Tika was down the first few steps before Sket pushed her aside.
‘You wear a sword,’ he muttered. ‘Let’s hope you can remember the basic drills.’
She snorted but didn’t waste breath answering. The stairs were far more narrow than they ones they’d so recently climbed and they were spiral rather than zigzag flights. A smell rose towards them on an up rush of damp air.
‘Stables,’ was Sket’s terse comment.
A grey light increased as they descended. All Tika could hear was the sound of their feet on the stone and their breathing. But then Tika crashed into Sket’s back, and those behind her thudded into her. In the momentary pause before Sket began bounding faster down the stairs, they heard the clang of metal on metal.
It wasn’t much brighter in the stone built barn into which they emerged, but it was light enough to see green uniformed men fighting Jemin’s black clad guards. Tika spun to find Cyrek.
‘Can you make them stop?’ she demanded urgently. ‘That binding you did to Konya?’
He shook his head. ‘Not in these circumstances.
She turned back to the fighting, prepared to charge in, when she saw The Bear’s axe slice easily through a man’s neck. She watched, momentarily frozen as the head flew across the room and the body remained upright, blood fountaining between its shoulders. But that seemed to be the end of the fight. The very few green uniformed men still standing dropped their weapons and held their hands clear of their bodies. Before Jemin could speak, Tika strode forward.
‘Did the Imperatrix come this way?’ Her voice cut through the moans of wounded guards huddled on the floor.
One, who’d surrendered, looked at her, his face whitening when he saw her eyes.
‘Yes lady. She ordered a horse saddled with all speed. She said enemies of Kelshan were following her. She rode out only a short while past.’
Tika gritted her teeth, forcing herself to calm. Her mind went out beyond the Citadel, following the trail of evil. Cyrek pushed past the men, running to the double doors of the great barn. He left the door ajar but the wind brought in the strong smell of burnt cinnamon. Then cries of alarm and horror were raised, and Tika knew Cyrek had taken Dragon form.
The barn door hurtled open and some twenty green uniformed men burst in, swords at the ready.
‘Hold!’ A voice barked the order and an old man came through the guards.
He glared at the intruders, his eyes passing over the black uniformed men and the huge warrior holding a massive axe as though it weighed nothing. Then his gaze went back to the man beside the warrior. He stared in bewilderment, taking a hesitant step forward.
‘What new evil is this? You cannot be Jarvos.’
‘Indeed not General Beslow, but I am his son.’
The General came close, peering at Jemin’s face in the dim light.
‘So you are,’ he breathed. ‘Then the report I had that Whilk was in the City must be true? He is with you?’
‘Well, he is in the City yes, but I am here with my own guards and friends.’ Jemin nodded in Tika’s direction.
General Beslow saw a tiny woman, with short dark hair in tangled curls, and brilliant green eyes set in silver. As he stared, two more people emerged from the stairs, a healer and a young man who was also dressed in black uniform. The man looked up and Beslow’s mouth hung open. The man’s eyes were bright gold. Beslow swung back to Jemin.
‘You are in league with the monsters?’ he asked in disbelief.
Jemin bit his tongue. He really didn’t think this was the time for long explanations but he had to make Beslow understand some of it.
‘The monsters are part of an evil being which comes from beyond this world. We are all in great peril from it.’ He took a breath. ‘The Dark Realm took me in and gave me a home since my father’s death. They are a very private people who would not normally involve themselves with any others. They have fought this evil before and have decided that they must help us now. Yes, some of the Dark Ones have mage powers, but this man for instance - ’ he touched The Bear’s arm. ‘This man is the leader of the Bear tribe in the Dark Realm. The ways of the tribes mirror the ways of the wild clans here.’
Beslow listened with great attention. He pointed at Tika. ‘She is a Dark One?’
‘No. She comes from lands far across the sea, but she too has fought this cursed creature and has suffered much because of it. She has mage powers.’
Another female came round Tika to approach the Prince and the General.
‘I am Shea,’ she said simply.
