The Dreamer Stones (45 page)

“You saw all
this in the three times she has been around?”

“You count, do
you? You’re playing with fire.”

“Fire? No,
grandfather, not fire! Ice! She freezes my blood and bone and it
scares the hell out of me!”

Vannis
frowned. “That makes no sense.”

Torrullin
wheezed a laugh. “No, it doesn’t. This, however, is one matter I
refuse to over-think, so let it go.”

Vannis dropped
it, but knew a tale would unfold, one he would probably never hear
told.

The subject
they touched on in different ways over their days together was
death. The final frontier. Except the frontier had proven pure
myth, and the old religious tenets of Aaru and Hades were more
correct than a rational man believed.

“The Valleur
always believed there’s more beyond longevity,” Vannis
murmured.

They were
perched on a pinnacle atop one of the Arrows peaks enjoying the
view and lunch, a break from construction. The wind howled,
threatening to dislodge, and it was very hot.

“But no one
returned to confirm that,” Torrullin remarked. “It was
airy-fairy.”

“An instinct
that proved true.”

“Of course,
but much was taken on faith, not reality.”

“It still is
in many religions.”

“One could say
the religions are the myth, not the afterworld they expound.”

“Perhaps those
religions are based on the periodic returnee. Live a good life and
you will be rewarded. Live a bad one and there are just desserts
there as well. Not such a bad thing.”

“And for the
indeterminate it’s a rude awakening.”

“What is
deserved, I suppose. Raken and I went where our souls led us.”

“Vannis, I saw
Taranis and Millanu - and Tris - in Aaru.”

“A dream?”

“No, the real
thing.”

“The Hounding?
Why did you not say?”

Torrullin
shrugged. “A jinx to ground it in words.”

“The most
special moments are also the most private, yes. But Tris?”

“He will
remain eternally as I remember him. He’s happy, fulfilled, and so
are Taranis and Millanu. I didn’t realise what a good man my father
was, not until I saw him there. Perfect bliss for a man who went to
war, who killed, who angered, and yet he made it through. He did
everything with forgiveness for his enemies, asking forgiveness as
he warred. I find I didn’t really know him at all.”

“To know him
like that, he would have known you.”

“Am I so much
off the path?”

“Torrullin,
Taranis saw the universe in black and white. It has naught to do
with being off the path; he would not have understood, and you
subconsciously sought to spare him the worst of the confusion.”

“You don’t
need to rationalise. I had my reasons for keeping a distance.”

Vannis glanced
sideways to see the set expression. “Would you like to share
them?”

“Not
particularly.”

“When will you
ever get a chance like this again? Anything you say will be taken
into another realm. See me as your …”

“Psychologist?”

“No, your
confidante.”

Torrullin
sighed. “Pity, that.”

“Yes, and
you’re changing the subject.”

“We were
talking about deaths’ journeys.”

“You brought
your father in.”

Torrullin
snorted and was quiet. Then he shrugged and placed his mug of
cooling coffee at his feet.

“Taranis. For
starters, there was Saska. He loved her, and I know now how it
really was, but didn’t then comprehend how much my mother meant to
him until I saw them together the night he died. By keeping away, I
could keep Saska away, emotionally. Today I understand they were
friends and I suppose I was envious. Both were good people and it
left me on the outside. Then, I was angry he wasn’t there when I
grew up. I blamed him for my decisions, my misfortunes, I punished
him without consciously knowing it. And you’re right - I couldn’t
allow him to see how far down the darak path I travelled in the
past. He would have been …” Torrullin choked and lapsed into
silence.

“…
disappointed? Taranis wasn’t capable of that kind of hurtful
judgement.”

“I know. The
judgement was mine.”

“And now?
After you’ve seen him again?”

A smile. “He
is all I thought he was meant to be.”

“Then you are
at peace?”

“Yes, but also
saddened I won’t experience him in this reality.”

Vannis reached
for the flask of coffee and poured another measure. “Want more?”
Torrullin shook his head. “Tell me of the realm of bliss.”

A snort.
“What’s to tell? Verdant, flowers, dale and dell, streams, birds,
happy folk, rain and sun in beneficial amounts. It’s charming,
simple, the air’s sweet - what more can I say?”

“Can anyone
leave?”

