Perilous Shadows: Book 6 Circles of Light

by E. M. Sinclair

  He had thought the female he’d seen might help free him, but the male told him she wanted only to destroy him and his craft. He was failing, he knew that; there was nothing on this world which he could use to sustain and regenerate himself. He had to get free of these weird nets and tangles which held him so fast. The jelly quivered with the Crazed One’s increasing agitation and fury.

  The people of Shadow surged onto the bridges over the river Skara, calling to the Chyliax in the water below. Darallax and Subaken hung over the parapet, watching as one huge Chyliax surfaced, lying on its side, tentacles moving in both water and air. It was more than twice Sergeant Essa’s length, four or five times bigger than the Shadow Lord, from spiral tip to wide base.

  ‘Where is the Tika?’

  The voice was clearer, but still quiet.

  Darallax looked over his shoulder and was alarmed to see Tika’s companions working over her unconscious form.

  ‘She used great power, Marax,’ Darallax said to the creature below him. ‘I fear she suffers.’

  ‘She does,’ Marax agreed. ‘To bring one of us would have taken great strength, but to bring all of us.’

  A spiral bobbed up beside Marax, barely a quarter of Marax’s size.

  ‘The Tika will be well soon?’

  Marax’s tentacles slid over the smaller Chyliax’s shell. ‘Hush Corax. She is far from us, but I sense she is safe. We will sing, until she returns.’

  There was a stir on the bridge and Darallax saw the elderly woman, the healer of Tika’s company he thought, pushing her way to reach the Lady. Darallax was torn, desperate to renew his long lost friendship with the Chyliax, but worried by the state of the woman who had given him the opportunity to do so. Marax solved the dilemma by sinking his shell beneath the water and beginning to make music with his tentacles. After a rather strange droning gurgle and splutter, astonishingly pure notes rose from the Chyliax. Gradually others clustered near the central bridge and joined with Marax. To Tika’s companions, who were only peripherally aware of anything other than their Lady, the music seemed at first very strange: oddly prolonged single notes slowly engulfed by many harmonies.

  Reluctantly the Shadow Lord turned away from the sight of so many golden brown shells just below the surface of the river and approached the young blue Dragon, Farn.

  ‘She is gone.’ Farn mind spoke Darallax and his people. The Dragon sounded puzzled rather than distressed. ‘She is safe somewhere, but I don’t know where. Not in the Dark, nor in the Splintered Kingdom.’

  A small orange cat squirmed between people’s feet and sniffed Tika’s face.

  ‘She will rest. Then she’ll be back.’

  Khosa settled down to a thorough wash, ignoring the glares directed at her by virtually everyone.

  ‘Will you bring her back Home? Anything you need for her care is yours.’

  Sket shared a glance with Konya and Rhaki and nodded. He scooped Tika into his arms and began to descend from the bridge. Farn pressed close behind, his head above Sket’s, his eyes on Tika’s face.

  ‘I will have rooms prepared,’ Darallax began when they drew near the two large buildings above the town.

  Farn reared up, towering over the Second Son. ‘Take her to the garden.’ His eyes blazed. ‘I must be near her.’

  Darallax nodded. ‘As you wish.’

  Chancellor Konrik again led them through the many passages until they came to the room which opened onto the courtyard. Darallax watched Sket lay Tika on a pile of cushions Shea scattered on the ground just beyond the doors. He saw Farn pace through the foliage towards them, and carefully curve his body around his soul bond. Rueshen arrived and without fuss offered her services. Even here, above the town and perhaps half a mile distant from the river, the music of the Chyliax drifted through the air. Rueshen and two blue gowned women brought lamps and set them in niches around the walls and only then did Sket realise it was growing late in the day. He was secretly relieved when Rueshen and Subaken bade them good night and left the company alone at last.

  Tika was not cold, as she often became when she’d been far seeking for instance, but her skin was cooler than it should be. When she’d collapsed on the bridge, Sket had pulled open her shirt, but the pendant had caused no damage. Now, Sket sat beside Tika and knew they just had to wait.

  ‘The pendant began to warm as we approached the bridge,’ Essa said softly.

  Rhaki sighed. ‘Mine too. But it didn’t get uncomfortable and then it just cooled again – when Tika actually called Marax’s name.’

