The Labyrinth of Destiny

by Callie Kanno

  Adesina, in possession of the desired information, looked at the Serraf with surprise. “Surely there must have been food in the other realm.”

  Sitara gave a slight shrug. “Perhaps, but we did not test the limited plant life. As with sleep, Immortals do not need food.”

  Adesina sighed in exasperation. “I wish you had mentioned that before I bought these supplies.”

  The older woman gave a musical laugh. “Just because we do not have to eat does not mean that it is a pleasant experience to forgo all mortal necessities. Our bodies still use the nourishment, even if it is not vital to our survival.”

  Sitara placed the apple back on the cart with just a hint of longing and Adesina smiled.

  “Would you like to refresh your memory?”

  Sitara nodded shyly. “If it would not be too frivolous of me.”

  Adesina gladly paid for the apple—taking one for herself as well—and turned to the others. “Is there anything else that appeals to our returning travelers?”

  Ravi and Riel both chuckled.

  “We can hunt for our needs, Ma’eve,” said Ravi.

  “Ruon?” prodded the L’avan queen.

  The Laithur’s face was conflicted, but his tone was rigid. “No. I need nothing of this world.”

  Sitara smelled her apple and closed her eyes happily. “It is not a matter of need, Ruon,” she said. “It is a celebration of our return to our home.”

  Ruon looked as if he would refuse purely out of spite, but he paused. There was a cart that had a small basket of mushrooms set to the side. The Laithur’s slitted nostrils flared slightly as he took in the scent.

  “I…might enjoy some fungus.”

  It took Adesina a split second to realize what he meant, but after she sorted it out she walked over to the cart and purchased the mushrooms.

  Adesina pointed to a direction that was just a bit north of west. “The Thieves’ Forest is about a two-week walk that way. It would be approximately half that time if we had horses, but we do not have the coin to purchase them.”

  Sitara’s eyes lost focus as she went deep into thought. “What if we were to fly?”

  Adesina had used her vyala to hover in the air before, but it was quite a drain on her energy. “Can we do that over a long distance?”

  “I think so,” mused the Serraf. “We would have to take more time to replenish our strength, but we could do it if we shared our power.”

  The idea of flying was exciting to Adesina, and her heart rushed at the thought of seeing L’iam in just a few days. “Well, then I suppose we should finish our celebratory treats and prepare to leave.”

  She took a bite of the apple and enjoyed the burst of flavor in her mouth. It was both sweet and tart, refreshing Adesina, who had been living off of traveler’s fare for many months.

  Sitara seemed equally delighted with her apple, but Ruon’s expression was more contemplative as he ate his mushrooms.

  “What do you think?” asked Adesina.

  “They are more dry than the fungus found in caves, but the flavor is not unpleasant.”

  Adesina found herself amused by his understated response rather than annoyed. “I am glad you are not displeased,” she said drily.

  Ruon did not react to her tone. “I am not displeased,” he assured her.

  They walked away from the market and to an area that was more private, so they could speak freely. When they had all finished eating, Sitara gave a soft sigh and then resumed a business-like tone.

  “Before we leave, I must teach you how to use your vyala.”

  Adesina was momentarily speechless. “I…thought I knew how to use it.”

  Sitara’s smile spoke volumes. “Not as an Immortal.”

  Chapter Nine: Wanderers

  Adesina had never considered that using her vyala would be different now that she was an Immortal.

  “How has it changed?” she asked.

  Sitara considered the simplest way to explain. “Have you ever flown a kite?”

  The question caught Adesina off guard. “No, but I have seen them flown.”

  “Imagine your vyala as a kite. You have been able to fly to a certain height, but now that you are Immortal you have an infinite amount of string. Your kite can fly as high as you can imagine.”

  The idea was exciting to the “newborn” Serraf. “Do you mean that I can do anything?”

  “In theory,” acknowledged Sitara. “That is the power of connecting to the Eternal Vyala. However, there is danger in such power as well. If the possibilities are truly endless, then it is also possible to become lost in the vastness.”

