"Stay here."
Ella drew a shaky breath and made herself turn away from the revenant. The portal would only open every three days. She needed to move quickly.
~
ELLA followed the stone path, wondering how long she would need to journey until something appeared to break the monotonous landscape. She was surprised when, almost immediately, a series of hazy buildings appeared on both sides of the road. The silhouettes appeared decayed and broken, and Ella decided to stay on the path, reminding herself that if it ended at the stone arch, the road must lead somewhere.
Ella thought she saw flickering shadows swirling around the tops of the distant structures. She pulled the hood of her dress over her head, feeling comforted by the extra protection.
Ella continued walking, and after a while the distant clusters of buildings vanished behind her. It was difficult to gain a sense of time in this place. The faded sun hadn't moved, and the strange twilight had neither lightened nor darkened. Ella felt neither cold nor warm, yet the bleak sky weighed on her oppressively. She wanted nothing more than to get out of this place and return home.
Ella stopped. There was another cluster of shattered buildings ahead, to the left of the road, but they were much closer this time. She continued walking, and as she grew closer she saw piles of rubble and remnants of walls, fallen towers and paved squares.
Ella decided to investigate.
Leaving the road, she saw that many of the structures were still standing, and the architecture was strange, unlike anything she'd ever seen. The majority of the buildings followed a pyramid-like design, and some were tall, as high as the Imperial Palace in Seranthia.
Ella reached a pyramid and looked up. She could see no means of gaining entry, nor a way of climbing the stepped levels. Whoever had built these structures had possessed some other means of reaching the heights.
They were made of a dark stone Ella didn't recognise, and passing a half-toppled wall, Ella stopped and stared.
There was a mosaic on the wall. It depicted strange creatures flying in the sky and standing in groups on the ground. The bird-like beings had wings and webbed limbs, but Ella could see they were nimble, with claw-like hands. One of the creatures in the picture held a scroll, and appeared to be reading to those clustered around him.
Continuing to explore, Ella saw more of the mosaics, and came to believe these creatures were the builders of the pyramids and had once occupied this place. Where were they now?
The city was abandoned and broken, and Ella decided to return to the road.
A sudden rumble came from overhead, and Ella saw the sky had developed a pinkish hue. Patches of the haze had formed brown and black clouds, and Ella wondered if she was seeing the beginnings of what this world called a storm. She watched the boiling clouds in fear, but there was no rain, and the rumbling slowly diminished.
The road had developed a slope, and Ella felt the muscles in her legs burning as she felt the incline grow steeper. There was something ahead, another pyramid, standing solitary and much larger than the others. It lay directly in front of her.
The object became clearer with every step, and Ella suddenly gasped as she realised what it was.
It wasn't a pyramid, it was a small mountain. The splitting image of…
"Stonewater," Ella breathed.
Yet as her footsteps took her closer Ella saw it was a pale imitation of the great mountain in Aynar, barely a tenth of the size.
The road opened onto steps, and Ella climbed, realising she was being led up the mountain. There was something too perfect about it. This Stonewater had been constructed, Ella realised. It wasn't a natural mountain at all. Blocks had been placed one on top of the other, in a deliberate mockery of nature's work, creating uneven slopes and irregularities just like the real Stonewater.
The steps continued, and Ella continued to climb.
There was only one path to follow, and near the summit of the mountain Ella saw an opening. The path levelled, and with trepidation Ella placed one foot in front of the other, with no idea what she would find.
She stood outside the dark opening to the chamber willing herself to go forward. The interior was as black as pitch.
Ella took her wand out of the pocket of her dress. She rehearsed the words in her mind that would send a bolt of energy flying from the prism on its tip.
Ella took a step into the chamber.
As she did, a soft yellow glow welled up from the floor, the ceiling and the walls, with no obvious origin. Ella could suddenly see, but what she saw was nothing she could have imagined.
Dozens of clear shells lined the walls of the chamber like upright tombs. Each shell contained the body of a man.
Some were tall, others shorter, but all had their eyes closed as if sleeping, their hands clasped on their breasts. However long they'd been here, they were unmarked by the ravages of time, but each bore the same cruel lines on the corners of his mouth, the same marks of condescension in the twisting of his brows.
Every one of them had red hair.
In the centre of the chamber was a single shell, placed there as if given some special honour. This shell faced the entrance of the chamber, where a direct line of sight would point down the stairs, along the road, and at the stone arch leading back to Merralya.
This shell was empty.
Ella's heart raced in her chest and her breathing came laboured. Filled with fear, she walked along the row of shells. Each had a name above his casing, written with letters of silver.
"Ravathi Roxas," Ella read, and then continued to the next living tomb.
"Varian Vitrix." He was a tall man, with long hair the colour of rust.
"Pyrax Pohlen." This was a striking man with hair of burnished red-gold.
Ella turned and walked to the empty shell facing the chamber's entrance. She looked at the name written above it. "Sentar Scythran."
Ella's mind turned back to the story Evrin had told, when they'd been gathered at the Sentinel after the Primate's death.
