Lore of Sanctum Omnibus

by Elaina J Davidson

  “Fine!” Torrullin shouted and trod closer. “Gloves off!”

  He gripped then and dragged the man with him through the dwelling into his bedchamber. Elianas came without protesting, which scared the daylights out of Torrullin.

  Somewhere Teighlar stirred in his sleep, semi-aware of confrontation, but his sleep was too troubled by his own seeking dreams to wake to the reality of the situation.

  Torrullin tossed the dark man onto his bed. And stood heaving over him. “Relax, I am not going to abuse you. I want you in my space to read those goddamn eyes of yours.” He snapped a candle on. “But let us not chase the shadows away entirely, shall we? We function so well in shadows.”

  Elianas sat up. He crossed his legs before him and placed his hands upon his knees, and waited.

  Torrullin was at a loss for words. He stared at the man, astonished.

  Elianas sat tranquilly on.

  Torrullin set up a furious pacing, dragging a hand through his hair countless times. Every so often he would stop as if to say something and then a look of confusion would cross his face before he paced on again.

  Eventually he stood quiescent. “My god, I have lost the power to dissect you. You are more of an enigma now than you were when we took on Kalgaia.”

  Elianas’ eyes flickered, but he did not speak.

  “Is this your doing?”

  Elianas shook his head infinitesimally.

  “Where are we headed, my brother? Answer that at least.”

  Elianas drew breath. “I am answering nothing.”

  Torrullin kneeled at the foot of the low bed, his knees upon the softness. “Then where do we go?”

  Elianas shrugged.

  “Goddamn it, what do you want of me?”

  “You,” Elianas said.

  Torrullin closed his eyes. “And yet you avoid my touch now.”

  “I am not talking about sex, you stupid man.”

  Torrullin, in confusion, chose contrary behaviour to elicit a reaction he could dissect. He moved closer on his knees and reached out to take Elianas’ tunic collar in one hand. The man did not move; he knew he was being pushed and tested. Torrullin tightened his hold and thereafter tore that tunic open.

  One hand curled around Elianas’ neck, skin to skin, and he lowered his head to the man’s shoulder. Elianas reached up and took him by his hair and dragged his head up. Dark eyes stared into grey.

  “It will not work, Torrullin.”

  “I think you are lying.”

  Elianas let go. “Fine. Test me.”

  He caressed Elianas’ throat, but there was no reaction. Torrullin sank down to sit on the bed in similar pose to that of his companion, while maintaining contact with the man’s warm skin. “Willpower, Elianas?”

  “Choice. I am stepping out of this circle.”

  “What changed?”

  “You chose me over your son.”

  Dark fury entered that grey gaze. “Oh?”

  Elianas reached up and curled his fingers around the wrist resting on his shoulder. He pulled Torrullin’s arm aside and, moving his hand so that their fingers lay splayed across each other, cradled that contact into his other hand.

  “I am not afraid of your touch, but the terror of that line no longer exists for me. When I say I want you, I mean I want you, the real Torrullin, the one hiding behind a mask of rage, but it is not desire for the flesh, not any more. It changed the day you stood there and I saw your heart break when you chose to save me at the expense of Tymall. It hurt, and yet you turned to me, you needed to check I was still with you. In that moment I understood the depth of our connection, the depth of your love for me. That is how I love you and I hope one day you will understand. I will not fight you, Torrullin.”

  Torrullin put his free hand over their fingers. “Elianas, you are the stupid one. I already understand.”

  Elianas smiled sadly. “I wonder.”

  Torrullin drew breath, rage leaving him. He leaned forward until his head rested on Elianas’ shoulder. “Stop wondering. You think too much.”

  Elianas broke the connection held in hands and lifted one to stroke Torrullin’s hair. “And you are not thinking enough.”

  Torrullin lifted his head. He took Elianas’ face into his hands and stared deeply into the man’s eyes. “You are still lying. You wear a mask now. I swear to you I shall tear it off.”

  “Come to terms with your Lorinin side first.”

  Grey eyes altered to skittering silver. “So there is a mask.”

