The Threshold Child

by Callie Kanno

  Adesina studied her new surroundings and was somewhat disappointed with what she saw. There were many rumors as to what this area contained, but it looked very much like the rest of the fortress. The walls were the same gray stone, the braziers were the same blackened metal, and the hallways were the same dimensions as in the other parts of the fortress.

  The corridors of the fortress were set up like a maze as part of the defenses. Everything was uniform, there were numerous doors, the lighting was dim, and it was incredibly easy for one to get lost. Even if an enemy were able to get past the outer defenses and into the center of the fortress, it would be almost impossible find the way out again. It was a common joke for older students to send the younger ones down wrong halls and make them late for class. It wasn’t very amusing for the student who was punished for their tardiness, but they eventually found themselves doing the same thing to younger students in a few years time. Adesina knew the student corridors blind, but walking down the halls of this new section of the fortress, she felt as disoriented as a new student.

  Adesina focused her thoughts on her instructions and she hurried through the halls to a courtyard almost identical to the one used by the students. At the far end of the courtyard stood a black-robed Shar, proud and tall as an obelisk.

  His hair was jet black and his eyes were almost as dark. He had a strong, serious face that was remarkably handsome. Adesina guessed he was in his mid-twenties. He was quite a bit taller than her—Adesina estimated she would only come up to his shoulders. There was a deadly grace in his air, which defied his rather muscular build.

  As she approached him, their eyes met and there was a subtle change in his expression. It was something akin to surprise, but slightly different. Adesina was accustomed to people regarding her abnormal coloring with astonishment, but this was not the same. There was a glint of admiration, or at least something akin to it.

  Within seconds the well-trained neutral expression returned to his face. “Shi Adesina, I am Shar Kendan. You are to be my charge for the duration of your training.”

  Adesina bowed to her new Shar, which he did not return. Kendan indicated for her to follow him. He led her to a room that was set up like the student quarters, only this smaller room was meant for one person rather than a dozen or so. There was a washstand and a small mirror, a small trunk in which she could store her clothing, and a cot in the corner. Kendan pointed to a set of black training clothes folded neatly on the bed.

  “This shall be your room while you train, and you are responsible for keeping it up to code. Change into those and bring me your old uniform. You will wear black from now on.”

  Adesina nodded. Color was one of the ways used to differentiate training ranks. Years one through four wore white, five through eight wore light gray, and nine through eleven wore dark gray. Black was reserved for Shar and graduated students.

  Kendan walked out of the room with a few bold strides. “I will be waiting for you in the courtyard.”

  Adesina looked around her new room as she changed her clothes. It was barely bigger than a cell, but she had never had a room of her own. Adesina allowed herself a small smile before gathering up her old uniform and leaving the room.

  As Kendan had said, he was waiting in the courtyard. He turned to face her and she detected the same brief, subtle change of expression. Adesina bowed and handed him the clothes, which he took and passed to a small servant boy who seemed to appear out of nowhere and disappear just as easily. Kendan ignored the servant, keeping his eyes on Adesina.

  “You are missing an essential year of training to specialize, Shi Adesina. To compensate, the main points of that year will be added into your training here.”

  He began to walk through the corridors and down a set of stairs. Adesina followed him silently.

  “This year you will learn advanced weaponry, languages and cultures of the world, medicine, survival in extreme conditions, accelerated problem solving, and carpentry.”

  Adesina looked at him in surprise. “Carpentry?”

  “Yes, carpentry.”

  The stairs led down until it was clear that they were deep underground. A strange, earthy scent filled her nostrils, and felt unusually heavy as she breathed it in. Faint echoes could be heard from the distance, giving Adesina an eerie feeling. Kendan led her through another maze of corridors. The stone was strangely damp and the halls were lit by smokeless lamps. She stared at her surroundings in amazement. She had no idea that all of this existed beneath the feet of training students.

  Kendan continued listing the planned curriculum. “In addition to all of this, you will be reviewing all that you have learned thus far as a student and there will be severe tests of your endurance. You will periodically be allowed less sleep and given less food…among other things.”

  They stopped outside one of the many doors. Kendan looked at Adesina with a challenging gleam in his eyes. Adesina knew that he was trying to intimidate and overwhelm her. She lifted her chin and stared back.

  He smiled at her response. “Are you ready to begin?”

  Adesina didn’t smile in return. “Yes.”

  Kendan opened the door to reveal a short, stocky man sitting at one of three long tables that lined the walls of the room. He looked up at their entrance. “Ah, Kendan. I think I-” He saw Adesina and stopped abruptly.

  Kendan spoke smoothly over the awkward pause. “Zadok, this is Shi Adesina.”

  He nodded quickly. “Of course, of course. One vial?”

  Kendan frowned thoughtfully. “Three.”

  Zadok looked surprised. “Three? Is that really necessary?”

  Kendan ignored the question and turned to Adesina. “Give me your arm.”

