Drogoya: Book 3 Circles of Light series (57 page)

Gan checked his sword
and shared a look with Olam and Navan. Khosa hissed at them from
Seela’s back.

‘It doesn’t occur to
you that they may be there to help you, does it?’

‘Very few seem inclined
to help us,’ Olam retorted. ‘These three are our friends are they –
are you sure about that?’

Khosa stared down her
short nose without deigning to reply.

‘Well? Any ideas?’ Gan
asked the company generally.

‘It might be best if
two of the Dragons went first to meet them – they would surely
attract their attention at least,’ suggested Navan.

Gan smiled. ‘And you
could come along the beach unexpectedly, just in case?’

‘Exactly.’

‘And the other two of
us?’ Seela sounded as disgusted as had Khosa.

‘Perhaps two of you
could fly more inland to approach from behind while these strangers
are busily watching the others approach from the sea?’

In spite of her
concern, Tika smiled at Gan with admiration: he’d put just the
right amount of humility in his tone. Oh yes, Gan was finally
learning just how susceptible the great Dragons were to
flattery.

‘That could be quite
effective,’ Brin agreed thoughtfully. ‘But which of us goes
where?’

‘Brin and Farn,’ said
Tika without hesitation. ‘You will take myself, Sket, Ren and Gan.’
She waited for Ren’s protests. She stared at him when none came. He
shrugged in some embarrassment.

‘Gremara said I would
not suffer as I used. I suppose now is as good a time as any to see
if she’s right.’

‘Maressa should go with
Seela – she can far see and also far speak best of us all. And
Navan should go with her. Storm will fly without a rider. Olam
should lead the riders along the beach but you must keep your mind
open for either me or Maressa to warn you of any
danger.’

With the exception of
Maressa and Ren who were unarmed, the company checked their
weapons: ensuring swords slid unhindered from scabbards, that bows
were strung and arrows to hand. Maressa had sat on the sand staring
blankly at the now familiar sea. They waited, knowing she was
seeking the three strangers. She stood up.

‘I feel only a calm
patience. I think they really are only waiting for us. There was no
tension in them as there would be should they be anticipating
action of a violent nature.’ She frowned. ‘Grek, did you think they
were shielding?’

Sand flurried beside
Riff’s foot and the Guardsman prudently edged away.

‘They were not
shielding, but their minds were awakened.’ The invisible being
sounded slightly surprised. ‘I had believed all this time since the
fall of the Valshebans, that the vast majority of human minds slept
– that they could not touch the source of power within them. It
would seem far more can do so than I would ever have
guessed.’

‘The plan remains the
same.’

Tika climbed onto
Farn’s back, Khosa in her carry sack against her back and Sket
behind her. Gan sat behind Ren on Brin. Maressa and Navan took
their places on Seela and the three other men mounted their
koninas. The remaining animals were already on two leading lines
attached to Riff’s saddle. They all looked to the south where the
land curved gently, forming yet another wide bay.

‘Once at the point
there, the strangers will see us,’ said Tika. ‘You ride on Olam,
and we will head out over the sea so that we fly landwards just as
you get there.’

Olam nodded his
understanding and heeled his konina forward. Tika stared hard at
Storm whose eyes whirred and flashed with his great
excitement.

‘You will do exactly
what Seela says,’ she told him sternly. ‘Is that quite
clear?’

‘Of course!’ Storm’s
reply, in such a tone of offended indignation sounded too like Farn
for comfort.

Tika linked minds with
her soul bond. ‘And you will do whatever I tell you, won’t you
Farn?’

He twisted his long
neck to look at her, sapphire eyes innocent and
reproachful.

‘Of course, my
Tika!’

Tika smiled but
catching sight of the scar running down Farn’s neck made those
dreadful memories stab her heart again.

‘It’s time Lady Tika,’
said Sket, pointing to the konina riders.