  “You perceive one. I see yours as rage.”

  “And yours is calm?”

  Elianas’ eyes flickered then. “Calm? No, I am not calm. I am angrier than you can ever imagine.”

  “Why?”

  Elianas reversed the intent of the night.

  He, too, chose contrary behaviour to elicit a reaction, but it was a reaction Torrullin was to dissect, for he knew already how the man would respond, and why. It was to shift the focus of Torrullin’s attention away from what lay beneath. His dark eyes turned feral for an instant and then he leaned forward to claim Torrullin’s lips. It was a intense kiss that burned holes into the fabric of space, one Torrullin returned without thought to consequence.

  Elianas broke it off and sat watching the man heave before him. Calmly he rose and stood looking down. “Who wants now? You should get yourself a woman; it used to work for me.”

  He stepped off the bed and sauntered out and made his way back to his study.

  TORRULLIN SWORE AND ROSE to stand at the ledge looking out into the night.

  Clever bastard; Elianas had neatly changed the rules without it being obvious. The time for a change in strategy was due.

  He frowned. He could feel that skin under his fingers and … gods. Now what?

  FOR HIS PART, ELIANAS MADE it to his study without losing the use of his legs. He slumped to the makeshift bed there and sat with his head in his hands. Inwardly he shook with unholy desire, but Torrullin would never know.

  He swore to himself the man would never know.

  Chapter 18

  Your cubs, King Lion? Protect them, for Emperor Panther stalks the night.

  ~ Tattle’s Blunt Adventures ~

  The Dome

  THE DOME’S EVERY SENSOR was on alert, trained both outward and inward from and to Avaelyn.

  Belun was in the proverbial heaven that was pure bliss, and Teroux, having entered the vaulted space with Tristan, suspected the Centuar would not mind too much if one of Beacon’s stealth ships entered the region. Belun would love to prove nothing could escape his notice, and he ached to blow the greedy warmongers from the vacuum.

  This was Teroux’s second visit to the Dome. Before the rift between family, Tristan brought him and Tianoman in for a tour and he remembered well his awe on that day, and Tianoman’s dropped jaw silence. Earlier, with Rose present, he had been too focused on the situation to regard the Dome as an entity, but now the magical enclave amazed him anew, for there was no comparison in the reality he inhabited daily. His cousin Tristan functioned in magic; how utterly astonishing.

  The Q’lin’la ogive chimed.

  Quilla did not come alone.

  Teroux noticed a red-haired woman with the birdman, and rose from his seat at the marble slab.

  QUILLA BROUGHT ALIK DIRECT from Grinwallin, and she gazed around her, as amazed; green eyes and red hair flicked everywhere. If those in the Dome had known her well, they would understand she wondered if she had chosen the right path. Flicking her hair was a sign of self-doubt.

  TRISTAN LOOKED UP FROM charts he had spread on the slab as Quilla led her into the Circle.

  “Tristan, this is Alik and she is Teighlar’s daughter.” The birdman chose to be informal, believing Alik would be at greater ease that way.

  Tristan cleared his throat. Well. He came forward and extended his hand and she took it in ritual Valleur greeting. “Welcome, Alik.”

  She drew breath. “Thank you.”

  “Meet Belun an
d Teroux.”

  The Centuar bowed and Teroux smiled and approached.

  She studied Belun for a few beats, colouring when he grinned at her, and then smiled greeting, including Teroux in it. “This is a wonderful space. Inspiring.”

  Smiling, Tristan said, “It gets me upon every entry as well. Please sit.” Quilla sat at the slab and Alik followed suit. “Quilla?”

  The birdman went directly to the issue. “Alik possesses a Diluvan artefact and it opens a portal. It belongs to her father and is how he entered Avaelyn.”

  Tristan’s heart thumped. An answer at last. Nodding, he spoke to Alik. “Do you know how to use it?”

  “Dechend said to know where I want to go.”

  “Did Dechend specify how many could go through this portal?” Tristan murmured,

  Quilla gave a half-smile, understanding the underlying motive.

