"We did. Lord of the Sky, I never want to go to that place again."
"I… I should thank you," Killian said. "Ella told me about all of you. Without your help I would still be there."
Ella saw Shani give Bartolo a meaningful look, and wondered how difficult things had been for the three of them.
"You owe Shani your thanks, more than any of us," Jehral said.
"You've got that right, desert man," said Shani.
"Come on," said Ella. "Let's go."
They climbed down the ladder and soon they stood once more on the pedestal of the Sentinel. Ella remembered the last time she'd stood in this place, and promised Evrin she would get Killian back.
Killian knew who his parents were now. The leadership of the Empire was his to claim. Ella looked at him, standing tall in his black garments, feeling a warm sensation inside.
"We arrived with a coffin, and we leave with one man extra," Shani said. "I'm looking forward to seeing the expression on that captain's face."
"You're wounded," Jehral said, seeing the claw marks on Ella's shoulder. "We need to get you back to Seranthia."
"Wait," Bartolo said, gripping Jehral's arm. "What's that?"
Three horn blasts came from the city, the sound carried across the water. There was a space, and then three more blasts. Shading her eyes, Ella saw smoke rising from several parts of Seranthia.
"It's the call to arms," Bartolo said. "Something's happening in Seranthia. Something big. We need to cross the harbour. Scratch it, that'll take too much time!"
Ella looked at Killian. He returned her look with a slight smile.
Chanting under his breath, Killian spread his arms out to his sides. As they looked on in awe, he rose into the air.
There was a famous scene from the Evermen Cycles, where one of the Evermen hovered in the air above a crowd of worshippers below.
Ella now knew they possessed this power.
"Can you make it?" she asked. "It's a long way across the harbour."
"I can try," Killian said. "I'm a Tingaran. These are my people."
He continued to chant, rising further into the air. His body tilted and he increased speed, and then he was over the water. Looking back at Ella, he waved his hand.
Then he was gone.
58
"LORD REGENT," a Tingaran officer called, "the soldiers will soon be at Imperial Square."
With Lady Alise's refusal to help, Rogan decided to try one last time, though he knew it was hopeless; there was nothing he hadn't already said. He walked back out onto the balcony, feeling the wind crisp in his face, carrying up to him the shouts and cries of the heaving mob below.
The balcony was designed for Tingara's rulers to address those below, and Rogan didn't have to strain to make himself heard.
He looked out over the crowd, seeing craftsmen and farmers, builders and merchants. Rogan felt no anger at these people, only pity.
"People of Seranthia, once more I plead with you to calm yourselves. If you send forth representatives from your numbers I will hear your requests. If they are within my power to grant, I promise you I will grant them."
Rogan saw Bastian below, bellowing as he called out to the crowd. His words were carried up. "We don't have requests, do we? We have demands!"
"Then let me hear them!" Rogan cried
"Tell us your words were lies! Take back your denigration of the Evermen!"
"There are those of the Evermen who helped us all," Rogan said, "and still do. But they were no gods. I cannot tell you a lie."
The crowd roared in defiance.
Bastian shouted again. "Relinquish your clinging grip on power. Give us back our nation!"
"There is no wish closer to my heart. I promise you that within a month, a Tingaran will rule in my stead."
"That's not good enough!"
Rogan bowed his head. In conscience, he couldn't give them what they wanted. Better that he be known as a murderer for what happened this day, than the fragile Empire be broken.
Someone joined Rogan on the balcony. Turning, his eyes widened in surprise as he saw it was Lady Alise.
Rogan took a step back, allowing her to come forward.
"Seranthians, Tingarans, my people," she began. "The younger among you won't know my face, but your fathers and grandfathers will know me. My name is Alise, and Emperor Xenovere, the fifth of that name, was my brother."
Rogan saw the crowd still. Bastian's shouts died on his lips. This was news to them all.
"My brother was a cruel, vindictive man. I don't have to explain myself to you, as Tingarans and residents of Seranthia, you know my words are true."
Lady Alise licked her lips, before going on.
"Xenovere hanged my husband, Lord Aidan, for treason, for acting against his tyranny. I watched as he writhed and struggled on the rope, as his face turned purple, and the life left his eyes, telling me that my husband was dead. I tell you this so you know that I am no tyrant, as he was. The madness that inflicted him is not carried on in my blood."