Soul Bonds: Book 1 Circles of Light series

by E.M. Sinclair

Kija’s eyes blazed golden fire as the Snow Dragon Uma emerged first from the barrack tunnel. Brin moved back, towards Fenj, and watched as Guards followed the Snow Dragon. Then Jeela came into the entrance hall, her head turned to watch behind her. Kija took a step forward as Farn appeared, the other Snow Dragon, Ulla, on one side and the Lady Emla on the other. Kija looked at her son as he tried to pull himself up and raise his head. He paused and Ulla and Emla moved a little away from him as he looked back at Kija. Her prismed eyes blurred to a honey colour as she said softly: ‘Welcome, my son. I rejoice to see you safe. Are you and your soul bond well?’

  ‘Of course.’ Farn walked unsteadily towards Kija before crumpling to the floor.

  Kija’s head lowered over him as she noted the great scar down his slender neck. She settled herself around him and he sighed in content as his head and neck found support on her shoulder. Farn was asleep even as Kija looked back to the tunnel as Kemti and more Guards came up. Finally Gan appeared carrying Tika and with the tiny figure of Dessi trotting beside him. He came straight to Kija who sniffed lightly at Tika’s face.

  ‘She has done well to save my son. Take her to Fenj. He can perhaps lend her strength to speed her recovery.’ She curled herself tighter around Farn as Gan moved on to Fenj.

  Lorak had put a bedroll against Fenj’s side and Gan knelt to lower Tika carefully on to the roll. Fenj curved himself around her and his eyes paled to the shadows-on-snow colour as Lorak squeezed in too, to wrap Tika more closely.

  Gan got to his feet and found Mim beside him with Ashta.

  ‘She needs to rest, Mim.’ Gan noted the increasing change in the Nagum boy’s appearance, even in this short day.

  ‘There is Bark.’ Mim indicated the gaunt figure at Fenj’s side. ‘We left servants to watch over Iska’s body.’

  Gan nodded. ‘And I ordered the servants to gather – have you seen any of them?’

  ‘There were only three men cleaning as we went to where Iska lies, and three in that chamber. I saw none as we returned here.’

  Gan turned to Soran. ‘Have a couple of men seek out the servants of this place and bring them here. Have we lost many Guards?’

  ‘We lost seven to those monsters. Most of us have minor injuries but four are badly hurt Sir. And there are several prisoners, some of whom are injured also.’

  Guards began talking as they cleaned their blades and honed them on the stones they carried in their packs.

  ‘Be there no kitchens here, where we’d find summat warm to eat and drink?’

  Several voices made similar comments as a group of thirty or so servants was ushered into the entrance hall. Gan beckoned Bark to join him.

  ‘Is there a housekeeper or chamberlain to oversee the servants and the running of this place? Perhaps it would put them more at ease if you were to speak to them Bark, and assure them that we have no intention of harming them.’

  Bark went across to the group of servants, many of whom were clearly petrified by the presence of Dragons. Within a few moments, the servants scattered, giving the Dragons a wide berth if their route took them in their direction. Bark returned to where Gan was checking the wounded Guards.

  ‘I asked for food to be prepared Gan. These servants are not here voluntarily – Rhaki imprisoned humans soon after he came here and used them to breed more. They know of no other life.’

  Gan’s lips tightened, as did Emla’s. She had joined them and overheard Bark’s words. Bark bowed to her, saying:

  ‘I was with Iska, Lady. She chose to send to you, knowing what Rhaki would likely do.’

  Emla touched his shoulder, as Bark remained bent before her.

  ‘We owe you much Bark. Not one of us remembered that you had come here with Rhaki. Not until we heard of a damaged one living here did we think of you. I tremble to think of what you have suffered, receiving no help from Gaharn.’

  Khosa wound herself round Bark’s ankles and as he lifted her to his shoulder, Emla shook her head.

  ‘That Kephi seems to get everywhere.’

  Khosa’s turquoise eyes slitted at the Lady.

  ‘You forget names as easily as much else do you not?’

  Emla blinked and cleared her throat. ‘Apologies Khosa. There seem to be so many new and strange things happening, my memory definitely appears to be failing.’

  Khosa turned her gaze very deliberately back to Bark.

  ‘He is no longer here is he Bark?’ It was more statement than question.

  Bark shook his head. ‘I think probably not. He disappears sometimes for several days, but I do not know where he goes nor in what manner.’

  Emla touched Bark’s shoulder lightly again as he showed distress.

