Amused, Torrullin asked, “Why do you need gear? You are an enchanter.”
“You are unencumbered? Figures, but I am erring on the side of caution.” Teighlar pointed a finger. “What if your magic is useless in there? What will you sleep on? Rock? I will not share my bloody thin little pallet thing with you.”
Torrullin burst out laughing. “At least we won’t be bored with you around!”
Declan muttered, “You should’ve seen him yesterday - a real ray of goodwill.”
Teighlar slapped the Siric’s back. “I shall make it up to you.”
Dechend joined them dragging two packs, dropping them at his feet. He greeted all with a smile, except Sabian, and frowned at the sight of Maple.
“I suggest a decent sit down meal before we go haring off,” Teighlar said. “It is almost lunchtime anyway, and I warrant you lot have not had breakfast yet.”
In answer, Tianoman’s gut complained. Everyone laughed, and shouldered packs to head into the Great Hall. This time Teighlar, muttering, carried his own load, which caused Dechend to grin widely.
“Where is he?” Saska whispered to Torrullin as they walked. She refused to allow him to take her pack.
“He is securing the cottage; he will be here in a few minutes,” Torrullin murmured. “Saska, say nothing about him, please.”
“Fine; Caballa and I decided he is your problem. You say as little or as much as you see fit.”
“You think he is a problem?”
“Huge. Him, Sabian and that Tracloc.”
“That Tracloc’s name is Maple and he is a good man.” He looked down at her and pulled her to a stop. “And Tian?”
“What about him?”
“Is he a problem for you?”
“No, why should he be?” Saska frowned.
“I want you to take special interest in him. He needs someone to mother him.”
She stared up at him. “Mother?”
“Yes, and perhaps your concern will prove to me it was a mistake, that you did not let my child die because you have no mothering instincts.”
Colour fled her face. “Still?”
He bent towards her. “Still. Do you think it was only Lowen that kept me away?”
She breathed again. “Why do you lay this out now? At the start of a long journey?”
“It is a journey about truth; this thing is a lie between us.”
She closed her eyes and then moved away from him, saying no more.
He muttered a curse and followed, ignoring Caballa’s look.
Saska, he noted, said nothing either.
Caballa was not the faint-hearted type. She made her presence known, forcing him to a halt. “It isn’t wise to bring out enmity at this point.”
“It exists. Stop interfering.”
“Torrullin, it will take time for Saska to forgive …”
“I do not give a dinar how long it takes her. Nor do I care if she does or not; I am the one who must make space for her again.”
That shut Caballa up for a time. “Are you saying you can’t forgive her?”
“Are you suggesting she is the one wronged?”
She licked her lips, although not out of fear. She realised there were two sides to the tale of this broken marriage. She understood also Torrullin blamed Saska more than anything Saska had against him. It was enlightening.
“What happened between you?”
He blinked. “She never told you?”
“Sinsen?”
“No, not Sinsen. How can I throw stones there? Gods, sometimes I wished it worked between them; she would be happy now, and out of my life.”
Caballa glanced over her shoulder. Saska watched them, her expression unreadable. The others gathered around a huge round table Teighlar had clearly prepared in anticipation. Clearly, too, he understood there would be fourteen before any of them even realised the requirement. The Emperor was a dark horse.
She looked back to Torrullin. “It’s about Cat, isn’t it? Saska blames herself for not being more attentive. It wasn’t her fault, Torrullin. Cat gave up.”
“You were not there.”
“And neither were you. You cannot know how it was.”
He shrugged, but was clearly angry.
“Torrullin, it was a long time ago.”
“For me, Caballa, twenty-six years.”
“Understood, but had Cat lived, she would still be gone now. Two thousand years passed for us.”
His control snapped. “And our son, Caballa? Or daughter? The child would have been half of me, with longevity. I would have my son or daughter now.”
Caballa paled. “That is what this is about? Cat miscarried and pain killed her after. How can you possibly blame Saska … oh, god. She knew Cat was pregnant.”