She looked again at the only tomb without an occupant. "The Lord of the Night," Ella whispered.
Evrin had described him as the darkest of them all. Sentar was the one who had first discovered the process of extracting essence from the dead. He was the one who had never had any interest in humans, preferring to be served by revenants. He was the one who had started murdering masses of humans for essence, long ago, without waiting for the people to die first.
Ella felt dread sink into her stomach like a stone being dropped.
The Lord of the Night was in Merralya.
She realised her muscles were tense, and she held her wand in a grip of iron. Ella forced herself to relax, and then looked at the wand in her hand.
She didn't know how strong the shells were, but there was only one way to find out.
Sentar Scythran may have crossed, but she had a chance here, to destroy the Evermen forever.
She had to try.
Ella walked to the nearest occupied shell. She looked at Pyrax Pohlen and thought about the great war fought long ago between the humans and their gods. She owed it to those brave people of long ago to do this.
Ella touched her wand to the shell and spoke the activation sequence.
"Tourahn-ash-tassine."
The symbols on the wand lit up as the device came to life. Ella called forth a first-level bolt of energy. "Asta!"
Sparks fountained from the clear wall of the shell. The brightness lit up the chamber, sending flickering shadows dancing around the walls and forcing Ella to shield her eyes.
She took her hand away from her brow.
The shell was unharmed.
Taking a deep breath, Ella called up a fourth-level bolt of energy. "Sahn!"
The symbols on the wand grew weaker as the energy left it. Ella felt waves of heat pour from the prism at the wand's tip, and chanted as she held it to the shell, calling forth the protective capabilities of her dress.
The walls of the chamb
er were lit up white, and when Ella took the wand away from the shell, afterimages danced in her vision.
Still, the shell was unharmed.
Ella sighed.
She sensed sudden movement behind her. Out of the corner of her eye, a black shadow peeled from the wall.
Ella turned to see.
The shadow launched itself at her.
Ella screamed and her hood went over her eyes as she was thrown to the ground. She felt wiry muscles and soft clothing, and then her head was knocked back against the stone.
A hand thrust at her face, pushing at her neck and hair, finally finding her mouth and clapping onto Ella's lips before she could speak an activation sequence.
Ella fought but her assailant was too strong. She cried against the hand holding her mouth but nothing came out except a moan.
While she was pinned to the ground her attacker's other hand pulled the hood back from her head.
Ella looked up into intense blue eyes and hair the colour of flame. The hand covered her nostrils as well as her mouth and she couldn't breathe. Looking up at his face, Ella wondered if he was still sane.
"It's not you," Killian muttered.
Ella tried to gasp for breath, her chest heaving and legs kicking at the ground, but her lungs had nothing to draw on. She felt darkness encroaching.
"It's impossible," Killian said. "You feel very real for a vision."
Ella's single free hand smashed into Killian's ear.
He fell back with a cry, and his hand left Ella's mouth. She gasped as air returned and quickly called on a series of runes, feeling her dress harden to steel. Another activation sequence sent a wave of lightning scattering across her form.
Killian cried out and leaped backwards with incredible agility. Coughing and gasping, Ella climbed to her feet. She saw her wand on the floor nearby.
Seeing the direction of her gaze, Killian flicked his wrists in Ella's direction. His hands were empty but Ella saw the silver glow of symbols on his palms, and a ball of fire shot out from his hands. Ella dived to the side but the flame hit her square on the chest, her dress flaring up as it tried to protect her from the searing heat.
Ella felt her fragile wind knocked out of her, and sensed her dress failing. Another hit like that and she would be dead.
She looked at Killian and saw the madness in his eyes. Ella pointed her wand at Killian and spoke. "Sahn!"
The bolt of yellow light shot out faster than the eye could follow. It hit Killian directly on the chest but he simply grunted as the energy haloed his form and was instantly diffused. He wore close-fitting black clothing but Ella saw runes on his hands and neck.
Killian pointed his finger, and lightning split the air with a thunderous crash. Twisting bolts bathed Ella's chest in dancing blue sparks and she knew her dress would protect her for moments only.
"Stop!" Ella cried. "It's me!"
Killian dropped his hand, and the lightning ceased. He looked at her for a moment, as if thinking, and then he clapped his hands together.
A concussive blast of air lifted Ella from her feet and she flew through the air, crashing against the empty tomb in the centre of the chamber. She lay crumpled and could only look up at him as he loomed over her.
Ella knew her only chance lay in convincing him she was real.
She groaned as he looked down at her. "You said you loved me… At the portal. I came for you!"
Killian lowered his hands. "Ella?"
Ella coughed. "It's me, you fool!"
"How do I know it's you?"
"Look." Ella held up the pendant on its chain around her neck.
"What?"
"Look! You wore this when we first met."
"I remember," Killian said.
He looked at her quizzically, and then started to pace the chamber. Ella kept herself carefully still. In a contest between them, she knew who the victor would be.
Killian stopped pacing, and Ella looked up.
He was staring at the empty shell. His eyes widened.
"He's gone. Where did he go?"
"I don't know," Ella said.
