Survivors: Book 4 Circles of Light series Read Online Free PDF Page A

some reading, some writing, a few with their heads
together in muted discussion. Looking up, the sky was clearly
visible through the strange material which covered the top of the
Dome. A woman wearing trousers and shirt came towards the
visitors.
    ‘This is Hezwa,’ the
Keeper introduced her. ‘She is one of the Keepers of Lore. These
are the outlanders guesting here.’
    Gan’s great height was
drawing interested stares from various levels of the galleries. He
inclined his head when neither Ren, Tika nor Maressa chose to
speak.
    ‘You have the most
amazing collection of books here – far more than I have seen, even
in the Asataria of Gaharn.’
    Hezwa laughed. ‘The
cataloguing involved gives me nightmares sometimes. But I must
confess I am never bored or lost for occupation.’ She spoke in the
Common Tongue with no trace of an accent.
    Except for her darker
skin, she would pass as Sapphrean, Tika reflected. How could she
have learnt the Common Tongue with such fluency if there was truly
no interaction between these hidden reclusive Qwah people and the
Sapphreans beyond the desert?
    ‘May I ask how all
these people reach this place?’ Gan asked. ‘We have seen no one
cross the grounds around these Domes.’
    Both the Keeper and
Hezwa laughed aloud.
    ‘Here! See for
yourselves!’ Hezwa went beneath the protruding galleries which Tika
saw for the first time formed a wide passage sloping
downwards.
    ‘Tunnels lead to the
Ring Complex. Students live in houses beyond the Ring while
Scholars, Teachers and Visitors live in the part of the building
you are using.’ Hezwa explained.
    ‘Why do you have so
much empty space around the Domes?’
    The smiles faded from
the faces of the Keeper and Hezwa.
    ‘It is deemed
necessary.’ The Keeper replied, his voice expressionless. His eyes
brightened. ‘It is time. Kertiss awaits you.’ The Keeper’s smile
was back in place as they turned to leave. Several students had
left the galleries and tables to crowd round the Dragons, talking
rapidly in the liquid Desert speech.
    ‘Back to your studies!’
Hezwa clapped her hands. She spoke again, presumably repeating her
order in the Qwah language, and the students reluctantly drifted
back to their places round the Dome.
    ‘If you have time, you
are welcome to visit the Dome of Knowledge again. I will be glad to
show you some of our books.’
    ‘I can think of nothing
I’d like better,’ Ren acknowledged fervently. ‘If we stay long
enough, I at least would take up your generous offer.’
    Tika reached back and
caught Ren’s sleeve, smiling at Hezwa. ‘If we have time, nothing
will keep him from your books.’
    She tugged the Offering
to catch up with the others.
    As they approached the
largest Dome, they saw there was an arched entrance in this one
also, but it seemed far lower. Drawing closer, they saw there was a
ramp sloping sharply down, and revealing that the arch in fact was
larger than in the previous two Domes. They halted at the edge of
the ramp, feeling the first touch of the sun on their backs as it
rose over the encircling buildings.
    ‘What is this Dome
called Keeper?’ asked Maressa.
    ‘This is the Dome of
the Singer.’ The Keeper’s voice was low and filled with
reverence.
    The company glanced at
each other then Tika shrugged. With her left hand she reached up to
touch Farn’s neck and then took the first steps down to that gaping
darkness. The sound of their boots seemed over loud in the tunnel
until light bloomed before them again. They followed the Keeper
until he stopped several paces within the chamber. Maressa gasped,
but she was not the only one.
    At regularly spaced
intervals around the edge of the curving wall stood statues. Seela
moved first, pacing towards the nearest figure. She stared hard at
it and the others joined her in silence. It was a statue of a man.
It stood on a stone plinth, its bare feet level with Tika’s waist.
Then it soared up, taller even than Gan. The most