Evrin gave Killian a significant look. They were getting close to the peak of the mountain now. They rounded a bend in the rock. Evrin drew to the side, pretending to be out of breath. Killian stepped forward as if offering his aid. There was a break in the line of pilgrims. They ducked around the rock and scuttled over the scree to a protected cleft in the side of the mountain.
Killian took a moment to gather his breath. He thought about what Evrin had told him, "This substance the Primate has made from essence. This… technique he uses to turn people to his will. I don’t see how you are to blame."
Evrin’s blue eyes studied Killian. "It is a long tale, too long for today. But it was I who left the lore where it could be found. There are some pieces of knowledge that are better left untaught. This is one of them."
"What do you need me for? Why don’t you do this yourself?"
The old man ignored him. He was busy rummaging through his bag. He turned to Killian, a small brown bottle and a scrill in his hands. "Take off your shirt. This won’t take long."
Killian noticed Evrin didn’t bother with gloves. "Aren’t you worried about the poison?"
"No, I am not. Off. Take your shirt off completely."
Killian removed his shirt.
Evrin deftly dipped the scrill and began to draw runes with a quick, sure hand. The smoke rose from the bare skin of Killian’s chest. He felt nothing but a slight tingling.
Killian had seen Ella draw the symbols, but this was something else. Evrin drew rune after rune without pausing, without thinking. Killian’s chest was soon covered in the matrices, followed by his neck. His arms followed. Finally Evrin drew the runes on Killian’s back.
"There," he said. Evrin drew away to regard his work.
It had taken only minutes. Killian hadn’t seen many runes, but he had the feeling that this was lore of a level beyond anything, beyond even the loremasters of the houses.
"Shak-lan," said Evrin.
Some of the matrices came alive, glowing with silver light.
"What have you done to me?" Killian said.
"It is a rushed effort, but I have enhanced your body."
"Enhanced? What do you mean? Why don’t you enhance yourself?"
Evrin sighed. He seemed to lose some of his strength. "I cannot. It was my final punishment. They took it away from me. Now, I am just like the common people. I can create lore on items, such as my clothing here. Essence does not harm me. But the abilities you have, I no longer possess." He activated some more sequences, naming the runes one after another.
Killian felt his body… change. His skin firmed, his weight grew lighter. He bunched his fists. His arms felt like steel.
"If you only had the knowledge, we could do more. Much more. Your dreams could only half describe the things that could be done." He regarded Killian’s glowing body. "I have kept it simple. You will not need to name any runes yourself. Wait a moment." He drew a quick succession of symbols on Killian’s trousers.
"Sur-an-ahman," Evrin said.
Killian felt nothing. Then he looked at his hand. There was nothing there. He looked down at his body. Nothing could be seen of him. He was invisible.
"Are you ready?" Evrin said.
Killian nodded. Evrin just looked at him, his eyes slightly unfocused. Then Killian realised. He couldn’t be seen. "I am ready," he said.
Evrin pointed up the hill of the mountain. "There is a special entrance, guarded by templars. It leads to the first in a series of chambers. They store the lignite ore here — raj ichor in its raw, unrefined form. Each small block of lignite contains the life-force of a thousand trees, or a million blades of grass. Are you listening?"
"Yes, I understand," Killian said. "The first chambers contain the ore. Is this really the right thing to do? What of the Halrana Lexicon? That’s what I came here for."
"Listen to me, Killian. Imagine every person you have ever cared about being held above a flame. You have a choice. To free them, or to taste a single drop of the tainted essence, and watch them burn in front of you, their screams haunting your nightmares for the rest of your days. Killian, if you were in its thrall, you would choose to watch them burn."
"But to destroy the relics…"
"We’re destroying the Primate’s methods of production. The Primate uses essence to produce raj nilas. If he can no longer produce essence, his supplies of raj nilas will soon run dry."
"But the houses…"
"The houses have their essence stockpiles. And Killian?"
"What?"
"The knowledge, how to produce essence," Evrin tapped the side of his head. "Right here."
"What about the Halrana Lexicon?"