Soul Bonds: Book 1 Circles of Light series

by E.M. Sinclair

Rhaki was humming to himself as he walked through the main passageways of his stronghold. He had spent the morning checking the progress of several human females. They were quite newly captured, from the Sun Mountain area, and had not settled too happily where they now found themselves.

  Rhaki had spoken to them on many occasions, explaining his experiments in breeding, and how marvellous their participation would be. One female had tried to physically attack him. Of course, he had been shielded by the Power, he never took pointless risks on these sorts of occasions, but he had been a little surprised. And hurt, that she had displayed such smallness of mind. He had her removed of course.

  Most of them were pregnant now. One he had bred directly with a Shardi, had recovered from her injuries, but she seemed overly lethargic. The others he had had impregnated variously, under his supervision. He felt a slight regret that there was no one who could appreciate his work. He had considered writing a report and sending it to the Seniors in Gaharn, but he knew their reaction would be one of horror rather than the fascinated interest in his efforts that he craved. One day, he consoled himself, the world would know of his triumphs in the field of cross breeding.

  Rhaki sat at his table, comparing his notes on the present human females with ones he had experimented on a generation or so ago. Yes, the human stock seemed more willing to accept different genomes now. Previously, there had been early rejection of the foetuses whereas now, all seemed to be developing well.

  ‘Come,’ he called before the rap on his door. Jal entered, bowing as Rhaki turned to him.

  ‘Master, the Cansharsi are causing panic in the lower Middle Plain, but are now in the Swamp Land. I do not think many Nagum will be affected – their communities have drawn together and moved deep into their woodlands. The Cansharsi became bored with nothing to chase, and they refused to go far into the woods. The Linvaks distracted them and they are now destroying Linvak settlements rather than moving out towards the farms and towns of the Plain.’

  ‘Are the Linvaks able to withstand the Cansharsi force?’

  Jal looked uncomfortable. ‘Master, the Linvaks do not appear able to plan very well, or consider different options. The Cansharsi can. But the Linvaks fight well, and to the death.’ He was only too aware that Rhaki had created both creatures, but was unsure if he should take the liberty of criticising the apparent feeble mindedness of the Linvaks.

  ‘Move some of the Cansharsi still waiting this side of the Ancient Mountains out on to the Plain, Jal. Send Verim to take charge in that area,’ he added thoughtfully. ‘What is your opinion of him, anyway?’

  Jal pursed his lips. ‘He is trustworthy Master – so far.’

  ‘So far?’

  ‘I believe his goal is personal fortune. He would like to become a Lord such as those of the southwest, Master. I hope I may be proved wrong, but I feel he could be tempted by anyone offering him a step towards that ambition.’

  ‘Very good, Jal,’ said the Guardian. ‘The conclusion I also had reached. Send one of your own men to be his servant. He is unlikely to find a better – employer – out there, but just in case.’

  ‘Yes Master.’ Jal cleared his throat. ‘A large band of Guards has left Gaharn, Master.’

  ‘Really! How interesting!’ Rhaki smiled complacently. ‘Heading for the Middle Plain.’

  ‘No Master. Heading north.’

  ‘What!’ Rhaki’s smile became a scowl. ‘North you say? Why would they choose the Cold Season to advance to this Realm?’

  ‘Master, five Dragons have been seen flying a similar route. I think there is a connection.’

  ‘Keep me informed. See to this personally Jal.’ As Jal bowed himself from the Guardian’s presence, Rhaki began to pace, thinking furiously.

  It must be coincidence. The news of the Cansharsi attacks could obviously not have reached Gaharn. Emla would have despatched Guards to assist any who called on her for help. What was she planning? If only he had a pair of eyes or ears within her House!

  He calmed himself with an effort. The Guards would find little help along the route they had chosen – a few isolated farms where human renegades eked out their livings, the scavengers in the Waste Land. None of those would welcome a large body of armed Guards from the distant city of Gaharn. And the weather would increasingly hamper their travelling.

  Rhaki completely discounted mention of Dragons. They fled from heavy snow and extreme cold: these five Jal reported must have lost their way. They could have no reason, other than suicide, to fly north at any time, let alone in the Cold. Rhaki decided he must have more information. Jal must try to place someone in this band of Guards – a menial more or less would surely pass unnoticed, and he must redouble his efforts to get a spy into Gaharn.

  Emla’s Guards had made good time so far. The weather was still only chilly rather than cold. The fengars had been as well behaved as could be expected of them in the excitement of leaving their stable prisons. The band was led by Soran, a human whose military capabilities Gan held in high esteem. They had covered twenty-five leagues on this first day’s march, and had made camp for the night just north of the entrance to Death Pass.

