Drogoya: Book 3 Circles of Light series Read online

  Maressa glanced at the paper in her lap. ‘Lashek. He is the Speaker for Segra Circle. He is an earth mage as I am an air mage.’

  ‘One of your leaders?’ Seboth sounded surprised.

  ‘He is also filled with more curiosity than anyone else I know,’ Maressa smiled. ‘I have no doubt he has wheedled and cajoled the High Speaker until she permitted him to travel out of sheer exasperation!’

  Elyssa nodded. She had always found Lashek the kindest of men, and remembered especially how gentle he had been when her eyes first became silvered.

  ‘Who else?’ she now asked.

  Maressa frowned. ‘Someone called Ren.’ She looked at Seboth, Olam and Lallia and sighed. ‘We have just learnt that there is another land, on the other side of this world, called Drogoya. Ren is from that land.’

  It took the rest of the afternoon to explain everything to Seboth, Lallia and Olam, during which time the baby was despatched to the nursery and the group transferred from the pleasant sitting room to the library. Seboth got up and down, finding various texts, while Elyssa deplored the non existent system of ordering his shelves.

  After an argument, Olam left to take Seboth’s place in the great hall to preside over the evening meal while the others ate in the library so as to continue their discoveries. Olam returned surprisingly quickly.

  ‘I said I had the belly ache,’ he grinned, and snatched the meat pastry from his brother’s hand.

  ‘Farn is back with Brin,’ Tika announced. ‘I must go down to them.’

  ‘We all will come,’ Seboth said generously.

  For the first time, Lallia showed the timidity Tika had thought was the norm for Sapphrean females. ‘May I come with you Seboth? It is almost dark and perhaps you could say that our guests needed a female escort?’

  ‘Of course you can come,’ Tika pre-empted Seboth smartly.

  Making their way down Seboth’s private stairway, Tika realised just how different Seboth was in his attitude, both to the way he treated females and in his eagerness to learn, and his openness of mind. If she had been raised in his household, perhaps she would not have run away. But then she would never have found Kija and Farn.

  She looked down at Seboth, a few steps below her, and sent a tiny thread of power towards his mind. He faltered on the stair, putting a hand to the wall to steady himself. Tika grinned to herself. Unaware he might be, but old Valsheban blood still ran in his veins and the power was close to the surface. A little instruction and he would be able to reach it.

  Farn and Brin had settled in an enclosed courtyard garden within Seboth’s manor and were watching for Tika’s appearance. As she was about to go to greet them she heard Lallia’s gasp behind her. Turning, she saw that Lallia’s eyes were wide: no trace of fear, only amazed awe. Tika reached for her hand, pulling Lallia with her. Farn’s head lowered to Lallia’s level and his eyes whirred many shades of blue.

  ‘Another girl,’ he exclaimed happily.

  Olam departed that evening to reach the circle by the next day, taking extra koninas for the new arrivals. Seboth tried to appear nonchalant but failed dismally to hide his delight when it was suggested he go with Maressa on Brin’s back to the circle outside Tagria. Farn would carry his two girls.

  They had not waited long when the air trembled and two men stood upon the circle. One was older, short of stature and portly of build. The other was a slender, younger man with silver eyes and chestnut brown pupils. Lashek embraced Elyssa and Maressa, hesitating barely a moment before hugging Tika as well. He introduced his companion as Ren Salar, an Offering from Drogoya.

  The young man bowed politely and eyed the Dragons with caution. His relief at being offered a konina to ride back to Far was so plain that even Farn and Brin were amused.

  ‘Have you flown on the back of a Great Dragon before?’ Brin asked the stranger.

  ‘I have not,’ Ren replied. ‘I have ridden upon a Plavat, a giant bird with unpleasant manners, and I did not greatly enjoy that experience.’

  ‘I would take great care of you, should you wish to fly with me,’ Brin said, his eyes sparkling with mischief.

  Ren saw Tika’s grin and bowed again to the massive crimson Dragon.

  ‘Truly, I am greatly honoured by your generous offer, but I do prefer to be nearer the ground.’

  Brin and Farn thought this remark extraordinarily amusing, and repeated it to each other all the way back to Far.