  ‘I could not stop him killing Iska, Lady. There was nothing I could do to help her!’

  ‘You helped her by your presence Bark. She understood what Rhaki was capable of perhaps better than any of us, yet still she called out to us.’

  Bark looked down. Dessi, her head barely reaching his hip, looked back at him.

  ‘I am Dessi of the ones who sing to you, damaged one.’

  ‘Are you then,’ Bark smiled shakily. ‘I have appreciated your songs but I can no longer use the mind speech over any distance so I could not tell you how you comforted me.’

  ‘We know,’ Dessi smiled. ‘Our Old One is on her way here. She would speak with you if you permit. She is very old and travels slowly.’

  There was a commotion among the wounded being tended and Emla and Mim went to see what was amiss. Sket spoke to them quickly.

  ‘Their officer is among the wounded Lady. Of all crazy things, he seems to be the big brother to Motass! He’s hurt quite bad – his sword arm is torn to shreds. Motass recognised a funny old scar on his chest.’

  Emla and Mim followed Sket to find Motass kneeling beside a half-stripped fighter. A healer knelt the other side of the unconscious man and he shook his head as Emla asked about the injury. He lifted a blood-drenched cloth, exposing an arm nearly severed at the elbow.

  ‘I guess one of those monsters either ripped him or bit him – this is not the work of a sword.’

  The healer fell silent until Motass asked:

  ‘Can you save him, if you take it off?’

  ‘He would have a better chance of surviving yes. But he has lost a great amount of blood, and I have no way of knowing if there is venom carried by those creatures which may already be in his system.’

  ‘Try then healer, please. I will give a year’s wages to the Guild of Healers if you save him.’

  The healer sighed. ‘Motass, I will do my best but I do not do so for the offer of your money.’ The healer got up from the floor. ‘This would be best done elsewhere – is there a chamber we can use where he can lie quietly when the arm has been removed? And we will need one of you to assist me in keeping him calm with your power while I work.’

  ‘I can do that,’ Dessi spoke confidently, although the healer looked very dubious. She was so very small but as she met the healer’s stare, he nodded.

  Gan went to organise Guards to remove the wounded who needed more serious treatment, while Bark arranged for chambers to be readied for use by the healers.

  Several servants arrived with trays laden with bowls of broth and chunks of bread and they were greeted with cheers from the Guards.

  ‘Tika and Farn still sleep,’ said Emla. ‘But we must decide our next move. Bark, show us where Iska lies. We would pay her our respects. Then perhaps somewhere we can plan?’

  Nomis and Kran were detailed to go back through the barracks to meet the next group of Guards who should soon be nearing the stronghold. Gan left Sket and Trem to stay in the entrance hall as he, Kemti, Emla, Soran and Baras followed Bark to the upper levels.

  ‘We must dispose of all the bodies in the lower levels fairly quickly.’ Gan commented to Bark. ‘What is the usual procedure here?’

  ‘I don’t know Gan. I’m sorry. I’ve never thought where bodies are laid to rest when servants die.’
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  Gan sensed Bark’s guilt at his ignorance in this matter.

  ‘Could you ask one of them then, for we must remove the corpses soon.’

  They had reached the chamber where Iska lay and conversation ceased. Quietly, they all went to the great bed and looked down at Iska. Emla bent and kissed the already cold, smooth brow and straightened, turning as Bark gave a grunt of pain.

  The five Gaharnians crossed to the hearth where Bark slumped in a chair, his hands over his face. The servant Galt, stood helplessly beside him, his arm across Bark’s shoulders. Emla looked at the servant enquiringly and after a glance down at Bark, Galt stepped towards her and bowed.

  ‘Bark asked what was done to the bodies of the dead,’ he whispered. He glanced again at Bark. ‘The Master sometimes took a corpse, we know not for what purposes.’ He shuddered. ‘Usually, the dead were taken below – to be fed to his beasts.’

  Emla swallowed the bile she felt rising in her throat.

  ‘There is no burial chamber, or place of cairns, for the proper laying of the dead?’

  ‘No Lady.’

  ‘Dear stars! What has he become?’

  ‘We could put them in one of the chambers in the lowest level and then seal them within,’ Soran offered hesitantly.

  Gan nodded at him. ‘Make such arrangements when we return to the hall, Soran.’

  ‘Where are Rhaki’s quarters?’ Emla asked.

  ‘Further along this passage. But beware, he will have warded the door. He always does when he wishes to be sure of no interruptions.’

  ‘Hmm.’ Emla spun on her heel and headed for the door.

