The Labyrinth of Destiny

by Callie Kanno

  “We should split our forces and keep half in reserve. The Shimat will likely do the same,” suggested Adesina to L’iam.

  Her husband nodded. “I think so, as well.”

  The Shimat army had moved into place, and an unsettling hush fell over the grassy field.

  “What are they waiting for?” asked Hestia nervously.

  “They are hoping that the anticipation will lower our morale,” answered Ravi.

  “It just might lower mine,” muttered Hestia. “I am not accustomed to fighting.”

  Adesina reached over and gave her arm a gentle squeeze. “It will not be long now.”

  Hestia smiled sadly. “That is not comforting, either. My son and my daughter’s husband are in the army. The sooner the battle begins, the sooner they will be in danger.”

  As Adesina predicted, they did not have to wait long. In a moment, a phalanx of mercenary archers took position at the front of the Shimat army. They raised their longbows and let loose a swarm of black-tipped arrows.

  “Orange,” called Adesina in a magically magnified voice.

  Several L’avan with metallic orange colored eyes called forth their vyala and used the force of its power to redirect the wave of arrows. The shafts curved upwards and back toward their source.

  Panicked shouts escaped the throats of thousands of mercenaries when they saw what was happening. The arrows fell back to earth with deadly disregard, and the air was filled with the cries of the wounded and dying.

  The first blood had been shed.

  The Shimat leaders immediately recalled their archers. New orders were issued and the foot soldiers began to advance with their swords and spears.

  Adesina drew her Blood Sword and allowed her vyala to flow through it, causing it to glow brightly. She raised it high above her head and shouted, “Forward, first division.”

  Adesina nudged Torith forward, and the black stallion marched proudly. Ravi kept by her side, with half of the Rashad force also moving toward the enemy. Over two thousand L’avan and Seharan soldiers drew their weapons and followed in organized lines.

  The other half of the L’avan and Seharan army moved to take its place on the hill that overlooked the battlefield.

  Adesina spared a backwards glance. She saw Me’shan maneuver his horse next to L’iam’s, and the two men exchanged a few brief words before L’iam and Hestia quietly left the battlefield. Adesina watched her husband’s back retreat from her.

  Then she fixed her eyes forward and thought only of battle.

  As the two opposing forces drew nearer, they each began to pick up speed. Adesina urged Torith into a full gallop, lifting her sword and giving a fierce yell. Ravi and the Rashad roared at their enemies, and Adesina’s vyala-enhanced eyes could see the fear on the faces of the mercenaries.

  The Rashad were the first to meet their foes, and the sleek feline forms leapt forward by the hundreds. The first two lines of mercenaries were knocked to the ground, claws and teeth biting into their flesh.

  Adesina ignored the hired soldiers that rushed toward her. Her eyes sought the black uniforms of the Shimat leaders. But although she was willing to spare the mercenaries in front of her, they were not willing to let her pass unhindered. The foremost soldier raised his spear and aimed for the gap in Adesina’s armor just under her arm.

  Adesina brought Falcon down in a mighty sweep, the blade knocking the spear far off course.

  Adesina had expected to see the spear turn to dust, like the weapons of the marauders they had faced during the rescue of the refugees. Instead, the blade of Falcon made a ringing sound as it met the shaft of the spear. It didn’t even mark the wood.

  Cha-sak has enhanced these weapons.

  Adesina didn’t have time to register her surprise at this development. She simply let her training take over, and raised Falcon to fend off the next attack.

  The mercenaries noticed her ornate armor and correctly assumed that she was an important member of the opposing army. They seemed to go out of their ways to confront her—likely hoping to gain some sort of reward for their troubles. The L’avan were also drawn to Adesina’s side, doing what they could to defend their queen. As a result, Adesina was constantly in the center of a flurry of fighting.

  Torith, who was a well-trained horse, did his part in the fighting as well. He moved with Adesina, keeping her balanced in the saddle so she could wield her sword more easily. He also used his hooves and teeth on the enemy horses, or any foot soldier that thought to try and attack Adesina from below.

