The Dreamer Stones (21 page)

“I’d prefer
Declan, but I think he’s now too bound to Torrullin. Belun, a
second choice with the same drawback.”

“Lucan
Dalrish? The boy is sharp and strong.”

“No, his human
genetics could prove limiting.”

“One of the
Brothers at the Academia?” Caballa suggested.

“We don’t have
time for convincing speeches. We need someone close to this,
someone who understands without laborious explanation. Someone like
… Quilla. But, again …”

“… he is too
bound to the Enchanter,” Kismet said. “It sounds almost as if we
conspire against Torrullin.”

“And it may
appear that way to him, but we’re not to allow the likelihood to
dissuade us,” Caballa said. “By the way, where is Quilla?”

“No idea,”
Teighlar returned.

“Phet, too,
has gone walkabout,” Kismet muttered.

Saska stepped
in then and the first thing she did was probe the corners and the
new arrivals. Her gaze wavered, her face expressing disappointment.
Still no Torrullin.

“Hello,
Caballa, hey, Kismet. I hear it’s time to convene our little secret
society. Where’s Samuel?”

“With Curin
and his boy,” Teighlar replied. “Saska, who would you suggest in
Mitrill’s stead?”

“That’s easy.
Thundor.”

They stared at
her and then, from Caballa, “The Thinnings? I thought they’d
vanished, and surely Thundor is long dead?”

Saska smiled.
“Vanished? No. Vanished to us maybe, but thriving in their
inimitable fashion here and on Valaris. And elsewhere - we know how
Thinnings like to travel. I had a surprise visit this morning from
a Thundor, telling me he desires to help with Samuel. As always,
they know more than most. He told me succinctly about our circle.
This Thundor is the first Thundor’s great-great-grandson and versed
in the past, cognisant of the present and probably a step ahead on
the future.”

She clapped
her hands and a tiny man materialised on her shoulder, holding onto
her earring to keep steady.

“Everyone,
meet Thundor the Fourth.”

“Well, I
never!” Caballa chortled.

The little man
- red waistcoat, purple clown pants, yellow elfish shoes and a
green bowler hat - pushed out a round stomach and stood there
comically belligerent. “Excuse me! Do you disparage a
Thinnings?”

Kismet nearly
gagged on his laughter. “The apple didn’t fall far from the tree, I
see!”

“Excuse
me
!” Thundor roared in his tinny voice. “How dare you!”

Hiding a
smile, Saska pacified. “Hush, Thundor, there’s no ill will. In
fact, you are complimented for being so much like Thundor the
First.”

The round
little man bowed. “Bless his great name. I thank you then for the
compliment.” He straightened and looked doubtfully at the two
Elders, before squaring off with Teighlar. “And you, Emperor?
Insults?”

Teighlar was
not laughing; instead he said thoughtfully, “Excellent, excellent.
Welcome to Grinwallin, Thundor.”

The wind was
quite taken from the Thinnings’ sails. “Oh. Yes. I thank you.”

Caballa
grinned, but fortunately hid it behind a quick hand. Kismet was not
so subtle - he burst out laughing. “Gods, this is so precious!”

If looks could
kill … but luckily for them Thundor did not credit the latest
slight with a response. He faced the Senlu Emperor and then held a
hand up and vanished from Saska’s shoulder.

She
spluttered, holding in mirth with difficulty when he reappeared at
eye-level on one of the leaves adorning the carved pillar nearby.
He disappeared into the background of purple flowers and had to
make his new position known by clearing his throat.

“Emperor
Teighlar,” he said, “I am willing to offer my services, if you have
need of me.” He arched a brow.

Teighlar
sketched a bow. “Never underestimate the small races, I always say,
for they have hearts bigger than anyone. I welcome your aid, my
friend, as I welcome you to my city.”

Thundor’s
other brow arched up to mirror the one already there. “You have
style, my Lord Emperor. It would be an honour to work with
you.”

“Likewise.”

The tiny being
glared at the others. “Now do you see what manners are?”

Saska sighed.
“You have made your point.”

“Too right,”
Thundor declared.

“Let us
discuss the issues,” Teighlar frowned. “Please. Thundor, why have
you chosen to come forth for this?”

