CIRCLE OF SHADOWS Part 1: Shadow Chaser

An edgy silence greets Galen as he walks through the door, the occupant’s eyes accusative and cold as they follow his progress across the room towards them.

‘So am I right to assume that she has told you the dire situation we find ourselves in?’ Galen’s voice sounds stiff and terse as he speaks into the quietness.

The cold stares look at him as he sits down heavily on the side of the bed, a frustrated breath exploding from his chest.

‘I don’t need you to help me. I can find some way of stopping this by myself.’

Virian snorts loudly, gets up and walks to the shuttered window, pulls it open and leans into the cool night air, inhaling deeply before turning around and looking at the five sitting in the room.

‘I did not thank you earlier Galen, so I do it now. Thank you for helping downstairs, it could have gotten rough.’

Galen inclines his head slightly but then speaks up quickly before Virian can say anything else.

‘I think we can expect more trouble before the evening is done. The two men that left did not seem to me to be very happy that you had sliced open their friend. What happens when they come back with more?’

Virian nods her head solemnly, looks at her father, a slight

frown creasing her brow, then flicks a loose strand of hair back behind her ear.

‘We have discussed it all. We should leave as soon as possible. Gather up everything we might need and be ready to leave at the first sign of danger.’

Virian looks at each face in turn as she continues sternly. ‘Gawayn, you and Dallin can join us. You could prove to be helpful should we run into any trouble, and we can unfortunately not let you return to Reish, knowing what you know.’

Galen shrugs quietly where he sits gazing at the door, sighs softly then swings his head towards Virian, her gaze locked intently on his face.

‘And you.’

She says frigidly as she looks into his eyes.

‘You will tell us all how dangerous this Tome could be and how you intend on getting it back.’

Galen nods his head in acquiescence, slumps his shoulders in helplessness, pushes himself up from the bed and then walks towards the door.

‘Where are you going?’

Virian’s cold voice stops him in his tracks and he turns around slowly to face her.

’Well you did say we should get ready to move. That to me seems to be the best course of action right now. After we are

ready to leave we can begin to discuss The Tome.’

So saying, he turns around opens the door and slips into the corridor outside, the door slamming shut with a bang behind him.

Siril sits hand in the air, mouth pursed disapprovingly, desperately trying to catch Virian’s attention that has remained fixed on the closed door, her mind confused and troubled.

‘What is it father?’ she asks, exasperated with his constant harrowing.

‘Well, Virian.’

He replies snidely, his thin voice rasping angrily as he begins to speak.

‘You did tell me to examine the disc. It is spelled as we suspected.’

‘And?’

‘Well, it happens to be a Lulling spell. Most probably placed there to make the occupants drowsy and dull their senses. To what purpose I dare not speculate on, but I am sure you can guess.’

Siril gets up stiffly from the bed, crosses to the door and opens it, his shoulders drawn back indignantly and tight.

‘I shall go now and prepare to leave as you have ordered.’

Siril flicks a disapproving glance at Virian, whose face has gone red from embarrassment. She moves closer to the door and

grips the doorknob tightly.

‘Thank you father and I am so sorry.’

Siril huffs, lifts his nose into the air and stalks into the corridor, but spoils the show by glancing back at Virian, a small smile flitting over his drawn lips. Virian closes the door gently behind him and then turns around to look at the remaining three in the room.

‘Right. You know what to do. Now get going.’

Virian walks over to the beds, bends down and hauls her pack out from beneath the bed. Gawayn and Dallin get up quietly from the bed and walk in silence to the door. Turning slightly towards Virian, Gawayn says softly.

‘Thanks for trusting us Virian.’

Without another word he turns and pulls the door open, and as he steps into the corridor he hears Virian’s voice floating softly through the air towards him.

‘This is only a first step towards trusting. You have to prove yourselves first.’

Smiling grimly he walks on as Dallin pulls the door closed behind them and they walk down the small corridor to their own room further down.

Siril bends over his pack angrily stuffing the few belongings he has with him in to the small space. Frustrated and annoyed he has not said a single word to Galen sitting silently on his

bed, raptly watching the busy old man a few feet away from him.

Sighing deeply, Siril stops his packing and sits down on the edge of the bed, back humped in quiet defeat.

‘I am sorry for the way she is treating you. For the way we have all treated you.’

Siril’s voice sounds small in the quiet room and Galen strains his ears to catch the faint rasps that are words. Hearing nothing more from the bent old man Galen gets up slowly, walks around the bed and sits down next to Siril, his hand placed gently on the bony shoulder.

Siril looks up plaintively, eyes wet and shiny as he meets Galen’s eyes and voice quivering he asks.

‘So is it true? Has the Tome been stolen and now most probably in the hands of the Reds?’

Galen swallows hard, a feeling of immense despair flowing through his being as he sees the depth of the old man’s concern. Nodding his head sadly Galen whispers, the word so soft Siril has to lean closer to hear him utter it.

‘Yes.’

