Lore of Sanctum Omnibus

by Elaina J Davidson

  Tianoman was ashen. “Surely that will kill you also?”

  “My father and I live to war another day. Lunik will be Vallorin-in-waiting.”

  “How does Tian remain safe then?” Aislinn demanded, as white as her husband. “You said however he chooses he remains safe.”

  “From me.”

  “Torrullin would not hurt his grandsons!” Aislinn shouted.

  “Sweet Aislinn, he will not care.” Tymall spread his hands anew.

  Tianoman wondered why his father would allow Elianas to be rescued, for surely holding onto him was more to his advantage. There were nuances in this scenario that escaped him at the moment. He sighed then, understanding he needed time to discover what exactly lay beneath, and took Aislinn’s arm from his and moved her aside. “I will do this.”

  She shook her head emphatically. “You think with your heart, Tian!”

  “Maybe so, and it tells me Lunik needs you …”

  “I am not leaving you here!”

  Tianoman the Vallorin drew himself up. “You will do as I command, Aislinn.”

  “I will not!” She glared at him.

  He turned from her. “As a gesture of goodwill, father, please send Aislinn home now. Dealing for my cousins and my grandfather’s sanity is sufficient reason to force a choice from me.”

  Tymall stared at him. “I am not forcing anything.”

  A cold smile altered Tianoman’s usually benevolent face. “Of course you are. If you want me to make the choice with my head, not my heart, send my wife home.”

  “No!” Aislinn screamed.

  Tymall laughed. “You must be an excellent Vallorin, I think. Fine.”

  He waved his hand and Aislinn was gone. Tianoman flinched, but shoved his despair and sense of loss deep. Now was not the time for emotion.

  “She is lovely, by the way. I see that you love her.”

  Tianoman could only imagine her ire, and pain. At least safe. There was that. Now he could use his head. “I am not discussing my wife with you. Is she home? That is all I need to know.”

  “The Valleur seek beyond Excelsior for their Vallorin and queen. They will find her on the closest planet; I do not have enough to place her inside Torrke from here. The Keep is shielded,” Tymall said.

  Tianoman was grim, although his heart was erratic and volatile inside. “I need confirmation.”

  “That cannot be given, not without revealing this place. I swear she is safe.” Tymall stared deep into his son’s eyes, and eventually Tianoman nodded.

  “Why do they search beyond Excelsior?” he asked next.

  “Because that world recently went poof!” Tymall blew on his fingers, making an exploding gesture.

  “What? Why?”

  His father laughed. “Traps within traps, son, and I required the void it created to forever hide this nowhere.”

  “Tymall!”

  “My father is becoming impatient, Tian.”

  “He knows your position,” Tianoman said pointedly.

  “Hmm, he found me faster than I thought he would. I had hoped for more time with his companion. However, I deal in these moments, and they include your choices. Hear this, Tian. If he leaves now to return with his army, whatever form that takes, he will not find Elianas. This place will then rupture. Let him in, and soon you may reassume the Vallorinship. I am no longer interested in the Valleur, the Throne, Valaris or the Vallas. This is about him and me, and Elianas.”

  “Why allow him to rescue Elianas?”

  “This is merely the beginning and he needs to see how far I am prepared to take this.”

  Tianoman shuddered. “What did you do to Elianas?”

  Tymall shrugged, but as he turned aside Tianoman noticed the leering satisfaction in his eyes. “Teroux can tell you about Elianas; you will be free to speak to him.”

  “If I agree to work with you,” Tianoman whispered.

  “Yes, and I will need your oath on that.”

  Tianoman moved away to think. Gods, and now? Did he have a choice? He jerked back. “Surely seeing how far you are prepared to go will only unbalance Torrullin? He will be back no matter what. Why do it? Why let him have Elianas?

  “I want him unbalanced. I particularly need Elianas to be unbalanced.”

  “You are making no sense,’ Tianoman murmured.

