by Callie Kanno
It was L’iam.
Adesina’s heart stopped. Her stomach felt as though it was filled with weights and she struggled to draw breath. Her mind refused to process what her eyes were seeing. Why was her husband attacking her?
He was already on the move. He vaporized the remaining debris with a wave of pure energy, and he reached up to the sky. The smell of ozone permeated Adesina’s nose, and dozens of bolts of lightning struck the ground haphazardly. Adesina called on all the energy she had left to protect her friends as well as herself by casting a magical barrier over them.
“L’iam, stop!”
Her entire body trembled with emotion that threatened to overpower her. L’iam had never even raised his voice to her, let alone made her feel unsafe. She had never seen him use his powers to such a magnitude, and she never would have guessed that her gentle husband had such destructive ability within him.
“L’iam!”
The L’avan king didn’t respond to her shouts. He continued to throw everything he had at her, as if intent on seeing her obliterated. Adesina, on the other hand, stopped attacking and focused all of her power on defense. She would not hurt her husband if she could help it.
“Please, stop,” she begged. “Something is wrong with you. You are not yourself.”
L’iam continued to hurl his magic in her direction with dangerous perseverance.
Her voice started to break, and tears blurred her vision. “L’iam, it is Adesina. Your wife!”
Still no response.
Her mind was overwhelmed with desperation. How could she bring him back to himself? There had to be a way to save him from whatever had been done.
Out of the corner of one eye, Adesina could see the Shimat that Kendan had been fighting limping away as quickly as possible. Her hood and scarf had been removed, and the young queen could recognize the hateful face of Basha.
The Shimat gestured to L’iam, and he instantly ceased his attacks. He paused to pick up the pieces of his mask, and then he followed Adesina’s greatest enemy as they made their escape.
Adesina struggled to call upon her vyala, but she was far too weak. She had expended all of her powers in the struggle with her husband, and she could barely keep herself from collapsing. The plant life around them had died, due to the extreme drain of its life force. She could feel the grass crackling as she sunk down in a heap.
Blackness slowly covered her vision, as she gave one more futile attempt to chase after the man she loved.
Adesina tried to get to her feet, but her legs refused to respond. She held out a shaking hand to his retreating form.
“L’iam…”
Chapter Seven: Deeds of the Alchemist
As Adesina slowly returned to consciousness, every detail of her battle returned to her with heartbreaking clarity. She wished she could erase it from her memory.
“Adesina?” came a soft voice.
She opened her eyes and saw Kendan’s concerned face hovering above her own.
“How do you feel?”
The young woman did an assessment of her physical well-being. The pain in her legs and feet was completely gone. She was still exhausted, but she knew that she could go on.
As for her emotional well-being…
Tears sprang to her eyes before she could stop them.
What had happened to her beloved L’iam? It did not seem possible that he could ever do something so violent—especially against her. She was so confused, and her heart felt as though it had been ravaged.
She wanted to deny L’iam’s involvement in the attack. She wanted to preserve him as a figure of unchangeable loyalty and integrity. She wanted to pretend that none of it had happened…and yet, she knew she couldn’t.
If Kendan noticed the tears in her eyes, he allowed her the dignity of pretending not to see them. Adesina knew she shouldn’t care what her former teacher thought, but her pain was too deeply personal for her to wish for anyone to see it.
He helped her to sit up, and she saw Mar’sal slumped at her feet. His eyes were barely open.
“What happened to him?” she asked, rushing forward to feel his pulse.
“I gave him a stimulant to awaken him, because he needed to heal you.”
“You could have killed him,” she snapped.
She connected to her vyala and searched the surrounding area. The ground and air around them was dangerously low in energy. She had used too much in her fight with L’iam, and the balance had been disturbed.
Adesina reached further out, towards the lake and the land beyond the hills. She used the energy found there to restore some of the balance of the land she had drained. The grass did not return to its previous shade of green, but it was still alive. It would grow back in time.
She then revived all of the members of their party, including the horses. She didn’t use enough to bring them to full strength, but they would recover after a full night’s sleep.
Ravi was clearly unhappy about being rendered unconscious and unable to protect Adesina during the fight. He kept close to her side, as if determined that it should never happen again.
“Ma’eve, are you hurt?” asked her guardian.
She gestured to the recovering Mar’sal. “I have been healed. Do not worry, my friend. It was my fault for not spotting the danger sooner.”
Adesina turned back to Kendan, and she could see the anger in his eyes from her previous accusation. She knew that he had only wanted to save her life. He had attacked Basha, forever branding himself as a traitor in the eyes of the Shimat. He had offered to help them rescue L’iam with no request for reward. He did not deserve her rudeness.
“I am sorry, Kendan.”
“I was very careful in the amount of herbs I gave him,” he said stiffly.
She shook her head. “I do not doubt it. However, our powers use our life force, and we can die if we use too much.”
