by Callie Kanno
Adesina had tried to estimate how much it would cost to go on this journey, but she had not anticipated staying in Emerald Harbor for a week. Their funds were dangerously low, and they would not get by long on Captain Zulimar’s gifts.
Ravi was waiting for them just outside the door as they left the apothecary’s shop. He had a small, knowing smile on his face, which always made Adesina want to pinch his ear.
You agreed to teach her.
She cast an exasperated glance at her guardian.
What else could I do?
He chuckled softly, and continued to walk without any reply.
The more Adesina considered Faryl’s request, the more doubts she developed. She had never tried to teach someone about vyala before. It wasn’t like teaching sword techniques or battle tactics. Using vyala was something that was done with the mind and the spirit. The very idea of the spirit was still relatively new to Adesina, so how could she be expected to teach it to someone who had been raised with her same sense of skepticism in regards to spirituality?
It seemed like an insurmountable task.
“I do not mean to pester you,” Faryl said with uncertainty after a couple of minutes of silence, “but when will we begin?”
“I am not sure,” admitted Adesina. “I would like to speak with Mar’sal and Than’os beforehand to get some advice on effective teaching techniques. As I said before, I have little experience.”
The older woman made a gesture of hasty acceptance. “Of course.”
Nothing more was said between them as they walked back to The Desert Pearl.
Than’os had not yet returned from purchasing supplies, but Kendan and Mar’sal seemed successful in the tasks that they had been given.
“The culture here is very interesting,” commented Mar’sal. “The natural isolation of the desert draws them closer together as a society.”
“For the most part,” inserted Kendan.
The L’avan inclined his head. “For the most part.”
“What is the exception?” asked Faryl.
“There are groups of people who live in the desert,” began Kendan.
“They call them Desert Wanderers,” added Mar’sal.
“Yes, the Desert Wanderers. Apparently, they do not associate with other Zonnese. They never venture to any of the cities, and they keep away from travelers.”
“Except for peddlers.”
Kendan agreed. “Yes, they will occasionally do business with peddlers.”
“Are they dangerous?” asked Adesina.
Her only interest in desert dwellers was if they posed any sort of threat to their mission.
“That depends on the clan,” replied Mar’sal. “From what I can gather, most of them are peaceful. They leave travelers alone, so I doubt they would hinder us. However, they appear to have fierce rivalries with one another, and there are tales of battles between them.”
She frowned slightly. “Well, as long as we are able to pass through…”
The two men nodded.
“There are a number of dangerous creatures that live in the desert,” said Kendan. “We will have to be cautious as we proceed, otherwise we could lose a party member or a horse.”
“We have also been given several warnings about venturing into the desert right before the storms begin,” Mar’sal related.
“We have been told that it is suicide.”
Adesina pursed her lips together. “Well, we cannot simply stay here and wait them out. We would be too late to stop the ritual.”
Agreement was on every face, but there was also the grim reality of the dangers they faced.
“We will take every reasonable precaution,” reassured Adesina, “and we will make sure that we are well-supplied.”
The group began to disperse, but the young queen called Mar’sal back.
She spoke quietly in the language of the L’avan. “I need your advice, if you can give it.”
His eyebrows rose in surprise, but he replied readily in the same tongue. “I would do anything in my power for you, your Majesty.”
They moved to one of the tables in the common room and sat down. Ravi moved to join them, but the others left them in peace.
“Faryl has asked me to teach her how to use vyala.”
Mar’sal immediately shook his head. “That is impossible.”
“Perhaps,” conceded Adesina, “but she wants to try.”
“I know that she is half L’avan, but I doubt very much that it is enough to summon her vyala. Our people have always kept our bloodlines pure because magical ability disappears so quickly.”
She leaned forward in curiosity. “Why is that?”
Ravi was the one to answer. “We do not know. It has always been that way, since the beginning of mortal kind.”
“Physical characteristics tend to linger, such as with L’aslo and Ed’mon and their unusual hair colors, but the gifts of vyala are usually completely gone by the third generation,” explained Mar’sal.
Adesina’s brow furrowed. “You seem to know a lot about it, especially considering the L’avan’s practice of keeping the bloodline pure.”
“The Serraf were not the first to marry mortals, Ma’eve,” explained Ravi.
The young woman redirected the conversation back to their original point. “Faryl is only second generation, though. She has mentioned that she has specific abilities that are unusual.”
“Unusual does not automatically mean magical,” pointed out Mar’sal.
“I already agreed to try to teach her,” Adesina said in a final tone. “What I need is some advice on how to go about doing it.”
There was a thoughtful pause as the other L’avan considered the options.
“When a L’avan child first begins to train with their vyala, the most common practice is to measure the child’s potential before starting with lessons.”
She leaned forward with interest. “How does one measure such a thing?”
Mar’sal’s expression became slightly helpless. “I am not sure. It is not a talent that I possess.”
