by Callie Kanno
The alchemist fiddled with a stray piece of grass between her fingers, as if struggling to find the right words. “I have never been required to reverse anything I have made. In the High City I made medicine, and the Shimat were never interested in undoing what they had done.” She paused briefly. “I am not certain I can make an antidote to the potion.”
Adesina’s fear of the situation surrounding L’iam’s capture had been replaced by a firm resolution to move forward with their plan to cure him of the effects of the potion Basha had given him. Now that fear came creeping back into her mind. “Why not?”
“I do not even know where to begin. I do not know the ingredients I would need or the process of combining them…”
Adesina cast her thoughts around, searching for something that could return Faryl’s confidence in their plan. “But…surely you have created anti-venoms for snake bites or the like.”
Faryl sighed softly. “Yes, I have.”
“Would it not be the same principle?”
She raised a hand in a helpless gesture. “Even with an anti-venom you must know exactly what you are working with in order for it to be effective.”
The young woman frowned. “You created the potion. How can you be uncertain of its ingredients?”
“Artificial magic is unpredictable,” the alchemist explained. “We are still learning the essential nature of magic, so I do not always know how it will affect other components. It could react in a manner that is completely unique to the person who ingested the potion. For all I know, it could be altered by the person who administered the potion.”
Adesina was dumbstruck. She felt as though her stomach dropped away, and she was suddenly ill. All of her hopes for successfully rescuing her husband abruptly seemed remote.
After a moment of collecting herself, she asked in a shaking voice, “Are you saying that our efforts are futile?”
The middle-aged woman placed a thin hand on her companion’s. Her eyes were filled with sorrow and sympathy. “I am saying that we must be prepared for the worst.”
There was something in her gaze that anchored Adesina’s reeling mind, and her thoughts began to clear.
What if it was impossible to reverse the effects of the potion? Would that change her determination to rescue her husband from Basha?
Of course not!
Adesina loved L’iam very dearly, and she would never abandon him. It didn’t matter if he knew who she was or not. She would never, ever stop looking for him.
And what if killing him was the only way to release him from the prison of his own mind?
She was not prepared to consider that. She had to believe that there was a way to save him. Had she not been taught that anything was possible, as long as she worked hard enough for it?
Adesina gave Faryl’s hand a gentle squeeze. “Thank you for telling me this.”
The former apothecary looked astonished at her calm reply. “Are you all right?”
She nodded slowly. “I will keep searching for him and I will help him to escape Basha’s control. I will do whatever it takes to free him.”
She got to her feet and walked over to her bedroll. The fear in Adesina’s heart had not disappeared, but her resolve had returned. She did not know what the future held—she was incredibly anxious when she considered L’iam’s possible fate—but she did know that she could not afford to give up.
Ravi settled down next to her as she prepared to go to sleep.
“Faryl told you of her doubts?”
Adesina gave a small smile. “How did you know?”
“Simple observation, dear one. She has been dejected ever since Kendan asserted that she could make an antidote to the potion.”
“Oh, so you did not read her mind?” she asked in a teasing voice.
“No, I did not,” he replied serenely.
There was a pause.
“So, what are you going to do?” inquired her guardian.
Adesina stared up at the sky, watching the bats dart in the twilight. She could hear the distant call of crickets, and feel the shift in life as the daytime creatures prepared to sleep and the nighttime creatures began to wake.
She was always amazed at how powerful the rhythm of life was. No matter what happened, life always continued onward. The L’avan were a deeply religious people, and they attributed all of this to the Creator. Adesina was still overcoming her tendency towards skepticism, but she believed in the power of life.
Life always moved forward, and so must she.
“We will rescue L’iam, and we will find a way to cure him. There has to be a way to free him from the potion. There has to be!”
Ravi made a satisfied noise that rumbled deep in his chest. “I believe that you are right.”
She propped herself up on one elbow. “What makes you say that?”
The enormous feline’s expression became thoughtful. “All creatures have very few things that are truly their own, but one of those things is free will. Without our ability to make choices, we are nothing.”
Adesina nodded in agreement.
He continued, “It seems to me that to take someone’s free will—to erase who they are—is to create an unnatural state of being. In order for there to be harmony, he needs to be returned to his natural frame of mind.”
“Yes, but how do we do that?” she asked in a faint whisper.
“I do not know, dear one,” Ravi answered. “I only know that true power is found in harmony. If this potion has forced L’iam out of harmony with his very being, then there is greater magic that can overcome it.”
Faryl was obviously very gifted at what she could do as an alchemist, and Ravi was confident that a solution could be found. It wasn’t a concrete plan, but it dispelled the doubts that had been lurking in Adesina’s heart.
They would find a way to release L’iam from the effects of the potion. But first they needed to find him and separate him from Basha.
She was able to get a solid night’s sleep, and she awoke with renewed determination. The others seemed to notice her resolve, and they took strength from it. They sat a little straighter, and their heads were a little higher. The entire group of travelers moved with more alacrity and energy.
