Dark Realm: Book 5 Circles of Light series (62 page)

Chapter
Thirty-Four

When Tika visited the
First Daughter’s bedchamber in the early evening, Akomi was
ecstatic. Judging by Khosa’s look of contempt, his delirious
squirming and soft wails were a disgraceful display of emotion in
her opinion. When Tika was at last able to take the chair beside
the bed, Khosa slid from Lerran’s pillow, swatted Akomi briskly
across his ears, and bumped her face against Tika’s.

‘I know you have been
in trouble.’ Khosa’s familiar mind voice spoke in Tika’s head. ‘But
I have to stay here, until she rises. I don’t know why exactly. It
has something to do with Namolos, and repairing the dreadful
mistakes he’s made.’

Turquoise eyes stared
up into Tika’s face. She leaned forward and dropped a kiss on the
tiny nose.

‘I know, but I leave
soon, for Ren’s land of Drogoya.’

Khosa anxiously kneaded
her front paws into Tika’s arm, clearly torn.

‘I would prefer you to
stay with the First Daughter,’ murmured Tika. ‘She will need your
comfort for a long while yet. And I will be glad to know she has
such a friend of mine close to her.’

Khosa backed carefully
away to curl once more beside the First Daughter’s head.

Tika looked at Lerran’s
face for the first time since she’d come into the room. Tusks still
protruded from the elongated lower jaw, but the cheekbones were
even, no longer asymmetrical. Paper thin lids covered her eyes,
traced with the faintest veins. Thick white hair was spread over
the pillow but it wasn’t tangled: someone had brushed it smooth.
But she was still gaunt. How were they feeding her, Tika wondered
hopelessly? Surely liquid might be got into her but Lerran needed
solid food as she herself had.

The First Daughter’s
arms lay unmoving above the covers. They looked straight now, the
bones as they should be rather than twisted out of a natural shape,
but so thin Tika could see veins and sinews clearly defined. The
hands were relaxed, long fingered but oh so fragile. After her own
recent experience, Tika made no effort to reach out with her
senses. She admitted to herself that the thought of repeating that
fall into the Dark filled her with fear. She looked again at
Lerran’s face, strangely peaceful, and wished she had been able to
meet this woman sooner, to talk to her and perhaps learn from
her.

Tika gave Akomi a final
cuddle, put him on the bed and moved to the door. She nodded at the
two healers who smiled in return, and only then noted Peshan’s
presence. He came with her into the passageway.

‘Shivan tells me you
would take him with your companions when you travel from here.’ He
spoke quietly, as if afraid too loud a voice might disturb his
unconscious sister.

Tika nodded. Peshan
bent lower, his face close to hers.

‘His mother and I love
Shivan, but we know it must be as Lerran foretold long ago. He must
either leave the Realm, at least for a time, or the Realm will
destroy him. These things have only been spoken of within the
family, you understand.’

Tika nodded and entered
the great chamber. A buzz of conversation greeted her. She saw many
more Dark Ones gathered than she’d yet seen in the whole Palace.
Consequently she recognised very few of the faces that turned in
her direction as she passed on her way to join Konya and Sket near
the open arch to the roof terrace. Favrian smiled when she drew
level with him.

‘Did you visit the
shore?’

‘Oh yes. Storm loves it
of course, but the others like to paddle about at the edge
too.’

Favrian appeared rather
nonplussed by the comment and Tika wondered if he even realised
that Storm was a Sea Dragon. Favrian was distracted by the two
golden eyed women with whom he’d been speaking and Tika continued
through the crowd. Shivan emerged from the press, his eyes brighter
than she’d seen them. He gave her a grateful smile.

‘Father told me I am
free to travel with you,’ he told her in obvious
delight.

‘Good. But you do
remember our bargain?’

‘Of course I do. By the
way, Sket is very good with a sword, isn’t he? I’m not surprised
you chose him for your personal guard.’

Tika laughed aloud. ‘I
didn’t exactly choose him. He appointed himself.’

