The Threshold Child (53 page)

“Who is this Kendan?” asked L’era.

Adesina felt her cheeks flush, and prayed that her heightened
color was hidden in the darkness. She leaned back against Ravi’s side, away
from the firelight. “He was my trainer. I know he would be willing to help us
once he realizes the truth about the Shimat.”

“How do you know that he does not know the truth already?” asked
Sa’jan.

“He is an honorable man,” she replied, feeling her blush deepen.
“Also he is…young. He has not been a Shimat for very long, therefore it is
doubtful that he would be privy to such knowledge.”

L’era noticed the waver in her voice and gave her a questioning look.
Then she turned her eyes to her brother, looking for his response to this
revelation.

L’iam kept his eyes fixed on the flames of the campfire, his
expression giving away nothing. “If you believe you can trust him, then we
shall as well.”

He stood and moved away from the group, leaving them in silence.

“Well,” ventured E’nes, “how are we going to find this trainer of
yours?”

Adesina wrapped her arms around her knees. “He was my Shimat
contact while I was in the High City. If for any reason there is a break in
that contact, instructions are to be left at the meeting place.”

“Where was your meeting place?” asked Aleron hesitantly, as if he
wasn’t sure he wanted to know about the double life of one he had believed to
be his friend.

She understood the tone of his voice and gave him a sad smile. “In
a cave in the forest northwest of the city.”

“Do you think he had anything to do with the attack on the High
City?” Aleron asked more harshly than he intended.

She instantly shook her head. “No, his duty would have been to
organize and lead the search for me.”

He only looked slightly consoled by her words. “What if we cannot
find him?”

“We will,” she assured confidently.

“But what if we cannot?” pressed her brother.

In all honesty, she doubted this was even a possibility. Two
Shimat looking for each other could not help but find one another. Still, she
had considered the options if that happened.

“Then we will go on alone.”

“If we can go on without him, then why contact him at all?” came
Ravi’s unexpected voice.

Adesina looked at her guardian in surprise. Why was he questioning
her plans now? “Kendan’s aid would be very valuable to our mission. He knows
the fortress much better than I do, and he may have overheard important
information. Also, he can move about the fortress freely—something we cannot do
on our own.”

This was enough for the other L’avan, but Ravi still did not look
convinced.

She frowned in concern. “What is it, Ravi?”

He shook his head in worry. “My Dreams have not been as clear as
they should be. I feel as if I am going into this venture blind.”

She quirked an eyebrow. “We are hardly blind, dear friend. Much
thought and planning has gone into this.”

His words were chilling as they fell on every ear. “It may not be
enough.”

Adesina was speechless for several moments. “What should we do,
then?”

A heavy silence followed as Ravi went deep into thought. They all
hoped he would have a solution for them, but he offered none. No one felt like
talking after that. They all curled up in their blankets and pretended to
sleep.

The only one who didn’t join them was L’iam, who continued his
watch until well past midnight. Adesina was still awake when she heard him
being replaced by Sa’jan.

She stared up at the stars, reaching up to them with her
vyala
. They sang strange and beautiful
songs when one was connected to their
vyala
,
and she understood why Ravi loved them so much. Sadly, the comfort and
inspiration she sought in them could not be found that night. Her mind remained
a blank darkness, and she found a feeling of desperation welling up from deep
within herself.

She needed help.

Admitting this to herself did nothing to help her discover what
she should do. The only person she could think of to help her was Kendan. That
was why they were looking for him. He had the answers she needed to finish
planning the mission. Without him, she was at a loss. There were too many
variables, too much unknown.

They had to find Kendan.

Repeating this to herself, Adesina finally fell asleep.

The next morning dawned brightly, filtering through the trees and
gently waking the L’avan. They glanced at each other warily, none of them
saying what was on all of their minds. Today was the day they would arrive at
the High City. Or, at least, what remained of the High City.

Aleron was the most affected by this knowledge. He finally began
singing softly to himself to help cope with the overwhelming emotions he felt.
Adesina listened to the words of his sad song, once again caught up in the
spell of his music.

Fly upon the wings of night

Lose yourself in the abounding darkness

To hide your scars, your wounds from the
world

Is to be free from the past that haunts
you

Find solace in the arms of night

There your tears are seen by no one

Hope is swallowed by black despair

But at least the facade is kept intact

Wander through the maze of night

Wish for light, but shy from the reality

It’s easier to let go of broken dreams

Instead of clutching the shards to your
heart

Lose yourself in the mask of night

Anonymous faces surround you

Doubt of your existence may flood your
mind

 
But perhaps it is better that way

Adesina sighed to herself, contemplating how she herself was a
creature of the night. In the darkness she felt most free, most powerful, and
most invulnerable. In the light of day, and more importantly, in the light of
her
vyala
, she was stripped completely
bare. All of her faults, all of her weaknesses, every small truth lay exposed.
She preferred staying safely hidden in the darkness, even if it also brought
solitude.

This train of thought was interrupted as they mounted their horses
and once again began their journey. Adesina noticed Ravi walking alongside
Aleron, speaking in his deep, calming voice.

“You sing very well.”

He laughed nervously, still not at ease with Adesina’s guardian.
“Thank you.”