“The thought
wouldn’t cross their minds. That would show dissatisfaction with
their state, and it has no place there.”

“No choices,
then.”

“There’s no
need.”

“I would not
like it,” Vannis said.

Torrullin
burst out laughing and a moment later Vannis joined in.

On the ninth
day of Vannis’s interlude, they finished the reconstruction of the
Lifesource, and on that day Quilla spoke again.

It was early
morning, the sun barely cresting the eastern foothills, and
Torrullin and Vannis sat legs dangling on the edge of the eastern
platform congratulating each other on a task well done. Behind, the
Temple shone in the early sun.

Both were
unaware Quilla approached. Both twisted around when he spoke.

“Elixir.”

The birdman’s
voice was emotionless, his cherubic features deadened. There was no
fire in his blue eyes.

“Quilla,”
Torrullin breathed and swung his legs inward. He began to clamber
to his feet.

“Sit. Please.
I am now subject to you; you dishonour your status if you rise for
me.”

Vannis brows
shot up and he whistled silently. All colour fled his grandson.

Torrullin
stood. “I rise because I choose to, Q’li’qa’mz.”

Quilla
inclined his head. “I apologise.”

Torrullin
stared down at his friend and then looked up at the glowing Temple.
“Will you infuse the Lifesource with Q’lin’la magic? It is a mere
shadow now of what it was.”

“If you desire
it.”

Torrullin
closed his eyes, and then moved, heading indoors. “I desire it,” he
snapped without turning around. His stiff form vanished inside.

“Good god,
Quilla,” Vannis muttered, “you know he doesn’t deserve this from
you.”

“What would
you be referring to, Lord Vannis?”

“For …!”
Vannis inhaled. “You are cold, Quilla. He is your friend.”

“He is Elixir.
I am Kaval. Friendship has no place.” Quilla glanced over his
shoulder. “I require two days to achieve the magic for this hollow,
purposeless place. I prefer to do it in private.” He looked
significantly back at Vannis.

Vannis sucked
at his teeth and then nodded. “We are done here.”

“Rest assured,
I shall give all. The Valleur Lifesource will be as it was.”

“Good.”

“Thereafter I
shall remove myself to the Dome to be among Elixir’s Kaval - if you
will be so kind as to inform my Lord. I believe the number has
swollen to eight.”

“He did not
ask for it to be this way.”

“Elixir is. He
does not ask.” Quilla spun on his heel and flitted indoors.

Vannis went to
find Torrullin.

Tenth day.

Vannis’s final
hours.

The morning
was spent around a breakfast table in the shade of the oaks near
the Keep with Saska, Caballa, Kismet, Krikian and Lowen. Lucan,
returned from what was to have been a short visit to Xen, was
present also.

Torrullin,
subdued and silent, preferred to listen to the conversation without
taking active part.

“Tell Raken we
miss her,” Saska said with a smile.

“She’s going
to question me to death,” Vannis quipped. “Lucky I’m dead
already!”

Even Torrullin
smiled.

“Raken would
find the waters of Valaris tame these days,” Caballa said. “There
hasn’t been a pirate for over two thousand years.”

“She’d be
horrified,” Vannis agreed.

“I wish I’d
known her,” Lucan spoke up. “She sounds like an outstanding
lady.”

Vannis pointed
at Lucan with his fork. “There you have it, young Lucan. My Raken
is a lady. A very, passionate, crazy, volatile …” He started to
laugh. “… yet a lady!”

Saska giggled.
“Lordy, she gave ‘em hell, didn’t she!”

“Still
does!”

It continued
in that vein until Lowen shattered the fragile illusion of an
ordinary breakfast.

“I’m surprised
Tymall allowed this to happen without retaliation.” She frowned
when silence reigned. “What? This is Vannis, someone he certainly
didn’t like, and he’s done nothing.”

“He knows it’s
temporary,” Torrullin murmured. “Drop it, Lowen.”

“You told him,
is that it?”

“I didn’t have
to.”

“Why has he
been quiet?” Lucan asked.

“He waits for
Samuel.” Torrullin glared around the table. “Let us not speak of my
son today.”

“Quilla should
be …” Kismet began, and then jumped when Torrullin’s hand smacked
the table. “Forgive me, my Lord Vallorin.”

