Drogoya: Book 3 Circles of Light series (28 page)

She scowled at him,
thinking quickly back over her earlier questions and all that had
been said so far. Babach closed his eyes while Chakar’s mind raced:
the Orders of Sedka and Myata – and then something fell into place.
She leaned even closer, shaking Babach’s arm.

‘You think you smell
mint because somehow Myata is influencing events?’ Her voice began
to rise and she forced it to a lower tone again. ‘How long since
Myata died Babach? Died and was given funerary rites within the
caves under the Oblaka complex, before witnesses? Are you saying
that her ghost, her spirit, has come merrily back from wherever the
dead go, to dabble in our present problems?’

Babach opened his eyes.
‘I see no reason why she should not. And as I recall, the caves
were then sealed for many years, yet when your predecessors
reopened them, did they find her body, even a few bones? Did
someone creep in and move her?’

Dark green eyes set in
silver stared into faded blue, as thoughts scudded through Chakar’s
head. Loosening her grip on Babach’s arm, she sat back a
little.

‘No. No sort of
physical remains were found. Only the pendant where her body had
lain.’

‘The pendant?’ Babach
sounded surprised but then he nodded. ‘Of course.’

‘Why of course? Babach,
you cannot keep this to yourself – why of course?’

‘I believe the pendants
are linked not only to Myata, but to something else. The smell of
mint would indicate a separate connection with her alone, but the
singing - . The singing comes through the pendants from that
“something else”.’

‘But you are the only
one to smell mint Babach. You wear a pendant yet you have heard no
music or singing.’

Babach pursed his lips
as he thought. ‘I suspect that this is only the beginning. Wearing
these eggs may -–amplify – these sensations. But now they have
begun, it would not surprise me to find others experiencing these
things.’

‘But how will we know?
Will we put up a notice in here, asking if anyone has heard any
voices or smelt mint?’

Babach smiled. ‘That
might be an idea for later. Now, I think we should contact
Vagrantia – there are two pendants there although none in
Gaharn.’

‘There are?’ Chakar
asked in surprise.

‘Mim gave Thryssa,
Lashek and Dessi a pendant each the day that Thryssa left here. He
said that Gremara had told him to do so, and that they would have
need of them.’

‘The child we have not
met, Tika, she wears one I think Mim told us.’

Babach nodded. ‘She is
the only one out in the world to have one. There are two now in
Vagrantia and five here in this Stronghold.’ He paused. ‘There are
hundreds, resting in a cave within the Delvers’ Domain.’

The two Observers sat
in silence for a considerable time until they turned at the sound
of light footsteps approaching. It was Elyssa, Thryssa’s young
protég��é, whose eyes had silvered when the affliction fell upon
Vagrantia. She smiled shyly and, without invitation, drew another
stool close to the Observers.

‘I felt you speak of
the pendants,’ she said softly. ‘I have been in the settlement of
Akan in the Domain, working in their archives. They have some
amazing texts, wonderfully preserved.’

‘Texts referring to the
pendants?’ Chakar asked.

‘Indirectly.’ Elyssa
laughed. ‘Whoever arranged all these things, had a dreadful sense
of humour I think – there are riddles, and then you find that their
answers simply make up more riddles.’

‘You said you “felt” us
speak of the pendants child. What did you mean?’

Elyssa hesitated,
looking from one Observer to the other. ‘The singing grew louder,’
she said simply.

Babach smiled, reaching
one still scarred finger to touch Elyssa’s cheek.

‘You hear it, yet you
wear no pendant,’ he said happily. ‘Just as I had
thought.’

Elyssa caught his hand.
‘And there is a faint scent of something in the last few days,
since Thryssa left. I think it is mint.’

‘Hah!’ Babach sat up
with an air of triumph. ‘You are the first to experience both
sensations child. And she does not have a pendant,’ he
repeated.

Chakar left Babach to
explain his theory of the connection with Myata as the Dragons
arrived back from their hunting flight. Kadi was trembling and
reclined beside Fenj.

