Vagrants: Book 2 Circles of Light series

Vagrants

(Circles Of Light -
Book Two)

E.M.
Sinclair

Copyright 2006 by E.M.
Sinclair

Smashwords
Edition

In Memory Of

F.K.
1880-1970

M.H.I.
1920-2006

For John and Ben, with
love always

Cover Painting -
‘Ashta’ by Bethan Town-Jones

Cover Design by David
Dempsey

Chapter
One

Nolli was installed in
what had been a guardroom beside the great gateway. Beds were
brought, and wall hangings, and pillows, and with a fire in the
hearth it was comfortable and warm. It also meant that the Wise One
was easily available to any who wished to speak to her and with the
door open, she missed nothing of what went on in the hall. Fenj’s
chosen place was in the curve of the wall opposite Nolli’s room,
and Lorak had taken over a much smaller guardroom close by. He
announced it would be his temporary workroom and Gan stifled a
groan at the news.

The few of Rhaki’s
fighters who had survived worked alongside the Guards. It was clear
to Gan and his officers that fear rather than loyalty or devotion
had commanded them. The fighters were offered the chance of proving
whether they could eventually become full members of the
Guards.

The servants of the
stronghold had taken a very short time to become devoted to the new
regime. They too had been governed by fear but the unfailing
kindness and respect shown them by all of Emla’s party had quickly
won them over. Emla stayed several more days in the stronghold, a
lot of that time closeted with Nolli. But she and Kemti had taken
their leave with Soran and most of the Guards save for the two
bands remaining at the stronghold.

Emla’s parting from
Tika and Farn was made easier by the knowledge that when Farn was
strong enough to begin the long journey to the south, they would
stop at Gaharn for a few days with the Golden Lady.

Although not soul
bonded, Jeela and Dessi had become very attached to each other and
the Delver girl had gone on a hunting flight along with Ashta and
Brin. Kija’s eyes flared angrily when she realised what her small
daughter had done but she said nothing on their return.

As Farn slept less, he
ventured outside the destroyed gateway, usually with Gan or Sket.
There he stretched his wings and, more carefully, his neck,
breathing the bitingly cold air. Lorak’s herbs seemed to be helping
him although he complained loudly at the unpleasant
taste.

A few hours after
Emla’s departure, Tika and Mim were in Nolli’s room. Mim had ripped
the sleeves from his shirts, making sleeveless tunics, and his arms
glittered with tiny gold scales. He had been asking Nolli about the
Delvers’ way of life.

‘I noticed in your
gardens, most of your tools are made of bone or wood but your
cooking pots are metal, and I saw you used knives. Do your people
work the metal or do you trade?’

‘In our central
settlement of Asat there are smiths. They provide all the metal
work we need. There are seams of ore within the mountain so we do
not trade.’ Nolli frowned, not entirely sure of Mim’s reason for
such questions. ‘We make knives for everyday use and a certain
small number of arrowheads but we forge no weapons such as spears
or swords.’

Mim tilted his head to
one side. ‘Why not?’

‘Delvers do not make
war. We keep ourselves safe within the Domain. We do not fight,’
she repeated.

Tika sat back against a
pillow, understanding where Mim’s thoughts led. He leaned forward,
his turquoise eyes with the strange vertical pupils, intent on
Nolli.

‘So my people thought,’
he said softly. ‘And I am all that remains of a whole Nagum
village.’

Nolli sucked her lips
over her naked gums. Mim nodded.

‘I refused to use a
sword when Gan would teach me. And he asked me then, how had Nagum
beliefs protected my village. I do not believe force to be the
right way Nolli but I believe it is right to know how to fight – to
protect or defend.’

Nolli was silent for a
long while. ‘My people would not fight when the invaders took our
lands. We retreated into the Domain and here we have lived safely
ever since. Should we now learn to fight then Mim? And who do we
take up arms against?’

Mim thought before he
asked: ‘If you saw Dessi threatened by a sword, would you merely
watch her die?’

Nolli stared at him. He
shook his head.

‘These questions go
round in my head Nolli. It seems that force is the only thing some
people understand – the threat of force keeping them in order. Then
that force needs to become stronger, and so on and on it
goes.’

‘I begin to see your
dilemma Mim. So you perhaps think that hiding ourselves away from
the world was wrong?’

‘Not wrong Nolli, but
it was an avoidance rather than an answer.’

‘And you, Tika? You
believe force is right?’

‘No, I do not believe
that, anymore than Mim does. But I know, better than Mim, that it
is necessary. I will never be a slave again – so I will
fight.’

‘Dessi has seen great
changes coming, in her dreams. She sees Delvers Outside once more.
Perhaps some of those will choose to fight.’ The ancient one closed
her eyes for a moment. ‘I will think on what you say and then I
will talk with the Elders.’

Leaving Nolli’s room,
the two wandered to the edge of the gateway, looking out at the
darkening sky. It was clear of snow clouds at least, but icy cold.
Tika shivered, hugging herself.

‘Why aren’t you cold
anymore Mim? Remember how you complained of even the slightest
chill?’

He laughed. ‘It is
something to do with the Dragon blood. Somehow I can adjust to
different temperatures to a certain extent.’ He stretched his arms,
the scales rippling as he moved. ‘I’m glad though – I did hate
feeling so cold!’

They moved back inside
the great hall.

‘How long until you
have to leave?’ Mim asked softly.

‘I think it will be
sooner rather than later. I would prefer Farn to rest many more
days, but something warns me we must move soon.’

