His voice became gentle. "Why would we do that, Ma'eve?"

Adesina shook her head and stared hard at the ground. "The Shimat know that I have betrayed them, and they are bound to take action. It is only a matter of time before they come after us."

He nodded in agreement. "Yes, the risk is much greater now."

She barely heard him, she was so caught up in the possibilities running through her mind. "Or perhaps they are setting traps for us at the fortress."

Ravi's tail twitched slightly. "They do not know our destination, dear one."

That was no consolation at all. She pressed her lips together and furrowed her brow. "It does not take much imagination of figure it out. A group of L'avan traveling south, led by a former Shimata"there can be only one destination."

He inclined his head. "Perhaps you are right."

"Of course I am right," she insisted. "Our greatest a.s.set was the element of surprise, and now that is gone. The only way we can succeed now is if the Shimat allow us to do so."

"What would you have us do?" he asked softly.

She sighed heavily. "I do not know."

A voice sounded behind her. "We cannot turn back now."

Adesina turned around and saw L'iam approaching her. There was a determined gleam in his eyes that left no room for argument.

She replied, "We may not have a choice."

He was unmoved. "There is always a choice, Adesina. I refuse to abandon our people now, and I will carry out this mission, even if I have to go by myself."

The rest of their companions were beginning to stir, so they walked back to the camp. The same question seemed to be on everyone's mind, and L'iam decided to speak.

"Now that our existence is known to the Shimat, this mission is much more dangerous. The likelihood of success is very slim. However," he glanced at Adesina, "we are going through with it anyway."

Silence met this statement, and he continued. "You know I would never issue commands in a situation like this. We would welcome any of your help, but should any of you choose to part ways, we would understand."

All eyes went around the circle to each of the members of their company.

Sa'jan merely smiled. "I promised your father I would look after you, L'iam. I cannot break a promise to the king."

Aleron stared foolishly at L'iam. He had not known that he was in the presence of L'avan royalty. When he realized that they were all looking to him for his answer, he blushed and averted his eyes.

"I would like to come. I am not a warrior, but I would still like to help in any way I can."

"Surely you know my answer," said E'nes. "I will not desert my father, or my sister."

L'era nodded her agreement. "You could not send me away!"

Adesina looked around the circle with grat.i.tude warming her heart. She was glad to know that they were with her no matter what happened. When they mounted their horses and prepared to leave, a new feeling of confidence drew them together. There was a firmness and resolution that they had not really felt before. At least, not as strongly as they did now.

They meandered south, doing their best to stay in the cover of trees. Forests were growing fewer, and they would soon have to travel at night to remain hidden.

Aleron drew his horse up next to Adesina, trying to appear nonchalant.

"So," he said quietly, "L'iam is a prince?"

She smiled at his attempts to be casual. "Yes."

"Are there many princes among the L'avan, or is he the only one?"

"He has an older brother," she replied, "but they are the only two princes among the L'avan."

Aleron's voice was strangely heavy. "Oh."

After a moment's pause, he asked, "Has his marriage been arranged for him? That is how they do it in the stories, right?"

She shrugged. "I suppose so. Arranged marriages are rather common among the L'avan. I have met L'era's betrothed, but I have never met L'iam's or his brother's."

He cast her a sideways glance. "Do you have someone to whom you are betrothed?"

Adesina's brow furrowed slightly, wondering where he was going with this line of questioning. "I suppose I used to, but it is my understanding that the arrangement no longer applies."

He looked much more cheerful at this discovery. "Why is that?"

She quirked an eyebrow. "Because the L'avan a.s.sumed I was dead."

A flush colored his cheeks. "Oh. Of course."

The travelers came to a sudden halt. Adesina looked ahead to L'iam, who was at the front of their group. "What is it?"

"A ravine," he answered.

She nudged her horse forward to take a look at the obstacle. It was narrow, but just wide enough to make it dangerous to attempt to jump. The thick growth of trees kept in hidden until one was almost upon it. It was much too steep to climb down, which meant they would have to go around.

Adesina and L'iam dismounted to take a closer look. She glanced at her guardian, who had followed them. "Do you see any way down?"

