The Tenth Rite

The sun crept along the boards of the wooden bridge. I carefully looked over to see the dark forest floor below. I shifted the pack on my back as I kept my weight steady on the bridge. If my balance wasn’t perfect, I risked falling to my death. I did not want to die. Not before my soul was cleansed by the Voidfire.

“Eryn! Did you grab the fruit for the Decennial?” I looked up and saw Ronan’s teasing smile.

I rolled my eyes. “Of course I did. You think I’m lugging rocks across this rickety bridge for fun?.”

“It seems more your speed.” he said sarcastically, a lingering shadow of a smile still on his face.

I ignored him, as I continued my trek on the bridge. Each step could cost me my life, but I wasn’t too worried. The Bridgekeepers did a pretty good job of maintaining the bridge. Though there was this one time poor old Jenkins fell through the boards. To this day I can still hear the sickeningthudof the impact.

I made it off the bridge onto one of the suspended platforms, where Ronan waited for me, arms crossed. “If you’re late that’ll be another sin on your soul.”

I smacked his arm. “Don’t play like that Ronan, that’s not funny.”

He shrugged. “That’s what mom tells me when I’m slow doing my chores.”

“Well you’re not mom, and mom better shut up before word gets round to the pyro-”

“Before word gets round to what?” I looked up and a large figure stood over me, peering down his nose. My eyes flicked to the golden pin full of swirls on his chest. Great. A captain. I couldn’t have run into a plain of the mill soldier, nope. It had to be a captain.

I furrowed my brows, annoyed. “The pyromancer.”

The captain leaned forward, hot breath blowing in my face. I nearly gagged. “What don’t you want the pyromancer to hear, oh’ pale one?”

I leaned my head back a little, desperate to escape the smell, adjusting his pin to cover the disrespect. “That old man Jenkins spoke blasphemy to the Voidfire right before he fell to his death.”

The captain snorted, leaning back. “That’ll serve that old bastard right. Karma hit him quick,” he looked me up and down, a greedy look on his face. “I’ll keep my mouth shut about this little incident if you do me a...favor.”

My face recoiled in disgust. Just as I opened my mouth to tell him what a creep he was—much to my annoyance—Ronan interjected, slinging his arm around my shoulders. “Actually, mywifeand I were just heading home.”

“You think I care—”

“Isn’t adultery a sin?” Ronan asked, head tilted slightly. He pointed to the Captains vine-woven ring. “Don’t think the Mrs. Would like that now would she?”

The captain sneered, then turned around and walked off. Ronans arm stayed slung over my shoulders until the captain was out of sight. I immediately turned, throwing Ronan’s arm off my shoulder. ”Don’ttouch me again.”

“You’re welcome for helping you.” He scoffed.

“You’re a man that’s your job.” I said dismissively, walking across the platform to the next set of bridges to get to our hut.

Ronan followed after muttering under his breath, platform creaking beneath him.

I entered our hut, taking my boots off and leaving it outside the door. Mother never liked dirty shoes on her decorated rug.

“Ma, we’re home.” I called out, swinging my pack off my shoulder onto the small wooden table in the center of the hut. Colorful pillows sat around it, with drapes of cloth hanging from the ceiling. Three small cots laid in different corners of the room, decorated according to each persons liking. I liked to keep mine neat and simple, which was more than I could say for Ronans messy cluttered side. Warm cozy lanterns filled with glowing moss hung around the room, giving the space a warm welcoming feeling.

My mom was standing at the back of the hut, roasting deer on a stick on top of hot coals. She stood up, brushing her skirts off. “You brought the fruit for the Decennial?”

I opened up the pack, wild apples spilling out. “Lots of it.”

She picked one up, examining it with a careful eye. “Looks good. The pyromancer will be pleased.”

I sat down with a sigh on one of the pillows. I looked down, playing with my nails nervously. “Mom...are you excited? For the festival?”

She turned sharp gray eyes narrowed in on me. “Of course I am. Are you?”

“Yeah, of course,” I stuttered. “I just...I don’t know. Does it ever upset you? That you know. We won’t remember each other?”

She turned around, flipping the deer over. “No, it doesn’t. I’ve sinned a lot and my soul needs cleansing,” she turned back around a small smile on her face. “Besides. It’s only been a decade.”

“A decade is a lot.” Ronan added, picking up an apple and biting into it.

Mom turned, shooting him a glaring look. “A decade is nothing compared to your entire lifetime,” she turned back to me. “Besides, the Magistrate has direct orders from the—”

“Yes from the Voidliasion, I know, I know.” I droned.

She grabbed an apple from the table and brought it over to the counter where her cutting board sat. “So then it shouldn’t be an issue,” she grabbed a knife, turning towards Ronan. “Ronan dear, you mind boiling up some water for me?”

Ronan took a deep breath, setting his half eaten apple down. “If you insist.” He said, annoyance in his tone.

My mom paused her cutting and turned towards me. “Don’t just sit there, start getting ready! It’s day one of the festival. Lot’s to look forward to.”

I sighed, reluctantly getting up. I walked over to my corner, and closed the large tan curtains shut. Flicking on my moss lantern, I sorted through my clothes. I grabbed a green dress and paired it with a black laced corset. I saved it for special occasions. It took memonthsto make. I had to convince a hunter to give up the pelt to a recent kill he made, collect loads of waxy dried leaves, and let it soak in wet tree bark mixed with coal dust to get it stained black. That’s not including the measuring and sizing. It was a pain, but I was eager to wear it for the festival.

I found stuffed in the bottom of my dressing trunk a belt made of vines and decided to use that as well.

I opened up my curtain and walked out, spinning in my dress. My mother smiled, grabbing my hands. “You look beautiful,” she motioned towards the pillows next to the table. “Sit, let me do your hair.”

