Lore of Sanctum Omnibus

by Elaina J Davidson

  In an empty chamber where the walls were translucent mother-of-pearl, Elianas came to a halt. He swallowed convulsively and tears streaked over his cheeks.

  “I can hear them,” he whispered, his gaze stark with longing. “Both of them.”

  Torrullin was uncertain. It was different for all who wandered these chambers, and what he felt might not be what Elianas experienced. “Whom do you hear?”

  Elianas was disappointed. “You cannot hear them?”

  “It is different for everyone.”

  Elianas swung away. “My daughters. I hear my daughters.” He turned back. “Why did I not hear them before?”

  “Last time we focused on Cassy, not the magic of this place. What are they saying?”

  “They speak not to me, but among themselves. They are together somewhere.” He looked up, listened and then, “They sound happy.”

  Earlier Elianas wondered about his family, and now answers were gifted. “That is peace.”

  Elianas swung around. “Is it?”

  “You may not be able to see them or be with them, but knowing they are never lost to you …” Torrullin closed in and placed his hand over the man’s heart. “… here, is peace.”

  “Sacred space.”

  “You taught me that.”

  “Just words before.”

  “And now?”

  “Now I understand.” Elianas moved away, put his hands in the universal gesture for prayer, and bowed over them. “Thank you for this,” he said to the chamber at large. He straightened and wiped his face with steady fingers. “Damn it, too much emotion for one day.”

  “Likewise,” Torrullin muttered. He headed past the man into the next chamber. There he stopped and, when Elianas joined him, said, “If you sensed happiness for your daughters, then there is no threat near them. Reaume still has hope.”

  “The Dryads have not won the war.”

  “We still need to discover how it stands at present and where it will ultimately end.”

  “Fortunately we have a Walker present.”

  “We cannot employ the grotto. It will have to be via a back door and that could mean ages of wandering before we find them.” Torrullin walked on. “We need Quilla in here.”

  “What does he know of Reaume?” Elianas trailed after, listening more to the music than to Torrullin, hoping for other echoes.

  “Only what I told him, but he knows something of eternal spaces. He might have a trick or two we could employ to shorten purposeless wandering. Elianas, are you listening?”

  Elianas came to a stop. “Of course.”

  Torrullin rolled his eyes.

  “You are not to force an apology from him, hear?” Elianas murmured.

  “Fine.”

  “Gods, I know that bloody ‘fine’.”

  Torrullin’s mouth lifted on one side. “I wonder if I know you as well as you know me.”

  “I know how to push your buttons, but I never know which way you will jump.”

  “Then why do it?”

  A grin. “To see which way you will jump.”

  Torrullin muttered and carried on walking.

  “I believe you know me better than I know myself,” Elianas murmured from behind.

  A glance over his shoulder. “I doubt it.”

  “Torrullin, do not call him yet.”

  Cessation of movement. “Why not?”

  Elianas was at his shoulder. “Feel this place, my brother, and feel how it reminds one of home. Here the music is otherworldly, yet it echoes the natural music on Avaelyn. Here the chambers are intertwined, much like our rock spaces, and here is imagination, the other side of our elements. Fire and ice, it is all here. It would be a shame to share it with a third party. Torrullin, here it is safe to recall the dreams of betrayal.”

  Torrullin closed his eyes, but did not otherwise move.

  “Here there is no fear,” Elianas continued, his breath warm on Torrullin’s cheek.

  “Do you know what you ask?”

  “I ask that we cease shying away. I ask that when we remember in future, we can do so without the knots and twists. It becomes an incident of the past.”

  “Why insist now?”

  “This is the right place.” Elianas moved around Torrullin to stand before him. “There was never a right place before. Mount St Moor is too close to us.”

  Torrullin’s gaze was unblinking. “It needs preparation.”

  “It does not. You think too much.”

  Torrullin looked away. Elianas did not yet understand. “This is not the right chamber for recall.”