‘I hunted for myself
Chakar.’ The midnight blue Dragon’s mind voice was low with
exhaustion, but also held a note of satisfaction. ‘It will not be
long before I am fully restored.’

Lorak appeared, so
opportunely that Chakar knew Fenj must have summoned him. The old
gardener dived into his workroom, emerged with a familiar flask and
tripped over Lula. The tiny Kephi, who regarded herself as the
protector of the ancient black Dragon, was in her usual paroxysm of
delight at his return from hunting. Chakar swore to herself that
she would prise the exact recipe from Lorak for his restorative.
Sure enough, Kadi’s trembling ceased after only two small doses
from Lorak’s flask, and the blue deepened in her faceted
eyes.

‘Splendid fellow,’ came
Fenj’s inevitable rumbling comment.

Lula had climbed onto
the old Dragon’s head and from that perch she crooned
contentedly.

‘Do you know when Lady
Kera might be coming back ’ere then?’ Lorak asked Chakar, his tone
far too casual.

The Observer grinned.
‘No I don’t, but she will be sure to find you when she does return.
Where did you hide anyway – purely as a matter of academic interest
you understand?’

Lorak scowled. ‘I were
very busy elsewhere. I weren’t ahiding.’

‘Aah. My mistake.’
Before she could tease Lorak further, Guards began wandering into
the hall for the midday meal and Lorak took the opportunity of
disappearing again. He was very good at that, Chakar thought in
admiration.

Kadi slept all
afternoon but woke when the hall again began to buzz with people
gathering for the evening meal. Babach spoke with both her and with
Fenj before going to sit at the head table. Voron slid along the
bench to Babach’s left.

‘Perhaps you ought to
have a word with Daro Observer. He says he smells mint everywhere
we go.’

Babach smiled, taking a
piece of bread from the dish before him.

‘Indeed. Maybe later
Voron.’

Towards the end of the
meal, Babach banged a spoon against the wooden table and rose to
his feet. Heads craned towards the Observer.

‘There is no call for
any alarm, but there have been reports of one or two odd phenomena
here of late. If anyone has smelled a particular herb – spice, or
mint for example, or heard any music, no matter how far away it
seemed, would they please be good enough to inform either myself or
Observer Chakar? Thank you so much.’

He sat down and leaned
across the table to Chakar as talk began to rise around the hall
again.

‘Any who arrive, do try
to keep them apart – we want genuine instances, not conspiratorial
dramas.’

The servants cleared
the tables and the Guards broke into their usual evening groups,
but five made their hesitant way towards the top table.

‘I wish young Mim was
here,’ Babach muttered to Elyssa who sat at his right
side.

She smiled at him.
‘Don’t worry Observer. Both Gremara and Mim know exactly what is
happening.’

‘A message scroll from
the Stronghold, High Speaker.’

Pajar held out the
sealed cylinder towards Thryssa. She pushed aside the papers she
had been checking and took the scroll case. As Pajar turned to
leave, she called him back.

‘Wait, in case Babach
has come up with some more ruses to occupy students in the
archives,’ she said with a wry smile.

The papers slid into
her hand and she spread them on the table, reading the topmost one.
Then she frowned and picked up the scroll case again, peering
inside it.

‘Aah. Babach says there
is other information – it was caught up – look.’

Another roll of paper
slid from the case but this was sealed, unusually for a document
carried within an already sealed case. She read all the first
papers and passed them across to Pajar without comment. Then she
broke the seal on the second scroll. When she had finished reading,
she leaned back in her chair and looked across at her first
councillor. He was frowning down at the papers in his hands. He
glanced up.

‘Erm, I do not wish to
sound rude, but is Observer Babach quite sound of mind? He suffered
terrible injuries I believe,’ he ventured.

Thryssa gave a grunt of
amusement.

