Dark Realm: Book 5 Circles of Light series by E.M. Sinclair Read Free Book Online

been supporting Pule. Gossamer Tewk and Grent slung their
own packs over their shoulders and Grent offered a hand to Shea.
She took it and marched along beside him.
    ‘I’ve never been in a
place like this,’ she told him.
    He glanced down at her
in surprise.
    ‘I’ve never been
outside the Citadel. Mellia has – she’s had to go to ceremonies at
the Guild Houses with mother since her thirteenth birthday. Kerris
and I have never been out. Did you know Mellia is fifteen at the
next full moon but one?’
    Grent stumbled: he’d
been staring down at Shea rather than watching where he was going.
Steadying himself, he caught the Shield Master’s eye. Garrol was
walking at Shea’s other side and listening to her
prattle.
    ‘You’ve never been
outside child?’ he asked.
    ‘Oh there are two
gardens we’re allowed in sometimes, on the roof of the third level
– that’s one level below where we live. But there’s no grass, only
poor flowers stuck in pots and things.’
    Garrol exchanged a
bemused look with Grent and cleared his throat. ‘We aren’t far from
the Palace now,’ he began.
    ‘Palace?’ Shea
interrupted. ‘Is that like the Citadel?’
    ‘Well I don’t know. The
Karmazen Palace is beautiful – is your Citadel
beautiful?’
    They walked in silence
while Shea considered the question. ‘I don’t think so. It’s all
grey stone piled on top of grey stone. It’s very cold in the winter
and chilly even in the summer. Is your Palace truly
beautiful?’
    Garrol smiled. ‘You’ll
be able to see for yourself in a few minutes, but I’ll tell you
now. It is a red and black mountain. Karmazen means crimson in the
ancient tongue.’
    They’d reached the
trees by now and were following a narrow path between straight
golden brown trunks. Branches only began to sprout from the trees
at two or three man lengths above their heads. Grent felt an odd
pang as he watched Shea’s face. She stared up, and up, marvelling
at the pale green leaves whispering and waving so far over them.
Garrol’s expression showed a momentary flash of anger and Grent
knew the Shield Master was shocked that a child could reach Shea’s
age never having stood beneath a mighty forest tree. The trees
formed only a brief barrier and they soon emerged onto a smooth
rock plateau.
    The men carrying Pule
stopped so he could gaze out at the neat houses in a shallow valley
ahead. Above the houses rose a smooth mountain of red and black
stone, polished and gleaming in the sun. There was no particular
pattern to the colours but somehow it formed a mosaic pleasing to
the eye. Gossamer had halted beside Pule. She glanced at his face
and was not surprised to see tears pouring down into his
beard.
    ‘Is it familiar Pule?’
she asked.
    The two men holding
Pule stared at Gossamer impassively. Pule stretched a trembling
hand towards the huge structure.
    ‘Where I was born.’ He
choked on the words and his breathing suddenly became a wheezy
rattle.
    Garrol flicked his
fingers. The men carrying Pule turned at once, increasing their
speed. They hurried down a gradual slope to a black stone bridge
which spanned a river edging the first of the houses. Garrol
shrugged and followed the men.
    ‘Seola told us his
lungs were damaged. Our healers will be able to help him quite
considerably.’
    Shea let go of Grent’s
hand and dashed ahead to the bridge. She leaned over the parapet
and gazed down at the racing water below.
    ‘Who is this child? Why
did she travel with you?’ Garrol looked between Grent and Gossamer
for an answer. Grent sighed.
    ‘It appears she ran
away and came to our quarters – Master Pule’s quarters that is.
There was no time left and Seola brought us all through the
gateway. We could never have explained her presence with us to her
mother’s satisfaction.’
    Garrol frowned as he
and Grent followed Gossamer onto the bridge.
    ‘Her mother?’ he asked
in puzzlement.
    Grent snorted. ‘Shea’s
mother is the Imperatrix Veranta of