  “Every chamber will be wrong if I leave it up to you. What are you afraid of?”

  “Moving from dream into reality without an interlude to know the difference.”

  “You do not trust me. Fine, leave it. It was a bad idea.” Elianas walked on.

  “I do not trust myself.”

  Elianas halted.

  Torrullin was at his shoulder. “You were lost to me recently, and I began to understand how linked we are and were. I knew before and yet it was ... theoretical.”

  “Now?”

  “Now nothing is just words.”

  “Why do you not trust yourself?”

  “Because I no longer care about the line.”

  Elianas retreated, his face white.

  Torrullin closed in, forcing him to step back again, and still he came closer.

  “If I do not care about the line, then I cannot recognise an interlude, Elianas, and if I cannot recognise that, then dream will be reality this day. I know this about myself, thus cannot trust recalling betrayal. Dare you take the risk? Dare I take it? You say we can achieve equanimity using will. I say wish will be stronger. Wish will override will, and where will we be then?”

  Elianas backed up against a wall and could go no further. “I was wrong to suggest it.”

  Torrullin put both his hands on the wall and leaned close. “No, you were right, but we must prepare properly.”

  “Are you mad?” Elianas hissed. “After those words? Do you know what they did to me?”

  “The reality of obsession,” Torrullin murmured. “The worse the scene painted, the more you want it.”

  “Will you get away from me before I do something stupid?”

  “Tear me apart?” was the suggestion.

  Elianas groaned and slid down the wall to duck hurriedly under those arms. “How sweetly you diverted me from an intention to make right a fucking dream that drives me insane!”

  Torrullin rested against the wall. He folded his arms across his chest. “Take it out on me, I dare you.”

  “What is it with you today? Why are you pushing?”

  “To see which way you will jump.”

  “Oh, fuck off, and leave me alone.” Elianas strode away.

  Mocking laughter followed him.

  When Elianas was out of sight and hearing, Torrullin sagged against the wall and lifted shaking hands to his face. Goddess, too close. So close, he could feel the search for release building, and yet, if pushing was what it took to keep the true recall of betrayal at bay, he would push hard whenever necessary.

  Elianas was not ready to face the truth of that night.

  HE FOUND HIM on the platform outside the Temple. “Shall I send for Quilla?”

  A dark stare speared him. “You are hiding something about that night.”

  “And you hide something new from me as of today.”

  Elianas swore. “Call him, but you talk to him.”

  “Where are you going?”

  Elianas’ eyes glittered. “Really want to know?” He reached out and placed his hand on Torrullin’s arse, and pulled him close. “Feel that … brother? It requires release or I shall tear you apart.” He let go and headed in, throwing over his shoulder, “I am going to find a prostitute.”

  Torrullin was still for a time and then he sent for Quilla before he too did something exceedingly stupid.

  Chapter 45

  Contradiction, oppo
sition between two conflicting forces or ideas

  ~ Titania Dictionary

  Lifesource Temple

  QUILLA DANCED INTO the chamber. “Enchanter, you are back!”

  Torrullin smiled, soothed by the genuine welcome. “I am, yes.”

  “You have put on some weight. Excellent.”

  “Lots of rest.”

  “What can I do for you?” Quilla sighed appreciatively. “It is good to be here.”

  “It is.”

  Quilla eyed him. “What are you up to? You have had enough terrible adventures in recent times.”

  Torrullin laughed, aware of how much he loved the tiny birdman. “Quilla, it is good to see your smile.”

  “And I am happy to hear you laugh, but I know you; something is a-foot.”

  “As always.”

  “And you need to pick my brain, I assume.”

  Torrullin laughed again. “Yes.”

  Quilla was pleased. “Come; let us sit in comfort, for I have a hankering after my private domain.”

  Torrullin followed him. “I know the feeling.”

  “You have a beautiful home, Torrullin.”

  “Thank you.”

