Lore of Sanctum Omnibus

by Elaina J Davidson

  Torrullin gave a sigh. “It has not sunk in yet.”

  The general leaned forward. “How long do you estimate this confrontation will last?”

  “As long as it takes.”

  The man went on, “A while back a void was created when you were absent, a void that allowed Titan’s Disease to spread.”

  “If it takes as long as that, I shall periodically return to obviate the situation recurring.”

  “It will not take long,” Elianas murmured. “Hard fought, but not long.”

  Max looked at him.

  Elianas shrugged. “Bannerman’s impetus is removed. This is about Tymall now.”

  “And this time he might dig in,” Torrullin said.

  “Not at Tian’s expense.”

  Torrullin shrugged. “Maybe. Max, genetic crops …”

  “Already on it. Leave those details to us.”

  “Then we must be on our way.” Torrullin stood and Elianas with him. They shook hands all around.

  “Be careful,” they warned each other, and then it was done.

  Grinwallin

  DECHEND WAS WIDE-EYED awake in the library and Kylis was with him.

  “Torrullin, four names. Only four names thus far.”

  “When is your deadline?” Torrullin eased into an armchair and closed his eyes. Elianas wandered around reading book titles.

  “Thirty-two minutes.”

  “We wait until then.” Torrullin closed his eyes. He was asleep an instant later.

  Elianas stood before him and, satisfied the man was genuinely asleep, turned to Kylis. “You captured the Elder?”

  Kylis bowed. “He is in the dungeons.”

  “I would like to speak to him.”

  Kylis glanced at Dechend, who gestured, and Kylis led the way out. “Why? I believe he has told us everything.”

  “A traitor always has something in reserve.”

  Kylis glanced at him. The dark man was unreadable. “I get the feeling you would have let this go had not Torrullin fallen asleep.”

  Elianas smiled. “No, it is just easier to do this type of thing alone.”

  “Man, I am not the brightest, but that smacks of lying.”

  Elianas laughed. “Then you are very bright, friend. Let us say Torrullin cramps my style occasionally.”

  Kylis, wisely, moved on to something else. “Dechend told me about Elders moving to a place of battle. I want to be there.”

  “No problem.”

  “He said I had to stay here.”

  “Then take it up with him.”

  “You are bloody hard to read.”

  “So I am told.”

  “They say you are Alhazen.”

  Elianas shrugged.

  Kylis came to a stop. “I may be out of my depth, but I am a loyal subject and you are now worrying me.”

  Elianas stopped as well and faced him, studying him for a few moments. “This is about Alik, isn’t it?”

  Kylis licked his lips, but did not look away. “I am aware she is above my station, but, yes, this is about her.”

  “Mikhail Bannerman is in a similar position,” Elianas murmured. “Both of you will be dealing with her father if he even gets a whiff of your feelings. The Emperor is at this time highly protective.”

  Kylis’ eyes narrowed. “Bannerman?”

  “A fellow student on Thisseldrum. They have known each other for years.”

  The soldier muttered under his breath.

  “She is not that interested, from what I can tell, but I have not spent enough time in her company.”

  Kylis nodded. “I want to be there.”

  Elianas smiled again. “No problem.”

  Kylis nodded once more and was clearly set in his decision. Dechend would not sway him now. They went on, and soon the dungeons were before them.

  “At least this place is clean,” Elianas murmured in relief.

  Part of the reason for coming was to confront an enclosed space; this one held no memories and thus his fear of bars and cells was mitigated.

  “Even criminals have souls,” Kylis retorted as he halted before Doman’s cell. “He is asleep.”

  “Wake him. We do not have much time.”

  Kylis glanced at him and must have seen something there, for he rattled the bars loudly and called out. The luckless Elder awakened slowly and stared at them belligerently. He said not a word.

  “On your feet, Donan, or I am coming in!” Kylis shouted.

  Donan clambered to his feet, still without saying anything.

  Elianas stepped through the bars and grabbed him by the throat. “I hate traitors, did you know that?”

  “Who are you?”

