Dark Realm: Book 5 Circles of Light series (58 page)

She renewed her upward
struggle, aware only of the burning in her chest. Lerran, she
thought. Lerran was still down here somewhere, lost in this
everlasting Dark. She concentrated on the devastated woman lying
motionless in her bed and ignored the tiredness creeping over her
again.

If you exist Mother
Dark, she thought fiercely, then help that poor Daughter of yours.
She saved Farn from this, willingly, not even knowing him. Is this
how you repay her kindness? Tika gasped. Something enveloped her
entirely, body, mind and spirit. Another voice murmured to her,
faint, dry, distant. But she knew who it was: Lord
Dabray.

When she realised it
was him, she began to struggle again. She sent a thought piercing
whatever shrouded her: find Lerran! Please, find Lerran.

An army cot had been
set up near the fire at one end of the Lesser Council hall. Two
nights had passed since Tika collapsed and it was now mid morning
yet again. Despite his sincere concern, Jemin had decided to
continue hunting down the monstrous creatures in his City. They
found the creatures suddenly much easier prey. They appeared vague,
disorientated, easily confused and enticed into narrow yards and
streets, where they were destroyed.

But those who had
chosen to serve Tika, stayed in the hall, taking turns to sit by
the cot and watch over her. To Cyrek’s immense relief, there had
been no physical deformation of Tika’s face or body, but she had
lost so much weight she was skeletal. Cyrek had tried to explain to
Konya and to Sket what had happened to her, but it was clear they
only saw Tika growing more and more wraithlike with each
heartbeat.

At least Konya felt she
was of some use when she’d found the burn between Tika’s breasts.
The salves she brought were the most efficient Sket had seen, and
already the angry redness around the burn was paling although yet
again the centre was seriously deep. Dog sat on the floor, her back
against the wall, her eyes only on Tika. Gossamer sat on a chair at
a little distance, watching not only Tika but the faces of all who
came to ask how she was, their voices hushed.

Shivan too had stayed
close, his face full of concern. The Bear had been shocked, then
angry and had gone out on every patrol that left the Citadel. He
left Lemos to wait with Sket and Shea. For the first time for three
days, a finger of sunlight poked in the large windows, but still
the hall felt cold. Shea had explained that it always felt cold in
the Citadel despite the fires now blazing in both the hearths
within this hall. General Beslow came at regular intervals to stand
by the cot, looking down in sorrow at the tiny figure, more skin
and bone now, lying motionless beneath the covers.

Sket, grey with worry
and tiredness, suddenly looked round for Cyrek.

‘What is it Sket?’ The
Dark Lord hurried to his side. ‘Is there a change?’

Sket shook his head.
‘Stars forgive me but I’d forgotten Farn. Do you know if he knows
she’s like this?’

Cyrek bowed his head
then sighed. ‘I went through a gateway yesterday my friend, to
speak to the Dragons. They were much distressed but I calmed them I
hope. I’ve told them Tika sleeps now and Farn said that she often
needed long sleeps after she’d used a great amount of power but
then she woke up all right.’ Gold eyes met Sket’s squarely. ‘I did
not lie Sket, but Dark forgive me, I didn’t tell them all the truth
either.’

Sket thought for only a
few moments then he offered Cyrek a weary smile.

‘You did right I think.
Imagine those four turning up in a panic. This poor City couldn’t
stand many more shocks.’ He turned back to the cot and lifted
Tika’s hand, carefully curling his fingers between hers.

Cyrek began to move
across to the window, trying to convince himself that his blurred
vision was merely due to the dirty glass, when he heard a hiss
behind him. He whirled, striding back to the cot. Incredibly long
black eyelashes fluttered, showing a brief glimpse of green between
the lids. Tika groaned, moved slightly and winced. Her eyes opened
and she saw Sket’s familiar face looming over her. He bent close as
her lips twitched. Then he straightened. He looked at Lord Cyrek, a
huge smile dissolving the tiredness from his face.

‘She says she is
really, really hungry.’

