One corner of Tristan’s mouth lifted. “It will be warm, his offering, but it might not be too tasty.”
Smiling, Tianoman dragged a chair closer to the flames and made himself comfortable. “Aislinn, thank the gods, stays out of the kitchens at home. I love my wife, but she simply cannot cook.”
Flinging into an armchair next to his cousin, Tristan stared into the fire. “Caballa was a great cook.”
Tianoman sighed. “Caballa is the reason you stay away from Akhavar.”
“Yes, but that has now changed.”
“Oh?”
“Alusin connected with her in a vision and she ranted at me through him, telling me how I need to let go.” Tristan gave a soft laugh.
“And have you?”
“Yes, cousin.”
“How do you know?”
Tristan bit back an oath. This was Tian. “Because of how matters are altering between me and Alusin. And that’s enough of that, hear me?”
“Good.” Extending his cold hands to the blaze, Tianoman murmured, “I wish Teroux was here, too. I miss him.”
Teroux was the third cousin of their trio, although they were far more than cousins; they grew up together as brothers.
“Miss him too,” Tristan muttered. “Man, I wish Torrullin will come to his senses and …”
“He came to his senses, Tris, and that’s why he left. At least Teroux is with him, so they are not without family out there.”
Tristan nodded. “And your family? Grandchildren, I hear?”
Leaning back, Tianoman chortled. “And do they keep me busy. Lunik is now a parent as well, and, man, it’s like just desserts!” He sniggered. “Yesterday Lunik told his oldest he’d understand when he was a father. I laughed so hard!”
Chuckling, Tristan murmured, “I’ll come when this is done with.”
“Bring Alusin.”
“I intend to.”
“Excellent. Now, while I prefer talking love and life with you, we need to be serious.”
“Agreed, but Alusin is part of this discussion, and it may be a good idea to have Krestin sit in also. He can then relay what we need the Valleur here for.”
Tianoman approved, and mentally sent for the commander. Tristan simply hollered “Alusin!” causing Tianoman to laugh all over again.
AS THE WEATHER raged outside, thus the discussion moved at a pace between the four men. Other than mirth, all emotions were on display, with Tianoman exploding at one point and accusing Tristan of arrogance and stupidity.
When Alusin muttered about hot-headed Vallas, the cousins rounded on him. Krestin, inhaling, finally shouted at the top of his voice for everyone to behave. Mortified, he then apologised to his Vallorin, but Tianoman bent over laughing, waving it aside.
Mirth arrived then, and thereafter all went smoothly.
Dawn neared before words petered out.
All angles had been discussed, including how the Kaval’s capture altered dynamics - all agreed Gabryl would not harm them yet - and how the Valleur host’s presence on Eurue had now alerted Gabryl to one aspect of their strategy. Sending Krestin away to get some sleep - they had eaten Alusin’s offering of fresh bread and eggs scrambled, and therefore Krestin had a meal in him - the three remaining in the library looked at each other.
Chaim’s claim of multiple Gabryls was the next point of issue.
“I read about orbs being in the casket,” Alusin said, “but don’t know more than that. Savier might.”
“Talking about your brother,” Tianoman murmured while rubbing grit from his eyes. “When he returns to Eurue he should join you here. Kemirin has no guards, you said; therefore he will be more protected here.”
“Agreed, but Savier may have other ideas.”
Tristan snorted. “You mean the Valleur will irk him.”
Alusin spread his hands. That was obvious, after all.
“You, Tian, will return to Akhavar as soon as the storm lets up,” Tristan continued.
Sighing, his cousin nodded. “I want to stay, but realise it’s a bad idea. I will go, promise.”
Leaning back, Tristan closed his eyes, on the verge of falling asleep. “Have we settled the nuances in the spaces the summoning of our illustrious forebear caused?”
“We will know once the weather ceases interfering with signals,” Tianoman replied, his head drooping.
Alusin stood. “Get to bed, both of you. Use my chamber, Tian. Go! I will call if something changes.”
