Survivors: Book 4 Circles of Light series Read online

  ‘I heard,’ Farn murmured.

  To Tika’s relief he sounded perfectly calm. Since their brief meeting with Gremara, Farn had been noticeably steadier in his mind.

  ‘I will let nothing harm you Tika. Now we should sleep to be ready for whatever tomorrow might bring.’

  Tika grinned in the darkness, rubbing her head against Farn’s scaled shoulder. ‘As you command, dear one.’

  Farn rattled his wings but said no more.

  Again they rose in the dark and Kirat spoke to them while they sipped the hot tea Hadjay had prepared.

  ‘We will not stop on the trail today,’ he warned. ‘I hope we make good speed early, but we will continue until we reach the Valley of the City. Then you will be able to rest and recover.’

  Tika caught Navan’s eye and he nodded slightly: so Khosa must have warned them all during their brief rest.

  The Dragons flew higher at first, wary of using mind speech close to the Desert men below.

  ‘I suspected something was amiss before we reached that green place,’ Seela told her riders Gan and Sket while Maressa agreed from Brin’s back. Khosa poked her head from her carry sack and stared down at the koninas far below.

  ‘All I can tell you is to be very cautious when we reach the City, but you must be firm Tika.’ The Kephi twisted to look up into the girl’s face. ‘You must insist we travel on and will not be delayed in this City.’

  ‘But where do I say we travel to?’

  ‘Say that you are summoned by Namolos,’ Khosa’s words breathed through Tika’s mind and then she wriggled back into her sack.

  Light began to gleam along the skyline ahead of them and still the land rose in range after range of bare, grey-brown rock. By the time the sun was nearing its zenith, Storm flew close under Brin and Farn under Seela, the great adult Dragons offering what shade they could to the young ones. Ahead, the mountains seemed blurred, and slowly Tika realised clouds of dust swirled from the desert floor, grains of sand twisting at unbelievable heights.

  ‘We cannot fly through that.’ Seela’s mind tone betrayed not only her nervousness of the great dust storm in front of them, but a growing concern for Farn and Storm, both of whom were clearly struggling against their exhaustion.

  Then Ren’s voice rang clearly in their heads. ‘Come lower now – Kirat says we are near his lands but we change direction among the canyons ahead.’

  Seela accordingly lost height leading them down until they were only a couple of man lengths above the konina riders. The Dragons and their riders found their view almost completely curtailed flying between sheer rock faces barely wide enough for their beating wings. Kirat led them in a sharp change of direction and they were at last afforded respite from the sun which blazed from the white sky. They wound through great cracks in the towering mountains until Tika was on the point of calling to Kirat for a halt, regardless of his earlier command.

  Even as she opened her mouth to shout, the two sides of the canyon widened and fell away. Kirat himself raised his hand in a signal to halt. Farn and Storm both stumbled as they landed, their wings still half extended, their long necks drooping to the ground. Navan and Olam came running with water skins even as Tika slid from Farn’s back. Gan hurried from Seela to lift Maressa from where she slumped across Brin’s shoulder. There was a flurry of activity, Ren working with Tika to send healing strength to the young Dragons and Gan easing Maressa to the dusty ground.

  It did not take over long to revive Maressa although her face and hands were scarlet from wind and sun burn. Tika slathered one of Lorak’s salves thickly over the sore skin. Handfuls of fruit and hunks of bread were shared, Kirat allowing they could delay briefly. Gradually the company wandered to the widening end of the canyon and all found themselves staring in amazed disbelief.

  A great valley spread into the distance leagues below where they stood. The arid rock they’d become so accustomed to vanished beneath increasing greenery. Tiny clusters of buildings scattered along the walls and floors of the valley drew their eyes on. Thin silver threads indicated water courses which fed into a large oval lake shimmering like mercury. Distant as it was the size of the City beyond the lake astonished Tika’s company. The multitude of buildings were dominated by three domed structures: large even from this far away, how huge they must be up close!

  Unmistakeable pride rang in Kirat’s voice as he gestured at the valley encircled and guarded by towering peaks. ‘The City of the Dome awaits you.’

