Someone was moving around outside! Ella thought quickly. If she knew the naming sequence, then the converse was… "Tula-alnas," she murmured. The runes changed again; the door was locked.
Ella waited for a moment. Whoever was moving outside eventually passed. Feeling more confident, she rose from a crouch and regarded the room.
Some runes were activated in the corner, bathing the room in a soft glow. The various enchantment projects of Master Samson and his apprentices were situated around the room: some kind of sword, exceptionally large and curved slightly; a set of armour, made with heavy steel — if the runes ever faded the wearer would still have a good degree of protection; and a set of two deskpads, linked with a slim fabric. Ella wasn’t sure what that was.
Ella knew what she was here for. She had read the Academy charter, ultimate responsibility rested with the master.
Ella opened cupboard after cupboard until she found what she was looking for. She had to break another coded door, and then she was holding it. Ella took the tiny vial of essence from the shelf, regarding the oily black liquid in the wan light cast by the activated runes.
Deliberately, Ella removed the sealed cap from the bottle. Looking for a good spot, she placed it down on the workbench next to the sword. There, her work was done.
Ella smiled to herself. Master Samson was known to arrive late, after his apprentices, and was always the last to leave his workroom. When one of his apprentices arrived in the morning and saw the uncapped vial they would immediately report it. Leaving essence unguarded and unsealed was a serious breach, especially for a master. It would no doubt see Master Samson disgraced, and Amber’s parents would have no wish to see their daughter married to such a man.
Ella quietly left the way she had come. She hoped Master Samson wouldn’t pay too high a price, but it made her feel better to picture the smile on Amber’s face, the love she was sure Miro would feel for Amber when he realised what a beautiful young woman Amber had become.
Deep in thought, Ella didn’t realise until much later that she’d forgotten to lock the workroom door behind her.
~
TALWIN arrived at the Academy early, hoping to have a word with Master Samson. He had never had the courage to speak privately with the imposing master before, but after his father had seen his last grade report for naming, Talwin had decided to see if he could get some private instruction, perhaps from one of the master’s apprentices.
Talwin stood outside the door, summoning the nerve to knock.
Ever since Ella had turned him down in the Court it seemed life couldn’t go right. Talwin was sure Amber had seen him cry too. He had avoided both girls, hating himself, unwilling to face the humiliation.
Why did he have to say something? He’d been so sure. Ella had started spending more time with him after her brother left. Talwin had felt so proud, having such a beautiful young woman at his side. She laughed at his jokes, and poked fun at his dress sense. He watched her when he knew she couldn’t see, his eyes running over her figure. Aching for her.
Now she thought he was a fool.
Talwin sighed. The Academy was everything to him, everything to his family. They expected a lot of him, as the first son. He was expected to be at the top of his class, not dragging up the bottom.
With trepidation, Talwin knocked on the door to Master Samson’s workroom.
He waited. Knocked again.
"Ho, is anyone there?" he called.
Talwin pushed gently on the door. It fell open in front of him.
In awe, Talwin ran his gaze over the Master’s workroom. He knew he was overstepping but he couldn’t look away. He took a step inside.
All manner of strange and fantastic equipment was spread around. He couldn’t believe his eyes when he saw a set of enchanted armour, covered with matrices of runes, too many for his mind to encompass.
Talwin took a few steps further inside, running his hand over the armour. It was deactivated, he was sure of that. There was no harm in touching, was there?
Growing bolder, he moved deeper into the workroom. Talwin stopped, staring.
It was a zenblade, he was sure of it. The sword was massive, bigger even than the swords he’d seen at the sides of the bladesingers. Whoever wore this sword would be a powerful man!
Talwin ran his eyes down the length of the blade, trying to decipher each rune as he came across it but giving up. Then he saw it. His heart stopped.
It had to be. It shouldn’t be. But it had to be. Essence.
And there, on the workbench next to the tiny vial, was the bottle’s cap. It was unsealed! Realising the danger, Talwin moved slowly forward, not taking his eyes off the vial. Yes, there was liquid inside it.
It was terribly dangerous, leaving a bottle of essence unsealed on the workbench like this. What was Master Samson thinking!
Talwin saw an opportunity, a chance to get into his teacher’s graces and do a good deed at the same time. He lifted the stopper, and then picked up the small vial.