‘You vanished. We believed you dead,’ Beslow whispered.
Shea smiled. ‘I ran away and the Dark Realm rescued me. Then we came back for Kerris.’ Her face clouded. ‘We were too late for Mellia.’
Beslow could only stare. His mind whirled with too many shocks in too short a time. He grasped hold of one thought.
‘If the Imperatrix is dead, Lady Shea will accede.’
Shea snorted. ‘I am no longer “Lady” Shea. I have no wish to rule, or even live in Kelshan now. If it is necessary I will name my uncle Jemin Imperator.’
‘My men reported the Imperatrix dead, with the four guards who escorted her.’
Jemin glanced at Tika who put an arm round Shea’s waist. ‘The Imperatrix is dead,’ she said softly. ‘The creature which used her body at the end still exists. Her guards are dead and their horses.’
Beslow studied her. ‘And do you know this through your mage powers?’ His tone held a nervous curiosity.
Tika gave him the hint of a smile. ‘Yes I do. But Lord Cyrek may have more detail for you if you wish it.’ She looked beyond Beslow as Cyrek entered the barn, bringing with him the scent of cinnamon.
Beslow spun to face the tall thin man with the blazing gold eyes. Again he was lost for words. Cyrek ignored the Kelshan guards and General Beslow, going straight to stand before Jemin and Shea. He touched his left thumb to his brow, his lips, his heart, then spread his hand palm up towards them.
‘The Imperatrix is dead, but the Crazed One still lives. He slid away and I was unable to tell which direction he took.’
He glanced at Tika then finally looked fully at General Beslow.
‘The creatures are no longer gathering outside your Citadel. They are spreading throughout the City.’
‘Are they seeking the Crazed One?’ Tika asked thoughtfully. ‘Do you think they would join with him, multiplying the power?’
Cyrek gave a bitter laugh. ‘My belief is they seek to destroy him. They are all of them crazed remember.’
A scruffy woman in the black of the Dark Realm, wearing a badly dented helmet, grinned at Cyrek.
‘Looks like we’ll be needed then.’
Cyrek’s mouth twitched in spite of himself. ‘I suspect you are right Dog. Will you be able to find what you need here to make your – erm – weapons?’
Dog shrugged. ‘Me and the General can have a little chat, see what he might have in the way of ingredients.’
Jemin coughed. ‘And could you alert your men to the presence of General Whilk in the City? It would be good to hear how he’s managed to deal with any creatures he might have met. There are Kelshan officers with him, all wearing this uniform.’
‘How did the Imperatrix’s invading army fare, sir?’
‘About half of them were killed General, half were taken prisoner. The prisoners have been taken deeper into the Realm and will be given their freedom amongst the local people. They are unlikely to be allowed to return to Kelshan but that must be discussed later.’
Tika longed to speak to Cyrek, to learn what exactly had happened when he’d caught up with the fleeing Imperatrix. But that would have to wait.
‘General, is there a room, preferably overlooking the City, which we can use as a central base?’
The General had been watching Konya trying to work on the wounded Kelshans and Tika followed the direction of his gaze.
‘Simert’s Balls,’ she said loudly, causing Gossa
mer and Shea considerable amusement.
Tika knelt beside the healer who had bared the guard’s chest to reveal a bad gash which left his ribs clearly visible. Konya sat back on her heels. Tika leaned over the man who was still conscious. A stillness came over her, and heads turned towards her. Konya and General Beslow watched the tissues close, the flesh spread across the gaping wound, until the guard’s chest showed only a pink line where a sword had slashed him.
The General muttered under his breath and Dog regarded him solemnly.
‘Done that for me, she did. My leg was smashed to bits, bone sticking out. She mended it just as easy as that.’
The General turned his head and met Dog’s steady gaze. ‘That’s why I serve her.’
Tika had moved to the next injured man, Konya following in stunned silence.
‘She is very, very special,’ Dog whispered to Beslow. ‘Even a dumb engineer can see that.’
