Thread Skein (Golden Threads Trilogy Book 3)

by Leeland Artra

  Chapter 14

  Lessons

  Runa-Illa

  Runa-Illa sat down on a rock in the lengthening shadow of the cliff. Her head was pounding, and it was difficult to think. The sun was setting, and the desert was reflecting back the many shades of the sunset. Rainbows and bright starlight moved up the white stone cliff as the sun descended beyond it. Looking at the light patterns, she let her mind drift as the headache slowly faded. Her hand randomly selected small warm stones to toss.

  This desert is amazingly beautiful. Of course, no one risks coming this far into it to discover its beauty. If it wasn’t for Lebuin’s magic, we would die in a few marks from the heat alone, shade or no shade.

  She contemplated all the time she had there. Trying to keep track of time was hard, as the scenery and incessant walking had a mesmerizing effect. It’s been sixteen, no, seventeen days since the surprise attack by those giant predatory arthropods. Since then, nothing else had bothered the group.

  There were signs of other nocturnal creatures, but the Daggers were all sure there were none on the scale of those things. They’d found the shells of shepherd dog-sized adephagans that looked a lot like their smaller cousins, the tiger beetles, which she was used to seeing almost everywhere. The fact that the larger ones had been crushed open made her worry about what had done the crushing. They were guessing that the large carabids were the major diet of the arthropods that attacked them earlier.

  Though it had been quiet in recent days, they’d all been on high alert. Nothing moved willingly in the daytime, which made that particular attack suspicious and the subject of much debate. Other than overly large insects, the only creatures that managed to survive were small reptiles, a few varieties of more normal-sized insects, and a few species of predatory birds.

  The team had stocked up their meat supplies before entering the desert by killing a number of larger game animals, and preparing them for storage in Lebuin’s magical pack before they’d crossed the mountains. They’d also fashioned many water skins, which were also in Lebuin’s pack. Even with all that preparation, their rations were almost exhausted.

  Ditani and Malla had turned out to be an effective team for capturing snakes as they traveled. The last six evening meals were roasted snake. Illa had spied six fresh ones bouncing on Ditani’s back earlier, signaling that evening would be more of the same. Every third day, they used a few precious oranges from the pack for the ascorbic acid needed to protect them from the traveler’s disease. Vestul had some rather strange things in the pack before Lebuin had come to possess it. But there were too many specific things in there, like the huge quantity of dilotha ointment, two whole barrels of red-peppers, and another pair of oranges. There had even been sixteen empty water bladders.

  Vestul was either an extremely organized pack rat, or he expected a trip into a desert. I wonder if they came here before on one of those previous attempts from his time traveling.

  Ditani was a great cook, and he spiced up the snake meat with a number of different herbs from the huge selection Vestul had collected in the magical pack. He specifically included the red peppers in a lot of the food, claiming they’d help prevent some health problems. Most of the herbs, he admitted to her, were selected because they didn’t taste like the ones from the day before, but were usually enjoyable.

  The last of the water had been used two days earlier. Lebuin had pushed his magics, trying to gather some water, without luck. Instead, they had to settle for moving slower, with Lebuin working harder to give everyone a stronger shield against the heat.

  None of that was enough. The desert was so dry that just breathing sucked water out of the body. They needed to find water, but none of the signs Ticca or Persa had mentioned had been found. What they needed was for Ticca or Persa to be there to help them, but neither of them were alive. Persa was dead for sure, and Ticca had no chance of living that long without Lebuin’s shields. She might have made it back out to that first cave and water source they’d used, but Lebuin kept searching that area with his magics, trying to find her, and he hadn’t seen any sign of her.

  Illa would have cried as her thoughts filled with the missing people she’d begun to cherish, except that she was too dehydrated. Ticca, Persa, and Risy had all died in that attack eight days earlier. Sabri, Coedy, and Epton had died in the last attack by the Nhia-Samri, where Illa herself nearly died. And Tuage had died in the Blue Dolphin before they’d even started on the trek.

  Ticca and Persa had tried to impart as much desert survival knowledge as they could while the team moved over the mountains, but that wasn’t enough. Without them, the chances of finding water in time were dwindling.

  As her heart ached for the loss of her friends and the possibility that they might all die, she pulled out the strange carved wooden box. She hadn’t had another vision since the one just prior to the creatures’ attacking. In fact, most of the group believed the creatures were attracted to them by the shared vision, which could have been the reason for the attack.

  As she gazed at the box, Illa felt that she could sense Ticca through it.

  I would swear Ticca is still alive. Lebuin refuses to give up on her, too.

  She turned the treasure over, inspecting it. There was a catch that would depress in the Imperial sigil on the top, but nothing else happened. She lost track of time as she explored the intricate carving once again with her fingers, trying to find something else that moved or that would move with or without the one catch she’d found. The imagery on the box was almost lifelike. Clever use of shadows and optical illusions made the elven scenes animated as she rotated the box. They were tending to the land, farming, fishing, and some were working in factories. Others were clearly mages, with arcane symbols and books surrounding them. The level of detail was astonishing.