  Chapter Two

  They reached the valley floor in late afternoon. They had met children tending goats on the upper slopes and all the members of the company noticed the same fearless acceptance of their appearance that they’d received in their first encounter with a Qwah community. The company rested that night among a small cluster of buildings which Kirat told them was the village of Shamsi. They were again offered baths and Maressa’s burnt face and hands were soothed with a paste of leaves and herbs which, she reported, took all the stinging pain from her skin.

  Khosa remained hidden; Tika had no idea where the Kephi might be as the company settled to sleep after their meal. Kirat had told them they would rest the next night in another village, Dumlay, and would reach the City the following midday. After the scorching heat of the last eight days the gentler temperature within the enclosed Valley was a mercy and they all revived enough to notice their surroundings more closely.

  Irrigation channels crisscrossed the fields around them and they saw many small brightly coloured birds flashing through fruit bushes and orchards of low trees. Insects droned and whined, goats bleated as they were moved from pasture to pasture and tall white birds stood motionless in some of the water channels. Towards evening Pallin held back his konina, his attention caught by a fenced area which held a dozen or more of the lighter Desert koninas.

  Hadjay turned in his saddle to see what delayed the Sapphreans and laughed. He pointed ahead to a collection of buildings.

  ‘There will still be light enough for you to come and look at the horses when you’ve eaten.’

  ‘Horses?’ Ren asked casually.

  ‘That is the Qwah name for them,’ Hadjay nodded.

  Now why would the Desert people, hidden even from the other people of this same land, call these animals by the same name as Drogoyans used, Ren wondered. He wrestled with the thought briefly then set it aside, as with so many other things of late, to consider at another time. Pallin and Riff went off with Kirat and several villagers to inspect the horses while the rest of the company gathered close to the Dragons who reclined, digesting another offering of goat.

  Gazing along the Valley in the gathering darkness, the City glittered with lights, the three domes hulking dark against the illumination.

  ‘They will tell me nothing of the domes,’ Ren remarked lightly.

  ‘Perhaps they are the places where their councils meet,’ Gan suggested, smothering a yawn.

  Conversation had become strained since Khosa’s warning.

  ‘We’ll soon find out what they want with us,’ Sket muttered. He and Navan were checking their weapons as they did every evening. He glanced at Storm who watched Navan’s actions with close interest.

  Seela picked up his thought. ‘Brin and I will guard the young ones well, have no fear of that.’

  Farn’s eyes whirred sapphire indignation but Tika reached to touch his face before he could voice a protest and he settled back. Pallin and Riff returned, talking excitedly of what they’d learned of Qwah horse breeding and training, and the others wrapped themselves in their blankets to sleep.

  ‘We stay together once we’re in their City,’ Tika said into the darkness. ‘No matter what, we must stay together.’

  The Dragons, carrying Gan, Sket, Maressa and Tika, flew much higher the next morning, relying on Ren to tell them if and where they should land within the City. The Dragon riders were astonished by the size of the place: from their height they could see how it was laid out in a series of circles around a great
open space in the middle of which stood the three massive domes.

  All three domes shone white in the glare of midday, but their tops were capped in a milky substance that did not reflect the light as did the lower white walls. The Dragons spiralled lazily above, tracking their companions as they rode through broad streets, entering ring after ring until they reached the centre.

  ‘Kirat says the Dragons should land here.’ Ren sent the thought skywards and the great purple Seela led the other Dragons slowly lower.

  Farn landed next to Seela, followed closely by Storm and Brin. They stood halfway between the linked domes and the circling wall. Tika stared from Farn’s back first at the dazzling blank domes rising behind her, then to her friends just entering the area through an archway. All around the outer circle, great columns rose at regular intervals, supporting a tiled roof.

  Set back in the shadows beneath she saw windows and doorways. Three Qwah men came from one such door to lead away the koninas. They were barefooted and wore lengths of bright cloth twisted at the hip, and only sleeveless jerkins covered their upper bodies.

