The Dreamer Stones (97 page)

What of you?
If he leaves and Grinwallin lies in ruin?

I leave this
night. I shall not return.

You are the
power here!

You are the
power everywhere. I move on and leave you this legacy.

Torrullin
swallowed.
Goddess. I will not be able to stay away.

A burden? He
is your friend and you do love Grinwallin above all places … at
least in this time.

I have a
valley I love above all places.

No, Elixir.
Look into your hidden heart.

What do you
mean, in this time? Is there another place you claim I love
more?

Absolutely.

Where?
When?

I say again,
look into your hidden heart. Or is too crowded? Is your wife in
there too, Elixir? It is her you love, in truth, not this woman who
may be an eternal companion.

Torrullin
clutched at his head.
Get out!

Lowen and
Teighlar stared at him. “Torrullin?”

“Nothing.” He
glared at Lowen, hating her with a passion and it was not her
fault.

Leave me
alone!

You have many
burdens. Teighlar’s continued contentedness in one place.
Grinwallin. Torrke - you will need a decision there. The Kaval, the
Dome. The Valla heirs. You will wrack yourself with guilt over your
wife while you use this woman until she is but a shadow of herself.
Soon you will hark to that other place of another time and your
real eternal companion.

Even the
spaces stirred when Torrullin said,
what did you say?

You know his
name already.

I am done
here.

Turn away and
I shall destroy Senlu territory.

I thought you
cared for this place.

I do, because
you do, because you have. If you turn your back, there will be no
point. I am leaving and if you leave too before we are done, there
truly will be no point.

Torrullin
gripped at his head again.
Let us get it over with.

What am I?

Torrullin
sighed and those watching saw him sit wearily on the steps and hang
his head. His hands dangled over his knees as if he surrendered to
exhaustion.

In the Great
Hall Quilla’s heart went out to him and Declan turned away. Belun
started to prance.

“Belun, leave
be,” Declan said. “This is not our fight.”

“Poor
Torrullin,” Quilla murmured. “The strength of a thousand men and it
is not enough.”

Outside, Lowen
moved to stand on Torrullin’s left side. She did not look at him,
felt useless. Teighlar moved to stand to his right, but his gaze
was on Lowen. Never had he seen a man look at a woman with such
hate.

They stand by
you. You are fortunate.

They do not
know me.

They are
fortunate.

You speak with
an insight that belies a long … slumber.

Ah. Your
perception deepens.

Torrullin
lifted a shoulder, and then,
You were aware all this time?
Millions of years?

There is aware
and there is aware. It hinges on degree. I did slumber while the
Emperor wandered ghostly caverns and scared intruders away. By the
way, the Dragon Taliesman was a terrible idea.

Not mine.

Yours. Yours
and Nemisin’s, a thin, thin line between you and him. In real
terms, only your Immortality separates you from him. Destroy the
replica.

I intend
to.

Not here, or
you will trip Warlock evil.

Can you undo
my son’s legacy?

It is not for
me to do. Tianoman. Tristan.

Teroux?

No. He will
never be strong enough.

Torrullin drew
breath. He already suspected that.
Teroux will not be
Vallorin?

I do not
know.

Or will not
say?

It does not
matter.

You have a
lengthy past and can see the future?

What does that
tell you?

Torrullin
nodded at the darkness.
That you may be an animated spirit. In
the beginning and at the end?

Now you are
closer to the truth.

Does your name
lie in that truth?

Somewhere,
yes.

Ah. Describe
yourself.

I am not one
creature.

Then be
mystical.

I am air,
water, sunlight, and darkness. I am song, dirge, laughter, and
tears. I am here and there, tomorrow and yesterday. I am wet, dry,
harsh, and soft. I feel, I see, I taste, I hear, I touch, yet I
have no form but every form. I am wind and doldrums, depth of an
ocean, highest peak. I speak, I think, yet no one hears or knows.
Like you, I am animated. Unlike you, I know where I begin and end.
I am not Elixir of Life, but I am linked to that kind of
reality.