  Tymall shrugged. “It does to me. I told you; this is only the beginning. I desire him to return, unbalanced, out of control, the mighty Elixir fallen. That will be the real battle.”

  It was about revenge, the personal kind, and it mattered not who else was hurt in the confrontation.

  “I want to be in the dungeons when Torrullin enters,” Tianoman stated.

  “Why?” Tymall snapped out.

  “To tell him why I would make this oath.”

  “No.”

  “Then it ruptures, father. Let Torrullin do his worst. I would rather die than allow him to leave here believing I am betraying him.”

  Tymall’s eyes narrowed. “It is that important?”

  Tianoman squared his shoulders. “Yes.”

  Tymall gazed upon his son for long moments. “You love my father.”

  “And respect him, yes.”

  “Perhaps having you as witness in the hell below will spur him on,” Tymall murmured thoughtfully. “Fine. Agreed.”

  Tianoman swallowed. The hell below. He definitely needed to be there when Torrullin entered, not only to aid Torrullin, but to know what his father was truly capable of.

  He inclined his head. “Then I swear to work with you.”

  Tymall bowed. “The Valleur will thank you.” He immediately waved the door wide. “You are free.”

  Tianoman stared at the open door. The Valleur would not entirely thank him, he already understood, for they would be concerned over the influences garnered while in the Warlock’s presence. For a moment he wondered if the Elders would expect the Throne to judge his veracity as leader; he hoped not.

  “Open the gates to my father, Tian, and lead him to the dungeons. The path will be contained and shielded for both of you until he is done here.” Tymall made his way to the window and pointed. “Transport down and once there the path is in place.”

  “Now you are using me.”

  A laconic smile followed. “The idea was yours. I aim to employ all tools.”

  “Why are you really doing this?”

  Tymall did not answer; instead he waved significantly at the window.

  Tianoman stared at him with foreboding, and transported out.

  Chapter 36

  Goddamn blueprints!

  ~ Nemisin ~

  Ymir

  Desert citadel

  ANDOR BANNERMAN leaned over the blueprints, and one finger stabbed at it, causing those around the table to jump involuntarily.

  “This needs fortification.”

  It was a small gate in the outer wall that allowed for secret entry and exit.

  The architect, a Beaconite known as Cranckshaw, murmured, “Measures are already in place. The moment the final bolt is tightened they come into effect.”

  Andor pushed away from the table. “Then I am satisfied. How long before we are able to withstand siege?”

  “A month.”

  “Too long. Conscript every criminal you can find and put them to work. You have two weeks.”

  Cranckshaw blanched as Andor Bannerman strode out into the hot, bright sunshine.

  “Get to it,” Horatio muttered. “Fortis will accompany you.”

  Cranckshaw and Fortis looked at each other in dismay.

  Fortis was their resident sorcerer and could help to break criminals from jail, but his greatest strength lay in the ability to transport people en masse.

  The dismay was not for fear of failure; it was for traceability. ‘Free’ so many criminals as would be needed to halve the building project here, and every sorcerer in the universe would know what was going on.

  “Relax,” Horatio murmured. “Soon everyone will know. Do
as you are told.” Horatio was a Ymirian, a general with a reputation for no mercy on the battlefield. He and Bannerman were made for each other. “Go!”

  Fortis grabbed Cranckshaw and took them away, and Horatio followed Andor outside, squinting in the brightness.

  The President of Beacon turned to him. “The farspeaker enclave on Xen III is the first target.”

  Horatio inclined his head, eyes gleaming. Fortis had confirmed the farspeakers revealed their plans to annex the universe. It was just and proper they be first to suffer.

  “And then Menllik.”

  Horatio grimaced. That was in retaliation for Mikhail Bannerman’s kidnapping, but it was a dangerous move.

  Andor twisted his head to relieve tension. “The Warlock confirms Elixir is otherwise engaged, and the Vallorin is now under his control. Do it. We may not have this window again.”

