Soul Bonds Book 1 Circles of Light series (23 page)

They managed to cajole and bully the fengars to within a league of their destination, according to Serim. He organised the tying of the beasts, well spaced,

along a section of wall. As Berri and Kran caught up with them, Serim asked her to add extra glowers to the lamps here so that the fengars were in a well-lit area and less likely to lash out at each other.

Mim walked with Ashta, behind Fenj. The Dragons were all getting sore feet, unused as they were to walking such distances. Brin, Kija, Farn and Tika followed them. Jeela was the only one not to seem bothered by walking so far. She fairly danced along with Ulla and Falim, ahead of all the rest.

Farn stopped, looking at his feet rather sadly. ‘Jeela seems to be able to walk with no trouble. Why do my feet hurt so?’

Tika hugged him quickly. ‘She is so small. She has less weight to carry so she moves more lightly.’

Serim was near enough to hear this exchange and he said: ‘Soon you will be able to soothe your aches, all of you. I do not know if you Dragons from Outside like to bathe or swim?’

Brin’s eyes began to glow. ‘I remember! You have those large warm pools with water that tastes strange! Yes,’ he nodded happily. ‘I remember those.’

As Kija, Farn and Tika looked puzzled, he showed them a mind picture of an underground lake, a strange mist lying over its surface. Then Brin surged forward to join his father and explain the pleasure ahead.

Farn wriggled his toes and sighed. ‘I hope it is not much further.’

Kija turned her head to study him for a moment. She said quietly: ‘Bravery is tested in many strange ways my son.’

Farn looked at her anxiously, sapphire eyes whirring. Tika met Kija’s golden look and nodded, putting her arm lightly across Farn’s shoulder. ‘That’s right Farn. Perhaps anyone can battle a raging fengar if they have to, but to walk a league with hurt feet that no one else sees or knows about is a different sort of bravery. But it is bravery just the same.’

Farn’s head lifted a little higher. He took a deep breath and began to pace firmly forward. ‘Well, come along. We do not want to be the last of all, do we?’ he asked.

Kija’s eyes shone their affectionate pale honey colour at Tika briefly, then they both hurried after Farn.

The tunnel had been sloping very gently downwards with several places curving to the right. Tika guessed the afternoon would have darkened to nightfall out in the upper world. The Guards had become more relaxed as they walked, old Lorak spinning his tales to them. Tika heard snatches of his stories, each more convoluted and unbelievable than the last. Lorak’s face had lost the grey tightness it had developed over the past days and he seemed back to his usual self. Ahead of her, Mim still clutched his cloak around his thin body, obviously still thoroughly chilled.

Tika herself, had pushed her cloak over her shoulders, she felt almost warm compared to her recent coldness. Sket and Motass stumped along behind Mim, ahead of Tika. Occasionally Sket looked over his shoulder at her, clearly they took their idea of being personal bodyguards very seriously.

Suddenly silence spread back from the leading members of the company. Everyone behind hurried the last steps to see what lay before them. The enclosed tunnel widened, becoming a broad ledge open on the right side, winding down to a pool. Rocks gleamed and shone with a strange greenish light. The glow lamps still lining the left wall beside them only reached a few man lengths across the water. The company could not guess how far the pool might extend. The mist Tika had seen in Brin’s mind was coiling lazily over the water’s surface.

Peering down, they saw more Delvers with small carts and several braziers, settled near the water’s edge. The Delvers were looking up at the arrivals, most faces showing welcoming, and curious, smiles. A feeling of a certain relief made the company hurry down to meet their hosts. Names flew back and forth, hot food and drink were offered and gratefully accepted. Tika’s head spun as she tried to remember names and which faces they belonged to.

As she joined Mim, Khosa emerged from her carrying sack under Mim’s cloak. Some of the Delvers noticed her and drew the attention of their fellows. It was into a silence that Khosa stalked regally to the nearest brazier. There she sat, her tail thrashing impatiently. Lorak took a piece of meat from his dish and held it to Khosa’s nose. Her whiskers twitched, she turned away with a look of unmistakable disgust and fixed her glare on Berri.

‘I am Khosa, a Queen of the Kephi. I eat fresh meat.’ The words rang imperiously in every head. Farn looked horrified, but Berri picked a chunk of uncooked meat from a basket and, kneeling, offered it to Khosa. Khosa sniffed it daintily, then deigned to consume it rapidly.

‘Aah,’ crooned Berri. ‘Isn’t she sweet?’

Farn moaned and shut his eyes. Khosa crooned back at Berri and climbed onto her lap. Berri stood up carefully, cradling the orange Kephi against her shoulder. As she turned to carry this amazing little creature to the other Delvers to admire, Khosa looked back at Lorak, Mim and Farn. Her expression was insufferably smug but it changed to her more usual glare as Tika and Mim began to giggle helplessly.