  Soran set a double watch around the camp, to be changed every two hours. There were no grumbles as all the men were aware of the recent Shardi slaughter of the Linvaks. His chief officer, Trem, one of the few humans with some ability to far mind speak, told Soran that the Dragons were halting for the night also, higher in the hills before Death Pass.

  Gan had told his officers of his intention not to press the Dragons hard at first, and that he wanted to see how they might be used in battle. Soran and the other officers were very grateful to be on the ground; they had grave doubts as to the wisdom of humans attempting to fly.

  The Dragons had made their landing in a ravine whose topmost edges were sprinkled with snow. Several fissures in a rock face formed shallow caves near which the humans made a fire. Kija, Fenj and Farn hunted, returning with meat for Ashta and Jeela as well as for the two legs. Sket and Motass had finally opened their eyes on the journey and looked at the land spread below them with fascination. They agreed that flight was not quite as alarming as they had feared, but they were glad to be standing on solid ground once more. Lorak busied himself brewing a spicy tea, which Gan sniffed suspiciously before sipping.

  Gan moved to where Kija and Fenj reclined after they had all eaten. The others stayed around the fire, listening to Sket and Motass tell tales of their battles. In truth, these “battles” were fairly minor affairs, the land watched over by Gaharn being a peaceable place for many generations.

  ‘How did you become Guards?’ asked Tika.

  ‘I lived on a farm outside Gaharn city and I always said as I would join them if they’d have me,’ Sket replied.

  ‘What about you?’ she asked Motass. Lorak chuckled and Motass glared at him.

  ‘I come from beyond the Ancient Mountains.’ He fidgeted with his dagger hilt. ‘There are rich merchant routes there, coming from the distant south. I, erm, was with a Gang.’

  Puzzlement came from the young Dragons and Mim, but Tika stared in surprise.

  ‘You were a Ganger, Motass?’

  ‘Yes Lady, but long ago. See, I don’t remember no family, excepting two brothers. They was older than me, took care of me and that. They joined the Gangers, and so I went too.’

  “What is this – “gang”?’ Farn demanded.

  ‘Gangs are like groups of Fighters – remember those you scared away? They attack travellers, and steal their goods. They kill the travellers, or take some as slaves.’

  ‘And you did these things?’ Farn asked Motass in astonishment.

  ‘Well not for long,’ Motass said defensively. ‘Lord Gan came along and fought several Gangs. One of them was the one I belonged to, see, and I was only a little thing – about your size Lady. I only went on two raids and Lord Gan nabbed me on the second one. Anyways, Lord Gan, he says to me, he says, “If you want to come and take training boy, you are free to
do so.” Well, I asked him what if I said no? He said he’d have to kill me then.’ Motass shrugged. ‘So I joined the Guards.’

  ‘Your brothers?’ enquired Mim.

  ‘One was killed in the first raid I was taken on, the other one escaped before Lord Gan’s men could catch him.’

  ‘Is your brother like you?’ Jeela asked curiously.

  ‘Well, we was said to look alike, if that’s what you mean.’

  Sket laughed. ‘But Motass has much nicer manners these days!’

  ‘All this fighting you seem to do,’ Farn puzzled. ‘Do you like to kill other two-legs so much? Are you not afraid they will kill you, or wound you dreadfully?’

  Before either man could reply, Gan said: ‘The Guards are unspeakably brave, are they not, men?’

  Sket choked on his tea, Lorak laughed aloud and Motass struggled to attention. ‘No, no,’ Gan continued. ‘I only tease them Farn.’ He sat with them beside the embers of the fire. ‘All who fight know fear very well Farn. Perhaps it is necessary to a certain extent – if you fear, you may be more cautious, but that caution could well keep you alive.’

  As he spoke, Khosa stalked between Farn and Ashta. Farn watched her nervously as she sat neatly and began her endless washing. Tika ran a finger down Khosa’s spine as Gan remarked: ‘I do not understand why you brought a Kephi, Tika. She is bound to get lost or left behind somewhere.’

  Slowly, Khosa turned her head to stare at him. ‘Kephi are not as stupid as we have led you to believe. I suggest you get used to that idea, Gan. And my name is Khosa. I am Queen of the Kephi of the Lady’s estate.’

