted use.’ Corman spoke quietly, his eyes fixed on Gan. ‘I will speak honestly Gan Jal Sarl. We have no idea at all just why Ferag offered you the half death and the chance to return, bodily, to this world. She has her whims and caprices, but never, never, has she given half death to any who are not of the Dark blood. Other deaths she collects and removes to her Realm, where they may choose absorption into Mother Dark, rebirth to this world, or the pale existence of the ghost.’

  Gan nodded. ‘I had worked most of that out for myself.’ He shrugged. ‘I can only repeat what I told you before. I felt that I had failed in my duty to Tika.’

  ‘But others, many others, have failed at their tasks also,’ Chindar pointed out.

  ‘So why me? The only conclusion I can reach is that I serve Tika, and Tika seems to be of very great interest to this creature of the Splintered Kingdom. Twice now, he’s had her in his grasp, and twice. .’

  ‘What?’ Corman was on his feet, leaning on the table, gold eyes brighter than Gan had yet seen them. ‘What do you mean – twice?’

  ‘From what you told me, Favrian, of the tunnels with the strange windows showing different scenes, when you rescued her, it is the same as she described before.’

  ‘When?’ Corman demanded.

  ‘When Seela was killed even as she destroyed the woman who sought to free part of the evil from its prison. Tika said she was separated from Sket, but then she smelled mint, and followed the smell. She saw windows, such as you have described.’

  ‘And she got out?’ Corman whispered.

  ‘I don’t know if she got free through her own power or if the gijan actually pulled her out.’

  They had discussed the gijan before and Chindar had
informed Gan that they knew of the long imprisonment of the few surviving Elder gijan mages. Corman straightened and paced restlessly round the room. Garrol cleared his throat. It was rare that one who was only three quarters Dark blood should reach the position of Shield Master, and he often felt an impostor in councils such as this. He felt that his blue eyes betrayed his diluted bloodline to every Dark One in the Realm, and thus diminished him somehow. Heads turned to him enquiringly.

  ‘The woman Tika is the key, obviously. But she seems unaware of that, or of how to act upon it. At the moment, I suggest that all we can do is let her be.’

  ‘I agree.’ Chindar nodded. ‘You said she was enjoying being in the mountains Favrian?’

  ‘Yes, all of them seem – more relaxed. The younger girl from Kelshan, Kerris, has only spoken to her sister as yet, about what might be happening in the Citadel. Jemin is hoping to get to know her a little too. She is younger than Shea. She could either accept who Jemin is or reject him out of hand.’

  ‘And if Jemin decides to return to Kelshan now? Those girls are the heirs,’ asked Garrol.

  ‘I’m sure neither of them will wish to go back to the place which holds only unpleasant memories for them.’ Corman sounded definite.

  ‘But if Jemin chooses to go,’ Garrol persisted. ‘Will we support him now, or will we let him go back to raise the clans?’

  ‘It must wait for now,’ said Chindar. He stared at Favrian. ‘We’ve known the location of the Splintered Kingdom for half a year. Coby reported last night that it’s moved again.’

  ‘Moved?’ Gan was startled. ‘I didn’t know places moved.’

  ‘From talking with Lady Emla, I believe you know a little of what you call the Places Between? The Splintered Kingdom is – similar. All of them fluctuate, approach this world more nearly, or recede from it. Coby says the Splintered Kingdom is no longer where it was. More importantly, she cannot divine even approximately where it is now.’

  ‘Another thing,’ Corman put in. ‘The Lady Emla told me your people have always had the ability to speak mind to mind. Then she discovered that many other species could do so. We did not know of this and we have never known it here.’

  Gan considered his answer carefully before he spoke. ‘The people of Drogoya use mind speech to a much lesser extent than we do,’ he said at last. ‘The people of Malesh, south of the great desert that separates them from our lands of Sapphrea, had no such gift. Among the mages I think it was used a little, but it had to be taught. Do you think this has a bearing on the Crazed One’s interest in Tika?’

  He looked round the table at the serious faces watching him, waiting for one of them to reply. He was surprised that it was the Shield Master who did so.

  ‘As far as I can see, it is the only thing that has any consistency. Something happened in the north of your lands Gan, which to me smacks of influence by the Crazed One.’

  Gan frowned. ‘You mean Lady Emla’s brother Rhaki? He had long been known to crave power, then he moved north to the Stronghold. He experimented with genetics, of which we knew nothing. I know Emla suspects he was somehow reached by Cho Petak, the leader of Drogoya, but we have heard nothing of him since he fled the Stronghold.’

  ‘And before that? Had this Rhaki met Tika?’

  Gan struggled to remember what Tika might have mentioned to him. ‘He may have visited Lord Hargon – the man who owned Tika from her birth – so he just might have seen her as a much younger child.’ He sounded doubtful.

  Chindar and Corman both nodded.

  ‘There is a link,’ said Chindar. ‘Tenuous it may be, but Tika has been noticed over many years. But for what specific reason? I would say, on the strength of a few brief chats with her, that she has no dreams of wealth, or power, nor has an inclination to enjoy the pain of others. So what can he want with her?’

  There was another long silence while each man pondered. Shield Master Garrol got to his feet and walked to the door.

  ‘I will visit the First Daughter, then check the duty lists before I go to bed.’ He paused as he was pulling the door closed behind him. ‘Seems to me, Tika and the Crazed One are complete opposites. I can see no similarities to link them. Good night.’

