Lore of Sanctum Omnibus

by Elaina J Davidson

  Tears ran over Lowen’s cheeks, tracks of unbridled amusement, while Torrullin landed up on one knee, shaking his head, shaking also with mirth.

  Elianas’ eyebrows hiked up into his hairline, a reluctant smile tugging at his mouth. He did not, however, laugh.

  “No thank you either, I assume?” Neolone chortled.

  Clambering to his feet, Torrullin managed in an almost normal voice, “You might get that.”

  Neolone blinked swiftly and curbed his bout of hilarity. “Danae, you need a tangible address from which to create an energy conduit, am I correct?”

  Elianas inclined his head.

  “Come forward. I am your tangible address.”

  The dark man, after a moment, pushed away from the tree and approached to stand arms akimbo before the mighty creature. “I must touch you?”

  “Indeed.”

  Clamping one hand onto Lowen’s forearm, Torrullin closed in with her. “Why?”

  “Why must he touch me? I think that is obvious,” Neolone murmured.

  “Why are you the address?” Torrullin qualified.

  “In this state I straddle realms. My presence shortens every journey, if someone capable knows how to use me to that end.” Neolone sent a challenging look, somehow encompassing both Torrullin and Elianas in one gaze.

  “Why offer yourself?” Torrullin asked next.

  Neolone focused on the fair man alone. “I am a Timekeeper too, but my time no longer fits yours. Torrullin, the day I died inside that chamber filled with colourful circles is also the day I understood nobility rises from even the darkest spaces. I saw it in you. Your heart broke as brutally as I broke the Emperor’s body. Such compassion, Lord Vallorin, it heals worlds. It even heals time. It healed me.”

  Lowen swallowed. Elianas closed his eyes.

  “I offer myself because my loyalty is for my liege lord. You, Torrullin Valla.”

  The fair man inhaled deeply and then bowed low. “I am honoured, Neolone Dragon.”

  Straightening, he took hold of Elianas’ wrist and lifted his hand. Entwining his fingers with Elianas’, he smacked the combination against Neolone’s breast.

  The Dragon nodded. “That is where I was mortally wounded, yes. You have not forgotten.”

  “I cannot ever forget,” Torrullin murmured. He hauled Lowen in. “Stay with us, Lowen.”

  “Danae, you have your starting point,” Neolone said. “Use it now.”

  In the next instant the Dragon, the tree, the hill and every sense of vision and questionable reality dematerialised. A graceful silvery blue bridge arched through star-filled space and a breath of jasmine scented air wafted as if beckoning souls to paradise.

  Till we meet again, Torrullin. Neolone’s voice enveloped them as a thought and as a benevolent farewell.

  They set feet onto the bridge.

  Millwold

  RIVALEN GLARED AT THE sagging wooden door, at the offensive number roughly scratched there.

  This ramshackle building was now home for the foreseeable future. How degrading, but the anonymity afforded safety. So be it.

  Still, his men needed to see him as something apart, something not merely based on his alien features. He had given them death; now he needed to remind them of it every time they neared his door.

  Lifting a hand to the wood, he extended his forefinger. Using his nail as an instrument, he carved the number over the sad little digit already there. He carved deep; let them see. Yes, let them see.

  Grunting satisfaction, he stepped away. Perfect.

  The 4 dripped blood. His blood.

  Beware the fool who dared knock now.

  Chapter 28

  Worlds are not strange. People are.

  ~ Tattle ~

  Kathin Arne

  MANY WORLDS OFFERED largely the same conditions and thus were travellers not surprised by their surroundings, although culture in situ might cause astonishment. Even into realms beyond, this state of familiarity extended, and thus were visitors or entrants able to function. Then there were worlds and realms where all was different, from the natural order through inhabitants into the laws governing those spaces.

  Kathin Arne was a mixture of both.

