The Echolone Mine (82 page)

In the Path of
Shades every direction had been the same and time was immaterial.
Here direction was imperative and time, well, time was time, and he
needed to be careful.

He sat, folded
his legs before him and rested his wrists palms outward on his
knees, threw a blanket of concealment around the area and entered
meditative state.

Before he
entered the zone of utter concentration he wondered how long it
would be before Torrullin came to investigate.

He wanted
that.

An hour later
Torrullin was restless.

He murmured
with Tristan and then headed off in the direction Elianas earlier
used. Tristan sharpened the watch on Tymall.

Torrullin
walked into the concealment and knew it for what it was.

Sliding
through, he discovered Elianas cross-legged near a statue of a
strange bird. He made no sound. Clearly the man was deep in
concentration.

He sat and
waited.

When Elianas
eventually blinked and focused, he found Torrullin beside him. His
heart lurched.

“Dangerous to
go for so long,” Torrullin murmured.

“You are
watching my back.”

“True. Are you
ready?”

“Yes, just say
when.”

Torrullin lay
back in the fresh grass and stared up. “When.”

“That does not
appear convincing.”

“When we get
back there will be a battle. I do not want to blame you for
it.”

“I have blamed
you for worse.”

Torrullin met
those dark eyes. “We entered Lethe to do battle ourselves, and yet
now I wish I could disappear with you. Elianas, why do you fight
on? What is it you really see and feel? I cannot do this much
longer.”

Elianas lay
back. “I am at the end of a particular road as well. My objectivity
flies into the ether every time you close in on me.”

“Answer
me.”

“The real
truth? Your blood sings, Torrullin, and I can hear it. It
transforms the spaces; it draws me as nothing else can.”

“My blood
sings.”

A smile in
profile. “Not what you expected?”

“No.”

“When I heard
you are Lorinin I finally understood why it is thus in you. I
possess the oldest true blood, but you have the truest blood, for
you are both Lorin and Danae. You are the embodiment of what the
Valleur might have been. Lorinin takes you many steps further, and
thus I hear the music. Torrullin, I cannot exist without it. And
that is the real and absolute truth.”

Torrullin
lifted onto an elbow. “I do not understand. Do you hear it when we
are physically close?”

“I hear it no
matter where you are. It is how I find you and it is how I put you
back together. I hear it when I touch you in passing, but, yes, it
is louder and more glorious the closer I get. When you touch me
angels and orchestras assume position.”

“Gods.”

“It is pretty
addictive, yes.”

“How
long?”

“Since the day
I stood on Lord Sorcerer’s doorstep.”

“Why did you
keep silent?”

“I thought I
was mad.”

“Does anyone
else know?”

“Tristan.”

“I guess I
told Tristan a few truths as well,” Torrullin murmured.

“Your turn.
Why do you fight on? What is it you really see and feel?”

“I prefer the
cold. I delve the colder spaces when you are not around. I function
in cold, I think better, I have more insight and, Elianas, I get
terribly cold. And then there is you. You are heat. Perhaps that is
a facet of energy, and maybe it is simply because you were born in
a time when the spaces were new and heat was creating new worlds,
but whatever it is, it radiates from you. And thus I am warm.”

Elianas was
still looking at him. “Physically?”

“Far more than
that. It is how I track you.”

“And yet I
find huge contradiction in what you just said.”

“Preferring
cold, how can I be drawn to heat? The opposite fires me.”

Elianas was on
an elbow. “Then you need the cold again. That means we need periods
apart.”

“Yes.”

“Gods, how
long before that again?” Elianas flopped down. “Life is very
interesting when you are in it.”

A laugh.
“Same.”

“You are
lying, of course. It is not heat, Torrullin. Tell the truth.”

Torrullin sat
up to clasp his arms around his knees. “It is part of the
truth.”

Elianas moved
to take a place directly in front of him.

Long minutes
passed, and then Torrullin placed a hand in his neck. “It is heat.
Fire. Electricity. Energy. It surges through you, and it feels like
kinfire. I often wondered what it must have been like for Tristamil
and Mitrill to make love with kinfire in bed with them, and Tymall
discovered it with Fay, and when I touch you I wonder anew. It is,
as you say, addictive.”

