Legacy of the Blood (The Threshold Trilogy) (38 page)

“E’rian,”
he sobbed. “Oh, sweet E’rian!”

Adesina
felt the depth of Ravi’s affection for her mother, and his sorrow became almost
overwhelming for her as an observer. Adesina knew through the bond of their
minds that Ravi had considered E’rian to be a rare example of untainted joy and
beauty in the world, and the Shimat had taken that away.

The
horrible dungeon scene played again in Ravi’s mind, and he shuddered anew at
what his beloved friend had experienced. Slowly, the tears on his face began to
dry as the magnitude of what he had seen dawned in his thoughts.

E’rian
had been pregnant when she disappeared, which meant that what Ravi had just
witnessed occurred shortly thereafter.

That
had been fifteen years ago.

“She
is alive,” he breathed. “Ma’eve is alive.”

The
decision was upon him, and Ravi knew it. He was being given the opportunity to
set out on a greater path that would define his entire life. Ravi knew deep
down that the path would be difficult and that he would be required to
sacrifice much along the way.

A
vision of the two paths opened before his eyes, and he saw the teenage form of
E’rian’s daughter. She stood amidst peril, and the road to her was dangerous.
Ravi could not see details of the threats that stood on that path, but they
were symbolized by a menacing darkness. The other path open to the young Rashad
was clear and gentle, leading to a life that was safe and predictable.

Which
path would he choose?

It
had seemed a simple answer less than an hour ago. Did he not crave a greater
meaning in his life? However, now that he was faced with the decision, he found
himself strangely hesitant.

The
lithe figure of Ma’eve reached out to him, and he suddenly knew his decision.
She was sad and lost and alone. Ravi knew that she was meant for something more
than what was immediately apparent. She needed to be shown her true purpose in
life.

As
soon as the choice was made, Ravi felt a strong emotional connection to the
girl he had never met. He felt a profound conviction that he would do anything
for her—he would give his life for her.

He
was now her guardian.

The
vision before his eyes closed, and he found himself staring at the moonlit
grasslands of his home. He said a silent farewell to the familiar sight, and
began to run.

Ravi
would say goodbye to his family and to Remah, and then he would begin his
journey. He did not know where to find Ma’eve, but he would not stop searching
until he found her.

Adesina
opened her eyes and looked around in confusion.

She
was sitting in the Henka caverns, and it took her a moment to recall how she
had gotten there. Her body was stiff and her bottom ached from sitting on the
hard stone for so long.

She
was uncertain how much time had passed, but it seemed reasonable that it had
been several hours since she and Ravi had begun their mind bonding.

Adesina
had witnessed Ravi’s entire life—all of his thoughts and emotions as well as
the events. She knew every small detail about her guardian, and she loved him
all the more for it.

The
connection between their minds was still open, and Adesina discovered that she
could not close it.

“Ravi?”

He
already knew what she was thinking. “It cannot be closed, Ma’eve. Our minds
will be forever linked. It must be the first stage of developing our Joining.”

It
was quite disorienting for both of them. It was as if they both had two
minds—or, rather, that they shared two minds equally. Adesina had her own
thoughts and actions, but she was also constantly aware of Ravi’s thoughts. She
knew what he knew, she felt what he felt, and she thought what he thought—all
simultaneous to her own mind.

“Fascinating,”
commented Ravi. “I have never experienced anything quite like this before.”

“Nor
have I,” agreed Adesina. “I must say, it makes me slightly uneasy.”

It
was unnecessary for her to say so, because she knew that Ravi could feel her
emotions as easily as his own.

“You
fear what this means for our independence,” he stated.

“Yes.
Are we no longer individuals?”

The
Rashad frowned thoughtfully. “I am not sure. Perhaps we can try an experiment.”

Adesina,
of course, knew what he was thinking. “I shall do something that you do not
wish me to do, and we shall see if your desires override mine.”

“Precisely.”

The
young queen cast her eyes about the room and spotted a slight ledge that jutted
out from the wall. It was a good distance from the ground, and climbing to it
would be dangerous.

Ravi
growled. “Do not be foolish, Ma’eve. You do not need to break your neck just to
make a point.”

