Tika climbed unsteadily to her feet. ‘I’ll speak to the ghosts for a while. Call me when Drengle’s been convinced he’ll be safe.’
To Gossamer Tewk’s great annoyance, Drengle List and Snail found travelling through a Dark gateway as exhilarating as did Shea and Tika. She was unfairly gratified to see Konya felt as nauseated as Sket and herself. It had no effect on the three Kelshans as far as she could tell, so she ignored their unspeakably cheerful faces. Shivan opened the gateway in the meadow a little below the Bear village and he now watched in amazed delight as four Dragons spiralled down from the brilliant blue sky above them. Tika was flattened by a wildly excited Farn and shouts echoed from the village as their arrival was noted. Dignity thrown to the winds, Emas raced towards them and was engulfed by The Bear. Lemos also received a strangling embrace before Emas remembered her position as the gracious wife of a chief, greeting the others and offering hospitality.
Tika scrambled onto Farn’s back and he lifted into the air, the sunlight glittering on his silver blue scales. Shivan watched open mouthed and then found Kija’s golden eyes staring into his. Her eyes whirred suddenly as Shivan projected his greeting directly into the Dragon’s mind. He stiffened, his thoughts turned inside out in a manner Tika would have recognised all too well from her earliest days with the Dragons. He swallowed hard when Kija withdrew. She put her face closer to his.
‘We will talk, you and I.’
She paced elegantly towards the edge of the meadow and Shivan trailed behind her like a scolded child. Kija had found a hollowed piece of ground which gave shelter from the frequent chilly winds. Here she could bask in the sun yet still keep a watchful eye on the village, and on Storm and Farn. She’d learnt, from that brief inspection of Shivan’s mind, that Tika had been in much greater danger than Lord Cyrek had thought fit to mention. But this Dark Lord was very young: he would tell her all she needed to know. Kija settled herself in her chosen hollow and Shivan hovered nervously in front of her. He hadn’t missed the fact that curls of smoke were wisping from her nostrils.
‘Sit,’ she ordered him. ‘And tell me all – all – that has passed with my daughter.’
Farn carried Tika high, the sun burning on her back while cold air buffeted her face. Gradually he came lower again, circling slowly above the Ghost Falls. They had said nothing mind to mind, since they left the village, both utterly content with each other’s physical presence. He landed smoothly in front of a cluster of dark pine trees, the moisture on their needles condensed from the endless spray rising from the Falls. Farn waited until Tika slid from his back and settled comfortably against his chest.
‘Lord Cyrek didn’t tell me the truth.’ Farn’s mind tone was calm but she felt anger smouldering very close to the surface.
‘No, perhaps he didn’t. But he didn’t actually lie to you Farn.’ Tika stroked the long, beloved face that drooped over her shoulder as he curved himself protectively around her.
‘There is less meat on your bones than I could find on a hopper.’
With Farn’s bulk sheltering her and the roar of the falling water as accompaniment, Tika showed Farn all she’d experienced. He wept when she spoke of Gan; he grew excited when she told of Iska, and silent when she described her descent into the Dark. She showed him the scale which Lord Dabray had given her and he studied it closely. She wondered why she hadn’t shown it to him before. Dabray had not asked that she conceal it from anyone, yet somehow she’d felt it necessary to hide it away, with Seela’s.
Farn insisted she unbutton her shirt so that he might inspect the burn. The pendant was in its leather pouch attached to her belt as the burn between her breasts was still an open wound, sore and weeping. Tika was fastening the last button when a bugling cry ricocheted between the encircling mountain walls. Brin landed in front of them, rushing forward fast to greet Tika, regardless of the three riders who half fell, half slid from his back.
Farn watched The Bear’s children observing Tika, and his anger began to rise again. All three were shocked by his Tika’s gaunt appearance and unable to conceal that shock. Tika stepped back when Essa would have embraced her. Seeing the quickly hidden hurt in Essa’s eyes, Tika explained about her burned chest. She gave them a brief account of what had happened in Kelshan and then, suddenly worn out, suggested they return to the village.
