Fedran shouted from her right and Tika’s gaze snapped back to the patch of burning forest. Dozens of shadowy figures emerged, all of them the stuff of nightmare: shapes that matched nothing recognisable to human eyes. Tika knew that if these things got too close to her company the Dragons would dare not use their fire. Even as that thought raced through her mind, Farn landed in front of her. His faceted eyes flashed in the light of the flames and he turned his back to Tika, facing the oncoming creatures.
She started to move down beside him and a wing lifted, blocking her way. His long, scarred neck twisted and he stared down at her.
‘Farn, let me past. I will not be overprotected by anyone, even you.’
Reluctantly Farn folded his wing against his back. Tika laid her left hand on his shoulder as she came alongside him, then touched his cheek.
‘I will never let people risk their lives while I hide behind you, my dearest.’
Farn sent a pulse of love and apology, and Tika returned her attention to the flaming trees. At her shoulder, Sket grunted.
‘They should have charged straight at us. But look, they’re just – milling about down there. What’s happening?’
Rhaki hurried towards them. ‘They were being controlled,’ he shouted. ‘But the link’s broken.’
‘Tika, tell Kija to blast the whole lot,’ Sket ordered urgently. He raised his voice. ‘Everyone pull back further towards the cabin, there’s no need to engage them.’
Tika stayed next to Farn as he shuffled slowly backwards. They all watched as Kija and Storm came into sight, fire raging along the strung out line of monstrous beasts. The two Dragons swung away, climbing higher again, as the massive figure of Brin followed their route, spitting white flames into the building inferno.
The company could feel the heat now as the wet fir trees dried and exploded when the fires leaped among them, creeping up the slope towards the cabin. Sket and Fedran were both watching the encroaching flames but Volk staggered out of the cabin behind them at that moment. His shoulders were hunched, suggesting his chest was causing him pain. Sket gave him a quick glance before turning back to the fire.
‘It won’t reach us,’ Volk growled. ‘The trees are too wet to burn for long. As long as the Dragons don’t cast their fire any closer.’
‘Are you sure it won’t spread further out?’ Shea pushed up next to Volk, Khosa’s head poking out from her travelling sack under Shea’s chin.
Volk gave the girl an odd look but shook his head.
‘It will die out quickly enough.’
The three Dragons were flying back and forth above the diminishing screams and bellows. The body of the creature Geffal had killed still lay, out of the touch of the fire. Brin landed quite near the body and paced around it, his jaws slightly open just in case the creature wasn’t entirely dead. The fire edging towards the cabin began to falter as Volk had foretold and the company cautiously moved down, approaching Brin and the dead beast.
Essa came up, holding a burning branch high, the better to see the thing, Onion doing the same on the opposite side. But even as they gathered around, the body seemed to quiver and lose its shape. Tika heard a gasp in the darkness somewhere behind her. She looked over her shoulder and saw Konya’s white face, staring at the body. Tika snapped her gaze back to the corpse and took an involuntary step back.
The thick skin had split along one side, and a black jelly oozed from the split.
‘What is it Konya? Is this what you saw in Kelshan?’
Konya’s hand was over her mouth but she nodded.
‘Fire,’ said Tika. ‘Brin, burn every bit of this.’
She stumbled as she tried to move away. Rhaki caught her arm, dragging her with him. Brin rose into the air, blasting fire again and again. The company watched until the heap of ash was reduced to nothing but smoke.
‘I want that patch of ground checked as soon as there’s enough daylight,’ Tika told them. ‘The slightest drop of that black stuff has to be destroyed.’
‘Why?’ Rhaki asked.
‘It filled the body of a dead mage in Kelshan and Konya, among others, strongly suspected that black jelly contaminated others who came into contact with it.’
‘So whatever was there, has followed us, you, here,’ Shivan sounded thoughtful.
Sket organised guards to watch through the night, taking the first watch himself with Darrick and Kazmat. Essa and Dog set about brewing tea, which they had not yet been known to ruin. Tika mind spoke the Dragons.
‘I thank you my dears. Rest now. I know you will be weary so rest while we watch through this night.’