Reluctantly, because it meant moving, the two Vallas unfolded from armchairs and ambled towards the stairs.
“He needs sleep, too,” Tianoman muttered.
“Alusin doesn’t sleep much,” Tristan murmured, looking over his shoulder to meet dark blue eyes.
That gaze swept over him with burning intensity, and then they were out of view.
Chapter 30
The time is now
~ Glint of the Sagorin ~
Pendulim
Highlands
FEELING SPECTACULARLY uninformed, Savier paced and muttered dire threats to everyone involved in the fiasco summoned from and to Eurue.
He was also alone on a mountain in the mist of a world not his own. That did not sit well either. Not the lonely state; the being on another world. Eurue needed him, and here he was, clicking his heels in the damp.
Enough.
Cursing, he came to a decision.
The storm currently raging where Alusin was prevented him from transporting directly there, but he would not sit in this dampness a moment longer.
Kicking the small fire closed, he gripped the gear Alusin and Tristan had abandoned in their haste, as well as his, and marched - yes, carefully - down the slope back to Arli’s cave. It took him a while, thus encumbered, causing him to swear aloud at ever tree shadow as if the ethereal boles were responsible for everything amiss in the present.
By the time he strode into the warmth and glows of the cave, his temper was barely controllable.
Arli’s Cave
ARLI LOOKED UP from where he crouched over a vice. About to remonstrate, he blinked instead, closing his mouth. Ignoring the intrusion, he bent back to his task.
Kila, too, read the man’s state of mind. Leaving the parchment and quill before her - she worked on the chant required for long-term replication of the amulet - she cautiously approached the Kemir ruler. She noted the suppressed violence with which he dropped the gear.
“Where are the others?”
He glared at her. “Eurue.”
She knew Tristan never left without good cause and generally informed Kaval members if he was about to do so, and why. “What happened?”
“There …”
Savier visibly inhaled calm and she understood why with his next words. He had realised what he had to say would potentially cause her pain.
“The Kaval have been taken.”
Her amber eyes rounded. “How?” she whispered.
Arli, in the background, lifted his head.
“I do not have the details. Alusin informed me after they arrived there to find them gone.”
Kila frowned. Then why exactly did Tristan and Alusin leave, if they only discovered the team missing when they returned to Eurue. About to ask, she found him watching her with a rueful smile.
“Someone sent a call through the spaces, and it brought Tianoman Valla to the highlands of Pendulim.”
Arli jerked upright. “Someone called for Torrullin?”
Savier huffed. “Funny how you get that immediately.”
The Shadof shrugged. “Only that would bring the Vallorin to the Kaval leader without second thoughts.”
Kila paled. She felt how her skin erupted in bumps. “Did he … did Torrullin … did …?”
Savier threw his hands up. “I do not know!” Swinging away, he started cursing. Then, halting both action and sound, he slowly turned back to face her. “Why is everyone so concerned about him returning?”
Clicking his tongue, Arli resumed his work. “Be
cause it is not yet time for that.”
Even Kila, already aware that a future return was a possibility, shifted to face the Shadof. She was mindful of the fact that the Kemir stared at the little man as well. “When will that time be?”
Arli did not bother looking up. “When our need is dire.”
“Worse than this?” Savier burst out. “The Original is about to annihilate my people! What can be worse than this?”
Sighing, Arli straightened again. “You are interfering with my concentration, but I see that you need answers and thus I will give them.” Dropping his engraving tool, he marched closer, punctuating the air with one extended digit. “This creature your kind created is a monster, yes, but so was Rivalen not so long ago. Before him there was the bloody Warlock, Torrullin’s son, and what can possibly be worse than fighting your own progeny? And let us not forget Margus, the Darak Or. Man, he really plagued Valaris, and almost did annihilate the people there. Torrullin fought them all and more, losing himself in the process. He needs time out. He bloody deserves it.”
