Lore of Sanctum Omnibus

by Elaina J Davidson

  Lowen had not featured in the preceding hours. “Nothing on Lowen yet,” Torrullin murmured. “We were led somewhere else.” He gazed into the city, a twitch in his jaw betraying tension.

  Elianas’ gaze swept everywhere, an expression of suffering on his face.

  Torrullin said, “Her name is Kalgaia.”

  Quilla slowly rose. He discovered Declan breathing strangely beside him.

  “Glittering soul of all earth,” Elianas whispered.

  Torrullin drew breath and raised his voice to shout out, “Kalgaia, your name is restored!”

  Elianas’ eyes shone.

  A bird sang out.

  Elianas laughed.

  Another joined in and then birdsong filled the spaces. A city of music.

  “The city was built on music, and thus she lives forever,” Torrullin murmured.

  Elianas smiled and wandered over to the plaque Declan had been sitting with. His hand stroked there. “Kalgaia, you have your identity returned.”

  Declan drew breath. By all gods.

  Rose and Teroux came running. “Did you see? Names are appearing everywhere! Torrullin, you’re back!” Teroux cried out.

  “What names?” Quilla asked.

  “Mostly Kalgaia, but Kalgil, Gaiamor, and hear the birds, Quilla! It’s as if the city is coming alive!”

  “It is,” Declan murmured. “Its master has returned.”

  “Where?” Teroux then realised what the Siric meant. He stared at Torrullin.

  Torrullin ignore the reaction; instead he asked, “Which building opened to you?”

  Rose pointed it out.

  Elianas grinned. “Gaia Hotel. Makes sense.”

  “Torrullin, please, will you talk?” Quilla asked.

  Torrullin looked at Elianas. “So many witnesses.”

  The dark man’s amusement vanished. “What was it you said about paying? This is a small price.”

  “You are right.”

  Declan stepped up to Torrullin and laid his hand over Torrullin’s heart. “You have remembered. You know who you were and are.” He closed his eyes and pressed harder with his fingers. “You are not alone.” The Siric removed his hand, opened his eyes and retreated.

  “What is he doing?” Elianas snapped.

  “A true soul, you said so yourself. Declan lent me his strength.” Torrullin bowed to the Siric. “I thank you.”

  Declan inclined his head.

  Elianas bowed also. “You are worth many men, Siric. I salute you.”

  Teroux blinked, his gaze swivelling from one to the other. “Please, what is happening?”

  “Reopening old wounds,” Torrullin responded, and then he was decisive. “Call everyone together to meet on the bridge at the aqueduct.” He smiled at Teroux, but tension lay in that gesture. “A city’s soul is people, but its beating heart is the water. To restore the heart we must give homage. The Lifesource.” His gaze swept to Quilla. “Always we acknowledge the waters of life.”

  “Yes,” Quilla said. “And the first freedom is in the naming.”

  Torrullin bowed. “You understand, as ever.” He straightened. “Come, my brother, it is time.”

  They walked swiftly away.

  Quilla swung to Declan. “Can he hold?”

  “Yes,” Declan sighed. “Whatever happened here, they did it together. There are no longer four Ancients here, but five, and those two are so close they are virtually one. Come, let us find the others. Teroux, you two go that way.

  When they were alone, Declan said, “Strength may not be enough in the long term, Quilla. He remembers, and that will fell him.”

  Quilla, wise birdman, was speechless.

  “He is too calm and also too tense. He holds it in and thinks. He will think too much, and shut down will follow. Maybe not today, Quilla, but one day soon. Elianas was right; this is about Torrullin.”

  Quilla sighed.

  The Siric held a finger aloft, adding, “This is another instalment in The Valla’s saga …”

  “… but?” Quilla murmured.

  “Elianas is part of it.”

  “I still hear a ‘but’.”

  The Siric murmured, “Soon Elianas will carry a title the universe will recognise him by, akin to Elixir for Torrullin. This is about Torrullin, yes, but it is also the unveiling of a power equal in every way to him.”

  Quilla, wise birdman, was again speechless.

