Read Online Survivors: Book 4 Circles of Light series by E.M. Sinclair - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: E.M. Sinclair
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us?’
Tika grunted. ‘Did you
notice how totally unafraid the Qwah have been when they meet the
Dragons?’ she asked. ‘And I most definitely would never ask the
Dragons to attack or hurt anyone who has made no move against
me.’
Farn’s head poked into
the open window. ‘One of those Keepers approaches,’ he
warned.
Moments later, a Keeper
bowed in greeting. This one was a younger male than
yesterday’s.
‘Kertiss will see you
now,’ he said politely and stood aside, obviously waiting for them
to leap to their feet.
Tika stretched slowly.
‘We can spare him a short time Keeper, but only a short time. We
must resume our journey.’
She watched as the
Keeper’s eyes unfocused: obviously he communicated with someone.
And make what you like of that Kertiss dear, Tika thought as she
strolled after the Keeper.
Chapter
Five
They strolled slowly
across the centre of the Dome and stood idly waiting. After a time,
the floor hissed open to one side and Kertiss walked into view. His
face was creased into what they knew was his normal expression: a
frown verging on a scowl.
‘You have been shown
how to access entry,’ he said, halting at the top of the
ramp.
Tika raised an eyebrow
at his tone then smiled. ‘I was made faint last night by the
closeness below. I do not like being in enclosed places. We will
stay here a while if you wish to speak with us.’
The Dragons had already
reclined and now Tika sat cross legged against Farn’s chest. ‘We
have appreciated your hospitality Kertiss, but we leave
tomorrow.’
‘Nonsense.’ Kertiss
took two strides forward. ‘You will stay here until I permit you to
leave.’
‘Really? We are
summoned by Namolos and so we go to him without delay.’ She was
watching Kertiss closely. She was aware that the men except for Ren
were tense, ready to act on any aggressive move from
Kertiss.
His dark face grew
waxen and he almost flinched back when Tika spoke Namolos’s
name.
‘Where did you hear of
him?’ He forced a laugh. ‘He is a senile old fool, his Ship lost in
the seas and his wife long vanished. You will stay here. There is
much I need to learn of you.’
Tika got back to her
feet, Farn surging up behind her. ‘Much you need to learn Kertiss?
Which part of me did you intend to use for your study?’ Her voice
rang in the great Dome, cold as cracking ice.
Kertiss stared. ‘What
did that Ship tell you?’ he snapped. ‘It is damaged I told you. Its
mind is as warped as that of Namolos.’
‘The Ship told me
nothing Kertiss,’ Tika lied calmly. ‘But Namolos asked that I go to
him. And so we go.’
She turned away, her
heart aching that she could not communicate with Singer, could not
explain the reason for their sudden disappearance.
‘I will not pretend it
has been a pleasure to meet you Kertiss, but I will admit it has
been – interesting.’
She gave the slightest
bow, hand on her sword hilt. As she moved to walk back across the
Dome, she glanced at the great female statue and nearly faltered.
Her heartbeat thundered in her ears but she kept moving, seeing in
her mind’s eye the fan of feathered wings outstretched, the thin
face lifting its chin.
‘And how do you propose
to leave?’ Kertiss scoffed. ‘You will die within days if not hours,
alone in the full heat of the desert.’
Tika turned back.
‘Surely you will send a Qwah to guide us? I think Namolos would be
-.’ She paused, choosing her words with some care. ‘Namolos would
be – concerned – should he hear that you hindered our journey to
him or, stars forfend, let us die, unguided, in the
desert.’
She studied Kertiss’s
face feeling a faint shock. He looked like a spoiled child denied
his treat. She thought of Hargon’s younger son Bartos and felt a
shudder of revulsion. ‘We will leave before dawn.’
This time she kept
walking, her friends around her, the Dragons behind, ignoring
Kertiss’s incoherent words. Only Gan looked back when they reached
the
Tika grunted. ‘Did you
notice how totally unafraid the Qwah have been when they meet the
Dragons?’ she asked. ‘And I most definitely would never ask the
Dragons to attack or hurt anyone who has made no move against
me.’
Farn’s head poked into
the open window. ‘One of those Keepers approaches,’ he
warned.
Moments later, a Keeper
bowed in greeting. This one was a younger male than
yesterday’s.
‘Kertiss will see you
now,’ he said politely and stood aside, obviously waiting for them
to leap to their feet.
Tika stretched slowly.
‘We can spare him a short time Keeper, but only a short time. We
must resume our journey.’
She watched as the
Keeper’s eyes unfocused: obviously he communicated with someone.
And make what you like of that Kertiss dear, Tika thought as she
strolled after the Keeper.
Chapter
Five
They strolled slowly
across the centre of the Dome and stood idly waiting. After a time,
the floor hissed open to one side and Kertiss walked into view. His
face was creased into what they knew was his normal expression: a
frown verging on a scowl.
‘You have been shown
how to access entry,’ he said, halting at the top of the
ramp.
Tika raised an eyebrow
at his tone then smiled. ‘I was made faint last night by the
closeness below. I do not like being in enclosed places. We will
stay here a while if you wish to speak with us.’
The Dragons had already
reclined and now Tika sat cross legged against Farn’s chest. ‘We
have appreciated your hospitality Kertiss, but we leave
tomorrow.’
‘Nonsense.’ Kertiss
took two strides forward. ‘You will stay here until I permit you to
leave.’
‘Really? We are
summoned by Namolos and so we go to him without delay.’ She was
watching Kertiss closely. She was aware that the men except for Ren
were tense, ready to act on any aggressive move from
Kertiss.
His dark face grew
waxen and he almost flinched back when Tika spoke Namolos’s
name.
‘Where did you hear of
him?’ He forced a laugh. ‘He is a senile old fool, his Ship lost in
the seas and his wife long vanished. You will stay here. There is
much I need to learn of you.’
Tika got back to her
feet, Farn surging up behind her. ‘Much you need to learn Kertiss?
Which part of me did you intend to use for your study?’ Her voice
rang in the great Dome, cold as cracking ice.
Kertiss stared. ‘What
did that Ship tell you?’ he snapped. ‘It is damaged I told you. Its
mind is as warped as that of Namolos.’
‘The Ship told me
nothing Kertiss,’ Tika lied calmly. ‘But Namolos asked that I go to
him. And so we go.’
She turned away, her
heart aching that she could not communicate with Singer, could not
explain the reason for their sudden disappearance.
‘I will not pretend it
has been a pleasure to meet you Kertiss, but I will admit it has
been – interesting.’
She gave the slightest
bow, hand on her sword hilt. As she moved to walk back across the
Dome, she glanced at the great female statue and nearly faltered.
Her heartbeat thundered in her ears but she kept moving, seeing in
her mind’s eye the fan of feathered wings outstretched, the thin
face lifting its chin.
‘And how do you propose
to leave?’ Kertiss scoffed. ‘You will die within days if not hours,
alone in the full heat of the desert.’
Tika turned back.
‘Surely you will send a Qwah to guide us? I think Namolos would be
-.’ She paused, choosing her words with some care. ‘Namolos would
be – concerned – should he hear that you hindered our journey to
him or, stars forfend, let us die, unguided, in the
desert.’
She studied Kertiss’s
face feeling a faint shock. He looked like a spoiled child denied
his treat. She thought of Hargon’s younger son Bartos and felt a
shudder of revulsion. ‘We will leave before dawn.’
This time she kept
walking, her friends around her, the Dragons behind, ignoring
Kertiss’s incoherent words. Only Gan looked back when they reached
the
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