The Path of the Storm (16 page)

"Hermen Tosch," Ella said, turning and smiling as she greeted the free cities native. "What in the Skylord's name are you doing here?"

"I could ask you the same thing," Hermen said.

Hermen hadn't changed. His hair was still cut short and he had the same stocky build. Ella remembered him as an unassuming man who rarely smiled, strange qualities for a trader, yet he must possess a strong talent for commerce to even be here.

"I'm sorry, but I can't say," Ella said.

Hermen raised an eyebrow. "Sounds ominous."

Ella shrugged. "Not ominous, just boring," she said in a way she hoped was disarming. "Lore and essence, you know how it is."

"Not particularly, no," Hermen said. "But I'll leave you to your secrets. I generally get to the bottom of these things, at any rate."

"Why are you here, then?" Ella asked.

"The Akari are once again trading with the Empire," Hermen said. He grinned. "I'm here to make sure things go as smoothly as possible."

"And make some gilden along the way, I'm sure," Ella said, grinning along.

"I regret I must leave you," Hermen said, suddenly bowing and withdrawing.

Ella wondered what had caused Hermen to leave, when she saw a tall couple regarding her seriously.

"Thank you for inviting me tonight, Dain," Ella said. Not knowing what else to do, she touched her lips and then her forehead in the Alturan manner.

Dain Barden Mensk was tall, even for his race. He towered over Ella and regarded her with brooding eyes somewhere between blue and grey. The Dain's long ice-white hair was braided at the back of his head and his forked beard was woven with silver chain. His face was unlined and his age indeterminate, but his brow was cruel, lips turned down in a perpetual scowl. A mantle of silver fox fur lined his broad shoulders and the muscles in his arms bulged as he looped his fingers in his belt.

"Ella," the Dain said, neglecting any title. "My daughter says you wish to speak with me, but that you would not say what you wish to speak about."

"Barden," the woman at the Dain's side smiled, "the girl only arrived today. Perhaps it can wait until later?"

"This is my wife, the Daina," the Dain grumbled. "Mara, this is Ella, an Alturan enchantress."

Ella dipped her head while the statuesque woman smiled and nodded. Daina Mara's eyes sparkled with intelligence. She would have been beautiful as a younger woman.

"How are you enjoying Ku Kara, Ella?" Mara said.

"It's incredible," Ella said. Dain Barden frowned. "Your people make living in the cold look not only easy, but enjoyable."

"It's not as simple as it may appear," said the Dain.

"Yet we love our homeland nonetheless," the Dain's wife followed, looking at the Dain fondly.

"I can see why," Ella said. "We're fortunate to have you part of the new Empire."

"I must check on the dinner preparations," Mara said. "Please, excuse me."

"My wife seems to have taken a liking to you," Dain Barden said. "Tell me, the attack on your brother's wedding. What progress has been made?"

"Little, I'm afraid," said Ella. "However the attack is part of my reason for being here."

Dain Barden scowled, and Ella realised what she'd said. "Not that there is any suspicion on the Akari. It's not that at all." Ella wished she had Miro by her side.

A bell tinkled, announcing that dinner was being served. Guests began to leave the reception hall, the revenant servers melting to the sides.

"We'll discuss it after dinner," Barden said.

~

E
LLA
found herself sitting next to Hermen Tosch. She was relieved to have someone she knew to talk to.

"What's the food like?" Ella said.

Hermen paused, gathering his thoughts. "Let me simply say, you may wish to taste a small amount, before taking a large mouthful."

"That good?" Ella grinned.

"The Akari diet consists of fish, seal, walrus, whale and white bear." Hermen sounded as if he was reciting a trader's guide.

"White bear?"

"It's a species of bear that lives up here in the cold. Terrifying creatures, bigger than any other bear."

"Go on."

"Sometimes the Akari cook their food, but much of the time they simply salt it and let it dry. For a change in texture, they keep it warm and let it fester for a time. You might like to use the word 'rot'."

"Lord of the Sky," Ella muttered. She was in for a treat. "Have you ever been to an eating house called Barlow's, in Seranthia? It's in the Fortune district."