  Adesina soon spotted the black form of a Shimat, and she moved through the chaos of battle to confront him.

  The Shimat warrior saw her coming, and his dark eyes narrowed in anticipation. His identity was hidden beneath his hood and scarf, but Adesina doubted that she would have known him. She had only known her teachers and fellow students within the Shimat organization.

  Adesina lifted Falcon higher, and the blade flared with an extra burst of vyala. The Shimat also wielded a Blood Sword, and he raised it to fend off her blow.

  He was clearly very talented with his weapon, and he flicked aside her attacks with the gleam of contempt in his eyes. Adesina pressed harder, using her vyala to enhance her dexterity. The Shimat’s expression became less disdainful as he concentrated on his defense.

  In spite of Adesina’s pressing attack, the Shimat was able to slip in an attack of his own. His sword swept past Falcon and drew across Adesina’s neck. If she had not been using part of her vyala to harden her skin, it would have been a fatal blow. As it was, the blade only left a shallow wound—hardly worth Adesina’s notice.

  The Shimat clearly had anticipated his attack to end Adesina’s life, and his surprise at the contrary caused him to falter. Adesina quickly took advantage and thrust her blade into his unprotected chest. She did so with added strength to compensate for the resistance of his leather armor, but that proved unnecessary.

  Falcon burned with the vyala that flowed through it, and it bored through leather and flesh alike with ease. The air took on a slightly charred scent, and the area surrounding the fatal wound blackened with the residual energy. There was no blood, as Adesina’s sword appeared to cauterize as it withdrew.

  Adesina had no time to consider what had happened or to even feel satisfied at eliminating an asset to the Shimat organization. She was immediately engaged by another opponent hoping to gain glory in the name of Cha-sak.

  Ravi stood his ground not ten feet from where Adesina fought. The initial shock and fear that had come over the mercenaries at being attacked by large felines had faded, and Ravi found himself surrounded by men with spears.

  They tried to take him down as they would some wild animal, but he was not hindered by their weapons. Ravi transported himself outside of their deadly circle and attacked the nearest enemy from behind.

  His razor-like claws raked across the back of the mercenary’s legs, effectively hamstringing him. Then Ravi used his sharp teeth and powerful jaw to crush the man’s fighting arm. Ravi did not kill him, but left him completely unable to continue aiding the enemy forces.

  Then the Rashad leader quickly turned and leapt at another mercenary, disabling him just as efficiently.

  A hasty glance across the battlefield showed Adesina that her soldiers were doing quite well—especially since most of them had never seen action before. The mercenaries had the advantage of experience, but the L’avan and Seharan army had both strength and magic.

  A battalion of L’avan that had the gift of illusion was doing everything in its power to distract the enemy. The mercenaries found themselves swinging their weapons at empty air, discovering too late that the perceived threats didn’t exist. The other Seharan and L’avan soldiers rushed forward with weapons raised, taking advantage of the distraction—no matter how brief.

  The L’avan soldiers had been training hard to use their gifts of vyala in their fighting. It was not just a matter of developing their abilities, but also overcoming generations of i
ngrained belief that they should use their powers as little as possible. Adesina had emphasized that they needed to stop thinking that their vyala gave them an unfair advantage over others.

  Vyala was truly a gift, and it was meant to be used as a force for good.

  It could be argued that fighting was not a good thing, but what could be more noble and just than protecting one’s family and home?

  Adesina was proud to see that the L’avan had taken her words to heart. They fully committed themselves to the battle, using every resource available to them.

  With her vyala-enriched vision, she could see the glow of each L’avan’s power. Some glowed dark blue, changing the density of their own skins to provide greater protection against enemy attacks. Some gave off a faintly orange light as they used their powers to force the mercenaries off balance, or even to throw them several feet in the air. Some emitted dark red as they manipulated the landscape or objects such as the saddles of the mounted mercenaries. Those with a light blue glow had increased dexterity, those with a dark green glow knew if enemies were coming up behind them, those with glowed golden lent energy to allies or drained energy from enemies.

