Soul Bonds Book 1 Circles of Light series (15 page)

Mim and Tika spent their mornings with Gan, becoming slightly more adept with weaponry. Mim had asked why they had to continue these lessons after he discovered he could use the Power to freeze his opponent in his tracks. He was persuaded it was a necessary skill and he agreed not to use the Power against the long-suffering Sket and Motass again.

Several times Gan noticed a strange look in Tika’s eyes – they seemed to become unfocused, as if she was day dreaming. He eventually told Emla and Kemti, telling them he believed she was far speaking someone. Kemti was for confronting Tika, asking her outright if she was far speaking, and if so, to whom. Gan and Emla disagreed. They felt they could trust her judgement. They saw no reason to suspect the Guardian was trying to influence her. It did not occur to any of them, that Tika could be far speaking Dragons.

After days of rain, at last they woke to a clear bright day, albeit frosty cold. Mim was entranced with the white hoar coating each smallest piece of plant. He went off in search of Lorak, even before breakfast, wanting to know how the plants dealt with this weather, the Nagum woodlands rarely enduring such cold. Ashta said she would accompany him.

Tika decided that she and Farn would have a morning off from weapon practise, too. She sent one of the pavilion maids with a message to the Lady, saying she would be flying with Farn this morning. Farn was not thrilled to hear Khosa agree that a flight seemed a splendid idea.

In the House, Gan said: ‘They cannot delay much more. The snows will close the mountain ways soon now. Have you decided if they are to seek the Balance Weight or will you send them straight to face the Guardian, Lady?’

‘We know the Weight is hidden. We know Rhaki has not gained possession of it. Jerak’s writings say that two pure souls can confront the Guardian, with a higher chance of living to tell the tale than either you or I.’

Yash said: ‘If he refuses to reply to our messages, why should we assume he would agree to meet Tika and Mim? He has no idea of their Powers as yet. If he did, he may see all the more reason not to let them near him.’

‘We have to try,’ said Emla quietly. ‘Discussion has always been our way, and even now, with the Guardian setting himself so apart from the People, we must continue to try.’

‘We are aware he is your brother, Lady, but – ‘ Kemti began.

‘No,’ said Emla sternly. ‘He is my brother by blood, never has he been a brother of my heart or my soul. I do not delay dealing with him for any reason other than that it is the way our People have always been. Are we not trained from birth “to listen, to learn, to discuss, to decide”? We must still give the Guardian time to explain himself before we contemplate -’ she hesitated, ‘before we contemplate force,’ she finished firmly.

It was midmorning when Mim cried to their minds: ‘Come Ladies and Lords! There are visitors! Come quickly!’

The Seniors looked at each other, they could sense no new life patterns within the grounds. They rose and hurried out to stand grouped on the veranda, five immensely tall, graceful figures framed by the equally tall doorway.

Mim was running towards them, Ashta and Lorak following behind. Lorak still clutched a plant in one hand and a gardening implement in the other as he stumped along, a trifle breathlessly, beside Ashta. Mim stopped at the foot of the shallow steps leading to the door, his face beaming with delight as he looked up at the Golden Lady.

‘Look!’ He turned, pointing to the sky to the southwest. They looked. Four specks grew larger as they drew nearer the House until they could be seen clearly. Four Dragons, coming to the Golden Lady.

Ashta’s eyes were blazing with excitement. Farn was the only Dragon she had met, other than her siblings, her mother, and Seela of the Sun Treasury. Farn landed first, gently gliding to the lawn near the steps. Tika slid from his back, Khosa in her arms, and walked to join Mim. As the other three Dragons landed beside Farn, Tika looked up at the Seniors.

‘Fenj comes to join us Lady, as do Kija and Jeela.’

She could feel the awed amazement in the Seniors as they looked at the enormous black Fenj now rearing erect to make formal greeting. Kija’s golden bulk also towered up, wings stretched to steady herself, and the much smaller, creamy scaled Jeela copied her elders. Kaleidoscopic colours whirred in prismed eyes as Fenj said: ‘We of the Dragon Kin greet you again at last, Golden Lady.’

For a brief moment, no one moved. Then, to the Seniors’ astonishment, the dignified Lady Emla was running down the steps. As she reached Fenj, he lowered himself and her outstretched hands held his beautiful old head between them. ‘To see you thus, Fenj, after all this time! And I so sorrowed, thinking you would choose to go Beyond!’

