Legacy of the Blood (The Threshold Trilogy) (22 page)

They found the two apothecary shops without any trouble, and
approached the one that was closest to them.

“I will wait out here, Ma’eve,” announced Ravi without warning.

She looked at her guardian in surprise. “Are you certain?”

He smiled at her knowingly. “Yes.”

With a shrug, she followed her other companion into the shop. They
were met by a variety of scents, and Faryl immediately smiled as if she had
come home.

The apothecary was busy helping another customer, but he called
out a greeting and smiled at them.

“Adesina,” Faryl said hesitantly, “I am glad to have the
opportunity to talk to you alone. There is something I have been meaning to ask
you.”

“Oh? What is it?”

The older woman ran her fingers through a barrel of exotic seeds
as she carefully chose her words.

“I was wondering if it would be possible for you to teach me how
to use magic.”

Adesina was dumbstruck.

“What?”

“I was wondering if you would teach me how to use magic,” repeated
Faryl.

The young queen hesitated, trying to word her answer as delicately
as she could. “I think you know the answer to that, Faryl. Magic is not
something you can learn, unless you already have the ability.”

“Yes, but I
might
have the ability. My mother was L’avan.”

Adesina slowly shook her head. “I do not know if that is enough.
You have not shown any signs of being able to wield
vyala
up to this
point in your life…”

The older woman’s voice took on a pleading note. “I know I have
not, but there have been times when I have felt that I could do it if I just
knew
how
.”

Adesina gave a quiet sigh, and gently fingered the leaf of a
nearby plant. “What if you are not able to learn?”

“Then, I will give it no more thought,” she replied staunchly.

In spite of her brave words, the L’avan knew that this was Faryl’s
dearest wish. Adesina had seen the longing in her eyes whenever
vyala
was used, and Faryl’s stories of her own life were tinged with the desire to be
more than merely human. Faryl might put on a show of acceptance, but it would
break her heart to be told that she could never be one of the L’avan.

“It might be better for Than’os or Mar’sal to teach you. In
reality, I am still learning, myself.”

The former apothecary shook her head adamantly. “I know enough
about your culture to understand that you are able to do things that other
L’avan would consider impossible. That is what I need right now—the
impossible.”

Adesina didn’t feel any more confident. She had never been told
that what she was doing was impossible, so it wasn’t as if she was overcoming
barriers of her own accord.

“I will try to help you, but I must warn you that I do not think
we will be successful.”

A hopeful gleam flashed in Faryl’s vibrant green eyes. She tried
to keep her expression calm, but she was not able to hide her excitement. “Of
course,” she said somberly. “Thank you.”

The two women went about their shopping in relative silence.
Faryl’s expression was filled with all of the possibilities of the future.
Adesina’s mind was attempting to recall the most effective methods that had
taught her how to consciously summon her own
vyala
.

They had just enough coin between the two of them to cover their
purchases. Adesina worried about what they would do when they ran out of money
and valuables to trade. The L’avan were not as wealthy as they had once
been—most of their resources had been used to rebuild after the attack. They
had needed to purchase livestock and seeds from nearby farmers in order to
survive, and the farmers had not hesitated to take advantage of their
desperation.

Adesina had tried to estimate how much it would cost to go on this
journey, but she had not anticipated staying in Emerald Harbor for a week.
Their funds were dangerously low, and they would not get by long on Captain
Zulimar’s gifts.

Ravi was waiting for them just outside the door as they left the
apothecary’s shop. He had a small, knowing smile on his face, which always made
Adesina want to pinch his ear.

You agreed to teach her.

She cast an exasperated glance at her guardian.

What else could I do?

He chuckled softly, and continued to walk without any reply.

The more Adesina considered Faryl’s request, the more doubts she
developed. She had never tried to teach someone about
vyala
before. It
wasn’t like teaching sword techniques or battle tactics. Using
vyala
was
something that was done with the mind and the spirit. The very idea of the
spirit was still relatively new to Adesina, so how could she be expected to
teach it to someone who had been raised with her same sense of skepticism in
regards to spirituality?

It seemed like an insurmountable task.

“I do not mean to pester you,” Faryl said with uncertainty after a
couple of minutes of silence, “but when will we begin?”

“I am not sure,” admitted Adesina. “I would like to speak with
Mar’sal and Than’os beforehand to get some advice on effective teaching
techniques. As I said before, I have little experience.”

The older woman made a gesture of hasty acceptance. “Of course.”

Nothing more was said between them as they walked back to The
Desert Pearl.

Than’os had not yet returned from purchasing supplies, but Kendan
and Mar’sal seemed successful in the tasks that they had been given.

“The culture here is very interesting,” commented Mar’sal. “The
natural isolation of the desert draws them closer together as a society.”

