Legacy of the Blood (The Threshold Trilogy) (21 page)

Adesina felt her heart swell, and she knew the truth of his
statement.

“Some may argue that the only reason you were on the
Zephyr
was to get to Zonne, and it just happened to be during that time that we were
attacked. After all, the risk is high for those of us who choose to brave the
sea. But, I do not agree with such thoughts. I do not know why you are
journeying so far from your home, but we were brought together because we
needed each other. There is no coincidence in that.”

Satosh extended his hand to her, and she grasped it in her own.

“A bond is created between people when they experience such things
together. I will not forget that you saved my life, and the life of my
daughter.”

Unexpected emotions brought tears to Adesina’s eyes. She was still
trying to find the words to speak when they were approached by Captain Zulimar.

His brawny form was still daunting to behold, and his dark skin
shone in the sunlight. Yet, on his face was a humble and kind expression that
dispelled any apprehension.

“I have not had the opportunity to properly thank you, Mistress
Adesina. You have saved my crew and my ship. To a man like me, that is
everything.”

The L’avan was beginning to feel a bit embarrassed at all the
attention she was receiving. “I cannot express how grateful I am that you were
willing to take on passengers. You may feel that we have rendered you a great
service, but that the service you have rendered us is greater.”

A wide smile broke across his face, and he shook his head. “I
cannot agree with you, but I will not start an argument.”

The three of them laughed freely.

The captain reached up and removed a pendant from around his neck.
It was a long oval, roughly the size of Adesina’s little finger, and it hung on
a thin silver chain. It was elaborately decorated with symbols and etched
designs, none of which were recognizable to the L’avan.

“In Lotannir, my homeland, we are given these pendants when we
come of age. Each one is unique, as is each Lotanniri who receives it. When
someone does a mighty deed, such as saving a life, it is our custom that the
recipient of the deed give them their pendant—to show that their honor and
identity has been preserved through that act.”

Captain Zulimar reverently placed the pendant around Adesina’s
neck.

“You have given all of us the gift of life, and we will never be
able to repay such a deed.”

She wasn’t sure what custom required her to say, so she simply
stated, “I am honored to wear this pendant.”

The captain smiled again. “If you are ever in need of a vessel,
the
Zephyr
stands ready at your call.”

“Thank you,” she said sincerely.

The two men walked away to continue their duties, and Suvi took
the opportunity to dart up to Adesina and embrace her.

“Promise me that we will see each other again.”

The young queen laughed breathlessly. “I do not know if I can keep
that promise, Suvi, but I will certainly try.”

“I will look for you every time we are in Emerald Harbor,” vowed
the girl, her blue eyes wide and solemn.

“Be safe in the meantime,” admonished Adesina.

A conflicting mixture of sadness and anticipation swirled within
Adesina’s chest. She had grown quite fond of her new friends aboard
Zephyr
,
but she was eager to continue her journey to rescue L’iam.

Suvi gave her hand a squeeze and recited the traditional farewell
of those who traveled the sea. “May fair winds fill your sails.”

***

It seemed to L’iam that he had only closed his eyes for a moment,
but when he opened them again he was far from where he had been standing.

The forests of Pevothem had been replaced by the rolling sands of
an endless desert. The air shimmered with heat and the smell of dust and
lifelessness filled his nostrils.

“Where are we, Father?” he asked in bewilderment.

There was no answer.

L’iam looked around and realized that he was completely alone.

“Father?”

King L’unn was nowhere to be seen.

L’iam had not expected to have a constant companion through this
trial, but he was surprised to find himself in solitude so abruptly.

His heart ached with loneliness as he stared out over the golden
dunes that surrounded him. L’unn’s presence had been a balm of comfort as L’iam
did his best to cope with the imprisonment of his mind.

Now he was alone.

“What has changed?” L’iam asked himself.

He was not familiar with Dreaming, so he had no ready answer. He
had never seen a desert such as the one where he now found himself. He wasn’t
certain what that meant.

