A Tower Book 11 Circles of Light

By E.M. Sinclair

The Tower
The three children who fled from their mother, Gremara, seem to have found a safe haven in northern Kelshan. Because of the Kelshan military suffering such a heavy defeat at the battle of Ferris Lake and the death of Imperator Jemin, bands of renegade arms men roam the countryside. Tika must find a more secure place for the children where they can grow and learn to survive alone.

• Language: English
• Publisher: E.M. Sinclair
• Release date: Jul 12, 2020
• ISBN: 9781005631376

E.M. Sinclair

From as far back as I can remember, I have always had a feeling that Dragons are real. When you look at a wide sky there is a glimpse from the corner of your eye which must surely be a Dragon whisking past. I always regarded the stories of monstrous fierce Dragons as being completely wrong and I detested stories of St George and his dragon killing tendencies.When I was still a small child my grandfather gave me a copy of Kenneth Grahame's The Reluctant Dragon. It made complete sense to me - a Dragon living in a secluded cave, wanting only peace and quiet to write poetry.

Book preview

Chapter One

The elderly man sat staring round the village. What remained of it anyway. Most of the small huts were burned out shells. He looked sadly at the sprawled bodies - men, women, children. So much waste. The young man lying beside him was barely alive but Simert encouraged him to hold on, to wait if he could. He looked round again with irritation now. Where was that bloody woman? A chill breeze riffled his hair and he gave a grunt of relief.

'Where have you been?' he demanded, heaving himself to his feet.

The exquisitely lovely woman who now stood before him glared. 'I am not at your beck and call Simert. What do you want of me?'

'Well this boy obviously. He needs healing.'

'I don't do healing you old fool!'

'I know that but Tika does. Take him to her will you Ferag? His name is Kyvar. I need him to live.'

Ferag crossed her arms, her hair and her cobweb lace dress beginning to writhe about her. 'Why can't you take him?'

'For stars sake woman!' He waved a hand at their surroundings. 'I have all these to sort out! Unless you want to deal with these and I'll take him, but he needs Tika, fast.'

Ferag glanced round, seeing the smoke, the bodies, for the first time. 'Oh very well. But you will owe me Simert.' The body lying at their feet vanished, along with the beautiful woman and Simert wearily turned his attention to gathering and soothing the distraught souls clustering about him.

It was growing ever warmer in Iskallia, the brief spring nearly overtaken by the advancing summer. The Lady of Iskallia was studying the latest reports given to her by her advisors. A wide door was open to the small garden which lay hidden in the folds of the mountain. A slight breeze moved the air in the high rooms. Tika straightened when that breeze suddenly chilled. Ready to smile a greeting she stared when a body settled on the floor just beyond her table. Ferag appeared as well. 'I am so sorry poppet, but Simert insisted. He said this boy must survive. His name is Kyvar but that's all I know.'

Tika moved round to kneel by the filthy figure on her floor. 'Where is he from?' She stared at the clotted blood covering the front of the man's body.

'Oh somewhere in the north darling, no idea where exactly.'

'I'll do what I can.'

'I'll leave you to it then. He doesn't seem very special to me but Simert was most insistent. I'm sure he'll be grateful poppet.'

Ferag vanished but Tika didn't notice, already deep in the man with her healing senses braced against the huge damage she found. The door opened and a small boy hurried in followed by two men, Captain Fedran and Navan. He went to kneel by Tika and Fedran turned to return to the hall below. 'She's healing him Navan,' Tarel spoke softly. 'Ferag brought him.'

Navan sat on a stool and just watched. Captain Fedran returned with Konya and the two surgeons who had arrived in Iskallia in the winter. Konya carefully began to move aside the remnants of a shirt. Fedran went to the wash room, bringing a bowl of water back. Surgeon Palos drew a small knife and started to cut away some of the injured man's clothes. Nitash asked Fedran for more water as they gently wiped the filth and blood from the exposed skin.

Tika knelt, quite relaxed, her eyes unfocussed as her senses worked mending, resetting ribs, rejoining so many blood vessels and organs within the man's torso. A separate part of her mind called him, over and over, cajoling him to turn back, to forsake the road he was climbing. Those watching sat in silence as flesh moved, bone grated and the blood flowing from the many wounds slowed to a stop. Konya kept checking the man's pulse which was faint and erratic. Navan fetched a mug of water which he held to Tika's lips and from which she drank unaware.

