“You suggest we imagine the situation?”
“I suggest we may have imagined an opportunity to ask forgiveness. Your power acts independent of you sometimes; is it likely this may be long, long ago imagination?”
Torrullin inhaled a strong breath. “It is possible.”
“And real.”
“And selfish.” He exhaled long.
“How so?” Elianas frowned.
“It was not meant as punishment then; it was a selfish desire, so selfish, it placed hundreds in stasis. If this had not happened, however it came to be, they, including Cassiopin, would be beyond in other realms. Banishing them immediately merely completes their cycles.”
“I have thought of that, yes. She is bound for the netherworld, Torrullin, and she does not deserve it.”
“She killed herself.”
“And why did she do so?” Elianas paced away. “Valen and his unit deserve life, as do some of the nobles interred there. Nemisin could be put on trial, not sent on his merry way. How dare I single one out?”
Torrullin said, “I have never made exceptions. Kalgaia died, one and all. The Three Voices felled a whole battlefield. Elixir murdered Valleur, Valarian and draithen in one foul feat. And ever after I regret not taking that single moment to save a child, the stupid man who did not know why he fought, the woman caught in the wrong place at the wrong time.”
He approached Elianas on cat’s feet and placed his hands on either side of his face.
“If you want Cassiopin to have a second chance, a chance at Aaru or another realm where the sun will shine for her, then we do it. We single her out and no regrets.”
Elianas rested his head on Torrullin’s shoulder. “I do not know what to do.”
“Saska will listen for us and hopefully give insight. You do not have to decide now.”
Elianas retreated. “Four years bypassed us recently, courtesy of the Void. It has been an actual count of forty days for me, if one counts hours. A lifetime, Torrullin. Difference has translated into a lifetime, and the ages between are now like a dream.”
Chapter 7
We are made for opposites. We are part of the multiverse, after all, and it cannot function without action and reaction.
~ Book of Sages
Akhavar
THE SUN WAS rising when Saska entered the Chamber of Biers. She opened her mind to the messages and stood near Nemisin’s tomb for three hours. She was unmoving, soundless, while Torrullin, Elianas and Lowen paced outside glancing through the arch at her. Lowen kept curious Valleur at bay, and the word soon spread that something strange happened around the chamber.
Then Saska moved, and the three froze.
She was slow, stiff, her skin wet and like alabaster. She made it to the exit and stepped through. Her eyes were empty, and she could barely speak.
“Put me into a deep sleep.”
Her knees buckled and Torrullin caught her, lifted and carried her back to her quarters, where he gifted her the period of oblivion and then left her to wake naturally. Her unconscious would achieve greater result than a confused, active mind.
SASKA FOUND THEM in a private courtyard.
Wine on the table, food, candles. She was struck by how still they were. Nobody appeared to have touched either food or wine.
She stepped over the flowing canal. “Seal it.”
Torrullin paled, and waved a hand to seal them in. Privacy was assured.
Saska neared and he rose to pull a chair out. She sat, murmuring her thanks. Her hands shook visibly as she reached for the wine.
“Let me,” Torrullin said, and poured for her. He hesitated a moment, and filled three more glasses.
Saska drank and chose something sweet from the array on the table, to chew slowly. She needed the energy.
“Saska, allow me …”
“I need to fix myself.”
Torrullin lifted his glass and drank, eyes on her. Lowen ignored hers, her hands hidden beneath the table. Elianas knocked his wine back in one gulp and refilled his glass.
“I was wrong,” Saska began, and then drank more. Swallowing and swallowing again, she drew breath. “I am fine now. I was wrong. It wasn’t you who did this.”
Torrullin’s hand shook as he drank more, and Elianas again tossed his drink back.
“It was Nemisin.” Saska put her glass down and folded her hands on her lap. “All those who were involved with the Throne’s creation are with him, all those who might have seen Neolone meld with him, and all those who planned the massacre on Orb. As he was dying he began to see how far his fear of you forced him into those three pivotal decisions and, in spite, he delayed his ultimate death, keeping with him those involved. But know this, he also started planning the Chamber of Biers long before his realisation. He intended from the outset of this mountain city to have at his fingertips the means to best you sometime, somewhere.
“He hates that he feared you; he fears you still. Valen remonstrated with Nemisin on his deathbed and thus was Valen hooked into this scheme, along with his entire unit. And, of course, Cassiopin is there to drive Elianas mad. However, it isn’t merely spite and anger that caused this, nor is it fear, whether complicated or simple.
“Nemisin carried guilt such as only you would understand, Torrullin, and possibly you, Elianas. He has not seen what has become of the universe. He believes he wronged the Valleur. He believes he wronged all sentience. In his heart of hearts, Nemisin wanted to do right by his people and thinks he failed. That is his guilt.”
Torrullin poured more wine, and did not interrupt her. The other two followed his lead.
Saska went on. “Having said that, the time has been long and matters are more complicated now. Guilt remains, fear is muted, and anger is uppermost. Nemisin is pissed off, to put it simply.”