Understanding dawned in his eyes, and regret tinged his expression. “I did not know that.”
Than’os shakily got to his feet. “What happened?”
“We were attacked,” explained Adesina. “There was a magic-user that rendered you all unconscious.”
“A magic-user?” asked Mar’sal, his wan face filled with incredulity. “How is that possible?”
Kendan glanced at Adesina before making a casual gesture with his hands. “The L’avan are not the only magic-users in the world.”
Maizah, who was sitting quietly by the resting horses, nodded in support of Kendan’s statement.
It appeared that Kendan was giving Adesina a way out of the truth, and part of her wanted to take it. It pained her to do anything that would alter the way the others viewed her husband.
She shook her head. It was not right to lie to her companions. They deserved to know the truth, even if it hurt her to admit it.
“But it was a L’avan. It was L’iam.”
The words were like poison in her mouth, but she knew that she had to say them.
Ravi stiffened visibly, his golden eyes searching her face to read her emotions. Than’os and Mar’sal stared at her, dumbfounded.
“That is impossible.”
“Why would he attack us?”
Adesina took note of Kendan’s careful expression, and she turned to confront him. “You knew about this. You knew that Basha had taken him.”
“I considered it very likely,” he replied evasively.
A wave of anger swept over her, and she took several deep breaths in order to stay calm. “Why did you not tell me?”
“My position in the Shimat order exposed me to hundreds of rumors every single day. Plots, intrigues, alliances, conspiracies—most of which have no real substance. Do you expect me to tell you everything I have ever heard concerning the L’avan?”
Adesina clenched her fists tightly at her side, restraining herself from punching Kendan in the face. “I would think that a rumor concerning my husband might be worth sharing.”
Faryl had gone pale listening to th
is exchange. “Was he following the orders of a Shimat?”
All eyes turned to the frail woman.
Adesina sensed that she was about to receive some very bad news, and she was not certain she was prepared for it. “Yes,” she said quietly.
Kendan indicated that they should all sit down. “Faryl, please tell these people about your work for the Shimat order.”
The former apothecary studied her twisting hands as if she were trying to decide where to begin.
“The Shimat have always craved power. It was not enough that they overthrew the monarchy in this land or that they influence the leaders of every city. They want to be invincible. Their attention was soon drawn to magic, and they wanted to make it their power alone.”
Mar’sal snorted. “That is impossible. No one can hoard vyala.”
She inclined her head. “That does not mean that the Shimat are not willing to try. At first they tried recruiting magic-users, but their overtures were rebuffed. There was a moral code inherent in the magic-users of the day, and they would have nothing to do with such an organization.”
Adesina nodded. She had heard a similar story when she had been told the history of her people. It was because of this decision that the Shimat had gone to such lengths to make others fear the L’avan.
“After that, they began their studies of magic. They wanted to understand everything about it, so they could discover how to create their own.”
“Artificial magic?” asked Ravi.
“Yes,” Faryl said. “They have been studying magic and conducting experiments for generations. Some attempts have come close, but none have been enough to satisfy the Shimat.”
She took a deep breath. “They have found that magic is a trait that is passed through bloodlines, and so they began to attempt to breed Shimat magic-users.”
Adesina felt nauseated by the implication. “Do you mean…?”
“The children born from a L’avan father had no indication of any magical ability, but the children born from a L’avan mother showed signs of potential.” Faryl lowered her eyes in shame. “I am one of those children.”
All of the L’avan were clearly shocked and sickened. There were several moments of silence as they all composed themselves.
“What does this have to do with our king?” asked Than’os.
Faryl finally looked up, her vibrant green eyes glittering in the light. “I have never been able to use magic, strictly speaking. However, I have a deep understanding of nature and the elements. I know how to combine herbs precisely to obtain rare results. This is what made me an exceptional apothecary. Unfortunately, my intuition also made me an invaluable asset to the Shimat.
“I could do things with their experiments that they could not have imagined. My results were unique and powerful. They believed that if I were given the proper materials, I could create anything. That is why they began calling me an alchemist.”
Ravi’s brow furrowed thoughtfully. “Given those circumstances, I am surprised that you ever escaped.”
“More than two decades ago, the breeding experiment came to an end. They captured a full-blooded L’avan infant, and a new experiment began. I was still developing my skills, so I was considered less important back then.”
All gazes flickered in Adesina’s direction, and she felt her chest constrict. She had been that infant, and her whole life had changed its course on that tragic day.
Faryl took note of the shift in emotion, but she did not know its significance. She did not know the details of Adesina’s past. Maizah also seemed aware of the change, but her eyes remained fixed on the ground in habitual subservience.
The former apothecary continued her narration. “I found that if I dropped certain herbs on the ground, the fumes released when stepped upon would render the closest people unconscious. I also found that if I chewed a different herb, I would remain alert despite breathing in those same fumes. I used this knowledge to escape my captors, and I did everything in my power to hide from the Shimat. I settled in the High City after moving constantly for five years. I didn’t intend to stay for long, but it seemed that I would be safe there. I grew careless over time, and I was discovered.”
