Adesina didn't realize how far-reaching her combat lessons had become until she looked up one afternoon and saw King L'unn and his sons watching. She was in the middle of showing E'nes a more effective defensive stance, but stopped what she was doing and straightened slowly to face them.

A hush fell over their corner of the training grounds.

The king walked forward deliberately until he was standing in front of Adesina. His two sons followed close behind. Adesina gave a small bow, attempting to show respect.

King L'unn surveyed the scene before resting his eyes on the young woman in front of him. "It seems there are many Protectors eager for Shimat training."

She didn't detect any anger in his voice, but she was still cautious in her answer. "They only wish to improve, your Majesty."

He studied her with interest. "Do you enjoy teaching them?"

Adesina was surprised to find that she did. She nodded slowly. "Yes, your Majesty."

King L'unn considered this for several moments before coming to a decision. "If you wish to continue, you may teach your brother, L'iam, Sa'jan, and Than'os," he said, indicating to a thin, sharp looking man standing in the crowd, who was apparently the last man named. Then he gestured to the rest of the crowd. "All other Protectors must return to their regular training."

With some quiet murmuring, the group dispersed, leaving Adesina, Ravi, and the people named by the king.

L'iam moved forward to stand next to Adesina, speaking quietly in her ear. "I apologize if my father seemed abrupt. He is rather wary of change."

She smiled wryly. "An unusual trait in a king. Is not progress the goal of every civilization?"

L'iam returned her smile. "Yes, well, you must keep in mind that the L'avan have been very much the same for many, many years."

A frown touched her brow. "Do you not find the lack of forward movement detrimental to the race?"

His gaze wandered off into the distance as he nodded slowly. His voice was troubled and distracted. "Yes. An objective observer could see that our people are already feeling the effects of our slow decay. Something must be done to revive our people."

Adesina felt uncomfortable, even though L'iam's comment was not directed at her. She cleared her throat and moved away to address the other soldiers left under her instruction.

"I never meant for this to become a formal cla.s.s. I have never taught before, and I do not know where to begin."

Her brother gave her shoulder an encouraging squeeze. "Do not think of it as a cla.s.s. We will begin practicing, and you can give suggestions where you feel it is needed. Just like before."

So, they picked up right where they left off.

This was how Adesina began to spend most of her days. She found it strangely fulfilling to pa.s.s on the knowledge that she had gained. She also felt as if she were making amends for all the sorrow she had caused among the L'avan people.

All of her pupils were talented fighters and fast learners. Adesina started with the basics of Shimat tactics, but quickly advanced. As the days wore on, she found that she was learning just as much as they were.

Her students became the teachers as they began showing her how to use her vyala in battle. They all had a variety of gifts, and each taught her different things. At first they seemed amazed that she could repeat things that they showed her, studying the color of her eyes to make sure that they had seen them correctly. Eventually they acted as if it were normal, and introduced her to warriors with other talents to teach her what they knew.

All the while, L'iam continued to instruct her on the finer points of the energy they both could wield.

"Raw energy and vyala are practically the same thing, Adesina. The better understanding and control you have over one, the more you will have with the other."

She nodded in understanding, waiting for him to continue.

"Today, let us focus on turning your energy into a different kind of vyala."

She sensed him connecting with his vyala as he extended his hand. She connected with her own vyala, the blaze of awakening much more controlled now than the first time it happened, and reached over to take his hand.

The glow of her surroundings brightened her eyes, but today her focus was on L'iam. She watched closely as he slowly made the shift from pure energy to something tinged a light green. Even though the change was deliberatea"to show her how it was donea"she didn't quite catch how to do it herself.

Now that L'iam was wielding his other gift, he could sense the emotions and intentions of those around him. He was immediately aware of her confusion.

"Let me show you again."

He started to switch back to the pure energy. He deepened their connection so that she could more fully sense the mental and emotional process that went with working with one's vyala.

It was almost like changing the state of mind. Raw energy was a broad, all-encompa.s.sing way to look at the world. It was simply stepping into a deeper point of view. When changing to a gift of vyala, one had to focus on a new way of perceiving the world.

L'iam's green tinged world involved emotional connection with the people in the surrounding area. Adesina found it difficult, being that she had been rigorously trained to shut down her emotions. She looked at the people around her: E'nes, L'iam, Sa'jan, Ravi. These were people whom she cared for and trusted. She opened up her heart to them and felt her vyala beginning to change.