The connection that L’iam felt with his body was distant, to say
the least. If he concentrated hard enough, he could feel random sensations or
see glimpses of scenery.

Had he been on a boat?

He squeezed his eyes shut and focused all of his energy in
reestablishing the link between his mind and his body. He needed to find out
where that foul Shimat woman was taking him.

L’iam stood completely still for several minutes, giving all of
his attention to what he was trying to accomplish. It almost felt like he was
losing part of himself instead of bringing two halves back together, and he
felt a surge of anxiety at the thought. His heart began racing and he broke out
in a cold sweat, in spite of the desert heat that surrounded him.

The wave of fear broke his concentration, but not before he
glimpsed through his body’s eyes and observed the arid terrain.

So, he really was in a desert.

Was the growing distance from his homeland the reason why he had
lost contact with his father? Is that why he was suddenly on his own to face
this nightmare?

Tears sprang to his eyes and he felt his despair rising. How could
anyone help him if he was so far away from those he knew? Even his father was
unable to help him now.

L’iam’s chest was heavy and his limbs were weak. He sat down in
the sand and rested his head in his hands.

What was he to do now?

Adesina was amazed that so many people could live in such close
quarters. Jame was much larger than any city in Sehar, but it was so tightly
packed with people that it seemed small. Dust and dirt seemed to cover every
surface of the city, which contributed to the monotonous appearance of color.
Only the citizens distinguished themselves from the drab surroundings.

Adesina and her companions urged their horses forward through the
milling masses. The progress was slow, and Torith was eager to run after spending
a week on the ship. It took a great deal of Adesina’s attention to keep her
mount under control.

Eventually, they moved off of the main roads, and they were able
to move more freely. Before leaving the ship, they had been given instructions
on where to go for a suitable inn. Adesina’s initial reaction had been to
simply follow Basha’s trail, but Satosh had advised against staying in that
part of the city.

The directions they had been given were simple, and they soon
found themselves approaching The Desert Pearl. Two young boys ran out from the
stables and offered to take the travelers’ horses, leaving Adesina and her
companions free to enter the main building.

It was quite a large establishment, and relatively clean,
considering all of the dust that blew around. There was no glass in the windows
of the inn—nor in any of the city’s buildings. Instead, it was covered with
some sort of sheer fabric. It allowed light and the breeze to pass through, but
it kept out most of the dust.

Adesina assumed that glass would make the interior of the
buildings too warm for comfort. It was already much hotter than she was
accustomed. A fine sheen of sweat covered her brow, as well as the faces of her
companions. The heat had not been so noticeable on the ship, but the cooling
effect of the ocean was greatly reduced with each step inland.

The proprietor of The Desert Pearl was not a native Zonnese. He
was even darker skinned, like Captain Zulimar, and his short hair was tightly
curled. He greeted them with a wide smile and extended his arms, as if to
embrace the group.

“Welcome, friends.”

The common tongue was still used, even across the ocean, but the
accent in this part of the world made the words seem slightly slurred.

“We do not have many guests just before the stormy season. What
brings you to Jame?”

Adesina gave an easy smile in return. “We are hoping to find two
of our friends who have passed this way.”

The man nodded. “Well, Jame is not too large of a city. I am
certain you can find your friends before the first storm hits. In the meantime,
I have many fine rooms at your disposal.”

Kendan glanced around the nearly empty common room. “It was my
understanding that the stormy season was still quite a ways off.”

The proprietor frowned thoughtfully. “I think you must be speaking
of the sea storms. They do not come until after the change of seasons. Here in
Zonne we have our own worries. Every year we have desert storms that are so
fierce we cannot even go outside.”

“How long do they last?” asked Mar’sal.

The man gave a careless shrug. “A few weeks, usually.”

Mar’sal’s eyes widened in interest. “How do you survive that long
without leaving your home?”

