Chapter 10: The Echolone Mine
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.
CHAPTER 10
Secondfiddle never sounds quite the same, does it?
~ Tattle
Valaris
Farinwood
THE INN WAS CROWDED. Allinns in Farinwood were over-full, in fact. It was Istelgor, the icy month ofwinter before spring thaw, and it was Farinwood’s annual ice-skatingcompetition. People in colourful gear crowded every inn, tavern, eatery, allroads and streets, every park and bench. Skates adorned doorways, windowlatches and all conceivable spaces. Laughter, shrieks and talk flowed aroundthe aging town. There were teams from Xen, Beacon, Excelsior, Ceta, Fortani,Lax, Sanctuary, Ymir, and from Valaris and Luvanor. They competed for a trophy,no more, and thus competition was serious fun.
The frozen lake was a relatively new additionto Farinwood’s attractions, one built of necessity and then later used toentertain the youth of the town during winter, entertainment that spread likewildfire when two Xenians one day donned their skates and flew on ice. Skatesbecame the new thing to have. Now in its tenth year, the competition wentuniversal.
“Where is Lowen in this?” Torrullin muttered.
Lowen was not to be found and in the press ofpeople they were soon separated. Quilla was with Cassy; she would be fine, ifagog over the sights, sounds and smells.
“Let’s try the lake!” Elianas shouted over sixburly men.
Torrullin waved understanding and headed thatway.
Coming upon her from different angles, theyfound Lowen giggling with a group of females ranging in age from ten to eighty.Barring the young, the women fortified themselves against the cold with warmingdrinks. She saw Elianas first and patted a space beside her. He sat, accepted abeverage, and was soon the centre of attention. Torrullin, watchingunobtrusively, smiled. Elianas seemed younger, more innocent, like to the boyhe was once. Lowen’s, however, was an almost desperate gaiety. His smileslipped, looking at her. He turned his back on Saska for this woman, and now hedid the same to her for Elianas, but the precedent with Elianas existed in atime ages-old.
Enchanter, where are you?
At the lake, Quilla. We found her.
This place is a madhouse.
A resounding cheer raised the noise level. Ateam of skaters had taken honours. Lowen looked up and saw him. Leaning overElianas, she whispered something, and stood to make her way unsteadily to him.She almost fell into his arms, and he was disappointed when she caught herbalance in time. A moment later Elianas had laughingly excused himself andfollowed.
“Lowen, having fun?” Torrullin murmured.
“Two days ago, they started packing it in.”
“Skating competitions, angling, marathons, skiing,hiking, sailing; who would have thought Valaris would be this popular?”
Cassy and Quilla joined them, and Cassy andLowen fell into conversation about women’s clothing and so forth. Lowen sentTorrullin a quick look on realising that Cassy was healed, knowing the womannow had the ability to cause trouble for him, but he was looking at thebirdman. Elianas rolled his eyes - women and clothes - and winked when shelooked at him next. Elianas had opted to take the present at face value.
Quilla had a look on his face. “We will notfind food here.”
“Gasmoor. It has to be quiet there,” Torrullinoffered.
They headed out to a private space fortransport, with Lowen promising to find suitable clothes for Valaris’ augustguest.
Gasmoor
DESPITE THE YEARS, Gasmoorretained its formality and remained a university town. It boasted more suburbsin the present, and yet was quiet and restful. Roads were wide and trees wereold. It also boasted the finest restaurants on Valaris. Torrullin chose a placeserving pasta and smooth red wine, and they sat around a table polished to asheen. The owner recognised his patron and led them to a private area. The winecame swiftly, and orders were placed.
“Valaris is modernising fast,” Torrullinremarked.
“You cannot stop it,” Quilla murmured, sippingfastidiously.
“Pity.”
Quilla sighed. “I must agree with you. Atleast it’s not the high-tech craziness as some places have fallen into.”
The food came - pasta with tomato and herbsauce and baskets of garlic bread - and they ate with relish.
Cassy said, “This is good.”
Elianas grinned. “Not Valleur food.”
She gestured at her plate. “Better.”
Quilla was soon finished, his smaller stomachrequiring less, and sat back with a satisfied sigh. “Now I feel normal.”
Torrullin grinned at him. “Never thought abirdman could love food so much.”
“Bugger off, Enchanter.”
Torrullin, smiling, ate on.
“I must go to the Dome from here. What are youfour to do next?” Quilla asked.
“We have little purpose now,” Elianas said.“It feels odd.”
Quilla murmured, “This could be a time tountangle personal, um, problems.”
Elianas made a face. Lowen gulped at her wine.Torrullin pushed his plate aside, declaring himself sated. He took to the winealso.
Cassy laughed. “I do not think they fancy thethought, Quilla.”
“Obviously. Idiotic.”
Torrullin changed the subject. “How faresTristan?”
“Well. He is in his element.”
“What does the Kaval work on at the moment?”
