Liberating.
He stamped his feet for warmth. A few final duties to see to and he would be released to this new and unchartered future. He knew what those duties were. He also understood freedom would not be smooth, for Elianas was in this time, and Lowen was not yet done.
Torrullin smiled. Good. Smooth could prove boring.
He lifted his arms out and threw himself off the edge of the mountain, and flew.
Valaris
The Keep
A WEEK LATER TORRULLIN came to the Keep.
As he suspected, the three cousins were together and it suited him. He found them seated on the dais as if the Throne held no import.
Standing in the open doors he had to smile. Yes, the future was secure, for these three would not take themselves so seriously they made inadvertent waves. As Nemisin had, as Vannis had, as he had created tides of destruction.
Teroux saw him first and then there were smiles and welcomes.
When all was quiet enough and he had declined refreshment, he said, “I am not staying. I have a few matters to discuss with you and then I am on my way to Grinwallin.”
“But Aislinn …”
He smiled at Tianoman. “Another time. You and your wife find your way now without my shadow over you, and enjoy your son together. Well done, Tian; really well done.”
Tianoman smiled. “Thank you.”
“I gift my Keep to you. It, the valley and the Throne are too linked now to part, therefore a Vallorin should make his home here, if he wants to.”
Tianoman’s eyes were wide. “Really?”
“Yes. I am not going to live here again.”
“But the valley …”
“In my heart, son, and that is where it belongs now.”
Tianoman Valla inclined his head. “Then I thank you, my Lord.” It was the tone of a maturing man.
Torrullin ruffled his hair. “You will be a great Vallorin. You make your ancestors proud.”
The younger man resurfaced. “I must tell Aislinn that.”
Torrullin looked to Teroux. “I have a proposition for you, if you will entertain an old man’s wishes.”
Teroux snorted. “Old? You’re not old.”
Torrullin smiled. “I am very old, Teroux, and that now gives me a degree of - we shall call it freedom, shall we? I ask that you accept my villa on Sanctuary as a wedding gift. Wait, let me finish. First, Rose will be more comfortable away from people and, second, Sanctuary needs a leader. You.”
“Excuse me?” Teroux was pale. “You want me to run Sanctuary?”
“Many folk find themselves in dire circumstances and Sanctuary offers them a place to find a new way forward. Some leave after a time and others stay to aid in Sanctuary’s growth and potential. You are a good man, a patient soul, understanding of people and their needs, and, of course, you are a Valla trained in leadership. You would be perfect.”
Teroux stared at him. “This is unexpected.”
“I know, but I need an answer from you now.”
“Rose will love it,” Tianoman prompted.
“And you would be great,” Tristan murmured. “Do it, man.”
“This isn’t that three kingdom nonsense, is it?” Teroux asked.
“No. Kingdoms are people, not worlds.”
Teroux stood. He paced, thinking aloud. “Rose could maintain the farspeaker chain from Sanctuary, and she could train others - she will enjoy that. We could have Valleur lecturing in Thibis, establish a link with Titania, we could encourage farming, crafts … I could do this, I could really do this, and love every stressful situation. Imagine putting Beacon’s nose out of shape when someone comes for asylum … yes, I could love this …” He stopped pacing, eyes shining.
Torrullin laughed. “Yes?”
“Damn it, I think it’s a yes!”
“Excellent!” Tianoman crowed.
“Good for you, Teroux,” Tristan murmured, glancing at Torrullin with eyes slightly narrowed. What was he up to, ridding himself of property and responsibilities?
Torrullin glanced at him and winked. “Good, Teroux. This makes me happy. You may move in as soon as you are able. Send anything personal - not furniture, hear me - to the small cottage I have on Mariner Island. Tian, same for books and papers here.”
“Of course,” Tianoman murmured, and began to smell the same dead rat Tristan had already stood on.
Teroux flung back down, his mind a-whirl with new thoughts.
Torrullin faced Tristan.