‘Observer Babach is
very like to our Speaker Lashek. Both can give the appearance of
seeming vague and foolish, although kindly, old men. You should
have learnt by now Pajar, that Lashek is kindly but neither vague
nor foolish. So with Babach.’ She tapped the second scroll. ‘You
had best read this one too.’

Pajar read the paper
slowly, then handed it back to Thryssa. She smiled.

‘Before you ask, no, I
have heard nothing and smelt nothing.’ Her smile faded. ‘But
Pachela said that she smelt mint, the night we came from Talvo
Circle. I have been too busy to see her since, but will you ask her
to come to see me later this morning?’ Thryssa sighed.

‘It is such a nuisance,
being unable to mind speak Orsim and Lashek, but I still think it
would be unwise to do so at the moment.’

Pajar nodded. ‘I have
taken on twelve new runners in the past eighteen days.’

‘I lose track Pajar –
when were Lashek and Orsim due back here?’

‘The day after tomorrow
High Speaker. Do you wish them here sooner?’

‘No. The poor men are
dashing back and forth enough. Leave it as it stands. Keep your
ears open for any rumours about this.’ She placed her hand on the
documents from Babach. ‘I will discuss it with the Speakers before
taking any steps to enquire more generally.’

Pajar got to his feet,
picking up the papers which Thryssa had approved and
signed.

‘Any further
developments on our three Firan – guests?’

Pajar’s worried look
returned. ‘We have moved them, with Chornay, to the other guest
quarters, as you suggested. Various instructors, assessors and
healers are keeping them occupied under the guise of “continuing
their studies”. Kralo was the first to object. He said that he knew
all that the instructors could offer him on the first day. Then he
calmed down and said that he was willing to “go along with our
little games – for now”.’ Pajar shrugged. ‘The two girls reacted
similarly the following day.’

‘They are shielded at
all times, are they not Pajar?’ Thryssa asked sharply.

‘As you instructed High
Speaker.’

Thryssa drummed her
fingers on Babach’s papers.

‘I would speak with
Chornay I think. Send him to me directly, before Pachela, if you
would. And I will call you again this afternoon.’

Thryssa continued to go
through the routine papers that she was still trying to catch up on
after her absence from Vagrantia until Chornay was shown into her
study by a scribe. She smiled and waved him to a chair.

‘How are our guests
today?’ she asked blandly, noting his immediate
discomfort.

He hesitated then
plunged into speech. ‘High Speaker, I am not sure why they decided
to cling to me as their one friend here in Parima. I am
increasingly worried High Speaker. I have done as you asked and
maintained my role as their friend and they do seem to believe it.’
He looked distressed.

‘Continue Chornay. I am
fully aware you have been acting under my orders to befriend these
three.’

‘More and more, when
there are no others present, they jeer at the Corvida, at Parima,
and Segra, and Kedara. They scoff at you yourself High Speaker.’
Chornay’s head had lowered, as had his voice.

‘Chornay, there is no
blame attached to you at all in this. Tell me what they have said
please.’

‘It is as you thought.
They are devoted to Speaker Kallema, but more so it seems, to first
councillor Prilla. High Speaker, are you quite sure the shield you
implanted protects me still? Their powers are greater than mine,
despite they are younger than me.’

‘I assure you, you have
been guarded whenever you have been with or near them.’ Thryssa
regarded him with sympathy. ‘You have also done more than enough.
You will attend them no more.’

Seeing the relief on
the young man’s face increased Thryssa’s feeling of guilt. ‘They
will be told that you have been reassigned, back to Kedara. In
fact, I would prefer you to remain here in the Corvida. I must be
honest with you Chornay, I suspect they may try to locate your
mind.’ She spread her hands, palms up. ‘Let them waste their time
searching Kedara for you.’

‘They have begun to
frighten me badly High Speaker,’ Chornay said in a rush. ‘There are
times when I know they are mind speaking but I do not know to whom.
I feel strongly it is the first councillor of Fira and at such
times I can barely contain my terror.’ He raised his eyes to
Thryssa. ‘I am sorry to be such a coward High Speaker, but will I
be safe here?’