“For the most part,” inserted Kendan.

The L’avan inclined his head. “For the most part.”

“What is the exception?” asked Faryl.

“There are groups of people who live in the desert,” began Kendan.

“They call them Desert Wanderers,” added Mar’sal.

“Yes, the Desert Wanderers. Apparently, they do not associate with
other Zonnese. They never venture to any of the cities, and they keep away from
travelers.”

“Except for peddlers.”

Kendan agreed. “Yes, they will occasionally do business with
peddlers.”

“Are they dangerous?” asked Adesina.

Her only interest in desert dwellers was if they posed any sort of
threat to their mission.

“That depends on the clan,” replied Mar’sal. “From what I can
gather, most of them are peaceful. They leave travelers alone, so I doubt they
would hinder us. However, they appear to have fierce rivalries with one
another, and there are tales of battles between them.”

She frowned slightly. “Well, as long as we are able to pass
through…”

The two men nodded.

“There are a number of dangerous creatures that live in the
desert,” said Kendan. “We will have to be cautious as we proceed, otherwise we
could lose a party member or a horse.”

“We have also been given several warnings about venturing into the
desert right before the storms begin,” Mar’sal related.

“We have been told that it is suicide.”

Adesina pursed her lips together. “Well, we cannot simply stay
here and wait them out. We would be too late to stop the ritual.”

Agreement was on every face, but there was also the grim reality
of the dangers they faced.

“We will take every reasonable precaution,” reassured Adesina,
“and we will make sure that we are well-supplied.”

The group began to disperse, but the young queen called Mar’sal
back.

She spoke quietly in the language of the L’avan. “I need your
advice, if you can give it.”

His eyebrows rose in surprise, but he replied readily in the same
tongue. “I would do anything in my power for you, your Majesty.”

They moved to one of the tables in the common room and sat down.
Ravi moved to join them, but the others left them in peace.

“Faryl has asked me to teach her how to use
vyala
.”

Mar’sal immediately shook his head. “That is impossible.”

“Perhaps,” conceded Adesina, “but she wants to try.”

“I know that she is half L’avan, but I doubt very much that it is
enough to summon her
vyala
. Our people have always kept our bloodlines
pure because magical ability disappears so quickly.”

She leaned forward in curiosity. “Why is that?”

Ravi was the one to answer. “We do not know. It has always been
that way, since the beginning of mortal kind.”

“Physical characteristics tend to linger, such as with L’aslo and
Ed’mon and their unusual hair colors, but the gifts of
vyala
are usually
completely gone by the third generation,” explained Mar’sal.

Adesina’s brow furrowed. “You seem to know a lot about it,
especially considering the L’avan’s practice of keeping the bloodline pure.”

“The Serraf were not the first to marry mortals, Ma’eve,”
explained Ravi.

The young woman redirected the conversation back to their original
point. “Faryl is only second generation, though. She has mentioned that she has
specific abilities that are unusual.”

“Unusual does not automatically mean magical,” pointed out
Mar’sal.

“I already agreed to try to teach her,” Adesina said in a final
tone. “What I need is some advice on how to go about doing it.”

There was a thoughtful pause as the other L’avan considered the
options.

“When a L’avan child first begins to train with their
vyala
,
the most common practice is to measure the child’s potential before starting
with lessons.”

She leaned forward with interest. “How does one measure such a
thing?”

Mar’sal’s expression became slightly helpless. “I am not sure. It
is not a talent that I possess.”

Ravi spoke up. “Do you remember when you were first learning, and
L’iam would join his powers with yours?”

Adesina nodded.

“Essentially, he was leading you with his own
vyala
until
you could do it yourself.”

She remembered that day very clearly. Joining with
vyala
for the first time was a deeply profound experience.

Ravi continued his explanation. “When two L’avan join their powers
in such a way, it is possible to sense the strength and potential of one’s
partner. I do not know if you will run into any difficulties, due to her
half-human side, but perhaps you can get an idea of what Faryl is capable of
doing.”

Adesina witnessed a flash of images in her mind, all passing in a
matter of seconds. It happened too quickly for her to sort out what she was
seeing, and the result was dizzying.

She pressed a hand to her forehead, and a moment of intuition told
her that she was not the source of the visions.

What was that, Ravi?

His expression became rueful.

I did not expect our Joining to become so problematic. It is becoming
increasingly difficult to shield my mind from you.

“Are you ill, your Majesty?” asked Mar’sal.

Adesina waved a hand in the negative. “No, I am fine. Thank you
for your help, Mar’sal.”

He took that as a dismissal, and gave a cheerful smile as he walked
out of the room.

She turned back to the Rashad. “Do you often have visions like
that?”

He inclined his head. “They are not uncommon.”

