The Kallanon Scales Read Free Page B

Kisha said, “when Kylan expressed a wish to
work on the history of Valaris.”
    Torrullin
turned the square over in his hands. “I read the book you published
on the Ruby Fiasco.” He glanced at Kylan. “Well done.”
    Pleased, Kylan
smiled. “I’m tackling Drasso now.”
    Torrullin’s
brows climbed. “Good luck.”
    “Taranis is
helping,” Kisha laughed.
    Torrullin
nodded. Taranis had been here, but had not been to the Keep
recently. “As able researchers, would you say this,” and he wiggled
the square, “is the end to your findings?”
    Kylan
shrugged. “Besides the actual map, we think that may be it.”
    “Why did you
need Vannis?”
    “It has both
Mysor and a description of the key in it, and you once mentioned a
blue and green sword in the twins’ future,” Kisha said.
    “Were you
afraid of me, Kisha?”
    “I told Kylan
to run it by Vannis first. It wasn’t a question of fear, we didn’t
want to trouble you unnecessarily.”
    “Forgive
me.”
    Kisha leaned
over and touched his hand. “We understand.”
    “You are
stalling, Torrullin.” Kylan pointed at the paper.
    “Absolutely.”
Torrullin placed the square on the table and stared at it. “You
know what it says.”
    “It doesn’t
make sense,” Kisha said.
    Torrullin
walked away, leaving the paper on the table. He wandered the edge
of the clearing in deliberate measured paces, running hands though
his hair. Saska’s leaving utterly unsettled him, he found even
simple tasks a burden.
    Kisha and
Kylan waited.
    Overhead the
sky darkened.
    After a second
circuit, Torrullin returned and lowered into the bench. “Cressel
found a map of the Mysor, which Merle saw and possibly inherited
when her husband died, or she inherited the responsibility for it.
Both died, as did Thane for involvement in the conspiracy.
Moreover, this map is mentioned as early as three hundred years
after settlement. This piece of paper,” and Torrullin tapped it
viciously, “speaks of the Mysor in Valleur. It is older than Rees’
entries.” He vacantly glanced at them. “The paper proves antiquity.
Either penned in the Valleur settlement of Valaris, for Vannis
vetoed writings after the humans came, or brought with them. Vannis
is ignorant of this and that could be a surprise we need to deal
with. It further appears this and the map go together.” He focused.
“I am wary of this thing.”
    Kisha
nodded.
    Kylan said,
“If Vannis’ reaction is anything to go by.”
    “Hush,
sweetie.”
    “Danger to
whom, to what, Kylan?”
    “Kisha and me,
firstly,” Kylan said.
    Kisha laid a
hand on her husband’s arm and faced Torrullin across the table.
“Matters haven’t been easy for you.”
    “That is an
understatement.” Torrullin pinched the bridge of his nose. “Yet I
am what I am and cannot hide from that. Quilla would say my fate is
my choice and, as always, I choose to know.” He reached out, lifted
the paper and flapped it open. Four words to a line in lyrical
format.
    He read it
without expression and tossed it down.
    Staring at the
couple he translated, as if hearing the words in the common tongue
would diffuse content.
    “ Time’s
timekeeper never sleeps
    Forever
telling the tale
    Of twin war
gods
    Come to their
father
    Seeking magic
to eliminate
    The monsters
of worlds
    And in the
telling
    Remind of a
taliesman
    Fashioned in
purest gold
    A cavorting
little dragon
    A key, a
truth
    A legend, a
king
    The Mysor of
old
    Dragons once,
hidden now
    Hold in their
palms
    A glorious
green sword
    A beautiful
blue sword
    The magic that
will
    Slay the old
monsters
    A father must
choose
    Remember
eternally the anniversary
    A coming of
age
    Number five
and twenty
    Time’s
timekeeper is awake.”
    He lapsed into
silence and remained that way for some time. Drops of rain fell and
he moved to cover the paper.
    Eventually he
made eye contact. “There must be a map, the place of fulfilling. We
have to find it. The Coming-of-Age ceremony is days away and I will
not allow