Legacy of the Blood (The Threshold Trilogy) (33 page)

“What
about women?” asked Faryl.

“Women
may call anyone by a partial name once they have been introduced, but a single
name is always reserved for those with permission.”

Adesina
could see the growing discomfort among her male comrades, and she hid a smile.
It would be difficult for them to remember to act sufficiently subservient.
“Well, Savir, I think I can speak for all of us in saying that you are welcome
to use our single names.”

Everyone
nodded, and Savir beamed with pride. “Thank you. Your friendship means much to
me.”

He
walked back to his mother’s shelter with a bounce in his step, and the company
of travelers went into their respective sleeping quarters.

Adesina
was interested to see that the stone of their walls had been decorated with
simple paints, as well as the glow lamp’s canvas. It seemed like quite a luxury
had been extended to them as honored guests. Their individual sleeping alcoves
were padded with thin cushions, rather than just a blanket, and several
comfortable pillows were laid out on the floor.

“They
have been very generous to us,” stated Faryl with gratitude.

“Yes,”
agreed Adesina and Ravi.

“Do
you have a preference in your bed?” asked the former apothecary.

The
alcoves were carved one above another, in two rows of three. The bottom alcove
was nearly level with the floor, and the middle one only just above normal bed
height. The top one could be reached by placing a foot on the edge of the
middle alcove and climbing up.

“I
will take a lower one,” decided Adesina. “Ravi has bad dreams if I do not sleep
near him.”

The
Rashad smiled at her teasing. “Or perhaps you are afraid you will fall out of
bed during the night.”

“I
certainly am,” admitted Faryl. “These look rather narrow. I think I will also
sleep on a lower one.”

Maizah
took off her boots and climbed into an upper alcove. She looked quite
comfortable lying that high off of the ground. She settled down on the cushion
and closed her eyes to go to sleep.

Adesina
and Faryl exchanged grins and followed suit. The young queen was exhausted, and
she was glad to sleep in a comfortable temperature again.

“Adesina?”

Savir’s
voice sounded just beyond the canvas curtain.

The
L’avan woman stirred and raised her head. “Yes, Savir. Please come in.”

The
room had become quite dim, and she could only see the outline of his form as he
entered. He walked over to the glow lamp and gave it a gentle shake.

The
insects within the lamp buzzed into activity, and the light was restored to the
room.

Adesina
rolled out of her sleeping alcove and sat up. “What time of day is it?”

“The
middle hours have passed, and now we prepare for our evening meal.”

Faryl
and Maizah also climbed out of their beds, and the five of them sat on the
pillows on the floor.

“I
can hear that the storms have begun,” commented Ravi, whose hearing was quite
keen.

Adesina
could also hear the faint whistling of powerful winds from afar.

“Yes,”
acknowledged Savir. “We have secured all of the openings to the surface, but
the sound still travels down the tunnels.”

“How
long do these storms last?” asked Adesina.

The
Henka warrior raised both hands. “That is dependent on the whim of the desert.
Last year they lasted for nine days, but the year before they lasted for
thirty-two days.”

Adesina
felt her heart grow cold. “Thirty-two days?”

Savir’s
face was solemn. “Yes. We started rationing our resources after twenty days. We
always store enough food and water to last for thirty days, but we were worried
that we would not have enough to last us through that year’s storms.”

“There
is no way to tell how long they will last?” Adesina’s voice was tinged with
desperation.

She
knew that Basha could not travel in the storms anymore than they could, but she
hated the idea of L’iam being under Basha’s control for one moment more than he
already had.

Savir
slowly shook his head. “There is always an hour or two of stillness before the
last storm begins, but the last storm can last for up to three days.”

“What
is the shortest amount of time these storms have lasted?” inquired Faryl,
casting a glance at Adesina.

“My
grandmother remembers a year when the storms lasted only six days.” The young
man observed the expression on the L’avan queen’s face and quickly added, “It
is quite rare for the storms to last more than twenty days. I would say that it
is most common for them to last between ten and fifteen days.”

“Adesina?”

The
voice came from the other side of the curtain, and she recognized it as
belonging to Kendan.

“Come
in,” she answered, doing her best to put aside her disappointment in the delay
of their journey.

The
former Shimat’s face darkened slightly at the sight of Savir, but he kept his
tone light. “We were told that it was time to meet for the evening meal.”