  ‘Emla,’ Kemti hurried after her. ‘Wait Emla! I can feel the wardings already, surely you can also sense them?’ He caught her elbow. ‘Wait I say!’

  Reluctantly she stopped a few paces from a door, which looked exactly like all the other doors they’d seen in this place. They probed the wardings, seeing wavering lines of red flickering in an inconsistent pattern all around and through it.

  From behind them, Bark said: ‘The Balance is beyond the study. I know how to unseal the hidden doors but Rhaki will have warded them all. My power is so limited I can only tell that wards are set, I could not begin to unravel them.’

  ‘They are complex indeed, Bark,’ Kemti wiped his forehead where concentration had caused sweat to run.

  Emla agreed. ‘We will have to wait for Tika, I think. And I have no idea how long that will be. But at least Rhaki is no longer in this stronghold. We can reach the Balance without interference from his presence.’

  A Guard approached and saluted the Lady, hand on the insignia above his heart. ‘Lady, the reinforcements are arriving.’

  ‘Well. We had best go and meet them, and arrange quarters for everyone. There can be no planning until Tika recovers.’ Emla frowned. ‘I had hoped that we could deal with the wards and save her some of this work.’

  ‘No,’ said Kemti. ‘It is clear. Rhaki has greatly increased his knowledge of many things over these Cycles, not least these wardings. At least we know we must be ever more wary if this is his idea of just a simple door ward.’

  They joined the much larger crowd now gathered in the great entrance hall. Brin and the Snow Dragons had gone to find food. Gan wondered where that could be. On his brief excursion outside, he had seen only snow-covered peaks and crevasses. Soran went to arrange the removal of bodies and confer with the officers of the newly arrived squad of Guards. They had been appalled at the grotesque creatures lying in the tunnels and were amazed that so few Guards appeared to have been able to slaughter them all.

  Sket was sitting beside Fenj and Lorak, all three watching Tika’s sleeping form. Kija had Jeela and Ashta lying beside her as she still curled protectively round Farn. Gan pointed out that Farn’s scales were brighter, seemed to have lost the dull, tarnished look they’d had since his wounding. Fenj told them that Tika was stronger but she was burrowed under the blankets and all that was visible was tangled black hair.

  Shan brought a tray of tea and honey rolls to the Lady. There was a difference in her Emla thought, as she accepted the tea gratefully. There was a new awareness in the round blue eyes and Emla realised that her flighty maid had seen things during the last few days for which she had been quite unprepared. If Guards had paled at the sight of those monsters, how much more shaken must this simple child have been? And yet there must have been a core of strength within her, which made her able to offer a tray of tea with steady hands. Emla confessed to herself that she had expected Shan to collapse in hysterics, but though the girl proved her judgement wrong yet again, Emla was proud of Shan’s steadfastness.

  A Guard trotted out from the barrack tunnel and craned to look over the scattered crowd.

  ‘What now?’ Kemti asked ruefully as the Guard headed purposefully in their direction.

  He saluted as he stood before Emla. ‘Officer Soran is escorting a party of – Delvers – to your presence Lady.’ The blankness in his eyes indicated that very little else would surprise him after recent events. ‘It is their leader. She is very old,’ he added.

  Emla was suddenly aware of what a mess she must look but Shan was beside her, holding a bowl of warm scented water and a towel over her arm.

  ‘Thank you, dear one.’ Emla scrubbed her face and hands, noticing that the water turned an unpleasantly dirty red, as did quite a lot of the towel.

  ‘Sit, my Lady, there is time for me to brush your hair,’ Shan ordered.

  Kemti’s eyebrows rose but Emla glared at him as she meekly sat on the floor at Shan’s feet.

  The buzz of conversation died gradually. The silence spread as the Guards nearest the barrack tunnel rose to their feet to stand to attention.

  First to appear was a Snow Dragon, prismed eyes like sparkling crystal. He paced steadily through the Guards, halting a short distance from Emla. Two male Delvers drew Nolli’s travelling chair up beside the Dragon and took one step to each side, turning to face each other. Lanni and Berri moved forward, each supporting one of the Wise One’s arms. Nolli batted the helping hands aside and stood, leaning on her stick. Her sharp black eyes flicked over the four tall People, then she gave a gummy grin.

  ‘Manners, Lord Gan! Can you not offer an arm to an ancient crone?’

  Gan grinned back at her and went to her side, bowing with a rather over embellished flourish.

  ‘At your service, Wise One.’

