Eurue- The Forgotten World

by Elaina J Davidson

  “No!” Tristan slapped palms together. “We will reveal everything if we respond.”

  The two Kemir stared at him.

  “I don’t like it either,” Tristan rattled off in a shaking voice, “but …” He froze then, and stared at a place behind Alusin, who instantly jerked not only around, but to his feet, sword drawn.

  Tristan smacked the blade down, and bowed.

  A Valleur moved in stately grace towards them. Long hair, a mixture of fair and brown, swung as he moved, and the robes of a desert dweller swirled around his lean form.

  “My Lord Vallorin,” Tristan murmured from his lowered position.

  A swift frown appeared and then an even swifter smile. “Don’t do that with me, Tris.”

  Tristan straightened and moved into a tight clasp with the man. “Tian,” he whispered.

  Inhaling, Tianoman Valla, Vallorin of the Valleur, cousin to Tristan Skyler Valla, stepped from the embrace. While his eyes lovingly perused Tristan’s face, his expression remained stern.

  “Torrullin is summoned.”

  Dragging both hands through his windblown hair, Tristan muttered, “I heard it.”

  “This creates massive nuance in the spaces, Tris. Can Torrullin respond to such a summons?”

  Alusin cleared his throat. “We do not know.” He bowed low when Tianoman moved to face him. “My Lord Vallorin, it is an honour.”

  “Alusin, cousin,” Tristan said.

  Brief amusement appeared. “I know that. Well met, Alusin.” He extended his arm for ritual clasp, and Alusin immediately stepped into it.

  “Savier Algheri,” Tristan introduced next.

  Tianoman, in monumental serenity, studied the Kemir. “Brothers?”

  “Yes,” Tristan said.

  “Hmm, thus is Eurue not as abandoned as we believe.” Tianoman moved to the man and extended his arm, an eyebrow raised.

  Swirling his tongue over his teeth, Savier accepted the clasp. “Vallorin.”

  “Your title?”

  Tristan blinked. Tianoman was even sharper than he remembered.

  “Keeper,” Savier said, releasing the clasp to step away.

  Tianoman swung to Tristan. “There’s a story here, but it has to wait. Wherever this summons came from, there we must go.”

  “No. It will expose too much.”

  Tianoman gave a dry laugh. “I do not care. If Torrullin is about to put in an appearance, I intend to be there.”

  “I hear you and I want to see him as much as you do, but it will destroy everything we have worked towards.”

  Stilling into a thoughtful pose, Tianoman sent his gaze into the trees. He inhaled after a few moments. “You stay and keep whatever it is you need hidden, hidden. I am going.”

  “Tian, you cannot! If this fuck we’re fighting gets his hands on you, by all gods, it will be the worst thing that can happen.”

  The Vallorin snorted. “Oh, let him try. There is …”

  Tianoman flinched as Tristan did earlier, and Tristan in turn paled to ghostly status. Without further words, both Valleur simply waved wrists, and vanished.

  Horrified, Alusin stared at the vacated spaces. “No,” he growled. “Stay with Kila and Arli,” he snapped at his brother, and disappeared also.

  Somewhere

  SHE CLAMPED HER hands over her mouth. No! Summoning Torrullin would undo everything. She scrambled to a window slit to glare out, as if expecting Elixir himself to come striding towards her.

  Eurue

  The Fortress

  CHAIM LAY CRUMPLED on the steps, his eyes glazed.

  Tristan kneeled beside him to place fingers to his neck, searching for pulse. “He’s alive.”

  Tianoman, meanwhile, sent his gaze to interior and exterior, an expectant look about him.

  Alusin appeared a moment later, arriving in the hallway with his sword up, prepared to lob heads off if needed. He glanced around and lowered his blade. “It’s empty.”

  The Vallorin’s shoulders markedly drooped.

  “Chaim,” Tristan called. “Can you hear me?”

  “The Kaval is no longer here.” Alusin whispered as if a host listened, sheathing his sword. He hunkered beside Tristan. “Chaim called for Torrullin?”

  “He is still calling,” Tristan said grimly. “He seems to be stuck in a loop of … not desperation, more … despair.” Inhaling, he looked up to meet Alusin’s anxious gaze. “An instinctual reaction, a call the Kaval automatically sent out to Elixir when there was no …” He cleared his throat. “… hope.”

