Dark Realm: Book 5 Circles of Light series (9 page)

‘Come closer, my
friends,’ she called, and apologised for the heat as they drew
nearer. ‘I feel the cold quite dreadfully but if you sit across
from me, that screen will protect you from the worst.’

They saw a bench
opposite the great throne, a screen shielding it from the ferocity
of the hearth fire. Once seated all three stared at the woman who
inspired such mystery and terror among the people of Kelshan. She
wore a black dress, a shawl around her shoulders, and rings on
every finger of each hand. Those hands, long and slim, rested on
the chair arms and the rings, each bearing a large stone of a
different colour, sparked and flashed in the firelight. Gossamer
studied the woman closely. She was incredibly old but unmistakeably
alive. And while Gossamer had the impression of an unbelievably
vast age the woman’s face and body suggested she was still healthy,
still fit.

‘I am Lerran, First
Daughter of Dark.’ Golden eyes, like Corman’s but far more
brilliant, studied her guests in turn.

Lerran rose to her feet
and instinctively, Gossamer, Shea and Grent also rose in respect.
Lerran was tall and the dress she wore seemed to move around her
although no air stirred it. It was of a fine material, as delicate
as cobwebs, close fitting except where a ruffle flared from the
cuffs.

‘I ask that you swear
to the Dark, Grent, apprentice to Waxin Pule, before we talk
further. Are you able to do this?’

Grent found himself on
his knees with no recollection of how he’d got there. He tried to
reply, cleared his throat and tried again. He had never been in the
presence of such a person, of such a power.

‘I will so swear my
lady.’

‘And how will you
swear, Grent, apprentice to Waxin Pule?’

Gossamer noticed hands
move among those through the room as in ritual gestures, then
turned back to watch Grent.

Grent’s left thumb
touched his forehead. ‘I swear with my mind.’ His thumb moved to
his lips, ‘I swear with my breath.’ He touched his chest. ‘I swear
with my strength.’ His hand reached towards Lerran, palm upwards.
‘I swear with my life.’

‘And the Dark accepts
you Grent. Accepts your mind, your breath, your strength and your
life.’

Lerran bent slightly to
lay the palm of her left hand against Grent’s for a moment. Grent
felt a tearing within his mind, not painful, but as though curtains
had drawn open and sunlight rushed in. Lerran withdrew her hand and
Grent swayed but Jemin moved quickly to help him up and then back
onto the bench. Grent understood what had occurred. The First
Daughter had somehow released the knowledge Waxin Pule had hidden
in his mind over all the years. He felt light headed and confused,
rather as if he’d just woken after a fever.

Shea leaned close. ‘Are
you all right Grent?’

He was touched by the
concern in her voice. ‘I’m fine,’ he replied. ‘A little dizzy,
probably the heat.’ He found his chin drooping to his chest and his
eyes heavy but felt no alarm.

Lerran sat back on her
throne: Gossamer and Shea could not think of such a magnificent
seat as a mere chair.

‘I must introduce some
of my people,’ she smiled at Gossamer. ‘You’ve met Jemin I
think.’

Shea grinned while
Gossamer simply nodded.

‘Corman of course and
my Shield Master and Armourer, Garrol.’

Gossamer hadn’t noticed
him but recognised the man who’d retrieved them from the meadow
yesterday.

‘This is my Sword
Master, Favrian.’

The tall man beside
Lerran’s throne inclined his head. His eyes were nearly the same
bright gold as the First Daughter’s.

‘My brother Peshan.’
Yet another tall, golden eyed man stepped forward.

Shea voiced Gossamer’s
own thoughts. ‘My word, you all seem very tall.’

Lerran smiled at the
girl but did not reply to her comment. ‘More introductions can come
later but now I think Grent should be taken to the infirmary to
rest.’

To Gossamer’s
astonishment Waxin Pule got quickly to his feet and came to Grent’s
side. She had never seen him move so sprightly. Pule glanced at the
First Daughter. ‘I’ll take him myself lady. I’d prefer to stay by
him for a while.’

