The Nemisin Star (19 page)

Torrullin
lifted his gaze to his son. He glanced at Quilla. “Do you want to
go?”

“Me? No!” The
birdman was horrified. “I will keep an eye on Margus. As you so
eloquently put it; you know, you go.”

Torrullin
spluttered, “I do believe you are peeved with me!”

“One day soon
I intend to argue you in circles, my friend.”

Torrullin
grinned, “Thank you for the effort you put into this.”

The birdman
inclined his head. “You may curse me yet. I have no idea what the
Cèlaver look like, how you would be received, what they speak or
anything remotely pertinent. It may turn out to be a horrific
undertaking.”

“More reason
to look forward to it,” Torrullin muttered.

Vannis rose to
stretch. “Tris, would you pour wine, please? I find myself
parched.” He fixed a beady eye on his grandson as Tristamil
complied. “Torrullin, you called this meeting. What is on
your
mind?”

“Why am I
here?” Matt added in. “I feel like a third wheel.”

“You and me
both,” Caltian said.

Tristamil
passed filled glasses around and sat. He took nothing.

“Margus,”
Torrullin said, not touching his glass either. “Where is he? What
has been looked into, and so forth.”

“Have you
tried Q’lin’la magic?” Quilla asked.

“No luck. I
tried Destroyer also and the more conventional sorcery. The Elders
are in contact with the Farspeakers without sightings reported.
Once again Margus has outfoxed us with his ability for vanishing.
Any suggestions?”

“Tymall?”
Vannis said.

“Margus will
have moved away from what Tymall may know,” said Saska.

“Agreed,”
Torrullin nodded. He looked to Matt. “Did you and Taranis see
anything untoward?”

The Xenian
shrugged, “I wouldn’t know untoward from normal yet, but Taranis
never seemed agitated about anything.”

“Vannis?”

“The sacred
sites are cloaked. No foul.” Vannis glanced briefly at Caltian, who
did not react.

“What about
Margus’ nose? You broke his nose, didn’t you?” Saska asked of
Torrullin. “Can he heal himself?”

“A doctor
somewhere, is that what you are getting at?”

“Margus relies
on his appearance,” Saska murmured. “A broken nose will not sit
well, and it is not the pain I refer to.”

Torrullin
grinned, saying, “Conceited creature that he is. You may have
something.”
Pretora.

My Lord?

Find out if
any doctors are reported missing or if there have been attempted
kidnappings.

Doctors, my
Lord?

Doctors,
physicians, surgeons, healers, herbalists, Herbmasters … yes,
Pretora, doctors.

Right away, my
Lord!

“Pretora will
get back to us. Meanwhile watch the sites. Margus knows too well
the destruction they cause in instability.”

“Have you
visited the Pillars of Fire, Enchanter?” Quilla queried.

He had not
re-visited the site of Margus’ demise twenty-seven years ago, as he
had not revealed until Teighlar how he achieved that demise. When
the place was mentioned in his presence he generally reacted with
cold fury, putting the speaker off.

“No.” He was,
as always, curt.

Quilla
murmured, “Most remiss of you, but, no matter, I shall do so. I
shall meet you at the Temple later.” The birdman vanished.

Torrullin
gulped his wine and then carefully replaced the glass on his desk.
You think to twist me, Quilla?

I understand
your abhorrence of the Pillars, but you cannot ignore that part of
you. I want you at the Temple.

Forcing me to
rest?

That too.

What else?

I shall tell
you when you get there, Torrullin. Patience.

I hate it when
you do that.

I know.

Torrullin
glanced around his study. He loved this space, but lately the walls
closed in on him. This room had now seen too many confrontations.
He met Saska’s gaze and looked away, having seen her expression
when Matt entered, the brother now recalling the sister. Thinking
that, his hand tightened on the armrest.

“Matt,
Caltian, you two will work closely with Vannis and Saska.” He gazed
deliberately at her. “Be their eyes and ears outside the valley and
be alert to anything strange, however silly you think it is. You
two,” and he meant Vannis and Saska, “are not to leave the valley
at all. Vannis, if it comes to parley, invite the Dinor into the
Keep. Saska, work with the Dragons to find out what Abdiah is up
to. She would be an asset and that convex mirror of hers could be
extremely useful.”