“We are not
kin, Torrullin, not like that.”

Torrullin took
his hand away. “Thus I am more drawn to you.” He stood. “It is
driving me insane.”

Elianas hung
his head. Music and fire, extremely volatile.

Torrullin
dragged his head up. “How do I say no, Elianas? How do I go on
denying you?”

Elianas’ blood
surged and Torrullin’s eyelids flickered.

Torrullin fell
to his knees before him.

A shout of
warning tore through the glade.

Torrullin
muttered, “Saved by the bell again.”

Elianas surged
to his feet, breathing hard. “Until Avaelyn, Torrullin, we keep
someone around.”

“That will not
stop it anymore.” Torrullin walked back to the trees and, when
Elianas’ long stride caught up, added, “We need women, brother, and
soon.”

“It will not
help. We are beyond that.”

“Then we are
royally fucked, Danae.”

“Lowen might
make a difference. She pushes your buttons and she certainly pushes
mine.”

Despite a
second warning shout, Torrullin came to a halt. “Really.”

Elianas smiled
tauntingly.

“Perhaps you
are right, if she is willing.”

Elianas’ jaw
dropped. It was hard to astonish him, and thus it was singularly
satisfying. “You are not serious.”

“Why not? A
threesome might be what we need.” Torrullin smiled challenge and
carried on walking.

“That is not
fair on her. She does not deserve it,” Elianas snapped. “Do not
dare suggest it.”

Torrullin
grinned to himself and headed into the trees.

Tymall and
Sabian came to blows and traded them seriously.

Both were
bleeding when Torrullin and Elianas came upon them. Tristan had
called out, but was clearly not about to interfere.

“Gods, look at
that, like kids.”

Elianas gave
Torrullin a look - he and Tymall had then also behaved like kids -
and started muttering under his breath. It subsided into silence
moments later and he said, “The bridge will appear beyond them.
Toss them on as it manifests.”

Torrullin
jerked a nod and gestured Tristan nearer.

Moments later
a solid looking stone bridge erupted on the far side as if spanning
water. It went through trees without touching them, proving it was
ethereal.

Elianas walked
around the brawling pair and set foot to it, and started
walking.

Torrullin
muttered under his breath and stalked to Tymall, while Tristan
tackled Sabian. Hauling them part, they frogmarched the protesting
pair onto the bridge.

The instant
they set foot to it, the glade and every tree and all sound of
birdsong vanished.

I’m lost!

Child’s
wail

Valaris

T
he bridge ended after two minutes of racing to catch
up with Elianas and dumped them unceremoniously onto grass and
wildflowers.

As they
clambered to their feet, noting the altered state of the Eastern
Mountains, a legacy of Margus’ for once a welcoming sight, a slash
of bright light speared through the fabric of the air.

Digilan

Mist swirled
out.

Giggles that
raised the hair on the back of necks sounded.

Tristan and
Sabian scrambled away.

“
Warlock
!”

Tymall stood.
“Magus Hollifell calls.” He stared at his father.

“Go, Ty.
Whatever happened beyond, let us forget it.”

“Sorry. Cannot
do that.” He reached out, roughly snagged Elianas, and fell
backward through the slash of light and mist.

“
No
!”
Torrullin shouted.

The mists
began to vanish and Torrullin stepped swiftly in. “Warn Tian and
the Kaval.” Then he was gone and the portal to Digilan closed.

Tristan and
Sabian transported to Grinwallin without delay, without voicing
their shock, knowing there they would find Tianoman, Teighlar and
enough Kaval to start the defence of this reality.

Grinwallin

Teighlar,
Caballa, Tianoman, Quilla and Belun were heading out into the Great
Hall from the crucible chamber when Tristan and Sabian hurtled in
from the opposite side.

Caballa cried
out and rushed across the space and into Tristan’s arms. “How? You
just left!”