  They entered Quilla’s chambers and made their way to the one where pillows were chairs. Quilla studied his guest anew. “You seem more complete. The cessation of the strain of healing?”

  “The return of Elianas.”

  Quilla blinked. “When?”

  “Ten days.”

  “Is he all right? Where is he?”

  “He is fine and …” A moment’s pause. “… he is in Galilan.”

  “He should be here to hear the music. It will help him.”

  “He was. It helped.” It helped too damn much.

  “Good.” Quilla straightened. “I would like to speak with him.”

  Torrullin’s gaze was bland. “Perhaps you will have the opportunity.”

  “Torrullin, please, I am sorry …”

  “Forget it.”

  Quilla inclined his head. “Then I shall. What do you need from me?”

  “I need to know how to shorten a journey through the eternal spaces.”

  “Another journey? Gods, you did Time, and Void and then the Path, all in too condensed a period, and even the months of healing was a journey for you. Go home and take personal time for a change.”

  “Every day is a journey, Quilla.”

  “Oh, pish. You know what I mean.”

  “A ship fell from the sky, a Beacon ship, on Avaelyn. Now either Beacon is up to something I am unaware of or something screws with navigational instruments. The latter could be due …”

  “… to upset in Reaume. I see.”

  “Do you? Have you any idea where it could lead?”

  “I have a fair picture.”

  Torrullin leaned forward. “The grotto is sealed even to Elixir; Elianas and I must enter by another door.”

  “And that can put you on a path through, across and over infinite realms before you reach the grotto from the other side - ages, maybe. I hear you, and now you hear me. We are talking here about interfering in a war literally between titans. I have not your affinity with the Syllvan, but I know you would agree they are god-like in who and what they are; the Dryads are likely the same. You may stand alongside such august personages, even above them, but you are one, where they are many …”

  “Elianas will be there.”

  “And Elianas is likely to stand alongside them also, yet you would be outnumbered. Further, are we thinking swordfights and sorcery pulses in a war between their kind? I doubt it, and I doubt either of you can match what they fight with. Castrating a man across a vast distance, and branding him, is not quite the same as attempting to fell a vine likely older even than you are.”

  “You heard about that.”

  “The men who burned those women? I did, and knew it was you, but, my friend, that kind of power is insufficient for Reaume.”

  “Or in Ariann, agreed.”

  “If you are not going to fight, why do you need to enter?”

  “To know what the result is likely to be. We require awareness, if only to prevent ships falling from the sky.”

  “You aim to merely look?” Quilla was disbelieving.

  “I am not completely insane, Q’li’qa’mz. I do not what to touch this, but it needs doing.”

  “I have worried over this, and Tristan is like a creature with glass in his arse, and Caballa pests both of us. And, gods help us, never mind bloody Teighlar. The dumb Senlu has even suggested entering the Void.”

  “Hell, he must not …” Torrullin paused. “Would that work?”

  “No!”

  Torrullin raised a hand. “Fine.”

  Quilla pointed a finger. “This time I go with, hear?”

  “I will not be responsible for another death.”

  Quilla licked his lips.

  “I trust only Elianas to survive.”

  “Fine, fine, fine, but then you will hear every word of advice I give you.”

  Torrullin inclined his head. “And it will be appreciated.”

  “Summon Tristan and Caballa - both have been doing research - and Elianas must be present.”

  “Very well, but we do this in Grinwallin, where I get Teighlar back in line.”

  “Agreed.”

  “I will collect Elianas. We meet in Grinwallin.”

  Quilla frowned. “Call him.”

  “I cannot. You will send for Tristan and Caballa?”

  Quilla was on his feet. “What is he doing, Torrullin?”

  “My prudish friend, Elianas is currently engaged in a sexual act.”

  Quilla cleared his throat, embarrassed. “Oh. All right, we will, um, meet you there.”

  Galilan

  HE LOOKED UP AT the upper floor of the three-storey building. That was where Elianas had found a willing body and was taking his bloody time.

