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

thoughtful.
    Grent, on his way down
the hall behind their maid, stopped and walked back to where
Gossamer still stood.
    ‘Wrong?’ he asked
quietly.
    She nodded and began to
move towards the sound of Shea’s laughter.
    ‘But what do you mean –
wrong?’
    ‘It wasn’t terribly
obvious, but then, perhaps it takes one to know one.’
    ‘Simert’s Balls
Gossamer!’ Grent tugged her sleeve in exasperation. ‘What is wrong
with him?’
    ‘I’m fairly certain
he’s dead.’ She gave her sardonic grin at his open-mouthed
astonishment.
    Shea popped out at the
furthest end of the hall.
    ‘Oh do come and look!
You can see the sea from the sitting room but it can’t be the same
sea as the one at home. It’s the wrong colour.’
    Gossamer strolled on
towards the child while poor Grent stood, his lips moving as he
silently repeated Gossamer’s words. ‘He’s dead.’
     
     
     

Chapter
Four
     
    As morning dawned
Gossamer sat by her bedroom window watching the light flicker over
the sweep of the ocean. It had only been two days since she had
watched dawn arrive on the dockside at Kelshan harbour. Corman had
returned to their rooms the day before accompanied by a large lady
who he introduced as Jenniah, the Palace-Keeper. There was no
mistaking her position: a large ring jangling with a multitude of
keys hung from her belt, and her whole demeanour spoke of
Efficiency. Corman departed and Jenniah explained dinner plans had
unfortunately to be changed.
    ‘Your three companions
are being treated in our infirmary,’ she told them. ‘Several of
those who would normally dine with guests and make you welcome here
are also recovering from a recent indisposition. It was decided
therefore that dinner will be provided in these rooms tonight. I’m
sure you will welcome a chance to rest and recover from your
journey.’
    Gossamer grunted.
Jenniah’s lips twitched.
    ‘I have travelled a
gateway once,’ she said, and smiled broadly. ‘And nothing – nothing
- will persuade me to repeat the experience.’
    ‘Was that how we got
here?’ Shea asked through a mouthful of fresh fruit.
    The Palace-Keeper had
arrived laden with a basket of fresh fruits and a tray of meat
pies, vegetable pies and various kinds of fresh bread. ‘To keep you
going until dinner’ she’d explained.
    ‘May I see my master?’
asked Grent. ‘I fear he was having another bad spasm when the
Shield Master ordered the men to hurry on with him.’
    ‘Indeed you may. I’ll
take you there myself when I’m sure everything is in order for you
here.’
    She gathered her empty
basket leaving the great pewter tray on a low circular table. ‘Now,
is there anything else I can bring?’ She peered more closely at
Shea. ‘I believe you came with no baggage. I will send a night gown
and some fresh clothes for you. I suggest a bath would be a good
idea for you young lady and a fairly early bedtime for you
all.’
    She headed for the
hall. ‘Oh. I nearly forgot. Do you see these buttons?’ she
indicated a block of stone on the wall with six different coloured
circles inlaid in the block. ‘Press these once and you will summon
the Palace Master, myself, healers, guards, maids and cleaners.
Press the button twice if you’ve made a mistake or changed your
minds. When the bells ring in our different offices we know which
rooms to attend.’ The Palace-Keeper smiled at the three. ‘I do hope
you enjoy your stay with us.’
    Now, Gossamer stared
from the window and wondered exactly what she’d got caught up in.
She was almost sure Corman was dead, but in a different manner to
herself. She’d observed Jenniah closely but the Palace-Keeper was
most definitely living. As usual, Gossamer had not slept, just sat
in this same chair, and thought. Once, in the hour preceding the
first hint of light, she’d heard Shea call out. Gossamer went to
the child’s room where a lamp, turned very low, still burned beside
the bed. Shea looked flushed and her bed clothes were a