"I don't know exactly," Killian said. "There's a templar named Zavros. He's the templar who perfected the Primate's elixir, and is probably the one who built these vats. He's an evil man. I questioned him, back in Stonewater, and he let slip something about a book. Evrin tried to destroy it, but he wasn't successful, and now the Primate has it. But I don't think it's the book itself that's the danger. It's the knowledge contained in its pages."
"What happened to Evrin?"
"The Primate had him locked up in Salvation for a time, but he escaped. Since I couldn't find Evrin, I decided to look for the Primate and try to find the book, so I headed to Seranthia. On the way, I saw Evrin with some prisoners. I tried to free him, but I was captured while Evrin escaped. And here we are."
Ella was silent for a moment while she digested Killian's words.
She realised she was still holding the damp cloth, now stained red with Killian's blood, and she threw it into the fire.
Obviously the book that was in the Primate's hands was of the utmost importance.
"You said Evrin escaped the Primate in Salvation?" Ella asked.
"Yes," Killian nodded, "the Primate wasn't happy. He had all the guards killed."
"Yet you found him with some prisoners near Seranthia. What was he doing in Seranthia?"
"I don't know," Killian said. "All I know is that Evrin needs my help, and he's the only one who can tell me who I am."
"Whatever it is Evrin's worried about, it has something to do with Seranthia," Ella said, "and it sounds dangerous."
"Will you help me?" Killian asked.
"I have my own task to complete first," Ella said. "There's one more facility like the one you were in. The essence coming out of there is being used to fight my people, and the prisoners deserve to be freed."
"I could help you," Killian said. "They say it's a bigger facility than this one, which means it will be more heavily defended."
Ella nodded. "If you help me destroy this last facility, I'll help you find Evrin."
"Agreed," Killian said.
Ella held out her hand, and she and Killian clasped hands, the act strangely formal. His strong hand easily held her delicate fingers within it.
"You never told me what happened to you?" Killian said, releasing Ella's palm.
Ella told Killian about High Enchantress Evora's sacrifice to save Ella and the Alturan Lexicon. She skimmed over her capture by Prince Ilathor and his men, telling Killian simply that she'd helped the Hazarans rediscover their forgotten lore, and in the process she herself learned about the power of illusion.
Ella explained how she'd blocked the Wondhip Pass using the animator's runes Evrin had taught her, and built the ethereal runebridge when the Bridge of Sutanesta was destroyed, saving the refugees and enabling the Alturans to fight another day.
Finally, Ella told him about the battle against the Akari in the lands between Petrya and Tingara, and how she had come here to see what she could learn, and hopefully do.
"You've learned a lot," Killian said. "You've changed."
"Not too much, I hope?" Ella said, smiling up at him.
"You're more beautiful than ever," Killian said, and Ella blushed. "But that's not what I meant. You've grown."
"War will do that."
"You've learned something of illusionist's runes, elementalist's runes and animator's runes, as well as being a trained enchantress. I don't know if anyone has done that before."
"There's still so much I don't know," Ella said.
"You should see what Evrin can do," Killian said, shaking his head. "I know nothing about lore, but when he drew the runes on my skin… I can't describe it."
"Where did he draw them?" Ella asked.
Killian touched his chest with both hands, gesturing then to his arms and his neck, his legs and his face. "Everywhere."
Ella moved a little closer to him.
"I have essence," she said. "When we take the base tomorrow night, we'll need to hit them with everything we can."
Killian stretched and moved closer to the fire, inadvertently shifting closer to Ella so that their legs were touching. Neither of them moved apart.
"I agree," he said.
The firelight danced and played across Killian's face. Ella's leg was pressed only slightly against his, yet she felt incredibly conscious of the warmth of his touch.
"I've always wanted to see what we could do together," Ella said. "I have some runes in mind."
Ella's chest heaved, her breasts rising and falling with her breathing. She realised she was wearing the same dress she'd worn when she was with Ilathor, and she suddenly felt heat come to her face.
"You're blushing," Killian said.
Ella wondered if she should tell Killian about Ilathor, but she pushed the thought away. After all the horror and bloodshed, the time with Ilathor had been a rush of emotion, as Ella craved the warmth she'd seen Shani and Bartolo share. Prince Ilathor had pushed Ella, and she'd succumbed. With Ilathor she'd felt none of the companionship she now felt with Killian.
"The fire's a bit warm," Ella said.
Killian looked over at the fire, which had died down to embers, and raised an eyebrow.
"It's a little cooler over here," he said, opening the crook of his arm.