The Threshold Child (44 page)

K’eb frowned, but nodded to indicate that he understood.

Adesina went on, “You always have to be thinking several steps ahead.
If you are prepared, then you can act much more quickly and efficiently.”

They began again, and Adesina was glad to see marked improvement.
She still defeated him easily, but commented that he did much better.

“I still lost,” replied K’eb, but he was pleased with her praise.

Adesina moved to re-create one of the positions they had been in
while fighting. “What did you do in response to this counterattack?”

He repeated his defensive move and paused. She nodded. “What would
have been better?”

K’eb studied the situation and named two other options, both
defensive. Adesina inclined her head and urged, “There is one more thing you
could have done.”

He studied the situation again, but he could not find what she meant.

Adesina pointed to her side. “I left my flank wide open, K’eb.”

She lowered her practice weapon, shaking her head. “You are
stronger than me, but you do not use that power. I leave open a weakness, but
you do not take advantage of it. This is what I was talking about in the
forest, K’eb. Battle is not a tidy sport. Sometimes you have to do things that
you would rather not.”

He suddenly looked apprehensive. “If you are suggesting that I must
do whatever it takes to win…”

She shook her head. “I know that you are a very moral individual,
and I am not asking you to go against your conscience. I am merely saying that
situations are rarely ideal, and sometimes compromises must be made.”

K’eb didn’t look convinced, but did not argue. Adesina smiled to
herself, imagining what his reaction would have been if she had told him the
Shimat views of the road to victory. That included not only doing whatever it
takes, but doing things that would not even cross the mind of your opponent.

They went on with the lessons until E’nes came to find them. He
and Ravi exchanged a few words, but then fell silent. E’nes watched for a
little while before reluctantly reminding Adesina that Wren’na was probably
waiting for them.

K’eb thanked Adesina for her help and asked if she would come
again the next day. Adesina was pleasantly surprised by this request, and
agreed.

As they walked home, E’nes gave his sister a sideways glance. “You
are a gifted teacher.”

She snorted softly, but her brother shook his head adamantly. “No,
I am serious. In the short time we were apart, you taught K’eb things that it
would take others days to teach.”

She frowned incredulously. “Days?”

E’nes nodded seriously. “I think the L’avan are accomplished
warriors, but our training is not nearly as accelerated as that of the Shimat.”

Her gaze was captured by a group of children playing in a park.
They were laughing and shouting, their glowing faces free from care.

Adesina’s voice was tinged with the regret she felt. “That is not
a bad thing. I have been training constantly ever since I was five years old.
Even before that, there were aptitude tests and preparatory exercises. I never
really had a childhood.”

He reached down and took her hand. Adesina’s other hand rested on
Ravi’s back, her fingers nestled into his smooth black fur. Her brother looked
at her sympathetically. “I am sorry, Adesina. It must have been very hard for
you.”

She shrugged. “I suppose. It has always been like that, so I never
really knew what I was missing.”

Until now
, she added silently.

In spite of the regret she felt, Adesina had a hard time staying
solemn for very long. It was as if the very air of Pevothem lifted her spirits.
She was constantly surrounded by people, things and situations that could not
help but give her the same happiness that they themselves possessed.

Over time she settled into a sort of daily routine. Every day she
would go with E’nes and Ravi to the training facility, where she became a sort
of impromptu teacher. At first she was just giving recommendations to K’eb and
E’nes, but they were soon joined by several spectators. They watched silently
until one brave soul summoned the courage to ask a question of his own. After
that, Adesina was flooded with requests for advice, opinions and training tips.

Her evenings were spent at home with E’nes and Wren’na. Sometimes
they would talk together or teach each other different things about each
other’s experience. Sometimes the hours would pass quietly as each found an
amusement on their own: reading, painting, embroidering, carving, and so forth.
Every once in a while, E’nes and Wren’na would tune their instruments and give
a modest concert for Adesina, singing old folk songs that had been passed down
through the generations.

She had never felt so happy with her life. She had never known so
much love or fulfilling purpose. She awoke each day and couldn’t help but smile
at the sunlight creeping through her window.

Adesina didn’t realize how far-reaching her combat lessons had
become until she looked up one afternoon and saw King L’unn and his sons
watching. She was in the middle of showing E’nes a more effective defensive
stance, but stopped what she was doing and straightened slowly to face them.

A hush fell over their corner of the training grounds.

The king walked forward deliberately until he was standing in
front of Adesina. His two sons followed close behind. Adesina gave a small bow,
attempting to show respect.

King L’unn surveyed the scene before resting his eyes on the young
woman in front of him. “It seems there are many Protectors eager for Shimat
training.”

She didn’t detect any anger in his voice, but she was still
cautious in her answer. “They only wish to improve, your Majesty.”

He studied her with interest. “Do you enjoy teaching them?”

Adesina was surprised to find that she did. She nodded slowly.
“Yes, your Majesty.”

King L’unn considered this for several moments before coming to a
decision. “If you wish to continue, you may teach your brother, L’iam, Sa’jan,
and Than’os,” he said, indicating to a thin, sharp looking man standing in the
crowd, who was apparently the last man named. Then he gestured to the rest of
the crowd. “All other Protectors must return to their regular training.”

With some quiet murmuring, the group dispersed, leaving Adesina,
Ravi, and the people named by the king.

L’iam moved forward to stand next to Adesina, speaking quietly in
her ear. “I apologize if my father seemed abrupt. He is rather wary of change.”

