“And where is Sabian?”
“In your library, last I saw him,” Elianas replied, sitting at the table.
“It should not be inside,” Sabian said, also ambling in. He pointed at the sphere Torrullin held.
“Nothing will harm this place again,” Elianas said.
Torrullin glanced at him. “The same cannot be said for people.”
The dark man shrugged. “True. Caballa how far is that brew?”
She grinned at him. “Two minutes.”
“We can wait two minutes,” Elianas stated.
“We dare not.” Sabian took the sphere from Torrullin and strode out with it. “This is a timed device. It requires ice to keep it dormant.”
With alacrity the others set off after him, even Elianas, after giving the coffee a longing glance.
At Sabian’s shoulder as the man hurried through stone passages, Torrullin asked, “What manner of timed device? A bomb?”
“Nothing as crude as that. It is a hologram.”
“Why should we be afraid of it?”
“There is no need to fear it. Heat, however, will scramble the message within.” Sabian stepped onto a bridge spanning one of many ponds, kneeled, and swiftly immersed the orb.
“We are meant to break it,” Torrullin frowned.
“Yes, that is one manner in which it is activated, but do so in the water. Cold keeps it inactive. It is timed to release its message - and it delivers only the once - when it reaches a certain temperature; incorrect heat, however, may damage the file.”
“Technology?” Elianas said.
“How do you know?” Torrullin asked at the same time.
“We had something similar on Kinsail. This one is not as old, though.” Sabian responded.
“Can you tell the origin of this?” Caballa asked, kneeling to stare into the water.
“Possibly Beacon,” Sabian murmured after again studying it. “Where did you find it?”
“Valaris,” Elianas said.
“Impossible. Valaris is too young in settlement …” Sabian snapped his fingers. “Unless the settlers brought it with them in one of their ships. Someone knew enough to hide it. I am assuming you found it in a cold place.”
“Polar region,” Elianas murmured, not looking in any way at Torrullin.
“It fits. It is at least ten thousand years old, and someone knew to dump it into the snow.”
Tristan muttered, “Smacks of foreknowledge.”
“Indeed,” Torrullin muttered. “Elianas, break it.”
For long moments the dark man remained unmoving. Finally he reached into the pond, gripped the sphere and squeezed. A massive bubble of air erupted from below the water’s surface, broke in a shower of spray, sending him reeling back. He landed on his butt to swipe hair from his face in irritation.
Grinning, Torrullin hunkered beside him. Swift as a breath, his grin vanished.
A woman swathed in patterned robes exploded from the water. A diaphanous veil covered her face. She lifted both hands to cover her ears and each finger had upon it an intricate ring. A tattoo of two snakes wound around her left wrist and a tiny dragon sat on her right forearm.
Both Torrullin and Elianas stared at it in fascination. It was the mark an abdicated Vallorin wore in times past. The last Vallorin to carry the mark after the Dragon passed on was Vannis. He received it the night Torrullin accepted the Vallorinship and the Valleur Dragon in the Morinnes camp many years ago.
Those hands moved to cross over her breast, and she began to speak.
If you are searching for a ticking clock, heed me now. If you have accidentally found this message, you will not remember ever seeing or hearing. I am Immirin of the Lorin. Hear me, listener. In the ancient stone of Akhavar there is a receptacle able to hold and hide and safeguard the master mechanism. Find it. Inscribe inside the word Eurue, but be certain it matches exactly with the inscription on the keystone. Protect the clock until this is achieved. When the words lock, it will vanish from view and time will be sheltered. If you seek greater clarity, speak to the Syllvan of Reaume.
She bowed then over her hands and vanished.
Torrullin and Elianas looked at each other.
“What happened?” Caballa asked. “I feel as if something happened.”
Tristan glanced at her, and snagged his chin, pinching it to still the words of revelation.
“Sabian?” Torrullin prompted.
“I remember, yes,” the man said on the edge of hearing.