  Tianoman murmured, “I recall doing that a few times myself. When there was no way out, we shouted for him.” He gave a lopsided smile. “And he always came.”

  Lifting Chaim into his arms, Alusin headed for the library. “Do you think Torrullin hears?” He moved to the settee and gently laid the old man there.

  “He hears,” Tianoman stated.

  “The question is, can he do something about it,” Tristan muttered.

  “Whether he does or not is no longer the greatest issue,” Tianoman said. “Fact is, out there, every power broker prepares to descend on a place where there is the suspicion of Torrullin’s presence.” He met Alusin’s eyes. “Prepare for an invasion such as you cannot imagine ever being welcome on Eurue. This is Eurue, I assume?”

  Alusin nodded.

  “A beautiful world. Someone has some explaining to do.”

  Chaim blinked and focused on Tristan. “My Lord Torrullin?”

  Tristan briefly closed his eyes. “Tristan.”

  Shuddering, Chaim sat up, swinging his thin legs to the floor. “Forgive me, Tristan. I seem to have gone and lost myself.” His shaking hands lifted to rest upon his cheeks. “He took them. What will he do to them?”

  Scrubbing at his face, Tristan wondered the same.

  Alusin hunkered. “Chaim, give me your hand. I will gift you strength, if not equanimity.” When the old man did so, he made a sign upon his palm and then let go. “What happened here?”

  “He is a healer?” Tianoman asked, coming to rest next to Tristan.

  His cousin nodded.

  “The storm finally moved on and we decided to clean up, but Belun went to the cliff. Assint called to him, and then the fool transported to the edge. I saw it and understood what it meant and raised the alarm. They all went outdoors.” Chaim swallowed.

  “And were therefore revealed,” Alusin understood.

  “I was not seen,” the old man whispered.

  “This building is hidden. The landscape, unfortunately, is not.”

  “Gabryl?” Tristan demanded, growing impatient.

  Chaim abruptly realised who else was present. “My Lord Vallorin! Forgive me, I did not …”

  Tianoman went to sit beside him. “Chaim, I’m Tian to you. You’ve known me since I was a boy, too well for the title nonsense. Relax now, and tell us how the Kaval were taken.”

  Chaim expelled a breath. “Gabryl, yes, but he wasn’t alone.”

  “Daetal?” Tristan frowned.

  Tianoman blurted, “Daetal?”

  “I’ll explain later,” Tristan said. “Chaim?”

  “There were ten, maybe eleven, but not daetal. Gabryl held an orb in one hand and I think that’s how he had them with him.”

  “I once read he was interred with two orbs,” Alusin said.

  Tristan passed a hand over his face, about to lose his temper. “Chaim, who or what accompanied him?”

  The old man gazed up. “They were all him.”

  “What?”

  “Damn it,’ Alusin swore. “Just fucking dandy.” He threw his head back and swore at the ceiling as if it was at fault. Then, “The orbs in the sarcophagus, they must have the ability to make him … fucking multiple.” He punched at the air.

  Raising his hands in a calming gesture, one meant for his own temper also, Tristan said, “Before unravelling this new curveball, there is something we need to do immediately.” He swung to his cousin. “My Lord Vallorin, I request
the presence of the Luvanese host on Eurue.”

  Tianoman blinked at him. “Just what the blazes is happening, Tris?”

  “I will tell all of it. In fact, after our task on Pendulim, my next port of call was Akhavar to request, far more formally, the host for Eurue. Matters are now spinning out of control and I ask you, cousin to cousin, to trust me. We need the Valleur here now.”

  Alusin threw his hands up, but did not remonstrate.

  Tianoman glanced at him. “I take it your brother is against this?”

  Alusin shrugged. “He has no choice now. Not only do we need the Valleur for the Kiln, but we need them to help us deal with the invasion of strangers about to hit us and we need them to help us track down our Kaval brothers.”

  Sharing his attention between the Kemir, Chaim and his cousin, Tianoman stood. “Very well. I will ask the Elders to commence the muster. Where are they needed? And how many?”

