Tymall moved, and Torrullin snatched him back. “Answer him.”
Taking a deep breath, Tymall pulled free. “I told you the truth. I was led to portal and offered a chance at freedom that would not affect Valaris. I took it.”
Torrullin studied him. “You never saw Nemisin.”
“I never saw Nemisin.” But his eyes shifted an infinitesimal degree that indicated a lie.
Torrullin stepped around him, facing him and blocking Elianas from his son’s view. “But you heard him. He told you where to find me. He told you lies about me. He said he would prove it - just follow his prompt.”
Tymall remained wordless.
“Tymall, the truth, please.”
“You no longer know truth from lie, father. You say one thing and do another … with him.”
“I have never lied to you.”
“You are not sleeping with him, is that it? When I have seen how you look at him?”
“Looking does not make a sin.”
“But imagining makes real, doesn’t it?”
A shrug. “It remains intangible, though.”
Elianas had closed in and moved to stand shoulder to shoulder with Torrullin. “What did Nemisin say, Warlock?”
Tymall moved his glance between them. “That you ruin my father.”
Tristan understood Elianas’ bridge. The bridge between truth and lie. The Syllvan had prompted exactly this.
“What do you intend doing about it?” Torrullin asked.
“Kill him.”
A nod. “How?”
“A sword can do the job. Immortals can die.”
“True immortals cannot.”
Tymall shuddered. “Eternal Companion. I see.”
Elianas said nothing more. He gave Torrullin a significant glance and moved away towards Tristan. Clearly, the decision was now in Torrullin’s hands.
“What now, Ty? Here you are hell-bent on saving my dubious honour and a reputation we both know cannot hold water long. It is not accident you are here, and you know I cannot allow you back. Digilan will be breathing down our necks before long. I am asking - what next?”
“I shall return to Digilan without a word of protest if you set him aside.”
“I will not do so.”
“You would choose him over me?”
“Yes.”
Alongside Tristan Elianas sighed.
“Then it is my duty as a son to do something about it.”
“What can you possibly do?”
“Bring Digilan to bear, as you suggested, simply by my continuing absence.”
“You would revisit the torture of the past on Valaris again?”
“Not Valaris. Avaelyn.”
Elianas moved, and Tristan held him back. Sabian hung to one side, a look of intense interest of his face.
“Avaelyn is protected,” Torrullin said.
“It will not withstand the might of Digilan, and you know it. Digilan, as your clever companion ferreted out, does straddle realms. It is a spike.”
“In other words you could return right now.”
Tymall hissed through his teeth. A blunder, especially when it was Elixir he faced. Reluctantly he admitted, “Yes and no. I can return from here, but I need the portal to do so.”
“And where is the portal?”
Tymall shrugged.
Torrullin leaned closer. “Fine, Tymall, we leave it there, for now. Elianas, build the bridge.”
The dark man eyed him for a few moments and then nodded. He beckoned Sabian closer. “Exit point, Master Historian.”
“Are you sure about this? I was there the last time Digilan was agitated, remember?” Sabian blurted.
“Trust Torrullin.”
Sabian swirled his tongue in his mouth, and bent his head to Elianas. A whispered conversation ensued, at the end of which Elianas straightened and exhaled sharply.
“Torrullin, it is a mighty bridge.”
“Can you do it?”
“I need privacy.”
“You will get it. Sabian, how long before we are out from under this rock?”
“Hard to say.”
“Then we walk until we have more space. Elianas, walk with me.” Torrullin turned his back on Tymall and headed on, and Elianas fell in beside him. “You knew he was lying.”
“His story was too convenient.”
“And I was blinkered.”
“He is your son. No one would fault you for it.”
“Can he kill you?”
“No, but he can take me back to Digilan.” He glanced sideways. “I think you might not find me then.”
Silence.
“I hate putting you in a position where you must choose like this.”
“I chose a long time ago, Elianas. Tymall belongs in Digilan.”