  A noise caught her attention, and Illa looked at Lebuin, who was scanning the cliff for a hidden entrance or cave. He had that silver box he’d found in the Nhia-Samri base in his hand, and he was trying to use it to discover anything useful.

  He had been playing with it on and off the last week almost constantly. The only time he wasn’t playing with it was when he was re-reading the journal, which was now opened. She knew both items confused him and he wanted to talk to her about them. But he kept his distance. Now they stood at the location of the other base they were searching for, but they couldn’t find an entrance.

  If we don’t find that base soon, we’re sure to die. Well, at least, the Daggers will. Lebuin seems to be holding up better than most, and I am, too. But I still feel the dehydration and fatigue.

  Her thoughts turned to the fact that Lebuin had abandoned them. Anger, unbidden, came rushing back in. Her heart rate jumped, and her jaw clenched tight. She saw Lebuin pause. She turned away from him as he glanced at her. She knew he felt her rush of anger.

  Urdu! Why did he have to do that? I would have given my life for him, and in fact, I did that already. I knew he wasn’t a normal God. But still, he’s a God, so how can he be so diurdu...human?

  Nigan landed next to her loudly.

  “Phew, it’s hot!”

  She put the box away and shifted in her seat to get a better look at his profile. He’d pulled down the face shield of his turban, as she had. He had the appearance of a wildly romantic character from one of the steamy books she’d read as a teenager. His face was tanned and colored artistically with the yellow sands. They were all dark, as the sun penetrated even through the layers of cloth they’d worn over their faces to protect themselves from it.

  “It’s always hot here. That’s the problem.”

  “Yeah, but did you see those heat waves bouncing off the top of the cliff? I mean, seriously, they’re playing with the light so much it’s like, well, amazing to be here to see it! We might be the first!”

  She looked up and saw that the setting sun’s light was warped and
twisted in the heat, causing a spray of orange, red, and golden beams to radiate out from the top of the cliff. She gasped at the beauty of it.

  “From now on, when I say you’re more beautiful than the setting sun, you need to remember this.”

  Her heart jumped at the compliment. But she wanted to keep him on his toes, so she gave his shoulder a friendly punch. “Don’t lie.”

  He twisted around to face her. “I’m not. You are.”

  She stared at him for a minute in silence, trying to understand how he was still happy, even after losing his lifelong friend Risy. He’d buried Risy with all the same honors and respect as Persa, Sabri, Coedy, and Epton. He’d been quiet for a couple of days after that, but then his joy returned. He was as annoyingly happy as ever. In fact, more so, since without Risy to take some of his jokes and quips, she was getting the full load of his attitude.

  Honestly, I’m amazed Risy stayed with him so long. How can anyone be so optimistic, especially under these circumstances? Her face flushed as she realized she really enjoyed it.

  “You need to forgive him,” Nigan said softly.

  She jumped at the unexpected comment. “Forgive HIM?” She started to get up, but Nigan placed his hand on her leg before she could move it. He wasn’t applying any pressure, still his touch felt like a steel band holding her in place.

  Without raising his voice, he said, “Yes, even Gods make mistakes.”

  “He was reading fantasies! He was hiding!”

  “I’ve been thinking about it. To be honest, I don’t know if I would’ve come straight back, either.”

  She couldn’t believe Nigan, of all people, was saying that. If Lebuin hadn’t been hiding, the Nhia-Samri might not have been able to track them. It was nearly impossible to cover a travois trail.

  Nigan continued, “He’s here now.”

  “Only because he feels guilty, and I caught him.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “Of course, I’m sure....” She considered and realized that she wasn’t exactly sure. Lebuin was hard to read, even with her connection. She’d felt a lot of conflicting emotions and thoughts from him. She’d tried to ignore them, but they registered.

  “You don’t sound sure.”

  “He didn’t even check on me! I was stuck in that place a long time, alone with only my thoughts. I was lost. He could have found me any time he wanted to. He didn’t want to.”

  “Did he know you were in trouble?”

  She pursed her lips and looked away. No, he didn’t.

  “Did you call for him?”

  Her head whipped around to stare at him. Before she’d thought it out, her lips betrayed her. “No.”

  “So he was sitting in a comfortable chair, drinking some imaginary wine, reading a book that let him escape into some other world where he wasn’t under the knife, and where the heroes probably always won and got their loves in the end. We all want to escape reality. There’s nothing better than a good fantasy to do that. Why do you think the bards are so popular? Why do people stop everything to listen to your singing? They want to get away to someplace more beautiful.”

  She folded her arms over her chest and huffed, mostly because she didn’t have anything to say that wouldn’t sound childish.

  Nigan smiled and leaned in to kiss her on her forehead. “Seriously, I would have spent at least a few weeks there. It sounds wonderful, and with all this speedy time business, why not? Has he gone back there?”

  She didn’t know for sure, but her gut said no, so she shook her head, not trusting her voice just yet.

  “Do you know why? I mean, we’re sleeping, so what’s the harm in popping off to read a few books every night if it doesn’t interfere with your sleep?”

  “Because that would be escaping again!”

