“YOUR VALLORIN HAS BEEN tactful and while I do laud it, now is the time for truth. Know this, Valleur, we shall never return to Valaris. This is not a temporary vacating of territory to prevent Valarians further suffering and heartache. Akhavar now reassumes its ancient status and heritage. This is First Home and it is also Last Home. Many of you now wonder about the sacred sites on Valaris. They will remain operational. All else, including the Keep, will be handed over to the Valarians. Valaris ever retains the right to call on the Valleur for future aid. Many of you also wonder about Luvanor’s status. Nothing changes there, although any Valleur who would like to take up residence here will be welcome.”
He halted behind Elder Collir, of Akhavar.
“The fourteen sites here require attention. While the Lady of Life and my departed wife worked miracles for this world, the sacred sites fall under our behest. Two are at optimum output, six require updated enchanting, four need to be cleared of layers of rock to again know the sun of this world and two will need complete restoration. This is your express duty, Elder.” He tapped the man on the shoulder. “You have every authority to assign tasks.”
Elder Collir bowed. The honour was great.
“You have heard no doubt of Cassiopin’s universal net,” Torrullin continued, pacing on. “The Kaval have investigated for all nodes. You,” and he halted behind Elder Romarin, a man with huge reserves of creativity, “will assume the duty of ensuring the net is operational at all times. Bring in those currently in abeyance and add nodes where the net is spread too thin.”
Romarin bowed, smiling widely. It was a task he was eminently suited to.
Torrullin moved on. “You begin asking yourself why it sounds as if we are preparing for siege, for war, and I tell you, because we are. This Timekeeper is not to be underestimated. I am aware most of you believe Vallorin Tannil has returned. Thus, how bad can it be? Tannil, after all, was a good man. Yes, you whisper to yourself, the manner of his death may have something to do with a search for vengeance or justice, but it is still Tannil. His search will be short-lived.”
He halted behind Halon.
The Elder stiffened.
“How bad can it be, Elder Halon?” Torrullin said. “Please stand and tell us.”
Halon blanched, although Torrullin could not see it.
“On your feet,” Torrullin snapped out.
Halon shot up. “He is not Tannil.”
“How do you know this?” Tianoman demanded from the head of the table.
Halon turned convulsively and fell to his knees before Torrullin. “My Lord, forgive me! He approached me in the destruction of Menllik and I was angry, mostly with you for allowing it to happen to the Valleur. I lost my Sunling, and I needed someone to pay.”
Torrullin stared expressionlessly down as whispers gathered among those present, and eyes swivelled in shock around the table.
Halon babbled. “He said he would end your reign. He promised justice for the dead, for my Sunling, and I believed him. Soon, though, the man frightened me and I came to realise his intentions were not near noble. I understood then he is not Tannil, although he wears a face we are familiar with.”
“Who is he?” another Elder demanded.
“I shall answer that,” Torrullin stated. “Get up, Halon.”
The distraught man rose to stand with head bowed.
“How did this Timekeeper come by a replica of the Maghdim Medaillon?” Torrullin demanded.
“I made it,” Halon whispered.
Shouts erupted and many surged to their feet.
“Sit! Quiet!” Torrullin hollered.
Silence returned instantly, but many remained standing.
“Halon, has it power?” Torrullin asked.
“He may have given it something, but what I made was an inanimate replica.”
Torrullin touched his chest where the real Maghdim hung. He never removed it. Elianas loved to hold onto it, and it created surges between … he dropped his hand to set aside those thoughts.
“My Lord, I made a mistake,” Halon said, clearly miserable.
“The loss of a loved one causes lack of judgement, yes.” Torrullin lifted his chin to gaze into the man’s eyes. “And yet, according to Valleur law, you are a traitor. Initially you sought to cause harm.”
“Only to you, my Lord.”
Tianoman jumped to his feet, but Tristan, on his left, placed a hand on his arm to calm him.
“And perhaps I do deserve the blame, “Torrullin murmured. “Still, until you have repented of your traitorous thoughts, you will be held, and you lose the status of Elder.”
