Chapter 10: LYKANDIR: The Measured World
Motionless seas. A two-faces clock. Lykan sees all.
The Dark Ages reigns on a world separated from Time, where men prefer warand women are lesser. Writing is outlawed and city gates close against thenight, for the legend of the Wer is frighteningly real.
King Androdin sends his son Cadmus north to meet with his northern rival,Drakan of Caladin, and with him is Aris Delmann, leader of the army. Theirjourney takes an unexpected turn when they discover not only an enclave ofwomen, but also powerful men from another world, among them Torrullin Valla andElianas Danae.
Meanwhile, in the south, traitors have summoned an army from a distantland, and soon the first city falls to their might.
When the mages begin their own game of manipulation, using the two-facesclock, Lykandir becomes explosive. It needs but a spark and all hope will belost.
How dare they? Now is the time to stand together, is it not? Lykandir isabout to suffer an overdue shake around and no one will escape it.
Lykan sees all.
CHAPTER10
For love of a friend,one walks into danger.
~ Ancient Oracles ~
Avaelyn
The Singing Chapel
THREE days after the wasp attack, Torrullin summoned histeam to the Singing Chapel on the grounds of the Healer���s Facility. Built as asacred site, the stone building communed with nature and accepted all worship,whether of the Mother or a tree, flower, or a star in the heavens. It did notmatter; what mattered was serenity, and here there was a tranquillity to soothe the soul when a loved one lay on a bed in the hospital a few feet removed. Theday he and Elianas consecrated the site, over a century ago, bright-wingedbirds flew into the giant tree the chapel reposed under and commenced a song ofethereal beauty. Thus, the Singing Chapel. Even now, a multitude of harmoniesplayed out on the branches overhead.
Shep Lore, thearchitect and instigator for what he called the hospital, but Valleur thoughtof as the Healers, as well as being its administrator, and the foremost healeron Avaelyn, would not attend. Too many required his care at this point. Nonehad yet recovered from the wasp sting. Sabian had denied the summons also,claiming he was engaged in determining both cause and solution to the foulresult of the stinging.
Torrullin hoped hewould find something, for those felled had been immune to his healer���s talent,and that had never happened before. This ���illness��� was either so new or soancient, there was no cure, one not even his remarkable abilities could delvefor. Like to Titan���s Disease in the past, which had at least responded to histouch, this was a thing of sorcery, there was no longer doubt on that score.Had it been biological, every man, woman and child would now be leaving thehospital healed after being under his hands. Shep and Sabian would need to be caughtup on the other world situation, but in the present, they were where they weremost needed.
Elianas relaxed inlong-legged calm in one of the window seats, his gaze turned outward. He seemedremoved from the present. His long, dark hair lifted in the breeze - the doorswere open on both sides - and his fingers lay spread on his thighs. For this,he had donned black - britches, boots - other than his tunic, a flowing whitesilk. He appeared, Torrullin mused, much like the pirates in old stories. All heneeded was a cutlass.
���Where is your sword,Elianas?���
The man did not move,other than to say, ���At home.���
He, Torrullin, had notstrapped his on either. He could not remember the last time he had cause towear it. In those first years after separation from Reaume, yes, for thepotential for strife still existed then, but thereafter only to swipe at midgeswhen he and Elianas raced along wild paths on their horses. Soon the dayarrived when neither man bothered to reach for their blades. Both kept them oiledand sharp, however,
���Are you thinking weshould keep our swords close again?��� Elianas asked, his gaze still turnedoutward.
���Maybe.���
Dark hair swung asElianas moved his head to rake him with an unreadable gaze. ���You chose fullblack for this gathering. Making a statement or expecting trouble?���
The black had been histrademark apparel, as it had been for Elianas, but with time he had set asidewhat he regarded as both armour and war gear, and had chosen loose-fittingnatural hues. In winter, certainly, he sometimes donned the black, but that hadto do with staying warm, not much else. ���Both,��� Torrullin murmured.
���Why make a statement?We are not expecting strangers, Torrullin.���
���Says the man whoalmost did the same. Tell me why you chose that shirt.���
Elianas��� head swungback to the outward view. ���Too hot for a woven tunic.���
���That���s your reason?���
���What else can it be?���
The itch of frustrationover Elianas��� attitude revealed to him that they were in contrary mode both. Inthe past this led to extreme confrontation between them; were they headed inthat direction again?
