by Callie Kanno
Signe showed no signs of pain, but she shifted her dirk into her other hand. She eyed the spinning meteor hammer warily for a split second before springing into action once more.
She pulled out a handful of throwing stars from her belt pouch and flung them in Kendan’s direction in rapid succession. Some flew high, others low. Kendan scowled in concentration as he used his weapon to knock the throwing stars off course. He tried to keep an eye on Signe, but the throwing stars took all of his focus.
Kendan knocked the last of the throwing stars to the side and immediately sent his meteor hammer flying toward the woman he had once considered family. She had taken advantage of his preoccupation and moved to a better position—a knoll that had trees on either side. With the trees gathered around her, Kendan would be unable to use his weapon in wide sweeps. He would have to use precise attacks to reach her.
Signe stepped to the side, avoiding the attack, and hurled a small knife at her opponent.
Kendan jerked the steel braid to recall the head of the meteor hammer, but not in enough time to use it as a defense against the blade. He moved out of the way as quickly as he could, but the knife still cut deeply into his arm.
Signe was already sprinting toward Kendan.
She jumped into the air and kicked off of a nearby tree, launching herself toward him. She spun and brought her foot down on Kendan’s shoulder in a powerful blow.
Kendan’s breath expelled forcefully and he dropped to his knees.
Signe landed with cat-like grace and immediately lunged forward to strike at him again.
Kendan rolled forward and closed the distance before Signe could complete her attack. He braced himself with his hands and used both legs to side-sweep her. This time, he was fast enough that he landed the blow.
Signe grunted and flipped backward, using the momentum to regain her footing. She moved a safe distance away from Kendan and stood near a tree to hinder his use of his meteor hammer.
“I must be getting old,” she said softly.
Kendan wasn’t fooled by her words. He knew the trick—that she was trying to make him feel overconfident by pretending to be weaker than she really was. “Stop playing mind games and fight.”
Signe’s grin became wolfish. “Are you truly so eager to die?”
He jerked his head in a negative. “I will not die today.”
“So you are saying that I am feeling merciful?” she taunted.
Kendan flung his meteor hammer at her with a precision that only comes with years of practice. His aim was low, focusing on her legs.
Signe easily jumped to avoid the attack, but while she was in the air Kendan spun forcefully and kicked her in the side.
The former Sharifal crashed into the tree that she had intended to act as protection. She cried out in pain and fell to the ground in a heap.
Now was his chance.
He could kill her and exact his revenge.
His parents would finally receive justice.
Kendan took a step forward and faltered. He hesitated for half a moment, and the opportunity was gone.
Signe scrambled to her feet and dove out of harm’s way. She clutched her shoulder with one hand and her side with the other.
“What is it?” she spat venomously. “Can you not bring yourself to kill your aunt?”
“You are not my aunt,” Kendan roared. “You are nothing to me.”
The two opponents slowly circled one another.
“Then why did you not kill me when you had the chance?” asked the former Sharifal.
Kendan clenched his jaw, struggling to control his fury and hatred. Not just the emotions directed at her, but also the emotions directed at himself.
Signe read his face and gave a disgusted laugh. “You are weak, Kendan. You have always been weak—like your worthless father. I thought I could train you to be more, but you were always a disappointment.”
Kendan knew that she was baiting him, but he found himself unable to suppress his anger. He charged at her with the blade of the meteor hammer in his hand.
Signe brought her dirk up in defense and the two blades clashed. They grappled with one another, both trying to overpower the other. Signe was surprisingly strong, able to match Kendan.
After a few moments of struggle, Signe changed tactics. She shifted her footing and brought her knee up to strike Kendan’s side.
Kendan took the hit the best that he could, but his grip began to slip. He jerked Signe to the side, hoping to throw her off balance, but his foot landed on a loose rock and the two opponents went sprawling down the small hill.
Kendan rolled and regained his footing, but his meteor hammer was caught in a bramble several feet away. Signe was also disarmed, but her dirk was on the ground in between them.
She started for it, but Kendan ran to bowl her over, knocking them both away from the weapon.
When Signe and Kendan got back on their feet, they were both slightly winded from the fall. They stared at each other for a moment, hatred blaring from their eyes.
Then, they both rushed forward.
The two Shimat exchanged blows so rapidly that their movements almost seemed blurred. Hands and feet moved with a deadly grace so fluid that it almost looked like a choreographed dance.
Kendan had sparred so often with Signe that they knew each other’s fighting style intimately. Kendan could not make a move that Signe could not easily block, and her counterattacks were just as anticipated by Kendan.
Kendan’s entire focus was on keeping up with the former Sharifal. He knew from experience that the slightest mistake would cost him the fight.
Time blurred in Kendan’s mind, and he flung any thought of exhaustion away from him.
Signe’s brow beaded with sweat, but her face was calm. Her icy eyes were hard and intent, just as Kendan’s were.
Then, to Kendan’s shock, Signe made a mistake.
Their movements had taken them closer to Signe’s dirk, and both were very aware of the weapon just out of their reach. Signe’s eyes flashed eagerly when she saw an opportunity to make a grab for it. She aimed a blow at Kendan’s abdomen and hit with all of her strength, hoping to gain a moment of distraction as he recovered.