“We concentrate on Lax. A large portion of thecriminal element is routed, which required a prison complex. The Kavalaccomplished it in the four years we were away. Weapons are confiscated daily,but the number lessens, thank Aaru. Axel Red, remember him? He became quite thecivic leader, using his military skills to organise the clean-up of cities. Newbuildings rise month by month and a number of farms produce profitably.”
“Glad to hear it.”
“Let us not fool ourselves,” Quilla added.“Lax requires years of aid, policing and sustainable development, and at leasta generation to alter mind-set, but it is a start, yes.”
“And Ymir?”
“Better and better,” Quilla said with a smile.“We monitor continuously in the event.”
“Ymir is safe from Nemisin.”
“I know, but we shall go on watching. Theexploitation of children has ceased, and some of the depravity Ymir is knownfor. The eye in the sky keeps them on their toes. It remains a red-light world,but rather where we know it than underground, I say.”
“True,” Torrullin murmured. He did not darelook at Elianas.
“Excelsior, by the way, has commenced fullnuclear disarmament.”
“Excellent.”
Quilla was quiet, staring at Torrullin.
“And now?” Torrullin demanded.
“Enchanter, there might be something you canhelp us with.” Quilla tapped at the table. “Seeing Elixir himself may sort themout and you do find yourself at a loose end, do you not?”
“Yes,” Torrullin drawled.
“I think Tristan will be relieved if you takethis one.”
Elianas was curious. “What is it?”
Torrullin glanced at him. “Watch out; Quilla’scasual purpose-induced missions usually hide underlying tensions we could dowithout.”
Elianas grinned. “I like it.”
“Thought you might,” Torrullin muttered.“Fine, Quilla, what is the problem Elixir needs deal with?”
Lowen frowned. “The mining thing, Quilla? Weagreed to wait until we could concentrate on it.”
“You, Elianas and Torrullin could do it now,”Quilla said, “and Cassy can add a connection to her network there. It certainlyneeds one.”
Torrullin required details. “Tell us.”
Quilla was all business, sidling forward toplace elbows on the table. He pushed his wine aside to make room. “Ever heardof Echolone?”
“Isn’t that where shamans are trained?”Torrullin murmured.
“Correct, although they have not muchinfluence in the spirit world.”
“Which is why we left them to it. What hasmining to do with this?”
“Prospectors recently discovered gold, whichbrought geologists and engineers in, and found coal seams, underground gold,and diamonds. Within a year Echolone has been overrun by miners of everypersuasion and major delving has commenced.”
“So? Beacon does this all the time.”
“Beacon is involved, yes. Politicking isunderway, bribing for mineral rights and concessions, and we have a host ofenvironmentalists’ swamping the place to prevent damage to natural regions.Very tense, and about to explode. The Dome could find a solution, compromisesthat will not destroy Echolone as a society, or we could send the minerspacking without their riches. That is not the real issue. That is background.”
Torrullin grimaced. “They found something inthe rock.”
“Yes. We do not know what it is. We alreadymade it known we do not sanction exploitation, which has sent folk to thenegotiation table, and we continue to monitor. The situation remains tense,particularly regarding environmentalists …”
“Thank the gods for green junkies,” Loweninterrupted. “They frequently alert us to a problem with the environment.”
“Agreed,” Quilla said, “but they alsoperiodically go overboard.”
Elianas loosed an exasperated sigh. “What didthey find in the rock?”
Quilla grinned briefly, knowing he had theirattention. “We do not know who made it, but folk act peculiarly. Erin and Shedopaid a visit and came away perplexed. Declan wanted to go in, and then therewas an uprising on Lax. Tristan suggested we deal with Lax first beforeentering as a team to Echolone.”
“But you are concerned now,” Torrullin murmured.
“The miners found a massive, sealed,underground door. Made of steel, apparently old, and covered in glyphs.”
“Valleur?” Cassy demanded.
Quilla shook his head.
“Egyptian?” Torrullin asked.
Again, Quilla shook his head. He pointed afinger at Torrullin. “It is unknown. You are thinking, so what? There arecivilisations built on civilisations and cities have been rebuilt on ancientfoundations - happens all the time. A door in rock is a curiosity, a matter forarchaeologists, which, by the way, has added a new dimension to the tension.Archaeologists dig in, preventing further blasting. But there’s this; all thosewho see the door claim to have a vision after. Erin had one, and so did Shedo.”
“Erin is a priestess,” Torrullin murmured.
“Shedo has not the gift. What they saw isnothing terrible - green plains, flowers and so forth - yet it is a twist. Ithink you should investigate.”
“And, naturally, my presence will put everyminer and exploiter on tippy toes.”
Quilla smiled.
“Why do you say this Echolone needs a sacredsite?” Cassy asked.
“Erin said there were tensions from ancienttimes. It may be your network is able soothe it.”
Cassy nodded. “We shall consider itcarefully.”
