Both Torrullin and Teighlar craned.
“Akhavar is marked as desert, uninhabitable, still without a name,” Torrullin murmured. “Obviously this was drawn after the Valleur left and before Saska worked her magic there.”
Teighlar sighed moments later. “Volcanic, goddamn it.”
And that was, clearly, the point of the exercise, for Elianas said, “An asteroid smacked into Danaan and activated the mother of all volcanoes. It suffered fire in this age, and remains a dangerous place.”
He sat in his chair and leaned back. “Long after Nemisin passed, I went to that world. The Valleur named it simply Delx, an unmoving marker in the night sky when everything else was volatile. The orbits of those two worlds mimic each other. No reason for the name Delx, other than convenience. No mention of Danaan in records anywhere. It was a place to visit when loneliness got the better of me - long hikes. Delx was then a cold place; Valleur do prefer heat, except Torrullin. I discovered there appreciation for heat, but found also that the cold opens the mind and … never mind.”
A lowered look from Torrullin answered to the unspoken thought. “Clarity.”
“Yes.” Elianas cleared his throat and went on. “I trekked a fair bit. There was no one there, but I found signs there may once have been. Rocks gathered and piled to form pasture breaks, a few stone implements. Once a cache of coloured glass. I was intrigued and commenced a more intensive search, and that was when I realised the extent of the volcanic system. Fire rings under the surface, some pretty active, others only appearing dormant. A few super volcanoes, of the kind able to annihilate all when unleashed. The presence of so many explained the cold, as contrary as that sounds. The ash, while sparse, did block a certain percentage of the light. Any one of those natural monsters could have destroyed the resident population or forced them away. It was to volcanic sites I thus went for further evidence of that civilisation …”
He glanced at Teighlar, who stared at him intently and thereafter frowned and looked away.
Torrullin held his breath.
“I found nothing, except …” Elianas licked his lips.
“What, damn it?” Teighlar demanded.
“In a cave opposite the greatest volcano, the one serving to activate the rest when it blew its top after the asteroid impact, I discovered a smoothed vent, a tunnel of sorts. Lava flow, obviously, but on that side of the fire valley the flow had stilled for some while. Safe to enter, although filled with fumes. Beyond the tunnel I discovered a cavern of epic size and there I stood in awe looking over the shapes cold magma leaves behind, an inspiring sight.”
Elianas tapped one finger on his desk and flicked Torrullin a glance.
Teighlar huffed loudly.
“You found building materials. Squares, rounds, arches, triangles and more. The Dome,” Torrullin murmured.
Elianas grinned at him. “Quick as ever.” Then he was serious. “The idea for the Dome may have been conceived then, but actual planning began when I found the perfect keystone. A flat and circular stone scored on its upper surface to appear as a sundial without the raised angle in the centre. I thought it a sundial, in fact, although I also considered its resting place somewhat odd. Here was proof of civilisation and maybe it was hidden there for safekeeping, who knew? Not that a cavern within a dormant volcano could be safe, ever. It was only when I removed it into the glows outside that I marked the word set in place where one would expect the shadow device to repose. I had not only proof of habitation, which a written word is, but a sense of the age of a vanished civilisation. The word was another surprise, for it was an ambigram …”
Teighlar stiffened.
Elianas glanced at him. “Eurue.”
“’Eurue’ is the Diluvan word for ‘First Original’,” Teighlar breathed. “Also Luvan and Senlu. A concept we have continued with throughout our history.”
“Therefore Eurue is also Danaan for Original,” Torrullin said.
The Emperor nodded, abruptly without the power of speech.
“The master mechanism, Torrullin,” Elianas pointed out. “That strange stone is the clock.”
“And where is it now?” Torrullin asked, and pinched the bridge of his nose, already knowing the answer.
“It’s the Dome’s keystone.”
Chapter 4
Weapons are varied in war, for war itself is as varied as generals. Whether of steel, stone or emotion, each has a place somewhere.
~ Mikhail Bannerman’s grandfather
Beacon ~
Luvanor
Grinwallin
LEAVING TORRULLIN AND ELIANAS in discussion about keystones and sacred ogives, Teighlar returned to Grinwallin.
It was morning in the stone city and the air was fresh and bracing. He drew deep to fill his lungs with the smell and taste of his home, ever happy to return.
After long feeling trapped amid stone and time, unable to leave the precincts without the act of departure heralding an upheaval of sorts, he in the present preferred his city to any place and space in the universe. He understood it was because he now possessed the choice to stay or go; choice proved a powerful factor in the concept happiness, particularly when one knew what it meant not to possess it.
Before heading through the Great Hall for the day’s duties - one of which would be to go down into the mountain alone to the Crucible Chamber, there to store the Lumin Sword - he decided first to check on Alik.
The girl barely slept at the moment, believing she needed to cram years of work into cohesion in one week of study. She did not need to, but it was difficult to persuade her otherwise. Then, she was his daughter, and when had he ever followed the best advice?
He found her with Lowen in the handkerchief-sized garden in front of her tiny house; she steadfastly refused to take up residence in the royal suites. The two women sat with hands wrapped around steaming mugs, the first rays of sunlight grazing over their faces.
