The Threshold Child (56 page)

“No L’avan would ever agree-” he began, but she cut him off.

“They had no choice in the matter. The Shimat are willing to do
whatever it takes to get what they want.”

Me’shan felt sick to his stomach. “How long has this been going
on? How many are there?”

Faryl became preoccupied with a piece of straw that clung to her
ragged clothing. She spoke quietly and quickly, as if speed would ease the pain
of the statement. “There are only a few of us now. I was the first.”

He stared in her direction, wishing he could see her face. “You?”

“The experiment ended abruptly about seventeen years ago. I was
never told why, only that they had a
better
experiment to begin.”

Me’shan had a sneaking suspicion of what that experiment was. His
mind ran over a hundred horrible possibilities, and he wondered fearfully what
they had done to his daughter.

“That is when I escaped,” she continued, “and I took a few of
their precious experiments with me!”

He was almost afraid to ask. “What did you take?”

She shook her head. “Just some of the work they had done with
L’avan blood.”

He shuddered at the casual way in which she said it. “Such as?”

“Well, most of it was faulty, but the loss of the prototypes
probably set their research back several years. I did steal a very powerful
salve made with the blood of one of your healing L’avan. It was the first
successful result that all their work had seen, and it was the only container.”

All of this was said with a resentful sort of pride. She enjoyed
hurting the Shimat order, even if it could not compare with how they had hurt
her.

Me’shan was a flurry of emotions. He honestly didn’t know of which
he felt most: pity for the bitter woman beside him, disgust and hatred for the
Shimat, or fear for his daughter. His mind was dizzy with the conflict, and
tears ran out of his eyes when he remembered how powerless he was to help
anyone.

“I suppose the Shimat have all of their experiments back now, and
their work can go forward.”

Faryl gave a short, unamused laugh. “Oh, I am sure that the work
went forward, regardless of what I stole. Still, they do not have what I took
with me. I destroyed most of it, but I gave the salve to a young L’avan woman
in one of my attempts to contact the race. I was hoping she would recognize how
important it was and take it to one of your leaders.”

“Did she?”

“I do not know,” she said in a voice heavy with defeat.

Me’shan strained to sit up and took her hand. “Faryl, you must
tell me everything you know about the Shimat and their experiments. Perhaps we
can find a way to put a stop to all of it.”

Although he couldn’t see it, a tear ran down her face and she
nodded.

Adesina awoke long before the others. She carefully climbed out of
her bedding and moved away from the camp. Sa’jan, who was keeping watch, nodded
to her as she walked past, but said nothing.

She stood at the edge of the trees, gazing across the open grassland
before her. The first traces of light could be seen on the horizon, but the sky
was still dusted with stars.

Ravi appeared at her side and sat down, looking up at the
twinkling heavens. They were silent for several minutes, listening to the dark
and enjoying one another’s company. The peace couldn’t last, and Adesina found
herself seeking her guardian’s counsel.

“Should we turn back, Ravi?”

“Turn back?” he asked in surprise. “Turn back from what?”

She smiled, even though such answers used to frustrate her. “From
the mission.”

His voice became gentle. “Why would we do that, Ma’eve?”

Adesina shook her head and stared hard at the ground. “The Shimat
know that I have betrayed them, and they are bound to take action. It is only a
matter of time before they come after us.”

He nodded in agreement. “Yes, the risk is much greater now.”

She barely heard him, she was so caught up in the possibilities
running through her mind. “Or perhaps they are setting traps for us at the
fortress.”

Ravi’s tail twitched slightly. “They do not know our destination,
dear one.”

That was no consolation at all. She pressed her lips together and
furrowed her brow. “It does not take much imagination of figure it out. A group
of L’avan traveling south, led by a former Shimat—there can be only one
destination.”

He inclined his head. “Perhaps you are right.”

“Of course I am right,” she insisted. “Our greatest asset was the
element of surprise, and now that is gone. The only way we can succeed now is
if the Shimat allow us to do so.”

“What would you have us do?” he asked softly.

She sighed heavily. “I do not know.”

A voice sounded behind her. “We cannot turn back now.”

Adesina turned around and saw L’iam approaching her. There was a
determined gleam in his eyes that left no room for argument.

She replied, “We may not have a choice.”

He was unmoved. “There is always a choice, Adesina. I refuse to
abandon our people now, and I will carry out this mission, even if I have to go
by myself.”

The rest of their companions were beginning to stir, so they
walked back to the camp. The same question seemed to be on everyone’s mind, and
L’iam decided to speak.

“Now that our existence is known to the Shimat, this mission is
much more dangerous. The likelihood of success is very slim. However,” he glanced
at Adesina, “we are going through with it anyway.”

Silence met this statement, and he continued. “You know I would
never issue commands in a situation like this. We would welcome any of your
help, but should any of you choose to part ways, we would understand.”

All eyes went around the circle to each of the members of their
company.

Sa’jan merely smiled. “I promised your father I would look after
you, L’iam. I cannot break a promise to the king.”

Aleron stared foolishly at L’iam. He had not known that he was in
the presence of L’avan royalty. When he realized that they were all looking to
him for his answer, he blushed and averted his eyes.

“I would like to come. I am not a warrior, but I would still like
to help in any way I can.”

“Surely you know my answer,” said E’nes. “I will not desert my
father, or my sister.”