Hanging his head, shoulders shuddering, Galen breathes mournfully.

‘I would have said something sooner, but I had to sort out the memories myself fist. It has been quite disconcerting to have a jumble of memories flash back and remembering what it was I had to do. It... it took me some time to come to terms with it all.’ Siril nods his head sagely.

‘I can only imagine how it must have felt for you. And above all to have to be captive of Virian in itself is no easy task.’

A grim smile greets Galen as he up at Siril, a ghost of a smile spreading across his own face.

‘She is something.’

Siril smiles at this statement, nods his head and then sitting straighter pats Galen on the back.

‘Now how do you suppose we should proceed? The Tome must be recovered before it can be put to work. Heaven alone knows the dangers The Reds will expose us to, should they manage to unlock the Deira De Roi’’

Galen’s eyes narrow slightly, suspicion flashing in their blue depths.

‘How is it you know so much about the Tome and its secrets?’

Smiling broadly Siril claps Galen on the back and laughs a throaty laugh.

‘I met your father once my boy. That is why I recognized you before. Remember? I asked whether we had met. It was your father I was remembering. You have the same eyes, the two of you.’

Sitting silently, mouth pursed tightly Galen waves his hand, indicating Siril should continue speaking.

‘We met a long, long time ago. I even went to the island of Nordth at his request. Oh, he showed me so many wonders and taught me so many things. Things I had never even dreamed existed. He explained to me some minor things held within the Tome and also the dangers of it.’

Nodding his head as he sits silently listening, Galen visibly relaxes before he speaks.

‘I have not really thought of how to get the Tome back. I do not even really know where the Tome is.’

‘Oh it will most likely be kept in Mordmer. The Red’s stronghold is built thereabouts.’

‘Is it hard to get in? Do they have an army? What do I face?’

‘Army? No need for an army if you have hundreds of enchanters within your fortress, but knowing them, they will most likely have a standard armed force.’

Galen jumps up, slams his fist into his open palm, pacing excitedly in front of a surprised Siril.

‘See! These are the kinds of things I need to know to be able to plan. I should also try and reach my father. He must be worried by now. There is no way for him to know that I survived that storm, except for the knowledge that he had given me the amulet. We do not have the Scrying abilities most others wield.’

Siril lifts his hand to his face, finger thoughtfully running over his lips, before he says.

‘We can send a messenger from Feesh. They should have a means to contact your father in the swiftest possible way. Yes. We should do that. In the meantime, as we travel we will try and unlock your talents. They seem to have been hidden deeply inside you when you passed over. I thought they would have reappeared by now, but they have not.’

Galen nods his head eagerly, grabs Siril’s free hand and shakes it vigorously as he says.

‘That sounds like a great idea!’

A loud knock at the door startles the two men and stepping apart, Galen releases Siril’s hand slowly, his free hand going to rest on the sword hilt hanging at his side.

‘Who is it?’ Galen’s booming voice shatters the quiet and a small gasp sounds from the other side of the door.

‘Uh... uh...’ A soft voice stammers from outside. Galen walks quickly to the door, rips it open and drags a small woman dressed in filthy rags through the open door, her platter laden with plates nearly falling to the floor.

Siril speaks up from behind him, amusement jingling in his raspy voice. ‘It seems to be our dinner Galen.’

Galen flicks a reproachful glance at Siril and then turns his raptors’ gaze back on the woman still firmly held in his grip.

‘Why were you so surprised to hear us answer?’ Galen asks loudly, his voice menacing and stern.

‘You... you were supposed to be fast asleep by now sir!’ The woman glances to the wall where the disc had hung and seeing it was gone she falls to her knees, the large platter clanging loudly on the wooden floor next to her. Trembling violently she clamps her hands in supplication in the air as she kneels before Galen.

Realisation flows across Galen’s face and he shakes her mildly as he speaks.

‘You mean that disc was placed there to make us sleep. Then you can come in and rob us without us the wiser. Incredible!’

Galen lets go of the dirty rags he still has clutched in his hand, and turns to look at Siril, unsure of what to do now.

Siril smiles gently, moves forwards past Galen and helps the woman to her feet.

‘Go. Leave now.’

‘Yes, Sir. But... but please don’t tell Red Bear. He’d kill me for being found out.’

‘Don’t you worry, ma’am. He will never know. Now go.’

With that he lifts up her platter and pushes it into her waiting hands, plates jingling and clanging together with her rushed retreat from the room. As she steps outside Siril reaches towards the platter, grabs two plates from it and steps back, kicking the door gently closed.

Nose wrinkling slightly he looks at the plates in his hands; chunks of meat swimming in a greasy gravy, a sloppy heap of mashed yellow potato on the side and green strips of boiled beans heaped together.

Looking up at Galen, lips crooked in a wry smile he hands Galen a plate and says.

‘Well let us finish up eating and then get ready. The sooner we leave the better.’ Quietly they sit down together on the bed and begin to eat, the room completely silent but for the occasional sounds of chewing or swallowing.