Dark Realm: Book 5 Circles of Light series (24 page)

‘Do you let this blade
drink every time you draw it?’ he asked. He drew a knife from his
belt, leaning forward to show Tika the dark blade. ‘This is blood
metal. Its forging is known only to those in the Dark Realm.’ he
told her. ‘If it drinks each time it is drawn, it will never need
to be sharpened.’

Tika still looked
puzzled. Garrol nicked the ball of his thumb, smearing the
resulting blood down the narrow blade. Tika watched the blood sink
into the hard metal as though into a piece of cloth.

‘I’ve never noticed it
do that, or done it myself. Sket always fusses about checking our
swords.’ She frowned in thought. ‘He has said it doesn’t need
sharpening. He’s also asked what metal it is but no one
knows.’

‘But you have used it
in battle?’ Garrol asked.

‘Yes.’ Tika’s reply was
short.

Garrol passed her sword
back to her almost reverently. ‘I will check the mark I found, with
Chindar, but I am certain it was forged at least four thousand
years ago. And with a skill such as I cannot match.’

Tika gaped at him.
Garrol stood up and touched his left thumb to his brow, lips and
chest, and left them. Tika looked at Sergeant Essa. ‘But if this
metal is forged here, how did it get to Sapphrea?’

The Sergeant’s huge
shoulders lifted level with her ears. ‘I’m not good at puzzles my
lady.’

‘Oh stars, don’t you
dare “my lady” me,’ Tika retorted.

She delved in her pack
and brought something out, cradled in her palm. Essa leaned forward
curiously. Tika held out what Essa first thought was a piece of
oddly shaped purple metal. Essa took it, stroking the smooth
surface.

‘It’s one of Seela’s
scales. We don’t know how or why, but we found them after she –
died.’

A man spoke from the
door. ‘Could I see that please?’

Tika turned. He seemed
vaguely familiar, one of the many faces in the great chamber when
she first woke perhaps.

‘We haven’t met
properly,’ he said, stepping closer. ‘I am Corman, Palace
Master.’

Tika stared at his gold
eyes, gold eyes like old Akomi’s. She felt no threat from him but
there was something. He smiled.

‘I am one of the Dark
dead, allowed to remain in this Realm while my service is still of
value and use.’

Tika found she really
couldn’t think of an adequate reply to that, so simply handed him
the purple scale. He examined it, his fingers, like Essa’s, almost
caressing the silky smoothness.

‘The First Lord could
learn much from this.’

Tika folded his fingers
over the scale. ‘Then take it and show him, but I must have it
back.’

Corman inclined his
head in thanks, slipping the scale into his tunic pocket. ‘The
Dragon Kija,’ he said. ‘I feel she should fly.’

Tika thought. ‘You’re
right. I’ve lost track of time, but it must be four days at least
that she’s stayed with Farn.’

‘Do you fly?’ Corman
asked her.

Tika looked at him,
realising he was asking if she flew using her own power. ‘I only
fly on Farn’s back,’ she admitted.

Essa looked thoughtful
but the Palace Master turned to her. ‘Sergeant, seek out Cyrek, or
Seola – no,’ he amended. ‘Seola is still recovering from opening
the gateway for Jemin and Lady Emla’s Guard Captain.’

Tika’s heart lurched,
then she remembered Emla’s Captain Gan was dead. ‘What is the name
of the Captain?’ she asked quickly.

Corman considered.
‘Soran I believe.’

The other names had
meant nothing to Tika. ‘Who did you ask Essa to fetch? I know none
of them.’

‘Seola went to Lady
Emla’s land. She was to attempt a healing on Farn but it proved far
beyond her strength. Her brother Cyrek accompanied her, but he came
back here, opening the gateway for all of you. Seola returned only
yesterday with Jemin and Soran. Seola and Cyrek are full Dark
bloods. We are all usually able to open gateways. Seola suffers
headaches when she does so, but Cyrek has no difficulty. Bringing a
large number of people, or Dragons, uses up more strength. But
Cyrek should be completely recovered by now.’

‘He is.’ A man entered
beside Sergeant Essa. He saluted Tika, touching his brow, lips and
chest.

