Vagrants: Book 2 Circles of Light series

by E. M. Sinclair

  ‘Yes. I sent messages today asking for them all to attend me as soon as they may.’

  ‘Not immediately?’

  ‘Kwanzi, I do not wish a panic. I personally believe that we have some time to make our decisions – not much, but enough. I have not summoned the Speakers urgently, as to do so would arouse too much interest as yet.’

  Kwanzi stretched and yawned. ‘I think it’s time we went to bed, my dear.’ He rested his hands lightly on Thryssa’s shoulders looking down at the dark red hair now streaked broadly with white.

  When Elyssa arrived at the Corvida next day Alya’s room and the balcony were empty. She hung her light jacket behind the door and swung the kettle further over the fire. She looked at the papers scattered on the table to get an idea of what Alya’d been working on last night. She sat down, slowly deciphering the strangely spelt and archaic writing. The lines were faded in places and several interpretations could be made of single words.

  Elyssa drew a blank page and a writing stick towards her and began making notes. She became so engrossed that she didn’t realise Alya was there until a mug of redberry tea was pushed under her nose.

  ‘You’re getting through that quite fast,’ Alya commented.

  Elyssa rubbed her forehead and picked up the tea. ‘Once you get the feel of it, it isn’t too bad. Look. The writer forms several letters in a very odd way. But once you recognise them, it’s fairly straightforward.’

  As she sipped her tea, she studied Alya. The older woman looked tired, her brown hair fraying out from its rough braid and shadows under her grey eyes.

  ‘Thryssa has asked Jilla to come from Kedara. And all the Speakers.’ Alya said quietly.

  ‘Jilla?’ Elyssa’s mind was already absorbing the implications of the High Speaker asking one with an air talent to visit her. ‘The Chimes rang only once did they not

  Alya?’

  ‘Once is once more than at any time since we created Vagrantia.’

  ‘All knowledge of the use of circles was destroyed though. We were taught that in our earliest classes Alya. Every one of the people agreed that after the circle in the upper chamber here was laid, all knowledge of its making and its use should be lost.’

  ‘The written information was surely destroyed.’ Alya shrugged. ‘How can you make anyone forget that which is in their minds? I would guess most secrets would have been passed on within the families most concerned with particular areas of power.’

  ‘Can’t Thryssa just ask outright if anyone has the memories within them?’

  ‘Can you seriously think anyone would admit to keeping such forbidden things alive in their families?’

  ‘Oh.’ Elyssa frowned. ‘I suppose others would begin to wonder who else had kept secrets.’

  ‘And so suspicion and discord would spread,’ Alya finished for her.

  ‘It is common talk that the ones who study air could scry the lands far from here as well as just the weather patterns. Do you think they do?’

  ‘We will know soon enough Elyssa. Meanwhile, we’ve piles of records still to check through.’

  Jilla’s short reddish gold hair blew across her face as she walked steadily through the passage that tunnelled between the overlapping first and fourth crater circles. She wore a fleece-lined jacket, trousers and boots, a travel pack on her shoulders. As she emerged at the Parima end of the two-league passage she stopped, leaning on the staff of pale wood that she carried.

  Parima spread below her, its fields and farmlands slowly stirring to life in the growing warmth, as was the case in her own Kedara Circle. The paved path led down to the crater floor nearly a league below. She looked further along the great black encircling walls to her right, and in the distance saw the building of the Corvida. The single central chamber of the topmost storey glittered in the afternoon sunlight, its black façade inlaid with crystal in geometrical designs.

  Jilla knew Parima and the Corvida buildings well from frequent visits, but this visit was different from all previous ones. She wriggled the pack more comfortably on her shoulders and began the descent to the wayfarer’s lodge where she would spend the night. With an early start tomorrow, she should reach the Corvida by mid afternoon, and find out for sure what Thryssa would ask of her.

  Chapter Seven

  Hargon told Rhaki that he had to make another trip away from Return shortly. Raben of Tagria was expecting him – he usually visited as the warmer weather began. Rhaki nodded, these untrusting little men and their odd ways!

  ‘Perhaps you will find my tower’s first floors completed when you come back Hargon.’

