Chapter 10: ECHO: Autumn of the Dragon

*spoiler alert*

Chapter 10 gives quite a bit away!

CHAPTER 10

 

TIME PLAYS TRICKS

 

Knowledge is a powerful tool and also a burden.

~ Scroll of Wisdom ~

 

 

THE NEW DAY brought with it rain, torrents of it, so much that Kelby muttered about volcanoes snuffing forever. The water found every gap, running in rivulets under clothes. Within minutes of its beginning, all were thoroughly drenched and utterly dispirited.

Not bothering with a warm drink or food, they headed for the trees, hoping the canopy would offer some relief. It did, but it also heralded a different kind of tension. The band waiting in the forest was not small, and all were armed. Only Moira smiled something akin to welcome.

“Thought she said no real weapons,” Ilan grumbled from the rear.

Oreun had taken to wing as they vanished into the trees and could not rebut. Echo pressed his lips together and approached the woman. “You expecting us to give you trouble?” he asked, flicking a wrist at the nearest man, this one a dark-skinned muscle statue, hefting a mace able to slay a giant.

“Precaution only,” she said. “We know what you can do.”

“Then you must know even your fastest bowman will be slower than I am.”

“True, but what about your men? Can they defend themselves?”

She had a point, and wasn’t it his wet state causing his bad mood, not the situation under the trees. That, and his simmering anger towards a dragonne keeping secrets. “Lead on.”

Inclining her head, she did just that, heading deeper into the forest. The men and women with her encircled Echo and the seamen. He said not a word, simply picking up the pace to match hers. Walking might at least create warmth. An intriguing mixture of people, he noted, the result of many generations. Light and dark skins, eye colour ranged through the usual spectrum, excluding the yellow of Valleur, hair from fair to black, tall and average height, slim build to that one with his bulging biceps. Once they were Senlu and Airolan, today they were something new, much like humankind elsewhere with their range of features.

Moira soon fell back after indicating to someone to take the lead. She moved into step next to him. “You’re dissecting us.”

“Merely observing.”

“Valleur tend to regard others as lesser because they don’t have race traits.”

He huffed a laugh. “I think that’s your judgement, not mine.”

“But it is true that Valleur are golden haired and eyed.”

“For the most part, yes. Here on Luvanor that has changed somewhat.”

“Only somewhat. Because of the human influx at one stage.”

“Hmm, one could say you have human ancestors in your mix also. Senlu are largely red-haired and blue eyed, and it seems the Airolan were similar, and yet I see far more than that.”

She shrugged. “Might be. Does it matter?”

“Not to me.”

A sigh sounded. “You may be right. The judgement is mine.”

Echo gave her a skew smile. “The Valleur criticize themselves, too.”

The trees, he realised, had become thicker, larger, with more undergrowth prevalent. The evergreens now hosted orange and yellow foliaged boles, proving autumn was indeed the season. Varied birdsong abounded, obvious even over the drumming rain – the latter had mercifully lessened due to the thickened growth. They had clearly entered an older section, and he noticed they followed a narrow path, one well-trodden, forcing them into two abreast. This route was used frequently, probably for the fish in the lake. Also, it grew darker.

“Mountain shadow,” Moira offered.

He bit the inside of his cheek. She read his thoughts, or she was well-versed in body language and facial expressions. He carefully kept his expression neutral … only to hear her chuckle. Stopping, he folded his arms.

“I’m merely putting myself in your shoes,” she chortled, halting as well. “Right now, you’re wondering if I can read your thoughts. I can’t. I simply saw you frown at the trees as if speculating where the light went.”

“You read people well.”

She grimaced. “People watching. There’s not much to do here by way of entertainment. Especially in winter.”

The others stepped around them and went on. Watching that, Echo murmured, “You have status. They say nothing.”

“Seems you read people well, too.”

Shaking his head, he grunted, “Do you think you can give me a straight answer?”

“My parents are Arkwell’s current Pillars, which makes me de facto mouthpiece everywhere else.”

Pillars? Interesting choice. Echo said as much.

“When you see the town, you’ll understand why. Pillars abound,” Moira laughed. “Come. If we keep this pace, we can reach Lillivale by nightfall.” She strode on, throwing over her shoulder, “More ruins to tell more of our story.”