  ‘Where is Khosa?’ Shea asked. She was curled in a chair just inside the door, trying to stifle her yawns.

  ‘She is upstairs, with the Shadow man and with Dromi,’ Farn replied calmly.

  Faces turned towards him, where his bulk practically blocked the way into the garden.

  ‘Is he in man shape?’ asked Shivan.

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘Are the Old Bloods people of Shadow?’ Navan strolled over to lean against the wall nearest Farn as he spoke.

  Farn’s eyes whirred softly. ‘They are the ones left behind when Darallax fled, and who mated with humans.’

  Essa swore. ‘I knew that name was familiar. Darallax said his city was named Steadfast, and Dromi said his Brotherhood dwelt at a place called Steadfast Rock.’

  ‘Home,’ said Kazmat unexpectedly. ‘Didn’t the Shadow Lord tell us to bring Lady Tika home? And wasn’t that the name of the house at Blue Mirror?’

  Rhaki nodded. ‘There are connections and links throughout this business.’ He looked down at Tika’s motionless body. ‘Perhaps only she can undo the knots and tangles and explain it all.’

  ‘At least the flesh isn’t melting from her bones like it did before.’ Konya tucked another blanket over Tika. ‘I’ll see if there are healers here – there must be don’t you think? If she is still like this tomorrow, we’ll have to start getting liquid into her again.’

  Tika’s companions turned the room into their camp, setting bed rolls down as though round a campfire, but now with Tika as their focus point. They all felt they were secure here but, nonetheless, and with no discussion, they still set watches. Dog, Essa and Sket sat, guarding their sleeping Lady.

  Tika opened her eyes; not her real, physical eyes, but it felt the same. She was on a large bed in a dimly lit room, a fire in the hearth sending shadows dancing over the walls.

  ‘You are perfectly safe darling.’

  A hand stroked hair off her forehead and she turned her head slightly to look at the woman who’d spoken.

  ‘Ferag.’ The word came out on a sigh.

  ‘Of course. What better place for you to recover?’

  Tika attempted to sit up and cool hands reached to lift her easily.

  Tika looked at her hands and bare arms and shoulders. ‘But I look real, as though I’m fully here.’ She sounded alarmed. ‘Have I died then Ferag?’

  The beautiful woman tossed her long dark red hair over her shoulder and scowled. ‘It isn’t such a dreadful place.’ She indicated the room around them. ‘Only the best will do for me. Or do you scorn my nice soft bed and silk covers?’

  ‘No, no. It’s all very lovely. I just wondered how I could be here when I thought -Am I here, or is this a sort of copied body? Ferag, please, tell me.’

  Ferag’s scowl was replaced by a more sympathetic smile and she perched on the bed next to Tika.

  ‘Poor poppet. Your real body is still with your friends – so clever of you to find the Second Son when no one else has managed it in nearly two thousand years. This body,’ she tapped Tika’s leg under the dark green covers. ‘This body surprises even me actually. It is formed by the powers of both Shadow and Dark, and I must confess I’ve never known the like.’

  ‘So why am I here?’ Tika asked. ‘I am of course most touched by your hospitality and kindness,’ she added hurriedly.

  ‘Well of course you are, sweetie. You used a combination of power to release the Chyliax from the Splintered Kingdom
. And darling, fancy you finding those funny creatures too. Their music is simply exquisite one has to admit, but it seems so very peculiar to think it is made by shellfish.’

  Ferag frowned, trying to remember Tika’s question. ‘Oh yes. Well obviously, you nearly over reached yourself. So I thought a nice rest and a bit of spoiling would be just the thing.’

  ‘Over reached myself? It felt as though there was far more power available if I’d needed to call on it.’

  Ferag played with a long curl of her hair which, Tika noticed, curled and uncurled itself through Ferag’s fingers all by itself.

  ‘Perhaps over reached is the wrong term. Who am I to know much of these matters? But I felt you sustained the call to the Chyliax too long. A call, then a pause, then another call? I suspect that might have been wiser. Now.’

