Tika caught her breath. Again. That odd connection.
‘Family?’ She barely whispered the word.
Garrol’s face was transformed by a huge smile and his hand tightened briefly.
‘Family,’ he whispered back.
He climbed to his feet and touched his brow, lips and heart, sweeping his hand towards her. Then he retreated.
Tika sat leaning against Farn’s chest, stroking her ring while Farn lowered his head to inspect it himself. Sket and Dog watched, through half closed eyes, saying nothing but both understanding something important had happened for Tika.
Many Dark Ones gathered the next evening, some Tika hadn’t seen before, to hear what had been decided. The First Daughter’s brother, Peshan, stood on the dais from which Chindar had vanished only days earlier.
‘Lady Tika has chosen to travel north, to the lands of Drogoya. Her companion, Lord Ren has been instructed in the making of Dark gateways. My son Shivan will also be among the party so between them they should be able to effect an escape should that prove needful at any time. It is believed that the Splintered Kingdom has become more closely aligned to that region despite the incursions in Kelshan, and here, of late. Coby was studying that possibility when she was murdered and unfortunately, many of her notes were destroyed at that time.’
Peshan glanced at Corman before he continued. ‘We believe, Corman as Palace Master and most ancient and loyal of the First Daughter’s advisors and friends, and I, as Lerran’s brother, that information must be more widely disseminated among not only Dark Ones but the other peoples who share this Realm of ours. I’m sure you have all heard gossip, rumours, whatever, of Namolos, who came across the star fields long ago?’
Peshan waited until most heads nodded in agreement.
‘Lady Tika goes partly to seek him out. She believes he has been trapped by a fragment of the Splintered Kingdom. But Corman and I want you to speak out about these things, not whispering, but openly. Too many secrets have grown in this beloved Realm and so secrecy must cease.’
Tika noticed Lord Cyrek sitting behind several women and knew he disagreed with Peshan’s words. As if sensing her gaze, his gold eyes met hers for a moment before he turned back to Peshan. How strong his disagreement might be, she couldn’t judge: she hoped he might learn more tolerance perhaps, but Lord Cyrek seemed one of the most arrogant of the Dark Ones she’d met.
Peshan now looked directly across the chamber to Tika. His smile was warm and genuine.
‘On behalf of the First Daughter, I beg Mother Dark’s blessing and protection on Lady Tika’s journey.’
His left thumb touched his brow, lips, heart, and his open palm then swept out towards her. There was a murmur of agreement throughout the chamber and Tika noted most of the people also smiled at her. Sket dug a finger in her ribs, hinting that she should respond to such a speech. Reluctantly, she got to her feet but Garrol caught her eye from the back of the crowd. He gave the smallest nod, and a wink. She straightened her shoulders and lifted her chin. She turned to look over the men and women who had chosen to join her. They wore their new uniforms, a silver Dragon in flight embroidered on the left shoulder of each dark blue shirt.
‘I can only thank you Lord Peshan for your kindness towards me. You know my debt to the First Daughter still stands. I will do my utmost to redeem it.’
She put her right hand to her left shoulder in salute and realised all eyes had been drawn to her pendant. She wore it for the first time this evening, and outside her shirt rather than resting against the still tender skin between her breasts. A breeze riffled though the room and Tika bit back an urge to giggle, seeing the apprehension on the faces before her. Ferag appeared on the dais beside Peshan, who stood firm.
‘It really is too bad darlings. You know full well I am entitled to attend any gatherings concerning the state of this Realm.’ She pouted and managed to look devastatingly beautiful. ‘And you, naughty child, have twice summoned that old fool Simert.’
Ferag drifted across the room to Tika, but Tika noticed Ferag’s hair lay unmoving on her shoulders and the delicate lace of her dress clung close to her body. Ferag was not angry. At the moment. Tika cleared her throat.
‘It was for a small matter Lady Ferag,’ she replied steadily. ‘Unworthy of your concern.’