"Good!" L'iam exclaimed. "Now let your vyala know what you want it to become. Focus on the hearts of those around you."

Adesina did as she was instructed and immediately her vision took on a light green tint. She saw, or rather, felt the love and concern that her brother had for her. He was worried that she wouldn't be able to adapt to the world of the L'avan. Or worse, that she wouldn't want to try. He worried that she would leave Pevothem to venture out on her own or perhaps even rejoin the Shimat.

Ravi's thoughts and emotions were like a brightly colored kaleidoscope. Adesina was astounded and perplexed by what she saw. She couldn't understand what she was seeing or feeling when she focused her attention on her guardian.

L'iam sensed her confusion and pressed his fingers more closely around her hand. "Do not trouble yourself with the soul of a Rashad. No mortal can truly understand."

An amused smile appeared on Ravi's face when he heard L'iam's words. Adesina shot the Rashad a spiteful glare, only partially serious, before moving on.

L'iam felt her focus turn to him and gently disconnected himself from her.

"Now let us see if you can do the same with another gift of vyala."

He gestured to E'nes, who stepped forward and connected to his vyala. Adesina frowned slightly at the abrupt change, but did not argue.

"How many different kinds of vyala are there?"

L'iam smiled mysteriously. "No L'avan knows the answer to that particular question, but there were ten gifts given to our people."

E'nes took his sister's hand and showed her how to change her perception to one tinged a dark green. It was a joining with the environment, being aware of the most minute details, even when they were out of physical sight. This was how Adesina was able to aim at things behind her, but now she was able to perceive everything around her without the aid of sound or movement. Everything was clearer, more precise.

He also showed her a way to turn her energy into physical force. The golden glow turned dark orange, and Adesina was able to use that solidified energy to move objects around her. She even used it to knock E'nes down while they were sparring a couple of days later.

He laughed when he had recovered from the shock of finding himself flat on his back. "Perhaps I should mention that L'avan warriors do not use their gifts against each other. At least, not in certain situations. Duels, either real or practiced, are one of those situations."

Adesina smiled sheepishly and helped her brother back onto his feet. "You could have told me that before I threw you across the ring."

Her brother dusted himself off ruefully. "Perhaps I should have. It would have saved me some pain and humiliation."

They were about to begin again when a messenger came running up to them. He gave a short, respectful bow to each of them before speaking.

"Captain Protector E'nes and Lady Adesina: His Majesty, King L'unn requests your presence immediately."

Chapter Thirty-two: Choosing Sides.

E'nes was immediately all business. "Where will we find His Majesty?"

"In the Council Room," replied the messenger.

He thanked the boy and sent him on his way. Adesina thought briefly that it was fortunate that it was just the two of them that morning. She didn't like dismissing cla.s.s or anything else that made the situation seem more official than what made her comfortable.

The brother and sister left the Protector training facility and walked the short distance to the palace. No'am was waiting for them on the steps leading up to the entrance and escorted them directly to the Council Room that Adesina had seen on her second day in Yavar.

The table was headed by the king, just as it had been then. His two sons sat on either side of him, and Ravi was seated not far away. They were also joined by various military leaders and head counselors, and there were a few white-robed religious leaders with their large books of scripture in front of them. Everyone looked up at the entrance of E'nes and Adesina.

King L'unn gestured for them to sit down, returning to the discussion that had been taking place when they had walked into the room.

"Given what we know about Shimat tactics of *scientific inquiry,' we are left with few options."

Adesina felt her stomach clench when she realized what they were talking about and why she had been called into their presence.

E'nes saw her gripping the armrest of her chair and shifted in his seat so as to be nearer to her. Ravi made his way over to her side and also sat close by.

King L'unn's eyes fixed on her intently. "Adesina, is your father alive?"

She felt her words stick in her throat and forced them out with difficulty. "I do not know, your Majesty."

His stare was unrelenting. "Of all the beings in Pevothem, you know the Shimat best. I am in need of that insight, whatever it may be."

Adesina's expression became unusually helpless. "I only know what they wanted me to know. I only perceived what they wanted me to perceive." She shook her head, "I do not believe that you will find much aid in insight tainted by their own manipulation."