  ‘Will we not witness this lifting of the stones?’ Hargon asked innocently.

  Rhaki’s lips pursed then he said: ‘Maybe your children might like to observe the event. It was pleasing to meet them Hargon. The eldest – Bannor was it? – seemed well mannered and a sturdy child.’

  Hargon inclined his head at the compliment to his son, then clenched his fist round the stem of his goblet as Rhaki added:

  ‘And the girl is already beautiful.’

  ‘If you say so, Sir Lord. I do not see it myself. She is destined to be the mother of Seboth’s grandsons.’

  Such an alliance had not been decided in fact, but Hargon wanted Rhaki to turn elsewhere than to his daughter for whatever he might have in mind. Females were of no consequence in Sapphrea, but Mena carried his blood, and he had a very unpleasant feeling that Rhaki’s interest in her would not be a healthy one.

  Rhaki shrugged. ‘Surely she will not be sent to Seboth yet – she is a mere child?’

  ‘Sometimes it is preferred that females go to their future lords early, to accustom themselves to their ways before they breed sons.’

  Rhaki stared at him and Hargon busied himself pouring more ale.

  ‘I will leave for Tagria in a day or so and be away only a few days. I trust you have been well cared for in my absence?’

  ‘Oh yes. I cannot tell who are slaves and who servants but I treat them the same, so I don’t suppose it matters.’

  ‘Those who deal personally with any guests in my house are servants Sir Lord,’ Hargon frowned. ‘Slaves are menials.’

  ‘Quite so,’ agreed Rhaki vaguely. ‘What plans do you have for your younger boy?’

  ‘Bartos? At present Zalom of Andla has bred only females, who obviously cannot rule. Unless he manages to get a son by the time my boy is thirteen cycles, Zalom will invite Bartos to choose one of the females. Thus will Zalom have grandsons of his blood.’

  ‘Hopefully,’ murmured Rhaki.

  Navan cleared his throat. ‘You have been so busy since you arrived here, Sir Lord. You have not been riding for pleasure have you? There is good hunting a short ride north into the lower hills of the Ancient Mountains. Perhaps it would please you to take a small rest from your toils?’

  ‘I have never hunted for pleasure.’ Rhaki spoke coldly. ‘I would prefer my building to be complete before I allow myself time for excursions.’

  ‘I look forward to showing you some of the wilder lands in the future then Sir Lord. Even if we do not hunt, one often glimpses the rarer beasts. There are the mountain wapeesh and the huge clawed creatures that prey on them. They are occasionally so bold as to lie out on high rocks, sunning themselves and viewing riders with contempt. And, very rarely though, a great Dragon may be seen.’

  Rhaki looked up sharply. ‘Great Dragons? I thought they were confined to the Spine and Sun Mountains?’

  ‘As Navan said, Sir Lord, they are seen but rarely. But hunters say they have spied several, not that far into our Ancient Mountains.’

  After a few more minutes of desultory conversation, Hargon begged Rhaki to excuse him.

  ‘I have administrative matters to deal with in the morning Sir Lord. The usual tedious things which always accumulate if I leave Return, no matter for how few days.’

  Hargon rose early and avoided Rhaki at the first meal, being already closeted in his workroom with his seneschal, Navan, Fryss and Ma
llit. A serving man brought Rhaki his satchel of bread and fruit and his water flask, and he left Return as the mist of dawn was slowly twisting up from the fields and groves.

  He paused on the trail to the quarry, where the new trail marked the way to his building. Then he took the turn off, walking on the rough grass beside the newly rutted trail. He stopped suddenly, sending his senses ahead of him. Someone was there, and no workmen should normally be here for another hour. Rhaki moved even more quietly until he had reached the high point of the trail and yet was still partially screened by scrubby trees. Two men, dressed as labourers, were working their way through the tangle of redberry bushes. The direction was unmistakably towards the hidden caves and the deliberation of their advance told him that these men knew where they were going.

  Rhaki’s anger was like a tiny worm coiling through his head, twisting and writhing until his mind was aflame with rage. He hadn’t realised he was holding his breath until he expelled it in a gasp, and as he did so, he raised his hand. His fingers were extended towards the two men and the red worm of fury flew down from his head, along his arm and out of those long fingers. There was a soft implosion of air and the men were gone.

