The Dreamer Stones (95 page)

He took a
breath.

“Now, Samuel,
clear your mind and lean over the bowl with me. Remain silent until
I give the sign. Ready?”

Samuel could
only nod. Together, minds as receptive as was possible, the two
Vallas bent over the clear liquid that did not reflect anything,
and the fires were bright.

A deep pit of
nothingness.

Then the
images came, the flashes and snatches of a singular future.
Samuel’s fingers dug into the rug, while Torrullin laid both hands
on the babe’s warm, fuzzy head.

Dragon doors.
A crystal sphere. A picturesque cottage. Rambling garden. A garden
fork. Leather tomes with silver lettering on the spines. A silver
cloud. A circlet. A blue, clouded sphere. A woman, no face … and it
was done.

The water
darkened to its lightless emptiness.

For a long
while Torrullin did not react and then he moved his fingers. Samuel
sat back.

Not a sound in
the gathering. Flames flickered as if dumb.

Torrullin
looked at Samuel. “What did you see?”

“Four tall
white pillars with a silver knocker in the shape of a cathron set
in the ground before them and a black floor.”

“Gods. You saw
different. I cannot recall it ever happening before. Primula!” The
Elder, a woman, rose from alongside the tripod. “Two different
readings. How do we proceed?”

Primula pursed
her lips. “It’s rare, but not unheard of … usually means a man will
find himself at a crossroads.”

“How does one
choose a name with a split ahead?”

“You name him
for the division or you find the common element in both visions,”
the Elder murmured. At a nod from her Vallorin, she withdrew.

“I won’t call
him Phorlan, that’s for sure,” Torrullin muttered. Phorlan meant
crossroad and was a terrible name. “Silver is a common element.
Silver knocker, silver letters, cloud, circlet.”

“Sounds like a
proud and clever man, unafraid of what lies beyond closed doors,”
Samuel said.

Torrullin
blinked at him. “That’s good, I like that. Relevant, and broad
enough to encompass any future. Proud …
al
… clever …
il
…
tian
for breech or entry …”

“
Tianoman.
The door that shines or a shining being,” Samuel
whispered, and felt it was the right name.

Torrullin was
not sure. It was a play on words, a double entendre, and perhaps
that fit. Samuel came up with the name, and decision remained was
his.

“Tianoman,” he
murmured, rolling it on his tongue. “Tianoman. They will call him
Tian, an easy label to mature with. Fine.” He smiled at Samuel.
“Thank you.”

“My
pleasure.”

Torrullin then
confidently faced forward and shouted, “We have a name! Tianoman!
Shining Being!”

The gathered
erupted in cheers and applause. It was a good name, a strong name.
All was good.

Torrullin
removed his hands from the newly named babe’s glowing skin.

Tianoman
stared unblinkingly at the starry skies and his eyes lightened to
white, before darkening to brown.

Chapter
Seventy-Seven

What lies
beneath? Tell me!

Tattle

“You’re not
happy about his name,” Teighlar said later that night as he and
Torrullin sat before a fire.

This
particular chamber was in keeping with the natural gardens of the
cavern system, a grotto-like room with roughly hewn walls, and a
thick pile carpet on the floor, a modern hearth, comfortable
armchairs, and a drinks trolley. Roughing it was one thing, but an
Emperor could choose his style and add to the comfort.

“There were
other factors in his future. I fear I settled too quickly.”

“Your people
see signs and portents in everything, my friend; had you tarried
longer, they would read it as a bad omen.”

“I realise
that.”

“Then let it
go.”

“As ever, you
are the voice of wisdom. By the way, the Senlu see signs and
portents around every corner as well.”

Teighlar
grinned. “I know.”

The two men
sat in companionable silence until the Emperor rose to place
another log on the fire. Crouching there before the hearth, he
asked, “How long, Torrullin?”

“A few days,
no more.”

“Then to the
Dome?”

“My new
book.”

“Book?”

Chuckling,
Torrullin told him about Larkin’s comment.

“He’s on the
mark,” Teighlar laughed.

“You, too,
have had books.”

“Long-winded
ones!” Teighlar made his eyes big. “Serious, though, I’ve remained
in one place and things happen around me. I get to say a few lines,
like a consolation prize.”