“What do they mean? I could not make out any of the images.”

The enormous feline smiled. “It takes time to adjust. However, do
not worry yourself about those visions for now. In a few days we will both be
sufficiently recovered to begin exploring the depth of our Joining.”

Adesina sighed softly. It was no secret that she still struggled
with her youthful impatience, especially where her guardian was concerned.
“Well, at least you are not refusing to take any action at all.”

He chuckled. “I do not think that this is something that either of
us can ignore.”

“What shall we do in the meantime?”

Ravi turned his bi-colored eyes on his young ward. “For now, focus
your attention on the alchemist. The success of our mission may depend on her
abilities.”

Than’os returned with a cart full of supplies and a triumphant
gleam in his eyes. “I was able to procure all of our supplies for those two
vials of dye.”

They all complimented him warmly, but Kendan eyed the purchases
critically.

“How do you know that you were not cheated? We have been told that
fabric dye is quite valuable in this city.”

Than’os laughed. “The best kind of trade is when both parties feel
they have come out the better.”

The former Shimat did not look as if he agreed, but he said
nothing further.

Adesina examined the cart with interest. There were containers for
water, and some of the tools used to harvest the few desert plants that
existed. There were salt pellets and some of the pebbles that purify water, and
also some sort of special feed to give to their horses. She also spotted dull
brown robes of the style that the locals wore.

“What are these?” she asked, gesturing to the supplies she didn’t
recognize.

Than’os pointed to the item closest to him. “These cakes are our
food supply. They are a mixture of roughly ground grain, dried meat, and dried
fruits and vegetables. They are prepared in such a way that they can last for
weeks before spoiling, and they are not affected by the desert heat.”

Kendan grimaced. “Well, I suppose monotony in our diet is better
than starvation.”

Adesina hid a smile. Kendan was a survivor, just like any Shimat,
but that didn’t mean he was without his small indulgences. “What about these?”
she asked, pointing to a set of small containers.

“These are special salves that will make our travel less
unpleasant. This one protects our skin from the harsh sunlight, this one
repairs any damage that has already been done, this one wards off certain
insects. Apparently, there are a number of blood-drinkers in the desert.”

“I see you bought some robes,” observed Faryl.

“Yes,” confirmed Than’os. “Those traveling through the desert
prefer to wear colors that will blend into the surroundings. I only purchased
the outer robes, so we can simply wear them over our current clothing.”

Adesina was satisfied. “You have done very well, Than’os. I see no
reason why we cannot set out at first light tomorrow.” She turned to the
Tracker. “Are you prepared to continue your task?”

The mute woman inclined her head in a humble gesture of
acceptance, but Adesina could sense that Maizah was strong in her
determination.

The L’avan queen turned to address the group. “We should get some
rest before we set out. Our journey will not be an easy one.”

They all dispersed to their rooms. Adesina and Faryl shared a
room, along with Ravi, which seemed to suit the former apothecary very well.

“Adesina?”

“Yes?”

“I know that you have a lot on your mind right now, and I do not
mean bother you. Truly, I do not.”

She gave a patient smile to the older woman. “I understand.
Please, ask your question.”

Faryl took a deep breath. “I was wondering if there are
any…exercises…that I could be doing to prepare myself for our lessons. I want
to make sure that I am doing everything that I can to make our efforts
successful.”

Adesina glanced at Ravi, and he raised his eyebrows in an
expression that conveyed his willingness to participate.

“Perhaps we can begin by measuring your potential as a
magic-user,” Adesina said slowly.

An eager light gleamed in Faryl’s vibrant green eyes. “How do we
do that?”

She wasn’t sure how to answer, but Ravi came to her rescue. “It is
not a common ability among the L’avan, and neither of us have ever been trained
in how to do it. We will do our very best, but it may take a few tries before
we succeed in getting an accurate measurement of your potential.”

Adesina was afraid that this admission would diminish Faryl’s
faith in them, but she nodded as if it were the most natural thing in the
world.

Connect to your
vyala
, Ma’eve. Do not doubt yourself.

She was fervently grateful for her guardian’s support. She reached
within herself and called forth the light of her power.

Adesina had avoided using her
vyala
ever since the incident
on the ship. She felt a wave of fear as it flared to life, just as powerful now
as it had been during the crisis. The L’avan immediately pushed her magic down,
suppressing it from reaching higher levels of existence.

Ravi sensed her emotions, and he gave her a questioning look.
Adesina worried that he would ask for an explanation—something she was not able
to give. However, he refrained from deeper investigation at the moment.

Take her hands, and allow your
vyala
to flow into her.

“Give me your hands, Faryl.”

The former apothecary obeyed immediately, her expression a mix of
nervous apprehension and hope.

