The Echolone Mine (19 page)

Anethor shook
his head. “I think that must be frightening.”

“Indeed.”

The old man
smiled. “I leave you now.” He leaned closer to Torrullin. “I hope I
have given you new insight.”

Torrullin
paled. “You had a vision.”

Anethor
touched the side of his nose and left the cottage.

Uneven
footsteps told of his labour down the steps.

Elianas’ dark
eyes were unreadable.

He had his
arms crossed over his chest, but had otherwise not moved.

Torrullin
stood looking down at him. “The mind, when freed, is able to enter
other realms?”

The dark man
stared up, giving nothing away.

“Merely to
witness?” Torrullin whispered.

Still no
reaction.

“You could
have lied to the shaman,” Torrullin murmured, “and yet you did not.
I know when you lie, I always know.” His hand whipped out, grabbing
Elianas at the neck. “Is this another betrayal?”

Dark eyes
hooded. “Do you want it to be?”

Torrullin let
go. “I wonder what you would have me do, were I to answer betrayal
with betrayal again.”

Elianas smiled
lazily. “Only you can answer.”

“Gods, I do
not want to play this game. It has been a trying day.”

“Then do not
stand there like an avenging angel. Ask nicely.”

A muttered
oath, and then, “Did you enter other realms?”

“Yes. It was a
long wait and the Throne gifted greater powers.”

“Which
realms?”

Elianas
smiled. “What you’re really asking is whether I was near you in
some of those you were in, or maybe all of them.”

Torrullin sat.
“That is what I am asking.”

Elianas
uncrossed his arms.

“I was in
Digilan when Tymall entered full of hate for you, and I saw how he
became Warlock. I saw you enter with him later, after the Valla
deaths. Truthfully as witness only; I had no form.” A pause, and
then, “I knew Margus in the etheric realm he subverted Tymall in
and I nudged him out, which is why he lost to you - he was not
quite ready. As for the realms you walked through? Aaru was
forbidden me, and I admit I was surprised you were not prohibited.
When you underwent the reincarnation cycle I was there to stand as
barrier between you and the influences. An adult transferring to an
innocent babe? With those influences you would have missed the tiny
exit. It was never betrayal, merely a helping hand.”

“And the
Plane?”

Elianas stared
at him. “Yes.”

Torrullin
flopped back and closed his eyes.

“The Enforcers
you sent on their way cannot return, Torrullin. They are not like
the draithen become Mor Feru.”

“Thank the
gods.”

A moment, and
then Elianas said, “Had I form on the Plane I would have beat the
crap out of Margus, and had he still insisted on that bloody whore,
I would have taken your place.”

Torrullin’s
eyes opened and he gazed expressionlessly at the dark man.

Elianas
shrugged. “It is the only time I knew you to be so disgusted in the
act of sex. I had been long celibate by then and I could cheerfully
have given the entire whorehouse a seeing to.”

A flash of
amusement. And then, “You are still celibate.”

“I intend to
rectify it this very night. I had an offer today.”

“We cannot
abuse these good folk, damn it!”

“Relax, will
you? They are good and moral, but not narrow. She explained new
blood was good for Echolone, although I shall, of course, guard
against unwitting pregnancy.”

There was a
glint in Elianas’ eyes.

“At least it’s
a woman,” Torrullin muttered.

Elianas rose.
“I think I shall go now.” He headed for the door and paused there.
“You should have said at least it isn’t Lowen. One more minute
alone with her today and I would have broken the long drought
inside her.”

Torrullin knew
it was the truth. “Fuck off.”

Laughing,
Elianas did just that.

Torrullin
stared at the empty doorway.

Elianas had,
neatly, diverted attention away from the realms.

What was he
hiding?

Not long after,
Caballa entered.

She went
directly to him and sat beside him.

“I know what
he is doing,” he murmured.

“Are you all
right?”

“Why shouldn’t
I be?”

Caballa
shrugged, seeing the minefield in answering.

“It will be
good for him,” Torrullin said. “Blunt some of his edges, so to
speak.”

“I guess.”

“Caballa, you
do not have to stay.”