Tika found herself
introduced to so many people, whose names she forgot the moment she
was moved on to the next person. She had thought that Chindar and
Corman intended a fairly small gathering to discuss their next move
to defend against the Splintered Kingdom, if not its total
destruction. Sket stayed close throughout, sharing her suspicion of
this unexpected crowd.

At last Chindar stepped
up onto the raised dais by the great fireplace and people grew
silent as they turned towards him.

‘The First Daughter is
obviously unable to advise us at present,’ he began. ‘Therefore the
senior council have met in her name, and it is our decision to send
the Lady Tika back to her lands across the sea.’

Tika’s hand found
Sket’s and gripped it, hard, as anger began to build within her.
Firstly, she had not heard of any senior council. Secondly, she
would not be “sent” anywhere on that council’s whimsical decision.
A Dark Lord, one Tika did actually recognise as being a regular
attendant on Lerran, raised a casual hand.

‘You have consulted
Lord Dabray on this of course?’

For a fraction of a
breath, annoyance flew across Chindar’s face. ‘As we all know,
sadly, Lord Dabray is beyond speech, and has been for many years
now.’

Tika missed Chindar’s
next words, her eyes searching the crowd until she found Corman.
‘What is this?’ She sent the thought, narrowly focused, to Corman
alone.

His dull gold eyes
searched the crowd in turn, until he met her gaze. ‘I do not
know.’

He flinched visibly as
Tika tore into his mind to see if he lied. She withdrew,
concentrating again on Lord Chindar. She felt Sket squeezing her
hand and knew he thought she should speak. Stepping clear of him,
she gathered her power tightly around her, both as shield and as
weapon. She was vaguely aware that of all in this room, only Shivan
realised what she was doing.

Chindar appeared
surprised that she obviously intended to speak, but gave a gracious
nod. Tika’s skin prickled as so many pairs of gold eyes fastened
upon her.

‘Whatever decision your
council has taken, does not concern me, Lord Chindar.’ Her voice
was clear and even. ‘I go where I choose. No one “sends” me
anywhere. I expected a discussion tonight, not that you might
presume to give me orders.’

Whispers rustled
through the gathering. Chindar remained calm but Tika could sense
his rage – and something else.

‘You are in my Realm. I
can send you where I will.’

Tika smiled. ‘Your
Realm, Lord Chindar? I thought this Realm belongs to Mother Dark.
And I don’t believe you can send me anywhere.’

She felt Sket close up
to her right shoulder and out of the corner of her eye she saw
Shivan moving quietly through the throng to her left. Chindar
raised a hand, fingers upright and the edge of his hand facing her.
He snapped his hand closed and Tika felt a surging pull against her
shield. It took surprisingly little effort to resist the tug of an
opening gateway through which Chindar had attempted to force
her.

His expression of
astonishment would have been amusing had not the air in the room
become suddenly thick and heavy. There was a creaking, cracking
noise and the walls appeared to bow inward. The floor quivered,
causing many to clutch at their neighbours to retain their footing.
Chindar’s anger showed now as he glared down at Tika.

‘What evil magic have
you loosed?’ he snarled, and faces turned again to her in
consternation.

Tika folded her arms
and shook her head but before she could speak, someone else did. A
dry, rasping voice breathed through the great chamber.

‘I have not yet ceased
to speak Chindar. I have chosen not to speak. Perhaps I have
allowed my sorrow to consume me too far, but I cannot ignore what
you attempt now. You will never speak on my behalf, or Lerran’s
while one of us can still speak for ourselves. I offer you a
choice.’

‘No!’ Chindar
interrupted, staring wildly round at the stone walls of the
chamber. ‘You cannot force me to any choice. I am in the half
death. Only full death awaits.’ He put his fists on his hips in a
defiant gesture. ‘You are nothing Dabray, nothing more than a
pitiful ghost, lurking round the Palace.’

Horror slowly spread
over his expression. ‘You cannot!’

There came a grinding
sound, as of stone settling after a small earth tremor, and Chindar
vanished. Tika could not suppress a shudder, but glancing round,
she saw that none present realised what had befallen Chindar.
Favrian drew his sword, the black blood metal drinking in the light
of the countless lamps. He began to walk towards her but a gasp
arose as Shield Master Garrol stepped in front of Tika. Favrian
halted.