"I should move tables if you keep on like this," Hermen said, raising his hands in mock horror. "How dare you mention Barlow's here? Do you have any idea how long I've been in Ku Kara?"

"How long?"

"Too long!"

"Those little coloured pastries are incredible," Ella said.

"And the hand-made chocolates," Hermen almost moaned. He obviously had a sweet tooth. "That's enough!"

Ella looked around the long table of bleached wood, curious to get her first good look at the other guests. They were all Akari; she and Hermen appeared to be the only foreigners here, which probably explained why they had been seated together. There were perhaps eighty or more guests, all invited because Ada had come home from Tingara. The Dain obviously doted on his daughters; Ada had been given a place next to her father, with his wife on his other side. He laughed at something Mara said and clapped his hand on top of hers on the table. The Dain evidently doted on his wife, also, Ella noted, when she saw the way he looked at her.

Revenant servers, this time dressed in tailored grey suits, moved down the table. At each place they placed a short glass containing clear liquid in front of the guest. Ella looked over at the Akari to see what she was supposed to do. She copied the woman across from her, picked her glass up, and tilted the contents back into her throat in a single gulp.

Acid burned her mouth, etching its way painfully into her throat and down. Ella gasped and coughed, she could even feel it enter her chest, descending further into her stomach.

"Well done!" Hermen laughed beside her.

Looking across the table, Ella saw Daina Mara nudge her husband and whisper something, meanwhile looking at Ella. The empty glass in front of Ella could only mean one thing.

"What was that?" Ella asked Hermen, placing her hand on her lips and feeling warmth come to her cheeks.

"The Akari call it 'water of life'," Hermen said. "They ferment rye and distil it, before filtering it through charcoal." He rubbed his hands. "What I wouldn't give to sell bottles of it in Seranthia."

Ella wasn't sure if she liked it, but it certainly was strong.

A plate of black strips was placed in front of her.

"Salted seal liver," Hermen whispered. "You won't like it, but you should eat it anyway."

Ella put one of the pieces in her mouth. The texture was firm and rubbery. An oily liquid came out of it as she chewed. Her senses told her she was eating bad meat, while the taste was nothing short of awful. She swallowed and looked around for something to wash it down with.

A revenant placed another small glass in front of her.

After Ella had two more of the strips, fighting the urge to gag, she drank the glass of clear liquid down.

"Just like one of the Akari," Hermen said, grinning.

"Why aren't you eating them?" Ella asked.

"I don't really like them."

"But you said I should eat them!"

"Do you always do what you're told?"

Ella frowned as she realised Hermen had been making sport with her. At least the Akari across from her nodded approvingly.

The dish was finally taken away.

"Have you heard the news from the Hazara Desert?" Hermen asked.

"No?" Ella asked.

"Ilathor's father is dead. He is now Kalif."

Ella remembered Rogan telling her Ilathor's father was ill. "I hope he didn't take it badly," she said. She thought about the proud desert man. Knowing him, he wouldn't have shed any tears, but the way he had spoken of his father told Ella he would have strongly felt his father's passing.

"Now that he is Kalif, he can no longer help Rogan Jarvish with the regency. His new responsibilities are great. He is fortunate to have Jehral by his side."

"That's good," Ella said. "Jehral is a good man." Hermen laughed, and Ella frowned. "What?"

"I'm not laughing at what you said," said Hermen. "I'm laughing because I remember saying the same words to your friend, Bladesinger Bartolo, when he was hunting you down after we… borrowed you… from your brother."

Ella grinned. Now it was her turn to take pleasure from Hermen's discomfort. "I'll bet he didn't take that well."

"No, not well at all. As I recall, in front of Castlemere's city watch he pinned me up against a wall and put his zenblade to my eye."

Ella laughed heartily. "That sounds like Bartolo."

Hermen's face clouded. Ella wondered if perhaps she shouldn't have laughed so loud. Then she remembered the taste of the seal livers. She also remembered her captors being less than gentle with her.

Ella laughed some more, while Hermen's expression grew more pained.

~

A
T THE
end of the meal the guests dispersed one by one. A revenant in grey came over to Ella, saying nothing, just staring at her with sightless white eyes.