“Yes,”
said Savir as he got to his feet. “Forgive me for keeping you all waiting. You
must be hungry.”

They
walked down the tunnels, back towards the entrance to the caves. The sound of
the torrential winds grew louder, and Adesina easily believed that survival
without shelter was impossible.

There
were two large common areas where the Henka tribe gathered together to share
their meals. One of the caves held all of the children and young teenagers, and
a handful of adults supervised their noisy meal. The other cave was reserved
for the adults and the older teenagers, and the clamor was only slightly more
subdued.

There
were no tables or chairs in the common area. The Henka sat in rows, and there
were bowls and plates placed on the ground with food that was shared all around.
Adesina saw that it wasn’t uncommon for the Henka to stand up in the middle of
the meal and walk to a different area to sit and socialize.

Savir
led them to the highest point of the room, where the tribe elders sat together.
Gauri stood to greet them and addressed the rest of the Henka.

“My
children, we have been given a great honor. Savir an Kavi nan Darshan ol Henka
was attacked by lowly Hanta barbarians and left to die in the desert.”

The
Henka all hissed in disdain.

“His
lifeblood was fleeing, but he was saved by these visitors. They healed his
wounds, and returned his life to him.”

The
Henka cheered.

“They
have traveled from a distant land, and have no shelter of their own in the
desert. It is our honor and our pleasure to share our shelter with them.
Tonight, we feast in their honor.”

Following
this cue, eight Henka women entered the room carrying a large beast on a
platter. It was bigger than a horse, and it resembled something between a boar
and a scorpion. It had been roasted over an open fire, and it was garnished
with steamed vegetables and edible roots.

Sounds
of delight escaped every Henka mouth, and several people hurried forward to
begin carving the beast.

Gauri
seated the visitors among the elders, and she even bid Savir to join them. The
young man flushed with pleasure and sat down next to Adesina and Faryl.

“I
have never sat with the elders before,” he whispered. “It is a great honor for
a man. My mother will be so proud.”

Indeed,
Urja gave her son a broad smile from across the room and nodded in approval.

Large
plates with meat and vegetables were brought up to the elders and their guests,
and Gauri offered the food first to Adesina.

The
meat of the strange beast had a heavily mineral scent, and it was slick with
grease. Adesina only paused briefly before accepting a large hunk, along with
some sort of baked tuber.

Savir
leaned forward to offer an explanation. “This is a feast, indeed. This was the
tribe’s only captive aradsus, and it was being saved to see if we could
domesticate the beasts. They are violent creatures with terrible tempers, but
they give a nutritious milk.”

“I
am sorry you had to kill it, if it was your only one,” expressed Faryl.

The
young warrior shrugged. “After the storms we shall try to capture another one.
It will be great sport for the warriors of the tribe.”

The
meat of the aradsus was salty as well as greasy, but it had a flavor similar to
pork. When paired with the somewhat bland tuber, it became more balanced and
was a rather tasty meal.

“Now,
Adesina le E’rian,” said Gauri, who was sitting across from the young queen,
“tell me what has brought you to the deserts of Zonne.”

Adesina
cast her mind back on the past several weeks that had taken her from her home.
So much had happened, and she wasn’t sure how much to share with these people
who were nearly strangers.

“I
have an enemy—one that I have known since my youth. She has sworn to destroy me
and all that I hold dear.”

All
of the elders were listening, and they nodded in complete understanding. They,
too, had lifelong enemies who threatened their way of life.

“She
has captured my husband and has altered his mind so that he no longer remembers
who he is. She has brought him to Zonne to… attempt to gain power, and we have
come to stop her.”

The
Darshan elder gave a wistful smile. “You have come in search of your heart.”

“No,
Pallavi,” corrected Gauri with a shrewd expression. “There is more to this
tale. Bare your mind to us, Adesina le E’rian. We may have been put in your
path to help you to succeed.”

Tell
them of the Threshold.

Adesina
couldn’t tell if that we her thought or if it belonged to Ravi.

“There
is a place in the desert,” she began slowly, “high atop a lone mountain. It is
a place of magic—a doorway between worlds. My enemy wishes to open that doorway
and to call forth unspeakable evil.”

A
wave of murmurs passed through the Henka elders.

