Lore of Sanctum Omnibus

by Elaina J Davidson

  Elianas secured it to his waist. “Beware Elixir in full strength.”

  “I do not give a fuck.”

  “Where is your anger directed?”

  “At anyone in opposition.”

  “Torrullin, is some of it reserved for me?”

  A glance that tore through Elianas’ soul. “No.”

  Elianas approached. “I am unharmed. Take it out on Digilan’s creatures, if you must, but focus on tomorrow.”

  Torrullin drew Elianas’ face close. “Tomorrow is very far away, Elianas. Too far. I will not get there whole.”

  “For god’s sake, then let it go.”

  “Elixir has to be released to counter Digilan.” He stepped back. “I am counting on you to pick up the pieces.”

  Elianas strode closer. “You focus on us, and you keep it together.”

  A beat, two, and then, “Kiss me.”

  A shudder passed through the dark man. “Why?”

  “Wish and will, combined in this one instant, because there is no tomorrow.”

  “What is wish and will?”

  “Wish is you and will is eternity. There is no line, Elianas, which matters now. I finally and unequivocally admit I wish for you with every fibre of my being, with or without the kinfire raging through your blood. Do you hear me? I want you and I have had my fill of madness. This is the last day.”

  Elianas went cold. “Come away with me before it is too late.”

  “There is nowhere to hide, and nowhere to run to. Everything is now exposed. In shattered pieces, admittedly, but entirely exposed nonetheless.”

  “You are not making sense.”

  “They are fighting on the plain. Let us enter the field.”

  “In a moment. In one matter we have no disparity. Know this before we unleash hell on the universe. Wish is you and will is eternity, and if it takes that length of time to put you back together, I shall do so gladly. There is no line that matters.”

  Torrullin reached out and dragged Elianas to him, and the kiss that followed moved worlds.

  TRISTAN AND THE Kaval fought together.

  Chaim fell first and Jonas dragged him to the safety of the healing facility where Caballa did what she could.

  Many dead littered the battlefield, fallen of both sides, and there was no lull. Insectoid and nightmarish creatures fought alongside draithen, Tracloc and humanoid in opposition to the combined forces of nations. Sword and sorcery vied for supremacy.

  Then Torrullin and Elianas were there. Elianas used Trezond, but it was Trezond with a difference. The sword was electrified, sparking blue, and a simple touch was sufficient to kill an opponent. His hands flashed and creatures fell from his path in terror. The power of Alhazen.

  Torrullin dispatched whole swathes of the enemy by encompassing them in one glance. The instant he created a space around them, he held a hand aloft. All movement froze.

  Elixir dealt then with the evil of Digilan.

  Grinwallin

  DIGILAN’S UNLEASHED dematerialised without warning.

  Senlu heaved for breath and waited for the unexpected, but no one returned to continue the fight.

  The netherworld filled with a few thousand new arrivals.

  Xen III

  PUFFS OF SMOKE filled the air like popping airguns, and Xenians realised it was the enemy vanishing one after the other.

  As if someone switched them off.

  Max Dalrish, on the palace balcony, understood who was responsible. He closed his eyes and sent his appreciation to Elixir, and hoped the man could hear through the spaces.

  The city lights came on, the soldiers warily retreated, and life continued.

  Akhavar

  A THIN WAIL wrapped like a living thing sinuously through the mountain city.

  Moments later only silence remained.

  Valaris

  TORRKE, OF COURSE, was untouched.

  The evil of a sundered realm had greater impact in Menllik, and when the host abruptly vanished, Valleur glanced at each other. Torrullin, Dragon, Destroyer and Elixir, had once again stood in the path of ruin.

  Revere his name, Valleur.

  Avaelyn

  ONLY THE HORDE on Avaelyn remained.

  Torrullin said, “Tell the soldiers to get back.”

  Elianas retreated, issuing commands. As the soldiers retreated, Elianas bore witness. Gripping Trezond in a bloodless grip, he watched and did not interfere.