Chapter
Thirty-Two

In the days that
followed Tika’s descent into the Dark, Jemin’s men cleared the
entire City of the hideous beasts. He had proclamations called by
official messengers as well as notices placed in the numerous news
sheets that were distributed through the City and the
Confederacies. The Inner Council was summoned and unanimously
endorsed Jemin as Imperator of Kelshan. Cyrek had quietly presented
Jemin with several items he’d removed from Veranta’s body,
including two rings, one the ring of State, and the other the great
seal.

Things slowly resumed
some normality and rooms were assigned to Jemin’s allies. Tika was
carried to a much smaller set of rooms on the same level as the
Lesser Council hall. The rooms were scantily furnished but were
more private and also warmer. The three Kelshan guards with Onion
and Darrick made the small entrance chamber their quarters and all
of them cheerfully took turns cooking in the tiny adjacent kitchen.
The meals they produced were of wildly varying quality but Tika ate
everything that was presented to her. Tika’s cot was placed in the
next room where a blazing fire fought the chill of the Citadel day
and night.

Once Shea was assured
Tika would recover, she had disappeared to accompany Lemos and The
Bear as they explored the City. The Dark Realm’s tribes rarely
possessed or used money: they bartered between themselves and with
the farming communities in the lower central plains. Discovering
that they needed small discs of metal to obtain goods that took
their eye, Shea begged money from Jemin. He roared with laughter
when she explained her problem and then instructed General Beslow
to give her a good understanding of the value of each different
coin. She departed laden with several pouches to share with The
Bear and Lemos, and the fascinating information divulged by
Gossamer about asking for bills to be sent to the Citadel’s
accounting offices.

Tika’s room filled
rapidly with weird and wonderful items purchased by a triumphant
Shea. Tika was highly entertained by the diversity of the things
that attracted Shea and The Bear, all of which were stashed away in
her room. Occasionally Tika was either irritable or tearful,
impatient at her continuing physical weakness. She’d been shocked
when she’d realised how thin and frail she’d become in such a short
time, staring at the sticks that had been normal legs in horror
when Konya and Gossamer helped her bathe.

Even through the nights
they brought food to her and although she was convinced she
couldn’t manage another single bite, she ate it all. One night, as
Sket lay curled asleep on a pile of blankets on the floor in front
of the fire, and Dog sat dozing beside her, a breeze riffled
through Tika’s room. Dog’s eyes snapped open but Sket didn’t stir.
Dog drew a thin blade from her boot and inched closer to
Tika.

The beautiful red
haired woman looked at Dog, a faint smile curving her lips. Ferag
moved soundlessly to perch on Tika’s cot. The backs of long cool
fingers stroked down Tika’s cheek and oddly, Tika didn’t flinch –
there was comfort in the gesture. Then she knew why Ferag was here.
Ferag’s exquisite eyes held sympathy, an emotion Tika would have
thought unknown to the Mistress of Death.

‘Gan Jal Sarl sends you
his heart,’ Ferag murmured. ‘But he can stand no more of the half
death, neither of this world nor of mine. It is hard Tika, which is
why it is a choice offered so rarely.’

‘Where is he now?’ Tika
whispered.

‘He chose to merge with
Mother Dark. He said he was so proud of you and of the fact that
you were family.’

Tears began to roll
unnoticed down Tika’s face. ‘I knew, when I was in the Dark,’ she
said. ‘I heard his voice but I couldn’t make our his
words.’

Ferag’s fingers
smoothed the tears from beneath Tika’s lashes.

‘I have other
news.’

Tika stiffened but
Ferag shook her head, dark red hair swinging over one shoulder.
‘No, not bad. I do not usually speak of these things, but I told
Gan Jal Sarl and he was very pleased. He asked me to tell you.Iska
is reborn.’

Tika stared at Ferag in
bewilderment, until understanding dawned. Iska, her first teacher
in the ways of the power, kidnapped by Rhaki, and who offered her
life to give warning of the dangers lying in wait for Tika at that
time. Iska reborn!

Ferag’s fingers
continued to caress Tika’s face. ‘It will take her years to grow of
course, but her memories remain within her. She was born to this
world ten days ago.’

