FOOTSTEPS IN THE SNOW.
A trail. Clearly marked.
Elianas swore. Manipulation was in place.
Lowen said not a word. There was too much she wanted to say, and she would therefore blurt out stuff she did not want to share. She resolved to merely bear witness.
Torrullin, when they came upon him in a tiny clearing, was not alone.
Elianas’ breath puffed out. “Gods.”
“A unicorn?” Lowen whispered in awe. “I thought they were legend.”
The creature was indistinct, but its outline was unmistakable.
Torrullin moved his head in their direction. “The source of protection.”
They closed in and stood with him, one on each side. “Can it communicate?” Lowen asked.
“At night, yes.”
Elianas looked at him.
Torrullin pointed. “Do you see the golden glow near its centre?”
Lowen did not, but Elianas nodded after a moment.
Torrullin looked at him. “That is the Goddess of Souls.”
An almost inaudible breath next to him sounded.
“Ours,” Torrullin added. He presented his back to the mythical creature. “Not that it matters now … brother.” He left them there to walk back through the trees.
Lowen glanced at Elianas. The man was frozen in position, and it frightened her. She shook him roughly. “Hey!”
He stepped away. “Torrullin,” he called out, “does the shield deafen outsiders?”
“Yes,” Torrullin replied from somewhere, already lost to view.
“Then … fuck you!”
Echoing laughter greeted that.
Lowen retreated. The unicorn vanished and she understood the creature realised its time for communication would not be in this present. Torrullin and Elianas were about to confront each other.
“He should have remained dead!”
“Too late!” Torrullin shouted.
“Face me like a man,” Elianas called back. “If you dare.”
A long silence ensued, and Torrullin stepped back into the clearing. “I dare. Talk. I need you to talk, goddamn it.”
Elianas sighed, out-manoeuvred. “Come closer. I want to see your eyes.”
Torrullin did, saying, “You want me to see your scars.”
Elianas inclined his head. “That, too. I need you to know the man I killed because he sought to ruin everything I am is also the man who did what he did now. I want you to know you betrayed me. And I want you to be reminded of that every time you look at me. He lived.”
Torrullin’s eyes were silvery. “I am on my knees before you for the insult of gifting him life.”
Elianas lifted an eyebrow. “Really?”
Torrullin closed his eyes. “Lowen, please leave us.”
“No,” she snapped.
“You will be in the middle again if you stay.”
“That choice is hers,” Elianas growled.
“You want her here as witness,” Torrullin said. “Elianas, I am sick of witnesses.”
“No, Torrullin, I want her. Therefore she must know.”
Gods. Lowen’s knees weakened inadvertently, and she sank down to rest kneeling in the snow.
Neither man looked in her direction.
“Seems quite a few issues hang in this small space,” Torrullin said.
“Right now there is …” and Elianas lifted a fist. “Tymall.” One finger popped up. “Lowen.” Another straightened. “The Goddess of Souls, or the lack of … and kin recognition.” Four fingers were in the air. His thumb extended. “Humiliation and humility; those two are one. And that is for starters.” His open hand smacked against Torrullin’s chest. “Which would you like to address first?”
Torrullin gripped the thumb. “This one.” He knelt in the snow and hung his head. “Humility for the insult of giving him life.”
Elianas stared down. “I do not believe you.”
“I insulted the Vallas and the Valleur and particularly Vannis in allowing him his first breath. I insulted Tristamil most. My son was forced to grow up in the shadow of evil. I insulted Tianoman when I allowed his father a second chance in another realm. I insulted you when I did not stop him before he dragged you into Digilan.” Torrullin looked up. “But the greatest insult was in not harking to the justice you meted out, for it was justice, and I was blind. I know the meaning of loss and pain; I have learned every lesson, I swear.”
Elianas shook his head and moved away. “You have lied to me too many times.”
Torrullin remained on his knees.