“Music is a very important part of my culture. It is a way of
connecting with the soul and allowing it to express itself in ways beyond words
alone.”

For a moment, the clouds lifted and Aleron’s sunny smile could be
seen again. “I feel the same way.”

As simply as that, Ravi had eased the burden on the young man’s
mind. They chatted about their favorite songs, the ones they had grown up with—talking
about how they had learned the many verses of this song, or how they had
attempted to woo with that song. When they discovered songs they had in common,
they sang them together. Their rich voices blended together in perfect harmony,
creating beautiful sounds that cheered up everyone’s spirits.

Unfortunately, the hours of pleasant forgetfulness didn’t last.

By late afternoon, the High City could be seen in the distance. At
first Adesina didn’t even recognize it. Where high white walls had stood
surrounding the city, only blackened rubble remained. The meticulous streets
were literally torn apart, and there were corpses strewn everywhere.

L’era paled at the sight. “Why has no one cared for the dead?”

Aleron shook his head. “All of the survivors left as quickly as
possible, before we were attacked again.”

“What about the surrounding villages?” she demanded indignantly.

L’iam looked at his sister sadly. “I suppose no one wanted to
interfere, lest they become the next target of attack. Besides, it is an
insurmountable task caring for this many bodies.”

He was right. Thousands of people had been massacred in that city.
It would take just as many living people to care for the dead.

“Is there anything we can do?” asked Aleron with a trembling
voice.

“Not if you want them buried,” answered Adesina. “We could cremate
the remains using another massive fire, but that is just about all that we can
do.”

His head hung low as he accepted her words, tears running freely
down his boyish face.

“We could pray for them,” suggested L’iam gently.

Aleron nodded eagerly, glad to be able to do something. They all
dismounted their horses and bowed their heads as L’iam offered a prayer in the ancient
language of the L’avan. Adesina didn’t understand the words he spoke, but his
voice was earnest and full of pity. She could see her friend from the High City
taking comfort in the loss of his loved ones.

When L’iam finished praying, they remounted and rode on. They
skirted the ruined city as well as they could, but it was not enough to escape
the overwhelming stench that assaulted their noses.

The harsh smell of charred plant life, the greasy remains of burnt
animals, the sickening scent of decay. All of this mixed with the savage smell
of fire, even though the attack had taken place weeks ago.

The travelers escaped into the shelter of the trees, hoping to
shield themselves from both stench and sight of the slaughter.

Adesina led them to the cave where she had often met Kendan to
report on her status. At first they looked around in confusion, uncertain why
she had brought her horse to a stop. When she dismounted, they all did the
same.

She walked over to the small, hidden opening and got down on her
knees.

“Wait a moment, Adesina.”

She turned as saw L’iam advancing toward her. “You cannot go in
there by yourself. What if it is a trap?”

Adesina sighed at his protective nature and brought her
vyala
to bear. She scanned the cave and
then turned back to him. “No one is inside.”

He shook his head sternly. “Even so, I do not want you going in by
yourself.”

She looked at him oddly for a moment before beckoning to Ravi. Her
guardian came forward readily. One after another the two of them entered
through the small opening of the cave.

Adesina stood up and brushed herself off, reprimanding herself for
not thinking to bring a torch. She started to feel around in the dark, looking
for something to light the room.

Ravi’s voice was amused. “Use your
vyala
, Ma’eve.”

She felt slightly foolish for not thinking of that herself. Her
vyala
flared up and pooled in the palm
of her hand, glowing in a ball of pure energy. Light spread through the cave,
chasing the shadows into the far corners.

It was empty.

She searched the area, looking for a note or something with
instructions of how she was to contact Kendan.

Nothing.

A worried frown creased her features. “I do not understand, Ravi.
Something should be here—a note, a clue, or even a packet of survival supplies.
Where is it?”

Ravi sat down, slowly surveying the cavern around him. “Are there
any reasons why it would not be here?”

“Yes,” she replied, after some thought. “If a Shimat is dead, or
if their mission dictates a complete loss of contact. If the latter were the
case, though, the Shimat in question would have been orally informed of how to
make contact if necessary.”

“Yes?” he urged.

Another thought came to her. “Basha could have known about this
cave and taken what was left by Kendan.”

“Anything else?” Ravi asked.

Adesina knew of one last possibility, but was reluctant to say it.
“If a Shimat has gone rogue, their supplies would be cut off.”

He nodded solemnly and got to his feet. “I think we need to hurry
on to find your father, before it is too late.”

She agreed, but still cast her eyes around the cave one last time,
hoping to find something she had overlooked.

Ravi’s voice was gentle. “Come, Ma’eve.”

Adesina extinguished the ball of light resting in her hand, and then
they exited through the small opening. The L’avan were anxiously awaiting her
return.

“Well?” asked L’iam in a strangely detached voice.

She shook her head in disappointment. “Nothing. It must have been
taken before our arrival.”

Adesina was about to explain to them what she had told Ravi when
an alarm sounded in her head. She instinctively let her
vyala
flash out, taking in the surrounding area. As she did so,
several Shimat stepped out of their hiding places. There were probably two
dozen shadowy figures surrounding them, and another six hiding in the trees.