Jemin nodded, satisfied.
‘Cyrek will go with you, and you Seola. If Nenat is sufficiently recovered and is willing, she will be the fourth of your team.’
It was Seola’s turn to nod agreement. Corman moved between the chairs, offering goblets of the blood drink from a gleaming silver tray.
‘The second team, my lady?’ That was Shield Master Garrol, his blue eyes showing a concern that was not apparent in his voice.
‘To find the sleepers I ask Favrian and Peshan to accompany Shea and Gossamer Tewk. Thus two of each team are full bloods and yes, you must unleash your joint powers if you deem such action called for.’
Lerran looked again at Seola and smiled, watching Seola’s dark eyes revert to their natural gold. Seola travelled on behalf of the First Daughter more than any other outside the Dark Realm , and keeping her eyes a nondescript brown was second nature.
‘It is right that Garrol should remain here as your Shield Lerran, but is it wise to send Favrian away? You may have need of both Shield and Sword Masters if the Imperium forces reach our Realm, even our borders.’
‘Favrian’s guards are beyond compare Chindar, as you well know. Malkos will be appointed Sword Master in Favrian’s absence.’
Favrian’s son Malkos touched his brow, lips and heart, extending his hand in graceful acceptance of this temporary promotion.
‘I am waiting for final information which will set our plans in action. I will summon you again at darkfall.’
When all but Peshan had left her chamber, Lerran got to her feet. She moved with an easy elegance, going through an archway to her most private rooms. She turned to speak to her brother when one of the windows blew open.
‘I do wish you wouldn’t do that, Hag,’ sighed the First Daughter of Dark. A raucous cackle made her wince. ‘You come sooner than I’d expected. What news?’
The enormous raven strutted towards Peshan, horny beak agape. Peshan moved nimbly behind a chair and the raven screamed again. No one knew, or remembered if they’d ever known, just why Peshan and Hag disliked each other quite so violently.
‘Hag, behave.’ Lerran spoke sharply, Darkness rippling through her voice. ‘And Peshan, keep quiet or go away.’
Hag shuffled her feathers and hopped onto a table. ‘The one who screams is of the kindred. They call themselves Great Dragons.’ Hag cackled again. ‘They are but pale shadows of Great Dragons. And I’d prefer you to call me Anfled.’
‘I will name you as I choose.’ Lerran’s eyes had begun to blaze and the raven took a step back, knocking over an inkwell.
‘It is a young male. He has lost his soul bond who is the sleeping girl I think. You told me not to attempt the Splintered Kingdom so I can’t confirm that. His name is Farn and the sleeper is called Tika. I took her name from his mind but he is near insanity. He is at the house of the ones who came from the stars long ago. Their healers can do nothing, and his torment is crippling them worse with each day.’
Lerran sighed. ‘You have done well Hag. Seola will be travelling to that land in the next days.’
The raven flapped heavily to the window. ‘I’m going back there,’ she announced. ‘There’s a lot of wild magic loose.’
‘Wait,’ Lerran called. ‘The house where the star people live – it was marked on the maps the last time you checked them for us?’
‘Yes, yes,’ Hag replied tetchily. ‘I will no doubt meet Seola there, but I must discover more of their magic.’
The window was empty. Peshan gestured and the panes swung closed.
‘At least Hag seems to quite like Favrian,’ Lerran groaned. ‘I fear she would happily give you false directions and sit cackling while you struggled for your life.’
Peshan emerged from behind the chair. ‘Hag will behave when she must.’
‘You could sound more convinced,’ his sister retorted.
They both stood by the window looking inland over the town to the lesser hills, which in turn rose to distant peaks. The Barrier Range was perhaps one hundred and twenty leagues north, and Kelshan City twice that distance beyond. Lerran hoped Veranta’s forces would take at least a full moon to march that far, but even so she disliked these problems arising together.
‘That damn man,’ she muttered.
‘The one called Namolos?’ asked Peshan.
Lerran nodded. ‘I still believe I was right to conceal us from him but perhaps I could have disrupted his plans sooner. I was remiss in not realising what he was aiming for.’
‘Is there no chance of contacting him now?’
