Torrullin flung into the armchair before the low desk and sprawled there to stare at him.
The silence stretched as the two men traded wills, the one staring, the other ignoring.
“You are getting better at it, I see,” Torrullin said.
Elianas raised an eyebrow and did not look up.
“Your will is strong.”
There was no comment. The pen continued to scratch over the paper.
“Elianas.”
“Torrullin, I am busy.”
“The last months must have been wearying for you, I understand that, but you should have left me to my fate. Any line we sought to cross would now be immaterial.”
Elianas looked up. “That fate was not ordained.”
“How do I function without seeking justice? Tell me that and I shall listen to every excuse you have to offer.”
“It depends exactly what it is you seek justice for.”
“My son.”
Elianas sat back, throwing his pen down. “That is not justice; that is revenge.”
Torrullin looked away. “Maybe it is.”
“What do you want me to say, Torrullin? Sorry? I made that choice when you were right there.”
“And now I hate you for it.”
“I am well aware. I also knew the time would come when you blamed me rather than him.”
“I know what Tymall was, but he was my son, and therefore I cannot help but hate the fact that you ended his life. You say you knew this would happen and yet you say you saved me. Why?”
Elianas’ face was devoid of all expression. “You know why.”
“Because I saved you from Tymall.”
Elianas swore. “No.”
“Because I proved where my loyalties lie.”
“Goddamn it, no.”
“Then, why?”
“I am not answering.”
“I literally sent my son to his death, Elianas, because I loved you more. You owe me an answer.”
Fury glinted in dark eyes. “I did not ask you to do what you did.”
“I did it anyway.”
“And I did what I thought was needed to save you. Are we to punish each other eternally over this?”
“Revenge, they say, is best served cold.”
Elianas rose. He leaned to the side of his chair to retrieve his own sword, strapped it on, and rounded his desk. He sat on its expanse directly before Torrullin.
“My transgression does not equate with yours; you did this to yourself …”
“Shut up, Elianas. I do not need to hear this from you. We both know where we stand and we both know words are immaterial. Fact, I would have killed Tymall if you did not. Fact, I sundered Digilan because he desired to make you less. Fact, I lost my sanity. Words will alter nothing.”
“Time can.”
“Ah, thus you bought me time.”
“Yes.”
“I cannot thank you for your selfless act.”
“It was not selfless, you imbecile, and you know it, and I do not need your thanks, besides. If we need to start speaking words of appreciation, then we are in trouble.”
“We sound so married,” Torrullin taunted.
Elianas sighed.
Torrullin snapped, “Tell me how much Tianoman understands.”
“Everything.”
“And how does a Vallorin with a Throne behind him, won at the expense of his grandfather, how does he cope knowing his father was murdered?” Torrullin’s eyes sparkled with anger.
Elianas leaned forward, “He copes, because he knows the truth. He forgave me, Torrullin.”
Torrullin bit out an oath. “But he has not forgiven me.”
“Maybe, but that is between you and him. Torrullin, you were a husk, and I used all my reserves to restore you to a point where you could begin healing. The time comes when you and Tian will speak truthfully and openly about Tymall.”
Torrullin stared up. “Ignorance is bliss.”
“No, it is not.”
Torrullin continued to stare. “Talk to me, Elianas.”
“I hate that you made a fucking stupid choice,” the dark man snapped. “Destroyer at the Throne? For Aaru’s sake.”
“Tian had to be Vallorin.”
“Tian is Vallorin.”
“Then I did something noble, did I not?”
“Oh, fuck, cease the platitudes. Noble purpose? A bloody joke, a prank played on us by the clown that is Time. You tell me why you chose as you did, for, the gods know, I cannot figure it out.”
“Love and loyalty?”
Elianas gazed down and there was clear disappointment in his eyes. “Fine, punish me then. See if I care.” He rose, shifted his sword and walked from the chamber.
Torrullin’s head sank into his hands. If he could not face the real truth, how dare he inflict it upon Elianas?
His Eternal Companion, this once, was entirely innocent.
Grinwallin
THE BOX WAS UNREMARKABLE.
It was plain wood of good quality and workmanship, and a small silver clasp and lock was all that prevented it being opened. There were no markings anywhere. Quite unremarkable, and that had been a deliberate choice a long, long time ago.
It was Diluvan in origin and travelled the stars eons ago via a biological spaceship to land with a band of settlers on Luvanor, the start of the Luvan race on a new world. It belonged to the High King of Orb, a Diluvan, he who was a reincarnate as High King of the Luvans and later as Teighlar, Senlu Emperor. It had been tooled by the king himself, on another world, and only the king knew what lay within.
Teighlar stared down at it. Much had been lost in the translation of time and reincarnation, but not this knowledge. Even before he knew his ancient heritage, he had known of this box; a memory undimmed.
Now he would dare open it for the first time since its sealing to aid a friend.
He pulled at the chain around his neck and found the tiny key he wore always. He slotted it into its place and turned the mechanism quickly. Despite antiquity, the lock surrendered instantly.
Then he sat.
He could not lift the lid.