He shook his head. "No."

As they were peering over the edge, the familiar sensation of impending danger made the hairs on the back of her neck stand up. She immediately connected to her vyala, and sensed several figures lurking in the distance.

"L'iam!"

He had sensed her mood and was already springing into action. He called to the others while running back to his horse and drawing his sword.

The Shimat seemed to appear out of nowhere, but were readily met by the L'avan. Adesina found herself face to face with a pair of vaguely familiar brown eyes. They were cold and calculating, studying her as if they could see every weakness.

"It has been a while since the High City."

Her memory sharpened, and she remembered where she had seen those eyes before.

"You took my father after I captured him."

The Shimat didn't respond, but darted forward so quickly that Adesina barely had time to react. She leapt to one side, hurriedly bringing up her sword to block his blow. Three more attacks followed in rapid succession, and it was all that she could do to avoid them in time.

Adesina stared at her opponent in shock. She had not realized how ill prepared she was to come up against a full-fledged Shimat. He was faster, and much more ruthless. It also became apparent to her how her relaxed training over the past year had affected her ability to fight to this degree.

She brought her vyala to bear, knowing that she would need every advantage she could get. She did her best to antic.i.p.ate his moves, but it was far from foolproof. He moved in quick circles around her, and she anxiously did her best to keep up.

It occurred to Adesina that if she was only matching her opponent she would lose. Her mind began formulating a plan, attempting to think of something that he had not considered.

She made her movements sporadic, avoiding any sort of pattern. His eyes became wary, and his stance more defensive.

Adesina used her vyala to make her body lighter, making her faster on her feet. She jumped up against a nearby tree and pushed off of it with her feet, flipping in the air over his head and landing behind him. He whipped around fast enough to evade her blow, but he now eyed her with a grudging sort of respect.

"Perhaps it is true what they said about you."

She refused to be distracted by anything he said. Instead she flicked her sword at him, trying to get past his defenses.

"They said you could have been among the greatest Shimat," he continued, "if you had completed your training."

Adesina gritted her teeth. "I did complete my training."

Her sword met his with a sharp clang of metal. His cold brown eyes became smug. "A Shimat trains far beyond what is taught at the fortress. Experience turns a graduated Shi and turns them into a true Shimat."

She knew that he was right, but she didn't reply.

"You have been trained by us, and you are still going to die. How much easier do you think it will be for us to kill your friends?"

This statement brought Adesina up short, and she paid for her brief pause. He swung his sword and caught her upper left arm as she spun away.

The chaos of the battle around her was brought to her attention. Ravi was only a dozen feet away, protecting her from a Shimat that had attempted to attack from behind. Sa'jan was grappling with another Shimat, bleeding from numerous cuts. L'iam was running to L'era's aid, and Aleron lay on the ground unmoving. E'nes was nowhere to be seen.

It was obvious that they were losing the fight against the Shimat. Fear gripped her heart at the possibility of losing any of her companions.

Again, Adesina paid for her distraction. Her opponent threw a small knife, which pierced her right thigh. She bit back a cry of pain as she pulled it out and flung it back with deadly accuracy. The Shimat would have been killed on the spot had it not been for his lightning reflexes. Even so, the knife struck his shoulder.

He glared at her as he pulled the blade out again, and an idea came to Adesina. It went against every notion of honor that she had ever held to, but she knew that she could not win otherwise. Her opponent would kill her unless she did something to turn the tides.

She returned to swordplay, flinching against the pain in her arm and leg. The Shimat seemed little bothered by his own wound. He still moved as quickly as before, pushing Adesina to the limits of her skill.

Finally, she pretended to stumble, dropping to one knee. He lashed out like a snake, lunging forward to strike the killing blow.

Adesina rolled towards him and jabbed one of the darts from her belt into his thigh.

He had to do a somersault over her to avoid being brought to the ground, and he came to his feet uncertainly. He pulled out the dart and stared at it for a moment in confusion. When the drug on the tip of the dart began to take effect and he realized what was happening to him, he drew the dagger worn at his side.

Refusing to allow himself to be taken prisoner, he thrust the blade into his own heart, killing himself immediately.