  The region Torrullin, Elianas and Lowen arrived in, stepping off the ethereal bridge to have it dissipate instantly behind them, possessed mountains, lakes, rivers and tree-filled fields, but the sky overhead was more green than blue. The lakes and rivers reflected largely lime, and yet the water was tinged with purple. Rock was red and thus the mountains appeared as dark scarlet. The trees were almost black, leaves, branches and trunks, while grass was a strange hue that was part green and part purple.

  The air they breathed contained less oxygen than they were accustomed to and they swiftly found themselves breathing fast and shallow. There were heavier elements in the atmosphere, which made them slow, as if moving through density.

  “You get used to it,” Elianas murmured.

  Lowen eyed him, not liking the situation and wishing he had at least told them what to expect.

  Torrullin shrugged. “It cannot kill us and we have certainly encountered stranger sights.”

  “He is quite something,” Elianas murmured.

  “Neolone? Absolutely.”

  “Are you all right?”

  Torrullin eyed Elianas. “I am. You?”

  Elianas offered a half-grin. “Taken aback by his insight, but otherwise fine.”

  Torrullin nodded, looking away. “Now we deal with Kathin Arne. How does this society work? Is there a system in place to track people?”

  After a few moments, Elianas fell into that distraction. “There was when I was last here. Something akin to technology, although the parts are formed of rock particles rather than manufactured elements.”

  Lowen eyed him again.

  Elianas laughed lightly. “Computers, but not as we know them.”

  “Cities?” she asked.

  “Many.”

  “What about space travel?”

  Elianas shrugged. “Not when I was here. This atmosphere is too different from others and ships that could work here would fall from other skies.”

  “Where would we find a population register?” Torrullin frowned.

  “This isn’t Beacon, Torrullin. Nothing is centralised. There are systems, but how to use them is another story.”

  “Do they have magical talent present?” Lowen asked.

  “Nothing overt. The only great talent they search for here is the Life one. In other words, the Daywalker is not only celebrated, but powerful, and always there must be a Daywalker.”

  Torrullin’s eyes narrowed. “Why? Nature here may be somewhat altered from what we are accustomed to, but it appears healthy and thriving.”

  “Because there is a Daywalker,” Elianas murmured, looking around. “No doubt she fights daily to maintain the balances. The laws here, natural laws, are hard to grasp. Without her, Kathin Arne would starve.”

  “Wait. You say ‘Kathin Arne’ as if it is a world, not a realm,” Lowen pointed out.

  “It is a world, Lowen,” Elianas frowned, “part of Ariann.”

  “So this is, in fact, reality?”

  “Of course.” The dark man was patently astonished by her insistence.

  “Did you know that?” she demanded of Torrullin.

  He was confused by her reading of their situation as well. “Yes.”

  She threw her hands in the air. “What happens here impacts reality?”

  “Ariann’s reality, yes,” Elianas murmured.

  “Then I do not understand why you thought you needed Wings,” Lowen said. “This is a place, not a beyond.”

  Torrullin frowned. “We circumvented that.”

  “But you thought you needed them.”

  He inclined his head. “We may yet, to leave here.”

  Elianas pointed up. “The atmosphere does not allow for casual entry or exit. Torrullin claims even a Walker is as stymied.” He stopped there, staring fixedly u
p.

  “Elianas?” Lowen prompted.

  “Now I understand. No casual entry, by god, and the trace elements in the air are in place to circumvent those with greater power.” Elianas lowered his gaze. “I did fly in.”

  Torrullin scratched thoughtfully at his chin. “That kind of prevention is shielding. What does Kathin Arne protect, if greater power is deliberately excluded?”

  “More pertinent, Torrullin, is what did I do to what is protected? If there is exclusion in place, then unheralded entry alters the dynamics.”

  “Well, you were not alone in unconscious manipulation,” Torrullin said. “If that is true, Immirin will have had an effect as well.”

  Elianas blinked. “Is she the original reason Kathin Arne needed a Daywalker?”

  Torrullin inflated his cheeks, and popped a breath to flatten them. “You may have a point there, but it depends on what this shield is meant to keep safe.” He glanced at Lowen. “Whatever happens, however bizarre a situation, keep your Wings furled.”