“What are you doing?” Tristan asked.
“Freeing myself,” Torrullin said. “I am not vanishing or leaving or anything crazy. I simply think my time for freedom has arrived. I think I shall be welcome if I want to see my grandsons, hmm?”
“Of course!” Teroux exclaimed.
Tianoman grinned.
“Then I do not need property. The cottage for personal belongings will suffice. I may travel between you three, make a nuisance of myself.”
“Anytime,” Tianoman said, and was serious.
“Likewise,” Teroux grinned.
Tristan waited.
Torrullin leaned forward. “I want you to take my place in the Dome.”
It was not what he expected. “The Kaval?”
“Yes, all of it. You are immortal, as they are. You are Valla, as I am.”
“I thought …”
“There cannot be two of us, Tristan. I do not want it anymore. And thus there is only one. You. You are new to this and you have ideals, ideals that now escape me. You wanted freedom, you said, and therefore you did not want to be Vallorin - I understand that. Freedom, however, has a price and I have paid mine, over and over. Your freedom lies in the Dome. You can go anywhere, do anything, and every time you help someone you pay your dues. It is a grand compromise, one that does not curtail you.”
Torrullin fell silent and waited.
Both Teroux and Tianoman stared at Tristan.
“Cousin, you would be the most powerful man in the universe,” Teroux whispered. “I always thought you would be Vallorin, but this is better.”
“I thought you would be Vallorin also,” Tianoman said, “but you are immortal now. The Kaval - gods, you always spoke of the Kaval as if it was your true destiny.”
Tristan smiled. “I know.”
“So do it,” Tianoman commanded. “Between the three of us we could ensure universal peace.”
“Three Kingdoms,” Torrullin murmured. “People, not worlds. Do you understand now?”
They stared at him and Teroux said, “It is in the heart and soul.”
Tristan smiled. “Exactly.” He faced Torrullin. “I would be honoured to head the Kaval.”
“The honour is mine. Thank you.”
“What are you going to do?” Tianoman asked.
“After Teighlar, the list gets personal. And then I aim to travel with wide, free eyes and take in the sights I have been forced to overlook until now. Do not worry about me and, trust me, you will see me when you least expect a visit.”
“All right,” Teroux grinned, and embraced his grandfather.
Torrullin swallowed. “I love you three.”
Tianoman added to the clasp. “And we love you.”
Tristan laughed and enveloped all three in his arms. He sat back first. “When do you want me in the Dome?”
“Today,” Torrullin replied. “They have been informed and the Dragon ogive is primed for you. Quilla has returned to duty, and he and Declan, with Belun, will smooth the transition.”
“How did they take it?”
“Hard. However, the fact that you look like me will ease it for them and you, and once they know you, they will love you for who you are. You will do well. Tristan, you will be better at it than I was. I could not give the Kaval undivided attention.”
Tristan nodded and drew breath. “Today it is, then.”
Torrullin rose. “It is time for me to go. I will be seeing you.”
He then simply vanished without further f
anfare.
Teroux stared at the empty space. “Why do I get the feeling we will not be seeing him too soon?”
Tianoman hung his head. “Me, too.”
Tristan rose, pinched the bridge of his nose. “I must go.”
His cousins stared up at him.
He smiled down at them. “A new future, right?” And he was gone.
“Gods,” Tianoman muttered.
“All of them,” Teroux sighed.
Grinwallin
THERE WERE ONLY TWO places to find Teighlar.
One was the Great Hall and the other was the stables. Torrullin found him at the latter, cooing over a new horse. The man was obsessive about horseflesh.
Without turning Teighlar said, “You have come.”
“A new horse?”
“From Kantar.”
“You up for a ride?”
Teighlar grinned. “Always.” He whistled and, when the groom appeared, ordered two horses saddled.
“Not that one?” Torrullin asked.
“Not yet. She needs careful handling,” Teighlar murmured, walking around her. He patted her rump to send her cantering into the paddock.
