"I have my own task to complete first," Ella said. "There's one more facility like the one you were in. The essence coming out of there is being used to fight my people, and the prisoners deserve to be freed."

"I could help you," Killian said. "They say it's a bigger facility than this one, which means it will be more heavily defended."

Ella nodded. "If you help me destroy this last facility, I'll help you find Evrin."

"Agreed," Killian said.

Ella held out her hand, and she and Killian clasped hands, the act strangely formal. His strong hand easily held her delicate fingers within it.

"You never told me what happened to you?" Killian said, releasing Ella's palm.

Ella told Killian about High Enchantress Evora's sacrifice to save Ella and the Alturan Lexicon. She skimmed over her capture by Prince Ilathor and his men, telling Killian simply that she'd helped the Hazarans rediscover their forgotten lore, and in the process she herself learned about the power of illusion.

Ella explained how she'd blocked the Wondhip Pass using the animator's runes Evrin had taught her, and built the ethereal runebridge when the Bridge of Sutanesta was destroyed, saving the refugees and enabling the Alturans to fight another day.

Finally, Ella told him about the battle against the Akari in the lands between Petrya and Tingara, and how she had come here to see what she could learn, and hopefully do.

"You've learned a lot," Killian said. "You've changed."

"Not too much, I hope?" Ella said, smiling up at him.

"You're more beautiful than ever," Killian said, and Ella blushed. "But that's not what I meant. You've grown."

"War will do that."

"You've learned something of illusionist's runes, elementalist's runes and animator's runes, as well as being a trained enchantress. I don't know if anyone has done that before."

"There's still so much I don't know," Ella said.

"You should see what Evrin can do," Killian said, shaking his head. "I know nothing about lore, but when he drew the runes on my skin… I can't describe it."

"Where did he draw them?" Ella asked.

Killian touched his chest with both hands, gesturing then to his arms and his neck, his legs and his face. "Everywhere."

Ella moved a little closer to him.

"I have essence," she said. "When we take the base tomorrow night, we'll need to hit them with everything we can."

Killian stretched and moved closer to the fire, inadvertently shifting closer to Ella so that their legs were touching. Neither of them moved apart.

"I agree," he said.

The firelight danced and played across Killian's face. Ella's leg was pressed only slightly against his, yet she felt incredibly conscious of the warmth of his touch.

"I've always wanted to see what we could do together," Ella said. "I have some runes in mind."