Drengle List was overcome with shy embarrassment by the kindness of the villagers, their easy acceptance of him, to the point where he had to go and sit on the boundary wall by himself for a while. Shea was sent to fetch him to a low round house where a feast had been set out. Emas, well informed by her husband and brother, guided Tika to a small bedroom within her own house as soon as she arrived back with Farn. She put hot food on a chest by the bed and helped Tika undress, sliding one of her own night gowns over Tika’s head and helping her settle against the pillows.
Emas held the plate and fed her, mouthful by mouthful. When Tika’s eyelids began to droop, Emas asked questions, forcing her to stay awake until all the food was gone. When it was, Tika slid lower in the bed.
‘Thank you,’ she murmured, and was sound asleep.
Emas studied her. She was appalled at her thinness, the ribs standing out under the small breasts. And that hideous burn! Emas brushed the tangled curls off Tika’s forehead and watched her lips twitch into a smile. What memory had she disturbed by that action, she wondered. She lifted the empty plate and went to the door. Sket sat outside on the floor, Dog opposite. Emas felt tears rising and forced them back. She pushed the door open again.
‘I’ll bring blankets for you both,’ she whispered, and fled.
As she pulled blankets from her store cupboard, she puzzled over this child – Tika was much younger than her three, and she was so small she seemed even younger. Yet that man who travelled with her – Sket. Emas knew he would die content protecting Tika. The engineer, Dog, was the same. And Shea – that child would follow wherever Tika led. Her own daughter Essa: Emas knew she was torn between her sworn duty to the Sword Master and the pull of this strange young woman. Who was she? What was she?
He was furiously, insanely, angry. Once again he’d had that girl within his grasp, and again she’d eluded him. He shifted his crippled body in his chair. His hooded eyes watched the lamplight twist through the shadows in the corners of his luxurious room. A snarl wrenched his lips, exposing the tusks in his lower jaw. The goblet flew from his clawed hand, the jewels which encrusted it breaking away and scattering on the tiled floor.
He had deliberately let those creatures escape, the stupidest of his collection, thinking they would distract attention from him and let him creep closer to the girl. But their stupidity had been doubly proved: they’d scented his own power when he possessed that second woman and had turned on him, forcing him to flee. His hands flexed. He stood on two misshapen legs, one of which appeared to have broken again.
He limped across the room, precious stones crunching under his boots. He was so used to pain the broken bone scarcely bothered him. It would heal in half a day. His power ensured such rapid healing in his own body.Outside this room, servants cowered, terrified of his summons. He turned again and hobbled to the window behind his chair.
He stared out into a bright scene, sunshine glinting on gentle waves, a fair haired man supported by others and watched by stupid Dragons. He lifted a hand, clenched his fist and twisted it viciously. The man jerked, his back arching convulsively before he slumped lifeless in the arms of one who held him. He threw back his head and gave a shout of laughter which turned into a hacking cough. Scowling, he pulled a curtain across the window.
Rubbing his upper chest, he limped to a long table and poured liquid from one of several exquisite crystal decanters. When had his chest bones snapped? He couldn’t remember. They’d healed of course but as they had not been set properly they constricted his chest now. He drank down the contents of another goblet and went back to his chair. Once more he watched the shadows writhe as if living, round the edges of his
room, and began plotting the capture of that brat, again.
Chapter Thirty-Three
Tika woke with an immense sense of relief. She lay still in the small bed, watching the light grow brighter in the long horizontal slit of a window that ran high along the wall. It was sufficient to shed light into the room she realised, but not large enough for any attacker to get in. Sket’s head rose above the edge of the bed and she smiled at him.
‘I’m fine,’ she said before he could ask.
He grinned. ‘Then I’ll find some tea.’
It was then that she saw Dog huddled under blankets across the room. When Sket had gone, Tika struggled to sit up, cursing quietly as she felt the scab tear between her breasts. Dog’s large square hands lifted her easily but when she would have moved away, Tika caught the engineer’s arm.
‘Why do you stay Dog?’ Tika asked.