  Tristan said, “Two hundred thousand for the Kiln and at least fifty thousand for the rest of it …”

  “That’s half the army!”

  Tristan smiled ruefully. “I know.”

  “They cannot gather at the Kiln yet, not until we have the amulets ready,” Alusin said. He closed his eyes briefly. “Gods, Savier is going to kill me, but I suggest the plateau behind us. Man, that will appear as if I’m challenging him for rulership. Never mind, I will deal with him.”

  “Surely your brother has his own seat?” Tristan frowned, looking around. “This is not it, I assume? No? Then send the Valleur to gather where he is …” He paused there. “No, that cannot work, not with everyone about to descend on this place in search of Torrullin.”

  Chaim sighed. “That seems to be my fault. Forgive me.”

  “We cannot change it, so we deal with it,” Tristan muttered. “Cousin?”

  Tianoman nodded. “Sending instructions now.”

  While Tianoman communicated with the Elders, Tristan drew Alusin aside. “We will have to uncloak your home.”

  “I came to that conclusion myself,” Alusin murmured. He locked gazes with Tristan. “This isn’t my home. My home is where you are.”

  “I appear to be nomadic,” Tristan laughed.

  “Fine by me.”

  “Valleur will start arriving in an hour,” Tianoman called out. “I need co-ordinates.”

  Chapter 29

  Family is about belonging

  ~ Aislinn, Queen of the Valleur ~

  Eurue

  The Fortress

  “THE FIRST FIVE thousand will be here within minutes to cope with what comes next. Others will bring gear for them.” Tianoman paced the library, looking at titles, but not seeing much. Sheepishly he added, “I left Akhavar in such a hurry, I didn’t think to collect my sword.”

  “The Valleur will have extras,” Tristan murmured. He stood at the window with a view of the cliffs and the verdant expanse leading up to it. “And it begins.” He pointed. “Two Drinic, and I swear that’s Beacon’s ambassador. Who the hell told Beacon?”

  Chaim stood beside him. “Look, Yltri, Fortani … and a Peacekeeper contingent from Xen III.”

  Alusin muttered under his breath about his brother. Aloud, approaching the window as well, he said, “We must meet them out …” He halted and his eyes rounded.

  Within the blink of an eye five thousand Golden warriors materialised to crowd the space, swords, spears and bows to hand. Golden hair wafted in the breeze, and leathers squeaked as they moved.

  Tianoman headed for the door.

  “Cousin, no,” Tristan snapped. “You are now the biggest target. Stay put.”

  Tianoman glared at him.

  Chaim straightened his shoulders. “I shall do this.”

  “We can’t have you appearing out of this thin air and expect them to regard you as anything more than another visitor,” Alusin said. “Just wait. I need to undo the cloak.” He snorted. “I thought the enchantment surrounding this house was a tale, can you believe that? Who would have thought?” He strode to a cabinet on the far side and lifted out a deer horn carved in runes. “Luckily Savier told me how to remove it or we’d be … never mind.” He scowled at his loquaciousness, and ran a single finger along a line of the inscriptions.

  Nothing changed inside, but the Valleur and the others outside jerked as if astonished and gazes lifted and roamed. Clearly the massive edifice had appeared for them. A low buzz commenced.

  “It worked,” Tristan confirmed.

  “Chaim, ask the Valleur commander to come in,” Tianoman said as the old man headed for the exit.”

  Nodding, Chaim left.

  Tianoman met Alusin’s worried gaze. “Do the Kemir have guards or soldiers?”

  “We do not.”

  “Elders? A ruling council? Something along that line? We need a Kemir presence here also, or your brother will regard it as an invasion, and I can’t say I’d blame him.”

  Swallowing, Alusin’s stern countenance warmed. “Good idea. Yes, thank you. I will make contact.” Giving Tristan a swift glance, he withdrew into himself.

  Tristan was about to speak when a Valleur strode in, and bowed at the entrance to the library, his tawny gaze lowered. “My Lord Vallorin.”

  “Enter, Commander Krestin, and be at ease.” Tianoman beckoned him in.

  The man straightened, noting Alusin’s presence and then Tristan’s. He smiled. “My Lord Tristan.” He placed a hand over his breast.