There were portals in Time as there were portals between realms, and there were manufactured doorways and magical ones that could be summoned at will. Each shift should be regarded as dangerous and only a Walker of Realms could safely negotiate the ways. Torrullin was such a one and Elianas could traverse time and place because he was Alhazen, and this box gifted this king the same means of travel.
He had been through portals when they embarked on their mission to redress an ancient wrong, thereby saving Grinwallin from herself, but he had no knowledge of true shifts. And now, with Torrullin in trouble, he would dare in that ignorance, because it was the only way to subvert a word of power.
Elianas’ barriers would not withstand this.
Was this the portal danger mentioned in that telling? If so, he might be stepping on the devil’s tail.
Torrullin, however, would take the risk.
Thus he would do the same.
Taking a deep breath, Teighlar lifted the lid.
Anyone watching would have seen him vanish through an iridescent hole in the fabric of the air around him, a hole there and gone before a breath could be taken.
Avaelyn
THE WIND WHIPPED THE ocean into a mighty froth and massive waves destructed upon the cliffs.
Elianas stood at the point where Torrullin sat in meditation for hours, and watched the fury of the storm. In the past storms had driven him to an insanity of sexual desire, and now he found it entirely absent.
Something had changed inside him.
He wondered if Torrullin discovered a similar lack.
Elianas smiled bleakly. At least there would be one less tension between them, then. The wind pulled at his hair, whipping it about his face, and rocked him on his precarious perch. Perhaps it was time to leave. He could keep Torrullin bound here until his anger cooled, while … but, no, he was not a man to run
from confrontation. He would see it through, whatever it brought. He needed the truth.
After a time Torrullin came to rest alongside him, as buffeted by the wind, and braced against the currents.
They stood some while in silence.
We have changed, Torrullin sent.
Yes. Perhaps now I am able to call you brother and mean it, having lived with you as one for four months. Elianas pushed long strands of hair from his face.
I have always meant it when I called you brother.
Liar.
Occasionally, yes.
Elianas moved his head. You are hiding something important from me.
It is not that important.
Tell me.
I intend to, but I need to work it out first.
Elianas shifted. I can live with that … for now.
You hide something from me as well.
I do not … but he did, and he knew the time had not come to speak of death. Not in this place where parts of them were dying and being reborn by the moment. Yes, there is something, but I, too, need to work it out first.
There was a smile in Torrullin’s thoughts. We are so alike, Elianas.
I know. Our downfall.
And our salvation.
One day, perhaps.
Then their intimate communication froze. All breath fled in the utter astonishment to shiver every nerve in both men. Before them, with barely enough ground left for a man to stand before falling over a cliff’s edge, a circular light appeared and vanished again within the space of a thought.
Teighlar stood there.
He stumbled, and Torrullin reached out to pull him from the precipice.
Teighlar grinned.
How did he manage this? Torrullin sent to Elianas.
No idea, Elianas snapped out in his thoughts. We better get him inside and to the root of this new contradiction.
It seems the Diluvan High King knows how to wiggle his way around a word of power. There was pure delight in Torrullin’s tone. Excellent.
Elianas swore inaudibly.
Teighlar said, “Rayne?”
“For pity’s sake, you would not be here if you thought I was still Rayne.” Torrullin folded his arms and tapped a foot on the ground.
Teighlar laughed. “That is true.”
“We do this inside,” Elianas said, and motioned for Teighlar to follow him.
Grinning like a cartoon cat, the Emperor swaggered after the dark man. His eyes rested on Torrullin as he passed and Torrullin lifted an eyebrow at him, and then laughed. He slapped Teighlar on the shoulder and fell in beside him.
“It is good to see you.”
Teighlar sent him a serious look. “And I am beyond happy to see you back to self.”
THE STORM’S DIN WAS less pronounced inside and Elianas swung to confront the Senlu. “Explain yourself.”
“Well, hello to you too, Elianas.”
“How the fuck did you get past the barriers?” the dark man demanded.
Torrullin watched the exchange in patent amusement, folding his arms.
Teighlar waved a finger. “You have your secrets and I have mine.” Then he was serious again. “Nobody can follow me and the barriers remain untouched. I mean neither of you harm.”
“I am not afraid of harm, Emperor. Why are you here?” Elianas asked.
“I am needed.”
“You are not.”
“So rude, my friend? Whether you like it or not, I am here and I aim to help.”
Torrullin interrupted, “Are you able to leave the way you came?”
Teighlar drew breath and released. “I do not actually know. Safer, I think, to leave by more conventional means now.” The box and its secret had vanished; he wondered if it returned to its place of safety, and what Dechend would think when he found it.
Torrullin grinned at Elianas. “He is full of surprises, isn’t he?”
Elianas sighed.
Torrullin moved away. “What happens out there?”
Elianas gestured at Teighlar. “You may as well be the bearer of bad tidings, having arrived uninvited.”
Torrullin’s grey gaze locked onto the Emperor.
“Has he told you about … about …?” Teighlar paused.
“Tian and Aislinn. Yes. Tell me what happens around, Emperor. Somewhere a nuance resides that will point the way to them - wait, what of Lunik?”