  “I am Elianas.” He threw the man against the wall and stood arms akimbo before him. “Who is the recipient of Avaelyn, traitor?”

  Ah. Kylis understood.

  Doman’s gaze slid away. “I do not know.”

  Elianas prowled the cage. “I hate being in confined spaces, I lose it - ask Elixir. Avaelyn is open, it is my home, the only place I function without anxiety, and someone wanted to take it from me? Give me his name, Elder, or stand as proxy. Someone has to be punished.”

  Doman swallowed convulsively, eyes rolling in fear. Elianas possessed the presence of underlying danger simply by being in a space he liked not, and the Elder sensed every nuance.

  “We were kept apart.”

  Elianas halted before him. “But you know, don’t you?”

  Donan jerked a nod, eyes rolling again.

  “Tell me.”

  He man’s gaze went to Kylis and he shook his head.

  “Is it Kylis?”

  “What? No!” Doman blurted.

  “Lucky Kylis. You will not be as lucky much longer.”

  “I-I will tell you, but …” He beckoned Elianas closer, closer, until he could whisper in his ear. He whispered for quite a time and Elianas listened carefully, hands folded apparently calm behind his back.

  The hairs on Kylis’ neck stood on end.

  Elianas stepped away, and through the bars. He strode from the dungeons wordlessly. Donan sagged against the wall and slid down to sit with eyes closed. Kylis looked at him, fear churning in his gut, and hastened after the dark man.

  “Well?”

  “He isn’t Senlu, this fucker, so leave it with me,” Elianas said. “I am not saying more. Torrullin is awake.”

  He strode on and Kylis was forced to keep pace.

  THERE WERE STILL ONLY four names.

  Two were Elders of the new era, one was a Horse-master of the lower regions beyond the plateau and the final name was the leader of the stonemason’s guild. All four were born after Grinwallin arose anew; none understood how hard Teighlar fought for a second chance for his Senlu. It somewhat explained their position.

  It also revealed them as the traitors to the imperial seat.

  “Arrest them, imprison them, and set the Elders to rule until Teighlar returns,” Torrullin was saying as Elianas and Kylis returned.

  Dechend nodded. “The Horse-master will take a while.”

  “We will get him,” Elianas said.

  Torrullin craned his head upward. “Where did you get to?”

  “Stretched my legs.”

  Kylis said nothing on that, but addressed the issue of transferring into battle. “I am going to the place of confrontation, Elder Dechend. When these four men are behind bars I am not needed as security. My unit will take over the duty.”

  “We need Elders, Kylis,” Torrullin interrupted.

  “He said it was no problem.” Kylis gestured at Elianas.

  “Did he now?” Torrullin drawled. “Then it is no problem.”

  “My Lord,” Dechend remonstrated, “Kylis is intimate …”

  “And so are you. Are you staying behind, Dechend?”

  The Elder sighed. “No.”

  “Kylis and his unit can arrest the three in the city walls and while they do so he can inform them of the situation. They are then placed at the
Elders’ command. Everyone wins.”

  Dechend spread his hands. “Fine. Kylis, get to it.”

  Kylis bowed his way out.

  “Where do we find the Horse-master?” Elianas asked, and they were given directions.

  As they left Dechend summoned the Elders.

  Below the Plateau

  THE EARTH SMELLED OF sunshine and compost, a wholesome smell that bespoke industrious farmers.

  Beyond tilled land and established orchards there was a region given over to paddocks and stables. Teighlar loved horses with a passion and ensured they had the best of everything, including position near water and lots of sunshine, while being protected from the gales of winter.

  “Nice,” Elianas murmured. “We should consider something similar on Avaelyn.”

  “Horse breeders, Elianas? I do not see it.” Torrullin was amused.

  “There will be a time when peace reigns. What do we then do with ourselves? Why not horses? Imagine riding like the wind, Torrullin; imagine being that free and without cares.”

  “And at the end of a race like that?”

  A beat, two. “Sweat. Need.”

  Torrullin came to a halt on the rough horse track. On either side huge trees swished in the breeze. “That kind of need is only present when secrets remain.”

