Later, in the snows blanketing Galilan, Shep knelt to offer his oath of loyalty to the new Vallorin Torrullin Valla, every word from his heart. Smiling, he recalled Shep’s horror over their plans to steal a Beaconite ship from Ceta’s spaceport in order to enter the Forbidden Zone unannounced.
He saw Shep striding along the corridors in Galilan General and he saw the purple clad form watching the newborns with joy infusing him. Shep waddled forward to accept a place at the table during a Coming-of-Age ceremony, honoured to be called as witness.
Shep tinkered with gadgets, eyes narrowed as he concentrated. Tristamil and Shep together, both lovers of technology. Shep and Lycea, the best of friends. Shep was there for Lycea when she was pregnant with the twins, there when she needed support after their birth.
There was many occasions Shep was simply there, the voice of reason or the silent supporter. Dear Shep. He was integral to Valleur history, a man with the greatest heart.
Torrullin could sense nothing of hidden thoughts, however. Either Shep had nothing to hide and this was an unnecessary quest, or the man did not realise he needed to hide anything. Had he known more then, Torrullin could probably have asked the purple form a direct question and would have received a direct answer. The latter was more likely.
He always smelled clean, of fresh water and warm sunshine. Shep loved the outdoors after the habitat was destroyed, taking pleasure in the feel of the sun on his skin. Of course, wherever he went, he stood out. Purple defined him. His signature was a benevolent one. There were no dark weaves.
Entering deeper into Elixir’s senses, Torrullin latched onto a trace of Shep’s old signature and concentrated.
The three watching him, waiting, saw how his eyes moved rapidly behind his lids, as if he had entered deep sleep.
Torrullin’s eyes snapped open. He grunted and shook his head. “Hiding in plain sight, how clever.”
“Where?” Quilla demanded.
“The Academia of Truth. Our Shep is now a brother walking those hallowed halls of scrolls and scribes.”
Quilla’s eyes nearly popped out. “Truly? How many times have I not been to the Academia in the intervening years? How did he manage to avoid me?”
“Our departed Brother Key-ler might have something to do with it,” Torrullin murmured.
“Very clever,” Sabian said.
Elianas stood. “Shall we?”
“Why not?” Quilla murmured, also rising.
“Wait.” Torrullin held one finger up. “Sabian, would you like us to move your cottage and immediate environs to Avaelyn?”
Sabian stared up. “I would like it very much.”
Torrullin looked to Elianas. “Can you build a bridge?”
“You are in a hurry,” Elianas muttered.
“Says the man ready to go direct to the Academia.”
Elianas snorted. “I can build a bridge, yes. Where do I place it?”
“The forest below the cliffs to the east. It is much the same as this region,” Torrullin said. “Sabian’s vegetables will continue to flourish.”
“Fantastic,” Sabian breathed.
“Fine.” Elianas reached towards Torrullin’s chest for the Medaillon - he used its inherent properties to build an energy bridge - and froze. Dropping his arm, he said, “Very clever.”
Torrullin grinned at him.
Swearing under his breath, Elianas undid the laces at his throat and drew forth the Maghdim. “Do not say a word,” he warned the others, meaning mention of the coin now around his neck. He clasped it and pointed.
Faint flickers of electricity surrounded them for an instant.
Releasing the Medaillon, Elianas said, “We are now on Avaelyn.” He strode for the cottage door, throwing over his shoulder, “You are looking for trouble, Torrullin.”
Grinning again, Torrullin followed.
Luvanor
Atrin Continent
Academia of Truth
DUSK HAD SETTLED ONTO the land.
For the brothers of the Academia it was the busiest time of day. Storing scrolls used during the day, scurrying, ensuring the boys in their care were completing their studies before the evening bell, waiting for the supper gong, general tidy duties and so forth kept them occupied.
Others were repairing the roof damaged in the earthquake.