‘He has managed to trap himself. He was ensnared by that fragment of evil that took form as Cho Petak.’
Peshan frowned. ‘The ruler of Drogoya?’
‘I have watchers who tell me the evil has burst. It should drain itself out like poison from an abscess, but still it bears watching.’
Peshan slid his arm across Lerran’s shoulders, resting his cheek against the side of her head. ‘I wish I could take more of your burden sweet sister.’
‘I know. And your care gives me strength. Now, go on and let me speak with Dabray.’
Peshan kissed her cheek and was gone. Lerran closed her eyes, pressed her hands palm to palm, and vanished from her high rooms. She reappeared deep in the very roots of the mountain that was the Karmazen Palace.
There was no light but a strange phosphorescent glow from the polished stone floor. Lerran moved confidently towards one wall. The glow grew around her, creeping higher up the wall. A huge shape emerged from that wall, a carved body – legs, neck, half protruding from the black stone. The neck stretched along and curved down to a long face which seemed nearly out of the stone. One side of the face was clear and the great eye slowly blinked open.
Lerran stretched to touch the face, gently stroking the pearly grey surface. The eye shone in a multitude of colours, flickering and changing until it settled to a deep buttery gold.
‘Lerran.’ The voice was soft but vibrated through the chamber. Lerran could feel the voice through her feet, the tone shivering up through her whole body.
‘Dabray,’ she replied as softly.
‘I heard what you plan. It is the only option but I fear greatly for Favrian and Peshan. Theirs is the most perilous task of all.’
Lerran leaned against the wall, her hand continuing to caress the half exposed face above her.
‘You must make them both swear, to you personally Lerran, that they will try to retrieve the hostages in the Splintered Kingdom and no more. If they fail to find those poor creatures they must return here at once.’
‘I will do as you say,’ Lerran whispered.
‘You must,’ the deep voice repeated. ‘What lives within the Splintered Kingdom could track its way right to this world through either Favrian or Peshan.’
Lerran stiffened. ‘Should I send two others?’ she asked, then answered her own question. ‘No. Two full bloods must go. They will be needed to open the gateways. And their power will afford some protection for themselves and for Shea and Gossamer Tewk.’
‘You have chosen well Lerran. I would have made the same choice. Take four tokens – each of them must carry one.’
There was a faint clatter as of stone on stone by Lerran’s feet. ‘I had a powerful sense that the child should go Dabray. The Dark is strong in her. It is also strong in Gossamer Tewk although I would wish for more time to open her mind to what she can be.’
A silence fell and drew out. Finally Dabray spoke again. ‘Send Gossamer to me at darkfall. I would speak with her, alone.’ Another pause. ‘Visit me soon Lerran. Our separation gets no easier even after all these ages.’
Lerran pressed closer to the great body embedded in the stone. Willing her tears back, she stepped away. She stooped to pick up four flat disks from the floor. The luminescence began to fade. She took another step backwards, her gaze still fixed to that beautiful face, that glittering eye. Tucking the disks into a corner of her shawl she slowly brought her hands up, palm to palm.
<
br /> ‘Dark bless you and keep you, dearest husband.’
Lerran popped into existence in her high room once more. She groped blindly towards a chair and slumped into it. She covered her face with her hands on which the rings glittered. Facets sent crazy patterns of crimson, azure, emerald, purple skittering across the wall. The First Daughter drew shuddering breaths and finally lowered her hands. Tears streaked her face but her eyes shone with a steady deep golden light.
The decision they’d taken so very long ago did in truth seem harder with the passing of time. But they had chosen this path, knowing some of what was to come. Already the creature whose construct was the Splintered Kingdom, had been discovered, hovering so close to this world of theirs. His attempt to infiltrate Drogoya, the land far to the north, had been made too early. But it had achieved the release of great wickedness that would serve to strengthen the creature. Dabray had suggested the creature was meddling in too many different places, his power splintered as was his Kingdom. And therein, said Dabray, lay their hope.
First Daughter Lerran was not convinced.