The day passed, the room grew dark. Fedran lit lamps and Dog appeared at the door with Shea, Essa and Mardis. They joined the endless watch as sweat beaded Tika's forehead. The silence seemed to permeate the whole House and more people crept into the room. At last Tika groaned and rolled her shoulders. She blinked, staring round the now crowded room. Starting to rise she gasped. 'Oh stars forfend! My legs!' Navan laughed, hauling her up where she immediately buckled. 'Aaargh! Pins and needles!' she moaned.

Konya began massaging Tika's lower legs while Tika swore and whimpered. Finally, the feeling restored, she studied the man on the floor. 'His name is Kyvar. Ferag brought him.'

Several of her audience flinched at that name but Tika continued without noticing. 'Ferag said Simert wanted him alive.'

'Will he survive?' asked Nitash, staring down at the now closed chest and belly, thin pale scars the only indication the man had been sorely wounded.

'I have healed all the injuries but he lost far too much blood. He was reluctant to answer when I called him back.' She chewed her lip. 'There's a room just along past my door. Move him to the bed there and I'll keep him asleep. There is no way I can restore the blood in his body so he will be weak for sometime.'

Sergeant Essa moved towards Tika, bent and lifted the man as easily as she would have lifted one of her children. Nitash and Dog went out with her and Konya gathered up the rags and blood drenched swabs into a large bowl. She straightened her back. 'I'll get this cleaned up for you Tika. It's late I know, but all of you go and eat before you go to bed.'

Surgeon Palos stood gazing at Tika. 'I have never seen such a healing. I am amazed at your powers, and most grateful to have witnessed it.'

Tika's head tilted to one side and she gave him a sad smile. 'I wish it was something I could teach you, Palos, but it is part of the mage talents I seem to have been gifted, stars only know why.'

Her rooms quickly emptied as people went down to find a belated dinner. Tika went along to the room she'd suggested they put Kyvar. Nitash was holding the limp body in the small wash room while Essa cleaned him before putting him to bed. Tika sent her mage talent into him again as Essa laid him down. 'His body and his mind are deeply shocked,' she murmured. 'I'll look in on him in a while.'

She, Tarel and Navan made their way down to the hall. As always after using her powers to the degree she'd had to this time, Tika was ravenous. She ate steadily, plates being pushed along the table as she cleared one after another. She saw people watching her and when she at last sat back, she spoke. 'All I can tell you is that a man was brought here by Ferag. She said that Simert insists he must survive, and he comes from the north. I've done what I can but now we just have to wait. I'm sorry you all had to wait to eat.'

Those who hadn't squeezed into her rooms earlier, talked with people who had for a while before heading off to their beds. Tika looked around her table. She shrugged. 'He was either attacked alone or in a larger fight. I would guess the latter. Simert would surely have brought him if he could. I'm guessing he had many others to deal with which is why he called Ferag.'

Dog stretched across the table and patted Tika's hand. 'Could you not keep mentioning their names Tika? Please? You know they have that habit of appearing when you do, and it is most upsetting for some of us.'

Tika snorted. 'Go to bed Dog. They never arrive just to bother you.'

Alone in the hall but for Tarel and one Dragon, Tika sighed.

'You think he means trouble?' The gold Dragon mind spoke them.

'I hope not Kija. We'll just have to see.'

Upstairs, they looked into Kyvar's room. Surgeon Palos dozed in a chair by the bed, rousing as Tika approached. 'His pulse is weak but steady now,' he said. 'I'll stay tonight Tika.'

The black cat Cerys had been sitting on Palos's lap but she jumped down to follow Tika back to her rooms. Tarel had started using the room Tika had offered him although he still preferred to sleep in the big bed in her room. He watched her now as they both sat by the unlit fire. 'Is something wrong?' he asked at last.

'Not wrong, no. Just something niggling in my mind. You should sleep Tarel. You have a busy day with Dromi tomorrow.'

The boy stood, hugged Tika and went to bed. Tika sat on, Cerys by her knees. 'I think he's Old Blood.' The cat's soft mind voice was but a murmur in Tika's thoughts.

'Yes, he is, but there is so much more in his head.'

'Did you read all of him?'

'I had to find more than usual, so I really knew enough to convince him to come back but no, not all by a long way.'

'I felt many secrets in his dreams.'

'Did you?' Tika stroked the lush black fur. 'Was he dreaming much?'

'They started a little while ago.'

'Perhaps we'll learn more when he recovers a little.'

The cat stood and made her way to the still open door to the hidden garden. Tika watched her, knowing she would settle to sleep beside the two tiny graves there.