  “Four. I have to be one of them.” Alik drew breath. “This is new for me, but Quilla told me how urgent the situation is and I want to help.”

  Tristan nodded. “And you are petrified of meeting your father.”

  Alik tugged at her ear. “You have no idea.”

  He grinned. “Actually, I do. I felt that way about Torrullin once. Knowing him anew as an adult was quite an adjustment.”

  She smiled. “I guess. How did you handle it?”

  “With a thumping heart and cold, clammy skin.”

  Alik laughed. “That helps!”

  Tristan grinned. “Teighlar doesn’t bite. He will probably be more scared than you are.” He shifted his attention to Quilla. “You want to be one of the four, right?”

  Quilla winked and shrugged.

  “And me,” Teroux stated, perching on the edge of the slab.

  “I guess that means you are going?” Alik murmured to Tristan.

  He grinned sheepishly. “How does this artefact work?”

  They entered a discussion about an ordinary-looking box.

  Belun was all ears.

  Avaelyn

  TEIGHLAR WAS RED-EYED exhausted and sat outside beside the fishpond sipping strong coffee to wake up.

  His dreams had plagued him during the night, and when he saw Torrullin in similar state ambling over to join him, he felt less beset upon.

  “Bad night, was it?”

  “As bad as it gets,” Torrullin muttered.

  “Dreams?”

  “I wish.”

  Teighlar frowned. “Then what?”

  “A certain man.”

  “Gods, you two drive me insane. There are greater things than a goddamn love affair.”

  “Well, gods, Emperor, excuse me if you do not what know you are talking about.”

  “Enlighten me. That is why I am here, remember?”

  “If I knew how to explain, I would. Let it be. The rules have changed again.”

  Teighlar was curious. “Oh?”

  “I do not know the rules yet.”

  Teighlar burst into laughter. “Boy, he has got you! You know, initially I thought Elianas would need help, you being so bloody stubborn, but now I know you are the one feeling your way through the dark.”

  “The dark I can handle. We are in the shadows.”

  “Who are you fooling, my friend?”

  Torrullin grinned. “Just shut up and give me some of that coffee.”

  Teighlar passed his mug over and then the two were arrested by Elianas ambling over the stone walkway further up. He was unaware they watched and seemed … alone.

  Torrullin frowned.

  Then, as fate would design it, everything changed again.

  In the brightness of the day a greater brightness appeared.

  Teighlar reared back.

  Torrullin lurched to his feet, hand on the hilt of his sword.

  ELIANAS JERKED AROUND.

  Tristan, Teroux, Quilla and a woman strange to them came walking through that brightness. It vanished immediately after and the woman was seen looking convulsively down at her empty hands before again looking up.

  Closing in, Elianas shifted his gaze to Torrullin and saw there something akin to fear. His gaze settled on the woman. She had turned around and he gazed directly into green eyes. Those arresting orbs immediately recalled Saska to mind.

  Huge trouble had stepped into the arena. His attention returned to Torrullin, but the man was intent only on his grandsons. That would change, he knew, the moment he saw those eyes. He ambled nearer.

  He discovered he held his breath, and released it slowly.

  “ALL GODS,” TEIGHLAR BREATHED. “Then it is true.”

  “A family interference,” Torrullin muttered, eyes narrowing.

  Teighlar was on his feet. “Torrullin, she used the box, she used the box, the Diluvan box … oh, my god.”

  “Box? She?”

  “Alik, Torrullin. And she can only do so if she is my … if she is …”

  “Your daughter.”

  “Yes!” The word was torn from him.

  Torrullin stared at the woman. Yes, there was a decided likeness. The same pale skin, height, leanness. Her hair was far redder, but it was Teighlar’s colouring. She also possessed the inherent bearing those born to the blood possessed. It could not be taught; it simply was.

  “Proof, isn’t it?” he murmured. “Now you know without doubt.”

  “That scares me. I have … hell.”

  Tristan stood then before Torrullin, his face open and expressive, and Torrullin’s attention focused on him. There was some doubt present about the action taken to be there, but it was less than Tristan’s pleasure in reuniting with someone long absent.