“Death to a traitor, my Lord,” an Elder said from the opposite side.
“I have had my fill of death,” Torrullin murmured. “He will be granted a second chance. Guards!”
Two men entered the Throne-room. Halon, after bowing low to Torrullin and his Vallorin, went to meet them.
“What of the replica Medaillon?” Tristan asked. “Do we fear it?”
Torrullin reached in and withdrew the real one. He held it up. “This is the Maghdim and it is always with me. If you see it with another, do not trust it, for it cannot be this one.”
Many there had never seen the Maghdim Medaillon and they craned to get a good look. Many also wondered why it had not been passed to Tianoman. Perhaps he realised it or maybe he picked up on an unguarded thought, for Torrullin leaned into the space Halon had left empty.
“Vannis gifted the Maghdim to me. It is not a hereditary Valleur object for rulership. One day I shall gift it on, but not yet.” He drew in a breath. “You all know how much Vannis meant to me and this means he is still with me.”
Many smiled, for it was the best reason to carry such a mighty device.
Torrullin straightened, but before he could speak, Elder Emeren, a woman from Luvanor, stood.
“My Lord, when you opened you said it is time for truth. I would thus request, on behalf of all Elders present, and the Valleur in general, for you to explain who Elianas is. We are aware of connections, but most of it is mere rumour.”
Silence reigned then, for Torrullin stared at her.
Tianoman, still standing, said, “You are out of line, Elder.”
“Am I, my Lord Vallorin?” She shifted to him, unafraid. “Lord Torrullin vanishes into a realm and emerges with many new faces, most of whom have been afforded a place, such as the farspeaker Rose, Teroux Valla’s wife. But Elianas? Many speak of him, some have seen him accompany our Lord Torrullin, but few know who he is or why he walks with Elixir.”
She gazed into the shadows where Elianas stood behind a seated Sabian. “There he is, listening to every word uttered at a Valleur conclave. Why is this so? When we do not know him?”
Torrullin abruptly hauled the chair Halon vacated out and looked over his shoulder. “Will you sit?”
“DON’T,” SABIAN SAID SOFTLY to the dark man. “He has now entered the realms of …”
“… utter wrath.” Elianas stepped forward.
“Why do it?”
“To see what he will do next. I choose to step from the shadows,” Elianas murmured, and approached the table. He halted before Torrullin, eye to eye.
Torrullin wiggled the chair.
The lines at his eyes appeared, but otherwise Elianas remained expressionless. He stepped around the chair, shifted forward and took his seat at the table of conclave.
“THAT IS NOT AN ANSWER, my Lord,” Emeren said.
“Torrullin,” Tianoman said, “there is no need …”
“There is,” the Elder insisted.
Caballa glared at Emeren, while Tristan rose. Teighlar grinned, loving every second.
Torrullin shifted between Elianas and the next Elder, placed a hand on the man’s shoulder and used it as leverage to vault onto the table.
“Well,” Teighlar went, “here comes the showman.”
Elianas stood then and withdrew his sword. Before anyone could react, he tossed it to Torrullin. The man caught it, stu
died it, and drove it point first into the wood, where it quivered.
“It is called Eurue!” he shouted.
Emeren paled. She was not alone in the state. “Alhazen’s sword?” she whispered.
Torrullin slapped palms together. “Meet Alhazen!”
Elianas bowed.
“My Lord!” Emeren gasped and lowered her head.
Teighlar could no longer hold it in. He burst out laughing and slapped the table in appreciation. “Priceless! So very clever!” Then he swallowed his mirth. “And you tell me to be truthful with my people, Torrullin? How dare you sit in judgement on what I am holding back, when you cannot even reveal Elianas as he deserves to be revealed?”
“Shut the fuck up, Emperor,” Elianas snarled.
The Elders on either side of him scrambled away.
Tristan sank back into his seat and yanked Tianoman down. “Do not get involved in that.”
Emeren sat untidily and hoped she would now go unnoticed.
Torrullin gripped the sword, hefted it and tossed it without looking at Elianas, his attention fully with the High King of Orb.