“Arli,” Kila murmured, lifting one hand in a pacifying gesture.
“No! When the going gets tough, Torrullin must step up, that’s what everyone expected of him. By all the gods, can we not deal with shit ourselves for a change? He left us with the Elixir chant, and Elianas gifted the Danae protection, and the Dome is manned by the best this universe has to offer.”
Pausing, he sent his gaze to each, glaring at them. “Now it is time for us to be strong, not for another to be strong for us. Do you not see?” He pointed at Savier. “Your Original may become the worst threat yet, but it is also a truth that his manipulation is now focused on one world. Your world. Yours the duty to defend. As Torrullin kept Margus, soltakin, darkling and draithen captive on one world, his homeworld Valaris, in order to minimise the fallout to the rest, thus is it your turn to do so.”
“Gabryl exterminated the people of Petunya,” Savier growled. “Do not tell me this is one world’s duty.”
“And Margus annihilated the Valleur on Ardosia before coming to Valaris,” Arli snapped. “Knowing the worst means you are honour bound to prevent it spreading.”
Swallowing, Kila murmured, “It’s fine, Arli, we understand.” She glanced at Savier, hoping to impress upon him the same comprehension.
He went on trading stares with the Shadof. “What can be worse, so dire, than what we now face?”
Licking her lips, Kila returned her attention to Arli, seeking that answer also. What would return Torrullin Valla to the arena?
The little man’s chest expanded and deflated. “Grinwallin,” he stated.
Savier was mystified, but Kila understood. Grinwallin, the city part in a mountain and part out, the seat for Emperor Teighlar and his Senlu, the mighty city on Luvanor, a Valleur world, ever sought appeasement, for Grinwallin was also a word of power.
“Grinwallin is secure,” she frowned. “For at least a millennia.”
Arli shrugged and moved back to his bench. “That should give you a minimum time frame then. So forget Torrullin and deal with the crap yourselves.” Ignoring them then, he lifted his engraving tool and crouched over his vice.
She blinked, and could not for the life of her move.
“How does he know?” Savier murmured.
Shaking herself mentally, Kila said, “Arli is a prophet. Never mind … we …” She paused to inhale.
“The time frame has you rattled.”
“No, I expected it to be further in the future, actually. It’s Grinwallin that has me concerned. The Kaval will need to warn the Emperor … oh, the Kaval …” Pressing her hands into her cheeks, she stared through the Kemir.
Savier clasped her shoulder. “I believe it will be difficult to negate the Kaval.”
She smiled and nodded.
He nodded as well, his action far more decisive than hers. “I will go to Eurue, my world, my duty, as our little friend pointed out. You must see this task through, do you agree?”
“Yes.” Kila shook herself, this time physically. “I’m fine. I suggest you go to wherever Alusin is right now. That will be the safest place for you.”
“Indeed. Who would have thought I would be following my little brother around?” Waving a hand in dismissal over his comment, the Kemir retrieved the gear he had lugged in with him, and dematerialised.
After a moment, Kila moved back to her chant duty. She did not say a word, although questions burned inside her.
Arli, no doubt sensing some of her turmoil, murmured without looking up, “Grinwallin will become lonely, feel ignored, and will call to her architect. She cannot be denied and he will not deny her.”
Closing her eyes, Kila breathed out. By all gods.
Eurue
Kemirin
THE STORM IN the north continued its destructive path. Savier thus transported from Pendulim to Kemirin, ignoring Kila’s advice. Remaining in that cave was not an option; he required outlet for his simmering temper.
As he entered his formal offices, still wearing his besmirched clothes, he found four of his governing officials in deep discussion. They waylaid him immediately, shouting about Valleur and strangers. Reining his temper in ruthlessly, he suggested his private office, again dumped the gear, and preceded them in.
An hour later he emerged expressionless.
He prayed for the storm to peter out, and he hoped to all gods Tianoman Valla would still be there when he arrived.