L’era nodded her agreement. “You could not send me away!”

Adesina looked around the circle with gratitude warming her heart.
She was glad to know that they were with her no matter what happened. When they
mounted their horses and prepared to leave, a new feeling of confidence drew them
together. There was a firmness and resolution that they had not really felt
before. At least, not as strongly as they did now.

They meandered south, doing their best to stay in the cover of
trees. Forests were growing fewer, and they would soon have to travel at night
to remain hidden.

Aleron drew his horse up next to Adesina, trying to appear
nonchalant.

“So,” he said quietly, “L’iam is a prince?”

She smiled at his attempts to be casual. “Yes.”

“Are there many princes among the L’avan, or is he the only one?”

“He has an older brother,” she replied, “but they are the only two
princes among the L’avan.”

Aleron’s voice was strangely heavy. “Oh.”

After a moment’s pause, he asked, “Has his marriage been arranged
for him? That is how they do it in the stories, right?”

She shrugged. “I suppose so. Arranged marriages are rather common
among the L’avan. I have met L’era’s betrothed, but I have never met L’iam’s or
his brother’s.”

He cast her a sideways glance. “Do you have someone to whom you
are betrothed?”

Adesina’s brow furrowed slightly, wondering where he was going
with this line of questioning. “I suppose I used to, but it is my understanding
that the arrangement no longer applies.”

He looked much more cheerful at this discovery. “Why is that?”

She quirked an eyebrow. “Because the L’avan assumed I was dead.”

A flush colored his cheeks. “Oh. Of course.”

The travelers came to a sudden halt. Adesina looked ahead to
L’iam, who was at the front of their group. “What is it?”

“A ravine,” he answered.

She nudged her horse forward to take a look at the obstacle. It
was narrow, but just wide enough to make it dangerous to attempt to jump. The
thick growth of trees kept in hidden until one was almost upon it. It was much
too steep to climb down, which meant they would have to go around.

Adesina and L’iam dismounted to take a closer look. She glanced at
her guardian, who had followed them. “Do you see any way down?”

He shook his head. “No.”

As they were peering over the edge, the familiar sensation of
impending danger made the hairs
on the back of her
neck stand up. She immediately connected to her
vyala
, and sensed several figures lurking in the distance.

“L’iam!”

He had sensed her mood and was already springing into action. He
called to the others while running back to his horse and drawing his sword.

The Shimat seemed to appear out of nowhere, but were readily met
by the L’avan. Adesina found herself face to face with a pair of vaguely
familiar brown eyes. They were cold and calculating, studying her as if they
could see every weakness.

“It has been a while since the High City.”

Her memory sharpened, and she remembered where she had seen those
eyes before.

“You took my father after I captured him.”

The Shimat didn’t respond, but darted forward so quickly that
Adesina barely had time to react. She leapt to one side, hurriedly bringing up
her sword to block his blow. Three more attacks followed in rapid succession,
and it was all that she could do to avoid them in time.

Adesina stared at her opponent in shock. She had not realized how
ill prepared she was to come up against a full-fledged Shimat. He was faster,
and much more ruthless. It also became apparent to her how her relaxed training
over the past year had affected her ability to fight to this degree.

She brought her
vyala
to
bear, knowing that she would need every advantage she could get. She did her
best to anticipate his moves, but it was far from foolproof. He moved in quick
circles around her, and she anxiously did her best to keep up.

It occurred to Adesina that if she was only matching her opponent
she would lose. Her mind began formulating a plan, attempting to think of
something that he had not considered.

She made her movements sporadic, avoiding any sort of pattern. His
eyes became wary, and his stance more defensive.

Adesina used her
vyala
to make her body lighter, making her faster on her feet. She jumped up against
a nearby tree and pushed off of it with her feet, flipping in the air over his
head and landing behind him. He whipped around fast enough to evade her blow,
but he now eyed her with a grudging sort of respect.

“Perhaps it is true what they said about you.”

She refused to be distracted by anything he said. Instead she
flicked her sword at him, trying to get past his defenses.

“They said you could have been among the greatest Shimat,” he
continued, “if you had completed your training.”

Adesina gritted her teeth. “I
did
complete my training.”

Her sword met his with a sharp clang of metal. His cold brown eyes
became smug. “A Shimat trains far beyond what is taught at the fortress. Experience
turns a graduated Shi and turns them into a true Shimat.”

She knew that he was right, but she didn’t reply.

“You have been trained by us, and you are still going to die. How
much easier do you think it will be for us to kill your friends?”

This statement brought Adesina up short, and she paid for her brief
pause. He swung his sword and caught her upper left arm as she spun away.

The chaos of the battle around her was brought to her attention.
Ravi was only a dozen feet away, protecting her from a Shimat that had
attempted to attack from behind. Sa’jan was grappling with another Shimat,
bleeding from numerous cuts. L’iam was running to L’era’s aid, and Aleron lay
on the ground unmoving. E’nes was nowhere to be seen.

It was obvious that they were losing the fight against the Shimat.
Fear gripped her heart at the possibility of losing any of her companions.

Again, Adesina paid for her distraction. Her opponent threw a
small knife, which pierced her right thigh. She bit back a cry of pain as she
pulled it out and flung it back with deadly accuracy. The Shimat would have
been killed on the spot had it not been for his lightning reflexes. Even so,
the knife struck his shoulder.