by Callie Kanno
Than’os and Mar’sal sat near their queen, laughing and talking with the crew. Maizah was still absent, taking care of a still seasick Kendan. Faryl was surrounded by several burly men, all of whom were lavish in their praises of her skills and beauty.
“I never met a woman so useful before,” exclaimed one with extensive tattoos.
The others laughed and gave him a good-natured punch on the shoulder.
“What a thing to say to a woman,” another teased. “She will think you have no regard for the gender.”
The first speaker was hasty in correcting himself. “I just meant that most womenfolk are more the homemaking type. But she is a sure-as-saltwater apothecary. That is quite something.”
“I know plenty of useful women,” boasted a man with a bushy black beard. “They all got some special skill or another where I come from.”
“Well, I never saw one so pretty before,” asserted a sailor with a round belly. “Just look at those eyes.”
Faryl blushed, looking as though she hardly knew what to do with so much attention. Adesina and Ravi exchanged smirks as they watched her struggle to find her words.
Several of the crewmembers threw appreciative glances at Adesina, but they all kept a respectful distance. The L’avan queen assumed that this was due to Than’os and Mar’sal’s protective proximity, as well as Ravi’s intimidating presence.
“I am told that you can provide some magical entertainment,” the captain said as the meal came to a close.
Adesina wasn’t feeling very theatrical, so she tried to buy some time. “Yes, but I was hoping that we might first hear a story or two from Satosh. I understand that he is an historian.”
No one seemed opposed to the suggestion, and the little man took his place on the steps that led to the deck. Everyone could see him clearly, and he appeared to relish the sense of anticipation that preceded his tale.
“In honor of our guests, I will tell of Naiser the Mighty, the first king of Sehar, and how he won the hand of Queen Mirinda.”
There were murmurs of appreciation as they all settled in for the telling. Adesina smiled at his choice. Her education from the Shimat had focused on the relevant points of history and skimmed over the personal details. She looked forward to hearing the tale—and from one who was not Seharan.
“The Fallen Kingdom of Sehar as we know it now is a place of isolation and superstition. After the murder of King Rasim, along with his entire family, and the exile of the nobility, anarchy reigned and distrust became the key to survival. Stories of shadow demons kept villages boarded up at night, and heightened suspicion of strangers made trade all but impossible, choking the economy to its current limping state. However, this is a far cry from the days of Sehar’s former glory.”
Adesina knew the details of the fall of Sehar. In fact, she had witnessed it happening in her Dreams. Her mother had shown her how King Rasim had gathered together a group of the nation’s most infamous assassins and struck a bargain with them. They were to be his personal killing force, answerable only to him. He helped them to disappear from the eyes of the world, and gave them whatever they needed to build up their organization.
They became the Shimat.
When the king had outlived his usefulness, the Shimat thought it most convenient to kill the only man who knew about their existence. Then they used their considerable influence in bringing the entire kingdom to ruin—a perfect place for them to control and continue their clandestine work.
Satosh, who knew nothing of that aspect of Sehar’s history, went on with his narration. “During the Great Wars there was a mighty warrior who became famed for his brilliance and his strength. His name was Naiser the Mighty. He gained many followers, and they took refuge in the eastern quarter of the northwest continent during the years of plague.”
Adesina enjoyed hearing the history of her homeland told with the sailor’s dramatic flare. It helped to ease her mind from the troubles that had been burdening it all day.
“The followers of Naiser raised a banner in his name and declared that he should be their king. He was a proud man, not opposed to authority, and so he accepted the throne gladly. He named his newly formed nation Sehar, after his dear brother who had died in battle protecting Naiser’s life.
“The years of plague were filled with anarchy, and there were many men and women grasping for as much power as possible. King Naiser taught his people to be warriors as well as farmers, and they learned to defend themselves and their lands.
