The Evermen Saga 01 - Enchantress by James Maxwell

chair. He looked at Ella down his nose. She was suddenly very worried about what he was going to ask her. "I am going to test you on your knowledge of lore, young lady. First," he quickly drew something on a sheet of paper, "what is this rune?"
    Ella could barely see the symbol. She started to step forward.
    "No, don’t come any closer."
    Ella’s head pounded. " Asta ?"
    "You may come closer now."
    Ella walked towards Master Goss and looked down at the symbol. She could see her guess was correct, and silently breathed a sigh of relief.
    "Now, point to the whorl," Master Goss said. Ella pointed. "The bridge?" Ella circled it with her finger. "Mark out the hollow."
    Ella looked up. "There are two hollows." She ran her finger along the dip on the left of the rune, then on the slight curve at the bottom."
    "You may step back now. What is it the rune for?" Master Goss said.
    "I… I think it’s a rune for colour," Ella said.
    "What activation would you ascribe, if you wanted to use this rune in the creation of a nightlamp?" Master Goss asked.
    " Tish-suka ."
    Master Goss looked satisfied.
    Ella continued. "But you wouldn’t use asta without a tertiary chain. You’d end up having to darken the lamp by activating a sequence for darkness, which doesn’t make sense. One would instead include a sequence to deactivate the lamp."
    Ella saw Master Lodley smile, and then attempt to cover it up.
    "My final question," Master Goss said. "When will the Evermen return?"
    Master Lodley coughed and choked. Ella opened her mouth and then closed it again. How was she supposed to answer? Did they want the kind of response a priest might give? Or was it another mental challenge?"
    "Your time is up," said Master Goss. He smiled, but it wasn’t a friendly smile. "You may have some knowledge, young lady, but don’t forget that you also need faith."
    Master Lodley looked up, evidently aware that the hidden figure in the mezzanine was listening. "You may go now, Ella. You can speak with Madam Foley regarding your tuition."
    Ella’s eyes widened. "My tuition?"
    "Yes, Ella, your tuition. Classes start on Lordsday."
    Ella felt a thrill run through her. "Thank you!" she said to the masters. She beamed up at the mezzanine. One day she would learn who it was who could tell a man like Master Goss what to do. "Thank you," she said to the hidden heights.
    Master Lodley gave her a hint of a smile in return. As the timepiece struck the hour, Ella left the room.

4
     
    All this wealth and no use for it. Does it make you frustrated?
    — Emperor Xenovere V to Primate Melovar Aspen, 543 Y.E.
     
     
    T HE sun beat down mercilessly. Miro blinked sweat out of his eyes, and then ducked instantly as one of his opponents took advantage of his lapse. The sword was close. Too close. He felt the nick as the razor sharp steel sliced into his temple. A small amount of blood burst out, but the flow was small.
    "Fight on," said Blademaster Rogan.
    If Miro had a cendeen for every time he had heard those words he would be a rich man, he thought sardonically.
    "Concentrate!" his teacher called, though whether to him or to his opponents he wasn’t sure.
    Saporo and Rimor gathered themselves. Saporo looked proud for scoring a hit. Still, Miro knew he was the less dangerous of the two, and kept an eye on Rimor. His two opponents spread apart, forcing Miro to take two steps back lest they outflank him.
    Ringed around them, fifty novice swordsmen watched closely.
    "Notice how Miro watches the eyes and the legs, not the hands or the arms. The eyes tell you what your enemy intends, the legs tell you how he will do it," said Rogan.
    Rimor’s eyes flickered but Miro didn’t take the bait. Saporo waited, following his ally’s lead.
    Miro didn’t know how, but he suddenly knew Rimor was about to step to the right. He waited for the first signs of Rimor’s movement. Then with reflexes like an adder, Miro was there to meet him. Saporo was behind Rimor for a split second and Miro