Guard after guard was helped to his feet by comrades as Tika worked on each wounded man, Sket always at her shoulder. When Tika rose from the last, she swayed. Sket caught her arm but she smiled and pushed him away.
‘She gave her own strength to heal the injuries.’ A rich baritone murmured beside Beslow.
He saw it was the man who was dressed the same as the huge warrior.
‘Lemos,’ he introduced himself, and raised his chin to reveal the mass of scars across his throat. ‘I am mage to The Bear and I have had my voice returned after thirty five years of croaking like a frog.’
Beslow could only shake his head. He forced his thoughts into some kind of order and began giving instructions to the Kelshan guards. They rapidly dispersed and Beslow considered where to locate the command room Tika had requested. Tika had suggested that the wounded men should rest for a full day before resuming their duties, but they simply refused. Beslow watched the awed respect on their faces and knew they were her men now, regardless of the colour of their uniforms, in a way Veranta had never been able to win the loyalty of any.
Beslow led the way from the barn attached to a large stable block, across a yard through pouring rain, and in through one of the still accessible doors. He watched the guards’ eyes studying his companions and knew word had already spread. He took them back up yet more stairs to the public level and showed them the Lesser Council hall. Four long windows faced east over the City, as Tika had requested, and a large rectangular table stood in the centre of the room. Tika nodded, caught Sket’s eye and smiled.
‘Would there be a kitchen close by?’ she asked.
‘There’s a small stove, for making tea, in the guard post along the corridor,’ one of the healed Kelshan guards informed her quickly.
‘Show me the way,’ Sket ordered, and left with the guard.
Tika shrugged an apology at Beslow. ‘Sket can’t last too long without his precious tea.’
Beslow was saved from having to reply by a breeze riffling through the hall. The General saw alarm on most of the faces around him and wondered wearily what might be happening now. Turning, he found an extraordinarily beautiful woman standing at the far end of the table. Long red hair swirled round her head and shoulders, and the skirts of her equally dark red dress also moved as if a strong wind was gusting about her. Perplexed as to how this woman had entered the room, he began to ask her who she was. But the woman was striding around the table, her face dark with anger.
‘Which one of you sent her?’ she demanded, glaring from face to face.
Beslow became rather more alarmed when he saw the apprehension on the great warrior’s face.
‘She is quite impossible. I will not have such people in my Realm. At the least, you could have asked my permission.’ She folded her arms and scowled at Cyrek.
‘It was a matter of some urgency, Ferag,’ he replied in his most soothing tone. ‘The Crazed One had possession of her.’
Ferag’s hair tossed in a positive gale. ‘You could have sent the Crazed One into my Realm with no warning to me?’ Her voice became lower and the temperature in the room plummeted.
‘Obviously, I hoped it would not be too much of an inconvenience,’ Cyrek began.
Ice formed on the stone walls and Tika stuck her hands in her pockets, partly for warmth and partly to conceal their shaking. Ferag bothered her quite considerably.
‘Simert’s Teeth, who is this woman?’ Beslow finally found his voice.
Ferag turned slowly and the General flinched. But he received a smile rather than a blast of ice as he’d rather feared.
‘Of course! Oh you clever man! Simert could have her. She certainly can’t stay with me. A particularly obnoxious female, strutting about, trying to tell me what I should do.’
‘But I thought you said Simert - ’ Shea unwisely interrupted.
Ferag moved nearer the General. ‘I shall call Simert then.’ She overrode Shea’s words.
There was a conical burst of smoke from the floor. When it cleared, a small, somewhat portly man stood near Ferag. He appeared weary and also rather annoyed.
‘What is it?’ He sounded annoyed as well. ‘I’m extremely busy at the moment Ferag. Can’t it wait?’
‘No it can’t,’ Ferag snapped back. ‘Somehow, these fools,’ she waved generally at the group frozen by the other wall. ‘These fools have sent me something called an Imperatrix, and I definitely don’t want her.’
The elderly man grinned. ‘Really? Well she’s not too popular with my lot.’