  Gan realised his mouth was open. He shut it with a snap that rattled his teeth. Khosa kept her unblinking stare fixed on him, and Farn shivered in sympathy. ‘We Kephi choose not to speak with two-legs, but I have decided to speak with all in this company. Just so that there is no misunderstanding about leaving a “stupid Kephi” behind, at any stage.’

  Her gaze moved steadily from Gan to Sket, and on to Motass. Lorak was grinning. Gan said weakly: ‘You have obviously spoken to Tika and Mim before. And Lorak?’

  ‘We approve of Lorak.’ Khosa said regally, and went back to cleaning her whiskers.

  Jeela had bespoken her mother privately after Gan joined them by the fire. Now the golden Dragon’s head loomed from the darkness into the fireglow. ‘Jeela says she hears someone calling from far.’ Kija spoke to them all. ‘It is too far, even gifted as she is, for her to know who calls. She is sure it is one of the Kin. Can you hear, Tika?’

  Tika concentrated along the line of direction Jeela showed her. ‘I hear nothing,’ she admitted after a few minutes. ‘But if Jeela says she heard a call, then know that she did.’

  Fenj had moved closer to the company. ‘Who then, Kija? Surely Seela is not close enough, nor Kadi? So one of the Kin must follow us.’ Farn and Tika looked at each other.

  ‘No,’ said Jeela. ‘I would know Nula, no matter from how far.’ She shivered her delicate wings. ‘Her voice I would know,’ she repeated.

  ‘There is little moon,’ said Gan, ‘therefore I would guess whoever follows, will also be awaiting sunrise, as are we. We will not hurry to leave in the morning, so Tika and Jeela may listen again.’

  At dawn the Dragons went to hunt their breakfast, leaving Jeela to listen, with Tika. The men rekindled a small fire and made tea, chewing on the cold roast meat left from supper. They all watched the pale Dragon and small, dark haired Tika concentrating. Tika leaned against Jeela, both appearing quite relaxed, both pairs of eyes closed. A silence seemed to expand around them as they focused intently to hear the faintest mind call.

  Jeela’s eyes opened, the prisms glittering with honey and silver lights. Tika said aloud to Gan and the men: ‘It is a male, known to Fenj. He comes fast.’ She opened her eyes. ‘He will reach this place where we are now, by midday.’

  ‘Why is he following us?’ Gan asked urgently.

  Tika was clearly transmitting Gan’s question to the distant Dragon. A puzzled expression crossed her face, then a quizzical smile. She looked at Gan and shrugged. ‘He says he likes adventures.’

  Khosa remarked from her perch on Lorak’s knee: ‘My feelings exactly.’

  ‘You may well change your opinion before this journey is done – your majesty.’ Gan retorted.

  Khosa gave him her unwinking glare at his sarcastic tone, but did not deign to reply.

  ‘Will we wait for this Dragon?’ asked Mim.

  Gan considered. ‘The weather looks as though it will hold fair for a few days more. I think we should wait. I want all of us alert though, just in case he is corrupted as Nula was. I would rather face him now than have him on our tail indefinitely.’ He looked around their camp. ‘I think we should move into the caves, so our backs are protected at least. Just in case,’ he repeated.

  He, Sket and Motass went to inspect the defensive possibilities of the caves as Fenj returned with the other three Dragons. As Mim told them of the change of plan, Farn’s eyes whirred excitedly. ‘We found a place where there were so many of the plumpest hoppers Jeela! If we are waiting here a while, I can show you the place.’

  Jeela looked at the two hoppers her mother had brought back for her, then at Farn. Her eyes sparkled with the same excitement. Kija sighed. ‘Very well. But only to fetch hoppers Farn. Return swiftly.’ The two youngsters were already lifting before she had finished speaking.

  Mim laughed and pushed Ashta gently. ‘Go on! This one knows you want to go too!’ Ashta needed no more encouragement – she was rapidly up and after Farn and Jeela.

  ‘Can you hear him yet, Mim?’ Tika asked quietly.

  ‘No, but you know this person only clearly hears Ashta well.’ He looked at her. ‘Have you any idea who it could be?’

  ‘I really don’t. He said Fenj knew him that was all.’

  ‘We will soon know. Why do we not climb up there and watch for him?’ He pointed to the ridge above the caves.

  ‘Race you,’ she grinned suddenly, starting to scramble over the boulders. It was higher than it looked but they reached the ridge easily enough. They brushed the thin snow off a rock and sat watching the southern sky. The wind was strong and cold now they were on the exposed ridge. Its icy fingers probed round their ears, down their necks and tried to push through their shirts.

  Gan suddenly realised Tika and Mim were missing.