  The L’avan had truly become a formidable force.

  Adesina found herself facing another Shimat opponent—this one a woman, judging by her figure.

  The Shimat raised her Blood Weapon, which was a hefty axe with an elaborate head. Instead of aiming for Adesina, though, the Shimat directed the blow at Torith.

  Adesina was startled by the attack on her mount and hurriedly brought her vyala forward to shield the horse. The axe rang as it struck the magical barrier, and Torith shied away from the unexpected sound.

  Adesina’s balance had been uncertain when she had leaned forward to protect Torith, and his sudden movement caused her to slide out of her saddle. She landed gracefully, but she was not able to remount immediately.

  The Shimat vaulted out of her own saddle and swung her axe at Adesina as she came to the ground.

  Adesina’s vyala reacted automatically, sweeping upward to surround the axe. Cha-sak had used his powers to enhance the weapons of his army to withstand the vyala of the L’avan, but Adesina doubted he could have accounted for everything. She sent a surge of energy into the axe, causing it to become hot to the touch.

  The Shimat dropped the axe in shock, but quickly recovered. She drew a short sword and rushed at Adesina to continue her attack.

  Adesina lifted Falcon in response and took a defensive stance. She met her oncoming opponent with composure and traded strikes with ease.

  Adesina surmised that this Shimat was quite young. The Shimat’s form was without fault, but there was something lacking in the way she fought. Adesina felt as though she was sparring with an automaton.

  The young L’avan queen used a thread of vyala to create an illusion of herself and then stepped to the side. The Shimat was suddenly faced with two of the same opponent and seemed confused as to how to respond.

  Adesina took advantage of the slight hesitation and flicked her blade forward in a precise strike. Falcon cut deep into the muscle of the Shimat’s shoulder, causing her to cry out in pain.

  The wound did not completely disable the Shimat, but she was slowed. True to her Shimat training, the woman switched her short sword to the other hand and rushed at Adesina again, ignoring the projected illusion.

  Adesina let the illusion disappear as she prepared to defend herself. This war with Cha-sak would be long, and she didn’t want to drain her energy by using too much of her vyala too often.

  Adesina knew that the bulk of her strength would have to be reserved for her confrontation with Cha-sak. He would not give up this world without a fight, and Adesina knew that she would be the one to face him.

  Even so, she could not stand back and let others battle until that day came. Adesina wanted to fight the Shimat. She wanted to take part in ridding the world of that dark and twisted organization.

  Should that weaken her for her fight with Cha-sak…

  Well, she would deal with that later.

  For now, she brought Falcon to bear and met her opponent with all of the strength and training she had spent her life accumulating.

  Chapter Twenty-Three: The Burden of Command

  L’iam hated riding away from the battle.

  He had used every reasonable argument he could conceive—and several that were unreasonable—to try and convince Adesina against leading the battle herself. When that had failed, he had tried to convince himself that her decision was the right one.

  That had failed as well.

  He did what he had promised to do, even though it felt like a grave mistake. He resisted the urge to rush to his wife’s side, and he accompanied Hestia back to the heavily fortified camp.

  L’iam said little during the long ride, and Hestia didn’t seem inclined to speak either. Both of their thoughts were with loved ones on the battlefield.

  They were not challenged as they rode toward the gate of the camp. The L’avan guarding the walls included those who could use their vyala to sense the spirit and intentions of others, and so L’iam and Hestia were recognized without needing to speak.

  The physical gate rumbled closed behind them, and the L’avan guards in charge of creating a magical barrier to protect the camp sealed the hole through which L’iam and Hestia had been allowed to enter.

  The lithe, thin figure of the grey-skinned Laithur met them near the gate of the camp. He was almost as tall as L’iam sitting on horseback, and his glittering black eyes narrowed in distaste.

