Perilous Shadows: Book 6 Circles of Light

by E. M. Sinclair

  ‘Ren,’ she called quietly.

  He turned back and waited for her to catch up.

  ‘Are there gods here? Did people call on gods?’

  Ren frowned. ‘I don’t think so, not since before Sedka’s time. Country people still left gifts out for Sedka’s wife Dalena. They believed she helped them.’

  ‘In what way did she help?’ Tika persisted as Ren began walking after Shivan again.

  Ren shrugged. ‘They thought she increased the fertility of the land, of their animals, and of the women.’

  Tika grunted. She couldn’t imagine such a person being much use to them in their present circumstances.

  ‘There are songs I seem to remember, about a fierce hunter, or warrior – I suppose you might call him a god.’

  Tika wasn’t too sure about the value of someone like that either, but they’d reached a high landing. From the fret worked stone of the balustrade, they looked down into a vast hall. It was dark, ominous, filled with shifting shadows.

  Shea stared down thoughtfully. ‘It would look lovely with lots of lamps, don’t you think?’ she remarked.

  Ren pointed to the wall directly opposite, and by looking hard, they saw a line of black shutters running the length of the wall.

  ‘They were always open. Always,’ he said, and turned away.

  The corridors and stairs from there on were, surprisingly, almost empty of corpses. By the time Ren stopped outside an unembellished black wood door the whole company were aware of a rise in tension. Khosa wriggled out of Konya’s arms and stalked forward to sit by Tika’s feet, her orange fur bristling to make her seem twice her normal size. Her tail thrashed constantly. Tika glanced at Shivan.

  ‘There is no life in there,’ she said.

  The Dark Lord rested his hand on the door and pushed it open. Dog came closer to Sket, one hand inside her battered satchel in which she carried her share of poppers. Carefully, Sket entered the room, his sword half drawn, his body relaxed yet ready for any need for swift reaction. They found themselves in a large room which appeared to be used for both work and leisure. Tall bookcases lined the walls and a large table, under one window, was covered with more books, some open, and many papers, as if whoever had been working there had just stepped out for a moment.

  But the air was chill, dust clouded the surface of other smaller tables, and there was a suggestion of dampness, of mildew in the air. Ren went to the large table and bent over the papers while Konya moved slowly along the bookshelves, trying to read the titles. Guards spread through the room but were wary of touching anything in this place.

  Tika stood in the centre, turning in a slow circle, testing the fabric of the room with a tendril of power. Aah. She moved to a space between two bookcases. She looked at the floor. A small knife lay half protruding into the room.

  ‘Shivan,’ she said quietly.

  He was beside her at once. Tika realised his mind was touching the edge of hers, probing the wall for wards and traps. She remembered, with a pang, how Mim had been able to join his mind with hers to unravel bindings in the Northern Stronghold.

  ‘Nothing,’ Shivan murmured.

  There were indeed no wards, but the door held fractionally ajar by that ornamental knife was cunningly made: Tika could see no lock, no catch, whereby it could be opened, at least from this side. She reached to hold the side of the door, finding there was only just room for her fingers to slip through the gap. Shivan kicked the knife aside and Tika pulled the door wide. She loosened her hold on the door and it immediately pushed towards her. Clearly it was weighted in some way so that it could not be accidentally left open. Shea stuck her head under Tika’s arm.

  ‘Someone will have to hold it. Look, there’s no handle or anything, so we can’t wedge it with a chair.’

  Tika smiled involuntarily. ‘So you know all about wedging doors open.’

  Shea gave her an odd glance. ‘I know about wedging doors shut.’

  Her flat tone reminded Tika of Shea’s background. ‘Sorry,’ she whispered, and received a broad smile.

  ‘Darrick and Corim, hold this door wide,’ Sket ordered.

  Regardless of Tika’s comment that neither she nor Shivan sensed anything, he drew his sword and strode through the door. A wall closed off the narrow passageway to the left, so Sket turned right. Behind Tika, Shivan raised a glow stone above their heads. Tika vaguely noticed the light was more yellowy in Shivan’s grip than in Ren’s. The passage widened, forming a small circular space where Sket halted.