As Gan came through the crowd and found Mim and Tika convulsed with laughter, his first thought was – Lorak. His gaze fell on the old gardener, who sat leaning against Fenj’s side. Lorak lifted his eyes to meet Gan’s and gave him a horribly innocent grin. ‘Oh no, Lord Gan. It’s the Kephi made them laugh. Not me.’

Fenj looked down onto Lorak’s battered hat. ‘Splendid creature!’ he murmured.

Gan knew he was growing to hate that phrase, but Serim appeared before he could make a comment he might regret.

‘If any of you wish, the water is hot. Bathe your feet, or swim. There are substances in the water, which refresh and soothe. We have towels and blankets for you.’

Brin was already paddling they realised, his eyes rosy prisms of delight. As they watched, he waded deeper, stretching out his wings. Tika and Mim were pulling off their boots and Farn, Ashta and Jeela were heading towards Brin. As Kija rose to follow, Gan saw his Guards removing boots and cloaks. Several Delvers were walking in the shallowest water.

Fenj surged to his feet. He looked down at Lorak. ‘Shall we join them all and bathe, Lorak of the Garden?’

Gan knew he would gloat for days over the look of utter horror that spread over Lorak’s face at Fenj’s suggestion. As Fenj waited patiently, Lorak finally managed to sputter: ‘Well now. It isn’t good for old human bones, Lord Fenj. Rots ‘em like. I’ll just wait here and watch.’

Before Gan could make the scathing comment he had ready, Serim rejoined them.

‘If your company is able to keep a good pace, we will reach Amud about this time tomorrow.’

“Amud?” Gan queried.

‘It is one of our main settlements. Our Wise One, Nolli, is travelling from further north to meet you there. Then perhaps, some of your questions may be answered.’

Chapter Twenty-Three

Except for Jeela, the Dragons were badly tired by the time they had travelled the tunnels and arrived at Amud. As they neared the settlement, more tunnels merged into the broad one they marched along. Delvers came from these side tunnels, most with handcarts, and apparently in family groups. The company noted the carts were laden with various kinds of produce.

Serim explained: ‘They heard of the arrival of strangers from Outside and they use the excuse of bringing supplies so that they can see you.’

Soran and Trem were looking at the contents of some of the carts. As Serim moved on to speak to Tika and Mim, Soran said quietly to Gan: ‘These goods, Sir, surely they cannot all be produced underground? These Delvers must have contact with someone Outside.’

Gan replied equally softly: ‘I have noticed, Soran. They must indeed trade goods somehow. Go among the men and tell them to say as little as possible if they are questioned about Gaharn, or the Lady, or our Realm. And the little they do say, should be as unhelpful as they can manage. Just in case.’

‘The Guardian?’

Gan nodded grimly. ‘I have never heard even the wildest rumour of these Delvers before, so they cannot be trading with any races that we know of.’

The settlement appeared spread below and around them. A roughly circular bowl of a cavern, with dwelling places honeycombing the sides. All was brightly lit with glow lamps, and water poured into a narrow stretch of a pool to one side. The smoke, which the company now knew to be steam, rose from this water as it had from the first pool.

The doorways and window spaces of the dwellings were screened with a roughly

woven, fibrous material, although most such door hangings were hooked open as the company arrived. They were offered adjacent dwellings in which to spend the coming night. Mim and Tika hurriedly explored one such, finding three modest-sized rooms behind the first one. They threw their packs into a corner, Tika leaving her cloak as well although Mim still kept his around him. Then they ran down the sloping rock towards the pool where the Dragons were paddling.

Fenj was, in fact, almost totally submerged beside Brin, their eyes closed in pleasurable relief. Ulla and Meppi were with them, laughing at Farn’s attempts to go underwater without drowning himself. Jeela turned as Mim and Tika arrived. ‘Is it not amazing?’ she asked. ‘This warm water is wonderful!’ Her eyes whirred all colours in her excitement. ‘And to think Mother tried to stop me coming with you all!’

Ashta came dripping from the pool to Mim’s side. Tika heard him say: ‘No, Ashta, this one is warming now.’

If he was not still cold, what was troubling him? Before she could ask, Farn rose, snorting and showering them all as he burst up from the water. He looked as excited as Jeela and Tika was reminded again of how very young he, his sister and Ashta were.

There was a festival atmosphere as Delvers called them to come and eat. Meppi took the Dragons off with him as Tika and Mim joined Lorak in the central area. Low tables had been set up and were covered in an amazing assortment of different foods.

‘Have you learnt where these fruits grow Lorak?’ Mim asked, sitting down by the old man.