Chapter Six
Hag twisted and tumbled through her own strange version of a gateway. She emerged under a cloudy sky above western Sapphrea. Hag knew few place names on this continent as yet, but had seen this small town at the foot of a long spine of mountains before. She shrieked with delight, feeling a surge of magic push beneath her vast wings, sending her ever higher. Keeping the mountains on her left, Hag flew steadily eastwards, occasionally cackling with pleasure. Many leagues had spooled out beneath her when she saw three black shapes ahead, angling up towards her. She slowed, lazily swerving into a wide spiral.
‘Little cousins!’ she screamed as the three approached.
Hag knew them as crows but they called themselves Merigs, and they spoke to her mind only, unable to vocalise as Hag could. She was amused that they showed no fear of her, despite her being more than twice their size. No, she felt only curiosity from them, and a sad lack of respect. She closed her wings and dived beneath them. Faster she fell then twisted and spun to land finally on a weathered pine tree. She almost dozed waiting for the crows to catch up with her. They settled on another tree and one enquired, politely Hag had to admit, who she might be.
Hag spread her wings, beak agape, and announced she was Anfled, Raven of Dark. She felt the three crows discuss her words but their mind speech slipped by too swiftly for her to follow. She must concentrate she warned herself. Hag restrained her impatience while the crows introduced themselves. At some considerable length.
‘Yes, yes. I’m pleased to meet you too,’ she snapped eventually. ‘You don’t seem to understand, as Mother of all the Dark Feathered Ones, you should listen to me rather than chatter. Now, I seek the one who screams pain throughout the lands. I need to see exactly where he is located.’
The crows stared at her, eyes beady and bright. ‘He is quite near.’ The crow who made the comment shifted his grip on the branch then lifted up and began to gain height.
Well really, she would need to instruct these crows in basic manners, she could see that. With a harsh squawk of displeasure Hag rose behind the crows and noted smugly how their wings beat so rapidly just to keep a little ahead of her.
It was less than half a day’s flight until they reached Gaharn. The crows explained the Lady who ruled here lived some distance from the city, in a great House in the foothills. Hag was a little taken aback when the crows told her this Lady was a friend of theirs. She could speak to their minds, the crows explained. She spoke with many creatures, even the Great Dragons. Hag spluttered. Great Dragons! Such pretensions.
They reached Lady Emla’s House at sunset. Hag, although shielded, could feel the near mad screams vibrating through the very air. She was perched on some sort of wheeled thing which had been left upside down near a cluster of shrubs. Two of the crows stood on the ground beside her, the third having gone to find the Lady. Voices approached and Hag drew herself up, mantling her great wings slightly.
A tall woman came round the stone path and stopped abruptly. A much shorter man, dressed in what Hag recognised as a uniform, stood on the right of the woman, another very tall man on her left. Above them loomed a long black face supported by a thick neck. Hag stared. One of the Dragons, here, actually with these people? Hag gathered her wits. On closer inspection, the tall man and woman appeared tired if not exhausted. Faces grey, dark rings beneath their eyes. The shorter man looked fractionally better.
‘The First Daughter sent me.’ Hag announced. ‘I am Anfled, Raven of Dark.’
Her words were met with blank stares. ‘The one who screams needs help – the First Daughter is sending those who may be able to do just that. She hopes they can heal him, or at least stop the noise,’ Hag ended crossly.
These people seemed unable to move or speak. Perhaps they were simply too stupid to heal the hurt one after all, if they couldn’t answer her straightforward remarks.
The woman moved a few steps closer. ‘This First Daughter you speak of, Anfled – who is she? I confess I have not heard of such a title.’
Hag leaped from her perch and paced back and forth. She sensed great power from these people, even from the Dragon, and power always excited her and made her restless.
‘The First Daughter is Lerran, of the Dark Realm.’ She spoke slowly, trying to calm herself.
‘Dark?’ The taller man moved up beside the woman. ‘We are followers of the Light.’
Hag cackled and hopped back on her perch. ‘Light, Dark. You’ll say you are the embodiment of good next, and anyone who believes differently is evil or worse.’ She tilted her head, one eye glittering at the man with an undeniable intelligence.
