The Threshold Child (41 page)

From the library, they went on until they came to another large
building. This one was built
from a slightly
greenish stone, and had a variety of plant-like designs carved into it. They
didn’t enter this building, but L’era explained its purpose.

“This is the school for our children. We also have a university on
the other side of Yavar, for those who wish to expand their knowledge further.”

L’era briefly went over the subjects that the average L’avan child
was taught; explaining that when each child reached a certain age, they chose a
profession and had specialized training from that point on.

She smiled fondly at the building that had seen many generations
pass through. “Even my brothers and I attended school here, even though my
father could have hired tutors. He wanted us to have a relatively normal
childhood. He says it will help us to relate to those we intend to rule. That
is why we went to school with other L’avan children, chose professions for
which we were trained, or
are
training, in my case.”

Adesina looked at the sunny young woman standing next to her.
“What are you training to become?”

L’era smiled wistfully. “A teacher. I have always wanted to teach
children.” She shrugged, “Perhaps I will have the opportunity to do so before
my royal duties begin.”

Adesina couldn’t help but amused by this unusual statement. The
princess wanted to be a teacher. Wasn’t it always the other way around?

“What about your brothers?”

She gave Adesina a sideways glance before answering. “They both
went into the military. L’iam wanted to teach as well, but Father suggested
doing military training first. He said it would be more useful to a L’avan
prince in the long run.”

They continued their circle around the city, coming across a
number of shops for various artisans, patches of houses, and many beautiful and
elaborate gardens.

Adesina preferred the L’avan gardens to the ones found in the High
City. The L’avan seemed to believe that gardens should grow of their own
accord, with as little interference as possible. Like the market, there was a
sort of organized chaos to the parks. The grass was longer, the trees were not
pruned, flowers invaded each other’s space, and there were no official paths.
L’era said that beyond weeding and watering, the gardens were left fairly well
alone. Adesina found them much easier to enjoy than the rigid gardens of the
High City.

They also passed by a couple of hospitals, which Adesina studied
with interest. She had never seen an entire building dedicated to the healing
of the sick and injured.

L’era pointed out the university when they came to it. Like all
the large public buildings, it was made from stone rather than the wood used on
houses. It was a black marble with silver stars scattered over its surfaces.
She asked Adesina if she wanted to go inside.

“There is a museum in the history department of the university.
Perhaps that might interest you.”

Adesina agreed, and they walked up the sparkling stairs. There
were students studying, experimenting, debating, reading and asking questions
of their teachers everywhere Adesina looked. Those who were not too preoccupied
to notice their passing eyed them in curiosity. L’era took no note as she
gracefully led the way to the history department.

The museum itself was quiet and filled with numerous glass cases. The
first things that caught Adesina’s attention were the ornate suits of
ceremonial armor lined against the far end of the first room.

She counted eleven of them, all made of silver with gold accents.
The elaborate scrollwork varied on each of them, giving them each distinction
while also making them look like they went together. The gauntlets of each were
a different color, and Adesina wondered how they had altered the metal to give
it such distinct tones. There were gold, silver and bronze, but there was also
black, red, brown, purple, green, orange, dark blue and light blue.

L’era led Adesina closer, so she could inspect the incredible
detail that had gone into the armor. Each suit also had a beautiful ceremonial
sword with a hilt that matched the gauntlets. Adesina wished that she could
touch the stunning workmanship before her, but the glass separated her from the
armor and weapons.

“These belonged to the founders of the L’avan: L’aslo, Ed’mon,
So’phus, Za’far, Cre’sin, M’os, B’osli, Na’cum, O’nan, Gi’tel, and Kay’l,” the
princess said, pointing to them in the order that Adesina had observed them.

In a small room off to the side, Adesina spotted another suit of
armor. This one was made completely of gold. The ceremonial sword was likewise
made of gold, with a hilt of the purest white. While the other suits of armor
bore slight signs of wear, this suit looked as if it had never even been
touched.

L’era spoke in a reverent tone. “This was made for L’avan himself.
He never wore it, but it was very dear to his heart.”

She frowned. “Who was L’avan?”

Her guide paused thoughtfully. “I suppose you could say he was the
father of the founders.”

“The founders were all brothers?”

L’era laughed softly. “Not literally, but brothers in a cause.
L’avan adopted them and raised them. He taught them everything he knew and
passed on his great work to them. It was he who led them to the Spirit Lands,
where they found the Serraf and the Rashad.”

Adesina was completely lost. “What are the Serraf?”

“They were women of great power. The sons of L’avan later married
them, and it is through their bloodline that we received our gifts. The Rashad
were their guardians, and followed them here to our world. They have protected
our race ever since.”

A frown wrinkled the brow of Adesina as she took in this new
information. “Where are these Spirit Lands?”

The princess shrugged. “Only L’avan knew.”

Behind the suit of armor was an elaborately woven tapestry. It
depicted a white haired man who wore a white robe and had light radiating from
his being. Adesina assumed that this was L’avan. There were eleven warriors in
their ceremonial armor on bended knee before him, and eleven angelic women
standing in the background. Each of the women had odd colored eyes, and each of
the men had the varieties of hair color that Adesina had seen among the modern
L’avan people. Beside each of the Serraf stood a Rashad, one of which was black
with golden eyes.

At the bottom of the tapestry there were several lines of flowing
script that Adesina didn’t recognize. She knew that they were written in L’avan
characters, but the words themselves made no sense to her. L’era saw her
puzzled expression and explained.