She looked at Torrullin. “With you, yes, but mostly with Neolone. The Dragon bound him to the bier. Torrullin, he meant to arise around the time the One came into his own and he meant to prevent the passing of the gift across time. The Nemisin you met then was the Nemisin of a long ago time, a Nemisin who came forward to meet you. You told me once he was indistinct … and you were to him. He did not see you clearly enough to know you, and you had not your memory then. All thus transpired smoothly and according to prophecy.
“But the Nemisin you were meant to meet was the one in the bier, and he wanted to take your place. He wanted to be the One. He thought to make his Valleur glorious again, rebuild his empire, prove to all, including himself, he was not the monster he believes he is. But Neolone, clever, far-seeing Neolone, scratched on his bier and bound him, effectively halting ambition. It bound the rest with him, unfortunately.”
She paused there and took a few breaths.
And faced Elianas.
“Cassiopin told him about her project and he used it to his own ends. She wanted you to see her, the unloved wife, the mother struggling to keep her family together and failing, and, yes, there was a measure of revenge in the desire. Still, her net was not meant to punish anyone except you; it was meant to do good, and has. Her father saw in her project a way to reach Torrullin.”
Saska swung her gaze that way. “Heart of Darkness was his imagination, used by successive Ladies to renew life, and left for you to find. You are the failsafe. He failed to leave his bier to take your place, which he did not foresee, but he wasn’t stupid and didn’t rely on only one method of exit.”
She looked away. Her gaze grazed over Lowen and moved on to the tree in the courtyard.
“It’s crazy in there. Everyone has felt you and the Heart and they want out. They desperately want out.”
Silence arrived then, which Torrullin struggled to break.
Finally he asked, “Is there more?”
She nodded. “Those who were delayed over Neolone’s symbiosis know exactly nothing of said symbiosis, or did not until Nemisin trapped them with him. There are six and they desire only to move on to another realm. Valen and his unit want nothing to do with this t
ime; they would not fit. The Throne’s creators believe they are innocent of ill deed and want to see Nemisin pay for what he did to them, and who can blame them? The Orb planners claim they were duped, which they were. They say let Orb deal with him; they want to move on quickly.”
Saska closed her eyes. “Cassiopin says Elianas must decide her fate. He did it before, and why not again? Nemisin, well, he wants …”
“… me,” Torrullin murmured.
“Yes. What he plans now is unclear and he does not know what he will find. He knows, though, you are here. He always knew you would be around. He knew then you were a true immortal.”
“I was not at first.”
“You looped back. To him that is real immortality.”
“Anything else?”
She was thoughtful. “He does not know of alternate futures or the Void or the non-past you had with him recently. His mind-set was entrenched at the time Elianas was born. As for you, Kalgaia is his frame of reference and all the good you did before does not count.”
Lowen spoke. “What do you suggest we do?”
“Banish them all.”
“I agree,” Lowen murmured.
“Not Cassiopin,” Elianas stated.
Saska glanced at Torrullin.
“You heard him.”
SHE UNDERSTOOD ABOUT the guilt between a husband and wife. “Fine. Then I suggest you enter the chamber separately, each time with me.”
“Why?”
“The banishment Lily and I put in place works as a whole. If all of you go in, I will be forced to use it as a whole.”
Elianas growled.
“I am able to scatter it and I need your distinct Hearts of Darkness to do so. Lowen could call to the more innocent ones and they may be sent on their way easily. They are not going to fight it. Elianas, I think yours will raise only Cassiopin. Go in with me, come out with her.”
He drew breath, and then did not say anything.
“Torrullin, you will probably get those who created the Throne, and Nemisin. They will fight banishment.”
“I figured.”
Saska swallowed and cleared her throat. “I am not strong enough to do this tonight.”
Lowen appeared relieved and Elianas looked like a man who had a stay of execution.
Torrullin grimaced. “I do not want to do it at all.” He reached over and took her hand. “Thank you for what you did today and will do tomorrow.”
She squeezed, smiled, and pulled her hand free. “I am going to my bed now, if you will excuse me.” She stood, and paused to look at each of them. “Do not trust this; it could go wrong.” She concentrated on Torrullin. “I suggest you have your own form of banishment ready.” She left as wearily as she came.
The stillness returned the moment she went, and was as strange as before.
TORRULLIN SAW THE form in the doorway. “I cannot sleep either.”
Elianas entered and moved about the dark room. “What am I to do? I cannot be husband to her.”
“Tell her that. Release her and hope she does the same for you.” Torrullin shifted on the bed, putting an arm under his head.
“And if she doesn’t?”
“I do not know. I have not yet fathomed a woman’s mind.”
Elianas sat on the edge of the bed. “You take this calmly.”
“I am a good actor.”
“You are not calm?”
“I am fucking furious.”
Amusement came. “There is the Torrullin I know.”
“It is not Cassiopin who angers me, understand that. It’s that contrary fuck Nemisin.”
“Cut from the same cloth, you two.”
Another shift on the bed. “Whatever.”
Silence for a time.
“Elianas, spit it out.”
“I am afraid Cassy will need a second chance to make our marriage work. It would not be what I want, but dare I do to her what was done before? I am afraid she would end up where she is now, bound for the netherworld.”
