Elaina J. Davidson's Blog, page 113
May 30, 2023
May 29, 2023
Chapter 10: AVAELYN: The Enshrouded World
Our childrenare sacrosanct.
Avaelynthe world returns to Reaume, that great collection of spaces tangible andintangible, after a thousand-year absence, but no one knows the home ofTorrullin Valla and Elianas Danae again swerves in its designated place.
Avaelynis enshrouded.
Bymagic.
Bytime.
Bymanipulation.
How torip aside the shroud?
OnAkhavar, meanwhile, Enlyl Valla lifts from the mud in the badlands an ancientartefact, a sword created to protect children. The plight of Reaume’s childrenis dire, after all, and volunteers from many worlds gather to do somethingabout it.
Willthe sword help?
Whenthe shivers of premonition tell that the young are taken to keep Avaelynenshrouded, the Vallas take the fight to the monsters responsible for suchhorror. They will not rest until every child is safe.
Howeverit comes to pass, Avaelyn will be unveiled.
CHAPTER10
How doyou turn your back on need? Unless you’re callous, you can’t. How, then, do youdeal with need? By giving what you are able to part with, and a little extra.
~ David,Mayor of Galilan ~
Sorison
City of Dara
Daybreak
HAVING delivered the team from Valaris tothe hotel at the landing site, promising to find accommodation elsewhere -already the building was at capacity, and folk were beginning to mutter -Pandora, following her nose, went in search of the Electan … right, girl,you’re looking for Cyrillus and the mysterious Enlyl has nothing to do withyour search.
Thetime differences played havoc with her sense of self. It was night on Valaris,and here the watery sun greeted a new day. She needed to get some sleep soon toalign herself to Sorison time. When she noticed the activity at the embassybuilding - musty beds leaving and fresh furniture arriving - she knew she wouldfind the Electan there. Tristan Skyler Valla’s fair hair was a beacon in thediffuse light, and where he was, there would be Cyrillus. She would also runinto Enlyl. Something about him set her senses to tingling. Preferring her owncompany, she certainly wasn’t in the market for a relationship, and yet, in thefirst moments of meeting him, he ensnared her. Had she envisioned him betweenher thighs? Oh, instantly. But it was more than animal attraction. He had thelook of someone seeking purpose and having found it, discovered it scared him.Did she not know that feeling too well? A siren song, thus.
“Deepin thought?” a male’s voice sounded behind her, and she swiftly turned, onehand already curling around the hilt of a dagger nestled against her back.
“Ah,Emperor,” she murmured. “Good morning.”
“Youmay release your weapon,” Teighlar said in amusement.
“Sorry,”she muttered. “Habit.” She then cocked her head. “Few notice that.”
“Thatyou reach for a weapon? Few will. Either they are too trusting or too slow.” Heoffered her a feral grin. “Can’t fool me, though.”
Laughing,she shifted to hook her arm through his for the walk to the building opposite.“So, what are we up to this morning?”
Whenhe told her about overseeing the Sorison operation along with Gabryl, Enlyl andanother yet to be nominated, her heart skipped oddly. It meant she would spendmuch time with Enlyl Valla.
“Iaccept,” she said. “And I know who to nominate also. Swann Sneddon from Trin.Having lost her daughter, not only is she highly motivated, but she hasempathy. Add to that the fact that she’s the under-secretary to Trin’s deputyPrime Minister, and that woman knows how to organise people.”
“Asyou do?”
“People?Not so much. Logistics is more my game.”
TheEmperor halted then. “You are a bounty hunter, Pandora.”
Liftingher tawny eyes to meet his gaze, she murmured, “What makes you say that?”
“Ihave been alive a long time, and I read people well. It is in the way you move,the way you watch others …”
“PerhapsI’m an ex-soldier.”
Theman had the temerity to laugh. “Never. You are not built to take orders.”
Andwasn’t that the absolute truth. “I hunt those who deserve the justice comingtheir way. This doesn’t make me a criminal.”
“Whatof those who don’t deserve justice?”
Sheshrugged. “I suggest to the one offering the contract to rather hire anassassin. I am not in the business of killing.”
“Doesthe Electan know?”
Pandorasniffed. “No.”
Resumingtheir amble across the square, Teighlar said, “I have no issue with what youdo. In fact, it’s one of the reasons I suggested you for oversight. Gabryl isgood at reading between the lines, Enlyl has something to prove, and you saythis woman from Trin knows how to people. What is missing?”
Theman from Grinwallin was clever. A step, two, three went by before Pandoraresponded. “The team needs a warrior.”