Clearly, from their bleary gazes, they had a few too many the night before. Excellent. Alik had needed to unwind. But, damn it, what was wrong with the universe if folk dragged themselves out of bed with dawn’s light after such a night? A sane person would still be sleeping, snug in dreamland.
He said as much and was met with two blank stares.
“Medical jargon marching through my dreams,” Alik muttered eventually.
“Someone with a scimitar,” Lowen said, causing father and daughter to shift attention to her. “Nothing in it; just a nightmare.” She caught sight of the pommel at Teighlar’s waist and raised an eyebrow.
“A long story,” he said.
“Crucible?”
“Only safe place, yes.”
“What are you talking about?” Alik asked.
Neither answered.
Teighlar shooed Alik to one side and took a seat on the dew-ridden bench beside her. “What is it with you lot and the pesky side of nature? It is wet, damn it.”
Both women grinned at him.
“What brought you, Lowen?”
She told him about Rose and Teroux, about checking in.
He craned forward to look at her. “The real reason. This Emperor can smell a shapeshifter sals away, remember? A lie is far easier to sniff out. A half-truth sets bells to ringing.”
She glared at him, ignoring Alik’s astonishment beside her. “I had nowhere else to go.”
“Another lie. You have a cottage here on Luvanor.”
Lowen sat back and lifted her face to the strengthening sun, closing her eyes. “I needed to talk to Alik.”
“That is the truth at least. About what?”
“Innocence.”
“Also true. Why?”
“I am right here,” Alik muttered.
“Innocence is a weapon,” Lowen said.
Father and daughter stared at her.
“I think you had better explain what in damnation you mean by that,” Teighlar murmured, ostensibly calm and reasonable.
“Right,” Alik said.
“Not
here,” Lowen murmured.
Teighlar surged to his feet. He bent to roughly place a kiss on Alik’s forehead.
“Stay here and finish up with your studies. I shall get to the bottom of this. Lowen, come with me.”
He turned on his heel and strode away, heading up to the Great Hall. He did not bother to check if she followed; he knew she would.
Valaris
Menllik
“DID YOU LOSE A loved one, friend?”
Halon jerked around, pulled from his reverie without warning. A Golden man stood beside him. “You seem familiar,” he said after a time.
“Perhaps you have seen me somewhere. Did you lose someone?” The Valleur gestured at the annihilation spread before them.
A swift nod answered. “And you?”
“Friends.”
“I am sorry.”
“As am I. What comes next, do you think?”
Halon glanced over his shoulder at the tent city. “They will repair the land, scrub the air and this …” He stared at the ground again. “… will be as memory only. Valaris’ human leaders have already pledged the funds to commence a rebuild and Valleur from Luvanor and Akhavar will come to achieve it.” He lapsed into silence.
“You are an Elder, to know this?”
“Newly appointed.”
“I am sorry it had to be under these circumstances.”
A silent shrug from Halon displayed his reluctance to be drawn further.
“You do not like it,” the Valleur prompted.
“I do not like that folk will forget what happened here,” the new Elder burst out.
The Golden man murmured, “Valleur do not forget, friend, you know that. It is the payback we need to consider carefully.”
Halon’s head snapped up. “You believe there should be payback?”
“Don’t you?”
Halon looked away, lest the man see how much he desired it to be so. “Carefully considered, of course.”
“Which means nothing will be done for some while.”
The Elder stared at him. “The Vallorin has stated those directly responsible for this are already dead.”
The Golden man did not look away. “What about those indirectly responsible?”
“And who would that be? What do you know?”
“Regard the larger image here, friend. Only one individual draws this kind of manipulation into our orbit. We can argue he does not do so deliberately, but the real truth is it happens because he exists. If we seek an ending, if we seek true peace, he needs to step out of the arena.”
Halon swallowed. “You are talking about Torrullin Valla.”
“I am.”
Silence, and then, “How does one get someone as powerful as he is to step out of the arena?”
The Golden man smiled and drew his new friend aside. “Let us walk.”
Valaris
The Keep
TIANOMAN EXPLODED. “AISLINN, GIVE it up! I cannot do this with you questioning my every move!”
She blew up as well. The Keep held its breath, that of stone and that of flesh, as the Vallorin and his beloved wife loudly aired their first ever argument.
“I will question until bloody doomsday, Tian! I refuse to sit on the side-lines!”
“Lunik needs you!”
“He needs both of us!”
“One of us must survive this!”
Thank all gods, Caballa overheard that as she entered the courtyard, for Caballa did not keep quiet when something needed sorting or said.
The Keep, of stone and of flesh, released a collective breath of relief. When the Vallorin began talking of survival it meant something unwholesome approached. Caballa would discover the truth of it.
“Hey,” she interrupted. “What is this about one surviving? That babe needs both of you whole.”
Aislinn nodded vigorously. “That is what I am saying.”
Caballa came to rest beside the husband and wife, tapping one foot upon the cobbles. “Aislinn, what is in his head this time?”
“Caballa, you overstep,” Tianoman growled.
