The Path of the Storm (41 page)

"Look, there are more of them." Killian pointed to a second cloud, falling down from the sky above.

With several spoken words, Ella activated her wand, feeling the hazel wood warm in her hands and seeing the prism on its tip light up with yellow.

"The larger group is yours," she said.

Killian and Ella stood back to back as each faced a flock of shrieking wraiths. Ella aimed her wand and called forth a bolt of energy, sending it tearing through the air at the clustered creatures. Behind her she heard Killian chanting.

Grouped together as they were, Ella couldn't miss, and the crash of her bolt striking a wraith was answered by a nightmare scream. The wraiths dispersed, and one turned and flew back the way it came. They wouldn't be so easy to strike a second time.

They were now close enough that Ella could see the foremost wraith's triangular head, teeth bared as it screamed to attack the intruders who had devastated its homeland.

"
Tula!
" Ella pointed the wand, tracking the movement of the wraith.

A yellow beam of light shot from the wand, but the wraith rose higher, and the bolt passed beneath it.

Ella could now count them. There were eight of the wraiths attacking her, and striking them didn't seem to kill them, only to scare them away. She hoped there wouldn't be any more.

Killian grunted behind her, and Ella wondered how many he faced. Ella still didn't know the limit of his powers, but she knew it was him the wraiths were after.

Ella sent three bolts from her wand in quick succession, striking two wraiths but missing a third. The twisted black creature she'd missed shrieked as it came down at her, claws outstretched as it swooped.

Ella pulled the hood of her dress over her head and chanted quickly.

The wraith hit the dress as the silk hardened to steel. Killian was standing too close for Ella to activate the lightning effect, and the wraith rose back into the air with a howl of disappointment.

Ella pointed her wand and three more yellow beams launched from the prism. She sent one wraith screaming away, but there were still five remaining.

All five came at Ella together. She took one out with a final shout, but the four winged shadows would hit her with the strength of their teeth and claws.

Then Ella felt Killian move behind her. His hands clapped together and a wave of concussive air rolled out from his hands in a circle. Where the solidified air hit the wraiths they screamed and were tossed backwards. They fell to the ground, before rising up again and flying away, shrieking and wailing in defeat.

"Thank you." Ella turned to Killian.

"We need to keep moving," he said.

They continued the ground-eating jog, watching the sky, taking turns to look ahead and behind. Ella saw the distant structures she'd first seen when she arrived, and realised they would soon be at the stone archway.

She still hadn't told Killian who would be waiting when they arrived.

"Killian," Ella panted, "there's something you need to know."

"What is it?" he said.

"I read the book the Primate found at the Pinnacle. The portal destroys anyone who tries to cross. Only one of the Evermen can enter."

"Then how did you cross?"

"I read something in the book that gave me an idea, and I found a way. You have to understand… I had to come and get you..."

"What are you saying?"

Ella saw the stone archway in the distance. "Stop," she said, dragging Killian to a halt.

"We can't stop here!"

"There, just ahead, it's the portal. The beacon will tell us when it opens. Before we get there, I have to tell you how I crossed."

"Then tell me!" Killian said in exasperation.

"I read in the book that I could step through the portal if I crossed with one of the Evermen by my side. I can cross back to Merralya, for example, with you beside me." Ella looked into Killian's eyes and took his hand.

"So you crossed with one of the Evermen? I don't understand."

"To come here and bring you home, I had to find someone with your powers, someone who shared your blood, and the blood of the Evermen. I had to find… your parents."

The blood drained from Killian's face. "You found my parents? Please, tell me, what you found. They told me my parents were dead. You found them?"

"Wait," Ella said. "Please, you have to hear the rest. Listen to me. Evrin told us, after you crossed, that you are his descendant. That's why you have the powers he once had."

Killian looked away. "So that's why he was looking for me, back in Salvation, when we destroyed the machines at Stonewater. He wasn't just looking for someone to help him…"

"He was looking for you," Ella finished.

"I think I understand now. You're saying that Evrin crossed with you."