“I am staying.
I want answers too.”

“Fine. You are
your own person.”

“But?” she
said tartly.

“You might not
be allowed beyond that mysterious door.”

“I kind of got
that when both Cassy and Lowen were sent packing, and I sense this
whole adventure sits ill. I choose to wait and see.”

“And if you go
beyond? What of Tristan? It may be some time before we get out
again.”

“He will be
fine,” she smiled.

Torrullin
returned it. “Yes, he would be.”

“You did good
in choosing him for the Dome.”

“I think
so.”

“In fact, all
three Vallas are suited to their duties. You read them
perfectly.”

“Thank you. At
least something fits in this strange reality.”

She blinked.
“Strange?”

“It is new,
Caballa, all new. Every word, act and thought. To me, ruled by the
fates, it is strange.” He frowned and rose. He paced threading a
hand through his hair.

“A challenge,
my Lord.”

“What? Oh … of
course.” He paced more, frowning at Allith’s lovely landscapes.

Caballa then
understood his distraction. Elianas. In the act. Hell. Torrullin
could feel the dark man’s emotions. She rose swiftly. “Would you
like coffee?”

“Stronger.” He
stretched his hand out and caught a bottle of amber liquid as he
conjured it. “Find us goblets.” He stared at the bottle. Angry.

She found
tumblers, took the vessel from him and poured liberal measures.
Clinking with him, she said, “To blunting the edges.”

He glared at
her and then reluctantly smiled. “To those edges, yes.” He drained
his glass, sat down hard and poured again.

Caballa sat
more slowly. “Was he like this when you were with another?”

“How the hell
should I know?”

She inclined
her head. “I think he was, but he was forced to bear it alone.”

His hand shook
as he raised his glass. Swearing, he set it down. “Lowen said you
mentioned a line to her.”

“I am versed
in the lore of sorcerers, Torrullin. I know what holds you two
back, and perhaps pushes you to greater challenge, but I did not
tell her. There are few who know the underlying lore in this
age.”

“Thank the
gods.”

“Does he
know?”

“Of course he
knows. Why do you think we dance?”

Caballa
refilled her glass. “For such a powerful attraction to continue
holding, both of you must have equal and opposite power. Has he the
corresponding abilities to Elixir?”

He raised his
glass again. This time his hand was steady. “He matches, yes.”

“To Elixir?”
Caballa said intently. “How?”

“That I do not
know yet.”

Caballa was
thoughtful. “Cassy said he has more and darker places.”

“Are you
suggesting his magic is darak?”

“Isn’t
it?”

Torrullin
sighed. “Perhaps.”

She leaned
forward. “Walk away from this. You don’t need the tension.”

“What you are
saying is, I do not need his power.”

“You
don’t.”

“It isn’t a
question of need, Caballa.”

“Fine, but you
could choose to walk.”

“The decision
would have to be mutual and neither of us will make the first
move.”

“
You
could.”

He set his
glass down again and stared directly at her. “Caballa, I am sick of
numbness and I do not want to forget again.”
Not after
today
. “Elianas challenges me simply by being; imagine the
challenges beyond that. Right or wrong, the only choice that fits
is the way forward together.”

“Gods, I hope
you know what you are doing.”

“The future is
dark, remember?”

“You could
destroy each other, damn it.”

A wry grimace.
“That we have already achieved. The challenge now is not to destroy
everything else.”

Caballa
sighed. “Do you know what I think? I think you need to be divested
of your power for an extended period, and Elianas likewise. The two
of you need to find the real people hidden in the layers around
you. Only then will a truer choice be forthcoming.”

A tolerant
smile. “Maybe.”

“Who is the
real Torrullin? What do you think he would do right now? Sit here
stewing in anger … or pull the one he loves off and away from a
casual encounter?”

He glared. “It
is not like that.”

“Please, you
don’t even know.”

A moment of
silence. “Truthfully, I do not, you are right. It feels good to
admit it. It has been a love-hate, look-don’t-touch relationship
since inception, and yet I never felt this hot under the collar
back then. Gods, it is really starting to piss me off.”

“Your power
has increased, therefore the attraction.”

