Legacy of the Blood (The Threshold Trilogy) (27 page)

Lightning seared the sky, and Adesina could see the silhouettes of
Qetza flying through the air. Dark figures with jagged wings rose to meet them
from afar, shrieking in challenge.

L’avan cursed again.

“The demons sent their
pets
to deal with us, eh?” He turned
to shout to his soldiers. “Be’ezal! Look to the sky.”

L’avan turned to his aide. “Kirin, we will need air support as
soon as possible. Those Qetza are outnumbered. Send word to the Solaran and
also to the Immortal Council.”

Kirin dispatched another messenger and returned to his leader’s
side.

“What of the human ranks, sir?”

L’avan peered through the uneven light at the masses that waited
just beyond the hills where they stood.

“They seem to be waiting. I suppose they are waiting for the
demons to thin our numbers a bit before attacking.”

The young aide shook his head. “It never ceased to amaze me that
any human would choose to side with the demons. They do not value the lives of
mortals, and they force them to participate in unspeakable things.”

“Some participate willingly,” corrected L’avan in a grim tone.

Kirin shuddered. “All the worse for them. Their souls truly are
lost.”

“Perhaps,” said the older man quietly, “but only the Creator can
make that judgment.”

The sound of hundreds of voices chanting rolled in from the
distance, and it became more frenzied until it was a mindless roar. The figures
of the Gaiana could be seen rushing down the hills and into the valley of
enemies.

“What are they doing?” gasped Kirin.

“Disobeying orders,” snapped L’avan in reply. “Now it will be up
to us to save their light-cursed hides.”

He was about to rally his soldiers when a Vattir landed in front
of him.

“Wait, L’avan. You are not to follow the charge of the Gaiana.”

“What do you mean?”

“The Aurym have ordered that you hold your current position.”

L’avan’s expression was stormy. “They will be slaughtered.”

The Vattir seemed unsympathetic. “That was their choice. They were
also ordered to stay where they were, but they have decided follow their own
path of fate.”

The tiny man was about to fly away, but L’avan caught hold of his
arm.

“They will all die,” he said through clenched teeth. “All of them.
They are the last of their race.”

“Everyone involved is aware of that, L’avan. The Gaiana have made
their choice.”

***

Sitara opened her eyes with an expression that was both pleased
and exhausted. “There! We have found it!”

She sat in a circle with eleven other Serraf and their Rashad
companions. Adesina stood in the peripheral, watching the subjects of her Dream
closely.

“At last,” sighed a Serraf with dark skin and short, curly hair.
“It has taken much time to find a realm suited to our needs.”

Another Serraf with pale skin and fiery red locks nodded in
agreement. “Much more time than we anticipated.”

“Worlds do not touch very often,” expounded Sitara, “and the
Thresholds between them open for such a short time. The realm we have chosen is
moving towards our own. We must be prepared to open the gateway when the two
worlds touch.”

A Serraf with almond-shaped eyes and jet black hair leaned
forward. “I sensed the realm would touch the Threshold of Zonne mostly
strongly.”

“Yes,” confirmed another.

“I agree.”

“As do I.”

Another dark skinned Serraf with snow white hair spoke up. “I
sensed that the worlds would touch in sixteen mortal years, when the first
rains of spring bless the ground.”

“Yes,” confirmed another.

“I agree.”

“As do I.”

“Very well,” said Sitara. “I will go and inform the council.”

She gracefully got to her feet and walked out of the garden where
they were seated. The moss-covered path led to an enormous pavilion, and in the
center stood the council chamber. There were various magical creatures that sat
or stood in the open area of the pavilion, chatting in low voices. Sitara
nodded to them graciously as she walked by.

Some of them followed the Serraf into the council chamber and took
their places in the circle. Toraun took his place in the center and beckoned
for her to join him.

“What news, sister?”

“We have found what we need for our plan to succeed.”

The room broke out in murmurs.

The council leader took a step toward the Serraf. “You have found
an appropriate realm?”

She inclined her head. “Yes. It is empty of creatures, but filled
with plants and other life. It is large, and can sustain a great many people.
We will not be condemning the demons to death by sending them there, but they
can cause no harm once the Threshold is closed.”

“And what of your efforts to force open a Threshold?” inquired
Toraun.

“We have been experimenting on the Far North Threshold. We have
learned what is needed to open a gateway, but it is only for a short period of
time. Once we have it open, the Qetza will need to act quickly in compelling
the demons through.”

There were several pleased expressions among the listeners, but
one face was troubled.

“Is the seal intact once it closes?” asked a male with blue skin
and tentacles—the same one Adesina had seen in the Council before.