The woman raised a hand to the man’s arm. ‘Forgive us. I am Emla, Lady of Gaharn. This is Kemti, and Soran is the Captain of my Guards. And Fenj, Elder of the Broken Mountain Treasury. If your Lady offers help in the mending of Farn’s mind, it matters not to me if you are followers of Dark or Light.’
The black Dragon paced forward, his faceted eyes whirring a slate grey. Hag lost her balance and squawked indignantly.
‘You are also called Hag.’ The Dragon’s deep voice spoke in her mind. ‘But you speak truly.’ Fenj lowered his head towards Emla. ‘I agree Lady. If there is anything anyone can do for the young one, we should accept that help with gratitude.’
‘The First Daughter has formed two teams.’ Hag kept a wary eye on the Dragon. ‘One team is to come here within the next days. The other goes – somewhere else – to find the sleepers.’
‘Sleepers?’ Emla asked urgently. ‘What sleepers do you speak of?’
Hag cackled. ‘A small female, a male, and a cat.’
‘And your Lady, this First Daughter, she is sending people to get them?’
‘They will try. That is all I can say. Where is the hurt one?’
‘He is inside one of the Pavilions.’ Emla pointed over her shoulder. ‘We have warded the building as strongly as we can, but it is an exhausting task.’
Hag launched herself into the air.
‘But when will these people come? Where will they arrive?’ Emla called after the great Raven, but the only reply was a mocking screech.
They watched the dark shape rise rapidly, wheeling towards the north-east.
‘We don’t even know where she comes from, her and her “First Daughter”.’
‘She spoke of sleepers. That’s the only reference we’ve had to Tika and Sket’s whereabouts.’ Emla began to walk back to the main House in the gathering twilight. ‘Only Jakri has seen, once, the two of them asleep in a tunnel.’
‘And he thought they were dead. Oh I’m sorry.’ Kemti slipped his arm round Emla’s waist. ‘I am just so very tired it becomes harder to find hope each day.’
‘Go on in and rest. Tell Shan I will be there shortly.’ Emla gave him a little push and Kemti trudged wearily down the path. Emla’s heart, so torn and battered of late, gave a new twinge at sight of his bowed shoulders
. They told all too plainly of his increasing despair.
‘Should I increase the guard numbers around the House, Lady?’ asked Soran.
‘I don’t think there is need Soran, but perhaps ask the men to be prepared – just in case.’ She managed a smile in return to Soran’s salute and watched him march to the side of the House. She hated the pain and guilt in his eyes. Soran had served under Captain Gan Jal Sarl and while all her household mourned Gan’s death, Soran still found it nearly impossible to accept. She knew Soran felt he was merely standing in, until his true Captain returned. So much turmoil, so many puzzles, so much grief.
Emla straightened her shoulders and walked towards the Pavilion in which Farn was being held.
‘He sleeps Lady.’ Fenj murmured in her mind.
She stopped, glancing back at the black Dragon. She looked ahead again to the Pavilion then retraced her steps. She’d seen the shape of Fenj’s son Brin, a crimson Dragon even larger than his father, reclining on the lawn near the Pavilion’s entrance. Storm’s smaller, paler body paced restlessly around him.
‘We should all rest when we have these small opportunities,’ said Fenj.
‘You’re right, dear one.’ Emla reached her arms as far round Fenj’s chest as she could reach. She drew back, her hands each side of his long beautiful face. ‘This Anfled has raised a breath of hope within me. You said she spoke truly Fenj; we must trust now that these people of whom she spoke can really help Farn.’
In fact, Seola’s group had already arrived, fortunately at a short distance from the great House. Cyrek, long time friend of Jemin and full blooded Dark Lord, had opened the gateway to Gaharn thus sparing Seola some of the stresses involved. Now he and Jemin sat by a tiny fire, Seola and Nenat asleep close by. Gateways caused neither Jemin nor Cyrek physical discomfort but Seola and Nenat still suffered headaches. They had made camp in a small hollow. From the top of the northern side they could see the great House, with smaller buildings close by. Some were ablaze with lights, others mainly dark.
Dark Realm: Book 5 Circles of Light series Page 7