The king leaned back, folding his hands in front of him. "The persecution suffered by the L'avan has always been fueled by the Shimat. They despise us for the gifts we have that they do not share, and their inability to influence us as a people. In fact, they have been attempting to recruit members of our race for many generations."

Adesina shifted in her chair uncomfortably. She was beginning to realize why she had always been treated differently from the other Shimat students, and why she had been raised by the Sharifal personally.

King L'unn went on, "Over the past several years, there have been disturbing rumors of experiments involving captured L'avan. I have been trying to discover more about it, but it is one the Shimat's most closely guarded secrets." He leaned forward again. "Your father is not the first to be taken, and, had you not chosen to come to Pevothem, there would have been little we could have done to help him and the others."

She studied the king warily. "Why is that, your Majesty?"

He spread his hands in a gesture of explanation. "Because we know nothing about them. Our people disappear without a trace, never to be seen or heard of again. We have never had anyone we could ask for help."

After much thought, Adesina nodded slowly, still filled with apprehension. "I will help in any way I can, your Majesty, but I do not know how useful I can be. I may have been Shimat, but my knowledge was still very limited."

The king nodded gratefully, then repeated his earlier question. "Based on what you know of the Shimat, do you think your father is still alive?"

This time, Adesina answered without hesitation. "Yes. The Shimat never waste an opportunity, no matter in what form it comes. If there is something to be gained from a prisoner such as my father, they will go to great lengths to keep him alive."

A thoughtful silence followed her words. After a few moments, the king posed another question with less certainty than before. "Would it be possible to rescue him and the others taken prisoner?"

Her initial reaction was to laugh at such a suggestion. There was no way to outthink the entire Shimat organization and take them by surprise. In spite of this, Adesina paused to consider possibilities, no matter how unlikely.

She had never heard of a traitor to the order in the whole of Shimat history. She was certain that such an action would be treated harshly, and that the perpetrator would be made into a public example. Therefore, being she had never heard of one, she was fairly certain that there had never been a traitor to the Shimat.

Before herself, that is.

Even though she had not planned to betray the Shimat, she knew she must now be considered one. She had broken her oath of loyalty, and she had no intention of renewing it.

It stood to reason that if the Shimat order had never had a traitor, they would not expect one now. And if that were the case, Adesina could probably help the L'avan to retrieve their captured people.

She voiced her musings cautiously. "There is a possibility, but it is slight at best. I do not believe that they currently view me as a traitor, but they are suspicious by nature and would regard any deviant action on my part as proof of disloyalty."

L'iam straightened instantly. "We are not suggesting that you go and retrieve them for us."

She gave a half laugh. "What are you suggesting, then? Nothing else would work."

He gestured around the table. "There are many skilled warriors among the L'avan. You could show us how to enter the fortress and where to find the prisoners."

Adesina immediately shook her head. "What if something were to go wrong? How could you possibly adapt when your knowledge of the fortress and the Shimat is so limited?"

The silence that followed was heavy with doubt. King L'unn's voice was resigned, but firm. "She is right."

"Father!" L'iam protested.

The king held up a hand, silencing his son. "There are too many variations in the situation to afford sending in a force of L'avan without the aid and experience of Adesina."

She was immediately shaking her head. "You cannot take the Shimat fortress by force."

"Then how?" asked L'on, speaking to Adesina for the first time.

She rested her gaze on the crown prince, measuring him deliberately. "Stealth is the only sensible option."

He frowned. "What do you have in mind?"

Her thoughts immediately turned to Kendan. "I know someone who would be willing to help us. Someone who knows more about the workings of the order than I do."

A feeling of warmth came over her as she pictured his handsome face. Everything that she knew about him told her that when he discovered the truth about the Shimat order he would do all that he could to help them.

L'on turned to his father with a doubtful expression on his face. "I do not like the idea of bringing in outsiders to help us. Especially those who are overly familiar with the Shimat."

E'nes looked at the crown prince in surprise. "I think we can trust Adesina's judgment, your Highness."

The king seemed to be of the same opinion as his eldest son. "Who is this person you wish to ask for help?"

She felt strangely reluctant to reveal Kendan's ident.i.ty too soon.

"A friend," she replied shortly.