‘They told me they grow some of this themselves. They did not reply when I asked to see.’ He leaned closer. ‘Can you feel if they have Powers, Mim?’

‘They can all use the mind speech,’ said Mim, his mouth full of an extraordinarily juicy, oblong fruit. ‘This person feels there is shielding around some.’

Lorak nodded and muttered under his breath.

Tika was sampling some dark squares of what looked like bread but tasted of tea and nuts, when Khosa pushed her head against her arm. The Kephi lay on Tika’s legs, her front paws tucked neatly beneath her and her eyes half closed. ‘They have secrets.’

Tika did not pause in eating and she smiled at a Delver opposite her as she asked: ‘Did you learn these secrets?’

Khosa’s ears twitched. ‘Not much. They speak with ones who live in the Wilderness.’

Tika’s mind registered blankness. Khosa tutted. ‘The Wilderness. The land beyond these High Land Mountains, where no one ever goes. Or if they do, they do not seem to return.’

‘But I thought it was a place made up by the storytellers?’

‘Oh you.’ Khosa began her crooning hum. ‘You thought Dragons and Nagums were monsters not so long ago!’ A stretch rippled her spine and she rolled over on Tika’s lap, suggesting her paler orange belly now be rubbed. ‘Several are shielding their minds,’ Khosa continued. ‘Of course they may suspect you of being servants of the Guardian.’

‘But the Shardi attacked us!’

Khosa yawned hugely. ‘The Shardi attack everyone. But I advise caution now Tika.’

Sket sat down beside Tika. ‘Their food is good anyways Lady. Have you tried these?’ He offered a plate with tiny purple berries upon it. His free hand landed gently on Khosa’s exposed throat and he rubbed down from her jaw to her chest and back upwards. Khosa moaned in delight and Tika dumped her unceremoniously onto Sket. ‘Excuse me a moment Sket.’

Tika moved through the crowd, looking for Gan. Several Delvers spoke to her, to whom she replied with a smile but without stopping. She saw him sitting on a rock, slightly apart, with Kija reclining nearby. As Tika wandered casually in their direction, she was aware that they were mind speaking to each other on a very tightly directed beam of thought.

She went to Kija, reaching to stroke the golden cheeks as she asked: ‘Do you have any idea how we would get out of here if these Delvers are not what they seem?’

Kija lowered her head to press against Tika’s brow. ‘The Delvers believe the Snow Dragons to be totally open and under their control.’ There was a trace of amusement in her tone as she went on: ‘Although it suits them to live closely with these Delvers, they keep much of themselves very private. As the Golden Lady thought she knew us, so the Delvers believe they know everything there is to know of the Snow Dragons. They will lead us out of here if we ask it of them.’

‘I had just asked Kija the same question,’ Gan said aloud, smiling, as a Delver passed quite close by them.

‘Do you know when this Wise One Serim spoke of will arrive?’ Tika asked, also aloud.

Serim himself replied, having approached suddenly behind Gan. ‘The Wise One is very old, oldest of all in fact, and is much fatigued by the journey. The Wise One sends greetings and regrets, but must rest now and will speak with you in the morning.’ He smiled faintly as he spoke, aware that his sudden appearance had not startled them as perhaps might have been expected.

Gan stood, his great height towering over Serim, and bowed gracefully. ‘Of course Serim. We look forward to speaking with your Wise One. We will all have clearer minds after a good night’s rest, I am sure.’

‘Without freezing, or wondering if Shardi will attack, or worse!’ Tika added cheerfully.

‘Do you set watchmen?’ Gan asked.

Serim laughed. ‘We need no watchmen here, Lord of the People.’ He said no more but stood smiling gently.

Gan nodded and glanced at Tika. ‘I suggest we all get that rest then.’

‘I will be here,’ Kija said, her words clear to all. ‘Farn and Ashta will probably insist on sleeping near you.’

Tika felt affection again from the She Dragon and she smiled. ‘Good night then, Kija.’

‘Sleep well, small one.’

Sket and Motass had already spread out their bedrolls in the entrance room of the cave Tika and Mim had chosen. ‘We’ll take turns, Sir,’ Motass announced as Gan and Tika entered.

‘Just in case,’ Sket added as he cleaned his sword.

Khosa appeared from the rear rooms. ‘Lorak and Soran and Trem are playing one of those games with small stones. When I try to play, they become quite ill mannered.’ Her expression was one of injured majesty.

‘Where is Mim?’ Tika asked, remembering she wanted to ask him several questions.

Gan looked out of the doorway. ‘He is near the pool, with Ashta. Is he all right Tika, he is still wrapped in his cloak yet it is not cold here?’

‘That is one of several things I mean to find out,’ she replied.