  She nodded, her gaze moving from one man to the other. After what Neolone said, she was beyond reluctant to use them anyway.

  Torrullin clasped Elianas’ shoulder to root him to their present. “Focus. Do you know where we are?”

  The dark man nodded after a moment. “Near the base of those mountains is a highway. It traverses the countryside and leads to various cities along its way. The one beyond the mountains I remember as a place of some size and population.”

  “Then let us take to that road,” Torrullin murmured, and started walking.

  THE CITY WAS A SURPRISE.

  Somehow, given the odd natural surroundings and isolation of their arrival, Torrullin and Lowen expected a walled city of scarlet stone.

  Nothing could be further from expectation.

  It was certainly not walled; it spread across the landscape. It was not of stone, but of steel and glass, with skyscrapers even Beacon would be envious of. The suburbs were more subdued though, of brick, mortar and massive tree.

  On the rise, before the highway descended towards the city - and indeed it was a highway four lanes broad - Torrullin’s mouth dropped open. “Not what I thought to see.”

  “Likewise,” Lowen murmured.

  “It has grown some,” Elianas said.

  “Stone computers, Elianas?” Lowen was clearly disbelieving.

  He grinned. “Stone particles, Lowen, as others use metal and silicone. It does not make for stone-age computers.”

  “What is this city’s name?” Torrullin demanded.

  “Depends on who is in charge. If the Katlin, this is Ornica. If the Arness, it is known as Acinro.” Elianas shrugged. “They spell it back to front to signify rulership.”

  “I think we need know more detail,” Lowen glowered at Elianas, “before haring in there ignorant only to have our heads chopped off.”

  Elianas pursed his lips, signifying he did not want to enter into detail.

  “I do not want to waste time hanging around here. We make it up as we go,” Torrullin said, and continued walking. He sensed the relief in the man falling in behind. “But Lowen is right, Elianas. We need another kind of starting point now, one able to take us somewhere. Did you choose this location because it was first for you when you arrived? Or is this a place where we will find what we need to find?”

  “Both. This is the city which determines rule; therefore the players in their game of houses are here.”

  “And you suspect this kind of hotbed is where we will find Immirin?”

  “If she is still here, yes. If not, there will be record of what happened to her.”

  “Where do we ask?” Lowen demanded. “Are we able to fit in? Do we even look like the locals?”

  Elianas spoke as he walked. “The Katlin are the locals and they are different from us, but if the Arness are in charge, we will be accepted, for they are outsiders.”

  Torrullin turned, walking backward. “A House made of those who entered deliberately or accidentally over time?”

  Elianas nodded.

  “A larger than expected number, I assume.” Torrullin faced forward again.

  “And over time they grew in numbers the more usual way,” Elianas muttered.

  “What was Hunarial?”

  Many steps of silence ensued. “She was an outsider. Born here, raised here, but considered an outsider.”

  “Hunarial?” Lowen repeated.

  “Not now, Lowen,” Torrullin murmured. “Are all Daywalkers outsiders?”

  “No.” Elianas drew a mighty breath and released it. “The Daywalker determines which side rules. She does not herself rule, but her bloodline is the factor.” A step, two. “Many are assassinated in the choosing process. It is a dangerous responsibility even after acceptance to the calling.”

  Thus Elianas sought to protect a woman in danger, and fell in love. Torrullin’s cheeks tightened. “Is Kathin Arne’s shield the reason why you said you may not talk about her?”

  Elianas huffed. “Curse your memory, but, yes. All who come to Kathin Arne swear to keep it a secret - world and Daywalker.”

  “How old is this world?” Lowen asked, thankfully changing their focus, but then Lowen was not stupid. She had already read between their lines.

  “Ancient,” Elianas murmured.

  “Has to be if Immirin came,” Torrullin said.

  “This is a highway we are on, right?” Lowen asked next. “Usually that implies much traffic and yet we have not seen a vehicle.”

