‘I’ll help you with the stairs.’
Tika regarded Dog’s helpfulness with suspicion but Kemti seemed quite grateful. The two moved carefully to the foot of the wide staircase.
‘You can leave your pack down here,’ Tika heard Kemti say.
Dog patted her satchel lovingly. ‘I prefer to keep it close by.’
Tika saw her company were helping themselves to the plentiful food set out on several tables around the hall. Nesh was sitting head to head with Konya – odd how healers recognised each other and immediately dived into talk of, usually gruesome, cases they’d dealt with. She felt Khosa wind between her ankles.
‘I’ve spoken to several of my Kephis.’ Khosa spoke on a very tight mind thread to Tika alone. ‘They watch Emla’s guards. Something’s wrong.’
‘Soran?’ Tika asked with a sinking feeling.
‘Jemin showed Soran how to make those exploding things when he was here. Soran has made thousands of them.’
Before Tika could respond, a woman appeared directly in front of her. Tika looked up into bright yellow eyes set high in a smiling face.
‘I am Shiral,’ the woman introduced herself. ‘Corman sent me here to be the contact between Lady Emla and our Realm. I am Shivan’s aunt.’
Tika began to smile.
‘Yes. I am his mother’s sister and they all thought I was odd too.’
Shiral slipped an arm through Tika’s, drawing her towards the food. ‘I haven’t spoken to him yet, but he seems so much – happier. He was just too different for most of them to cope with. I do thank you Lady Tika, on behalf of our family, for giving him a chance to be what he is intended to be.’
Several beaming Seniors, only two or three of whom seemed familiar to Tika, were bearing down on her from the side. She turned slightly to hide her face: she remembered Kemti telling her that many Seniors learnt to read lips.
‘Has there been any sign of two other Dark Ones here?’ she asked quickly.
Shiral’s smile didn’t falter although her tone matched Tika’s for seriousness.
‘Nothing at all. But of late I have noticed that I am – somehow – kept very busy here, rather than being free to wander.’
Tika bit her lip. ‘Do they know you can take Dragon form?’
‘No one’s asked me. And I chose not to mention the fact.’
Gold eyes met green in a brief look of complete understanding. Then the Seniors were upon them.
Chapter Eighteen
By the time Tika had extricated herself from the crowd of Seniors, Shiral had taken Shivan off somewhere. Tika found Sket at her elbow as they pondered on whether either of them still had room for just one more honey cake.
‘Shiral told me that Soran has made thousands of those popper things,’ Tika murmured, regretfully deciding she really couldn’t manage any more food. ‘Jemin showed him how they’re made.’
Sket cursed under his breath. ‘This land is at peace – has been since the Ganger Wars when I was a lad. Why would he want any, let alone thousands?’
‘Any chance you could find out?’
Sket sighed. ‘Soran doesn’t trust us now, he’s made that all too clear. Haven’t you noticed?’
Tika glanced at Sket then looked around the hall. Somewhat to her alarm, she saw two dozen or more guards in the light blue of Gaharn, the golden blossom insignia glinting on their shoulders. They were stationed at regular intervals around the walls and Tika’s gaze finally came to rest on Soran, who leaned casually by the door. He met her gaze and his own hardened, his lip curling in a sneer.
Then the sneer disappeared as a huge crimson Dragon came through the wide doors, his long neck twisting down so that he could stare into Soran’s face. Brin said nothing, but Soran backed a few paces. Brin’s head swung forward and lifted, seeking Tika in the crowded hall. Prismed eyes focused upon her and she heard his deep toned voice in her mind.
‘What’s happened to Soran? There is a bad change in him.’
‘Hush my dear, I know.’
Brin paced to the left of the door, scattering five of Soran’s guards Tika noticed with some amusement, and reclined against the wall. Three Discipline Seniors hurried to greet the Dragon to Brin’s obvious pleasure. Kija entered next, displacing half a dozen more guards near the large hearth, and reclined with dignity. Senior Kera went straight to hug the gold Dragon and Tika rather hoped Storm would stay in the gardens: his temper was unpredictable at best.