  Torrullin stood for long minutes eyeing the enemy, and soon they were emboldened to rush forward in renewed attack. The moment they moved, so did he.

  He took to the skies on mighty black wings.

  Digilan creatures fell back in terror.

  The remnant of Digilan, realm, quailed.

  He flew over and where he passed death followed. He did it again and again and again to the horror of the watchers, and secret relief, and as he did so he built the strength required for what had to come next. It was the only way to end it with finality.

  A mighty flap dealt with the last of the enemy, and at the end of it his shadow wings were massive and more tangible than they had ever been. Rage and hatred and pain drove him, and he passed over the dead and shattered them as he was shattered, and in doing so expanded his wings to mighty proportions.

  The soldiers retreated in fear.

  Tristan, Caballa, Quilla, Tianoman and the Kaval watched in awe.

  Elianas closed his eyes briefly, and held the sword ever tighter.

  Then, as Elianas did for Reaume and Ariann in Lethe, Torrullin relinquished his wings to seal Digilan off. To create a barrier between it and reality. His wings were so massive the sealing would last into eternity.

  He floated down to earth, wingless.

  And sealed Tymall’s mortal remains away with the terrible evil of a sundered realm.

  Digilan would never harm a soul again.

  Tymall was dead.

  He was dead.

  Torrullin waved a hand over the plain and the enemy remains vanished. He stared over the emptiness and did not move.

  ELIANAS WAS AT his shoulder. “It is done.”

  “No wings. It is definitely done.”

  “What now?”

  “I must speak to Tian about his father.”

  “It can wait, Torrullin.”

  Torrullin inhaled, exhaled, and finally animated. “It cannot. Elianas, forgive me.”

  A frown. “What for?”

  “I lose my hold on recognition. I am afraid I might say something soon that will create a rift.”

  “You will blame me for your son’s death. I can take it.”

  “You did kill him.”

  An expression of anger flitted into Elianas’ eyes. “I am fucking well aware of that.”

  “There you are.”

  Elianas stared at him, and then that gaze dropped to the man’s mouth. “Do your worst, brother. This is the last day, as you said.”

  “Does that include you?”

  “Absolutely.”

  “Beware … brother.”

  “Ah, Torrullin, what is the worst you could do to me?”

  A hooded stare as Elianas’ gaze lifted. “Cross the line.”

  “Promise?”

  Torrullin groaned. “For fuck’s sake, after what happened here, how can that one word stir the fires?”

  “Gods, promise.”

  Grey into dark. “Promise.”

  Elianas closed his eyes. “Go.”

  Torrullin moved a beat later, and headed to the knot of witnesses.

  The soldiers, he noted, had already left.

  TRISTAN WAS NOT surprised by the wings, of course, but the others gabbled together like old women.

  Tristan lost his patience with them and told the Kaval to return to the Dome to check on the status of other battles attributed to Digilan. He told them to take Cassy to a secure place.

  Quilla refused to go.

  Torrullin and Elianas were in conversation out there on the field, and it was clear something
had changed. They stood and interacted differently. It could be what had happened in Digilan, but Tristan thought it probably went deeper than that.

  Caballa confirmed it as Torrullin came towards them.

  “He has lost most of his grip, Tris. Something terrible happened in Digilan to bring it on. He isn’t Torrullin now.”

  “What is he, Caballa?” Tristan asked, as Tianoman and Quilla listened in.

  “What remains after wings release - a shell, an angry shell. And what is able function after Elixir metes out justice over vast distances. Flesh on automatic, and still volatile in anger and disappointment. Watch your words, all of you. We don’t want to set him off now.”

  Then he was there. “Digilan is sealed eternally.”

  Tianoman paled.

  “Everyone who escaped is sent to the netherworld. Tristan, there is damage in Akhavar and on Xen.”

  “I will get the Kaval on it.”

  “Good.” Torrullin waited pointedly, until Tristan swore under his breath and transported out, saying he would see Caballa back on Valaris.

  “Enchanter,” Quilla began.

