Enchantress (The Evermen Saga, Book One)

by James Maxwell

She could tell he could see right through her.

  "I won’t be around for a long time. I’ll be gone, for at least three months. Maybe a lot longer."

  "Of course." Ella tried hard to keep her expression happy. It was good news, it was. "Have they told you anything about the training? It’s so mysterious — all I’ve heard are rumours."

  "I don’t know where I’m going or what I’ll be doing really… All I know is the training takes place somewhere in the Dunwood. They don’t talk about it much. I’m a bit scared, to be honest."

  Ella waved her hand. Her smiled was forced. "I’m sure you’ll be fine. I have an idea! Maybe one day, when you’re a bladesinger, and I’m an enchantress, I can make you the best zenblade in the history of enchantment!"

  Miro smiled. "That would be… wonderful."

  They sat in silence for a moment. A wind blew up from the trees, a cold winter breeze — a sign of things to come. Ella shivered; she needed to get out of the wet clothes.

  "Ella, you should think about moving closer to town. Maybe you could move in with a friend."

  "Don’t worry! I’ll be fine."

  "I don’t like you being here by yourself."

  "I’ll be fine," Ella repeated.

  It was still some time before they left the porch and retired, cold and wet. It didn’t seem so funny to Ella now.

  ~

  AMBER’S mother fussed with her hair once more before stepping back, an appraising look on her face.

  "There, that’s it," she said.

  Amber stood nervously on the bank of the Sarsen where a beautiful bower of trees and flowers had been constructed. With her as the centrepiece, she thought wryly. The water flowed sluggishly past, tranquil and emerald green. Amber kept a firm eye on the sky but the unseasonable weather seemed to be holding up — the sky a clear blue, the sun’s rays warm on her skin. When she inhaled Amber could smell the sweet scent of the roses and the freshness of the leaves. A light breeze blew gently, rustling the leaves around her, causing her green dress to flutter. Graduation was still a week away, but Amber had been allowed to wear silk just this once. She loved the feel of it on her skin, so soft and supple.

  "Remember, my dear, this is the best day of your life."

  Amber wished her mother would stop saying that. A hand reached yet again for her hair; Amber caught it this time. "Enough, Mother."

  "Hmpf," Amber’s mother said, before planting a beaming smile on her face and directing it at some newly-arrived guests.

  Amber could see more of her relatives standing under the line of trees. They were all smiling; it seemed like a strange role reversal, everyone kept telling her how happy she must be, but they were the ones smiling.

  Not for the first time, Amber wondered if she’d done the right thing. She kept imagining Miro appearing at the wedding, a great sword in his hand, cutting the flowers up and threatening the shocked relatives, before he picked her up on his shoulder and carried her away.

  "Don’t look so sad, Amber. Smile. Everyone is watching you."

  Amber grimaced.

  "No, I said smile. Smile. There, that’s better, isn’t it?"

  Amber felt like she might cry.

  By now all of the guests had arrived. Amber could see her entire family arrayed before her, along with many of the teachers and Academy staff. Suddenly there was a commotion in the distance and Amber heard raised voices. One voice rose above them all — a strong, female voice.

  A figure pushed through restraining hands: a young woman in a green woollen Academy gown. Ella strode purposefully past the relatives, ignoring their disapproving expressions.

  "I hope I’m not too late?" Ella smiled up at Amber.

  Amber just nodded. Ella took a place between Amber and her mother. She took her friend’s hand.

  In that moment, Amber did cry.

  ~

  ELLA looked on as Igor took Amber away, amid the cheers and whistles of his fellows. Everyone had said it was a beautiful wedding. No one commented on the bride’s tears. They probably put it down to nerves, or tears of happiness.

  Ella left the wedding and followed the river bank, gazing into its depths and thinking about the future. She was glad she had her work. Working with essence, real enchantment, was the great joy of her life. Some of the masters had let her borrow a few of their texts. Ella read them by the dim light of her nightlamp, sitting and rocking on the porch with the calls of the forest animals for company.

