They said their farewells in her room, with Dechend and the guards waiting outside.
He was miserable.
She tried to smile. “When you are done, come to Grinwallin for a break before you accept a post.”
“My father won’t allow me a holiday.”
“You are an adult, Mikhail.”
“I will try.”
“I am going to miss you.” She took his face into her hands and imprinted his kind brown eyes and tanned cheeks under his dark curls. She might never see him again.
He embraced her. “I will miss you as well. Take care, all right?”
Tears ran, but she lifted her chin and her bags and resolutely walked from her room. She would miss the small space; it had been home for ten years. Dechend, bless him, was silent as he took a bag from her and led her out into the gardens.
They found a private place to transport from and then they were gone.
Grinwallin
THEY ARRIVED IN HER mother’s home, for she refused the offer of accommodation inside the mountain.
Everything was as she remembered, except her mother was not there to welcome her and never would be again. She burst into tears.
Dechend, uncomfortable, patted her shoulder and said they would talk later and informed her he had placed Kylis in the guest room for her safety.
Kylis had been charged with the investigation and she was to go nowhere without him. She barely heard. Dechend spoke to someone in a quiet tone - Kylis, she assumed - and then left her alone. Of her new guard she knew nothing, not then; she made her way to her old bedroom and fell onto the bed, weeping as she had not since she was a child.
Nothing would be the same again.
She fell asleep eventually and Kylis, checking on her, stood in the doorway with sympathy in his gaze.
He went back to the living room to pace there.
DECHEND RETURNED AS the sun set bringing papers for her to sign.
Among those was the deed to her mother’s house and her mother’s will. She had left everything she owned to her daughter. Alik was numb as she accepted.
Dechend introduced her formally to Kylis, a Senlu around her age, with a shock of red hair and brown eyes that reminded her of Mikhail’s, and explained his charge to her and to the Emperor, and then explained Teighlar was offworld and had tasked him, Dechend, with her safety.
She sparked over that. “Is he running away from the accusations?” She knew Teighlar was suspected of her mother’s murder.
“He has gone to help a friend, Alik.”
She mumbled an apology and found Kylis looking at her as if in support. He was a good-looking man, young and full of ideals. She had known him when they were both younger, but only in passing.
“Why are you investigating? I thought the Elders would move heaven and earth to find the truth themselves.”
Kylis answered, “They are, but they could also be seen as biased. I am considered neutral.”
“And are you?”
“I am after the truth, whatever it may be.”
She nodded. Good. She had liked him before and she thought she could trust him now. “Have you found anything?”
He glanced at Dechend, who nodded his permission. “The murder weapon was discovered in the compost compound. It was left rather obviously with blood still on the blade, as if meant to be found. It is one of the Emperor’s ceremonial swords, and not that sharp.”
Alik understood. “You think he is being set up.”
“What do you think?”
She shrugged. “I have never heard Teighlar was jealous. It sounds too pat.”
Dechend smiled.
Kylis nodded. “He may be in for a rough period, but we will cover every angle, I promise.”
“Has my mother been interred?”
A week ago she had nothing other than finals to worry over and then the dean summoned her to tell her of her mother’s murder. He could not say who informed him. She chose then, after careful deliberation - and wonderful support from Mikhail - to finish her degree. Her mother would have understood. Now it was different again.
Kylis said, “We could not release her until we examined her.”
She stared at him.
He stammered, “She is ready now.”
Dechend said, “I am prepared to make the arrangements, my dear.”
“No, I will do it. Closure.”
“That is wise of you,” the Elder murmured.
She studied both men. “Do you think the same person or persons may be after me? Is that why you brought me home?”
“It is possible,” Kylis said. “It is also easier to protect you here.”
Alik doubted that, but did not say it. “I want to help in the investigation and, before you deny me, allow me to say this; I have studied modern forensics and may see something a Senlu of ordinary life may overlook. I have skills and I need to keep busy right now and it means I am continually protected, being at your side.” She gazed at Kylis, daring him to contradict her.
He looked at Dechend, out of his depth.
The Elder considered. It was actually more practical to throw them together and it would allay rumours regarding the Emperor’s alleged guilt. He nodded. “Agreed.”
Kylis was astonished, but had learned the art of tact at an early age among those of the royal court. “Very well. I could use the help and a fresh mind.”
“First I need to bury my mother,” Alik said. Both men nodded and she continued, “Tomorrow sunset on the third tier, Dechend, if you could make it known? Meanwhile I will make the necessary arrangements. Kylis, I know you must stay with me, but I need to be alone tonight; I need to say goodbye.”
He bowed. “I shall post guards and be in the house opposite if you have need of me.”
“Thank you, both of you, and now, if you do not mind, I would like you to leave.”
They left, and she wandered around the house touching loved and sentimental objects. She looked through her mother’s treasured possessions and re-acquainted herself with the woman she had not seen much of in the past years. By midnight she was exhausted, but felt she had relieved the pressure of guilt and could now grieve properly.
Life would go on, it always did.