‘Partly ’cause you fixed my leg.’ Dog lowered her head so Tika couldn’t see her face. ‘You took the pain about Rose too. And I just knew that my life is somehow tied up with yours now. I have to stay close.’ Her head came up again. ‘’Sides, that poor old Sket has to sleep some time. Can’t guard you all night and day.’ Dog stood as Sket reappeared.
‘Nobody about much yet,’ he commented, handing tea to both Tika and Dog. ‘After last night, I doubt many will be up before midday.’
‘Did I miss something?’ Tika enquired.
Sket grunted. ‘The Bear gave a very - ’
‘Colourful,’ interrupted Dog.
‘Colourful,’ agreed Sket. ‘A colourful account of what happened in Kelshan. And that young Kerris won’t be budged from here any time soon. These Bears make two different sorts of drink in the villages. A kind of ale and something else, a bit like Lorak’s restorative.’
‘Call it honey spirit,’ Dog put in. ‘Deadly.’
‘Hmm. I only had a couple of sips. But Lorak would love it.’
Tika made a mental note to avoid any contact with the stuff.
Dog went to answer a gentle rap at the door. Shivan stood there, holding a large tray heaped with food and with something of a nervous expression.
‘Emas says you must eat all of it.’
‘Come in,’ Tika invited him.
Sket relieved the young Dark Lord of the tray and Shivan shifted from foot to foot. Tika narrowed her eyes and pointed to the end of her bed.
‘Sit.’
Shivan flinched but did as she ordered. What ever had happened to him, she wondered.
‘Erm, I had a long talk, a very long talk, with Kija,’ he began, and Sket choked on a mouthful of bread.
Dog thumped his back with vigour while Tika fought to keep her expression serious.
‘She’s a very forceful character, isn’t she?’ Shivan spoke with some feeling. ‘She actually frightened me.’
He sent those words directly into her mind and Tika spilt her tea over the bed covers.
‘You can use mind speech,’ she said aloud in astonishment. ‘Corman told me it was unknown among your people. And you were much too loud,’ she added as an afterthought.
‘I’ve been practising,’ Shivan told her eagerly. ‘With my cat.’
‘Aah. Cats.’ Sket nodded. ‘I hope our two are all right. Khosa’s been odd lately don’t you think Tika?’
Shivan didn’t recognise the name so Sket explained about Khosa and Akomi while Tika watched Shivan.
‘Have you seen the First Daughter?’ Tika interrupted the discussion on cats.
Shivan sobered. ‘Father took me to visit her just before I left Karmazen. There is no change in her he said.’
‘And you have descended into the Dark?’
Shivan shot her a guilty glance. ‘We have to, once we’ve taken Dragon form.’
‘Under supervision I would guess?’ Tika persisted.
‘Hmm.’
‘But you’ve done it since – without that supervision.’
‘Well, perhaps, once or twice.’
Tika nodded, accepting more bread from Sket. It was still warm, thickly sliced and spread with a delicious creamy cheese. She thought as she ate. Shivan was very different from the Dark Ones she’d met so far. Cyrek had been right in saying his mind was “different”. Shivan was curious about everything, but he had not yet learned caution. She suspected Kija might have some interesting ideas about this young man. Swallowing her last mouthful she swung her legs out of bed. Shivan leapt to the door when Tika began to pull off her borrowed nightgown, but she called him back.
‘Look at this while I dress.’ She handed him the pouch which contained her pendant.
Shivan crossed the room to get the best of the light to examine the pendant and Konya arrived with a pot of salve to apply to Tika’s burn. A sharp clean scent spiked through the room when the pot was unstoppered.
‘If you could just keep absolutely still for two or three days, this would be able to mend.’ Konya sat back while Tika closed her shirt. ‘I know, I know, you won’t stay still. But can you not help your body heal itself?’
Tika shook her head. ‘Can you?’ she asked.
Konya gave a rueful smile. ‘No. I’ve not yet met a healer who can.’
Tika stood up. ‘I intend to stay in the village for a few days,’ she announced. ‘And I will try not to move too much,’ she added to Konya.
Tika went out to the wide verandah which circled The Bear’s house and shivered. The sun was just above the mountains, the sky was clear and already a brilliant blue, but the wind smelled of snow as it rushed down from the great peaks to the north of the village.