  Elianas paced nearer. “Secrets are present now.”

  Torrullin studied him, shifting his weight to one leg. “First you keep your distance, then you push, and then I push and you retreat. Recently you retreated even when I did not make a move, and now? Now you fucking shove.”

  “It is a dance.”

  “No, it is a mask.”

  “Rip it off.”

  “And there is the real problem. I do not know if I want to.”

  Elianas nodded. “The crux of the matter.”

  Torrullin lifted his gaze to the trees overhead. “Here is something for free, so you will not find this when you delve.” He met Elianas’ eyes. “Cassy tried to seduce me.”

  Elianas’ cheeks tightened. “Cassy? Really? She did not know how.”

  Torrullin shifted his weight to the other leg. “Hmm.”

  Elianas was in his space an instant later. “Tell the truth.”

  “I tried to seduce her.” Torrullin braced.

  Elianas shoved at him. “Did you succeed?”

  “Almost.”

  “Explain yourself, before I hit you.”

  “She tackled me about you; she wanted me to stay out of your life. This was at court, second cycle, when you visited Tingast in Kalgaia. I told her she had nothing to fear, I was in love with women in general, and she told me to prove it.” Torrullin shrugged. “I visited her in the women’s abode.”

  Elianas’ eyes glittered. “And?”

  “She was out to prove something as well and it got quite steamy, but in the end loyalty to you won out. She asked me to leave.”

  “You fuck!” Elianas hissed.

  Torrullin pushed at him. “I love Lowen, goddamn it, as strange as that is for us. Think how I feel when you make a move on her.”

  “Lowen is aware of every nuance.”

  “And Cassiopin, Elianas, was goddamned aware as well.”

  “Would you have completed the seduction?”

  “Yes.”

  “Why?”

  Torrullin did not answer.

  “You begin to see, I believe. It is a way to get close … by proxy.”

  “Lowen should not be used like that,” Torrullin said.

  “The oak calling the poplar deciduous.”

  “Nice,” Torrullin murmured, lifting an eyebrow. “Still, be that as it may.”

  “You are using her, Torrullin. I simply want her.”

  “There are other women.”

  “Such as Alik?”

  “Damn it, Teighlar will string you up!” Torrullin snapped.

  “Lowen will hurt, but Alik is something else. That will drive you insane.”

  “And you will be made less.”

  Elianas shoved again. “Exactly the way you like it. You can control me if I am less, if I am the filth men spit at.”

  Torrullin gripped him. “Where does that come from? In no way is that true.”

  Elianas closed his eyes. “Forgive me; the issue is mine.”

  Torrullin released him, saying, “This is why you prefer to keep what is between us now quiet.”

  “Leave it. Let us get this traitor before he is forewarned by the arrests in Grinwallin.” He started walking.

  Perhaps that was the best.

  They walked on and soon came to the main stable block where the Horse-master had an office. He was on site most days and only rarely stayed in the city, for there was constant and hard work with the animals in his care, a duty he was clearly good at and suited for. It was a pity he was also politically ambitious.

  A groom pointed them to a door a level above the main tack rooms.

  His name was Deshar and he knew immediately why they were there. He threw his quill down spattering ink over the papers on his desk. “Teighlar is alive.”

  “Yes,” Torrullin said. “You are under arrest.”

  The man sighed as he rose. “Tell them to put Shari in charge of the stables; she is best suited to this work, loves it as I do.”

  Torrullin inclined his head. “I shall tell them.”

  Deshar rounded his desk. “Let us go.”

  “Fatalistic of you,” Elianas muttered.

  The man shrugged. “It was either going to work or not. I had to try.” He glanced at Torrullin. “I had nothing to do with murder and blackmail, I swear.”

  Torrullin nodded a beat later. “I believe you; I shall inform your emperor.”

  Deshar bowed.

  They transferred to the dungeons of Grinwallin.

  Where Donan watched Elianas warily. Torrullin realised the man was paid a visit when Elianas went to ‘stretch his legs’. He did not remark on it, and they relinquished their charge to the guards without a word.

