The Echolone Mine (51 page)

Arc, poet

Valaris

“W
hat do you think?” Aislinn said. “Will the Valleur
be fine with a Christian priest?”

Tianoman
shrugged. “As long as Rose realises Teroux must also do it the
Valleur way.” He tickled his son under the chin, smiling at the
bundle in his arms. “He’s prepared to do the Christian ceremony, so
she should meet him halfway.”

“She will, but
she’s concerned over how we’ll see it.”

Tianoman
looked up. “It could be a shaman from Echolone saying the words,
Aislinn; it does not matter. As long as Teroux speaks the binding
of Valleur nuptials.”

“Fine, then,”
Aislinn grinned.

He rolled his
eyes. “Women and weddings, spare me.”

“Says the man
who went all out to make our day special.”

He smiled and
then glanced beyond her as a movement drew his attention. His smile
slid away, and he was immediately nervous.

“Tian?” his
wife whispered. “Oh.”

Tianoman held
his son close.

“Shall I take
him?”

He shook his
head.

Torrullin and
Elianas strode into the courtyard carrying something between
them.

All activity
ceased and low bows followed. Torrullin acknowledged it with an
encompassing smile, and Elianas looked neither left nor right. His
gaze was drawn to the statue at the head of the mosaic pool, the
likeness of Saska. He blinked and looked away.

Torrullin
summoned a retainer and asked him to take the container to a safe
place. Unencumbered, he headed for the table where Tianoman and
Aislinn sat, Elianas a step behind.

There was an
expression of regret as Torrullin looked upon the child. “I am
sorry I missed his birth.”

His grandson
nodded.

Torrullin drew
breath and leaned in to kiss Aislinn’s cheek. “You did well.”

She blushed
and smiled.

“May I?” he
asked of Tianoman, and his grandson rose to place the baby in his
arms. “He has Tymall’s eyes and, mercifully, his mother’s beauty. A
moonlight child,” Torrullin murmured, tracing a finger over the
tiny face. “Who did the scrying with you?”

“Yiddin.”

“I am sorry I
couldn’t be here, Tian.”

Tianoman
inclined his head. “I know. We understood.” He inhaled sharply and
expelled it on, “I would like to take him to my father.”

Torrullin
leaned in and touched his lips to the boy’s forehead and passed him
on to his mother. “Digilan will be too dangerous right now.”

“In the
future, then?”

“Maybe.”

“My father
will want to see …”

A hand settled
on the young man’s shoulder. “I know. One step at a time.”

Tianoman sat
as if his legs had lost strength. “Welcome, Elianas. Meet Aislinn
and Lunik.”

Elianas bowed.
“My Lord Vallorin does me honour.” He bowed to Aislinn. “My
Lady.”

She smiled.
“Would you like to hold him?”

“I would love
to.”

She gave a
wide smile and passed her son over. She watched that the man could
indeed handle a baby and then swallowed when she noted how
emotional he was.

Aislinn
glanced at Torrullin, saw there an enigmatic expression as he
studied Elianas holding the child, and said, “Sit. Hold him while I
find something tasty to eat and drink.”

She walked
resolutely away, somehow knowing Elianas, more than Torrullin,
needed to be left in charge of her son.

Elianas sat,
cradling Lunik. He was soon lost, playing with him, smiling,
whispering.

Tianoman and
Torrullin looked at each other and Tianoman obliquely inclined his
head and gave a slight smile.

Torrullin drew
a chair nearer. “A Beaconite cargo ship crashed on Avaelyn this
morning. No survivors. That was the black box we brought in. It
must be handed to the ambassador.”

“A Beacon ship
to Avaelyn? Why?”

“A puzzle,”
Torrullin murmured. He glanced briefly at Elianas and went on, “If
the ambassador wants to talk to us, fine, but there is not much to
say. We heard an explosion, we realised it had fallen into the sea
and we searched for survivors, and brought the box up. There was no
cargo; ask him about it. And insist on a transcript of the
recording. Tian, make it clear no ships are to enter Avaelyn’s
airspace again.”

“You should
speak to him. In fact, you should go direct to Beacon’s
President.”

“To the latter
- no. I refuse to get involved in that bureaucracy. To the former -
I would probably strangle the idiot.”