  Shivan’s light winked back at them from seven gold disks in front of them. They were hanging as though suspended from a chain, or a rope, but there was no chain visible. The disks were of different sizes, the smallest at about Essa’s head height, the rest increasing slightly in diameter the lower they went. The middle disk was perhaps a handspan across and a finger’s width in thickness. Ren squeezed through, staring in awe at the disks floating in that impossible suspension. His hand began to reach out and Tika chopped his arm down, hard. He looked at her in astonishment.

  ‘You will die if you touch one,’ she told him. ‘One of the Weights was stolen from Gaharn. Lady Emla and her people believed that a similar weight must be removed from the Balance that they knew existed in the Northern Stronghold. This would restore the Balance.’

  She stared at the Weights a moment more. There was nothing else at all here, no book, no cup, no chair, just the silent, gleaming disks.

  ‘Let’s get out of here.’

  Once all her company were back in the large room, Tika gestured Darrick and Corim away from the door. It swung heavily and silently closed, leaving not even a hairline mark to indicate where it was.

  ‘But can you open it again?’ Ren asked anxiously.

  Tika regarded him sternly. ‘I expect so, but I’ll need a good reason to do so.’

  Ren looked exasperated.

  ‘Did you not hear what I said Ren? You touch those disks, and you die. I was to have been the one to remove a Weight, but Bark took my place. Those Weights hang in some connection with time. Bark was old, but he appeared ancient in the few heartbeats that he held the Weight. Before I killed him.’

  Her eyes were wide with memory and Khosa wound round her ankles. She had witnessed what Tika spoke of. Tika bent and scooped Khosa up against her shoulder.

  ‘They are best left where they are, untouched and forgotten.’

  Sket observed that the rest of the company believed every word, but Ren did not. Ren had seemed a timid man, an unlikely choice by Babach to cross the distance between the Menedula and the Northern Stronghold, half a world away. He had travelled with them, across Sapphrea, the great desert of Biting Sand, through Malesh and over another sea to Wendla and back. Yet now that Sket considered the matter, Ren had rarely been a participant in events they’d faced, always an observer. Sket decided he must think more on this matter before he spoke of his growing concern to Tika.

  Ren chose not to argue with Tika any further, instead changing the subject and pointing to the large table.

  ‘There are paintings and sketches on there. They look as if they were done by a child. Mena must have been held here.’

  Tika went over to pick through some of the papers.

  ‘What did that old bird mean about the magic going from the Oblaka I wonder?’

  She tossed the papers she’d been looking through back onto the table. Her gaze was caught by Essa’s hand moving up to touch the front of her shirt, just below her throat. Hmm. Perhaps Essa was right and the magic Hag had felt came from the pendant which now lay round Essa’s neck. But it had been inanimate whilst Mena wore it. So what other magic might have been at work there, that she’d missed? She dragged her attention back to this room.

  Shivan had been flipping through one of the books which he now dropped among the others.

  ‘I think this was Cho Petak’s personal room,’ he said quietly. ‘But there is nothing of interest to us left here.’

  Konya slapped his arm. �
��All these books, young man, and you say there’s nothing of interest?’ She winked when Shivan rolled his eyes.

  ‘I’m sure the books would be fascinating,’ Tika smiled. ‘But we’re looking for something other than books.’

  ‘Unless Cho Petak kept a journal, you’re probably correct.’ Konya meant the words as a jest but then found Tika and Shivan concentrating on her uncomfortably seriously. ‘He wouldn’t. You can’t think someone like him would keep account of his days? “Today I destroyed a town. Tomorrow I will torture the adults of the next town.” Oh please.’

  Shivan’s mouth twitched and Tika spluttered a laugh.

  Konya lowered her voice and her eyes flicked in Ren’s direction. ‘Maybe he knows more than he realises.’

  Tika watched Ren. He stood between the bookcases, despite what she’d told him, and was running his fingertips over the wall, obviously trying to feel the outline of the door. Her gaze moved on and she saw Dog leaning negligently against another bookcase, her eyes fixed on Ren’s back.