Tika roused the injured man several times over the next days, enough to get fluids into him but not enough for him to wake. She stayed close by in her quarters and various people toiled up the long stairs bringing her reports, news, questions and food. The third evening after his healing, Tika returned to sit on the bed beside Kyvar. Tarel leaned against her and Nitash sat in the chair. 'His colour is better,' Nitash spoke quietly. 'His pulse is stronger and there has been no fever.'

Tika nodded. She took Kyvar's hand and said his name. The man frowned then his eyelids fluttered. She said his name again and his eyes opened. She sent calmness, reassurance, as he became aware. He saw strangers, a strange room, but the first confusion and panic were soothed by Tika's mage powers. She smiled. 'I am Tika. You are safe here in Iskallia. You were hurt but you are mending.'

Worry, alarm and caution all chased across his face. He looked down at his body, bare to the waist and saw the criss-crossing of scares. 'How long have I been here?' His voice was hoarse.

'Three days.'

'But I was badly hurt, I remember it. I could not survive those wounds.'

'You were brought to me. I am a mage healer. I've mended the injuries but you did bleed rather a lot. That's why you probably feel very weak. It will take quite a while until your body makes your blood strong again.'

'Where is this place?'

'Where were you when you were hurt?' Tika countered.

Kyvar frowned. 'A village, just beyond the Kelshan border. I'd been to the town of Loskor, then I was walking back towards my homelands.'

'Your homelands?'

There was wariness in Kyvar's eyes. 'A farm, far to the north east.'

'Well, you'll need some while to regain your strength for a long journey Kyvar.' Tika smiled and rose. 'I'll have some clothes brought for you. We'll see how you feel tomorrow and you may like to sit outside for a while. Rest now.'

The man's eyes closed at once. Nitash glanced at her. 'I used compulsion,' she admitted. 'I'll see how he is in the morning.'

Back in their rooms, Tarel snuggled into bed, watching Tika as she stood by the dark window. 'How will you get up all these stairs when you're really, really old?' he asked her.

She turned, staring at him, then she grinned. 'I have no idea! Now go to sleep!'

Shea brought breakfast in the morning and told them Konya had already fed Kyvar. 'Konya suggested he eats, gets dressed and then Nitash and she will help him along here.'

Tika nodded, just as a silver blue Dragon peered in at the large door leading to the garden. 'Come in my dear one.' Tika went to hug him and Farn paced carefully in to settle against a wall.

'Did you have fun at the shore Farn?' Tarel asked through a mouthful of toast.

Farn's eyes sparkled and whirred. 'I did.' His mind voice was full of excitement. clearly he had news to tell. 'There is a ship coming towards Port Maressa, my Tika. It will be there tomorrow the men said.'

'Do you know which ship it is?'

'It had a big flower on its sails so I think it must be Crystal Rose.' Farn sounded so pleased with himself Tika had to hide a smile. 'We flew right over it, my Tika, and the men waved.'

Before Tika could think of an adequate reply, Tarel choked on his toast, needing his back thumped, and then the door opened. Konya came in supporting Kyvar. The man wore a grey shirt and blue trousers and was clearly very unsteady on his bare feet. His face was damp with sweat and Tika pointed to a couch across from her, waiting until Nitash and Konya had lowered the man there. They left, Konya gathering the breakfast trays and closing the door behind her.

'How are you Kyvar? Weak, I know, but you have no pain, no discomfort?'

The man had leaned his head back against the couch, his eyes closed. Now he opened them, meeting Tika's gaze. Obviously he hadn't taken in her unusual eyes in the dim light last night. He stared at the brilliant green surrounded by tiny silver scales where most people had white. With an effort, he gathered his wits. 'Thank you Lady. I have no pain at all. I feel very weak and unsteady but that will surely pass.' He indicated his chest and belly. 'I was close to death, I know that. How did you heal me?'

'I told you, I am a mage healer.'

Kyvar's gaze moved to the boy now busy putting papers in a satchel. 'Your son?' he asked.

'My friend.'

'Where is this place and how did I get here?'

Tika sighed. 'This is Iskallia. Another friend brought you here.'

The waxy pallor of his skin was fading now he'd been seated for a little while. He turned his head, studying the room he was in. He saw Farn and froze. Farn ducked his head and mind spoke them all. 'I didn't know there was a new person here, my Tika. Has he been hurt?'

Tarel kissed Tika's cheek, clutched his satchel and went to hug Farn. 'He came a few days ago Farn,' he said aloud. 'Tika mended him.' He smiled at Kyvar and left the room.

Kyvar was still staring at Farn.

