"He… he isn’t here."
"Where is he?"
"I don’t know!" the Prince cried.
Miro drew his zenblade. Behind him, the bladesingers followed suit. Prince Leopold blanched.
"Where is he? Say it, loud and clear, so that we all might here."
"He’s meeting with the Primate and the Emperor," he whispered. The lords all stared at each other, expressions of shock on their faces.
"Say it louder!"
"He’s discussing surrender!"
Miro pointed his sword at the lords. "Did you know about this?"
"No, we didn’t!" a man said. "It’s treason!"
"Did you hear that, Prince Leopold?" said Miro. "Treason."
"Marshal, I…"
The sight of the bladesingers with swords drawn was too much for Prince Leopold. "What do you want from me?"
"Address the men," said Miro. "Tell them what you’ve told me now."
"No, I…"
"Do it!"
They escorted Prince Leopold from the room and onto the terrace. Leopold gasped when he saw the number of soldiers waiting below. When they saw Miro, the men cheered, a mighty roar of approval.
"Loyal fighting men of Altura and Halaran!" Miro cried. "We have been betrayed." A great cry came from the men. "High Lord Tessolar is at this very moment meeting with the enemy. He wants to surrender. He’s looking to save his own skin. Isn’t that true?"
Bartolo shoved Prince Leopold forward. "It’s true," the Prince gasped.
The soldiers roared in anger.
"Where was High Lord Tessolar at the Battle for Ralanast?" Miro gestured to the north. "Where was High Lord Tessolar at the Battle of Bald Ridge? You’ve seen what the Black Army does to those who surrender. Tell me — has he?"
"No!" the men cried as one.
"I tell you now, as long as we are one, we can win this war! We are strong. Our enemy uses tricks and treachery to win battles. We use our hearts and our minds."
The lords filed out of the Town Hall. They stood uncertainly behind Miro. One of them stepped forward, saying something to Bartolo.
The bladesinger gestured. "Don’t say it to me, say it to them."
The lord walked to stand beside Miro. His face was grey and he walked with a limp. With a shock, Miro recognised him.
It was Lord Rorelan.
He took a deep breath, "We wish to appoint a new Lord Marshal of the combined forces of Altura and Halaran. Miro Torresante, will you take up this duty, and bring safety to our people?"
Miro suddenly realised the awesome responsibility that was being placed on his shoulders. He looked steadily at Lord Rorelan. "I will."
The shout of approval rolled like thunder. "Torresante! Torresante!"
But Miro was already looking into the distance. There was much to do.
55
Your first responsibility is to the path that lies before you. The Evermen will give you a duty, and this is what you must do. Be content that if you Follow the way, and Serve with all your heart, then Salvation will follow.
— The Evermen Cycles, 19-15
KILLIAN stumbled into Salvation shortly before midday. He’d walked throughout the night.
The journey was a barely-remembered blur. He’d pushed himself harder than he ever had before, even when he’d fled Altura with their Lexicon in his arms. One night ran into another in his memory — nights sleeping under hedges, nights in barns, and nights in the freezing open with a rock for a pillow. He’d used every trick at his disposal — stealing, lying and conning his way into rides with Petryan merchants or food from humble villagers.
Now he was finally here, in Salvation, with the mountain of Stonewater looking down. His objective never far from view, yet all he wanted to do was collapse.
Killian looked about him, at the ordered streets and the hordes of the poor queuing outside the bread shops. He’d been gone for what seemed like an age, and now he couldn’t believe he’d once called Salvation home.
His first mission for the Primate had been to Halaran, when he’d stolen the animators’ Lexicon. He’d journeyed through Torakon and Loua Louna before reaching Halaran, and he’d seen sights that had opened his eyes to how huge the world really was. Famed throughout the world, Stonewater was still an incredible place — a great temple, carved into a mountain! But cities like Seranthia and Ralanast were also incredible in their own way.
Killian tried to define it in his mind. Stonewater was a place of worship of the Evermen. Essence was created here. But somehow it didn’t feel as real as cities like Sarostar.
The Evermen lived in Stonewater. Whereas in Sarostar — well, people lived there.
Killian had been lifted up by the Primate, higher than he’d ever thought possible, but he now knew that it wasn’t hard when you had such simple goals — a soft bed. A full stomach. Wealth. Safety.
People like Ella had values that seemed strange to Killian, but were just as heartfelt to them, just as great a driving force as hunger, or pain.