The Path of the Storm (The Evermen Saga, Book Three)

by James Maxwell

  Near the harbour, there was at least enough activity to keep the streets busy and taverns maintained. Ships always came to Seranthia, disembarking passengers, fish, cargo and news.

  Further from the docks the winding lanes were quiet, and houses had been boarded up. The people who walked the streets were thin and poorly dressed, and stared at Ella in a way that made her uncomfortable.

  Finally she was able to relax slightly as she reached the first of many markets. Here, she only had to watch out for pickpockets and swindlers.

  At the food markets, the wares on display were pitiful, while the merchants and tinkers in the goods markets hawked desperately; it seemed no one was buying. Ella found it strange, walking through market after market. She couldn't see enough goods, or buyers, for so many extensive markets. Once, before the war, this must have been an incredible place, where the citizens would have spent hours at a time, examining one thing after enough until something took their fancy. Ella hoped prosperity would return to Seranthia.

  The atmosphere drastically changed as Ella climbed a hill and entered the district of Fortune. For all the woes of the common people, Fortune appeared lofty and prosperous. Tall fences barred entrance to the expansive grounds of the manses, but Ella could still see through the bars to the facades of the extraordinary houses. In Seranthia, lords and merchants were often the same thing, with marriage between fading aristocracy and wealthy merchant families common. If these people were having hard times, it wasn't apparent from looking at their grand residences.

  Ella felt confident enough here to ask directions.

  "Excuse me," Ella stopped a thick-set woman with a boy at her side, "could I please get some directions?"

  The woman looked at Ella askance, but noted the cut of Ella's travelling dress and hooded white cloak. "What are you looking for?"

  "I'm looking for an inn. Do you know where I can find the Cedar Palace?"

  The boy at the woman's side tried to pull on her hand, but she stopped him with a glower. "If you turn left at the next junction, the Purple Star is about ten minutes walk," she said. "The Cedar Palace is further down the street past the Purple Star. It's directly above Barlow's."

  "Barlow's?"

  "It's an eating house. One of the best in the area. Good luck," the woman said, before taking the boy and leaving Ella behind.

  Ella heard bells in the distance, signalling the middle of the day. Something in her chest told her she was close. Perhaps it was the rumbling of her stomach; she hadn't eaten since leaving the ship.

  Resuming her walk, Ella passed a series of boutiques. Fortune's residents didn't shop in markets; they went to specialty stores for hats, shoes, dresses, or cloaks. She passed a dignified row of terraced houses, and then an eating house with black iron bordering the large windows and the name announced in letters of shining brass.

  Ella looked into the window as she passed Barlow's, and there was Evrin Evenstar, a napkin tucked into his collar. Today he was dressed in fine garments, yet his piercing blue eyes and white hair flecked with ginger were unmistakeable, even through the window.

  Breathing a sigh of relief, Ella approached the entrance, yet drew back when the door was opened by a stiffly dressed man with moustaches. "Yes, madam?" the doorman said.

  "Ella!" Evrin cried, seeing her from his table, drawing the attention of several patrons.

  Seeing Ella recognised, the doorman drew back, allowing Ella to enter. She smiled and handed the doorman her satchel. Diners looked at her curiously, before returning to their meals. Ignoring the waiter hurrying towards his table, Evrin rose from his seat and held a chair for Ella himself.

  "It's good to see you. How are you? Did you just get here? You're just in time for lunch," Evrin said.

  Ella shuffled in her seat and allowed Evrin to push her chair in, before he returned to his seat.

  "I came as soon as I got your message," Ella said. The tables were spaced far apart, and amidst the low murmur of the other patrons there was little chance she could be heard, but Ella still felt uncomfortable in the dignified eating house. "Can we go somewhere to talk?"

  "Barlow's is safe," Evrin said. "You should order. I've just asked for the bluefish in orange sauce. Sounds unusual, but the orange and dill work in perfect harmony…"

  Evrin flagged the waiter, indicating Ella.

  "Madam?" the waiter said.

  Ella realised there was a dining card in front of her, a tall rectangle listing exotic-sounding dishes. "Umm…" Ella said. "I'll have the trout."