Ravi spoke up. “Do you remember when you were first learning, and L’iam would join his powers with yours?”
Adesina nodded.
“Essentially, he was leading you with his own vyala until you could do it yourself.”
She remembered that day very clearly. Joining with vyala for the first time was a deeply profound experience.
Ravi continued his explanation. “When two L’avan join their powers in such a way, it is possible to sense the strength and potential of one’s partner. I do not know if you will run into any difficulties, due to her half-human side, but perhaps you can get an idea of what Faryl is capable of doing.”
Adesina witnessed a flash of images in her mind, all passing in a matter of seconds. It happened too quickly for her to sort out what she was seeing, and the result was dizzying.
She pressed a hand to her forehead, and a moment of intuition told her that she was not the source of the visions.
What was that, Ravi?
His expression became rueful.
I did not expect our Joining to become so problematic. It is becoming increasingly difficult to shield my mind from you.
“Are you ill, your Majesty?” asked Mar’sal.
Adesina waved a hand in the negative. “No, I am fine. Thank you for your help, Mar’sal.”
He took that as a dismissal, and gave a cheerful smile as he walked out of the room.
She turned back to the Rashad. “Do you often have visions like that?”
He inclined his head. “They are not uncommon.”
“What do they mean? I could not make out any of the images.”
The enormous feline smiled. “It takes time to adjust. However, do not worry yourself about those visions for now. In a few days we will both be sufficiently recovered to begin exploring the depth of our Joining.”
Adesina sighed softly. It was no secret that she still struggled with her youthful impatience,
especially where her guardian was concerned. “Well, at least you are not refusing to take any action at all.”
He chuckled. “I do not think that this is something that either of us can ignore.”
“What shall we do in the meantime?”
Ravi turned his bi-colored eyes on his young ward. “For now, focus your attention on the alchemist. The success of our mission may depend on her abilities.”
Chapter Twenty-five: An Experiment
Than’os returned with a cart full of supplies and a triumphant gleam in his eyes. “I was able to procure all of our supplies for those two vials of dye.”
They all complimented him warmly, but Kendan eyed the purchases critically.
“How do you know that you were not cheated? We have been told that fabric dye is quite valuable in this city.”
Than’os laughed. “The best kind of trade is when both parties feel they have come out the better.”
The former Shimat did not look as if he agreed, but he said nothing further.
Adesina examined the cart with interest. There were containers for water, and some of the tools used to harvest the few desert plants that existed. There were salt pellets and some of the pebbles that purify water, and also some sort of special feed to give to their horses. She also spotted dull brown robes of the style that the locals wore.
“What are these?” she asked, gesturing to the supplies she didn’t recognize.
Than’os pointed to the item closest to him. “These cakes are our food supply. They are a mixture of roughly ground grain, dried meat, and dried fruits and vegetables. They are prepared in such a way that they can last for weeks before spoiling, and they are not affected by the desert heat.”
Kendan grimaced. “Well, I suppose monotony in our diet is better than starvation.”
Adesina hid a smile. Kendan was a survivor, just like any Shimat, but that didn’t mean he was without his small indulgences. “What about these?” she asked, pointing to a set of small containers.
“These are special salves that will make our travel less unpleasant. This one protects our skin from the harsh sunlight, this one repairs any damage that has already been done, this one wards off certain insects. Apparently, there are a number of blood-drinkers in the desert.”
“I see you bought some robes,” observed Faryl.
“Yes,” confirmed Than’os. “Those traveling through the desert prefer to wear colors that will blend into the surroundings. I only purchased the outer robes, so we can simply wear them over our current clothing.”
Adesina was satisfied. “You have done very well, Than’os. I see no reason why we cannot set out at first light tomorrow.” She turned to the Tracker. “Are you prepared to continue your task?”
The mute woman inclined her head in a humble gesture of acceptance, but Adesina could sense that Maizah was strong in her determination.
The L’avan queen turned to address the group. “We should get some rest before we set out. Our journey will not be an easy one.”
They all dispersed to their rooms. Adesina and Faryl shared a room, along with Ravi, which seemed to suit the former apothecary very well.
“Adesina?”
“Yes?”
“I know that you have a lot on your mind right now, and I do not mean bother you. Truly, I do not.”
She gave a patient smile to the older woman. “I understand. Please, ask your question.”
Faryl took a deep breath. “I was wondering if there are any…exercises…that I could be doing to prepare myself for our lessons. I want to make sure that I am doing everything that I can to make our efforts successful.”
Adesina glanced at Ravi, and he raised his eyebrows in an expression that conveyed his willingness to participate.
“Perhaps we can begin by measuring your potential as a magic-user,” Adesina said slowly.
An eager light gleamed in Faryl’s vibrant green eyes. “How do we do that?”
She wasn’t sure how to answer, but Ravi came to her rescue. “It is not a common ability among the L’avan, and neither of us have ever been trained in how to do it. We will do our very best, but it may take a few tries before we succeed in getting an accurate measurement of your potential.”