Ella knew when she was being summoned. She bid good night to Hermen and followed the revenant to a smaller chamber nearby.

Dain Barden was crouching in front of a hearth, holding his hands towards the embers.

"I'm a plain-spoken man, Ella, and I will appreciate it if you are direct in return. Why are you here?"

Ella gathered her thoughts, wondering where to begin. "We think the attack may have been directed by an ancient enemy of all of us."

The Dain turned, his eyebrow raised. "You mean one of the Evermen?"

"Yes." Ella met his gaze.

"I didn't see any lore," Barden said. "I saw some kind of chemical explosive, a substance that is also toxic when introduced to the blood."

Ella was surprised at the Dain's insight. He didn't just rule his people by might.

"There are other reasons," Ella said. She thought about Evrin's words. Someone had crossed. "I need to know. Has any stranger come to these lands, seeking essence?"

"Now I'm getting worried, Enchantress," the Dain said.

"Perhaps it's time to be worried."

"Yes," said Dain Barden, and the one syllable sent chills through Ella's spine. "I can't say for certain that a stranger came here, but Renrik, one of my most senior necromancers, fled, along with several others of his order. I am the only one who can access our essence reserves, but they took several flasks with them. They also took a ship."

Ella was surprised. "You have ships?"

"We don't like those of the houses to know, but yes, we have ships. They took the
Icebreaker
, one of our best ships."

It had to be, Ella realised. Evrin was right. One of the Evermen was in Merralya, and he had with him several necromancers.

"Is it enough?" Ella asked.

"Enough for what?"

"You know what I'm asking! Did they take enough essence to build the vats? Enough to build the machines that extract essence from the dead."

"Yes," the Dain said, sighing. "They took enough."

"How long ago did this happen?"

"Some time ago."

"Why didn't you say anything?" Ella cried.

"Who are you, woman, to question me in my own palace?" Dain Barden growled, rising to his full height.

Ella reminded herself she needed the Dain's help, not his ire. She calmed.

"Where could they have gone?"

"Where?" Barden said. "I have no idea. And now that I've answered your questions…"

"There's something else," Ella said.

"What is it?"

She took a deep breath. Ella knew Evrin would never teach her the things she needed to know, and this was her only chance.

"I need you to teach me."

"Teach you? Teach you what?"

"I need you to teach me how to bring the dead back to life."

The Dain laughed. "I learned my lesson with that one. No, never again will we share the knowledge outside my people."

"There must be something I can offer you that will change your mind."

"Ha," Barden snorted. "Nothing. You may stay in Ku Kara one more night after tonight, Enchantress. I know it has been a long journey north for you. But then I'll ask you to leave."

14

E
LLA
wandered about Ku Kara. It took her hours but she walked from one end to the other, watching the Akari at work and play, opening her mind to their way of life.

She thought about Killian.

With no idea what strange world lay on the other side of the portal, Ella couldn't even picture him. When she tried, she simply saw him as she'd last seen him, bare-chested, near-naked, looking at her with eyes that spoke volumes as he took a step into the unknown.

Ella held his necklace as she walked, rubbing the worn pendant between her fingers. Lost in thought, she was oblivious to the cold.

Where was he right now? Was he cold, also?

His face floated in a void of darkness. Ella again saw his fiery red hair and intense blue eyes, a shade she had only seen before in Evrin.

Killian had been raised an orphan, and become a street thief in Salvation, under the gaze of Stonewater. He had been offered a chance at a normal life when he'd joined a performing troupe, and with his lean, athletic build, Ella was sure he could have enjoyed a life of success.

But the Emperor had destroyed the troupe, murdering the only family Killian had ever known. Lost, Killian had returned to Salvation, the only home he knew. The Primate had found him, and turned the young thief to his own evil ends.

Yet Killian had met Ella, and somehow, she knew she had touched him, and he'd been saved again.

All he had ever wanted was to find his own family, and feel the sense of belonging that Ella knew he had always wanted to know. Evrin had given Ella part of the story, revealing that Killian was descended in a long line from Evrin himself.