“Humiliation,” Elianas murmured. “I care not that I was helpless, tortured and taunted. I am able to bear those scars. You made a deal again, and thus he is still alive. I do not care that you found me stinking and rotting and in chains, but I do care that he still lives. When will it end?”
“I see,” Torrullin murmured. “You think I chose Tymall again.”
Elianas’ eyes sparked. “Is he dead, Torrullin?”
“No.”
Elianas spread his hands.
Torrullin did not move from his knees. “The deal was not mine.”
Silence. Then, “Tianoman?”
“And thus he walks the road I have already walked too many times. Tymall is a charismatic, and thus will his son be forced again and again to choose what is wrong. Tian is strong, but he will not be the same after.”
“That is truly sad, but we are not discussing Tian.”
Torrullin drew breath. “I swear to you on the life of an innocent I would have killed him had I been free to do so.”
Elianas approached and halted before him. “Name the innocent.”
“Lunik.”
Elianas sank to his knees. “And the next time, Torrullin?”
“I shall undo betrayal with …” Torrullin paused to draw breath. “I want to say with absolute justice; for it would be justice to kill him for what he did to you, but I do not mean it. I cannot mean it.” His dragged Elianas closer; fingers fisted in his tunic. “I wish to make him suffer first.”
“He is your son; how long will that desire last?” Elianas pulled free.
Torrullin gripped Elianas’ arm and pushed his sleeve up roughly, and did the same with his. He forced Elianas into a forearm to forearm clasp. “Blood cannot lie.” He jerked Elianas closer using that clasp. “I swear he will die by my hand.”
Fennen Danae.
Andori Danae.
Tingast Danae.
Elianas Danae.
Elianas lifted his fingers from Torrullin’s skin to stop the march of names. “Shut it off. I cannot bear to hear that every time we touch.”
Torrullin took his hand away. “Very well.”
“I hold you to that oath, Torrullin.”
They stood together.
“And then there is this new conundrum, at least for me,” Torrullin said. He gestured at his arm.
“It does not make us brothers,” Elianas snapped.
“It feels like it.”
Elianas snorted. “How long will that feeling last?”
“For me? Perhaps always.”
“Ah. And perhaps it is the best road. Now the hold of the Goddess is finally gone.”
“You started shying away when I was Rayne. Nothing changes for you.”
Elianas looked away. “As you say.”
“I wonder what is going on in your head,” Torrullin murmured.
And that is why I must shy away from touch, more than ever. Lorinin. “Just equalising … brother. Equilibrium.”
Elianas moved, and Torrullin’s hand plunged into his hair and dragged him back. He murmured the words that untangled it and then ran his fingers through smooth silk before twisting in.
“Before the confrontation at the Throne on Echolone, holds and the blood of kin meant nothing. We were a breath away, Elianas, and every time I close my eyes I feel it. This is the next day we spoke of then, as is every moment that passes. Why did you turn your back? Why have you denied it?”
“Is it not a good thing I did? Torrullin Lorinin Danae Valla.”
Lowen hissed silently, finally understanding.
“You are a trueblood, Torrullin, the truest. You are half Valla and Danae. Taranis was the last full blood Danae and Vannis was the last full blood Valla, and your grandsons have more Lorin. It makes you ultimate royalty. How dare I insult that with the pettiness of love?”
“Pettiness?”
Elianas dragged that hand from his hair and moved away. “I started dreaming about Avaelyn when I was ten years old in first cycle. Those ten years are the only increment of time I have not loved you. One could call it obsession. I choose to call it petty. I am more than what I am in your eyes. I am autonomous.”
Torrullin’s eyes narrowed. “You have ever been.”
“I have not felt that.”
“And now you seek it?”
“I found it when you were my brother Rayne. In those four months we were brothers and it was good.”
“I agree, but that does not make love petty,” Torrullin stated.
“Brotherly love is noble, yes.”
“Ah. You have made distinctions and drawn lines far more rigid than the Goddess of Souls.”
“I suppose I have.”
“Lucky, then, I now regard you as a brother of the blood in fact and deed also.”
