She could feel their eyes as they watched her remove Lord Aidan's clothes and clean his body, methodically working as she remembered what she'd learned in the icy north. They watched her deft strokes while she worked with a constant rhythm, her brow furrowed in concentration as she combined the knowledge she'd received from Barnabas with the lessons of Aldrik.
This was different from working with the Akari woman who'd died in the whaling accident. The flesh was decomposed, mottled with splotches of black and brown. A terrible stench came from the body, and the scratches and marks on the skin made it difficult for Ella to draw clean, crisp symbols.
She kept her head tilted to the side as she worked, while the hissing sound and chemical sting of the essence came as a blessing, distracting Ella from the horror of what she was doing.
Ella needed to roll the body over at one point, and found Shani helping her where neither Jehral nor Bartolo would. She covered the corpse in runes, finally stepping back to regard her handiwork.
"Shani, can you help me put his clothes back on. It's safe."
Soon everything was ready.
Ella left Lord Aidan's shirt open, the heart rune exposed.
"What now, Ella?" Jehral asked.
"When I bring him back, we will need to move quickly. What I'm doing is dangerous, and I don't know how long I'll have."
"Can I help?" Bartolo asked.
"When I give the word, remove the three lower seals from the portal, leaving my seal on the top, the one with the ruby."
"I can do that," Bartolo said.
"Anything else?" said Shani.
"The portal is made to be permanently open, but without power it will close. I've kept the activation sequence for the device simple, and it's important that the portal opens only for the shortest possible amount of time. Listen to me for the activation, Shani. To deactivate my device, and close the portal, add '-sula' to the sequence."
"What are you telling me to do?"
"As soon as I'm through, close the portal. Not a moment after. The Lexicons won't be able to power the portal for long, and I don't know how long it will take me to find Killian, so only open the portal every three days, and then for the briefest instant."
"What happens if the Lexicons drain completely?" Bartolo said. "Won't the magic fade?"
"I've built a safety into the device. It will cut the flow of power before it allows the Lexicons to fade."
"Doesn't that mean you'll be stranded?" asked Bartolo.
"Yes," Ella said simply.
"Ella, it's too dangerous!" Shani cried.
Ella squeezed Shani's shoulder. "I have to do this. Trust me, everything will be fine."
"What can I do?" asked Jehral.
"All of you must watch the portal. Make sure someone is watching it at all times. If anyone tries to cross who isn't me, or Killian... Kill them."
Jehral nodded.
Ella had never seen Shani look so frightened. "What are you going to find out there?"
"I don't know," Ella said.
"If I only open the portal every three days, how will you tell me if you need it opened sooner?"
"I can't. Just make sure it opens."
Shani nodded. "I will."
"Is everyone ready?"
Shani, Jehral and Bartolo all nodded.
Ella placed her fingers on the heart rune on Lord Aidan's dead skin. She spoke the words that would give the revenant life, tracing the heart rune as her lips moved.
"Mordet-ahl. Sudhet-ahl. Suth-eroth. Soth-eruth. Mordet-suth-ahn."
Lord Aidan's eyes opened. They were completely white, but there were also flecks of red, like blood splattered on snow.
"Tsu-tulara-ahn. Morth-thul-ahlara. Sudhet-ahlara-ahn. Shah-lahra-rahn!"
Blue light travelled from the heart rune, spiralling along the runes on the revenant's chest. The light sped from symbol to symbol, and Ella quickly closed the buttons of Lord Aidan's shirt.
He sat up.
Suddenly Lord Aidan put his hands to his throat, moaning and twitching on the ground. Shani jumped back, while Bartolo and Jehral both drew their swords. The revenant slowly calmed, and then his vision must have cleared, for he looked around him, an expression of confusion on his face.
He clambered slowly to his feet.
Ella held her breath. She had never seen this magic performed; they were dark arts, even amongst the Akari. Even Barnabas had cautioned her about what she was now doing.
"Where… Where am I?" said Lord Aidan.
"Lord Aidan…" Ella began, and then faltered. She felt tears streak down her cheeks once more. "Lord Aidan, you're dead."
He turned his eerie eyes on her. Red swirled and eddied against the white. Ella felt fear surge through her.
"I remember," he said. "I remember… The noose."
"That's right," Ella said, her voice trembling. "I'm sorry, Lord Aidan, but the Emperor had you killed."
"Then how am I here?"
"You had a son, Killian." Ella prayed this would work.
"I have a son!" he suddenly screamed, and both Bartolo and Jehral came forward. Ella gestured at the two swordsmen, motioning them back.
"Your son lives," Ella said, "but you have been brought back because he needs your help."
"Where is he? I want to see him."
"Look," Ella pointed, "do you see where I am pointing? It is a portal. Your son is on the other side."
"I… I am confused. Where am I?"