Lerran nodded. ‘I’m
glad you found an apprentice so worthy of your affection Waxin. I
do not underestimate the pain of your years away from
us.’

The brown robed healer
helped Waxin Pule get a sleepily unsteady Grent to his feet and
lead him slowly from the room.

‘I think the rest of
you may leave but for Seola and Peshan for now. I would like to
speak with our two guests.’

The room gradually
emptied and Lerran leaned her head back, closing her eyes. Before
Gossamer thought to stop her, Shea had moved to lean against the
great throne.

‘Are you unwell Lady
Lerran? Would you like a drink of water? Or tea
perhaps?’

A man’s laugh came from
near a long dark sideboard at the other end of the room. He was
pouring a dark red liquid into a goblet.

‘Lerran has been ill
from the dreams. I think you have experienced the dream of which I
speak Lady Shea?’

‘Oh Peshan, I am quite
recovered, don’t fuss.’ But Lerran accepted the goblet and sipped
gratefully.

Gossamer was startled
when Peshan offered her a similar goblet filled with
wine.

‘But I can’t.
.’

One gold eye closed in
a wink. ‘Oh yes you can.’

Gossamer looked at the
drink and wondered, with a hint of panic, if they had embalmers in
the Dark Realm who were as skilled and understanding as dear Snail.
She sipped cautiously. Oh my. It was slightly warmed and it tasted
– well, it tasted utterly wonderful. And she could feel it, going
down inside. Her hand shook suddenly. How could she feel any such
thing when she didn’t have any insides anymore?

Peshan was still beside
her and he caught her hand, steadying it. ‘A healing has begun on
you Lady Gossamer,’ he said softly. ‘This is the blood drink of our
people. You know I think, that Corman is what you term dead. He
drinks this, as most of us do. We will explain more whenever you
ask. But for now I will advise you to drink a glass or two of this
each day for a while.’

Twice in one day,
Gossamer realised. Twice in one day she had found herself
speechless.

By the time Gossamer
and Shea reached their rooms, escorted by Jemin, neither of them
were really sure what had been said during their time with the
First Daughter. The conversation seemed to twist and jump, from one
topic to another. Gossamer found herself wondering just what
conclusions Lerran had come to after that apparently casual and
inconsequential conversation. To Shea’s disappointment, Jemin
couldn’t stay. He had other duties he must attend to, he told her.
In fact, he had to collect other members of Lerran’s innermost
circle and return with them to her chamber.

When all were gathered
again, Lerran gazed into the flames beside her.

‘They are far stronger
than they know. And far stronger than we could have dared
hope.’

Seola moved restlessly
in her chair. ‘You can’t think of sending the child, Lerran? I
understand how Gossamer Tewk may be an asset but surely you won’t
risk the child?’

Lerran turned her gold
eyes on Seola. ‘I will risk anything Seola, and anyone, in this
cause.’

Seola’s lips tightened
but she said nothing more.

‘Have you decided which
we should attempt first?’ asked Sword Master Favrian.Lerran shook
her head, her thick white hair loosening from its ties and curling
over her shoulders. ‘There will be two teams. One for the tormented
one, one for the sleepers.’

Silence reigned as this
was considered. Jemin was the first to speak.

‘How many to each team
and which one will I serve?’

Lerran laughed. ‘I had
already decided you will go Jemin. But you will go to the hurt
soul. It will be easier to open a gateway there, and to get you
back here if Veranta’s forces move more swiftly than we hope, and
we have need of you.’

Jemin nodded,
satisfied.

‘Cyrek will go with
you, and you Seola. If Nenat is sufficiently recovered and is
willing, she will be the fourth of your team.’

It was Seola’s turn to
nod agreement. Corman moved between the chairs, offering goblets of
the blood drink from a gleaming silver tray.

‘The second team, my
lady?’ That was Shield Master Garrol, his blue eyes showing a
concern that was not apparent in his voice.

‘To find the sleepers I
ask Favrian and Peshan to accompany Shea and Gossamer Tewk. Thus
two of each team are full bloods and yes, you must unleash your
joint powers if you deem such action called for.’

