The Threshold Child

by Callie Kanno

  He had been such a good friend to her, and now he was dying because of her. Because she had not shielded him as well as herself from Basha’s attack.

  She vaguely wondered why it was that the ones closest to her always got hurt. Her mother, her father, Hass, Jelana, Fia, Gainor, Deasa, Rina…

  Faryl.

  She suddenly thought of the gift given to her by the strange woman on the day of Rina’s wedding, and something deep inside of her told her that it was the only thing that would save L’iam’s life. Adesina struggled to her feet and hurried over to her saddlebags, praying that she had remembered to pack it.

  She tore through her belongings, searching for the small wooden container. Her heart leapt as her fingers closed around its textured surface. She sprinted back to where L’iam was lying, breaking the wax seal around the edge of the lid.

  The salve was a dark red, appearing black while in the container. Adesina dug her fingers into the thick substance, motioning for someone to hand her a bandage. The feeling of the salve on her fingers was strangely unsettling, and the color reminded her of congealed blood. She spread it on the clean bandage, suppressing an inexplicable shudder as she did so. Then, she removed L’era’s hands and pressed the bandage on L’iam’s wound.

  For a breathless moment nothing happened. Then, with a gut-wrenching cry of pain, L’iam’s whole body clenched and his back arched. Adesina’s first reaction was to remove the bandage and throw it away, but she fought against this inclination and continued to apply pressure to his chest.

  “What are you doing?” demanded L’era.

  Adesina ignored her, focusing all of her attention on L’iam. She had never been taught how to use her powers for healing, but she was sure there was something that her vyala could do for her dear friend.

  She called her vyala up and wrapped it around L’iam like a blanket. His convulsions lessened and finally ceased, allowing his body to rest. Even with this relief, she could feel the battle raging within his being. The connection created by the vyala allowed her to witness what was occurring beyond what was visible to the eye.

  The medicine was aggressive, making the healing process more forced than natural. Something in the salve worked to knit together the wound violently, instead of simply allowing that reconnection to take place on its own. L’iam’s vyala fought against such an intrusion, but the main ingredient of the medicine drew its power from his life force, making it weak.

  Adesina fed energy into him and did her best to buffer the harsh healing that she had inflicted upon him. The bleeding slowly stopped, and L’iam’s breathing became more regular. Her breath came out in a rush when she knew his life was out of danger.

  “He will live.”

  They all looked at her uncertainly.

  “Are you sure?” asked L’era tremulously.

  She nodded, weary from her battle with Basha as well as the stress of the present situation.

  “Yes.” She gazed at Aleron. “Do all that you can for him.”

  Aleron nodded eagerly and continued mixing herbs. Adesina got to her feet and staggered a few feet away. E’nes wrapped her in a blanket and urged her to rest, which she gladly would have done if she could have.

  Instead, she stared vacantly at the portion of the sky that was visible through the trees. Ravi joined her, laying next to her in his familiar fashion.

  “What happened, Ma’eve?” he asked quietly.

  She shook her head in disbelief. “I do not know. Basha has never beaten me before. She has never even come close!”

  He frowned. “Is that what is bothering you?”

  Adesina knew what was meant in his tone and hurried to defend herself. “No, it is everything that has taken place. What happened here is unacceptable.”

  “What do you mean?” he asked.

  She searched for the right words to describe what it was she was feeling. “They tracked us easily, came upon us unawares, almost killed us all…”

  He shook his head. “You cannot blame yourself every time something goes wrong, dear one.”

  “I was supposed to protect my companions from the Shimat. My insight was supposed to be enough to avoid these kinds of situations. Maybe…” she trailed off hopelessly.

  “Maybe what?”

  A heavy sigh escaped, accompanied by a few unexpected tears. “Maybe I am not enough to protect us. I was a Shimat for so very little time, I do not know what I need to in order to shield us against them.”

  Ravi looked her squarely in the eyes and said, “Ma’eve, you need to stop expecting to be invincible.”

  She was surprised by his direct tone of voice. “What?”

  “You are human, and therefore fallible. Mistakes are made, judgment is clouded, weaknesses hinder, and outside forces occasionally overcome us. Do you know why?”

  “Why?” she couldn’t help asking, even though she had a good idea what he would say.

  “To make us stronger. To make us better. Through our adversity, we are enabled to overcome all things in our future.”

  She knew he was right, but it was hard to let herself off when other people were getting hurt. “How does this help us right now?”

  His eyes narrowed at her resigned attitude. “Go forward, Ma’eve. It is too late for doubt. Trust yourself, trust your friends, and trust that you will not be left alone in the darkness.”

  The last statement gave her pause.

  She had never considered herself a spiritual person. The Shimat taught that religion was an indicator of a primitive civilization—a lack of reason and pure thought. Adesina had always agreed with that opinion without giving it much thought. Yet, over the past year, she had been faced with so much that simply could not be explained as anything short of miraculous.

  She had not yet overcome her deeply ingrained skepticism, but she was starting to feel a deeper meaning in everything around her. She could understand why people felt the way that they did about a higher power. Every time she connected with her vyala she could feel that there was something greater beyond herself. Something that, as Ravi put it, would not leave her alone in the darkness.