Like Time.

There was no
answer.

Hello
?

Still nothing.
Torrullin’s head came up.
You are a sentient manifestation of
Time.

Close. What
happened to the Luvans? What do you know of them?

Senlu legends
of how they bred into extinction.

The popular
tale. Untrue.

What did
happen?

The truth lies
in Grinwallin’s secret escape routes. Not even the Senlu have
discovered those.

And why do I
need to know this?

One day you
will remember those hidden spaces, when you need to find a way out
… or a way to somewhere. It will lead you to the Luvan truths. And
other … secrets.

You speak
in riddles.
Torrullin ground his teeth.

I do not
speak. You only think I do.

You
confuse.

Of course. And
befuddle. And lead you on. And shut the door. What am I?

Are we
finishing?

We are
close.

Why do you
need your true name? Surely you know?

You need to
know. The One who is also the Animated has to know.

Gods, this is
a circle, a loop, of what? Chaos?

No answer.

Torrullin
released an explosive breath and rose.
Is that it?

Is what
it?

Chaos. You are
the chaos that was before time. Right?

If you
question, it is not a true answer.

Torrullin drew
breath and released. His silvery eyes began to glow. Beside him,
both Teighlar and Lowen stiffened.

You are the
link. Chaos and Time. You bind them, separate them, mix them up,
stir them together. You are the stirrer. The
Alchemist. You
are Time’s Alchemist.

Yes!

You solder
souls, bind them to places, like Teighlar to Grinwallin. You were
here always and everywhere else simultaneously.

Yes!

You bound me
to Torrke and to Grinwallin.

Yes. What is
my name?

Why does
Elixir need to know who and what you are?

Do I need to
answer?

Yes.

Because I
shall become you this night. You must know who
you
are. I
have waited aeons to meld with the Animated One.

Torrullin
paled. Colourless, no face.
No.

“Torrullin?”
Lowen whispered.

“Leave him,”
Teighlar said.

Yes. Into
eternity. Time, chaos, alchemist, animated spirit. All one.
Elixir.

I cannot.

You have no
choice.

I can refuse
to give your name.

Too late. You
know it now. Even if you never say it.

Why, for
pity’s sake? Why me?

The Mother is
not enough.

Torrullin
smacked at the hard stone step he sat on.
I am not Hope, Peace,
Love, and Bliss!

No, you are a
vengeful deity.

Then, WHY?

The lines are
blurred always, like shadows between dark and light. You know them
well, therefore you will be effective. Rule by fear? Yes. Rule by
fury? Yes. Chaos. Rule by compassion? Yes. Rule by love? Yes.
Alchemist. Together they are the whole. Now, say my name.

Pale as a
snowfield, Torrullin bowed his head.
You are the mirror to
Elixir. You are Rixile.

I am. Now we
are together. Will we converse again? No, for this was not
reality.

Wait. Just
wait.

It is time for
me to go. To be with you.

Tell me one
thing, please.

Very well. One
thing.

Elianas. Tell
me.

You already
know everything you need to know.

I do not …
fine, then tell me when.

There is no
when for you and him, but the time for reconciliation is now close.
Soon you will reach out and touch it. Soon. Soon … soon …

Then, silence.
The silence of a world breathing normally. The voice was forever
still inside him.

Grinwallin lit
and the stars returned.

Torrullin
turned away from the beauty of the Luvanese night and wandered
unspeaking into the Great Hall.

Teighlar
followed, dragging Lowen with him by her elbow. She was
reluctant.

“Torrullin,
for Aaru’s sake!” Teighlar blurted. “Is it over?”

Dazed eyes met
his. “It is over.”

“What was it?”
Belun asked, glancing at Quilla, who had narrowed eyes as he
studied Elixir.

“It is over,”
Torrullin repeated. “Forever.”

It was obvious
he would not say more. It was also clear something profound and
life altering came to pass. They wanted to know because they cared;
he would never tell them.