Adesina was afraid that this admission would diminish Faryl’s faith in them, but she nodded as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
Connect to your vyala, Ma’eve. Do not doubt yourself.
She was fervently grateful for her guardian’s support. She reached within herself and called forth the light of her power.
Adesina had avoided using her vyala ever since the incident on the ship. She felt a wave of fear as it flared to life, just as powerful now as it had been during the crisis. The L’avan immediately pushed her magic down, suppressing it from reaching higher levels of existence.
Ravi sensed her emotions, and he gave her a questioning look. Adesina worried that he would ask for an explanation—something she was not able to give. However, he refrained from deeper investigation at the moment.
Take her hands, and allow your vyala to flow into her.
“Give me your hands, Faryl.”
The former apothecary obeyed immediately, her expression a mix of nervous apprehension and hope.
Adesina willed her power to join with Faryl’s body and soul, but there was a strange resistance. It was not the natural joining that had occurred with herself and L’iam, nor was it the blanketing effect that took place when she used her vyala on non-magic-users.
Faryl’s being latched onto the stream of vyala, but it seemed unable to absorb it. She was caught between two worlds.
“I sense something, but it is just out of reach,” said Faryl. “It is like being blindfolded at dawn—I can feel the sun is rising, but I cannot see it.”
“An apt description,” murmured Ravi.
“Imagine you are holding a beam of light,” instructed Adesina, following her instincts in the effort to connect Faryl to the world of magic. “It is not tangible in the traditional sense, but you can feel it and touch it.”
The older woman closed her eyes and nodded.
“The thread of light is connected to me, and you hold its line in your hands. You can bend it or stretch it, but it will not break.”
“I understand,” acknowledged Faryl.
Adesina felt a slight tug to her vyala, and her heart quickened with excitement. “Yes, that is it. Now, I want you to take the stream of light and do something with it. Something that you would do as an alchemist or an apothecary.”
The other woman frowned. “What should I do?”
“Anything,” encouraged Adesina. “Follow your intuition.”
There was a silent pause as Faryl searched her own mind. Then, she stood and walked over to where she kept her apothecary supplies.
She pulled out a small pouch that was filled with dried leaves, and she made a motion as if wrapping something around the pouch.
Physical movements were not necessary when using vyala, but most beginners found themselves using gestures to match their desired action.
“You must use your mind to will the light into accomplishing what you wish,” directed the young L’avan.
Faryl’s brow furrowed in concentration.
Adesina felt her vyala seeping out of her and into the pouch that was held by her companion. It was barely more than a dribble of power, but she could still sense the flow. After several painstaking minutes, the flow stopped and Faryl gasped a deep breath.
Sweat beaded on her brow, and her hands trembled as she opened the drawstrings of the bag. She reached in and pulled out one of the leaves.
It was no longer dead a dried, but fresh as if she had only just plucked it from its mother plant.
“I did it,” she whispered in awe.
A wide smile broke across Adesina’s face. “You did it,” she affirmed.
“Both of you did it,” corrected Ravi in a gentle tone.
Faryl’s eyes were still fixed on the
leaf. “What do you mean?”
“The source of power was Adesina, but Faryl was the wielder. You succeeded by working together.”
She finally looked at the Rashad. “Were you able to measure my potential? Would I be able to learn to do such a thing on my own?”
The young queen glanced at her guardian with an uncertain expression on her face. She had not felt any magic that belonged to Faryl, but she had not been able to penetrate the barrier between them. Perhaps she had simply been unable to sense the power.
Ravi, who had experienced the experiment as a bystander within Adesina’s mind, sadly shook his head. “You do not have the ability to use vyala, Faryl.”
The former apothecary looked both hurt and confused. “What do you mean? I just did it. I used magic!”
“You used Adesina’s magic,” he repeated. “You do not have any vyala of your own, other than normal amount that all living creatures possess.”
Her green eyes began to fill with tears and she sat down on the edge of the nearest bed. “Then, why am I able to…”
He moved over to sit next to her, and he leaned against her leg in comfort. “Your ability to use vyala that does not belong to you must be the legacy of your L’avan mother.”
It was clear that Faryl was trying to keep her emotions in check, but the tears flowed freely. “I had hoped for more,” she said quietly.
“It is more than what any other human can do,” Adesina reminded her.
She wiped her eyes. “I know, I know. I should be grateful for that, but all I can feel is disappointment. It would seem that Breyen was right.”
Adesina sat down on the other bed and leaned forward with interest. “Breyen?”
“My father,” Faryl clarified. “He often told me that I was a failed experiment. Part of me hoped to prove him wrong someday.”
“It would not have made a difference,” Ravi told her gently. “He would not love you as a daughter.”
“I do not want his love,” she spat bitterly. “I want to show him that he is the one who failed.”