Rhaki handed her a bowl of tea and sat in front of the fire. ‘What did Shivan mean, something’s followed you?’ he asked her.
Tika sighed. ‘Those – things – appeared in Kelshan City. Wherever I was in the Citadel, they seemed drawn to that place.’ Tika flicked a glance at Shivan. ‘Lord Cyrek of the Dark Realm pointed out that fact to me. Then in Karmazen, there was a similar situation.’
Dromi was squatting next to Konya, his back against the wall. ‘Forgive my ignorance, but your tone implies doubts about this Lord Cyrek. What can you tell me about him?’
Shivan groaned, stretching his long legs straight out on the floor. ‘I can only tell you that Corman has had Cyrek, and his sister, Seola, watched since we left Karmazen.’ He frowned into his tea. ‘Seola has – travelled – through many lands over very many years, gathering information. She is skilled at changing her appearance, particularly the colour of her eyes, and fitting in among all sorts of people.’
‘She’s a good spy, you mean,’ Volk rumbled.
Shivan opened his mouth to object, then closed it. He nodded. ‘As far as I know of such things, the information she and others like her collected, was never gathered with any ulterior purpose. My people preferred to remain hidden in our Realm, we have no dreams of invasions and conquests of others.’
‘But your man – the one you report to -’
‘Corman,’ Shivan supplied.
Dromi nodded. ‘Corman has worries about these two. You say the woman travels the world. What of the man?’
Shivan thought for a few moments then glanced at Essa and over to Tika.
‘He was a brilliant student I understand. Long ago of course, but constantly held up as an example to all students ever since. But now I think about it, I’m not really sure what he does. He has never taught classes in the Academy as far as I know, or taken an apprentice. His family estates produce grain and wine, but I can’t imagine him actually working at any sort of farming.’
He frowned. ‘He is often missing from the Palace, now I think of it. My father never mentions him. Perhaps he travels, like his sister.’
‘He was poking around them mines, last year, when we had to clear the tunnels,’ Dog offered into the silence following Shivan’s words. ‘You saw him, didn’t you Sergeant?’
Essa nodded slowly. ‘He asked a lot of questions. But I was only there a couple of days, with the Shield Master.’
Dog leered at her and Essa scowled.
‘But you see a connection, don’t you Dromi?’ Tika asked.
‘I think I do,’ he agreed. ‘Not knowing the man, but still I felt a resonance when Shivan spoke his name.’
‘And you,’ Tika turned to Rhaki. ‘You said those things were being controlled, and then the link was broken.’
‘That is what I sensed. But by the time I realised, and then tried to track the thread, it was gone.’
‘Any idea of the direction?’
Rhaki grimaced. ‘South. The Menedula I’d guess, wouldn’t you?’
There were half mocking groans from most of the company.
‘Where else?’ someone muttered.
‘Tomorrow we pay the Menedula a visit,’ Tika decided. ‘I was going to far seek, but I suspect Ren may have known I was doing so last time. Let him think he’s frightened us off for a while.’
No one slept much although they all made a pretence of d
oing so. By first light they were packed and ready to go. Although Konya had told Tika that Volk’s chest was somewhat torn, she thought it best to let it heal unaided. Tika expected Volk to leave them and take his horses back to Blue Mirror, but he was adamant he would continue with them. Eventually Tika gave up the argument. Sket looked exhausted and had to endure a scolding when Tika discovered that he had stayed on watch all night, although he’d rotated the other guards who’d shared that duty.
To his great annoyance, he was made to ride one of Volk’s horses rather than walk with Tika, the league south to Syet. Volk rode abreast, to stop Sket falling off when he slept, which he did almost at once. They halted just before the forest ended and stared out over the unkempt parkland which was all that was left of a no doubt once beautiful expanse of scattered shrubs, lawns and small trees chosen for their blossom.
‘Odd they should have so few windows to look out over this garden,’ Konya remarked.
Volk grunted. ‘Only a pretence. Makes a good clear killing ground right round that place, doesn’t it.’