“Notjust a warrior. Gabryl and Enlyl both know how to fight, after all. We needsomeone with insight, check before you lob a head off insight, from someone whoknows how to hunt.”
“Youneed me to curtail …”
“…the hotheads in the teams. They will hear you because you know what you’retalking about.”
“SurelyGabryl knows?”
Teighlarsighed. “I don’t know.”
Ah.The father did not know the son too well, for they had not yet been placed in asituation requiring action of this nature. She squeezed his arm. “I accept theduty.”
Hesmiled down at her. “Thank you.” They halted again - the embassy was beforethem - and the Emperor lifted her hand to his mouth. “I’m almost envious ofEnlyl.”
Asheat rose in her cheeks, he kissed her glove and headed right rather thanentering the building. She stared at his retreating form. Clever. Veryclever.
Avaelyn
The LifesourceCathedral
KARYDOR Danae wandered the chambers withinchambers that was the Lifesource Cathedral. From the outside this magical placeappeared no larger than a small village, but a stroll inside swiftly beliedthat. The spaces were eternal, and had everything to do with Q’lin’la magicfused to the Valleur talents employed to raise this spiritual place. And thecolours! Lo, every hue imaginable, from pale moonlight to shimmering ebony.Here colour soothed or challenged, and the wanderer, without being aware,walked into chambers suffused with shades according to the needs of the spirit.
Byall accounts, Quilla had achieved for this century old site what he had for theTemple on Valaris, his original infusing, that one many thousands of years oldnow. On Valaris, the Lifesource was also known as the Temple of Reversal, forthe magical enclave possessed the unique ability to reverse immortality. Toenter there immortal was to leave again mortal. Few visited for that, for itwas true that immortals, while often bemoaning long life, did not inherentlyseek an ending. Here, though, all were welcome, and thus Karydor, immortal,could wander at will.
Agitationovercame him this morning on waking. Not feeling the need to burden anotherwith his state of unrest, he chose to visit the Cathedral, and as ever it hadworked. In a chamber suffused with pale blue glows through which saffron starssparked, he rediscovered his usual equanimity, and also understood what hadbeen subconsciously bothering him. Torrullin. His son. The man was in histhoughts more than usual, and that meant something brewed in the man’s mind.Perhaps the same something his dreams were plaguing him with night after night?Watching a yellow star explode against the opposite curve of this spaciouschamber, Karydor smiled. While he did not need an excuse to visit his son, notafter the events on Lykandir, still, now he had one, and would use it uponleaving here.
Afew more chambers, though, would not go amiss. Feeling far better, he walkedon, entering a space filled with magenta and silver streaks. Instantly heinhaled, beset upon, almost freaked out by the pressure in the chamber, andwondered why his spirit led him to this unsettling space … until he sawTorrullin hunkered against the wall, his head lowered to his chest, hisdangling fingers appearing bone white. It scared him. For a moment he thoughthis son dead, by the gods … but no, not Torrullin. Impossible for Torrullin. Hedid, once he had established control over his breathing, understand why he hadentered. His son needed him.
Hunkeringbefore the man, Karydor took hold of his son’s chin and forced the man’s headupward. Silver eyes stared at him, through him, around him, seeing everythingand nothing. Shuddering, he called, “Torrullin, can you hear me?”
Atfirst there was no reaction, and then a slow tear rolled from the corner ofTorrullin’s left eye. It tracked over the man’s cheek, reached his jawline, andthen Torrullin rapidly blinked. He stared at his father and a hand lifted toswipe at the droplet.
Releasinghim, Karydor murmured, “What is it?”
“Shetells them about the Sleeper … she has hope now …” Grunting, Torrullin surgedto his feet, holding his head. “They have placed me on an eternal pedestal,father. I cannot save everyone.”
Yes,leaving Reaume had been the best idea for this man. Torrullin found the ‘him’in himself without every expectation surrounding him. And now? Now Reaumecalled to him. He would answer, for he was who he was, but what would it do tothe internal peace he had fought so hard for? “Then save her,” Karydormurmured. “The one you sensed just now.”
Torrullinnodded and his chest inflated and deflated. “Wise words. I can save her,yes.” His lips drew back in the semblance of a smile. “Did you know I oncedreamed of a girl across the spaces from where I was? I tried hard to save her.I still feel guilty that another did so. ‘Mitrill, my name is Mitrill,’ shewhispered in my dreams, and I ended up keeping her separated from family when Idid find her …”
“Iknow the story of Mitrill, Torrullin, the woman who married your son Tris, thegirl who was also Varelie Valla. You did save her, many times, and you knowthat. Tymall would have killed her had he known about her. You savedher. You will save this girl also.”