“Tristan,” Torrullin said, “time for choice.”
The Kaval leader nodded. “I shall remain in the Dome no matter what.”
“Tris?” Caballa whispered.
“Caballa.” Torrullin rose. “We need you to go to Akhavar.”
“Why? What happened? You all appear more informed suddenly.”
“There was a message, but remembering it appears selective,” Tristan said.
“We shall reveal all, I promise, but we need you on Akhavar. All Valleur remaining now on Valaris must go there also.” Torrullin drew a breath. “I shall explain soon, but know Menllik will not be rebuilt. The Valleur are leaving Valaris.”
She stared at him.
“We return to our roots, Caballa,” Torrullin said. “Somehow, despite believing we set time adrift, we are about to close a circle.”
“Fuck,” Elianas snarled, and strode off.
“Seconded,” Sabian muttered.
Chapter 14
The Dragon Effect
Speak of the chameleon and invite the dragon in
Valaris
Western Isles
Valla Island
HALON SAT AROUND THE long table in the dining chamber with the other Elders.
Valla Palace in the Western Isles felt abandoned now, despite its pristine condition and complement of retainers. Tristan Skyler Valla spent many years here while Vallorin-in-training, but since he assumed the mantle of Kaval leader he no longer even visited. When he did come to Valaris, he went to Menllik, to Caballa’s cottage in the city, which no longer existed. Both now preferred to stay at the Keep.
In itself deserted, Halon thought.
Few Valleur survived the nuclear explosion in Menllik. Those that had, relocated to Luvanor and Akhavar. Few chose the Western Isles, although Danak, city and harbour, possessed a fair number of long-time residents.
Caballa stood at the head of the table and she had just informed them Menllik would not be rebuilt.
Halon, for his part, was pleased with the news. Perhaps Torrullin Valla had more insight than he had believed, more compassion. Her next words, however, belied that.
“We are to leave Valaris as a nation,” she said, leaning on her hands. “This world will be returned in its entirety to Valarians.”
“Why?” Khy, new Elder, asked.
“I cannot at this time say more, for I do not myself know. There will be an Elder conclave on Akhavar in the next few days, which will involve better explanations and future plans.”
“Even the Isles?” Simonus asked.
Caballa inclined her head.
“The Keep?” Halon demanded. “The Throne?”
“Vallorin Tianoman will inform us of those choices,” she murmured.
“It isn’t right,” Halon said. “We fought hard for this world.”
“Hush,” Simonus said. “There is good reason, no doubt. Caballa, please inform Lord Torrullin we shall do as commanded after conclave. We deserve understanding before we act.”
“Fair enough,” she said. “Will you inform Luvanor’s Elders?”
“It will be so,” Khy murmured, staring at his hands.
“Then I take my leave to prepare for the conclave.” Caballa bowed her head and left. Even a blind man could tell the decision did not sit well with her either.
Halon grimaced. This had something to do with Tannil. Sunling would berate him for ever listening. She would curse him for crafting the replica Medaillon.
Avaelyn
; SABIAN LEFT FOR AKHAVAR soon after Caballa, no doubt to begin delving hidden spaces.
Tristan returned to the Dome.
Torrullin and Elianas were finally alone. They wandered to the stone bench near the cliff’s edge and watched the sky darken as night approached.
Neither said a word.
As darkness fell over Avaelyn, Elianas said, “She had to have been Vallorin. There was no other way to assume the Dragon mark.”
“There is no tell of an Immirin in any record or race memory.”
“How do you explain it, then?”
“I cannot,” Torrullin shrugged. “How does a Valleur message land up in a stone sphere as a hologram? None of this makes sense.”
“And yet we react.”
“The resonance is undeniable.”
Elianas sighed. “Indeed.”
“Perhaps we should go before those damnable paintings in Grinwallin.”
The dark man shook his head. “You do it. They give me the shivers. Besides, she said the Syllvan may offer greater clarity.”
“The grotto remains closed to us, unfortunately.”