Fenj muttered something about selfish old Dragons, quite clearly overcome by this welcome from the Lady. She turned to Kija, touching the gleaming face as she said: ‘Of you I have heard much, Kija. I am proud to greet you as my guest, and bid you truly welcome.’ She moved towards Jeela. ‘And you! You are so dainty, yet I see such strength within you!’ Her smile embraced them all. ‘Come, let us talk. Will you enter my House, my dear ones?’

Jeela moved forward then stopped guiltily, looking at her mother. Emla laughed. ‘Come Jeela,’ she said, putting her arm around Jeela’s shoulders. ‘You shall lead the way with me!’ Kija followed, then Fenj, the Seniors standing aside, speechless at the sheer size of these two magnificent Dragons.

Chapter Fifteen

The great hall of Emla’s House did not seem quite so great once Fenj and Kija had entered and settled themselves. They were as interested as Jeela to see inside one of the strange dwellings two-legs used. When all were comfortable, Emla looked around at them.

‘The time for any concealment is past,’ she said. ‘One of the Weights entrusted to my care has been stolen. Linvaks took it, how I do not know. In all our time of having charge of the balance, we have never enquired into how the Weights remain in their suspension.’ She spread her hands. ‘We know it is a complex use of the Power, but complex in a way we have long forgotten – if we ever knew it. Some of our Seniors are experimenting, in Gaharn, to try to replicate the means of suspension. But that is beside the point. We do know that the Linvaks went towards Death Pass in the Spine Mountains, at the juncture where those mountains turn north, to the Realm of Ice.

‘Gan’s scouts report a great killing took place near there. There were remains to account for all the Linvaks who guested here. Therefore, none escaped that slaughter. If the Guardian had got hold of the Weight from the Linvaks, his Power would already be too great for us to contain. I believe he would not hesitate to demonstrate that Power to us. That he has not done so, leads me to conclude it is not yet in his possession.

‘Thus, for whatever reason the stars alone know, the Linvaks have either hidden the Weight, or passed it to someone, or something, else.’

She paused. Fenj had been rumbling for a while and he now asked: ‘How did these Linvaks die Lady?’

‘Shardi.’

Fenj hissed. ‘I did not know they came so far south Lady.’

‘There have been reports over recent generations that they venture further south from the Realm of Ice with each Cold Season.’

Emla continued: ‘The Shardi, and the Linvaks are creatures of the Grey Guardian. We believe there are others but we do not know for sure. Jerak, our ancient one, went to the Realm of Ice last Growing Season, to try to reason with the Guardian. He did not return. We know only that there was a great use of Power, but we have not heard from Jerak since then. I believe he is still with us, but wounded, trapped, imprisoned - I cannot guess.

‘We have to decide whether Tika and Mim should try to reach the Guardian’s stronghold and the place where his Balance Weights lie, or search for the one that is hidden somewhere in the Spine Mountains.’

‘It would seem neither option will be a pleasant or easy task,’ Kija remarked. ‘With Shardi helping us look for the Weight no doubt.’

Emla gave her a quick smile. ‘Truly said, Kija. There is one more thing.’ She looked now at Tika and Mim. ‘These two have been altered.’ Kija and Fenj both rumbled, their eyes beginning to glow. ‘No, not intentionally, and not by us,’ Emla said quickly. ‘You, Fenj, are far more than the intelligent little hatchling you were when first we met. Maybe you can understand better than I, if you study their life patterns.’

Fenj and Kija both stared hard at Tika and Mim. They gave no indication of surprise at first, then suddenly both Dragons half rose, their eyes flashing. Tika and Mim also rose, standing close beside Farn and Ashta. Jeela stared in fascination from the two legs to the elder Dragons and back. The Seniors realised with growing alarm that they were quite unable to penetrate the Dragon minds, or Tika’s and Mim’s.

Tika broke the spell. ‘You see,’ she spoke so all could hear her, but specifically to Fenj and Kija. ‘I will do what I must and what I can.’ She looked at Emla. ‘You have neglected the Dragon Kin too long, Lady. Though their minds follow different pathways, they have grown over the generations. They are as strong as you are.’ She moved forward a few paces, facing Emla and the Seniors directly. ‘See then, what they have just seen.’ And she laid open her mind, and the Seniors saw, with considerable shock, what the Dragons had seen.

The web Tika had reshaped had grown. It was now a glittering complexity, far beyond their understanding. It was beautiful, symmetrical, intricate. And it evidenced an enormous increase in Power.

