Dark Realm: Book 5 Circles of Light series (31 page)

‘I would think there
was every need,’ Tika said quietly when the door closed behind the
messenger.

‘How so?’

She met Corman’s gaze.
‘He is a Prince who could become the ruler – whatever it’s called –
of these Kelshan lands. He must prove he is capable of
ruling.’

‘Leading from the front
in other words,’ Corman smiled. He glanced at Chindar and shrugged.
‘If we ask Favrian to reach Jemin and countermand his plan, I doubt
Jemin would obey. Leave him be.’

Tika leaped to her feet
and shot out of the room, leaving some consternation behind
her.

Emla blinked, her eyes
becoming slightly unfocused. ‘Oh my stars, it’s Brin and Storm!’
She strode after Tika with no further explanation.

Soran followed, a broad
grin on his face, and the three Dark Lords capitulated, trailing
after their guests to Lerran’s great chamber. They paused at the
archway. Cyrek strolled towards them, supporting a frail, white
haired old woman. Chindar moved to help him.

‘This is Nenat, a
friend of Seola’s. But gateways do not suit her.’

Nenat glared up at him.
‘They are the most dreadful things,’ she snapped, before swaying
back into Cyrek’s arms.

He lifted her easily
and nodded over his shoulder. ‘I was only going to bring Nenat and
Brin, but Storm refused to be left behind.’

The Dark Lord wandered
off, Nenat’s white head resting against his chest.

‘More Dragons?’
whispered Garrol.

‘So it would seem.’
Corman braced himself and walked into the great chamber.

There appeared to be a
large crowd but on closer inspection he realised there were only
two more Dragons being lavishly greeted by Tika, Sket and Lady
Emla. Kija and Farn rattled their wings and Soran looked on with
the silly smile of a proud father. Shea and Sergeant Essa had moved
prudently out of range of flailing tails, and Gossamer Tewk stood
by the unlit hearth. Corman saw that the cat that seemed to have
attached itself to Shea was held out of danger by Tika. Corman
looked more carefully, realising the other cat, Khosa, wasn’t here.
She seemed to spend all her time curled on the First Daughter’s
bed.

Tika turned to beam at
the Dark Lords. ‘This is Brin.’ She rested a hand against an
enormous crimson chest.

The Lords found a pair
of rosy prismed eyes sparkling at them. A deep voice rumbled in
their heads. ‘Greetings to you. My father sends his apologies. He
would have come but he felt he was needed elsewhere.’

‘And this is Storm.’
Tika pointed at the smaller, slighter Dragon with silvery grey
scales, who was still involved in an ecstatic reunion with
Farn.

Chindar saluted the
Dragons. ‘You are welcome to the Dark Realm.’

‘You hope,’ Corman
muttered under his breath.

Chindar raised his
voice slightly. ‘Would you prefer that we adjourn our meeting until
later Lady Emla?’

‘Oh dear, of course not
Lord Chindar. How rude that we just dash out like that. Come Tika,
Soran. We were in discussion with the Lords.’

Chindar sat behind his
desk once more and opened his mouth. A breeze riffled through the
room and Chindar’s mouth snapped shut. Emla smiled politely at the
beautiful red haired woman who had appeared behind Shield Master
Garrol. Tika froze.

‘My, my, darlings, all
these cosy little chats. Such fun.’ Long fingers stroked down
Garrol’s face and Emla’s smile faded as she saw how the Shield
Master fought not to flinch away from that gentle touch. Tika
caught Emla’s hand.

‘I don’t think you’ve
met Ferag have you? She is the Mistress of Death. And this,’ Tika
struggled on. ‘This is the Lady Emla of Gaharn.’

‘Ah.’ Ferag’s
expression showed genuine interest. ‘That’s what it
was.’

‘That’s what what was
Ferag? And why are you here?’

Ferag pouted. ‘If
you’re just going to be rude to me, why should I tell
you?’

Corman stood up and
held his chair. ‘Do sit down Ferag, and enlighten us as to your
information.’