“And the Lady of Life did nothing.” He strode away.
Caballa stared after him. Dear god, a child. A child, when he lost Tristamil and Tymall. A chance to begin again. A chance denied.
She glanced again at Saska, who sent her a sad smile as if to say ‘now you see’.
Saska took a seat at the table as far away from Torrullin as she could, leaving the space beside her open. Caballa joined her, saying not a word as she sat.
Torrullin sank into discussion with Teighlar, the seat beside him vacant for the missing member.
He tried to ignore his agitation as he waited for that space to be filled.
“WE NEED TO TRAVEL the river,” Teighlar said, “and the boat I sent down is too small.”
“There’s a river?” Teroux asked.
“Underground, inside the mountain.” Teighlar grinned. “If that does not scare the daylights out of you, nothing ever will.”
Teroux shifted to Tristan. “Did you know there was a river?”
“Yes, but I haven’t seen it.”
“It is no place to visit,” Dechend murmured. “Dangerous.”
“And why do we need to travel this dangerous river?” Tianoman asked.
“It leads to the doorway,” Torrullin said.
“To another realm?” Rose asked.
Teighlar answered in affirmative.
Rose frowned. “A doorway on a river?”
Torrullin sent her a glance. “In a manner of speaking.”
“As usual Torrullin is less than forthcoming,” an amused voice sounded behind him.
Torrullin ceased breathing. Then his heart thundered into motion. He did not move, preferring to witness the expressions arrayed around him.
They saw a man approach, dark of hair, clad in robes. He was smiling and he moved closer to stand behind the chair Torrullin held open for him.
Most of them showed surprise.
Saska and Caballa were noncommittal.
“Hello, my name is Elianas.” He bowed.
Without looking at him, Torrullin said, “Elianas, meet Teroux, Rose …” He went through them, including Saska and Caballa, and ended with “… and Tristan.”
Elianas smiled at each in turn and received a nod from each, along with a smile, although not, Torrullin noted, from either Saska or Caballa.
“Tristan, you are the image of your grandfather.”
Tristan merely shrugged. “Valleur genetics plays havoc with our sense of individuality.”
Torrullin lifted a surprised gaze to the man, while Elianas murmured, “I have heard how alike the Vallas are through time, yes, but likeness does not deny individuality. We are all of us different inside.” He paced a hand over his heart.
Smiling then, Tristan too placed a hand over his heart. “How right you are, friend.”
They grinned at each other.
Torrullin’s heart thundered into an even rhythm. “Elianas, sit, eat.”
Elianas sat, drew a plate nearer and did not look at anyone specifically, while all looked at him.
Torrullin wanted to scream at them, but the equanimity of the man at his side gradually calmed his temper.
There was silence.
Quilla broke it first. “Elianas, T
orrullin? Like the Sword? The one suddenly missing from your side?”
Torrullin flicked a glance at the birdman. “Do not go hauling the spooks out again, Quilla. The sword is in a safe place; I need Trezond for this journey. Isn’t it about catharsis also?”
“And do not go playing word games with me, Enchanter.”
Elianas looked up. “My name was chosen for how it sounds, not over its meaning.”
“And a bloody coincidence it is that it is a blade’s naming, I suppose,” Teighlar muttered, staring with frank curiosity at the stranger. He was not alone in his perusal.
“Your parents knew no Valleur?” Tianoman asked of Elianas.
“I do not think so,” he replied.
Torrullin stood. He laid a hand on Elianas’ shoulder, and felt a barely controlled tremble within. Elianas was not as calm as he projected.
Neither was he.
“This man is my brother.”
“He is Valla?” This from Maple, with a confused frown.
Torrullin slapped his chest. “This brother.”
Tristan, he noted, touched his heart again, and smiled in his direction. Thank the gods, someone would not judge. He winked at his grandson.
Quilla snapped out. “Never heard of one.”