  ‘There’s nothing here worth staying for,’ she said loudly. ‘We’ll go back to Volk and consider our next move.’

  Shivan trotted down the stairs at her side.

  ‘I have no sense of where your Namolos is. Do you think he could be with whatever caused that uncontrolled burst of power?’

  Tika slowed as they walked along the balcony overlooking the vast, dark hall.

  ‘Unless you want to take a trip home and see if Corman’s got any other ideas, I suggest we try to find the source of our headaches. And no, I don’t think Namolos is involved there.’ She grinned but there was little humour in the expression. ‘And keep your eye on Ren from now on please.’

  Shivan nodded, showing no surprise. They both took deep breaths as they emerged from the Menedula building. Tika looked back at it.

  ‘Something went very wrong here, long ago. I have the oddest feeling it should shine, although it is black stone. Yet it doesn’t reflect any light.’ She faltered on her next step down towards the garden when Shivan spoke.

  ‘It should shine,’ he said. ‘But it’s like blood metal. It just drinks in the light as our metal drinks blood.’

  Entering the walled garden, they saw that Volk and Geffal had the horses saddled and ready to leave. Farn was waiting there too, his eyes indicating anxiety. Tika went straight to him, to reassure him all was well.

  ‘I told Volk there is a place not far, to the north west,’ he told her. ‘We don’t like this place, my Tika. Volk doesn’t like it either, so we decided we’d leave as soon as you came out of the building.’

  Farn’s words were transmitted to everyone in the garden and Ren strode forward.

  ‘But we can’t just leave, there’s so much to sort out here.’ He spoke with barely suppressed anger.

  Tika moved to collect her pack and hold Khosa’s travelling sack open for her.

  ‘We move on Ren,’ she said steadily.

  ‘No. I will remain here at least.’ Ren’s usually pale face was flushed.

  Those guards preparing to lead their horses, turned as one, hands on weapons. Sket stood ahead of them, watching Ren. Tika tilted her head to one side, Khosa’s face peering out beneath her chin.

  ‘Supplies Ren? I don’t think much is left here, and we can only spare a little.’

  Ren waved a hand dismissively. ‘I need little, and I’m sure I’ll find enough.’ His normally warm brown eyes were hard and flat. ‘Finn Rah and Babach are on their way, with Lady Mena.’

  ‘Lady Mena?’ Tika was incredulous. ‘You call her Lady, Ren?’

  ‘Yes.’ He spat the word. ‘I spoke with Finn Rah through dreams several nights ago. She said the pendant left by Myata for her successor, has vanished. She believes it stolen by one of your peasant followers. I suggest you return it to me at once.’

  Tika stiffened, even as Sket moved. His sword tip was touching Ren’s throat. ‘I’m sure you’d like to put that differently,’ Sket suggested softly.

  ‘Ren, that pendant was dead around Mena’s throat. Mena had a tiny amount of power, enough to tell small fortunes among her friends, but not enough to earn her way with it. She has been touched by Cho Petak’s power and Finn Rah has chosen to elevate the child far above her capabilities. Can you truly not see that yourself?’

  ‘Finn Rah said that you would say these things. You, slave born, are jealous of Lady Mena.’

  Ren stopped as Sket’s sword punctured his skin. A bead of blood trickled down his throat.

  ‘Sket,’ Tika said sharply. ‘Enough. Leave rations enough for a couple of days. We leave now.’ She approached to stand opposite Ren, her eyes like green ice. ‘I regarded you as a friend. But no more. I would guess that you and Finn Rah will set Mena up as some powerful ruler whilst you pull her strings. I can find it in me to have some sympathy with the child, but for you, now, I have only contempt.’

  She turned to Farn and climbed on his back. Sket said something more to Ren, too low for her to catch, then he sheathed his sword and swung up onto Farn. Only then did she realise her companions had gone. She saw two packs were propped against the wall as Farn rose into the air.

  ‘What did you say to him, Sket?’ she asked over her shoulder.

  ‘Nothing.’

  She waited.

  ‘Just that I’ll kill him, next time I see him.’