‘Why is it so necessary
to chase after Rhaki and destroy him? He is no longer the Guardian.
Could he not be left in the South Lands, to play his games if the
humans there allow him?’

Tika slowed as they
approached the long dining table where Guards were filling the
benches.

‘Nolli says he has
become something different – as we have changed. He has learned too
much of the ways of the ancient users of power and he has twisted
that knowledge. He is a danger now, but he could become an even
more terrifying threat to all of us if he is left to his own
devices. So,’ she shrugged and moved on towards the table. ‘He must
be destroyed.’

As soon as Emla reached
her great House again, she sent a messenger into Gaharn asking that
a Gathering be summoned within three days. She visited those
wounded Guards still in her House and spoke briefly to Yash. They
had ridden hard on the return from the north, despite the unceasing
snow and bitter winds.

Emla retreated to her
private quarters exhausted, to find Shan had readied a bath and
prepared a tray of tea and hot pastries.

‘What would I do
without you Shan?’ she groaned, as her chapped fingers fumbled with
her shirt buttons. ‘But leave me now. Go and have a bath yourself
and, if you are not falling asleep after that, come back to
me.

Shan turned to the
door. ‘My Lady?’

‘Yes?’

‘These clothes are
comfortable. Would you allow me to wear trousers here? At least
sometimes,’ she added quickly.

‘Of course you may. I
think I will myself. Warmer and less entangling than skirts.’ Emla
grinned at her maid. ‘Perhaps you are more my bodyguard than my
personal maid now?’

Shan blushed but said
nothing.

‘Go on. Soak away the
aches – at least some of them – as I hope to do!’

Next morning, Emla
summoned Soran, now the Chief of her Guards.

‘You look better after
a decent night’s rest Soran.’ She smiled as he saluted her. ‘Sit
down, this is an informal talk.’

He seated himself and
remarked: ‘You too look rested Lady.’

‘And a lot cleaner no
doubt!’ she agreed. ‘Soran, Shan spoke to me last night. At first,
I was surprised but on reflection I think she has a
point.’

Soran
waited.

‘She said that having
used a blade, and seeing Tika and myself fighting with blades, she
would like permission to take training.’

Soran’s eyebrows rose,
then lowered in a frown as he thought. ‘Lord Gan began training
Lady Tika. I see no reason why women should not learn the ways of
the blade. I know that all the People, male and female, are taught
the basic routines in their childhood.’

‘I want no trouble from
the Guards over this Soran.’ Emla studied him. ‘I suspect some of
the other women of my household will want to learn when once they
see Shan training. At the same time, I want you and your officers
to make no concessions because they are female. I’ve heard you
shout at recruits – I expect there will be occasions to shout at
Shan and any others who join her.’ Emla stood and Soran also rose.
‘If you would arrange a timetable for exercises perhaps? I suggest
a few hours both morning and evening, leaving Shan free to attend
to her duties to me. Oh yes,’ she smiled wryly. ‘Shan will find it
hard – as she must.’

Soran nodded, saluted
the Lady and left as Kemti arrived. Kemti was wearing the usual
robe and looked askance at Emla in her trousers, boots and shirt.
As she came round the desk, he looked even more surprised that she
still wore her sword.

‘Times seem to be about
to change,’ he suggested.

‘No, Kemti, times have
already changed.’

The household was astir
before dawn on the third day after Emla’s return to Gaharn. At
least the snow had stopped falling as Emla set out for the city
with Kemti and Shan and a full escort of Guards led by Soran. A
pale, watery sun had just cleared the horizon as they arrived at
the Asataria. An officer in the darker blue cloak of the City
Guards snapped to attention.

‘Welcome Lady. The
Gathering awaits your presence.’

They marched through
the long stone corridors until they reached the big double doors to
the Gathering Chamber. Two sentries saluted and swung the doors
inward. As Emla entered, the doors clicked shut behind her. The
muted conversation buzzing through the assembled Juniors, Seniors
and Discipline Seniors fell silent as all eyes turned to
Emla.

She unhooked her cloak,
dropping it on to the end of a bench as she walked to the centre of
the Chamber. A quick hum rose and died away as comments flew upon
the Lady’s apparel. She wore a dusty gold shirt tucked into
slightly darker trousers, brown knee boots and a sword hung at her
brown belt. Her dark hair swung in a heavy braid down her back as
she halted at the outside edge of the mosaic circle. Emla moved
round the circle until she was facing the Gathered People. Quietly,
but her voice reaching all her audience, she told of what had
happened since she had last stood there. Told of the Delvers and
their Wise One, of Rhaki’s disappearance, and of the deaths of Bark
and Iska.

She paused and
Discipline Senior Harak said: ‘So the Balance is restored. Problem
solved.’

Emla spoke over the
murmur of agreement.

‘No Harak. The Balance
is restored – for now, but Rhaki must be found. The bonded one,
Tika, will travel to the South Lands where we believe he has gone,
and she will destroy him.’ She looked round at the faces fixed in
her direction. ‘The Delvers’ Wise One said Rhaki has discovered
ancient knowledge.’ Pointing at the inlaid circle at her feet, she
said: ‘These circles can be used to travel enormous distances. That
is how he fled so far so quickly.’ She raised her voice over the
increasing noise. ‘The Wise One has also said the Guardianship must
be divided. She has named a Delver girl, Dessi, strong in the
Power, to share the Guardianship with Mim, the Nagum boy of whom I
spoke when last I addressed this Gathering.’