Torrullin stared around the table. “Then know him now.” He sat, and he and Elianas looked at each other. Both smiled.
“Gods,” Saska muttered.
“Where did you meet this … brother?” Quilla asked.
Torrullin lifted a brow at Elianas, leaving it to him to answer.
The robed man reached out to pluck a bunch of grapes from a platter and removed a juicy red orb to pop into his mouth.
Smiling, he said, “In another realm. I guess Torrullin requires my knowledge for the coming journey.”
“Which realm?” Sabian drawled.
Elianas met his eyes. “We do not speak the names of realms.”
Tianoman pointed out, “We all know of Digilan.”
“And the Plane,” Teroux added.
Elianas nodded. “Consider yourselves blessed, then.”
Tianoman stared at him. “Why do you feel so familiar?”
Torrullin’s grip tightened on his goblet, but he was careful not to let it show.
Elianas grinned. “I do not know - Tian, right? I think we could get on well.”
“Yes,” Tianoman smiled.
Torrullin let out a silent sigh of relief.
Declan, with lowered eyes, asked, “And when this journey is over? Do you return to your realm?”
Elianas shrugged. “Perhaps I shall prove of enough worth to earn a place in this one.”
On the other side of Torrullin, Teighlar leaned in to his friend. “Why are you secretive about this man?”
In the awareness that Elianas was able to cope with the questions asked of him, Torrullin spoke to Teighlar. “He is dear to me, and I do not lay open my feelings.”
“So dear, you have never spoken of him?”
“Exactly.”
Teighlar was unbelieving, but let it pass. “He is like the other side of you, even in appearance.”
“You flatter both of us.”
“Like Rixile,” Teighlar said. “An alter ego.”
“It is not like that.”
Teighlar leaned in even closer. “Of course it is. I have eyes in the back of my head, you know.”
Torrullin forced a smile onto his face. “Now you are like Quilla with the spooks.”
“The birdman is sharp, and I trust his judgement.”
Torrullin snorted.
“Do we really need him?” Teighlar questioned.
“If the likes of Sabian and Maple are on this team, why not Elianas?”
“But do we need him?”
“I need him,” Torrullin murmured. He looked directly into Teighlar’s blue eyes. “In truth, he is a brother of the heart. As you are.”
Teighlar was quiet before saying, “Then I shall regard him as my brother also.”
Torrullin’s expression was transparent. “Thank you.”
Teighlar winked and then leaned forward to draw Elianas’ attention on Torrullin’s other side. When he had it, he said, “Welcome, my brother, to Grinwallin.”
Elianas glanced at Torrullin and then smiled. “Thank you.”
Somewhere, Quilla gave a snort.
Chapter 44
Every journey is different. Choose wisely before you embark.
~ Book of Sages
Grinwallin
THE SUN WAS WESTERLY by the time they were ready.
A raft was brought in from the river folk of Tunin and manhandled down to the cavern where the river rushed through. When the team saw the size of the contraption, they realised the underground river was not a small stream.
Teighlar held last minute conclaves with his Elders and then thoroughly checked everyone’s gear. He was insistent, and had Tianoman throw out heavy items. Rose was told to dress practically in breeches - found and borrowed from a Senlu woman, with spare articles - and her pack was entirely redone. Rose, clearly, had not hiked before. Both Teroux and Tianoman looked on, feeling protective, while Tristan paced the Great Hall watching Saska and Caballa in conversation.
Torrullin, meanwhile, defended Elianas against Declan and Quilla, and Elianas wandered around gazing at the sights. Dechend watched him worriedly. Maple attached to Sabian.
When Teighlar announced all was ready, everyone was relieved to finally move. Dechend led the way into the mountain, taking a route that was rough and dark, and brought silence and caution. The raft, clearly passed this way with the help of a little magic.
Even Teroux’s optimism suffered when he realised the journey ahead could be uncomfortable.
Caballa and Saska brought up the rear, whispering together. Elianas thought the whispers were about him, and Torrullin wondered if they discussed Cat’s pregnancy.