‘Even so,’ said Tika, ‘I do not know if I can overcome the Guardian. I know much, but as before, there seem to be pieces missing, gaps across which I cannot guess how to bridge.’

‘Will this happen with all humans cross breeding with the People I wonder?’ Kemti was enthralled.

‘I do not think so. I do not know why it happened to me.’ Tika paused. ‘Jerak did not tell me that, when his mind spoke to me.’

The shock displayed by the Seniors at the altered web of her mind, was as nothing to what Tika became aware of now. ‘Jerak?’ Iska queried softly. She looked at Emla. Emla’s hands were over her mouth, her green eyes huge as they returned Tika’s equally green gaze.

‘What do you know of Jerak? Jerak helped you?’ she whispered. ‘Jerak fathered the Guardian and me Tika, but he has been long lost to us.’

Tika closed her mind to them, retreating to sit leaning against Farn. ‘He gave me some knowledge,’ she said. ‘It felt a bit like it did when Kija put memories into me when I bonded with Farn.’ She was studying the gold and amber pendant she always wore as she spoke. She looked up at Emla again. ‘I knew his name somehow. I could not see where he was, but it looked like this.’ She lifted the oval drop on its thin chain. ‘He was in a dark place, but inside something. He said, “go to the Guardian,” so I suppose we must.’

Suddenly, she looked an undersized human child, confused at finding herself in these strange circumstances. Mim stretched his hand to her, stroking her arm lightly. Farn and Ashta were pouring affection and support to her.

Tika looked again at Emla. ‘I would see your Balance Weights now. You have not allowed Mim or me to see them yet – have you feared we also might take one from you?’

Emla looked aghast. She rose, moving swiftly to kneel before Tika. Her long fingered hands caught Tika’s small ones. ‘Oh my dear one, no! I have had no doubts of you since we met!’

She was interrupted as a maid bobbed into the hall. ‘Excuse me, my Lady, but there’s someone as says they must speak with Lord Gan if you please.’

At Emla’s nod, Gan left the hall. He was back almost at once. ‘There is trouble, Lady, on the Middle Plain. Some creatures, never seen before, are attacking the farms near the foothills of the Spine Mountains. I must organise assistance at once.’

As he turned to leave again, Emla called, ‘Gan, you must send men of course. But you will not go yourself.’

‘But – ‘ Gan scowled, then bit his lip, bowed abruptly to Emla and left.

Emla stood for a while deep in thought, then turning to Tika again, she held out her hand. ‘Come, we will go to the Pavilion of the Sacred Balance.’

It was an odd group that arrived at the guarded Pavilion: five Dragons, four of the tall slender People, a small human female and a male Nagum. And an aged human gardener who busied himself unobtrusively among the nearest shrubs. Two of the guards whom Gan had set around the Pavilion opened the doors for the Lady. ‘I am not sure Fenj and Kija will be able to enter,’ Emla looked at the doorway then dubiously at Kija’s golden bulk and Fenj’s black hugeness.

‘We will see well enough from the door, Lady.’ Fenj said.

The Seniors entered, moving round the sides of the Pavilion, leaving the doorway clear. Ashta, Farn and Jeela peered in, Fenj and Kija’s heads above theirs. Tika and Mim stood one each side of Emla, staring at the golden Weights.

It was quiet. The Weights hung, apparently unsupported, in the centre of the Pavilion above a crystal and gold mosaic circle. Six disks of gold, a hole in the centre of each, as though a chain, or a rope, should have threaded through them. The lowest disk was a man’s fist in thickness and a man’s arm length across, the one above was slightly smaller, and the next smaller still.

‘So the one that has gone would be the smallest?’ Mim asked.

‘Yes,’ agreed Emla. ‘About a handspan across and one finger thick. They are all immensely heavy we believe, heavier than they might appear. Kemti can show you later how the one that is lost might look and feel. We can only estimate their heaviness though. We do not know who made them or whence they came. They were here when we first came. The Seniors of those days were more knowledgeable then in certain matters. This land did not really need their skills it was decided, once our city was built and functioning.’

Kemti shook his head. ‘In those long past days, it was decided the People would live simply, without many things that were once thought essential to our lives.’ He sighed. ‘Knowledge should never be forgotten though; set aside perhaps for use in a future time unknown, but never discarded.’

Mim and Tika were not listening to this exchange. They were studying the suspended Weights. ‘This person sees, Tika,’ said Mim, his words bringing the Seniors closer.