  Below, they saw Volk leading the company on foot across a park like an expanse of unkempt grass, towards bare branched trees. Kija flew above them while Brin was half a league ahead. Storm wheeled in to keep pace with Farn. Tika said nothing, although she was aware that Farn was mind speaking the Dragons. When Farn increased speed and caught up with Kija, Tika realised they’d flown within a light shielding.

  It was indeed only a short distance that Volk led them, but the atmosphere lightened perceptibly with each step away from the Menedula and its blighted town. Volk left the guards to settle the horses and backtracked their trail. Tika strongly suspected he would change his form to check for any hint that Ren might be stupid enough to at least mark the way they had come. She bespoke Kija when Farn landed near his mother.

  ‘You think a shield is necessary?’

  ‘I distrusted Finn Rah’s sincerity when first I met her,’ Kija replied. ‘Kadi is with them, but she has refused to carry any other than Mena. Finn Rah tried to order her to carry six men who are weapons trained. I fear for Kadi’s safety among them now, Tika.’

  Tika leaned against the gold Dragon for a moment. ‘Would she join us, do you think?’

  Kija’s sigh ruffled Tika’s hair. ‘She is full of guilt for bringing that child here. No matter how the child has changed, Kadi will try to protect her.’

  ‘I felt an oddness about Finn Rah’s power, although it did not seem strong to me.’

  ‘Ask Volk.’

  Volk had just reappeared between the trees and Tika chose to follow Kija’s advice. She intercepted him before he could reach the company.

  ‘What can you tell me of Finn Rah’s power, Volk?’

  He spat, a reaction she was getting used to. His small dark eyes met hers briefly then returned to checking and rechecking the camp site.

  ‘She’s old blood. Like me,’ he clarified. ‘Only, from what I’ve heard she can change to different forms as she chooses.’

  Tika looked blank.

  ‘I can only change to the bear form, and my ancestors too – always, only to a bear. Others are the same. You remember that hawk I pointed out to you, and told you it was a young woman I knew? All her family, those who change, it’s always to a hawk.’

  He spat again. ‘There are stories among us, of great mages who could take any form and had great powers besides. We believe Finn Rah was one who could change like that but did not also have the mage powers. She can only change herself.’

  ‘So she is one of your people – what did you call them – old blood?’

  ‘No.’ Volk was firm. ‘We’d heard of her and her abilities, but she denied the old blood.
She kept it very quiet, how she could change – said it was her manipulation of power rather than something she inherited through her blood. She was the chief persecutor of our people these last four generations at least.’

  Chapter Four

  Tika, in spite of Kija’s shield, was nervous that they were still relatively close to Syet. Shivan was quieter than usual: he enjoyed the jokes and stories at their nightly halts but tonight he was withdrawn, lying on his blankets and staring up at the stars. But there were few jests this night, all were made sombre by Ren’s strangely hostile behaviour. Before it grew too dark, Sket put all the guards through a series of weapons drill, taking on each of them himself until he was dripping with sweat, even though it had turned colder again.

  Tika understood he was working off both his anger and his dismay at what he saw as Ren’s disloyalty to Tika. He stripped off his shirt and washed in the icy streamlet at the edge of the camp and returned, teeth chattering, to accept a bowl of tea from Essa. The camp was soon quiet although Tika didn’t think even half the company were really asleep. Khosa picked her way among the recumbent bodies until she reached Volk. Farn snored gently, leaning against Storm and Tika curled by his chest.

  But she could not sleep. It was easy to slide the thinnest thread out from Kija’s shield, and Tika sent the thread questing to the north. She allowed herself to watch where the thread led, but could make out only trees gradually climbing into a hillier region. Her mental thread crept back to her and at last, she yawned, snuggled closer to Farn, and slept.

  The company were up, fed, and ready to go at dawn, the Dragons taking their usual riders again. Farn flew near Brin and Essa called across to Tika.

  ‘How close behind us do you think those others might be?’

  Kija answered in the mind voice from higher above them. ‘They will probably reach that building later today.’ She forestalled Essa’s next question. ‘Kadi spoke to me at first light, but she hasn’t since then.’