Adesina
was momentarily frozen with indecision. Ravi’s desire for her to stay safely on
the ground was clear and strong. It was as if her own mind was telling her that
it was a needless risk.

“I
will do it anyway,” she declared stubbornly.

It
was not the first time she had done something against her better judgment. The
only difference this time was that it was also against Ravi’s better judgment.

She
walked over to the wall and searched for a handhold. It was difficult for her
to get a firm grip, but she managed to pull herself up off of the floor. Her
hands ranged over the rock, feeling for the next ridge that would hold her
weight.

Adesina
could sense Ravi approach, and she could almost see what he saw. There was a
good grip just out of her reach, but if pushed up more with her legs…

Ravi
experienced a stab of anxiety, but Adesina managed to grab the handhold.

“Interesting,”
she muttered, trying to preserve her breath.

“Ma’eve,
you have proven your point,” Ravi said in a strained tone. “Now please come
back down and tell me what you find interesting.”

That
caught her attention.

“You
do not know?”

“I
am a little distracted,” he replied tersely.

She
climbed back down to the ground and felt Ravi’s immediate relief.

“Well,”
she said, “I think we have discovered two important points of our Joining.
First of all, with the correct amount of focus, I can see what you see. It is
not a clear picture, but enough that I can make use of it.”

Her
guardian’s eyes narrowed thoughtfully. “Hmmmm, I wonder if that can be
developed.”

“Second,”
she continued, “you do not automatically know my thoughts. You can still shut
them out or override them with thoughts of your own.”

Ravi
added, “We have also learned that we are still individuals with independent
decision-making skills.”

“I
am relieved that is the case,” admitted Adesina, and she knew that Ravi felt
the same.

“There
is something else that I noticed.” Ravi settled back on his haunches. “I could
sense the strain of your arms as you climbed. If it is possible for me to share
in your physical exertion, it might also be possible for us to share physical
strength.”

Adesina
grinned with excitement. “Shall we explore the possibilities?”

Ravi’s
returning smile reflected her enthusiasm.

“Yes,
I think we should.”

***

Three
days had passed since Adesina and Ravi had begun their training, and the young
queen was finally feeling like they were making some progress.

The
resources of the empty cavern were limited, and so their training was hindered.
Normally such circumstances would have left Adesina feeling frustrated, but the
sand storms left them with little else to do with their time.

Early
in the morning on the fourth day, the L’avan and her guardian pushed aside the
curtain to their sleeping quarters and saw Kendan standing in the tunnel
outside. His expression was expectant, as if he had been waiting for them.

“Good
morning, Adesina. Good morning, Ravi.”

“Good
morning,” they responded.

“Would
you come with me, please? I have something to show you.”

Kendan
led them through the residential section of the settlement and then up a set of
stairs. The sound of the storms grew louder, and Adesina exchanged a confused
glance with her Rashad companion.

The
top of the stairs opened to a large area that looked almost like an obstacle
course that had been carved from the rocks. Sturdy sheets of canvas covered the
openings that led to the outside world, and the wind could be heard howling loudly.
Even with the coverings, the air of the room seemed hazy with dust. Adesina’s
throat began to feel dry from breathing it in.

“This
is where the Henka warriors are trained,” explained Kendan. “It is not used
during the storms, due to the unceasing noise and the dusty air. If you wore
something to cover your mouth, though, it would be a valuable place for you to
continue your training.”

“How
do you know we have been training?” Adesina asked cautiously.

Kendan
raised an eyebrow at her. “I am not blind, Adesina. You have spent the last day
and a half running in circles and attempting to climb walls. This area will
allow you to be more effective in…whatever you are doing.”

She
knew he was right. Adesina looked over the area with interest and took note of
the new possibilities.

It
seemed that the Henka focused quite a bit on developing agility. There were a
number of exercises that focused on jumping, climbing, and fast footwork. There
was also a small maze that could be used in teaching stealth techniques, as
well as how to avoid being caught by surprise.

“This
is perfect,” Adesina declared with a smile.

Kendan
grinned. “I thought you would like it. There is one more thing I would like to
offer to you.”

“Oh?”

He
placed a hand on his chest. “My services as a training instructor.”

Adesina
stared at him with wide eyes. “What?”

“I
have quite a bit of experience, as you know. I would be a valuable asset to you
in this matter.”