They finally arrived at the bridge across the river and the small village that sat on the banks. The party paused only to buy supplies before continuing on their journey.
Maizah led them east, angling slightly to the south. Adesina had never been to this part of the country, and she found the topography very interesting. There were very few trees and no forests at all. The grass grew tall in this area, and there were a number of rivers and streams. It was hilly terrain, which required them to take a winding path to reach their destination.
Each day bolstered Adesina’s resolve as she was able to cope with her personal fears. She had been faced with numerous challenges throughout her life, yet she had always come through. Remembering this helped her to feel more positive about the task that was ahead.
When they had been traveling for almost two weeks, Adesina caught a familiar scent on the wind. It was the salty, invigorating smell of the ocean.
She turned to Kendan. “Are you certain that Maizah is on the right trail? She is still leading us east, but we will soon run out of land in that direction.”
Her former teacher spoke a few words to the Tracker in her native tongue, and he received a few communicative gestures in reply. He had a grim expression on his face as he answered Adesina’s question. “She is on the right trail,” he confirmed. “Basha is taking L’iam across the sea.”
Chapter Nine: Within the Dream World
L’iam opened his eyes and found himself in the woods that surround Yavar, the city where he was born. The sun was shining warmly and the air was filled with the sounds of summer. He smiled as he watched the life around him thriving.
A soft step sounded behind him, and he turned to see his father approaching. Something in the back of his mind told him that this couldn’t be real, but he quickly dismis
sed it. He moved to greet his father, and was surprised to receive an embrace. King L’unn was rarely affectionate.
“I had the strangest dream, Father.”
A gentle smile touched L’unn’s normally strong face. “Oh?”
“I dreamed that I was standing in front of Adesina, but I could not control my own body. I did the most extraordinary and terrible things with my vyala, and yet it was not me doing them. Adesina was shouting at me and I wanted to answer her, but I could not respond. I could only watch as my body moved of its own accord.” L’iam shuddered at the thought of being so completely out of control.
L’unn placed a hand on his son’s shoulder. “Are you certain it was a dream?”
The young man stopped short and stared at his father in rising apprehension. “What else could it be?” he asked cautiously, not wanting to believe that it could possibly be true.
“Do you recall how you met Adesina?” asked his father quietly.
L’iam frowned in concentration. He remembered his wife very clearly, but the details of their life together were vague. They had always been together, hadn’t they? No, that couldn’t be right.
“I…I am not sure, Father. My mind feels rather fuzzy.”
L’unn made a gesture with his hand, and the two of them began walking at a leisurely pace. “What is your earliest memory of Adesina?”
L’iam thought hard for a moment. “Our wedding. She looked so beautiful wearing her mother’s dress. No…wait…I knew her before then.”
Memories of the past few years began leeching into L’iam’s mind. They came in flashes of color and emotion.
He saw Adesina, wrinkling her forehead as she concentrated on connecting to her vyala. She was so stubborn, and teaching her had been a challenge. Her eyes would gleam in defiance when L’avan teachings came into conflict with her Shimat training. He loved her then, even though she only saw him as a comrade and instructor.
He saw Adesina wielding powers that she should not have been able to use. He vividly recalled the shock that had stopped him in his tracks when he saw her eyes change color. L’iam was amazed all over again at the pure potential in his fiery wife.
He gazed on the bodies of friends and family, sprawled in unnatural positions and empty of life. The beautiful lands of Pevothem had been stained with the blood of the L’avan, and he wondered if the taint could ever be cleansed. He could feel his heart breaking anew.
He witnessed his mother draw her last breath, and felt guilty relief that she was free from any more suffering.
All of these things and millions of other moments came crashing back to him, and he turned to his father with tears in his eyes. His heart felt as though it might burst from reliving the emotions of the past six years.
L’iam looked at his father’s face—still so strong and lined with the years of leadership. The keen expression in L’unn’s eyes and the understated smile were just as L’iam remembered. The young man had not thought that he would ever see his father again in this life, and he felt a surge of joy at being given the opportunity.
“I have missed you so much.”
The two men embraced, painfully aware that the last time they had seen each other they had not said farewell in a manner befitting family. It had been the cold words of public ceremony, and L’iam regretted not having the courage to say more in the presence of others.
“How is this possible?” asked L’iam. “I am not a Dreamer.”
“No, but Adesina is,” replied his father.
The young man looked around eagerly. “Is she here?”
“No, L’iam, this is not her Dream. Your waking mind is in a trance—a prison created by a potion that you were forced to take.”
The young king suddenly recalled what happened in the forest. He remembered the shadowy figures that had attacked and taken him captive. L’iam had been taken to a hideout, where he had been forced to drink a sickening liquid.
“The Shimat.”
His father nodded. “Yes. The potion they used was made from Adesina’s blood. Because she is a Dreamer, your mind was able to escape to this world. I believe that under any other circumstances your mind would have been lost completely.”
