The Threshold Child (39 page)

No one slept well that night, due to the heightened anticipation
in the air. Eventually, morning came and they all prepared to begin the last
leg of their journey.

The group was unusually quiet as they rode through the trees. Some
felt anticipation, others apprehension. Adesina felt an uncomfortable mixture
of both.

As they topped a ridge, the trees ended and a grassy valley spread
out before them. Nestled directly against the lone mountain on the far end of
the valley was a large city. It was even larger than the High City.

It glistened in the late afternoon sun, set gracefully against
both mountain and forest. It was clearly an entity of its own, but it still
seemed to fit in with all of its surroundings—like it had sprung up with the
trees around it. It was easily the most beautiful thing Adesina had ever seen.

E’nes saw the stunned look on her face and smiled. “Welcome to the
city of Yavar.”

They nudged their horses forward, moving out into the open. The
group was soon spotted by the city guards, and word of their arrival was
sounded throughout the city. By the time they reached the city gates, a crowd
had assembled. The sound of hundreds of voices washed over them as they entered
Yavar, some cheering for their returned soldiers and others studying Adesina in
curiosity.

“L’iam! L’iam!”

“Welcome home, Protectors!”

“What news have you?”

“Are the rumors true?”

Adesina was pleased to find that she could understand everything
being shouted, even though it was all in the language of the L’avan.

“E’nes!”

This cry caught Adesina’s attention. She turned and saw a pretty
young woman with auburn and honey colored hair pushing her way through the
crowd, her pixie features flooded with joy. E’nes saw her as well, and a wide
grin split his face.

“Wren’na!”

She ran up to his horse, and he lifted her onto the saddle with
him. Wren’na threw her arms around his neck and gave him a loving kiss.

Slightly embarrassed by this open display of affection, Adesina focused
her attention on the city beyond the crowd. There were L’avan everywhere,
moving in a strange sort of organized chaos.

There were merchants selling their wares, artisans at work, street
performers entertaining groups of children and adults alike. There were also a
number of Rashad throughout the city, but as before, none of them had the same
coloring as Ravi. Adesina made a mental note to ask him about it when they were
alone.

Everything in the city was clean and well kept, but also looked
completely natural. The architecture looked as if it had been grown rather than
built. The L’avan people wore rich, cheerful colors, and were a happy
combination of dignified grace and uninhibited joy. The contrast to the High
City was striking.

“Adesina.”

She turned in response to her brother’s voice. E’nes and Wren’na
still had their arms around each other, but they were turned to face her.

He made a sheepish gesture towards his wife. “This is Wren’na,” he
said unnecessarily. “Wren’na, this is my sister, Adesina.”

Wren’na looked at Adesina in shock. She knew the sad story
regarding her husband’s mother and unborn sister, and could hardly believe what
she had heard.

She soon recovered and gave her sister-in-law a warm smile.
“Welcome to Pevothem, Adesina. I am so happy to meet you.”

Adesina nodded uncertainly. “Thank you.”

E’nes whispered something in Wren’na’s ear and she turned her
attention back to him. They leaned their heads close together, speaking in low
voices and occasionally laughing.

The group of travelers were moving towards the center of the city,
followed by many of the crowd. In fact, the gathering of people only seemed to
grow as they rode onward. When they reached their destination, it felt as if
the whole city surrounded them.

They came to a stop in front of a large building made from
shimmering white stone. Adesina had to look twice, because at first she mistook
it for several large trees whose branches were intricately intertwined. It
wasn’t until they got closer that she saw the elaborate stairs leading up to a
set of large golden doors.

The crowd slowed to a stop, letting the soldiers and Adesina
approach the building alone. E’nes kissed his wife again before lowering her to
the ground, where she moved to join the masses. They all dismounted and moved
towards the white stone stairs.

Adesina’s apprehension seemed to magnify with each step she took.
She scolded herself silently for such weakness, and straightened her back in a
show of pride and courage. She ignored all the people staring at her and fixed
her gaze on the doors at the top of the stairs.

There were two guards dressed in the same crimson uniform as E’nes
and the others. They saw L’iam, who was leading the company, and bowed, opening
the doors for them to enter.

The travelers crossed into a long hallway lined with white
treelike pillars and guards standing at attention. Light shone in through the
high ceilings, brilliantly illuminating the white interior.

There were multicolored banners hung at regular intervals in
between the columns, all of them different from each other. The ones closer to
the doors were clearly the oldest. Adesina could see the signs of age on the
rich fabric, even though they were clearly treated with care. She counted
seventeen on each side with the thirty-fifth hanging at the far end of the room
to which the hall led.

In that far room there were a number of people dressed in elegant
clothing and speaking to each other in low voices. A silence fell over the room
as the travelers entered.

Adesina’s eyes passed over the observers and turned to the figures
seated beneath the final banner.

Three white thrones were set there upon a dais. The queen sat on
the right, wearing a silk gown of pale blue and a flower-like gold circlet on
her white and red hair. She was beautiful, but had the appearance of one who
had been ill for a very long time. Her complexion was pale, and there were dark
circles underneath her eyes. In spite of the frailty of her physical being,
there was a gentle strength in her eyes that both captivating and inspiring.

The king sat in the middle, wearing a dark blue uniform and a
leaf-like circlet on his gold and chestnut hair. He seemed to be the opposite
of his companion, with a strong expression and aggressively handsome features.
He sat on the edge of his seat, as if ready to spring into action.

The chair on the left was empty.

