by Callie Kanno
“Who are you?” demanded the L’avan queen. “Who sent you here?”
The spy gave her a patronizing look. If she didn’t already know the answer to both of those questions, she was not worthy of the attention she was being given by Lord Cha-sak.
The poison caused his body to seize up. Speech would no longer be possible for the dying spy.
Panicked shouts filled the air as the L’avan tried unsuccessfully to heal the feline.
“He has been poisoned!”
“It is working too quickly!”
The L’avan queen appeared to realize that the spy had been poisoned as well. She yelled for a healer to intervene, but the spy was fading fast. He could no longer see or hear clearly, and a black haze covered his mind.
If he had been given more time, he could have killed the feline without sacrificing his own life.
If only Breyen hadn’t ordered immediate action.
If only there weren’t mind-readers in the L’avan camp.
Still, the spy was content. He had accomplished his mission, and he had not betrayed his master.
For the glory of Lord Cha-sak…
***
“He is dead.”
Adesina stared at the still form of the Rashad in shock.
How could this have happened? Were they not screening every refugee that came to the camp asking for protection? How did a Shimat assassin get past the Readers?
“The spy is dead, too,” said Ruon in a cold voice. “He poisoned himself as soon as he was captured.”
Adesina looked into L’iam’s eyes and saw them brimming with tears.
How did this happen?
She turned to the dead Rashad again and slowly fell to her knees. She reached out and gently touched his glossy black fur.
“My friend…”
The crowd parted and two other black-furred Rashad came loping through. The smaller of the two hung slightly back, but the other hurried to Adesina’s side.
“Ma’eve,” said Ravi in a voice that was heavy with pain, “what happened?”
Adesina felt a tear streaming down her face. “Rajan…he…he was attacked by a Shimat.”
“But why?” demanded L’iam. “Why would they want him dead?”
Adesina had her suspicions, and Ravi seemed to share them.
It was meant to be me.
Cha-sak had seen Ravi with Adesina when they met on the Threshold. The demon must have guessed the importance of her Rashad companion, even though she had not been a Serraf at the time.
To lose Ravi would be a huge emotional blow, but it would also weaken Adesina’s ability to use her vyala. Ravi was necessary to anchor Adesina’s power, otherwise she would not be able to control it.
Cha-sak must have assumed that there would only be one Rashad with black fur—as was usually the case—and only sent instructions to the assassin to look for that one trait. If Ravi had not been training with Riel, he would have been the one attacked.
Adesina put one hand on Ravi’s back and the other on L’iam’s shoulder. Rajan had been a good friend to her and a reliable advisor, but her husband and her guardian had known Rajan all of their lives. His loss would affect them even more deeply.
“What will we tell his family?” asked Ravi softly.
Riel was the one who answered. “We will tell them that he died bravely, and that his successor will honor his memory.”
Adesina could feel a jumble of emotions flowing from Ravi through their Joining.
I am not ready to lead the Rashad.
Adesina understood his feelings. She had felt just as overwhelmed when she became queen of the L’avan. She recalled the words that Ravi had spoken to her at that time.
All you can do is your best, dear one. No one expects you to do more than that.
A wry smile flashed across Ravi’s face.
Using my own words, Ma’eve? That hardly seems fair.
I think it is perfectly fair.
Ravi’s fear was tempered by Adesina’s love and friendship for him. She could sense that he was still uneasy, but there was certainty in knowing that he wasn’t alone.
“We need to address the Rashad and the L’avan,” said L’iam sadly. “They need to know that Rajan has fallen. And that there is a new leader of the Rashad.”
Chapter Twenty: Seeking Aid
Satosh sat on the deck of the merchant vessel Zephyr, staring moodily at the abandoned docks of Emerald Harbor. A year ago the city docks had been bustling with trade, and now there was no one in sight other than the dock keeper. Zephyr was the only ship in the entire harbor.
“Pa?”
The little man turned toward his adopted daughter. Her face was losing its girlishness, and he felt a pang as he realized she was becoming a woman. Worry filled her blue eyes, and she took his hand as if seeking reassurance.
“Is there any trade here, Pa?”
Satosh shook his head. “No, Suvi. There is no one here to trade with us. The merchants have left this city. Perhaps they have even left the country, trying to escape the Scepter of Cha-sak.”
Suvi’s normally cheerful face was forlorn. “What are we going to do?”
Satosh shrugged. “Move on, I suppose. The captain is talking to the dock keeper to see if there is anyone in the actual city who might be interested in trading with us, but we may have to change our trade route until the war here is over.”
Zephyr had been on the same trade route ever since Satosh had joined the crew. They started in Joura, where they purchased a special type of stones that purified water for drinking. Then they sailed to Sehar, where they could buy dyes, dried produce, and small livestock. From there they sailed to Zonne, where they sold all of their stock and bought rare spices. Then they sailed back to Joura to sell the spices and wait out the stormy season.
It was a good life, and Satosh had enjoyed it thoroughly. He was saddened that it was all changing now.