Tianoman
laughed. “Yes, I have been there. Fine, I’ll talk to him.”

“Thank
you.”

Tianoman
pointed his chin in Elianas’ direction. “When?”

Torrullin
leaned back and swirled his tongue over his teeth. Tristan and
Caballa said nothing, bless them. “Ten days.” He watched his
grandson’s eyes.

They were
without judgement. “I am glad he made it back.”

A beat, two,
and then, “What did the Syllvan say?”

“I’m sure
Quilla told you.”

“And I am also
sure he did not tell me everything.”

Tianoman
grinned, but did not elaborate.

“Ah, it’s like
that - too controversial?”

“Too private,
but know I am here for both of you. My son will be told to be there
for you both in the future, as will his son, and his, until it
comes to pass.”

“Until what
comes to pass?”

“I really
don’t know, only there is an ‘it’.”

Torrullin
stared at him. Elianas was looking at Tianoman also. That dark gaze
moved to him, and dropped to Lunik once more.

“Gods, I hate
it when the future is dark,” Torrullin muttered.

“It isn’t so
dark,” Tianoman said. “Trust that.”

“I hate it
even more when my grandson knows something I do not,” Torrullin
laughed. “Thank your lucky stars you are Vallorin, or I would get
it out of you somehow.”

“You could try
…” On a laugh, Tianoman shifted his attention to Elianas. “Your
first visit, Elianas?”

“Not to
Valaris, but to the Keep, yes.”

“Torrullin
built it.”

“Hmm, I
know.”

Torrullin
lifted a brow. “What does that mean?”

Elianas looked
up. One of his fingers was claimed by a tiny fist. He gazed around.
“It’s not your style.”

“Oh?”
Torrullin challenged.

“You built it
with a woman in mind, not yourself.”

“Saska,
yes.”

“I see the
statue.”

“You
disapprove?”

“No, but you
wanted my opinion.”

Torrullin
grinned at Tianoman. “I wonder what ‘opinion’ he has of the villa
on Sanctuary.”

“Very little,”
Elianas muttered.

Torrullin
snorted a laugh.

“The cottage
on Mariner Island is closer,” Elianas added.

“More
elemental?” Torrullin turned his chair to Elianas. “Where exactly
did you store your things?”

Elianas’ smile
widened. “Do you mean, what did I build?”

Torrullin
waited without speaking.

“Nothing,
Torrullin. I had no sense of permanence until this morning.”

“Ah.”

“You are
making Tian uncomfortable,” Elianas frowned.

“Teroux would
be uncomfortable, but not Tian.”

“I am right
here,” Tianoman muttered, and spied Aislinn heading up a column of
retainers. “Ah, here comes my wife, and in the nick of time.”

Both Torrullin
and Elianas laughed at the relief in his tone.

The table was
laid with snacks, fresh fruit, wine and juice, and when Aislinn was
satisfied, she smiled her thanks at the women.

Elianas lifted
an eyebrow and she shook her head. “You hold him; he’ll be
commandeering me soon enough.” She touched Lunik, sat and tucked
in. “Gods, I’m hungrier now than I was in pregnancy.”

Elianas ate
gingerly over the babe, and was happy to sit with him. For once, in
the presence of others, he was completely at ease. A while later he
said, “I withdraw my remark about the style of this Keep.”

Torrullin
nearly choked on a peach. “You never withdraw a remark.”

“In this
instance I must. You built it for family also, and succeeded. There
is a sense of unity here, and peace. One could live here, I think,
and find happiness.”

Aislinn said,
“I think that, too.”

Tianoman
smiled. “I love it here.”

Torrullin
said, “This place has seen much, but if you feel it still, then
indeed I did succeed. My thanks.”

Elianas bowed
his head. “Memories create a place, not stone.”

Tianoman
murmured, “Many, many memories here.”

A smile. “My
point.”

Lunik squalled
loudly. Aislinn groaned and laughed at the same time. “Always when
his mother eats. Hungry boy.” She took him from Elianas, rocked him
on her shoulder, grabbed a savoury titbit and said, “Excuse me,
probably for some time.” She blew Tianoman a kiss and headed up the
stairs to the balcony.

Elianas
watched her go. “I wish I had more children.”

“You had two
daughters, according to Cassy,” Tianoman prompted.

“For god’s
sake, she’s not here, is she?”