The group came to a halt several feet from the dais. They all
bowed and received an acknowledgment in return. L’iam took a step forward to
speak.

“I greet their Majesties, King L’unn and Queen Ta’mala, upon
returning from the task given to my care. I also come bearing news of the Chief
Protector General.”

A murmur ran through the room, but King L’unn acted as if they
were completely alone. He leaned forward with concern written on his face.
“What news?”

“He has been taken by the Shimat.”

A stunned silence followed this statement. The king looked at
L’iam with penetrating eyes. “You are certain? How did you come to this
knowledge?”

The young man hesitated before gesturing to Adesina and answering,
“By the confession of the one who captured him.”

All eyes turned to Adesina.

She fixed her gaze on the ground and kept her expression stony.
What difference did it make if they thought her unfeeling? After what she had
done, they would not think kindly of her anyway.

E’nes shifted to stand closer to his sister, giving her his
unspoken support.

The king’s face was unreadable as he studied the young woman
before him. “What is your name, Shimat?”

It took her a moment to find her voice. “Adesina.”

His eyes narrowed slightly. “Why have you returned to Yavar when
you have so clearly betrayed your people?”

Adesina shook her head. “I did not know…”

L’iam intervened. “She is not a traitor. That is to say, betrayal
was not her intent. She is the lost daughter of Me’shan and E’rian, taken and
raised by the Shimat.”

The room was suddenly filled with excited whispers.

The king’s expression softened marginally. “What do you have to
say on your own behalf?”

There was a pause while she searched for the right words. What
could she possibly say to justify her actions in their eyes? She looked down at
Ravi, who gave her a supportive smile in return.

When Adesina turned back to the king, she felt her shoulders slump
ever so slightly. “Nothing, your Majesty.”

King L’unn raised his eyebrows in surprise. “Nothing?”

Her brother reached over and took her hand, pressing her fingers
with his own. “Your Majesty, my sister did not know she was doing wrong. She
was doing her duty, as she had been raised to do. She has since felt deep
remorse for her actions and has forsaken her order. I have seen this with my
own eyes.”

The king’s gaze swept over the others standing with them. “Are you
the only one to vouch for this change?”

Several heads began shaking, but Sa’jan was the one to speak. “No,
your Majesty. We all vouch for her.”

Ri’sel’s lips tightened and his eyes dropped to the floor. King
L’unn took note of this. “Do you not agree, Ri’sel?”

The grim man looked at his niece long and hard. He had hardly
spoken to her since their encounter in her cell. Adesina felt no love for him,
and was sure he felt the same.

He took a deep breath before speaking. “It is true that she has
undergone much in her journey to Pevothem. However, I am still wary of allowing
a Shimat in our midst.”

L’unn acknowledged his concern with a nod, then he turned his
attention back to L’iam. “What say you, my son?”

Adesina’s eyes whipped over to L’iam. How could she have missed it
before? If the deferential treatment hadn’t been enough to indicate L’iam’s
position, the resemblance between him and the king and queen should have been.

She would have berated herself for her lack of observation, but
she was too worried about what he was going to say to his father. If L’iam
didn’t think she should stay, then it wouldn’t matter that the others had
vouched for her.

The young prince looked over at her and smiled when he sensed how
nervous she was. “I believe that Adesina does not pose a threat to the L’avan.”

She could tell that there was something he wasn’t saying. The king
could also sense it, but chose to not address it at this time. Instead, he got
to his feet and slowly walked down the dais, stopping directly in front of
Adesina.

He looked deep into her eyes before placing a hand on her shoulder
and speaking. “I pardon you for your crimes against the L’avan, Adesina,
daughter of Me’shan and E’rian. You are welcome to dwell among us for as long
as you wish.”

She bowed her head, uncertain what to say. An unexpected surge of
relief put a lump in her throat, and the wild hope of finally belonging
somewhere danced through her thoughts.

King L’unn turned and climbed the steps back to the throne.
“L’iam, I will expect a full report this evening.”

This seemed to be an indication that everyone was dismissed. K’eb,
Mar’sal and A’asil left immediately. Sa’jan and Ri’sel spoke a few words to
L’iam before following. Ravi approached King L’unn and entered into a solemn
discussion with him.

E’nes gave Adesina a triumphant smile, but she was too perplexed
over her own feelings to return it.

She covered her feelings by scowling at him in exasperation. “When
you said that L’iam’s father got him the position as leader of your group, I
assumed you meant that his father was a general in the army, not the king!”

Her brother laughed freely at his own joke. “I doubt it would have
mattered to you. Besides, L’iam hates being treated differently.”

She cocked an eyebrow. “Well, he will have to get used to it, will
he not? I mean, if he is going to be king himself.”

E’nes shook his head. “No, L’iam is not next in line to be king.
He has an older brother to take that job. Although,” he paused to look around
the room, “I do not see L’on here. I cannot think of anything more important
than the arrival of his brother that would keep him away.”

A girl about Adesina’s age separated herself from the group of
people standing closest to the thrones and ran to give L’iam a fierce hug.
Based on the close resemblance, Adesina assumed that this was a younger sister.

E’nes, who was still holding Adesina’s hand, gave it a gentle
squeeze. “Shall we go home?”

“Home?” asked Adesina in confusion.

He stared at her, suddenly unsure. “Yes. I assumed that you would
want to stay with me and Wren’na. If not, there is a small inn not far from
here or you could stay at Father’s house.”

Adesina didn’t like the idea of being among strangers or of
staying at the home of the man she had captured. She gave E’nes a half smile. “Staying
with you would be nice.”