“The middle kingdom of the northwest continent was ruled by a beautiful woman named Queen Mirinda, whose hair was the color of a raven’s wing and whose eyes were as blue as the morning sky. Every man desired her hand in marriage, not only for her surpassing beauty but also for her powerful kingdom.
“Lam, the western country, was under the power of Magistrate Dezisla, a man who hungered for a crown but was hindered by the laws of his land. He believed that if he won the hand of Queen Mirinda, he could conquer his own nation and become king of both.”
One of the crewmembers was nodding in a knowing fashion, and Adesina surmised that he was either a citizen of Etan or Ghaith, the neighboring nations to Sehar that were formerly part of Lam.
“King Naiser also wished to win the heart of Queen Mirinda, and so began the lifelong rivalry between Naiser and Dezisla. There were countless suitors in the court of the queen, but she was wise in knowing that her marriage could bring strength to her kingdom. She determined to marry one of the two rulers that controlled the lands on either side of her own.
“Mirinda devised three challenges that would test for qualities that she felt to be necessary in a great ruler. She declared that the victor of these challenges would be her husband. On a fine summer morning, with the midland hills wreathed in mist, Naiser and Dezisla appeared before Queen Mirinda to receive the first challenge.
“She proclaimed that the first trait of a great ruler was courage. In those days, there were still remnants of magic to be found, and a handful of magical creatures had survived the Plague Years. In the Caves of Norla there dwelt a shadow creature who fed on the fears of mortals.”
A few of the crewmembers hissed quietly, and made a sign to ward off evil.
“A wraith,” pronounced Satosh, “the last of its kind. Queen Mirinda explained that a rare mineral was found deep in the Caves of Norla—a luminescent stone called kingsheart. The first man to bring her one of these stones would be the victor of the first challenge.”
Satosh took a sip of water before continuing his tale. “King Naiser set out immediately, fearing nothing and preparing little. Magistrate Dezisla first went to the scholars of the land to learn all that he could about wraiths and how to evade their notice. He gathered supplies carefully, and began his journey a full day and a half after his rival.
“Naiser arrived at the Caves of Norla, and ventured into the damp underground on foot. His sword was drawn, and his heart was filled with confidence. The wraith tried to weave illusions over his eyes, attempting to create fear and doubt. However, Naiser knew the illusions to be false, and the wraith was kept at bay by the courage of the king. Naiser searched until he found a bed of kingsheart, and he used his sword to carve out a stone the size of his fist. As he turned to go, the wraith stood in his path.”
The tension among the listening audience was palpable. The fears that each of them bore of wraiths was like a suffocating force in the room. Adesina knew nothing of wraiths, other than legends of questionable origin, but she still felt the strain of the others’ emotions.
Satosh waited a few moments for dramatic effect.
“Naiser held forth his sword and cried, ‘Stand aside, creature of darkness. I grant you no power over my mind.’ The wraith trembled at the strength of the king’s courage, but made no effort to move. ‘Return what you have taken, mortal, or I will take your soul.’ The king sneered at the spirit, ‘You have no power over me. Begone!’”
The crewmembers cheered at this declaration, a
nd the fear of the moment before was dispelled.
“The wraith was forced to leave Naiser, and the king climbed out of the caves and to his freedom.”
More cheers followed.
Satosh grinned at the enthusiasm, but he quickly become somber again. “Dezisla arrived at the Caves of Norla just after Naiser left. His mind was filled with the tales he had heard from the scholars, and his heart was shriveled with terror. The dark spirit was drawn to Dezisla’s overwhelming fear, and it immediately began feeding on his soul.”
The apprehension returned to the room, and all fell silent in rapt attention.
“You see,” explained the little man, “wraiths feed on fear, which creates more fear. Dezisla had unwittingly fallen into the very trap that he had hoped to avoid. He had believed that knowledge would protect him, but he had not been able to master his own uncertainty before facing the source of his terror.”