Ferag beamed at her, then swung to stare round at the Dark Ones. ‘An outsider, and a child! She understands how busy I am!’ The Mistress of Death glided through the chamber, pausing now and then to study a face more closely, ignoring the flinches. She returned to Peshan.
‘I see I will be greeting several of you in the near future. Very near future.’ She let her gaze roam slowly over the crowd. ‘But at least I’ll recognise you properly now dear things.’
Tika coughed and sat down. Sket looked at her suspiciously.
‘You’re laughing,’ he accused her, but in a whisper.
Tika could only shake her head.
There was a delay in their departure the next day. It was already mid morning by the time Tika, all her companions, including Khosa and the four Dragons, gathered on the roof terrace under a sky filling with thick grey clouds. It had been agreed that Shivan would open a Dragon gateway as Cyrek had done to bring the Dragons here from Gaharn. When Farn realised that Tika would be travelling through a different gateway, opened by Ren, he became more agitated than he’d been since the First Daughter drew him back from the Dark.
Tika refused Cyrek’s unfeeling suggestion that they just depart, regardless of Farn’s distress. But eventually Farn agreed to their travelling separately on condition that Shivan took the Dragons first to the site in north western Drogoya chosen by Ren. He was insistent that he should be there when Tika arrived, ready to defend her if that should prove necessary. Shivan and Ren tried to estimate the length of time needed for their individual gateways.
Tika couldn’t follow all of their discussion: it seemed the Dragons actually flew within their gateways, speeding their progress, whereas people remained passive, being moved by a different use of power. Tika had bade silent farewell to the First Daughter and cuddled Akomi for a while. The tattered old cat seemed content enough to stay in the Dark Realm, fussed over by Khosa’s sons and particularly by the healers Mull and Cutha.
Corman waited in the shadow of the arch, Cyrek and Favrian beside him in silent watchfulness. But Garrol was among the companions, checking every detail of their appearance and their weapons, for all the world as if they were about to participate in a ceremonial parade.
At last Shivan stepped to one side. His body shimmered and burnt cinnamon scented air gusted over the terrace. Tika stared in awe. In Dragon form Shivan was as large as Brin but he appeared incredibly delicate compared to Brin’s solid bulk. His wings seemed almost transparent but were clearly immensely powerful still as he lifted easily from the roof. The four Sapphrean Dragons followed and grouped close around the pearly silver that was Shivan. He flew a little ahead, and all five vanished.
There was no sound other than the wind rustling through the plants around the terrace, then Ren called the companions to gather closer to him. As Garrol moved to the side of the terrace Tika hurried over to him. She hesitated, then threw her arms round his waist. His arms went automatically round her and he bent to press his cheek against her dark head.
‘Family?’ she whispered, feeling an ache in her chest as she heard his reply.
‘Family, child.’
She pulled away and hurried back to her friends. Ren gave them no more time: they were hurtling, twisting and tumbling, through the mystery that was a Dark gateway.
They emerged on a beach, but a very different one from the beach beside the Karmazen Palace. Shivan was sitting hunched in the shelter of a large grey boulder and Kija and Brin didn’t seem much more cheerful than the Dark Lord. A cold wind pushed huge colourless waves to pound on the stony beach. Storm was delighted, diving and splashing with bellows of glee. Farn rushed to Tika the moment she appeared and only after as
suring himself she was perfectly safe and well, did he calm.
Light weight oiled capes were hastily pulled from their packs and the company sought some shelter at the foot of low cliffs. Ren was apologetic until Essa slapped his shoulder.
‘You can’t help the weather, Lord Ren.’
Sket helped Ren back to his feet and grinned in sympathetic agreement. ‘She’s right. How could you know it would be cold, and wet, and horrible?’
There was laughter, then Tika asked where exactly they were.
‘About two leagues from the Oblaka. I hope.’ Ren wiped the mixture of rain and salt spray from his face. ‘I have no idea how badly this poor land has suffered, but I fear the worst. There is a village just along the coast and an even smaller settlement a little inland.
