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  “I … well, no. But many think that; I am not alone in it. Are you aware how many worlds have entered into truce with the Dome to avoid future invasion?”

  “Invasion?” Tristan whispered. “You suspect Elixir will invade worlds?”

  “I am repeating what I heard.”

  “Invade with what?” Teroux said. “Are you insane? The Dome has no army.”

  “We hear tell of a world called Sanctuary, and folk say an army is being prepared there,” Kris said, eyes going from one to the other.

  He finally understood why it was he had been nabbed by Sirlasin and brought before Tianoman.

  Both Tianoman and Teroux were about to shout and even Sirlasin in the background rose in fury, when Tristan held his hand aloft. As he was about to speak, there was a knock on the door.

  Exem entered bearing a tray of drinks and behind him a woman bearing all manner of finger foods. The trays were placed on the low table before the men and the two left. Nobody moved.

  Tristan said, “Sanctuary is exactly that, a sanctuary. The Dome is what it has always been and the Kaval are the new Guardians. There is no army and our grandfather has no intention of carving out kingdoms for us. This is the truth and those are the facts. However, rumour has life, and fuelling it does not make it right or alter hearsay into truth.”

  Kris nodded. “I will speak of this to all who open their mouths to utter these rumours.”

  Tristan sighed. “No, say nothing. It will add fuel to the fire. Kris, we judge you misled, but innocent of wrongdoing. Please, enjoy the hospitality of Valla Palace this night as a token of our apology and feel free to meet the Farmer’s Union tomorrow without ill will. All we ask is that you say nothing of this … situation. Agreed?”

  Kris Westlake gazed around him. A night in Valla Palace? He would have a tale to tell, for sure - with a few embellishments - and the Vallas would come out smelling like nectar.

  He grinned. “Agreed.”

  Tristan smiled. “Thank you. Please, have a drink, eat something. I will have someone come for you in a while. My cousins and I need to confer now, if you will excuse us?” Tristan rose decisively, as did Tianoman and Teroux. “Sirlasin, will you join us?”

  “Of course, my lord,” the Elder murmured, and followed the three Valla men out, leaving a bemused Kris Westlake staring at the array of drinks and edibles before him. He looked up at the books on the shelves and gaped at the titles.

  Hell, never would he read even a portion of those.

  “IS THERE A RUMOUR circulating to this effect?” Tristan demanded as the door to his suite closed on them. “Sirlasin?”

  “There must be.”

  “It could affect trust in the Kaval,” Teroux muttered.

  “And relations with Valaris,” Tianoman pointed out. “We do not want to rule by fear or be seen as future aggressors.”

  “I wonder if Elixir knows,” Sirlasin murmured.

  “What worries me,” Tristan said, “is others may be readying an army to offset this mythical force on Sanctuary. An army prepared eventually requires a war to affirm necessity.”

  Teroux and Tianoman were horrified, but Sirlasin said, “Elixir would see such an army preparing.”

  “Would he? By all accounts he has withdrawn to his villa on Sanctuary and has little to do with the Dome and his Kaval. And what if it’s readied in innocuous pockets of resistance? Not enough to bring Kaval attention, yet sufficient to herald other, similar units.”

  Sirlasin pursed his lips. “That smacks of organisation. Is someone powerful enough to keep the secret? We do not know any of this.”

  “No,” Teroux agreed, “yet we shouldn’t be complacent. A rumour about potential kingdoms is fuel to resistance.”

  “Someone should contact the Dome,” Tianoman suggested.

  “One of us should speak to Elixir,” Tristan said.

  “Because someone may be creating these rumours to build an army,” Teroux murmured.

  It was Sirlasin’s turn to be horrified. “We must tell him immediately.”

  Tianoman said, “Who will go?”

  Sirlasin looked away. “Perhaps one of the Elders known to him?”

  “No, we won’t spread this thing,” Teroux said. “You should go, Sirlasin.”

  “No, not me. He needs to hear it from - one of you must do this.”

  Teroux said, “He came for my and Tris’ Coming-of-Age, and he’s bound to come for yours, Tian. That’s less than a month away; we could speak to him then.”

