by Callie Kanno
“I made it so that the spirits of the Immortals could pass on to a new world,” she explained.
This caused even more alarm among her companions.
“Do you even know where you sent them?” demanded Ruon.
“I chose the world carefully,” said Adesina, feeling rather defensive.
Sitara placed a hand on her arm. “There is no certainty in that. Thresholds can connect to any realm, and it is not a simple thing to forge a path to a specific one.”
Adesina shook her head. “This Threshold only leads to one world.”
Riel frowned. “That is not possible.”
“It is true,” affirmed Ravi.
“The spirits of the Immortals needed a new world where they could continue with their purpose without being hindered by the loss of their bodies,” explained Adesina. “I connected this Threshold to the realm where they could do that.”
“How can you be certain?” asked Ruon.
Adesina could do nothing but shrug. “I just am.”
“It is not possible,” repeated Riel. “Thresholds are merely doorways, they are not fixed paths. Moreover, it took several Serraf to create a connection to another world during the Great Wars. How could you do such a thing by yourself?”
“I had help,” explained Adesina.
Three sets of eyes stared at her.
“What kind of help?” demanded the Laithur.
“Help from the Creator,” answered Ravi after a pause.
Adesina felt foolish making such claims, but she was glad that Ravi was brave enough to speak the truth.
She expected them to be incredulous, but she was wrong. Instead, their faces were filled with awe.
“The Creator instructed you?” Sitara asked with a voice that was tinged with longing.
“It was more than instructions,” said Adesina. “I was wrapped in a blanket of power, and an incredible amount of vyala was channeled through me. You are right to say that no Serraf could create a Threshold on her own. I could not have done it alone. It was through me that the Creator made this Threshold, and it is completely unique. It leads to one realm alone, and the connection is constant.”
Riel’s eyes shone with emotion. “You truly are the Child of the Threshold.”
Sitara nodded in agreement. “You have been honored above all other Serraf. Such close contact with the Creator is not a common thing, Adesina.”
Adesina’s gaze turned instinctively to Ruon, and she saw a strange expression in his glittering black eyes. It was something like…
Hope.
All he said was, “I was right to tie my fate to yours.”
Without another word, Ruon turned and walked away.
Adesina and Ravi exchanged looks, but said nothing. It was nigh unto impossible to guess what was going through the mind of the Laithur, and they did not venture opinions on the matter.
Sitara gave Adesina a quick hug and a golden smile. “You are a beacon in the darkness.”
“Thank you,” stammered Adesina.
Sitara and Riel also walked away, leaving the young queen and her guardian alone by the Threshold.
There were several moments of silence before Ravi said, “Well, back to work.”
Adesina couldn’t help but laugh at his mundane words. She greatly appreciated his ability to make her feel normal again. It was uncomfortable to be the focus of such admiration, especially from Immortals.
The L’avan queen returned to the army to find that work had already begun. Each group of soldiers had been given an assignment, and the forest was bustling with activity.
Forest warfare was very different from the battles that were fought on open fields. They could employ tactics that used their smaller numbers as an advantage. When fighting in grasslands, the threat of being overrun by their enemies had been great. In a forest, they could find safety behind fortifications and fight on their own terms.
Trees were being felled and stripped, and the logs were hauled to build protective walls. Other trees were being fitted with platforms where archers could be positioned.
Adesina walked past all of these preparations toward the edge of the woods where the enemy would be entering. There, E’nes was hard at work with his group of dedicated soldiers. Their task was to make it as difficult as possible for their enemies to enter the forest at all.
E’nes gave a strained grin as she approached. His strength and attention was mostly focused on rolling a small boulder out of the trench that was being dug.
“Did you get in trouble with your teachers?” he asked teasingly.
“I talked my way out of it,” she joked back.
“Good,” E’nes grunted as the boulder finally moved out of the way. He brushed off his hands and acted as though he was going to leave. “That means you can take over here.”
“Yes, I can,” agreed Adesina. “Since I am now in charge, I am instructing you to finish what you have started.”
E’nes grumbled in a good-natured sort of way and continued with digging the trench.
The L’avan had been instructed to reserve their vyala for battle, but Adesina was under no such restrictions. She could recover much faster than they could, and so she immediately called forth her powers to aid in the work that was to be done.
Her vyala swirled blue and orange before her eyes as she gently lifted swaths of dirt and rock into the air and moved them over to the piles of excess. Several of the working soldiers stared at her in envy as they toiled with their hands, but they all seemed grateful that she was making their work easier.
Kendan had helped to design the defenses for the forest before he had left on his mission, and Adesina appreciated his input now that the plans were taking shape. He and L’iam actually made quite a formidable team when they put their minds together, for the L’avan king had made several suggestions as well.
Adesina felt it was a pity that the two men were unlikely to ever become friends. With their joint determination and their unique perspectives they could accomplish great things. Unfortunately, each man viewed the other as being his direct opposite. Perhaps it was true, perhaps it wasn’t. Either way, Adesina didn’t think that their differences were insurmountable.
