Gathering herself, Ella threw off her shawl. She took a breath, and dove into the icy water, head first.
It was like being pierced again and again with tiny sharp knives. Pure pain was driven through Ella’s body and inside her head. Her teeth clacked together, nearly biting her tongue in two. The wind was driven from her lungs and she took a deep involuntary breath, choking and spluttering on the chill water of the Sarsen.
Fortunately, Ella found him almost immediately, her arm brushing against some part of his body. She grabbed at Killian and missed, then rose to the surface. Quickly taking a breath, Ella ducked under again, feeling ahead with her arms.
Ella touched something soft and grabbed Killian by the hair, pulling, and as he rose she reached forward again and took hold of his arm. Kicking with her legs, and with heavy strokes of her free arm, Ella finally breached the surface, taking a painful, gasping breath.
Some townsfolk were on the bank, attracted by the commotion.
"Take him under the arms!" Ella yelled.
A burly man took hold of first one of Killian’s arms, then the other, until finally he had a grip under Killian’s armpits. He heaved; Killian wasn’t a small man. The burly man’s face grew red and with a great effort he pulled, then fell backward. Killian rolled with him to lie motionless on the bank.
Ella coughed in the water and felt another man reach for her arm. She linked arms with him and he helped her climb out of the river.
Shuddering and wheezing Ella immediately lurched over to Killian’s prone figure. He lay on his back, his lips blue. He was deathly still.
"What happened?" someone said.
"Essence poisoning," Ella gasped.
Immediately they all drew back, fearfully checking their skin and clothing.
"What do we do?" the burly man said, sitting up. He had the courage, at least, not to back away.
"I don’t know," Ella cried. "I don’t know!"
They were close enough to the Crystal Palace that one of the soldiers approached. "What’s happening here?"
"She says he was poisoned by essence." The burly man pointed at Ella.
The soldier frowned. "Shouldn’t he be dead then?"
The burly man shrugged. "Maybe the water? The cold? Do you know?"
All attention was on the soldier. He backed away, his hands spread. "How would I know?"
Ella felt time running swiftly. She shivered, rocking back and forth. Someone offered her a coat but she ignored them.
Then she had an idea. "The High Enchantress."
Looking around her, she realised the crowd had grown larger. There was general assent, relief at being able to pass on the burden.
"Of course," said the soldier. "She’s at the palace."
"Can we move him?" said the burly man.
"I don’t know," said the soldier.
"I studied at the Academy," Ella said briskly. "I’m sure it will be fine."
The soldier and the burly man lifted Killian’s prone figure, standing him up, one on either side. They started the walk to the palace, moving with great difficulty, Killian’s feet dragging on the ground.
More soldiers came to join them and eventually a stretcher was found. Ella couldn’t bear the sight of Killian’s dead white skin, his blue lips and limp form.
Ella never took her eyes off Killian, hovering behind the stretcher, wringing her hands. She didn’t even notice them enter the main palace gates. She was barely aware when the floor changed to polished marble. Ella only looked up when she felt a strong grip on her arm, pinching her flesh tightly.
"What have you done, you foolish girl?"
High Enchantress Evora Guinestor stood in front of her. She was furious. Ella had never felt so terrified in her life. The woman’s eyes blazed, and Ella realised how tall the woman was; the High Enchantress loomed over her.
"She said he was poisoned..." a soldier began.
The High Enchantress raised her hand. The soldier trailed off.
"I asked you what happened," Evora said. She never released the pressure on Ella’s arm. Ella felt her hand begin to go numb.
Ella still couldn’t take her eyes of Killian’s still body. "He… I… He found… Oh, Lord of the Sky, no… No!"
"Tell me!" The High Enchantress shook her.
"Essence. He found it. In my satchel. It was guarded, I swear. Oh, Lord of the Sky!"
Ella felt her world crashing down around her.
"Don’t you dare give out on me!" Evora said in a frigid voice. "What happened? How much went onto his skin? Where did it touch him?"
"His hand. He opened the bottle; he didn’t realise what it was. The boat, it hit the bank. Some went onto his hand. His arm as well. But he fell in the water straight away."
"Which hand? Which arm?"
"His right."
"How long was it on his skin, how soon did he fall in the water?"