Perilous Shadows: Book 6 Circles of Light

by E. M. Sinclair

  A man stood before her, leaning on a slender staff of grey wood inlaid with silver. He wasn’t very tall: Tika didn’t have to raise her head far to meet his eyes. His head was an oval shape, high domed and hairless. Eyes of a soft leaf green with gold pupils met hers steadily. Those eyes tilted up at the outer corners, a shape she’d seen before. His skin was a greyish green, smooth and unmarked. He wore a long tunic which reached below his knees, leaving his lower legs and feet bare. The tunic was belted with a linked silver chain. When he opened his mouth to speak, Tika saw square white teeth, no tusks. He spoke in a language Tika didn’t recognise but seeing her incomprehension, he paused, then began again in the common tongue.

  ‘We are surprised to receive visitors to Skaratay, Lady, but if you come peacefully, we offer you welcome.’

  His voice was deep, reminding her of Volk.

  ‘I am Chancellor Konrik.’

  Farn had become impatient with waiting outside and now his long neck pushed between Tika’s company to inspect the stranger, his prismed eyes flashing shades of pale and dark blue. Chancellor Konrik showed no surprise or alarm, indeed he gave a slight smile.

  ‘You too are welcome here, child.’

  ‘I am Tika, daughter of Kija and soul bond to Farn.’ Her hand brushed Farn’s chin and he withdrew a little.

  She found Konrik regarding her with interest but he simply waited for her to continue.

  ‘These are my friends and companions, who have chosen to come with me on my – search.’

  She knew Konrik heard her slight hesitation but decided it was his turn to bat the conversational ball.

  ‘My master will receive you shortly, if it is your desire to meet him. I’m afraid I would prefer you to remove your weapons before I conduct you to his presence.’

  Before answering, aware of the bristling of her companions, Tika took another step inside. She saw she was in a smallish, unfurnished room, with another pair of large double doors opposite and several small doors set in the side walls: clearly a waiting area. But there were no guards, no servants, only the Chancellor waiting patiently in front of her.

  Tika glanced back at Sket and held his gaze as she began to unbuckle her sword belt. She took Konrik by surprise by holding out sword and belt to him, rather than just laying it on the stone floor herself. He took it automatically and she saw his eyes widen momentarily. Leaning heavily on his staff, he limped to the left and set her sword carefully upright against the wall. Tika saw a long ropey scar twisting up the back of his left leg before he turned to rejoin her.

  They both watched Tika’s companions lay their weapons beside hers, although Tika noted that Dog kept her battered old satchel under her arm and Konya retained her healer’s pouches. Konrik made no comment, nor did he ask them to leave their back packs. He stared rather hard when he saw Sergeant Essa’s huge figure, and he blinked when Shivan glanced at him. The company formed behind Tika and the Chancellor nodded. He hobbled towards the next pair of doors and they swung inwards as he approached.

  A man stood to each side, dressed in similar tunics to the Chancellor’s but of a paler grey. Konrik limping ahead, Tika followed across another larger room but again, bare of furnishings. Light came from windows only on their right. A single door opened and Konrik took them through a zigzagging corridor. As they penetrated deeper, towards the centre of the building Tika guessed, more people appeared. They were mostly dressed in the same pale grey as the two men at the doors, but gradually she saw many in pale blue tunics, men and women both.

  All had a similar look: the domed, hairless heads and tilted eyes. They inclined their heads and stepped aside for the Chancellor as he passed. Yet another door opened and somehow Tika was not surprised to see this room opened into a very large courtyard. The Emperor of Wendla’s House Crystal was built to a very similar plan – the hidden garden at its centre utterly secluded from the outside world. But there, the garden had been open to the sky: Kija had seen a solid roof over both these buildings. An illusion? A manipulation of power very different from what she or the Dragons might identify?

  For this courtyard garden was open to the sky, now, at least. Subtle scents filled the room from the many flowers they could see as they waited while Konrik spoke to a young woman in a pale yellow gown. The woman hurried off and Konrik turned to Tika.

  ‘We will wait here until we know my master’s wishes.’

  ‘Your master – I fear I do not know his name, only that he is the Lord of Shadow.’