WITH KYLIS AN UNOBTRUSIVE shadow nearby, Alik spent the morning seeing to her mother’s final resting place.
There was a small graveyard amid the trees on the northern slopes outside of Grinwallin’s city walls and she knew her mother would prefer it to a bier inside the mountain. She made payment and chose a simple headstone and spoke to the preacher about the service.
Many on the streets stopped to offer their condolences, which made her want to scream, and many also welcomed her home. There were a few whispers, but she ignored them.
Kylis did not. He, in fact, learned far more as her shadow that morning than a month of investigation would reveal.
Around sunset torches were lit for a gathering upon the third tier. In the flickering flame-light, the preacher uttered moving words and many of Allisin’s friends offered eulogies. Alik spoke only briefly; she had already said farewell.
Then it was done. The coffin was lifted and the procession headed for the gate in the wall. They moved through the trees and laid the coffin in the prepared grave. The preacher said final words and it lowered.
Gradually everyone dispersed, each with a word for Alik, until it was only herself and her shadow at the graveside.
She spoke over her shoulder, “You have news, don’t you?”
“Now is not the time.”
She was thankful for his tact, but also desired to move forward. “Tell me anyway.”
Kylis moved closer. “There is a faction in Grinwallin that wants an older order removed. They say it is time for an immortal Emperor to move to greener pastures, for the Senlu will stagnate under the permanent rulership of one man. They say Torrullin of the Valleur stepped down from the Vallorinship to gift his people the growth of change. A wise man, they say, and our ruler should
take heed. But Teighlar is also a just man and rules with a benevolent fist and that makes it hard to remove him; he is loved by the majority.”
“Thus the smear campaign.”
“Nobody has said it aloud, but it follows, yes.”
“How does my mother fit in?”
“She was once the Emperor’s lover and it is said she bore him a child. That is powerful magic, Alik. If she had joined the faction, the magic would have been theirs, but I think she denied them and thus became a real threat. Now that threat is embodied in you, the daughter who seeks the truth, and possibly the daughter of the very man they seek to disenfranchise.”
She moved to look at him. “He is not my father.”
Kylis paced nearer. “Your mother believed he is and in my experience mothers always know. Teighlar may be immortal, but it is whispered he underwent changes when the Lady of Life gifted him and his Senlu a second chance. He could be capable of fathering a child.”
Alik swallowed. Her mother explained that to her years back to instil in her daughter a sense of the truth. “He does not think so - never mind, that is not the point. If I am the daughter of the Emperor, then the Senlu have a choice in the future, have they not? Not that I am in any way saying I would want to rule. Gods forbid.”
“How far off is that choice? They desire change now.”
“Why? Surely it is not for the sake of change in itself?”
Kylis frowned. “The Beaconites stir the pot with their speeches about wealth in minerals. Maybe it is greed, who knows? Teighlar has already kicked the ambassador’s behind for daring to suggest strip-mining to the south.”
She was aghast. “Kylis, it would dump the Senlu back into the cycle that almost saw us annihilated.”
“I know. They must be stopped.”
Alik licked her lips and moved from the graveside. Her mother would want her to go on living. “Come, we have work to do.”
Kylis smiled and followed her back to the city.
Perhaps he was not so neutral after all.
Chapter 14
How bright the moon is, how dark the world. Why is that? How hot the sun is, how cold the land. Why is that? How active stellar dust is, how still the wind. Why is that?
~ Contradiction, Volume II ~
Avaelyn’s Moon
AVAELYN HAD ONE MOON and that was where Teroux found Tristan. The moon was a wasteland, but possessed the welcoming property of atmosphere and eighty percent gravity. Teroux bounced a bit at first, but soon had it under control.
“Cousin.”
Tristan blinked in astonishment. “Teroux? Man, it is good to see you, although I would have preferred to meet again before a fire with a decent drink to hand.” He held his hand out.
Teroux took that hand and hauled Tristan into an embrace. “It is good to see you, too.”
When they parted, Tristan said, “You have heard?”
“About Tian and Aislinn? Sirlasin came to me.”
“Gods, we are doing everything in our power to find them, but so far only Sirlasin’s description of bright garb is concrete.” Tristan huffed. “As Belun says, we need Torrullin.”
“And, lo, Torrullin is back. Convenient, isn’t it?”
Again Tristan was surprised. His cousin was making him think. “You are right. Damn, that is a parallel I had not even considered. My mind has been too full.” He stared at the world below. “And when bits fit like that, it isn’t simple coincidence.” He lifted his gaze. “What brings you?”
Teroux stared at him. “I do have the right to be as worried as the rest of you.”
“Of course you do; I meant no offence. But something more brought you.”
Teroux sighed long and loud. “Sorry. I guess I expect the worst. Rose is what brought me. Woke up shouting about Torrullin and says Elianas needs my help.”
“Excuse me? Elianas? And you came?”
Teroux grinned. “Weird, right?”
“I’ll say,” Tristan laughed.
“How do we get in?” Teroux studied the world in view as Tristan had.