“I know.
Still.”

A smile
twitched Caballa’s lips. “There is a line, mercifully.”

“It is not
funny. That only makes it worse.” Torrullin covered his face with
his hands. “Caballa, please … leave now.”

She frowned at
him.

“Please.”

“All right,”
she said and left quickly.

Torrullin
groaned, doubled over and then, in a fit of anger, swiped the
bottle from the table.

It toppled to
the ground and amber liquid ran gurgling over Allith’s wooden
floor.

Caballa did not
return, wisely choosing a bed offered in another cottage.

It was deep,
silent, expectant night when Elianas returned.

He entered
quietly, treading carefully in the dark. Halfway across to the
guestroom, he halted. He found the faint silhouette on the couch.
He hesitated and then made his way there to sit with careful
restraint. His presence elicited no reaction, and yet he knew
Torrullin was fully aware. He leaned back and closed his eyes. He
felt sated and yet his senses were heightened.

One word, one
touch … and all lines be damned.

Perhaps
Torrullin knew it, for he rose cautiously and headed for the
guestroom. His ragged breathing gave him away.

Elianas almost
whimpered and then, as the fates would have it and as an expectant
night was wont to do, a massive fork of lightning lit the dark,
roaring its power.

“Get away from
me!” Elianas shouted, clawing at the fabric of the seat.

Torrullin had
jerked around.

Another mighty
flash, and then the heavens opened. Rain thundered down, drowning
out sound and caution.

Torrullin
retraced his steps, swiftly, and tore into Elianas. One hand took
him by the hair, the other ripped at his tunic and he climbed onto
him to hold him down.

“Let us end
this,” he growled. “Let us surrender and be done.”

His fingers
scratched over Elianas’ chest and he lowered his mouth, found the
other, and then Elianas bit down and fought back hard.

“Not like
this,” he gasped, punching Torrullin in the stomach.

Cursing,
Torrullin fell back, but took the dark man with him. They sprawled
onto the rug. Elianas hit him again, then again, and Torrullin
snarled and lashed out. He sent Elianas tumbling back, and
followed, pouncing on him, tearing the man’s clothes from him.

“Not like
this!” Elianas heaved.

Against his
thigh Torrullin felt his arousal and pressed down so Elianas would
know his. Elianas groaned aloud and fingers twisted up to drag
Torrullin onto him, then split his tunic open, and skin pressed to
skin, hearts hammering against sweat, spreading vibrations
throughout … and Elianas bucked.

He threw
Torrullin off and hurtled to his feet.

“I told you,
only when you are prepared to cross the line!” he shouted over
drumming rain and rolling thunder.

Torrullin
stood. “I am quite prepared.” He reached out, but Elianas stepped
away. Silver eyes glinted. He approached slowly and halted before
the heaving man. He reached out to gently follow the curves of
Elianas’ chest and stomach, using both hands. “All you have to do
is surrender.”

Elianas
growled and swatted those roving hands that set fires alight away.
He gripped Torrullin’s head and pulled him closer. “You will
surrender, not I.” He kissed him hard and then pushed him violently
aside.

“I have,”
Torrullin whispered.

Elianas
growled, “One step, Torrullin, and you will rue the day you were
born! I will find a way to kill you.”

Torrullin
laughed.

Elianas swung
and connected hard. Torrullin fell back, hitting the floor with a
thud. Elianas climbed onto him and ground his pelvis against
Torrullin’s. “Is this really what you want?”

“I suggest,”
Torrullin murmured, breathing unevenly, “if you seek to prevent
this in future, my brother, you remain celibate from now on.
Obviously I have less control than you do.”

Elianas leaned
over him. “I killed a man over this.”

“I know.”

Elianas sighed
and lowered his mouth to Torrullin’s chest. He left a trail of
kisses as he retreated, and sat up.

Torrullin
gathered himself to sit. He touched a broken lip and laughed. “I
think I will leave these injuries to remind you in the coming days
how much the mind controls. It is our minds, Elianas; skin to skin,
the mind’s way of finding entry, but you know this, and you know
how erotic it is. Have we not been here before?”