  Tianoman nodded immediately.

  “Are we afraid of our grandfather?” Tristan said. “This is the man who comforted you when your father died, Teroux, and was there at your birth and naming, Tian. He was there for me during those Abyss dreams, and he has come over the years when we needed him to be our grandfather. He came when we achieved adulthood, as he will for you. He is Elixir, yes, but he’s still Torrullin, a man who loves his family.”

  Tianoman spoke next. “Your father should be the one, Tristan. Let Samuel go … or we wait until my Coming-of-Age.”

  Tristan gave a mirthless smile. “We are afraid of him. I won’t add to my father’s troubles right now and I don’t think we should wait almost a month to tell him something he needs to know immediately.”

  “Maybe he knows,” Teroux suggested.

  “And maybe he doesn’t.”

  “What do you suggest?” Tianoman asked.

  “All three of us go.”

  Sirlasin nodded.

  Teroux gave a heartfelt sigh. “When?”

  Tristan said, “Well, let us not set alarms ringing for the Beaconite downstairs. After the man leaves in the morning, we go.”

  Tianoman huffed. “Fine. Sirlasin, let us get back to Vall to organise.” The Elder agreed and the two left.

  Teroux glanced at Tristan. “Why are we afraid of Torrullin?”

  “He can see through us into our hidden thoughts, I guess.”

  “So?”

  “Ah, Teroux, maybe you have nothing to hide, but Tian certainly does and I think I may have, too.”

  “Like what?” Teroux whispered.

  “That bloody Throne, my brother. It plays with us now.”

  Teroux looked away. “Yes.”

  Chapter 4

  A place to lay my head, Samaritan, please. All gods bless you.

  ~ Beggar to passer-by

  Sanctuary

  TORRULLIN AGREED ON this world as sanctuary not only because it offered the kind of benign natural order to aid restoration of the soul, body and mind, but over its timing in seasons and day-night cycles.

  Sanctuary closely matched Valaris in both. When it was morning on Valaris, it was morning on Sanctuary, and when it was winter here, it was winter there.

  He swore to stay away from Valaris to spare his homeworld - for trouble invariably accompanied him - and had stayed away, other than the two Coming-of-Age ceremonies. Every day was a battle to ignore his world.

  Thus Sanctuary. In living the same cycles he could be there in mind. It was how he coped.

  The weather was bleak and cold this mid-morning. Winter set her tentacles onto the land and would soon burrow in. Already there was ice on Lake Averis in the mornings and soon Lake Altar would sport icy patches also. Fortunately neither froze completely, or shipping would be a trial during winter months.

  He stood on the jetty jutting into Lake Averis staring at the swirling mists rising from the small island two and a half sals from where he was. The island was uninhabited and unnamed, a strange little place he tended to shy from.

  His thoughts were on Lowen, although not with her, for Lowen had vanished so completely it was as if she never existed. Teighlar, it appeared, was the last to see her. Grinwallin was the final place she visited before disappearing.

  No trace, no word, no clue and not even Elixir’s sight could find her. And no more dreams.

  Where was she? What happened to her? Why had she sent a call through the spaces? It had been a call, he now re
alised, and something befell the Xenian seer; it was not premonition and it was not a dream.

  He used the sight to delve the universe, known realms, and even resorted to Wiccan scrying to find her … and nothing.

  It was time to set his Kaval to investigating her absence, the project she was working on and her movements over the last year - more, if it proved necessary. Lowen was Kaval; they would not question the task.

  Three forms materialised on the grassy bank, and seemed unsure. Their backs were to him, facing his home, but he knew them, far better than they suspected and definitely more than they knew him.

  Tristan, Teroux and Tianoman. His three grandsons.

  Why had they come? This was the first time they had been to Sanctuary and it was also the first time he sensed a shared mission. Something was wrong.

  Lowen, and now this? Was there a link? There was no such concept as coincidence, a lesson hard taught a long time ago. Was he ready to interact with these three ? They were already too close to his heart.

  He drew in breath and called.

