Dark Lightning (9 page)

Thank you, Kavan. It’s a wonderful gift from a father to son. I will look after it, and wear it with pride, he thought.

And in turn, he knew the sword would look after him. He remembered Jynx and smiled, but he wondered ... who was the man protecting her?

Within a few days Hal and his party reached Karshal.

Even though he’d never been there before the place seemed familiar to him. There was an air of tension about the place and the road into the city smelled strongly of death and bat droppings. Bones were piled high.

Remy observed, ‘Karshal is not the magnificent city we’d been led to believe it to be. We were told that the buildings shone in the sun, the people were prosperous, and there was music and dancing in the streets.’

Jynx felt sick as they passed through the evidence of carnage and clung tightly to Remy’s hand. ‘It’s so sad and uneasy here. Has there been a war?’

‘Not recently. One of Cynan’s commanders runs the city in his name, I think.’

The once prosperous-looking houses were decayed. Plaster crumbled from the walls and a sea of mold spores crept up from the foundations. Beyond the windows an uneasy interior darkness was filled with scurrying noises. There was a watchful silence about the dim spaces that made the nerves in her back prickle.

‘I don’t like it here, I’m glad I disguised my hair because it draws attention to me,’ she whispered, for it wasn’t a place where you could talk loudly and feel comfortable about it. Wulf must have sensed her unease. He pressed against her knee and licked her palm, releasing a faint blue light. Immediately she felt a little better.

Hal offered her a glimmer of a smile. She liked Hal. There was something mysterious about him. He was a graceful in the way he moved, and his mind seemed to have a need to soak up everything. He also picked up her thoughts sometimes, like now, when he asked Orish, who was seated on the cart, ‘Who’s in charge of the city?’

‘Servish. He and his troops are the very dregs of Cynan’s army. It’s not safe to be outside at night.’

With dusk already falling that wouldn’t be long. Jynx tugged at the old man’s cloak. ‘Do we have somewhere to stay?’

Orish smiled at her. ‘Don’t worry, little Jynx. We’ll find somewhere suitable.’

‘What if Servish’s troopers see us?’

‘They won’t. Even if they did, you must remember you’re Yegan Colban’s children.’

‘But our brother, Emrys, is tracking us, so Servish will soon know we are to be executed.’ She remembered the poles outside the city, and the pile of bones. She shuddered and moved closer to Wulf’s warm reassuring body.

A ripple ran along the ridges that traversed Uffo’s back and he took a right turn into a steep lane that led them towards a steeper hill that wound into a mist-shrouded summit. The tops of two towers poked out through the top.

‘Are we going to the tower?’ Remy asked.

 Orish patted her brother gently on the shoulder. ‘We are. There we can stay unobserved, as long as we are careful coming and going.’

Jynx couldn’t see how they could stay there without being seen, but didn’t question it. She’d learned that if Orish said anything was so, it invariably was. He knew everything. She yawned. ‘It’s a long way up.’

Hal clasped her around the waist and lifted her on to Uffo’s back. She was conscious of him, of the warm body brushing against hers – of the eyes she could never quite see into the depths of. 

He grinned when she blushed, said, ‘Lay down, close your eyes, and rest.’

‘Why do you keep smiling at me?’ she asked, crossly, as she did as she was told.

‘You make me feel happy. When I’m happy, I smile.’

It was something she had no answer for, since she felt the same happiness and warmth when she was with him. Her feelings towards Hal were alien. She didn’t understand them. It was as if something inside her was being awakened, and she felt uncomfortable but excited about it. It was as though she had to cross a bridge over dangerous rapids – one strewn with obstacles. When she reached the other side she’d be changed.

While she wondered whether to tell Hal of her feelings, or not, she gazed at his dark head and felt the need to kiss him. Then the moment was lost when he gazed up at her. He had a firmly shaped mouth with a soft curve. There was the place a kiss belonged, she thought, but she wouldn’t dare. It was annoying that she felt so in awe of him, and shy in his presence.

He’d looped the leading rein around her so she wouldn’t fall off and said, ‘There, my lady with the moonlight hair, that should keep you safe from harm.’ Hidden from the others, he gently kissed her mouth.