Ferag gave him a sharp
look but sat gracefully in his vacated chair. ‘I had an idea about
using the ghosts in Kelshan City,’ she began. ‘There’s an awful lot
of the poor things – dithering over rebirth or full death you know.
Well, I sent some off to poke around in that woman’s rooms.’ She
noticed Chindar’s closed eyes and Corman’s expression of
horror.

‘Ghosts can’t be traced
by mages as you well know, so there was no danger. And do you know
many who can actually catch a ghost and then interrogate it?’ She
snorted and her skirt twisted and fluttered round her crossed legs.
‘The thing is, they felt something in the Citadel and fled in total
panic, the dears. They could only describe horror, some evil of
indeterminate shape. But I thought their description sounded a
touch familiar.’

Ferag bestowed a
dazzling smile on Lady Emla. ‘Near Gaharn. That’s where I felt it
myself. Where the creature’s Splintered Kingdom touched this
world.’

Clearly a comment was
expected and Emla rose to the occasion. ‘How remarkable that you
should notice the resemblance. But what exactly does this
mean?’

Ferag scowled and still
managed to look beautiful. ‘Oh meanings darling. That’s up to you.
I just thought it might be of use that’s all.’

‘Of considerable use
Ferag, for which we are most grateful.’

Ferag stood, almost
purring at Corman’s words. ‘Darling! We must do this again soon –
so nice to see you all. Oh. Your friend decided, dear.’

Gan appeared at Ferag’s
side in the brief instant before she vanished.

Emla and Soran were
both on their feet, Garrol’s hand was on his sword hilt. Slowly,
the very tall thin figure in the same blue uniform as Soran’s, sank
to one knee, his gaze on Emla.

‘My lady, I failed in
my duty to protect Tika and Farn. The Mistress of Death offered me
a choice and I choose to accept the half death until I redeem that
failure. I offer my service freely, in whatever capacity you
decide.’

Tears poured down
Emla’s face and Soran was struggling to control his emotion, but
Tika hurled herself at Gan, nearly knocking him flat. His arms
closed round her in a fierce hug, his eyes closed as if in pain.
Gently, he held her away and climbed to his feet. Tika was
astonished as first Corman, then Chindar, crossed the room to
embrace Gan Jal Sarl, former Captain of the Lady Emla’s Guards.
Then she realised they were welcoming another such as themselves –
one given a partial reprieve from the Realm of Death.

Shield Master Garrol
stared up at the man, perhaps he wasn’t quite as tall as Sergeant
Essa he thought. He saluted him formally and smiled. ‘I will
arrange for another uniform Captain.’

Gan returned a fainter
smile and held out his hand to Soran, who grasped it tight, unable
to speak.

Gossamer Tewk watched
the two new Dragons in the great chamber. She watched very closely
and correctly interpreted Kija’s attitude to Brin. Unaccustomed to
Dragons she may be, but Gossamer recognised a mischievous glint in
an eye whether of a man or a huge crimson Dragon. Brin definitely
looked excited at being in this new land and was obviously
anticipating adventure of some kind. Much to Kija’s evident
disapproval.

Watching Farn and
Storm, Gossamer realised how very young they were. The affectionate
jostling and pushing reminded her of small boys in the City
markets. Akomi, the tattered old cat Shea had brought out of the
Splintered Kingdom wriggled out of Shea’s arms. Tika had dumped him
there when she went back to that meeting. Now, he tiptoed around
Kija and sat in front of Brin and wailed. Brin crouched lower, his
long beautiful face nearly touching the old cat. Gossamer heard the
mind speech clearly inside her own head.

‘I’m glad to see you
are safe, old one.’ Brin’s mind tone was incredibly
gently.

Akomi extended a paw,
claws retracted, and patted the huge nose in front of him. ‘There
are new friends here Brin. That girl, the one like Tika, she saved
me.’

Brin’s head lifted on
its long neck and he peered in Shea’s direction. Shea stepped
forward a little nervously and bobbed an awkward
curtsey.

‘Greetings Lord
Brin.’

Brin’s laugh rang in
their minds. ‘I am not a lord. Are you a lady?’

Kija huffed aloud but
Shea giggled. ‘Not anymore.’

‘And that is Essa.’
Somehow Akomi had wedged himself between Brin’s fore limb and chest
and clung there, crooning contentedly. ‘She helped me wake
up.’