'Do you feel better now? I'm sure you do if my Tika mended you,' Farn said cheerfully.

Kyvar drew a breath. 'I feel much improved, thank you,' he managed.

'Farn. My name is Farn.'

'Thank you Farn.' He turned back to Tika. 'Where am I?'

'Iskallia.'

Kyvar frowned. 'I've heard tales of a new land of that name, far to the south of Kelshan.' He thought. 'I was far to the north of Kelshan when I was injured.'

Tika smiled. 'You were,' she agreed.

Before he could ask more she went on. 'The sun is warm outside. Would you like to sit out there with us, or go back to your bed?'

'To be outside would be nice.'

'Very well. Wait a moment.' Tika collected a pile of pillows and took them outside, returning to stand in front of Kyvar. 'I'll help you.'

He rose and Tika was immediately aware of a wild dizziness which she steadied with her healing sense. She waited then told him to keep his hand on her shoulder as she led him slowly past Farn and into the garden.

It was but a few paces but Kyvar was very grateful to sink onto the pillows on the stone bench against the sheer rock wall. Farn paced after them. Tika vanished back inside, returning with a mug of water. 'You have to keep drinking,' she explained. 'You did lose a lot of blood.'

Farn's eyes whirred. 'He did? Oh dear. How did he get hurt, my Tika?' There was deep concern in his tone.

'There was some trouble Farn, far from here. Don't worry.'

'Dromi and Tarel asked me to take them along the valley so unless you want me here, I should go.'

Tika reached round Farn's shoulders and hugged him. 'I'm fine. I'll see you when you get back.' She stepped away and Farn lifted from the grass, rising above the rock and diving down towards the plateau far below. Tika sat down opposite Kyvar in a patch of shadow.

'Am I a prisoner?' he asked.

'Prisoner? Stars no! A friend asked that I try to heal you so you were brought here. As soon as you are fit enough I'll try to get you back wherever you were in the north. Loskor did you say? I've never heard of it.'

'That is thousands of miles away if this is truly Iskallia.'

Tika let a little of her strength trickle into him as she stood. 'Look over here. You can see quite a lot of my valley.'

Slowly and cautiously, Kyvar stood, moving to Tika's side. Staring over the rampart of rock he saw a beautiful valley a long way below, spreading on to the east. 'It is beautiful, Lady.'

'Yes it is. And I am Tika not Lady.'

He made his way back to the stone seat and sat down with relief. 'So who will question me or decide if I can return to my home?'

'That would be me.'

Kyvar frowned, shaking his head in confusion. 'You play games with me Tika. Who must I see?'

'Me. I am the Lady of Iskallia in formal situations. I have a strong dislike for titles so I am just called Tika by my friends here in my land.'

He gradually understood she was quite serious. 'But you are...' He stopped, biting his lip.

'I am - what? Female? Yes. Small? Yes. I look too young? Perhaps, but believe me Kyvar, I do not feel very young.'

'How did I come to be here?'

She watched him for a moment then shrugged. 'Apparently Simert thinks you should live. He called Ferag and asked her to bring you to me for healing.'

The little colour in his cheeks disappeared. 'Simert?' he repeated. 'He is the god who collects the souls of the dead.'

'He is,' Tika agreed.

'I do not know who Ferag might be.'

'She is Mistress of Death in the Dark Realm. They are both good friends of mine.' She held the man's shocked gaze.

'You are friends with gods?' he whispered.

'I like them.' Tika shrugged again. 'They are very different to us in many ways but I do like them.' She stared up at the deep blue of the sky when an eagle screamed somewhere high above. She'd been surprised to find, magnificent birds though they were, they didn't seem to be half as sociable or intelligent as the crows she'd met.

Kyvar broke the silence. 'What is buried here?'

Tika glanced across to see him staring down at the two small mounds beside the bench.

'Not what,' she corrected. 'Who. Akomi and Khosa, two greatly beloved friends. They were cats.'

Cerys emerged from Tika's rooms. She sat between the mounds, looking up at Kyvar. 'I did not know Akomi but I was greatly fond of Khosa.'

'You use mind speech?' He looked at Tika. 'The Dragon spoke to me thus. I was too surprised at seeing a Dragon to realise he spoke within my mind.'

'You must surely know many creatures use mind speech? You are Old Blood, are you not Kyvar? There are several Old Bloods living here. They live openly too, they have no need to hide who or what they are.' She touched him lightly with her senses and stood. 'You should rest for a while. It feels strange to you that you are still alive. This place is strange to you. Come, Kyvar. If we take it slowly, you can get back to bed for a sleep before lunch.'