They glanced at each other simultaneously.
“Ixion,” Elianas said. “Ask the right questions of Tristan and we may find answers.”
Torrullin nodded. “Then we go …” He abruptly ceased talking.
“What is it?”
“Dechend attempts to send from Grinwallin. Strange. Wait. He says Alik and Lowen, Teighlar … and Tianoman …” Torrullin paused there. “Missing. Apparently the portal box was used twice to find Alik and Lowen, and no one returned.”
Elianas sat forward, hunching his shoulders. “I am beyond exhausted by this continuous interference. When the fuck will we get to actually spend normal time together?”
“Now,” Torrullin said, reaching for him, dragging him up. “I need to feel your skin, Elianas.”
“This is normal?” Elianas demanded. He stepped away. “I mean fucking normal, not this.”
Torrullin’s eyes hooded and he braced for confrontation. “You need to talk about her or there will be no normal of any kind.”
“Fuck off.” Elianas crossed his arms and rocked on the balls of his feet. His eyes glittered in challenge.
“Saska’s presence in my life kept me from being truthful about you. I could not even admit what I felt to myself, never mind to you. We skirted, we alluded, but we did not actually speak openly, did we, not until after Saska died.” Torrullin prodded one hard arm before him, feeling the tension in the quivers below skin. “Your Saska is dead, but you have not grieved for her as I have for my Saska. Therefore you hold back, and therefore we cannot be normal, Elianas.”
The dark man blinked, but did not offer a word.
“Our normal is therefore the truth between us when skin touches skin,” Torrullin whispered. “Nothing else makes as much sense in our chaotic present.”
Elianas closed his eyes.
“Tarlinn told me when we fall into bed with those we love we are uplifted,” Torrullin murmured.
Dark eyes impaled.
“I have fallen, Elianas. Now is the time to reach for those lumin stars again. I cannot do it without you.”
All challenge deserted Elianas. His arms loosened and he released a long breath, before saying, “I too have fallen and each occasion I stood up again was because you were there.” He laid his hands on Torrullin’s shoulders. “Together, is it?”
“Many seek now to separate us,” Torrullin responded. “I admit I thought it might be what is needed. You need to rise and I need to know myself and we needed to achieve it as beings apart.”
Fingers dug into shoulder muscle. “What do you believe now?”
“Together, Elianas. Nothing and no one is as important as you are.”
“To you?”
Torrullin entangled hands in dark hair. “To me, indeed.”
Elianas hauled him in to speak against Torrullin’s lips. “Then you are right; this is our normal.”
Lips met then as an affirmation of togetherness.
They drew apart, smiling.
“As much as I want to take this further,” Torrullin laughed, “Dechend is now too impatient.”
Elianas threw his hands up. “Damn, and I wanted coffee more than even you right now.”
Laughing, they vacated that space.
Grinwallin
DECHEND ALREADY HELD THE box out when they alighted on the stairs before the Great Hall.
Torrullin glanced at it. He did not need it, per se, but it would also save time, for it would transfer them directly to where the missing four were. Thus he accepted it.
“What does Aislinn know?” he asked of the Elder.
“She thinks Tianoman is with Teighlar in the royal abode.”
“Good. Do not say more at this point.”
Dechend nodded, his gaze anxious from one man to the other.
“We will bring them back,’ Torrullin murmured.
The Elder nodded again, remaining wordless in his concern.
Torrullin moved towards the edge of the portico, with Elianas trailing. “You will have to touch me now.”
Grinning, Elianas laid fingers on Torrullin’s wrist as he opened the box.
They vanished.
Dechend hastened inward to check if the box had reappeared as it usually did after use.
Balconaru
SIX HUDDLED AROUND A small fire.
That was the first impression.
The next was the smell of death.
Elianas gagged and swivelled round and around. “Where are we?”
“Tannil did this,” Torrullin muttered. “His strength comes from death. Here is proof he must be stopped.”