Each Threshold had a binding seal that protected it from the space
that existed between realms. When it opened naturally, the seal was temporarily
moved. However, the Serraf had learned that they did not have the ability to
replicate the process.

Sitara hesitated before slowly shaking her head. “The seal must be
broken in order to force a Threshold open. We do not have the power to form a
new seal over it.”

“Then how will the demons remain in their prison?”

She made a soothing gesture with her hands. “A handful of Serraf
will have to remain near the Threshold at all times to keep it closed.”

Toraun frowned. “That does not seem like an ideal situation. It
leaves our world vulnerable to the return of the demons.”

“The seal will not always be broken. One will come who will heal
it,” Sitara replied cautiously.

“How do you know that?” inquired a horse-like creature with flames
for a mane and a tail.

“A prophecy has been given,” Sitara said with reluctance.

A stunned silence followed.

“Why have you not shared this prophecy with the rest of us?”

Her normally calm expression became slightly uncomfortable. “It is
a prophecy specific to the Serraf.”

There were several mutters throughout the room.

Toraun’s face was grave. “That does not matter. All divine
knowledge is shared among us. You know that as well as anyone.”

“Yes, I know,” admitted Sitara, “and we have always honored the
tradition. However, we were given strict instructions regarding this prophecy,
and it is to be shared only once. We have to be certain that it falls on the
necessary ears.”

There was an outburst in the council chamber.

“Impossible!”

“No prophecy has ever had such restrictions.”

“Who gave this prophecy?” demanded the Vattiri leader.

“I was commanded not to reveal that information,” Sitara said
calmly, with the expression of one who was expecting a storm.

She was not disappointed.

There was a torrent of overlapping voices that lasted for several
minutes. The Serraf leader stood quietly, allowing all to have their say, but
responding to none.

Toraun eventually raised all four arms and gestured for silence.

“We shall not question the prophets. We must trust that these
restrictions are for the good of all.”

With the council subdued, the more immediate issues were once
again brought forward.

“How are we to lure all of demonkind to one location at the same
time?”

Sitara turned to the speaker—a childlike creature sitting on the
back of a fiercesome horned beast.

The childlike council member continued before she could reply. “I
know that I am new to the council, and I do not wish to seem impertinent, but I
feel it is a valid concern. Whatever we use to lure the demons must be
something enticing if they are to overlook their innate suspicion and caution.
We must appeal to their greed. After all, the demon races are not natural
allies. If it is something they all want, and they do not wish to share, they shall
all rush to obtain it first.”

Sitara held up a hand. “A moment, if you please. This was
discussed soon after we implemented this plan, brother, and we have since
devised a course of action.”

“Oh,” said the creature, with a trace of disappointment that he
would not take part in the planning, “I see.”

“When the time is right, we will allow certain misinformation to
be spread to some of the known human spies. We will plant rumors that we are
opening the Threshold to obtain divine intervention from the Creator’s realm.
The demons will swarm to prevent this from happening.”

The childlike creature planted his fists on his hips. “We do not
have the ability to enter the Creator’s realm without invitation.”

“Yes, but the demons do not know that.”

There was no further argument, and it seemed as though the meeting
had reached its conclusion.

Toraun surveyed with other members of the council to sense their
approval. He appeared satisfied by what he saw.

“Very well, we shall begin the final stages of this terrible war.”

Adesina awoke on their sixth day of travel with a terrible
headache. She felt sluggish and irritable, and she could barely bring herself
to eat or drink.

“What is wrong, Ma’eve?” asked Ravi.

“Nothing,” she snapped peevishly.

He gave her a reproving stare. “You are not a child, Ma’eve. There
is no need to lash out at me. Besides, I know very well that there is something
wrong.”

His words did nothing to improve her mood. “Then why ask at all?”

The Rashad decided it would be best to leave her alone, and she
was glad for the solitude. The others cast quick glances at her before
following Ravi’s example.

They had entered a stretch of the desert where the ground was
slightly more firm and a type of low shrubs covered the terrain. The air seemed
slightly cooler as well, so they had kept traveling along that path. All of the
weary travelers were grateful for the small amount of respite.

Adesina rode at the rear, attempting to fight off the pounding
pain in her head and feeling immensely sorry for herself. She ate and drank
very little when they stopped at midday, and she could not fall asleep when the
time came to rest.

She would have continued to suffer in isolation, but Mar’sal
developed the same symptoms when the time came to move on.

“What is it, Mar’sal?” asked Than’os.

The L’avan soldier shook his head. “Do not bother yourself with
me,” he replied in a sullen tone.

“Is your head hurting?” inquired Ravi.

He looked up in amazement. “Yes. It is horrible.”

“And have you lost your appetite?”

“Yes! How did you know?”