She smiled wryly. “An unusual trait in a king. Is not progress the
goal of every civilization?”

L’iam returned her smile. “Yes, well, you must keep in mind that
the L’avan have been very
much the same for
many, many years.”

A frown touched her brow. “Do you not find the lack of forward
movement detrimental to
the race?”

His gaze wandered off into the distance as he nodded slowly. His
voice was troubled and
distracted. “Yes. An objective observer could see that our people
are already feeling the effects of our slow decay. Something must be done to
revive our people.”

Adesina felt uncomfortable, even though L’iam’s comment was not
directed at her. She cleared her throat and moved away to address the other
soldiers left under her instruction.

“I never meant for this to become a formal class. I have never
taught before, and I do not know where to begin.”

Her brother gave her shoulder an encouraging squeeze. “Do not
think of it as a class. We will begin practicing, and you can give suggestions
where you feel it is needed. Just like before.”

So, they picked up right where they left off.

This was how Adesina began to spend most of her days. She found it
strangely fulfilling to pass on the knowledge that she had gained. She also
felt as if she were making amends for all the sorrow she had caused among the
L’avan people.

All of her pupils were talented fighters and fast learners. Adesina
started with the basics of Shimat tactics, but quickly advanced. As the days
wore on, she found that she was learning just as much as they were.

Her students became the teachers as they began showing her how to
use her
vyala
in battle. They all had
a variety of gifts, and each taught her different things. At first they seemed
amazed that she could repeat things that they showed her, studying the color of
her eyes to make sure that they had seen them correctly. Eventually they acted
as if it were normal, and introduced her to warriors with other talents to
teach her what they knew.

All the while, L’iam continued to instruct her on the finer points
of the energy they both could wield.

“Raw energy and
vyala
are practically the same thing, Adesina. The better understanding and control
you have over one, the more you will have with the other.”

She nodded in understanding, waiting for him to continue.

“Today, let us focus on turning your energy into a different kind
of
vyala
.”

She sensed him connecting with his
vyala
as he extended his hand. She connected with her own
vyala
, the blaze of awakening much more
controlled now than the first time it happened, and reached over to take his
hand.

The glow of her surroundings brightened her eyes, but today her
focus was on L’iam. She watched closely as he slowly made the shift from pure
energy to something tinged a light green. Even though the change was
deliberate—to show her how it was done—she didn’t quite catch how to do it
herself.

Now that L’iam was wielding his other gift, he could sense the
emotions and intentions of those around him. He was immediately aware of her
confusion.

“Let me show you again.”

He started to switch back to the pure energy. He deepened their
connection so that she could more fully sense the mental and emotional process
that went with working with one’s
vyala
.

It was almost like changing the state of mind. Raw energy was a
broad, all-encompassing way to look at the world. It was simply stepping into a
deeper point of view. When changing to a gift of
vyala
, one had to focus on a new way of perceiving the world.

L’iam’s green tinged world involved emotional connection with the
people in the surrounding area. Adesina found it difficult, being that she had
been rigorously trained to shut down her emotions. She looked at the people
around her: E’nes, L’iam, Sa’jan, Ravi. These were people whom she cared for
and trusted. She opened up her heart to them and felt her
vyala
beginning to change.

“Good!” L’iam exclaimed. “Now let your
vyala
know what you want it to become. Focus on the hearts of those
around you.”

Adesina did as she was instructed and immediately her vision took
on a light green tint. She saw, or rather, felt the love and concern that her
brother had for her. He was worried that she wouldn’t be able to adapt to the
world of the L’avan. Or worse, that she wouldn’t want to try. He worried that
she would leave Pevothem to venture out on her own or perhaps even rejoin the
Shimat.

Ravi’s thoughts and emotions were like a brightly colored
kaleidoscope. Adesina was astounded and perplexed by what she saw. She couldn’t
understand what she was seeing or feeling when she focused her attention on her
guardian.

L’iam sensed her confusion and pressed his fingers more closely
around her hand. “Do not trouble yourself with the soul of a Rashad. No mortal
can truly understand.”

An amused smile appeared on Ravi’s face when he heard L’iam’s
words. Adesina shot the Rashad a spiteful glare, only partially serious, before
moving on.

L’iam felt her focus turn to him and gently disconnected himself
from her.

“Now let us see if you can do the same with another gift of
vyala
.”

He gestured to E’nes, who stepped forward and connected to his
vyala
. Adesina frowned slightly at the
abrupt change, but did not argue.

“How many different kinds of
vyala
are there?”

L’iam smiled mysteriously. “No L’avan knows the answer to that
particular question, but there were ten gifts given to our people.”

E’nes took his sister’s hand and showed her how to change her
perception to one tinged a dark green. It was a joining with the environment,
being aware of the most minute details, even when they were out of physical
sight. This was how Adesina was able to aim at things behind her, but now she
was able to perceive everything around her without the aid of sound or
movement. Everything was clearer, more precise.

He also showed her a way to turn her energy into physical force.
The golden glow turned dark orange, and Adesina was able to use that solidified
energy to move objects around her. She even used it to knock E’nes down while
they were sparring a couple of days later.

He laughed when he had recovered from the shock of finding himself
flat on his back. “Perhaps I should mention that L’avan warriors do not use
their gifts against each other. At least, not in certain situations. Duels,
either real or practiced, are one of those situations.”