  Master Merlon had told Ella she’d been recommended for the Academy honour list. Ella didn’t feel the surge of pride she had expected. Instead she was simply happy to be finding her place in the world.

  Thinking of life, and weddings, Ella realised she had walked quite a long way, almost to the Tenbridge. She could see the Crystal Palace, and as she watched, she was lucky enough to see the palace colours begin to glow as the sun set behind her.

  "That’s the first time I’ve seen them come on like that," an admiring voice said beside her.

  He was a young man, his blue eyes sparkling as he joined Ella’s idle walk along the riverbank. He did it with such assurance that it didn’t seem rude, only confident.

  He was only a little taller than Ella, perhaps one or two years older, with long, unruly hair tumbling to his collar. It was hair the colour of fire — a wild red. His accent didn’t sound Alturan. Ella couldn’t quite place it. Perhaps it was just the way he spoke. He was undeniably handsome.

  "I’ve always loved the palace lights," Ella said. "Did you know that from inside the palace the lights shine through the crystal walls?"

  "Really?"

  "The servants have almost an entire language of lore, just to control the lights. It’s beautiful."

  "You’ve been inside the palace?"

  Ella didn’t know why she kept talking. "No, of course not. I would never be invited. I do know some of the lords’ children though."

  His eyes grew round. "That’s still something most people can’t say. What about your family? Have they been inside? Your father, perhaps your mother?"

  "No, nothing like that. My parents died, when I was young."

  There was a long pause. "I’m sorry," he said. "That must have been hard."

  Turning, Ella looked at him. He said it with such sincerity, she knew he meant it.

  "How old were you?" he said.

  "I don’t know, only a babe, I suppose. I’m not sure. My father was killed in the Rebellion. My mother died too. We managed to survive. A man, loyal to my father, he raised us."

  "He must have been a good man."

  "He was, I guess. He was very old. He died, not long ago."

  "It sounds like you’ve had a tough time."

  Ella shrugged. "Life, I guess. As my brother says, you learn from your mistakes and you move on."

  Ella didn’t know why she was opening up to this stranger. He just seemed interested. He seemed to care.

  "What’s your name?" she said.

  "Killian."

  "Killian. That’s a strange name." Ella put her hand to her lips. "Sorry, I don’t mean to be rude."

  He smiled. "It’s the only one I have."

  For some reason, Ella smiled along with him, lost in his eyes for a moment. Killian’s smile grew broader. "And your name is…?"

  She blushed, breaking eye contact. "I’m Ella."

  "Ella," he said. "That’s a beautiful name. It suits you."

  Ella changed the subject. "What do you do, Killian?"

  "Do?"

  "For work or study. Are you a student at the Academy? I don’t think I’ve seen you before."

  "Me? I represent a wealthy merchant, from outside Altura. He seeks goods in far lands, to trade in his own land. I find them for him. But enough about me, you said you had a brother?"

  Killian asked Ella more questions. She found herself talking more than she had in a very long time.

  With winter fully settling in it grew dark earlier, and Ella knew she should head home. It was so nice to talk to someone thoug
h, someone who really listened.

  Ella chose the path, picking some of the most elaborate river gardens to walk past, pointing out some of Sarostar’s more impressive features. The pair drew closer to the Crystal Palace as they chatted. Ella intended that to be the final piece on her spontaneous tour.

  "Do you know the names of the nine bridges?" Killian asked.

  "Of course! We just passed the Tenbridge. I don’t know why it’s called that. Back downriver are the Singer’s Bridge, Lord’s Bridge, Skyway and the Winebridge. Ahead we have the Long Bridge, Saimon’s Bridge, the Runebridge, and Victory Bridge."

  Ella gestured to each in turn, although she could only see the Tenbridge behind her and the Long Bridge coming up ahead — a massive span seemingly of one block.

  "The Long Bridge was built by the builders, from House Torakon, many years ago. That was before the Rebellion, of course. We had to study the bridge from a mathematical point of view. It would never stand without the runes."

  It seemed dangerously thin, which gave it an otherworldly aura. Ella could only imagine what the cities in Torakon must look like.