  Rhaki drew in a trembling breath and realised he was shaking all over and drenched in sweat. His head hurt as badly if not worse than when he cut the blocks of stone. His legs gave way and he dropped ungracefully to the ground where he sat, holding his head with one hand as he fumbled in the satchel for some of the dried fruit with the other. As he chewed the fruit, the roaring in his head subsided and he cautiously got to his feet again.

  Walking as though he was suddenly very old, or ill, he went on to where the men had been. Small heaps of dirty grey ash were all that remained except, oddly, two knives half hidden in the ash. Rhaki stared at the insignificant piles of ash that had been men and wiped his wet forehead on his sleeve. Then he turned and trudged slowly down the new track to join the old quarry trail. He would go to the quarry, but he doubted if he could cut blocks, not until he had rested the morning away. Perhaps he could manage six blocks today at least, instead of the usual twelve.

  The watching armsman lay flat behind a bush for a considerable time after Rhaki had gone. He finally lifted his head a fraction, then slowly the rest of him rose from the ground. He moved stealthily to where he had last seen the two armsmen dressed as labourers, his head constantly turning to check that Rhaki did not reappear.

  The armsman stared at the two heaps of ash already being scattered a little by the breeze. He gulped, looked around once more then stooped and picked up one of the knives, retching as he did so. Tucking the knife in his belt, he hurried back to where his konina was tied out of sight, rubbing the flakes of ash from his hand onto his trousers as he went.

  The seneschal was leaving Hargon’s workroom as the armsman arrived, breathless. Navan glimpsed the new arrival as the door swung closed behind the seneschal. He called for the door guard to let the man in. The armsman stood before Hargon’s table, shivering, his face white. He managed to keep his voice level as he reported what he had witnessed, laying the knife on the table as he finished.

  There was silence as the four seated men stared at the knife, unmistakably one of those issued to all Return armsmen. Hargon poured ale into a mug with a steady hand and offered it to the armsman.

  ‘Sit,’ he said, nodding to the chair vacated by the seneschal.

  The armsman sagged onto the chair and took a gulp of ale.

  ‘So it really begins,’ Hargon said quietly. ‘Now we know how he can truly destroy as he pleases. Did he fall swooning to the ground afterwards?’ He looked hopefully at the armsman and sighed as the man shook his head.

  ‘He was standing Sir, then I heard him walk to where – they – were. I kept down Sir. I’m sorry, but I thought I’d end the same as Tass and Pern Sir.’

  ‘Very well. I want total silence on what you have seen for now. The Arms Chief will speak to you shortly. Wait outside for him.’

  The man saluted and left them.

  ‘Fryss, Mallit, stay with that armsman until he is drunk and then sober again. Let him say what he will to either of you alone. I will not have panic spread by this means.’

  The two armsleaders took their leave.

  ‘Vagrants be damned, now what Navan?’ Hargon leaned back in his chair with a groan.

  Navan rubbed a finger along the edge of the table, as he always seemed to when thinking hard.

  ‘First, Sir, I think it might be wise to arrange for your children to take an early trip to your lodge at the edge of the Mountains. All of your children. They could fish, and the wapeesh and volu will be dropping their young.’

  Hargon noted the emphasis on the word “all”. ‘Even Mena?’

  ‘Perhaps especially her, Sir.’

  Hargon nodded. ‘You noticed his interest too. Do you think I should still travel to Tagria?’

  Navan rubbed the table edge again. ‘He would surely wonder if you changed your plans so soon after telling him of your trip Sir.’

  Hargon chewed his lower lip. ‘Have my children brought to me tomorrow Navan. I think they should leave in the next day or so. Select a reliable escort for them. I think they should be away for two ten-days. I will be back from Tagria then. And make arrangements for the families of those two men, that they suffer no hardship through their loss.’ Hargon spun the knife with one finger as it lay on his table.

  When the serving men had put dishes of sweet pastries and custards on the dining table that evening, Hargon dismissed them so that he, Navan and Rhaki were alone.

