The Labyrinth of Destiny Read Online Free Page B

hath been spoken.”
    “Send Brother Ruon,” squawked a creature
with the head of a raven and the body of a woman.
    Ruon looked extremely smug at this
nomination. Adesina silently wished for someone else—anyone else—to be elected
to join their party.
    Other Council members nodded.
Adesina assumed that they were also demons of various kinds, since the Children
of Light seemed to be keeping their opinions to themselves.
    “Yes, Ruon is a good choice.”
    “I agree.”
    “We have no quarrel with the
Laithur. I suppose he is as good a choice as any.”
    Adesina stifled a groan as Toraun
raised a hand and said, “The decision hath been made, and all shall abide by
it.”
    Sitara also seemed less than
pleased. “Very well.”
    Riel, Sitara’s Rashad companion,
spoke in her quiet and musical voice. “We must hurry to the Northern Threshold
or we will miss our only opportunity to cross back over into the human world.”
    Toraun crossed all four of his
hands on his chest in a form of salute. “May the blessings of the Ancients go
with thee.”
    Adesina wasn’t sure what to say in
return. “Thank you,” she said, feeling slightly foolish.
    “Do you need anything before we
leave, Ruon?” asked Sitara, omitting the title of brother .
    The Laithur’s smile indicated that
he noticed the omission. “No, Sitara ,” he emphasized her name with a
sarcastic tone. “I am prepared to leave whenever you are.”
    Riel took the initiative and began
walking away from the gathering of Council members. Sitara followed closely
behind, pointedly ignoring Ruon’s sneering smile. Adesina and Ravi exchanged
glances before following, and Ruon brought up the rear at an unhurried pace.
    Adesina felt an enormous sense of
relief knowing that they were on their way back to the world she knew. There
was a driving feeling of urgency to stop Cha-sak before he could cause any
lasting harm to humankind.
    So intent was the young woman with
her inner worries that she almost didn’t notice the landscape around them. She
would have been completely unaware had it not been for Ravi.
    What a strange world this is.
    Adesina looked up in surprise. “Is
it?” she responded automatically.
    Then she took a moment to look
around. She once again took note of the violet moss that covered the ground and
the pink sky, but she didn’t observe anything that she hadn’t seen before.
    Ravi spoke aloud instead of through
their Joining. “It is unnaturally silent here—even that small stream makes no
sound. I can sense no life other than the few plants we see and the members of
the Council. Are there no animals?”
    Sitara shook her head. “We chose
this realm because it held no life other than the plants. That way we would not
alter the natural order of this world.”
    Ruon snorted derisively. “You say
that as if we did not affect the plants and rocks of this realm. Our presence
changed this place, even if you choose not to notice it.”
    “Perhaps I do not have the same
affinity to stone as you do,” admitted Sitara.
    “Are the…Laithur interested in
rocks?” asked Adesina hesitantly. She didn’t feel entirely comfortable around a
creature that she knew to be a demon.
    Ruon swiveled his oval head on his
long and snakelike neck. He fixed his small eyes on Adesina, and she had the
unnerving feeling that he could see right through her. “Know you nothing of the
Immortals?” he asked with a hint of surprise.
    Adesina felt her face redden. “Not
very much. Most humans believe that the Immortals are myths.”
    Ruon’s flat face took on a
thoughtful expression. “The Laithur are creatures that are most comfortable in
caves. The Seer dwelt in the Great Cavern, and so the Laithur lived there,
too.”
    Even Ravi was confused by this explanation.
“The Seer?”
    “Has all knowledge been lost in
your world?” asked Ruon in irritation. He took a deep breath and started again.
“Just as you Serraf and Rashad serve the Creator, we Laithur served the