“Where do I belong?”
“That is for you to answer.”
Elianas nodded. “On we dance. What is your plan?”
“Build that bridge first.”
“You do not trust me?”
“I do not trust your volatility. You are playing a game of brinkmanship with him too.”
Elianas inclined his head. “True.”
MANY HOURS LATER there was light at the end of the tunnel.
They left the confines of rock and entered a forest glade. No one was around. Birdsong filled the silence.
It did not matter where they were.
Tristan and Sabian, by unspoken consensus formed a guard over Tymall, and he could not move now without one of them shadowing him. If he was aware of it, he gave no indication. His attention seemed centred on his father. He particularly ignored Elianas.
Torrullin glanced at Elianas. “Rest and eat?”
“I want out.”
“Agreed. I will hold them here.”
Elianas nodded and chose a direction at random and vanished through the trees.
BEYOND THE TREES he discovered another glade.
This one contained a statue in lichen glory. It did not interest him at first, and then he realised he needed time to find his bearings. Elianas ambled closer and walked around it. Caste of bronze, it was pitted and discoloured under the lichen - old, then.
There was no plaque and the figure did not make the kind of sense to impact his perceptions. It was a bird, either mythical or of a species unknown to him, and beautiful in isolation.
He moved on.
The exit, or point of home as Sabian called it, was far removed from what they knew here. It was not a matter of distance, however. The issue was timing.
In the Path of Shades every direction had been the same and time was immaterial. Here direction was imperative and time, well, time was time, and he needed to be careful.
He sat, folded his legs before him and rested his wrists palms outward on his knees, threw a blanket of concealment around the area and entered meditative state.
Before he entered the zone of utter concentration he wondered how long it would be before Torrullin came to investigate.
He wanted that.
AN HOUR LATER Torrullin was restless.
He murmured with Tristan and then headed off in the direction Elianas earlier used. Tristan sharpened the watch on Tymall.
Torrullin walked into the concealment and knew it for what it was. Sliding through, he discovered Elianas cross-legged near a statue of a strange bird. He made no sound. Clearly the man was deep in concentration.
He sat and waited.
When Elianas eventually blinked and focused, he found Torrullin beside him. His heart lurched.
“Dangerous to go for so long,” Torrullin murmured.
“You are watching my back.”
“True. Are you ready?”
“Yes, just say when.”
Torrullin lay back in the fresh grass and stared up. “When.”
“That does not appear convincing.”
“When we get back there will be a battle. I do not want to blame you for it.”
“I have blamed you for worse.”
Torrullin met those dark eyes. “We entered Lethe to do battle ourselves, and yet now I wish I could disappear with you. Elianas, why do you fight on? What is it you really see and feel? I cannot do this much longer.”
Elianas lay back. “I am at the end of a particular road as well. My objectivity flies into the ether every time you close in on me.”
“Answer me.”
“The real truth? Your blood sings, Torrullin, and I can hear it. It transforms the spaces; it draws me as nothing else can.”
“My blood sings.”
A smile in profile. “Not what you expected?”
“No.”
“When I heard you are Lorinin I finally understood why it is thus in you. I possess the oldest true blood, but you have the truest blood, for you are both Lorin and Danae. You are the embodiment of what the Valleur might have been. Lorinin takes you many steps further, and thus I hear the music. I cannot exist without it. And that is the real and absolute truth.”
Torrullin lifted onto an elbow. “I do not understand. Do you hear it when we are physically close?”
“I hear it no matter where you are. It is how I find you and it is how I put you back together. I hear it when I touch you in passing, but, yes, it is louder and more glorious the closer I get. When you touch me angels and orchestras assume position.”
“Gods.”
“It is pretty addictive.”
“How long?”
“Since the day I stood on Lord Sorcerer’s doorstep.”
“Why did you keep silent?”
“I thought I was mad.”
“Does anyone else know?”