  ‘Up there.’ Khosa remarked, flicking a glance up the rock face. Gan was aware of Kija’s sympathy for his having to deal with difficult children as he glared upwards.

  ‘Will you please get down here. Now. We cannot be sure this Dragon is not following to do harm to you.’ As Tika and Mim continued to sit, staring down at him, he folded his arms. ‘I said, “down here”, and “now” ’. They looked at each other then began to slide down from the ridge.

  ‘His voice is quiet, but this person thinks Gan is angry perhaps.’

  ‘I don’t see why he should be. We would see a Dragon long before it got here, and we can use the Power, and Kija and Fenj are right there. I do wish he could stop treating us like infants.’

  As they arrived in front of Gan, the three young Dragons returned. Tika felt the laughter building in Mim as he watched Farn approach. She risked a quick glance from beneath her lashes at Gan’s thunderous face, then slipped her arm round Farn’s neck. His sapphire eyes whirred with concern. ‘There is trouble Tika?’

  ‘No Farn,’ she managed to say. ‘Everything is fine.’

  ‘Is this Gan angered?’

  Gan made a great effort to change his scowl to a near smile; the result was a grimace of pain. ‘No,’ he said at last. ‘I am not angered Farn. A trifle – edgy – shall we say?’

  At that moment, perhaps fortuitously, Jeela said: ‘He is near!’

  Gan ordered everyone to move closer to the caves, where they stood scanning the sky to the south.

  ‘There!’ cried Farn.

  ‘You see him?’ asked Kija.

  ‘Of course.’r />
  Slowly, minute by minute, the tiny dot grew larger, until even old Lorak could see the Dragon shape speeding towards them. Tika and Mim both felt shock ripple through Fenj’s mind. Mim caught Tika’s hand as Fenj suddenly moved forward, away from the sheltering rock wall. He reared upright, his wings outstretched as his great bass call roared towards the approaching Dragon. As an equally deep call was returned, Kija said to the company, amazement plain in her tone: ‘It is Brin! First born of Fenj and Skay’s first brood!’

  As Fenj’s son circled to land in a swooping glide, Soran’s scouts were informing him of signs of Shardi not far ahead. He ordered the Guards to be even more alert and to keep a tight formation. To his left, the land sloped away fairly gently and about three leagues ahead, sunlight flashed on the river Skar. To his right, the ground rose steeply, littered with great boulders, for a league or more, to the feet of the towering escarpments of the northern High Lands.

  The Shardi were probably watching, waiting for nightfall, when the Guards would make camp. In the late afternoon, Soran rode ahead with Trem and one of the scouts. ‘There, Sir.’ Soran looked where the scout was pointing. He wheeled the fengar to the right. There was a clear area for several man lengths, then an uneven line of boulders half-circling towards the sheer rock behind. The cliff angled outwards far enough to give some protection to Soran’s force from attack from above. At Soran’s nod, Trem rode back to signal the men to follow.

  Well trained as they were, the Guards unsaddled the fengars, rubbed them down, and then replaced the saddles to be ready for action. The spare fengars were securely tied, well apart, at the back of the overhang. Should there be a Shardi attack tonight, the fengars would fight each other if they could not reach an enemy. Soran ordered fires to be lit, both to allow the cooks to prepare hot food for the men and to use to light torches should the need arise. About the only thing known of the Shardi, apart from their ferocity, was the fact that fire terrified them.

  Shardi were usually seen in groups of ten or twelve. Their size, speed, and blood chilling screams made them appear far more numerous to the few who survived an attack. Gan and Soran had worked the Guards on various tactics to try to deal with the Shardi but had had no opportunity to put these tactics to the test. It had been difficult getting the Guards to understand the fear and panic they would likely feel during a Shardi onslaught.

  Eventually, Gan had enlisted the aid of some of the Seniors of Gaharn who had used Power to suddenly fill the Guards’ minds with terror. Only when the men had been regrouped and calmed, had they fully realised what they might be called upon to face. Again and again, Gan and his officers made the Guards learn to control at least some of their panic, and maintain their positions, rather than flee in all directions. Gan hoped this unorthodox training might prove of some value, but, as yet, the Guards were untried.

  Soran instructed his officers to keep moving amongst the groups of Guards tonight. By the unusually subdued atmosphere in the camp, Soran knew they were apprehensive about what the rapidly descending darkness might hide. As Gan had told Farn, fear made men cautious. But too much fear led too easily to panic, and that Soran had to keep at bay at all costs.

  Chapter Eighteen