“And that is when you were recaptured,” concluded Adesina.
She inclined her head. “Yes, but that is not the end of this story, I am afraid. As I told you before, I bargained for the life of Me’shan and I agreed to continue my work for the Shimat. I had honed my abilities quite well during my time in the High City, and they were impressed by my research notes. They set me to work on various experiments, and soon I was given access to all of their most valuable resources.”
Here she hesitated, reluctant to go on.
“I was given two vials of L’avan blood with which to experiment—the only blood to have ever been given willingly.”
Adesina leaned forward. “Why would that make a difference?”
“The magic in the blood is more potent when given of free will. Blood taken by force is muted, at best.”
The young queen’s pulse began to race and a feeling of dread filled her mind. She was almost afraid to ask the question that came next. “What did you do with that blood?”
Faryl took a deep breath and closed her eyes. “I created a potion that erases the mind of the one who drinks it. They are bound to the giver of the potion, and must follow their every command.”
The color drained from Adesina’s face and she struggled to find her voice. “Why would you do such a thing?”
“I created many terrible things during my imprisonment,” the alchemist whispered. “It was just one more assignment.”
“Basha has forced your king to take that potion,” Kendan explained unnecessarily.
“It was your blood in the vial,” Faryl said suddenly, her gaze on Adesina.
The queen nodded numbly.
“And that means that you were the L’avan child that was captured all those years ago,” she continued.
“Yes.”
Kendan appeared to be the only one to have known all of the pieces of the story beforehand. He spoke quietly, but with conviction. “I knew that Basha would try to kill Faryl, since she is the one who created the potion. That is why Basha was at that Shimat post, and that is why she followed us.”
“Why does that matter?” asked Mar’sal.
“Because,” Kendan replied with emphasis, “Faryl created the potion. Therefore, she can create an antidote.”
Chapter Eight: Doubt
After a full night’s rest, the group was ready to begin traveling again. They were at least a day behind Basha and L’iam, and so they were eager to leave in the morning.
Maizah sat upon her horse with her eyes closed, gathering L’iam’s magical “scent” in her mind and memorizing it. After several minutes, she pointed southeast and began riding.
The others followed her without hesitation. Kendan and Adesina—with Faryl sharing Torith’s saddle—rode immediately behind the Tracker, with Than’os and Mar’sal bringing up the rear. Ravi scouted around them, appearing occasionally to indicate that there was nothing out of the ordinary.
They made their way down and around the lakes, following the river that drained out of it. Kendan told them that there was a bridge across the river to the south, so they agreed to head in that direction.
Faryl was recovering rapidly from her ordeal. She was still very thin, but the color was returning to her cheeks. Her eyes had lost their deadened appearance, and she was regaining her fiery personality. She and Than’os had several lively discussions about the merits of different plants and which would serve better in certain situations.
“Wolfwort roots are the more obvious choice for treating skin irritation,” said Faryl in a dismissive tone, “but they are not the best one.”
“What could be better?” argued Than’os. “It serves as a soothing element as well as a healing one.”
“Fairyfeather leaves are much better for any skin malady.”
The L�
��avan snorted. “That is all well and good, if you happen to live near an ancient forest with temperate weather all year. Fairyfeather plants are too delicate to grow anywhere else. Wolfwort is a hearty plant that will grow under any condition. That is more valuable for common use.”
“We are not discussing common use,” Faryl replied loftily. “We are discussing the superior remedy, which would be fairyfeather leaves.”
Mar’sal chuckled as Than’os glowered. “I am afraid you are out of your ability in arguing with this one, old friend.”
Than’os refused to give up so easily. “A remedy that is practically impossible to find can hardly be called a remedy at all.”
“What would you call it, then?” she asked in exasperation.
“A waste of time,” he snapped back.
The others laughed at the two debaters, and the subject was discreetly changed. Adesina hadn’t known Than’os to be such an avid botanist.
In spite of these active moments, Faryl was still prone to heavy silence when left to her own thoughts. She would cast bleak glances at Adesina and Kendan, as if there was something terribly wrong.
On their fourth day of travel, Adesina finally approached the woman after their evening meal. They camped near a copse of trees, and the darkening sky was clear and already brilliant with appearing stars. It would have been natural for anyone to sit alone and gaze at the heavens, but Faryl’s solitude appeared much less pleasant.
“What is it, Faryl? There is clearly something on your mind.”
She shook her head at first, declining to explain, but the young queen settled down next to her with a determined look on her face.
“I am concerned that Kendan may be placing too much faith in my abilities.”
Adesina felt a cold fist close around her heart. Her hopes of rescuing L’iam were tied to Faryl’s abilities as an alchemist, and even a hint of doubt filled Adesina with dread. “What do you mean?” she asked quietly.