Tika couldn’t see either Volk or Essa in the hall, although a rather bemused Kemti was surrounded by three engineers and guards. Dromi and Shea were talking to a young blonde woman and, with a start, Tika recognised Shan, maid to the Lady Emla. As if she felt Tika’s gaze on her, the woman turned and gave a saucy wink.
‘I’m going to find Rhaki and Emla,’ she told Sket. ‘I don’t want to be followed.’
He flashed a grin at her. ‘Certainly not Lady Tika.’
She headed for the wide doors and had just crossed the threshold when Soran and two other guards stepped close behind her. To her complete astonishment, there was a blood chilling snarl. From Brin. His eyes whirred rapidly, gold and scarlet predominating. Smoke wisped from his jaws.
‘My lady needs none such as you following her.’
Tika glanced back and the crowd in the hall were utterly silent. Brin’s mind voice rang in every head, but his eyes were pinned on Soran. Soran paled but stood his ground.
‘I am Captain of Lady Emla’s guards, and her safety is my only concern.’
‘And you dare to suggest that Lady Tika threatens my safety?’ Emla’s voice was like an ice covered knife.
Colour flooded Soran’s face then receded as quickly. He snapped to attention.
‘She brings more strangers my lady. Your safety is paramount.’
Emla stared down at her Captain. She had an arm across Rhaki’s shoulders, Tika was relieved to see.
‘You are dismissed from duty for the rest of this day Captain.’ She looked into the hall. ‘Shan, ask Officer Kran to report to me please. And you, Captain, will report to me at sunset.’
Soran saluted and turned away, his body rigid with anger. Emla frowned, then released Rhaki.
‘I would speak with Tika, brother. There are many within who would be glad to meet you.’
‘Kemti especially,’ Tika put in.
‘Kemti,’ Rhaki repeated. ‘I remember him.’
As Rhaki entered the hall, Tika began to go down the steps to the gardens, Emla following. She looked up at Emla with a rueful grin.
‘I’ve lost Volk and Essa. And a horse called Daisy.’
‘Aah. I saw a horse just now, over by Grib’s workshop.’ Emla walked a little faster. ‘Regrettably, Grib concocts restoratives, similar to Lorak’s.’
Tika trotted to keep up with Emla, finally catching her sleeve to slow her down. She forced Emla to a halt and glared up at her.
‘I want to know what you think of Rhaki,’ she demanded.
Emla’s face softened. ‘I sorrow for the fact that Kija made him remember what he’s done over most of the long years of his life. But yes, he is the brother I knew as a small child. I think he realises how fortunate he is to have been found by that old man. He has grown fond of you Tika, and wants to continue with your company. I believe he will serve you well, amazing as that idea still seems to me.’
‘And Soran? Emla, what has happened here? I’ve been told he’s had far too many of those exploding things made. Why?’
Emla began to walk again but at a pace Tika could cope with.
‘Several of us have tested his mind but we can find nothing wrong or changed. But he has obviously changed, as you say. We had chosen to leave him for a time, but his training methods have become harsh. Shan reports that he has picked a few particularly brutal men as his senior officers. Perhaps you will be able to discover more.’
‘Were you aware that Shiral’s movements are being – restricted?’
Emla looked down at Tika in horror. ‘No
I was not.’
Emla had been guiding them through an area of thick shrubbery, and now they emerged into a small grassy glade. A dilapidated wooden building was half buried within one shrub, a chimney pipe leaning at an alarming angle from its roof. Daisy stood to one side, her head low, eyes closed, a back foot cocked as she dozed in the patch of sunlight.
Volk and Essa sat on low wooden stools, drinking bowls in their hands. A small man leapt to his feet, removing what Tika first thought was part of his head but belatedly, and thankfully, saw was some sort of hat.
‘Well, well Grib.’ Emla’s voice was pure honey. ‘Entertaining my guests are we?’
‘Yes my lady. They just, just – um – happened by.’ He spread an astonishingly filthy hand in Emla’s direction. ‘I had to offer refreshment, my lady.’
‘Of course you did.’ Emla studied Volk.
He rose to his feet, a certain deliberation to his movements and regarded her with slightly glassy dark eyes.
‘He’s very hospitable,’ he managed.