He held her
back from him to search her eyes. “We have been gone a bit longer
than that.” He set her aside to meet Tianoman’s worried frown as it
came closer. “I don’t have time to explain. Sound the warning.
Digilan might be active soon. Tymall has taken Elianas in and
Torrullin followed. He will tear that place apart.”

“What?”
Tianoman paled. “My father?”

Tristan stood
before him. “Sound the warning, Lord Vallorin. We are on the brink
of war.” He jerked to Quilla. “Get the Kaval to Avaelyn. Tymall
wants it first.”

Sabian said,
“Emperor, put your army on standby and send anyone that can be
spared to Avaelyn.”

“You too,
Tian, send men,” Tristan said.

“How is Sabian
here?” Tianoman demanded.

“Later,
cousin. Move!” Tristan took hold of Caballa again and drew her
aside. “I want you to get Cassy, even if you have to restrain her.
Bring her to Avaelyn also.”

“What
happened?”

“It’s a long
story, and we don’t have time. I don’t know how fast Torrullin will
be, or how he will get Elianas out. We must be ready, and Cassy
could be part of it. Get her now.”

Caballa
vanished. Quilla and Belun were already gone and Teighlar roared
commands at the top of his voice. Tianoman remained.

“You are
coming with me,” he said, “and while I muster the army, you
talk.”

Tristan
nodded.

Tianoman
turned to Sabian. “You, too. I never expected to see you again. Is
Nemisin safe?”

“Nemisin is
here, hoping to usurp Torrullin.”

“Gods, what
happened
?” Tianoman demanded, and then, “Tell me at the
Keep.”

He
vanished.

Avaelyn

Two hours later
Tianoman Valla understood exactly what his father was up to, and
why, and Nemisin’s escape was explained.

The army
gathered in wings and deployed. Guards stood three deep around the
Keep and the Elders were summoned in to protect Aislinn and Lunik.
As soon as that was done, Tianoman took leave of his wife and son
over her protests and he, Tristan and Sabian transported to the
beacon on Avaelyn.

Four wings
went with them.

The dwelling
secured on the cliffs was not revealed to anyone.

In those same
two hours Teighlar prepared for war in Grinwallin and the Elders of
Luvanor mustered the Luvanese host. Eight wings were deployed to
Tianoman and arrived on Avaelyn seconds after those from Valaris.
Teighlar sent a squadron of Senlu as well.

Simultaneously
the Kaval sent word to every corner. Xen III instituted measures,
with Max Dalrish swearing like a trooper, and so did Yltri, Ceta,
Lax, Echolone, Excelsior and many others. Each world sent a platoon
to Avaelyn. And then the entire Kaval were there also.

At least ten
thousand men milled on the plain and landing strip where before
men, women and children came for healing. Tristan took up a
bullhorn and barked commands.

Order was
swift.

Caballa
arrived with Cassiopin.

Tristan met
them where the kitchen had functioned.

“Gods,
Tristan, where do they come from?” Caballa asked.

“Everywhere.
Cassy.”

She gazed up
at him. “I feel like a prisoner.”

“Your father
started this. I need to know how involved you are.”

“
What
?”
Caballa gasped.

“He escaped
Sabian and used your sacred network to get back here and along the
way agitated the Warlock of Digilan into action. Talk, Cassy.”

She folded her
arms. “I am free of my father.”

“No, you are
not.”

She blinked.
“I have nothing to do with this.”

Tristan drew
breath, and, “You are lying. You are too accepting.” He barked an
order and six men came running. He placed Cassy in their care and
drew Caballa away. “You don’t have to be here.”

“I am here.
Tell me what happened.”

He did.

Why me?

Lament

Digilan

T
ymall and Elianas had vanished by the time Torrullin
stepped through, and the swirling mist was now markedly silent.

There was not
a giggle to be heard. He stopped to listen, but Tymall was not
making a sound and neither was Elianas.

In his lack of
direction he was lost.

Then he sensed
the dark man. A faint shiver of electricity, of warmth, that was
all, but enough to use as a marker.

Torrullin
moved quickly and carefully, feeling unseen shapes giving way to
him in the mist.