  Tristan stepped into ritual clasp with the man, smiling also. They knew each other, had been on other battlefields together. “Krestin, still at it, I see.”

  Tianoman cleared his throat, and the man straightened smartly. “Your orders, my lord?”

  “A perimeter, firstly, but be casual about it. Send a few men to the plateau behind us to investigate optimum camping territory for the host. They will arrive within the hour. Set up a command post in the centre there.” Tianoman pointed to the ever more crowded landscape. “All arrivals must go through you and your team, and escort them in if you cannot turn them away. Kemir will be joining you in this duty soon, and Chaim of the Kaval will know who must be dealt with personally by one of us. Send me a scribe and I will prepare a statement for your team to present to visitors; that should winnow many of them out. Next, we need a tracker unit, your best. Keep folk away from the edge of the cliff, because that is where they will find the signatures to track.”

  Krestin bowed.

  “Oh, and I need a sword,” Tianoman added ruefully.

  His lips twitching, the Valleur removed his scabbard and handed it to his Vallorin. He bowed once more and strode out.

  “No blade and in robes,” Tianoman muttered. “Elianas was right when he said robes catch one unprepared.” Muttering some more, he strapped the sword on. “It’s bloody cold in here too.”

  “The councillors have arrived,” Alusin said then and headed out. “I’ll deal with them.”

  Tristan moved back to the window and watched the gesticulating conversation that ensued between Alusin and four white-haired Kemir.

  It was, in those few moments, that the cousins were alone.

  “He cannot answer the summons, Tris.”

  Inhaling, Tristan nodded.

  “How I wish he can.”

  “Me too,” Tristan whispered.

  “Bet Elianas is having to fight him right now, to prevent him undoing Avaelyn’s wards.”

  Tristan snorted after a moment. “No doubt.”

  Beside him at the window, Tianoman studied his cousin rather than the chaos about to erupt outside. “Your scars are gone.”

  “And suddenly Chaim thought I was Torrullin,” Tristan frowned.

  Sucking at his teeth, Tianoman muttered, “You have a point. They,” and he jabbed at finger at the window, “will think you are him. You stay put too, hear? It will cause bloody bedlam. In fact, I suggest you make yourself scarce.”

  “I agree,” Alusin said, entering. “Use the parlour next to the kitchen. Anyone who must see you, we
will send there.”

  “The Peacekeepers approach,” Tristan said, and swung on his heels. “Send the trackers to me as soon as they arrive, Tian.” He halted before Alusin. “It will be interesting.”

  The Kemir grinned. “We thrive on interesting.”

  Laughing, Tristan swung into the hallway. “Keep an eye on Tian, will you?” He swiftly vanished into a doorway further in, just as the Xen III envoys entered, two Valleur accompanying them.

  Hours later

  AS NIGHTFALL approached, so did the storm Belun had marked in the morning, although no one there knew of that. Most visitors had left and the few remaining chose to abscond what promised to be a brutal weather pattern.

  Tianoman needed to deal with a fair few insistent ambassadors, while the Kemir councillors had acquitted themselves remarkable well, never having had to deal with strangers, ever, and now calm had returned. The Kemir returned to Kemirin after long-winded words with Alusin.

  Tristan had met with the trackers. That unit, experts at tracking sorcerical signatures, now sought evidence of the captured Kaval’s whereabouts.

  The Luvanese host had arrived and prepared for the night, the weather and a lengthier stay on the plateau. The closest soldiers were evident from the upper windows.

  Tianoman summoned Krestin to attend him, and commanded the man to bring his perimeter guards inside, including a relief watch. The storm was about to unleash. As Valleur soldiers entered the fortress and were commanded to various positions, Alusin barred the front doors.

  Barely a minute elapsed before a typhoon smacked into the headland.

  “We are now curtailed,” Tianoman murmured from the fire. The draughty building scurried eddies of freezing air up his robes wherever he went. “This is a good time to talk.”

  Tristan, returning from a trip upstairs, handed him a warm cloak. “Here, your heat-soaked bones wonder about your sanity.”

  Grinning, Tianoman accepted the garment and wrapped up. “Much better, thank you.”

  “Where’s Alusin?”

  “Diplomatically giving us time alone, I believe. He mentioned the kitchen and food.”