Amid all the activity, a rotund form stood hands folded in front of him at the sundial. Shep Lore was waiting for them, wearing the brown homespun robes of the brothers. It was odd so see him in anything other than purple.
He bowed low as they approached, straightening only when Torrullin said, “Shep, you have surprised me.”
The round man smiled. “My Lord, it is good to see you.”
Torrullin extended his arm for the clasp and Shep returned the action with alacrity.
Quilla shook his head. “A surprise indeed.”
“Hello, Quilla,” Shep said, adding, “I have heard of you, Sabian. Welcome to the Academia.”
Sabian inclined his head. “Thank you and well met.”
Shep shifted his tawny gaze to Elianas. “Elianas Danae, I am honoured to finally meet you.”
Elianas touched his forehead. “And I am intrigued.”
The man smiled again. “I am a simple man, my Lord, although I seem to have inherited a destiny, one to determine the nuances now available to us all.” He returned his gaze to Torrullin. “I appear to follow in the footsteps of other great personages here. Dear Key-ler taught me much about words, and Caltian showed me courage is in the most unlikely places, while Brother Tas, for all his gruffness, revealed the kindest heart is also the most likely to remain overlooked. I have never hidden when anyone known to me arrived here, but I was disregarded when matters of greater import garnered attention. This is of no matter to me, know that, for the time was not yet fortuitous.”
“That time has now come?” Torrullin murmured.
“It has, my Lord. I sensed shivers when Sabian started reading the book and earlier I felt you quest for my whereabouts and understood we are now at the point of revelation.” Shep stood aside and gestured to the archive entrance, the one leading to the basement storage shelves. “I have dispensation to host you below, my Lord, and no one will disturb us.”
Taking a breath, Torrullin nodded and headed there.
THE OTHERS FOLLOWED, with Shep falling in beside Quilla. He murmured to the birdman as they walked, “I did not hide, but Brother Key-ler employed some subterfuge on my behalf whenever you visited, just to distract you, he said.”
Quilla merely shook his head. “Really surprised, I am.”
AHEAD, TORRULLIN AND Elianas bumped shoulders.
“Do you remember the last time we were here?” Elianas asked.
“Krikian’s life changing letter, yes.”
“How far we have come since that soul searching time.”
Torrullin sent him a look. “Indeed.”
“You wanted them to know I have the Medaillon. Why?”
“Protection.”
“For the Medaillon?”
“For you, idiot.”
“I need protection?”
“I am not doing this now.”
Elianas lifted an eyebrow. “Coward.”
Stepping into the dimness of the archives, Torrullin said, “They now know to remove you from the fray if Rivalen makes an unexpected play.”
“To keep me safe?” Elianas snorted.
“To prevent you doing something stupidly courageous.”
“Ah. They can try, of course.”
Torrullin laughed under his breath. “There is the matter of their efficacy, true.”
Then the others were with them and Shep took the lead. He motioned and led them to a seating area beyond the shelves. A light repast awaited there, small sandwiches and water. The brothers believed in being good hosts, but had ever been stingy with their offerings.
At least the seats were comfortably upholstered.
“My Lord, I remember the tables you set
at the Keep. Forgive me, I was not able to secure a greater variety of food and drink.”
Torrullin sat where the light from behind - glows from the courtyard above and a lit candelabra inside - would throw his face into shadow. “Do not concern yourself so, my friend. We are grateful for the warmth and your thoughtfulness.”
Bobbing his appreciation, Shep took a seat directly opposite, thereby placing every facet of his face on display.
Elianas flung into an armchair beside Torrullin, crossing his legs and resting his hands upon his upper thigh. Sabian chose a vantage to the left, Quilla to their right.
It seemed like an interrogation.
Shep must have felt something similar for he perched on the edge of his chair. His hands fiddled nervously with the rope belt at his waist.
“No purple?” Torrullin asked.
Instantly the man relaxed. A huge smile erupted onto his face. “I tried, I truly did, but they threatened me with expulsion if I did not conform.”
