She did not return.
Tunin Continent
THE SEA WASHED UPON white sand and then withdrew. It washed and withdrew ceaselessly, a motion that was music and calm. She never tired of looking at it and never was the music the same.
He found her on the beach near sunset and it was a measure of her self-confidence that she did not in any way seek to hold him. She had offered him a haven and he had accepted; it was as simple as that.
Lowen did not smile or speak when they met on the sands. Water swirled around their feet.
“I stay only to plan.”
She nodded. She had expected it. “Are you hungry?”
Torrullin stared out over the ocean. They were on the west coast of Tunin and the sun was an amber globe above the horizon, almost touching water.
“No, not yet.”
“Belun sent a communication earlier. Quilla is alive.”
It nearly undid him. He swallowed hard. “How?”
“He hid on the truck to follow the missiles and was on a cargo ship that hurtled out before the event.”
A slow nod answered that. “Where is he now?”
“Ymir.” She took a breath. “Belun says the Dome requires your leadership. The Kaval now have the proof that underlines heavy action.”
Another slow nod ensued. “Soon. Tell him.”
She cleared her throat. “They think Elixir died in the vaporisation.”
He blinked down at her. “They will not think that long.”
“Use it properly, Torrullin. You have anonymity here.”
“I aim to use it.”
She understood his lack of reaction, but it was hard to talk to someone who did not respond with emotion. “I am heading in to prepare dinner. Join me when you are hungry enough to eat.” She moved past him.
“Lowen.”
She halted.
“You saw Elianas recently …”
“Don’t. That will not help you.”
He turned from her and stared unseeingly over the water.
After a moment she continued walking.
Lowen’s cottage
HE WANDERED IN AFTER night had fallen.
She was in the kitchen preparing coffee. She offered him a mug and he accepted. When she again offered dinner, he shook his head. He sat at the kitchen table.
“You sequester yourself from life here, Lowen.”
“On the contrary. The silence is exactly what I need now. Xen was too busy.”
“Elianas thought we would not see you again.”
“He was right, but now it is different.”
“How is it different?”
Lowen sat facing him. “The way is not cleared for me, Torrullin, if that is what you think I have in my mind. Elianas, alive or dead, will always be in your thoughts, and I couldn’t compete with the man alive and certainly have no intention of fighting a ghost. I love you and you needed someone to be there - me, hmm? Who else will understand?”
He stared at her with glittering eyes. Emotion moved there, but he could not yet function in it.
She shook her head and stood to finish the coffee. “Now is not the time to reason with you.”
Setting a mug before him and taking hers with her, she went outside to the porch. She sat on the top step and watched the ocean at night.
He did not follow.
RAIN FELL IN GREAT sheets and thundered upon the roof of the small cottage Lowen had decided to call home.
Water dripped through the ceiling in the kitchen and rivulets ran down the walls in the dining area. She would need to do patching or winter would see her sick as ten dogs. She stood with hands on hips surveying the puddle on the kitchen floor.
She was mopping and cursing when Torrullin entered. “Hand me that bucket, will you?”
He raised his eyebrows and did as bid and then raised them even higher when she plonked it under the offending drip.
“I will fix it when the rain stops,” he offered.
“Good.” She stashed the mop and dried her hands. “Damn, it’s cold in here.”
He shrugged. “Nature is objective.”
“We aren’t. And I am getting older now; I feel the cold.”
He was silent for a beat. “How did you leave without the ogives?”
She flicked him a glance and a slight smile. “You’re talking to Belun, are you?”
“How, Lowen?”
She inclined her head. “Elianas showed me.”
He frowned at her.
“Torrullin, the ogives are based on energy, as is the magic of the Dome. Elianas could insert himself inside without anyone knowing he had breached the vaulted arches. I never saw him do so, but he told me how.”
“He told you … when?”
She smiled. “A vision, Torrullin. He told me in a vision.”
He stared at her for a beat, and then two, three. “That makes it worse. It means he left something … gods, it means he left something undone.” He drew breath, released, and his hands curled into fists of tension. “Elianas would never leave something undone.”
Her heart thumped hard.
His breath came out in shallow gasps. “I have to find him.”
“Torrullin, it was a vision, not reality.”
“You see true, Lowen; you know it and I know it. If you saw Elianas do something he has not yet actually achieved physically, it has only one meaning.”
Her hands clenched together over her stomach. “He is alive. Dear God, he is alive.”
Light rekindled in his eyes. “Somewhere.”
She put a hand to her cheek, hoping for his sake he was right. The other clutched at her clothing, holding onto that hope, for him, for herself.
“My family could be alive also. And Teighlar.”
“You cannot be sure.”
He looked into her incredibly blue eyes. “No, but should I not hope?”
“Oh, God, of course you should hope, but, Torrullin, if you find nothing, how are you ever going to deal with it?”
“I have no idea.”
She swallowed, hearing the emptiness he sought to hide even from himself. “What do you want to do first?”
