“He is ready!”
Yiddin bowed to the gathered, bowed to Torrullin, and stepped off.
Torrullin nodded at Vanar.
She stepped up and rapped her staff three times. “Hear the thrice recognition of the Vallorin!”
A loud roar resounded throughout the Keep and valley. They adored Torrullin. “We hear, we hear, we hear!”
Seated behind Tianoman, Tristan swallowed. It had been like this each time for him and Teroux, but now he realised how entrenched Torrullin as Vallorin was in Valleur psyche.
Gods, could a future ruler even come close?
Next to him, Teroux watched Torrullin as closely. He noted how his grandfather flinched at the term ‘Vallorin’ and how it pained him to hear adoration from his people.
A tear rolled over Tianoman’s cheek.
Vanar smiled as she stepped off the dais.
Torrullin stood forward. His first duty was to fill the ten seats at the table; these were the witnesses to the Coming-of-Age, and would put a mark in the huge register of births, deaths, marriages, and this ceremony.
He called out, “Saska, Caballa, Tristan, Teroux, Isaiah Kronig, Yiddin, Vanar …” and he lifted his gaze to the back of the gathered, “… Belun, Declan and Quilla.”
The three Kaval arrived ten minutes ago, and now made their way through the gathered to take their seats with the others. Before they went on, Torrullin leaned close to Declan. “Where is Sabian?”
“Teighlar,” the Siric murmured. “We did not want to miss this.”
“We were here for Tristan and Teroux,” Quilla added. “It would look odd.”
Torrullin straightened. “Tianoman, before these witnesses are ratified, you must prove your worth to all here.”
Tianoman lifted his hand over the golden urn. The point was to prove mastery over sorcery and it was to show respect to the one presenting him to the gathered as an adult. His hand wavered there a time and then Vanar moved to collect the urn. Tianoman resumed his formal stance, his gaze on Torrullin.
Tristan, ten years ago, gave rare coins collected from known worlds in the universe - a valuable gift, and the effort involved spoke of his love for his father. On that day Samuel stood where Torrullin was now, and Torrullin was seated at the table as witness after the thrice recognition. The sorcery lay in bringing the coins from the place he kept them to deposit into the urn. Tristan earned honour that day.
Teroux, four years ago, presented, again to Samuel, an urn of semi-precious stones. While the gift had not extraordinary value, Teroux knew his adoptive father well enough to understand how much he would appreciate it. Samuel was delighted, and fashioned his beloved Curin beautiful jewellery in the years to follow.
Tianoman collected his gift in the understanding Samuel would present him this day.
Tristan and Teroux, now seated at the table and able to see Tianoman directly, held their breaths. While they had no doubt Tianoman would prove mastery, they wondered how his gift would be received.
Torrullin’s eyes were hooded; Tianoman had recognised the dilemma, but were three days sufficient?
Vanar placed the urn beside Torrullin.
Many craned forward as he bent to the vessel, inserting his hand, and the ten witnesses swivelled in their seats.
Torrullin straightened, flicked a shocked glance at Tianoman, drew a ragged breath and bent to the urn once more. He withdrew a stone, then another and another, until he had five in his cupped hands.
While everyone wondered about the gift, Torrullin stared at what he held. Five oval stones, each a different colour - grey, purple, amber, black and a shiny white - and warm in his hands.
“How?” he croaked, his voice loud in the silence.
It was not the reaction Tianoman expected. “I transferred them.”
“Where did you get them?” Torrullin asked.
Tianoman cleared his throat. “You are not supposed to ask that.”
Tristan and Teroux glanced at each other.
“My Lord?” Vanar murmured. “Is something amiss?”
Torrullin closed his eyes and when he opened them again he was smiling. “Amiss, Vanar? Ah, no. I find I am entirely amazed by the foresight this young man has shown, and his genius in finding something rare. In three days.”
“You are pleased?”
Torrullin laughed. “I am beyond pleased.” He winked at Tianoman. “Well done. You may sit, son.”
Tianoman smiled and sat as the courtyard and balcony erupted in an explosion of sound.