Much later, Gan was still wide-awake. He went quietly through to the back rooms. Soran, Trem and Lorak all slept, snoring inharmoniously. Gan moved to the next doorway and looked in. Mim lay curled in his cloak, his head on Tika’s lap. She sat leaning against the wall, seemingly asleep, her arm protectively across Mim’s body. Her eyes were closed but Gan realised her face was wet. Before he could do anything, Khosa wound between his feet. ‘Leave them,’ she commanded.

He stood a moment longer then crept back through the rooms to the entrance. He nodded to Motass and, pushing aside the screen, he slipped out of the cave, nearly treading on Ashta’s nose. He held his breath but Farn and Ashta did not stir. The Kephi leaped lightly over them and walked away down the slope, her tail waving upright.

Gan looked into the central space of the cavern. A few Delvers lay asleep beside their carts but most seemed to have found accommodation in the many holes and caves lining the cavern. Fenj, Jeela, Brin and Kija looked to be asleep, against one of the rocky walls. Quietly, Gan followed the Kephi as she walked purposefully away from the Delvers towards the pool.

As Khosa sat herself on a convenient rock she said: ‘If any come, I suggest you tell them you could not sleep because your feet pained you.’

Obediently, Gan sat next to her, pulled off his boots and dangled his long feet in the warm water.

‘What troubles them?’ he asked.

For the first time, the haughty Kephi seemed hesitant. ‘It is not for me to say. Something has happened which upsets Tika more than Mim, but you must take great care with them both now.’

Gan puzzled over this gnomic statement, trying to make some sense of it. Khosa spat.

‘Oh you two-legs are so stupid! And you are surprised that many of us of other races choose not to involve ourselves with you mentally?’

Gan was completely perplexed. ‘Do you mean that they will marry?’

Khosa stared at him contemptuously. ‘Of course not! Your minds are very limited, are they not? No, no. I only try to warn you to be careful of them. I cannot tell you more, that must be their choosing. I think Ashta knows, and perhaps Farn, but Tika will need more help than Mim.’

The water lapped a little harder against the rock on which they sat and Khosa moved back, shaking a fastidious paw. She leaped down and stalked off, saying: ‘I go to listen to dreamers.’

Gan spent the remainder of the night trying to estimate the distance north they had travelled. He was fairly sure the Delvers had led them north continuously, although the tunnel had curved gently, and perhaps deceptively, in places. He felt certain he would sense any major change of direction. He reckoned they must be nearing the White River, which bordered the Waste Land, which, in turn, bordered the Realm of Ice. He had no idea if the Snow Dragons and Delvers had tunnels leading right into the Guardian’s Realm – that was a question he hoped their Wise One would answer.

The men seemed to be a cohesive group at least. He had seen that all of them had drunk sparingly of a beer the Delvers offered. He had tasted it, to be polite, finding it had a pleasant taste and promised a powerful effect. He had given no instructions to the men and he knew his officers had not either, yet the men had taken care to keep their wits about them.

And now a problem of some kind with the human girl and the Nagum boy. He had half expected Khosa would say they had become more involved with each other than with the task ahead of them. They had somehow been changed into uniquely different beings – it would not be surprising if they clung to each other for more than moral support.

Delvers were beginning to stir as Gan made his way back to the dwelling cave.

‘Everything all right Sir?’ Sket asked softly as Gan entered.

Gan stretched. ‘I hope so Sket. Tell the men I was proud of the way they conducted themselves last evening. I am sure they must have been sorely tempted by that beer!’

Sket grinned. ‘Very tasty it were, Sir. But we are all determined now Sir, after them nasty Shardi killing so many comrades.’

‘Yes Sir.’ Motass emerged from his blankets. ‘You won’t find any letting you down Sir.’

Gan smiled. ‘Thank you. And don’t forget to tell the men what I said!’

Shortly after, several Delvers arrived with breakfast, which they were obviously intended to eat within the dwelling. Gan noticed that Tika looked very pale although Mim was his usual self, but for the fact he held his cloak tight around him. Before long, Serim was bowing in the doorway.

‘The Wise One approaches,’ he announced.

They went out onto the rock walkway and saw Delvers standing quietly down in the central space. As they stood there, a drumbeat began to echo from one of the tunnels – impossible to tell from which one. Four Snow Dragons paced steadily to the centre of the cavern where they took position facing outwards at the Delvers. Then two young Delvers appeared, pulling a cart very similar to the ones the company had observed the supplies arriving in. This one, though, was elaborately carved from a very dark wood and held an equally ornate chair on which sat the Wise One. A solitary drummer walked behind. A sigh of respect whispered through the cavern as the Wise One was carried in and placed in the midst of the four Snow Dragons. The two Delvers bowed low, both extending a hand to help the Wise One rise from the chair.