He threaded a hand through his hair. “Right now I want to kiss you for giving me hope.”
“Ha. Seriously.”
He met her eyes.
She swung away. “Bugger off. I am not getting involved with you again.”
“You already are.”
“You know what I mean.”
HE WAS SILENT AND then asked a question plaguing him for some while, before even memory loss, one he had not to date had the gumption to ask.
“Why did you choose a mortal life, Lowen, when you have so much to offer? Yours is a gift that should not die with you.”
She swung back to stare at him. “You ask, when you of all people should understand without words being spoken?”
He was unblinking. “I ask because I do understand.”
She snorted. “That makes no sense.”
“Doesn’t it? I know what it takes to live forever. I know how it can hurt and how jaded one becomes with too many years, but, Lowen, you had not reached that point. You should still have been in a frame of mind to urge you to more years, more time to achieve goals …”
“I achieved my goal.”
It silenced him only briefly. “No one is that focused. We have multiple goals and they alter periodically, while new ones are added as time goes on.”
She did not respond.
“You are able to attain longevity again.”
“Why would I want to do that?” she demanded, anger in her tone.
He stared at her for another beat before he chose to move away. “Why indeed?”
“Torrullin.” She took in a great breath. “Will you marry me?”
He froze and then shifted slowly until he faced her anew. “You know I will not.”
“Then I have no reason to return to long life.”
“I am not the reason you should use in your ch
oices, Lowen.”
“Unfortunately you are.”
He did not know what to say.
“For Aaru’s sake, deal with it.” She went to the back door of the cottage and opened it. Rain came pounding in.
He was behind her in a moment. He pulled the door from her grasp and shut it. “You will catch a cold. I have not healed another properly for some while.”
Lowen leaned against the door; he was close, too close, but she did not attempt to move. “Stop worrying about my welfare. Concentrate on …” She pulled a face and kept quiet.
“Elianas?”
She nodded.
He inclined his head. “Sometimes you and Elianas become entangled as one in my mind.” He had never admitted that to her before, or to himself. Especially he had not admitted it to Elianas.
“Why would you say that to me? I don’t want to know that!”
He smiled. “Sometimes one has to be cruel to be kind.”
She stared up at him. “Really?”
“Really.”
“How do you figure that one?”
He moved away. “You cannot die, Lowen, not via old age.”
She swore and pulled the door wide. An instant later she strode off into the rain.
Torrullin stepped into the open doorway and watched her leave. He had touched a nerve; he had not intended to and yet in her presence he always had the need to push. He swore as she had. He needed to learn to guard his tongue. He would probably never learn to guard his tongue, damn it.
He could not deal with Lowen right now, however; it was time to plan the strategy that would return Elianas to him.
LOWEN RETURNED DRENCHED and angry, but did not seek him out.
Instead she changed into dry clothes and set about preparing a meal. She heard him move around the cottage as if pacing out his thoughts, but decided to leave him to it. From experience she knew it would be unwise to get involved; that mind was complicated.
She set lunch on the table in the small dining room and snapped a fire on in the tiny fireplace. She did not call him; if he was hungry he would know to come.
He did. He entered wordlessly and sat. He was not in need of sustenance, but had decided to play the accommodating guest in the interest of her peace of mind. He ate slowly and did not speak.
Lowen likewise ate unhurriedly, glancing at him occasionally.
Eventually he looked at her. “Are you all right?”
“Why shouldn’t I be?”
Torrullin snorted a laugh.
Her fork fell with a loud clink into her plate. “Torrullin, don’t push me. I need not have fetched you away from the Dome.”
“I am aware and yet I do not recall asking for your help.”
She inclined her head. “Perhaps you would do the same for me, without my having to beg.”
Elianas said something similar not long ago. His mouth tightened, but his voice was controlled when he spoke. “I would, yes.”
She changed the subject. “What are you planning to do?”
“Return to Excelsior first to sniff out traces.”
“That is a dangerous vacuum right now, even for you.”
He shrugged. “I shall protect myself.”
She nodded. “And then?”
“Does it matter?”
She glared at him.
He put his fork down and leaned forward, hands flat on the table. “Come with me.”
She was so astounded she had no words.
“I know you want to vanish in anonymity and desire a slow death in age, but it is a shame, Lowen. Come with me; I shall protect you until you choose with your mind rather than your heart.”
“You are asking me to reverse mortality in the near future?”
“Only if you want to do so.”
“Why?”
“Need you ask?”
“Yes.”
He drew breath. “Elianas and I are locked in combat …”
“Bugger off. I am not playing your negotiator again.”
He was silent and then nodded. “Fine, it was a pat answer. The real truth is, you need this and I need you to want it. And, for selfish reasons, I want you at my side.”
“Until Elianas returns? And then?”
“There is no competition.”
“Bloody hell, of course there is. Answer the question, why do you want me at your side and why suddenly now?”
“I cannot do this alone.”
She wanted to scream. “There is the Kaval.”
He looked at her.