Torrullin moved to Quilla, who had a pouch ready to receive them. Covered by the acclaim, he said, “Do you know what these are?”
The birdman gave a brief nod. “I hear them. Give them to me; I shall guard them with my life, if need be.”
“Where, in god’s name, did he find them?”
“The real question is, how did he know?” Quilla murmured.
The two smiled as if happy with the gift, and Torrullin handed them over. Quilla unobtrusively secreted it about his person. He ignored Declan’s questioning look.
Torrullin assumed his position and silence returned. “You are wondering about the nature of the gift.”
“Yes!” someone shouted, and general laughter erupted.
Torrullin held a hand up. “It is a very rare thing to tool rock to perfection without the aid of water’s erosion. The stones are handcrafted, made thousands of years ago by a master sculptor and are as priceless as a Keep full of diamonds.”
More cheering erupted and many shouted, “Well done, Tian!”
Yes, well done. You and I will be talking of this soon.
Aloud, Torrullin said, “Valleur, it is time for the testing. Which two are chosen?”
Two Valleur men rose from the gathered and came to stand beside Tianoman facing the dais.
“Sirlasin, you are known to all here,” Torrullin said. “Who are you, young man?”
Sirlasin bowed, and the other spoke. “I am Cormarin, my Lord, of Menllik.” He gave a smile and Teroux nearly choked.
Cormarin? His skirt-chasing, drinking pal?
“Are you known to Tianoman, Cormarin?”
“I am, my Lord.”
“Very well. Continue.”
These two could ask Tianoman anything, from the most intricate point of political history to the most obscure feat of sorcery. It did not matter what was thrown at him; Tianoman had to answer, or fail.
He swallowed, ignoring Cormarin’s wink.
Sirlasin stood before him first. “Tianoman, who are the Nine?”
“The Nine were the last of a caste of Valleur priests who fled into the Forbidden Zone with the Dragon Taliesman. They went to a world called Atrudis, which we now know by its original name, Luvanor. They were also the forefathers of the Valleur of that world. Apparently they hid the taliesman …”
Sirlasin held a hand up. “Enough. I am satisfied.”
A loud cheer greeted his words.
It was Cormarin’s turn. “Tianoman, what does the name Millanu mean?”
Tianoman’s gaze flew to Torrullin.
“How dare you?” Torrullin snapped out.
Vanar was on her feet. “He is within his rights, my Lord.”
Silence, and then, “Answer him, Tian.”
Cormarin was not cowed as Tianoman glared at him. “My Lord Vallorin’s mother’s name means ‘she who is of air, sky and space’.”
Cormarin bowed. “Satisfied am I.”
Clapping resulted, but it was for Tianoman alone, who said, “You will pay for that, Cormarin, so help me.”
“I did nothing wrong.”
Tianoman leaned forward - no easy task, considering his bindings. “Watch your back, you fool; your number one enemy now is Elixir. Nobody, nobody, bandies her name about the way you did.”
Cormarin glanced over his shoulder, into a silver, unreadable gaze. He vanished into the crowd.
Tianoman gave a grin and then saw the thoughtful amusement Torrullin watched him with. He shrugged
and Torrullin’s smile widened.
Torrullin spoke. “It is now expected of me to set your final test, Tianoman.”
Silence reigned.
At his sons’ ceremony Torrullin bypassed this nuance by offering his boys a gift - the gift of Immortality. It came with the proviso that a year pass before they speak their choice. Both men were dead before a year had passed, and Torrullin had to be thinking of it at this point; it explained his silence.
Samuel asked Tristan to tame an unbroken stallion, and they wandered through the Dragon doors to witness him do so with patience and kindness. The skittish animal was his favourite mount. The stallion flourished in luxurious stables in Menllik, and Tristan’s one sadness was that he rarely had opportunity to ride.
Teroux was asked to identify a host of plants from a tray of seedlings Samuel prepared. Samuel reckoned a man needed to know how to feed himself, from seeds, and amid much joking that day, Teroux identified them, having spent many years on the farm with Samuel, Curin and his cousins.