“Safely hidden, do not worry. As for around, folk are growing antsy. The Lifesource is inundated with pilgrims seeking a reason to continue and that is where Tianoman was taken from. Elixir’s lack of being caused the soul searching, we hear. Tian’s concern and reason for being at the Lifesource was about the sacred site itself; he trusted in Elianas and still does, wherever he is.”
Torrullin quirked an eyebrow.
“Elianas was maligned and accused and insulted by many for keeping you prisoner here, Torrullin, and yet some of us believed he was right …”
Torrullin said, “You were not here. How do you judge?”
“No one knows you as completely as he does. He would not hurt you.”
“Really?”
Teighlar ignored that. “Be that as it may, folk were about to attempt the barriers to affect a rescue attempt, and then a nice little prophecy came to light and it changed all.”
Torrullin’s eyes darkened. “Oh?”
“On the heels of kidnap–”
“Just spit it out.”
Teighlar did.
In the silence after Teighlar finished quoting the prophecy, Torrullin paced away to halt on the ledge where he could watch the storm. “It sounds more like a warning, and you foolishly enabled a portal? But, never mind, that is not the main issue. The issue is …” and he swung about to impale Elianas with an unreadable gaze. “… wings.”
Elianas stared back.
Torrullin smiled. “So that’s how it is.”
“Bring it on, Elixir.”
“Soon, my companion, soon.”
Teighlar moved his head from one to the other. Always one felt as if they were continuing an unbroken conversation, and it was no different now. “Just wait,” he snapped. “There is more.”
Two sets of eyes swivelled his way.
“Tristan discovered a painting in the Chamber; it called to him. There is a flower that grows only in Torrke and it represents the Medaillon.”
Torrullin shrugged. “So?”
“Torrullin, we do not believe in coincidences. A telling and, presto, the Medaillon is drawn in the air by our Kaval leader? Forgive me if I think that is too much coincidence. Clearly, because we could not know of what was happening here, other signs came forth to tell us you were again yourself. We were being forewarned, although where it is meant to lead, I do not know. You are needed, though.”
“Hmm. A multiverse prompt.” Torrullin hissed under his breath. “I do not like it. This feels akin to coercion.”
“Tianoman was taken because someone else read similar signs,” Elianas murmured. “To negate your rise.”
“Which means a masterful event is planned,” Teighlar muttered. “This is not comforting. Where is the Medaillon, by the way?”
“With me.” Torrullin touched his chest.
Elianas inclined his head. “And when did you put it on again? I took it from you to avoid questions.”
“The same morning I chose to wear black again,” Torrullin grinned.
“That is why your memory returned without my knowledge.”
“It helped,” Torrullin murmured.
“Your wings are with you as well,” Elianas stated.
Torrullin frowned. “What have my wings to do with this? They are gone.”
Elianas swore. “They are not.”
Torrullin released a slow breath. “Elianas, they are gone.”
The dark man drew a breath. “Truly?”
“Digilan has them, goddamn it! You saw the release.”
Elianas stared at him and then strode to the ledge, where he locked into those gre
y eyes. “You did not release all of it.”
“You sacrificed yours for me and I sacrificed mine for you.”
“I wonder.”
“Think what the fuck you will.” Torrullin assumed another tack. He turned to Teighlar. “Why are you here?”
Teighlar licked his lips. “To help a friend.”
“Why does a friend need help only you are able to offer?”
“I will not judge.”
Elianas snorted. “As if he cares how much anyone judges him.”
“He cares,” Teighlar said. “His family is important to him.”
“You should not have come,” Torrullin said.
“You would do this for me.”
Torrullin nodded after a moment, and moved away from the ledge. “You will find your loyalties tested, my friend. You may even judge and you may decide it is wiser to support Elianas.” He glanced at Elianas. “He was right in what he did. He will tell you his purpose was selfish and while that is true, it also has nobility. But you, Teighlar, do not know what happened to start this cycle of revenge and punishment, so where is your purpose? How do you know where your aid is needed when you know not the real truth? I am not innocent; much of what is now, is of my causing.”
Teighlar stared at him and then murmured, “Perhaps someone should tell me the truth.”
“That would be nice,” Elianas muttered.
Torrullin ignored the latter and addressed the former. “The truth you shall have, as far as I am able to reveal it.”
Elianas shook his head and closed his eyes. “Do not do this, Torrullin. We can resolve it together; we do not have to fight each other.”
“We are out of that kind of time. I need to leave Avaelyn and perhaps truth will serve as impetus to remove your barriers.” Torrullin raised his hand to Elianas’ cheek. “It cannot be helped. Forgive me.”
Elianas met the silvering gaze and moved away from his touch. “We do not forgive, my Lord.” He left the chamber.
Torrullin’s hand dropped into emptiness. “I am bereft. I shall destroy him this time.”
Teighlar murmured, “You do need my help; you need it desperately.”
Torrullin raised a stricken gaze. “Stop me when I go too far.”
Lore of Sanctum Omnibus Page 139