Killian began to copy the runes onto the bare skin of his chest.
He tried to keep his hand steady, but his breathing made it difficult. Smoke hissed up from the end of the scrill but he felt no pain, just a slight tingling sensation.
Killian finished the first rune. Comparing it to the rune on the pendant, he decided he’d made a reasonable job of it. He began on the second rune. It was more complex than the first, with some difficult bridges and whorls. He began on the third rune. The sound of muttering bounced off the walls.
The High Enchantress was coming.
Killian started to move the scrill more quickly, but he knew he couldn’t make the slightest mistake or it would all be for nothing. The muttering grew louder. The smoke drifted into his nose, irritating him, and the hissing as his hand moved seemed so loud that surely she must be able to hear. Killian began tracing the final rune. The High Enchantress walked into the chamber.
"Sur-an-ahman," Killian whispered, under his breath.
Killian vanished.
Evora seemed to sense a change in the chamber. She frowned as she scanned the room, and then her eyes lit up. Taking a small stone tablet from a shelf, she left the chamber, clutching the tablet to her chest.
Killian breathed: a slow, steady sigh of relief. His trousers were in a pile on the floor; he’d removed them and kicked them under a table just before the High Enchantress had looked his way. He stood naked now and completely invisible. The pendant was clasped in one hand, hidden by his skin, the vial of essence in the other. It had been close; too close.
Gathering his composure, Killian followed Evora from the room. The High Enchantress walked back into one of the libraries and sat down next to a shelf. She proceeded to compare what was inscribed on the tablet to the contents of one of the large books, keeping her back to him.
Killian sat near her as she worked. His confidence returned, but alongside it was frustration. How would he find what he was looking for? He decided to leave her for a moment and continue his search elsewhere.
~
KILLIAN had been wandering for what seemed like hours. He’d come across no fewer than five traps — wards that would most likely boil an ordinary intruder’s blood. His special ability allowed him to pass through them like they weren’t there.
But Killian’s time was running short and he could now make out the faint outline of the runes on his skin as they glowed softly silver. Soon the effect would end. Killian had to find the Alturan Lexicon, and he had to do it quickly.
He suddenly heard voices.
"He can’t have made it far," a soldier’s curt speech. "He probably just woke up in a strange place and tried to find his way out."
Killian heard the High Enchantress. He didn’t quite catch what she said but she sounded troubled.
He edged forward until he could see them, standing in a group.
The High Enchantress and a dozen armoured palace soldiers were searching the chambers.
"Be careful not to touch anything," one of the soldiers said.
There were even two bladesingers present. Killian wasn’t happy at all to see them; he’d heard rumours about their abilities.
"He must still be here," the High Enchantress muttered.
Killian knew he had moments only. Thoughts of the Alturan Lexicon left him — there was nothing for it, he would have to think of a different tactic and come back another time. Yet what chance would he have then?
Sighing, he remembered where the stairs upwards were from his previous explorations and turned in that direction. Killian passed through the libraries on the way. Plenty of books here, he thought wryly.
Then he stopped in his tracks. A path had been worn into the carpets, the passage of feet so regular it was discernible.
His heart racing, Killian followed the slightly worn trail into one of the libraries. It was the room the High Enchantress had been occupied in, comparing the stone tablet to something in one of the great books.
Of course! She’d never be able to hide the Lexicon away — she would need to work with it constantly. Not only would she need to refer to it in her work, if she didn’t renew it regularly the enchanters’ runes would fade! Killian had stood right next to the prize and left Evora with the Lexicon while he’d run off on his fool’s errand.
She’d hidden the Lexicon in the best possible place — among thousands of other books.
"Lord of the Sun scratch you, woman," Killian cursed the High Enchantress.