Torrullin was not Samuel.
Tianoman was anxious. He was not alone in that.
Torrullin stepped off the dais. He stood before the young man. “I command that you cloak four sacred sites of your choice from here.”
“My Lord?” Vanar queried, rising. “He cannot do that!”
Tianoman stared at Torrullin. “Why?”
“My Lord, the sites must be cloaked with proximity,” Yiddin called out.
Torrullin did not respond.
Tianoman asked, “Four simultaneously?”
Torrullin nodded.
Presario rose. “My Lord, you set him up to fail.”
Still Torrullin said nothing.
“Why?” Tianoman asked again.
Torrullin hunkered. “Because I know you can do this, because you have your father’s power, because I want them to see, if you are chosen as Vallorin, there is good reason for that choice. You are young only in years.”
Tianoman swallowed. “You suggest most regard me as an afterthought for Vallorin.”
“And you are not. This is to level the playing field.”
“Many will not like that I can do this.”
Torrullin shrugged. “If you are Vallorin they will love you for it.”
Tianoman laughed. “You can be devious.”
Torrullin rose to his feet. “Now, Tianoman.”
The young Valla stared up a moment longer and then closed his eyes. An unintelligible mutter rolled off his tongue and a long minute of silent concentration followed. He opened his eyes.
“Done.”
Torrullin pointed at four Valleur at random. “Check his claim.”
All four closed their eyes and then one at a time confirmed the cloaked status of the Round Temple, the Tower of Stairs, the Sacred Pool and the Square Pyramid. West, north, south and east, in that order - a further statement.
Torrullin returned to the dais. “I confirm those sites are cloaked.” Only silence answered him. “Do not look so horrified, Valleur. Do you want a child or a man after this?”
A few smiled and then everyone cheered. Tianoman slumped in relief.
Torrullin lifted his hand. “The sites are again operational.”
The four who were asked to check stared up in wonder.
“We are done here, my friends. Greet Tianoman as a new adult!”
The cheering then was sustained and a huge smile broke over Tianoman’s face.
Vanar and Yiddin thumped the dais. “Thrice welcome, Tianoman!”
The Keep reverberated.
At the table Tristan and Teroux breathed out, tension easing. Damn it, that was close. They glanced at each other, both thinking how glad they were Torrullin had not presented them. Then they were on their feet and hurtling over the table. They grabbed Tianoman, snapped his bindings free and lifted him high above their heads. Laughter and cheering mingled into a massive wave of sound.
Torrullin transferred his attention to Quilla, who nodded once and vanished with the stones.
Declan and Belun looked at each other and chose to leave also.
Torrullin flicked a glance to Saska and found her watching him with an unreadable expression.
He looked away.
Chapter 37
Pretty trinkets you have there, pedlar. What is your price?
~ Tattle
Valaris
The Keep
THE REVELRY WENT ON unabated downstairs, but Torrullin sat alone in his study, the lights low, his desk empty.
Not even a fire warmed his mood. He earlier asked Sirlasin to sober Tianoman up enough for a meeting, and now waited.
Where had he found the stones?
How had he known they would have meaning?
Did he know they had meaning to Elixir?
A giggle outside the door sounded, and then a quick rap.
“Enter.”
Sirlasin came in carrying Tianoman haphazardly over his shoulder. “Forgive me, my Lord, I could not sober him up.”
A smile tugged at Torrullin’s lips. “It’s all right. Put him in that chair.”
Sirlasin dumped his burden into the armchair next to the small fireplace.
“Thank you. Leave us.”
Sirlasin bowed and left.
Torrullin studied Tianoman. Glazed eyes, moronic grin. Definitely drunk. His plaits had unravelled and his hair stood in a cloud about his head, his tunic was spattered in food and drink, but he at least had the foresight to put leggings on under it. Hopefully he took the beaded loincloth off in time.
He rose from behind his desk and touched Tianoman’s forehead. It would not take his drunkenness away entirely - that would be unfair, considering this was his party - but it would make him lucid.
Tianoman straightened and cleared his throat. “Where am I? Oh.”
