“This is the place,” she whispered to herself.
She was somewhere between Fortune and the market district. It was easy to miss the grove, hidden as it was by a row of tall buildings on a ridge of land. Yet the directions had been precise, and Ella’s heart told her she’d come to the right place.
Ella’s pulse raced as she walked with tremulous steps down the path.
The path led her down the hillside and wound between the trees, taking Ella deeper into the grove. It was narrow, and Ella passed under branches heavy with foliage, smelling moss and hearing the sounds of the city banished completely.
Ella arrived at an iron fence, hidden in the depths, previously obscured from her view.
She looked through the bars of the fence, and her breathing quickened as she saw the crumbled house. It was fallen into complete disrepair, the roof caved in and timbers strewn one on top of the other.
Her hands shaking, Ella read the note one more time.
Ella,
Some time ago, you received a legacy from your mother that enabled you to enroll at the Academy of Enchanters. The Eternal, or whomever we look to for the twists of fate, blessed Merralya on that day. Now, as I entrust you with my legacy, I hope and pray my final gift to you can have a similar result. There is none other I would rather entrust.
I now go to bring peace to my conscience, for I intend to end Sentar Scythran’s evil once and for all. I do not expect to survive. I will soon be rejoined with my love, wherever she may be.
I give you my sanctum. No feet other than my own have ever crossed this threshold. I told you I have no home, and that is true. I once told you that when in Seranthia, I always stay with my friend Barlow at the Cedar Palace, and that was a lie.
I will tell no more lies.
On the reverse side of this message are directions to my sanctum, as well as instructions for revealing the structure and passing my wards.
I believe your journey has only just begun. Learn from my mistakes. Be truthful always. Fight for what you know is right.
You have my eternal love and respect.
I am better for knowing you.
Evrin Evenstar
Ella glanced up once more at the iron fence and dilapidated house. Following the line of the fence, she walked until she came to a barred gate, as high as her shoulders, sealed shut with a rusty padlock.
Ella crouched down and picked up a stone, tucking some strawberry tresses behind her ear as they fell in front of her face.
She tossed the stone over the gate, her eyes following its arc. With a sudden flash of flame the stone vaporized, leaving nothing to fall back down to the ground.
Ella moved her hand slowly forward and felt it grow warm as she passed the boundary. Before long the feeling became uncomfortable and she drew her hand back.
Ella smiled and shook her head.
She spoke a word and the gate . . . changed. The rusty padlock vanished, to be replaced by an intricate silver lock covered with runes of enchantment. Only the iron bars were the same. Ella spoke a second word, and with a click the lock opened, the gate swinging open.
Ella stepped through and closed the gate behind her, seeing it once more shift until it was again bound by a rusty padlock.
Gazing at the ruined structure, Ella raised her hand in front of her and spoke three words aloud.
In a heartbeat, the dilapidated house was gone. In its place was a cottage with three steps leading up to a porch and a white wooden door with an oval glass window in the center.
Ella felt excitement creep upward along her spine as she walked up the steps to stand in front of the door. She nearly cried out in astonishment as a face appeared in the oval window.
She realized she wasn’t looking through the window; the face was a projection, hovering in empty space and scowling as he looked out.
“Who goes there?” Evrin said. “Ah, my dear, it’s you.” His glare shifted to a grin. “Welcome.”
Ella wiped tears from her eyes as she smiled. How long had he known she would come here? Seeing Evrin’s face like this only reminded her how much she missed him. She’d lost so many friends.
Ella pushed away thoughts of Rogan. She couldn’t face that. She wasn’t ready.
“Welcome to my sanctum,” Evrin said. “Everything here is now yours. I have a few instructions. Drink the wine; don’t keep it until it goes bad. Use my recipes, but only when you’re in good company. And be careful whom you share the lore with, but”—he smiled—“I know you will be. My home is now yours, my dear. As you know by now, there are no schools of lore. All power comes from the one source, and that source is inside you, inside your brother, your people, and inside every living thing. Perhaps you will learn things the Evermen at the height of their power only dreamt of. Perhaps you will open the pathway to new worlds, or cure the ills of this world. That is for you to decide. Be well. And tell my descendent I expect him to treat you in the manner you deserve.”
Evrin’s face vanished, and Ella sighed. She knew whom he was referring to.