‘Where?’

For the first time
Ferag hesitated to speak. ‘In the Dark Realm, but more than that
you must not know.’

‘Thank you.’ Tika
caught the chill fingers that touched her face. ‘I am grateful
you’ve told me. Can you also tell me how to summon Simert, or
others like him?’

The fingers were
snatched away and Ferag’s hair began to curl at the
ends.

‘Well really darling.
Here we are having a cosy time, I thought, and you want to pick my
mind.’

‘No.’

Tika winced as she
tried to push herself higher on her pillows. ‘We were, I mean we
are, and I am so glad to know you can be such a kind friend. It’s
just, well, I don’t even know how to summon you.’

Ferag stared down her
nose. ‘My dear, I am not summoned. You can call, and if I’m not
overly occupied, I may respond.’

She regarded Tika for a
moment then got to her feet. She bent low over the cot and murmured
into Tika’s ear. Then she’d gone.

Dog replaced her knife
and settled back. ‘Did she tell you then?’ she asked
curiously.

The green silvered eyes
glinted in the firelight. ‘She said I just had to call their names,
just that.’

Dog pondered. ‘But
everyone here says Simert’s name a dozen times a day. He doesn’t
turn up, does he?’ She rubbed her leg, which still ached on
occasion. ‘We never mention her name in the Dark Realm. Just as
well if she could pop up like she does.’

The door clicked open
and Kazbeck, the younger Kelshan brother, crept in, a tray in his
hands. Tika groaned but Dog helped her sit forward while she jammed
more pillows at her back and Kazbeck put the tray on Tika’s
lap.

‘Thank you,’ Tika
managed a smile.

‘Tea is being made.’
Kazbeck beamed back, then left her to eat.

In the firelight Tika
couldn’t see exactly what was heaped on the plate but decided it
really didn’t matter. It was food, and her body craved
it.

When Cyrek visited her
next afternoon, he perched on a stool beside her, a slightly
stunned expression on his face. Tika raised a brow in question.
Cyrek glanced back at the door.

‘Shea is playing
snap-the-rat. Apparently it is a game the tribes play in our Realm
but is unknown here.’ He paused and Tika nodded
encouragement.

Cyrek lowered his
voice. ‘They are wagering Kelshan coins.’

Again Tika
waited.

‘Shea is winning but I
suspect she changes the rules every other round.’

Tika bit the inside of
her cheek. Poor Cyrek actually looked rather shocked. ‘I expect she
wants to try to pay Jemin back. He’s given her money to spend in
the City.’

Gossamer Tewk snorted
some distance behind Cyrek but her expression was bland when he
looked round at her. Cyrek decided not to pursue the subject,
instead speaking of Chindar and Corman. At once Tika grew
serious.

‘Chindar says all the
reports he’s gathered give credence to our supposition that the
Crazed One has retreated for now. The only disturbances are near
the west coast of Drogoyan lands, far to the north.’

‘And that’s due to
Namolos and Cho Petak,’ agreed Tika.

Cyrek nodded. ‘We still
do not know enough of Cho Petak to be able to tell if he is
directly connected to the Splintered Kingdom. There are those in
Karmazen who believe he is, and others who believe just as strongly
that he is not.’

‘And Namolos himself.
The Ship called Star Singer, told of a war which caused Namolos to
flee with many others and somehow they ended up here. But why here
Cyrek? Why do so many different people come here?’

Cyrek leaned his elbows
on his knees. ‘This has been a pleasant world for thousands of
years of existence. It has been so since first we
awoke.’

‘Awoke? What do you
mean? Please tell me you don’t come from another world too?’ Tika
was much disturbed by the very thought.

Cyrek shook his head.
‘No. Our oldest legends and stories say Mother Dark chose this
world to be the place where she would bear her children. Those of
the Dark were her firstborn. The second born were those who
demanded Light. The third born live in Shadow.’

‘So,’ Tika thought
carefully. ‘Everyone here on this world, except the Asatarians and
Namolos’s people, are from the same root?’