With a small sigh, she turned her thoughts back to the task at hand.
The trenches would extend all along the edge of the forest. Some of the trenches would be hidden and some not. Some would have wooden pikes fixed at the bottom, and others would simply make it easier for Adesina’s soldiers to attack the enemies who fell inside.
The trenches were the second hindrance the Shimat army would encounter.
The first hindrance was being set up along the grasslands leading up to the woods. A separate, narrower trench was being dug and filled with wood and kindling. When the time came, the L’avan would set the contents of that trench aflame. The hope was that it would slow the enemy army while L’avan and Seharan archers thinned their numbers.
Adesina found herself shaking her head as she thought of the many lines of defense and attack. She was sick with all of the bloodshed, and she hated that she was planning for more.
When she had been a student of the Shimat, she had thought that battle was a glorious thing. She had dreamed of the rush of soldiers and the gleam of weapons, and she had thought it a pity that as a Shimat she would never take part in such battles. After all, Shimat typically accomplished things by manipulating others into doing their bidding. There was very little direct involvement, if possible.
Now Adesina had experienced all that war could offer, and it made her soul weary. There was no glory, only sorrow and pain.
If Adesina had her way, she would rid the world of war forever.
Feeling a surge of determination, she used her vyala to lift up more earth and stones, starting another trench that could save the lives of some of her soldiers.
Chapter Forty-Two: The Refugee Camp
Hestia walked through the Thieves’ Forest with the L’avan Healers and the wounded soldiers. She had
given her horse to one of the soldiers to ride. She had never minded walking, and she was not injured.
They would be leaving the woods soon, and the refugee camp would be visible. Several of the soldiers began to look eager at the thought of being reunited with loved ones.
Hestia watched as one of the Seharan healers—a woman by the name of Faryl—walked with her arm around a wounded L’avan. Hestia was fairly certain the soldier’s name was Than’os. Next to them walked an Ojuri lad with two Seharan soldiers, who seemed to be in the midst of an earnest conversation.
It made the Ojuri leader—now queen of Sehar—glad to see connections forming between Seharans and L’avan. It made her even happier to see members of the Northern Tribes mixed in with the rest of the Seharan soldiers.
There had been so much discord, so much division in the history of Sehar. It had been many generations since the nation was truly united. They needed that unity if they were to be victorious against Cha-sak and his followers, and they would need it if they were to move forward as a nation in the future.
Compared to the rest of the world, Sehar was stagnant and insignificant. Hestia wanted to change that. She had never wanted to be queen, but now that she had accepted the title she intended to do something with it. She wanted to lead Sehar out of obscurity and into a position of consequence. Hestia wanted her kingdom to become prosperous and independent.
She knew there was a lot of work ahead, but it was encouraging to see the little signs of success. No success was more important than forging bonds between the groups of people that had been separated for so long.
Hestia was grateful to have L’iam and Adesina as her allies. A new monarchy was always unstable at first, and she would need all of the allies she could get. It was especially important to have friendships with the nations that bordered her own, and Pevothem shared Sehar’s largest border.
More than that, the king and queen of Pevothem had been invaluable sources of guidance and encouragement. They believed in her as queen of Sehar, and that meant a great deal to Hestia.
Hestia emerged from the trees with the first group of soldiers. She shielded her eyes as they adjusted to the sudden sunlight.
She could see the refugee camp from where she stood, and they had clearly seen the soldiers emerge from the woods. Hestia smiled as shouts of welcome were raised by their waiting friends. She paused to speak to the lead Healer before continuing onward.
“Set up your camp here, just at the edge of the trees.”
The Healer nodded and began issuing commands to her subordinates.
Hestia did not wait to supervise. She knew that everything would be done in pristine order. Instead, the Seharan queen walked with the soldiers who were hurrying toward the refugee camp.
She was greeted by one of the camp leaders, a man by the name of Quinlan.
“Our scouts reported that you were coming,” he said in a mild but confident voice. “We expected you sooner.”
Hestia smiled. “Most of our wounded had to travel slowly.”
Quinlan nodded. “Of course. What news of the war?”
Hestia’s eyebrows lifted and she took a breath. “Much has happened. If you would like, you can call a meeting for this evening and I will report to all who wish to hear.”
The burly man gave a small bow. “I would be grateful for that.”
“In the meantime,” Hestia went on, “there is much to be done. The entire refugee camp needs to be moved northward, away from the forest.”
Quinlan’s brow furrowed. “Why is that?”
Hestia inclined her head back the way she had come. “Our army is on the other side of this forest, and there they will make their last stand. If the enemy breaks through, we do not want them to reach the refugees without time to give warning.”
Quinlan rubbed his calloused hands together in a thoughtful gesture. “I did not realize the danger would be so close,” he said in a troubled tone. “We have no real defenses here. Most of the able men are with the army, so we are composed of those who are unable to fight and those who are unwilling.”
“Not all,” corrected Hestia. “Do not forget that there are those like you, who stayed to maintain structure.”