  The other three were already behind bars, clearly furious and troubled.

  Great Hall

  KYLIS WAS BEING SWORN in as an Elder when they returned to the Hall.

  With three Elders now in prison it made sense; Kylis had proven trustworthy, loyal and resourceful. He was now a young man with a bright future.

  Thus it was that only Elders would transfer into the confrontation. Dechend and Kylis.

  They wasted no time; the men disintegrated as a bridge formed for them into the Dome on the battlefield.

  It was time to go to Avaelyn.

  Chapter 46

  You have asked me to share and I have promised to do so. How hard it is to keep my word.

  ~ Awl ~

  Avaelyn

  BY UNSPOKEN CONSENSUS they alighted in Torrullin’s bedroom.

  It was dark.

  “Do not put a light on,” Elianas said.

  In the blackness they undressed. Swords and scabbards clinked as they hit the floor. Boots thudded down. Softer sounds revealed cloth sliding down.

  Then silence.

  No movement.

  A fork of lightning electrified everything. Elianas reached for Torrullin. Skin slithered on skin, whisper light.

  A blue spark skittered in the darkness.

  Elianas drew back. “What was that?”

  “It seems Lorinin is Valla in origin,” Torrullin murmured.

  “You truly intend to share.”

  “You sound surprised.”

  “A little.”

  “It requires blood. It also requires some light.”

  Elianas murmured and a single candle lit in a far recess. The glow was barely enough to cause a shadow in darkness. He held a hand out and drew a finger across his palm. A line of blood appeared. He flexed and blood flowed stronger. Then he was unmoving, palm extended.

  Torrullin mimicked the actions and placed his palm into Elianas’. They closed the hold and gripped tight and their blood mingled. A bright blue spark erup
ted from between those palms. Trebac. Valla kinfire.

  “Release the Danae hold,” Torrullin murmured.

  Fennen Danae. Tingast Danae. Elianas Danae. Menlore Danae. Skynis Danae …

  Elianas hissed in anger.

  “A moment more,” Torrullin said. “Danae and Valla, my brother.”

  Elianas reached in to draw him close. “Kiss me. Make me forget.” He tightened the palm hold and it was squashed between them. Torrullin drew breath and sought that mouth. The grip between them intensified, but it no longer featured for the reason it was enabled. Hearts collided, thudded …

  They were flung apart.

  Both stared at their hands.

  Blue energy bridged the space, an arc of electricity. Overhead thunder roared and lightning flashed. The candle guttered out.

  Torrullin made a fist, swearing volubly, and the arc fizzled into nothing. He flexed his fingers and healed the cut. Elianas stared at his, and he moved to him, grabbing his hand, healing it with an angry touch.

  They stared at each other.

  Elianas sat on the edge of the low bed. “Well. Unexpected.”

  Torrullin flung prone onto covers. “Your mother must have been Valla.”

  “She was as dark as I am.”

  “Then someone before her.”

  Elianas was thoughtful, and then, “Fennen’s mother had yellow eyes.”

  Torrullin sighed. “There it is. You are part Valla.”

  “A small part.”

  “Enough for trebac.”

  “Why did it not show before?” Elianas frowned. “You know how Valla kinfire works; just a sliver of genetics and there it is.”

  Torrullin frowned as well. “I do not know. Maybe you inadvertently subdued it when you hid the Danae kin list.”

  “Likely, except I did not know to hide or subdue anything in first cycle.” Elianas’ expression was challenging.

  Torrullin nodded slowly. “But I had deliberately damped mine. Nemisin was not to flush me out, remember?”

  Elianas exhaled loudly. “Gods, Torrullin, we are kin in so many ways.”

  Torrullin sat up. “I do not care, do you hear me? Come here, touch me, delve, and know how true that is. I have beaten around this bush in theory for ages. Elianas, blood brother, Elianas, brother of the heart - but it isn’t true. Your energy coverts trebac into electricity. It does not prove mighty kinship, and even if it did …”