  Ferag rose and beamed down at Tika. ‘What is your absolutely, utterly most favourite food? I shall fetch it and serve it to you, with my very own hands. And I have to tell you darling, I would minister to very, very few people like this. Just shows what great affection I have for you, doesn’t it, my poppet?’

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Tika slept, and woke to be fed the most delicious delicacies by Ferag, and then fell asleep again. The room seemed unchanged, neither darker nor lighter, each time she woke, so she had no sense of how much time might have passed. She thought that Ferag spoke to her whilst she slept but she could remember only snippets of what was said. Tika woke once more and was startled to find Onion peering at her.

  ‘She’s awake!’ he called over his shoulder.

  A circle of worried faces stared down at her and she managed to produce a smile.

  ‘How long was I gone?’ she asked.

  ‘Three nights and two days.’ Farn’s face loomed over her, his eyes sparkling with pleasure.

  ‘And have I got any clothes on?’ she fixed Sket with a suspicious glare.

  He grinned in relief. ‘A nightgown of Lady Subaken’s,’ he told her.

  ‘Are you hungry?’ Konya interrupted.

  ‘No, not really.’ Tika sat up and stretched. She felt rested and fit.

  Konya stared hard at her. ‘We’ve had trouble getting you to swallow any liquid and now you say you aren’t hungry, after three days with no food?’

  ‘Aah.’

  ‘Where were you?’ Rhaki asked curiously.

  ‘Well, Ferag took me to stay with her.’

  Shivan gaped. ‘Ferag? You’ve been with the Mistress of Death?’

  ‘And very sweet she was too,’ Tika retorted, pushing aside blankets and struggling to get up.

  ‘Sweet?’ Shivan echoed, his expression appalled. ‘Ferag is sweet?’

  ‘Oh Shivan, stop it. She was. She fed me all sorts of amazing food and she talked to me.’ She frowned. ‘I can’t remember much of what she said but I’m sure I will. Now, would someone like to tell me where you’ve hidden all my clothes?’

  Shea, Navan and Onion gently took charge of Shivan who seemed badly affected by learning that Ferag – Ferag? – had cared for Tika for the past three days. They took him out into the garden and spoke soothingly to him.

  When Tika returned from a wash room which Essa had shown her, fully clothed once more, they found Darallax, Konrik, Subaken and Rueshen had arrived. All four were obviously pleased and relieved to see Tika awake and on her feet.

  ‘I offer my deepest gratitude,’ said the Second Son. ‘For putting yourself at such risk to return the Chyliax. They too will thank you. They have sung continuously since you brought them out of the Splintered Kingdom.’

  Tika realised she had vaguely heard music whilst she’d been with Ferag and she heard it now. It was unlike anything she’d ever heard but there was a strange beauty to it.

  ‘I would like to see them,’ Tika agreed. ‘And I hope your gratitude will include being able to help me, at least to advise me, in what I still have to do.’

  Darallax’s emerald eyes, so like her own, held steady. ‘While you have slept, my people have chosen to withdraw our shielding and re-enter the world. I have asked my daughter and my Chancellor to travel to the Dark Realm to crave Lerran’s forgiveness on my behalf, for our lack of steadfastness.’

  Tika was taken aback by his words and played for time. ‘Would you walk with me, to the river? I should like to see the Chyliax, as they should be, and also I must tell you of your sister.’

  There was a hint of alarm in Darallax’s face but he walked beside her through the house and down the road. As they walked, Tika explained her fall into the Splintered Kingdom, Farn’s near insane despair, and of the First Daughter’s descent, deep into the Dark to restore Farn’s mind and soul.

  ‘So you see, Lerran is still recovering. Peshan and Corman believe it could take a year. It took half a year after the battle you spoke of for her to regain her strength.’

  Darallax had slowed as her story unfolded. Now his face was stricken when he turned to her.

  ‘Dabray? Dabray survives? Mother Dark, don’t tell me he was lost?’

  Tika sighed and began the next explanation. They reached the apex of the bridge as she finished and Darallax remained silent. Eventually he moved to the parapet and looked over. Tika joined him and the music she’d heard constantly suddenly increased and became a jubilant paean of triumphant joy. She looked down on hundreds of golden brown spiral shells, tentacles weaving above and below. She could only stare in disbelief.