“Tristan.”
“I guess I told Tristan a few truths as well,” Torrullin murmured.
“Your turn. Why do you fight on? What is it you really see and feel?”
“I prefer the cold. I delve the colder spaces when you are not around. I function in cold, I think better, I have more insight and, Elianas, I get terribly cold. And then there is you. You are heat. Perhaps that is a facet of energy, and maybe it is simply because you were born in a time when the spaces were new and heat was creating new worlds, but whatever it is, it radiates from you. And thus I am warm.”
Elianas was still looking at him. “Physically?”
“Far more than that. It is how I track you.”
“And yet I find huge contradiction in what you just said.”
“Preferring cold, how can I be drawn to heat? The opposite fires me.”
Elianas was on an elbow. “Then you need the cold again. That means we need periods apart.”
“Yes.”
“Gods, how long before that again?” Elianas flopped down. “Life is very interesting when you are in it.”
A laugh. “Same.”
“You are lying, of course. It is not heat, Torrullin. Tell the truth.”
Torrullin sat up to clasp his arms around his knees. “It is part of the truth.”
Elianas moved to take a place directly in front of him.
Long minutes passed, and then Torrullin placed a hand in his neck. “It is heat. Fire. Electricity. Energy. It surges through you, and it feels like kinfire. I often wondered what it must have been like for Tristamil and Mitrill to make love with kinfire in bed with them, and Tymall discovered it with Fay, and when I touch you I wonder anew. It is, as you say, addictive.”
“We are not kin, Torrullin, not like that.”
Torrullin took his hand away. “Thus I am more drawn to you.” He stood. “It is driving me insane.”
Elianas hung his head. Music and fire, extremely volatile.
Torrullin dragged his head up. “How do I say no, Elianas? How do I go on denying you?”
Elianas’ blood surged and Torrullin’s eyelids flickered. Torrullin fell to his knees before him.
A shout of warning tore through the glade.
Torrullin muttered, “Saved by the bell again.”
Elianas surged to his feet, breathing hard. “Until Avaelyn, Torrullin, we keep someone around.”
“That will not stop it anymore.” Torrullin walked back to the trees and, when Elianas’ long stride caught up, added, “We need women, brother, and soon.”
“It will not help. We are beyond that.”
“Then we are royally fucked, Danae.”
“Lowen might make a difference. She pushes your buttons and she certainly pushes mine.”
Despite a second warning shout, Torrullin came to a halt. “Really.”
Elianas smiled tauntingly.
“Perhaps you are right, if she is willing.”
Elianas’ jaw dropped. It was hard to astonish him, and thus it was singularly satisfying. “You are not serious.”
“Why not? A threesome might be what we need.” Torrullin smiled challenge and carried on walking.
“That is not fair on her. She does not deserve it,” Elianas snapped. “Do not dare suggest it.”
Torrullin grinned to himself and headed into the trees.
TYMALL AND SABIAN came to blows and traded them seriously.
Both were bleeding when Torrullin and Elianas came upon them. Tristan had called out, but was clearly not about to interfere.
“Gods, look at that, like kids.”
Elianas gave Torrullin a look - he and Tymall had then also behaved like kids - and started muttering under his breath. It subsided into silence moments later, and he said, “The bridge will appear beyond them. Toss them on as it manifests.”
Torrullin jerked a nod and gestured Tristan nearer.
Moments later a solid looking stone bridge erupted on the far side as if spanning water. It went through trees without touching them, proving it was ethereal.
Elianas walked around the brawling pair and set foot to it, and started walking.
Torrullin muttered under his breath and strode to Tymall, while Tristan tackled Sabian. Hauling them apart, they frogmarched the protesting pair onto the bridge.
The instant they set foot to it, the glade and every tree and all sound of birdsong vanished.
Chapter 73
I’m lost!