  Adesina held out her left arm. He pushed back her sleeve, drew a knife and cut the crook of her arm. She resisted the urge to flinch. Zadok handed Kendan three small vials, which were filled with Adesina’s blood and carefully sealed. Zadok took the vials over to one of the tables and bent over them, ignoring Kendan and Adesina as they left.

  They made their way back to the ground level, passing other pairs of students and teachers on the way. They were ignored, just as Kendan ignored them.

  He showed her a room filled with a large variety of minerals, dried plants, live plants, and other things used by apothecaries. There was also a cupboard filled with medical supplies standing next to a small fountain at the far end of the room.

  “From now on you will treat your own injuries.”

  The challenging gleam was back in his eyes. Adesina stiffened her back and walked over to the fountain. She picked up a shallow bowl sitting at its edge, filled it with water, and began to carefully wash the wound.

  Her knowledge of medicine was limited, for she had only been studying it for a year. However, treating a simple cut, such as the one on her arm, was done easily enough. Adesina dabbed a healing salve on the wound, wrapped a clean bandage around it and pushed her sleeve back down. Kendan watched without comment and then led her back to the courtyard.

  Another small serving boy stood at the end of the yard holding two scabbards. Adesina felt a wave of apprehension as she saw Kendan draw one of the two swords. Practice weapons used at the school were the exact image and weight of real weapons, but they were mostly made of wood and usually caused no lasting damage. The weapon in Kendan’s hand was very clearly a real sword. He offered it to her. “Here we practice with real weapons, not the ones to which you are accustomed.”

  Adesina took the sword and spun it experimentally. Yes, it felt the same, but she was still disturbed by the idea of using it on her Shar. Kendan drew the other sword and bowed. Adesina barely had enough time to bow in return before he attacked. Startled by his speed and ferocity, Adesina immediately took a defensive stance. Form followed form, and Adesina found herself being pressed harder and harder.

  She knew that Kendan was testing her limits and was surprised to find that she was getting angry. It had been a trying day and Adesina was tired of tests. In a
burst of energy, she did a quick feint, jabbed him in the side with her fist and knocked the sword from his hand.

  Kendan pursed his lips thoughtfully. “Some would criticize you for attacking without your sword.”

  Adesina lowered her guard. “Only if they were the one who had lost.”

  Kendan suppressed a smile. “Perhaps.”

  Then, with movements so fast even Adesina was surprised, he wrested her sword from her hand and brought it to her throat.

  Adesina stared at him in shock. “That is not allowed. I won, you must yield.”

  “Do you honestly believe that your enemies will follow the rules you have been taught?”

  Kendan sheathed the sword and did the same to the one that had fallen. He handed them to the serving boy with an almost careless expression on his face. He then motioned for her to follow and led her to her next lesson.

  Chapter Four: A New Path

  It was a full year before Adesina was called back to the Sharifal’s tower. The time seemed to pass like an eternity.

  The amount of information she had received daily was almost overwhelming. It took constant effort to retain it all. Every time she won a victory, Kendan would twist it and take it from her. She never got the same amount of sleep two nights in a row and sometimes she went for days without food. Yet, through all of this, Kendan continued to push her harder and harder.

  There was no regularity in her schedule, which was something every Shi was accustomed to having. Some days were spent on only one subject, and others covered them all. Adesina also struggled because her body was still changing as she matured. Every day was an adjustment physically, and a battle to remain disciplined and unemotional through the ruthless pace of her studies.

  Adesina’s sixteenth birthday came and went without note. Her only consolation on that day was that she was allowed three meals; however unlikely it was that her birthday was the reason for that.

  In spite of all of this, her life was not without its pleasant moments. There were times when Kendan was sweet and understanding. Unfortunately, he seemed to be nothing but extremes. When he was harsh his words and actions would border on cruelty, and when he was kind he treated her with tender affection. His inconsistency was, to Adesina, the deepest cut of all.

  His was the opinion that she sought in all things. His approval meant more to her than she even cared to admit to herself. Most of all, she felt a warm admiration for him that she often hoped he returned.

  They strictly adhered to the code of conduct between a Shar and a Shi, but Adesina was closer to him than she had ever been to anyone else. The hours upon hours that they spent together every day made it difficult for them not to grow close, in spite of the days when Kendan treated her sharply.

  It was now mid autumn, and Adesina sat in the Sharifal’s office reflecting on how her life had changed since the last time she had stood in that room. Signe walked into the office and sat down across from Adesina.

  “I have been watching you closely, Adesina. I am pleased with the progress you have made.”

  Adesina stared at her hands. She did not feel she had made very much progress. The past year had seemed like one failure after another.

  Signe studied Adesina’s grave expression. “Is something wrong, child?”

  Adesina slowly shook her head. She didn’t think she could put into words what she felt, let alone how to make Signe understand. When Signe saw that Adesina wasn’t going to give more of an answer she sighed quietly. “I have an assignment for you.”

  Adesina looked up, almost unable to believe what she had just heard. “What about my training?”

  “You have received sufficient training for what I must ask of you, and this cannot wait.”

  A brief nod was Adesina’s only response.

