Heaving a sigh, Torrullin stood and turned to view the great structure. “Until now I have not felt in any way noble, Belun. There are too many events I needed to atone for and, by all the gods, I hurt many people. Nothing noble there. And yet the Syllvan spoke of noble purpose, did they not? Something extraordinary, not merely absence from the potential of wrongdoing. I do not know what it is.”
“Elianas might.”
“My friend, hear me now. Elianas and I have had the roughest of roads, but there are no more secrets or not the life-altering kind. Personal knots are another story, but we all have those. My point is, if Elianas knows what our so-called noble purpose is, he will share. There is no more brinkmanship.”
Belun smiled. “Glad to hear it. Tristan will be glad to hear it one day, when he is prepared to listen. I suggest you brainstorm your final purpose before you go.” The Centuar then gazed into the domed edifice as well, lifting a hand to the pillar nearest him. He snatched it away. “It speaks!”
Torrullin sent him a look. “Few will hear. You are worthy, my friend.”
Belun muttered under his breath before saying, “I am going to miss you too. What do you call this monstrosity?”
Laughing, Torrullin said, “This is the Birdcage.” He stepped into the interior of the open space and looked up at the keystone. “I was going to allow nature to take its course here, to create said birdcage, but what the hell.” Grinning, he lifted both hands in a sweeping gesture.
A filigree of creepers appeared between the curved pillars, leaving arches to mimic the sacred ogives of the Dome. Fine mist created a latticework of moisture and moving air patterns. From each triangular floor section slim trees arose to form a weave of branches. It was an atrium. It was a magical dome. It was also a birdcage, for bright feathers came winging in to fill the branches with colour and song.
“Wow,” Belun breathed. “A Birdcage indeed.”
“But this one is all about freedom.”
Smiling, the Centuar nodded, his expression rapt.
THE NEXT DAY MANY came for the final infusion, including the Vallorin and the Kaval leader.
Tristan stared at Elianas’ unmarked cheeks for a time, and then looked away. He approached no one, keeping instead to himself.
When it was over, Elianas and Torrullin glanced at each other.
The end was now in sight.
Chapter 72
A leaf swirls in a pond, the pond flows into a stream, the stream becomes a cascade of mighty wings, wings soar to the heavens, the heavens attract bounteous stars, the stars gift light to a tree, the tree sprouts and a leaf falls …
~ The Song of the Spaces ~
Akhavar
Linard
IN THE INTEREST OF family unity and also to release themselves from much toil, Torrullin and Elianas went to Akhavar.
Teroux, summoned for the visit, simply shook his head and said he was too busy. He preferred his lonely island to the Valleur wandering the mountain city. Teroux had, unknowingly, already become his own portal world. He certainly would not decry the severance from known space.
In the harem suite, Elianas said, “We have to give them the choice, all the farmers and healers who have now settled on Avaelyn. We need to tell them what will come next.”
“Most came to Avaelyn for the isolation. Most have already chosen.”
“Yes, Torrullin, but what happens when they are summarily severed from loved ones? They must know before the fact.”
A nod greeted that, and Torrullin said, “Then we shall call a meeting.”
Elianas stared at Torrullin spread-eagled on the bed. “I am going for a walk.”
“Do that.”
“What has you in such a sour mood?” Elianas demanded instead.
“I am in two fucking minds, that is what has me so peeved.”
The dark man sat. “Which two options?”
Torrullin rolled onto his side. “I want to bloody abscond right now and I want to say farewell to everyone.”
“Belun did this.”
“He made me realise there are people I really care about and they will mourn if they do not understand.”
“Do they need to understand?” Elianas questioned.
“Fuck off; you are not helping.”
Elianas leaned in. “Do you know what your real problem is? The Throne. Yours. Conceived, created and ruled from. You feel that pull all the time and a part of you desires to take it with you.”
Torrullin glared up.
“Tell me I am wrong.”
Sitting up, Torrullin muttered, “You are not wrong.”
