And that was the absolute truth too.
“It is the pretty man, is it not, who twists your insides?”
Teroux glared at him and shoved past Tarlinn to walk into the glaring dust.
“You cannot go anywhere, son!” his father called out. “Stop denying your true nature! Take what you want! Take who you need!”
The sound of a flat hand connecting to flesh had him twirling back. His satisfaction knew no bounds when he realised Tarlinn had, in fact, hit his father.
Laughing, Tannil stumbled back. “Do what you will, little man, but your hold already weakens. I swear to you, you too will suffer my wrath.”
Tarlinn shrugged with amazing aplomb. “You can try.” He beckoned Teroux closer. “You have a choice, Teroux Valla. Remain here while this creature is under my control or leave immediately for an obscure place. Your choice hinges on how you answer the question you have already asked yourself.”
“What question?” Tannil demanded.
“Teroux questions whether you are his father.”
“Of course I am his father,” Tannil hissed. “And I aim to help him achieve his every desire. Go away. Leave my son with me until your hold dissipates.”
Teroux stared at the volatile man, his heart beating an uneven rhythm. Every desire.
Tarlinn murmured, “I would hear it from Teroux.”
“He is my father,” Teroux whispered.
Tarlinn bowed and stepped back. “Pity. Here was the opportunity to change your future, young Valla. It is now passed. A word of warning and this I offer to you because I have only loyalty to the Vallas as an entity. Beware of the one you desire. He may appear more vulnerable, but he is far greater than you realise.”
The generic man walked away. He did not look back.
Tannil was muttering like a lunatic.
Teroux rounded on him. “What is the matter with you?”
“He is right.” A hand waved at the retreating figure shimmering into mirage once more. “The Danae is never to be underestimated.”
“And?”
Tannil bent a cruel smile on him. “We can take him down together, if that is your wish, and when he is helpless in the dust, you may have your way with him.”
Teroux swallowed. “And Torrullin?”
“Torrullin will kill you and thus we must negate him first.”
“How?”
“The Xenian woman holds great sway over both and she actively seeks to separate them. We shall use that.”
Teroux nodded. “You are not my father.”
Tannil cocked his head. “I have parts of him, but I am more than Vallorin Tannil ever hoped to be.”
“Will you tell me?”
“If I have your allegiance, yes.”
“You have it.”
The man who was not his father swung away and Teroux did not see the triumph flare in the man’s eyes.
Netura
ROSE REMAINED WORDLESS throughout the day, moving with a staccato rhythm.
The pretty farspeaker was in agony. Torrullin and Elianas remained nearby as tacit support, often glancing worriedly at each other.
Eventually, as dusk obscured the day, she sat before the fire working at the evening meal. Without looking up, she asked, “How do we leave here?”
“I am hoping Teighlar will return to the site of devastation and create anew his stairway. We may then use it to clamber not only from a hole but from this time,” Torrullin responded.
Elianas, sitting on the trunk opposite Rose, shifted to find the fair man in the fading light. Torrullin leaned against a tree, staring at the river. “Will Teighlar return?”
“Eventually.” Torrullin grinned, but did not otherwise move.
Elianas nodded and faced Rose. “Rose …”
“I do not want to talk about it.”
“I am aware, but I need to say something.”
She glanced up briefly. “Say it then.”
“It is better to know than to guess.”
She snorted, but she also nodded and continued dealing with the food.
“Is it, I wonder?” Torrullin muttered.
“Meaning?” Elianas questioned.
“Knowledge is able to debilitate.”
“For a short period, maybe,” Elianas frowned. “Do not get philosophical about this. It isn’t the time for it.”
Torrullin pushed away from the tree and ambled over to sit beside the dark man. He said no more.
Rose glanced at him, and straightened. “Torrullin, I know many have asked, but where is the purpose to your life?”
“Beside me,” he said promptly.
A quick frown flitted. “I am not speaking of love.”
“Neither am I, Rose.”
Elianas hair abruptly curtained his face.
“Explain, Torrullin. Allow me to understand something about the very twisted man you are.”
“Why do you require some understanding? It cannot change what happened here today.”
She glared at him.
He shrugged. “Elianas is my reason for existence. I do not need to explain it.”
“Existence isn’t purpose,” Rose stated.
Elianas lifted his head slightly to stare at her.
“His happiness …”
The dark man swung a leg over the trunk to straddle it, facing Torrullin, interrupting him. “Do not put me on that kind of pedestal.”
“It is not meant as one, but it is how I feel. Elianas, truth is, I have no purpose. I swear, were you not sitting beside me, I would cease to exist.”
Silence reigned and in it, Elianas studied the fair man. Torrullin did not in any way deny him the scrutiny. He remained unmoving under that gaze.
“What do you need?” Elianas asked finally.
Torrullin shook his head and moved to rise, only to have the dark man grip his wrist and hold him in position.
“What do you need from me?”
“It isn’t like that.”
“What do you wish me to surrender?”
Torrullin blinked. “Do not tailor yourself to my wishes.”
Elianas jumped in. “What are your wishes?”
Eyelids lowered over silvering eyes and Torrullin tore those fingers from his wrist, and stood. “Keep my portion until later, Rose. I am going for a walk.” He strode into the gathering dark.