���Elianas, I don���t wantto fight.���
���Too bad. Maybe I do.���
Now what the fuck didthat mean? About to stride in to haul the man from the seat, Torrullin wasforced to pause, for he heard Teroux���s voice on approach, talking to someone ashe walked. ���Saved by the bell,��� he muttered.
A smile curved onto anamber cheek, but Elianas did not look his way.
Teroux, golden hairflowing over his shoulders, his tawny eyes bright, entered all smiles, his armsheld wide. Grinning, Torrullin walked into the embrace, and both slapped eachother���s backs before drawing apart. ���Good to see you, Teroux. You look well.The ocean air definitely suits you.���
���Man, my new ship isfantastic! You and Elianas have to come for a sail ��� where is Elianas? Oh,there you are!��� Grinning, Teroux moved in Elianas��� direction, who swung hislegs to the floor and stood. The two clasped arms in ritual greeting.
���We���d love to sail,���Elianas smiled.
���Just say when,��� Terouxgrinned.
In the time before,Elianas and Teroux had issues and barely tolerated each other. They were notbest friends today, but after a century of sun, sea, and his own company,Teroux had grown up and no longer sought to hold on to the past. His greetingand smile, therefore, was sincere, and Elianas responded to it, although onlyTorrullin understood the dark man still had reservations. He would probablynever entirely trust Teroux.
���Who were you talkingto?��� Torrullin asked.
���Quilla. Now where hashe got to?��� Teroux moved to a bench and sat, crossing his legs.
���Here, here,��� Quilla ofthe Q���lin���la chirped as he entered. A tiny being with feathered crown andwings, the birdman was Torrullin���s most trusted friend. His cherubic cheeksbulged as he smiled greeting, ���Such lovely harmonies, had me entranced.Torrullin, I have missed you. And you, Elianas. Teroux at least has been to theLifesource; I hope you two will pay a visit soon.���
The LifesourceCathedral was the sacred site on Avaelyn. Erected between two mightypeaks with a gigantic waterfall to one side, it gave homage to the lifegivingwaters of their world, and in return offered healing of the mind to all whoentered the ethereal chambers within chambers. Many visited simply to listen tothe magic of the music surrounding them as they wandered through. Although aValleur site, it was also Quilla���s home, and was the only access to the Q���in���lamoonlit homeworld.
���Soon,��� Elianas echoed.���Hello, Quilla. It is good to see you.���
Tiny hands claspedtogether. ���Likewise. We are too scattered in the present.���
���Peace does that,���Torrullin grinned.
Bright blue orbsspeared him. ���Meaning peace is about to be disrupted, given we are gathering?Oh, I hope not.���
���I agree,��� Teroux said.���Those wasps? Is that what this is about?���
���They appear to be asymptom of a larger problem. I will explain when Tarlinn joins us,��� Torrullinresponded.
���Will he join us?���
Torrullin shrugged athis grandson. There was no way of knowing, was there?
Quilla meanwhile movedto stand before Elianas, his feathered head thrown back to look up at the man.���You are disturbed.���
���The news is not thebest.���
���No, Elianas,��� Quillamurmured, and reached up to lay a tiny hand over the dark man���s heart. ���I meanin here.���
Placing a hand over thetiny one, thereby engulfing it, Elianas said, ���Perhaps I will come to theLifesource, for clarity.���
���Good.��� Swinging away,the birdman next came to rest before Torrullin. ���The black, my friend?���
Peripherally trackingElianas��� suddenly uncoordinated movements, Torrullin muttered, ���You need totake this seriously.���
���That bad.���
���Potentially, yes.���
���Oh dear,��� Quillasighed, and moved to perch beside Teroux.
As Elianas returned tothe window seat, sitting with his legs hanging over the edge to face theinterior, a new shadow darkened the entrance.
Tarlinn had arrived.
HE PAUSED in the doorway to study those already present.
Torrullin Valla. Theman of many titles. Elixir. Walker of Realms. Shadow Wings. Lorinin. Ancient.Eternal Companion. Timekeeper. And Vallorin, the one that counted most for him,Tarlinn. The Valleur who was both Valla and Danae, a true immortal. That listof titles was what led to Torrullin choosing to bow out from Reaume, and whocould blame him?
