The Hidden Relic (The Evermen Saga, Book Two) by James Maxwell Page A

Last time, all right? This time, the answer is that it's now been about four days."
    Ella rubbed the back of her head, pulling away and wincing as she felt the large bump on her skull. Her mind was clearing now, the fog lifting, being slowly replaced with anger.
    "If it's any solace," Shani said, "this is now the longest conversation we've had."
    "Has anyone spoken to us?"
    "No." Shani shook her head. "Although I think someone's popped their head in a few times. We've been given food and drink." Ella could vaguely remember cold stew and brackish water. "And we've been taken outside to get some fresh air. They can make the dark cloud stay with you, you know. You can hear, but you can't see a thing."
    "I know who it is," Ella said. "Or at least, I know who they represent."
    "Who?" Shani said. "I need to know so I can add them to the long list of people I'm going to kill once we get out of here."
    "What do you know about the Hazara Desert?"
    Shani snorted again. "Ella, I'm Petryan. Our southern border is the Hazara Desert."
    "Then you know about the tribes."
    "Those barbarians? They steal from my people, the way a flea bites at a dog. They raid our trade caravans and butcher our villagers. Some men of the tribes travelled all the way to Altura and captured an enchantress and an elementalist? I don't think so, Ella."
    Ella wondered if they would have been as bold if Bartolo had been with them. "I know it without a doubt, Shani."
    "How?" the elementalist demanded.
    "To start with, their lore. They can make illusions, impressions of light and sound that aren't actually there. Visions, like the mirages you see in the desert."
    "I'll agree with you, that sounds like what's happened to us," Shani said. "I thought I was going mad for a moment there. What else?"
    "And secondly, because I think I recognised the man who came out of the illusion and attacked me. His name is Jehral, and he serves one of their leaders, a prince named Ilathor Shanti, of Tarn Teharan."
    "How do you know these people?" Shani pointed at Ella's chest. "How do you know so much about their lore? What interest do they have in you?"
    "I know them because they held me prisoner for a time. We need to be careful, Shani, these men are ruthless."
    "You haven't answered all of my questions."
    "I know about their lore because I helped them to regain it." Ella hesitated. "In return, they let me go."
    "Ella," Shani said. "If we're going to trust each other you need to be more honest with me."
    Ella started to speak, and then closed her mouth. After a pause, she tried again. "Well, perhaps they didn't let me go," she said wryly. "Perhaps… I escaped."
    Suddenly Ella cocked her head. She could hear unmistakeable chanting, the throaty voice of an old woman.
    Ella was beset by darkness. "I can't see," she said.
    "I can't either," she heard Shani's voice. "It's the dark cloud I told you about."
    Ella heard the fumbling sound of someone entering the covered wagon, and instantly her heart began to race. How many were there? Were they men or women?
    She listened, and caught the sound of a single newcomer, breathing slowly in and out.
    "Remove this darkness, Jehral," Ella said. "I know you're there."
    Ella heard movement, the sound of turning, and then a voice spoke outside. The sound of a man's breathing came again, and Ella tensed.
    Then Ella could see. The relief was intense, but she tried not to display any emotion.
    Ella's eyes again adjusted to the low light. Jehral crouched just inside the covered area of the wagon. Ella thought they had once been friends, of a kind, but now he sat still, regarding her with an expression close to anger.
    "Ah, you are awake, and feeling better, I see," he said. "It is good to see you again, High Enchantress Evora. Or should I say… Enchantress Ella?"
    Ella caught a frown from Shani.
    Jehral had changed subtly since Ella last saw him. The metal circlet he wore at his brow now appeared to be made of solid silver, and he wore a sash of yellow over