  

LILLIVALE, when they reached it, possessed another tower, although not as sprawling or tall as Malaya’s Folly. It reminded Echo of a space gantry, one where nature had reclaimed the structure. He pointed that out to Alain now keeping him company.

“This was to keep an eye out for fires,” the man responded. “The launch platform for the ships was to the east where the land is flat. Most of that is gone; an earthquake swallowed the buildings and broke the plateau. Marshland now.”

The edifice had been constructed on high terrain. Below, to the south, glints on water revealed another lake … and … Echo squinted in the growing dark. “Is that a wall?”

Alain nodded. “Water break when there was far more of it in the old days. Boats used to anchor in the calm behind it.” He pointed out various buildings and jetties above the subsided water line. “Folk came here to have fun, sail, you know, drink. We still use Lillivale to break our journey when the fish swim.”

“Yes, Echo, guess what? You’ll be sleeping dry tonight,” Moira said as she approached. “The cottages are in good repair. This remains a site for keeping the fire watch, so there’s always four residents on a rotational basis.”

“Good news,” he murmured.

Rolling her eyes, she told Alain to lead the seamen to a cottage, and then took Echo’s arm. “Come with me.”

Allowing her to tug him in her wake, noting a row of forest hued cottages on his right overlooking the lake, he wondered where Oreun had got to, and sent the thought into the ether. I shall be with you in the morning, was the reply. And no more. She shut him out without even a waft of apology. Why? Had Oreun chosen to allow the humanoids to connect first before becoming involved … or was she about some other secretive thing? His simmering anger became a strengthening glow of fury, but he schooled his face. Had to behave right now.

“Ooo, you’re clamping emotion down,” Moira said upon looking back. She slowed to walk next to him, hooking her arm through his. “What’s got you so mad? Don’t deny it. Your face doesn’t tell the tale, but your body does.” She briefly squeezed his upper arm.

“Oreun,” he said reluctantly.

“Ah. Keeper of Secrets, that one.”

The overgrown tower came into view. At ground level there was a deck serving as a viewing platform, currently unoccupied, and was that a telescope? Echo said not a word, leaving it up to his guide to inform him. She, in fact, led him to the device, gestured. Shrugging, he put his eye to the contraption … and reared back.

“What the hell?” he blurted.

“Technology and magic,” she murmured. “Look again.”

Warily, he did as bid. The land lit for him like to the noonday, to show every curve and dip, all of it in various shades of green and amber. The gadget employed the night vision principle, clearly, but the hues were a spell, had to be. Ingenious. And it meant these people were versed in sorcery. Huffing, he used the opportunity to gaze far, and saw in the distance a large light signature.

“That’s Arkwell.”

Ah. Swinging the device, he noted other tiny points of light. Villages, no doubt. He also saw an ominous shadow … “Mount Vassyn, I assume.”

“Indeed.”

“What is it you wish for me to discover with my own eyes?” he bit out. “A clue will help.”

Laughing under her breath, Moira said, “South and west, ground level.”

At first, he missed it, but on carefully shifting the eyepiece, well, there it was, except … what in all gods’ names was it? A circle of rotating light, sparking akin to electricity … oh. Oh. He reared up. “A portal?”

“Right first time,” Moira whispered. “And now you know why we came to meet you, Echayn Valla.”

“Does Oreun know of this?”

“Of course.”

Bloody hell. Fucking, bloody hell. “Oreun!” he hollered. “Get your arse here right now!”

Mere moments later a rainbow skittered in the air nearby, and then the dragonne landed in a flap of wings below the platform. She snorted a fire stream his way. Watch your manners!

“Fuck manners,” he snarled, vaulting over the railing to stride towards her. “You want my help, you start talking now.”

By the time he stood before the massive creature, all in Lillivale knew something was afoot, for they gathered in a semi-circle, including his men. Moira remained on the platform, leaning on her forearms.

“Where the fuck does that portal lead to?” Echo demanded.

“The Kallanon realm.”

Eyes narrowing, he whispered, “That’s how Neolone came to this universe?”

“No, he employed a rift the Q’lin’la created, one subsequently sealed. The portal here came much later, when the Kallanon uncovered the One prophecy and needed insight. They brought Neolone home as you have heard, but he did not know. He wasn’t lying about that. I was tasked with keeping the portal safe …”

“Because they found you when it opened. This is why you yet live.”