‘What is this, Shield
Master? You defend an enemy of the Dark?’

‘No, Sword Master.’
Garrol unhooked the round black shield at his back and held it
ready. ‘I defend someone the First Daughter has suffered for. The
First Daughter believed this young woman and her Dragons to be of
such worth to our Realm and to the wider world, that she was
prepared to risk all. I too will risk all to defend both the First
Daughter and Lady Tika.’

Time seemed to freeze
while thoughts and arguments raced through the minds of all in the
room, interrupted by a cry from the door which led to the First
Daughter’s bed chamber. Peshan seemed unaware of the tension, of
the Sword Master, weapon drawn, threatening the Shield Master.
Tika’s heart lurched as she saw Khosa racing between the numerous
legs. She knelt, catching her as she hurtled into Tika’s arms.
Tears poured down Tika’s face even as they flooded Peshan’s
cheeks.

‘She’s nearly awake!’
he cried. ‘Lerran is nearly back!’

In the ensuing uproar,
Farn pushed his way into the great chamber, seeking Tika. Kija,
Brin and Storm followed, which had the effect of emptying the room
considerably of many of the Dark Ones. Corman had nearly run to
Peshan, going with him to see Lerran for himself. Favrian nicked
his thumb with his blade and resheathed his sword. Garrol lowered
his shield. Favrian looked at the young woman clutching a small cat
while her tears soaked the orange fur.

‘What happened to
Chindar?’ he asked.

Green eyes surrounded
with silver, looked up into Favrian’s stern face.

‘Dabray pulled him into
the Dark,’ she told him quietly. ‘Completely.’

Favrian blanched.
‘Completely?’ he echoed. ‘Body and soul?’

Tika nodded and Favrian
found himself unceremoniously pushed aside as Farn reached his soul
bond. Akomi too, came towards her, in fitful stops and starts,
until he reached the safety of her lap. He blinked up at her as he
set about washing Khosa’s ears.

‘It can be dangerous,
among so many feet,’ he said to Tika’s mind.

She laughed and rubbed
her shirt sleeve across her eyes.

‘I’m sure it can. But
you are my brave Akomi.’

The purring croon grew
louder as the old cat settled to his washing. Farn lowered his head
over her shoulder, his body curved round Tika and the two cats. His
eyes whirred a pearly sapphire when he spoke to Garrol’s
mind.

‘You have my thanks for
defending my Tika,’ he said. ‘I will repay you whenever you have
need of me.’

Garrol regarded the
silver blue Dragon solemnly, then he laughed. ‘You could have
protected her yourself I’m quite sure. Couldn’t you have fired this
room to ash?’

Farn’s eyes flashed but
Tika gave Garrol a reproving glare. ‘Please don’t give him ideas,
Shield Master.’

Garrol touched his
thumb to his brow, lips, and heart. ‘I must see the First Daughter.
If what Peshan says is true, and she is nearly home, it must be by
some working of Mother Dark Herself.’ He hurried away with Sword
Master Favrian following more slowly.

Shivan knelt beside
Farn and met Tika’s eyes. She sighed.

‘I know. Dabray’s
strength must be vast. But I haven’t felt him, since he cast
Chindar down.’

‘I’ve never heard of
anyone resisting a gateway.’ He bent closer and lowered his voice
to a whisper. ‘Chindar said the senior council had decided where
you were to go. I’ve never heard of such a council.’

Tika nodded
thoughtfully. ‘And if there is indeed a council, that implies that
Chindar was not acting alone. So who else has conspired with
him?’

Shivan chewed the side
of his thumb. Tika’d noticed he did that often when deep in
thought. She slapped his hand lightly. He looked startled then
blushed.

‘Sorry. I do try not
to. But I didn’t notice anyone else in here actually look as if
they knew what Chindar was talking about.’

‘On the other hand,’
Tika retorted. ‘No one looked surprised or questioning when he
spoke of this senior council.’