  “There is a northern organization that threatens the southern lands of Tunith. Essentially, it is a cult of magic users who try to force others to submit to their rule. We have been fighting against them covertly for several years. Certain political considerations have prevented open warfare. I need you to position yourself in a place where you can be of use to our resisting forces.”

  The young Shi shifted in her seat nervously. “How am I to do this?”

  Signe handed Adesina a stack of papers. “There is a city in the central lands that locals refer to as the High City. It was founded by a group of people who felt the world was too corrupt and sought to cease any sort of association. They built the city so that it is practically impenetrable and set a strict standard of living for those within the walls. Few are allowed into the city, but if you can establish yourself as a citizen there, you will be untouchable from those outside. This is the first step of your mission: to establish a solid alibi as a citizen at the High City. Everything you need to know is in those papers—a detailed background for the identity you are to assume, how to contact the local faction, and so forth.”

  A wave of uncertainty washed over Adesina. The past year of training had proven to her how much she still had to learn. More importantly, she was aware that she had never put her skills to use in a real life situation. Her only associations had been with those at the Shimat fortress. How could she possibly pass herself off as a normal citizen?

  Adesina did her best to keep these doubts from her face, but Signe sensed that something was wrong. “What is it?”

  She quickly shook her head. “Nothing. Is there anything else?”

  The Sharifal gave her an appraising glance before replying, “Yes.”

  She placed a beautifully carved wooden box in front of Adesina and opened it. Lying on a bed of deep red velvet was an exquisite sword. It was slender and slightly curved, with intricate engravings etched down the center of the blade with the greatest skill. Beside the sword was a simple sheath with the image of a diving falcon near the top.

  Signe smiled at the stunned expression on Adesina’s face. “Upon graduation every student is given a special weapon made specifically for them. The weapon is infused with a few drops of their blood, making it truly theirs and no one else's. This is your Blood Sword, Adesina. I have never been more proud to present one to a student than I am now.”

  Adesina picked up the sword with a sort of awe, the importance of this moment falling upon her shoulders. She tested the balance of the blade, which was flawless, and twirled it experimentally. It was the perfect weight and length for her, and in her hand the gleaming metal seemed to come to life.

  She placed it back in its case somewhat reverently. “What does the falcon mean?”

  A slight smile played at the Sharifal’s lips. “It is to be the symbol by which you shall be known—one who attacks from above. Now, child, kneel before me.”

  Adesina did as she was instructed. Signe turned her penetrating gaze on the budding young woman before her. “Do you, Adesina, swear eternal loyalty and unquestioning obedience to the Sharifal of our order, even should it cost you your life?”

  “I do.”

  Signe smiled. “Rise, child. I declare you a Shimat.” She indicated to the sword and stack of papers. “Go and prepare for your mission. You leave tomorrow night.”

  Adesina hurried back to her room, where she found a pleasant surprise. Folded carefully on her cot was a Shimat uniform exactly like the one she had worn for her final test the year before. Next to it sat a set of nondescript travel clothes that she was to wear the following night. She was tempted to try on the uniform immediately, but she resisted the urge. Instead, Adesina made a detailed list in her mind of everything she would need for the journey. As she was assembling a kit for her medicine she heard a tentative knock at her door.

  It was Zadok. “The Sharifal said I am to give you whatever weapons you want.”

  She jotted down a list and handed it to the bulky man, who left as quickly as he came. Adesina was uncertain what kind of preparations would be needed because she still didn’t know the specifics of her mission. She tried to account for every situation when putting her things together.


  When she had done all that she could, she settled on her cot to read the stack of papers Signe had given her. She read each sentence repeatedly until all of the information was ingrained into her memory. Once she had done this, she tried to get some rest.

  Zadok returned at first light with the items she had requested, which Adesina hid carefully in her bags. She checked and rechecked her mental list of preparations, anxious to take care of everything.

  A sudden thought occurred to her, and she hurried to the courtyard where she usually met Kendan to begin her lessons. He was standing with his arms folded expectantly.

  Adesina bowed respectfully. “Forgive me, Shar Kendan, I did not know if I had a lesson in light of my new assignment.”

  Kendan raised an eyebrow. “Why would you not? All who are resident to the fortress are students. All students have lessons.”

  Adesina nodded. “Of course, Shar Kendan.”

  He beckoned to her and walked down the corridor that eventually opened up to a large training area. As she followed him, she had an unpleasant feeling that he was going to make her pay for keeping him waiting. Her fears proved to be well founded.

  Kendan took her to an obstacle course he had set up on the range. It was arranged in such a way that Adesina could only see the obstacle immediately in front of her, and the rest was hidden from view. The wooden walls formed a kind of maze around each of the puzzles she was to solve.

  He turned to face her with the familiar challenging gleam in his eyes. “There are guards patrolling the area. You are to neutralize them without harming them. Each obstacle in the course is to be dealt with in a manner of your choosing, but you are not to influence the servants assisting on the course. At the end of the range is a box you are to return to me. Do you understand?”

  Adesina nodded, her mind already working on the task.