“Well,” said
Vannis, “it’s time for farewells.”

“Now?” Saska
asked, paling.

“Yes.
Torrullin and I shall visit the sacred sites and from there we go
to Luvanor for the return. No, Saska. I cannot drag the suspense
the entire day.”

Melancholy
descended.

“Please,”
Vannis whispered.

Resolutely
Caballa stood. “We’re being selfish.” She drew breath and smiled.
“The day is yours, my Lord Vannis, and should be as easy as we can
make it for you.” She approached him and fell to her knees beside
his chair, and taking his hands in her own, she kissed them. “Safe
journey back, my Lord.”

“Thank you,
Caballa.” Vannis leaned over and kissed her on her brow.

She rose with
a smile, shaky as it was, and retreated as Kismet followed her
example. The two were generally together and did things in similar
vein.

Krikian went
then, eyes wide with denial, his mouth saying words of farewell.
Lucan bowed, cracked a joke, and stood one side.

Lowen rose
next and sat on the empty seat next to Vannis.

“Vannis, are
you happy?” she whispered, leaning in close.

“Of course
not, Lowen - I’m leaving.”

She shook her
head and leaned in closer to whisper in his ear. “I meant over
there.”

Vannis nodded
and studied her. “The reason you ask is …?”

“Torrullin has
sway with the Syllvan.”

“No. It’s
unspoken between us. He knows he can undo my new reality, and I
know he knows. That’s as far as it goes, Lowen, an unspoken
knowledge. You have a lot to learn about fate, my dear. I had my
time here. I chose to go. I went where I was meant. I am with the
woman I dreamed of for centuries before I wed my first wife and
millennia after she left. To stand with my grandson into his
eternity means I lose her and it nullifies whom I was. I do not
want to stay, even if I wish this interlude were longer. I am
content with my fate.”

Tears sprang
into Lowen’s blue eyes. “I didn’t mean to insult you.”

“I know. You
want Torrullin to have his grandfather at his side, and it’s all
right, Lowen - he will cope. You care about him more than any here
understand, even him, and it’s selfless of you. I laud that.”
Vannis smiled and kissed her cheek. “Thank you for the offer and go
in peace.”

She nodded and
touched his cheek. “And you, Vannis.” She rose and stumbled
away.

Vannis turned
in his seat to look at Saska. “It is time.”

She sat
looking at her hands.

Vannis glanced
at Torrullin, who looked away. Vannis rose then and went to draw
her to her feet. Gently he held her in his arms and cried with her
when she clutched at him sobbing.

The others
left as Vannis and Saska stood clasped together, swaying slightly.
They did not speak.

Kismet took
Caballa’s arm when she stumbled, her eyes blurred with tears. He
and Krikian looked at each other glumly. Lowen trailed them, her
thoughts for the man who would have to face this wrenching
later.

Many long
minutes passed before Saska drew back. She attempted a smile, but
it only brought fresh tears. “It’s harder this time.”

“By far,”
Vannis agreed. He cupped her face and stared into her emerald eyes.
“I love you, Saska.”

She swallowed,
determined to put a brave face on. “I love you, Vannis. You’re my
best friend.” She swallowed again. “It’s been extraordinary having
you here. Hard as it is to part, I’m glad you came.”

Vannis smiled.
“So am I. Now go.” He stepped away, closed his eyes and turned from
her.

She glanced at
her husband, found him looking at her, his gaze filled with
compassion and sympathy. It was her undoing. He gave her what he
would not receive when he said farewell. She twirled away and
vanished.

Torrullin
lowered his face into his hands.

The rest of
the daylight hours they went from site to site, sometimes quiet,
other times talking so quickly it proved the desperation with which
they viewed the coming separation.

The land was
still and breathless in summer heat.

Vannis would
remember the heat for a long time.

After a final
respect to the dead at the Graveyard, a final glance at the Throne,
they went to the pool at Two Town.

From there to
Tor Island to view the Square Pyramid with its Retrogressive
Spheres and the audio link that was the Obelisk.

The altered
Maze in the Vall Peninsula. The Rose Garden of the Nor. The Tower
of Stairs in the Meth. The Seven-sided Fountain beyond Farinwood.
The Round Temple.