  Chapter 52

  Life. Beautiful, a rose upon a stem of thorns.

  ~ Arc, poet

  Kalgaia

  THE AQUEDUCT SYSTEM WAS not merely functional; it was beautiful.

  From a series of crystal lakes, canals radiated out into the city, some vanishing below ground, others along flower bordered streams and others crossing arched stone bridges. The whole had the sense of antiquity, and functioned as if erected the day before.

  Torrullin and Elianas waited on the broad bridge that spanned the central lake. This bridge was for pedestrians and benches lined both sides, as well as flower boxes and potted trees.

  Teighlar and Dechend were last to arrive. “I hear something is about to happen,” Teighlar said.

  Torrullin said, “You heard right.”

  Teighlar heaved an exasperated sigh. “Naturally. But, for Aaru’s sake, do not tell me you built this city.”

  Torrullin gave a laugh. “Sorry.”

  Teighlar gave another sigh, this one long-suffering. “I figured. Damn it.”

  “You built it?” Tianoman blurted.

  Torrullin stared up at the towers. “When the universe was new.”

  Saska clutched her throat. “You have remembered.”

  He nodded once.

  “How much?” she whispered.

  He shrugged. It would be hard to quantify the time involved. “I assume everything.”

  “Will you tell us?” Tristan murmured.

  “No.”

  “Torrullin …” Quilla began.

  “No, no and no. None of you here will comprehend the immensity of time. You, Quilla, speak of the Great Curve, but you have not once closed the circle to restart it anew,” Torrullin said. “For this, no words will be enough. Ever.”

  Quilla blinked. “Are you all right?”

  “I function.”

  “Torrullin, please,” Saska whispered. “Say something …”

  He drew breath and looked at her. Beside him Elianas was still; he knew the man understood what he would now do. They certainly had not discussed this, and yet both knew it was the next and natural step. He took a pace, and the movement freed some of his tension. He went to Saska and took her hands in his own.

  “Saska, it no longer matters whether there is guilt or hindsight. What happened with Cat is but a tiny moment and it is far too small to ripple out. I forgive you if you need it of me, but it is no longer important, please believe that.”

  A tear rolled over her cheek.

  He lifted her hands to his mouth and kissed them. “I am letting you go, Saska.”

  “What … why?” She began to shake.

  He claimed her lips briefly. “Had this been the only time gifted me, I would fight for you,” he whispered, “but so much has gone before I know there is only so much I dare hold to. You must release me, please.”

  Her breath shuddered. “How?”

  “Say the words and then try, with the time given you, to believe them.”

  “I cannot!”

  He touched her face and smiled sadly. “Very well; when you are ready.” His hands dropped away and he turned from her.

  “Torrullin!”

  He did not turn back.

  “Torrullin, please!”

  He halted beside Maple. “You have temporal passage through this time realm; the Syllvan granted it.”

  Maple nodded.

  “Use it now to take Saska wherever she wants to go. They will allow a second to pass through.”

  “No!” Saska shouted.

  Torrullin stared into Maple’s eyes. “Now, ple
ase.”

  Maple swallowed. Torrullin did not turn around as the Tracloc approached Saska, took her shoulders in his hands, and vanished with her.

  Torrullin walked on and turned as he reached Elianas.

  Something in the man’s eyes shared sympathy.

  “My god,” Caballa blurted. “Like that?”

  Torrullin ignored the outburst. He pointed at the city.

  “Her name is Kalgaia and she was built at a time when the Valleur were two people.” He dropped his gaze to the team. “Do not interrupt now. Once the Valleur were golden and dark. They were not separate; they were one in everything. Life was good and all flourished; it was a perfect time. No war, no strife, no hunger, no disease. This city stood fair and gleaming at the heart of an empire and all adored her. She was imagined and created from love. Was I the architect? Yes, and I built her as monument to the love I bore … my people.”

  Next to him, Elianas breathed slower.

  Torrullin stared into the gleaming city. “I was betrayed by that love and thus the city paid the price. The soul of Kalgaia paid. In anger and hate I swept in to destroy the dark Valleur and when their brethren entered the city to come to their aid, I destroyed them also. Until only Golden remained.”

