"That's correct." The captain scowled.
"We're here as part of those defences. I'm an enchantress and I am going inside the statue to add wards to supplement the work you are doing here. That makes sense, doesn't it?"
Ella saw the thoughts crossing the dim-witted captain's face. She'd offered him an opportunity to save face.
"The things we carry with us are dangerous — they must be, to protect this area as effectively as a Torak-built wall and all your men. That's why we can't let you have them."
"I see," said the captain. "Why didn't you say so in the first place?"
Ella smiled. "We weren't sure if you'd understand, but I can see now that I was wrong."
"Can I see that pass again?"
"Here."
The captain pretended to inspect the pass once more. "Ah, I see now."
"My apologies for any confusion," Ella said.
"Quite all right. Umm… What's in the coffin, then?"
"The Emperor's brother-in-law," Shani said.
The Tingaran captain screwed up his face.
Ella frowned at Shani. "It's not a coffin, it's an energy sink."
"An… energy sink… Of course," the captain said. "Can my men be of assistance?"
"If you could lend us four of your men to help with this, we'd greatly appreciate it," Ella said. "Thank you, Captain."
~
ELLA felt her pulse race as she stood on the pedestal at the base of the statue and saw the circle of runes at her feet.
Shani, Bartolo and Jehral clustered nervously behind her, while four strong soldiers held the coffin between them.
Ella spoke in a loud voice. "Mulara-latahn. Sunara-latahn. Sumayara-sulamara-latanara."
The symbols lit up with a steady green fire, the light travelling from one rune to the next until the circle blazoned with a fierce glow. A grinding sound came from below, and soon the stone disc slid downwards, twisting and folding, revealing the stairway underneath.
"I hope you know what you're doing," Bartolo muttered yet again, low enough so only Ella could hear it.
Ella was the first down, remembering the last time she'd come this way. The images came strong and fast, and her heart rate increased to a drum-like tattoo.
A soft yellow light with no obvious source lit the passageway below. Ella reached the floor and moved forward, once again feeling awe at being somewhere she knew she didn't belong. Behind Ella came Shani, and then Jehral with Bartolo close behind. The soldiers struggled with the coffin but managed to tilt it down the stairs until they were all standing in the wide corridor.
"Come on," Ella said.
She walked forward until she was at the end of the passageway, sensing the others behind her.
Ella looked up and gasped. Evrin's words came back to her as she looked at the remains of the spiralled stairs leading up. Whatever had happened to the essence in the pool, it had eaten through the stone until the stairway was gone. A ladder leaned against the wall in its stead, evidently placed there by Evrin when he'd last inspected the portal.
Ella turned to the soldiers. "You can put it down," she said.
With a groan, the soldiers set the coffin on the smooth floor with a clunk.
"Thank you," Ella said. "You can go now."
The four soldiers fled from the corridor, back the way they'd come.
"Ella," Bartolo said, "how do you plan on getting this up the ladder?"
"We can't," said Ella.
"Oh no," said Shani. "You're not seriously suggesting…"
"It's the only way. Come on, help me with the lid."
With one of them on each corner of the stone coffin, they removed the lid, coughing at the dust they raised when they removed it, setting it down near the bottom of the ladder.
Ella had prepared herself for a grisly sight, but instead saw a second man-sized box inside, this one made of hard wood, unadorned but polished.
"One more lid," Ella said.
They lifted the wooden lid, setting it down on top of the stone.
Taking a deep breath, Ella finally summoned the courage to step forward and look down.
The embalming fluid and sealed container had kept the body of Lord Aidan in surprisingly good condition. He wore faded grey clothing, simple but tailored, with a silver belt buckle and black leather boots.
But the evidence of more than twenty years in the ground was there to see. His skin was dry and white as parchment, the cheeks sunken into his face. Rot had taken hold of the soft skin around his mouth, and half his teeth were exposed, no longer protected by lips. Only the slightest flecks of red indicated the colour his hair had once been, the rest was grey and fine, combed against his head in wisps. His eyes were closed and peaceful, while the savage red marks on his neck told the story of his violent death.
Ella felt Shani take her hand as Ella felt tears sliding down her cheeks. This was Killian's father. Would he understand what they were doing?
"I'm sorry for this desecration, Lord Aidan," Ella said. "Please understand what we're doing, we're doing to help your son."
"I don't think he can hear you," Bartolo said.
Ella looked up, her eyes burning. "He soon will."
27