  Adesina’s brow furrowed. “Lost?”

  “You could lose yourself in the power forever.”

  A chill ran down the young woman’s spine. Adesina had felt that terrifying possibility before. There had been times when the strength of her vyala had been so great that she had worried that it would take over her completely.

  Sitara watched Adesina’s face and nodded. “You have felt it before.”

  “Yes,” was the whispered reply.

  “Think back to the kite analogy. What happens if you cut the string of the kite?”

  Adesina shrugged. “It crashes.”

  “Exactly,” answered Sitara. “It needs an anchor in order to fly. Your vyala may have endless potential, but you need an anchor in order to realize it. I sense that you have Joined with your Rashad companion, is that correct?”

  The younger woman nodded. “Yes, I did it by accident.”

  “Accident?” asked Riel.

  Ravi chimed in. “She did it by instinct, to save my life.”

  Sitara gestured gracefully with one hand. “The Serraf and the Rashad have always been together, since the Immortals were created. Our races have a symbiotic relationship, and that is amplified through Joining. The Rashad gain strength and expansion through the bond, and they become the anchor that allows the Serraf to reach their potential.”

  Adesina thought she understood, so she nodded. “So how do I use Ravi in order to ground my power?”

  “The simplest way to begin is in imagining that you have tied a rope between yourself and your companion. Your vyala senses your desires and will mimic the action. After enough time, it will be a natural connection that happens automatically.”

  Adesina did as she was instructed. She called forth her vyala and let it expand through her body. Then she imagined taking a section of the vyala and turning it into a rope that tied her to Ravi.

  She had become accustomed to feeling Ravi in her thoughts, but his presence in her mind was immediately intensified. It was almost as if they were sharing a single mind.

  Fascinating, they thought together.

  Adesina could feel the change in her powers as well. She felt more secure, like someone holding her hand while she leaned out over a ledge.

  Sitara watched her expression and nodded in approval. “Now cloak yourself with an illusion so others cannot see you, and we shall fly.”

  The experienced Serraf made a graceful gesture with her hand and raised herself and Ruon above the ground. Adesina could see the air shimmering around them, and knew that they were invisible to all outside eyes.

  “What about Ravi and Riel?” she asked.

  Riel gave a feline smile. “Do not worry about us. I will instruct Ravi and we will catch up to you later.”

  Adesina could feel a twinge of anxiety from Ravi through their Joining. Ravi still looked upon Riel with a deep sense of awe, and he wished to make a good impression.

  I am certain you will do fine, Adesina reassured him.

  I hope so…

  Their minds were so closely linked that Adesina was worried as well, even though she had faith in her companion.

  Adesina wrapped herself in a layer of red vyala, using illusion to hide her presence, and then she switched her vyala to a light blue and adjusted the force of gravity on her body. She rose into the air to join Sitara and Ruon.

  Adesina took a
moment to regain her bearings and then she pointed in the direction that led along a jagged range of mountains. “The Thieves’ Forest is east of these mountains. If the L’avan have set up a defense of Pevothem, it would be logical for them to do so in that forest.”

  Ruon and Sitara flew in the direction that Adesina indicated, and after observing their technique, the young queen did the same. Adesina felt a rush of exhilaration as the crisp air swept across her face and fanned her silver hair back behind her. The landscape flowed beneath them in a blur, and Adesina was heartened by the knowledge that she would reach L’iam soon.

  ***

  “What is that over there?”

  Adesina looked in the direction Ruon was pointing. There was nothing but an outcropping of rock, and she frowned in confusion.

  As they continued their journey through the air, they moved past the outcropping and an enormous camp came into view. Hundreds of wagons stood in groups of ten or fifteen, and dozens of cooking fires glowed in the darkening evening.

  “How did you know that was there?” asked Adesina in amazement.

  “I can See,” Ruon replied unhelpfully.