  Utter silence.

  He focused his gaze on the people dear to him.

  “They called me Darak Or and cursed me. The day came when anger bled away and hate dissipated and I was shocked by my actions. I murdered half my people over a small betrayal. In the time after I chose to forget, until the time came to restore. That time has now come.”

  “Torrullin was not alone is this,” Elianas said. “And I was the one who needed to remember.” He drew breath. “It cannot be undone; no dark Valleur will populate the universe beyond this realm; no new future will arise from atonement. Yet restore we shall this day, for our redemption lies in the sincerity of this act.”

  “Darak Or?” Teroux’s voice was small.

  “And his creature,” Elianas said. “We were both eternally cursed.”

  Tristan stepped forward. “You are Valleur.”

  “Yes, I am.”

  “You betrayed him.”

  “Yes, I did.”

  “Nemesis,” Tianoman breathed.

  “Indeed,” Elianas responded.

  Teighlar shouldered forward. “And Grinwallin?”

  Torrullin looked at him. “The void needed to be hidden from Nemisin.”

  “Why? When did you do it?”

  “Nemisin sought power, great power …” Torrullin’s voice trailed off and then he swore. “The truth? You want the truth? Nemisin was petrified I would annihilate the Golden also and thus he sought power everywhere, in any form, to stand in opposition to me. He conceived of an ultimate ruler, a Throne, the bloody Dragon symbiosis, the darkling miasmas, the time jump to Orb, all to consolidate his base of power. I was the Master Sorcerer, the one Valleur came to, and then I was the Darak Or, an evil that had to be stopped, whatever it took. Nemisin would have used the void against me and thus would have destroyed us all.”

  He drew breath to calm himself.

  “I already imagined one city; it was not hard to do another, but Grinwallin was different. No soaring spires and great parks, for those were my signatures. No, Grinwallin nestled in with rock and stone, and was thus not seen. Your Luvans, Teighlar, built her only later, but the act of imagining her protected the void from Nemisin. Grinwallin is mine, Kalgaia is mine, but the empire we had once lies now in eternal ruin.”

  “Orb was your fault,” Teighlar accused.

  “By default, yes.”

  “Default?” Teighlar snarled.

  “I attempted to right the wrong when I nudged the Diluvan ship to Luvanor … and Grinwallin.”

  Teighlar was ashen. “What?” He launched forward.

  Elianas raised his hand to send Teighlar flying backward. “Do not bring your anger here this day.”

  “Gods,” Tianoman blurted.

  Teighlar clambered to his feet. “So the creature has power.”

  Elianas was unblinking in his gaze.

  Torrullin stepped forward. “No more. This is how it is, Kalgaia will be restored, but the restoration works only in this realm. Lowen will be found. And Nemisin will be eased of his need for power. We did what we could during his rule, but both of us were forced to vanish for a time. Now we attempt to send echoes and hope they are resonant enough to act as redress. Understood?”

  “It is not good enough,” Dechend said, his usually mild tone acid in its resolve. All foundation had been removed from under the Senlu since the inception of this journey. “My Emperor is High King of Orb, the Senlu are Luvan, and Grinwallin belongs to another, when Luvan blood paid for it. And Orb, an ancient heritage, sundered by power hungry, arrogant rulers with no regard for life or future. Echoes and resonance are not good enough to rebuild foundations.”

  “Well said,” Teighlar murmured.

  “My Lord Torrullin, I have respected and loved you, the one who rebirthed the Senlu into a new time, yet now we hear how you manipulated original settlement. Dare I suggest Luvan downfall could lie at your feet also? Respect and love, however, cannot be overturned by the words spoken here this day, even be they true, but respect and love will be lost if words are all we receive from you.”

  “Oh, well done, Dechend,” Teighlar whispered.

  Torrullin threaded a hand through his hair and then laughed.

  “Gods, here it comes,” Declan murmured. “Stupid Senlu.”

