His head sank until his chin lay on the tender bones of his chest. Long hair, grey streaked with white, fell in curtains, hiding his face. A soft humming began to creep through the room, increasing in volume as a melody grew. With a great effort, he lifted his head and let it lean against the high back of the chair. Light flickered from the lamps while the Crazed One sang a lullaby.
Dusk was nearly hiding the grounds when Dog returned to the pavilion. Tika simply looked at her, unsure what she should say. The engineers were habitually insulting to each other, but even a fool could see beneath that to the tight bond they had between them. And Tika also knew that Dog was still raw from the loss of Rose, the leader of her unit when they’d been in the Dark Realm. Now she’d lost another of her team, and yet another was half blind.
Dog glanced around, about to snarl when it dawned on her that these people staring at her with concern, were her friends, her family. That they cared. She squared her shoulders and headed for the tea pot.
‘Konya says he’s to stay asleep a few days. He’s spoilt his looks quite a bit I thought.’
She turned and only Tika knew the strength it took for Dog to produce her wicked smirk. ‘I’ll spoil ’em even more when he wakes up again, the stupid bugger.’
Shea arrived back at a run, skidding to a stop next to Essa. ‘Lady Emla says there are no weather mages here and only two within the City. She says neither of them are close to Lady Maressa’s talent.’
Shea clearly wanted to know who Lady Maressa might be but Sket shot a glare at the girl which kept the question behind her lips. For now.
Tika resumed her pacing. ‘I think there would be mages in Kedara Circle, in Vagrantia, but there’s no time to reach them.’
‘I could open a gateway Tika, or you could use your circle – there is one here isn’t there?’
Tika shook her head. ‘I don’t think we should risk travelling by circles or gateways with that creature so close.’ She studied Dromi. ‘You really have no knowledge of working the weather?’
‘No Lady Tika, none at all.’ Dromi sounded regretful. ‘I told you, many of us were not convinced that the records were true.’
‘If you explained, I might be able to try,’ Shivan suggested. ‘I don’t mean to sound boastful, but I might.’ He looked worried, fearing he’d sounded presumptuous.
Tika gave him a faint smile. ‘It is similar to far seeing Shivan, but you have to know what the different cloud formations mean, read the winds, and feel the mood of the very air.’
Shivan was abashed. ‘I know nothing of weather,’ he admitted. ‘But could we not use lightning somehow?’
‘How?’ Tika glared at him.
Shivan subsided, but Kazmat now spoke up.
‘Lightning is very hot air, isn’t it?’ He seemed slightly surprised by his own temerity at joining the discussion. ‘Does that mean fire might turn this creature? In Kelshan, we use liquid fire – it was used against those monsters, Lady Tika.’
‘That’s right, it was.’ Tika’s face went blank. ‘Does anyone know what liquid fire is made of? Could we make some quickly?’
Dog snorted. ‘It takes weeks to concoct and it is very unstable. That means it is very dangerous to handle it and it has to be kept under very controlled conditions.’ She smiled. ‘If I tell you that I personally would not be happy close to one single barrel of the stuff, I think you get the idea.’
Knowing Dog’s predilection for explosive devices, the company did see her point.
‘I can send fire considerable distances, my Tika.’
‘Absolutely not.’ Tika didn’t pause to think. Before Farn could argue, as he was clearly ready to, she went on. ‘I might consider that if the others were here, but you will not over fly that creature on your own.’
‘I presume there is little chance of real combat?’ Essa asked, stretching her long legs out in front of her. ‘If Lady Emla’s shield falters, what defence can we offer?’
Tika felt a spurt of anger. Why did she have to be the one to come up with the answers? Her pacing had brought her to the pavilion’s open door and she stepped outside, looking to the south. The sky was dark, no stars or moon, and as Tika tilted her head back to stare upwards, rain began to hit her face. She went inside.
‘It’s starting to rain, quite hard.’ She sounded much more cheerful. ‘At least it will make the grass and trees less easy to burn if that’s what he plans, but - ’
She was interrupted by Kija’s mind voice.
‘Tika we are to the east of the City, but we saw another Dragon. It was one of the Dark Ones. It flew south. It did not see us. Shall I follow?’