Kija was a distant speck far above them. ‘I sense only one life thread within,’ she told those on the ground. ‘It has traces of Ren’s mind signature, but only a faint trace. I don’t recognise the rest. And none of it is strong.’
‘Enough is enough,’ Tika decided, and began walking directly towards the great black building which dominated the landscape.
From this side, there was no glimpse of the city of Syet, the Menedula seemed to float, alone in the world. Volk remained on his solidly muscular horse, leading the other two. Geffal had his bow ready but the others kept their hands on their sheathed swords. They’d see anyone trying to rush them, with plenty of time to prepare. At least for a few heartbeats, Tika thought wryly.
But nothing challenged their march across the grass, and nothing stirred when they came to the series of walled gardens leading up to the rear of the Menedula. The guards drew their weapons once they reached these gardens and formed up around Tika. They came to the door through which Ren had led them. Tika narrowed her eyes and concentrated on the door. There was a scraping noise followed by a clang.
Rhaki grinned. ‘Iron bar?’ he asked. ‘You must explain how you do that some time.’
Essa rolled her eyes and gently but firmly put Tika aside. She leaned steadily against the door, which opened a small distance then stopped, the iron bar jammed in the way. Essa kicked the bar clear and heaved the door back against the inner wall. Tika opened her mouth and Sket spoke before she could.
‘We do not split up.’ He glared at Tika, daring her to countermand him.
Fedran entered behind Essa and Tika followed. She glanced behind and saw that Dog and Sket were practically on her heels. Instead of taking the stairs just ahead, Essa moved on to a pair of tall double doors. Fedran reached for the ring of black metal and turned it. Essa did the same on the other half of the door. They pushed together hard, and stood ready for any attack.
The stench that billowed out sent everyone staggering backwards and Tika knew they’d reached that awful hall she’d only seen from above. Rhaki conjured a ball of light and tossed it into the dark of the hall. They only had a glimpse before he snapped his fingers and the light vanished. The glimpse was sufficient to see the bodies nearest the door. It wasn’t possible to identify any features, the flesh deliquescing around the skulls and already fallen from the hands by the bodies’ sides.
Shivan moved to Tika’s side, his arm round her shoulders. He waited. Her hands over her nose and mouth, she could only nod. Shivan raised his left hand, the fingers flickering in an intricate pattern. Fire shot from his fingertips, cold fire, which consumed those first bodies in an instant, and then the next, the beam of fire widening to encompass the width of the hall. Gradually, as Shivan’s cold fire cremated the pitiful remains of hundreds of people, the smell dissipated as well. Tika glanced at Rhaki but he had a slight frown on his face.
Shivan was pale with effort and Tika was fairly sure the delicate scent of flowers was not his doing. Essa’s light blue eyes were wide with surprise. Then Tika saw Dromi standing by the edge of the door, a smile on his face even as tears poured down his round cheeks. As though he felt her gaze, Dromi turned a little and gave a gentle nod.
They could see only an expanse of black glassy stone across the hall now, every corpse had gone, and Shivan swayed against Tika. She braced herself as she took his weight. Darrick appeared on Shivan’s other side, pulling an arm over his own shoulder and helping Tika get the young Dark Lord out into the open air. Tika didn’t notice, in her concern for Shivan, that Rhaki, Essa, Kazmat and Onion did not emerge from the Menedula with the rest.
Those four made their way upstairs, Essa in the lead. They went along the landing, not sparing a glance over its balustrade now. The door into Cho Petak’s apartment was ajar and Onion removed one of his beloved poppers from his satchel. They had made no attempt to approach stealthily and now Onion advanced, kicking the door hard to open it fully. Kazmat leaped to Onion’s side, his left hand stopping the door bouncing back. Essa, closely followed by Rhaki, strode between the two men into the room.
It was as she’d seen it days ago, except for the papers littering every surface, including the floor. Onion trilled a brief whistle, a system of communication common among soldiers and engineers of the Dark Realm, and Essa swung round. Onion indicated the wall. The door Tika had closed was now wedged open a fraction again. Rhaki beat her to it, his sword already back in its scabbard.