Soon they reached a cavern of rough, sharp stone, a dome of rock. On the one side a mighty river was a torrent of sound and movement, with spray filling the space, wetness dripping from walls and ceiling, puddles underfoot. The noise was overpowering. Only shouting would serve. Nobody spoke.
Teighlar gestured towards the raft, a sturdy platform lying beside the river, and they headed to it. From somewhere natural light filtered in - the science of the city’s creators - and it shone upon a mad swirl of deeply dark water.
They watched the insane currents with unease.
The raft lifted high off the ground with the aid of airtight containers. It promised good float. In the centre there was a mast pole and a sail wrapped around it. The edges were buffered with hessian sacks filled with a lightweight element that was both waterproof and soft enough to lean against. Six oars were lashed to the deck and a rough tiller bolted down on one side. Next to the mast, a chest filled with rope, and on the deck a number of iron hooks protruded. A water barrel was lashed to one side.
Teighlar climbed up onto the wooden platform with Torrullin behind him. Shouting at each other, they decided to tie their packs to the hooks and then to tie themselves also. A dangerous ride lay ahead.
They called for the packs and, with Tristan and Dechend’s help, secured them, and also tied off fourteen lengths of rope, the purpose of those clear to the others waiting on the ground.
Rose clutched at Teroux, causing Tianoman to scowl. Saska touched him on the arm, shaking her head. He managed to smile at her.
Torrullin untied the oars and passed one to Dechend - who likely knew more of the river than all of them together - and to Tristan, and kept one. Teighlar took another, grinning at Torrullin’s raised eyebrows, and then called everyone closer.
As they stepped aboard, Torrullin handed an oar to Teroux and was about to give the other to Tianoman when Elianas took it. Sabian seemed put out.
Teighlar, Teroux and Dechend took up positions on one side, with Torrullin, Elianas and Tristan on the other. Everyone made use of the safety ropes.
They were read
y.
Without further delay, Teighlar set up an inaudible mutter, the raft lifted and then moved over the water. A moment later it dropped to the surface … and the current had them.
Rose squealed as the vessel hurtled forward out of control.
They were off.
“HOLD ON!” Teighlar shouted, his voice tinny above the rushing water.
They held on.
Teroux lost his oar to the fury of the current. The rest did not attempt steering after that.
The cavern vanished from view swiftly and the raft entered a tunnel of gloom. Sound was thunderous.
A pack came undone and hurtled across the tossing deck to smack into Caballa. She went half over the side, her scream loud, and Tristan dropped his oar and threw himself at her, dragging her back, face grim with intent.
Torrullin caught the skittering oar, his expression as forbidding. Teroux trapped the pack as it was about to go over. He held it gripped between his legs and prayed to all gods he could think of. Tristan wedged between Caballa and the edge, holding on with fingers forced into a gap in the planking.
Saska was green and near her Tianoman started retching.
Then it got worse.
The raft hurtled towards the tunnel wall. They would be smashed to pieces.
Torrullin, white-faced, roughly handed his two oars to Elianas and lifted his hands to face the approaching wall, the jagged edges highlighted by swirling shadows. At the point of impact a force field erupted from his palms and pushed them aside.
He pushed too hard.
The raft headed for the opposite wall.
Swearing foully, Teighlar mimicked Torrullin’s gesture, saving them in time.
From then on the two enchanters took turns at keeping the tunnel at bay.
Rose was a sobbing wreck, clutching at Sabian. Declan swore continuously and tried to protect his wings as best he could.
They were drenched from spray and repeated washing of the deck, a deck that now seemed tiny compared to first embarking.
“RAPIDS AHEAD!” Dechend shouted, barely making himself heard. “Hold on!”
They held on.
Ahead, the tunnel widened and beyond that a strange blue glow appeared. The glow went ignored, for boiling white foam in the widening of the tunnel had their attention.
Lore of Sanctum Omnibus Page 44