Elianas shifted closer. “Leaving the Throne to its autonomy may be the best thing for the Valleur. I know you are aware of this, and I also know you are not selfish enough to change those dynamics. Make your peace and let us move on.”
“Something is undone.”
“I agree, but it is not the Throne.”
Torrullin left the bed and moved through the veils into the living space of their suite. “Fine. We need to figure this out, though. What is undone?”
Elianas followed him and stood in the centre of the space. “The Medaillon. There is the matter of the receptacle and the Danaan prophecy.”
“It belongs to us,” Torrullin snapped.
“Ah, and right there is another massive issue. The Medaillon, if we desire no burdens, must remain here as well, and it does not sit well with you.”
“It does not, no.”
Elianas fiddled then at his neck until he withdrew the golden coin. Lifting the chain over his head, he approached holding it out. “Here. You decide. I want no part of it.”
When Torrullin ignored the device, he stepped in, gripped Torrullin’s hand and smacked it into his palm. Immediately he stepped away again.
“You choose. Decide whether you want to be selfish and keep it with your forever, or to release it.”
“I gave it to you,” Torrullin snarled.
“Because you want me to make the choice for you! Stuff you, Torrullin, I have not had it long enough to know it as you do. You want it, while my instinct is to give it away, and you bloody know this. If I then pass it on, you will fucking blame me for it afterwards. Stand up to your selfishness or accept it as part of yourself.”
Turning angrily on his heels, Elianas left.
Unmoving, clutching the magical coin, Torrullin watched him go, knowing Elianas was right. He had hoped to circumvent the decision, whatever the game of brinkmanship at the time of gifting.
In the fourteenth cycle a golden coin comes. Here is its sanctum. It has greater value than time itself for it is created of sacred space. The internal marriage is the external wedding march.
He examined those words as he had many times already.
Nothing new came forth now to enlighten him.
Tristan, however, was on a new path. Tristan would one day require the peace of this particular wedding march.
Fuck.
Vannis gave the Medaillon to him. it was his.
He cast his mind back to their confrontation on the Mystic Island on Valaris after the Darkling Horde attacked. Vannis then had been most reluctant to part with it, as he, Torrullin, now was. Vannis had given it to him in anger, as he gave it to Elianas. Why? Because anger was the only way for Vannis to part with it, as he employed in order to relinquish it.
Frowning, Torrullin paced.
This device possessed a forceful hold on the mind.
It was a crutch.
The Valleur did not require crutches. He did not need one.
Yes, his inner voice whispered, and what then will it do to Tristan?
He halted abruptly. He knew what he needed to do.
ELIANAS WAS WITH TIANOMAN and Lunik on the black dais. Lunik was entranced by Elianas’ dark hair, grabbing handfuls to put them in his mouth.
Laughing, Torrullin sat with them to watch the boy have his fun. Now and again Elianas would wince with a particularly strong tug, but told the boy’s father to let the
lad be when he started to remonstrate.
“You were gone a while,” Elianas said.
“I had something to do,” Torrullin shrugged. “Something needed to be placed into safety.”
Elianas’ dark lashes flicked up. “Oh?”
“All our treasures now lie with the elementals of Avaelyn,” Torrullin murmured.
Elianas frowned, unsure what he meant by that. Torrullin did not enlighten him. Instead he stood, held his arms out to Lunik, who scrambled into them. He tossed the boy into the air and caught him.
“Want to go swimming, Lunik?”
“Swim!” greeted his suggestion.
Torrullin laughed. “Then we will swim!” Hefting the boy, he strode towards the aqueduct. There were open pools the Valleur used for entertainment. It was Lunik’s favourite pastime.
“Aislinn will skin you alive if you bring him back hyper!” Tianoman called after the retreating pair.
“Don’t worry! He will be too tired to tackle his mother!” Torrullin called back. The pair vanished.
“I have a funny feeling,” Tianoman said. “You two are up to something.”
Elianas shrugged and did not respond to that. Instead he mentioned swimming.