Gentle or not, his kiss sent a flood of heat pulsing through her. Her eyes flew open when Wulf gave a soft snarl and pushed between them, forcing Hal to take a step back. ‘Your protector takes his job too seriously,’ he grumbled.

 ‘You shouldn’t have kissed me, Hal.’

‘So it seems. Haven’t you been kissed before? Sleep now ... have sweet dreams.’

As if she could sleep after such a caress. It had left her wanting more ... but more of what? She didn’t know. Although she’d enjoyed the kiss, it didn’t feel quite right with Hal ... as though he’d kissed many women without feeling it in his soul. Her fingertips found the stubs where Uffo’s wings would have grown if they’d been allowed to. He loved being stroked there, and rumbled deeply inside himself with the pleasure he felt at her touch. The noise against her ear made her feel sleepy and relaxed. Wulf’s eyes gleamed silver as they watched over her.

* * * *

When Jynx woke it was morning and she was lying in a bed in a small room. It was not luxurious, but adequate and clean. The walls were whitewashed. A chair, and a basket in which to store things stood to one side. A table containing a jug of water and a bowl were the only other furniture she could see. White breeches and a tunic were folded tidily over the back of the chair.

The door opened and Jynx pulled the sheet up over her naked body when a woman came in. She wore the drab brown robe of the followers. ‘I’m Sybilla.’

Jynx eyed her, quickly deciding she looked harmless. ‘Where are my clothes?’

‘Being washed, as you will be before your break your fast.’

Jynx dug in her heels. ‘I’m not dirty. I bathed in the last stream we came to.

‘You smell unpleasant, child, like that animal you came to our door on. Come, rise from the bed and I’ll take you to the bathing chamber.’

‘Uffo can’t help smelling like that. Landflights never used to smell before their wings were removed. They used their glands to oil their wings with, and when they fanned them the smell dissipated and alerted other flights to their presence.’

‘And how did you learn such a thing?’

 ‘Oh ... I don’t know ... where does anyone learn anything?’

She did know. Since they were small, and able to go out alone, she and Remy had made secret visits to a strange cave, which they’d found in the deep woods. It had been uncovered by a rumbling quake in the earth and the stones were tumbled everywhere. It was not far from the High Place.

 They thought it might have been a temple, or a palace, for they’d squeezed through a small fissure, and had discovered that the place was filled with books and statues of ancient warriors. As was everything in the deep woods, it was forbidden to be there.

The powerful magic of the place only revealed its wonders to the chosen few. Saire had told them it was the Truarc Temple. They’d been unable to gain entry to the chambers beyond the inner door.

However, there were many wonders to explore. There was a crystal that came up from a fountain, and it had told them to ask for what they wished. Both she and Remy had wished to be able to read the books, and that wish had been granted.

The place had been forbidden for such a long time that nobody but Saire and themselves knew of its existence. Jynx wasn’t about to inform anyone. She and Remy would guard that particular secret.

 Still clutching the bed sheet to her she swung her legs over the edge of the bed and stood. ‘I’m not going anywhere until I know where Remy, Hal and Orish are.’

‘They’re not here. They’ll be in the men’s hostelry.’

Alarm speared though her. ‘How did I get here?’

‘The men in your party brought you. Orish said you’re a healer. Where else would they have left you for safe-keeping but with the sisters of the order of the followers?’

‘They left me here ... how could they? Look where being a healer got me. Our parents have ordered my brother and I to be put to death because of it. What’s worse, they’ve sent our eldest brother, Emrys, to find us and to carry out the deed. He’s the best tracker in Cynan’s army. All that to find favor with Cynan.’ Worry filled her to the depth of her being. ‘Remy must be careful. He’s such a gentle soul.’

 Sybilla’s voice softened. ‘I’m sure your brother is aware of the danger, Jynx. He has strong magic inside him.’

‘Where’s Wulf?’

‘Outside your door; he won’t let anyone go past him.’

A grin spread across her face. ‘How did you get in, then?’

‘I practised the ancient art of mesmer on him and he rolled on his back and allowed me to tickle his stomach.’

Jynx giggled, and Sybilla smiled. ‘Follow me, child.’

‘I’m no longer a child.’

‘No, I don’t suppose you think you are, but you’re certainly not a woman yet ... though your body has awareness towards a man. Hal would make you his own if he could, but you must resist him. He’s not for you and will break your heart if you encourage him.’