Then, “Quilla,
will you destroy this?” Torrullin held the Dragon taliesman out.
“Somewhere far from here.”

“Of course,”
the birdman murmured, taking the replica.

“Samuel, your
family will be here within the hour. Take care of them and
yourself.”

“Torrullin?”
Teighlar asked. “What?”

“The Senlu are
safe now, my friend. Bring them home. Declan, Belun, return to the
Dome. I shall join you later.” Torrullin turned to Lowen. “I shall
not divorce my wife, know that. I am leaving now; if you want to
come with, you will get hurt.”

She had seen
the way he looked at her. “I have to come.”

He nodded and
turned away. “Until we meet.”

“Torrullin,
for …” Samuel began.

“No. Lowen?”
He held his hand out and she took it.

The jolt of
electricity took her completely by surprise. It was as if he was
more.

He turned and
smiled into her eyes. “My nemesis, shall we?”

They were
gone.

Chapter
Seventy-Nine

Many will
laude him. Many will curse him.

Llettynn, on
the subject of Torrullin

He made a
promise to bring the Valleur out of exile, out of obscurity and
into the light of recognition.

Human
recognition, or more precisely Valarian recognition. In the end, it
was about that. How humankind perceived the Golden.

He
succeeded.

Peace reigned
again, not so unprecedented this time. Peace on Valaris during the
rebuild, and peace after. Life would be good. Peace for Luvanor,
for those who had rebuilt before and knew the value of the
quiet.

He
succeeded.

For it to
remain a success, he had to stay away. From Valaris and from
Luvanor. Grinwallin was a separate issue. Peace there would be
while Teighlar remained content, but he, Torrullin, could not long
stay away from Grinwallin. He had responsibility there. He would
ensure his visits were swift.

He promised
the Valleur a celebration to outshine all celebrations, and it was
a promise he would not personally keep, but let it be known he
would be there in spirit.

A celebration
was held simultaneously on Luvanor and Valaris to which all races
from every world were invited, barring those who believed they were
unique and alone in the universe. It was a monster of a party.

Gradually folk
understood he was gone and was of no mind to return. Time would
have to heal those wounds.

Many whispered
perhaps he deserved privacy now.

Curin, Tristan
and Teroux returned to Grinwallin.

With Tianoman,
they left for Menllik to inhabit a mansion of great beauty. Samuel
was father to three boys and taught them what they needed to know
about morals and manners. The rest he left to the Valleur
experts.

He returned to
his trade, creating jewellery of great artistry, soon famous
universe over.

They paid many
visits to Valla Palace in the islands and to Luvanor, travelling
that world extensively. They also visited Grinwallin, and things
did happen there, but that tale would be too lengthy now. And the
farm? They enjoyed many holidays there with screaming boys’ wild
about the freedom.

Curin and
Samuel remained together until Curin’s death parted them.

Krikian
reversed his Immortality at the Lifesource and held his counsel
regarding his travels beyond until his eventual death. He wrote it
down, leaving a sealed package at the Academia of Truth on Luvanor
… for Elixir’s eyes only.

Margus’s
spirit never interfered again.

Caballa
returned to Valaris, but finding Torrullin gone, left for places
unknown.

Kismet kept
the Keep in good repair … in case. And missed his Lord every day of
his life. He worked tirelessly to bring Valleur and Valarian
together and succeeded so well, generation after human generation
would revere him. A statue in his honour stands proud in Galilan
and his efforts continue to be lauded.

Byron Morave
expanded the Society of Sorcerers into a renowned training facility
that saw pupils from many worlds in its hallowed halls. He was most
proud and died with a smile on his face ten years after the
draithen left. He never married.

Marcus Campian
served as Electan for a further six years before retiring to … the
Western Isles.

Rene Sirlan
went to Xen III after her aged father’s death to become a pilot.
Her every dream came true.

The realities
beyond continued their timeless flow, with Tial of the flatlands
wondering what became of the Enchanter who changed so much for the
Deorc of the Plane. He would never find out.