Tika clenched her fists in indecision.
‘You must keep a good distance from it Kija, but I would know what it does.’
Before she could stop him, Shivan was past her and outside. She shot after him even as his shape was melting into his Dragon form.
‘Shivan! Whoever it is, you must shield, as I’ve shown you. Don’t let him see you!’
The huge Dragon’s head turned to her briefly, then Shivan was rising, vanishing almost at once into the rainy dark. Tika’s curls were already plastered to her head when she went inside again and she cursed aloud that she hadn’t yet thought to discover if Shivan could send her what he saw through mind power. She dropped down against Farn and concentrated on linking her mind to Kija.
‘Kija, Shivan has taken Dragon shape and is already going south. I think he can identify who it may be although my suspicions are strong that it will be Cyrek or Seola. Stay high and safe, dear heart, and let me see what you see.’
Immediately, vision flooded her mind which she in turn shared with her companions. The golden Dragon was flying fast; lights in the City and outlying farms and villages appearing and disappearing in an eye blink. She was also gaining height as they realised when she passed over the House. The lights blazed in Emla’s House, but they seemed tiny from Kija’s vantage.
Then they became aware that Kija was slowing, beginning to turn in a long spiralling glide. All the company tensed, seeing the oddly translucent form of an enormous Dark Dragon drifting far below. Tika felt a ripple of apprehension within her deepest self and sent a pulse of warning to Kija.
‘Higher, Kija, higher, and keep your shield tight.’
Through Kija’s eyes, they watched the Dark Dragon. From immediately beneath it, lightning flashed up into the sky. The Dragon moved lazily, avoiding the lightning without effort. More flashes speared upwards, all failing to hit their target. The Dark Dragon half closed its wings and dropped, a great sheet of white fire pouring from its gaping jaws. White fire and yellow fire collided, sparks scattering through the air and over the ground.
The creature Karlesh was briefly visible, hopping wildly among the sparks and embers. The Dark Dragon swung round in a tight turn, jaws gaping again. There was a blinding glare of blue white light and a voice roared.
‘Do not touch him Corman, foul beast of the Dark!’
When their eyes had adjusted again after the dazzle of light, the company saw there was neither Dragon nor creature to be seen.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Unseen by Kija, Shivan flew only a little higher than the golden Dragon. Kija and Tika had both shown him how to form a shield but, Shivan being Shivan, he had tinkered with the methods. Now, using a surprisingly small amount of power, his vast Dragon shape was invisible to anyone searching the skies. He watched the other Dark Dragon and recognised Cyrek immediately. He saw the strangely malformed creature that Tika said was called Karlesh. He sensed an oddly twisted power in Karlesh, but a strong power nonetheless.
Shivan observed the lightning spears hurled at Cyrek and Cyrek’s retaliation. His Dragon eyes instantly reacted within his shielding when the blue white light filled the sky and he saw Cyrek hurled head over tail into another Plane of Existence. Karlesh sank into the ground: within heartbeats there was no sign of him. Shivan heard the voice shouting at Cyrek and he did not fail to note the name that was cal
led. He felt a grim amusement that Cyrek would use Corman’s name. How easy Cyrek must have thought it would be to have the Crazed One call Corman’s name and thus implant utter distrust of the Palace Master in any who might hear that call.
Shivan relaxed his shielding and felt Kija’s surprise when he popped into view. He sent a pulse of apology in her direction and wondered, certainly not for the first time, why he found mind speech nearly impossible when in his Dragon body. With a minimum of effort, Shivan slid through the air, sweeping down to land on the wet grass alongside the pavilion. The strong smell of burnt cinnamon gusted from him as he relinquished the Dragon form and he strode inside. Conversation died away.
‘Did you hear the words?’ he demanded, his yellow eyes bright.
Tika nodded. ‘That wasn’t Corman, was it?’
‘No.’
Shivan’s confident reply brought a sigh of relief from Tika. ‘I truly didn’t believe it could be, but I’m glad you’re sure.’
Shivan sprawled on a couch and laced his hands behind his head. ‘It was Cyrek. Unmistakeably. Clearly he had told the Crazed One that he is named Corman. At least that tells us one thing.’
