The Hidden Relic (The Evermen Saga, Book Two) by James Maxwell Read Free Book Online Page B

formed between her wrists and a miniscule flame grew into a ball.
    Then Ella turned, and all she could see was green; her vision was a patchwork of trees and leaves. She turned again; where was Shani?
    Ella heard a woman's scream. "Shani!" she cried.
    The colours in Ella's vision wavered, like a mirage over the desert.
    Ella opened her mouth to speak the words, and then hesitated. What if she activated the sequence that projected a destructive wave of heat from her enchantress's dress, and hurt Shani? She couldn't rely on her vision. Where was her friend?
    Ella spun around, trying to get her bearings. She turned to the left, and the vision of tree branches shattered.
    A figure in black clothing, his dark hair held back by a circlet, came out of the green.
    Ella opened her mouth to say the words, but before she could, something hit the back of her head, and her vision burst with stars.
    A cloth was held to her mouth, reeking of spices, and involuntarily Ella inhaled.
    All became darkness.
     

5
     
    M IRO'S thoughts were sluggish and beset by doubt. Acting on Marshal Beorn's advice, he turned to sleep after a gruelling session trying to explain his plan to High Lord Rorelan. The High Lord simply refused to take any more strength away from the border with Petrya in the south. All three men realised that an alliance with this new house, Raj Hazara, must be attained at all costs.
    Miro decided to get a few hours rest before treating again with the glib-tongued Jehral of Tarn Teharan.
    His eyes were shut before his head hit the pillow. There was something he needed to do. It came to him as he drifted off. Ella could tell him about these strange desert-folk; she might even know this Jehral personally. He would… He would…
    A heavy knock sounded at Miro's door, and he was instantly awake. He leapt out of bed, his zenblade activated and fiery in his hand, before whoever it was even had a chance to make a second knock.
    As the fog of sleep gave way to awareness, Miro realised that whatever the cause of the commotion was, it didn't herald immediate danger. He looked to the window, where oblique rays of sunshine poured in. Early afternoon, he guessed.
    Miro deactivated the zenblade and returned it to the scabbard by his bedside, then reached forward and opened the door.
    High Lord Rorelan stood outside the door with Bartolo; the High Lord's hand was raised to knock again.
    "What is it? Just come in next time," Miro said.
    Rorelan smiled and looked pointedly at the zenblade. "With a twitchy bladesinger inside? I think I'll knock every time."
    "Miro, I'm sorry," Bartolo said.
    Miro had fought by Bartolo's side countless times; they had suffered through the same pains, and Miro had never seen the man so distraught.
    "What is it?"
    "It's about the Hazarans," Rorelan said, at the same time as Bartolo spoke.
    "It's about Ella."
    Miro looked from one face to the next. "What about her?"
    "She's gone, Miro," Bartolo said. "I'm sorry. It's my fault. I know I was supposed to be looking after her."
    "Jehral and Hermen Tosch are also gone," Rorelan said. "The courier I sent to issue a summons discovered they left their lodgings not long after speaking with us this morning."
    "There are signs of a struggle, near where your sister and the elementalist were working," Bartolo said.
    "Is it just Ella or is the Petryan gone too?"
    "Shani's gone too," said Bartolo. "I'm such a fool!" he suddenly cried and punched the wall. Bartolo winced and looked at his scratched fist.
     
    ~
     
    M IRO was furious with himself. He paced the length of the simulator, one hand formed into a fist that he smashed into his palm with every second step, while Bartolo and the High Lord looked on.
    After the battle at the Bridge of Sutanesta Ella had attracted a lot of attention, and he should have done more to look out for her safety. The survivors called it the Deliverance, and Miro knew the news had travelled further afield than Altura. Miro's head throbbed and he rubbed at