The Nemesis Blade (82 page)

By slow degree
he set aside recent happenings and the years before that. He set
aside the trauma of return from the Plane, Tymall’s return to
Digilan, Margus’ death, the deaths of other Vallas and the
separation from Saska.

He dealt with
the stresses of the Kaval, the years of automatic functioning. He
dealt with the flurry of activity before the latest realm journey,
the deaths of Curin and Samuel, the visit to Digilan, the actual
journey, the changes, the void, the Syllvan, the dreams, visions,
Teighlar, Saska and even the reality of seeing Nemisin face to face
again. He accepted who Sabian was, where Teroux would go in the
future and Tianoman’s rise to Vallorin.

Much else came
and went and none of it affected his relaxation. These were matters
that could not now be regretted or altered.

Then he went further back, and the tension came. The time
before, he now realised, contained more, as in meaning, emotion,
sense of place.
It
was reality; recent history was the dream. That was
unsettling, he discovered.

He first
became aware in a populated universe; Elianas did so in a time when
the Valleur had an empire, but were essentially alone. It was the
one, great difference between them. Always, the time came when
Elianas vanished, the time when Torrullin underwent change of
state. Long, long ages together; longer apart. Until now. They
orchestrated this being together in a time neither had shared with
the other before. The terror of Kalgaia brought this on. Betrayal
brought this on. Too much senseless killing brought this on. They
were forced into hiding eventually - one via forgetting, the other
via the Throne - to come out of it at this time, when Nemisin’s
crimes began to stir, when their own crimes stirred the balance of
the future.

And the void.
Had they known this would happen? Did Elianas realise?

Torrullin
shifted for the first time, his hands clenched. The void removed
the need for change of state, his and Elianas’. The Curve would
elongate so far out and away not even eternity would take them back
to Nemisin’s time.

The future,
suddenly, was new. It was also dark, clouded over, unreadable,
indecipherable and beyond prophesy. Whatever happened now had not
happened before and would not again. Almost, by virtue of great
distance, time had become linear. Going back had brought them
forward. There was no going back.

He rose then,
rubbing his behind vigorously to restore blood flow.

There was no
going back. Ever.

How strange.
New, it was all new.

The Valleur
were secure. The Vallas were secure. The Kaval did stellar work.
Many races flourished largely in peace and co-operation.

If he took it
further, the only conclusion to be drawn was that the universe had
no need of an Animated Spirit or his Eternal Companion. Someone
else could take charge of the Dome, another could head Sanctuary,
and it meant he, Torrullin, was free of responsibility and
obligation for the first time.

The sacred
spaces of the past had proven profane, yet now even profane had
become sacred, for they were in memory only and could no longer
affect reality.

Liberating.

He stamped his
feet for warmth. A few final duties to see to and he would be
released to this new and unchartered future. He knew what those
duties were. He also understood freedom would not be smooth, for
Elianas was in this time, and Lowen was not yet done.

Torrullin
smiled. Good. Smooth could prove boring.

He lifted his
arms out and threw himself off the edge of the mountain, and
flew.

Valaris

A week later
Torrullin came to the Keep.

As he
suspected, the three cousins were together and it suited him. He
found them seated on the dais as if the Throne held no import.

Standing in
the open doors he had to smile. Yes, the future was secure, for
these three would not take themselves so seriously they made
inadvertent waves. As Nemisin had, as Vannis had, as he had created
tides of destruction.

Teroux saw him
first and then there were smiles and welcomes.

When all was
quiet enough and he had declined refreshment, he said, “I am not
staying. I have a few matters to discuss with you and then I am on
my way to Grinwallin.”

“But Aislinn
…”

He smiled at
Tianoman. “Another time. You and your wife find your way now
without my shadow over you, and enjoy your son together. Well done,
Tian; really well done.”

Tianoman
smiled. “Thank you.”

“I gift my
Keep to you. It, the valley and the Throne are too linked now to
part, therefore a Vallorin should make his home here, if he wants
to.”

Tianoman’s
eyes were wide. “Really?”

“Yes. I am not
going to live here again.”