Emas emerged, a bundle in her arms. ‘Here, put this on. Thin as you are you’ll feel the cold.’
A bright green woollen jacket was tugged over Tika’s shirt and Emas fastened long bone buttons across the front. Almost immediately Tika felt warmer. The jacket was thick – she’d thought it would feel heavy but she hardly noticed its weight. Emas nodded approval at Tika’s surprise.
‘I’ll sort out some more for you,’ she said, turning to go back indoors. ‘And just make sure you keep eating.’
Tika walked slowly along the verandah and found Kija comfortably reclined on the side sheltered from the wind. The pillow Emas had given her was beside the golden Dragon. Kija’s eyes whirred, the prisms buttery yellow. Tika hugged her, careful of her burnt chest.
‘You told Farn all of it.’ Kija spoke to her mind alone.
‘And I think you gave Shivan a pretty thorough questioning.’
Kija huffed. ‘Of course I did. He reminds me a little of you and a little of Mim. He has a good soul.’
‘He’s very young,’ Tika began.
Kija’s laugh pealed over the village and people going about their early chores glanced towards their chief’s house.
‘He’s older than you are.’
‘But he’s been sheltered safe in Karmazen. He hasn’t faced Shardi, or fought sword to sword with any enemy.’ Tika retorted. ‘And he hasn’t met a Plavat.’
Kija had loathed the giant birds who’d arrived in the Northern Stronghold. Mention of them was enough to cause smoke to curl round her face.
‘And we might well travel to Drogoya next. That is where they breed I believe.’
Shivan joined them but after a glance at Kija he started to back away. ‘I brought your pendant, but I can see you’re busy.’
‘No,’ Tika grinned at him. ‘Let’s walk a little. Kija is trying not to think about some birds we met.’
‘Birds?’ Shivan glanced at Kija who sent him a mind picture of Baryet standing eyeball to eyeball with Brin in the great hall of the Northern Stronghold.
Shivan’s mouth dropped open. ‘Tell me that isn’t real,’ he begged as Tika pulled him away along the verandah.
‘Sorry. They’re very real and very awful.’
Shivan tried to gather his wits, handing her back the pouch with the pendant inside. Tika led them down the steps and towards the northern gate, drawing her woollen jacket closer round her. Once they’d re
gained some shelter from the wind, she sat on a stone slab which jutted from the wall.
‘What did you make of it?’ she asked.
Shivan hunkered beside her. ‘Corman and my father had told me of it,’ he admitted. ‘They think it is some sort of focus you use to call your powers. You know, like some whose talents lie in seeking lost things use a stone or a mirror to stare at. They say such objects aid their concentration.’
Shivan looked at her but Tika remained silent.
‘That is not what it is,’ Shivan said slowly.
Tika’s pulse quickened. Did this boy have some insight into the pendant?
‘No one mentioned there is a Dragon inside.’ He spoke so softly she barely heard him.
‘How did you see the Dragon?’ she asked as softly.
‘I’ve discovered that I can make things clearer if I tighten the way my mind looks at things. That’s how I first mind spoke my cat. That’s how I saw the Dragon.’
‘And no one knows you can do this?’
Shivan’s brief laugh was suddenly far too bitter. ‘Just another of my crazy ideas.’
Memories of things she’d heard about Rhaki popped into Tika’s head. Hadn’t many of his ideas and suggestions been scoffed at by the Seniors in the Asataria? Was that mockery the spur to his determined attempts to experiment with genetics once he was in a position to do so unchecked? She looked at Shivan’s sour expression. If he was ignored, his ideas scorned, could his mind twist to become like Rhaki’s?
She reached a decision. ‘Shivan, you asked if you might travel with us. I will agree if you remain honest with me. I suspect there are many aspects of the use of power which you have been playing with. If I ask you about any of them, I want a truthful reply.’ She raised a hand to stop him interrupting her. ‘On my side, I will not pass on anything that you would prefer the Dark Ones not know about at the moment. But I must insist on knowing what you might be experimenting with while you are in our company.’
Dark Realm: Book 5 Circles of Light series Page 42