Torrullin laughed. “Well can I imagine it.”
“I needed to be here, though, and eventually took to the brown robes.”
“Why did you need to be here?”
All levity left the round face. “Do you recall I went back to the habitat to find what could still be found in the wreckage?”
“Technology, you said, and personal items to bury as remembrance.”
“Indeed. I did not find much, or nothing that was usable, if you remember.” Shep paused and then went on in a rush. “I also needed to find the vault.”
Torrullin nodded. “And did you?”
Shep sighed, aware now the Vallorin he swore his oath to knew enough for him not to have to explain from the beginning. “I knew its location, but could not reach it in that first attempt. There was too much rubble. I returned when I was able to, but one man alone? There was no means to reaching it.”
“We filled the habitat in, Shep,” Torrullin frowned.
“When I heard it was to happen I grew frantic. I needed help without delay. Galilan’s mayor had become a friend while we built the hospital and thus I asked him.”
“David?”
“Indeed.”
Torrullin expression spoke to doubt.
She Lore nodded. “Now you are thinking David was not enough help, for human muscle simply would not be sufficient. I needed a sorcerer’s aid. At first I thought to enlist Augin, but he had already grown too close to you as Palace Guard.” The man put his hands together. “Saska helped, my Lord.”
Torrullin remained silent, although he shifted forward in his chair.
The hands on Elianas’ thigh tensed.
Shep rushed in, knowing this would be a sore point in the narrative. “While you were building the Keep, my Lord, and Vannis resurrected and repaired the sacred sites, Saska lent a hand where she was able to, along with the Q’lin’la and the Guardians. She overheard my conversation with David and offered her talents.”
“Did she know what you were after?”
“Only that I desired to find some precious items before the habitat vanished.”
“Shep, it sounds to me as if you sought to hide something of great importance from your Vallorin if you could not ask Augin for aid, and if you were less than forthcoming with Saska. Until this moment I regarded this as something you unknowingly kept to yourself, for you saw no driving need to share it. An ancient tale, a task of the blood, no more.”
The round man hung his head. “It was not a conscious choice, my Lord. I did not deliberately hide anything, I swear. All I knew at the time was my blood’s duty.”
“Which was?”
“Protect the book. Tell no one. When the time is right, update it. Send copies out when complete.”
“Had you even seen the book?” Elianas asked.
“I saw it once in passing. I was ill and awoke late one night to see my father bent over it. I never saw it again.”
“How old were you?” Elianas pressed.
“Six, maybe seven. The duty of the blood I learned of after my father passed, in a sealed letter he left for me. The moment I read it I also received the applicable race memories. Only after the destruction of the Vall Peninsula did I begin to wonder if it existed and, if it did, had it survived.”
“You found it,” Torrullin murmured.
“With Saska’s help, yes. The vault was intact. Saska thought of it as heirloom, no more.” Shep now sat bolt upright in his seat.
“Much subterfuge in this story, Shep.”
“It was the tell no one bit, my Lord. I followed my father’s command. Forgive me.”
Elianas’ hands had relaxed again. “When did you actually read it?”
A tear rolled over the round man’s face. “The day my Lord Vallorin vanished in the light of a thousand suns I desired no more part of Valaris and her problems. I left and with me I had a few precious items, and one was the book.”
Torrullin reached for a goblet and filled it with water. Holding it, he stared at Shep. “There is nothing to forgive, my friend. And I am not here to pass judgement on your actions.” He held the goblet out. “Drink. You are a mite pale.”
With trembling fingers, Shep took the offering and sipped delicately. “It hurt, my Lord, your leaving us.”
Torrullin lowered his head. “It hurt to leave.” He looked up. “I never desired to cause pain.”
Tears ran freely as Shep cleared his throat. “You left us a great gift, my Lord, the gift of peace. I understood why it happened, later, when grief was less debilitating.” He drew breath. “I came here and met Brother Key-ler and told him of … well, everything.” Finally Shep laughed. “Key-ler nearly had my hide for not adequately protecting an ancient tome!”
