Part 31 (1/2)

Slightly embarra.s.sed by this open display of affection, Adesina focused her attention on the city beyond the crowd. There were L'avan everywhere, moving in a strange sort of organized chaos.

There were merchants selling their wares, artisans at work, street performers entertaining groups of children and adults alike. There were also a number of Rashad throughout the city, but as before, none of them had the same coloring as Ravi. Adesina made a mental note to ask him about it when they were alone.

Everything in the city was clean and well kept, but also looked completely natural. The architecture looked as if it had been grown rather than built. The L'avan people wore rich, cheerful colors, and were a happy combination of dignified grace and uninhibited joy. The contrast to the High City was striking.

”Adesina.”

She turned in response to her brother's voice. E'nes and Wren'na still had their arms around each other, but they were turned to face her.

He made a sheepish gesture towards his wife. ”This is Wren'na,” he said unnecessarily. ”Wren'na, this is my sister, Adesina.”

Wren'na looked at Adesina in shock. She knew the sad story regarding her husband's mother and unborn sister, and could hardly believe what she had heard.

She soon recovered and gave her sister-in-law a warm smile. ”Welcome to Pevothem, Adesina. I am so happy to meet you.”

Adesina nodded uncertainly. ”Thank you.”

E'nes whispered something in Wren'na's ear and she turned her attention back to him. They leaned their heads close together, speaking in low voices and occasionally laughing.

The group of travelers were moving towards the center of the city, followed by many of the crowd. In fact, the gathering of people only seemed to grow as they rode onward. When they reached their destination, it felt as if the whole city surrounded them.

They came to a stop in front of a large building made from s.h.i.+mmering white stone. Adesina had to look twice, because at first she mistook it for several large trees whose branches were intricately intertwined. It wasn't until they got closer that she saw the elaborate stairs leading up to a set of large golden doors.

The crowd slowed to a stop, letting the soldiers and Adesina approach the building alone. E'nes kissed his wife again before lowering her to the ground, where she moved to join the ma.s.ses. They all dismounted and moved towards the white stone stairs.

Adesina's apprehension seemed to magnify with each step she took. She scolded herself silently for such weakness, and straightened her back in a show of pride and courage. She ignored all the people staring at her and fixed her gaze on the doors at the top of the stairs.

There were two guards dressed in the same crimson uniform as E'nes and the others. They saw L'iam, who was leading the company, and bowed, opening the doors for them to enter.

The travelers crossed into a long hallway lined with white treelike pillars and guards standing at attention. Light shone in through the high ceilings, brilliantly illuminating the white interior.

There were multicolored banners hung at regular intervals in between the columns, all of them different from each other. The ones closer to the doors were clearly the oldest. Adesina could see the signs of age on the rich fabric, even though they were clearly treated with care. She counted seventeen on each side with the thirty-fifth hanging at the far end of the room to which the hall led.

In that far room there were a number of people dressed in elegant clothing and speaking to each other in low voices. A silence fell over the room as the travelers entered.

Adesina's eyes pa.s.sed over the observers and turned to the figures seated beneath the final banner.

Three white thrones were set there upon a dais. The queen sat on the right, wearing a silk gown of pale blue and a flower-like gold circlet on her white and red hair. She was beautiful, but had the appearance of one who had been ill for a very long time. Her complexion was pale, and there were dark circles underneath her eyes. In spite of the frailty of her physical being, there was a gentle strength in her eyes that both captivating and inspiring.

The king sat in the middle, wearing a dark blue uniform and a leaf-like circlet on his gold and chestnut hair. He seemed to be the opposite of his companion, with a strong expression and aggressively handsome features. He sat on the edge of his seat, as if ready to spring into action.

The chair on the left was empty.

The group came to a halt several feet from the dais. They all bowed and received an acknowledgment in return. L'iam took a step forward to speak.

”I greet their Majesties, King L'unn and Queen Ta'mala, upon returning from the task given to my care. I also come bearing news of the Chief Protector General.”

A murmur ran through the room, but King L'unn acted as if they were completely alone. He leaned forward with concern written on his face. ”What news?”

”He has been taken by the s.h.i.+mat.”

A stunned silence followed this statement. The king looked at L'iam with penetrating eyes. ”You are certain? How did you come to this knowledge?”

The young man hesitated before gesturing to Adesina and answering, ”By the confession of the one who captured him.”

All eyes turned to Adesina.

She fixed her gaze on the ground and kept her expression stony. What difference did it make if they thought her unfeeling? After what she had done, they would not think kindly of her anyway.

E'nes s.h.i.+fted to stand closer to his sister, giving her his unspoken support.

The king's face was unreadable as he studied the young woman before him. ”What is your name, s.h.i.+mat?”

It took her a moment to find her voice. ”Adesina.”

His eyes narrowed slightly. ”Why have you returned to Yavar when you have so clearly betrayed your people?”

Adesina shook her head. ”I did not knowa”

L'iam intervened. ”She is not a traitor. That is to say, betrayal was not her intent. She is the lost daughter of Me'shan and E'rian, taken and raised by the s.h.i.+mat.”

The room was suddenly filled with excited whispers.

The king's expression softened marginally. ”What do you have to say on your own behalf?”

There was a pause while she searched for the right words. What could she possibly say to justify her actions in their eyes? She looked down at Ravi, who gave her a supportive smile in return.

When Adesina turned back to the king, she felt her shoulders slump ever so slightly. ”Nothing, your Majesty.”

King L'unn raised his eyebrows in surprise. ”Nothing?”

Her brother reached over and took her hand, pressing her fingers with his own. ”Your Majesty, my sister did not know she was doing wrong. She was doing her duty, as she had been raised to do. She has since felt deep remorse for her actions and has forsaken her order. I have seen this with my own eyes.”

The king's gaze swept over the others standing with them. ”Are you the only one to vouch for this change?”

Several heads began shaking, but Sa'jan was the one to speak. ”No, your Majesty. We all vouch for her.”

Ri'sel's lips tightened and his eyes dropped to the floor. King L'unn took note of this. ”Do you not agree, Ri'sel?”

The grim man looked at his niece long and hard. He had hardly spoken to her since their encounter in her cell. Adesina felt no love for him, and was sure he felt the same.

He took a deep breath before speaking. ”It is true that she has undergone much in her journey to Pevothem. However, I am still wary of allowing a s.h.i.+mat in our midst.”

L'unn acknowledged his concern with a nod, then he turned his attention back to L'iam. ”What say you, my son?”

Adesina's eyes whipped over to L'iam. How could she have missed it before? If the deferential treatment hadn't been enough to indicate L'iam's position, the resemblance between him and the king and queen should have been.