Ella felt a touch on her shoulder and jerked, startled. It was Prince Ilathor. She must have fallen asleep. He put his fingers to his lips and gestured with his head. Elder Shal was lying back on the cushions, snoring softly. He smiled and took Ella’s hand, helping her up.
He led her outside the tent. As she walked, Ella looked up at the night sky, once again amazed at the number of stars, a shimmering curtain that spread its way over the darkness.
She had come to get a feeling for the desert. It seemed so empty at first, barren and desolate, but it had more character and expression than was first apparent.
There were many different winds — they blew soft and gentle, or strong and fierce. The sand had different textures as well — from fine, like dust, to coarse, like grain. The dunes changed constantly, moving and reforming day after day. The moon shone a gentle glow, the traveller’s blessing to journeying by night. The rocks with their different formations became beloved — she had learned many of their names.
Prince Ilathor led her away from the camp to stand on the crest of a dune, overlooking the motionless waves of the desert. He took her by the hand.
"It is beautiful, is it not?" he said.
"It is," Ella said. "I can see why you live here."
"That you say that gladdens my heart," he said. He turned to her with a smile. "The desert is more beautiful for the single rose that stands within it. You are that rose, Evora, and a more beautiful woman I have never seen."
He reached up and took her head in his hands, cupping her chin. Before Ella knew what was happening, he kissed her.
She broke away. "Your Highness..."
"Call me Ilathor."
"Ilathor… I barely know you."
"I feel as if I have known you my whole life," he said.
"I’m just not sure we..."
"I am certain."
He moved to kiss her again, his arm going around the back of her green dress. She pushed him away.
"Well I am not!"
He frowned, "Have you not felt something, these past few days?"
She thought. He was handsome, and gentle. She thought about Miro and Amber, needing her help.
His eyes sparkled. "Think of what we could accomplish together, Evora. You and I. We could change the face of the world. Bring peace to all nations. Restore my people to their former glory."
For a moment Ella was lost in his vision.
"No," she said. "Prince Ilathor, we don’t belong together. I… I don’t know what you speak of." She spoke in the harshest tone she could. "I feel nothing for you. Nothing at all."
She could see the pain in the widening of his eyes. Please forgive me, she thought. My friend needs me. My brother needs me.
He whirled and walked out into the night, leaving the encampment behind. He fled into the darkness of the desert.
Ella knew she had little time. She ran back to the Prince’s tent. The guards frowned at her. "The Prince, he wants me to bring him something," she said.
They let her in.
Ella’s satchel was in the corner. She put her scrills into the bag, along with the Alturan Lexicon, but left the yellow-covered Lexicon of the desert people. Seeing the rune on its cover glowing brightly, Ella felt glad she had renewed its magic. She owed him that much.
Ella looked at the large flask of essence, and with a feeling of guilt, she took it also.
She ran out of the tent. The guards didn’t say a word. She looked for Jehral’s tent, and walked over to it, purposefully, as if she knew what she was doing.
A man grabbed her tightly by the arm of her green silk robe. "Where are you going?" a harsh voice said. She looked up. It was Rashine.
"Ala-tut-ha," she muttered.
The robe flared as the runes came alive in searing blue. Rashine screamed as he pulled away, his hand blackened, the flesh sizzling. Ella was glad she had taken the time to decipher some of the capabilities of the High Enchantress’s robe.
Men called out to each other as they wondered what was happening. She reached Jehral’s tent. The horse was a black shape against the night sky. Sundhep — dark storm. She was glad for his dark colour on this night.
The saddlebags were filled. There was water in them. The desert warriors were always ready to ride at a moments notice.
Ella removed the hobble from the horse. It whinnied as she jumped up and onto its back. Hoping that her lesser weight would give her enough speed to get away from the Prince’s men, Ella took a deep breath.
She dug in her heels and galloped away, into the night.
54
One two trees
Arms like sticks
Seven eight vines
Coming to get you!
— Veznan children’s game
MIRO woke to the sensation of having a bucket of cold water thrown squarely in his face. He blinked in confusion, and then moaned in extreme pain, unable to hold it in. The agony was terrible.
His body was paces above the ground, arms manacled to the wall, well above his head, his ankles likewise immobilised with bright metal loops. All his weight rested on his wrists.
He could feel a trickle of blood running down his left side. The scar running from under his eye had opened when they had thrown him face down to the hard stone floor.