The Nemesis Blade (46 page)

“Saska once
said you have his heart.”

The smile
vanished. “Insightful of her.”

“Does he have
yours?” she demanded. “Are you to hurt him? Why were you in a seat?
Where does this lead …?”

He held a hand
up and then stared at it in fascination. “Real. I am real. Touch is
returned. I have missed that, truly.” A moment more and he looked
at her again. “Many questions, Caballa of the Valleur. Yes, he has
my heart, never doubt that. Am I to hurt him? That depends entirely
on him, and how much and how fast he remembers.”

“Remembers
what?”

Another smile
told her exactly nothing. “He will have to tell you.” A sigh. “He
will not say much, I think.”

“Why not?”

“What he knows
cannot be explained.”

“Can what you
know be explained?”

A beat. “To
him, yes.”

“Who are
you?”

Another smile,
and he walked towards her. “I am Elianas.”

She stood her
ground. “He called you Eternal Companion.”

“Has the
Throne not been with the Vallas for near eternity?”

She pointed an
accusing finger. “You say you are not the seat.”

A laugh. “Then
we shall have to wait and see how this plays, and how much is
shared, will we not?”

Torrullin
caught up with Saska in a courtyard. Water sparkled in a pool, a
bridge led to a small, pretty island.

“Stay away!”
She ran faster and he was forced to reach out and haul her to a
stop. “Let go!”

He did so and
she stayed where she was, heaving.

“Saska,
please.”

She squinted
up at him. “Who are you?”

“Many
things.”

“Not what -
who.”

“I no longer
have a semblance of an answer.”

“This journey
will make it clearer?”

“You
heard?”

“Not enough.
Well?”

“Hopefully.”

She lifted her
chin. “I ran because I was frightened of you. I have never been
frightened of you. I have run from you too long. Love you, hate
you, it does not matter; I need to find where I am in who you are.
Do you understand, Torrullin? I go with you from this point,
wherever, whenever you go.”

“What if Lowen
is the one?”

“Nemesis is in
the Throne-room, nemesis in your soul. It will be, then.”

He was cold.
“You would accept?”

“Not without a
fight.”

Cold was
replaced with fire. “I look forward to it. From this point on, my
wife.”

Fire erupted
in her also, but it was tempered by the thought of the man waiting
in the Throne-room. She wondered if Lowen even had a chance now, if
she, Saska, wife, had one. Elianas held Torrullin’s heart. He did
not know it yet. She wondered if Elianas knew.

He nearly
kissed her, and backed off, and then laughed. “If this is what
happens on a day when the sun does not rise, god help us on a day
it refuses to set.” He forgot her; his thoughts reached out to the
dark man in nomadic robes.

It was time to
begin anew.

Finally.

Chapter 34

Whoa, sir, is
it time for secrets once more? Have you not learned your lesson
yet?

~ Tattle

Akhavar

P
rima was at the hurried Dome
gathering and did not know of Elianas’ arrival.

He did mention
what happened on Akhavar regarding the sun, or lack of it, and the
presence. Only Belun had an inkling of what it could mean if the
Throne took on speech and blood. He did not share his
misgivings.

Caballa was
sworn to secrecy about Elianas and bid to return to Valaris
forthwith.

Saska was
commanded to say nothing and gave her word, if reluctantly. With
her imminent leaving of the mountain enclave, a new problem arose.
Who would be caretaker of Akhavar in her absence?

“I can’t leave
this small community alone,” she explained, “especially not if it’s
more years than we know of.”

They were in a
private chamber removed from the community in the mountain.

Elianas paced
nearby as husband and wife spoke. He said not a word, and Saska was
barely civil when she met him formally. He, however, kissed her
hand with a smile, withdrawing immediately after.

Torrullin
agreed. “Are you averse to an Elder council here in the
interim?”

“That would be perfect. This
is
a Valleur world.”

“Good. Take
your leave and we shall speak with the Elders on Valaris.”