Brin and Farn lifted
from the sand together, arrowing out low over the waves. As the two
Dragons turned and began to rise, Tika glanced across at Offering
Ren and Gan. Ren’s eyes were wide open and his face wore an
expression of bemused wonder.

Tika could see the six
shapes now, ahead on the shore – three men and three koninas. The
men were holding the plunging animals, trying to calm them even as
they watched the fast approaching Dragons. Crimson Brin screamed
his challenge as he manoeuvred above them, curving his massive body
through the air to land four square and facing them. Silver blue
Farn repeated Brin’s call, his voice higher and lighter. He landed
beside Brin, Tika and Sket at once sliding from his back to stand
in front of his chest while he reared erect, wings extended and
eyes blazing. Gan and Ren were already beside Tika when Olam’s
small group rode up.

The three strangers
wore tunics belted over loose trousers and were bare footed. Short,
curved swords hung from their belts. The koninas had calmed a
little and the three men went to their knees, bowing over until
their foreheads touched the sand. Seela and Storm chose that moment
to arrive, causing the men to jump to their feet again as their
koninas shrieked and reared in renewed panic. Maressa walked
forward, Navan close at her shoulder. She sent pulses of calmness
to the wild eyed animals and they steadied, although their
sweat-streaked bodies trembled still.

Olam and Pallin were
also on foot now and Tika’s company stood in a half circle round
the strangers. One of them handed his reins to another and stepped
forward, bowing deeply to Tika. Gan wondered why or how this man
had so instantly picked Tika out as their leader. Ren and Maressa
were both taller, older and both had an air of
authority.

Tika was no bigger than
when Gan had first met her, her hair snarled in black tangles and
her skin burnt darkly tan by wind and sun. Her eyes were startling
chips of green surrounded by silver, but Ren’s eyes were as
strange. Then he realised that all three men were staring at Tika’s
sword and at the pendant which hung outside her shirt for once.
Khosa yowled and Sket released her from where she hung at Tika’s
back. She stalked round to sit firmly upright a pace before Tika.
Gan noted looks of surprise and then pleasure cross the three men’s
faces.

The first man spoke,
but the words were a jumbled liquid trill. Maressa frowned as did
Ren. Tika shrugged, one hand resting lightly on the hilt of her
sword.

‘We do not understand
your speech – do you speak our Common Tongue?’

The first man bowed
again. ‘We do indeed great Lady. Forgive my stupidity in using my
people’s speech which, of course, is unknown to any outside our
Desert.’

‘Were you expecting us
in particular to come here?’ she asked. ‘And who exactly do you
think we are?’

‘We know not your names
great Lady. But we were told to greet travellers here and you were
described to us as were these magnificent Dragons.’

They all noted he
showed only admiration for the huge creatures, no fear at
all.

‘My name is Tika. I am
bonded to Farn of the Broken Mountain Treasury.’

A third time the man
bowed low. ‘Lady Tika, it is the greatest honour of my life that I
should be the one to welcome you to our Desert. My name is Kirat.
These are my brothers, Hadjay and Sirak. May we offer you
refreshment while we speak together?’

Tika’s mind touched
Ren’s and Maressa’s and found they only reflected her own
bewilderment.

‘Very well,’ she
agreed. ‘But we have few supplies to share with you – unless you
would like some fish?’

Storm quivered in
anticipation and Tika was unexpectedly touched, seeing Kirat’s
quickly hidden smile. He bowed to the young Sea Dragon.

‘Fresh fish would be a
boon greatly appreciated.’

Storm was gone before
Kirat straightened.

Pallin and Riff tied
the koninas to boulders whilst the others sat cautiously round the
strangers’ fire. But Tika, Gan and Sket all heard Kirat’s soft
words to Khosa.

‘You are so very
welcome little sister.’

One of Kirat’s
brothers, Tika thought it was Hadjay, declined Maressa’s offer to
share their meagre supplies. He smiled, producing a fatly packed
sack from the shade of a large boulder.

‘We have fruit and
cheese, travel bread and herbs for tea,’ he explained.