  Again, she felt Chancellor Konrik assessing her, but not by attempting to open her mind. She felt sure he could do so if he wanted. Well, he could try.

  ‘He is Darallax, Second Son of Mother Dark.’

  Konrik turned away as the woman in yellow returned. She spoke softly in the language Konrik had first used. Tika saw Shivan’s look of astonishment quickly hidden beneath a blandly polite expression.

  ‘If you are ready?’ Konrik enquired.

  Tika squared her shoulders, very aware of not feeling her sword bang against her hip as she walked, and followed the Chancellor to meet his master. Much of the courtyard was in shadow, the sun not having risen above the high roof line. Bushes and creepers, trained over wooden frames, grew profusely, forming little nooks and arbours. Flowers bloomed everywhere, all shades of blues and purples, with an occasional pale pink or bright yellow to make a startling contrast.

  Small green and brown birds hopped, almost underfoot and darted into the dark green foliage. They turned yet another corner and found themselves in what was clearly the centre of the garden. A square space, twenty or more paces across, floored in tiny brilliant stones. The company had no time for more than a quick glance as Chancellor Konrik led them on, between columns supporting vines bearing huge black trumpet flowers with pale gold centres.

  Konrik halted and Tika saw several long, high backed benches of plain grey wood. A man sat alone on the bench furthest away, flowers bending and bowing over the back of the seat.

  Konrik spoke in their own language then switched to the common tongue.

  ‘The Lady Tika visits you, Second Son, and her companions with her.’

  Only then did Tika realise the man Konrik called the Second Son had a small orange cat curled comfortably on his knee. He wore a shirt and loose trousers, of the deepest purple, but was barefoot. Konrik stepped to one side, indicating she should approach his master, and she finally met the man’s eyes. They were as emerald as Lady Emla’s. As emerald as her own. Tika knew at once that he was of vast age, although he looked to be only in his middle years by human standards. Darallax, Second Son of Mother Dark, smiled and lifted his right hand towards her.

  ‘You are welcome, Lady Tika. It is very long since visitors came here.’

  His voice was melodious, and as he kept his hand stretched out, Tika moved closer to clasp his hand with her left. He drew her nearer, to sit beside him, then waved his other hand at her company.

  ‘Please, sit, take your ease.’

  Konya dithered, and Tika groaned inwardly.

  ‘Might I look at your plants, sir?’ Konya asked, ignoring Tika’s glare.

  Darallax smiled. ‘Of course.’

  Then he shot a mischievous glance at Tika. ‘I believe there is room for your other friends, if you wish.’

  When he pointed straight upwards, Tika saw for the first time that his hand had three fingers and a thumb, like the gijan, like the Dragons. But she had no time to think of that as she looked where he pointed. Two Dragon faces peered anxiously down from the edges of the roof.

  ‘Come down if you wish.’ Tika sent the thought. ‘But do please be careful of the flowers.’

  Before she’d finished the thought, Farn was halfway down, Kija following.

  ‘And this of course is also a friend of yours.’

  Darallax stroked Khosa’s back.

  ‘She is,’ Tika replied.

  Khosa yawned but refused to open her eyes. Farn paced towards them, clearly still worried. Darallax studied hi
m for a few moments.

  ‘You are indeed a beautiful child,’ he said aloud.

  Kija appeared beside Farn and Darallax lifted Khosa and placed her on the seat. He rose and moved to Kija. She lowered her head and he placed his hands on each side of her long beautiful face. Tika made no attempt to overhear the mental communication that took place, but she filed away the observation that the Second Son was able to use mind speech, which was not common among the Dark Ones.

  While she waited for Darallax to finish speaking to Kija, three women entered the arbour, bearing trays. They offered them to Tika’s companions while another woman, this one in a pale pink gown, came to Tika. She offered a tray which held two silver bowls of a green liquid.

  ‘It is the juice from our favourite fruit,’ she said, a faint accent marking her use of the common tongue.

  Darallax rejoined Tika, taking the other bowl from the tray. He stroked a hand lightly over the woman’s bald head. ‘This is my consort, Rueshen.’