He would make
it known Valleur were welcome to settle if they desired a new path.
The more Valleur, the safer Nemisin’s bier would be.

She left to
speak with the others, leaving the two men with nowhere to
hide.

Elianas came
to a halt.

Torrullin
swore. “It is hard.”

“No doubt.
Your wife, a missing lover, and a companion you cannot
explain.”

“Elianas
…”

“Torrullin, I
am content that you take time first. I, too, need to accustom
myself to form.”

Torrullin
swallowed. “Are you hungry?”

“You have no
idea.”

A smile
clambered into Torrullin’s eyes. “Vannis once ate for days.”

The dark man
laughed. “Exactly like that.”

“I have a
cottage, very private.”

“Perfect.”

“I shall lay
in supplies.” Torrullin headed to the exit.

Elianas
stepped into his path. “There is no need to be strange with me. I
know you. I really know you.”

“That scares
me, Elianas.”

“Why? You know
me as well. With me you can be yourself always, no hiding. Anything
you say or do resonates inside, and I reflect it back. There is
freedom in that. Be yourself.”

Grey eyes
bored into dark. “I tie my hands with others.”

“I know, but
the time for that passes.” Elianas moved in. “The day comes when
nothing counts but what I think and feel.”

Gods. “And for
you?”

“Likewise, Torrullin. I am already there. I care
only
for what you think
and feel.” A smile, and the dark man moved away. “I shall, of
course, be circumspect in the presence of your wife and
lover.”

Torrullin
wanted to demand what lay behind that, and then thought better of
it. Time, first, to accustom to this newness.

He muttered
something about supplies again and left the chamber.

Elianas
threaded hands through his hair and swore under his breath. He had
to exercise patience; how hard could it be after the long
waiting?

Gods, how he
wanted to shake the man into realisation and memory.

Before they
left, Saska mentioned the Chamber of Biers.

She wanted to
know if Torrullin needed to see it.

It nagged at him that he needed to stay away from it, but he
also understood they had not the time; it
would
take time and attention, this
particular event, of that he was certain.

When he
glanced at Elianas, he saw there something approaching fright.
Something about that bier did not sit well.

“Not yet. The
doorway in Grinwallin exits here on Akhavar and then it may be
necessary to delve into Nemisin.”

He sensed the
dark man’s relief.

“Delve?” Saska
echoed.

He glanced at
her. “Figure of speech.”

It was not,
but she chose to let it go.

Sanctuary

They took
Elianas to Sanctuary, specifically to Mariner Island where
Torrullin maintained a small, private cottage on the southern tip
of the island, a wild place on the cliffs overlooking Eros Bay.

With forest at
its back and cliffs at its front, the cottage was isolated and
nobody would come unless invited. The staff of Mariner Island
declared that region out of bounds to arriving asylum seekers.

Elianas smiled
as he looked around the rustic cottage. “Wild, free.”

“Temporary, my
brother. I do not need to answer questions about you at this
point.”

A warm hand
clasped a tense shoulder. “I understand.”

Saska sniffed
her displeasure.

“Supplies
inside - eat to your heart’s content,” Torrullin said, ignoring
Saska’s attitude. “We shall come for you. Six, seven days, no
more.”

“Thus it will
be,” Elianas bowed and they left him to it.

He headed out
to the cliffs first, intrigued by smell and sight.

Everything was
new.

Walking
through the forest, Saska commented, “You treat him as if he has no
magic.”

“He
hasn’t.”

Saska lifted
her brows. “And what would you call that sun thing?”

“He is able to
transport, that is all.”

“Torrullin,
Akhavar was in darkness!”

“Fine, Saska;
he has one true talent and it is the ability to control the
shadows.”

A step, two.
“A frightening talent.”

“Terrifying.”

Wisely she
asked nothing further.

“Considering
we are on Sanctuary - do you want to see my home?” He required
immediate diversion from thoughts of Elianas; it felt as if he had
abandoned the man.

She glanced
over her shoulder back the way they came. “That wasn’t it?”