Petunya
Stalk
Grunway Hall
JIMINI CLEARED THE space to receive the platinum ingots. Savier had set the transfer in motion, and the bars would arrive soon.
All she needed now was the count to be confirmed, and Kila’s arrival with the amulet.
The Grunway magicians were looking forward to the work, and she breathed a sigh of relief about that.
Eurue
The Fortress
THE TYPHONIC CONDITIONS did not go away and, in fact, showed signs of ultimate staying power, but it did lessen in severity enough around midday for Tianoman Valla to return to Akhavar.
He clasped arms with both Tristan and Alusin, and left before the tempest renewed its energy, promising to forward the count to Jimini on Petunya.
Tianoman had barely left when Savier appeared dressed in such a manner as to suggest his readiness for war. Elsewhere, soldiers called it combat fatigues. He wore a sword, and daggers were evident in various pockets.
Dropping two packs, he strode in. “I am not your pack horse,” he snarled. “Next time take your stuff with you.” Halting, he glared at his brother. “Where is the Vallorin?”
Alusin, while passing his gaze over the dark green uniform, said, “He has left. Where did you find that? That’s from before.”
“Where is Tristan?” Savier ignored the chirp about his manner of dress.
“Making coffee. What’s got you this furious?”
Savier pointed at the front doors. Two Valleur stood there, clearly as guards. “That.”
“We …”
“No need to explain. I got it all from my councillors. I do understand, but I do not like it.” Moving to the window overlooking the drenched lawn, Savier added, “At least you had the wherewithal to ensure some of our people were present for yesterday’s fiasco.”
Alusin chuckled. “That was Tian’s idea. He is a statesman of note.”
Breathing something akin to smoke from his nostrils, Savier said, “And now you’ve seen fit to reveal this fortress to the goddamned universe.” He held a hand up without turning. “Again, I do understand, but our last hidden place is now taken from us.”
Alusin murmured, “You know that’s not strictly speaking true. We still have one ace no one knows about.”
Savier swung around. “No one, brother? Truly? Have you not already shared the final bolthole with your lover?”
Alusin paced nearer, his dark blue eyes without expression. “I have not shared it yet, because I only discovered it less than an
hour ago. How dare you hide it from me, and then stand there and tell me our last hideaway is now revealed when you know that is not how it is. You are lying to me, Savier.”
“Need to know, brother.”
“Yet it is here, and that means I needed to know.”
Savier shrugged and paced to the ever-present fire. “You haven’t been resident until now. Besides, the only reason you found it is because you revealed the fortress.”
“Have you seen the hideaway?”
“I have seen the entrance, and know how to reveal it, but no, I haven’t actually seen it. Have you?”
“Briefly, and it needs investigating. I will tell Tristan.”
“Is that a threat?”
“No,” Alusin sighed. “He needs to know.”
“Who needs to know what?” Tristan murmured, entering with a loaded tray. “You’re back, Savier. Is Arli done?”
“Kila has assumed responsibility there,” the Kemir snapped. “This is my world and my duty.” He snorted. “As that crazy little cave dweller pointed out to me with some intent.”
Tristan’s lips twitched. “He got to you? He really got to Torrullin too.”
Reluctantly Savier laughed. “Never have I met a man as unafraid, and as damn opinionated.”
Chortling, Tristan set the tray down and waved at it. “Help yourselves. What do I need to know?” He looked at Alusin as he asked the question.
Moving to the tray, Alusin noticed a pot of tea as well, and smiled to himself. Pouring, he said, “I found something earlier, just before Tian left.” Adding a dollop of cream, he stirred his brew and then moved away. “Below. Under the dungeons.”
Savier muttered under his breath and avoided eye contact. He helped himself to coffee, black and sweet, and returned to window gazing.
“Ignore him,” Alusin said, and gestured for Tristan to follow him.
Grabbing the mug of coffee he prepared in the kitchen, Tristan did so.
Eurue- The Forgotten World Page 23