Emla’s gaze moved to Essa. She remembered the huge Sergeant from her brief visit to the Karmazen Palace so she didn’t flinch when Essa smiled.
‘Lady Emla,’ Essa greeted her. ‘My father would greatly appreciate Master Grib’s – concoction.’
‘Hmm. Perhaps you would be kind enough to help Master Volk back to the House. He will probably benefit from a bed and some sleep.’
‘He’s welcome to stay here my lady. Nice man.’ Grib grinned toothlessly as Volk turned towards him in slow motion. ‘I’ll take care of him.’
Emla sighed. ‘Oh very well, but Grib, don’t you dare pour any more of the stuff down that man.’
Essa strolled across the glade and Tika walked between her and Lady Emla.
‘Reminds me of Theap,’ Essa remarked.
Her foster brother looked nothing like Grib, Tika thought. Theap was a tiny man, with mage powers. And clean. They came to one of the main paths and a guard marched towards Emla.
‘Ah Kran. You remember Lady Tika of course? And this is her Sergeant. Sergeant Essa.’
Tika smiled, watching Kran’s eyes widen as he took in Essa’s size, but then he looked back at Tika with a shy smile.
‘I remember you my lady,’ he said.
‘And I remember you Kran.’
‘I still dream about those tunnels, my lady. I thought they’d never come to an end.’
He came to attention. ‘Sorry Lady Emla. You sent for me.’
‘I did indeed. You are now Acting Captain of my guards.’
Kran’s mouth fell open. Emla tilted her head to one side.
‘You have something to say?’
‘But my lady, I can’t be. Captain Soran said I was to be dismissed.’
‘He. Said. What?’ Emla moved to one of the many stone benches scattered throughout her gardens, and sat down.
Kran was greatly distressed. ‘My lady, Captain Soran said I was a disgrace to you, and I must therefore be dismissed.’
Tika joined Emla on the bench while Essa folded her arms, listening with interest.
‘Things are far worse than I’d imagined,’ Emla muttered. She looked up. ‘Kran, we have been concerned about Soran for a while. Since Prince Jemin was here, in fact. Tell me honestly, what’s been happening in the barracks?’
By the time Kran finished speaking, Emla was furious and Tika increasingly worried. Emla’s eyes lost their focus briefly and Tika knew she was mind speaking some of her Discipline Seniors.
‘Soran will be held in the barracks under close watch,’ she said eventually. ‘Those he has raised to second officer rank, whom you have named, Kran, will be stripped of their uniforms and expelled from this estate.’
Emla watched worry crease Kran’s forehead. ‘Well?’
‘Of those six I named, two are as bad as Soran has become. I don’t think it wise just to let them go, my lady.’
‘And I would like to know where all the explosives are stored,’ Tika interposed.
Now Kran grew really nervous. ‘I don’t know Lady Tika. Only those I’ve spoken of know how they are made, and where they are hidden.’
‘I think you would be very unwise to let any of them loose, Lady Emla,’ Essa observed. ‘Not a good thought – thousands of poppers and a bunch of angry idiots.’
Emla mind spoke her Seniors again and stood up with a sigh. ‘Assemble the guards Kran. I’ll talk to them before the evening meal in the training yard. If you have doubts about any, give their names to Senior Kera.’
‘My lady.’ Kran saluted smartly and departed at a trot.
‘Emla is this familiar to you?’ Tika formed a mind picture of Mena, letting Essa see what she was doing. ‘This alteration of appearance is happening more frequently, but no one can tell what manner of being this might be.’
Emla held the picture in her own mind, examining it minutely. ‘May I show some of the others? It is quite unfamiliar to me. It looks so sad, doesn’t it, but rather beautiful.’
Emla began to hurry back towards the House.
‘We’ll be in shortly,’ Tika called after her.
She and Essa took their time and found themselves by one of Emla’s ornamental fish pools. Farn and Storm were both reclined beside it, mesmerised by the fat golden fish lazily finning beneath large new lily leaves.
‘Your Lady Emla is beautiful,’ Essa said quietly. ‘And she cares for you very much.’
‘I know. And I care for her. She was one of the first people to be kind to me, to treat me as a real person.’
Farn dragged his fascinated gaze from the golden fish and his eyes whirred soft blue.