  These beautiful creatures had been trapped in waterless rock for how many centuries? What determination had it taken for them to survive, and even to produce children? And that they could make music like this. One massive shell tilted towards the bridge. The music slowed and became muted, as Marax spoke.

  ‘We are glad to see you safe, the Tika. If ever we can give you aid, you need only call. The Chyliax thank you.’

  He sank beneath the clear water and they watched as he moved, spiral tip first, tentacles thrusting strongly, into the shadows under the arch. Tika was straightening when Darallax caught her arm. A small spiral shell bobbed up, tentacles waving rather wildly.

  ‘The Tika! This is a river! It’s wonderful. I am so glad you found me in the tunnels!’

  The shell spun in an enthusiastic but not well controlled circle. Tika laughed.

  ‘Enjoy your life Corax. Swim deep and sing well.’

  Darallax looked at her sharply. ‘You know the Chyliax formalities.’

  Did she? Tika shrugged and turned to leave the bridge.

  ‘Tika.’ Darallax caught up with her. ‘I would revise my plan in the light of what you have told me. I would open a Shadow portal myself, to see my sister. I will be gone less than a day.’

  Tika replied at a tangent. ‘What have you done with Dromi?’ she asked. ‘He is a member of my company, until he tells me otherwise.’

  The Second Son didn’t seem surprised by her question. ‘We knew of course the moment the cat crossed our safeguards. But we also knew there were two intruders. It didn’t take long to identify the spider, given that he has Shadow blood, and so we unmasked him.’

  He paused. ‘We have not mistreated him. He was deeply shocked by the things he has learned. Dromi asked that he be given time to consider all he has been told. I charged Konrik’s son, Harlik, to stay close and to answer whatever questions Dromi asked. He was worried when he heard of your collapse. I think Lady Tika, when Dromi comes to terms with what he has discovered, he will remain your man.’

  They were halfway up the road to the Second Son’s houses.

  ‘What is the other house used for?’ Tika asked.

  Darallax laughed. ‘That one belongs to the people – for celebrations, for meetings. There are offices there too, where my administrators work. This is a large island Lady Tika. There are many thousands of us here. The one you’ve entered is my private dwelling.’

  Tika halted as they approached the doors. ‘I would ask you to take Shivan with you if you insist on travelling to Karmazen Palace. The Shield Master, the Sword
Master, and the Palace Master are all very nervous about anyone approaching your sister. There are two Dark Ones under suspicion.’

  ‘Tell me.’

  Tika groaned inwardly. How many more explanations today?

  Darallax eventually left Tika near the garden room. ‘I will consult with Konrik, he said, heading for the stairs. ‘Oh.’ He paused. ‘What did you do to Konrik’s leg?’

  ‘Just eased the pain a little.’

  Tika walked on to find her companions and looked for Shivan.

  ‘Darallax wishes to visit the First Daughter himself. I want you to go with him; Corman is nervous enough already. Yes,’ she answered his unspoken question. ‘I told him of Cyrek and Seola, why Lerran is guarded so tightly. He says it will be a very brief visit, but if he changes his mind, I want you back here without him. I presume a Shadow portal is the same, or similar, to a Dark gateway, so he can get himself back.’

  Shivan nodded. ‘Tika, about Ferag. Um – was she really – sweet?’

  Tika patted his arm. ‘She certainly was. And her food was amazing.’

  ‘And she looked after you for three whole days?’

  ‘She did, Shivan. Now try to either accept that, or put it out of your mind. Do you know, I think Shea may be right – poor Hag is lonely, and, in spite of her formidable powers, I think Ferag might be too.’

  Shivan closed his mouth after a moment and nearly managed a smile. ‘Right. I’ll stay long enough to report to father or Corman, and for Darallax to decide if he’s staying longer. Then I’ll be straight back.’

  As he started towards the inner door, Tika felt a prickle of warning from the silver bound ring on her left thumb.

  ‘Shivan,’ she called. ‘Take great care. I’ve never thought to ask, but can your gateways be assailed?’

  Shivan frowned. ‘I’ve never given it a thought either,’ he admitted. ‘It was never suggested in classes.’ Bright yellow eyes met hers. ‘I’ll ask father.’