  “In your eyes, yes. In mine, not so much. I envy him the ability. So you see, he’s trying to please you.” Nigan glanced at Lebuin. “Well, you and Ticca, probably. But definitely you. He hasn’t run, even after that fight. Did you know he could just go there and say ‘to hell’ with his body? He’d be safe from everything happening here.”

  She leaned back. “You don’t know that.”

  “Yes, I do.”

  “How?”

  “I asked.”

  That caught her by surprise. When did Nigan have enough time alone with Lebuin to ask something like that?

  “He said that?” she asked, her voice almost a whisper.

  Nigan nodded. “Yes. He learned an important lesson in that library. A lesson about being a Dagger. We all have to learn it. Doing what is right is hard, and almost always, we have a much safer path we could take. But to protect the people we love, we do what is needed.”

  Nigan lifted his hand from her leg and smiled. “You’re hurt, and you won’t heal until you forgive him for being a real person. You saw his potential when you committed yourself to his cause. Time for you to learn that being a Dagger, even for a God or his high priestess, means overcoming challenges, and it’s a lot easier with a partner.”

  Did I see only what he could be? I didn’t know what was happening. But his goals, his life, his potential were so bright in that moment. I felt so sure that I was born to be with him on his journey.

  She looked at Lebuin again, and that time, the anger wasn’t as strong. She remembered the shining beacon of power who’d taken her odassi and bent it to his will. Who’d defeated the warlord’s attempt to trace him. Who’d come to the rescue of Ticca, whom she thought at the time was his minion, when it wasn’t necessary. In that moment, it had been like the whole universe had opened to her, and she could see a line of people going back into her past and forward to her future. All the paths going forward with Lebuin were bright and hopeful. She’d chosen in that moment to serve him.

  However, Ticca wasn’t his follower. At least, not in that sense. She’d learned he wasn’t a powerful God, but a young man surprised and scared by his destiny. And yet he was still trying to grow into that bright beacon she’d first seen. It was clear that the bright and hopeful future would take work, sacrifice, and...forgiveness.

  Illa let the wall she’d been holding against Lebuin fall. She was flooded with the feelings and power she’d felt that first moment she’d beheld Lebuin in his true form as a God. Her God. The feelings and power had never really left her. She’d been holding them walled off, pretending they weren’t a part of her.

  I am Runa-Illa, high priestess of Lord Lebuin, and he needs my help to find his true potential. I serve him, and through him, Lord Argos, the All Father of this universe. I was born for this.

  As the thought occurred, she realized it was true. She was born for it in that existence, and in the other she’d glimpsed when she had the experience with Ticca. In that other place, she had long served Lebuin, and he loved and trusted her above all others there, too.

  Her mind felt like it was released from a cage, and the power that Lebuin held coursed through her freely once more. She felt so light, she could almost fly. Her face felt comfortable wearing the smile she had since choosing to follow Lebuin.

  I needed to mend myself, too. Forgiving him isn’t just for his heart, but to heal me, as well!

  Lebuin turned slack faced, his mouth hanging open and his eyes almost tearing.

  She walked up to him and gently closed his mouth with her hand.

  “My Lord, Gods shouldn’t gape.”

  “Illa?” was all Lebuin could manage. There was a great deal of hope and doubt in his tone.

  She’d known his strong desire for her to forgive him, but also his despair in the fear that it would never happen, even with their connection. She could feel his emotions running wild, like a hurricane, confirming all he’d said and not said.

  She nodded and smiled, staring into his eyes. “Yes, my Lord. We both
had a lesson to learn. I have learned mine. I forgive you. Please forgive me for taking so long to learn this lesson.”

  She felt the surge of relief and raw joy Lebuin felt. He was so overwhelmed at first that all he could do was holler with joy. Then, faster than she could imagine, he grabbed her in a bear hug, yanking her off her feet. His emotions flooded her, sweeping her away in his elation.

  When he finally put her down, Ditani was standing next to them. She looked at Ditani, and he placed his hand on her shoulder and smiled. His emotions then got the better of him, and he wrapped his arms around both of them for a quick embrace.

  “I’m glad you two have come around. Now, we might have a better chance of finding the way in.”

  Lebuin turned back to the cliff face, but Ditani’s words bounced around Illa’s head.

  Find the way in.

  She pulled the wooden box out of her pouch.

  This was made for me, by someone who knew me.

  On it, she found the lady making swords, her mother, the warrior leading a martial practice, her father, the mage surrounded by his tomes, Lebuin, and the singing lady with her head held high and a sword on her belt — herself.

  Holding the cube in one hand, two fingers and her thumb could just reach three characters. With her thumb on the forth, she squeezed the four of them together and felt a small click within the box. Smiling, she kept pressure on the figures, and with her finger, manipulated the catch in the Imperial symbol. The top slid free under her hand.

  “You got it!” Nigan jumped to look at it with her. The rest of the team gathered round.

  Inside the box was a blue silk padded cover. She had to pull hard to lift it straight up, as it was more of a plug. The pad pulled free, revealing a silver filigree-etched manilla, decorated with more diamonds and sapphires than she could count. A set of intertwining chains connected, in a triangle netting, to a matching ring with a massive sapphire, surrounded by diamonds on a twisted vine.