“Are you
leaving for Cèlaver soon?” asked Saska.

“Was there
something you needed of me?”

She stared at
him. “No, Torrullin. I merely ask the when of it.”

“Tonight,
then, after I return from the Temple,” he said.

“May I go
now?” Tristamil asked. “I have something to … do.”

“Meet me here
for the evening meal,” said Torrullin.

Tristamil rose
and left.

“The Temple?”
Vannis asked.

“Quilla and
his tricks,” Torrullin responded.

“How long will
you be gone?”

“That depends
on what awaits us.”

Vannis was
baleful. “You are seizing up.”

“I am
not.”

“You are. As
you sit there you are withdrawing. I cannot fathom you sometimes,
grandson.”

“Vannis. Not
now.”

“What if
Margus surfaces?”

“Do
nothing.”

“Whatever.”
Vannis rose, strode to the door. “I will see you before you go
tonight.” He left, leaving the door open to the cold air.

“Caltian, you
and Matt may go. Thank you for coming.” The two disappeared.

“You are
amazing. Just like that,” and Saska clicked her fingers, “you have
had enough.”

“I have far
more patience than you give me credit for.”

“We have to
talk sometime.”

“I am
aware.”

She shook her
head in exasperation and stepped out onto the icy balcony walk,
heading directly to their suite.

He lowered his
head into his hands.
I am in danger of losing my mind.

“Torrullin?”
His head snapped up. “I saw that everyone had left … the door is
open …”

Cat. She stood
outside with a humility he had not seen in her before. When he
rose, she retreated, clearly uncertain of him.

“I need to
talk to you.” She held a hand out and then dropped it. “My timing
is probably off and I’m so sorry about your father, and that means
you can’t function, but I really need to talk to you.”

Saska needed
to talk to him and he could not listen. He stepped out. It had
started snowing again, but it barely registered. Gripping her
elbow, he vanished with her.

Not far away,
Saska leaned against the wall to stare at the empty space,
shivering from more than the cold.

The most
beautiful is also the most intangible. Often true beauty resides
only in memory.

~ Book of
Sages

Lifesource
Temple

“
W
here
are we?” Cat asked, looking around. “Wow!”

Torrullin
released her elbow and looked also. He never tired of the sight.
They were on high, floating with mountains, and the view of Valaris
was breathtaking. They were grounded on a narrow strip of rock, a
land bridge between two mighty ranges, with water pouring like
thunder in motion from one side and the glory of the Lifesource
Temple awaiting them on the other.

Across the
lightbridge the Temple was incandescent, ethereal and beautiful. It
shone like gossamer crystal, seemingly attracting the entire
world’s light unto itself to leave all else in darkness.

“This is the
Lifesource. Here the Valleur pay homage to the life of this
planet.”

“Incredible,
and how romantic,” Cat breathed. “Is it real?”

“Very real.
Come.” He stepped onto the lightbridge, but she hesitated and
raised dark eyes to his. “It only appears flimsy. Trust me.”

The snow
really pelted down this high in the mountains and she shivered and
stepped onto the bridge. To her eternal surprise it was solid and
welcoming. The glorious melodies of angels commenced and she could
not move. “Do you hear that?”

“Sometimes I
come simply to listen,” he responded, watching her rapturous
expression.

“It speaks to
all the lost memories …”

“… and lost
feeling,” he added, beginning to walk across.

She followed
slowly, as if dreaming, and was unaware of the deep voids on either
side. The ocean roared far below. He preceded her under the western
arch with its inscription to peace, and the spell of the magical
place enveloped them.

Wordless, they
meandered through chamber after chamber, most empty but for the
emotions they evoked, others showing minimal evidence of Q’lin’la
occupation. It was pure and quiet, the spiritual music acting as a
background accompaniment whilst the hues soothed; white, pale, blue
and silver.