  All three, he noted, were afraid of him.

  Ah, yes, the influence of the Throne began to tell now.

  All three, he realised, glanced at the famous sword that went with him everywhere. Elianas, nemesis, also known as the Lumin Sword.

  He went towards them, gesturing they remain where they were.

  Tristan stood in the centre of the trio and was directly before him. Tristan was his image, with the same grey eyes he once had and with the same fair hue of hair. Tristan was exactly his height, but had his father Samuel’s more diffident posture.

  “My Lord,” Tristan said. “It is good to see you.”

  Torrullin smiled. This man, who now seemed a brother in age, was dear to him, as was Samuel. “Tristan, welcome.” He held his arms wide.

  Relief flooded into Tristan’s face and he stepped into the embrace without reservation.

  Then there was Teroux. Teroux was true Golden. Hair, eyes, skin and manner. Tannil’s son, a man who did his father proud.

  “Grandfather,” Teroux grinned.

  Torrullin laughed and gripped the man in a hug. “Welcome, Teroux.”

  Tianoman watched proceedings with hooded eyes. He was the youngest, therefore third in the greeting exchange, yet he sensed his age had little to do with it. Torrullin placed him last in his heart, because he was Tymall’s son.

  When his grandfather came to him he spoke with greater wariness than the others.

  “My Lord Elixir, we have come with disturbing news.”

  Torrullin stood before the youngest Valla. Tianoman had it wrong. He loved this son of his son with all his heart, but chose to distance himself to allow him to grow up unfettered by expectation. Perhaps it was time to give something back or he would lose this one. His hand reached up and rested on a tense cheek.

  “Tian, you are no more, or any less, welcome than your cousins. In my heart you are equal.”

  His fingers curled around Tianoman’s neck and he pulled him into his arms, holding on longer than he had for the other two. When he let go, he was rewarded with a sincere smile.

  “Thank you, grandfather.”

  Torrullin nodded, raked all three with his silvery eyes, but did not attempt to read them.

  “You have disturbing news, you say? Something you could not entrust to an Elder? We will talk inside. Bad news is better assimilated on a satisfied stomach and I haven’t yet eaten today. Come.”

  He stepped through them and headed up the bank. His villa was a sal distant along the lakeshore and he used the walk to speak of other matters.

  “How is Valaris?”

  “No problems,” Teroux said. “We opened a new theatre in Menllik last month and already Ceta and Xen have booked in their travelling troupe, one a light-show with dance and the other an old-fashioned satire.”

  Torrullin smiled. “Which do you prefer?”

  “Satire,” Teroux laughed.

  “Are you coping with the city?”

  “All is smooth,” Teroux replied, pleased his grandfather asked.

  “Excellent. And the Vall, Tian?”

  “Generally good, thank you. But, gods, it gets cold there.”

  Torrullin laughed aloud. “Warmer climes?”

  “As soon as I can take a break, yes,” Tianoman grinned.

  Torrullin glanced at Tristan, who walked abreast beyond Tianoman. “The west must be quiet, particularly now in winter.”

  “Tourism has dropped, yes … thank Aaru.”

  “Too many demands?”

  “Like the Palace is on display most of the time.”

  “And you, of course.”

  Tristan loosed a long-suffering sigh. “Yes. All smiles, all the time. But, that’s a personal gripe, for all is well. The winter angling competition is due soon and we have entries from the mainland and the isles, and as far a-field as Fortani.”

  “Remarkable. So, this news hasn’t anything to do with trouble back home? Good. No, later. Tristan, I heard about your mother. I am sorry.”

  Tristan swallowed. “Thank you.”

  “She was mother to all three of us,” Teroux said.

  “We miss her,” Tianoman added.

  “Yes, Curin was a special lady,” Torrullin murmured. “How is Samuel taking it?”

  “Badly,” Tristan said.

  A break in Torrullin’s stride. “I didn’t know, Tris, not until after.”

  “The Elders should’ve told you,” Teroux muttered.

  Tristan shook his head. “Father asked them to say nothing.”

  His cousins craned forward to look at him. “He did?” Teroux asked. “Why?”