  "Very good," said the waiter.

  "Oh," Evrin said, catching the waiter's attention before he departed, "and we can't drink too much, so perhaps just the one bottle of wine. I'm thinking a light red. Perhaps a Louan gremandy?"

  "An excellent choice, sir." The waiter departed with a nod.

  "How do you pay for the meals here?" Ella asked. She couldn't help but think of all the skinny people on the streets.

  "I don't," Evrin said. "Barlow, the owner, also runs the Cedar Palace, the guest house upstairs. Once, I helped him with the streetclans. He's good at what he does, and they wanted a piece of the pie. Barlow supports several charitable ventures — why should he pay the streetclans money that could go to the poor? Let's just say, I helped him, and now, on my visits to Seranthia, Barlow doesn't charge me."

  Ella realised the picture was more complicated than she'd initially thought.

  "I came as soon as I received your message," Ella said. "I also have some important news."

  Ella was suddenly silent as small morsels of savoury-smelling pastry were placed in front of them, each a different colour and shape. "What's this?" she asked.

  "They're to excite your appetite," Evrin said. "You haven't been somewhere like this before? Oh, you're in for a treat."

  The waiter came back with a tall glass bottle which he opened with a loud pop. He sniffed the cork, although Ella wasn't sure why, before starting to fill Evrin's glass. Ella was surprised when he suddenly stopped and waited, looking at Evrin expectantly, with just the smallest amount of wine in the round glass.

  Evrin picked up the glass and swirled the liquid inside, before tiling his head back and filling his mouth. He looked pensive, his eyes thoughtful, before he swallowed and a broad grin spread across his face.

  "Lovely," he said.

  The waiter then filled Ella's glass before filling Evrin's glass also to the level of Ella's.

  Ella watched, bemused. There was a process being followed here she didn't understand.

  The waiter departed, and Ella saw Evrin put a savoury parcel into his mouth. He closed his eyes and sighed, before taking a sip of wine.

  "Go on," he said to Ella, grinning. "Try it."

  Ella picked an orange morsel, wondering what the fluffy white filling was, and put it in her mouth. An explosion of sweet pumpkin and salty fish converged on her senses. She'd never had anything so delicious.

  Ella looked at Evrin and smiled.

  "Now take a sip of wine," Evrin said.

  What Ella had to discuss was important.

  But perhaps it could wait, just these few moments.

  ~

  FINALLY, the bottle was finished. Ella swallowed the last mouthful of sourmelon and cress; she'd already finished the trout, unable to slow herself.

  The waiter brought out a dozen chocolates resting in a row on a long tray. Evrin sighed with contentment.

  Most of the other patrons had left, and they had their section of the dining room to themselves. The waiter kept an eye on them, but maintained a discreet distance.

  "Evrin?" Ella asked.

  "Yes, my dear?"

  "Did you send a gift for my brother's wedding?"

  As Ella thought of the wedding and its terrible end, the bitter chocolate suddenly tasted like ash in her mouth.

  Evrin was nonplussed. "Well… I've… I've been busy, you see."

  "Don't worry," Ella said, sighing. "I didn't think so, and I have a reason for asking. Someone sent a monstro
sity to my brother's wedding, saying it was a gift from you."

  "A gift from me?" Evrin asked.

  "It had the look," said Ella. "I don't know how to describe it, but it had the look of the chambers inside the Sentinel… the same look as the temples dedicated to the Evermen, here in Seranthia. For that reason, we believed."

  "Dear stars," Evrin said. "What was it?"

  "I didn't think it was from you, though," Ella said. "Your taste is a bit… different."

  "Ella, what happened?"

  Ella didn't want to say the words. The moment came back to her with horrific clarity. The sound of the device as it exploded. Amber's scream. Rorelan and Tomas's nightmare illness.

  "It was some kind of explosive device," Ella said, clearing her throat as it caught. "It charred a wide circle of earth and nearly killed most of the Empire's leaders. We were lucky, and the guests were saved, but some weren't so lucky. High Lord Rorelan's health was critical when I left, and little Tomas will not wake."