Elianas smiled. “Perhaps now we can make peace.”
Torrullin nodded. “Perhaps. After I am able to close my eyes and not feel you.” Elianas flinched. “And after I kill Tymall. And then there is Lowen.”
Neither looked at her and she was beyond relieved.
“And then there is Lowen,” Elianas echoed.
“You want her.”
“Yes. I find it hard to be in her presence without wanting to touch her.”
“I know how that feels, yes.”
“Your territory.”
“Lowen is her own person.”
Elianas smiled again. “I know.”
Both swung their heads to look at her, and she stood in a fury. “Just so you know - I am not getting involved with either of you.” She strode away and did not turn back.
Silence filled the clearing.
Then, “What did the unicorn say?”
More silence. “That I had to touch you. Really touch you.” Torrullin shook his head. “You were vulnerable when I did so for healing, and look what I learned from that. How dare I properly touch you; what would I learn then? Can you answer?”
A shrug. “Too much.”
“So every moment is the next day. How enlightening.” He shook his head and headed after Lowen.
Elianas moved soon after, keeping a fair few paces between them. Yes, ever moment was the next day.
A breath away from fulfilment.
Chapter 41
There are no gods. There are no angels of mercy. We are alone.
~ Lament ~
Palisade
WHEN THEY RETURNED, Sabian was waiting.
Drawing the two men aside and without preamble he said, “Menllik was nuked. No survivors. The farspeaker enclave on Xen is destroyed also. No survivors there either.”
Shock registered on all faces, the kind to still words.
Elianas, after a moment, glanced at Mikhail. “A statement from Bannerman.”
The young man paled considerably.
Sabian nodded. “Looks that way.”
Teighlar, wet after a shower, swore long under his breath.
Torrullin swirled his tongue in his mouth and it was largely an action to prevent him giving vent to what he really felt. That went so far beyond description, it was not worth saying a word about it. He glanced at Elianas instead, choosing to address the greater issue.
“Unleash the storm. Together we must unleash the storm to forge new tools. That is what the unicorn said. We must drag all players through the void to where Tymall is.”
“Unicorn?” Rose murmured.
Torrullin inclined his head in her direction. “It was here before also.”
She closed her eyes.
Elianas watched Torrullin. “Pray, how do we pull players into that void?”
Torrullin smiled coldly. “Apparently you know how.”
“I do not.”
Torrullin’s smile was even icier. “It is inside.”
Elianas’ eyes narrowed. “And how do you release it?”
Torrullin laughed. “Touch.”
“No.” Elianas moved away.
Torrullin slapped a thigh in irritation. “You can run but you cannot hide, brother. It is the right moment to change the concept time, and to do so I must allow the song freedom.”
Elianas swung around, paling markedly.
“Ask this direct, with words, it told me.” Torrullin closed in, and it was as if they were alone in the small space. “How do I allow the song freedom? You are the only one able to answer.”
Elianas glanced around as if seeking escape.
“Run now and you place everyone here in danger. You do not know where this is, and thus would your confusion be marked.”
“You expended much sorcery in healing, Torrullin. Surely we are already marked?”
“Everything inside the shield is contained. You leaving in a huff will undo our anonymity. Do you seek to bring harm to Rose, Alik, Lowen and Mikhail?”
“Of course not.”
“Answer then.”
Elianas inhaled and exhaled, and the light of challenge glowed in his dark gaze. “I would rather suffer touch.”
It silenced Torrullin completely.
Lowen interfered. She remained furious with both of them over what was said in the clearing. “Are you suggesting there is a way to limit fall out if the warmongers out there are dragged through that void?”
“Not only the players - their strongholds also,” Torrullin said without looking at her, his gaze fixed on Elianas. “Take the anti-magic citadel through and it can no longer harm anyone in this reality. Take this place through and we are protected still, while able to confront the others. To increase chances of success, Torrke will go as well, Grinwallin and the Dome …”
“You are not touching Grinwallin,” Teighlar growled.