However, Signe executed the attack with her injured shoulder, and the blow caused her to cry out in pain.
Kendan kicked hard at her knee, hearing it break with a sickening crack. Then he dove for the dirk and quickly took aim.
He threw the large knife at the wounded woman, not giving himself time to think or hesitate.
The blade struck Signe squarely in the heart.
Her eyes widened in shock and her mouth moved as if she were trying to speak. Without a sound, she fell backwards and moved no more.
Kendan stood gasping for breath and slowly leaned against a nearby tree. All of the physical pain that his mind had been suppressing burst forth in a wave, but it was nothing compared to the agony of his soul.
He had thought that he would feel some sort of satisfaction after avenging his parents, but instead he felt sorrow.
Deep, engulfing sorrow.
His dark eyes filled with tears and he choked on a sob.
He remained still for several minutes, visualizing his parents’ faces and wondering what they would say to him if they were here.
The soft sound of a boot stepping on damp leaves brought Kendan’s head up sharply. He saw the shocked face of a young woman with large blue eyes and loose blonde hair. Kendan recognized her as one of Adesina’s childhood friends.
“Shar Kendan,” she stammered in a tone of horror, “what have you done?”
Kendan straightened slowly and set his personal sorrow aside. This was a time of uncertainty for the members of the Shimat organization that had not chosen to side with Basha. They needed a leader.
They needed him.
“Do you know what the Shimat are, Lanil?”
The young woman didn’t answer, but waited for him to continue.
“They are a lie.”
Lanil frowned in confusion, but seemed willing to listen. Kendan walked over to her, putting his weapons away as he did.
“Most newly initiated Shimat are sent on missions that help maintain the lie in their minds that they are helping to keep the peace. Some are never told the truth, and others only come to realize it after they have become hardened to the reality.”
“What is the truth?” asked Lanil faintly.
Kendan looked down at her. She was so young, so trusting. It was no wonder she had been assigned to care for children. She was not meant for the kind of life that he had experienced.
“The Shimat are a force of evil—manipulating and destroying lives. The Sharifal not only knew it, but desired it to be so. We need a new leader. One that can turn our organization into what we tell our students we are.”
“Are you speaking of yourself?”
Her question bore no tone of judgment. She simply wanted to know.
Kendan slowly nodded. “Yes. I can do it.”
Chapter Eight: Landing
Adesina felt her heart sink.
She looked through the telescope she had borrowed from Captain Zulimar, staring at the ship that patrolled the waters just east of Sehar. There was no way they could get to shore without passing the enemy vessel.
She had been hoping that they could sneak through without being seen, but the other ship was on an intercepting course.
“What are we going to do?” asked Ruon.
His voice was filled with challenge, as if daring her to suggest using the Aekuor for violent purposes.
“I am not sure yet,” Adesina answered honestly.
Kai seemed to be doing her best to stay out of sight. She swam with only her head peeking above the water’s surface, keeping behind the Zephyr to stay hidden. Adesina stood by the ship’s railing, watching the approaching patrol vessel with a measuring gaze. They were too far away to see the crew of the enemy ship, but Adesina was certain that it was manned by Shimat.
“Would you like me to destroy that vessel, my lady?” asked Kai quietly.
The others looked to Adesina to wait for her answer.
She furrowed her brow and slowly shook her head. “No, I do not think that will be necessary.”
Adesina was not practiced at reading an Aekuor’s expressions, but Kai seemed to be relieved. Ruon’s defiant stance softened somewhat and he unfolded his arms.
“What do you have in mind?”
A small smile appeared at the corner of Adesina’s mouth as a plan formed in her brain.
***
Adesina watched as her companions climbed into one of Zephyr’s rowboats. Satosh and Suvi had insisted on being the ones to prepare the boat for departure, and they did so with speed and skill.
Captain Zulimar’s face was grave. “I had hoped to be of more use to you, Mistress Adesina. You have done so much for us, and I have not even begun to show my gratitude.”
Adesina looked up into the man’s dark face and smiled fondly. “You saved us from drowning, my friend, and you brought us all this way back to Sehar. Is that not enough?”
“No,” was his humble reply. “It is not enough.”
The young L’avan queen chuckled. “I thought that might be the case.”
Zulimar also smiled, but his eyes were serious. “My people have been at war with one another for generations. I can smell the scent of battle approaching. You go to fight.”
He looked at her as if to confirm his suspicions. Adesina’s expression turned somber, and she knew she was revealing the truth.
“I would give my life if it aided your cause, Mistress Adesina.”
She touched his arm, her heart filled with the warmth of gratitude. “I know you would.”
When she didn’t say more, Zulimar sighed softly. “I will take Zephyr south to Emerald Harbor. There we will wait, should you need to call upon us for anything.”
The rowboat was ready, and Adesina stepped into it. Suvi’s eyes glistened with tears as she stood in position to help lower the boat into the water.
“Thank you all so much,” said Adesina sincerely. “I promise we will meet again.”