  Chapter Two

  In the settlement of Arak there was an air of bustling activity. Although a shelter had been provided to give the severely injured midnight blue Dragon Kadi some respite from the weather, Observer Chakar, Lorak and the ancient black Dragon Fenj were increasingly concerned. Kadi needed to be in a place secure from winds still bitterly cold. One of the Delvers’ large growing areas was directly below where Kadi lay. The Snow Dragons using fire, and Delvers using hammers and hands, had enlarged the ventilation opening to a size enough to grant Kadi entrance.

  What worried Chakar and Fenj most of all was the fact that Kadi remained silent although some of her wounds were beginning to heal. Her mind was closed and not even Fenj could reach her. Lorak had come up with the idea of moving Kadi and worked hard on the fulfilment of that plan.

  Long lengths of rope were woven into a huge net, then heavily padded with whatever material the Delvers could lay hands on. Three Snow Dragons practised the manoeuvring they would need to do, over and over, until Fenj was satisfied. Now, in the early morning light, work began to ease the great net beneath Kadi’s inert form. It took far longer than Chakar and Lorak had envisaged and they agreed to halt for a while to give everyone a much needed rest.

  Mim and Ashta were to be the guides for the Snow Dragons and Fenj, and now Mim checked and rechecked the four harnesses. Lorak would ride Fenj, Chakar one of the Snow Dragons and Delver healers would be on the remaining Snow Dragons. Finally, Mim secured the last ropes to Fenj and stepped back.

  ‘Stars guide our path now, old one,’ he murmured.

  Fenj bent his head to Mim’s.

  ‘Indeed, let us trust that they will Dragon Lord. But there is no choice. She will die if we leave her here much longer. Gremara’s healing was weakened by her battle with the Forsaken.’

  Mim scratched his talons along Fenj’s long jaw then ran lightly back to Ashta. The four Dragons harnessed to the net, lifted slowly into the air until they were perhaps three man heights above the ground and the ropes tightened. There was a brief flutter of panic from one of the Snow Dragons as she realised just how heavy a load Kadi was going to be but, as quickly, she calmed. Mim watched, leaving Fenj to order the beginning of the lift.

  With agonising slowness the net drew closer around Kadi and then, suddenly, she was clear of the ground. The four Dragons flew in precise formation, moving across to the plateau’s edge. Kadi swung as a gust of wind caught her, then steadied again. Further out they moved. Still so slowly, they began to drop the two leagues down to the settlement of Arak. Ashta swooped down, flying below but to the side of Kadi, guiding the other four.

  Delvers craned out of the enlarged opening as Kadi’s body descended towards them. Willing hands reached to grab trailing catch ropes to pull the Dragon inside. This was the moment Mim had been dreading. Fenj and the Snow Dragons had still to bear Kadi’s weight, but that weight was now unevenly balanced as she was drawn within the settlement. Fenj lurched and Mim’s heart pounded in sudden terror, but the old Dragon righted himself, murmuring reassurances through their minds.

  The Delvers called out that Kadi was secure, and instantly the riders on the four Dragons released the harnesses, letting them fall to the waiting Delvers. Fenj slowly manoeuvred his great bulk through the space beside Kadi and paced further from the entrance to allow the Snow Dragons passage. He reclined against a side wall, tremors rippling through him, his eyes slate grey with weariness. The three Snow Dragons settled nearby, trembling worse than Fenj. Lorak and the Delver healers concentrated their attention on these four while
Chakar began organising the removal of the ropes and netting from Kadi.

  Mim came hurrying to Fenj’s side, the tension easing in his stiff shoulders as he heard Fenj rumble: ‘Splendid fellow,’ and saw Lorak move on to a Snow Dragon, flask in hand.

  There seemed no change in Kadi’s condition. Chakar, with many willing helpers, continued to apply ointments to the multitude of injuries, but although Kadi’s breathing was regular, her eyes stayed closed and there was no contact with her mind.

  A few days after the moving of Kadi from the exposed mountain to the settlement, there came a loud melodious call from outside the opening. Fenj woke with a start, about to trumpet in reply until he thought better of doing so inside the confines of the Domain. Chakar looked at Lorak across Kadi’s outstretched wing. After a glance at Fenj’s sparkling eyes, he shrugged.

  ‘Whoever it is, Fenj is glad they’re here.’

  A flurry of wings outside and a Great Dragon peered within. Lorak grinned. Chakar could only stare at the huge, beautiful golden Dragon who now paced towards her. Honey coloured prismed eyes whirred, and Kija lowered her head to press her brow to Chakar’s.