Satosh’s voice dropped to a whisper. “The wraith continued to feed…and feed…and feed…”
It was almost as if Adesina could see the form of Dezisla withering away to nothing.
“But then,” he said in a sudden burst of energy, “the gods took pity on the man. A Guardian, robed in purest white, appeared in the darkness and drove away the wraith. Dezisla was saved.”
The crew cheered again, some of them jumping to their feet in their excitement.
In the midst of the chaos, Ravi leaned towards Adesina and said quietly, “It wasn’t a Guardian. It was L’avan.”
She turned to him in surprise. “What?”
“The man who saved Dezisla was L’avan, the founder of your race.”
The young woman frowned. “How is that possible?”
Ravi smiled softly. “He was in the same cave, looking for kingsheart. It has special properties, and is very valuable. He came across Dezisla and the wraith, and he drove the spirit away.”
The Rashad went back to listening to Satosh’s tale of the remaining challenges for Queen Mirinda’s hand, but Adesina found herself reflecting on the history of the L’avan. She wondered where the story of the Caves of Norla fit into chronology of L’avan’s life. L’iam had told her many tales over the years, but she had never heard of this particular story before.
Her thoughts turned to the quiet evenings she had spent with her husband, and tears formed in her eyes. Her heart ached with missing him. L’iam loved to tell stories, and Adesina had loved to listen.
She thought of what L’iam had told her about the very beginning of their race, and she worked her way forward in her mind.
When Naiser the Mighty was still beginning his reign, there lived a man named L’avan. He was also a veteran of the Great Wars, but he did not thirst for power or glory. Instead, he longed to find the life he had known before the time of strife.
His wife and son had died in the early years of the wars, and the heart of L’avan had never healed from the loss. The fierce battles had given him purpose during the Great Wars, but afterwards he wandered the lands alone, hoping to find new meaning.
Much to his surprise, he found hope and healing in the form of an orphan boy named L’aslo. The child was starving, begging on the streets of a small village. L’avan saw his own son in the eyes of the orphan and decided to adopt him.
The Great Wars had made many orphans, and it wasn’t long before they came across another young boy who was starving and alone. Once again, L’avan saw his own son in the eyes of the parentless child, and Za’far became the adopted brother to L’aslo.
The two boys were soon joined by O’nan, then Gi’tel, then So’phus, then M’os, then Cre’sin, then Kay’l, then Na’cum, then B’osli, and finally Ed’mon.
They were the eleven sons of L’avan.
Naiser had become king by then, and his rule was harsh and violent. His subjects were required to be warriors as well, and L’avan wanted lives of peace for his sons. He decided to take his children far to the north, behind a mountain range, to live in solitude and harmony.
The sons of L’avan grew into men, and their father knew that they needed wives. Their isolation was their protection against the hand of Naiser, and L’avan knew he could not simply walk to the nearest village to find suitable young women. Word of their existence would reach the ear of the king, and they would be protected no more.
He retired to the far forests of the northernmost mountains to meditate and search for an answer.
It was during this time that he first encountered the Serraf and the Rashad. The Serraf were beautiful women with magical powers, and the Rashad were their guardians. Eleven of the Serraf agreed to become mortals and to wed the sons of L’avan, and their Rashad companions came with them.
Adesina’s ancestors had named themselves L’avan, in honor of their founding father, and they called their home Pevothem. The Rashad guarded the kingdom against outsiders, and the people prospered in peace. Adesina was a direct descendant of Ed’mon, and L’iam was a direct descendant of L’aslo.
L’iam had taught her all of this early in their relationship. His eyes would light up with enthusiasm as he told each tale of their shared history, and he would use his hands to help illustrate his meaning.
Adesina felt her heart warm at the thought of her beloved husband, and she hugged herself as she tried to fight the urge to weep when she recalled Ravi’s ominous words in Kendan’s quarters.
What would she do if they were too late to prevent the ritual? Would she kill her husband in order to save the world?