Jynx hid her blush with her hands. ‘You must not say such things.’

‘Physical love is nothing to be ashamed of. That’s how we’re meant to be. Better a man you love and respect than one that you don’t. I had a man like that once.’

‘What happened to him?’

‘Oh, it was a long time ago, before the rift was formed.’

A gasp tore from Jynx’s mouth. ‘You must be one of the ancients?’

Sybilla nodded. My mortal was kind and gentle, and when he died my heart shattered into a thousand shards. I vowed never to love another mortal.’

‘Will you tell me a story of the time before the rift. What was it like then?’

‘Oh ... it was much like today, except the planet halves circled each other and would certainly have disintegrated if Lord Kavan had not brought them safely together. As it was, there was a great loss of life. The fires are still burning, the lava still flowing. The rift is impassible, so we don’t know what has happened on the other side. It’s said that the fires will burn until the end of time itself. Now, let’s go and wash that stink off you.’

 Shame coursed through her. ‘Do I really stink?’

A pair of brown eyes gazed into hers. ‘Can’t you smell it?’

‘I thought it was Wulf.’

Outside the door the wolf lay on his back with his tongue hanging out of the side of his mouth. He seemed to be grinning.

Jynx’s giggle at the sight brought a smile to Sybilla’s mouth. When she clicked her fingers Wulf stood, staggering a little. His eyes sharpened when they lit on Sybilla, his hackles bristled and he gave a rattling growl.

Jynx chastised him. ‘Sybilla is a friend, as are all the followers. Just the same, should she attempt to mesmerize you again, avoid her eyes.’ She grinned at the woman. ‘No offence meant, Sybilla, but Wulf thinks he’s my protector and he won’t be able to protect me if he’s in a trance. I don’t want him to think he failed me.’

Wulf gave her a sheepish look and huffed. His defenses subsiding, he shook himself all over and nuzzled Jynx’s hand.

The bathing ritual turned out to be pleasant. The room was on the next level down. Warm water gushed from several waterspouts into a natural basin.

Leaving her sheet behind, Jynx stepped down into it. The water was as soft as liquid silk and wonderfully relaxing. Sybilla held out a bottle of opaque liquid. ‘Here, wash yourself all over with this, including your hair.’

Alarmed, she gazed at it. ‘Nobody must see my hair. It makes me stand out.’

‘It won’t be a problem here, so stop worrying about it. You’ll be safe.’

A little while later, Jynx was clad in the soft white tunic and breeches that had been left on the chair for her. They narrowed at the ankles, and tied at the waist with a green sash. Sybilla dressed her hair, but in a prettier style than Jynx could manage for herself, for she’d fashioned a braided cap into which she’d caught back its length. Now she plucked a blossom from a vase and attached it to where the braids joined at the crown of her head.

‘You have made me look like a Truarc temple maiden,’ Jynx said, gazing with some disgust at her image in the mirror.

Sybilla’s expression didn’t change, but her eyes sharpened. ‘Am I to understand you’ve visited the Truarc temple? I thought it had been destroyed in the upheaval.’

Jynx lowered her voice, saying casually, but not quite truthfully, ‘A land shift revealed the temple to us when we were quite young. It’s not easy to get into, and I was unaware it was a sacred place.’ She jumped when Sybilla cuffed her. ‘Why did you do that?

‘Do not lie to me again Jynx. You knew very well it was a sacred place right from the beginning ... all of the High Place is. It always has been, and the few people allowed admittance, are of the highest order of immortals. How many people have you told about it?’

‘I’ve told nobody. The authorities would have stopped us going there and destroyed it.’

‘Tell me ... what’s it like there?’

‘Why should I answer your questions, especially if you are going to hit me every time my imagination exerts itself?’

‘The time has come to learn to control your imagination as well as your tongue.’

‘How can you say such a thing when the followers are well known for their story telling? How can I tell stories if my tongue is not allowed to do the job it was designed for.’

 ‘It’s not your place to question me, Jynx. Tell me what the temple was like?’

‘You have just told me to guard my tongue. If you’re an ancient you must have been there before.’ She smiled. ‘Ah, I understand ... you’re testing to see if I’m lying again. Well, let’s see if I can convince you because I don’t like being chastised in such a manner. It’s humiliating.’