Chapter 1
The morning air was cold, the sun reluctant to rise and bring the day warmth. Dew sprinkled the ground, and the occasional puddle left evidence of the previous night's storm. It appeared as if fog was climbing up the base of the jagged mountains; reaching it's long, wispy fingers out toward the two figures making their way down the side of a cliff.
Emaki paused to breathe in the beauty of the morning. She was unbothered by the meaning of this journey, but less could be said for her brother Verion. He picked his way along the path, his hurried pace almost pushing Emaki from behind. It was obvious he didn't want to waste any time, but he was uncharacteristically quiet.
The differences between how the siblings felt was like a gaping chasm, swallowing any attempts at conversation. The silence had been comforting for a short time, but eas beginning to grow uncomfortable.
Emaki and Verion were twins. They grew up together, they knew each other well, but they were not similar. Visually perhaps, they did bear quite a resemblance. Both Emaki and Verion had golden tanned skin, black hair, and wore firs and tunics. Each bore the distinctive features of their people, the Northern Kazul.
Emaki was of medium hight and good posture, with slim, bright amber eyes, full lips, and flushed cheeks. Her wavy black hair lay at a knit at the base of her neck. Verion had larger, wide set amber eyes, rimmed with dark circles. His eyes were soft, but he had a sharp chin, and freckles were sprinkled lightly across his face. The black hair that poked from the top of his head was curly and unruly. He was tall with broad shoulders, but slouched as he picked his way along the path.
The path Emaki and Verion were on was only slightly worn. Once a regular lane of travel from their mountain, now only a few people used it every year.
"Watch your step." Came from behind Emaki. The silence was broken. Verion had been referring to the tree roots that had begun to stretch across the path. The further down the mountain they walked, the thicker the trees became. On one side, a cliff presented a view of the valley below. On the other side, spindly trees reached over the path casting eerie shadows.
"So...." Emaki searched for the words to say, "our parents. Did they give you their blessing before we left?"
Verion straightened and matched Emaki's pace, coughing slightly. Out of the corner of her eye, Emaki could see he was staring at the sky with his head tilted back. She regretted her question, and the regret grew as he began to speak."
"You know they have no hopes for my future. I don't think they believe I could ever pass the test, but if I did I could get off of the mountain. They did give me their blessings, whatever they believe may happen."
Emaki studied her brother with a sad heart. He was almost handsome, but his face still held a boyish quality that seemed to never fade. What he said was true, and she knew it.
The entire clan knew he was weak, too weak for a Kazul. Verion could barely survive winters up on the mountain in their homes nestled in the rock. He was always ill, and carried a lingering cough everywhere. Unable to spend hours out in the biting wind hunting, climbing, or harvesting like others, Verion proved no asset to the clan. There was no way to cover up for him.
Many in the clan knew Verion's best chance would be to pass the Caxtis test today, and get off the mountain for an easier life.The problem was, a member of the Kazul hadn't passed the test in years. The clan leader himself had been only a small boy when it last happened. If Verion didn't pass the test, however, he might not live to see the end of the next winter.
Another weak cough from Verion brought Emaki out of her thoughts. She realized now that their pace had slowed greatly, and Verion looked down the path with fear in his eyes. Emaki followed his gaze, and in the distance she could see the bright rooftops of Kiastos glinting in the distance. This was Verion's last chance.
"Don't pity me, sister, " Verion pleaded, turing his back to the city and looking at Emaki. Emaki stared at the light glinting behind him, avoiding his eyes.
"I know you pity me, I know everyone does. I don't need your pity. I need you to believe that for once I could be strong enough to achieve something on my own. I need you to do what our parents cannot, at least pretend to believe in me."
Emaki smiled and met his eyes, before brushing past him.
"Who's pretending?" She asked lightly, pushing away the sinking feeling in her stomach.
In all of Emaki's sixteen years, she had only been to Kiastos once. She had heard that there had been many changes, but the small town she remembered had transformed into a bustling city. The streets were lined with colorful stalls, tapestries, goods and flavorful food everywhere. What marble glinted next to the colorful metal roofs on the older buildings.
Verion began to take the lead, and Emaki trailed behind, taking in every sight and smell. Verion had been to Kiastos twice recently, requiring some of the more efficient medicine provided in a city; and he was not as phased by the sights.
Emaki seemed to find something more interesting everywhere she looked. Stalls selling shiny jewelry, waving peices in the sun. Men tossing food over a fire in enormous pans. lively music all blending into one constant tune. The fabric being sold and worn, vibrant colors everywhere! Children and animals ran past, the crowds milled about in a steady stream of traffic, and people wandered from stall to stall.
"Hurry up Emaki, I want to be there before the doors open." Verion gently grabbed Emaki's elbow and began to steer her through the crowd.
"Wait!" She cried, dragging Verion toward a stall. Verion sighed, rubbing his temple with his free hand.
Behind the small stall that Emaki approached sat an old lady. The stool beneath her groaned with every movement as she leaned out of the shadows to peer at the siblings. Intricate black lines traced her face and arms, ink work unlike anything Emaki had ever seen before. On the table in front of her sat cases full of many different beads.
"How much is this bead?" Emaki asked, pointing at a silver bead. The woman leaned forward, and Emaki stared in awe, as the lines on her face gave the woman an almost ancient look. In the tribe, every black ink design a person wore had a special meaning to that person.
Both Emaki and Verion has a ring design around their right thumb, symbolizing their sixteenth summer and the coming of age to take their test. Every member of the clan received similar markings at this age. This symbolized that they were now 'adults' within the clan.
"This one here is a nice one, made it myself years ago. I'm not real partial to getting rid of it, but I suppose I could..."
"We'll give you two coppers for it." Verion cut in, brandishing the two coins.
The old lady cackled. "Two coppers, I wouldn't even sell the scraps from this bead for two coppers. Now take this wooden bead, I'll sell it for five coppers, it may be more your type." The old lady held out an intricately carved wooden bead, stained a dark brown.
Verion shook his head. "That silver bead is worth no more than three coppers. The silver isn't pure, it has been mixed with other metals and melted down. I expect you'll have a hard time selling it to anyone else. Now, here are three coppers." Verion held out the three coins.
The woman sat silently, before she offered a small, toothy smile. "Very well my boy I'll take the three coppers. You know more than you let on." She hold out the silver bead, and Emaki took it carefully. "A pretty bead for a pretty girl," she cackled, her face still holding the small smile.
"Thank you, but the bead isn't for me," Emaki replied, nodding her head. The lady leaned back into the shadows, as Emaki pushed Varion a few feet away.
"This is for you, for good luck," Emaki said, holding out the bead. The Kazul honored beads, each one held a special meaning. Every person collected them, weaving them into their hair, a piece of clothing, or simply hanging them on a string. They were often gifts, symbols, or tokens given to or collected by the wearer.
Verion raised an eyebrow. "You mean I just haggled for my own present?" he asked.
"I guess," Emaki replied, shrugging her shoulders, no other response coming to mind. Verion chuckled before leading her into the crowd again.
"Thank you," He said quietly. Emaki simply smiled.
After a few more minutes of walking, the crowd seemed to grow even larger. "Is it always this busy?" Emaki asked, as she quickened her pace, squeezing between carts and people.
"Not quite, there are other people who travel here to Kiastos for the same reasons we did," Verion replied, making a beeline for a large building. Emaki hurried behind him, looking up at the tall marble building with massive pillars that stood guard by the doors. The seal of the royal emperor, embellished in gold, decorated the front of the otherwise white structure.