"No," Ella said. "His abilities were taken from him long ago, when he helped our people fight the Evermen and gain freedom. Killian, to bring you back I had to find your parents, for I knew that either your mother or your father would share the powers you inherited from Evrin."

"Ella, what did you find?" Killian whispered.

"Your father. His name was Lord Aidan. He had red hair and blue eyes, just like you. By crossing with him, I was able to come here to get you."

"He's alive? But you speak about him as if he's dead. Why did you say it like that?"

"He is dead. I'm sorry Killian. He died more than twenty years ago." Ella held her breath.

"Than how did you…?" Killian suddenly pulled away, so that he was no longer holding her hand. "You didn't. Not that."

"I'm sorry. It was the only way."

Killian looked over at the stone archway. He started to stride towards the archway, walking on the paved road with brisk footsteps so that Ella was forced to scurry to keep up.

A figure appeared out of the mist, standing next to the archway with his back slightly hunched.

The resemblance between Lord Aidan and his son was unmistakeable, yet his pallid flesh and white-eyed stare beside Killian's youthful vigour was disturbing.

Killian stopped and stared, and Ella saw raw emotion cross his face.

"Has the portal opened?" Ella asked.

"It has not," said the revenant.

"Then we'll have to wait."

Lord Aidan spoke again, and Ella noticed his speech seemed laboured. "I do not have long. It grows difficult to stay in this world. A feeling of rage overcomes me. I do not understand it."

Ella saw how much fainter the runes on the revenant's skin had become, and if anything the redness in his eyes was stronger.

"Ella," Killian said, and there were tears streaming down his cheeks. "I need to speak with him."

Ella bowed her head. "Of course. I'll wait over there."

As she turned and left, she heard Killian as he walked towards his father and spoke. "My name is Killian. I… I am your son…"

39

G
UIDING
his revenants with soft words, Renrik the necromancer had Miro bound hand and foot and then carried to one of the tents where Renrik and his fellows created more warriors for the Lord of the Night.

Miro was laid on an iron table so that he was on his back, staring up at the ceiling. A revenant cut through the bindings on Miro's wrists, but before he could surge forward two more warriors pinned his arms above his head. His wrists were then bound, one to each corner of the table.

Miro's legs were then given a similar treatment, until he was splayed on the table, his chest heaving and body tensed as he wondered what lay in store.

They left him alone for hours.

Whatever they were going to do to him, no matter how loud they made him scream, the sounds would be lost in the other terrible noises shattering the night.

The rain had stopped, and Miro wished it would come back, for now against the ensuing silence he could hear the moans of anguish and cries of terror. A woman called out a man's name, again and again, her torment evident in every shrieking syllable. A wailing man couldn't be understood at all, his pain so great all he could do was scream. Sobbing children and tortured howls came all directions, so that Miro wondered at the inhumanity of it all.

The waiting hours filled Miro with suffering enough for a lifetime, for with every cry he was reminded of Sentar Scythran's promise regarding Amber.

There was a regular rhythm to some of the horrific sounds of the night. A scream would be cut off by a wet crunching sound. A chorus of fear would follow, and the cycle would repeat.

Feeling sickness and fear mingle in equal quantities, Miro realised what it was he was hearing.

They had put the prisoners into a queue. One would be killed, screaming as they saw the death blow coming, and the other prisoners' voices would rise in cries of horror as they saw the fate that awaited them and their loved ones. The queue marched forward, and the next man, woman, or child would die.

"Lord of the Sky, help us," Miro whispered.

Sentar had promised to make Amber's death more painful than that of the other prisoners. What would he do to her?

Even imagining her beautiful skin marred in the smallest degree filled Miro with hate and rage. He didn't care that Sentar had said Amber would be the one to kill him, as much as he wanted to spare himself the sight of his wife brought back in revenant form. He cared that when she died she would be in pain, and her last thoughts would be a desperate longing to go home.

Miro hated himself then. Amber hadn't chosen to join him on this foolish quest, and knowing she was distraught beyond belief, he hadn't known how to treat her. He should have taken her back to Castlemere, regardless of the delay.