“You
speak of the Threshold,” stated an elder on the other side of Gauri.

Adesina
stared at them in amazement. “Yes. How…?”

“The
Desert Dwellers are the guardians of the Threshold until the Great Ones
return.”

“Who
gave you this task?” asked Ravi.

The
other Henka who had heard the Rashad speak had been filled with astonishment,
but the elders looked as though it was simply a confirmation of something they
had known by instinct.

“Our
mothers gave us this charge, just as it was given to them by their mothers. We
have been watching and waiting since the Desert Dwellers were one people.”

“Can
you tell us what you know of the Threshold?” asked Adesina eagerly.

All
eyes turned to the Darshan elder, who straightened with pride.

“I
am
Pallavi le Prema len Darshan ol Henka, Elder of
the Darshan clan and Keeper of Memory. I am she who can tell you of the past of
the Desert Dwellers.”

All
who were within earshot heard this declaration, and a hush fell over the Henka
as Pallavi stood to tell the tale of their origins.

“In
ancient days, there were creatures of great power. Humankind has reduced this
part of history to myth, but we Henka know the truth. Humans were the lesser
beings, and we lived by the grace and mercy of the Great Ones.”

Several
Henka nodded knowingly.

“Many
of the Great Ones were creatures of Light—benevolent and generous, sharing
their magical gifts freely. Other Great Ones were creatures of Darkness, and
they bore no love for mortal beings. A war began between the Great Ones. On one
side there were those who wished to rule and dominate, and on the other side
there were those who wished to protect and nurture. The war lasted for a
century, and even the humans joined the fight after many years.”

Adesina
could see that many chests puffed out in pride. It was clearly part of their
heritage that their ancestors had been among those who fought in the Great
Wars.

“The
final battle was fought here on the soil of Zonne, then green with life. The
battle was fierce and it ravaged the land, lasting for seven days. Our
ancestors were not allowed to join in the final battle, but they watched from
afar.”

Flashes
of Adesina’s Dream passed before her eyes as she listened to the tale. She saw
L’avan and the Qetza, the lone mountain, and violence of war.

“The
Zeras—beautiful angels of Light—opened a portal to the stars, and all of the
Great Ones were called to pass through. Our ancestors were left alone in the
ruins of the war-torn land, wondering where to find their new purpose.”

Adesina
and Ravi exchanged glances. This was where the tale of the Henka passed beyond
what they already knew.

“Nayati
the Scholar was leader in those days, and he knew that the service of humankind
to the Great Ones was not complete. He rallied those that witnessed the final
battle, and declared that they were to search for their purpose at the door of
the portal.”

Pallavi
paused for dramatic effect.

“Nayati
the Scholar and his Ten Companions traveled across the wasted lands of Zonne,
searching for some sign of their revered masters. They came at last to Daemon
Mount—the lone mountain that grows up from flames—where the gateway to the
stars can be found.”

A
chill ran down Adesina’s spine. That was the location of the Threshold.

“Daemon
Mount pierced the sky, like an unholy blade—jagged, as if torn from the womb of
the earth. A ring of fire encircled the base, spewing forth molten stone and
turning aside the bravest of warriors.”

Several
Henka children had crept closer to hear the story, and their eyes widened at
the theatrical description.

“Three
of the Ten Companions turned away, declaring that passage was impossible. The
angelic Zeras had made certain that the gateway would be safe from intruders.
However, Nayati the Scholar would not give up. He sat at the base of the
mountain and pondered how he might conquer the magical flames.

“Layfan,
one of the remaining Companions and dear friend to our honored ancestor,
suggested digging underneath the ring of fire, but the flames ran deep in the
earth. Nayati the Scholar reasoned that if they could not go underneath the
fire, then they would have to go over it.”

The
young L’avan queen frowned, wondering how such a thing could be accomplished.

“Nayati
the Scholar and his Seven Companions worked to build a bridge that would span
the river of flames. They did not want strangers finding the path across the
barrier, so they built it in a hidden crevice among the rocks.”

The
children nodded in understanding, smiling in approval at the plan.

“When
time came to cross the wall of fire, two more Companions turned away. They were
willing to help build the bridge, but they could not bear to go over the heat
of the molten rock. Nayati the Scholar and his Five Companions went forward
bravely, but not all would make it to the other side.”