The Dreamer Stones by Elaina J Davidson Read Free Book Online Page B

Lord?”
    “For Aaru’s
sake …” Torrullin swallowed again, and gave a simplified
version.
    “My mother’s
agelessness put me on guard. I was ruled by the need to find my
father. That led to Immortality, which in itself is a prison. Worse
was, nobody remembered my people, when I remembered well. Every day
was a cage, of the mind, of heritage, of loneliness. Then came
Rayne. Another cage, in the form of prophesy. My sons imprisoned me
and still do. Prophecy awaited me in the flatlands. Now I follow
the road I predicted. Yes, I feel caged.”
    Krikian
sighed. “That is the crux. Rosenroth asked the right question.”
    Torrullin
quirked a brow.
    “Your dream is
about your soul.”
    “Lowen could
have told you that.”
    “She did not.
She spoke of the realm, the mechanics …”
    “I’m sorry.
This is a touchy subject.”
    Krikian
flashed a grin. “No doubt.” Then he was serious. “I have to
think.”
    “Give
impressions. I cannot stomach another flaying.”
    “Fine. As
brief as I can be. You dreamed time; what you saw the first time
was the future, and then it became your present, and now it is your
past. To be free of it, the dream being like your cage, you have to
confront whatever haunts you. The babe is about new beginnings, a
clean slate, an innocent that is the amalgam of many.”
    Rosenroth said
something similar. “And where does another realm fit in?”
    “The hill
signifies height - a higher plane. The mist is a veil, the temple
is a doorway - everything points to a journey. I don’t think it is
of this universe.”
    “Why not?”
    “My Lord,
we’re discussing you. If it was that simple, it would already be
behind you.”
    Torrullin
stared at him and then coughed a laugh. “You’re basing it on
that?”
    “I could base
it on a host of things, if I had the time and opportunity to
dissect it, but, honestly, that suffices.”
    Torrullin
sighed, but was amused. “It will do, yes.”
    “Something
dogs you, something not obvious,” Krikian mused. “And you feel it
must be confronted.”
    “I wouldn’t
use confront . Just get through it, however it works. There’s
an answer to my dilemma over Tymall I need to find. That is my real
quest.”
    “And you hope
it will come to you in another realm? What kind of answer? Why not
stop him and be done?”
    “It’s not that
simple,” Lowen said from behind.
    She joined
them at the table. She listened to Torrullin relate his dream - it
took courage to join them as if nothing was said. Inwardly she
shivered, knowing how close the images painted with words were to
the images in oils.
    “Tymall has
proven able to move through doorways.”
    “You mean he
needs to be stopped in the beyond, like Margus?” Krikian asked.
    Torrullin
smacked the table. “No, he must be negated in this space. Tymall is
no expert in reality shifts; I’m not too concerned about him
returning at a later date.”
    “Then I don’t
understand,” Krikian muttered.
    “This time the
threat must be seen to be solved, witnessed, told, retold.
Therefore it must be done here, but it’s the manner of the doing
that escapes me. Everyone says to kill him, but he is my son. I
refuse to murder blood of mine.”
    “Ah. The
answer is a power thing.”
    “No, it’s
about love.”
    Lowen paled.
“Innocence.”
    Torrullin
groaned. “Dear gods, the abyss will be deep.”
    “I don’t
understand,” Krikian said.
    “I don’t
either,” Lowen croaked.
    “And that
makes us three fools,” Torrullin laughed. “We go tonight. I’ve
lingered overly long. We’re needed back on Valaris. I hope to get
back before the darklings attack and Margus releases his
creatures.”
    Krikian
muttered, “Fine, fine, I’m awake, I think alert and I know what’s
expected of me. There’s no need to go over think it.” The latter
was said to Lowen. “The only question is - where?”
    Both men faced
Lowen, who said, “The choice should be yours, Torrullin.”
    “We need a
place where I’m able