  Elianas murmured, “There is no way to explain every dynamic at work, but all connecting roads are highways, even when little travelled. This one, were we to go the other way, would lead to a dead city and everyone avoids it.”

  “A dead city?” Torrullin repeated, a gleam of interest in his gaze.

  “Where a Daywalker once unleashed too much life. They nuked the result.”

  “What is too much life” Lowen muttered. “Never mind, not sure I want to know. So, now we hear they have nukes too. What kind of vehicles do they have?”

  “Much like Beacon and Xen’s transports, except fuel is more of the rock particle stuff.” Elianas came to a halt. “You two must realise much time has passed and anything I now share may have changed completely in the interim.”

  “Understood,” Torrullin said, without stopping.

  Lowen shook her head. “I am beginning to think he is furious about something,” she said quietly to Elianas.

  “He is.” The dark man resumed the pace, keeping always just behind Torrullin.

  Lowen fell in beside him.

  THE FIRST BUILDINGS WERE fuel stops and motels, along with a general dealer and a number of rickety residences.

  In this, it was akin to cities and towns universe over, whichever realm. What was different, though, were the colours. All appeared filtered through a green transparency, darkening primary hues to something other.

  They encountered their first endemic residents of Kathin Arne. A man scurried from a building hefting a parcel. He was short and squat and it was likely a general condition given the heavier atmosphere. Skin was decidedly darker, although that might be a result of the light from the heavens.

  Theirs, too, appeared darker, after all.

  His eyes were black, his hair maroon. Whether that was common remained to be seen. Facial features were close together and appeared flattened. In fact, when he presented a profile demeanour, it was hard to discern nose or chin. Other than those differences, he was as most humanoids were elsewhere.

  A woman hurried after him, calling something. She too had the maroon hair, black eyes, was even shorter, and possessed the largest breasts any of the approaching three had ever seen.

  “Yes, most women here have those,” Elianas muttered from the side of his mouth.

  Lowen giggled, stifling it immediately when the woman suddenly swung around and saw them.

  “Arness!” she shouted to the man.

  He came to a dead stop, dropped his parcel, and s
wiftly hastened in their direction. “Get back inside, woman!” he threw over his shoulder.

  After only a brief hesitation, she did so.

  “Common tongue,” Torrullin murmured. “I did not expect that.”

  “Outsiders brought it and it became widespread. Outsiders cannot manage the local language. I tried and failed as well,” Elianas said.

  “What can I do for you?” the man demanded. “You come from Achtlin? If so, move on. We do not need contamination here.”

  “The dead city,” Elianas murmured as he stepped forward. Raising his voice, he said, “We were nowhere near Achtlin, have no fear.”

  “Only fools go there.”

  “Indeed.” Elianas inclined his head. “May I ask what the city name currently is?”

  Black eyes virtually disappeared in suspicion. “Where are you from?”

  “From the Achen Plain. It has been many years since we have been to a city.”

  The man’s eyes widened exponentially. “How long on the plain?” he whispered.

  “Too long. We are out of touch.”

  The man bowed over his hands. “We have no quarrel with the Achen Plain. Welcome to Acinro, lords and lady.” He bowed even lower.

  The city name Acinro meant the outsiders were rulers, and the current Daywalker was one as well, Torrullin mused. The present political situation might ease their path to answers.

  Elianas bowed as well, although not as low, thereby maintaining a superior status. “Thank you. Who is Daywalker in this time?”

  “Her name is Sarahin.”

  Elianas folded his arms and lifted an eyebrow.

  Clearly the man knew what he was asking, for he said, “The Katlin accept her, lord, for she has a good heart, but I am afraid the general consensus is she is also impressionable and may be used. She is young yet and listens too much to her elders.”

  “The Arness rulers are heavy-handed?”

  “Some. Generally there is a sense of working together.”

  “We thank you for your time. We must be moving on,” Elianas said. “Oh, where does the Daywalker reside in the city?”