Under a Starless Sky novel Chapter 8

The induction ceremony to become an apprenticed Sister was not a secret affair. Men and women were invited to witness. It was meant to be informative and inspirational. It was meant to encourage respect for the Sleeping Forest. There were people from Midelay, and province outside of West Midelay, along with a party from Easterly. Midelay was in charge of the ceremony. Fourteen candidates were accepted. Candace was one of them.

The group in attendance stood some distance from the forest. The candidates were lined up ready to go. N’Ma instructed them. “Just within the edge of the Sleeping Forest, there are painted trees. The first three to touch such a tree and return here will be apprenticed. Go.”

The girls ran. The girl in the lead ran as if she knew nothing about Sleeping Trees. She didn’t trip over a root. Her speed and momentum from running and jumping made her foot ‘tap’ significant enough that the tree responded. A psychic burst put her to sleep, along with the girl that was right beside her, competing to be first. They both went down hard.

Shen immediately moved as if he were going to render air, but G’Ma tripped him. “What the hell is wrong with you?”

Candace was spread out from the groups, wanting to avoid being taken out by someone else’s misstep. There was audible gossip about her being coached. Six girls, Candace included, made it to the thick of the Forest. The light only penetrated so far, shadows seemed alive, indicating a silent rustling of leaves. Candice hesitated at this boundary. Inside, clearly marked by human hands, were Sleeper Trees painted from root to about the height of an adult’s reach. She chose one and went in, her speed cautiously reduced. There was no clear, fast track to a tree, as roots went in every direction, crossing each other. If she stayed feet to earth only, she risked breaking an ankle if she fell. She put a hand on a tree, singing softly to it. Prayerful, asking permission to touch it. She balanced on a root and went in. She made it to the painted tree, and saw another, just beyond this. It was this side of Heart’s Wall, and visible. She tried to stay Heart, but the sound around her, and the flickering of light through trees kept bring her out. If she closed her eyes, the movement of leaves reminded her of fire. She went to the next, deeper painted tree. There was another deeper in. She looked back. She could see out. One of her peers met her eyes, smiled, and went further in. Candace went in. Her Heart confused her. There were a circle of trees all around, tightly enough that if she thought she were enclosed by trees. With her eyes, she could discern darkness and lightness, and knew which way was back by this alone. There was no painted trees behind her. She circled her tree, and found that painted side was on one side. She circled their tree, and headed back, drawing a straight line from painted side out. She was baffled to find herself emerging simultaneously with another sister. She felt for sure they would have been ahead. The one that emerged with her had gone as deep, if not further in, as she. There were more girls at the edge, asleep. Had they hit a root? As she and her fellow candidate emerged, a thud sounded. A Master had shot a bolt from a cross bow and tagged one of the trees. As she went down, she saw two other bolts. She and her peer slept.

Shen went forwards.

“Hold your ground, or I will make you sleep,” Lanore said.

The group dispersed into smaller groups, sat down on the Earth and on blankets, and began to eat and drink. Lanore, Tell, and Neva sat at their campsite with their apprentices and their families.

“Come on,” Tama said.

Shen looked to her and then approached Lanore. “L’Ma, I am worried.”

“Boys will do that,” Lanore said, garnering appreciative smiles from her group.

“They could be hurt,” Shen tried.

Lanore looked at him. “They could be. They may die. This is not your concern.”

“This is the way it has always been done, boy,” G’Ma said.

Shen started to walk away.

“Where are you going?” Tama called.

“Home,” Shen said.

“Come back and sit your ass down here,” G’Ma said.

Shen was in tears. “You sent your own daughter out there to die?!”

Lanore clinched her hands. She stood. “You think I don’t know? You think any mother here doesn’t know what’s in line for us? We do what we do, all of us. The sooner you come to grips with reality, the easier this path will be for you. Get over here, sit down, eat your meal, and stop emoting like 2 year old! You’re not Fiver.”

“No!” Shen said.

Lanore tagged his forehead with the palm of her hand. He went down as easily as the Candidates, sound asleep.

“It’s about time you…”

Lanore hit her mother. She fell over sideways, sound asleep against Ceolla who eased her all the way to the ground.

“Anyone else tired?” Lanore asked.

No one from her group met her eyes. Tell seemed amused. Neva struggled not to judge. Tama’s eyes were on her knees. Someone from another group met Lanore’s eyes.

“Mind your own camp. And accuse me of coaching again, and I will have your hide,” Lanore said.

Tell and Neva got up and managed to get Lanore to walk with them without it being apparent they were trying to coach her. She calmed as they drew out of earshot of the gathering.

“What is wrong with me?” Lanore asked.

“Maybe we should give the boy more information. He only reacts emotionally when he is concerned for the wellbeing of others,” Neva said.

“I am confused by all this double talk. Treat him like a boy, I get grief, and now you want me treat him like a woman, make him privy to our ways?” Lanore asked. “It’s not his place.”

“It’s his place to care for the tribe,” Neva said.

“He challenged me in public!” Lanore said.