  Corman also stood. ‘I think Garrol has the right of it, but why would the Crazed One want to possess his very opposite – I’d have thought he’d keep as far from her as possible.’

  Gan left with Corman and they walked in silence towards Lerran’s great chamber. Corman went to the long sideboard and poured two goblets of the blood drink. He brought one to Gan who stood by the outer archway, watching the moonlight dance on the vast expanse of sea far below.

  ‘Failure or no, I don’t think I can do this for long, Corman.’

  Corman studied the very tall, thin Asatarian who was now dressed in similar black shirt, trousers and boots as himself.

  ‘I know. It is very difficult being in this world yet not part of it.’

  ‘How have you managed for so very long?’

  Corman sipped his drink. ‘I failed Lerran. I will serve until I redeem that failure. I have different reasons though Gan, which are mine alone.’

  Corman strolled to the edge of the terrace and Gan followed.

  ‘And what will you ask of Ferag?’

  Gan gave a rueful smile. ‘We have found Asatarians cannot breed successfully with the people of this world. Do you think then that my soul might survive a rebirth in a human child?’

  ‘A dilemma I agree. I think you should ask Coby, or another who studies such things.’

  ‘What if I choose to go to your Mother Dark?’ asked Gan, genuinely curious.

  ‘Your memories will return to her, to hold forever, but that little spark of your soul will go back in rebirth.’

  Gan laughed. ‘So either way I’ll have to risk rebirth. Not such a choice after all.’

  ‘If you choose rebirth, you may, just may, remember some of this life. If Mother Dark sends you forth again, you will remember nothing.’

  A screeching laugh brought both men swinging round fast. Hag strutted in front of them, her eyes glittering in the light of the moon.

  ‘Why are you here?’ Corman snapped.

  ‘Ferag’s quite right – you have no manners.’ Hag peered at Gan and cackled. ‘I smell the Realm of Death about you. One of Ferag’s games?’ she sneered.

  ‘Since when have you been so free with Ferag’s name, Hag? You lost some feathers last time you annoyed her, if I remember right.’

  Hag hissed and spread her wings, gliding into the archway without further comment. Gan looked rather alarmed.

  ‘Where is she going?’

  ‘Probably to visit Lerran.’

  A screech echoed out to them, followed by a man’s bellow of rage. Corman raised a brow.

  ‘It sounds as though Hag discovered Peshan visiting his sister.’

  At Gan’s confused expression he added: ‘No one knows, or can recall, why they detest each other so. It’s just one of those things.’

  A black winged fury hurtled from the archway, wheeling up and north, over the town. Corman drained his goblet and wandered back inside.

  ‘Will the First Daughter recover?’ Gan asked, watching Corman refill their goblets. He had been stunned when he’d first seen the woman’s ruined body, and he found it hard, if not impossible, to believe that she could regain even a semblance of normality.

  Corman’s gold eyes met Gan’s briefly then flicked away to the lamps above the empty hearth. He sat in an armchair and stretched out his legs, crossing them at the ankle.

  ‘Once before she descended deep into the Dark. But not this deep. It took half a year for her to return to us and another two full years to regain the strength she had before that descent. The physical alterations were much less apparent; there was no facial disfigurement. This time – who knows? Only Mother Dark.’

  Gan took the armchair opposite Corman and they sat, lost in their own thoughts, long into the night.

  The first the Imp
eratrix knew of anything wrong was a messenger saying her presence was urgently requested in the young ladies’ apartments. Again. Veranta had been having a long bath and enjoying several large glasses of a particularly good wine. Mellia’s suicide had exasperated her. All that work on a marriage alliance gone for nothing. The girl had resembled her father physically, clearly she was as mentally weak as he’d been too.

  As soon as she’d inspected Mellia’s body and been convinced the girl had taken her own life rather than been murdered, she hurried to her own suite. In the ornate chest where she kept such important papers, she dug out the banker’s settlement. Signed, sealed and witnessed a few days after Mellia’s birth, and less than a moon before his own sudden death. Where such things were concerned, Veranta was extremely thorough. The settlement had been witnessed by Waxin Pule and two of the most respected lawyers in Kelshan. The banker’s considerable fortune indeed reverted to Mellia’s mother in the event of Mellia dying without issue.

  Veranta debated briefly whether to change into her usual trousers and jacket and decided to stay in the hideous floral silk dressing gown she’d put on after her bath. It had been a tedious and endless morning in the public hall, listening to Councillors and Guild Masters and Mistresses mouthing nonsensical platitudes about Mellia’s beauty and wisdom. Then she’d had to deal with army matters and ridiculous trade proposals.

  She’d hoped for a quiet evening, enlivened with conversation, of sorts, with a very young, very newly promoted junior officer. And instead she was tramping half across the Citadel’s top storey to her daughters’ rooms once more. Her escorting guards halted as Veranta approached the great door. The two men guarding that door sprang to attention, both older men, familiar to the Imperatrix.

  ‘What now?’ she asked curtly.

  The man on the left replied. ‘My lady, the maids came out a short time ago in great distress. All they said was that something has happened. They became afraid and ran to the tutor’s room but it was locked against them. They heard groans and screams from within. They ran to the Lady Kerris but she was not in her room. Then they came out to us and I sent a messenger to you my lady. Although the maids seemed near hysteria they were adamant there were no intruders or signs of any. Thus we have not yet entered, preferring to await your instruction, lady.’