“Alexander Diluvan, you do not have a choice.”
Teighlar sprang to his feet. “How dare you?”
“It is time to forge new tools,” Torrullin murmured, still looking only at Elianas, “and to this end Avaelyn will enter the void with us.”
Elianas lost what was tenuous control. “If you place Avaelyn in the fray, I am bowing out right now.”
Sabian whistled. “Much rage in this small space, folks. Calm yourselves.” He paced into the central space. “There is precedent for a circle of confrontation beyond the borders of known realms, and Excelsior going supernova achieved such a borderless land. In old legends, sages claim this is the truest manner of permanently ending terrible conflict. It is achievable?”
“Yes, if Elianas tells us the secret to doing so,” Torrullin said.
Sabian inclined his head. “Every nuance of power will enter such a space also, and can be used with abandon for advantage, and nothing changes here.”
Teighlar’s eyes narrowed. “Is that true?”
Tristan came to rest beside Sabian. “The Dome stays put.”
Torrullin lifted a shoulder. “It goes with us.”
Tristan gave a laugh. “No bloody chance, Torrullin.”
Torrullin watched Elianas. “Perhaps the Danae has an answer to circumvent the need for it.”
Elianas clawed back control. “I have no answer. And Avaelyn will not go anywhere either.”
“It will, brother,” Torrullin goaded.
“He scares me,” Mikhail whispered to Alik. She nodded agreement with big eyes.
Tristan glanced at them, wondering if the Bannerman boy meant Torrullin or Elianas.
“I am autonomous, you said,” Elianas growled.
“You are,” Torrullin taunted.
Elianas loo
sed a cold smile. “Then know this about me.” His left arm extended and, with a snap of sound his fingers, started to glow. Sparks flew from fingertips sounding like wood splitting in a hot blaze, and Alik backed fearfully into Mikhail, while Rose retreated.
Lowen strode forward, her face like thunder.
Elianas balled his fingers into a fist, and a moment later gripped a sword. The sparks dissipated.
Lowen came to a halt in astonishment.
Elianas swung the sword and brought it to bear, leering challenge. “If you can disarm me, brother, we can … talk.”
Teighlar and Tristan glanced at each other, and Tristan said, “How their minds work entirely escapes me. From rescue to war in minutes? How does one fathom that?”
Teighlar muttered, “Unnatural, if you ask me.”
Elianas flicked them a glance and then focused on Torrullin. “Dare you?”
Torrullin ambled forward. “I will not fight you.”
Alik sighed volubly. “Thank the gods.”
Teighlar strode forward and placed himself as a barrier between Elianas’ extended blade and the approaching Torrullin. “You will not take it from him. This is what Tymall wants. He needs enmity to reign between you. He knew Elianas would be contrary afterward, his defence mechanism, as he knew you would push at him to elicit a reaction you can deal with. Do not give him the satisfaction. Damn it, Torrullin, we were there! We heard him inveigle this! It is part of his plan. Stop it.”
“Out of my way,” Torrullin snapped.
“Yes, move,” Elianas hissed.
Teighlar dug in, glaring at Torrullin. “No. He holds the Lumin Sword.”
“I know what he fucking holds, and I aim to take it from him before he can use it.”
Elianas moved and dragged at Teighlar’s shoulder. “You cannot stop this …”
“But I can,” Lowen said and stepped into position beside the Emperor, facing Elianas. “Put it down, and I shall give you anything you ask of me.”
His dark eyes snapped to her immediately.
She closed in and placed a hand on the blade and exerted pressure. It dipped in a slow arc.
Elianas raised his gaze to Torrullin … and smiled.
Torrullin shoved Teighlar aside.
The Lumin Sword sheathed into an ornate scabbard which appeared around Elianas’ waist as he completed the action, and then he stepped forward and plunged both his hands into Lowen’s dark length and drew her closer. She did not resist and, when his mouth claimed hers, her fingers dug into his back.
Lore of Sanctum Omnibus Page 164