  Torrullin could not deny him; he reached out and held him. “I have missed you.”

  “As have I,” Tristan murmured as he stepped from the embrace. “I am beyond glad to have you back with us. Forgive the interference.”

  “I am aware of the situation.”

  The two smiled at each other. They were close, trusted each other completely, and together it was difficult to tell them apart.

  As Teroux moved in cautiously, Teighlar hung well back, and so did Alik. Elianas remained on the outskirts, his face inscrutable.

  Teroux came to rest warily before Torrullin. “Forgive me.”

  Torrullin laughed and dragged him into his arms. “For what? It is good to see you, really good.”

  Teroux sagged against his grandfather, holding on tight. “Thank you.”

  Torrullin then held the golden man at arm’s length. “I hear you got married. Congratulations, son. Rose is perfect for you.”

  Teroux gave a wide smile. “I know!”

  Torrullin’s attention shifted. “Quilla.”

  “Enchanter.” The birdman blinked rapidly.

  “I have missed your counsel recently, Q’li’qa’mz, more than either of us will ever know.”

  Quilla swallowed. “As I have missed giving it.”

  Torrullin closed his eyes briefly. “And now you can pest me again.”

  Quilla was sad. “You were so broken, Torrullin. I thought you would not come back whole. My heart sings again.”

  Torrullin squeezed his eyes shut. He cleared his throat and then opened them. “My heart sings also, but, my friend, I am not complete, not yet.”

  “Then it is as well I insisted on coming.”

  “Hmm, I certainly will grill you for daring to enter Avaelyn space.” It was said teasingly, but there was an underlying thread of seriousness also.

  Quilla shook his head in his long-suffering way.

  Torrullin shifted to Teighlar, but Teighlar had retreated. Torrullin frowned and swung back to Tristan. “And who is this young lady?”

  Peripherally, Torrullin noted how Elianas tensed and wondered about it, and then he paled and stepped back. He drew a shuddering breath as Tristan said, “Torrullin, meet Alik.”

  He swallowed and could not drag his gaze away from her. “Alik, well met.”

  She frowned at him; they all were, for his reaction was unexpected.

&
nbsp; “My Lord, it is an honour.” She held her hand out.

  Elianas closed in, eyes darker than usual.

  Torrullin rediscovered the manners able to hide most emotions. He accepted her proffered hand. “Welcome to Avaelyn, Alik.”

  She smiled in relief and nodded. Her eyes flicked to the area behind him, but Teighlar had disappeared. Blinking, she looked at her hands.

  Elianas entered the circle. “Alik, I am Elianas.”

  She faced his way and her mouth dropped open a bit. “Well met, Elianas.” Her voice emerged almost husky.

  Elianas drew her fingers to his lips and kissed them. He was at his most charming.

  Tristan’s gaze shifted from one man to the other and he knew Alik had changed the game for them. The poor girl would get caught smack in the middle of a war that had nothing to do with Beacon. Teighlar had better step up soon.

  Elianas released Alik’s hand and Tristan stepped into the gap.

  Pulling the dark man into an embrace, he smacked him on the back. “Missed you, Elianas. Life is interesting when you are in it!”

  The dark man laughed. “It seems our holiday is done with.”

  Thereafter Elianas and Teroux squared off.

  The last time they saw each other Teroux spoke hateful words and Elianas did not hold back either. In fact, he deliberately kissed Torrullin to anger the younger man. Teroux’s prejudices came to the fore that day. It caused the rift.

  Tristan watched Teroux worriedly.

  Torrullin, however, had his eye on Elianas.

  Teroux held his hand out. “Truce?”

  Elianas inclined his head and took that hand. “Truce it is.”

  Both released simultaneously and moved away from each other. Tristan chewed at his inner cheek. Not so sorted, after all.

  Elianas stood before Quilla. “I need to ask your forgiveness, Q’li’qa’mz.”

  Quilla put his hands together and bowed over them. “I did not understand that day, Elianas Danae. Today I honour your wisdom.”

  Elianas put his hands together as well and bowed also. “I thank you from my heart.”