“We are aware
of your reasons, those that created this circle - twin reasons, I
believe?” He did not await confirmation. “Sound concept, but
lacking in foresight.” Thundor smirked briefly and went on. “The
twins are back as foreseen, although not as the brothers expected.
This, if you don’t know yet, is a very good thing. There is
distance between them and it allows room for manoeuvring and also
gifts one, or possibly both, greater objectivity.”

“Agreed,”
Teighlar said.

“The Warlock
fights a personal battle, while the other fights for a cause - the
latter will prove stronger. Samuel has come late to the fray, yet
that too is a good thing. He is untrammelled by a lengthy past, and
you lot must not now confuse him with Tristamil’s legacies. Leave
his mind uncluttered.”

“You haven’t
yet explained your decision,” Kismet interrupted.

He was glared
at anew. “I’m getting to it. We see these things because we stand
back, we’re able to analyse with objectivity. We discussed this a
while back and it was decided to ensure you big folk know these
things. This is why I’m here, to tell you. I am also here, in my
personal capacity, to join the circle because I want to help.”

“Help
Torrullin?” Caballa questioned.

“This is for
the Enchanter, yes.”

“Good. What
‘things’ are you to tell us about?” Saska enquired.

“The circle
was formed to protect a secret and that secret is out, if not fully
explained to all parties. It means the circle’s task is complete,
not so? No? There’s more to it?”

“There may
be,” Kismet murmured.

The Thinnings
huffed. “Well, of course, there is. Do not take me for a fool! But
what else is there? Bringing forth the sixth member? Yes? Why, I
ask you? What does he know or do that is crucial? Why do you need
him and why do you require the closing of this circle in the six,
why do you need that power?”

“To help
Samuel,” Caballa said.

“Ah! Thus the
circle has chosen a side!”

“Naturally.”

“Not that
there was a choice to be made,” Kismet muttered.

“But there
was! It was formed for both sons, yet now seeks to aid one. The
Warlock was a surprise, to be sure, and some rapid byplay was
necessary, yes, but a choice was made. Samuel, singular. Now, what
can the six give Samuel to aid him? What power do you hold?”

“The Light,”
Teighlar said.

“Yes!”

“We know
this,” Caballa frowned.

“But do you
know how to give it to him, Valleur Elder, and how to train him in
managing it, then manipulating it? This is one of those things I am
here to jolt you into.” The Thinnings folded his arms across his
chest.

Saska bit
first. “How do we give it to him?”

The tiny man
smiled. “The New Priest requires the Lumin Sword.”

Teighlar
raised his brows. “You
are
well informed.”

“Do you agree,
Emperor?”

“Completely.”

Another smile
and a bow. “Like minds, I see.”

“The Kallanon
have the Sword now,” Caballa said.

Teighlar was
sheepish. “Actually, I have it.”

Saska stared
at him, her eyes narrowing. “You’ve been keeping secrets, Teighlar,
even from us. Why?”

The Emperor
sighed and began to pace. “I see further than you and from a
farther time. Torrullin I’m sure could best me at it, but remains
unwilling, but never mind that. I simply saw Priest and Sword had
to be one.”

“It’s
Torrullin’s Sword, Emperor. He forged it from the blue and green,”
Saska snapped. “He gifted it to the Kallanon. How do you figure it
belongs to Samuel?”

“The Enchanter
neither wielded nor kept it,” Thundor said. “When he gave it away,
it moved beyond his grasp.”

“He can still
wield it,” Saska said.

“Of course, if
that time comes or he needs to,” Teighlar said, “but Thundor means
it can go to another without qualm.”

“There you
have it,” Thundor muttered on a long-suffering sigh. “And we
Thinnings knew the Senlu Emperor took possession, just as we knew
he could read the situation with more clarity, but we had to prompt
the circle into this new way of thinking. Sword and Priest.”

“When did you
take possession?” Caballa asked.

“Forty years
back, when Samuel was born.”

“You knew all
along!” Kismet accused the Emperor.

“No. I merely
saw something along these lines becoming a possibility.”

Saska sighed.
“And weren’t we so involved in our personal dramas we never gave it
much thought? We existed, waiting for Torrullin. Never truly
seeking the time of his return. We were too cowardly for specifics,
we thought we’d prepare when the signs came … only, they didn’t.
There was no twin rebirth and no great evil reared to herald him.
Tymall came quietly and with little prompting, while Samuel grew up
only to hear the tale on his father’s deathbed. And we went on in
ignorance. There’ll be no more accusation this day and no more
fault seeking. My Lord Emperor, you did the right thing and thank
the Goddess for that. You at least have prepared. One of us knows
what to do.”