There were other ports where they could buy dried produce and small livestock, but Emerald Harbor was the only place one could find the vivid green dye derived from the aquatic plants that grew in the harbor. It was one of the few reasons merchants ventured to Sehar at all. Losing access to that dye would cut into the profits of Zephyr considerably.
Satosh muttered a curse under his breath.
Some wars brought great opportunities for merchant ships, while others brought only misfortune. This war in Sehar appeared to be the latter. What did the Scepter even hope to accomplish? Sehar was a nation that was barely holding on to life. It was insignificant when compared to other nations. Why would a radical group want control of it so badly?
Satosh was an amateur historian of sorts, and his knowledge of past events told him that there could really only be one reason for a group like the Scepter of Cha-sak to seize control of a country like Sehar. The action only made sense if they planned to use Sehar as a staging ground for further conquest.
Satosh shivered with apprehension.
Suvi looked at him with her brow furrowed. “What is it, Pa?”
He tried to look more carefree than he felt. “Nothing, little one. Just a chill.”
She seemed satisfied by his answer, but Satosh was more concerned than before. Suvi was so trusting and so innocent. What was he going to do if the war in Sehar spread? Could he protect her from the violence and despair that would spread with it? He honestly didn’t believe he could.
Suvi’s parents had been best friends with Satosh, and it had seemed natural for him to take care of the child when they died. It was easy for Satosh to forget that Suvi had been adopted, because she often felt like his own flesh and blood. He certainly couldn’t have loved her more if she had been. He had promised to keep her safe and happy, and he would gladly give his life if he could guarantee that for her.
But in war there were never any guarantees.
The dark musings in Satosh’s mind were interrupted by an alarm bell tolling in the city. The citizens of Emerald Harbor—those who had not fled from th
e rumors of impending violence—began to shout in panic and point toward the sea.
Satosh and Suvi both turned to see the cause of such fear.
A giant, arrow-shaped head was rising out of the water, followed by a snake-like body with a sharp ridge down its back. Its metallic blue scales glinted in the sunlight, and its yellow eyes surveyed the land before it.
Satosh swore in shock. “What is an aekuor doing this close to land?” he gasped.
They were all doomed.
Satosh knew this with every fiber of his being. There was no chance to defeat an aekuor, even with the help of an entire city. He had only seen an aekuor defeated once, and that had been done with an incredible amount of magic.
The enormous sea monster came to the edge of the inlet and paused, as if waiting for something. It made no sound, nor any aggressive movement.
“What is it doing?” Satosh wondered aloud.
The terror on Suvi’s face slowly changed. “Pa, is that…Kai?”
Hope surged through Satosh as he recalled the events of the journey to Sehar. He had almost convinced himself that it hadn’t happened. After all, who had ever heard of a tame aekuor?
Captain Zulimar had rushed aboard his ship at the first sign of trouble, and he heard Suvi’s tentative question.
“If it was a normal aekuor, it would have attacked by now. Perhaps you are correct,” he mused.
Satosh turned to the captain. “What should we do?”
Zulimar rubbed his chin. Satosh knew there was a great amount of risk involved in this decision. If the aekuor was not Kai, it would kill them all without hesitation.
“Call the crew to their posts.”
Satosh obeyed immediately. He ran up and down the deck, calling the crew and shouting orders.
Zephyr was underway in little time. They sailed cautiously away from the harbor and through the inlet. The crew followed their orders, but they alternated between staring at their captain and the fierce creature ahead.
Captain Zulimar appeared completely calm and confident. Only Satosh could see his large, dark hand gripped tightly in a fist.
The aekuor watched the ship approach and remained as still as possible. This made Satosh feel more confident that it was, in fact, the aekuor that had been tamed.
As they drew closer, the aekuor spoke in a gentle voice. “Captain Zulimar, I am Kai, the Aekuor who was healed by the Lady Adesina.”
Zulimar walked to the railing and called back to the giant creature. “I remember you. Why have you come so close to the land?”
“I have brought a message for you from Lady Adesina.”
Kai opened her mouth, revealing rows of razor-sharp teeth. The crew of Zephyr gasped in habitual fear, but the Aekuor only lowered her head and let something fall softly onto the deck.
Captain Zulimar went to retrieve it himself, and he held it up for closer examination. Satosh recognized it as the pendant that Zulimar used to wear at all times. He had given it as a gift to Adesina after she had saved their lives the year before.
“The L’avan are preparing to go to war with the Scepter of Cha-sak, and their position is a precarious one. They are at great risk of running out of supplies once the army of the Scepter cuts them off. Lady Adesina asks that the Zephyr act as their supply line and bring in goods through the northern coast.”
Zulimar held the pendant in a closed fist and placed it over his heart. “I would be glad to repay a portion of the debt that I owe, but this task is not possible. The northern coast of Sehar consists of impassable cliffs and treacherous waters. How can we deliver the goods?”
“I will help you,” assured Kai. “If you bring the supplies as close as safety allowed, I will meet you there with a large raft that I can tow to the base of the cliffs. I will lift the raft as far as I can, and the L’avan can use their powers to lift the goods the rest of the way.”