Tika could feel the physical weakness and mental turmoil in the man as they made their way back, through her rooms and along to the room he was using. Kyvar was asleep almost as soon as he lay back and Tika left him there. She went down to the hall and found Konya. Explaining she'd left Kyvar back in bed Konya nodded. 'One of us will go up to him.'

'I'm going to find Volk but I won't be long.' Tika hurried outside and turned right. Kija was basking, a soft purring snore coming from her. Tika was glad to see Volk sitting outside his caves, watching the new young goats playing on the slopes below. She sat beside him. 'The man Ferag brought - Kyvar? He's Old Blood although he's not admitted as much. He's very weak from blood loss. I told him there are Old Bloods living here, unafraid of people knowing who they were. Could you visit him later Volk? You are my Steward, he might believe you. He might not but you might also learn more of him?'

Volk nodded. 'I'll go and see him after lunch.'

'He was a bit shocked when Farn and Cerys spoke to him.'

Volk's grin split his beard. 'I can well imagine that. I'll see him.'

'Thank you.'

'Tarel isn't Old Blood Tika, but he's very like you and you are many things.'

She leaned against his bulk with a laugh. 'I've been told that too many times Volk. It seems everyone thinks to claim part of me but I'm beginning to understand.' She jumped when a gasping bray began just above her head.

Volk's treacle dark eyes gleamed. 'Chichi is fond of you,' he said. 'She'd like to see you more often.'

Tika turned to the small donkey. 'Erm, how are you Chichi?'

Long ears waggled and a brown eye surveyed her. The bray became snuffles and Tika chose to leave Steward and donkey to themselves and head back to the House. Looking into Fedran's office just inside the entrance, she enquired where everyone was. 'The place seems empty,' she added.

'Ship approaching Port Maressa.' He smiled. 'It's still a novelty Tika so there are quite a few who like to watch, aside from people like Dog and Mardis who are expecting goods to arrive.'

'How many Guards are at the port?'

'Vallek and Haron suggested at least thirty permanently on duty there.'

Tika sat on the edge of Fedran's work table. 'Do they have enough to occupy them between ships? It's not as if it's a busy port like Harbour City or Kelshan.'

'It's mostly the Kelshans who asked to serve there. They are men who've been in military service most of their lives. Vallek suggested they drill regularly then they are free to help wherever they're needed. There's still work being done there, accommodation for visiting ship crews, particular areas for storing different imports.'

'I really wasn't sure about the tunnel Fedran, but I think it will be alright.'

'It was right,' Fedran told her. 'You've said several times how different everyone is, working at their various plans. Have you seen Dog limp lately?'

Tika laughed. 'No, not for a long time.'

Her Captain of Guards leaned forward. 'Tika, sad though Sket's loss was, he was stifling life here. Now, Iskallia is growing and I think it's exciting to wonder what we might become.'

Chapter Two

In the middle of the afternoon Volk went into Tika's rooms. She was sitting at her low table, reading some papers Rhaki had brought her. Glancing up, she set them aside and waited. 'He is Old Blood yes, but maybe Dromi is the one to speak with him. He said very little Tika but I suspect he is of the Brotherhood.'

'I understood the Brotherhood no longer existed? Dromi spoke of living in the north of Drogoya, not Kelshan. After the plague he said he believed there were none left?'

Volk spread his hands palms up. 'That is just my feeling Tika. I can tell you no more. I knew of the Brotherhood and their hidden city but I never visited it or met anyone who had, except those Brothers or Sisters who wandered the lands, teaching and so on.'

'Dromi is visiting Oak Wood with Tarel but I'll speak with him this evening.'

'The Kelshan arms men who asked to work with me are doing well. Several have moved out to the settlements. I'm not a great one for writing reports, very busy really.'

'Of course you are Volk. Busy brewing those appalling beverages.'

'Brewing and distilling,' Volk corrected gently.

'You have some who Palos and Vallek were concerned about, don't you?'

'Yes. Working with the animals has settled them. There seems no problems now.'

'That's good news. I'll be in the hall for dinner tonight. Kyvar is recovering well, there is no need for me to stay up here.'

When Volk left, Tika returned to Rhaki's papers, then, gathering them up, she went in search of her advisor. She found him in the archives and he smiled when she came in. She perched on her usual window seat and Rhaki winced.

'That's all very well in the winter Tika, when the windows are shut. Please don't sit there with them wide open. We are quite high up and as far as I know, you still can't fly.'