“You are being selfish.” She stood, snatched her plate up and marched to the kitchen.
He was behind her in seconds. “Lowen.”
“Stay, Torrullin, as long as you like, but do not drag me into your schemes.” She plonked her dishes into the sink and turned the tap on. “I can’t go through it again.”
“I promise to remain platonic.”
“Excellent. It makes no difference.”
He laughed. “Lowen, don’t you see, you are the perfect companion.”
She swung around. “Eternal Companion?”
His mirth vanished. “No.”
She stared at him for a time. “Go to hell.”
“Must I beg?”
“I won’t be your witness, Torrullin. Leave me in peace.”
“Fine, I will not ask again, but know I am not removing this from the table. If you change your mind …”
“I won’t.”
“Then it is so.” He moved away and headed out. “I am leaving in the morning.” He turned in the doorway. “Thank you for your help.”
She stared at him, her heart hammering. “No thanks required.”
Torrullin touched his forehead and left.
She could not move.
Chapter 23
Like grains of sand in a desert, thus are the thoughts of a thinker.
~ Anonymous ~
Ymir
QUILLA WAS HUNGRY.
After hours of hiding, his stomach had now begun to growl at him. The heat was getting to him. Usually someone who revelled in occasional heat, he found this unpleasant. Perhaps it was due to sitting still.
He muttered with repressed violence and moved a few inches to relieve the pressure on his behind. He squinted through the gap in the boulders and cursed when he discovered no change. At this stage any change was better than incessant waiting.
The Kaval’s information was on the mark. Out in the desert plains of Ymir a city of rings rose at breakneck pace. The inner walls were complete and what they hid he could not tell unless he entered, and the three outer walls neared completion. There were gaps to allow for mighty gates and it was through these he was able to see what transpired inside.
First surprise had been the sheer number of people. Most of them were soldiers, but a large force was employed to build the city, of various races and talents. They were housed in tents to the north and worked from dawn well into the night, while the soldiers were billeted to the east and trained on a parade ground large enough to swallow any city on Valaris.
Second surprise had been the massive system of runways to the south, and the incredible number of ships parked upon those concourses. The majority were of Beaconite origin, but there were also vessels from Ymir herself and Yltri. The cargo ship from Excelsior sat in proud accusation amid ships from various other worlds and some were clearly privateers with no allegiance to anyone.
Third surprise had come after studying the logistics of a massive operation, water piped in across miles of desert, buried from view and potential tampering; he saw it when a maintenance crew vanished down a manhole, possibly to affect repairs. There was also clearly an underground railway in motion; he noticed teams taking delivery of various goods from a sloped bunker, but where the railway originated he could not tell.
This city was to be well provisioned, clearly. The city prepared for either a lock-down against the universe or a mighty siege; someone had planned well; someone possessed extraordinary clout and power. He won
dered who exactly was behind it.
Yet it was far from completion. Whatever Beacon planned, the timing for invasion and siege was a way off.
Why, then, had they destroyed Excelsior this early in the game?
Quilla sighed, answering the question immediately. Someone had planned to remove Torrullin and marked an opportunity to do so. Unfortunately that someone had failed. Torrullin would become an avenging angel someone would not want to confront right now. Then again, and he frowned, no one knew Torrullin had survived.
He shifted again … and froze. There was movement out on the plain.
Quilla squinted through the gap and relaxed. It was the traveller from Excelsior, the companion to the cargo vessel, returning from wherever it lifted off to earlier. He focused on the landing and watched as it came to rest. A ramp lowered and two men came wandering down deep in conversation.
Goddamn. Quilla’s breath froze in the heat. This would be a political nightmare of epic proportions.
President Bannerman of Beacon was very much in the loop. Bannerman had chosen to take on the universe to ‘save’ his people, but had no idea how thoroughly he would pay for his choices. No one messed with Elixir; no one messed with Torrullin’s family, and no one messed with Elianas and lived to tell the tale. Ask Tymall. Well, maybe that was not a good example.
The birdman watched them walk over to a land terrain vehicle and then they were whisked away. He wondered who the second man was. As the small vehicle disappeared through the rings of the city, he returned his attention to the traveller. The pilot and one other crewman had descended the ramp, and he watched in horror as a soldier crept up behind them to shoot both men in the back of their heads.
All gods, was the entire universe on the brink of madness?
Luvanor
Lowen’s Cottage
LOWEN HEARD HIM ON the deck in front.
By his attempt at stealth she knew he did not want to wake her and by the mismatched tread she knew he was agitated. What was new, she thought. Torrullin was always off on a tangent, whether in action or emotion, thus she should be able to ignore his moods, yet could not.
She had walked away from it, by choice, and would choose exactly the same now if it lay before her, but, if she was honest, she missed it. She missed the frenetic activity, the uncertainty, the rollercoaster of feelings, never knowing where she would go next and how she would react to situations; others would perhaps throw their hands up at the very idea of such instability, but she had thrived on it.
Lore of Sanctum Omnibus Page 151