Tianoman
spluttered and then burst out laughing. “No!”

Torrullin
smiled, but his eyes were guarded. He leaned closer to Elianas.
“Are you all right?”

A moment of
thoughtful silence elapsed. “Better and better by the minute. There
is a real feeling of family here, and it is comforting. I guess
that is what I miss. No descendants.”

“You’re
welcome to mine, although I warn you, they can be rather
trying.”

Elianas
grinned and poured a glass of wine.

“How long are
you staying?” Tianoman asked.

“We are to the
Lifesource from here,” Torrullin said.

Elianas
frowned. “Suddenly, the Lifesource?”

“Quilla has an
apology to make.”

“What for?”
Tianoman was astonished.

Elianas put
his goblet down. “Torrullin, I care not what people or birdmen say
or think about me. He does not have to apologise, whatever it
is.”

“He does, and
he will,” Torrullin stated.

“Gods, it
cannot have been that bad. It’s
Quilla
.”

“Perhaps he
said it when I was not in a forgiving place.”

“Now that is
more likely, but …”

“Quilla isn’t
the only reason we go to the Lifesource. Syllvan and Dryads,
remember?”

Tianoman burst
out, “You aim to get involved? Torrullin, the Syllvan made it clear
you were not to do anything.”

“Tian, when a
cargo ship without cargo falls out of the sky from a path it should
not be on, I get worried. If I were to state a reason for such an
event, I would say the spaces are twisted and navigational
instruments read incorrect data, because Reaume is sundering. This
can lead to chaos. Whether we like it or not, we need to know what
is happening.”

“It’s an
isolated incident.”

“Now, yes, but
in a month, a year?”

“Goddess.
Shouldn’t we ground all ships?”

“And have
widespread panic on our hands? No. Besides, I might be wrong.”

“Get that
black box deciphered yesterday,” Elianas murmured.

“Thank you for
your hospitality, Tian, and thank Aislinn for us, but now it is
time to move on.” Torrullin rose and Elianas, reluctantly, stood
also.

“Wait.
Torrullin, now may not be the right time to mention this, but there
may never be a right time. Saska’s ashes,” Tianoman said. “They are
here.”

A beat, two.
“What were her final wishes?”

“That you
spread her over Torrke.”

Torrullin
closed his eyes. “Will you fetch … her?”

Tianoman
murmured something and went indoors.

“You did not
know her final wishes?” Elianas asked.

“Death was not
something we discussed,” Torrullin sighed. He noted his grandson
return, carrying an urn. “Will you wait?”

“Yes. Finish
the chapter, my brother.”

Tianoman was
back, holding the urn out.

Torrullin
accepted it. “Thank you.” He sent Elianas a brief glance and headed
through the dragon doors.

Elianas sat
again, lifted his glass of wine, drank.

Tianoman said,
“Actually, Elianas, I am glad to have you alone. There is something
I need tell you.”

“Then say it,
Tian.”

“You are a
true Immortal.”

“I do not
doubt it anymore.”

“You are a
true Immortal by virtue of seven deaths.”

Elianas
blanched and the goblet shook in his hand.

“The death
within the Shades went beyond the seven required,” Tianoman went
on. “It revealed something to the watching Syllvan about you.”

Elianas
carefully replaced the goblet. He sat in mute and terrified
fascination, waiting.

“The power of
energy requires periodic death. At least once in every age and you
will know when it is time for the recharge.”

Elianas his
head in his hands. From that lowered position he asked, “Does he
know?”

“No.”

“Who knows of
this?”

“Only myself
and Quilla.”

“Tian,” and
Elianas looked up as he spoke. “I do not doubt what you said. The
chords were struck and it was not discordant. I ask, no, I beg, you
never tell him this.”

“If that is
your wish, naturally I shall abide by it, but …”

Elianas was
grim. “He would deliberately cross the line to take this power from
me, because a state of death would be welcome to him.” A sigh from
the heart. “And he would seek to protect me.” He loosed a hard
laugh. “Well, well, so he is life and I am death, how poetic of the
fates.” He collected himself immediately. “I am sorry; you are too
young to understand. Thank you for telling me. Gods, I need to hide
this before he returns.”

The dark man
rose, bowed briefly and strode away into the valley, choosing a
different direction.