  "Oh, Ella," Evrin said. "I'm sorry, my dear. I truly am."

  "Who would do such a thing?" Ella asked. "I doubt it was the Akari. Dain Barden actually went to the wedding."

  "Good for him," Evrin said. "Who do they say it could have been?"

  "There are those trying to point blame at the Veznans, and others who say it was disgruntled templars from Aynar," Ella said. "There's no basis for their opinions, though. And while I hear this Bastian is worth worrying about, I can't see him doing such a thing."

  "And you believe it's something to do with my message?" Evrin said the words that were in Ella's mind.

  "I need to know what you know," Ella said.

  "I don't know much," Evrin said. "As I said in my message, someone has crossed."

  "Could it have been Killian?" Ella asked.

  "No," Evrin said, shattering Ella's wish with the bluntness of his speech. "Killian would have made his presence known, and there are signs that make me believe the one who crossed had power, the kind of power Killian never knew how to use."

  Evrin looked at Ella with that disconcerting way he had of shifting from levity to gravity.

  "Ella, I believe one of the Evermen is in Merralya, and has been for some time. I think that deep down you know there is a link between the attack on your brother's wedding and this crossing of worlds."

  "How could someone cross?" Ella asked.

  "I don't understand it, but the essence drained away from the pool. Essence has never been corrosive, yet somehow it ate through the wall bordering the pool… even the stairs were melted away. Without power, my seals faded. The portal would have only been open for a moment, yet that moment was enough."

  "Why attack the wedding?"

  "He would be powerful, Ella, but not all-powerful, not yet. After crossing over he would have found one thing very difficult."

  "No essence," said Ella.

  "That's correct, you always were quick. An Everman has the potential for incredible power, but he needs both essence and the skill to use it. My guess is his first objective would be to seek out essence, but his main quest is to reopen the gateway and help his brothers return. The portal requires a large amount of power to open for long enough to allow all the Evermen to cross in safety, and surrounding the Sentinel is a great empire filled with soldiers. He needs time, and he needs to subdue his enemies. Taking out the Empire's leaders would be a big stroke of luck. All of this is conjecture, but we must fear the worst."

  Ella shuddered. "So where is he now?"

  "I don't know. He could be anywhere. And by now he will have essence. Even on his own, he will be a force to be reckoned with."

  "We need help," Ella said.

  Evrin shrugged. "You're right there. Rogan's barely holding the Empire together, but it's imperative that he does. I'm troubled, more than I can admit. Even at the peak of the Empire's strength, with essence plentiful and the houses joining their strongest units, facing one of the Evermen would be a terrifying proposition."

  "Before the war, we had over seventy Alturan bladesingers," Ella said. "Now, we have six, including Miro."

  Evrin nodded. "Bladesingers, animators, nightshades, avengers... We would need them all."

  "Can you do anything?"

  "My efforts are best spent getting the machines working," said Evrin, scratching at his beard.

  Ella held her breath, and then released it with a sigh. "I have an idea," she said. "There is one who could possibly help us against one of the Evermen."

  "I hope you're not thinking of me," Evrin said. "I have the skill, but I no longer have the power. Essence doesn't harm me, but that's all."

  "If we could find a way to open the portal, we could bring Killian back and he could help us."

  "No, Ella." Evrin's reaction was instant. "It's a bad idea.

  "He's your descendant!"

  "No," Evrin repeated. "There's too much risk. And I told you, Ella. You can never cross."

  Ella decided to leave it. "Then what do we do?"

  "All we can do. Rogan Jarvish is having the builders of Torakon construct a wall around the Sentinel at my request. He's also guarding the Sentinel with as many men as will fit on that scratched island. I'm rebuilding the machines as fast as I can. There is something you can do, though."

  "What is it?" Ella asked.

  "We need to find the one who crossed. Where would you go, if you needed essence? The Empire's as dry as the Hazara Desert."

  Ella started. "The Akari."

  "They're the only ones with essence. Go to Ku Kara and speak with the Dain. See if they know anything."

  "There's no use waiting," Ella said. She stood. "I'll leave tomorrow morning. Thank you for lunch."