“The other reason is true also. I wasn’t lying about that.”

“Why does it remain open?” he demanded.

She inhaled a massive breath to release it as steam. “How do you think Nefilim came to your aid recently? It is the swiftest way to reach …”

“Torrullin.”

“The One, after all, not so? He is important to the Kallanon.”

Scrubbing at his face, Echo muttered, “And so a world sentience creates havoc here for reasons as stated, but also because, by god, one must with all one is fucking keep a portal from common view.”

“Just so.”

“You bloody evicted the Senlu! You did the same to the Airolan. Why, pray tell, have you between the two of you allowed these people to live here? Are they not a danger to your bloody tear in the fucking fabric?”

“Yes.”

He stared at her, and then twisted his head to peer up at Moira, saying, “You will be thrown off Senluar soon.”

“Which is why we need you,” she said quietly.

“Do you trust this dragonne?”

“We do. Oreun told us the day would come. The closer we are to magical transport, the more dangerous we are to this secret.”

Transport ability. Really. He swung back to the dragonne. “You dampen transport. You keep them back …”

“To save them, Echo.”

“Yes, fine, I understand that, but you will lift the veil now. I am going down to that portal forthwith.”

She stared at him.

He glared at her.

“It is lifted,” she eventually said.

Without further ado, Echo vacated the space he occupied. A thought swirled in the either, one he waved aside and then forgot about. Why was it that some of the gathered had looked at him as if he was insane … as if he spoke to himself, not the massive creature answering his questions?

ALONE, he squatted in shale and damp river sand. Water surrounded the portal, evidence of another lake. It meant, given the level had dropped exponentially since ancient time, the portal was once underwater, probably why no one knew of it. Senlu records certainly didn’t mention it. Man, Teighlar would have bent his ear had he known of its existence. Torrullin would have investigated already. His forte, after all.

A means for the Kallanon to enter Reaume. Clever.

A means, thus, for others to enter the Kallanon realm? Could it be done? Echo yanked at his hair in frustration. Only Torrullin could answer that question. Fuck. Fuck, fuck.

Oreun landed lightly nearby. “I have made oaths I cannot simply undo, Echo.”

All his anger bled away. He knew how it was to speak words of forever promise, and how keeping them bowed one. “I understand.”

“Thank you.”

He stood. “But now we need deal with this. It cannot be left unattended. You won’t be watching as closely as you have until now …”

“The Pillars of Arkwell watch also.”

“Glad to hear you have help, but they are not enough. The Kallanon are a force Reaume cannot deal with. Should some idiot decide to dive into that thing and wake them to a potential threat of invasion, they will act.”

“They will go to Lord Elixir first for clarity.”

Throwing his hands up, he growled, “You’re saying he needs to know. Did you not say he is too much for this misadventure?”

“He needs to know, Echo, but he doesn’t need to come here.”

“For Aaru’s sake, the instant I tell him, is also the instant he makes an appearance. This shit is what Torrullin does best. A bloody Walker of Realms, after all.”

“Therefore, the last person who should stand on the edge of this portal. Torrullin will enter, and what will that do to the Kallanon?”

Again, he yanked at his hair, pulling a handful free of the tie in the nape of his neck. “Fine. What do you suggest?”

“Karydor.”

Hmm. Yes, that could work. Tell Karydor, who would then impress on his son to stay put, that he, Echo, had it in hand. But … “I’m not calling Karydor into this mess. I will go to …”

“Leave Senluar now, and Rein will obliterate all sentient life here.”

His anger returned, full-blown. “What the fuck is wrong with everyone? And, damn it, I can’t properly communicate the nuances to Karydor across the spaces. It’ll take days to make him understand.”

Oreun lowered her head. “Write to him. I shall see it delivered.”

Right. Good idea. Logical. He huffed. “Fine.” Waving a hand, he summarily vanished, and did not hear the dragonne’s displeased grunt. Arriving back on the platform where Moira still stood, he said, “I need writing materials. Can you help?”

Reining in her astonishment, she nodded. “At the Watch. They keep records of fire sighting. Come with me.”

ECHO