  “Something about the lure of Valaris.”

  Torrullin came to a halt and the others did, too.

  “My Lord?” Tianoman enquired.

  “Your father knows me well, Tris. I fight the lure of Valaris every day. Had I returned to pay my respects to a woman I thought the world of, grief would have held me there longer than necessary, and seeing you would bind me further. Seeing Saska could undo my resolve. Your father is a selfless man, bless him.”

  “It wouldn’t be bad to have you back,” Teroux whispered.

  “Thank you for that, but we know different. Even Saska would agree with Samuel.” Torrullin began walking again. “Did you speak to her?”

  “Just condolences,” Tianoman murmured.

  Teroux shook his head.

  Tristan cleared his throat and said, “Not to me.”

  A brief silence ensued before Torrullin asked, “What did you overhear?”

  “She was talking to my father and she mentioned Caballa and asked about … Lowen.”

  A humourless grunt. “And how did Samuel reply?”

  “There’s no sign of Caballa and he heard Lowen left you,” Tristan muttered.

  Because he drove Lowen away, and now he paid for it. “Anything else?”

  “Not that I heard.”

  “Did Lowen leave you?” Tianoman asked with the impetuosity of youth.

  His cousins gaped at him.

  “Lowen left me, yes, about ten years ago.”

  Heads jerked to Torrullin. “Ten years?” Teroux said.

  A grim smile. “We were apart most of the time anyway. A lie was uncovered, and that is as much as I will say.”

  “Crikey,” Teroux muttered.

  “Why did you not … well, never mind.” Tianoman managed to shut his mouth before he put his foot in it.

  “Saska?” Torrullin chose to answer the unfinished question. “Why did I not let her know? Why did I not repair the rift in my marriage? There is no easy answer, except to say the rift between us stretches beyond the presence of Lowen.”

  The villa lay ahead, set atop a rise. There was no garden other than what nature gifted the region between mountains and lake. Spruce, elder, oak and fir forests surrounded the house, with the deciduous trees leafless now in winter, and lichens and mosses adorned the rocks along the way. A patchy l
awn gave evidence to what summer green would be and was the only addition to nature set before the wide expanse of the villa. The house was beautiful, a combination of wood and stone, more windows than walls and at least ten chimneys protruded from the steep roof. It was also massive, far larger than the Keep on Valaris, and the view was breathtaking.

  “Fantastic,” Teroux said as they levelled off before the house, turning round and around.

  “I have my vanities,” Torrullin smiled, pleased.

  “Did you build it?” Tianoman asked. “It’s wonderful.”

  “I built it with Lowen. She spent perhaps a full month in it, if you add together small increments.”

  Tristan paced towards the lake. “The view is incredible. Is that huge lake in the distance the one that holds First Sanctuary?”

  “Yes. Mariner Island is First Sanctuary. You cannot see it from here, but there are bridges from the island to the mainland to Second Sanctuary.”

  “Valleur built, we hear.”

  “Indeed. The Valleur put in effort here,” Torrullin said.

  Tristan nodded. “That would aid the rumours,” he said to Teroux.

  “Absolutely,” Teroux muttered.

  “Sanctuary herself could be a target,” Tianoman added.

  Tristan sighed. “Why we couldn’t wait for your Coming-of-Age.”

  “I see now,” Tianoman nodded.

  Torrullin’s mouth tightened. “Let us eat, boys, then we talk.” He grinned a moment later. “Boys? You aren’t boys anymore, and you, Tristan, are now almost a year older than I am physiologically. How … strange.”

  “Rather,” Tristan muttered as they followed him indoors.

  TORRULLIN COOKED A light meal to much banter, and they ate from their laps before the fireplace in one of the sitting rooms.

  The day grew colder and gloomier. Wind howled around the corners of the villa.

  “Are you coming to me with fact or rumour?” Torrullin prompted eventually.

  “Rumour,” Teroux said.

  “Then I don’t need to hear where you got it from. Just give me the tale.”

  Teroux and Tianoman both looked at Tristan, a gesture not lost on Torrullin.