Free The Labyrinth of Destiny by Callie Kanno

somewhat and he unfolded his arms.
    “What do you have in mind?”
    A small smile appeared at the
corner of Adesina’s mouth as a plan formed in her brain.
     
    ***
     
    Adesina watched as her companions
climbed into one of Zephyr ’s rowboats. Satosh and Suvi had insisted on
being the ones to prepare the boat for departure, and they did so with speed
and skill.
    Captain Zulimar’s face was grave.
“I had hoped to be of more use to you, Mistress Adesina. You have done so much
for us, and I have not even begun to show my gratitude.”
    Adesina looked up into the man’s
dark face and smiled fondly. “You saved us from drowning, my friend, and you
brought us all this way back to Sehar. Is that not enough?”
    “No,” was his humble reply. “It is
not enough.”
    The young L’avan queen chuckled. “I
thought that might be the case.”
    Zulimar also smiled, but his eyes
were serious. “My people have been at war with one another for generations. I
can smell the scent of battle approaching. You go to fight.”
    He looked at her as if to confirm
his suspicions. Adesina’s expression turned somber, and she knew she was
revealing the truth.
    “I would give my life if it aided
your cause, Mistress Adesina.”
    She touched his arm, her heart
filled with the warmth of gratitude. “I know you would.”
    When she didn’t say more, Zulimar
sighed softly. “I will take Zephyr south to Emerald Harbor. There we
will wait, should you need to call upon us for anything.”
    The rowboat was ready, and Adesina
stepped into it. Suvi’s eyes glistened with tears as she stood in position to
help lower the boat into the water.
    “Thank you all so much,” said
Adesina sincerely. “I promise we will meet again.”
    The rowboat was lowered into the
water on the side of the ship that was opposite of the enemy vessel. Kai waited
to see that they were underway before diving smoothly and disappearing into the
ocean.
    They had to move quickly. The
patrol ship was getting closer, and they had little time before Adesina’s plan
had to be enacted.
    Adesina connected to her vyala and shaped it in a fashion she had used before. Her vision took on a reddish
hue, and she blanketed the boat and its passengers with an illusion that made
them invisible to onlookers.
    Sitara brought her own vyala to bear and used it to propel the rowboat away from the Zephyr . They
headed in the direction of Sehar’s shore, which was quite a distance away.
Adesina kept her eyes fixed on the two ships, using her Shimat training to keep
her anxiety in check.
    With a mighty roar, the ocean
erupted between the two vessels and the Aekuor reared her magnificent head.
    Even though she was expecting it,
Adesina jumped. She could hear the panicked cries of the crews, and both ships
veered in opposite directions—away from the “sea monster.”
    The Zephyr made for the open
ocean, safely away from the harm of the Shimat. The patrol ship moved north,
widening the distance between the Shimat vessel and the invisible rowboat.
    Adesina grinned. “She did it!”
    Ruon also smirked, showing a
happiness that seemed unusual on his flat face. “Of course she did.”
    Kai thrashed and shrieked, doing
her best to drive the Shimat ship away. Adesina’s plan was that when the Aekuor
could be sure of the rowboat’s safe landing, she would meet up with the Zephyr and make sure they made it to Emerald Harbor without any problems.
    Sitara continued to speed the boat
toward the shore, and soon Adesina could see the details of the small fishing
village for which they were aiming.
    There were no more than a couple
dozen buildings, most of them the humble homes of the villagers. Adesina let
the magical illusion slowly fade, making the boat visible to the fishermen
throwing nets into the ocean.
    Their arrival caused quite a stir
in the small village. Children shouted and ran toward the rickety wooden pier
and women congregated to watch the boat’s approach and whisper together. One old
man