  Torrullin found a bench on the riverbank and sat to wait.

  Half an hour later Elianas sat beside him, wordless.

  “We are to go to Grinwallin.”

  “You could have called,” Elianas said.

  “And feel what you were feeling? No.”

  Elianas lurched to his feet and stared over the fast flowing water. “I felt nothing. Let us go.”

  Torrullin sat on, watching him with hooded eyes.

  Elianas ran both hands through his hair in fury, but did not show his face.

  Torrullin waited.

  “It was mechanical. It seems I need my mind engaged first.”

  “I do not require details.”

  “Then what are you waiting for?” Elianas snapped.

  “For you to calm yourself.”

  A heaved breath. “I am calm.”

  Torrullin rose. “Then we can go.”

  “Wait. Give me something, for god’s sake.”

  “Why? Because you took away from yourself?”

  A glimmer of relief in dark eyes. “That is better.”

  “Fuck you, Elianas. I am not your nursemaid.”

  “Better and better.”

  “Excellent. If you are happy, can we go?”

  “Certainly.” Elianas combed his hands through his hair and squared his shoulders.

  Grinwallin

  QUILLA SHIVERED IN the Great Hall with Tristan, Caballa and Teighlar.

  Winter had come to northern Luvanor and snow lay in drifts in the city of Grinwallin, bringing on the coldest season in living memory.

  Torrullin entered and behind him Elianas.

  Teighlar detached from the group and met them halfway. The three men stared at each other and then Teighlar grinned and enveloped both, squashing them together.

  “Torrullin, I know you need no apology from me, yet I feel I gave up on Avaelyn and for that I am sorry. You are by far a better Enchanter, my friend.”

  Torrullin clasped his shoulder, at the same time moving away from Elianas. “As you say, it is unnecessary.”

  “Elianas
, I am happy to see you returned.”

  The dark man bowed his head. “As am I.”

  Teighlar grinned and gestured at the sword at Torrullin’s waist. “I see you returned his catharsis also.”

  Elianas stilled. “He called.”

  Teighlar nodded. “I know.”

  Torrullin muttered, “You may think I am the better Enchanter, but you certainly see more clearly, Emperor.”

  Teighlar shrugged, but was pleased. “I know the games words can play.”

  Elianas gave a wry smile. “The time for games will soon be over.”

  Torrullin glanced at him, frowned, and went to the others.

  “Ah, brother, must you taunt him?”

  Elianas snorted. “Stick around, Emperor, and you will soon see the whip has changed hands.” The two sauntered nearer.

  Torrullin, meanwhile, had Caballa in his arms, embracing her. “Thank you for all you did recently, from the bottom of my heart, and know I could not say the words before.”

  She swallowed as he let go. “Thank you for everything you did, my Lord.”

  Torrullin faced Tristan. “I treated you poorly on Avaelyn. Forgive me, and thank you.”

  Tristan smiled. “Family - we can get past anything.”

  “How true.” The two gave each other a backslapping embrace.

  When they parted, Tristan extended his arm to Elianas and when the man took it, drew him into an embrace as well. In his ear he said, “Elianas, you are welcome. Cease retreating and step forward.”

  The dark man inhaled a breath and they parted. Caballa poking him in the ribs solved his discomfort. Elianas looked down at her and then smiled wide, which entirely transformed him, when he noted her pointing significantly at her cheek.

  Laughing, he bent to place a kiss on that cheek and then for good measure placed one on the other also.

  She winked at him.

  Torrullin stepped back to view them from a distance. As Elianas straightened, he remarked, “I wonder what it is.”

  Teighlar frowned.

  “It,” Torrullin emphasized. “Something the Syllvan said opened the doors to Elianas. Fantastic, but what is it?”

  Elianas snapped, “Stop thinking, damn it.”

  “I am not belittling anything. I am simply curious.”