Ferag gave him a wonderful smile. ‘Then they would surely enjoy playing with her wouldn’t they Simert dear?’
Simert ruminated. ‘I suppose so. But I think you should take a few of mine in exchange. Fair’s fair.’
Ferag pouted. ‘Only a few then darling, you know they often don’t settle well when we swap them about.’
Simert nodded. ‘I’ll expect her then. Can’t stop.’ He was gone.
‘Was that really Simert?’ Gossamer Tewk’s whisper reached Ferag.
‘Of course it was darling. A sweet man, most of the time. Well, I simply must be off. I want that woman out of my Realm at once. But do not make a mistake like that again.’
The last words were addressed to Cyrek. Before Ferag could vanish, Tika forced herself a step forward.
‘Can any like Simert have any power over the Crazed One do you think?’ she asked.
Ferag’s deliciously arched brows swept down in the slightest frown of concentration. Then she shrugged.
‘Some of them might I suppose my dear. But you’d have to ask them.’ She vanished, and ice on the walls melted and ran down to puddle on the floor.
The healer Konya cleared her throat. ‘Was that truly Simert, the God of Death? Forgive my doubting the lady’s words but I – erm – am not used to such – happenings. And who was that lady anyway?’
Tika laughed, tension draining away. ‘Yes, that was Simert, and the lady was Ferag, Mistress of Death in the Dark Realm. Of the two, I think I’d prefer to take my chances with Simert.’
Sket and the Kelshan guard reappeared with two large trays on which pots of tea steamed. Sket stopped and stared round the hall frowning.
‘Ferag just visited,’ Shea informed him. ‘And she brought Simert with her.’
‘Ah. Right. But she’s gone now?’
Sket met Tika’s eyes. Tika nodded that all was well.
Beslow seemed to have reached the end of his endurance and he sat heavily on the nearest chair. Konya began pouring bowls of tea and took one to the General. A guard marched into the hall and saluted.
‘General Whilk is at the south entrance sir. Shall we bring him here?’
Beslow nodded, feeling older, and more tired, than he would have believed possible.
Chapter Thirty-One
General Whilk and his surviving officers arrived looking the worse for wear. Tika noticed several faces missing and felt a spasm of guilt that she couldn’t think of the names. She sat at the table, leaning back, a tea bowl warming her chilly fingers, and watched the different
people in this company she found herself part of. She noted Onion, Darrick and Dog were in deep conversation with two quite young Kelshan guards. No doubt discussing the making of those awful poppers.
Shea was with Lemos and the healer Konya, clearly interested in their earnest talk. Like her, Daylith sat quietly near the other end of the table, listening to the Generals and Jemin. As ever, Gossamer Tewk seemed aloof, but Tika knew she was really watching and listening with the closest attention. Cyrek stood by one of the long windows, idly tracing the line a raindrop was making down the glass.
Tika strolled across to stand next to him. ‘Tell me what happened,’ she said softly.
The Dark Lord slanted a glance at her, then resumed his observation of the raindrop. ‘I killed her, and her escort. That is what happened.’
‘When did you know he had taken the Imperatrix?’
‘Shortly after you, I believe.’
‘Did you think you could destroy him if you destroyed her?’
‘No.’ Cyrek looked at her. His gold eyes blazed and she saw a savagery there she’d not seen before.
She waited.
‘In Dragon form it is very hard to quell the hunger. Especially knowing what that woman had made her daughters suffer.’ The blaze died and he was Lord Cyrek once more. He sighed. ‘We are trained never to feed when we are in our Dragon form.’ Now his expression revealed only sadness. ‘We would become wholly Dragon when once we get a taste for raw flesh. There is no turning back from that path. But today, the temptation was very strong.’
‘People saw you as Dragon.’
‘Not many. Guards on the watch walk, a very few in the streets. What can you sense of the creatures Tika? Beslow said he’d had reports of maybe thirty sightings. I would guess there are far more.’
Dark Realm: Book 5 Circles of Light series Page 39