  ‘I thank you for your work on my beloved Kadi. I will help you all I can. I am Kija, of the Broken Mountain Treasury.’

  For the first time for longer than she could recall, Chakar found herself truly speechless. Light glimmered and flashed on the gold scales as Kija turned to press her brow to Lorak’s. Clearly the Dragon spoke to Lorak’s mind because his gap- toothed smile split his face and he chuckled softly. Kija studied Kadi for a few moments before moving to Fenj’s side. Chakar’s breath caught as golden and black faces touched, then the golden neck twined briefly round the black in affection.

  ‘They Dragons be better than your old feather pillows any day, don’t you think then?’

  Chakar glared at Lorak and refused to answer, but in truth the beauty and intelligence of the Great Dragons had completely captured the Observer’s heart and mind. A whimper, quickly suppressed, came from Kija. Lorak shook his head when Chakar would have moved.

  ‘No, no, m’dear. Fenj, he be a telling Kija about Gremara and Jeela. Did you not know Jeela is Kija’s baby daughter?’

  Later Kija lay beside Kadi, watching Chakar stretch and massage the shattered wing.

  ‘You wear an egg such as Mim and my daughter Tika wear. I understand from Fenj that it is – changing?’

  Chakar sat back on her heels, wiping oil from her hands on a piece of cloth. She lifted the pendant out of her shirt, holding it up for Kija’s inspection. Kija’s eyes glittered, whirring faster as she focused on the pulsating oval.

  ‘Place it beneath Kadi’s head,’ she said suddenly. ‘I do not know why, but I feel it may help her.’

  Chakar did not hesitate, slipping the chain of obsidian links over her head and gently lifting Kadi’s face to place the pendant near her throat. Kija’s mind tone was a little embarrassed.

  ‘I do not know what it might accomplish. I just thought it might help her a little.’

  Chakar came awake, thinking someone had called her. She crawled up from the pallet the Delvers had put for her near her patient and froze. It was just before dawn and she saw Lorak, Kija and Fenj all awake, all looking at Kadi. The midnight blue Dragon’s body seemed to be drawing the pale outside light into herself. There were not enough lamps in the cavern to account for the flicker and shine that danced over her great back. Chakar forced herself to her feet and took a step towards Kadi. For an instant she imagined she heard singing but the sound was gone at once. And so was the light. Again, there was only the murkiness of pre dawn and Kadi’s body a dark silhouette against the sky.

  Chakar shivered, reached back to her pallet and wrapped a quilt round her shoulders. She crossed to Kadi and knelt, feeling the breath steady against her hands when she held them to Kadi’s nose.

  ‘I know not your name, but I thank you for your great care of me.’

  The voice was a whisper in Chakar’s mind which she almost disregarded. Then, with a surge of excitement, she crouched lower over the Dragon’s beautiful face.

  ‘Kadi? Kadi? Have you come back?’

  She sent the thought carefully to the Dragon mind. She was aware of Lorak’s hand gripping her shoulder as he peered down at Kadi, and of Kija and Fenj pressing close to the blue Dragon’s body. Chakar heard Fenj’s voice.

  ‘Her name is Chakar my dear one. You have been so ill, yet this Chakar would not give up tending you.’

  ‘Thank you Chakar.’ The faint whisper came again.

  Then Chakar’s mind reeled when Fenj’s bass voice pealed out in joyous relief, Kija’s harmonising as they sang health and strength into their friend. Lorak’s arm went round the Observer’s shoulders and she realised with surprise that she was crying. Lorak drew her away and sat her on her pallet, producing the inevitable leather flask while Snow Dragon voices joined Kija and Fenj, their song filling minds throughout the Domain.

  Whether it was the effects of Lorak’s restorative before breakfast, or the cumulative effects of so many days and nights of constant nursing, but Chakar fell sound asleep, waking to find Mim squatting by her bed.

  ‘You have missed the midday meal,’ he grinned at her.

  She saw just how very young this Dragon Lord was in his exuberant relief at Kadi’s recovery. Remembering, she sat bolt upright, looking to Kadi. The Dragon’s head had been raised on a great heap of pillows and her eyes were closed. Chakar began to climb out of her covers in alarm but Mim’s scaled hand pressed her back.

  ‘She sleeps, my friend. She will heal now. No one can tell me what you did to restore her, but I bring you this in thanks and replacement.’