  “Do not call me that right now, Q’li’qa’mz. Today I was everything but.”

  The birdman inclined his head. “Did the wings seal Digilan?”

  “Yes.”

  “How? And where …”

  “I do not want to talk about it. Ask Elianas sometime. He might be more forthcoming. Quilla, it is time for you to go.”

  “There are questions …”

  “Not today. I need to speak to Tian.”

  The birdman bowed. “Of course. When you are ready, call.” He left a moment later, returning to the Dome also.

  Caballa sighed. “I’ll go, too.”

  “Stay. Your Vallorin will need you in a moment.”

  Tianoman paled further.

  Torrullin braced his legs and looked Tianoman in the eye.

  “Tristan no doubt told you what happened on that plane. Good. I think, however, he will have kept it simple, and that would not explain what your father was about. Tymall listened to rumours about me and came to the same prejudice Teroux now harbours. It meant he was ripe for Nemisin to use. Before Tymall opened a portal with Nemisin’s help into the plane, he put a plan into place. He desired to punish for insulting him by our supposed actions. He needed to do so to retain his authority as Warlock. Tian, what happened next does not reflect on the love your father bore for you, and you should remember him as the man you met after your Coming-of-Age.”

  “What happened?” Tianoman whispered. “The truth.”

  “He took Elianas through, drugged him on the other side, and set foot to a path that took him swiftly from my reach. When I got to him he had Elianas staked naked on a sacrificial platform, and men ready to rape him.”

  “No.”

  Caballa swallowed.

  Torrullin went on. “I dispatched them, only to learn Tymall intended to scar Elianas in a manner that could not be healed, and was made helpless with Warlock staff to stand and watch as he pulled his breeches down to personally sodomise him.”

  “He can’t! You lie! He cannot function …”

  “Nemisin healed him. Tymall could and he intended to. I stopped it. Digilan began to sunder. To cut out unnecessary detail, I will keep it simple from here. He tried repeatedly. In the end we were frozen, a facet that could not last, but would be long enough for Tymall to complete his mission of degradation. We broke free. Digilan was unleashed and Tymall was killed.”

  Tianoman gripped him by his tunic. “How was he killed?”

  “It does not matter. It is over. I am sorry. You lost a father this day, as I lost a son.”

  “You don’t seem to care!”

  “I cannot afford to grieve now.”

  Tianoman straightened and released Torrullin. “How did he die?”

  “I broke his neck,” Elianas said.

  Torrullin swung around. “For Aaru’s sake.”

  A dark, unreadable stare. “Let us not lie now.” He faced Tianoman. “He froze me and was about to degrade me. I broke his neck. I killed him.”

  Tianoman stared at Elianas, and slapped him hard. Elianas’ head snapped sideways and he flinched. Tianoman slapped him again and lifted his hand to do so again as anger and grief overcame him.

  Torrullin caught his wrist. “You were not there. You would have done the same.”

  “He killed my father.”

  “Your father lives on in your heart. He killed the Warlock and he killed a rapist, and much worse.”

  “You let it happen!”

  “Maybe.”

  “How can you say that?”

  “Maybe I let it happen, yes, because I wanted badly to kill him myself.”

  “He is your son!”

  “I do not think he ever really was my son.”

  Tianoman slapped him. “Leave me alone.” A moment after, he vanished.

  “Caballa, go after him.”

  “My Lord …”

  “Not now. He needs you.”

  “What about you?”

  A direct stare. “I need Elianas.”

  She licked her lips, nodded, and was gone.

  Torrullin turned. “Now.”

  “Then it is now,” Elianas said.

  The plain, scene of battle, was empty.

  Chapter 76

  “What are you most afraid of, Elianas?”

  “That I will not be able to make you whole after you shatter …”

  Avaelyn

  THEY TRANSPORTED DIRECTLY into the bedchamber and by the time they arrived were at each other’s clothes, desperate in haste and need.