“Sex, all you think of is sex,” Rose muttered.
Elianas abruptly glared at her. “It isn’t about sex.”
She sighed. “Go after him. I promise I will sit here, wait and make the food. Go! You are now irritating me.”
Elianas went.
HE DISCOVERED TORRULLIN leaning against another tree further upstream, legs crossed at the ankles, fingers fiddling with a twig.
He kicked those legs open and moved into the space created. “Rose says it is about sex,” he challenged.
Torrullin laughed under his breath.
Elianas gripped his butt and pressed in. “Is it?’
The broken twig flew to one side, cold hands delved into warm, dark hair, and Torrullin pulled Elianas mouth to his. Limbs entwined and need escalated.
When Torrullin lifted his mouth, he said, “It is not about sex.”
Elianas shoved his tunic up to splay fingers on warm skin. “Really?”
“Really.”
“Then what is this?”
“This is me watching your eyes dilate, feeling your skin erupt, sensing your absorption, knowing your arousal …’
Elianas yanked him closer and devoured his mouth.
“Hey!” Rose called out. “Stairs have suddenly appeared!”
Whatever need determined, staying was not an option. Breaking apart, they sprinted in the direction of Rose’s summons.
Teighlar stood grinning at the top of his fancy stairway.
Grinwallin
TEIGHLAR FED THEM, ASKING minimal questions, and then put them to bed. Not once did he mention his palace. The subject would keep until he was ready to discuss it.
Rose went down to Alik for the night and was welcomed by a distracted student. Lowen was there as well, and took over the duty of host. She and Rose spoke well into the night while Alik studied madly. They often heard her muttering medical jargon. She wrote her final paper in the morning.
Torrullin and Elianas were pointed to the guest suite in the mountain they had used on previous occasions when the Valla house was not private enough. Teighlar knew how to read people. He watched their restraint throughout the stilted dinner.
Once inside, clothes, boots, swords and scabbards did fly as they hurtled for the massive bed, creating a path of debris upon the floor.
Skin became obsession.
It transformed into a battle of wills. Who would hold back the longest in order to feel the most?
Elianas’ eyes dilated completely and Torrullin devoured with mouth, hands, skin, muscle and absolute intent. Torrullin’s eyes darkened as if Destroyer was present and Elianas tore into him with nails and teeth, taking, demanding, creating chaos, revelling in it.
Together they reached for the point where men experienced the ultimate pleasure, and the battle escalated. Who would surrender first?
An extensive groan tore into the space and it contained two voices. Together they gave in to their bodies’ limits of endurance, releasing waves of pleasure until both lay twitching, entangled, exhausted, sated.
Entwined, they slept.
IN THE MORNING CABALLA knocked at the door.
When there was no response, she entered. Upon seeing the trail of discarded items, she shook her head and started gathering. Arms full, she entered the bedroom.
There she stopped.
She had never seen them like that. No one had seen them like that. Together, enmeshed, naked, vulnerable, dark and fair hair mingled, golden and amber skin inseparable, and so fast asleep worlds would pass them by.
By all gods, they were beautiful together. They were the gods.
Wishing she did not have to be the one to wake them, she approached the bed, dumping her gathered load on a nearby chair.
There she stared down, noting welts and marks, proof of an epic battle. She knew that about Torrullin and now understood Elianas shared his need to push all limits. No wonder. It was erotic and it freed the mind as well, to feel, to know.
She swallowed, feeling the need to go out and jump Tristan.
Swiftly she reached out and laid a hand on Torrullin’s arm, not daring to lay a finger on Elianas, knowing he was skittish with another’s touch.
Torrullin stirred and then so did Elianas.
“Here,” she said. “Sorry to wake you.”
Both men looked at her, struggling to focus.
She smiled. “Wake up. You are summoned to conclave.”
Twiddling her fingers, Caballa left.
Akhavar
AKHAVAR’S HALLOWED HALLS hummed with activity and people.
All the Elders were in residence, as was Vallorin Tianoman and his wife and son. Sabian delved somewhere. No doubt he would put in an appearance soon. Caballa and Tristan were there, grinning somewhat idiotically at each other for some reason. Lowen brought Rose, for Rose refused to return to the villa on Sanctuary.
Teighlar decided he needed to be present, and with him, Dechend. Unspoken between them was the fact that the Senlu needed to summon Elders to conclave also, to reveal the real history of their Emperor. Already the presence of the Dani Freman and Urial - and their tattoos - were causing rumours to circulate.
TORRULLIN AND ELIANAS ARRIVED in the midst of frantic preparations in the great space that was the Throne-room.
Silence fell and everyone bowed.
Torrullin waved a hand and the hubbub resumed. He went looking for Tianoman, with Elianas in his wake. Elianas gestured with his head at Caballa and Tristan to follow them. They did so with some difficulty.
Tianoman was in a tirade. Livid, he paced the antechamber to the royal suite, opened now that a Vallorin was again in residence.
When he saw Torrullin, he barked, “Have you anything to do with Teroux’s disappearance?”