“That is written in an older form of our language. One that is not
spoken anymore, save in certain ceremonies.”

“What does it say?”

L’era suddenly looked wary. She tried to keep her tone
unconcerned, but Adesina could sense
her underlying
tension. “Oh, nothing of importance.”

Her eyes narrowed. “Then why keep it in your museum?”

Her guide turned and began moving back to the entrance. “Because
it is the only likeness of
L’avan that survived
the Great Wars.”

When she saw that Adesina wasn’t following her away from the
tapestry, she gestured
impatiently. “Let us return to the palace. The men should be done
with their meeting by now. We can go ask them what was so important as to make
them neglect you on your first full day here in Yavar.”

The young princess rushed her companion back to the palace, not
stopping to point out any of the interesting buildings along the way.

When they arrived, L’era continued up the stairs and through the
hall that led to the throne room. At the far corner of the throne room there
was a door that led to the rest of the palace. Adesina followed L’era through
the door, down a hallway and up a set of stairs.

This section of the palace was still lovely, but not nearly as
awe-inspiring as the throne room. It actually felt like someone lived there,
which lent a more comfortable atmosphere. The walls and floors were made of
wood, which was worn smooth from generations of use. There were tapestries hung
on the wall as well as paintings and scrolls of calligraphy. Every few feet
there were alcoves with windows, pieces of art, vases of flowers, or skillfully
carved wooden doors.

L’era came to a large set of doors at the end of the hall, where
two crimson uniformed guards stood at attention. L’era greeted one of the
guards with a loving squeeze of the hand. He had a sweet countenance, which
oddly contrasted the weapon in his hand, and Adesina guessed he was about
L’iam’s age.

L’era introduced him proudly. “Adesina, this is No’am. He is my
dava
, or as you would probably say, my
betrothed. No’am, this is Adesina, sister of E’nes.”

No’am bowed politely to Adesina, and she inclined her head in
return. L’era waited for this exchange before addressing No’am again.

“Are they finished with their meeting?”

He nodded. “Only just. You may go in.”

She grasped the large iron handle and pulled, revealing a spacious
and comfortable room. There was a long table in the center of the room,
surrounded by several wooden chairs. The king sat at the head of the table with
eight others in the chairs nearest to him, and Ravi sitting right next to him.

Adesina recognized only half of the men sitting at the table:
E’nes, L’iam, Sa’jan and Ri’sel. Of the ones she didn’t recognize, there was an
elderly woman and a scholarly man, both of which were dressed in green
uniforms, a man dressed in white robes with a large book on the table in front
of him, and a young man that could only be L’on, L’iam’s older brother and heir
to the throne.

He had inherited his father’s aggressive features and strong
demeanor. He wore the same blue uniform as his brother and father, and had a
thin circlet of twisted gold resting on his brow.

Everyone looked up at their entrance, and got to their feet when
they saw who it was. King L’unn beckoned for them to enter. “L’era, Adesina.
Come in, please.”

L’era went to giver her father a kiss on the cheek. “I am sorry to
interrupt. No’am said you
were finished.”

He put a reassuring hand on her arm. “Yes, we are finished. I must
give audience for a few
hours today, but afterwards we shall have supper.”

The others were gathering their things to leave. E’nes leaned over
to murmur something to
L’iam, and the movement caught the king’s eye. He glanced at
Adesina before addressing her brother.

“E’nes, would you and your family honor us with your company this
evening?”

Her brother was surprised by the invitation, but not at all
unwilling. He looked at Adesina briefly, but when he didn’t see an objection in
her expression he nodded. “Of course, your Majesty. We would be pleased to join
you.”

King L’unn looked satisfied. “Just after sunset, then.”

E’nes bowed, and Adesina hurried to follow his example. Together,
with Ravi, they left the meeting room and made their way out of the palace.

As they walked, E’nes asked Adesina about her day. She went over a
few brief details, but she had something more specific in mind for their
discussion.

“Are you familiar with the museum at the university?”

His expression was a bit too careful to be natural. Adesina knew
the answer immediately, even before he spoke.

“Oh, did L’era take you to the museum?”

Adesina’s eyes narrowed. “Yes, but I did not get to see very much
of it. She seemed in a hurry to get back to the palace.”

E’nes smiled. “She never stays away from her family for long.”

She decided that she would have to try a more direct tactic.
“There was a very interesting tapestry behind the armor of L’avan. I could not
read the writing on it.”

He nodded uncomfortably. “It is written in a very old language.
Few speak it anymore.”

“What does it say?”

There was a long pause while E’nes collected his thoughts. “I
could not translate it for you,” he hedged.

Adesina’s lips tightened in irritation. “But you could tell me
what it says.”

Ravi chuckled quietly and E’nes sighed. “Yes, I could.”

She felt her temper getting the better of her. “Why is everyone so
anxious to keep it a secret? Are you afraid that I will turn the information
over to the Shimat?”

E’nes was horrified that his sister thought he viewed her in such
a way. “No, of course not!”

“Then what?” she demanded.

His voice became pleading. “You will know in time, Adesina, but
now is not the right time. Please, be patient. I promise I will tell you
everything as soon as I can.”

She looked to Ravi for an answer, but she could tell by his
expression that he wasn’t going to say a word. She fixed her eyes straight
ahead and silently fumed that she was tired of being treated like a child.