  The woman inclined her head and sat at Tika’s other side.

  ‘I do not wish to seem hasty, Lady Tika, but I would know two things. How did you find this place, and why are you here?’

  ‘I am trying to find a way to reach the Crazed One in the Splintered Kingdom,’ Tika replied, and watched the Second Son’s expression darken. ‘Do you know of the Ships which came from the stars, long ago?’

  He nodded.

  ‘Navan, may I see the map of this island please?’ she called.

  Navan brought the scroll case and soon found the map she meant.

  ‘These are pictures those Ships made of all this world. But that was a very long time past, yet this island is blurred, difficult to make out.’

  ‘Shadowy,’ Shea pointed out, from under Navan’s arm. ‘I suggested that.’ She gave the Second Son a beam of pride.

  The consort, Rueshen, bit her lip but was unable to stop her smile when the rest of Tika’s companions wandered closer and helped their Lady with explanations. The Chancellor too, abandoned his dignified stance and sat next to Rueshen, watching each face as different people offered, at times, conflicting comments. At last there was silence. Onion, sitting on the ground next to Fedran, grinned at the Second Son.

  ‘We can explain it all again if that was a bit confused, sir.’

  Tika held her breath but Darallax gave the engineer a slow smile.

  ‘I think I followed most of it,’ he said. He glanced up at the sky where the sun was nearly in view over the southern roof. ‘I will tell you what no others have heard, but only while my brother’s Light shines fully on us.’

  He clasped his hands loosely on his knees and studied them for a moment. Then he looked directly at Shivan.

  ‘You are of my sister’s people, are you not?’

  ‘I am sir. She is my aunt.’

  Darallax’s hairless brows creased, then relaxed. ‘Your mother or father is one of the later generations then. When the Splintered Kingdom first arrived here, my people lived elsewhere. The First Son, who chose Light, lived in lands quite near us, but his power seemed to change. He lived a human life and he forgot our Mother and the vows we had all exchanged.

  ‘My sister Lerran, and her consort Dabray, fought magnificently, but they only just survived. The Dark Ones fled, to hide and recoup their strength. My people of Shadow had never wielded the powers of Dark or Light. We were always far weaker, so we tried to stay hidden.’

  Darallax was staring into space, lost in his memories.

  ‘Then the Splintered Kingdom seemed to withdraw; we dared hope it had gone, to attack some other helpless world perhaps. But then there was a renewed surge, and my people were all but destroyed. I opened a gateway and begged Mother Dark to find us a new haven. We found ourselves here, and although I have watchers among my people, we know little of what happens in the rest of this world now.

  ‘All of the watchers have warned of new stirrings over the last year, but we had no idea of your coming until you actually arrived.’

  He fell silent. It was Sket who spoke first.

  ‘Do you know the land of Drogoya sir, or Sapphrea?’

  Darallax shook his head. ‘Our city was called Steadfast, because I thought I would be steadfast in my vows to Mother Dark.’ His tone was bitter and Khosa climbed back onto the Shadow Lord’s knees, purring softly.

  ‘Forgive me sir, but the Dark Ones look human, like us, I mean. We have found several of our friends either dying or dead, whose bodies have been transformed so they resemble you.’ Rhaki spoke quietly. ‘Except for the fact that the ones we found have tusks.’

  Darallax sighed. ‘So did we in the beginnings of time. I can only think that the Crazed One found some of my people who did not manage to escape with us, and he chooses to mimic our forms. We know he was able to shape shift, something only my sister’s people still do regularly. Or did.’

  Tika got to her feet and wandered across to Farn. ‘Do you know Hag? Or any of the gods of the lands you once lived in?’

  The Second Son looked puzzled. ‘Hag?’ he repeated.

  ‘Anfled,’ Essa put in. ‘She called herself Anfled of the Dark.’

  Darallax’s eyes widened in shock. ‘Anfled? Anfled? You know of Anfled? She was given to me, a farewell gift from Mother Dark. But she was lost during the first great battle with the Splintered Kingdom.’

  ‘I think something must have happened to her, sir.’

  Tika knew Darallax’s pain was genuine: he had spent centuries grieving for the Raven.