“Teroux disappeared himself,” Torrullin said equably, stepping into the chamber filled with retainers and Elders. “Everybody out!” he hollered.
The space emptied rapidly.
He faced this grandson. “Teroux is beyond our reach, unless Teroux chooses to be found. And, Tian, it is Teroux, not an emptied vessel.”
Tianoman’s gaze flicked to the expressionless Elianas. No doubt he understood some of the underlying nuances. He nodded and beckoned them into the chamber beyond.
Sparsely furnished as yet, there was at least seating.
“I have given thought to the Throne,” Tianoman stated.
“You cannot bring it until Tarlinn returns,” Torrullin murmured.
“I know, but the chant to summon will be in place the instant he does and Elders will maintain the vigil for when it appears in order to ground it.”
Torrullin nodded. “Excellent.”
Caballa sat on a nearby couch. “Is Aislinn in?” she asked.
“Somewhere,” Tianoman replied, clearly distracted.
Torrullin fell down beside her to lean back and close his eyes.
“Tired?” she teased. “You shouldn’t be - seemed to me like you slept well last night.”
Opening one eye, he grinned at her. “But the battles before were strenuous.”
Elianas perched on the seat’s padded arm. He lifted an eyebrow at Caballa.
“I have not told anyone,” she murmured.
He gave her a smile and faced the room at large.
Tianoman and Tristan had put heads together, no doubt attempting to ease each other’s minds about cousin Teroux.
“I shall never erase the images of this morning,” Caballa said quietly.
Both men looked at her.
She beamed. “You look good together.”
Both men looked away, although two sets of shoulders relaxed.
Touching then the two thighs either side of her, she rose and went looking for Aislinn. Torrullin and Elianas glanced at each other, speaking with eyes only.
Lowen entered, with Rose. “I’m sorry,” she said. “There is no one outside to announce us.”
Tianoman waved his approval and Rose wandered over to the two cousins while Lowen inserted herself into the position Caballa had vacated.
“Boys,” she said. Neither responded. She twisted to study Elianas, then Torrullin. “Hmm, some serious byplay went on between you two recently.”
“Shut up, Lowen,” Torrullin growled.
“And still you hold back on the final action.”
Elianas hissed. “Not your business.”
“Serious byplay,” she laughed.
Rose started to cry then, softly, with the shudders of loss shaking her entire being. Drawing breath, Torrullin stood.
“Maybe leave her to the cousins,” Lowen suggested.
Torrullin glanced at Elianas. The dark man grimaced; he did not desire to be the one to offer comfort. “Lowen may be right,” he muttered.
Shrugging, Torrullin headed to the knot beyond.
BOTH TRISTAN AND TIANOMAN appeared frantic and both gave him a look of relief when he approached. He gently laid hands on Rose’s shoulders and pulled her towards him. She came without protest, but when his arms enfolded her, she wept uncontrollably, clutching at him as if her life depended on it.
Elianas sighed. Standing, he said, “Tell him I have gone to find Sabian.”
Lowen studied Torrullin. “He has deep wells of compassion despite that tough façade he wears.”
Briefly, Elianas’ eyes closed and then he admitted, “More than I have.” He left the chamber without a further word.
Lowen nodded to herself. She already knew that. She wished Torrullin would hold her as he held Rose, with only the need to impart comfort and support.
His gaze moved to her.
She closed hers and did not again look at him.
Chapter 21
When too many geniuses sit at a table together, chaos results.
~ Awl ~
Akhavar
“WE ARE AT DAY four of Tannil’s holding,” Tianoman informed the gathered Elders in the Throne-room.
Other interested parties were in attendance also, such as Teighlar and Dechend. Tristan and Caballa were there also. Before that statement Tianoman had explained about Valaris’ humans requiring protection from another round of war. This was why they had now chosen Akhavar as first home once more. If war came, it would not be to Valaris.
“Our Lord Elixir will now address us,” Tianoman added and sat, resting his forearms on the massive table. Despite its size, it was dwarfed by the gigantic space.
Torrullin was to Tianoman’s right, but Elianas had refused a seat at table. He wandered somewhere in the shadows near Sabian. Sabian eventually found him, rather than Elianas stumbling into the historian, and that fair man now perched on a chair under the creepers to the left, watching proceedings and listening with care.
The chair scraped upon the stone floor as Torrullin rose. He placed his hands on the table’s wooden surface and leaned forward slightly. “Thank you, my Lord Vallorin.”
As Tianoman nodded graciously, Torrullin first gazed along the length of the table on his side at the gathered there, and then moved his gaze to the opposite ranks.
Under sun-dappled foliage, Sabian smiled in anticipation. He sensed Elianas come to a rest beside him, rocking slightly, hands behind his back.
“It is about to get interesting,” Sabian murmured.
“Ha. He is about to announce war.”
“How?”
“I do believe he intends telling them the whole truth.”
Torrullin’s gaze rested on Teighlar. “Welcome to Akhavar, my Lord Emperor.”
Teighlar bowed his head and folded his arms, preparing to be entertained.
Torrullin straightened and left the table to commence a circuit of the gathered. Many, Sabian noted, squared shoulders as if preparing for when he would pass behind them.
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