"I've travelled all the way to Stonewater to see the Primate, even if it's just from a distance, but he's not here. Have you heard any of them say where he is?"

"Let's see. He came back from the west and spent some time in Stonewater. Something big happened there, and they're still cleaning up. Then he left for the north, but somewhere further north than Seranthia. Now, he's on his way to Seranthia."

Killian's eyes grew round. "How do you know all that?"

The barman shrugged. "Primates need guards, servants, drudges and carriages. Carriages and drudges need cleaning and maintenance. Guards and servants need food and drink. I know he's on his way to Seranthia because they're taking pigeons there, because they've packed up the Primate's study and sent it there, and because the rest of the Primate's personal guard have left for Seranthia. People talk."

Killian placed a coin on the bar. "You have that drink for me."

"Sure," the barman said, pocketing the coin.

Killian once again left the tavern, but this time he knew his destination clearly. He would go to Seranthia, he would find this book, and he would find Evrin Evenstar.

As Killian took the road north to Seranthia, a canvas backpack on his shoulder, the setting sun cast a glow on his back, causing his fiery red hair to shine like a flame.

~

BACK in Salvation, a woman arrived at the Temple of the Sky, a piece of paper in her hand. "I have a message I was given by an old pilgrim," the woman said to the priest. "Could you please give it to a young man with red hair and blue eyes?"

19

19

IN THE bustling trade city of Castlemere, Bartolo Thorn sat gazing out at the ocean and fingering the threads of Ella's hair.

There was no enmity between Castlemere and Altura, and he was able to openly wear his armoursilk, his zenblade scabbarded at his side. Even so, he received some curious glances from the gruff denizens of the city — it was one thing for an ordinary Alturan to visit the city, another altogether for a bladesinger. By reputation, Bartolo could defeat their entire city guard single-handed. Bartolo grinned. Seeing the pitiful defences of the mercantile city and the lacklustre attention of the guards, it was probably true.

Still, the traders had put up a fight when he'd asked to search the wagon train, back on the road from Altura. Bartolo thought it unlikely Jehral of Tarn Teharan and Hermen Tosch of Castlemere would choose such a slow method of transportation, but he had to be thorough. The traders hadn't liked it one bit when the bladesinger had shown up, demanding to search each and every one of the forty-odd vehicles.