Torrullin smiled.
Shep shifted his gaze to Elianas. “And then I read it. It changed all.”
“Why are you looking at me as you say that?” Elianas demanded, fingers white on his thigh once more.
“There is far more in the original, beyond even the passages censored for the copies.”
“Show us,” Elianas whispered.
Shep Lore blinked. About to say something, he shook his head before nodding vigorously. “Perhaps that will be best, yes. Come with me.”
Rising then and after placing his water on the table, he waddled away into the gloom of the archive proper.
A LONG WALK IN almost complete darkness later, amid scrolls and parchment so old they appeared about to fall into dust, Shep came to a halt before a wooden chest.
A faint green luminescence revealed it was shielded by a powerful enchantment.
“Who did that?” Sabian asked.
“The lady Mitrill,” Shep said. “She came here soon after your return from the realm you went into with Margus, my Lord. I think Caltian must have said something, and she demanded to see the ancient book. I could not refuse her.”
Torrullin laughed, slapping his thighs. “All gods! How convoluted it all is. No wonder Mitrill stayed away from me for lengthy periods. She was afraid I would read this secret in her.”
“I do not know about that, but Lady Mitrill understood what it would mean if you learned any of what lay in the book before you were ready. This was before Elixir. Therefore she laid this holding enchantment upon it.”
“Open it,” Elianas snapped.
“I cannot, not unless the urge to update it overcomes me.”
Torrullin sank to his knees before the chest. “Much has happened to add to the cycles in there.”
Shep kneeled also. “Every instinct bade me wait. After I heard you had Become, my Lord, I thought to record it and yet I felt compelled to wait.”
“For?” Quilla prompted.
Shep craned his neck. “I was waiting, as the universe was waiting, as my Lord Torrullin was waiting, for Elianas Danae.”
Elianas thudded to his knees. “What the fuck does that book say about me?”
“Everything,” Shep murmured. “Word of power, the curse, Nemisin’s son-in-law, Kalgaia, the Da
nae Guild, apprentice to Lord Sorcerer, Alhazen and much more, cycle after cycle. One could call this the true Oracle of the Valleur.”
Elianas stared at him. “That should have caused you to seal the bloody book for eternity.”
Shep nodded sagely. “It does not engender feelings of calm, I admit, but when one has race memories, one understands one must read between the lines.”
Elianas’ face wiped clean of all expression. “And what did you read between the lines, friend?”
“Calm, Elianas,” Torrullin said.
“Fuck off. He will answer.”
Shep was serene. “I shall answer. The Danae has stood between the cycles before, as he will now. He has rebuilt time by separating the loops, while keeping them joined. He has done so thirteen times and now the fourteenth is due. At fourteen, our ruling tenet, it ends.”
Elianas stared at the brother in his homespun gown, nonplussed, and then swung his attention to Torrullin. “Did you understand that?”
Torrullin, laughing under his breath, said, “No.”
“What ends?” Quilla asked.
“I do not know, Quilla,” Shep responded.
“Time,” Sabian said. “Or the measure …” He snapped his fingers. “The count will start over. A new cycle of fourteen will begin, with new faces.”
Elianas looked up at him. “Pray tell, master historian, how the Danae stood between the cycles before.”
“Easy,” Sabian replied. “You went to sleep for long, long ages.” He hunkered to look Elianas in the eyes. “Vanishing into a portal world is somewhat akin to a long, long sleep, would you agree? When you do so, there is the fourteenth event, and thus a new count commences.”
“That is why I waited for you,” Shep murmured, “although I had not the same insight as Master Sabian.”
Quilla closed in to stand at Torrullin’s back. “Forgive me, but you overlook something intrinsic.”
Smiling, Shep looked his way. “No, Quilla, I do not.”
Lore of Sanctum Omnibus Page 233