Elaina J. Davidson's Blog, page 87
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The Echolone Mine: Standing Stones
Lethe
HOW LONG THE blackness lastedwould never be known and never discussed. For a time, they were oblivious totime, space and each other. They were together somewhere and so apart the stateof togetherness would eternally remain unmentioned. Only those able to seebeyond the boundaries knew how proximity did not imply connection and they,naturally, never told. Still, let it be said the three men were beyond usualintelligence and thus not without suspicion of the state of separation.
When the alien dark receded like water pullingback from a beach, they were in a rough circle of standing stones. The stonesand the configuration thereof were a protection mechanism, and they knew it,but as awareness returned, they looked at each other as if questioning thenature of life itself.
Elianas’ eyes hooded. He lay beside Torrullin.Those silvery eyes stared down at him from a seated position. Feelingvulnerable, he cleared his throat, pushed up to sit and look around. Tristansat cross-legged nearby staring at the two of them as if attempting todetermine a great secret. Beyond Tristan were the standing stones and beyondthat was nothing. Nothing.
“Where are we?” Elianas asked. He deliberatelydid not move. Those silvery eyes had not left him and now filled with knowingamusement. Elianas frowned and surrendered. “You are frightening me, Torrullin.For pity’s sake, tell us what this is. What have you done and where are we?”
Tristan rose and stretched.
Torrullin’s glance flicked up at him, andreturned to Elianas, who cursed. Torrullin leaned closer. “This is still Lethe,but now it is a different realm and I suspect it may be a different time also.But I did not bring us here. Something fools with us. I may enjoy a challengeand I am particularly enjoying how you squirm at the moment, but this is goingtoo far.”
Tristan strode nearer. He stood arms akimboover them. “This is precisely why we go nowhere - you two and your lack ofconviction. Reaume is unprotected and you carry on as if we have all the timein the universe. I am well aware you were warned not to delve the issues inLethe, yet I’m saying, unless you do, even if it is scratching at the surface,we are headed to nowhere for eternity. Look …” and he swung one arm in a widearc, “… a stone henge, a place of safety. Either you brought us here,Torrullin, or we brought ourselves here by consensus, or we were bloody chuckedin. Whatever and however, get to sorting enough out so we may actually aidReaume and, yes, aid the Dryads also. Understood? This is why you wanted me tocome, wasn’t it? To get your arses moving?”
Torrullin exhaled, a weary sound. “We areexactly one year back in time. Whatever is to happen to Reaume has not yetbegun.”
Elianas glared at him. “What happened to ‘Isuspect’?”
A shrug answered him, before he added, “To seeyou squirm.”
Tristan interrupted, “Good god, will you stop?Would you please do something more than taunt each other?” Both men looked upat him. Tristan cleared his throat. “What did I say to make you do that?”
Elianas clambered to his feet. “So,” hemurmured, “a whole year back in time. How does not concern me, nor does why -the why I can figure out, I trust. What concerns me is the where of this place.A year ago - biological count - we were not returned. You had not rememberedyour past and I was in the Throne.” He swung around to stand with his hands onhis knees, leaning so that Torrullin could not escape him. “Why choose a wholeyear?”
Torrullin did not attempt to escape that gaze.“I do not desire to change anything, if that is what you imply. We have beenthrough trauma recently, but it revealed more about us than it hid, and I amnot running away from it, and neither should you.”
“Agreed. Now answer the question.”
“A year? It was a round number.”
“Really?”
Torrullin gave a quick grin. “Yes, really.” Hepointed a finger. “More than a year passed in reality than for us in realmtravel. Whether I deliberately tweaked or not, does not influence either memoryor return.”
“I’ll get out of your hair now,” Tristan said.“Before I do, I would like to hear the where of this place also. A year ago, Iwondered who would become Vallorin, even if everyone else counts a few moreyears than we do. I don’t want to find myself revisiting that time.”
“This is Lethe. I do not know.”
“You are a Walker,” Elianas frowned.
“Not when another pulls the strings,”Torrullin said. “It does not matter what we do, what we say or how we feel oreven where and when we are; we are not in control.”
Tristan licked dry lips. As Elianas stared at Torrullin,Tristan said, “The only way out is to start talking to each other, don’t yousee?”
Torrullin frowned. “Maybe, but it does notreturn us control.”
“Which control do you seek?” Tristan demanded.“Which is more important, Torrullin? Elianas? The control over Lethe or thecontrol over self? Is it that hard to imagine one may lead to the other?”Silence. “Well?”
Elianas shrugged. Torrullin threaded handsthrough his hair.
Tristan smirked. “I guess my point is made.I’ll be over there if you have need of me.” He walked away, leaving them alone.He did not go far, but was outside of hearing range. He knew words were tellingbetween the two men.
Step over the threshold at your peril!
The real truth about the Valleur through the ages isuncovered when exploiters delve the green hills of Echolone for gold. After anancient door is discovered in the bowels of the earth, it serves to unmask thehidden power Elianas carries within, a power that places him on the samepedestal Torrullin, as Elixir, already inhabits.
The two men swerve through different realms unravelling whatnow lies between them and every step reverberates in reality. As loved ones paythe ultimate price, old enemies again step forward to challenge their right torule, particularly Nemisin, First Father of the Valleur.
Nemisin desires above all else to be the One and will do everythingin his power to wrest the title from Torrullin, even using his daughter againstElianas, thereby unsettling a powerful partnership. In this he is not alone,for Tymall, Warlock, seeks to sunder that connection as well.
In a time when all seers’ visions and dreams cease, revelationsare given to those who have never before experienced them at the site of amysterious door in a mine. Here is a mystery and it requires solving, but theanswers will change the future, in reality and realms.
Greed is able to create massive chaos. It will unbalanceeverything. Delving deep is able to construct fissures in time. It will releasehidden truth.
It will also shatter sacred space.
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