Quinlan gave a sad smile. “I did choose to stay, but not out of nobility. I injured my knee during the attack on the High City, and I am no longer able to run. I would make a poor soldier.”
“Well, you can stand and defend if the worst comes,” she encouraged him.
He assented readily. “I will do so, if it is needed.”
“Where do we need to begin the preparations to move this camp?” inquired Hestia.
“First we will pack up all of our supplies. We have been getting a steady stream from the Zephyr.” explained Quinlan. “We will warn everyone that we will be leaving first thing in the morning, and then we will arrange transportation for those who need it.”
Hestia nodded her approval.
“Any shelter that is not used for sleeping will be disassembled and packed up today, and then the personal tents of the refugees can be packed tomorrow morning.”
Moving a camp that contained thousands of people was no small task, but Quinlan seemed confident that everything would go smoothly. That made Hestia feel confident as well.
“Thank you, Quinlan. Is there anything that I can do?”
The large man slowly shook his head. “No, we can delegate the tasks here. I do look forward to your report this evening, though. A lot of people are anxious to know how things with the war are going.”
She understood their feelings. As far as she knew, there had only been a few messengers spared to send reports to the refugee camp. They had not even been told about the retreat that had brought the army north.
“I will be as thorough as I can,” promised Hestia.
Quinlan smiled and then walked away to begin the process of moving the camp.
***
The salty smell of the sea was like the breath of life to Satosh. He inhaled deeply, enjoying the momentary peace between his duties.
The last several weeks had been very busy for the crew of Zephyr, but they had been very rewarding ones as well. They had been taking the raw materials that the L’avan could offer—such as wool, beeswax, and useful minerals—and trading them for food and medical supplies in Banolf and Ghaith, both countries just across the Havill Sea from Pevothem.
The crewmembers of Zephyr were not receiving compensation for their services in a monetary sense, but the L’avan had made it well worth their while. Two young L’avan had been assigned to travel with the Zephyr and had been instructed to use their gifts in any way Captain Zulimar thought best.
Both L’avan were teenagers, younger than Suvi. They were a brother and sister, named J’em and J’ula. J’ula was fifteen years old, and she had the ability to mend broken objects and to refresh their food and water supplies. J’em was thirteen years old, and he was able to use his powers to lift heavy objects and perform simple healing.
Both were too young to be soldiers in the war with the Scepter of Cha-sak, but they were still able to contribute. Suvi had taken them under her wing, and they seemed happy to be adventuring on the sea.
Satosh’s thoughtful eyes regained focus and locked on the cliffs of Pevothem that were becoming visible in the distance.
“Cliffs ahead,” he bellowed, and the rest of the crew on deck echoed his call.
Pevothem was well protected from outsiders on all sides. Every border that touched the ocean was practically unscalable from the water. Even if one were a master at climbing sheer cliffs, they would first have to face the challenge of reaching the cliffs.
The waters surrounding Pevothem were treacherous, to say the least. Sharp rocks jutted up unexpectedly, and rogue waves tossed ships about in unpredictable patterns. The crew of Zephyr knew that as soon as the cliffs of Pevothem were spotted they had to be alert. Any lapse of attention could lead to a fatal mistake.
Sailors scurried about, pulling on ropes and
rushing to their posts. Zephyr slowed to a cautious pace, and Zulimar appeared on deck to issue orders in person.
The captain seemed the physical opposite of Satosh, who was his second in command. Satosh was a little man with a fair complexion, even though years in the sun had made it darker and more rough. Zulimar looked like a giant among men, being taller and broader than most. His skin was the color of ebony, and it appeared untouched by time and elements.
Zulimar glanced down at his second in command with a companionable expression on his face. “Satosh,” he greeted.
“Captain,” returned Satosh. “It is windier today. We may have trouble reaching the meeting point.”
The larger man nodded and crossed his arms against his barrel chest. “We shall see.”
Satosh understood perfectly. Zulimar wasn’t doubting Satosh’s words or his ability to judge the situation. He was leaving himself open to all possibilities.
Zephyr crept forward, jostled by the rough water. Each member of the crew executed their tasks with immaculate precision, the result of years of experience and teamwork.
Satosh took note that J’ula and J’em appeared on deck to watch with wide eyes. They knew to keep out of the way, but they couldn’t seem to resist watching. This was not the first time they had made this trip, but each time the ship approached Pevothem there was a sense of anxiety that flowed from the two youngsters.
Suvi, who was at her post as well, caught Satosh’s eye, and the two of them exchanged grins. They would take turns teasing the young L’avan when they were safely back at sea.
It took several minutes of careful maneuvering, but eventually Zephyr reached the designated meeting spot.
“Drop anchor,” ordered Zulimar in his bass voice.
“Aye, Captain,” responded the crew members responsible for the task.
The ship still jerked about unsteadily, but there was relief on the faces of the crew. They had been assured that their present position was safe, no matter how the waves beat against them.
The tension did not leave completely, though. There was a sense of expectation that weighed on each person.