Brin regarded the large
woman and Gossamer detected admiration in his eyes and his mind
tone. ‘I thank you for helping my small friend.’

Essa gave him an ironic
smile and Brin blinked at her purple teeth.

‘And Gossamer Tewk is
my friend.’

Gossamer was taken
aback. Now why did that little old cat name her “friend”? But Brin
was lowering his head towards her.

‘Then if you are
Akomi’s friend you are also my friend.’

Gossamer could only
nod. With a delicacy which astonished her, Brin lifted Akomi and
passed him into her arms. He turned to Kija and clearly
communicated to her alone. Her eyes blazed a burning gold but Brin
stood his ground. Essa and Shea moved closer to
Gossamer.

‘They’re arguing,’ Shea
hissed. ‘What’s the matter?’

Akomi yawned and
settled in the crook of Gossamer’s arm.

‘Brin thinks Farn
should fly and Kija doesn’t. She thinks it is too soon.’

But Brin swung away,
towards the outer archway, and paced firmly out to the roof
terrace. Farn and Storm followed and Kija brought up the rear,
smoke wisping from her nostrils. Shea and the others watched, Akomi
through eyes slitted against the sun, as Brin lifted into the sky.
He circled the roof, Storm rising above him. It was clear Farn was
nervous, but suddenly he was up, wobbling badly for a moment then
his flight steadied and he moved after Storm. Kija remained on the
terrace, watching her son closely. Brin only allowed Farn a few
moments to complete a handful of spiral turns and then forced him
back to the roof.

‘He is beautiful, isn’t
he?’ Shea murmured.

The blue of Farn’s
scales had brightened each day and now the sunlight flashed off his
sapphire body. But Essa went forward, and it was her strong
shoulder that supported a trembling Farn and helped him back
inside.

‘Tell Tika I can fly
again,’ Farn whispered in Essa’s mind as he sank to the
floor.

Essa stroked down his
long scarred neck and reflected. So, although they could speak to
each others’ minds when they chose, they could also block thoughts.
Tika had known when the crimson Dragon arrived – Kija or Farn must
have sent a thought to her. But she was unaware that Farn had just
attempted a flight. Essa stored away every scrap of information for
later consideration.

At darkfall, after
Captain Gan had been brought to the great chamber and his return
rejoiced over as well as Farn’s flight, Gossamer Tewk sought out
Corman. She’d been interested to hear of Gan’s arrival from the
Realm of Death and she noted that Kija was wary. She was glad to
see the man but cautious of just what he might have become.
Gossamer prowled the corridors, Akomi still curled in her left arm,
snoring faintly.

She found her way
easily enough to the library, close to which Corman had his office.
There was no reply to her knock so she wandered out. Gossamer found
herself in the exercise yard and strolled to the right, climbed
some steps and entered a small walled garden. Looking up, she saw
enormous stars – they looked much bigger than in Kelshan. White
flowers gleamed in the dark garden, as though with a light of their
own.

Gossamer jumped when
Corman spoke. She finally saw him sitting on a stone bench beneath
a shower of the white blossoms.

‘I was looking for
you.’

Corman patted the
bench. ‘You’re welcome to join me.’

Gossamer sat down,
Akomi groaning when she moved him onto her lap. Glancing at Corman,
she saw the starlight made his eyes glow a deeper gold.

‘You’re
outside.’

‘I am outside,’ he
agreed gravely.

‘But you never go out
in the daylight. I can so why can’t you?’

‘You are in the half
death, as am I,’ Corman replied. ‘But I don’t understand how this
happened to you. Chindar has no idea either – he was going to ask
Coby to investigate. Coby is a full blood Dark One but is still
living.’ His smile glimmered faintly. ‘I have been in the half
death over a thousand years Gossamer. I could move outside for many
of those years but gradually the sun affects us. If I was to be in
the sunlight for, say, a quarter of a day now, my body would
deteriorate and I would be seriously weakened.’

‘Will that happen to
me?’

Corman put his hand on
Akomi’s curled back. ‘We can’t tell you Gossamer. It is possible,
but not inevitable.’