“You want to go swimming too?” Tianoman grinned. “I like the idea myself.”
Laughing together, they set off after Torrullin and Lunik.
DINNER WAS INFORMAL.
Lunik joined them in his high chair and Aislinn tempted him with tasty morsels. Lunik, however, could barely keep his eyes open. It was the first family dinner since Caballa died. Tristan was with them in body, but his spirit was clearly absent. Teroux did not appear.
Finally Aislinn summoned Bethtil to take Lunik to his bed. When the dining chamber was cleared of little ears, she folded her arms onto the table. “As the only woman present I think I have the right to ask questions.”
Tianoman released a long-suffering sigh and dug ostentatiously into one ear.
Elianas smiled and sipped at his wine.
Tristan stared into his goblet. It was his sixth brandy, but he showed no ill effects.
Torrullin met Aislinn’s gaze directly. “Ask, Aislinn. Ask the hard ones as well.”
Elianas’ dark hair swung in his direction and then swung away. He poured more wine, his smile missing.
Tristan did not react.
Tianoman frowned and shifted to look at his wife. “Ais?”
She maintained the connection with Torrullin. “Recently I have spent much time with the Elders. With you men ever running off, I thought it time to inform myself. This is what I know.”
Torrullin placed his hands flat on the table. “Go ahead.”
“The first factor that comes to mind is Grinwallin,” Aislinn said. “Not only is the city appeased, but the Void is protected. Alexander Diluvan is negated. Luvanor as a whole is now at peace and no threats loom on that horizon anymore. Wonderful. This Vallorin does not need to worry about a front separate to Akhavar.”
Nobody interrupted or offered comment.
“The Timekeeper threat and much ancient history is done with. Your Warlock son can no longer rise. I hear even the Path of Shades is now sealed. Tianoman need not look over his shoulder all the time. Amazing.” Aislinn kept her gaze on Torrullin. “Valaris is safe. No future aggressor will choose Valaris as a battleground in a hurry, for we are all back on an ancient homeworld. Interesting. Laudable.”
“Ais, what is your point?” her husband murmured.
She ignored him for Torrullin. “Akhavar, of course, is now thoroughly protected, because the world sentience is aware, because the Danae spoke words that cannot be undone and because the Elixir chant too forms part of our daily litanies. Add in that the Kaval too know the Elixir chant, and that the Kaval has an identity separated from you, and future threat is something we need not concern ourselves over for a long time. Fascinating, would you not agree? We, as family and as a nation, now have a clear path.”
Tianoman’s expression had frozen. He began to see where his wife was headed. He stared at Torrullin.
Tristan had looked up, but he watched for Elianas’ reaction.
The dark man remained calm, sipping, sipping at his wine.
“The Lumin Sword is beyond all sight, the Throne is in an inviolate space, and I am prepared to bet my diamond earrings the Medaillon is not where we expect it to be.” Aislinn pointed at Elianas without looking away from Torrullin. “Show us.”
He set his goblet aside and pulled his tunic down from the neck. No Medaillon.
She pointed significantly at Torrullin.
Giving her a wry smile, he imitated Elianas’ movements. No Medaillon.
Elianas flicked him a glance and then lifted his wine.
“I put to you, Torrullin, you have dealt with every issue plaguing us for too many years already,” Aislinn continued. “Avaelyn is next on my list. Your isolationist world suddenly has farms and farmers, fourteen sacred sites, even Elders. My, my. How utterly astonishing.”
Torrullin nodded. “I hear you. Which questions would you like to ask?”
“Where are you going and when are you leaving?”
“Clever Aislinn,” Elianas said.
Tianoman hurtled up. “You cannot leave!”
“We are leaving, Tian,” Torrullin said. “The time has come for new ways.”
“When?” he shouted. “Where to?”
“Hush,” Aislinn murmured, gentling him and indicating his chair. “Tian, it has to be this way.”
He glared at her. Then he scowled at Torrullin. He sat, his face filled with thunder.