The innkeeper gave a merry laugh. “We have the storms every year,
young man. We know how to prepare for them. But that is why we do not have many
guests this time of year. We who choose to make Zonne our home understand all
that comes with that decision. Outlanders, on the other hand, come only when
the weather is fair.”

Adesina’s concern with this new information was more pressing.
“When do these storms begin?”

He shrugged again. “That depends on the whim of nature, yes?”

“Can you give any sort of estimate? We need to find our friends
before they begin,” she pressed.

He rubbed a hand across his short, curly hair. “Ah, let me see…I would
say you have at least a week. Maybe a bit more. You can see the first storm
coming almost half a day before it hits. That gives plenty of time to board up
our homes and bring in the livestock.”

Only a week. They had very little time to track down Basha and
rescue L’iam before the storms began. How long would it take Basha to find the
Threshold? If she found it before the first storm hit, Adesina would not be
able to stop her from completing the ritual.

Did Basha know of her time constraints? Is that why she left Jame
in such a hurry?

Maizah had reported that Basha and L’iam left Jame the day after
their arrival. Adesina was dismayed at the speed of their departure. How had
she hired a guide and gathered all of the supplies she would need in a single day?

However Basha had done it, they would need to find a way to do the
same. They were still almost three days behind, and they could not afford to
waste an hour.

Than’os seemed to read the emotions on Adesina’s face and took
action. “We will need six of your beds, preferably in as few rooms as possible.
And can you tell us where to go to purchase supplies? We will be traveling into
the desert as soon as possible.”

The proprietor gave an adamant shake of his head. “Oh, no. You
cannot go into the desert now. You would not reach any civilization before the
storms begin. To do so would be death.”

“We must,” said Adesina in a firm tone. “Our friends have already
entered the desert.”

He waved a hand dismissively. “Then, they are dead. Your journey
is over.”

“We intend to go,” asserted Kendan with finality. “Would you be so
kind as to tell us where we can purchase supplies?”

The innkeeper heaved a great sigh and rubbed his hands together in
an agitated manner. “My brother owns a shop just down the street. He can supply
you with what you need, and at a fair price.”

Faryl touched Adesina’s arm. “I also need to replenish some of my
apothecary supplies.”

The young queen nodded. “You and I will go with Than’os to gather
what we need. The rest of you will stay here. See if you can find out any
useful information about the area or our intended destination.”

The innkeeper gave them directions to his brother’s shop and
offered to let them use a handcart to bring back their supplies. Than’os was
able to handle the cart on his own, so the other three simply walked along the
side.

The sun was high in the sky, and it beat down mercilessly on the
parched land. Adesina looked at her guardian with pity.

“How can you abide the heat with your black fur?”

He chuckled softly. “I am afraid I have little choice in the
matter. I am not interested in having my fur sheared off.”

They all laughed at this statement.

“Perhaps we can find some clothing that will help us bear the heat
more comfortably,” suggested Than’os.

Adesina shook her head. “We do not have much coin, and I doubt we
will be able to afford anything but the basics for survival.”

The L’avan gave her a strange look. “Have you not checked your
saddlebags recently?”

Her brow furrowed. “No, I have not.”

“Captain Zulimar left gifts for each of us. They are small, but
they would be valuable for trade here in Zonne.”

Once again, Adesina felt her chest fill with warmth for the
kindness of the sea captain. She vowed to herself that she would find a way to
repay him someday.

“Did you bring those things with you?”

“I brought the ones left in my bag and Mar’sal’s bag. They are
small containers of green dye powder from Emerald Harbor.”

She mulled over this information. “I do not know the value of such
an item in this city. How will we know if we are trading fairly?”

Than’os gave a sharp grin. “Leave that to me.”

Not only was he an accomplished soldier, but it was generally
known that he had a passion for trade. His father had been a merchant, as was
his grandfather. He often joked that trading was in his blood. That was the
primary reason Adesina had asked him to come along to purchase supplies.

The people of Jame seemed to be quite friendly. The L’avan were
greeted cordially as they walked down the busy streets. Ravi was regarded with
curiosity, but not with fear. They soon spotted the shop they were looking for,
and the owner came out to meet them.

