Ella walked down to the water's edge, and, without dwelling too long on what she was about to do, she stepped into the water. Ella took two steps more, until the water of Lake Halapusa was up to her calves.

She turned around to face the stunned men carrying the stave. "It won't harm you," she said. "I need you to drive it in hard, out there, where the water is deep."

Ella felt a thrill to see the lore was working. Steam no longer rose from the lake itself; the water was actually cold, and felt like it was growing colder all the time.

The six men waded into the water until it came up to their waists. With a heave and a splash, they lifted the stave and drove the metal-bound shaft deep into the bed of the lake, until only half of its length poked above the water. Two men each hefted a sledgehammer and pounded at the top of the stave until Ella was satisfied.

Ella returned to Prince Ilathor. "Are you ready?" she asked.

"We're ready," he said.

On the path down from Torlac stretched the length of cord that she herself had made. Shani handed Ella the end, and Ella's eyes followed it up the path until she could no longer see it.

Ella pictured the other end of the cord. The end she carried was like the rest, a single woven piece; but high above, in Torlac, the line split into several strands. Each strand rested in a tank of cold, salted water.

Ella hoped the prince had remembered to evacuate the barracks.

With all eyes on her, Ella waded into the lake until she was beside the thick stave. Her eyes ran over the wood, decorated with as many tiny symbols as her enchantress's dress. Ella threaded the cord through a hoop on the side of the pole and tied the end.

"We should get back now," Ella said, returning to the shore. "Everyone, stand back!" she cried. She hardly needed to; the desert warriors were standing nervously beside their horses, far from the lake's edge. Even Shani took a few steps back, leaving only Ella standing next to the lake.

Ella lifted her arms, taking in a deep breath. Her voice came strong and certain as she chanted with a steady rhythm, activating the capabilities of the cord, and then calling forth the powerful conductive magic she had imbued the stave with.

The top of the shaft lit up, white and pure as the snow. The light travelled from the shaft to the cord and then continued along the cord, moving along the line with the speed of a bird in flight.

All eyes followed the light as it travelled up the slope, heading directly for the town of Torlac. In an instant the whole line glowed piercingly white, and Ella closed her eyes, praying the enchantment would work.