‘Yes,’ agreed Tika. ‘It is quite a simple knotting of threads really except...’

‘Except for the way Time is woven into it as well,’ finished Mim. ‘It is Time, isn’t it? That silver line this one sees?’

‘I think so. We will stay here a while Lady, just to look at the working.’ They sat on the floor staring at the Weights.

Iska asked, ‘Can you both truly see how the Weights are hung?’ Mim looked faintly surprised.

‘Yes of course. Can you not see it Lady?’

‘None of us can,’ replied Yash, and added to Emla: ‘Can Mim see it too, or is he sharing Tika’s sight?’

‘He sees it too,’ Tika said rather shortly. Yash bowed apologetically. ‘We will join you later,’ she added pointedly.

‘We will wait in the House then.’ Emla moved to the door just as a small orange Kephi marched in, tail aloft, settling itself comfortably on Tika’s lap. ‘If that Kephi bothers you, just push it out.’

‘Push it out indeed,’ Khosa slitted her eyes at Emla. Tika scratched Khosa’s ears and the Kephi collapsed, crooning in bliss. ‘It’s not bothering us, thank you.’ Tika returned her concentration to the Weights.

Outside, Emla looked a trifle nonplussed as to how to entertain five Dragons but Kija solved the problem. ‘We travelled here with few stops to eat Lady. We would find food if you permit?’

‘Of course,’ said Emla. ‘As we told Mim and Tika, we will be in the House when you return.’

Farn, Jeela and Ashta looked at Kija. ‘There is a place, quite near, where live many volu,’ Farn told her helpfully.

‘Very well. Show us where then. Fenj?’

‘I do not really hunger,’ said Fenj. ‘I will look at this place where my Lady lives.’

‘You are not going to stop eating again, Fenj, you will need all your strength if you insist on coming with us.’

‘I will bring you hoppers,’ Farn offered.

Fenj pondered. ‘Are they plump hoppers here?’

‘Of course!’ said Farn, eyes whirring in delight. Kija gave him a rather long look, then she began to lift into the air. Fenj watched them go, Farn looping between Ashta and Kija, his small sister following each move. As they disappeared, Fenj looked about him. Guards stood around the Pavilion but the Seniors had vanished into the Lady’s dwelling. A grunt came from some shrubbery.

Fenj moved, extremely quietly for one of his immense size, and extended his neck over the bushes, coming face to face with Lorak. This old human’s face registered alarm as he said, ‘I am a friend of young Mim, that is, I mean Lord Mim, your Lordship.’ Fenj’s eyes shone like grey pearl at this flustered two-legs.

‘I am quite sure you are a very good friend to Mim. I am Fenj of the Broken Mountain Treasury.’ His words rang deep in the old man’s mind. ‘And you are?’

‘Well now, I am Lorak of, of – her Ladyship’s Garden.’ Lorak bowed. Fenj sensed a great obstinacy in this old human, who he reflected, was but a mere child compared to one of his own great age.

‘I would know what you do, Lorak of the Garden.’

‘Oh. Well now. If you would come this way, your Lordship, I can show you some of my work.’

Emla was a little puzzled to see Fenj wandering across her lawns, with Lorak trotting beside him gesticulating vigorously, but she was distracted by Gan’s abrupt arrival.

‘My Lady, I should go with my men. They await my order to depart, but really, I protest that I should lead them.’

‘I know how you feel Gan but no.’ She raised her hand as he began to argue further. ‘The first thought that occurred to me at the news of trouble on the Middle Plain was – is this another false clue? I grant there is probably something unpleasant happening there, and maybe in different times, I would send many men, led by you, there immediately.’

Gan’s expression changed as he realised what she was saying. ‘The Guardian?’ he asked. ‘Pulling our attention, and your Guards, one way, while he moves in another?’

Emla nodded. ‘I will listen to everyone else’s opinion on this, and that includes the Dragons, Gan. Then I will decide. I tell you now I am strongly persuaded that the lost weight should be abandoned in favour of reaching the Guardian.’ She moved back to the window as Gan went to the door. ‘Gan, have you any idea what Lorak could be doing with Fenj?’

Mim and Tika had studied the pattern of Power holding the Weights suspended. They agreed it was a fairly straightforward holding weave, except that time was involved. At last Tika got to her feet, gently passing Khosa to Mim. ‘It comes back to the same thing every way I try to see how it is worked, Mim. What do you think?’