"But why?"
"To provide energy for the magic, of course." Melovar's eyes gleamed. He turned past four pages too damaged to read, stopping where there were some lines of legible symbols. "See this text here? It describes 'the most powerful lore ever devised'. Moragon, think about it, and all we could do if that power was ours."
"So what is it then? Some great plan of the Evermen that was never fulfilled?" Moragon asked.
"I need to learn more to be sure, but it looks like it wasn't just a plan, it was actually built. It's a relic, Moragon, hidden somewhere in Merralya. If we could find it…"
"This is your plan?" Moragon growled, his nostrils flaring. The Primate hadn't seen the melding like this before, not with him at least. The fear of elixir withdrawal must be powerful in Moragon's mind. Hearing the screams of those they'd purged must have shaken the melding. "You don't know what it is, or where it is."
"I agree," the Primate soothed. "There are sections I need to spend more time on. Zavros will be able to help."
"Then, Primate, what is your plan? There's a war going on out there. This could all be a waste of time."
"Yes, it could," the Primate said, surprising the Tingaran. "It makes for tempting bait though.
"Bait? For who?"
Melovar smiled. "For the Akari."
For a moment Moragon was too stunned to speak. Melovar had uttered a name that hadn't been spoken in many years. "No, Primate," Moragon said. The tall man shook his head. "Not the Akari." He looked away as the realisation came to him. "So that's your plan."
"Think about it," the Primate said. "They never needed the relics to produce their essence. It's perfect. With this as bait, we can make a deal, and with their help, we'll be unbeatable."
Moragon again shook his head. "Not the Akari. The first Tingaran Emperor banished them for a reason."
"The Akari have a way of producing essence, Moragon. With essence, we can produce elixir. With more raj nilas we can go on to convert them to our cause, or we can use this relic against them, if we can find it."
Moragon was pensive for a long moment, before he finally nodded. "You've thought it through. What happens next?"
"I have a plan, Moragon, but I need your help. I will grant you your wish to go to Halaran, to Ralanast, where your task is to keep Altura at bay, but more importantly, keep the people under your control. When the time comes, the prison camp will become very important. Keep the prisoners close, my friend."
"I can do that."
"The Akari must not find out about the elixir. The fact of its existence must be protected at all costs. They are powerful, Moragon, and they may see our weakness. The elixir is our secret weapon."
"And you, Your Grace?" Moragon asked.
"I will go to the north, and meet with the Akari. And if this hidden relic of the Evermen exists, I will find it."
The Primate turned to the melding, locking the Tingaran's eyes with his burning, yellow gaze. "I may not be much longer for this world, Moragon, and when I'm gone, it will be you who rules not just the lands of the Tingaran Empire, but all of Merralya."
"The Akari," Moragon said. "Don't trust them."
"Never fear, my friend, never fear. Now go. I will send word to you when I return from the north."
Moragon left the Primate's study, leaving Melovar wondering when next they would meet.
The Primate called for a guard. "Prepare me a carriage to go north — far north, into the cold. Then bring me the old man, the pilgrim we left in the dungeons of Salvation. Take him to the interrogation rooms, here in Stonewater. He may be crazed and know nothing, or it may be an elaborate ruse. Either way, we will find out." Melovar licked his lips. "And either way the old man will die."
14
KILLIAN sighed and placed yet another gold dinar on the growing pile. He knew he was doing the right thing, but Lord of the Sun, did it have to cost so much?
The stocky man sitting across from him frowned. Killian groaned and added yet another coin; he only had four left.
They were in The Light Shines Above, a tavern in Salvation. It was a little… clean for Killian's taste, but he could see why his companion had chosen it to do this business. In this part of town, the templars would come at a moment's notice at any sign of trouble; in fact, many of the clientele were from the Assembly. Two men exchanging a large amount of gilden would be safe here; and Killian knew it was the last place the templars would expect to find him.