  Quilla waved his hands about and even Elianas looked at his companion warily.

  “Not enough, you say?” Torrullin called out. “You require full redress, is that it?”

  “Stop him, Quilla,” Caballa snapped.

  “How, damn it?” Quilla snarled. “He was a Darak Or!”

  Teighlar stilled to a white statue.

  Dechend blanched.

  “Sometimes you should accept the lesser gift, my friend, in order to keep the peace,” Torrullin said. “However, if it is the greater gift you seek …”

  “No,” Dechend whispered.

  “… it is the greater gift I shall present to you.”

  “Torrullin, do not be stubborn, not now,” Elianas said.

  “I have made up my mind.” He was in motion, chanting aloud. The water in the lake boiled up and then subsided. “There, homage done.”

  He strode over the bridge and headed for a mighty tower of pure glass. There he slapped his hand into the handprint device and pushed. All over the city the devices activated. Doors slid open and windows moved to admit air. Birds took to the sky singing.

  Then the murmur of voices, growing strong and numerous.

  Elianas froze a few paces from Torrullin.

  People began appearing. In the parks, squares and buildings, on the streets and bridges. Laughing, talking, shouting, running, walking - a city of people about daily life.

  “Hell,” Teroux whispered.

  Rose clutched at him.

  Declan and Quilla looked at each other. Restoration, and Torrullin would not feel it.

  Elianas, tears coursing over his cheeks, swerved back.

  Torrullin stared at the hosts of dark Valleur, and felt nothing.

  Anger came then and Elianas strode to him and pushed him against the glass. “How dare you belittle this?”

  Torrullin blinked. “So much expectation, Elianas.”

  Anger fled. “My brother, do you not know how fortunate you are? You tell them of this terrible thing we did and do they turn from you? No, they asked questions and they made demands, but they did not walk away.”

  “They do not believe it yet.”

  “I know, but they will not leave even when they do. Do not squash that gift by turning anger on them. In the end, the anger is for yourself.”

  Quilla, overhearing, swallowed.

  Declan was right; Elianas was the one who would be there now. He herded the others away, leaving the two to find a way to glory in wh
at was done this day for Kalgaia, lost city.

  When Dechend asked about the threat of a greater gift, he explained quietly Torrullin did not just awaken a city - he brought people back. Had they been in a parallel realm, every future would have changed as a result. Thank all gods they were in a bubble that could not influence reality.

  Dechend walked away pale.

  TORRULLIN AND ELIANAS WERE not seen again that day.

  What peace they attained would remain personal. For their part, the others, now without Saska and Maple, wandered the city and stared at people.

  Kalgaia, ancient Valleur city.

  It was soon apparent why Elianas said the restoration would affect nothing, for the dark Valleur on the streets went about their lives without being aware of the visitors. Rose accidentally bumped into a young child, or thought she did; imagine the surprise when the child passed through her. To the city folk the visitors did not exist.

  In a realm out of time, they were beyond time. It was akin to watching a host of ghosts.

  She understood then why Elianas moved through Torrullin’s body in the antechamber. Time.

  Later, during the evening meal, conversations swirled around the events of the day. Gaia Hotel remained as they found it; the upper regions out of bounds, and no Valleur entered the precincts.

  “Neutral zone,” Tianoman said.

  “It occurs to me, if this incredible renewal has no effect on our reality,” Tristan said, “then what stops us preventing the massacre on Orb?” He glanced at Dechend and Teighlar. “Absolute redress.”

  Quilla wagged a finger. “Have a care with that. Torrullin is right about greater gifts and danger. Note what happened here. To all intents he raised people from the dead; he did not reverse the hell he unleashed on them. Transpose the situation to Orb. We could restore people to Orb, but that probably cannot alter the battle or its outcome.”

  “Is it raising people from the dead?” Teighlar frowned.

  Declan shook his head. “Merely a figure of speech. I think Torrullin placed a time seal on Kalgaia, now released.”

  “It is but a moment they waited,” Quilla said.

  “He sealed the time before he, um, did his thing,” Teroux remarked. “Or we would see terror.”