  Kirat smiled, watching Tika slide slowly from Farn’s back and walk to Maressa’s side with Sket close at her shoulder. ‘If you would follow, I will introduce you to one of the Keepers of the Sanctuary.’ He waved his hand taking in the domes and the great space they stood in. ‘This is the Sanctuary. You will be allocated rooms over here.’

  He began to lead them towards the colonnade. They followed, Farn pacing steadily at Tika’s heels. When they reached the covered walk, Kirat paused and bowed to a woman emerging from one of the doors. She returned his bow and smiled.

  ‘I am the Keeper on duty,’ she said in heavily accented Common Tongue. ‘I will take you to your accommodation. It is not far.’

  She began to turn away.

  ‘We will accept rooms opening into this court,’ Tika said politely. ‘If that is not possible, it is of no matter – we will simply remain with our friends.’

  Seela’s great head lowered to peer beneath the roof, her eyes sparkling lilac. The woman studied the great Dragon for a moment, inclined her head and moved away from the door she’d first indicated.

  ‘As you will.’ Her tone was cool. ‘I assure you that you will come to no harm in the Sanctuary.’

  ‘We did not for one moment think we would, but we prefer to be close by our friends.’ Tika replied equally coolly.

  The Keeper shot a quick glance over her shoulder and met Tika’s eyes, green ice set in silver. She led them past several doors before opening one. She pointed to the next one a few paces further along. ‘The rooms within link between these two doors,’ she explained. Her lip curled. ‘These two doors and the windows both here and above are the only access to the rooms. I will send gijan to you to see to your comfort.’ She turned on her heel, her pale green robe swirling round her ankles and walked rapidly away.

  Kirat had a frown on his face. ‘I fear you may have offended the Keeper, Lady,’ he began.

  Tika smiled at the Desert man. ‘Your Keeper would deeply offend us had she tried to insist we part from the Dragons.’

  Kirat opened his mouth to reply but Brin’s crimson face ducked under the roof. His mind voice was extremely gentle.

  ‘Have you ever seen an offended Dragon?’ he enquired.

  Kirat blanched. He drew a breath and bowed. ‘I will leave you to rest and eat,’ he murmured, keeping his gaze firmly on the stone floor.

  As he turned away Maressa asked if he would return.

  He bowed again. ‘I have other duties Lady.’ He risked a quick glance around all the company. ‘It has been my honour to guide you here. If the Survivors desire me to lead you further, I will return.’

  ‘Thank you then Kirat. We will surely see you again for you will be guiding us to our proper destination.’

  Maressa bent to retrieve her pack from the floor while Kirat continued to stare at her in some confusion. Straightening, she raised a questioning brow but he merely gave a hasty bow and practically fled in the direction the horses had been taken.

  Gan stooped to enter the door in front of them and Riff quickly followed. When Maressa would also have followed, Sket caught her arm, shaking his head.

  ‘Let them check first Lady.’

  The door along the colonnade opened and Riff stepped out, nodded and retreated again.

  ‘Come then.’ Olam led the company into their rooms.

  There were four quite large rooms on the ground floor – two sitting rooms to the front with a bathing room and kitchen behind, neither of which had windows. A flight of stone stairs led from the front up to the upper floor where they gave onto a passage running along a blank wall one side and four doors opening off to the other. These rooms were narrower than below but all had a window overlooking the area dominated by the domes. Maressa had just announced that she and Tika would use the bathing room first when three small figures appeared in the door. The three wore loose trousers and long sleeved over shirts of a plain undyed coarse material. They also wore strange hoods which reached to their shoulders and were drawn across their faces leaving only their eyes revealed.

  These odd creatures bowed low, the one on the left raising up a little to speak. The only word Tika and her friends recognised in the soft sibilant sounds was “gijan”, a word the Keeper had used. Ren finally sat on a long bench, leaning towards the three.

  ‘Gijan?’ he asked gently.

  Three heads lifted and three pairs of unusual eyes fixed on the Offering. The one who’d spoken nodded and pointed to himself then the two beside him.

  ‘Gijan’ he agreed.