  This time there was no argument, no second guessing and no disparity. Skin cleaved to skin and hearts knocked together. Fingers plunged into hair and mouths collided. Nails raked on skin and dug in. Teeth sank down. Fingers fumbled at buttons and desire soared and soaked and sought release.

  The river of light erupted and agony ensued, and they bridged it, fuelled by the naked pain. In silence they sweated desperately through and then yanked breeches clear and tumbled onto the bed.

  Trezond clattered down, boots flew off, fingers tore loincloths aside and mouths devoured.

  Elianas flipped Torrullin over … and halted all movement.

  A weight settled onto the bed beside them.

  Torrullin jerked around.

  Dilated pupils became pinpricks.

  “I simply cannot allow you two to become one. One of you, perhaps even both of you, will possess too much power in the aftermath.”

  Nemisin.

  Golden hair flowing over his shoulders, dark clothing in the style of the day, and a self-satisfied smile on his face.

  Elianas leaned back on his knees, his face a mask.

  Torrullin sat up. “You fuck.”

  A grin. “Actually, it seems you were about to engage in that.”

  Torrullin stared at him, and then reached for Elianas. “Ignore him.”

  He pulled the man closer, and Elianas surrendered as Torrullin’s fingers dug into his shoulders and his mouth descended to bite painfully into his collarbone. He pulled that head back and found his mouth. Desire flared up anew, stronger, even more desperate.

  Nemisin might as well have been a decoration.

  “Sorry, boys, but this will not do.”

  They ignored him, falling back. Torrullin shifted and rolled Elianas under him, facing him. Elianas’ hands moved over his back and cupped his rear and he arched as he pulled the man down against him.

  “Gods,” Torrullin breathed, pupils dilating almost to black. “Do not stop. Whatever happens.”

  Elianas exhaled sharply, and moved his hips. Light pulsed between them, keeping the beat of hearts, hurting, fuelling. Torrullin gripped his wrists and pressed them down above his head, sliding his body over the dark man, lust trawling through every nerve. Elianas groaned, wrapped a leg around to urge him closer, mouths connected, stealing breath …

  … they flew across t
he chamber in separate directions.

  In the space between, the golden Valleur Throne perched.

  Nemisin sat on it.

  “Do you dare assail me while I sit on this node of power?”

  They picked themselves up, faces stiff.

  “Whatever happens, you said,” Elianas said.

  “And I hold to that.” He stalked behind the Throne, pushed Elianas against the wall and leaned in.

  Skin slid against skin.

  “Clearly murder and mayhem has fuelled desire,” came the murmur from the golden seat. “You two require death to feel alive. That is twisted.”

  “He makes me want more,” Elianas groaned.

  “Take more.”

  Elianas arched, and then slid to his knees to …

  Again they flew in opposite directions.

  Torrullin got up swearing and strode to the Throne. “Get out!”

  Nemisin stared up unruffled. “You have a great body, Lord Sorcerer. Pity about the technique.”

  Elianas was there. “What do you want?”

  “The truth? I have always wanted you, dear boy. I might even get a thrill in playing the voyeur, but there is this little niggle of the soul goddess. I know you see her, and I know you experience the torture. One might say pain is very desirable to you both.”

  Torrullin groaned as a new wave of lust swept through him.

  Elianas gripped him and threw him to the bed, clambering over him. Fingers plunged into dark hair, bodies arched, mouths devoured.

  Nemisin sighed theatrically and lifted a finger that dragged him off. Elianas snarled and loosed a pulse of pure energy, and a shield erupted around the Throne. The pulse rebounded, and Elianas ducked. It slammed destructively into the wall behind the bed.

  Torrullin bent the mind and will of Elixir and came up empty. The Throne thwarted every attempt.

  Nemisin laughed in delight. “Well, there you proved my point. Do what you will, for I am quite safe. Go where you will, for I am able to find you.”

  Torrullin swore.

  Nemisin eyed them, his gaze raking both sweaty bodies. “Tell you what, continue. No line is crossed if you play with each other. A good climax will do you good right now.”