“She is a beauty,” Torrullin remarked, tracking the animal in appreciation.
“That she is. I hear Yltri breeds good stock.”
“You should go look them over.”
“I might just do that.”
The horses came then and the two men mounted. They headed out.
“I have paid a visit to Beacon and Xen,” Teighlar murmured. “Amazing … crazy. Why do folk build such huge cities?”
Torrullin laughed. “Because there are so many people.”
Teighlar pulled a face and added, “I might go to Valaris after this.”
“Good for you.”
“You are not going to be there, are you?”
“No.”
Teighlar nodded. “I thought as much. You are off again, somewhere.”
“For a time. Just travel. Like you, I am suddenly free to do so.”
“Hmm.”
They reached the great plain and spurred their mounts into full-fledged gallop. Whooping and laughing they raced across the plateau.
At the far end they drew up, both breathing hard, and turned for the slow walk back. The horses heaved under them.
“What of the Kaval?” Teighlar asked.
“Tristan.”
“Ah. And Sanctuary?”
“Teroux.”
“Double ah. And Tian has Valaris.”
“Do not go mouthing off about three kingdoms.”
Teighlar laughed. “Fine, I will remain silent.”
Torrullin glanced at him. “How has it been?”
“Better than ever. Produce is up, visitors are more frequent, and my Senlu are content.”
“Not Luvan?”
“They know, but the step to change has not been taken. It may never be taken. We are proud of who we are.”
“And you await formal apology.”
“No. Torrullin, nearly losing everything scared the crap out of me. Truly. I would happily beg you to keep your mouth shut if it will keep things the way they are.”
“You did not tell them everything.”
“No. That is now, quite firmly, in the past.”
“Good, for we cannot go back again.”
“Never?”
“Not ever.”
Teighlar lifted a brow. “You can.”
“No, it has been cut loose. Thank the gods.”
“So you are free.” Slowly Teighlar nodded.
“Finally.”
“What of Elianas?”
Torrullin shrugged. “He is now stuck here. Perhaps he will not mind.”
“That is not what I meant, but … interesting.”
Torrullin laughed.
“Where to from here?” Teighlar prompted.
“Saska.”
“I spoke to her as you asked. She said she would wait to see your eyes before she spoke her choice.”
“Thanks for the heads-up.”
“Are you going to leave her?” Teighlar asked.
“In my mind, yes, but my heart will not know until I, too, have seen her eyes.”
“And Lowen?”
“I have no idea.”
Teighlar sighed. “And I thought juggling mistresses was hard.”
Torrullin snorted. “Oh?”
“Three of them, damn it, and what is worse, they know about each other.”
Torrullin burst out laughing. “Is that why you are hiding in the stables?”
Teighlar glared at him in mock despair. “It isn’t funny.”
Laughing, teasing and talking they walked their horses back to the gate, where Torrullin dismounted. Handing the reins to Teighlar, he said, “I am going from here.”
“No drink?”
“I have seen enough of Grinwallin for a while, my friend. Know I relinquish all claim to her.”
Teighlar bowed. “That I already know, but thank you.”
“The void requires watching, however.”
“Already in place.”
“Good. Some time we will need to institute major protection, know that.”
“Thus it remains a danger.”
“Yes, but not yet. Not yet.”
Teighlar smiled down at the fair man. “Go, Torrullin. I can feel the impatience radiating off you. We have time; we shall see each other again.”
Torrullin reached up and gripped Teighlar’s arm in ritual greeting, and then he was gone.
Teighlar rode his horse in, leading the other behind.
Akhavar
SASKA WAS IN THE Chamber of Biers bending over Nemisin’s mortal remains.
He had not been in before, and the place assailed his senses. Torrullin reeled back gasping for air. It was as if Time crushed his soul.
She straightened.
“There is just memory here. Gods.” He stumbled away.