  Ren spread his hands, palms up, and looked perplexed. There was more nodding and one of the three lifted two of the companions’ packs, scuttling towards the stairs with them. Another hurried to the kitchen while their spokesman gazed steadily at Ren.

  ‘Is gijan his name or does it just mean servant?’ Maressa asked.

  Ren pointed to his own chest. ‘Ren,’ he said clearly. He poked his chest again. ‘Gijan?’ he queried.

  Eyes above the mask widened in horror and the creature dropped to its knees, head bowed to the floor.

  ‘Oh stars, what have you done to the poor thing?’ Tika knelt on the floor beside this strange creature who wasn’t even as tall as she was: not even as tall as a Delver, she reflected, resting her hand on the trembling shoulder.

  She met Ren’s eyes and nodded, gently reaching for the gijan’s mind. She blinked, shocked by the complexity she found, but she ignored it in her urgency to communicate. Only too conscious of Khosa’s warning, she kept her mind tightly focused. Quickly she exchanged information with the gijan who slowly sat back on his heels, staring at her with rapt attention. He got to his feet and went to the kitchen as Tika hurriedly stood up herself. She turned to the outer door just as the Keeper appeared.

  ‘These rooms are suitable?’ she asked.

  ‘Perfectly thank you Keeper. But we do not understand either your Qwah speech or the speech the gijan use. Could you perhaps tell us their names at least so we may address them correctly?’

  A look of incomprehension spread across the Keeper’s face. ‘Names? They have no names – they are merely gijan.’

  ‘Thank you so much Keeper,’ Tika repeated as calmly as she could.

  ‘We thought it best that you rest here for the remainder of this day. Gijan will bring food for you and meat for your – friends. A Keeper will come tomorrow to take you within the domes.’ She inclined her head with haughty disdain and left them.

  When they’d all bathed, they found the gijan had readied a selection of hot and cold drinks and one of them had brought baskets of food from somewhere in this complex building. Sket murmured to Tika that he had left Khosa in one of the upper rooms and she nodded her understanding.

  ‘Not one person out on that open area since we’ve been here,’ Navan remarked as daylight faded. ‘Yet it is all well laid stone, swept, not a weed in a crack anywhere.’

&nb
sp; Pallin snorted. ‘And not a dratted crack that I could see either.’

  ‘There have been people moving around under this covered walk.’ Olam sipped from his bowl of tea. ‘None near us though.’

  ‘Are we being spied on Lady?’ Navan’s voice was low, his lips hidden behind his hand.

  Tika shared a look with Ren. ‘We don’t think so Navan, unless they have far different means than us.’

  Brin was sprawled outside their rooms, his head and shoulders under the colonnade. ‘Tell us of these little gijan people Tika,’ he suggested.

  She laughed. Brin’s curiosity was still as strong as Farn’s or Storm’s. Then she became serious. ‘Enough to know they are less even than I was when I was Hargon’s slave. At least I had a name.’

  ‘Yet the Qwah have seemed friendly, pleasant people,’ Ren mused. ‘I saw none of these gijan earlier as we came through the Valley.

  Turquoise eyes shone from the shadows within the room behind them. ‘Namolos must be told of the gijan.’

  The company found it impossible to interpret Khosa’s tone.

  ‘I think he cannot know some of them are here, and he will be much distressed to learn of their treatment.’

  The Kephi moved deeper into the shadows. ‘I must be with you tomorrow but I do not wish to let two of the Survivors know of my presence, at least, not at once. One I must speak with. Can you get me in with you?’

  Gan astonished Tika by replying at once. ‘I will wear my Captain’s cloak. Your carry sack will be easily concealed beneath it.’

  ‘Will these Survivors be like those red eyed things?’ Storm could not hide his concern and Seela curved her great bulk protectively round his small form.

  ‘No.’ Tika spoke decisively. ‘None of them are here. I’m not sure how I know, but I do.’

  She felt Storm’s relief, and Farn’s, and got to her feet.

  ‘I’m sleeping out here,’ she announced. ‘Tomorrow we might get some answers.’