L’iam grew cold at the thought. He had come close to dying before, but this seemed infinitely worse. “How do you know all of this?”
L’unn’s smile was warm. “I have been keeping a close eye on you ever since my passing. I am limited in how I can touch the world of the living, but I have done my best to help you when you needed it.”
The thought that his father had stayed with him in spirit filled L’iam with happiness, but that feeling faded away as he remembered the fight that had taken place when he thought he was dreaming.
“It really happened. I attacked Adesina.”
The former king nodded. “The potion has placed you under the control of the woman who gave it to you. In the waking world, your body has no memory of who you are or of anyone around you. You are compelled to obey, and that is all you know.”
L’iam was filled with deepening horror at what had happened to him. To lose his free will was worse than to lose his life. “How is that possible? Surely such a monstrous concoction contradicts the laws of nature. What must I do to break free of this potion?”
His father took a deep breath and sighed. “I am not certain there is much that you can do. It is important for you to try to regain control of your body, but the magic of that mixture is strong.”
L’iam had never heard of a situation similar to the one that he now found himself in. There were no tales of triumph to lend him hope for his future. L’unn’s expression was grim, and that did nothing to bolster L’iam’s confidence. “Do you mean that I am lost?” he asked bleakly.
“No,” L’unn said in a firm voice. “There is always hope, my son. A way to heal your mind exists, and Adesina will search until she finds it.”
L’iam took great comfort in his wife’s determination. There were times when she could be stubborn to a fault, but he thanked the Creator now for that trait.
“Please, Father,” he said softly, “tell me everything you know.”
***
Time and distance were strange things in the Dream world. One could say that the two L’avan kings were far away from the others who Dreamed, and one could also say that they were touching.
In another Dream, three Rashad sat facing each other in an open field, speaking in a language that was older than the world itself.
It had only been in the last few years that the Rashad had learned to communicate in such a manner. They had always had the ability to Dream, but it had long been a solitary gift. Through Adesina’s ability to pull others into her Dreams, the Rashad had discovered a way to Dream jointly and communicate over any distance, which was invaluable.
Two of the Rashad meeting in the field had golden-tan fur, with striking blue eyes. The third had a coat of raven black, and eyes that were a warm gold color.
“I did not know that you would be the one sent to the L’avan settlement, Remah,” said Ravi.
The female Rashad lowered her eyes humbly. “I hope it is not displeasing to you.”
He smiled at his betrothed. “Only in the fact that I was unable to see you before I left.”
Ravi could feel the love radiating from her, and he wanted to touch his muzzle to hers. If they had been alone, he would have.
Ruvim, Ravi’s older brother, watched the exchange impassively. He was there as a representative of Pevothem. “You have been traveling for sixteen days now. What have you to report?”
Ravi glanced at his brother, feeling amused. It didn’t seem to matter to Ruvim that Ravi was next in line to lead their race. He still made Ravi feel like a cub, newly weaned.
“We have reached the eastern coast. There is a port city nearby, and it appears that the captured king has been taken on a ship.”
“You have not traveled very quickly,” Ruvim remarked.
“We had to retrieve an import
ant party member,” he explained. Ravi went on to tell them about what had happened at the Shimat post, and the attack that took place afterwards. He told them about the potion, and Adesina’s decision to go forward with the rescue mission.
Remah’s large eyes were filled with sorrow. “What a terrible thing to experience. The Shimat are well named.”
Ruvim indicated his agreement. In the old world, there had been a race of shadow demons that had gone by the same name. They had not been the most powerful of demonkind, but they were certainly the most ruthless and manipulative.
“When will you reach the port city?”
“Tomorrow,” replied Ravi.
“And from there you will follow the L’avan king across the sea?”
“I do not see a better alternative,” he said carefully.
Ruvim frowned. “I am as fond of L’iam as you, but perhaps it would be best to end this mission. L’iam’s mind is lost. Even if you recover him, he will be unable to return to his former life.”
Ravi stiffened slightly. “I do not believe that.”
His older brother’s expression became skeptical. “Oh?”
“The loss of L’iam’s mind has brought discord to the flow of Life. Even you must sense that, brother. There must be a way to restore harmony, if the flow is to continue as it should.”
Remah voiced her agreement. “A way is provided when a task must be done.”
The older Rashad sighed. “It seems I am of the lesser opinion. I will defer to your decision.”
“You do not know Adesina,” Ravi added, hoping to set his brother’s mind at ease. “I have never seen such an ability to focus on a single objective. If there is a way to save L’iam—and there is—she will find it.”
Chapter Ten: Emerald Harbor
The port city of Emerald Harbor was located at the edge of an inlet on the eastern coast of Sehar—Adesina’s homeland. It was one of five remaining cities, now that the High City had been destroyed. As the group of travelers topped a hill overlooking the port, Adesina was amazed by its size. It was easily larger than the High City and Yavar combined—the only two cities she had ever personally seen.
