Miro felt Amber's hand slip inside his, and he squeezed it tightly. They were all smiling.
"We had some trouble along the way!" Miro called.
"I'll bet that's an understatement!"
"Friends of yours?" Commodore Deniz's voice came from behind Miro.
"My sister," Miro said, still grinning.
"Miro, that ship is the fastest thing I've seen on the water. You'll need to prepare the way for my people. We know the way, and I'll make sure we get there. We'll put down a boat to take you across. Go."
"We're coming aboard your ship!" Amber cried.
"I'll see if we have room!" Ella called, grinning. "You can have the Sailmaster's cabin!"
Miro shook Commodore Deniz's hand. "You have my word we'll be ready for your arrival, Commodore."
"Thank you, Miro."
Miro took Amber's hand and together they quickly gathered their few possessions. They followed one of Deniz's men to the side of the ship, where a ladder led down to the waiting longboat.
The sea was as calm as it ever was out here in open water, and entering the boat was difficult, but with a push against the side of the Seekrieger they were away.
Miro and Amber reached the Infinity with Scherlic gazing down at them from above and Ella looking on and grinning.
"Permission to come aboard?" Miro called up to Scherlic.
"Permission granted," the Sailmaster said, as sober-faced as ever.
"You first," Miro said to Amber.
Miro held the longboat fast to the ladder as Amber began to climb.
He looked over at the Seekrieger, and in the distance saw the other Veldrin vessels drawing near.
Boarding the Infinity gave Miro a greater sense of pleasure than he could have imagined, but still, the greatest pleasure came from seeing Ella again after so long, safe and well.
Soon, they would be home.
60
THE Infinity turned and headed swiftly east, as fast as she could travel, soon leaving the Veldrin fleet behind. In under a week she would be docking at the port in Castlemere.
Ella, Miro and Amber spent their time standing at the ship's rail, feeling the wind of her passage strong in their faces and talking.
"I have so much news, I don't know where to start," Ella said.
"Ella," Amber interrupted, "have you been through Sarostar? Please, is Tomas still alive?"
"I'm sorry," Ella said. "I took a ship from Seranthia to Castlemere, and then I found Sailmaster Scherlic and made him help me look for you. The last time I was in Altura I was with you."
"Oh," Amber said. She bowed her head.
"I did discover one thing, though. Miro, they need you back in Altura. They're all desperate for you to return. I have some bad news.
"Tell me," Miro said.
"Rorelan's dead. The decision was unanimous, they barely discussed it. You're now High Lord of Altura."
Amber lifted her head to look at her husband. "High Lord?"
"Poor man," said Miro. "He was brave, Rorelan, in his own way. I don't know if we could have won the war without him."
Ella turned to Amber. "It'll sink in," she said, tilting her head in Miro's direction.
"They didn't mention Tomas?"
"I'm sorry. We'll only know when we get back to Altura. There's more news."
"What else?" Miro asked.
"There's a new Emperor."
"What?" Miro exclaimed, shock crossing his face. He suddenly scowled. "Surely not one of the Tingaran commanders who…"
"It's Killian, although I'm not sure how happy he is about it."
Ella told them the story of Killian's ancestry. "Lord Aidan's revelation of how Xenovere had killed the Halrana High Lord's daughter led to the Western Rebellion. He and his wife were both convicted of treason. Lord Aidan was hanged while Lady Alise, Killian's mother, was exiled. Killian grew up in Salvation with no idea of who his parents were."
"You brought him back through the portal? How?"
"I found a way to cross to Shar, the world where Killian was trapped. While he was there he learned to use his powers. You wouldn't believe it, the things he can do…"
"I can believe it," said Miro grimly.
Between Miro and Amber, with halting words and haunted eyes, they told Ella about their quest, and the terrible things they had seen.
Ella felt dread well up within her as she listened.
"How long do we have?" she finally asked.
"Several months? A year? There's no way of knowing," her brother said.
"How did you leave things with Killian?" Amber asked, evidently leaving the question open for Ella to answer as she wanted.