Evaria watched in horror as Jowan sank the blade of the knife into his flesh, using the power of his own blood to fling the First Enchanter and the Knight Commander across the room.
Jowan looked at her and Lily, looking scared, guilty... and invigorated. "I... I had to do something! They were going to hurt you!"
"Jowan, how could you do this?" asked Evaria. "You lied to us both."
"I admit, I-I dabbled. I thought it would make me a better mage."
"Blood magic is evil, Jowan," said Lily. "It corrupts people… changes them."
Ignoring the conversation between Jowan and Lily, Evaria rushed to First Enchanter Irving's side. "Are you all right, First Enchanter?" she asked, kneeling to help him to his feet. When she stood again, Jowan was gone.
"I knew it," spat Greagoir. "Blood magic. But to overcome so many… I never thought him capable of such power."
"He lied to me," muttered Evaria. "He's been lying to me for years…"
"None of us expect this," said Irving softly. "Are you all right, Greagoir?"
"As good as can be expected, given the circumstances," replied Greagoir. "Lily, you have helped a blood mage. Look at all he's hurt! I have no choice but to send you Aeonar. Get her out of my sight!"
Greagoir turned to Evaria. "Your antics have made a mockery of this circle! This cannot go unpunished." Greagoir sighed. "There is but one option. You will be sent to Aeonar, with Lily."
"I didn't know about any of this!" protested Evaria. "I only thought-"
"You expect us to believe a word you say?" asked the knight commander. He turned to Irving. "I told you this Surana girl would be nothing but trouble."
The first enchanter looked at Evaria, and she could read the disappointment on his face like words in a book. "I am sorry it had to come to this," was all he said.
Two large, armored templars stepped forward to take hold of Evaria's arms, when a bright flash of light erupted from the hall beyond, filling the room. As sounds of a struggled floated into the chamber, the knight-commander and the first enchanter both turned to try to see what was going on.
"Maybe someone caught him," said the templar on Evaria's right.
Evaria took a deep breath. This was the only opportunity she would ever get. It was her only chance. She wrenched her arms free from the templars' loosened grips and ran from the room, away from the templars and the mysterious light, as fast as her legs could carry her.
She was almost at the front hall when she collided into someone. She looked up into the face of a templar: Cullen. They locked eyes for a single moment, Cullen's gaze drawn to the hall behind her as he heard the shouting that followed her.
Evaria lowered her head. This was it, then.
"She went that way!" Cullen cried, rousing the guards who stood by the main doors of the tower.
Cullen glanced at her one last time as she sunk into the shadows. Evaria looked up at him, a silent 'Thank you,' passing between them, before Cullen ran in the opposite direction, the other templars trailing him.
For the first time since Evaria had set foot in the tower twenty years ago, the doors stood in solitude. There was no one to stop her. Evaria froze, her fingers curled around the handle of the door. Could she really do this? She had never known a life outside the Circle.
Evaria closed her eyes, steeling herself. It was her only choice. She took a deep breath, and opened the door.
Evaria stopped short outside. Lake Calenhad. How could she have forgotten about the lake? She glanced over to the dock, where a lone templar stood, next to the only boat that could take her away from here.
She walked in the opposite direction, to the other side of the tower, until she was hidden from the templars' sight. Evaria summoned a fireball, and she could hear a shout as the templar came running to investigate. She circled back around the tower, relieved to see the boat unguarded. She jumped in a grabbed the oars, praying to the Maker she had enough strength to make it across Lake Calenhad.