Tightening

Because my account is reverting to Free, the book item must go. So here are the first two chapters (they're all that can fit in the 50kb size limit for Free account static items).

However, I will still be posting chapters as I go on my website: giftoftarin.webs.com. You can read the third one there already, and soon the fourth.



Free-writes are dangerous. I began a random scene about a boy and girl walking in a forest and after ten minutes I was fascinated by my new characters and their strange relationship. An amazing tale soon unfolded in my mind. Translating it into words, however, is the part that takes time.



This is the story of Hama and Lia and their struggles with leaving childhood behind. And it's about Phillippe, the orphaned boy whose quest changes all their lives.



If you notice any bits that should be italicized and aren't--or vice versa--please let me know. =D





Chapter 1



         Lia,Monsu stepped out of her father’s orchard, her apron full of inkfruits, nudging the gate in the hedge closed with her shoulder. She passed down the hedge-lanes, heading for the clusters of identical windowless stone houses that were the edge of her village, La,Fehlluin. The sun was hidden behind the blanket of dense and formless white clouds that seemed to continually roof Unwood Valley in autumn and winter, but Lia knew that midday was not far off.

         Past the outer houses of La,Fehlluin, Lia crossed the road that had once marked the village’s boundary. Long ago the Falliaway, where it came to La, had split in two to go around the village, and then joined back together at the other end. It no longer went around. Now houses stood on the inside and outside of the loop. In the very center of La,Fehlluin, above the shingled roofs and smoking chimneys, stood the spire of the meetinghouse and the tops of the now-leafless trees that ringed it against the milky sky.

         Lia held her apron closed with one hand and lifted the other to adjust her shawl against a sudden gust of cool wind coming up the valley from the Greatwater. Between the wisps of blonde hair blowing across her face, she noticed a new black stain on her already spotty apron. One of the Inkfruits had split. This was not surprising as all of them were overripe. They were almost the last for the year. As Lia continued home through the maze of inner houses and knots of villagers, her thoughts strayed to Hama.

         He was in his father’s house. Lia found that she had been tuning him out all morning without realizing it. That was unusual; they were soulbound companions. Like many Fehlluin, their souls had been joined together when they were infants. Hama,La was like a brother to Lia, but much closer. They sensed each other’s emotions and could communicate by thought, even over considerable distances. Both had learned years ago how to block the other out when they wished, but it bothered Lia that she was doing so unconsciously. But then, she reflected, it has been some time since our last Tightening. She decided to go see him after she brought the inkfruits to her father

         Lia arrived home. Her father’s house was dim and warm inside, as the fire in the corner hearth was the only source of light and heat in the room. Lia’s mother, Tiana,Monsu, looked up from the dough she was kneading, caught sight of Lia’s stained bundle.

          “Been in the orchard?”

          “Mm-hmm.”

         At the sound of her voice Basu,Monsu, Lia’s father, turned around in his seat at the table. There were black ink blotches on his hands and wrists from writing. They matched the color of his hair. “Ah. Thank you, Lia.” He helped her unload the contents of her apron into a bowl on the table beside his stack of ledgers and accounts.

          “Where is Hama,La today?” asked Tiana,Monsu.

          “At home. I‘m on my way there now,” Lia replied. She hung her apron by the door and laid her hand on the latch to let herself out.

         Lia, said Hama’s thoughts in her head. We’ve been summoned to meet with the Fehllar’s council.

         Now?

         Yes, Hama replied. Shall I wait for you? He lived closer to the meetinghouse than Lia.

         Go on ahead. I’ll meet you there. Lia opened the door, turning back as she did so to tell her mother: “We are going to the meetinghouse.”

         Tiana,Monsu nodded, continuing to knead. Her daughter’s silent conversations were in no way extraordinary.

         Lia stepped outside, pulling her shawl tight around her. A light rain had begun to fall. She made her way toward the meetinghouse’s tall metal spire.

         Will this be about our next Tightening? Lia thought to Hama as she walked.

         Most likely.

         Hama did not point out that it would be their last Tightening.

         Starting at age eleven, every year each soulbound pair spent a few days alone together away from their village to strengthen their bond. When they reached their eighteenth year, these annual Tightenings stopped. Soulbindings were always broken before either of the pair married. If they had not separated by eighteen, a gradual Parting began. All Soulbound pairs remained close for the rest of their lives, but were never as intimately linked as during childhood and adolescence.

         Don’t worry, Lia, thought Hama, sensing the direction of her thoughts. You and I are the only ones who can break the binding.

         I know.

         Lia came to the trees. In summer they formed a green wall around the meetinghouse, but now their leaves lay in wet brown piles on the ground, and the stone walls of the circular building within could be seen between the bare branches. There were many well-worn paths through the small forest, and Lia followed the nearest one.

         The meetinghouse was the largest building in La,Fehlluin, and the only one with windows. The Fehllar’s council met here four times each moon. All marriages, soulbindings, and funerals were performed within. Every Fehlluin village had its own meetinghouse.

         Lia entered through one of the four sets of double doors spaced evenly around the building’s girth. The thud of the door as it swung to echoed across the large circular hall, reverberating off the wide gallery that ran the entirety of the inner circumference.

