The Kallanon Scales by Elaina J Davidson Page B

hoped to
find peace with Saska. I guess we are who we are.”
    “Me and my big
selfish mouth.”
    “You keep us
on our toes.”
    Raken cuffed
him. “Seriously, how are you coping?”
    Torrullin
shrugged. “I will live.”
    “Saska loves
you. You two will sort it out.”
    Raken was the
first to say something positive. “You think?”
    She grinned
and touched his face. “Men. Always want reassurances. Yes, I
definitely think. You two will be all right.”
    He clasped her
hand. “Thank you. I feel a whole lot better.”
    “Good. Now,
what is going on?”
    “Raken, the
romantic, and Raken, the realist,” Torrullin teased and she winked
at him. “I suspect it will get worse before it gets better, and it
will probably take Vannis away.”
    “I’m going
with.”
    “Not a
chance.”
    “I’m too old?”
she demanded, eyes narrowed.
    “Raken, it is
dangerous and, yes, you are too old.” Torrullin smiled to take the
sting out.
    Raken stared
at him and swallowed. “I accept that.”
    “You hate
it.”
    Raken giggled.
“You know me well. Yes, I hate it. In my head I’m still
eighteen.”
    “Gods
forbid.”
    She gave him
the beady eye. “What is that supposed to mean?”
    “Man, do you
remember the messes we made at eighteen?”
    “Hmm, you have
a point. Torrullin …” Her tone alerted him to the shift in her
thoughts. “Vannis asked years ago if I wanted to reach for
immortality, that he would assist me. He didn’t tell you, did he?
That would admit weakness. I couldn’t imagine going on forever, you
know?”
    I do know. “How did he
react?”
    “I think he
was relieved, but now? He will hurt so when I go.”
    “Forever is a
long time.”
    She mulled
that statement a moment. “Vannis never minded being mortal
again?”
    “No, Raken. He
is already had far longer than I and it is, well, it’s tiring.”
    “Does Taranis
feel the same?”
    “I think so.”
Torrullin glanced at his father, who engaged Krikian.
    “Raken, come
eat!” Vannis called out, chewing up a storm. “Torrullin, stop
filling my wife’s head with subversive thoughts!”
    Raken grinned
and, after squeezing Torrullin’s hand, went to sit close to her
man, her eyes soft on him. He reacted to it by kissing her
soundly.
    Shep Lore was
blissfully unaware as he ate with relish. Purple and good food, for
Shep. Lycea grinned, pushing a plate of broiled shrimp at him,
which he set to immediately. It had been a good idea to get away
from the Keep.
    After lunch
Torrullin rose.
    “What do we
have? One, a prophecy, two, a mysterious map, and three, two dream
messages. This is sufficient to set the alarum ringing and thus we
need discover where this takes us and why. We need know whom or
what prevented this before. Why were people killed? We have to
consider ourselves in similar danger, thus be wary. On the
flip-side, dream prompts are often from an outside influence - it
may be others work towards uncovering this mystery. We must be
watchful, caught as we may be in the middle of a situation not of
our making. We will now unravel Taranis’ dreams and see what it
gifts us in clarity.”
    The Guardian
filled them in; thus far Torrullin and Krikian had heard it in its
entirety, and Quilla earlier, who then suggested Krikian’s
involvement.
    Vannis showed
no reaction. Raken watched her husband. From him she took her cue,
listening in silence. The twins watched their father and he watched
them. Lycea sat with Shep, both with faraway gazes.
    Krikian rose
as Taranis sat on the grass. He bowed to his Vallorin. “My Lord, I
am honoured to be here.”
    Torrullin
inclined his head.
    “The two
dreams are connected. The colour red appears in both and signifies
danger, heat or war. I am inclined to all three or any combination
of two. A red marble could be a hot planet, a red rock could be
danger and together they signify war. A red marble in white chips
is a hot planet in a bright galaxy. This is an entirely different
system, not close. An empty pond