Free Soul Bonds Book 1 Circles of Light series by E.M. Sinclair

they had to tell, stars were pricking the sky. Farn was unable to conceal his yawns and Seela sent him deeper into the cave to sleep. A comfortable silence grew between her and Tika, eventually broken by the two-legs.
    ‘Fenj said you knew more than he of the Lady’s wishes for us?’
    ‘You are to meet the other two-legs who is bonded,’ Seela told her. ‘It is a male Nagum, bonded to the first born daughter of Hani. Hani is unusual in that she is shy, she keeps to herself. She mind speaks to some of us in this Treasury but is overwhelmed by social Gathering times. She stays mostly at the farthest edge of our range. We knew she was brooding three eggs and she bespoke me when the hatchings began. She has spent one moon cycle teaching her first born and the bonded one all she can and has left them now to take her other hatchlings to her usual Cold Season place further towards the dying sun.’
    ‘A Nagum?’ Tika’s mind was churning. Nagums were characters from tales such as the ones she’d heard involving Dragons. A picture formed of a two legged creature, hunched and deformed, with a snouted face, wild eyes, fangs and talons.
    ‘No, no, no,’ said Seela testily. ‘That is a Linvak. Nagums are a shy and gentle tribe concerned with plants and flowers.’
    Tika tried to grasp these new ideas. How many tribes were there of whom she knew nothing? Were there stone men and giants too?
    ‘Try to concentrate please,’ Seela moved restlessly. ‘There are many tribes in this world indeed, of whom you seem totally unaware. Some may appear strange to your eyes, as many do to ours.’ (Tika had a feeling Seela was being a touch personal with that remark.) ‘However, as we have learnt, so must you – not to judge others, especially just on their appearance.’
    Tika had by now controlled her thoughts and Seela calmed herself.
    ‘The Nagum Mimnan and the bonded first-born Ashta, are on their way here. I have bespoken both of them, so they are prepared. I believed Nagums to be shy creatures, and a daughter of Hani’s could also be as timid as her mother. I trust the Lady had her reasons for choosing this pair for her task. I see you wear a sword – I cannot imagine a Nagum knowing how to use one.’
    Tika kept her mind blank lest Seela see that she also had little idea on the correct use of a sword.
    ‘Join Farn now and sleep easily while you may. I will stay here.’
    ‘Do you not need to sleep Seela? I noticed Kadi and Fenj were always awake whenever I roused in the night?’
    ‘We need very little sleep as we age, small one. Indeed, as we draw closer to the beyond, why waste the time we have left in sleep? But you and Farn are extremely young, and still growing, so – to sleep with you!’
    When Farn and Tika woke they found fresh meat waiting and Seela in the same place as when they’d slept. She told them Ashta and Mimnan would arrive during this day. Her pale mauve eyes shone softly. ‘The Lady would meet you soon.’ The prismed eyes began to whirr as she continued. ‘No one has met the Lady in the flesh for a great many cycles. She speaks only in our minds now. There was a time, long since past, when some of the Kin were regularly admitted to her presence.’ Seela was clearly becoming concerned. ‘There have been changes, alterations, in the pattern of the world, but I now fear we may have deliberately ignored some of the warnings. If the Lady is to meet you, things must be further awry than we believed.’ She rustled her wings in agitation. ‘Last night, Fenj told me other Elders have been warned by the Lady. A bad time is at hand and She says we must instruct the Treasuries to keep close to their Gathering Places. We must seek back through the memories, for such a time we have witnessed before says Emla.’
    Farn flew Tika from the ledge to a swift flowing stream that poured from the heights. Seela had said the Sun Mountains were rarely as cold as the Ancient Mountains. The snow-caps on their peaks