Adesina willed her power to join with Faryl’s body and soul, but
there was a strange resistance. It was not the natural joining that had
occurred with herself and L’iam, nor was it the blanketing effect that took
place when she used her
vyala
on non-magic-users.

Faryl’s being latched onto the stream of
vyala
, but it seemed
unable to absorb it. She was caught between two worlds.

“I sense something, but it is just out of reach,” said Faryl. “It
is like being blindfolded at dawn—I can feel the sun is rising, but I cannot
see it.”

“An apt description,” murmured Ravi.

“Imagine you are holding a beam of light,” instructed Adesina,
following her instincts in the effort to connect Faryl to the world of magic.
“It is not tangible in the traditional sense, but you can feel it and touch
it.”

The older woman closed her eyes and nodded.

“The thread of light is connected to me, and you hold its line in
your hands. You can bend it or stretch it, but it will not break.”

“I understand,” acknowledged Faryl.

Adesina felt a slight tug to her
vyala
, and her heart
quickened with excitement. “Yes, that is it. Now, I want you to take the stream
of light and do something with it. Something that you would do as an alchemist
or an apothecary.”

The other woman frowned. “What should I do?”

“Anything,” encouraged Adesina. “Follow your intuition.”

There was a silent pause as Faryl searched her own mind. Then, she
stood and walked over to where she kept her apothecary supplies.

She pulled out a small pouch that was filled with dried leaves,
and she made a motion as if wrapping something around the pouch.

Physical movements were not necessary when using
vyala
, but
most beginners found themselves using gestures to match their desired action.

“You must use your mind to will the light into accomplishing what
you wish,” directed the young L’avan.

Faryl’s brow furrowed in concentration.

Adesina felt her
vyala
seeping out of her and into the
pouch that was held by her companion. It was barely more than a dribble of
power, but she could still sense the flow. After several painstaking minutes,
the flow stopped and Faryl gasped a deep breath.

Sweat beaded on her brow, and her hands trembled as she opened the
drawstrings of the bag. She reached in and pulled out one of the leaves.

It was no longer dead a dried, but fresh as if she had only just
plucked it from its mother plant.

“I did it,” she whispered in awe.

A wide smile broke across Adesina’s face. “You did it,” she
affirmed.

“Both of you did it,” corrected Ravi in a gentle tone.

Faryl’s eyes were still fixed on the leaf. “What do you mean?”

“The source of power was Adesina, but Faryl was the wielder. You
succeeded by working together.”

She finally looked at the Rashad. “Were you able to measure my
potential? Would I be able to learn to do such a thing on my own?”

The young queen glanced at her guardian with an uncertain
expression on her face. She had not felt any magic that belonged to Faryl, but
she had not been able to penetrate the barrier between them. Perhaps she had
simply been unable to sense the power.

Ravi, who had experienced the experiment as a bystander within
Adesina’s mind, sadly shook his head. “You do not have the ability to use
vyala
,
Faryl.”

The former apothecary looked both hurt and confused. “What do you
mean? I just did it. I used magic!”

“You used Adesina’s magic,” he repeated. “You do not have any
vyala
of your own, other than normal amount that all living creatures possess.”

Her green eyes began to fill with tears and she sat down on the
edge of the nearest bed. “Then, why am I able to…”

He moved over to sit next to her, and he leaned against her leg in
comfort. “Your ability to use
vyala
that does not belong to you must be
the legacy of your L’avan mother.”

It was clear that Faryl was trying to keep her emotions in check,
but the tears flowed freely. “I had hoped for more,” she said quietly.

“It is more than what any other human can do,” Adesina reminded
her.

She wiped her eyes. “I know, I know. I should be grateful for
that, but all I can feel is disappointment. It would seem that Breyen was
right.”

Adesina sat down on the other bed and leaned forward with
interest. “Breyen?”

“My father,” Faryl clarified. “He often told me that I was a
failed experiment. Part of me hoped to prove him wrong someday.”

“It would not have made a difference,” Ravi told her gently. “He
would not love you as a daughter.”

“I do not want his love,” she spat bitterly. “I want to show him
that
he
is the one who failed.”

Adesina reached across and took her hand. “He did.”

Faryl looked startled by her touch. “What?”

“He did fail—more than he will ever know.”

She lowered her head and stared at her lap. “But I want him to
know it. I want him to feel his failure as deeply as I have felt it.”

The young queen experienced a surge of determination on the
other’s behalf. “Let us keep trying.”

Both Faryl and Ravi stared at her in surprise.

“Keep trying?”

She raised her chin. “Yes. We will keep practicing your ability to
manipulate
vyala
. After all, one never knows what will develop over
time. You may learn to do the impossible, just as I have.”

Faryl’s smile trembled with emotion. “Yes, let us keep trying.”