“But the
valley …”

“In my heart,
son, and that is where it belongs now.”

Tianoman Valla
inclined his head. “Then I thank you, my Lord.” It was the tone of
a maturing man.

Torrullin
ruffled his hair. “You will be a great Vallorin. You make your
ancestors proud.”

The younger
man resurfaced. “I must tell Aislinn that.”

Torrullin
looked to Teroux. “I have a proposition for you, if you will
entertain an old man’s wishes.”

Teroux
snorted. “Old? You’re not old.”

Torrullin
smiled. “I am very old, Teroux, and that now gives me a degree of -
we shall call it freedom, shall we? I ask that you accept my villa
on Sanctuary as a wedding gift. Wait, let me finish. First, Rose
will be more comfortable away from people and, second, Sanctuary
needs a leader. You.”

“Excuse me?”
Teroux was pale. “You want me to run Sanctuary?”

“Many folk
find themselves in dire circumstances and Sanctuary offers them a
place to find a new way forward. Some leave after a time and others
stay to aid in Sanctuary’s growth and potential. You are a good
man, a patient soul, understanding of people and their needs, and,
of course, you are a Valla trained in leadership. You would be
perfect.”

Teroux stared
at him. “This is unexpected.”

“I know, but I
need an answer from you now.”

“Rose will
love it,” Tianoman prompted.

“And you would
be great,” Tristan murmured. “Do it, man.”

“This isn’t
that three kingdom nonsense, is it?” Teroux asked.

“No. Kingdoms
are people, not worlds.”

Teroux stood.
He paced, thinking aloud. “Rose could maintain the farspeaker chain
from Sanctuary, and she could train others - she will enjoy that.
We could have Valleur lecturing in Thibis, establish a link with
Titania, we could encourage farming, crafts … I could do this, I
could really do this, and love every stressful situation. Imagine
putting Beacon’s nose out of shape when someone comes for asylum …
yes, I could love this …” He stopped pacing, eyes shining.

Torrullin
laughed. “Yes?”

“Damn it, I
think it’s a yes!”

“Excellent!”
Tianoman crowed.

“Good for you,
Teroux,” Tristan murmured, glancing at Torrullin with eyes slightly
narrowed. What was he up to, ridding himself of property and
responsibilities?

Torrullin
glanced at him and winked. “Good, Teroux. This makes me happy. You
may move in as soon as you are able. Send anything personal - not
furniture, hear me - to the small cottage I have on Mariner Island.
Tian, same for books and papers here.”

“Of course,”
Tianoman murmured and began to smell the same dead rat Tristan had
already stood on.

Teroux flung
back down, his mind a-whirl with new thoughts.

Torrullin
faced Tristan.

“What are you
doing?” Tristan asked.

“Freeing
myself,” Torrullin said. “I am not vanishing or leaving or anything
crazy. I simply think my time for freedom has arrived. I think I
shall be welcome if I want to see my grandsons, hmm?”

“Of course!”
Teroux exclaimed. Tianoman grinned.

“Then I do not
need property. The cottage for personal belongings will suffice. I
may travel between you three, make a nuisance of myself.”

“Anytime,”
Tianoman said, and was serious.

“Likewise,”
Teroux grinned.

Tristan
waited.

Torrullin
leaned forward. “I want you to take my place in the Dome.”

It was not
what he expected. “The Kaval?”

“Yes, all of
it. You are Immortal, as they are. You are Valla, as I am.”

“I thought
…”

“There cannot
be two of us, Tristan. I do not want it anymore. And thus there is
only one. You. You are new to this and you have ideals, ideals that
now escape me. You wanted freedom, you said, and therefore you did
not want to be Vallorin - I understand that. Freedom, however, has
a price and I have paid mine, over and over. Your freedom lies in
the Dome. You can go anywhere, do anything, and every time you help
someone you pay your dues. It is a grand compromise, one that does
not curtail you.”

Torrullin fell
silent and waited.

Both Teroux
and Tianoman stared at Tristan.

“Cousin, you
would be the most powerful man in the universe,” Teroux whispered.
“I always thought you would be Vallorin, but this is better.”