I obliged, crossing my legs together, savoring my mothers tender touch. She turned her head towards Ronan, who inevitably sat back down to finish his apple. “Stop eating all the Decennial food and go get ready. The festival starts in an hour.”

Ronan grumbled something about bossiness, and left to his corner of the hut, shutting his curtain a little too aggressively. I rolled my eyes. He’s more dramatic than me, and he’s supposed to be “the man of the hut.”

My mother must’ve felt the same way as she sighed, her warm breath caressing the back of my neck. “I know he’s glad for the Voidfire.”

I chuckled a bit. “You say that, but I bet by night three he’ll be trying to convince the pyromancer his soul is pure.”

The room fell silent, as she finished her half up-half down braid. I turned and gave her a hug. “Thank you mom.”

She returned the hug with a small sigh. “It was the duty assigned to me.”

Something bothered me about that statement, as I let go awkwardly. Before the air got too tense, Ronan walked out in a long sleeved shirt with brown pants. “How do I look ma? Charming? Handsome?”

She got up, adjusting her skirts. “If that’s what you want to call yourself sure.”

Ronan scowled. “How come you tell her she’s beautiful but when I come out you don’t say the same.”

“Oh, you’re right I’m sorry,” she walked over and pinched his cheeks. “You look so beautiful.”

He swatted her hands away from his face. “Okay, that’s enough. I’m not a girl.”

“Then stop asking to be treated like one.” Mom deadpanned.

I held back a smile, as I picked up my now empty pack. “I’m going to start heading to the festival now.”

“You don’t want to wait for the food to be done? So you can bring it?”

“No,” I said hurriedly, walking out the hut. “You’re the mom that’s your duty.”

Hurt flashed in her eyes. I won’t lie when I say I enjoyed the sliver of satisfaction that ran down my spine.

The platform creaked as my weight settled on it, and I practically ran onto the bridge, steadying myself. I wasn’t eager to go to the festival, but I was also tired of hearing them bicker back and forth. Knowing Ronan, he’d find some way to drag me in it and I was not in the mood for drama.

Bridge after bridge, platform to platform, I glided through the network of paths to the main veranda where the festival is held every 10 years. Day one is called the gathering, where families bring offerings of fruit, nuts, or game to the pyromancer. The pyromancer inspects the food deeming whether it is worthy or not. If it is, it’s added to the one of the massive tables spread along the platform, to be eaten in the opening celebration feast. If not it’s thrown to the forest floor below. This was probably the most normal day of the festival. It just went downhill from here.

I walked around, looking at all the food and decorations. I don’t remember what we had last decade, but this decade seems to be really good. My head jerked to the side as I heard someone call my name.

“Eryn!” Brynner jogged over to me, floppy brown hair sagging in his face. His hands were full of bags of nuts, spilling onto the floor with each bounce in his step.

I didn’t even try to hide my eye roll. “What do you want?” I snapped.

He put a hand up in defense. “What, a guy can’t say hi to you? Why you always so hostile?”

“Why you always in my business?”

“I am not—”

I slid my pack off my shoulder, hanging it on a seat at one of the large tables. “Last week you asked about my trade, the week before that you asked about my father, and two weeks before that you had thegallto ask about my love life.”

“I mean, isn’t it normal for a man to ask a pretty girl like you that question?” he shrugged.

“I’d respect you more if you were taller than me, but unfortunately I can’t take short people serious. Especially shortmen." I said dismissively. I was relatively taller than most of the people here. It used to bother me when I was younger, but I’ve learned to embrace it.

Hurt creased his face. “You know, it wouldn’t kill you to be kind sometimes.” He turned around and walked off doing Void knows what.

I watched his retreating back, face sharp, until his form disappeared into the growing crowd. I sighed, sitting at the table. I don’t mean to hurt people, I just say whatever comes to mind in the moment. He annoyed me so I was blunt about it. You’d think people would prefer someone to be honest with them, but no. Everyone wants to be fed a false ideal.

’A couple minutes later, the rest of my family arrived. My mom gave a quick kiss on my head, before quickly running off into the crowd with her roasted deer. Ronan sat next to me with a slight grunt. “Did I miss anything?”

“No.”

“So why’d you run off?′

“You know why,” I scowled. “I knew you were gonna drag me into that mess with mom. I wasn’t dealing with it.”

“How do you know for sure?”

“You’ve been doing it for the past decade.” I grumbled.

He chuckled, grabbing a nut from the table and popping it in his mouth. “Well, I’m not in the mood for self reflection. I’m ready to celebrate. The Voidfire is coming!”

“Yippie,” I said sarcastically.

He furrowed his brows at me. “What’s the problem? You’re not excited?”

“Why should I be? I’ll forget the people I’ve lived with for the past ten years. You guys are my family.” And in a world where bonds are discouraged, I hated that every decade I bonded with the people around me. I forget every single time. But I suppose that’s the point.

“Aw,” he said, lip pouted. “She does have a heart.”

I shoved his arm, a slight smile on my face. “Shut up.”

He smiled, popping another nut in his mouth. “In all seriousness, I understand what you mean. But the way I view it is a rebirth. Every ten years we have the chance to start all over again, to do things better than we did last.”

“But how do we know we’re doing better if we don’t even remember what we did last time?”

“There’s a beauty in not knowing. It tests your character. Are you worthy to avoid the purification? Or are you given a second shot atbecomingworthy.”

My brows furrowed as I recognized those words. “You’ve been reading the manifesto haven’t you?”

“Of course,” he got up with a wink. “I’d go crazy if I didn’t.”

He walked away, disappearing into the crowd.