“I need to talk to you.”
Tianoman sniffed and wiped his hand self-consciously over his face. “Gods, I must look a mess.”
“Indeed.”
Hands smoothed hair and tunic, and he sat up properly. He did not quite succeed. “I guess you want to know about the stones.”
“Hmm.” Torrullin lifted a hand and sealed the room.
Tianoman muttered, “Did you know rock can make noise?”
Torrullin blinked. “What kind of noise?”
“Sometimes just noise, sometimes like music.”
“Incredible. Words?”
“Yes, sometimes, but in languages I don’t always understand.”
“Did words draw you to the five stones?”
“No, no, not like that.”
“Tian, how? Come, think.”
Tianoman attempted to concentrate. “Samuel’s gift wasn’t fitting - I collected seeds from other worlds, you know? Vegetables and flowers we don’t have here, and I wanted to build him a hydroponic tunnel to grow them in …” He fell silent, losing his train of thought.
“Samuel would have been pleased with such a thoughtful gift.”
Tianoman brightened. “Yes, I think so, too, but he’s gone. I miss him terribly.”
“We all do,” Torrullin said. “Thus you had three days to find a new gift.”
“I had no idea what to do and then I remembered the stones can talk sometimes, so I asked.”
“Where did you ask?”
“Where? Oh, on Valla Island. We didn’t go anywhere at first, did we? And then we came here.”
“True.”
“A snatch of song, that’s all …” Tianoman was falling asleep and Torrullin snapped his fingers. “Wha … oh, yes, song. I couldn’t get it out of my head, that song.” He frowned. “It’s gone now.”
Torrullin exercised patience. “What happened?”
“Here, in the valley, I was walking with Teroux. He went one way, I went towards the Morinnes and I couldn’t get the song out of my head. I sat on a boulder, or was it the verge? Never mind. As I sat I sang the song aloud, really loud, heard the echoes against the mountains. I fell asleep, Teroux was fra
ntic, the idiot … anyway, I awoke and there they were, those five perfect stones. They seemed to want me to pick them up, so I did and all I could think was, it was the gift I was looking for. They seemed to say ‘Elixir, Elixir’.”
Torrullin sighed. Tianoman had merely been a conduit, thank Aaru. A bright conduit, for he heard them, but only a pawn in someone else’s game. “It is a wonderful gift and I am glad you recognised that.”
A drunken grin. “Ta.”
“Did Teroux see them?”
“No, it would’ve spoiled the surprise.”
“Good.” Torrullin touched Tianoman’s forehead. “You won’t remember this.” He leaned back. “Having a good party, son?”
Tianoman blinked. “Ah, yes … shit, I must really be pissed, I don’t remember coming up here.”
“Sirlasin brought you up. He thought you needed to sleep for a while, only he couldn’t carry your weight all the way to your bed.”
“Bloody Sirlasin,” Tianoman muttered.
“Go, rejoin your friends, but, hangover or not, in the morning you and I are on our way to Digilan.”
Tianoman’s mouth dropped open, but he was too far gone to compute that. He raised a shaking finger and stared at it, fascinated. “Right.”
“Damn, you’re going to puke,” Torrullin muttered, and manhandled him out of the door, holding him as he doubled over and retched onto the balcony.
Footsteps sounded and Torrullin looked up to find Tristan stumbling closer; he was not much better. Teroux had probably already passed out.
Tristan laughed. “He’s at that stage, is he?”
“You’re not far off.”
“No, I can hold my drink …” and then, as Tianoman hurled again, Tristan turned puce. The sounds Tianoman made set him off and his stomach rebelled … all over the balcony.
“You two will clean this up in the morning.”
Torrullin gripped Tianoman’s collar, found Tristan’s, and dragged both along to Tianoman’s room.
“Time to sleep it off.”
He got them onto the big bed and had barely removed shoes before both snored in drunken slumber.
He grinned; they would hate what they found in the morning.
IT WOULD BE ANOTHER clear day, but the sun barely showed itself when Tianoman entered the dining chamber.
Lore of Sanctum Omnibus Page 38