  Sitara seemed to understand what he meant, and didn’t give it much thought. “Let us land here and take a closer look.”

  Adesina followed them as they descended, but she shook her head. “You have said that before, Ruon. What do you mean?”

  “I have the Sight, half-blood,” Ruon said impatiently. “It is the gift of the Seer to his followers.”

  Adesina looked to Sitara for some explanation, but she was preoccupied. Ruon watched the young woman’s expression with a spiteful sort of enjoyment.

  “Your ignorance is amusing.”

  Adesina felt her face burning and she turned away, stubbornly refusing to ask him more.

  Ruon continued anyway. “The Seer is the Ancient who can See all things—past and future. The Laithur, as his followers, were given the Heaven’s Eye.” Ruon pointed to a slight bump in the middle of his forehead. “It allows us to See several moments into the future, should we choose to do so.”

  They all touched down on the ground in the shelter of a copse of trees, and Sitara turned her attention back to the others. “Shall we approach these people?”

  “It might be wiser to discover who they are before revealing ourselves,” suggested Adesina.

  “You are our leader, Adesina,” reminded Sitara. “We will do as you say.”

  Adesina suddenly felt Ravi’s presence in her mind become stronger. She could sense him looking through her eyes to see where they were standing. In a moment, he had transported himself beside them.

  Normally he could only do this to a place that was within his line of sight. Through their joining, Adesina understood that, Riel had explained to Ravi that he could transport longer distances if he used Adesina’s line of sight. She smiled at her companion, glad to have him near again.

  Riel appeared next to Sitara, and their group was complete once more. The female Rashad was aware of the current conversation, even though she was only joining it just then.

  “I could do some reconnaissance, if you would like. Although I do sense that their intentions are benign.”

  Ravi also reached out with his senses, and Adesina could read his mind as he did so.

  We know them.

  Adesina grinned. “There is no need for caution. They are the Northern Tribes.”

  “Are the Northern Tribes peaceful?” challenged Ruon.

  Ravi nodded. “These ones are.”

  Adesina walked boldly from the cover of the trees, keeping well within the light and extending her hands to show that she held no weapons. They were a fair distance from the edge of the camp, and the tribe members watched them warily as they approached.

  Adesina slowed to a stop as a handful of young men moved to intercept her. She smiled and spoke clearly. “Are the Ojuri with you? I must speak to Hestia.”

  The young men seemed surprised that she knew the Ojuri leader by name. One of them pointed north. “They are on the other side of the camp. I can take you there.”

  Ruon and the Rashad entered the firelight, and there were several murmurs of apprehension. The young man who offered to lead them suddenly looked as if he regretted the decision.

  “Hestia knows us,” reassured Adesina, “and she knows we would never bring harm to any of you.”

  The young man nodded, but kept a wide berth. He walked them through the camp, keeping his head down to avoid the stares of those they passed.

  The young man pointed after coming to an abrupt stop. “The Ojuri are there.”

  He turned and hurried away, without giving the visitors a chance to say anything.

  The members of the Ojuri tribe recognized Adesina and greeted her warmly. They had once saved her from starvation year ago, and since then she had made great efforts to build a relationship between the Ojuri and the L’avan. The two groups traded often, and Adesina was well known to all of the tribe members.

  Hestia appeared out of the darkness and hurried forward embrace Adesina. The Ojuri leader was a woman in her middle years with grey-touched raven hair and eyes that were filled with strength and kindness. She wore a turquoise dress that was patched with brightly colored fabrics, and her arms jangled with mismatched bracelets.

  “Adesina,” Hestia exclaimed. “I had heard you were missing.”

  “No,” answered Adesina. “I was just delayed.”

  Hestia’s gaze turned to Adesina’s companions. “It seems you have traveled far.”

  The young queen gestured to each of them. “This is Sitara, Riel, and Ruon. They are representatives for the Immortal Council.”