“I thought you
would be Vallorin also,” Tianoman said, “but you are immortal now.
The Kaval - gods, you always spoke of the Kaval as if it was your
true destiny.”

Tristan
smiled. “I know.”

“So do it,”
Tianoman commanded. “Between the three of us we could ensure
universal peace.”

“Three
Kingdoms,” Torrullin murmured. “People, not worlds. Do you
understand now?”

They stared at
him and then Teroux said, “It is in the heart and soul.”

Tristan
smiled. “Exactly.” He faced Torrullin. “I would be honoured to head
the Kaval.”

“The honour is
mine. Thank you.”

“What are
you
going to do?” Tianoman asked.

“After
Teighlar, the list gets personal. And then I aim to travel with
wide, free eyes and take in the sights I have been forced to
overlook until now. Do not worry about me and, trust me, you will
see me when you least expect a visit.”

“All right,”
Teroux grinned, and embraced his grandfather.

Torrullin
swallowed. “I love you three.”

Tianoman added
to the clasp. “And we love you.”

Tristan
laughed and enveloped all three in his arms. He sat back first.
“When do you want me in the Dome?”

“Today,”
Torrullin replied. “They have been informed and the Dragon ogive is
primed for you. Quilla has returned to duty and he and Declan, with
Belun, will smooth the transition.”

“How did they
take it?”

“Hard. However, the fact that you look like me will ease it
for them and you, and once they know you, they will love you for
who
you
are. You
will do well. Tristan, you will be better at it than I was. I could
not give the Kaval undivided attention.”

Tristan nodded
and then drew breath. “Today it is, then.”

Torrullin
rose. “It is time for me to go. I will be seeing you.”

He
vanished.

Teroux stared
at the empty space. “Why do I get the feeling we will not be seeing
him too soon?”

Tianoman hung
his head. “Me, too.”

Tristan rose,
pinched the bridge of his nose and then, “I must go.”

His cousins
stared up at him.

He smiled down
at them. “A new future, right?” And he was gone.

“Gods,”
Tianoman muttered.

“All of them,”
Teroux sighed.

Grinwallin

There were
only two places to find Teighlar.

One was the
Great Hall and the other was the stables. Torrullin found him at
the latter, cooing over a new horse. The man was obsessive about
horseflesh.

Without
turning Teighlar said, “You have come.”

“A new
horse?”

“From
Kantar.”

“You up for a
ride?”

Teighlar
grinned. “Always.” He whistled and when the groom appeared ordered
two horses saddled.

“Not that
one?” Torrullin asked.

“Not yet. She
needs careful handling,” Teighlar murmured, walking around her. He
patted her rump to send her cantering into the paddock.

“She is a
beauty,” Torrullin remarked, tracking the animal in
appreciation.

“That she is.
I hear Yltri breeds good stock.”

“You should go
look them over.”

“I might just
do that.”

The horses
came then and the two men mounted. They headed out.

“I have paid a
visit to Beacon and Xen,” Teighlar murmured. “Amazing … crazy. Why
do folk build such huge cities?”

Torrullin
laughed. “Because there are so many people.”

Teighlar
pulled a face and then, “I might go to Valaris after this.”

“Good for
you.”

“You are not
going to be there, are you?”

“No.”

Teighlar
nodded. “I thought as much. You are off again, somewhere.”

“For a time.
Just travel. Like you, I am suddenly free to do so.”

“Hmm.”

They reached
the great plain and spurred their mounts into full-fledged gallop.
Whooping and laughing they raced across the plateau.

At the far end
they drew up, both breathing hard, and turned for the slow walk
back. The horses heaved under them.

“What of the
Kaval?” Teighlar asked.

“Tristan.”

“Ah. And
Sanctuary?”

“Teroux.”

“Double ah.
And Tian has Valaris.”

“Do not go
mouthing off about three kingdoms.”

Teighlar
laughed. “Fine, I will remain silent.”

Torrullin
glanced at him. “How has it been?”

“Better than
ever. Produce is up, visitors are more frequent and my Senlu are
content.”