“We do not.” Tristan pinched the bridge of his nose and released a reluctant laugh. “But I will tell you who did. Teighlar. Somehow the Senlu Emperor pierced the barriers. He is down there right now.”
Teroux frowned as he considered. “Dechend will know how he did it.”
Quilla materialised alongside, his feathers a-quiver. “You felt it? Teighlar?” The birdman paused. “Teroux?”
“Into the fray, Quilla,” Teroux shrugged.
“I predict we shall all each of us be pulled into it. As that bloody Senlu is. Teighlar obviously has the ability to form and dissipate a portal, and it is worrisome. Any portal is unstable and Teighlar is somewhat ignorant when it comes to doorways of such nature.”
“Can Torrullin use what Teighlar employed to circumvent the barriers?” Tristan asked.
“He would be out already,” Quilla murmured. “Either Teighlar refuses to tell him or Teighlar is unaware himself how it works.” The birdman muttered briefly under his breath. “I am worried about Elianas. The tension must be removing energy from him.”
Teroux squinted at him. “You suggest all it needs is for Torrullin to wait him out.”
“Yes. Elianas is strong, but he is not inviolate.”
Teroux was then thoughtful. “And why does Elianas keep him there now, given the current emergency?”
Both Quilla and Tristan chose not to reply.
“Rose is right, isn’t she? She says Torrullin will lash out. Why?”
Tristan shrugged. “A host of reasons, but mostly because of what happened to Tymall.” He frowned, shifting to face Teroux directly, and blurted, “Rose?”
Teroux stumbled in his haste and shock to look behind him.
She strode nearer. “I have news.”
Xen III
Kora City
Earlier
A LONG TIME AGO A Dalrish swore allegiance to Torrullin; Le Matt Dalrish, as a result of his oath of fealty, underwent a decade long training program to become a sorcerer in order to stand amidst the Valleur, his adopted people.
When he completed his training, he returned to find Torrullin vanished into another realm with the Darak Or Margus, and thus Matt returned to Xen III. His cousin, Le Moss, once Crime Lord of the domes, was Xen’s Peacekeeper, and between the two of them, and Lowen, Le Moss’ daughter, they started similar magical training facilities. Magic had saved many, they saw. It worked so well the Dalrish sorcerers became renowned, and their studies continue generations later.
Many centuries after that first decision to train sorcerers, came the resolution to institute a farspeaker chain. What this meant was the specialised training of adept minds to communicate over vast distances and then to place those farspeakers at various points throughout the universe to bridge expanses made even vaster by the sheer scale and quantity of settled worlds.
Rose was one in a great network of farspeakers. She trained at the Farspeaker Enclave outside Shanghai Metrop and was then seconded to the realm mission that included Teroux.
Her subsequent marriage to Teroux and her transfer to Sanctuary had not negated her position in the least; in fact, her proximity to the Vallas, also farspeakers, elevated her position.
SHE CAME TO XEN on farspeaker business, but did not make her way to the Enclave; instead she was in a small and private fort on the outskirts of Kora City.
Here the choices were delved and decisions made to affect the manner in which all farspeakers in the chain worked, and reacted to situations. A farspeaker was meant to be neutral, but was rarely so. They did, however, attempt to keep personal bias from influencing important communications.
Rose was summoned to explain her view of certain recent and unnerving quivers on the chain. And, she suspected, volatile information had passed through the spaces.
She sat with head bowed as the head of their order spoke. The stone under her was cold and hard, but Willow believed discomfort aided the thought processes
and there was thus little she could do to relieve her plight.
All Xen’s farspeakers bore flower names on the chain; tree names came later when a farspeaker found him or herself elevated to a position within the fort. Willow was the current leader.
Rose was not alone on the stone floor. There were four others, all female and each held a position notches above those in the usual chain. She knew two of them, Inca and Honeysuckle, but the others were strangers. Nobody had been introduced.
“It has come to our attention that a number of worrisome factors may add up to an event,” Willow said. “Information has been passed through the chain from various sources and, while it is not our place to interfere, we are also part of this universe and we are honour-bound to act when it becomes imperative.
“The chain is neutral, but we, the conduits, cannot always stand aside and allow others to dictate indiscriminately. The decision to act was not taken lightly and has been somewhat long in coming, and now we hope we have not dallied. Know from the outset this may compromise the chain, for many will call our neutrality into question. We shall weather the storm, for many others will recognise that wisdom and honour bound us to this choice.”
Rose dared to raise her head a little. Willow looked down on them without really seeing them. He was, she understood, attempting to convince himself.
“These are the factors. From Valaris comes the worrying phenomenon of thousands of pilgrims to the Lifesource Temple seeking soul health - a Valleur passed it through the chain - and from Lax comes the new lethargy amid the builders of a world in renewal. Lax will fail if it continues and it is a great loss, for they are close to sustaining their own future. From Yltri comes an upsurge in laboratory testing, too many genetic crops that will eventually sicken that world, and from Ymir we hear there has been an upsurge in child kidnappings.
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