Adesina and her guardian exchanged glances.

“I have been feeling the same,” admitted the young queen.

Faryl looked at both of them with concern. “When did this begin?”

“This morning.”

The former apothecary made an exasperated sound. “Why did you not
say something sooner?”

She sat both of her patients down and gave them thorough
examinations, muttering absently as she did.

“No fever, but the faces are flushed. Irregular breathing, loss of
appetite, lethargy…”

Faryl set up a blanket as a curtain and ushered Adesina behind it.

“Strip down, girl. Let us see if you have any rashes or marks.”

The L’avan obeyed somewhat reluctantly. She was not embarrassed
about being unclad, but she was tired of being ordered around by the headstrong
older woman.

“There,” exclaimed Faryl. “That must be the cause.”

She was standing behind Adesina, and so she couldn’t see what had
inspired this conclusion.

“What is it?”

The former apothecary didn’t answer immediately. “Go ahead and get
dressed again. Let us see if Mar’sal has the same mark.”

Adesina grumbled to herself as she dressed, and hurried out from
behind the curtain.

Faryl was standing behind Mar’sal, who had removed his shirt. The
woman was examining something between his shoulder blades.

It was a lump the size of an acorn, with smaller bumps all around
it. The entire area was red and inflamed, looking extremely painful.

“I have one of those, too?” Adesina asked incredulously.

Faryl nodded. “Yes, only slightly bigger.”

She tried to reach back and touch it, but her arms ached when she
strained them. “How do I not feel a sore of that size? The only pain I feel is
in my head.”

“Perhaps some sort of localized anesthetic,” mused the other
woman. “Well! Shirts off, everyone. Let us see how far this has spread. Maizah,
you may step behind that curtain.”

Kendan and Than’os both had a handful of small red dots, but not
the lump in the center. Maizah and Ravi both seemed to be untouched by the
ailment. Adesina agreed to inspect Faryl’s back and found that she had the red
spots and the beginning of a lump. Kendan suggested checking the horses, and
all of them had lumps on their legs.

“Well,” she said in a businesslike tone, “now we must determine
the cause and the cure.”

“Faryl,” said Than’os, “this may be a good time to put our
training to use.”

Her green eyes lit with excitement, but she kept her voice calm.
“If you think that is best.”

He smiled at her reaction. “Yes, I do.”

Adesina could see him connecting to his
vyala
by the
swirling glow of his eyes. There was no tangible change in Faryl, but she took
the time to take several deep breaths and prepare herself mentally for what was
ahead.

Faryl made a series of small gestures with her hands, as if she
were physically directing the streams of
vyala
. She chose to focus on
Mar’sal, since he was standing nearest to her.

Adesina felt Ravi’s mind closer to her own than ever before. It
was as if the Joining had intensified for some reason. In a moment of rare
clarity, the young queen could actually
see
what was being done with the
vyala
.

Faryl imagined the thin stream of power to be shaped like a
surgical tool. She figuratively pierced the inflamed lump with the
vyala
and opened it to her mind’s eye. The view expanded until Faryl could see the
intricate details of the wound.

“It is not an infection. It is a parasite of some sort—microscopic
insects that live in this scrub brush. They are a type of blood-drinkers, and
they attack any living creature with which they come into contact.”

Mar’sal shuddered. “Disgusting!”

“How do we get rid of them?” asked Than’os.

Faryl let go of the borrowed
vyala
and gave a decisive nod.
“First, we need to get out of this part of the desert. We need to get far away
from this brush so we do not attract any more of the little beasts.”

Adesina and Mar’sal were given some herbs to chew to help cope
with the throbbing headaches, but that was all for the present time. They rode
at a quick pace for the rest of their evening and night travels to get back to
the arid sands that they had followed for days before.

Neither Adesina nor Mar’sal could sleep, so they stayed up with
Faryl and Than’os as they began exploring ways to cure themselves and their
companions.

“I am surprised that the salve we bought did not repel these
parasites,” commented Than’os.

Faryl was rummaging through her apothecary pack and gave a
distracted answer. “Perhaps it does not work on them. I would think that most
travelers would know to avoid that area of the desert, or they would hire
guides with the knowledge.”

“Something we should have done,” muttered Mar’sal, still irritable
from his illness.

“Well,” responded Than’os, “there is nothing to be done now. We
shall simply have to take more caution.”

“Hmmmm,” pondered Faryl. “I wonder if blood nectar leaves would appeal
to the parasites.”

“They do attract mosquitoes,” concurred her partner.

“If we can make some sort of compound to draw them out of the
sores, then we should heal up quite easily.”

Than’os looked doubtful. “Do you have any blood nectar leaves? I
did not think they have any medicinal value.”