‘You have a task for me
Corman?’

‘The Dragon Kija,’
Corman replied. ‘She should fly. She may not need to feed, but she
should spread her wings.’

Cyrek nodded. ‘Will she
be willing to leave her son?’

‘I’ll be with him,’
said Tika sharply. ‘If I need Kija, I need only call
her.’

Cyrek’s eyes, a
brighter gold than Corman’s, narrowed slightly. ‘As you
say.’

Tika led them into the
great chamber and went straight to Kija. The onlookers saw clearly
a communication taking place between the Dragon and the woman. It
ended with Tika bracing her bare feet, putting her hands on her
hips and glaring up at the golden Dragon. With obvious reluctance,
Kija rose and moved surprisingly gracefully to the large arch which
led outside. She baulked halfway through the arch but Tika, close
behind, stamped her feet, and the Dragon moved on. Corman stayed
within the building but Tika stepped outside with Sergeant Essa and
Cyrek.

Tika inhaled deeply.
There was a clean tang in the air. The rain had stopped and the sun
shone down, making the black stone of the terrace steam. Kija
lifted from the stone, rising in a slow spiral. Cyrek walked
forward. Two paces, three. A strong smell of burning cinnamon swept
over them as the air shivered, blurred and Cyrek was gone. In his
place stepped a Dragon whose size utterly dwarfed Kija.

He lifted easily into
the air and drifted in Kija’s wake. Tika stared. He was beautiful,
his wings almost translucent. A fragile looking creature for all
his size, yet imbued with enormous power. Slowly the Dragons turned
to the north and disappeared behind the Palace buildings. Stunned,
Tika returned to the chamber and sat beside Farn, her hands gently
stroking his face.

A heap of pillows
rained down around her and Sergeant Essa made herself comfortable.
The Palace Master sat cross legged on the other side of
Farn.

‘His sleep is
weakening,’ he said. ‘He is very near now.’

Sergeant Essa’s great
hand traced down the long scar on Farn’s neck. ‘He took a mighty
wound.’

Tika’s fingers touched
the scar too. Before she could reply, a cackle came from behind
her. She jumped.

‘Hag.’ Corman waved a
casual hand.

The bird opened her
beak uncomfortably close to Tika’s face. ‘I am Anfled, Raven of
Dark,’ she said aloud.

‘And usually known as
Hag,’ Corman added.

Hag’s wings mantled
alarmingly. ‘I would speak with you when you are alone, or at
least, in better company.’ She lifted from the floor, but instead
of flying out to the terrace, Hag glided lazily to the small arch
leading to the First Daughter’s rooms.

Corman grunted. ‘Bloody
bird.’

‘But she has great
power in her, doesn’t she?’ Tika asked.

Corman grunted again.
‘She does indeed, and we all pray to Mother Dark that she never
realises it.’

A bustle at the main
door brought Emla and Nesh, supporting Sket between them despite
his vigorous protests that he was quite recovered thank you. Tika
rose to hug him as his knees gave way and he sank onto pillows
beside her. When he’d been assured she was well and that Farn would
soon wake, he saw Sergeant Essa on Tika’s other side. Tika
introduced them and found Sket’s expression hugely rewarding when
Essa smiled and he saw her teeth. Tika met Corman’s eye and stared
hard at him to keep from shrieking with laughter. Corman’s mouth
twitched, just a fraction, but his face stayed as straight as
hers.

Akomi suddenly squeezed
his way through, kneading his paws on Sket’s leg and purring with
enthusiasm. Tika looked up and saw the child Shea, whose shoulder
she’d healed so easily. Shea gave her a hesitant smile.

‘I haven’t thanked you
for my healing Lady Tika.’

Tika snorted. ‘I am
Tika, no “lady”, and I do not expect any thanks from you. Now come
and see Farn. His colour is a little better, but when he’s well he
is the most beautiful Dragon in the world.’

Shea climbed over one
of Essa’s knees and peered at Farn’s face. ‘Is he grown up?’ she
asked.

‘No. He is barely one
year old.’