  This train of thought was interrupted by Aleron. He approached the two of them with a small bowl in one hand and a rag in the other.

  “I have something for your skin. It should help you to heal.”

  Adesina smiled at his consideration and nodded. “Thank you.”

  He knelt beside her and dipped the rag into the bowl. “I also mixed in some herbs to help you relax and get some sleep.”

  The herbal concoction felt good against her raw skin. Aleron applied it with great care, and then wrapped her back up in her blanket. Then he and Ravi began humming some of their favorite songs together.

  Adesina closed her eyes, marveling how effortlessly the two voices wove the music into stunning harmonies. The medicine worked quickly in relaxing her body, and she found herself drifting off into sleep.

  ***

  Adesina jerked awake when she heard L’iam stirring. She silently moved over to his side and placed a hand on his shoulder.

  With some effort, he opened his eyes and looked at her, bewildered. “What happened?”

  She smiled and touched her still aching face. “Is it really that bad?”

  He didn’t smile in return. “It certainly looks painful.”

  Adesina shrugged. “Well, it probably looks worse than it really is.”

  L’iam tried to sit up, but she immediately pushed him down again. “Do not get up. You need to rest.”

  He looked down at his chest and saw the blood-soaked cloth. “So, it was not a dream.”

  “No, it was not.”

  He laid back with a heavy sigh. “Tell me everything.”

  She did as he asked and told him everything she remembered. The Shimat attack, her ensuing fights, the red powder, her discovery of his injury, the healing salve. When she finished with her tale, she looked at him in hesitation.

  “I am sorry, L’iam.”

  He loo
ked perplexed. “For what?”

  Adesina struggled to find the right words. “For causing you so much pain. For the battle and for the salve.”

  He rolled his eyes playfully. “Do not tell me you are blaming yourself!”

  She didn’t answer, but stared at her clasped hands. L’iam reached over and placed his hand over hers. “It was not your fault. Those Shimat were set on attacking us, and would have found a way eventually. As for the medicine, there is no way you could have known how it would affect me. You were trying to save my life, and for that I am grateful.”

  Adesina felt a warmth deep in the core of her being. She wasn’t sure exactly what it was, but L’iam had a way of reassuring her in a way no one else could. When he said it wasn’t her fault, she wanted to believe him.

  L’era, who was laying beside her brother, began to wake up. She sat up slowly, rubbing her eyes. When she saw that he was no longer unconscious, she gave a little gasp.

  “L’iam! Are you all right?”

  He nodded, doing his best to hide the pain and fatigue he felt. “I am fine.”

  She snorted incredulously. “You were stabbed!”

  L’iam laughed. “Well, I will be fine. I think I am strong enough to travel.”

  His sister shook her head. “No! There is no way you are traveling until you heal.”

  “The medicine seems to have worked miracles so far. There is no reason to believe that it will not continue to do so. Besides, we need to get to the Shimat fortress as soon as possible.”

  Adesina reached over to check the wound beneath the bandage. It was still oozing blood, but not very much. The wound was also much more shallow than it had been the day before.

  She looked at him apologetically. “We may need to use more of the salve.”

  He nodded, trying to appear indifferent. “Whatever it takes to get me back on my feet.”

  L’era turned to her pleadingly. “Adesina, surely you do not agree with this madness! There is no way he is ready to travel.”

  She hesitated before answering. “A few days rest would be best, but he is right. We have a long way to go, and very little time.”

  The young princess’s expression became hard. “So you would sacrifice my brother for your father?”

  Adesina stared at her in disbelief. “Of course not. I would not allow him to travel if I thought it would endanger his life.”

  “L’era,” said her brother in a reprimanding tone.

  She hung her head, ashamed of her hasty words. “I am sorry, Adesina. I know that you have all of our best interests at heart. I just do not want L’iam to get any worse. He will push himself beyond his limit if he is allowed to do so.”

  “Nonsense,” snorted L’iam, but Adesina agreed with his sister.

  The others were now stirring, and it was time to begin the day. Sa’jan prepared their morning meal, while Aleron mixed herbs to help L’iam with the pain of his injury.

  L’era hovered nervously as Adesina changed her brother’s bandage. He cringed when the salve came in contact with his wound, but clenched his jaw to avoid making any noise indicating he was in pain.

  Everyone else seemed to have recovered from their battle wounds. Bandages were changed on gashes, and medicine applied to Adesina’s skin; but other than that, they were all ready to head out once the camp had been broken.

  Chapter Forty-two: Return to the Forest

  The travelers had to move at a slower pace, due to L’iam’s condition. Adesina rode her horse next to his, keeping a close eye on him and making sure he did not overexert himself.

  They began conversing in low voices. She told him more about her childhood in the Shimat fortress. She asked questions about L’avan history and culture, and they discussed their vyala.

  He spoke to her quietly of the strange dreams that had come to him since the Shimat attack. They were filled with shadows and snatches of sound, making him jerk awake in a cold sweat.

