The previous day, the Primate had held a Chorum, the first since the war started. He had changed the format somewhat, and unlike before, he controlled events and decided who would speak. It had been a strange affair, and one that had left him dispirited. High Lord Dimitri Corizon of Vezna was proving difficult to handle — the elixir was taking its toll — and High Lord Koraku Rolan of Torakon could barely hold himself together. Melovar's main concern was that Dain Barden would discover something about the elixir; however the ruler of the Akari made a surprisingly warm speech of thanks at his welcome back to the Empire. Altura and Halaran were conspicuously absent, and Melovar knew he needed to subdue them quickly or lose credibility for his new order. All in good time; the Akari were here now. Zavros had returned from the north; soon the Primate would have his own supplies of essence, and a renewed source of elixir.

When the time came, Dain Barden would fall under the Primate's power just as had Tessolar of Altura, Raoul Maul of Loua Louna, Koraku of Torakon, Dimitri of Vezna, and Xenovere of Tingara. In the end, none of them could resist the elixir.

The parade was over, and Melovar withdrew from the balcony. The Imperial Palace, huge as it was, was too small, he found, and not high enough for his liking. He missed Stonewater, but sometimes this was where he needed to be.

Melovar walked over to where Zavros was seated on a plush velvet chair, thoroughly engrossed by the book of the Evermen in his hands. "I can almost see what it is," Zavros said. "Such a strange shape. It looks like the chamber is inside something, like a mountain."

"I would say it was inside Stonewater, if I didn't know for myself that it isn't there," Melovar said.

"The Akari expect you to tell them where it is, Your Grace," Zavros said, placing the book to the side. "You've promised them a great deal of essence and the most powerful relic the Evermen ever created. Dain Barden Mensk isn't a man to take promises lightly."

"Which is why you've been learning their secrets, Zavros," Melovar said. "We just need to develop our own source of essence before the Akari find out how we've seized power. We must also be the first to find the relic and use its power for ourselves. So tell me, what have you learned?"

Zavros nodded. "I can do it, Primate. I can build the vats. I know how to extract essence from the dead."

"Excellent," Melovar smiled.