Closinghis eyes, Torrullin nodded. When he reopened, his eyes were their natural grey,matching his own. “’I am Airelle,’ she tells me. You’re right. I will findAirelle.”
“Inthe ground,” Karydor said, “where tunnels host a multitude of cells.” Hegrunted at the look his son bestowed on him. “I’m dreaming, too.”
“Well,that is a piece of a gigantic puzzle,” Torrullin muttered. “Tunnels. No wonderthere’s no trace. Come, we have much to discuss …” Bemused, Karydor followedhis son into the next chamber, that one awash in sunlight’s benevolence, and asboth breathed easier, they started talking.
The dwelling onthe cliffs
“WHERE did yougo?” Elianas asked as Torrullin entered their kitchen with Karydor in his wake.
“Lifesource,”he muttered in response.
“Hello,Karydor,” the dark man said.
“Hoy,Elianas. We ran into each other there, and Torrullin has filled me in.”
Adark eyebrow hiked upward. “And you’re raring to go?”
Laughing,Karydor sat at the table. “Coffee first, I think, and then I need track Echodown. Not so raring, then.”
Grinning,Elianas brought an urn to the table, set it down and waved at Karydor to helphimself. All the while Torrullin watched him, and when those dark eyes flickedhis way, he inclined his head. He was right. Elianas saw the need, but he wasnot so enamoured of returning to Reaume in the manner that had now presenteditself. The Lake of Swords was a place of death and remained that even whenvanished into the ether of legend. Also, and did he not know this about theman, he was less than comfortable hitching his journey to the coattails ofanother.
“Short-lived,Elianas,” he murmured.
“Saywhat?” An unblinking stare came his way.
“Oncerid of portal, you will be free again.”
Pressinghis lips together, Elianas nodded, but Torrullin noted how his shouldersrelaxed. In the last hundred years, Elianas had discovered he was able to thinkfor himself, that he no longer bent his every decision to include what he,Torrullin, might think of it. Ever it has been thus, from his perspective, butElianas now believed it as well, and it made all the difference for the man.Freedom, internal freedom, was important to him now.
“Whatsent you to the Lifesource? I thought you wished to avoid Quilla until afterthe fact.”
Torrullingrunted, “Fortunately the birdman was absent.”
“Torrullin.”
Heshrugged. “I heard a voice in my mind, and sought clarity. A girl’s voice,calling to me.”
Elianasblinked. “Like it was with Mitrill?”
“Yes.”
Hisdark eyes filling with sympathy, Elianas approached to lay his hands onTorrullin’s shoulders. “And? Did you find clarity?”
Hesmiled from his inner being. “I did. My father told me exactly what I needed tohear.”
“Whichis?”
“Ican save her, Elianas. We can save her. And we don’t need to be therefor everyone.”
Fingersdug into the muscle of his upper arms, and Elianas murmured, “Now you get it.One at a time, together, or we drive ourselves crazy.” Releasing, he returnedto the table. “Drink your coffee. We need bolstering for this chant.”
“Oneother thing,” Torrullin said as he hauled a chair out, and sat next to Karydor.“I’m not pandering to personalities this time. I will not put a mask on toappease the sensibilities of others, whether family, friends or strangers.”
Takinga seat opposite, Elianas winked. “Good.”
“Really?”
“Torrullin,you gave different parts of yourself to different people in the past, andcalled it easier for them, which meant it was everything but easy for you.Guess what happens when you get ticked off? You lash out, and did, creating chaosfor those who thought they knew you when they could not, seeing only the partyou allowed them to see. So, good. Be yourself. Easier for you, and maybe theywill finally get to know who you are.”
“Willyou apply that to yourself?”
Fillinga mug, Elianas smiled. “Oh, indeed.”
Karydorheld his mug out for a refill, and said, “I agree, and I will do the same. Hadenough of trying to fit in, I have. If someone doesn’t like me, to hell withhim or her.”
Torrullinspluttered into laughter. “Beware Reaume!”
Clinkingmugs, they grinned at each other.
Sorison - City ofDara
THE DINING and sitting rooms on the groundfloor of the hotel filled cheek to jowl when Tianoman Valla put the word outthat they had decisions to make before their endeavour properly got underway.