  He held out his other hand to the Observer and she saw an oval shape filling his palm. Mim’s head touched Chakar’s as they both bent over the egg.

  ‘Gremara spoke to me and said that she knew you had given yours to Kadi, which was the right thing to do.’

  Chakar looked across at Kadi again and saw that someone had slid the obsidian chain over Kadi’s head, allowing the egg to rest high at her throat.

  Mim laughed. ‘Lorak did it earlier when we raised her head a little. Anyway, Gremara told me to go to the Delvers’ egg cave and when I unsealed the door they were all shining, brighter than before. Gremara said I would know which one was to be yours and I went straight to this one.’ he frowned. 'I keep thinking I can hear singing – but it must be my imagination. This is to be yours.’

  Chakar accepted the egg, cupping it between her palms. The back of the oval was a deep amethyst and within the transparent, faintly gold front a tiny shape twisted and glimmered. A chain of silver was attached to the egg and Chakar glanced questioningly at Mim. He shrugged again.

  ‘The chain was there when I picked it up,’ he said. ‘Although I had not noticed it when I reached for it.’

  A small furry creature crept onto Chakar’s lap, nosing at the egg, making a pleased buzzing sound. It was black, except for splashes of white on each paw and tail tip. He squeezed between Chakar’s hands and her chest and stared pleadingly up at Mim. The Dragon Lord reached out with one taloned finger and touched the Kephi’s head.

  ‘Would you be prepared to care for Rofu?’ Mim asked softly. ‘He came first to me. He has a loving but timid heart and would be far happier with you, as he is showing now.’

  Startled, Chakar looked down into bright blue eyes.

  ‘May I stay?’ Rofu asked her wistfully.

  ‘Of course you may, if you are sure that is what you want.’

  Rofu nearly choked himself as his buzzing intensified.

  ‘You are acclaimed throughout the Domain Observer!’ said a voice above them. Imshish, Nesh and Daro stood beaming at Chakar. ‘We have come to carry on your work if you trust us to do so properly,’ Nesh explained. ‘The Lady Thryssa wishes to visit Gaharn before returning to Vagrantia but would like to speak with you before she leaves. And your friend Ren Salar has disappeared with Speaker Lashek.’

&n
bsp; They laughed at Chakar’s horrified expression.

  ‘I’m sorry, we only tease you,’ Imshish apologised. ‘Lashek and Ren have travelled through the circles to Sapphrea.’

  Kija insisted on carrying Chakar to the Stronghold. Rofu travelled inside Chakar’s shirt, nestled close to the amethyst egg and refusing to open his eyes. Mim and Ashta flew with them. Chakar slipped from Kija’s back, thanking the Dragon for the ride. Again Kija touched her brow to the Observer’s.

  ‘You have my gratitude Lady Chakar. You have but to summon me and I will answer your call.’

  Kija moved into the Stronghold’s great hall and reared erect, giving formal greeting to the two strangers sitting with Kera, Dessi and Jal at a table. Thryssa and Kwanzi stood and bowed deeply to the magnificent golden creature before them.

  ‘I am so glad your friend Kadi is beginning to recover at last,’ Thryssa said at once. ‘We were much distressed at the terrible state we saw her in on the mountainside.’

  Kija’s eyes whirred softly, appreciating the true feeling behind Thryssa’s words. Before more could be said, Mim came sprinting down from the upper levels, his expression outraged. He glared at Chakar.

  ‘One of those great birds is in the room I chose for myself,’ he said furiously.

  Chakar was taken aback. ‘Baryet? In your room?’ she repeated helplessly.

  ‘I don’t know which one it is, but it hissed at us and it tried to peck my Ashta!’

  As he spoke, Baryet himself stilted into the hall, settled in his usual spot and waggled his head.

  ‘You disturbed my wife,’ he accused Mim coldly.

  Mim gaped but Chakar caught his sleeve.

  ‘Baryet, the room Syecha is occupying is the private – nest – of the Dragon Lord. It is a great rudeness to move in there in such a manner. Why is Syecha there anyway?’

  Baryet tilted his head, one gold rimmed eye glaring over the black hooked bill.

  ‘My wife is with egg,’ he said.

  Mim caught Chakar’s eye and spun away, his shoulders shaking. For some reason, the five at the table all had their hands over their mouths and their eyes appeared to be watering. Mim kept his back turned. His voice sounded strangled.