There were
other brighter pallets elsewhere, which could change with mood, but
they had not wandered those routes having unconsciously sought
harmony on this journey. Only when the sun shone did the Temple
transform into a wonderland kaleidoscope throughout.

Finally they
halted, a point attained simultaneously.

“I feel
different somehow,” Cat whispered.

“Even aimless
wandering here has purpose. This is where one’s soul is
renewed.”

“I feel that,
but it’s more, as if some things are clearer,” she said.

“Then you are
lucky. I am generally more confused after a walk through these
halls.”

“Why am I
here?” It came out abruptly, as if certain factors were indeed
clearer to her.

Torrullin ran
his fingers through his hair. He should cut it again; he grew too
fond of its feel. “Torrke has no privacy.”

“Granted, but
anywhere else would have sufficed, yet you bring me to a place such
as this.”

His grey eyes
were unreadable. “All right, Cat. I was coming here today anyway;
you brought it on earlier.”

“Uh-uh.”

He released a
breath. “I wanted, unconsciously, to take you through this process,
for insight.”

“Only for
me?”

He grinned
reluctantly. “Mine also.”

“Insight into
what?”

“Into how you
feel about me, but it was not deliberate. I realised intention only
when we were under the arch.”

“And what are
you hoping for, exactly?”

Torrullin bit
back a curse and paced away. “You are not going to make this
easy.”

“Well, I
wanted to talk, but it takes two to make it work - you know,
communication? I asked, you brought me here, and insights have been
given. So I’m not going to make it easy or allow you to get away
with platitudes.” She fiddled with a button at her neck, belying
her firm and reasonable tone, and his gaze was drawn there.

He halted in
front of her; watching her. She slung her winter coat over an arm
minutes after entering the Temple and stood now in denim pants,
knee-high black boots, and a long sleeved, brown woollen top, close
fitting and high-necked, with tiny buttons running from neck to
navel. His gaze slowly travelled down to her boots and then he
looked into her eyes. She shuffled, not sure how to read him.

“Torrullin, be
honest now, and tell me what insight you’ve gained.”

“About you?”
He behaved like an arrogant prick, he knew that, but it was only an
act.

“You are not
going to make it easy either,” she sighed. “Maybe what you learned
is diametrically opposed to what you hoped I would realise.”

He drew
breath. On the nail.

“You had
better take me back.” There was disappointment in her tone.

“I am still
attracted to you,” he said, and moved away. “Funny thing about this
place; you cannot lie.”

A long silence
ensued before she said, “Get over it.” She dropped her coat and
scratched her head in some frustration, mussing her dark hair.

He was
astonished. “Are you implying you have realised the opposite?”

“Ugh! Aaru,
men are so stupid! Listen, let’s leave it, okay? Take me back,”
said Cat.

“Let’s not
leave it. I do not like generalisations. This is the place to speak
the truth, Cat, for no matter how hard it is the Temple soothes or
bolsters, whatever is missing. Let us talk now or we do not ever
find ourselves in this position again.”

She glared at
him. “You are a strange one. Reticent the one moment and firing on
all cylinders the next. God, it drives me crazy.”

“I am
going.”

“No, please.
We talk.” She pointed a finger. “Tit for tat, mister. I’m not going
to lay myself open while you keep mum over there. Agreed?”

“Yes.” His
tension increased.

“Okay. Have
you brought Saska here recently to do this?”

Gods, that
would ease the way, make clear what is now hidden.
“Saska
cannot enter the Lifesource and retain immortality.”

Her voice was
small, “That is terrible. She is missing a whole section of your
personality.”

He closed his
eyes. “Indeed.”

“You are
hurting, Torrullin.”

“That is
nothing new,” he stated.

“I mean over
your father. Maybe I’m pushing you at the wrong time, you
know?”

He opened his
eyes. “I have equilibrium over Taranis, do not fear. The Temple
helped, as that birdman knew it would. Tit for tat. The floor is
yours.”

“You
first.”

“I have
already admitted I am attracted to you still,” he said.

“I already
knew that. Fine, I’m likewise attracted to you.”

Torrullin
squeezed the bridge of his nose, aware of his inner turmoil. “What
else is there to reveal?”