  They then passed Saimon’s Bridge, a sturdy construction of stone, lined on either side with statues of scholarly-looking men.

  The river glistened in the afternoon sunlight. It gurgled and splashed beside them, gentle, but with enough of a current that Ella wouldn’t have wanted to fall in.

  Occasionally boats passed them, graceful vessels constructed of pale wood. They bobbed in the current, now and then turned deftly by the oar-strokes of their operators. So absorbed was Ella that it took a moment for her to realise that Killian had stopped when she began to climb some steps. She looked back down and laughed at Killian’s expression. He stared ahead with an incredulous gaze.

  The steps climbed up and up, and then abruptly terminated — vanished, into thin air. Killian looked on in disbelief as Ella smiled, and took another step into nothingness. He winced. Obviously at any moment he expected to see Ella fall through the air, to hear the splash as she smacked the water from such a height.

  Instead, Ella took another step, and looked back at him. "Come on, this is the way to the Crystal Palace. If we take much longer the people on the boats will laugh at us." She smiled to take any sting out of her words.

  Killian stood on the last of the stone blocks. Ella looked down at her own feet. She could see the water far beneath her, could make out every crest and foam. While she watched, concentrating, looking for something to mark out the bridge, she suddenly saw the glowing runes. They appeared, and then disappeared, so that she wondered if she had really seen them at all. Then she saw them again, faint symbols that glowed one moment and vanished the next.

  Ella smiled encouragement. Taking a deep breath, Killian took a step onto the Runebridge. He half stumbled, so prepared had he been to fall down to the deep water below. He looked up at Ella in astonishment.

  "How…?"

  "How does it work? No one knows for sure. It’s from an era in the past, when our understanding of enchantment must have been better than it is today. It’s something to do with bending the light and giving the air form. The Long Bridge was built by House Torakon, but only we could build something like the Runebridge, only House Altura could do such a thing. They say it’s a last measure of security for the Crystal Palace."

  The pair crossed the Runebridge, Killian taking each step gingerly, but slowly becoming accustomed. They descended to the opposite bank, where the fountains of the Crystal Palace formed fanciful shapes.

  They were now at the palace gate, looking into the grounds, the huge doors close but separated from them by scores of soldiers in green.

  Killian asked Ella question after question about the Crystal Palace; he seemed quite interested.

  As they walked away from the palace, there was a sudden commotion behind them. Killian and Ella both turned.

  Soldiers were pouring out of the palace, surrounding a cowering man with a circle of bristling weapons.

  The man was some kind of merchant — Alturan by his looks. His ear was red where an earring must have been torn from his head by force and his face was bruised and bloody. The merchant’s once fine clothes showed the marks of a long and difficult journey.

  "Please, he made me do it. He made me do it," the merchant repeated, over and over.

  He carried a wooden box.

  "There’s something in there!" one of the guards called.

  "Open it!" said the leader.

  "Please, he made me do it."

  "I said, open it!"

  The merchant opened the lid of the box.

  "What’s in there? Take it out. I said take it out!"

  The merchant lifted something out of the box with both hands.

  Ella recoiled in horror. It was a human head. The hair had been shaved and a message tattooed into the scalp.

  "It’s Lord Devon!" a soldier cried. "Lord of the Sky! Someone tell the High Lord!"

  Ella could read the message in the lights of the Crystal Palace.

  "War," it read.

  Ella turned to Killian, but he was gone.

  18

  And so you can see the core units of the houses represented on the simulator, from nightshades to avengers. The colossi, obviously, are not to scale.

  — Enchanter Saimon Bower to Marshal Timor Lewin, 412 Y.E.

  ELLA and Amber ran up to each other, laughing and hugging, pointing to their green silk dresses in excitement.

  Green bunting decorated the Great Court, running between the sparse branches of the centurion trees. A group of musicians played, the tinkling, chiming music lending to the festive mood. Parents and graduates stood in small groups, smiling and chatting. The smell of cooking food wafted through the air, glasses clinked together, a man laughed.