  Leaning heavily on her stick and Gan’s wrist, she crept the few paces to stand before Emla. Tilting her head far back she gazed up at the Golden Lady.

  ‘Greetings at last, Golden One.’ The naked gums shone pinkly again. ‘It is most uncomfortable – talking to you People whilst standing.’

  Emla seemed lost for words faced with this diminutive female of such great age, until Kemti nudged her rather sharply.

  ‘Oh. Will you not sit in your chair Wise One? We will sit on the floor.’

  The male Delvers pulled the odd little cart up behind Nolli and she sank back gratefully. Gan signalled his men to carry on as before Nolli’s appearance and sat on the floor with Emla, Kemti and Bark. Even then, the People’s heads’ were still level with the Delvers’. Khosa stalked between them and leapt to Nolli’s lap. A twisted hand settled on the Kephi’s back.

  ‘So, my little queen, you keep your eye on all that passes as usual.’ Nolli chuckled. Then she looked at each of the People and said in her oddly young voice: ‘The Grey One has fled. But he will have to be dealt with before much more time has passed. I offer you our sympathy for your Lady Iska.’ Nolli’s gaze settled on Bark. ‘And you are the damaged one.’

  He inclined his head in silent assent.

  ‘Long we have sung to you, knowing your pain. I tell you, it will soon cease.’

  Bark nodded, his lips stretching in the unfamiliarity of a smile. Dessi stood beside Bark and Nolli stared steadily at her.

  ‘You took life.’

  ‘Yes, many-times-grandmother. I could not see a friend die.�
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  Nolli waited.

  ‘It is not so straightforward as I had believed.’

  Emla and Kemti studied the Delver child and they both slowly realised she had altered since joining them in the tunnels. Faint lines were scratched at the corners of her eyes and her mouth. She had aged. Nolli stretched out a swollen hand and Dessi moved to her chair. The twisted knuckles brushed lightly over Dessi’s face as Nolli said: ‘This time I can help, but you know now what taking life will do, child.’

  Dessi pressed a kiss on Nolli’s hand and slipped back to stand near Bark, the tiny lines smoothed away from her face.

  ‘This Lady Iska,’ said Nolli suddenly. ‘She was as a sister to you Emla?’

  Emla’s eyes shone even bigger, magnified by unshed tears. ‘She, she was killed. She cannot travel beyond.’

  Nolli shook her head. ‘She prepared for what she did, Lady. Did you not hear her call? Her spirit went beyond, willingly and safely, before Rhaki killed her body. Even as her cry came to you.’

  Emla frowned, trying to remember exactly.

  Kemti remarked: ‘We were a trifle occupied at the time, Wise One.’

  Nolli smiled. ‘Hmm. With those poor creatures I passed below?’

  ‘Poor creatures?’ Kemti repeated in disbelief.

  Nolli tutted. ‘You don’t think they were happy do you? Twisted perversions constructed by the Grey One.’

  ‘Happy or not, they were trying rather hard to rip us to pieces,’ Kemti retorted.

  Nolli laughed aloud. ‘And probably they are glad of their release from torment.’

  Shan offered a tray with a bowl of steaming, fragrant spice tea. Her eyes dropped to the misshapen hands and she put the tray on the floor, knelt and held the bowl questioningly near Nolli’s face. Nolli’s black button gaze pierced into Shan’s round blue eyes, then she nodded slightly. Gently, Shan held the bowl as the old one sipped a few mouthfuls.

  ‘Thank you child.’

  Suddenly, Lorak was there, a grimy hand leaning on Gan’s shoulder.

  ‘Tika’s near waking. Lord Fenj says another short while, and she will be up again!’ He beamed at them all and Nolli beamed toothlessly back at him, then he trotted off to spread his good news.

  ‘He has his task to do in all this, as do we all,’ said Nolli quietly. ‘Obstinate he is, as are many, but he has given his love and loyalty to you and he will be obstinate in that, as in all else.’

  ‘But he’s my gardener!’ Emla objected, and looked surprised when the others laughed.

  Nolli leaned forward. ‘I tell you quickly now, for you to ponder. Rhaki used the circles to make his escape.’

  Her listeners looked blank.

  ‘Circles such as those in your Gathering Chamber and in your Pavilion of Balance. There are many such, but alas, we have no remembrances of how they are used. Clearly the Grey One has discovered this, but I would guess that he would take the book wherein he found such wisdom with him, or he has destroyed it once he had it in his mind. The only place where knowledge of such things may still exist, is in the Wilderness, far, far towards the rising sun.’

  Chapter Thirty-Four