He grinned at Tika’s raised eyebrow.
‘He has not been able to infiltrate the Dark Realm enough to recognise faces.’
‘But there was Chindar,’ Tika objected.
Shivan sat up and leaned forward. ‘No Tika. I think Cyrek, and perhaps Seola, are the only ones in direct contact with the Splintered Kingdom. And knowing Cyrek’s arrogance all too well, I think he may well irritate the Crazed One more than flatter or soothe. It is not in Cyrek’s nature to offer a kind word when a sarcastic one springs to his mind more easily.’
Essa was nodding. ‘The rare occasions Lord Cyrek honoured the guards with his presence, he was heartily loathed for his insinuations and insults.’
‘A pain in the backside when he came to the mines one time,’ Dog agreed.
‘I think Corman should be told, but I really would prefer you to stay here, with us, until we know if Karlesh has gone or is hiding out there.’
‘Shiral could go.’
‘Do you think so?’ Tika considered the idea. ‘No. I think Shiral is not the sort for intrigue. If she met Cyrek after we’d told her all our suspicions, I think he would know at once. She is not a natural deceiver.’
‘Unlike us,’ Shea agreed cheerfully. ‘Couldn’t you write Corman a letter and let Shiral take it, without her knowing what’s in it?’
‘Unsafe,’ said Shivan, and Tika nodded.
‘It will have to wait for now.’ She turned to the door as Captain Kran appeared.
‘Lady Emla says nothing moves around the warded bounds she has had set. Seniors will remain on watch through the night of course. And – um – she asks if you could perhaps remove the – um – horse from her hall?’
Shea and Volk dashed out of the pavilion, Shea’s giggles loud in her wake. Kran saluted Tika.
‘I would like to offer my sympathy for the loss of your man and the injury to the other guard, Lady Tika.’
‘Thank you Kran. Let us hope we lose no more. That horse. It’s really in Emla’s hall?’
Kran coughed. ‘Yes, my lady. And that cat, Khosa, sits on its back and spits at anyone who comes near to try to lead the horse out.’
‘Well give Emla my apologies. I’ll see her in the morning, if we have a peaceful night.’
‘Stars willing, we do,’ Kran responded with fervour.
Tika met Essa’s eyes. ‘What is it with that horse?’
Essa’s purple grin flashed briefly as she shrugged, and Tika’s gaze moved on to Dromi. He spread his long fingered hands, implying ignorance, but there was a gleam of amusement in his strange coloured eyes. Before Tika could say anything, they heard hooves clopping over the gravel outside.
Somewhat to her alarm, Tika saw Daisy march calmly into the pavilion and move to a wall against which she leaned a shoulder. Khosa crouched on the large expanse of broad muscular back and Tika opened her mouth. Turquoise eyes glared at her, and Daisy’s large brown eye blinked slowly. Tika heard both Essa and Rhaki chuckle, and closed her mouth. She settled back against Farn and with a determined effort cleared her mind.
‘I am going to have a look for Karlesh,’ she announced firmly.
At the periphery of her mind, she was aware of Kija’s return and also a very subdued Brin and Storm. Without acknowledging them she linked her mind to Farn and Rhaki, who was in the House with Konya, and set herself free. Her mind moved swiftly south. She saw fat raindrops fill the air all around her but felt no sense of wet or of hitting them.
It was very dark under clouds heavy with rain and even with her enhanced vision it was hard to see anything. Tika reached the Candle Hills and lifted her mind higher, tightening her shield. Out here, in the dark and the rain, she knew her pendant was growing warm against her chest, back in the pavilion: warning enough. Carefully, cautiously, she hung above the cratered slopes of the southern side of the Hills. Water glinted where it was beginning to puddle in some of the holes and pits, but she saw nothing out of the ordinary.
Then something snagged her attention. She slowed the movement of her mind and sank closer to the ground. There! A patch of sodden cloth. Black. No, it was dark blue and there was the silver Dragon insignia, half crushed. There was little left of Darrick now, his head was mostly buried under muddy soil. Icy cold, with anger not exhaustion, Tika sent her mind slowly, slowly, on. She went lower until her seeking thought made contact with the earth.