Someone entered the tent. The pain would begin now.

Miro felt a presence move slowly towards him, and then a face came down to stare into his eyes. He looked into the remorseless stare of the Lord of the Night.

"Your woman is still alive, for now," were Sentar's first words.

"Don't hurt her," Miro said, swallowing his pride.

"Can you hear the slaughter line?" Sentar asked. "Can you hear the beautiful music of my revenge on the human race? If you answer my questions truthfully, and I consider that you are forthcoming with your responses, your woman may join that line. Trust me. It is better than the other fate I can give her. When humans displease me I go to… extra lengths… to ensure their last hours are as pain-filled as possible."

"Despot tactics," Miro gasped. "You're no god."

"Ah, you'll be an interesting one to work with," said Sentar. "I can tell you'll do anything to spare your woman, but there's a stiff backbone in there. Which will it be? Will you choose to divulge, or will you let me go to work on your pain centres, and make you listen as I flay your woman?"

Miro gulped. His breath came in heaves.

"Yes, you heard me. I'm quite an artist. When I flay a human, I do so cleanly, so that I eventually remove the skin in one piece. I can flay your woman just outside, so you will only be able to hear the screams and imagine what I am doing to her. You'll hear her last gasp as she dies, and then do you know what I'll do? I'll bring her back with no skin, and that's when I'll lead her in here and show her to you. She'll be my only skinless revenant."

"What do you want to know?"

Sentar's face drew back, so that Miro could only stare at the ceiling and wonder where his tormenter was. "Where are you from?"

"Across the sea, in the east."

Miro's heightened senses told him there was a sudden swift movement in the area of his chest. He tensed his stomach muscles, but nothing could have prepared him for the blow that struck the area under his ribs.

The breath left him with a whoosh and for a moment Miro couldn't think, had no comprehension of where he was, could only focus on the pain, his mind begging without hope for it to end.

Some time later awareness returned to him and he realised he was coughing and wheezing. Sentar's strength wasn't natural, and the sadistic Lord of the Night evidently took pleasure in the pain he dealt out to the race he despised.

"I told you I want you to be forthcoming in your responses. Now, let me try again. Where are you from?"

"I'm from Altura, the land of enchanters."

"These ridiculous tribes you humans have separated yourselves into," Sentar muttered. "I know your land. There is one from Altura, a leader, who I tried to kill along with some of the other leaders. Dogs without a pack leader are just so many curs, you see. What was his name? Milo? No, that wasn't it. Miro. Yes, Miro. I'm sure you know his name."

Miro felt his pulse race. He knew he couldn't hold out for long, not with Sentar's ability to harm Amber. He thought about the things he knew. About the machines being rebuilt at Mornhaven, and the numbers of fighting men each house possessed. He knew Sarostar's weaknesses, and which was the most poorly defended port, Castlemere or Schalberg.

Miro realised Sentar Scythran was going to make him choose between the defence of his homeland and the woman he loved. If he told Sentar the things he knew, he would be placing countless soldiers and civilians in harm's way, and dooming the people of Merralya to enslavement and death. If he didn't, he had no doubt this monster would do to Amber every last thing he had said and more.

"Tell me, Alturan. What are you doing here?" Sentar asked.

"There was an explosion at the Lord Marshal's wedding in Altura's capital, Sarostar," Miro said, treading close to the truth. "I was there as a guest, and some kind of poison infected my son. Looking for a cure, I tracked the origin of the poison to the Alchemists' Guild in Wengwai."

Sentar's face again appeared in Miro's vision. "Better. Where is your ship?"

"The Emir's men captured our ship in the waters near Emirald, the Veldrin capital."

"The Veldrins have many ships, don't they? I plan to take my great army south, where the Emir's ships will enable me to take my minions across the ocean — to your land, young Alturan, and beyond. Tell me, where did you come by the enhanced sword?"

"I made it in the hours before I attacked. I stole the essence from one of the vats. My sister is an enchantress."