Elianas Danae.Torrullin���s equal in power, his list of titles as impressive. Alhazen. ShadowWings. Ancient. Eternal Companion. Timekeeper. The Danae. The Vallorin withouta throne. How he wished Elianas had taken that seat. A Danae with Valla bloodalso, truly immortal.
He knew these two men fromthe inside out. He was and ever would remain the sentient part of the ValleurThrone, but having chosen to accompany The Valla and The Danae into theirportal existence, he now walked on two legs like to any other. The Throneitself, back in Reaume, was autonomous, and yet, if he wished to, he couldsimply return to inhabit the seat as he had for eons upon eons, through cycleafter cycle. He no longer wished to, but his choice did not detract from hispowers at all. As in the past, when Torrullin, first and forever Vallorin ofthe Valleur in his opinion, sat on his Throne, and knowledge flowed betweenthem, thus it was now. Elianas had hidden as essence within the golden seat fora lengthy period, believing himself alone, waiting, and Tarlinn the sentiencehad left him to that belief, for it was how the man coped with the long wait.Indeed, yes, he knew these men from the inside out.
A century had gone byas a man. Often, he needed to vanish to cope with that, for a century whencompared to the eternity elapsed? It played with his mind. Sometimes hequestioned his choice academically, and at other times he screamed his elationat the spaces ��� and did not need witnesses for that.
Tarlinn���s attentionshifted to the only other Valla on Avaelyn - Teroux. The young man - no longerthat young at over a century - had finally lived up to his potential. TerouxValla had a rough time growing up. As a man who preferred men, he hid hissecret, and it bowed his soul. He wed the lovely Rose and betrayed her forElianas, which that man utterly denied him. Time had moved on and there waspeace between them, and Teroux had blossomed to become his own man, whileElianas remained contained when in his presence.
And Quilla of theQ���lin���la. A true friend to Torrullin, his only confidante. How blessed Avaelynwas that this tiny birdman had chosen to turn his back on Reaume. He said itwas because his time had expired there, but Tarlinn knew the real reason washis love for Torrullin.
Glorious men, and herehe was, unremarkable, average ��� generic. A face overlooked in a crowd. Featuressoon forgotten, his choice. And yet his power, while different, was on par withboth Torrullin and Elianas. They were waiting for him to speak. ���Greetings,���was all he said, and moved forward to clasp arms with all except Quilla, whogrinned impishly his way.
���Six years this time,Tarlinn,��� Torrullin pointed out. ���What were you up to? No one saw you.���
���Here, there. High,low. This is an ancient world and keeps secrets. I wanted to know.���
���And what did youdiscover?���
���I now know how Avaelynwill return to Reaume.���
Utter silence greetedthat statement, and Tarlinn watched the reactions with curiosity. Torrullininhaled, and closed his eyes, and that, he understood, was all about relief.Thus, Torrullin already knew they would return, and he realised the way hadbeen found. Elianas remained expressionless, other than incrementally shiftinghis gaze to evaluate Torrullin���s reaction. Thus, the Danae knew as well, andnow wondered how soon Torrullin would agitate for that return. Quilla���s mouthrounded and Teroux paled to ghostly white.
���Return? I don���t wantto go back,��� Teroux whispered.
���Tactless, Tarlinn,���Torrullin snarled.
���No, my brother. Thisis knowledge we may need soon. If we cannot prevent the seas boiling away,escape from this realm will be the only answer.���
���Fuck,��� Elianasgroaned.
���What the hell does hemean?��� Teroux demanded of Torrullin. ���Boiling seas?��� No doubt Teroux���s firstthought was for his fleet of ships. ���What bloody boiling seas?���
Threading both handsthrough his shoulder length hair, Torrullin said, ���You are therefore aware ofthe situation.���
Tarlinn nodded. ���I am.���
���You came to tell usabout this dubious escape hatch.���
���I did.���
Torrullin grinnedmirthlessly. ���Hasn���t that just put a cathron among the falcons?��� Inhaling, hefaced Quilla and Teroux. ���Listen now, here���s what���s happening ������
Healer���s Facility
MANY lay in delirium upon beds in the hospital andShep Lore moved amongst them, hoping to at least make them as comfortable andpain free as was possible. Friends and family of his patients hovered, waitingfor the healer to give his prognosis. He had nothing to offer them, and prayedthat Sabian would find an answer. Torrullin���s healing attempts had had no wakenand heal effect, although it did delay what other healers were saying wasinevitability. They lost three men before Torrullin arrived that first day.This was day four, and none had yet recovered naturally.