  Horatio bowed. “It will be done.”

  Andor smiled. “Excellent. Bring all soldiers closer to create a buffer until the citadel is ready.”

  “I gave that command this morning.”

  “Then let us begin, my friend.”

  AN HOUR LATER TWO new stealth ships lifted into the heavens and hurtled away in different directions.

  Xen and Valaris would soon feel their sting.

  Palisade

  LOWEN FRETTED.

  Torrullin had agreed she could be there when he found Elianas, but she doubted it now.

  Sure, he went to track the place of holding, but once he knew Elianas was there, wherever it was, he would not stop. And if he discovered Elianas hurt …

  It was why she needed to be there.

  She said as much to Sabian.

  He was fatalistic. “What can we do, Lowen? We cannot follow him now; it would reveal this place.”

  She hissed through thinned lips. “I know.” She stalked once around the interior and then joined him again. “Where have you been the last few months? From what I heard folk thought you went through the Avior door with Nemisin and Cassiopin.”

  “That is what I wanted them to think.”

  “Where were you?”

  “A small cottage somewhere; it really isn’t important.”

  “Why did you stay?”

  “I should rather have gone with them, into the bloody Path of Shades?”

  “That is not what I meant.”

  He shrugged and sent her a conciliatory smile. “I gave my loyalty, and thought he might need it someday.”

  “I see. Strange how we do that.”

  He laughed. “Life is interesting around him.”

  “And painful.”

  “I suffered worse. This is a breeze.”

  “Does loyalty extend to Elianas?”

  “Unless Elianas hurts him, yes.”

  Lowen stared at him. “Sabian, then loyalty will be severely tested.”

  “I am not worried about their personal battles. I mean absolute opposition.”

  She looked away. “We will see.” Her gaze fell on Alik. “She could be trouble.”

  Sabian glanced at her. Alik was in conversation with Mikhail. Rose was busy in the kitchen area, lost to her thoughts. “Why do you think that?”

  “A feeling. I will know more when I see her with both Elianas and Torrullin in one space.”

  “She is attracted to Torrullin? So what? Happens all the time, I hear.”

  “Not Torrullin.”

  “Ah. Again, so what?”

  She met his gaze again. “See for yourself and then tell me if I am right.”

  He shook his head. He did not care about those kinds of relationships; he regarded the bigger picture. “I am more worried about young Bannerman. The lad could be torn by duty and love soon.”

  “He will grow up fast unfortunately.”

  “And you, Xenian? What about you? Are you prepared to reach for immortality again?”

  “No.”

  “You have the strength, I think.”

  “It isn’t about that. It has to end somewhere.”

  He smiled sadly. “To echo you - we will see.”

  She muttered under her breath and went to help Rose.

  Valaris

  The Keep

  AISLINN WAS DISCOVERED in a rage on Otis, a planet in Excelsior’s solar system, and refused to leave until they found Tianoman as well.

  Two Elders were summoned to bring her home to Torrke, and they did so over her protests.

  She remained in a fury. “It is not far! It was barely an instant before I was dumped on that planet - backtrack!”

  Yiddin, senior Elder, said, “My Lady, we have done so. There is nothing to track. An instant could be trillions of light years.”

  She glared at him and sank into a chair at the dining table.

  “Yiddin, you do not understand. Tian has given his word by now to aid his father. We must get him out before he is forced to do something against his nature.” She stared up at him. “You know what the Throne will do if he does something … wrong.”

  Yiddin sat carefully. “Start from the beginning, Aislinn. Please.”

  The Elder was swiftly so pale she thought he would pass out.

  Xen III

  Farspeaker Enclave

  THE FIRST BOMB EXPLODED without warning and detonated in the heart of the farspeaker enclave outside Shanghai Metrop.

  Eighteen farspeakers died instantly and many more crawled away wounded. The second and third explosions finished it off.

  No one survived.