It didn’t seem right that anyone should ever have to make such a decision.
She already had so much blood on her hands. She felt the weight of the lives she had taken, and she did not even know their names. How could she ever bear the weight of taking the life of the man she loved?
A panicked cry from the deck brought every head around. Adesina’s thoughts were snatched back to the present, and Satosh ceased telling his story.
“Aekuor! AEKUOOOOOOOR!”
The sailors scrambled to get to their stations, and Captain Zulimar began roaring commands.
“All hands on deck. Man the catapults. Prepare the decoys. Evasive maneuvers.”
Suvi grabbed Adesina’s hand and began dragging her towards the sleeping quarters. “Hurry! You will be safer below deck.”
The other passengers looked to their leader, uncertain what to do.
“What is happening?” she demanded.
“Sea monsters,” was the terrified reply.
Chapter Nineteen: The Aekuor
“What is an aekuor?” asked Adesina as Suvi pulled on her arm to lead her away from danger.
The teenage girl was more preoccupied with getting the passengers to safety, and she wasn’t keen on answering questions. “It is a giant sea serpent. They roam the deep waters, and are attracted to the sound of a ship’s wake.”
“We are warriors,” declared Mar’sal. “We can help fight.”
Suvi shook her head. “You cannot fight an aekuor. All you can do is try to divert its attention and then flee.”
Adesina pulled free of her grip and took her by the shoulders. “Suvi, I want you to take Faryl to Kendan and Maizah, and I want you to stay with them.”
She shook her head fiercely. “You cannot go to the deck. You will be killed.”
The young queen mustered all the authority she could put in her voice. “Do not argue with me. There is no time.”
Suvi hesitated, her eyes filled with pleading. Finally, she nodded and took Faryl’s hand.
“Will you be all right?” asked the apothecary.
Adesina smiled. “We will be fine.”
She gestured to Mar’sal and Than’os, who followed her as she ran towards the stairs. Ravi followed, of course, even though it was doubtful that he could help fight this battle.
The night sky was clear, and the moon shed its bright light on the glassy sea. At first Adesina thought that it was raining, but it was only the spray from the turbulent waters.
The members of
the crew were frantic in their movements, shouting to one another and running back and forth. Some of them were launching small barrels out of catapults into the open ocean. The barrels were packed with explosives of some kind, and they ignited once in the water. Other crewmembers were desperately trying to maneuver the ship in the opposite direction.
At first the L’avan couldn’t see anything but the dancing waves in the ocean, but after a moment a barrel exploded and the aekuor appeared.
It was a dark blue that almost seemed black in the moonlight, and the metallic scales shimmered with slight iridescence. It had the body of a serpent, but with a ridge of spiny fins down the center of its back. Its head was shaped like the point of an arrow, with more sharp fins spreading outward in an expression of menace. It opened its mouth, revealing rows of jagged teeth, and gave a high-pitched shriek.
Adesina had never seen a creature so large. It was easily twice the length of the ship. For a moment she was frozen in terror, as were her three companions.
Satosh was helping load the catapults, and he spotted them standing there. “Go back down below,” he bellowed. “You will be safer there.”
The sound of his voice spurred Adesina to action and she shook her head.
“We can fight it.”
Captain Zulimar heard this declaration in disbelief. “No one can fight an aekuor, lander. You can only anger it. Go below before you get us all killed.”
“Can you tame it?” Than’os asked Adesina.
Some L’avan were skilled in using their vyala to tame animals. Adesina had seen it done, but she had never tried it herself.
She opened herself up to her vyala, letting the power surge through her body. Then she began to mold the raw energy into the form she had watched the animal tamers create. Her vision became a swirl of light green and dark red, and she extended her hands in the direction of the sea monster.
Adesina’s vyala settled over the creature gently, like a blanket of comfort and serenity. The orange eyes of the serpent became dull, as if very sleepy, and the L’avan queen felt optimistic that she would succeed.