Elianas caught the returning blade. He did not sheath it; instead, he strode around the table towards Teighlar holding it before him. It glittered in the light.
Laughing again, the Senlu casually rose and stepped away from his chair.
“My Lord?” Dechend whispered.
“Do not fear, my friend,” Teighlar murmured. “This has been long in coming.”
Sabian sauntered into the growing melee. “I suggest you three contain yourselves.” He halted, hands casually tucked in at his belt. “If you seek to tell the truth, spilling it in a haphazard manner here will help no one, except to cause confusion.”
Elianas had now halted paces from Teighlar, his sword dipped to the floor. “I do not require more than my title aired here,” he said. “Please hold your tongue.”
Teighlar snorted. “Your title, Elianas? Alhazen is not your title.”
Torrullin jumped to the floor. “I shall shout his title from these mountains for the universe to hear if you will do likewise. Dare you?” He stepped into Teighlar’s space.
“Oh, I dare,” Teighlar said. “You first.”
Torrullin smiled. “I do enjoy a challenge.”
“I know,” Teighlar grinned.
Torrullin stepped away, twirled theatrically, and Elianas hit him. “You dare not.” When Torrullin, eyes silver, opened his mouth, Elianas hit him again. He stumbled back.
Guards hurtled into the Throne-room. Elders shouted. Tianoman lowered his head to the table, while Tristan stood to watch.
Elianas reached out and grabbed Torrullin by his tunic to haul him forward. “Here I wed Cassiopin and suffered Nemisin. Here I was cursed. Here I went into hiding. Here I emerged. And you seek to shout who I am in these hallowed halls? How fucking dare you even think it?”
Utter silence arrived.
Elders fell to their knees as one. They now knew who Elianas was. The rushing guards halted and kneeled.
Elianas straightened, closing his eyes. “Very clever, Torrullin.”
Torrullin gripped Elianas’ head and leaned in, silver eyes boring into dark. “Danae,” he whispered.
A whistle of intent rushed through the mountain city and then everything shuddered.
Torrullin lifted one hand away from the dark man, fingers splayed, and everything stilled. Holding that hand aloft to still the release of untamed power, he said, “Meet Elianas Danae, last of the dark kind Valleur, a true royal from the Era of the Dancing Suns.”
Tianoman moved with graceful dignity towards the pair. “You know you are already welcomed into my heart. Now be welcomed into your place among us.”
Elianas inclined his head. “If you kneel I will smack you too.”
Tianoman grinned.
Sabian said, “You are all mad. All of you.”
The Vallorin faced the Throne-room at large. “Rise! I know you are aware of not using Elianas’ full name in this space; be wary nonetheless. We will resume conclave in an hour.”
Elders and guards got to their feet.
“Wait,” Torrullin said, lowering his arm. “Someone else here needs to say something first.”
TEIGHLAR CHUCKLED. “Not letting me off this hook, are you?”
Torrullin, Elianas, Sabian and Tianoman stared at him.
Teighlar inclined his head and headed to the table. Using a chair as a step up, he clambered onto the solid wooden surface.
He had undivided attention.
“Are you ready?” he shouted. He glanced at Torrullin. “Will you tell your Valleur the true history of the cycles, including the crime committed against my kind?”
“I swear,” Torrullin said.
“Most unwise,” Elianas muttered, “and now it is too bloody late to stop you.”
“I swear then to tell the true history of my kind, from the Era of Dancing Suns to present day.” Teighlar stilled, braced his legs and folded his hands upon his chest. “My true name is Alexander Diluvan and I am High King of Orb.”
Again utter silence descended. Most there knew of the terrible crime Nemisin committed when he annihilated the Diluvans.
Teighlar jumped from the table and strode to Torrullin to jab him in the chest. “Your turn.”
Torrullin spread his hands. “I am Elixir.”
“Vallorin Eternal, The Enchanter, Walker of Realms, Shadow Wings, Dragon, and Elixir.” Teighlar bowed mockingly. “The One. And what is your true title?”
Elianas glared at the Emperor.
Torrullin sucked at his teeth, eyes narrowed.
“Timekeeper?” Tianoman breathed.