  ‘I have planned a small entertainment for you tomorrow evening, Sir Lord. Tumblers and singers to amuse us while we eat. I though to have a really special entertainment later, to celebrate the raising of your tower.’

  Rhaki looked more ill than at any previous time since arriving in Return. His dark eyes were ringed with shadows like bruises, and sunk deep in their sockets. He could not disguise the tremor of his hands as he reached for food or drink. He inclined his head towards Hargon.

  ‘You are ever the solicitous host, Hargon.’

  Navan swirled the ale in his goblet.

  ‘Two labourers disappeared from the building work Sir. I forgot to mention it earlier. Should they be tracked down and punished for leaving their work with no word to the overseers? They were free men,’ he added.

  Hargon shrugged, his eyes on Rhaki. ‘Hire two more. Plenty of men still willing to do other work before they are too busy with their farms.’

  Rhaki had watched Navan as the Arms Chief spoke of the two missing labourers. The only sign that he knew anything of the matter was a slight twitching that began in his right eyelid.

  Mim was drawn increasingly to the upper levels of the stronghold where Rhaki had had his personal quarters. Finally he spoke to Dessi and Tika.

  ‘There are books, and perhaps papers, in there that we need to see,’ he explained. ‘I think we should remove everything from those chambers. Destroy anything that feels wrong and then bar the doors.’

  Dessi was keen on the plan to bar the door, not so enthusiastic about going in to clear the rooms.

  ‘But it has to be us,’ Mim insisted. ‘This is not something we can ask servants to do. Bark was the only one who went in there, never any servants, even Galt.’

  Tika agreed. ‘Let’s do it now Mim. Farn is strengthening each day and the time draws near when we must leave.’

  Rofu woke with an alarmed squeak from his doze on Mim’s shoulder as the Dragon Lord got to his feet.

  ‘I wish Nolli was still here to advise us on this,’ Dessi murmured as she and Tika followed Mim from the hall up the sloping passage.

  ‘Do you know why she suddenly decided to return to the Domain?’ Tika asked. ‘Or how long she will be gone? I would like to have said farewell properly.’

  Dessi looked vague. ‘She mentioned several different plans. I’ve no idea which one she’ll follow.’

  ‘She has no fault to find with B
erri has she?’

  ‘No,’ Dessi grinned. ‘Berri was so shocked, thinking she had lost any hope of becoming Wise One, and then Nolli Naming her! She’s taking it very seriously! Is Farn really stronger?’ she added.

  ‘Yes. Kija would not allow him to travel unless he was. Oh!’

  Tika dropped to her knees clutching her head, as Mim spun round and came rushing back to her.

  ‘What is it? What is it?’ Dessi begged.

  Gan was striding towards them as Farn’s roar of pain came from the great hall.

  ‘Rhaki,’ Mim said tersely as he hugged Tika into his arms. ‘Are you all right?’

  ‘I think so.’ Her face was bleached bone and her eyes huge green pools of pain. ‘Did you feel it?’

  She looked from Mim to Gan to Dessi.

  ‘I felt something,’ said Mim. ‘But whether it was Rhaki or reflected from you, I’m not sure.’

  Gan nodded agreement. ‘Do you know what happened Tika?’ he asked.

  ‘Rhaki did something. He twisted the power somehow – to kill.’

  Colour was creeping back into her cheeks and she freed herself gently from Mim with a grateful smile. Rofu was whimpering quietly, clinging to the back of Mim’s shirt.

  ‘Sorry Rofu. I didn’t mean to frighten you.’ Tika went back a few steps to look over the stone balustrade edging the slope from the hall.

  Farn was at the bottom looking up at her with his prismed eyes flashing dark blue sparks edged with crimson. The darkness flicked out of his eyes as he gazed at her, fading to the usual sapphire, and he turned back towards Fenj, knowing Tika was safe.

  Farn had been much subdued after his wounding. Although he had healed physically quite rapidly, he was still shocked by the great loss of blood he’d suffered and by the sights he had seen. He had been greatly distressed when Motass brought his brother Jal to meet him. It had taken Farn a few moments to realise that Jal had no right arm anymore. Farn was appalled and distraught. He imagined himself with only one wing and became upset and withdrawn.