  Dalrish Palace

  MAX DALRISH ROARED like a madman, demanding explanation, and summoned the army commanders to immediate conference. Others were dying in the radiation fall-out. Hospitals were inundated, and yet no one claimed responsibility for the attack. While they were arguing and shouting, Willow, leader of the farspeakers, requested audience.

  In the silence following that request, Willow entered and calmly faced Xen’s war leaders and its Peacekeeper.

  “I am Willow, and I was not at the enclave when it was destroyed.”

  Max drew a mighty breath and approached to place a hand on the man’s shoulder. “I am sorry, friend.”

  Willow nodded. “I am here to inform you the chain is unbroken.”

  Max released him. “How is that possible?”

  “The further chain is untouched, of course, and six of our kind remains unharmed here on Xen. The chain is unbroken.” He drew himself up. “We shall start anew this day.”

  “Who did this?” one of the generals asked. “Do you know?”

  “Beacon’s new stealth ship was sensed before the first explosion.”

  Max Dalrish frowned. “Beacon? Andor Bannerman is missing, taken according to his wife. Does Beacon think Xen is responsible?”

  “Peacekeeper, you were informed of Beacon’s plans.”

  “Until Bannerman vanished, Willow. We assumed there was coercion involved. Why would they hold us responsible?”

  Willow sagged a little. “It was in retaliation of the farspeakers. We blew the situation wide open.” He drew breath. “Bannerman was not taken; it is a ruse. He is orchestrating this.”

  Max Dalrish demanded, “Can you confirm it?”

  “We already have. That is why I am here. Do not take the fight to Beacon proper. It must be taken to the citadel on Ymir. Bannerman is there.”

  Max swung to his generals, who stared back at him.

  Willow continued. “Nine jails were emptied in the hour before the attack on the enclave and four after, and every signature led back to Ymir.”

  “Pardon?” Max was astonished.

  “I tapped into the sorcerer they employ. A massive effort is now underway to complete the citadel. They aim to withstand every siege.”

  Another general spoke up. “I thought farspeakers are neutral.”

  “Until a monster threatens even neutrality.”

  Max smiled. “Good for you. Anything more?”

  “Only that Bannerman’s general is Horatio.”

  “Aw, Chr
ist,” someone muttered. “Not him.”

  “Thank you, Willow. Are you safe where you are?” Max said.

  The man bowed. “We have taken precautions.” He left without offering greeting.

  Max returned to the table. “How soon can we have fliers in the air?”

  Valaris

  Menllik

  THE ELDERS HAD TAKEN extra measures to guard the Valleur against attack after the disaster of Excelsior, and thus the first bomb exploded high in the air against the shield over Menllik.

  It was sufficient warning.

  All resident Valleur bailed into the streets and stood with arms raised to uphold the shield against whatever would be thrown at it.

  Twenty-five explosions followed in rapid succession, and each shuddered the buffer, before lasers targeted regions the aggressors believed weakened by the bombardment.

  To no avail.

  Then there was silence.

  An instant later Menllik vaporised.

  A giant mushroom cloud grew mighty and bold in the atmosphere.

  The Keep

  YIDDIN, VANAR, SIRLASIN, Caballa, Aislinn and the Keep’s retainers were frozen in the courtyard.

  “All gods,” Yiddin murmured.

  Vanar moved first. “Can Torrke withstand a nuclear device, Yiddin?”

  He stared at her, mouthing for a time. “I really do not know.”

  Chapter 37

  I wish I had not awakened this day.

  ~ Unknown ~

  Nowhere

  Fort of Manipulation

  THE LEFT GATE PULLED inward and Torrullin braced.

  Instantly strength deserted him.

  “Tian?”

  Tianoman drew a breath and stepped out. “I am happy you are with us again, grandfather, but now is not the time for appreciation. I do not know where this is or what the real reason behind it is, but I must tell you now before you enter. I have given my father my oath to work with him.”