“No,” confessed Faryl, “but I wonder if perhaps we can make some.”

“Make some?” questioned Adesina.

“Do you recall that the Shimat called me the alchemist?”

Those listening nodded.

“Well, alchemy is the science of transforming matter. I was called
this because of my ability to combine elements and to obtain unexpected
results. Perhaps, with the help of Than’os’s
vyala
, I can use my skills
to transform the herbs that I do have into blood nectar leaves. Or, at the very
least, simulate the effects of the leaves.”

Than’os appeared to be intrigued by the idea. “What herbs will you
use?”

“I have pongia root, which can leech out impurities from an open
wound, and I have hummingblossom leaves, which act as an herbal expander.”

“What is an herbal expander?” asked Mar’sal.

“It means that it can take on the properties of other herbs. So,
if you only have a small amount of a certain herb and you are in need of more,
you can throw in some hummingblossom leaves and they will imitate the other
herb.”

“You want them to replicate the pongia root?”

Faryl shook her head. “No, but I thought they would be a good
starting point for the transformation.”

Than’os approved of her plan. “Yes, that is wise. The pongia will
serve as a good reference for the traits you wish to instill.”

He connected to his
vyala
, and once again, Adesina could
see what was happening between him and the apothecary.

Faryl laid out the supplies she hoped to change, and then she took
hold of the stream of magical power that was offered to her. First she split
the stream into dozens of threads and connected one to each of the
hummingblossom leaves.

She expanded the threads, in a way opening up the leaves to
receive a new purpose.

“I need a second stream,” she instructed Than’os.

He nodded, and his brow furrowed in concentration.

The second strand appeared in her hand, and Faryl used it to probe
the fat, green root. She expanded her vision of it, so she could study the
details of how it worked the way it did. Adesina had a rudimentary
understanding of botany, but nothing like Faryl’s expansive knowledge. She
tried to follow what the older woman was discovering, but she was soon left
behind.

“There it is,” she whispered, focusing on a specific chain of
chemicals.

Faryl extracted the plant chemicals into the string of
vyala
and began to alter them slightly. When she seemed satisfied with the result,
she replicated it and placed it in each of the hummingblossom leaves.

“One more component,” she murmured.

The second stream of power was inserted into her own hand, where
she extracted the scent of blood. This was also placed into the leaves, turning
them a vibrant red color. Faryl disconnected each thread of
vyala
from
the newly transformed herbs, closing them up once more.

She let go of Than’os’s
vyala
and took a deep breath. “I
think I did it.”

“How will we know if you were successful?”

The alchemist considered the situation for a moment before
answering. “We will test on the horses first, and measure their results.”

She didn’t waste any time doing it. She immediately began mixing
the compresses for each of the horses’ legs. Mar’sal and Adesina kept the
animals calm while Than’os used a knife to pierce the inflamed lumps. Then,
Faryl wrapped the compress over the wound and tied it with twine.

“We should see results in a few hours. In the meantime, they
should not be allowed to move too much.”

Adesina whirled to face her. “But we need to break camp soon. We
will lose time by waiting here for results, and we cannot afford to do that. We
have been warned that severe storms are coming, and we need to catch up to
Basha before then.”

Faryl gave a helpless shrug. “I am sorry, but it is necessary. We
need to rid ourselves of these parasites as soon as possible. If they begin to
multiply, then it will put our lives at risk.”

The young queen did her best to control her anger, but it required
her to walk away from the camp.

They were so close. Why did they have to be stopped by something
so small as insects?

It is the consequence of venturing into the desert without
guidance.

She turned and saw Ravi approaching her.

“Are you saying that this is my fault?”

His expression was kind. “No, dear one. We all thought that
Maizah’s visions would be enough.”

“We were all wrong.”

“Yes,” he agreed. “We were wrong.”

Adesina watched the changing sky as dawn approached. They still
had an hour before the sun would break over the horizon, but the stars were
already retreating.

“There are many other dangers here in Zonne. Next time it might be
something that threatens a life or stops us completely. How will we avoid
dangers we do not understand?”

The Rashad’s eyes were grave. “I do not know, Ma’eve. It may be
that we cannot.”

Kendan and Maizah were soon awake, and Faryl informed them of the
current situation. Breakfast was given to those who had appetites, and those
who didn’t feel like eating were encouraged to drink their ration of water. The
supplies that had been given to them by Captain Zulimar were gone now, and the
travelers survived off of the desert cakes. Kendan was right to fear the
monotony, for there was no pleasure in consuming the hard lumps of grain and
dried meat.

Faryl kept a close eye on the horses, and the majority of them
seemed to improve with time. The packhorse, however, remained lethargic and sickly.