  Hestia’s eyes widened and she bowed to them humbly. “I never imagined that I would have the honor of such guests in my camp. You are all most welcome.”

  The Immortals returned her bow, and even Ruon had a courtly grace in doing so. His usual overtone of bitterness and sarcasm was set aside, and he appeared to be pleased by the greeting.

  Hestia extended a hand of friendship to Adesina’s Rashad companion. “And, of course, it is always a pleasure to see you, Ravi.”

  Ravi gave a feline grin. “You as well, Hestia.”

  The older woman looked over them all shrewdly. “Well, I am willing to bet that you have not had a hot meal today. Come and join my fire.”

  No one questioned them as they walked through the Ojuri camp, but there were still plenty of curious glances in their direction.

  Hestia’s daughter, now a beautiful young woman of twenty, was tending to the fire and stirring the stewpot. A young man sat next to her, holding a tiny infant and looking at Hestia’s daughter with adoring eyes. Hestia’s son, a man in his mid-twenties, sat on the other side of the fire. His heavily scarred face was expressionless, but his eyes were dark and brooding.

  Adesina greeted Hestia’s children politely. “Hello, Hesper. Leander.”

  Hestia’s son merely nodded his head in response, but Hesper smiled radiantly. “Hello again, Adesina. Do you remember my husband, Finlay?”

  Adesina greeted the young man, and she stared at the baby he was holding. “Hestia, are you a grandmother?”

  Hestia laughed gently. “It is hard to believe, is it not?”

  “Would you like to hold him?” offered Finlay.

  Adesina and the others sat down around the campfire, and Finlay gently transferred the sleeping infant to Adesina’s arms. The child was tiny—no more than a few weeks old—and his perfect fingers rested against his round cheeks.

  “What is his name?” asked Adesina quietly.

  “We named him Frayne, for Finlay’s grandfather.”

  Adesina stroked the baby’s downy hair, and she was filled with a sense of longing. She wondered what her own child would look like, and she began to paint a picture in her mind.

  Her happy musings were interrupted by Sitara’s soft voice in her ear. “Mortal infants are so beautiful, are they not?”

  The Serraf was leanin
g over to look at the baby, and her smile was full of wonder.

  “Yes,” Adesina answered, “they are beautiful.”

  “I have often wondered what it would be like to have a child in such a manner. So strange for new members of a race to be so small and helpless.”

  Adesina’s brow creased slightly. “Is that not how all infants are?”

  Sitara laughed lightly. “Adesina, you are an infant Serraf. Immortals are never born, they are made.”

  The younger woman stared at her mentor, a cold feeling of dread stealing over her entire being. “Do you mean…that Serraf cannot have children?”

  Sitara appeared surprised by the question. “No Immortal can. If we were to continually procreate, our population would grow to an unthinkable size. After all, Immortals do not die naturally.”

  Hesper took the baby from Adesina, and hot bowls of stew were passed around to the guests. The conversation shifted to other topics, but Adesina found that she could not make herself listen.

  Sitara’s words had turned Adesina’s heart to stone, and the young queen stared at her bowl until the stew grew cold.

  Chapter Ten: Recruitment

  Adesina awoke disoriented.

  She was laying on a worn pad with a patched blanket draped over her. There was some sort of low wooden roof over her head that was painted to resemble the night sky. Adesina sat up and looked around. She had been sleeping in one of the Ojuri wagons, presumably Hestia’s.

  The wagon had been emptied to make room for the sleeping pads, but in the corner there was a sizable stack of books. Adesina stared at it with some confusion. Books were very valuable, and it was rare for individuals to own any. The Northern Tribes were an impoverished group of people, so it didn’t make sense for Hestia to own books.

  Adesina took a closer look at the titles, and found that they were all very old books—centuries old, at the very least. There were books on antiquated law, battle strategy, economy, and so forth. A very strange collection for wandering outcasts.

  Adesina sensed Ravi’s approach before she saw him climb into the wagon. His purple and gold eyes were filled with concern.