Justover a hundred worlds had sent teams to Sorison, and another hundred teams wereen route, which meant soon their number would be in the region of two thousand,and the hotel would never house everyone. Also, when on occasion they needed togather, this place was too small to fit all in. Mercifully, in Tianoman’s view,Pandora offered to find solutions, such as opening other hotels and embassies,and securing a large space for gathering. She mentioned seeing a warehouse, andwould investigate viability. Excellent; he would leave logistics up to her.Right now, they needed to discuss leadership, and thus he stepped forward andstarted speaking. Half an hour later, all were in agreement, and Swann Sneddonjoined the oversight team, a middle-aged woman with shoulder length chestnutcurls and pale blue eyes. Slim and tiny as she was, it was also immediatelyevident that she took no prisoners when it came to doing her job. Excellent,Tianoman mused again; the teams were in good hands. Swann would move into theembassy with them, the oversight base as Pandora called it.
Tianomanwas about to end the gathering, when Enlyl stepped in. “Our thanks to my fatherfor calling us here this morning, but now we have work to do. Who hasexperience with the supply chain? Is there a tech wizard here? Are any of yousoldiers?”
Steppingaside, Tianoman smiled as his son sent out question after question to determinewho could do what. Right, in good hands. Gesturing to Teighlar and Tristan, heindicated they leave.
“Seemswe are not needed,” Teighlar laughed as they stepped outside into the bracingair.
“Ifind I’m relieved,” Tianoman chortled.
“Likewise,”Tristan added, and sent his gaze over the concourse, noting someone had createdorder in the chaos of yesterday’s parking. The hangers on the far side wereopen, some with ships already inside, others clearly meant as repairfacilities, and he nodded. They were not needed, not for the operational sideof an investigation; their strengths lay in what they could do when confrontingthe enemy. “I say we go to Akhavar for breakfast.”
“Rightbehind you, mate,” Teighlar grinned, and laughing, Tianoman led the way,vanishing from that cold world within the blink of an eye.
Akhavar - TheRoyal Suite
AISLINN was waiting when they entered.“Timare is missing.”
Hiswife would never dissemble, especially not when it came to her loved ones. Ahollow pit opened inside Tianoman as he asked, “Tell me.” Behind him, Tristanand Teighlar said not a word.
Stridingforward, her golden hair swinging, Aislinn stated, “Zane tells me he went tothe Lake of Swords.”
Fuck.Not this. “When?”
“Minutesago. Zane went after him, followed his signature, and he found footprintsleading into that bloody pit of mud, and nothing more.”
Aislinn,Tianoman realised, was about to scream her rage. Zane and Timare were herbeloved grandsons, and woe to anyone who messed with them. “Calm, Ais, we’ll gothere now. It’s only been minutes. Where is Zane?”
“Stillthere, to wait, he says, in the event Tim needs help coming back.”
Thegoddamned place was a portal also, yes. Swallowing, Tianoman kissed his wife’scheek and then summarily vanished. He did not have to ask; the two men with himwould follow.
Avaelyn
Western orchards
ANASTIR, busy with the guard roster forthe mud pit, facing the three Valleur with him, jerked when something squelchedbehind him. The hairs on his arms spiked, and he shouted, “Artorin, something’scoming through!”
Hisfellow Elder watched from the other side of the pit, and when he turned,Anastir saw the man hunkering there with a look of terror on his face. Betweenthem, the mud boiled and spat, making otherworldly sounds.
“Torrullin!”Anastir yelled next, his gaze fixated now on the roiling mire. The Valleur withhim arrayed along the edge, swords already drawn.
Thankthe gods, Torrullin appeared within two seconds, and did not have to ask why hewas summoned. His attention immediately went to the pit, and his hand settledupon the hilt of his blade. “Come!” Torrullin roared … and, by the gods, a mansuddenly stepped up and out with not a spatter upon him. “Who are you?”Torrullin demanded.
Theman inhaled, a Golden by any Valleur’s measure, gazing convulsively around him.“Where am I?”
Abruptly,to Anastir’s everlasting astonishment, Torrullin released his hold on hisweapon and, frowning, stepped forward. “You are Valla,” he stated.
“Isthis Avaelyn?” the man blurted. “Are you Torrullin? You look just likeTristan.”
Reachingin, Torrullin hauled the man closer by the arm. “I am Torrullin, and this isAvaelyn. Are you Tian’s son?”
“Lunikis my father.” Rolling his shoulders, the man altered his stance to gripTorrullin’s in a forearm-to-forearm clasp. Where their fingers brushed as theyreached in, blue flames briefly spat. Kinfire. “I am Timare. Most call me Tim.Well met, my Lord Elixir.”
Wavingat the guards to stand down, Anastir retreated somewhat. Artorin, closing infrom the opposite edge, joined him. The two Elders looked at each other. TheVallas certainly knew how to astonish, did they not?
“So,my grandson is a grandfather. Man, I’m old,” Torrullin laughed. “Welcome, Tim,to Avaelyn. You have utterly surprised me.”