  "I'm sorry, Ella. About Killian."

  Ella squeezed Evrin's shoulder and left him sitting, watching her go.

  ~

  THAT night, after the meal of thin soup served at her simple lodgings, Ella retired early to her bedchamber.

  She sat on her bed and took something square and heavy out of her satchel.

  It was a book, but unlike any other book, for its pages were made of a strange metallic material, and the edges were curled and withered as if from intense heat. The book was badly damaged, but some of the words and diagrams were still legible.

  Ella had found it in the chamber inside the Sentinel. If Evrin knew she had it, he hadn't asked for it, and she had studied its contents endlessly.

  The Primate had possessed this book, but Ella was sure he'd understood little of what it described. Even Ella, having worked with Evrin for two years, had difficulty comprehending its contents.

  She thought about what she had learned.

  Only one of the Evermen could cross the threshold of the portal and live, or someone with one of the Evermen by their side. Evrin's powers had been taken from him long ago; he could not cross.

  This explained why Evrin had said Ella could never cross over to find Killian.

  Also words needed to be spoken on crossing back from the other side, words Killian hadn't known when he'd gone over. It was a safety mechanism the Evermen had built in to prevent danger entering Merralya.

  Even if she was able to open the portal, Ella couldn't cross to the other world unless she had one of the Evermen by her side. Yet without crossing over, it was highly unlikely Killian would be standing by, knowing the words, ready to pass through the shimmering curtain back to Merralya.

  Additionally, the portal required power to open, even for a short time — a great deal of power.

  Ella knew the Empire needed Killian's help. The only one who could challenge one of the Evermen would be someone with their powers.

  It had been over two years since he'd crossed over to wherever that shining doorway led, but Ella knew in her heart he was still alive, trapped and unable to return home.

  The thoughts and ideas whirled around in her head.

  Ella only had the germ of an idea.

  But visiting the Akari fit in with her plans neatly.

>   13

  THE SUMMER sun made the trek to the icy north infinitely easier, yet even so, Ella wasn't sure if she would have made it without her travelling companions. The journey through Tingara, Torakon, and Loua Louna took Ella through lands she knew nothing about, and then came the cold.

  Initially the snow was wet and slushy, heated by the warmth of the sun's rays as soon as it fell. The going was tough and often Ella was wading through pools of snowmelt, freezing cold water that soaked her feet. When they reached colder foothills in the north and the snow hardened, Ella was initially thankful; finally, she was dry. But at night, even her thick clothing couldn't keep the cold at bay.

  Ella's companions lit blazing fires while it was still light enough to see, allowing the flames to settle down to red coals. She slept huddled next to the heat, and thanked the stars she wasn't travelling alone.

  She journeyed with three tall Akari, two men and a woman, who had travelled to Seranthia as emissaries of the Dain and were now returning home. All three wore skis and they'd given Ella a pair. After some practice on Ella's part, the party of four slid across the surface of the snow like ducks on water.

  The two men were brothers, and so alike Ella had difficulty telling them apart. Doelan and Straun both had grey eyes and loose blond hair to their shoulders. Short-bladed swords were scabbarded at their waists, and the brothers wore the grey clothing and furs that were ubiquitous amongst the Akari.

  Doelan and Straun had seemed brooding and sullen in Seranthia, yet as soon as their journey took them far enough north to see snow, their mood improved immeasurably. The trek from Seranthia to Ku Kara saw them transform from uncomfortable city folk to capable northerners, happy and resilient.

  Ella's final companion was Ada, the eldest of Dain Barden's three daughters. Stern as a mountain, she'd taken a long time to warm to Ella, but gradually her attitude changed. Ella asked Ada countless questions about Ada's culture and Ku Kara, the fabled ice city. The Akari were used to foreigners being afraid of them, and people's fear often turned to hostility. When Ada saw Ella was genuinely curious she slowly began to answer, and Ella found the woman's answers fascinating, with each generally opening up further questions. Ella wouldn't say they were friends, but they made good travelling companions. Ada's hair was a shade lighter than even Ella's, so pale it was almost white, and she wore it in a thick braid. She was perhaps five years older than Ella.