She found him beside a pool, pacing madly.
“Memory? Only the dead remain.”
“They speak.”
“Ah. And you thought you had finally escaped them.”
“Obviously I was wrong,” Torrullin frowned.
“I feel it, too, when I am there. Nemisin is angry and Neolone bound him by scratching upon his tomb.”
Torrullin looked at her. “Clever Neolone.”
“He wasn’t so stupid.”
Then they stared at each other and the reading of eyes commenced.
Long, long minutes passed.
Saska spoke first. “You still love me, but others need you more now.” She broke the contact. “I release you, Torrullin.”
He closed in on her. “You free both of us.”
She looked up. “Will you stay? One night? You and me, locked away from the universe.”
He reached for her.
Chapter 65
Sometimes starting over needs contain elements of what you seek to leave behind. Choose wisely.
~ Awl
Sanctuary
The Villa
THE NEXT DAY THE time to deal with Lowen and Elianas arrived.
He came early, leaving Saska sleeping and saying his farewell to her in his heart. Saying it while staring into her eyes would now undo him.
Torrullin found Lowen out in the snowscape that was a world in the grip of winter. She was warmly dressed, staring over Lake Averis. He approached, deliberately treading loud.
Her eyes were brilliant in the gloomy light. She took him in head to toe and then studied his eyes. She turned away. “You have been with Saska.”
“We said our goodbyes.” He came to rest beside her and found the view without seeing anything.
“Until the next time.”
“No, it is over.”
She was silent.
“Teroux is taking ownership of the villa. No doubt he will be here sometime today to see what he needs bring with him.”
“I must get out.”
“You were not i
ntending to stay.”
“No. I’ll be gone.”
“Where will you go?” he asked.
She glanced at him. “Now you’re concerned?”
“If Lax taught me one lesson, it was not to interfere in your life again.”
A longer silence and then, “You chose Elianas.”
“I chose myself.”
“He told me about his wife, his daughter, your son.”
Torrullin inhaled and exhaled. “Then you know we are family and the bond is tight.”
She faced him. “There is no shame in loving a man, Torrullin, or taking one as a life mate. Why do you insist on this half-baked relationship - look, do not touch - and keep it that way? You are hurting him.”
“You care that I hurt him?”
“Don’t change the subject.”
“He was a boy when I first saw him. I thought it was hero worship, puppy love. I did not take it too seriously and gave him space to overcome it. He got married, Lowen, and that should have been the end of it. I was not drawn to him, not as a boy, not as a young man and not as a maturing adult, not as he was to me. I was intrigued by his mind - so quick, clever, complicated and creative. He taught me as much as I taught him, and some of the Valleur’s greater spells come from risky experimentation we undertook, upon his instigation. It was a glorious time and we often entered the unknown.
“Nemisin tried to use him against me. He saw more clearly than I did how Elianas felt. It was not that he thought to use his son-in-law, but he realised the more aloof I was over Elianas’ feelings, the more he could prompt. Nemisin did not give a shit that his daughter would be hurt in the process. I was not sure who Elianas gave loyalty to, until one night when we came to blows.”
“He told me. That is when you told him the truth about yourself.”
“Unfortunately. And he wanted immortality also. To prove where his loyalties lay.”
“You told him he would be doing it for himself.”
“Gods, how long did you discuss this?”
She shrugged. “I went to kick his butt out of here and we started talking.”
He gave a half-smile. “No one kicks Elianas’ butt.”
“I know, damn it.”
“Lowen …”
“Go on with your story.”
“Fine. He was trying to prove loyalty and more, but I needed him to want it for himself. When he thought about it, he came to see he had to be selfish or the Ritual would not work. Fact of the matter was, he was pissed at me for trampling his feelings and I was angry that he placed a burden on me. I, after all, aided in creating another immortal - god help us. He returned to court and I followed. We really pushed the limits of anger then.”
Lore of Sanctum Omnibus Page 62