Adesina slowly got to her feet and sheathed her sword. She was shocked at the abrupt ending of the battle between the two of them, and stood motionless for several moments. She was only spurred back into reality when a dagger came flying through the air.

She diverted it with her vyala in surprise, and it only just missed her. Among the branches of the trees above her, she spotted Basha's face and went cold with hatred. She forgot the Shimat lying at her feet and launched herself in pursuit of her fleeing enemy.

Basha was trying to leap from branch to branch, but having a hard time of it. Keeping her eyes on the shadowy figure and ignoring the pain of her wounds, Adesina nimbly scaled the nearest tree and threw herself into the air.

She used her vyala to propel herself farther, but she was physically and emotionally exhausted, and had a hard time staying in control.

Basha, who did not realize how diminished Adesina was feeling, glanced over her shoulder in fear. Her features tightened in concentration as she pushed herself even harder. She wove in and out of branches, threw things in an attempt to break Adesina's concentration, and hurried to get onto solid ground where she could fight with greater ability.

After much struggle with the environment, Basha landed on the forest floor. Adesina did the same, but with much more grace than her opponent.

They circled each other warily, glaring at each other with absolute loathing. Adesina used her vyala to scan their surroundings, taking note of things that could be of use as well as possible hazards.

They were dangerously close to the ravine, and she could see Basha eyeing it with interest. Adesina took note of her own weakening limbs with concern. She wasn't sure she could fight Basha in her present state, but she couldn't avoid it now.

A rash idea suddenly came into her mind.

"Are you going to throw me into the ravine, Basha?" she asked mockingly, hiding the uncertainty she felt because of her depleted Shimat skill as well as her waning physical stamina.

The fury in Basha's eyes jumped up several degrees. "It would be all too easy," she retorted, "but it does not seem like a proper death for you. Not enough pain and suffering."

She barked a laugh at her lifelong enemy. "I am trembling with fear!" she said sarcastically, hoping that the slight tremor in her step was not apparent.

Basha rushed at Adesina while drawing her sword. Adesina was instantly on the defense, drawing her own sword from the scabbard on her back.

"You will be trembling when I am through with you! Your body will shake with pain you cannot yet imagine!"

Adesina flicked her sword, diverting Basha's attack and putting her on defense. "I have my doubts on that point," she said drily.

"You have no idea of what I am capable," hissed the Shimat.

Adesina spun quickly and brought her Blood Sword down in a blow aided by her vyala. It was so powerful that Basha had trouble blocking it.

She calculated words that would arouse her enemy's fury. "Perhaps, but I know what you are incapable of, and I know you cannot beat me."

A scream of rage was all she got in return. Basha rushed at her again, unable to control her temper, and acting rashly in response.

All of their moves were dealt more quickly, and Basha had less and less precision. Adesina kept her expression indifferent, but her mind was keenly fixed on maintaining a tight defense. She continued to goad Basha, waiting for her opportunity to strike.

It finally came when she left her sword arm unprotected. Adesina dealt a sharp blow to the wrist holding her weapon and used her vyala to knock Basha off her feet.

She landed on her back, staring up in shock and hatred. She held her injured wrist against her chest, using the other arm to inch herself away from the L'avan. Adesina was about to make another snide remark, when Basha reached out and grabbed a stone to hurl in her direction.

Her vyala shielded her against it easily, but it was just enough time for Basha to reach a gloved hand into a pouch on her belt and grab a handful of a gritty red powder.

The powder was thrown at Adesina, catching her full in the face and settling on her skin, even through her clothing. Her eyes went dark and a burning pain rose up from her chest, spreading throughout her entire body. The pain escalated until it was excruciating, especially in the areas where she had been wounded previously. She writhed and screamed, tearing at herself in an attempt to get the powder off.

She fell to her knees, pressing her fists against her temples and shaking uncontrollably. She was completely incapacitated, and somewhere in the back of her mind she knew that Basha would finish her.

Death was coming, and Adesina welcomed it as a reprieve from the pain.

Somewhere through the agony and darkness, she heard a shrill whistle and then Ravi's urgent voice. She could barely control her limbs enough to reach out in the direction of the voice.