“Ididn’t do it on purpose,” Timare explained. “I stepped too close to the mud,and the next moment everything went haywire. Zane will go mad.”
“Aswe assumed, then. This is a portal between Avaelyn and Akhavar. Who is Zane?”
“Mybrother. We were meant to meet at the mud pit.”
“Vallacuriosity,” Torrullin grunted in amusement. “Come; we have much to …” Before hecould finish that thought, Timare gargled, elongated. and vanished. A suckingsound accompanied his sudden disappearance. “No!” Torrullin hollered.
Artorin,a hand splayed upon his breast, huffed his utter astonishment. “The pit tookhim elsewhere.”
Foreternal moments Torrullin stared into the cloying wetness, and then his mouthset in a grim line. “Double the watch on this place. Who knows what else willuse this as a means to reaching Avaelyn?”
Anastirgrunted agreement, and Torrullin left, leaving the Elder with the sense thathis ruler was coldly furious.
Akhavar
Lake of Swords
ZANE paced madly, coming to a dead haltwhen he saw his grandfather. “We said we’d meet here, but when I arrived nomore than a few minutes behind him, Tim had vanished. He went in there, I justknow it.”
Tianomangripped his grandson’s shoulders. “This isn’t your fault. We will deal with it,understand?” Zane nodded without speaking. Letting go, Tianoman shifted toTristan. “Can you place Kaval watch here? You know the Valleur will befoolhardy, so I prefer not asking them to guard this.”
“Considerit done. I’ll contact Belun now.”
Teighlar,meanwhile squatted near the edge of the mud’s reach. “It’s a portal,” hemurmured. “It has the same feel as the crucible in Grinwallin. Does this oneexit in multiple locations or is it a way between two fixed places?” Hesniffed. “The latter, I’d say.”
“Avaelyn,”Tianoman sighed.
AsTeighlar looked up at him, he looked down, and Tristan immediately blurted,“Don’t you dare, either of you. What we suspect may not be what we actuallyfind. We are not Walkers.”
“Neitheris Timare,” Tianoman whispered.
“ButTorrullin is,” Tristan said. “When he cops this, he will use it, and he canfind Tim if he went elsewhere. We do not step in there, hear?”
“Lunik,”Tianoman breathed, fixing his gaze over Tristan’s shoulder. “Son, wait …” Lunikwas already striding for the pit, and his father stepped into his path.“Tristan is right, Lunik! To go haring in there is looking for trouble. What ifyou land up somewhere else? What if you end up trapped in limbo?”
“Outof my way,” Lunik growled, only to be tackled from behind.
Tristanhad him in a headlock. “Torrullin can find him, Lunik. Think! For fuck’s sake,why are we Vallas so bloody headstrong? Just think, will you?”
Ceasinghis struggle, Lunik muttered, “Fine. But I want to know what’s going on. Allthe rumours going around led to Tim doing something he wasn’t prepared for, andZane might have vanished also had he and his brother been together. Enough.”
“Wewill tell you everything, I promise,” his father murmured, “and Zane and Ash.”
Belunarrived then, along with Assint and Mahler. The three Centuar noted the tensionbut did not say a word. They took up positions around the mire, and Belun said,“We have this, Tris. Fuma, Amunti and Chaim will spell us in four hours.”
“Thankyou.”
“Let’sgo.” Tianoman murmured, nodding his appreciation towards the Centuar. HoldingZane, he vanished.
Tristan,still with Lunik in his grip, left as well, leaving the Emperor to look Belun’sway. “He’s coming, Centuar,” he murmured. “He will arrive here.”
Belun’snow silver eyes glowed. “Well then, to hell with being relieved of watch. I’mstaying right where I am.”
May 26, 2023
Ancient Oracles
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14 massive, leather bound volumes, collectively known as the Ancient Oracles, these books have travelled the ages with the Valleur. Started by Nemisin, the tradition of recording events and enchantments continued for a long while, until war and tribulation forced focus elsewhere. In the current era, the Valleur young are taught from the Oracles but other than a brief recording event (Mantra Valla inserts Valaris' sacred sites in the back of the final book) and one new volume (Torrullin's doing), the volumes have changed little. They continue to be regarded at the Valleur treasure.
First mention is in Lore 1 - The Infinity Mantle.
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May 25, 2023
May 24, 2023
Tris & Ty (twin brothers)
At this stage the boys are almost three, and three is the age when Valleur remember the greetings spoken to them in the womb, the recognition. Because one of these boys goes unrecognised, well, hell will ensue due to that oversight. Here they are the light in everyone's lives …