  Adesina was fairly certain that the source of the nightmares was the strange medicine she continued to apply to his chest, but the dreams continued even after he healed.

  It took only a couple of days for the wound in his chest to close up, but the scar that formed was red and tender. His hand occasionally strayed to that part of himself, as if expecting to find the dagger still there. His movements were labored, and he was strangely subdued. L’era treated him gently, but Adesina’s focus was more on getting him back to his former self.

  As time went on, L’iam responded to both tactics. The easy pace set by his sister allowed his body to recover, and the expectations of Adesina made him push himself.

  Adesina was so absorbed in helping L’iam that the rest of the group fell from her notice. Ravi remained a silent shadow at her side, and E’nes also did all in his power to offer aid wherever it was needed. Even then, she paid little attention to either of them.

  Sa’jan spent much of his time with Aleron, and seemed to be the only one who took note of the sad glances he cast at Adesina. He gripped his shoulder in sympathy, but could offer no other comfort to the young healer.

  Aleron soon discovered that the best way to get Adesina’s attention was to sing a song. He often enlisted Ravi, finding a song that they both knew.

  To walk in a world without definition,

  To see nothing as it truly is.

  All edges are soft when they are blurred,

  But the beauty in detail is gone.

  Stand in the haze of what is and is not.

  Breathe in the imagined world.

  Here there is safety, but nothing is real.

  Here there is peace, but no life.

  To walk in a world that is sharply defined,

  To see things all too clearly.

  Sharp, cutting edges that will not relent.

  Simple beauty does not exist.

  All is decided and to deviate is death.

  Move forward without hesitation.

  Here it is real, but all dreams disappear.

  Here there is earth, but no air.

  Adesina smiled at her High City friend. “So many sad songs, Aleron. Is that the mood you favor?” she asked with a teasing smile.

  He fiddled with the reigns in his hand. “Would you like a happy song? I could sing one for you.”

  The smile faded from her lips. “No, your song is fitting.”

  L’iam murmured to her, “Yes, very fitting. ‘Breathe in the imagined world.’”

  To Aleron’s frustration, she turned her attention back to the L’avan prince. “Are you still having those dreams?”

  He nodded, repressing a shudder. “Yes, every night. I cannot seem to shake myself free.”

  “Well, soon all of us will be having strange dreams,” said Sa’jan.

  L’era frowned in confusion. “Why?”

  He gestured to the forest no more than a hundred yards in front of them. “That is the last of the great forests on the journey south. It is said to be touched with the old vyala.”

  This time it was Adesina who didn’t understand. “The old vyala?”

  “The vyala of the earth,” explained E’nes. “The Rashad tell tales of the old world, before humans ruled. A world filled with all kinds of vyala, many of which we could not even imagine.”

  Ravi’s expression became wistful. “My ancestors lived in that world, as well as the Serraf. They say that vyala was as common as air, and that the world was filled with all the creatures that have now become myth.”

  She glanced at her guardian. “What kind of creatures?”

  A half smile touched his lips. “Their names have been lost in time, but their presence touches all of our legends.”

  He trailed off and his features became saddened. Adesina gazed at him with concern. “What happened to them?”

  He sighed. “Most of them died in the Great Wars, and many more in the plagues that followed. Those of us who survived sought refuge at the Wellspring.”

  There was so much new information in these two sent
ences that Adesina didn’t know where to begin. “The Wellspring?”

  “It is said to be the source of the old vyala. The Serraf and Rashad who did not take part in the Great Wars went there to flee from the destruction. A small group of others went with them and helped to create the barrier between the Wellspring and the rest of the world. That area is now called the Spirit Lands by those who remember it.”

  They were now on the edge of the forest which had been the cause of the discussion. She nodded her head towards it. “So these woods…?”

  Ravi picked up on this new line of thought. “There are still a few places in the world that are touched by the old vyala. This forest is one of them, the forest where you joined the L’avan is another.”

  They entered the trees, and the disembodied whispers began immediately.

  “…still searching…”

  “…standing in the darkness…”

  “…waiting to be set free.”

  “Love, like a stranger…”

  “…never to be found.”

  “…of this people yet not of this people…”

  “…greater things to come.”

  “While standing at the threshold…”

  “…leading my chosen…”

  Aleron looked around in wonder. “What is it?”

  Only Ravi seemed to know the answer. “Spirits—both past and future.”

  He didn’t understand. “Past and future?”

  “Time does not matter to vyala. Past, present and future are all the same.”

  “What are they saying?” asked L’era.

  Ravi listened for a moment before replying. “They whisper the etchings of each soul. What I hear is not the same as what you hear.”

  A realization came to Adesina. “Is that why Kendan was so affected by what he heard?”

  He nodded. “Kendan’s soul was troubled, therefore what he heard was also troubling.”

  She fell silent, staring at her horse’s ears. L’iam looked over at her, his eyes full of sadness.

  “You loved him.”

  It was halfway between a question and a statement. She couldn’t bring herself to answer. Instead, she shifted her gaze to the shadows in the trees ahead of them.