Tika nodded as Ren trailed off. She touched Kija’s shoulder.
‘Have you sensed anything close by? Do you recognise this place at all – when you came with Kadi?’
Golden eyes whirred softly. ‘I stayed only a short time – until I heard Farn’s scream of loss. But I have bespoken Kadi. She will be with us shortly.’
Khosa poked her head out of her travelling sack, slitted her eyes against the wind and water, and retreated in disgust. A bugling cry came from above the cliffs and a Dragon wheeled into view. The midnight blue Kadi landed on the beach and long necks twined as Kija and Brin greeted their old friend. Kadi stared hard at Storm and then turned her full attention to Farn. Her mind voice, deeper than Kija’s, lighter than Brin’s, spoke to them all.
‘I bid you welcome on behalf of Finn Rah and Babach.’ Her eyes, prisms of pale blue, fixed on Ren. ‘They say there are to be no more “Offerings” or “Observers, only people.’
Ren nodded. He wouldn’t have understood a world without titles and ranks less than a year ago, but now he did.
‘Is the child well?’ Kija asked.
‘Mena awaits you in the Oblaka.’
At last Kadi paced carefully forward to Tika. ‘There is much to tell you, much to explain, and much to ask forgiveness for.’
Tika reached her arms as far round the Dragon’s neck as she could manage. ‘There is little for you to tell me; Kija has already done so. There is nothing to explain.’ She stepped back and caught the long face between her hands. ‘And there is absolutely nothing to forgive.’
Kadi blinked slowly and lowered her head to press her brow against Tika’s. She drew away and looked over to the group of people crouched by the cliff. Sergeant Essa stood up and Kadi’s eyes sparkled with surprise. She had never seen a human so large. Lady Emla’s people were very tall and very slender, but this woman was enormous, and as solidly built as a tree. Tika sensed what was going through Kadi’s thoughts and smiled.
‘I hoped you might be able to carry us all between you. I’d have walked quite happily but it really doesn’t seem the weather for a stroll.’
Kadi snorted in amusement, and Tika remembered just how much she’d loved this Dragon.
There was a brief flurry of confusion while Sket sorted out who would travel on which Dragon, then everyone was settled. Kadi hesitated, looking across at the slim young man with the gold eyes who remained by the base of the cliff. He grinned at her suddenly and his body shimmered. As his Dragon shape paced towards her, Kadi’s eyes whirred in agitation but Tika called soothingly to her mind from Farn’s back. Kadi still watched while Brin and Storm rose above the beach, fighting briefly to counter the buffeting wind which blasted in from the sea.
Shivan’s fragile seeming wings unfurled and extended and Kadi watched him float effortlessly upward, those wings tilting almost casually to keep his flight steady. She rose herself, the Dark guards on her back, Essa, Fedran and Geffal, gritting their teeth at the thought of their distance above ground, and led them north to the Oblakan caves.
They were watched, and followed, as they flew the short distance to the Oblaka complex. Hag stretched her wings to maintain her spiralling course. There was a burst of magic from the ground and Hag cackled at its familiarity: Shivan shifting back to human form. Hag drifted lower, ignoring the wind which tried to tumble her from the sky. Her beak gaped when another pulse of magic resonated up to her. Different. It tasted different. Hag shivered in anticipation. It seemed there was more magic to discover. The great raven shrieked with pleasure, closed her wings, and plunged earthwards.’
###
Now read 'Perilous Shadows', the sixth book in the 'Circles Of Light' series.
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Circles Of Light series
1 Soul Bonds
2 Vagrants
3 Drogoya
4 Survivors
5 Dark Realm
6 Perilous Shadows
Coming Soon - ‘Tilliat’ - 1000 years after the events in ‘Circles Of Light’.
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Dark Realm: Book 5 Circles of Light series Page 47