“Some mixed
metaphors there. You sell yourself short.”

Teighlar
straightened and, his back to his only true friend, stared into the
blaze. “I must leave Grinwallin.”

“Good Goddess,
why?”

“To prove it
will not vanish into the ether if I leave. I need to know it has
foundation, that it’s not a dream, that I’m not keeping it alive by
the power of my will. I am no coward and grow tired of acting like
one,” Teighlar murmured, more to himself than his companion.

“My friend, if
Grinwallin is alive by the power of your will, then I envy your
genius. It’s real, make no mistake.”

“I hear you,
but I need more than hearsay.”

“What do you
intend?”

“If I knew
what would satisfy I could answer.”

“Come to the
Dome with me, now. Far enough away to satisfy a proximity issue,
and we have all manner of sensors on board, technology you can
trust more in this instance, for it has naught to do with
magic.”

Offer made,
Torrullin was quiet. Teighlar had to fight his demons alone.

After a time,
“I am a coward.”

“Shall I force
the issue?” Another offer, another demon.

Eventually
Teighlar shook his head. “I’ll come freely.”

“Now?”

“So help me,
now.”

“Do you want
to tell someone?”

“In case, you
mean? Do I detect an element of doubt?”

Silence. And
then, “I have wondered how much of Grinwallin is you, I admit. I
still think it’s real.”

Teighlar
managed a chuckle. “Well, if it is to vanish into the ether it will
not matter a whit if I told someone of this scheme or not.”

“I guess
not.”

“Second
thoughts? Want to withdraw your offer?” There was a hopeful note in
the Senlu’s voice.

“If you want
me to.”

“Pish! What
are we, two old fools? Let’s do it.”

There was
bravado there, but also a desire to know, and the only person
Teighlar trusted in the entire universe with this, his innermost
fear, was Torrullin, as he was the only person he would be
comfortable being with if it went haywire.

He held his
hand out. “Take me away.”

Without a
word, Torrullin gripped the outstretched fingers and took them out
of Grinwallin.

The Dragon
ogive chimed and within the Dome those present stiffened to
attention.

In came Elixir
… with a stranger.

“Emperor?”
Belun breathed.

Teighlar
smiled crookedly. “In the flesh, Belun.”

Quilla
approached on silent feet. “My Lord, welcome,” he said to Torrullin
before turning to Teighlar. “And you, my Lord. This is auspicious
indeed.”

Besides Belun
and Quilla, Declan was present, having returned from Valaris, and
Jimini, the shapeshifter, and Erin and Jonas, who considered
himself Belun’s right hand.

“Erin, back
already?” Torrullin asked.

“Yes, my Lord.
I found …” but he forestalled her.

“Another
time.” He glanced at the bank of computers. “Belun, any of those
sensors trained on Luvanor?”

“Yes.”

Quilla cleared
his throat. “Grinwallin?”

Teighlar
stared at him. “You have doubts as well?”

“I admit to a
curiosity,” Quilla murmured.

“I want it on
the big screen,” Torrullin prompted.

“Grinwallin?”

“Yes,
Grinwallin! Up close, with any signature you can come up with,”
Torrullin said.

The Centuar
lifted an eyebrow and snapped, “Jonas, you heard!”

Jonas hastened
to the computers, tapped keys and seconds later a far-off view of
Luvanor filled the big screen behind the console of lights. He
continued tapping and as Torrullin took a breathless Teighlar
closer, the view expanded and the field of vision narrowed.

“What’s this
about?” Jimini whispered.

“Hush!” Erin
shushed, both of them inching closer.

The console
lit in recognition of Elixir, who passed a hand over the blinking
lights in greeting as he passed. “Jonas,” he growled.

“Any second
now, my Lord!”

There was
Tunin continent, sea all around, the masses of mountains to the
east. Grinwallin’s mountains … and
the
mountain,
the
plain … and then Grinwallin, fairest of cities. In glorious colour,
alive with the colourful lanterns the Senlu lit at night. Closer
still, the movements of people, the swaying of trees.

“Goddess, it’s
beautiful,” Teighlar breathed, tears in his eyes.

“And real,”
Torrullin said. “Thank Aaru.”

“Amen,” Quilla
sighed.