Satosh felt Suvi’s slender hand take his. Excitement was shining in her eyes.
“We will get to help Adesina, Pa.”
The little man couldn’t help but grin as well. “Yes, we will.”
Captain Zulimar gave a decisive nod. “Time to get to work, lads,” he called to the crew. “We have a long journey ahead.”
***
E’nes sighed deeply as he packed up his saddle bags. It had been just over two weeks since he had left on this mission, and he hadn’t been sleeping well the entire time. He was weary and feeling rather despondent.
Had his wife given birth yet? How were the war preparations going? How much time was left until the Shimat army arrived?
Dozens of questions plagued his mind.
E’nes glanced over at Mar’sal, who was packing his own bags with a determined expression on his face.
E’nes knew that he was not the only one to be away from loved ones. Mar’sal was a newlywed now, and his bride was just as far away as E’nes’s family. Yet Mar’sal had not uttered a word of complaint as they traveled.
E’nes gave himself a mental shake and tried to renew his resolve.
There was much to do. Their loved ones were counting on them.
They had been fortunate in that they had not encountered any enemies so far. There had been a few groups of marauders, but the two L’avan had evaded detection easily. There had been no sign of any Shimat, but E’nes assumed that there wouldn’t be until an attack came. He hoped fervently that they would not have to face any such trial.
Mar’sal did his best to erase anything that would suggest they had set up a camp and then he turned to face E’nes.
“Ready?”
E’nes nodded. They were still about a week away from the Gateway City, even riding at a hurried pace. They did their best not to waste any time. They only stopped to sleep at night and then at midday for a brief meal. The pace was exhausting, even for seasoned soldiers such as E’nes and Mar’sal.
E’nes connected to his vyala, and the dark metallic green in his irises began to glow and swirl, making the contrasting metallic orange almost disappear.
His vision took on a greenish tint, and he was able to detect even the most minute details in the surrounding area.
E’nes searched for any potential dangers, not expecting to find any. He had searched the night before as well and had assured Mar’sal that they were completely alone.
A flicker of movement caught E’nes’s attention, and he shifted to give it a closer look.
Over a small hill—obscured from regular vision—was a small camp with half a dozen soldiers. They must have arrived after E’nes had checked the area the night before.
“Soldiers over there,” E’nes pointed.
Mar’sal frowned. “Not marauders?”
E’nes shook his head. “No, they appear to be some sort of military. I cannot guess which, though.”
Mar’sal tied his horse’s reins to a nearby tree. “Well, let us go see.”
The two of them moved as quietly as possible, lying on their stomachs as they reached to top of the rise. They could barely discern the low murmur of voices, and they listened closely.
“…only a few days away now.”
“That is more than enough time.”
“What will we tell the Scepter of Cha-sak when they ask us our business?”
“We tell them we are leaving Sehar. Simple as that.”
“No, it is not simple. That barricade blocks the path to Charan, and the Scepter is not the most understanding.”
“They built that barricade to keep people out of Sehar, not to keep people from leaving.”
“So you say.”
“Trust me. They will not care that we are deserters. They will not care where we came from. We tell them that we are leaving and we do not plan on coming back, and they will let us through the barricade with no other questions.”
“I hope you are right. I have heard stories about the Scepter. I heard that Tanar tried to resist them at first, so the Scepter took all of the leaders…”
E’nes and Mar’sal eased backw
ard to a safe distance and then got to their feet. They walked back to the horses with troubled expressions.
“A barricade?” wondered Mar’sal.
“I suppose it makes sense,” admitted E’nes. “They are blocking off the port cities, so they would probably do the same with the Gateway City.”
“We may be able to slip through, but any help we get from Charan will have to break down that barricade before moving forward. And depending on how well fortified it is…” Mar’sal trailed off meaningfully.
E’nes rubbed his brow. “Yes, I know.”
Any reinforcements would have to fight a battle before they even reached the real battle. The barricade would make convincing Charan to join them even harder.
“Well, I think we should get going,” sighed Mar’sal. “We still have a long way to go.”
E’nes agreed, but his mind was turning this newest problem over and over again. They had to convince Charan to join in the fight.
They had to.
If they didn’t, E’nes would be failing his family, his people, and his nation.
Chapter Twenty-One: Volunteers
Adesina suppressed a sigh as she looked at her armor. It reminded her of the ceremonial armor that had belonged the sons of L’avan, which were on display in the museum of Yavar. Perhaps that had been the inspiration for the design.
The breastplate had elaborate etchings, and there were numerous gold accents. Attached to the shoulders was a mid-length cape made from a rich fabric that was the exact shade of purple as her eyes. The gauntlets and leg coverings matched the breastplate, but they were cumbersome, and Adesina wore them as little as possible.
She had asked K’eb to arrange for some new leather armor to be made for her to replace her Shimat outfit. She’d been given the leather armor in a timely manner, but the task had spurred the idea of creating plate armor for the king and queen. Adesina would have preferred to simply wear the rich brown leather armor that had been made for her, but it seemed to be expected that she at least wear the breastplate and cape.