Lerran looked again at
Seola and smiled, watching Seola’s dark eyes revert to their
natural gold. Seola travelled on behalf of the First Daughter more
than any other outside the Dark Realm , and keeping her eyes a
nondescript brown was second nature.

‘It is right that
Garrol should remain here as your Shield Lerran, but is it wise to
send Favrian away? You may have need of both Shield and Sword
Masters if the Imperium forces reach our Realm, even our
borders.’

‘Favrian’s guards are
beyond compare Chindar, as you well know. Malkos will be appointed
Sword Master in Favrian’s absence.’

Favrian’s son Malkos
touched his brow, lips and heart, extending his hand in graceful
acceptance of this temporary promotion.

‘I am waiting for final
information which will set our plans in action. I will summon you
again at darkfall.’

When all but Peshan had
left her chamber, Lerran got to her feet. She moved with an easy
elegance, going through an archway to her most private rooms. She
turned to speak to her brother when one of the windows blew
open.

‘I do wish you wouldn’t
do that, Hag,’ sighed the First Daughter of Dark. A raucous cackle
made her wince. ‘You come sooner than I’d expected. What
news?’

The enormous raven
strutted towards Peshan, horny beak agape. Peshan moved nimbly
behind a chair and the raven screamed again. No one knew, or
remembered if they’d ever known, just why Peshan and Hag disliked
each other quite so violently.

‘Hag, behave.’ Lerran
spoke sharply, Darkness rippling through her voice. ‘And Peshan,
keep quiet or go away.’

Hag shuffled her
feathers and hopped onto a table. ‘The one who screams is of the
kindred. They call themselves Great Dragons.’ Hag cackled again.
‘They are but pale shadows of Great Dragons. And I’d prefer you to
call me Anfled.’

‘I will name you as I
choose.’ Lerran’s eyes had begun to blaze and the raven took a step
back, knocking over an inkwell.

‘It is a young male. He
has lost his soul bond who is the sleeping girl I think. You told
me not to attempt the Splintered Kingdom so I can’t confirm that.
His name is Farn and the sleeper is called Tika. I took her name
from his mind but he is near insanity. He is at the house of the
ones who came from the stars long ago. Their healers can do
nothing, and his torment is crippling them worse with each
day.’

Lerran sighed. ‘You
have done well Hag. Seola will be travelling to that land in the
next days.’

The raven flapped
heavily to the window. ‘I’m going back there,’ she announced.
‘There’s a lot of wild magic loose.’

‘Wait,’ Lerran called.
‘The house where the star people live – it was marked on the maps
the last time you checked them for us?’

‘Yes, yes,’ Hag replied
tetchily. ‘I will no doubt meet Seola there, but I must discover
more of their magic.’

The window was empty.
Peshan gestured and the panes swung closed.

‘At least Hag seems to
quite like Favrian,’ Lerran groaned. ‘I fear she would happily give
you false directions and sit cackling while you struggled for your
life.’

Peshan emerged from
behind the chair. ‘Hag will behave when she must.’

‘You could sound more
convinced,’ his sister retorted.

They both stood by the
window looking inland over the town to the lesser hills, which in
turn rose to distant peaks. The Barrier Range was perhaps one
hundred and twenty leagues north, and Kelshan City twice that
distance beyond. Lerran hoped Veranta’s forces would take at least
a full moon to march that far, but even so she disliked these
problems arising together.

‘That damn man,’ she
muttered.

‘The one called
Namolos?’ asked Peshan.

Lerran nodded. ‘I still
believe I was right to conceal us from him but perhaps I could have
disrupted his plans sooner. I was remiss in not realising what he
was aiming for.’

‘Is there no chance of
contacting him now?’

‘He has managed to trap
himself. He was ensnared by that fragment of evil that took form as
Cho Petak.’

Peshan frowned. ‘The
ruler of Drogoya?’

‘I have watchers who
tell me the evil has burst. It should drain itself out like poison
from an abscess, but still it bears watching.’