The rowboat was lowered into the water on the side of the ship that was opposite of the enemy vessel. Kai waited to see that they were underway before diving smoothly and disappearing into the ocean.
They had to move quickly. The patrol ship was getting closer, and they had little time before Adesina’s plan had to be enacted.
Adesina connected to her vyala and shaped it in a fashion she had used before. Her vision took on a reddish hue, and she blanketed the boat and its passengers with an illusion that made them invisible to onlookers.
Sitara brought her own vyala to bear and used it to propel the rowboat away from the Zephyr. They headed in the direction of Sehar’s shore, which was quite a distance away. Adesina kept her eyes fixed on the two ships, using her Shimat training to keep her anxiety in check.
With a mighty roar, the ocean erupted between the two vessels and the Aekuor reared her magnificent head.
Even though she was expecting it, Adesina jumped. She could hear the panicked cries of the crews, and both ships veered in opposite directions—away from the “sea monster.”
The Zephyr made for the open ocean, safely away from the harm of the Shimat. The patrol ship moved north, widening the distance between the Shimat vessel and the invisible rowboat.
Adesina grinned. “She did it!”
Ruon also smirked, showing a happiness that seemed unusual on his flat face. “Of course she did.”
Kai thrashed and shrieked, doing her best to drive the Shimat ship away. Adesina’s plan was that when the Aekuor could be sure of the rowboat’s safe landing, she would meet up with the Zephyr and make sure they made it to Emerald Harbor without any problems.
Sitara continued to speed the boat toward the shore, and soon Adesina could see the details of the small fishing village for which they were aiming.
There were no more than a couple dozen buildings, most of them the humble homes of the villagers. Adesina let the magical illusion slowly fade, making the boat visible to the fishermen throwing nets into the ocean.
Their arrival caused quite a stir in the small village. Children shouted and ran toward the rickety wooden pier and women congregated to watch the boat’s approach and whisper together. One old man waved at them and offered his rope to tie the boat to the dock.
When the villagers saw Ruon and the two Rashad, they immediately backed away to a safe distance. Fear was apparent in all of their eyes, except for the old man who had helped them to land. He seemed nothing but curious.
He chattered amiably in a thick accent. “Donnot see many strangars ‘round heer. An’ ye lot be strangar than mos’. How ye geet pass thar paytrol?” he chattered amiably.
“Luck seems to be on our side,” replied Adesina vaguely. “Do you know anyone who might be interested in buying our boat? We could use the coin.”
“No goin’ back ta sea?” queried the old man. “Whall, I might be yer man fer tha’. Cannot give ye much, though.”
Adesina really only needed enough to buys supplies for their journey to Pevothem. She haggled with the old man, as custom demanded, but she would have been satisfied with his original offer.
When the transaction was complete, Adesina led her companions into the village where they could buy travelling supplies.
The shop owner was a small, portly man with a red face and a fierce frown. He looked ready to say something sharp to Adesina, but then his eyes fell on Ruon. The man paled considerably, and his mouth opened and closed soundlessly.
The Laithur appeared to take a perverse delight in the fear he caused, and he showed his pointed teeth in a leering smile.
Adesina tried to draw attention away from her non-human comrade. “We need some supplies for our journey. Standard foodstuffs and packs to carry it in.”
The shop owner continued to stare at Ruon, but he managed a hoarse whisper. “Of cour
se, mistress. You…you may take anything you desire.”
Adesina and Sitara exchanged glances and set to work in gathering what they needed. Adesina filled a knapsack with fresh hardtack, while Sitara perused the water canteens.
Ravi and Riel stayed at the entrance of the shop in an effort to minimize the owner’s anxiety, but Ruon felt no such inclination. His oval head swayed on his long neck and he made soft humming sounds. The shop owner retreated behind some bolts of fabric and stayed there.
Adesina shook her head in exasperation. “Does he have to antagonize everyone?” she muttered.
Sitara smiled sadly. “The Laithur have had a dark history with humans. I am afraid that he has not forgiven them…”
She trailed off and seemed reluctant to say anything else, leaving Adesina burning with curiosity.
When all of the supplies had been gathered, Adesina approached the owner and inquired about price.
The portly man shook his head. “No charge, mistress.”
Adesina stared at him. “I thank you for your generosity, but I would much rather pay you for the goods.”
He shook his head again and hurried to the back room of the store.
Ravi walked over to Adesina’s side. “This is a rather unfortunate beginning for the return of the Immortals.”
He said it with humor in his voice, but Adesina could feel the truth of his words. She estimated the cost of the supplies and then added a few coins on top of that, just to be safe. She didn’t want the owner saying he had been robbed by the newcomers. The last thing they needed was hard feelings toward them.
From the shop they went on to a small market at the edge of town. There were a handful of stands with various fresh products, such as fish and local fruits and vegetables. Adesina made inquiries about which direction would take them where they wanted to go, and Sitara looked over the wares with a smile on her face.
She picked up a pink apple that was delicately veined with darker shades of red. “I cannot remember the last time I tasted the fruit of this earth.”