Elianas glanced at her. “We? We are going?”
“Of course, we are,” she declared.
Lowen said, “In a time when visions haveceased, this is an oddity.”
“I agree,” Torrullin murmured.
“Visions have ceased?” Quilla gasped. “When?”
“Since Void exit,” Lowen said.
“That is terrible! You must investigate this.”
“Inform Tristan we shall see it done,”Torrullin stated.
Elianas grinned.
Valaris
Menllik
CABALLA, CELEBRATED VALLEURseer, had a small house on the outskirts of the Valleur city of Menllik. Shespent her time making it homely for Tristan, although she did not expect to seehim much, for the Kaval took all of him in the present. Yet he would come, andshe would welcome him.
Sitting on her stone porch taking a breatherfrom renovation, she stared south towards the Gosa Mountains, legs swingingfree from a hanging seat. Her visions had ceased. For so long she alternativelywelcomed them and wished them away, and now she was lost. What worried herspecifically was the vision she had of Tristan and the fair man at the Digilanportal. The Syllvan suggested she examine anew, and warn Tristan, and she couldnot see even the original vision. Did it mean he was safe? In the past doubtoften took her to the Three Gates where dreams were deciphered, but the Gateshad ceased in their purpose and the Valleur as a whole had stopped dreaming.
She chewed the inside of her cheek and reacheda decision.
Caballa called to Torrullin.
QUILLA HAD TAKENhis leave to return to the Dome and the party of four left the restaurant whenTorrullin received that call. Caballa stopped swinging when she saw them. Sherose. “That was quick.” She greeted everyone.
“We were in Gasmoor.” Torrullin pecked her cheekand briefly introduced Cassy. Saska, he knew, told her about Cassy.
Caballa smiled at the woman. “Welcome.”
Cassy dimpled. “Thank you.”
Torrullin glanced around. “You are fixing thiscottage?”
She smiled and nodded. “What do you think?”
“Good job. For you and Tristan?”
“When we touch base, yes.”
“That will not be often.”
“We are not the kind who need constantreassurance.”
He inclined his head. “I know.”
“Thereason I called …”
“… no more visions,” Lowen murmured.
“You too?”
“All of us,” Torrullin stated. “Since theVoid.”
“The Valleur have stopped dreaming,” Caballaadded.
Elianas sank into long-legged pose on theswinging seat. “We have always dreamed, always seen ahead.”
“And now Quilla tells us of a door wherevisions come,” Torrullin murmured. “Coincidence? I think not.” He filledCaballa in.
When he was finished, she said, “I am goingwith you.”
“We could use your help.”
Lowen sat beside Elianas, and he rocked bothof them. “Torrullin, we need a linguist,” Lowen pointed out. “No one here knowshow to read what is on that door.”
“I know of no one versed in glyphs.”
“I do,” Lowen said. “Cèlaver.”
He stared at her, and an odd shudder passedthrough him. Cèlaver was not a place he wished to see again. “They do notleave.”
Lowen shrugged. “King Priam still lives andowes both of us.” Between them, they saved the king’s life from an ambitiousminister. Cèlaver was where he found her after returning from the Plane. “I’llgo. Since you and Tristamil brought the common tongue there, linguists havetaken on importance. Few languages escape them now.”
“Do it.”
She tilted her head in agreement, knowing itwould not be a simple task. Like to Torrullin, it was not somewhere she wishedto return to, but needs must. Cèlaver was an underground civilisation becausethe surface was uninhabitable. Long evolution underground now meant sunlightwas akin to poison, and Cèlaver was insular and isolationist. “Sendco-ordinates when you are underground,” Lowen said.
“Agreed,” Torrullin murmured. “Thank you.”
Briefly acknowledging the quality of thatappreciation for the underlying meaning inherent, Lowen rose. “Then I’m off.”
“Be careful.”
“Always.” She was gone.
Elianas murmured, “You are cavalier.”
Torrullin ignored him. He was not beinghighhanded; he was relieved Lowen undertook the task, but only she understoodthat.
Caballa headed inside. “Let me throw a fewitems into a bag. There’s coffee in the kitchen.”
Elianas glanced at his wife. “Are you strongenough for this?”
An eyebrow arched. “Sweet caring - how novel.Yes, I can do this. Everything is new - people, food, places, the mixture ofraces, climate, language, the things you talk about. I am intrigued, challengedand love that it is different, and want to go adventuring. Elianas, now I amfreed of my father’s yoke, I have freedom of choice also. Strength willfollow.”
“You are different.”
“You are as well, and so is he.” She gesturedat Torrullin. “Different people in different times and maybe differentmistakes. Shall we aim for that this time? Let us do this and see where we arewhen we come away.”
Torrullin said, “I admire your spirit, Cassy.”
HALF AN HOUR later they headed forEcholone. Purpose awaited. Clearly the gods were fast asleep.