“No! Timekeeper limits him to a period and he is beyond all time.” Teighlar jabbed again. “Put your hand up!”
Torrullin lifted his splayed hand.
Teighlar pointed at Elianas. “There he is, Master Sorcerer, Shadow Wings, Sentient Throne, and Alhazen. If he is the Danae, what are you, Torrullin?”
Torrullin lowered his arm. “I am Lorinin.”
More silence ensued. It seemed to punctuate every revelation.
“We are now at war, High King.” Torrullin was expressionless once more.
Teighlar inclined his head. “We come to it at last.” He swung away. “Dechend, we are leaving!”
They vanished in an eye blink.
ELIANAS ROARED, “ARE YOU completely insane?”
“Told you,” Sabian muttered.
Torrullin gazed at Tianoman. “Summon the Luvanese host. Alexander Diluvan intends taking Luvanor back, not only as his by right of settlement, but also in reparation for Orb. Do it now before he mobilises the Senlu army.”
“How did this happen?” Tianoman cried. “What the fuck have you wrought now?”
“Tian, I swear on the life of your son and the love I bear Elianas, I did not do this. I pushed, yes, but only to know where we stand. For years Teighlar and I have avoided this very situation, but yesterday Alexander Diluvan reawakened. The man who wears Tannil’s face awakened him, and now we must look to defence. Defence only, for we shall not attack Grinwallin or the Senlu. They are friends despite what happens now.”
“We wait for Alexander’s rage to run its course and for Teighlar to assume supremacy,” Elianas said.
Tianoman turned away, nodding. “Get Tarlinn to release his prisoner. I intend to summon my Throne to this space within the hour.”
“As my Lord Vallorin commands,” Torrullin murmured.
“Conclave is over!” Tianoman shouted. “Valleur, prepare for war!”
Part II
MASTERFUL PAST
Chapter 22
Connections between us are imperative for sentience to function. Not all connections are benign, however.
~ Book of Sages ~
Valaris
The Keep
KAVAL, INCLUDING TRISTAN, along with Torrullin, Elianas and Sabian, awaited Tarlinn’s return before the Throne at the Keep on Valaris.
&nb
sp; More correctly, they awaited Tannil, in order to shunt him away the instant he appeared, therefore enabling Tianoman to summon the Throne to Akhavar in safety.
Torrullin stood before the golden seat. His duty now was to inform Tarlinn to release his prisoner. To do so meant sitting on it.
Do not over-think this. Turning, he sat. The chair vibrated under him in acknowledgement of the message received. He stood and swiftly joined the ranks arrayed before the dais.
“Any moment now,” he said into the silence.
Everyone tensed.
A fireball streak shot from the centre of the seat with a loud whistle accompanying it. It landed in an explosive thud before the gathered. Before they could react, another fireball hurtled forth, this one entirely taking them by surprise.
The Throne vanished an instant later, as did the dais and the presence of this sacred site inside the Keep.
Sparing only a brief thought for that loss, Torrullin moved to the smoke-wreathed forms prone on the floor before them.
Tannil sat up, grinning like an idiot. So did Teroux - he was the surprise - although he had no smile of whatever kind for anyone.
“Now!” Torrullin commanded.
Words flowed in unison from the Kaval, and Tannil elongated and stretched to breaking point … and vanished.
“Do it again!” Torrullin shouted, indicating Teroux.
“No.” Elianas stepped in and gripped Teroux to haul him up. “This one will be telling secrets. Leave him with me.”
Torrullin held a hand aloft. “Are you sure?”
“Very,” Elianas stated, and moved for the courtyard dragging Teroux with him.
Tristan shifted to his Kaval. “You know what to do. Hold him as long as you can.”
The Kaval dissipated, headed to a deserted world where Tannil was now dumped. They hoped to contain him long enough for the Throne to be grounded upon Akhavar’s hallowed ground.
“We have no more than a day,” Tristan said, turning to Torrullin.
“I know. You and Sabian head back to Akhavar. I need to know what Elianas intends.”
Lore of Sanctum Omnibus Page 207