She grinned and stayed where she was. 'This report,' she began. 'You are still only getting word from Vagrantia about what's happening in Gaharn?'

'Yes. Nothing had been seen or heard of Emla, Kemti and several others of that close group.'

'Do the Asatarians execute people?'

'Very, very rarely. They have always held that minds can be changed, opinions altered. Obviously that doesn't work as well as one might hope. It never worked on me, clearly.'

'So what has happened to them?'

'They are probably within the most secure part of the Asataria. Not together, kept well apart I imagine.'

'Doing what?'

'Menial work, in between sessions of analysing their behaviour and attitudes, in the hope of changing them.'

Tika waited.

'I think it unlikely any will change Tika, it has been all their lifetimes. Too long for them to change now.'

'So they will be kept there, confined, for the rest of their lives?'

Rhaki was silent for a time. 'They will be offered a choice, if it becomes clear to the Asatarian council that they cannot be rehabilitated or let loose again.'

'A choice?'

'Yes. To continue as servants in a very restricted way, or to go Beyond.'

It was Tika's turn to fall silent.

'Emla will never choose that,' Rhaki said softly. 'Kemti might, but Emla, never.'

'I never dreamt it would end like this,' Tika murmured. 'Looking back, I can see so much was wrong. Emla was never just a rather eccentric, scatty woman was she? It went much deeper but not once did I think to question her behaviour or her actions.'

She looked through the pages of Rhaki's report again. 'You made no mention of Thryssa. I have had no word since the weather grew warmer here.'

'No. Little is mentioned in their reports. I suspect she is too ill now to write to you or even dictate letters to you.'

'I will not visit unless I am asked. Kwanzi was clear that Thryssa wanted things to take their natural course. It saddens me but I will comply with Kwanzi's wishes.'

A bell rang far below them, warning that food would be served shortly. They made their way down to the hall just as Dromi and Tarel came in with Farn. Tarel's face lit with a quick smile when he saw Tika and they all sat at the usual table. Konya joined them, glancing round the half empty room.

'It was most fortunate there were a couple of army cooks in that group of Kelshans. I thank the stars Norlos in particular, is more than capable of taking charge of Port Maressa's kitchen!'

'And Sarila is coping here or are you still involved every day?'

Konya smiled. 'I do like to pop in most days but not to check up on them. They're a good group of people Tika, I like an early bowl of tea and a chat with them before I go to the medical school.'

Food began to be served and Tika looked at Tarel as he tried to stifle a yawn. 'Have you had a good day?'

'Yes. It was really interesting,' he nodded, offering Dromi a shy smile.

'He pays attention.' Dromi sounded approving. 'I rarely need to repeat anything.'

Tika felt Tarel's shiver and knew he was remembering his education at the hands of his brutal shaman.

'Will you come to the shore tomorrow my Tika?' Farn mind spoke her.

'No Farn. But I would like to go to Chaban soon, if you could take us?'

Love swept through their mind link and Farn was appeased. 'I will be glad to go there, my Tika. I like that lady.'

'So do I, dear one.'

Farn rested his long face against hers for a moment then went outside to join the other Dragons preparing to sleep.

Soon after the meal, most people wandered off to their rooms but as Dromi got to his feet, Tika stopped him. 'A word please Dromi?' she asked.

Alone but for a small group across the hall playing a dicing game, Tika got straight to the point. 'Have you seen Kyvar, Dromi? Were you there when I healed him?'

'No I wasn't. Is there a problem?'

'Not a problem. Kyvar is Old Blood. Volk confirmed that today. But he came from near a town called Loskor in the north of the Kelshan lands. Ashoki found a map for me and showed me where that is. Dromi, Volk suspects the man is of the Brotherhood.'

He frowned. 'I do not know the name Kyvar. He came from Kelshan, not Drogoya?'

'That's what he said. That he had been to the town of Loskor and was making his way back to his home in the north east. A farm, he said.'

'The Brotherhood has been gone five years Tika. All in Drogoya died. This I am sure of.'

'So why would Kyvar be in Kelshan?'

'I can only think that perhaps, just perhaps, there is still a community who chose to leave the Brotherhood in Drogoya and move into the clan lands of Kelshan. Perhaps that community still sends out wanderers such as I once was.'

'If you could speak with Kyvar, is he likely to admit any more to you, or recognise you as a Brother?'

'There are ways, coded words, means of asking such questions. I will try.'

In their quarters a short time later, Tarel climbed into bed. 'You are quite happy, going with Dromi to visit the settlements?' Tika asked.