~ Child’s wail
Valaris
THE BRIDGE ENDED after two minutes of racing to catch up with Elianas and dumped them unceremoniously onto grass and wildflowers.
As they clambered to their feet, noting the altered state of the Eastern Mountains, a legacy of Margus’ for once a welcoming sight, a slash of bright light speared through the fabric of the air.
Digilan
Mist swirled out.
Giggles that raised the hair on the back of necks sounded.
Tristan and Sabian scrambled away.
“Warlock!”
Tymall stood. “Magus Hollifell calls.” He stared at his father.
“Go, Ty. Whatever happened beyond, let us forget it.”
“Sorry. Cannot do that.” He reached out, roughly snagged Elianas, and fell backward through the slash of light and mist.
“No!” Torrullin shouted.
The mists began to vanish and Torrullin stepped swiftly in. “Warn Tian and the Kaval.” Then he was gone and the portal to Digilan closed.
Tristan and Sabian transported to Grinwallin without delay, without voicing their shock, knowing there they would find Tianoman, Teighlar and enough Kaval to start the defence of this reality.
Grinwallin
TEIGHLAR, CABALLA, TIANOMAN, Quilla and Belun were heading out into the Great Hall from the crucible chamber when Tristan and Sabian raced in from the opposite side.
Caballa cried out and rushed across the space and into Tristan’s arms. “How? You just left!”
He held her back from him to search her eyes. “We have been gone a bit longer than that.” He set her aside to meet Tianoman’s worried frown as it came closer. “I don’t have time to explain. Sound the warning. Digilan might be active soon. Tymall has taken Elianas in and Torrullin followed. He will tear that place apart.”
“What?” Tianoman paled. “My father?�
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Tristan stood before him. “Sound the warning, Lord Vallorin. We are on the brink of war.” He jerked to Quilla. “Get the Kaval to Avaelyn. Tymall wants it first.”
Sabian said, “Emperor, put your army on standby and send anyone that can be spared to Avaelyn.”
“You too, Tian, send men,” Tristan said.
“How is Sabian here?” Tianoman demanded.
“Later, cousin. Move!” Tristan took hold of Caballa again and drew her aside. “I want you to get Cassy, even if you have to restrain her. Bring her to Avaelyn also.”
“What happened?”
“It’s a long story, and we don’t have time. I don’t know how fast Torrullin will be, or how he will get Elianas out. We must be ready, and Cassy could be part of it. Get her now.”
Caballa vanished. Quilla and Belun were already gone and Teighlar roared commands at the top of his voice. Tianoman remained.
“You are coming with me,” he said, “and while I muster the army, you talk.”
Tristan nodded.
Tianoman swung to Sabian. “You, too. I never expected to see you again. Is Nemisin safe?”
“Nemisin is here, hoping to usurp Torrullin.”
“Gods, what happened?” Tianoman demanded, and then, “Tell me at the Keep.”
He vanished.
Avaelyn
TWO HOURS LATER Tianoman Valla understood exactly what his father was up to, and why, and Nemisin’s escape was explained.
The army gathered in wings and deployed. Guards stood three deep around the Keep and the Elders were summoned in to protect Aislinn and Lunik. As soon as that was done, Tianoman took leave of his wife and son over her protests and he, Tristan and Sabian transported to the beacon on Avaelyn.
Four wings went with them.
The dwelling secured on the cliffs was not revealed to anyone.
In those same two hours Teighlar prepared for war in Grinwallin and the Elders of Luvanor mustered the Luvanese host. Eight wings were deployed to Tianoman and arrived on Avaelyn seconds after those from Valaris. Teighlar sent a squadron of Senlu as well.
Simultaneously the Kaval sent word to every corner. Xen III instituted measures, with Max Dalrish swearing like a trooper, and so did Yltri, Ceta, Lax, Echolone, Excelsior and many others. Each world sent a platoon to Avaelyn. And then the entire Kaval were there also.
Lore of Sanctum Omnibus Page 124