The pendant flared to life in the pavilion and she knew Karlesh was somehow, directly below, deep inside the earth. She rose, drifting back towards the remains of poor Darrick. Reaching for threads of her power, she wove them quickly into a delicate web which she let fall over Darrick. As the threads settled like a lacy blanket over the engineer, fire raged, fast and intense. Tika’s mind waited, and watched, until the flames vanished, leaving no trace that a man had lain there.
When she opened her eyes in the pavilion, she found Essa kneeling beside her holding the chain of Tika’s pendant so the egg swung clear of her chest. Then she saw the Sergeant was also holding her own chain above her shirt to keep that pendant from her own skin.
‘Yours too?’
Essa’s thick brows formed a single line over her eyes. ‘I tried just holding it in my hand but that burnt. Then I realised it must be yours that set this one off. You’re a bit singed I think.’
Tika took the chain from Essa’s fingers. The pendant was quite cold now. She glanced round the room.
‘Where’s Rhaki?’
‘He went into the House to make Konya rest.’ Dog got to her feet. ‘I’ll see if he’s all right. I presume he’s got one of those necklaces?’
Tika nodded. Sket had dug out a pot of salve from his pack and was opening Tika’s shirt. The pendant had burnt her many times now, in varying degrees, and there was a permanent scarring between her breasts. He was relieved to see that this time at least it had only just begun to blister before Essa had snatched the pendant away. He smeared a generous dollop of the greenish paste over the burn and put a strip of gauze over it, rebuttoned Tika’s shirt and turned his attention to Essa.
The Sergeant looked horrified and shrank back, making Tika hoot with laughter.
‘Sergeant Essa, daughter of Bears and fearless warrior, overcome with modesty?’
‘Sit still and unbutton your shirt Sergeant,’ Sket snapped. ‘And that’s an order.’
Despite Essa’s most ferocious scowl she didn’t manage to lose her interested audience. Sket peered closely.
‘Worse than yours, Tika.’ He slapped salve and dressing on Essa’s chest and then grabbed her huge hand, turning it so he could inspect her palm. His body partly hid the hand from Tika’s view and he only groped behind him for his pack rather than moving from that position. But Tika crawled up beside him and took Essa’s hand in hers. Sket swore.
‘Are you recovered enough?’ he asked, eve
n as tissue grew back over Essa’s palm.
Essa stared at her hand, then slowly raised it to remove Sket’s gauze from between her breasts. The skin was faintly reddened, but unblistered now. Her expression was unreadable as she looked at Tika.
‘Now you know what these things do,’ Tika told her. ‘If you can, get it away from your skin as soon as it gets too warm.’
‘Why don’t you do that, then?’ Shivan asked with interest.
‘Because when I’m far seeking, I can’t make my body do things at the same time.’
‘Why don’t you take it off then?’ asked Fedran.
‘Because I usually forget,’ Tika’s reply was short. ‘Now, could we think about why these reacted so strongly? It began when my mind actually touched the ground beneath which I believe Karlesh is hidden.’
‘But did he hide deliberately, or was he put there, like that Dragon was forced away? And that voice, Lady Tika. Was it heard in this real world, or just in your mind?’ Dromi frowned in concentration as he spoke.
Tika was surprised by his last comment. ‘But you heard it, didn’t you Shivan, and you were not linked to Kija or myself?’
Shivan nodded.
‘Is that the first time you’ve heard his voice?’ she continued.
‘Yes. But now I really think of it, it was more a mind voice.’ He glanced at Dromi. ‘I don’t think it was heard aloud.’
‘Suggesting it could have been felt inside many other minds. So who else would have heard that cry?’
Dromi’s question was addressed to Shivan who became increasingly worried. He turned to Tika. ‘He’s right. I’ll have to go to the Realm, speak to my father and Corman at once.’
Tika chewed on her lower lip. ‘I think I must come with you. How quickly can we be there and back?’ she asked.
‘You will travel on my back,’ Farn announced firmly. ‘You will be safe with me, and the Dragon gates are faster than the others.’
‘We can be back here by morning,’ Shivan agreed.
‘Are you sure?’ asked Tika.
Perilous Shadows: Book 6 Circles of Light Page 28