Torrullin rose. “Aislinn, thank you for dinner. Tian, we are leaving in five days, but we are not going far. We intend to live on Avaelyn.”
“And where is Avaelyn off to?” Tianoman demanded.
“Into the mists. She will be there, but she will also be absent.”
“A portal world, cousin,” Tristan said.
“You knew? Damn it, Tris!”
Tristan shrugged. “Aislinn is right. It has to be this way.”
“Why?”
“You, cousin. You will be the greatest Vallorin in Valleur history, because you will arise from all the chaos that went before to take our people into a long and prosperous future. And then, one day, Lunik will lead them further.”
“A wonderful future,” Aislinn whispered.
Elianas rose as well. “Five days. We ask that you do not create a show of farewell. We shall personally say words to those we need to, no more.”
Tristan stared at him. “Before you two go sauntering off, there is someone I want you to meet, Elianas.”
The dark man closed his eyes. “It is not the best idea.”
“For you?”
“No, for him.”
Tristan exhaled. “Meet with him anyway.”
Elianas inclined his head.
Tristan snapped his attention to Torrullin. “And then you. You do not meet with him together.”
Torrullin nodded.
“Who are you talking about?” Tianoman asked.
“The Dome. Tonight,” Tristan said, ignoring his cousin. “I shall call for you.”
Elianas, swearing under his breath, gripped Torrullin’s arm and dragged the man away, muttering all the time.
“Tris?” Tianoman demanded.
“Never mind,” Aislinn murmured. “Leave Tris alone. I will tell you later.”
Tristan leaned in and kissed her cheek, rose and left as well.
The Dome
ELIANAS USED THE DRAGON Ogive to enter, thinking to give whoever was inside warning of an impending arrival.
Belun lay stretched out on the marble slab, fast asleep. Jonas fiddled with a computer to one side, and Tristan stood before the view screen looking at Valaris. At the end opposite the snoring Centuar, a man sat reading a book, his white hair below his shoulders.
Tristan turned. “Elianas? Come here, will you?”
The white head lifted and Elianas found himsel
f speared by two dark blue eyes. He nodded at the man and wandered on past to join Tristan.
“Something amiss on Valaris?”
“I was looking in on the fallout site, which is cleared and levelled now, and then checked in on the Keep. Look. There are people there. Does Torrullin know?”
Elianas leaned closer. “They appear to be tourists. There is a Xenian and a Ymirian, amongst others.” He straightened. “I guess the Electan believes tours will be good income for Valaris.”
“We allow it?” Tristan frowned.
“That valley is able to take care of itself. A few visitors cannot affect anything. Besides, it is a human world now; the choice is theirs.”
“Hmm.”
Elianas laughed. “It does not feel right, I know, but Valaris’ future is no longer our concern.”
“I intend to keep an eye, though,” Tristan muttered.
“Torrullin will like that. Have you heard what they will to do about Menllik?”
“A commemorative park, apparently, to remember the fallen. No city plans.”
“Perhaps that is best,” Elianas murmured.
A throat cleared behind them.
Both men turned. “Elianas, meet Alusin,” Tristan said.
The white-haired man held an arm out. Reluctantly Elianas stepped into the clasp. “Well met, Alusin.”
“Likewise,” came the response.
They studied each other intently.
Strangely, the snoring from the slab had suddenly ceased. Jonas still tapped away at the keys, oblivious.
Elianas released their clasp. “Where are you from originally?”
“My world was called Eurue.”
Tristan frowned, but he did not interrupt. His gaze moved continually between Elianas and Alusin.
Elianas murmured, “Then you are very old.”
Alusin nodded as if something had been confirmed for him. “Your lack of surprise is informative.”
“I knew the Kemir before they were annihilated,” Elianas shrugged. “That world has had many names. Eurue was one of the first.” He glanced at Tristan. “There are connections everywhere. Eurue, as the god concept, is ancient. Admittedly, these connections only now make sense.”
Lore of Sanctum Omnibus Page 250