They approached the huddle.
Teighlar looked up first. “You are here.”
Torrullin instantly read new knowledge. Something profound had come to light here, and it clearly concerned him. He hunkered beside Lowen, seeing her shiver in the cold night air. There was newness in her gaze also.
“Whatever you learned about me can wait until we are away from this place,” he muttered. “Tian, are you all right?”
“Cold.”
“We are leaving now. Where is here?”
“Balconaru,” the stranger at the fireside offered.
Torrullin noted his tattoo, glanced swiftly at Teighlar, who was waiting for his look with a grin on his face.
“Big stuff, my friend.”
“Wait till you hear what we discovered,” Torrullin grinned back.
Teighlar smiled wider. “Thank the gods you know how to laugh at this crap.”
Torrullin glanced at the girl staring at him with large green eyes. Her tattoo read Diluvan.
“Freman and Urial,” Lowen murmured. “They are the only survivors.”
After a silent beat, Torrullin rose and held his hand out to the girl. “Come. We shall go where it is warm and the air is fresh.”
She smiled up at him and accepted his hand.
“It is shielded,” Elianas said, gazing around. “We need a bridge.” Without awaiting permission, he reached for Torrullin’s neck, yanked at the chain there to pull forth the Medaillon.
“Thank all gods,” Lowen whispered.
“Told you,” Teighlar murmured.
Frowning at them, Elianas clutched the Medaillon and said to Torrullin,” Make the door.”
“As you command,” Torrullin muttered, and sketched in the air using his free hand.
A shimmer appeared in the darkness beyond the fire.
Elianas stepped towards it, murmuring under his breath. A white bridge soared in brilliant light into the air. He stepped onto it and beckoned.
Swiftly Alik and Lowen followed, then Tianoman and Freman. Teighlar laughed and danced aboard. Torrullin, with the girl holding onto his hand for dear life, was last.
The fire behind them vanished, and then so did the bridge.
Grinwallin
THEY APPEARED ON THE portico before the Great
Hall, where Dechend nearly fainted from relief.
Freman fell to his knees. “This is Grinwallin?”
Teighlar smiled. “Welcome to the fairest of cities.”
The man kissed the stones. “Grinwallin, city of Eternity, you are much loved.”
Blinking, Teighlar met Torrullin’s gaze. “We need to talk.”
“Of course we do,” Torrullin murmured.
Elianas snorted, took Lowen’s arm and strode off with her.
Torrullin stared after them with an enigmatic expression.
“Alik, will you accept Freman and Urial as guests?”
She grinned at her father. “With pleasure.” She was serious an instant later. “What day is it?”
Dechend told her.
She paled. “My finals! In the morning! I … hell.”
Teighlar drew her close. “You will be fine. Do not worry about our guests. Go, go cram some more … and be sure to get some sleep!” He called the latter after her as she swiftly turned tail and ran down the portico steps.
Laughing then, he handed Freman and Urial over to Dechend.
Freman balked. He had something that needed saying first. “My Lord Elixir, I am honoured to have met you.”
Torrullin bowed his head briefly. “We shall talk soon, Lore Master.”
Freman’s eyes crinkled in amusement. “Such intelligence.” He allowed Dechend to draw him away.
Urial followed, glancing repeatedly over her shoulder.
“Tian, before you go to Aislinn, there is something you need to know,” Torrullin said, facing his grandson the Vallorin. “The Valleur will be leaving Valaris permanently. You need to prepare to move your Throne to Akhavar.”
“Why?” Tianoman blurted.
“Yes, why?” Teighlar echoed.
Torrullin drew breath. “Morning is soon enough for all of it. I shall explain then. Right now I am too exhausted to think.” He frowned. “It just occurred to me, it is dark on every world we have now been on in the last half an hour. Avaelyn, Balconaru, now here. Why is …?”
Abruptly he turned tail like to Alik earlier and hurtled down the steps.
Lore of Sanctum Omnibus Page 199