Teighlar
laughed. “I doubt very much I know what to do.”

Thundor
humphed significantly.

Saska turned a
smile on him. “We have another who is more prepared, and we thank
you, Thundor.”

Mollified, the
tiny man bowed. Straightening again, he admitted, “Theory is one
thing, but practically I’m not able to tell you how to instruct
Samuel in the Light.”

“Our absent
member,” Kismet murmured. “He knows.”

The Thinnings
was thoughtful and then, “The Thinnings bless your foresight in
binding him to this.”

“If he comes,”
Caballa pointed out. “If he hears from beyond.”

“Five have the
power to call louder,” Kismet said.

“My point
earlier,” Teighlar said. “Shall we do so now? I’m weary of
delaying.”

“Yes,” Saska
said. “Let us do something proactive for once.”

“From the
crucible. Apparently it’s a doorway,” Caballa said.

Teighlar
grinned and said nothing.

“What of
Samuel?” Kismet asked. “Now or later?”

“The New
Priest must be made aware,” Thundor said.

“I thought you
said something about not cluttering his mind,” Kismet muttered.

“This he must
know!” Thundor roared.

“Dangerous,”
Caballa said. “Samuel will never master magic.”

“If he has the
Light, he needs it not,” Teighlar pointed out, as Samuel had on
Valaris. “And, thank Aaru, we don’t have to fear him trying his
hand at an art beyond him. Magic in inexpert hands is no joke.”

“Amen,” Kismet
murmured.

Caballa shook
her head. “These are things he mentioned to me, thus he knows this
about himself. The blood, I know, but he’s also Samuel, human,
family man, jeweller by trade. Ordinary, in the grand scheme. Yet
he didn’t fight it, he doesn’t turn away, he overcomes the
uncertainty and fear. Why does he do so? Why does he need this? Why
is he here for this overpowering purpose?”

“Setting the
stage, Caballa. Tymall is the Dark, therefore Samuel must become
the Light; Tymall has his staff and cloak, therefore Samuel must
wield the Sword. They need to be equal and opposite, as it was
before.” Teighlar looked up at the far ceiling as if answers were
carved there. “Why? It wasn’t finished. The Enchanter had to choose
and he chose to remove the greater evil two thousand years ago -
the Darak Or. He left much undone. He is aware of this, more than
we are, for his days in the invisible realm were but an interlude.
Samuel hears his blood sing now; he can’t deny it, and he can’t
deny Torrullin.”

“Torrullin
will not ask this of him,” Saska frowned.

“No?” Teighlar
breathed.

“Torrullin
couldn’t kill Tymall back then and couldn’t do it when he
returned,” Kismet said. “Are we to play this game over and over,
then?”

“He changes
that,” Teighlar murmured. “One way or the other, this time it will
end.”

The Sword of
Light was in the crucible, thus Teighlar lied when he told
Torrullin he had not been back since the time of Neolone.

It was a
simple sword, long and sharp with a curved hilt. No inlay, no
precious paint, no symbols. Yet it was what it claimed to be, for
it glowed - a gentle yellow light emanated from within the blade.
It was not to be confused with the yellow weapons the darklings
flourish; theirs were infused externally - every darkling, on
earning his metal, had to set it a-fire as proof of mastery. This
particular blade’s power came from within.

They stared at
it in wonder.

Two thousand
years ago Torrullin gave this sword to the Kallanon Queen Abdiah,
as proof of the Light, and she took it to travel universes, this
one and hers, to present it to all who would look, forcing it on
those who would not, and due to her tireless efforts - and the tale
accompanying it - peace came. The unprecedented peace now at an
end.

This sword was
forged from two, the blue blade that was Tristamil’s and the green
of Tymall. Upon their deaths their swords came to their father and
he made them one. From the dual strength he was to garner the power
to defeat the Darak Or, thus it was foretold.

The Enchanter
took a divergent path.

It was right
it should again seek to make peace. It was right it would be
wielded by one unmarked by the Dark. Samuel needed to stand forth
as the New Priest as Tymall was Warlock. He was the counter and had
to learn to use the sword and make it his.