His lips
quirked. “No.”

“Ah. Are
others at your … home?”

“Kaval,
maybe.”

“Then, no, but
thank you for asking.”

After a while
he said, “It isn’t home.”

She nodded.
“Nemisin’s world isn’t home to me either.”

They looked at
each other and then looked away. Both knew Torrke would ever be
home for the two of them. Together. And both wondered if that was
likely.

They went to
Valaris.

Valaris

The Palace on
Valla Island was ablaze with light and full of people.

Not only were
the three heirs there, but so was Caballa, Fuma, Amunti, all the
Elders of Valaris and Luvanor, Electan Isaiah Kronig with two of
his staff and a host of ambassadors. The word went out and many
already jockeyed for position.

The reception
area was a babble of voices, blurs of movement, and as Torrullin
and Saska alighted on the lawn outside the Palace, they were
dismayed.

“Do you want
to go direct to the Keep?”

She
straightened her shoulders. “Whether we answer a thousand and ten
questions here or there makes no difference, does it?”

“Truthfully, I
would rather run and hide.”

She
laughed.

He looked down
at her. “You have a beautiful laugh.”

“You always
said that.”

“I love you,
Saska.”

“I know.”

She would not
say more. He pulled a face. “Shall we?”

“I guess.”

They
approached the doors closed against the cold of winter.

Tianoman was
like the walking dead.

Dread of the
future paralysed him and he could answer questions only in
monosyllables.

Teroux watched
him move through the crowd and was worried. “I’ve never seen him
like that.”

Tristan
watched him, too. “His fire is out.”

“Well, I guess
he has two events to prepare for - has to be stressful.”

“And this
isn’t helping.” Tristan frowned around the room. Gods, where had
they come from? His staff buckled under the pressure.

Teroux noted
the main door open. “More, for pity’s sake …” Then he jabbed his
cousin in the ribs. “He’s here, Tris.”

Tristan
followed his cousin’s gaze and smiled. “With Saska, too.
Excellent.”

Teroux gaped
and was dragged into motion. On their way to the door they nabbed
Tianoman. By the time they reached the new arrivals, others noticed
them; the chamber fell into silence and most bowed.

“Tristan!”
Torrullin grinned and hugged his oldest heir, going on to greet the
other two. All three knew Saska and she was greeted with smiles and
welcome.

Vanar and
Yiddin approached with Presario and Volute of Luvanor behind them.
The Elders bowed low.

“Welcome, my
Lord and Lady,” Vanar murmured.

Torrullin
spoke greetings and then drew Vanar aside, “Why are there so many
here? My grandsons require a period of tranquillity.”

“They simply
kept coming.”

“Kronig can
stay, Caballa and the Elders, but the rest must go. If they want to
party, tell them they can do so after the coronation at the
Keep.”

Vanar
nodded.

“Vanar, wait.
What is the matter with Tian?”

She sighed.
“We hope it is tension.”

He gave her
leave to go and found Caballa, asking the same question. She gave a
similar answer.

Within five
minutes half the crowd had left. The harbour at Danak would soon be
crowded.

“You all
right?” Torrullin asked of Saska.

“Managing. Go,
do your thing.”

He rolled his
eyes and then clapped his hands. “Elders!”

Silence and
attention was given.

“This
gathering is not preparation. Each of you knows where your tasks
lie over the next few days, thus I am not asking much when I say my
grandsons cannot function in this atmosphere. Go now to those
tasks. Vanar, Yiddin, Presario, you three stay awhile.”

The Elders
trickled away.

Torrullin
approached Isaiah. “Electan, it is good to see you again.”

“Likewise,
Elixir. Did you hear we had some issue over genetically engineered
grain - nipped that one in the bud!”

Torrullin
smiled. He knew nothing about it. “Glad to hear it. Isaiah, I have
a favour to ask of you.”

“For you,
anything,” Isaiah said. He meant it.

“I ask that
you take Fuma and Amunti under your wing for the foreseeable
future.”