The Path of the Storm (Evermen Saga, #3)

I know that! Ella wanted to scream, but she bit her tongue.

This was the day Amber had dreamed about since she was a young girl watching Miro in sword practice at the Pens. Ella didn't want to spoil it on a hunch; she was a practical woman, valuing knowledge over all else. Yet when she'd stood looking at all of the powerful guests gathered she'd suddenly had a premonition, a flash of intuition she couldn't ignore.

"Ella, I know you haven't been lucky in love. But one day your time will come."

Ella stared at Amber's mother, dumb-founded. "This isn't about me."

"That's right. This is about my daughter."

"I need to get going," Ella said.

She moved past and began to ascend the broad stone steps leading up to the Crystal Palace.

"Ella!" she heard her name called behind her.

Ella turned and spotted Miro. Seeing her brother dressed in his finery, anxious and happy all at the same time, she momentarily forgot her concerns. "Miro," she took his arm, but he swept her up in an embrace. "I'm so happy for you. What are you doing up here? You should be down on the riverbank with the guests."

He wore a short white cloak over his green armoursilk, the raj hada of a Lord Marshal displayed on the breast. Miro wore it well, and suddenly Ella saw he was tall and regal, rather than lanky the way he was in his youth. The thin scar down to his jaw line made him look dashing rather than sinister — a war hero rather than a fighter. His long black hair was for once held back by a circlet of silver.

Miro sounded nervous, and Ella guessed mingling with the guests was probably the last thing on his mind. "I saw you walking up here and I just wanted to see you before the ceremony. Do you remember the day the three of us — you, Amber and I — sat on the lawns of the Academy? It was the last time we were together before the war; the day of your graduation."

"I'm not going to forget my own graduation," Ella said, smiling. "But I know what you're talking about. I think that was the day you realised what a fool you'd been, and the woman you'd lost."

"But not lost forever," Miro said.

Ella gave him the best hug she could, feeling a catch in her throat. "I always knew the two of you would be together. Now, you'd better take your place. I'll be bringing her soon."

As Miro turned, Ella suddenly stopped him with a word. "Miro, what's that?"

Guests were finding their places, yet the cleared space where the ceremony would be held was kept carefully empty, as if to walk through it would be somehow sacrilegious.

The large, pointed… shrine… couldn't be missed. It was as tall as a man, and while its gold trim and the intricate detail of the woodwork was impressive, to Ella's taste it was somewhat garish. Something in the design reminded Ella of the architecture within the Sentinel. More than anything it looked like a miniature version of one of the great temples she had seen in Seranthia, dedicated to the Evermen.

"It's a gift from Evrin Evenstar," Miro said. "The Lord of the Sky has always been our deity, and we thought it fitting that even if he couldn't be here, we're married with his blessing."

"Has it been examined?"

"High Enchanter Merlon checked it himself. He used something called a… divinity wand?"

"Divination wand," Ella said. "It alerts when near the presence of anything comprising the smallest amount of essence."

"Yes, divination wand, that's it," Miro said. "Master Goss was present also, and they both announced there was no lore in the object at all."

"I'm glad to see they're not taking any chances," Ella said.

"We have bladesingers, the palace guard and half the army scattered through Sarostar, not to mention the personal retinues of our guests. We have checkpoints on all the major roads and even the river. It would take an army to disrupt this wedding."

"It's already a wonderful wedding, and it's only going to get better," Ella said. "Good luck."

~

"AMBER?" Ella called out as she stepped into the dressing chamber.

Afternoon light shone through the walls of the Crystal Palace and Ella smelled the sweet scent of roses. She turned a corner to find her friend sitting composed on an ornate chair, regarding herself seriously in the wide mirror.

Ella had spent all morning with Amber and only left her for a few moments, yet once again she was nearly breathless. Amber looked beautiful.

"I can't tell you how incredible you look," Ella said.

Amber turned to Ella, and there were tears in her eyes. "Thank you for leaving me. I just needed some time to think. People were probably asking you why you weren't with me."

"Well, your mother accosted me. Miro's more nervous than I've ever seen him. Bartolo and Shani are enjoying their efforts to make babies, and apparently I need to find a man. It was an eventful few minutes."