Read The Nemisin Star for Free Online Page B

Tymall into his arms, his heart aching. A heavy
burden for this one.
    “ Welcome,
Tymall,” he whispered.
     
     
    The Keep
    The
Present
     
    Torrullin
climbed the outer stairs past the second storey onto the
battlements.
    He paced
there, renewing welcome sights. The barren Arrows to the south
sported a sprinkling of snow where eagles and hawks circled,
helping their fledglings take to wing before true winter set in. To
the east was the gap between the Arrows and the Morinnes, where the
valley’s magic began. It was indistinct in the distance, but the
road meandered from there to the Dragon doors below.
    To the north
was the Morinnes, a great range with ledges large enough to found
cities upon - deep ravines, green and wonderful, also lightly
sprinkled. Turning west, he surveyed the road; it led to the
Valleur city outside the valley, that city of new beginning for a
persecuted people. A golden city.
    He doubled
over as a vision came unbidden.
    A golden
city. Menllik.
    That was the
point of reference. That coupled it to the scrying of names for
twin babies
    A golden
city . Menllik was a city of light , and within there was
a new sacred site. A temple where one night each year the
faint star that was Nemisin’s world could be viewed precisely
through the star-shaped aperture in the roof.
    That was
reality.
    Under the
opening, in the starlight, a scroll unfurled.
    Taunting
eyes.
    Ty knows the
sites. He knows that one in particular.
    A blue
sword glinted in faint starlight and a green blade was
the counterpoint.
    Tristamil,
Warrior Priest, and Tymall, the Skilful One.
    Torrullin
straightened, shivering.
    Two nights
hence Nemisin’s star would shine and Tymall would be waiting for
Tristamil.
    He clutched at
the wall, staring west. There was nothing he could do to prevent
it. It was Tymall’s scrying and the brothers’ destiny.
    Leaning
against the chilly stone, he inhaled the cold air. He had warning
and that was not to be wasted. For once, he had warning. He need
not enter blind this time. Time enough to prepare Tristamil.
    He could
evacuate the city.
    Torrullin
hurtled down the stairs, shouting for Pretora and Kismet.
     
     
    Later he made
notes.
    Blue sword and
green. That was seen in the scrying bowl, and came to pass. A wall
filled with runes before a multitude. Tristamil fulfilled every
nuance to become the Priest of his naming. The golden city in the
bowl had been built by the Valleur scatterlings from beyond the
Rift.
    There was
more, but now the time arrived to deal with Tymall. As Tristamil
fathomed his brother at the wall with runes, chances were that
Tymall could fathom his brother at the temple. That potentially
meant disaster.
    It could mean
he, Torrullin, was at the point of choice. The Murs dying on
Valaris before the mission to the Zone told him he would have to
choose one son, and Queen Abdiah pointed it out as well. It would
be the hardest thing he would ever have to do. Tymall dared not be
part of the future, and yet he loved his son.
    His hand shook
on the paper; he crumpled and threw it from him. It was unlikely
organising thoughts on paper would make a difference.
    Torrullin
wished fervently to talk to Saska. He knew, however, what she would
say. Tymall attempted to kill her many times.
    Cat offered a
friendly ear on Atrudis, but he was too angry with his wife and
might do something stupid. It was safer to stay out of Cat’s
orbit.
    Vannis and
Taranis were too subjective.
    As always, he
was alone. There was no one to help him, there never had been,
there never would be … and an image of the dark-haired man floated
before him. He stared at it.
    Elianas. I do
not know how long I can hold on.
    He had not
attempted to speak to a vision before and thus did not expect an
answer.
    Answer was
given.
    Torrullin. Do
not surrender to despair. Not yet, my brother.
    “Elianas?” A
hoarse whisper.
    There was no
reply, but he had not imagined that.
    Staring at the
books on the shelves in his study, he saw