"I've seen it," Killian nodded. "'To the common people of Merralya, one and all, I give you this, the third volume in my Tomes of Lore. Evrin Evenstar. ' I read that in the Halrana Lexicon."

"I once met someone who said his name was Evrin Alistair," Ella said. "He taught me animator's runes. He was clever, and strange, and funny, all at once."

"Did he have a white beard, flecked with ginger?" Killian asked.

"And blue eyes," Ella said. "Blue, like yours."

"It was him." Killian nodded.

"How?" Ella asked. "How could Evrin Evenstar have created the Lexicons, yet be alive today?"

"I don't know," Killian said. "It's somehow tied in with who I am. What I am."

"Please, go on," Ella said. "Evrin: what happened to him?"

"I've only learned this since, but while I tried to destroy the relics the Primate used to create essence, Evrin went to a different part of Stonewater, the Pinnacle, to destroy something he considered at least as important."

"I knew something had happened to disrupt the Primate's supply of essence. You saved countless lives. What could be more important?"

"I don't know exactly," Killian said. "There's a templar named Zavros. He's the templar who perfected the Primate's elixir, and is probably the one who built these vats. He's an evil man. I questioned him, back in Stonewater, and he let slip something about a book. Evrin tried to destroy it, but he wasn't successful, and now the Primate has it. But I don't think it's the book itself that's the danger. It's the knowledge contained in its pages."

"What happened to Evrin?"

"The Primate had him locked up in Salvation for a time, but he escaped. Since I couldn't find Evrin, I decided to look for the Primate and try to find the book, so I headed to Seranthia. On the way, I saw Evrin with some prisoners. I tried to free him, but I was captured while Evrin escaped. And here we are."

Ella was silent for a moment while she digested Killian's words.

She realised she was still holding the damp cloth, now stained red with Killian's blood, and she threw it into the fire.

Obviously the book that was in the Primate's hands was of the utmost importance.

"You said Evrin escaped the Primate in Salvation?" Ella asked.

"Yes," Killian nodded, "the Primate wasn't happy. He had all the guards killed."

"Yet you found him with some prisoners near Seranthia. What was he doing in Seranthia?"

"I don't know," Killian said. "All I know is that Evrin needs my help, and he's the only one who can tell me who I am."

"Whatever it is Evrin's worried about, it has something to do with Seranthia," Ella said, "and it sounds dangerous."

"Will you help me?" Killian asked.