Of the swarm there had been no further sign,but reports of sightings of small groups had filtered in from every region. Nofurther attacks had yet occurred and for that Shep was beyond thankful.
One man kept drawing his gaze and he was unsurewhether the man was human or Valleur; his dark hair spoke of being human whilehis attitude screamed Valleur. He hovered over a golden-haired Valleur writhingand moaning, whispering to him, no doubt hoping his words of support would aidthe poor man. The hovering one reminded Shep so much of Taranis Agripson, the Guardianof yesteryear, that he could not help but glance over repeatedly, certain hiseyes were deceiving him. The man was nervous, and that nervousness went beyondwhat he felt for his friend in delirium. He continually looked to the wardentrance as if expecting someone to enter, a someone he did not particularlywish to see, or was wary of encountering, but because he cared for the ill man,he took the risk. Gut instinct told Shep that, by all gods, this day wouldbring utter change.
Sabian entered then, and Shep noticed how thewatching dark-haired man almost deflated in his relief. Shep and Sabian hadover the last century become best friends, often working together, one beingpractical, the other a researcher. They made things happen, much to Torrullin���scontinued amusement.
���Shep?��� Sabian queried. ���Have a moment?���
The rotund, purple-clad form saw something inSabian���s expression, for he nodded and followed the man out. Neither noticedthat the dark-haired one trailed after them.
The two halted in an alcove and engaged inwhispered conversation. ���I can now confirm each of those creatures was, in someform, a wasp, but not of the natural order,��� Sabian murmured.
���What are you inferring?��� Shep demanded. ���Mypatients need me; get to the point.���
���Sorcery, Shep,��� Sabian snapped. ���What else isthere? Someone has infiltrated Avaelyn, someone with bad intentions.���
���Who?���
Sabian threw his hands up. ���I don���t know,idiot.���
���What can be done to stop this? I don���t carehow or why right now; I need an answer!���
���Hush, will you?��� Sabian inhaled and loweredhis own voice. ���According to the Lore Book, there is only one countering thatwill work. The heated tip of a special sword must be placed upon the brow ofthe man stung, and he will then recover.���
Shep nodded vigorously. ���Well, good. Where���sthe sword?���
Sabian stared at him. ���I have no idea, or evenif it exists.���
Paling, Shep whispered, ���The great words havenames. Is it not Trezond or Kilathen?���
���Neither Torrullin nor Elianas��� swords havesway in this, unfortunately. This one is named Iniralin.���
���Never heard of it.���
Sabian swore under his breath, and asked, ���Norace memory?���
Shep Lore shook his head.
���Then we���re screwed, my friend.���
The dark-haired man moved into their field ofview, drawing their attention. Shep frowned at him, but Sabian gasped, and itwas such a shocked and enlightened sound, it caused Shep to jerk. ���What now?���he demanded of Sabian, ignoring the man who now had a hand on the hilt of hissword. A trembling hand, Shep noticed. The incongruity worried him, but so didSabian���s shock.
Sabian lifted a shaking hand to point. ���Him.���
���What about him? He has a friend in the ward.He reminds me of Taranis but ������
���More correctly, Shep, Taranis looked like thisman,��� Sabian stated, his voice strengthening. He inhaled, and then bowed low.���Well met, Karydor Danae.���
���Ohhh,��� Shep breathed out. Shivers raced overhis skin, puckering every inch with goosebumps.
The man closed his eyes, and nodded. ���You haveme there, Master Historian, and I have the sword known as Iniralin. Named forhope and optimism, and future.���
Sabian blinked.
Grey eyes crinkled with something approachingamusement when they reopened. Torrullin���s eyes. ���Yes, I am well aware of whatthis means. Not only do I appear to carry the blade that will save lives, ifyou have the right of it, but this day I meet my son.���
���Ohhh,��� Shep repeated in a hoarse voice.
Indeed.
LYKANDIR