Ravi
frowned slightly. “You do not know the purpose of our training. How can you
help if you do not know such essential information?”

Kendan’s
self-assured expression faltered. “That would make it more difficult,
certainly. I would not wish to force your confidence in the matter, but I might
still be of assistance. There are basic principles that are useful in almost
any situation.”

Adesina
glanced at her guardian.

You
do not wish to tell him about our Joining.

You
hesitate as well.

It
might be wise to wait to tell anyone.

I
agree.

The
exchange took a fraction of a second.

“I
told you that I trust you, Kendan, and I do. However, there are things that I
cannot tell you right now.”

It
was clear by the look on his face that he was disappointed, but he responded
without hesitation. “I understand.”

“Would
you still be willing to help us train?”

“Of
course,” he replied. “After all, it is the Shimat way to only reveal what is
necessary to one’s subordinates.”

His
comment stung Adesina.

“It
was not my intention to imitate Shimat practices,” she said slowly.

He
shrugged. “It may not have been your intention, but it is not easy to suppress
a lifetime of teachings.”

“Difficult,”
asserted Ravi, “but not impossible. That is something you would do well to
remember in days to come.”

Adesina
was ever-present in Ravi’s mind, and she could see the flash of a vision that
passed before the Rashad’s eyes. The vision showed Kendan standing before an
open door with Signe barring the way.

The
young queen was not certain if it was a literal representation or a symbolic
one, but she suddenly feared for her former teacher.

Kendan
noticed the change in Adesina’s expression, and his brow wrinkled in
contemplation. After a few moments, he cleared his throat. “Shall we begin?”

They
started with a series of basic exercises—running up inclines, climbing over
obstacles, and zigzagging between barriers. Ravi stood at a vantage point to
oversee the upcoming challenges, which gave Adesina a rough idea of what to
expect before she saw them herself. Ravi also fed his strength into Adesina,
which extended her stamina.

Adesina’s
memories of training with Kendan had become softened over the years, but he was
quick to remind her of his ruthless pace and unforgiving standard of
perfection.

“Sloppy,”
he snapped. “Do it again.”

Even
with Ravi’s supporting strength, the young queen found herself breathing
heavily. “I have not had formal training for seven years, Kendan.”

“Is
that going to be your excuse for everything?” he sneered.

She
felt her temper begin to warm at his goading. “No,” she replied in a tightly
controlled tone, “but it will take time for me to reach my former abilities.”

“Time
is wasted if you are not giving your best,” was his only response. “Do it
again.”

Adesina
grew increasingly frustrated and angry. It was only Ravi’s constant soothing in
her mind that kept her from lashing out at her former Shar.

His
methods are harsh, but we are making progress.

Are
we?

Yes,
dear one. Our control over how much strength and vision that we share is
growing more refined. When we began this training, your physical exertion was
an automatic drain on my strength. Now we can control the flow.

She
had to admit that it was true. Their shared vision was not perfect, but it was
not nearly as blurry as it had been in the beginning. They were also learning
to regain a measure of privacy from each other, if they wished to shield their
thoughts.

“Again,”
Kendan shouted.

I
might throw a rock at his head…

Adesina
felt Ravi’s amusement, which didn’t help her mood.

She
sprinted forward and vaulted over the series of small rock formations scattered
across the room. Ravi’s watchful eye helped her to measure each block so that
no energy was wasted by jumping too high or too far.

When
that was finished, Kendan sent her into a rock maze to see how quickly she
could solve it. At first, Adesina was confused by the change of focus in the
training. It wasn’t until she got a flash of Ravi’s perspective that she
understood.

Hidden
in a dark crevice, Kendan waited for her to come around a corner. He held a rod
about a meter long, and his arm was raised to strike.

Under
normal circumstance, there would have been no way for Adesina to anticipate the
attack. However, these were not normal circumstances.

The
young L’avan whipped around the corner and grabbed Kendan’s arm, throwing him
off balance and bringing him to his knees.

The
expression of shock on his face made her want to chuckle.

“How…?”

She
helped him back on his feet and gave a cocky grin. “Why not see if you can
figure that out?”

Kendan’s
dark eyes gleamed, and he accepted the challenge with a single nod.