“Then you have a problem.”
“We should not make the same mistakes, Torrullin. We have opportunities in this time to be better than we were.”
“I hear you.”
“Gods, you are not helping,” Elianas growled.
“What do you want me to say?”
“Tell me what you think.”
Torrullin sat up, a gloomy form in the darkened room. “What do I think? I think you should not put yourself through this. Banish her and live with the guilt; it will be less than what comes next. However, I will not deny her escape from the netherworld. I think you should tell her upfront how you see your future and not allow her to dictate it. I think you could avoid making the same mistakes if you tell her you cannot be a husband. She may be hurt, but the truth could also set her free to make different choices. If you do decide to renew your marriage, you must stay away from me. That is what I think.”
“I cannot stay away from you.”
“Then you have a problem.”
“You can, naturally, stay away from me,” Elianas said.
“If I have to.”
“Can I stay here tonight?”
A long silence ensued, and then, “No.”
“What if this is the last time?”
“Do not let it become that,” Torrullin said.
Elianas loosed a sigh and rose from the bed. “I shall try. Get some sleep.” He left quickly.
Torrullin lay down again, doubting sleep would come. He noticed another form in the doorway, and it was not Elianas. Her timing was perfect.
“Lowen.”
“I saw him leave. He looks shattered.”
“And you have come to capitalise on the fact I may be as well.”
She entered, heading straight to the bed. “Yes.”
His hand whipped out and he dragged her onto him. “You know how to use me against myself.”
“I do, don’t I?” She found his mouth, dug her fingers into his skin and moulded herself to him.
He rolled her over and under him and began undressing her, his mouth following where his fingers went.
Chapter 8
Perhaps you should have regarded the message only. Why did you choose action?
~ The poet Arc to a friend in need
Akhavar
THE REGION AROUND the Chamber of Biers was deserted when they arrived there. The Valleur knew when to stay away.
Torrullin, last to arrive, was relieved. Nevertheless, he threw a shrouding chant over and around the chamber to protect anyone who ventured close.
Saska did not react to it; her focus already transferred to what was inside. In no manner did she betray the sleepless night past.
Elianas was a portrait of misery, his movements nervous; had Torrullin greeted Lowen with a kiss he would not have reacted to it.
Torrullin touched Saska on her shoulder. “Lowen first?”
She nodded. “More souls, but the easier banishment.”
Torrullin faced the Xenian. “Ready?”
She twisted her fingers together. “Let’s do it.”
The two women stood together, and entered.
An instant later there was pandemonium. Sound, movement, light, emotion, and Lowen gasped aloud, shouting, “Oh, my God!”
Elianas’ fingers dug holes into Torrullin’s arm.
The majority of caskets pushed into niches in the walls exploded open, raining wood, plaster and dead dust, obscuring light. Forms clambered out of those niches, stiff-legged, like automatons, walking skeletons, and voices were raised in words, shouts, calls.
Lowen sobbed and Saska gripped her, putting an arm around her waist. “Courage, Lowen; they will be gone soon.” She spoke rhythmic words, her tone even, her body serene and still, all the while holding a shaking Lowen.
Faces peered from the swirling dust, some like cadavers, others fleshing out, yet others taking on the glow of health, and there were questions in those eyes, and mouths asked things, words that were incomprehensible, and
then a loud wail rent the air and bodies elongated, stretched to breaking point. Points of light danced in the dust, and one by one snuffed out.
Skeletons lay scattered, littering the Chamber of Biers.
“Oh, God, no, no,” Lowen gasped out, and Saska turned her, led her out.
Outside, the ashen faces of Torrullin and Elianas.
Lowen threw up, waving help viciously away. She scuttled to the wall, huddled downward and sat there in traumatised silence.
Saska said, “Most of them have now moved on.”
Torrullin, glancing at Lowen, shuddered.
Elianas was paralysed.
“Elianas,” Saska murmured, “come.”
The man could not move.
Torrullin moved to stand behind him. Putting his hands on Elianas’ shoulders, he pushed forward. “My brother, you must do this. Be firm in your resolve.”
Elianas dug in and would not be moved. Drawing a deep breath, finding his own resolve, Torrullin moved his hands down to rest splayed on Elianas’ stomach and chest. He exerted firm pressure, pulling the man against him.
In his ear, he whispered, “This is life, feel it, and know it goes on no matter what. I shall be here waiting for you. Nothing changes inside, Elianas.”
Elianas’ hands rested briefly over Torrullin’s. Deep pulls at the air commenced. He straightened eventually and moved forward, and Saska went with him. They vanished into the swirling dust.
Torrullin felt as if his life slipped away.
IN THE RESIDUE there was a lone explosion; Cassiopin’s bier on the other side.
Elianas stood in monumental calm, waiting.
Saska marvelled at the control after the reluctance witnessed outside.
A form came wandering in erratic steps, ever closer, and a thin voice called, “Elianas!”
Fingers curled into claws and a rictus of a smile settled onto his face. “Cassy! Here!”
“The banish…” Saska began.
Lore of Sanctum Omnibus Page 68
