Free The Nemisin Star by Elaina J Davidson Page B

the
settlement rose up against the accord. Vintari, although nearing
the end of his reign, went to war again, and that time he showed no
mercy. But for a small kernel of resistance the Valleur put an end
to the mud people. The Dinor swore they would one day find a way to
revenge the terrible insult.
    ~Excerpt from
the 2 nd volume of the Valleur Oracles
     
     
    The Place
Where Stars Meet
     
    A semblance of dim light returned and with its coming they noticed
Margus was gone.
    It did not
matter.
    The focus had
shifted.
    “You were
brought together in this place, this night, to force from me a
choice,” Torrullin said in a voice that was almost normal. “I was
warned that this would come. Choose one son they told me.”
    Tymall hissed.
Tristamil remained calm.
    “They were
wrong. Mark me, it remains about choice, but it isn’t one of you I
need to separate from the other. This night I understand the only
choice available is the one in which I select myself. I choose now,
without further doubts, both of you, for in me you are one. I
choose myself, which is one, and therefore both. Do you
understand?”
    “No.”
Tristamil shivered.
    Tymall said
nothing.
    “It isn’t
complicated. Both of you have lived the symbiosis since birth.”
    “We are no
longer protectors of each other,” Tristamil said.
    “Not in hearts
and souls, but the symbiosis exists in your minds and cannot be
sundered. If you fight and one loses - it matters not who - the
other fails as well. If one dies, thus would the other die. If I,
in blind stupidity, chose one of you before the battle, I would
have lost also. For like to you I exist because of two.”
    “What are you
saying? That we cannot ever end it between us?” Tristamil
frowned.
    “If you choose
life.”
    “Again, our
illustrious father,” Tymall remarked. “All the cards.”
    “Tymall, you
have no idea what you are talking about,” said Torrullin.
    Tristamil
ignored his brother. “What now?”
    “I have
chosen, but I cannot choose for you.”
    “What does
that mean?” Tymall frowned.
    “It means,
brother, our destiny remains unchanged. We can fight and nothing
changes in our father. He will remain in symbiosis, but we could
both lose, or die, if we battle it to the end. Our symbiosis will
carry us into the netherworld.”
    Tymall
snatched up his sword. Tristamil did not move. “You believe all
this? Why not put it to the test?”
    “Father has
never lied. I choose to live.”
    “I want to
fight you!”
    “Then you will
strike an unarmed opponent and go to your death dishonoured.”
    Tymall
breathed in and out, scowling. “When do we get to be free?”
    “Walk away,
Ty,” Torrullin said. “Go elsewhere and live without these
pressures, and you can find that freedom.”
    “And he
stays.”
    “Yes.”
    “I hate both
of you.” Tymall strode from the temple.
    Overhead
Nemisin’s star shone, reflecting off the white star on the floor
unnoticed.
     
     
    “To live,
Tymall cannot fail,” Tristamil said. “His evil will strengthen with
time.”
    “I know.”
    “I will never
be rid of him.” Tristamil looked at his father and saw him clearly.
“This suits you.”
    Torrullin
sighed. “To be Enchanter, I must be all things. What would you have
me do? Deny my power? Our people need it now, you must know that.
Do you want me to say I would choose you?”
    “No, but you
are glad he lives.”
    “He is my son
and part of what I am. I am equally glad you live.”
    Tristamil
retrieved his sword. As he slid it home, he asked, “How were you
able to wield both blades?”
    “I am the
Enchanter.”
    “Margus
received quite a scare.”
    “Excellent. He
may retreat for a while.”
    “Or conceive
of something really terrible.”
    Torrullin’s
expression said it. It would be something worse than terrible. He
gestured towards the exit. “Shall we?”
    Tristamil drew
breath. “There are probably Dinor outside.”
    “Let me see
that scroll.”
    It was handed
over and Torrullin