  ‘I spoke to her of Shadow and she was very shocked, as though my words had jolted a memory.’

  Dog intervened, explaining how a shadow version of Hag had tried to snare Tika. Darallax rubbed a hand over his scalp.

  ‘You must excuse me.’ He stood. ‘I need time to consider all you have told me, and to speak with my advisors. We will have a meal together later. Please, you need only ask any of my people if you wish for food, or drink, or rooms in which to rest.’

  Chancellor Konrik had also climbed to his feet and left with Darallax, arm in arm, but who was supporting whom, Tika wasn’t sure.

  ‘If you would wait here, I will arrange rooms for you.’ Rueshen saw Shea’s pitifully hungry expression. ‘And I will fetch food, unless of course, you would like to come with me?’

  Shea and Onion promptly departed with the Second Son’s consort.

  ‘He is so skinny,’ Dog complained. ‘Never known anyone stuff his face as much as he does and yet he stays bone skinny.’

  Onion made a rude gesture behind his back and disappeared.

  ‘Where is Dromi?’ Tika hissed at Khosa.

  Khosa hissed back and jumped down from the bench, diving into the nearest shrubs.

  ‘This is fascinating,’ Shivan remarked, having missed Tika’s question to the cat.

  He was taken aback therefore, when green silvered eyes blazed up at him.

  ‘Um – I’m sorry. I know we should be concentrating on the Crazed One but to actually find the Shadow Realm is just amazing.’

  ‘I’m not cross with you Shivan. It’s that bloody cat.’

  Then Rueshen returned, suggesting they go to the inner room, where they had first entered the garden, as food had been readied for them there.

  ‘Shea and Onion are already busy,’ she added, as if in warning.

  The other guards, Dog and Navan, hurriedly made their way back to the room, muttering darkly about the greed of some people. Another woman came round the column of trumpet vines. She was about Tika’s height, dressed in shirt and loose trousers of the same dark purple Darallax wore. Rueshen caught her hand.

  ‘This is our daughter Subaken, Lady Tika.. She is heir to Darallax.’

  Except that Tika’s eyes were surrounded by silver scaling, and Subaken’s eyes had golden pupils, they were the exact shade of emerald green. Subaken offered a tiny smile.

  ‘Are you hungry?’ she asked in the common tongue.

  ‘Not really.’

  ‘Will you wal
k with me then? We can go right round the garden and then join your friends.’

  Tika nodded, ignoring Sket’s scowl. Subaken paused as she neared the two Dragons.

  ‘They are truly beautiful,’ she murmured.

  ‘And you are beautiful too, child.’ Kija spoke in their minds. ‘Like my daughter Tika.’

  ‘Yes,’ Farn agreed, his eyes flashing pearl and sapphire. ‘Two beautiful girls.’

  Tika winced aloud, about to apologise, but realised Subaken was only intent on the fact that the Dragons had used mind speech. She turned to Tika.

  ‘Do you speak mind to mind too?’ she asked.

  Tika shrugged. ‘Many people do in my land. And many other creatures besides Dragons and humans. Khosa for example. All of her kind can use mind speech she says, but usually they choose not to communicate with humans. Khosa says humans are too stupid.’

  Subaken studied Tika carefully, decided she wasn’t – quite – serious, and strolled on.

  ‘If you are your father’s heir, is that because you are his only child?’ Tika hoped she wasn’t being too tactless.

  Subaken laughed. ‘My father has many children. I am the youngest by far. But I have Shadow within me, and I have made the descent, through Shadow into Dark, and returned. Obviously.’

  Tika shivered and Subaken gave her a curious glance.

  ‘I went into the Dark. Well, I was pushed really, both in and then out.’

  Subaken stopped and gestured at a half hidden seat buried amid dark blue flowers.

  ‘You fell?’

  They stared at each other. Tika realised Subaken was beautiful. Her smooth domed skull tapering down to a softly rounded chin, and those oddly angled eyes: yes, beautiful was the right word. Tika explained as briefly as she could, her descent into the Dark and her belief that it was Lord Dabray who had both pulled her into the Dark and pushed her back out.