'Oh yes. There are none like my shaman here.' He turned over and she knew he was asleep almost instantly.

She strolled outside and found Cerys crouched on the stone bench. Tika sat beside her, stroking down the cat's back. Neither spoke, cat and woman staring up at the sky so crowded with stars. They sat peacefully until Tika stirred and left Cerys to her solitary watch while she went to bed.

The black cat made a point of slipping into Kyvar's room next morning, when one of the Guards took breakfast in to the man. She settled quietly on a window sill which had two advantages: warm sunshine and a thick curtain still half drawn, behind which Cerys could curl, discreetly unseen. She remained there until Dromi left when Nitash arrived to check on Kyvar's progress. Nitash hadn't closed the door so Cerys trotted out after Dromi, down to the hall. Climbing on Tika's lap she curled up again, apparently asleep as Dromi recounted his conversation with Kyvar.

'Yes, he is Brotherhood. He was sent out to wander but he was in Kelshan when the plague struck and when there was that explosion and so much more destruction in the south of Drogoya. He found work on a farm in the clan lands and he was made welcome because of his learning and willingness to work.'

Tika had listened carefully. 'You believed him?'

Dromi contemplated his long bony fingers loosely linked together on the table. 'No. I do not.'

'Explain.'

'I'm not sure. There were stories, rumours, that some in the Brotherhood disagreed with the way things were run in our headquarters - the city I told you of. The tales tell of various wandering Brothers and Sisters setting up small communities of their own. Within Drogoya that is. I never heard any had travelled south into Kelshan or the clan lands.'

Tika considered his words. 'They would make small communities? All of them Brothers who were dissatisfied with the way they were organised you mean?'

'Probably several Brothers and Sisters of like minds at first. Then local people might join them to make up a group large enough to sustain itself but small enough to be unworthy of notice.'

'Your time was spent always in Drogoya?'

'Indeed. Until I was sent in search of you. The last instructions I received, told me to seek you out wherever you might be.'

'How did the Brotherhood know of me Dromi? I remember you insisted that I should go to your city, to be questioned.' Tika smiled.

'I was arrogant. I now believe the Brotherhood's leaders were also arrogant. After travelling with you and your company for but a short time, I saw how controlling the Brotherhood had become, how superior they saw themselves compared to the rest of this poor ignorant world. If you had refused to accept me into your company, I might well have tried to find or form another group.'

'You would have hidden yourself from your leaders?'

'The ruling council disliked any who abandoned their positions.' He shrugged. 'A lot of time went into our training. They expected total and everlasting loyalty and service only to them in return.'

'If you had left them, stopped reporting back, what would they have done - if the plague hadn't disrupted everything?'

'There were Correctors who were sent in pursuit of such renegades.' He said no more but Tika sensed his fear at the simple mention of that term and she could imagine just what Correctors might do.

'So it is possible there may be at least one group who chose to hide from the Brotherhood both before the plague and after, if they were out of Drogoya?'

'It is. We knew of such deserters for years. I had heard of them but took little notice. At that time I believed our gathering of knowledge was the most important thing in life. You changed my view enormously Tika.'

'And you were sent out to find me why exactly?'

'Not just me, many others I'm sure. It was a prophecy that the Brotherhood had set great store by, for a long time - many hundreds of years. Very few of the lower ranked Brethren such as I put much faith in it.'

'You were lower ranked?' Tika's brows rose in disbelief.

Dromi laughed. 'I trained specifically in historical research but only a few years working within the council's restrictions convinced me to become a wanderer Wanderers were deemed a waste of time and largely ignored.'

'If the plague hadn't happened, the Brotherhood council would have sent Correctors after you?'

'I'm quite sure they would.'

'Are you sure there is nothing left of your city in Drogoya?'

'I was. A couple of things Kyvar said, makes me wonder now. If there are any left, they cannot be many.'

Tika thought. 'If some of your Brotherhood has survived, could any of Cho Petak's Observers still be active?'

Dromi stared at her. 'I suppose there could be. Surely in too small numbers to affect any events? I hoped, with the mixture of different people at the Oblaka, rebuilding around that area, Drogoya would start on a new page. The old restrictions and stupidities would be forgotten.'

'Well, we'll just have to wait and see what you might hear from Drogoya, Dromi. I'm more concerned about where Kyvar might be living. The area he so vaguely speaks of, is close to the domes where Gremara has hidden herself and her children.'

'I'll take a map to show Kyvar tomorrow. Maybe he'll be more informative.' Dromi left the hall and Tika sat, stroking Cerys. 'Was that truth?' She mind spoke the cat.