Storm hurtled back to
drop a large fish on the sand and rocketed out over the water
again.

The brother named Sirak
smiled too, catching Tika’s eye.

‘I think he is very
young yes? As your bonded one is young?’

Tika relaxed. Whatever
was happening here it felt right. These men might not be quite what
they seemed but she was sure her friends need have no fear of
them.

‘Yes,’ she replied.
‘They are both less than one cycle old yet.’

Riff and Pallin quickly
cleaned the first fish and put it to bake. Storm was disappointed
when he brought the second fish to be told two were
sufficient.

‘Two will be ample sky
brother,’ Kirat told him gently. ‘And these two are magnificent
fish.’

Storm was mollified
further when Seela suggested he bring fish for Brin, Farn and
herself. Her eyes whirred soft lavender as Storm rushed off once
more. The three Desert men all looked at Seela as she spoke,
obviously hearing her mind speech. Tika made no comment then,
introducing her company. She gave a very edited account of their
travels since leaving the Sapphrean town of Far. Then she sat back
against Farn’s shoulder, sipping a bowl of tea that tasted of a
slightly tart, tangy fruit.

‘Tell us who you are,
where you come from, and who sent you to find us.’ She
suggested.

Kirat set aside his
bowl of tea and folded his hands in his lap. ‘We are of the Qwah
people. We have always lived within the bounds of our great Desert.
The elders of our council have known you would come here for many
long ages. We are sent by the Council of the Dome. That is our
sacred place, the place where most of the Qwah people live. It is
in the Valley of the Star Spiral, eight days travel from this
place.’

‘How have you kept
yourselves so secret from the other people who share this land?’
Tika waved a hand to the north. ‘Herdsmen say no one who enters the
Desert is seen again.’

Kirat laughed. ‘The
Desert is our friend – a living thing as we are. Dust and sand
storms conceal us from all prying eyes.’

‘You did not say who
sent you in search of us,’ said Ren mildly.

Kirat laughed again.
‘The Survivors sent us. They have need of you.’

Chapter
Thirty-Five

Finn Rah was in one of
those light dozes common to the very sick, and Observer Soosha was
swinging the kettle over the fire, when the door burst open. He
looked over his shoulder and slowly straightened, smiling at the
child who stood there. The girl’s gaze left the still small shape
on the bed to stare at the old man.

‘She sleeps?’ she
whispered.

Soosha nodded. ‘She
does child. She is very ill.’

‘I know. I felt it.’
She bit her lip then remembered her manners. ‘My name is Mena
Sir,’

‘And I am Observer
Soosha. I am so glad you reached us safely. We have been very
worried for you and your friend.’

‘Tyen hurt his leg.’
Mena looked again at Finn Rah. ‘I should go and be with him while
Sarryen fixes his leg for him.’

Soosha held out his
hand. ‘Finn would want you to wake her – just to say
hello.’

‘Really?’

A brilliant smile lit
the oddly triangular face and small warm fingers caught his. Soosha
led her to the bed, touching Finn’s shoulder lightly. Her eyes
opened at once and she stared up into Soosha’s face. Her brows drew
together when she saw tears glistening on his cheeks. Then she felt
another hand twine its fingers round hers where it rested on the
coverlet. She looked down from Soosha’s face, staring in disbelief
at the radiance beaming at her. Finn found her mouth stretching
into an enormous smile in return, even as tears
gathered.

‘Thank the light you
are safe!’ she managed, holding out her other hand.

Mena pressed past
Soosha to hug Finn close, part of her mind registering in terror
how frail was the woman in the bed. She stood back.

‘I have to go to Tyen,
but I’ll come back as soon as he’s mended.’

‘Oh do child, please
do.’ Finn whispered.

Mena turned to the
door. She paused, looking back at the Offering and Observer with a
puzzled air.

‘There should be a - ’
She held her hands cupped. ‘Shaped like an egg. Is it here – I’m
sure it should be?’