"How…?"
"How does it work? No one knows for sure. It’s from an era in the past, when our understanding of enchantment must have been better than it is today. It’s something to do with bending the light and giving the air form. The Long Bridge was built by House Torakon, but only we could build something like the Runebridge, only House Altura could do such a thing. They say it’s a last measure of security for the Crystal Palace."
The pair crossed the Runebridge, Killian taking each step gingerly, but slowly becoming accustomed. They descended to the opposite bank, where the fountains of the Crystal Palace formed fanciful shapes.
They were now at the palace gate, looking into the grounds, the huge doors close but separated from them by scores of soldiers in green.
Killian asked Ella question after question about the Crystal Palace; he seemed quite interested.
As they walked away from the palace, there was a sudden commotion behind them. Killian and Ella both turned.
Soldiers were pouring out of the palace, surrounding a cowering man with a circle of bristling weapons.
The man was some kind of merchant — Alturan by his looks. His ear was red where an earring must have been torn from his head by force and his face was bruised and bloody. The merchant’s once fine clothes showed the marks of a long and difficult journey.
"Please, he made me do it. He made me do it," the merchant repeated, over and over.
He carried a wooden box.
"There’s something in there!" one of the guards called.
"Open it!" said the leader.
"Please, he made me do it."
"I said, open it!"
The merchant opened the lid of the box.
"What’s in there? Take it out. I said take it out!"
The merchant lifted something out of the box with both hands.
Ella recoiled in horror. It was a human head. The hair had been shaved and a message tattooed into the scalp.
"It’s Lord Devon!" a soldier cried. "Lord of the Sky! Someone tell the High Lord!"
Ella could read the message in the lights of the Crystal Palace.
"War," it read.
Ella turned to Killian, but he was gone.
18
And so you can see the core units of the houses represented on the simulator, from nightshades to avengers. The colossi, obviously, are not to scale.
— Enchanter Saimon Bower to Marshal Timor Lewin, 412 Y.E.
ELLA and Amber ran up to each other, laughing and hugging, pointing to their green silk dresses in excitement.
Green bunting decorated the Great Court, running between the sparse branches of the centurion trees. A group of musicians played, the tinkling, chiming music lending to the festive mood. Parents and graduates stood in small groups, smiling and chatting. The smell of cooking food wafted through the air, glasses clinked together, a man laughed.
Ella had seen her friend only a couple of times since the wedding; Amber had seemed different, more subdued. Ella hoped she would find happiness. Maybe it just took time.
"Lord of the Sky, Ella. I swear you look more and more beautiful every time I see you. The way you fill out that dress is almost scandalous!"
"Say you — it’s this material! And look at your raj hada."
Each girl wore their raj hada on the breast of their dress, the sword and flower of Altura lined with silver.
"I can’t believe we’re finally graduating. After all this time, all that work. Do you know what?" Amber said. "I’m going to get drunk!"
She ran over to a table where glasses of honeywine sparkled in neat rows, returning quickly and handing one to Ella.
"To enchantment!"
"To enchantment," Ella echoed.
Amber took a big draught of her wine. Ella sipped a smaller amount, careful not to appear too frivolous. She couldn’t help thinking about Talwin. About his parents. What were they doing on this day?
"It’s a shame Miro couldn’t be here," said Amber.
"I know," said Ella. There were too many people who should have been here. Talwin. Miro. Brandon. Her parents.
"I still can’t believe he’s going to be a bladesinger. They’ve always looked so terrifying. I can’t believe I’ll know one."
"I can’t believe it myself sometimes. My brother, a bladesinger."
"Some of the boys look so handsome in their silk robes, don’t you think?"
Ella chuckled. "I guess." For some reason Killian’s face came to mind. Why had he left so suddenly that day?
"Stop looking so pensive — you’ve done enough thinking! Enough reading, enough study, enough practice."
Ella saw some of the masters gather on the podium nearby. She began to feel nervous.
"Do you think my armoursilk was any good? Oh, Amber. What if I made a mistake?"
"Stop it, Ella. It’ll be fine! Here, they’re about to announce it."
Amber took Ella by the hand and led her to where the crowd gathered expectantly.
Master Merlon stood up and faced the crowd. "Congratulations once again to this year’s graduates, one of the brightest sets I have seen come out of this Academy, I must say."