“Heat sensors
indicate the presence of people, domestic animals, horses …” Jonas
intoned. “Air pressure indicates calm weather, mild temperature …”
Teighlar and Torrullin grinned at each other. “Oxygen ratios are
within norm, no visible or cloaked intruders in the vicinity …”

“Yes, thank
you, Jonas,” Belun said. “We get the picture.”

“… er, okay …
wait, I detect seismic activity …”

“What?”
Torrullin and Teighlar asked simultaneously.

“… under the
city … tremors …”

“Gods!”
Teighlar shouted.

Torrullin
cursed.

“What lies
beneath,” Quilla murmured.

Torrullin and
Teighlar ran with the hounds of the underworld for the Dragon
ogive, Torrullin remembering at the last instant to grab the
Emperor before exit.

“What?” Jimini
questioned, eyes round.

“Belun, I’m
going down,” Declan declared, heading for his exit.

“Right behind
you,” Belun muttered, striding away.

“What?” Jimini
asked again.

“You three
hold the fort,” Quilla said, “this could take a while.” He ran for
his ogive.

“Gods,
what
?” Jimini shouted, but the other two could only
stare.

All three ran
for the big screen.

Senlu milled
in the cobbled streets, aware of a disturbance underfoot, but not
yet cognisant of major threat.

Except the
soldiers. Pale and grim they were present everywhere. Every soldier
knew of the words spoken by Torrullin to the one. Every soldier
expected a beast to burst through the layers of rock below. No one
panicked.

“
Senlu
!” Teighlar’s voice roared as he alighted on the
platform before the Great Hall. “
Evacuate! Do not run! Do not
panic!
”

The soldiers
came into their own. In orderly fashion, they herded folk ever down
and moments later, the first few streamed onto the plain. People
gathered up children, family pets and released caged birds. Horse
masters led their charges out through the side gates.

“They have
done this before,” Quilla remarked, arriving then.

“Drills,”
Declan said.

“This is my
fault,” Teighlar muttered.

“We did not
know,” Torrullin said.

“You always
said there was power here,” Belun spoke up. “I was never sure.”

“Teighlar …
not the plain,” Torrullin breathed. “Get your people into Valleur
territory.”

Blanching, the
Senlu Emperor, stood on tiptoe to see the plain - which began to
light with coloured lanterns - but could discern no cause for
alarm. “Seems calm.”

Quilla’s head
rolled back. “Oh, gods, it comes! Get to Golden land!”

Teighlar swore
and raised his voice, “
Senlu! Get you to Valleur land
forthwith!”

Whether they
heard in time was something to find out later, for an ear-splitting
screech filled the air and light everywhere went out.

“Stand still,”
Quilla commanded over the din. “Do not move.”

Declan, Belun,
Torrullin and Teighlar froze in the dark.

“Samuel!”
Torrullin remembered. “Tianoman!”

“Elixir, do
not move,” Quilla snapped.

“Quilla, a
Valleur heir …”

“You have two
other. Do not move.”

“Samuel is no
fool,” Belun remarked in the dark.

“Samuel is a
fool,” Samuel’s voice sounded, and a baby wailed.

“Holy triads,”
Quilla breathed. “Stand still, Samuel!”

“Jesus Christ,
what’s going on here?”

Torrullin
groaned. “Lowen, gods …”

Without
thinking he moved to locate her, and the screeching changed pitch.
From an enveloping din emanating from everywhere, it altered focus
and turned to the movement before the Great Hall. A noise that was
physical presence.

“Stupid,
Torrullin,” Quilla sighed.

“Oh, Wise One,
why don’t you tell us what in the netherworld is going on
here!”

“Luvan … it is
Luvan …”

“I guessed
that already. What else?”

“
Run
!”
the birdman wailed and turned blindly to hightail it for the city
within the mountain.

“Jesus,” Lowen
breathed and her pounding footsteps sounded, retreating into the
Hall. A moment later, the others fled after them.

“Samuel!”
Torrullin shouted as he ran.

“Here, don’t
you bloody worry!”

They ran into
soldiers and petrified citizens who had not left the mountain
before the lightless dark descended.

“I’ve been
here before,” Teighlar gasped, coming to a dead stop. “How many die
today because of my stupidity?”