Tika looked at Emla who
sat by Corman. Another woman – Essa had tried to introduce her when
she’d healed Shea – Gossamer – that was her name. She knelt beyond
Sket but said nothing at all. Tika brought her concentration back
to Farn. She felt something in the space in her mind where she
usually felt his presence. She focused on him entirely, ignoring
all the people around her. Did she dare try to reach him yet? A
hand touched her shoulder and, without looking, she knew Corman had
moved behind her. Another hand gripped her knee and there was a
jolt in her mind. Sket had no mind powers, but he had sworn himself
to her service and to her soul bond. Instead of two, they had
become three, and they were together again.

‘Call him softly.’
Corman scarcely breathed the words.

Tika drew breath,
staring at Farn’s closed eyes. Gently, gently, she murmured his
name in her mind. His eyelids fluttered. She called again and his
whole body shuddered. A third time, and someone leaned forward,
wiping Farn’s eyes with a dampened cloth. Farn’s head jerked, his
eyelids twitched again. And opened. Tika didn’t weep: she’d cried
all her tears earlier and now her vision, both physical and mental,
was totally clear.

Farn’s eyes were the
faintest blue prisms, but as she watched, the blue deepened and she
saw the hint of a sparkle. Farn looked beyond Tika at the various
faces above and around him. His voice was distant and weak in their
minds, but quite unmistakeably his.

‘More
girls!’

Tika began to laugh,
her face pressed against his while Sket beamed in
relief.

‘What does he mean?’
asked Tevros.

Sket chuckled. ‘Our
Farn has a terrible soft spot for girls.’

A scream echoed from
outside the building and people hopped smartly aside as the golden
Dragon rushed into the chamber, ignoring all in her path. Smoke
wisped from her nostrils and her eyes were a blur of gold, crimson
and orange. She lowered her face to touch Farn’s then paced back a
step and reclined at a distance from him.

Farn struggled. His
legs thrashed and his wings flicked weakly. Shea and Gossamer Tewk
both leaned against the solid body of Sergeant Essa as they watched
the young Dragon force movement into his body. He twisted and was
on his belly. His breathing was loud in the now silent chamber.
Tika remained by his head, simply being there for him. He opened
his eyes again and met the blazing stare of Kija.

He pushed with his
shorter front limbs and was halfway upright. He paused. Muscles
visibly strained as he gathered his back legs beneath him. A
slightly longer pause. A final effort and heave and he was on his
feet, trembling violently, but on his feet. His eyes never left his
mother when he moved one pace forward, another, and a third, to end
standing within Kija’s reach. Her eyes changed to a pale creamy
gold and her neck twined against Farn’s as he collapsed, shivering,
beside her.

‘Dark have mercy,’
Tevros whispered, and Gossamer heard the words repeated through the
chamber.

Corman walked towards
the Dragons and Tika. Farn’s head rested against Kija’s shoulder
but he watched the stranger approach with interest in his
eyes.

‘You need to recoup
your strength young one, but you won’t need sleep – you’ve had too
much of that lately.’

Tika listened, aware
that Corman had adopted exactly the right tone to suit both
Dragons.

‘There are many people
for you to meet. I am Corman, Palace Master, and this is the
Karmazen Palace in the Dark Realm. I will arrange to have some meat
brought for you shortly, but you must eat a little at a time for a
while.’ Corman began to move away but then turned back. ‘And you
must listen to your mother.’

‘Oh I do, Lord Corman.’
Farn’s mind voice was a little stronger already. ‘But where is the
lady? She was so kind when I was so afraid. Can I see her
soon?’

Tika bit her lip.
Corman’s shoulders were rigid.

‘Soon young one. We
call the lady the First Daughter. She will see you when she
can.’

Corman saluted them and
moved quietly from the chamber.

For the first time,
Tika felt tears sting her eyes. Farn remembered the First Daughter.
She hadn’t bargained for that. She could guess all too well what
his reaction would be if he saw that crippled body lying
unconscious in her bed. And he would insist it was his fault. Tika
could hear him in imagination already: ‘If I hadn’t been so weak
and so frightened by losing you, the lady needn’t have had to come
after me.’ Oh yes. But before she could worry further, people came
forward.