Not only was he the brother of the innkeeper, but he seemed to be
an identical twin.

“Welcome, friends. Please, feel free to leave your cart there and come
inside.”

If Adesina hadn’t known any better, she would have thought that it
was the same man.

“Your brother recommended your shop to us.”

“Ah!” his face lit up. “Are you staying at The Desert Pearl? My
brother’s inn is one of the best in the city. He is kind to refer your business
to me.”

They entered the shop and inspected the main room. It was filled
with a wide assortment of travelling goods. There were barrels filled with salt
pellets and other strange pebbles, there were water flasks of every shape and
size, there were strange metal tools that could be used to harvest certain
desert plants, and more. Adesina enjoyed walking around and looking at all the
merchandise.

“Is this creature your familiar?” asked the shopkeeper, gesturing
to Ravi.

“My familiar?” she repeated with some confusion.

“Like the Desert Wanderers,” urged the man, unhelpfully.

“Ummm…no. He is my guardian.”

“Ah, I see.” He studied the Rashad more closely. “He is a
beautiful creature. Where did you procure him? Where does he originate?”

“We are from Sehar. He came to me when I was younger, and he
chooses to stay with me.”

A flash of disappointment crossed the shopkeeper’s face. “I
assume, then, that they are not creatures that are traded.”

Adesina gave a wry smile. “No, they are not. They are sentient,
actually, and are considered equals with my people.”

“How do you do?” asked Ravi politely.

“Goodness,” gasped the man. “What an extraordinary thing! Please,
pardon my rudeness. I have never seen your like.”

“That is not surprising,” replied the large feline. “My kind are
quite rare in these times.”

“I have heard of humans who have a deep understanding of animals,
but I have never heard of non-human creatures with equal intelligence.”

Adesina only smiled at this comment. In her opinion, Ravi was a
great deal more intelligent than most humans.

The zeal of trade gleamed in Than’os’s eyes, and he was clearly
eager to begin. “We will be traveling deep into the desert, and we need
supplies.”

“Of course, of course,” replied the shopkeeper in a jovial tone.
“But, surely you do not intend to leave until after the storm season.”

“We will be leaving as soon as possible,” corrected Adesina.

The man’s face became tight with concern. “Oh, dear! I must advise
you to reconsider.”

“Your brother has already informed us of the danger.”

He heaved a great sigh. “Well, if he could not convince you, I am
certain I cannot either. I will supply you with everything you will need, but
you will also need a guide. The desert is a treacherous place, and it is easy
to get lost.”

The young woman smiled. “Do not worry yourself on that account. We
are prepared.”

The shopkeeper led Than’os around the room, explaining which
supplies he would need, and why.

“There are few places to find water, so you will need to take your
own supply. That is the biggest burden you will be carrying. Do you have pack
horses or camels?”

The L’avan nodded.

“Then I would suggest these large water carriers. They are
strapped across the animal’s back, and they are capable of holding large
quantities of water.”

Adesina felt Faryl’s gentle touch on her arm.

“Would you mind if I go to get my supplies now?”

She shook her head. “Than’os seems to be in control of this
situation, so there is no need for us to stay.”

“Oh,” the older woman replied, “you do not need to come with me,
if you would rather stay.”

“It is no trouble,” she insisted. “After all, I need a few things
as well.”

Adesina turned back to the two men.

“Is there an apothecary shop nearby?”

The shopkeeper rubbed his head thoughtfully. “There are two that
are close. Both of them just south of here.”

She nodded her thanks and waved to Than’os. “We shall meet back at
the inn.”

He acknowledged her instructions and immediately returned to his
task.

The two women shared an amused glance as they walked away. The
street that ran south had a gentle downward slope. Their shoes kicked up dust
as they walked, and it settled noticeably on Adesina’s black clothing.
Strangely, though, none of the dust settled onto Ravi’s black coat.