"He was here before!" Killian screamed.
Killian's sudden rage left him as quickly as it came. He slumped down to the ground until he sat with his arms around his knees.
"Am I going mad?" he whispered, and Ella could only just hear it.
She pulled herself over to him so she was sitting close.
"It's been over two years. I'm sorry it's taken me so long. Lord of the Sky, I can't tell you how sorry I am. I can't imagine what it's been like for you here."
"It's really you?" Killian looked up.
"Yes." Ella met his eyes. "It's really me."
Killian's eyes were now clear. Seated beside him, Ella wrapped her arms around him and felt a sob shake his body.
"I'm here now," Ella whispered as she held him. "I'm going to take you home."
29
MIRO and Amber travelled north, while everyone they passed headed in the opposite direction.
They now wore travelling clothes and both carried satchels filled with food and spare clothing. They had a map and gilden. Miro carried a plain but sharp sword at his belt, while Amber had a stiletto tucked into one of her high boots.
As instructed by the Emir, the soldiers had given Miro everything he'd asked for and even escorted them to the outskirts of Emirald. Miro had told Amber of his bargain with the ruler of the seafaring Veldrin nation, and his promise to Emir Volkan. Their quest was now twofold: they needed to find the antidote to the alchemical poison, and they must discover the nature of the mysterious leader who commanded the barbarian horde.
They passed through the lands in Veldria's north without mishap. They were obviously foreigners, yet they travelled in land where everyone not Veldrin was considered uncivilised; there were few chances to make an error of custom.
Miro had expected to stay in simple inns and guesthouses, but everywhere they went the beds were taken. Merchants and nobles were crossing the border from Gokan in droves, and the roads were congested with those heading to the perceived safety in the south. Only those with urgent business in Gokan went north.
As they approached the border, Miro saw evidence of the Emir's soldiers building up their presence. Miro asked a merchant travelling with his wife and two sons about the border crossing.
"It's chaos at Renton, the main border crossing," the merchant said. "They don't care too much about who crosses into Gokan, but the soldiers are checking everyone who comes into Veldria."
"We need to go to Wengwai," Miro said. "Would you recommend crossing at Renton?"
The merchant harrumphed. "Recommend? No. It's not that you won't be able to cross, but the crossing is packed with too many people. It'll take you days to make it over the border. Try crossing from Sarina to Maelan. You'll need to take a boat, but you'll save time."
Miro thanked the merchant, watching as he took his family back towards Emirald.
~
SARINA huddled against the river, a small town earning a living from the trade barges that usually plied the waterways. The typical Veldrin facades coloured the buildings in garish hues, while a broad avenue ran down to the water's edge.
Miro and Amber headed directly to the riverside. As they arrived, a barge tied up at the dock, unloading a cargo of Gokani refugees. The Gokani were shepherded to a border station where a team of officials processed them and handed them over to some of the Emir's men to be searched.
"Wait here," Miro said.
He found the owner of the barge talking to an official, waving and gesticulating.
"These fees are outrageous!" the bargeman said.
The official shrugged. "How much did you earn from each of your passengers? Tell me, did you charge the normal rate, or did you bump it up? You've given us more work than we can handle, so we need to pay more men to help out. That gilden has to come from somewhere."
Miro waited until the grumbling bargeman handed over several coins.
"Aren't you going in the wrong direction?"
"We have urgent business in Wengwai."
The bargeman peered at Miro with calculating eyes. "How urgent?"
"We aren't made of gilden," Miro said, "and I'll warrant your boat will be making the journey back empty in any case."
"Two silver crowns."
"One."
"One silver crown and six copper swords."
"One silver crown," Miro said.
He saw another barge approaching with a new load of refugees. "Perhaps I should try him?" He gestured.
The bargeman turned. "Oh, all right then. Fine. One silver crown. We leave right away, though."
"Perfect," Miro said.
He waved Amber forward.
~
THE RIVER was placid and wide, and the empty barge made good time. By early afternoon Miro saw the smoke of chimneys in the distance, and then a cluster of buildings. Gokani architecture was more sombre than the vivid style of Veldria, favouring function over form, and the buildings were made of wood and stone rather than brick.
As Miro and Amber waited by the rail, the bargeman stomped over. "Now, where's that silver crown."
Miro handed over the coin.
Looking at the approaching dock, Amber pointed. "Who's that?"
A man stood with the refugees crowding the pier, yet a careful distance was maintained around him. He wore a black robe with a crimson lining, and the emblem of a triangle bound by a circle could be seen on his breast.
"That's a Guildsman," the bargeman said. "Surely you've heard of the Guild?"
"Of course," Miro said smoothly.
The bargeman left them to oversee the docking process.
"What should we do?" Amber asked. "Should we talk to him?"
"I don't know if we can," Miro said. "Look. See that group of soldiers in red uniforms? They're going to talk to us when we disembark. Meanwhile our friend the bargeman is going to load up his vessel. By the time we're finished with the officials, the barge will have left."
"Nothing's ever easy, is it?"
The Path of the Storm (The Evermen Saga, Book Three) Page 24