‘I loved you first.’
Tika slid her arm across his shoulder and leaned in to him.
‘I know you did,’ she agreed.
‘Strange though, that Lady Emla should think Mena was both sad and beautiful. Did she know the child?’
Tika shook her head.
‘It looks as if the Splintered Kingdom is back to work here, doesn’t it?’ Essa said thoughtfully.
Storm turned his head. ‘Why was Brin angry?’
Tika reached to stroke his face. ‘A man tried to offend me. I think the man wanted to make me lose my temper, to see what powers I might unleash.’
Storm watched her closely and Tika dropped a kiss on his nose. ‘You know that my strength has changed since Farn and I were lost?’
She looked between the two young Dragons and they regarded her solemnly.
‘I was afraid of this new great strength, power I don’t know the limits to. I wondered what might happen if I lost my temper and couldn’t hold back that power. So I’ve been practising blocking the power away when I feel my anger rising.’
Essa sat on the wall bordering the pond. Like Tika, she concentrated on Storm. His eyes whirred but the colours remained soft, muted. Storm’s head lowered until it rested against Tika’s shoulder. Essa was moved when she realised that Storm was deliberately letting her hear his mind voice, as well as Farn and Tika.
‘I didn’t like that desert,’ his voice whispered. ‘No water for so long made me afraid. And then that poor Ship, locked away under the ground, never seeing the sky. I didn’t like being afraid Tika, so I made myself angry. And now it’s hard to stop being angry.’
Tika folded her arms around Storm’s head and neck, her eyes magnified with tears as she met Essa’s gaze.
‘Perhaps I can show you how I try to stay calm?’
‘I’d like you to do that.’
Heartbeats passed then Tika gave Storm a final hug, turned to hug Farn as well and stepped towards Essa.
‘Why don’t you go and find meat, before dark?’
Silver blue and grey lifted into the air.
‘Don’t you dare take anyone’s farm animals,’ she called, as they began to climb.
‘It’s easy to forget they are so young,’ Essa said, watching the Dragons dwindle to the west.
‘They are just about one full year now. And Dragons d
on’t consider themselves old enough to speak at a Gathering until they are at least a hundred years old.’
Essa’s huge hand patted Tika’s back. ‘Let’s see if Shea has persuaded anyone to part with their coin yet.’
Tika laughed. ‘She’s deadly serious isn’t she? I wonder why she wants coin so badly – she must have a fortune in her pack already.’
They walked a way in silence until the wide front of the House came in sight.
‘Shea wants to be sure she and her sister will be independent. I don’t think Shea will ever trust anyone to look after them. Kerris will always be safe with my family, but Shea only really trusts you, Tika.’
Tika frowned, considering what Essa had said, and realising the Sergeant had paid far more attention to the girl than she had lately. Approaching the steps, they met Shivan and Shiral coming from another path. Tika quickly explained Emla’s plan to confine Soran and at least six other guards. She also told Shiral that Emla had no idea that she had been restricted in where she went in the grounds or in Gaharn City.
‘I didn’t think she knew,’ Shiral nodded. ‘I was on the point of speaking with Senior Kemti when he broke his leg.’
Entering the hall, a quick glance showed Tika only a handful of light blue Gaharnian uniforms were now present. Brin and Kija seemed happy enough talking with groups of Emla’s people. Dromi and Konya wandered over to her.
‘That child has gone off with a very sweet girl – I think her name was Shan – to teach her snap-the-rat.’
Tika rolled her eyes. ‘I should warn you Konya, Shan isn’t quite as sweet as you might think. She came on the journey north, and she fought in all the battles.’
Dromi smiled faintly. ‘I did wonder.’
Konya scowled at him. ‘What do you mean? She seemed a charmingly ordinary girl?’
Dromi shrugged. ‘The way she stood. The way she moved. Her eyes were always watchful. I suspected she had weapon training.’
Tika was searching the crowd for others of her company. To her alarm, she saw only Sket, Dog and Kazmat still helping themselves to food. Two engineers and two guards were missing. She sent a thought to Kija who raised her head to look across the hall at Tika.
Perilous Shadows: Book 6 Circles of Light Page 23