  Ella had seen her friend only a couple of times since the wedding; Amber had seemed different, more subdued. Ella hoped she would find happiness. Maybe it just took time.

  "Lord of the Sky, Ella. I swear you look more and more beautiful every time I see you. The way you fill out that dress is almost scandalous!"

  "Say you — it’s this material! And look at your raj hada."

  Each girl wore their raj hada on the breast of their dress, the sword and flower of Altura lined with silver.

  "I can’t believe we’re finally graduating. After all this time, all that work. Do you know what?" Amber said. "I’m going to get drunk!"

  She ran over to a table where glasses of honeywine sparkled in neat rows, returning quickly and handing one to Ella.

  "To enchantment!"

  "To enchantment," Ella echoed.

  Amber took a big draught of her wine. Ella sipped a smaller amount, careful not to appear too frivolous. She couldn’t help thinking about Talwin. About his parents. What were they doing on this day?

  "It’s a shame Miro couldn’t be here," said Amber.

  "I know," said Ella. There were too many people who should have been here. Talwin. Miro. Brandon. Her parents.

  "I still can’t believe he’s going to be a bladesinger. They’ve always looked so terrifying. I can’t believe I’ll know one."

  "I can’t believe it myself sometimes. My brother, a bladesinger."

  "Some of the boys look so handsome in their silk robes, don’t you think?"

  Ella chuckled. "I guess." For some reason Killian’s face came to mind. Why had he left so suddenly that day?

  "Stop looking so pensive — you’ve done enough thinking! Enough reading, enough study, enough practice."

  Ella saw some of the masters gather on the podium nearby. She began to feel nervous.

  "Do you think my armoursilk was any good? Oh, Amber. What if I made a mistake?"

  "Stop it, Ella. It’ll be fine! Here, they’re about to announce it."

  Amber took Ella by the hand and led her to where the crowd gathered expectantly.

  Master Merlon stood up and faced the crowd. "Congratulations once again to this year’s graduates, one of the
brightest sets I have seen come out of this Academy, I must say."

  "Get on with it!" someone yelled.

  Everyone laughed. Master Merlon frowned down at the students.

  "As we all know, this has been a difficult year, with many trials for all of us." The students sobered. "The decision process to select this year’s Lorename has been terribly hard. I have seen intricate enchantments, works of art, the sharpest zenblade, the strongest armoursilk." He paused for dramatic effect. "Finally, though, we have come to a conclusion."

  The graduates hushed in expectation. Amber squeezed Ella’s hand.

  "This year’s Golden Lorename is..." Master Merlon paused, enjoying the suspense. "Torsten Alfoll!"

  The graduates cheered. A blushing Torsten ascended the steps to the podium. Master Merlon shook his hand, and gave him a silver scrill, beautifully worked. "Congratulations, Torsten. May this scrill aid the working of wonderful enchantments."

  The graduates clapped, a group of Torsten’s friends whooping loudly, causing him some embarrassment. Torsten shook hands with each of the masters in turn, and then descended the podium to resounding applause.

  "Which makes this year’s Emerald Lorename, our top graduate…" Master Merlon drew it out, and then smiled down at her. "Ella Goodwin."

  It was Brandon’s last name. The graduates clapped all the louder. They had seen her best Master Goss. They had seen her take the pain of the Block.

  Amber looked on with undisguised envy, smiling and clapping. "Go on, go up!"

  Ella ascended the podium, a shocked expression on her face. Master Merlon smiled and as he shook her hand the crowd roared.

  Master Merlon gave her a sealed crystal bottle, half the size of her hand, intricately designed. Ella couldn’t believe it when she saw the black liquid inside. Essence!

  Ella shook hands with each of the masters in turn. As she shook Master Goss’s hand he leaned forward to speak into her ear.

  "That armoursilk, I have never…" He shook his head, momentarily lost for words, finally saying only, "We expect great things of you, young lady."

  The day was finally complete when Ella, descending the steps of the podium, saw a tall figure with dark hair at the back of the crowd, a wide smile on his face. Miro.