The Primate fell back down into the pool of essence. His screams were terrible as his insides were liquefied, even as the elixir tried to heal him. The Primate's skin hissed and bubbled as if acid was fighting to escape the confines of his veins, and then his skin began to fall off his body in pieces that were quickly devoured by the essence. He tried to push with his arms, to keep his head above the surface, but then the Primate's left arm fell from his body. The Primate opened his mouth and a stream of red and yellow fluid gushed forth as the pressure inside his body forced what had been his organs out. The screams turned to horrible gurgling moans.

His death was terrible, yet Killian couldn't help but think that this was a fitting end for the ruler of the Assembly of Templars, to be killed by essence.

The Primate's body sank under the surface of the pool, hissing and steaming, bubbling as it broke into little pieces, until it was as if Melovar Aspen had never been.

Killian turned. A dark-haired man in the green silk of a bladesinger stood by the edge of the pool. He carried a bent piece of wood in his hands, shining with activated runes, the string still thrumming from the release of the last arrow. He had angular features and the white line of a scar rose from his jaw line to his left eye. He was perhaps the same age as Killian and a cord tied his long hair back from his face.

Instantly, Killian knew this was Ella's brother. Their hair was different but the features were the same. Ella's description hadn't done her brother justice. It was written in the lines of his face: this was a warrior who would fight to his last breath in the pursuit of his ends. Killian doubted even the powerful Dain of the Akari would be a match for Ella's brother, Miro.

Miro fitted another arrow and then turned, holding both Killian and the Dain in sight. "No one is to move," the bladesinger said, his voice firm, and Killian knew he meant it. "I don't miss."

"The seals!" Evrin's cry brought Killian's attention back to what the Primate had done. "The beacon!"

The last seal was gone; the Primate had struck it away, and now the three seals lay on the stone just below the tall oval mirror. The way was open. The beacon would call.

The sound came all at once.

Dain Barden dropped his hammer and put his hands to his ears, his face twisted at the deafening note that resounded through the chamber.

Killian, the runes on his body now faded, put his own hands against his head.