  “I have been sent to be of assistance to you,” stated Ruon in a voice that was sibilant without being a full hiss.

  L’iam bowed at the waist humbly. “I am grateful for your willingness, Immortal One.”

  Ruon eyed the L’avan king suspiciously, as if wondering if L’iam was being sincere or sarcastic. “Lady Sitara has positioned herself where she can watch the whole of the battle, and she will relay pertinent information to me. I will keep your maps updated on the positions of the two opposing forces.”

  Hestia tilted her head to the side. “How are you able to do that?” she asked, curious.

  “My mind is not so limited as those of mortals,” Ruon snapped irritably. He calmed his emotions and went on with more tolerance. “My race has enhanced mental abilities and we can become attuned to the minds of others—with some effort, of course, and the cooperation of the other party. Lady Sitara and I have taken the necessary steps to take advantage of this ability, and we will use it to aid your efforts.”

  L’iam knew that Adesina had a hard time getting along with Ruon, but he did not have the same sort of difficulty. Unlike his wife, L’iam had been raised with knowledge of the Immortals and a deep awe for their very existence. If an Immortal was a little impatient with lesser beings, what did it matter? It was still a very great honor to be in the presence of one.

  L’iam bowed a second time. “I thank you most humbly, Immortal One. Your contribution is invaluable.”

  A hint of a smile crossed Ruon’s flat face, and the remnants of his bad mood seemed to disappear. “I can also give some advice on strategy, if you wish. I am not unfamiliar with battle, after all. I was an important leader during the Great Wars.” Ruon paused for a moment before adding, “Although, not on the same side as your ancestors.”

  L’iam knew that the Laithur were considered to be demons—fallen creatures of Light. However, he also understood the implications of them pledging their support to Adesina and her cause.

  “Any advice you can offer would be most welcome,” L’iam said with sincerity.

  “You were alive during the Great Wars?” asked Hestia.

  She had not had the opportunity to spend much time with any of the Immortals, and she knew little about their history.

  Ruon glanced at her in surprise. “Of course. Do humans truly know so little of their own past?”

  Hestia’s cheeks flushed red and she looked down at her hands.

/>   Ruon seemed to take pity on her, and he explained in a more gentle tone. “Eons ago, the Ancients banded together for The Great Creation. This world was created first, with all of its plants and waters and stones. Then the one hundred races of Immortals were born. We were created as servants for the Ancients, and this world was to be our home. Every race of Immortals has a patron deity to which they are tied. For example, the Serraf and the Rashad serve the Creator, and the Laithur serve the Seer.”

  Hestia nodded. “What about humans?”

  “Humans were created later, along with the animals of this world,” Ruon said dismissively. “The mortals were made to be servants to the Immortals.”

  L’iam frowned. “I was taught something different than that, Immortal One.”

  “Oh?”

  L’iam went on, undeterred by Ruon’s sneer. “I was taught that the Creator made humans as a final gift to this world. They were meant to be helpers and companions to the Immortals, and stewards of this realm.”

  Ruon’s expression was incredulous. “Where did such teachings arise?”

  “From our Serraf ancestors,” answered L’iam softly.

  That gave the Laithur pause.

  “Well,” Ruon said after a moment of silence, “I would be less trusting of teachings that have been handed down through generations than direct knowledge. I suppose the Serraf would have a better understanding of the intentions of the Creator, but I would ask Lady Sitara instead of relying on L’avan teachings.”

  His tone made it clear that he thought it very unlikely that Sitara would support any claim of humanity’s importance.

  “Thank you, Immortal One,” said L’iam with respect. “I will speak to her as soon as it is convenient.”

  Ruon waved his slender hand, as if giving L’iam leave to waste his time as he chose.

  They arrived at the command tent, and L’iam and Hestia dismounted their horses. A young groom received the reins and led the animals away. K’eb was waiting at the entrance of the tent and welcomed them with a smile.