“I’m sorry I couldn’t do more.”
Dain Barden composed himself. “Are you sure you are all right? I am sorry. I put you directly into harm’s way.”
“I’m fine,” Ella repeated.
“That brings me some relief. Tell the kalif our plan, and take your friends to Seranthia. We’ll hold them here.”
After the Dain’s pronouncement swarthy Hazarans scurried back and forth as the horsemen prepared to depart. Ilathor’s men gathered the barest amount of supplies; they would leave their tents behind and make all speed to Seranthia.
As Ella collected her few possessions, Shani poked her head into the tent.
“Here,” Shani said, handing Ella a metal plate with a piece of bread and a hunk of cheese. “Eat it—that’s an order. It’s probably the last food we’ll get for a while.”
Shani vanished again, and Ella gulped down the food as she packed to the noise of whinnying horses and shouting men.
The plate was soon empty, and Ella couldn’t help but look at her reflection in the shining steel. Her face was grayed and drawn, her green eyes haggard. She was still shaken by the encounter with Aldrik and only now realized how close she’d come to being splashed with deadly essence.
She ran her fingers through her pale blonde hair, trying to untangle the mass of knots and restore some semblance of order.
Ella’s heart gave a lurch as she looked at her hand. She’d torn free a clump of hair. The golden strands came out as easily as loose thread.
She remembered the scent of the essence as she’d drawn runes with the tainted liquid Aldrik had handed her, working for hour after hour, the smoke rising into her nostrils for an entire night.
Ella bowed her head, and as realization dawned, she dropped the plate in horror.
She remembered Ada’s body at the end. Ada’s hair was gone, and her face bore the marks of terrible pain. The Dain had spoken in desultory tones, explaining Ada’s last moments to Ella, hoping the knowledge would help. He’d said Ada clutched at her stomach, screaming in pain as she coughed red blood.
None of the stricken had survived; even now only a few still lived, writhing in the makeshift infirmary, more of a place to die than anything else.
And now Ella had the taint herself.
48
As the summer sun cast shining rays on the hills surrounding the city of Seranthia, a long line of Hazaran warriors rode down the hills to the open gates. They’d slowed the enemy, but too many saddles were empty.
Ella glanced at Ilathor when she heard his voice. The kalif rode gingerly, and Ella knew bandages circled his chest under his desert garb, but he was leading his men once more.
“Close the gates!” Ilathor called as they rode in. The Hazarans took up the cry as they spurred forward.
The enemy could only be a few days behind them. Dain Barden of the Akari wouldn’t hold them long.
Entering the city with a feeling of intense relief, riding with Shani by her side, Ella was surprised to see that all looked quiet in Seranthia. She’d seen so much blood and death that she wondered if she’d ever banish the terrible images from her vision.
Rider after rider passed through the gates, slowing as they began to move among the city folk. Ella glanced back over her shoulder as she heard a groaning sound, and when the last of Ilathor’s men entered, she saw Seranthia’s iron gates swing inexorably closed, smashing together with a mighty clang of metal on metal. It felt good to be inside the city, guarded by the Wall.
Seranthia’s denizens rapidly cleared way for the riders, staring up at them with wide eyes. Ella turned to say something to Shani, when she felt a sudden pain in her stomach and clutched at her chest, a grimace spreading across her face. Her horse shied and whinnied before Ella once more got her mount under control.
“Ella?” Shani said, concern in her eyes.
Ella fought down the pain and smiled, taking her hand off her stomach. “I’m fine,” she said.
“Are you sure?”
“Yes,” Ella said, “I’m fine.”
What had Sentar tainted the essence with? How did one set about altering essence in the first place? Ella knew that for all she’d learned, there was so much more to understand about the liquid.
She wondered how long she would last. She’d seen the terrible pain Ada had been in. Ella didn’t want to spend her last moments like that.
“Let’s get you to the palace,” Shani said.
“And a hot meal.” Ella smiled.
Shani fixed Ella with a penetrating stare. Ella knew her friend; she wasn’t fooled.
The hooves of the horses clattered on the stones as they rode along wide streets and past narrow alleys, through the district of Fortune, until they reached the Grand Boulevard.
Ella held back the pain as she saw the towers of the Imperial Palace ahead.