‘It’s just a short narrow passage,’ Essa told him softly. ‘Then a wider, circular place with the Weights of Balance.’
She sheathed her sword and drew the long knife, more useful by far in a confined space and Essa’s preferred weapon at all times. With his hand on the edge of the door, Rhaki probed for life signs but found none.
‘Hold the door Onion,’ Essa murmured when Rhaki had tugged it open.
The three moved into the passage warily then Rhaki formed another light ball, tossing it ahead of them. When Essa muttered a curse, he shrugged.
‘There is nothing alive along here, Essa.’
‘Except us,’ she retorted. ‘For now.’
Rhaki gave an appreciative chuckle and followed his light along the passage. He stopped suddenly, Essa and Kazmat pressing close to his back.
The body sat with its back to the wall, hands in its lap, placed as if they held something. Kazmat remained watchful where the passage widened and Essa observed while Rhaki squatted beside the body. The head was bowed, chin sunk onto the chest, thin white hair tumbled over the face. Rhaki slipped his fingers under the chin and gently raised the head.
Brown eyes surrounded by silver, dulled and lifeless and set at a tilted angle. Two tusks protruded from the heavy jutting lower jaw. The skin was slack on the face, patterned with hundreds of tiny wrinkles. Rhaki sat back on his heels, still holding Ren’s head up. Essa squatted beside him.
‘He looks a thousand years old,’ she whispered. ‘And one of the Weights is gone.’
Chapter Fourteen
Rhaki’s dark grey eyes were slightly unfocused and Essa knew he was mind speaking either Tika or the Dragons. She waited, leaning against the wall and studying the strange gold disks hanging apparently unsupported in the centre of the small space. The lowest, largest, disk, had risen an arm’s length from where it had hung when Essa first saw them only a short time ago. The smallest, topmost disk was gone and Essa guessed the remaining six had realigned themselves somehow.
Voices from Cho Petak’s room warned of Tika’s arrival with Sket puffing at her heels. He stared at Ren’s corpse then at the remaining Weights, then he joined Essa by the wall. As Tika knelt by Rhaki to examine Ren, Sket folded his arms.
‘Shall I tell you something Sergeant?’
Essa stared down at him with mild interest.
‘I am sick of stairs. Everywhere, stairs, stairs, and then more bloody stairs. Give me plain ordinary mountains if you must, but I’m coming
to hate even the word stairs.’
Filed purple teeth gleamed as Essa’s smile broadened.
‘Feel better now?’ she asked, with no sympathy whatsoever.
Sket ignored that and nodded towards the corpse. ‘Seen him look better.’
Essa gave a choked laugh then grew serious.
‘I wonder why these changes keep happening.’ She spoke very quietly, for Sket’s ears alone. ‘The First Daughter’s face and body changed in this same manner. I have dreamt of such faces Sket, since Tika gave me -’ Her left hand lifted towards her chest where, Sket knew, a pendant lay under Essa’s shirt.
‘Have you told her?’ Sket replied as softly as Essa had spoken.
The huge woman shrugged. ‘I’ve told her some of it, but she’s got enough to worry about, don’t you think?’
Sket watched Tika, talking to Rhaki across Ren’s body.
‘I don’t know Essa. Perhaps if you get too many dreams, or worse ones, you ought to tell her.’
Tika and Rhaki were getting to their feet. Tika turned to look at the Weights thoughtfully.
‘So, the three lots we know of, are now balanced again – one disk has been taken from each.’ She shook her head. ‘Some of the others are searching the building. I can sense no life, nor can the Dragons. But I want to find Mena. Dead or alive, I think we need to know where she is.’
‘What about those shadows we saw when you performed the far seeking?’ asked Essa.
Tika started back along the passage. ‘They seem to have gone, as completely as Mena.’
Essa and Kazmat followed Tika, and Sket waited for Rhaki. They were halfway along the passage when Rhaki stopped. His little circle of light hovered over his head. He flicked his fingers and the ball floated back to the tiny room where Ren’s body sat beside the Weights of Balance. Rhaki gave Sket a lopsided smile.
Perilous Shadows: Book 6 Circles of Light Page 17