Cerys uncurled and stretched. 'It was. There was a lot more of odd words which made no sense to me, but most of it was as Dromi has told you. Can you not search the man's mind?'

'I searched quite a lot when I healed him but most of the memories were of working in small gardens somewhere. There were other people around, a child in a hooded cloak.' She shook her head. 'I'll give him time before I ask more of him, but if he is near those domes where Gremara is living, I must think how I should explain the dangers they could be in.'

In his room, Kyvar lay on the bed, trying to make his body relax while his mind churned frantically. He had been born in Kelshan, recruited to the Brotherhood when only a boy. He knew of the prophecies about a mage whose power would be terrible, who had to be found as early after his birth as possible so that the Brotherhood could control him. His next teacher had explained that many Brethren doubted this prophecy, suspecting the plan was to find and control the mage for their own purposes not his safety. Kyvar had gone wandering with that teacher, a man named Melk, and perhaps ten years ago they had discovered a tiny outpost of the Brotherhood, deep inside clan lands.

Kyvar had been sent to the south west, to try to find out what was happening to bring so many Kelshan military units to the border lands while another young man, Tevek, had been sent to the south east, towards Ferris Lake. Kyvar heard rumours of a mighty battle near Ferris but had no hard evidence of what had happened. He had been in Loskor, on his way back to his community, when bands of arms men began arriving there. They were angry, talking of the murder of the Imperator, and they treated the people of Loskor badly.

Many of Loskor's inhabitants had family links among the clans. Like the town of Ferris, far to the east, Kelshan settlers had intermarried with clans folk for generations and lived in peace together. Kyvar now saw arms men calmly slice the throats of any who looked like clans folk, quite openly, on the very streets of the town. He had gathered the bag of tools he used for mending pots and pans and walked away, across the border, to the village of Allgar.

Although he could use a sword he rarely carried one on his wandering journeys in search of information, preferring only a small well balanced axe, commonly used among the clans. A band of Kelshan arms men rode into Allgar and systematically set about slaughtering the inhabitants of the small village. Kyvar remember the noise, not only of the screams and cries, but also those arms men steadily cursing with every step they took, every strike of their swords.

He had no memory at all of being brought to this place. He had heard tell of a powerful mage appearing and taking land in the furthest most south of Kelshan, calling it Iskallia. If what he'd been told since he woke was true, how had he been brought such a great distance from Allgar? His last memory was of the hammer crashing into his ribs, the crunch of his bones, the steady flow of his blood from so many sword slashes as he lay helpless on the ground.

The woman with the strange eyes, was she truly the ruler here? Was she truly the mage of the Brotherhood prophecy? But that mage had quite clearly been described as a male, not a tiny woman, insignificant apart from those odd eyes. The man who had visited him, Dromi. He had known the Brotherhood words of identification. He was Old Blood. Yet Dromi now served that woman who had healed him. He had told Kyvar he had no links with any of the Brethren since the plague and destruction in Drogoya had obliterated the Brothers' Home.

Kyvar muttered a curse and hoisted himself higher against his pillows. When his head stopped spinning, he poured some water into a mug from the pitcher on the table beside the bed. He drank, his thoughts still a maelstrom of confusion. He was left for a few more days, gradually walking round the room more steadily and reading ridiculous stories of romance and ludicrous adventures sent up from the library. Nitash brought the books. 'Dog recommends these,' he told Kyvar with a grin. 'She's in charge of the library here, and she's also one of the Guards.'

To his horror, by the fourth day, Kyvar found himself looking forward to his new supply of reading matter. Instead of Nitash though it was the small woman, Tika, who came into his room, offering him two new books. 'I'm sorry I haven't visited sooner. I had things to do. I thought someone would have had the sense to take you through to the little garden again but apparently not. Come on.'

She held the door open, waiting for him. He rose carefully, sudden changes in position having a bad effect he had discovered, and followed her along the passage. They went out into the garden in silence and Tika sat on the grass, waving him to the bench. The stone was warm through his trousers but the sun was a blessing against his face. Suddenly a memory returned. 'There was a Dragon here. Before.' He looked at her as if half expecting to be told he'd been hallucinating but Tika grinned.

'Yes. Farn was here.'

'You really have a Dragon?' Kyvar's tone was flat.

'He is the brother of my heart, soul bonded with me.' She paused. 'There are of course several other Dragons here.'

Kyvar inhaled deeply through his nose.

'You'll meet them when you can manage the stairs down to the hall,' she finished.

'I am