She glared at him, unrepentant. “I do not care that you are Vallorin right now. Lunik nearly lost both of you recently; you cannot place him in that kind of danger again. What is going on?”
Tianoman stared at her, glared at Aislinn, and muttered, “Ais and Lunik should go into protective hiding until …” He glanced over his shoulder to see retainers and a few Elders listening in. “… after,” he finished.
Caballa nodded after a moment. “Agreed.”
Tianoman sent his wife a triumphant look.
She, however, gave voice to her ire. “Caballa! I will not be side-lined!”
“Tian must go with you,” Caballa stated, which had Aislinn gifting her husband with similar triumph.
“I will do no such thing,” Tianoman said, his tone even. “Caballa, I am warning you.”
She leaned forward and whispered, “Tannil is here, my Lord Vallorin. I have two reports of a sighting; one near Menllik, the other in Galilan. Tristan and I put a few trusted eyes in certain places; they will not spread the news. He will come here, and you, my Lord, should not be in residence when he appears.”
His eyes narrowed. “And why should I hide from him?”
“Because he will kill you immediately, that is why. And if he has no qualms doing so, Aislinn and Lunik will be as child’s play. You three are the future; do what is right. Even if it feels wrong.”
“Why would he kill me immediately?”
Caballa lifted an eyebrow and did not bother to reply. It should be particularly obvious to Tianoman that Tannil, the man who stepped from a crucible in the nowhere place, claiming to be the new Timekeeper, would seek to hold the Valleur in thrall. It meant sending the present Vallorin permanently on his way.
Aislinn took her husband’s arm. “Tian. Please. If we cannot fight beside each other, let us at least take care of Lunik together until it is safe to return here.”
“I will give it thought. Caballa, summon the Elders to gather in an hour.” Tianoman slapped at his thigh, muttered under his breath, and strode away.
Watching him go, Caballa said, “Aislinn, pack what you will need and be ready to leave by nightfall.”
“Where will we go?” Aislinn whispered.
Caballa smiled at her. “No worries, sweet girl. The three of you will wait it out in Grinwallin.”
Aislinn shook her head. “While I like that, you know we cannot keep him there.”
Caballa grimaced. “He will not be able to leave, Ais. Torrullin has surrounded the Valla house, a shield Tian cannot undo.”
Aislinn stared at her. “He will not like it. Damn, he will not like it at all.”
Caballa laughed under her breath. “I know and he will have me up for discipline, no doubt about it.”
Aislinn gave her an impulsive embrace. “I will run interference, don’t you worry. Thank you.” She stepped away and headed up to their suite, leaving Caballa alone in the courtyard, wondering whether nightfall was soon enough to get Tianoman Valla and his wife and son into protection.
This Timekeeper wore the face of Tannil, a previous Vallorin placed in the Throne’s gauntlet, to scatter thereafter his soul to all corners. While that past did not constitute the whole of his persona, part of Tannil’s makeup included rage over that horrific event.
Tianoman and Lunik needed to be safeguarded immediately.
THE THRONE HUMMED SLIGHTLY when Caballa entered its presence.
She stepped onto the dais and walked carefully towards the golden seat. She came to a halt a pace away and bowed her head to it. To Tarlinn.
Welcome, Caballa.
She nodded, uncertain whether to voice a response or think it.
Use your mind. Others dare not overhear.
As you will.
Caballa, bring Elianas to me. Tonight.
Why?
Do not question, for I cannot answer. Bring him. Bring him without Torrullin. Tonight.
Summon him, Caballa, with news he needs hear in private from you. Say what you need to say, but have him here this night.
As you will, my Lord Tarlinn.
The hum ceased and Caballa understood she had been dismissed.
Grinwallin
ROSY GLOWS IN THE Crucible Chamber proved the magic contained in the spheres upon the walls was benign.
Had another hue of light flooded the chamber, it would alert the entrant to danger. The crucible itself was lit in blue, its usual colour, and the coppery cage suspended above it as was the norm when the depression was vacant.
Teighlar strode towards the crucible, hauling the Lumin Sword free as he neared. He had said not a word to Lowen on the journey through the mountain to reach this place. Now he finally spoke.
“The crucible, as you can see, is empty of all tools of magic. A decision the Senlu Elders made unanimously a few weeks ago when the troubles began in Grinwallin. The sacred tools remaining after the Dome exploded - Declan took most of them there, if you remember - are now hidden in the walls of the inner city. Each Elder assumed responsibility for one device and was tasked to hide it without a witness. There will be no record of those spaces either.”
“You intend for them to vanish without a trace,” Lowen murmured. She followed him to the depression, watched as he placed the Sword there. “Why?”
Teighlar ambled along the walls slapping coloured circles. The spell of strength was first, the spell of binding thereafter, and the spell of concealment came last.
When he was done, the cage had lowered over the depression and the Lumin Sword was no longer in sight.
“Why? Because one day the Void will call anew. There must be no temptation. Grinwallin can survive if she is kept apart from such enticement.”
“I hear you, but there is more.”
The Emperor shrugged and pointed at the cage. “That is also a portal. It is better that it is empty.”
“Yet you place the Sword there.”
Lore of Sanctum Omnibus Page 190