         Hama was waiting for her in the center of the floor. He stood half a head taller than Lia, and where her hair was long and fair, his was short and black as ink. He turned and gave her one of his thin-lipped, barest of smiles—the kind of smile that was more in his eyes than his mouth. Lia hurried to his side, her sense of his emotions strengthened greatly by his proximity. He was as nervous about the summons as she, but hid it better. They embraced, and Lia’s heart, so close to his, burned in her chest. The thought of ever being separated from Hama—from half of her soul—was unbearable.

         The pair turned and lifted their faces to the gallery where the Fehllar’s council was seated.

         “Welcome Hama,La and Lia,Monsu,” said Fehllar Hoskin,Zantua, his long beard twitching with the movements of his jaw. The Fehllar was always the oldest man in the village, and his council comprised of all the elderly men and women who were too frail for normal work.

         “The council has agreed. It is time for your seventh and final Tightening,” said the Fehllar.

         Lia could not suppress a shiver. This day always seemed so far away.

         Hama held her hand.

         “At dawn tomorrow you will leave La,Fehlluin. As before the rules are three: you may go wherever you wish, so long as you remain on Fehlluin land and you do not go separate ways. If you wish, you may travel by boat on the Greatwater, so long as you do not sail into the Blackwater, or land on the Evil Isle. You are not to stay more than one day in any village. Do you agree to these?”

         The pair nodded, Hama was already thinking up possible routes to travel, silently soliciting Lia’s opinion.

         “Then, Hama,La and Lia,Monsu, you are dismissed to prepare for your Tightening,” said the Fehllar with a brushing motion of his hand.

         Lia and Hama kept their thoughts to themselves as they left the meetinghouse and headed for their homes. Lia had not realized until now how close the Parting was. Thinking about it made her feel ill.

         Only just before reaching Lia’s father’s house did Hama ask: Shall we pretend?

         Lia understood, and answered with relief. Yes. Let’s pretend we have ten more Tightenings after this one.

         Hama smiled—though the smile did not reach his heart—held open the door for Lia. I’ll leave you to your preparations.

         Lia entered the house, felt the door close behind. Come back for sunsetmeal?

         Of course. Hama’s thought was not muffled by the door between them. Objects did not quiet thoughts, only distances.

         Lia’s family had just finished noonmeal. Tiana,Monsu, Wa—Lia’s younger sister—and Wa’s soulbound companion Les,Aro, were scrubbing clean the wooden bowls and spoons.

         “I’ll prepare food for your journey tonight, Lia. Go pack your things,” said Tiana,Monsu.

         “Thank you.” Lia went to the room she shared with Wa. She was not surprised that her mother knew about the Tightening. She suspected that the Fehllar’s council spoke to all the older girls’ mothers, to be sure the Tightenings were not during a certain part of their moon cycles.

         It did not take Lia long to gather the items she would need. Wa and Les,Aro skipped in and sat on Wa’s bed, swinging their legs, watching Lia pack, communicating silently with each other. The pair had experienced their very first Tightening less than a moon ago.

         The entire afternoon, Lia left herself little time to think. After packing, she tidied the bedroom, and then proceeded to clean everything else she could get her hands on in the square, four-room house. Lia’s father took pity on her and thought up some errands for her to run. When she finished, Lia helped her mother prepare sunsetmeal.

         Only after the meal, as Lia lay on her bed alone in her room—Wa was spending the night with Les,Aro—watching the fire in the hearth burn down, that she allowed her mind to wander. During the day, she had almost managed to forget that the Parting was so near. Sunsetmeal had felt very normal, just as though she and Hama were children still. But Lia could feel that lying to herself was not going to work. The tension she sensed in Hama told her it was the same with him.

         Lia allowed misery to flood her thoughts, her tears spreading a wet, dark patch on the pillow. The Parting was too close. It was bearing down on them like an iron thundercloud. And Time, its cruel companion, was eating away at the sheltering roof of childhood like rot.

         Lia! She felt Hama’s awareness of her intensify. Everything’s fine. I’m right here.

         She clung to his presence. But for how much longer?

         Forever.

         It was an outright lie; he would not always be there in Lia’s mind, able to comfort her from three or four houses away. But the forthright conviction behind the word quelled Lia’s despair more than any amount of reason could have.

         She relaxed, and was soon asleep.



         Lia woke in the complete darkness of her room. She knew instinctively that it was almost dawn. Hama was still asleep.

         Hama. Lia sensed his drifting fragments of thought coalescing as she woke him.

         Morning already?

         Nearly.Lia got out of bed and began to dress in her traveling clothes.

         His thoughts conveyed a trace of exasperation; he sensed she would not let him go back to sleep. Alright, if you insist.

         Lia smiled, wrapped a warm shawl around her, reached for her pack, slipped from the room. By the dim orange light of the embers in the hearth she saw a bag bulging with bread, dried meat, and dried fruit waiting for her on the table in the front room. Lia added it to her pack.

         You’re feeling better, thought Hama.

         Yes. Stepping out into the pallid pre-dawn light, Lia felt none of the fear that had tormented her the night before. Besides, she was determined not to spoil the Tightening with worries about the future.

         Good.

         Lia reached Hama’s house in a few moments. He was waiting at the door with his pack. They started for the road.

         Do you still want to go to the falls above Jinev,Fehlluin? Hama asked.

         I do, Lia replied. We haven’t been there since our second Tightening.

         Shall we follow Boundaryway instead of the Falliaway this time?

Lia nodded. Why not?

         We have enough time to spend a few days at the falls and still be home for the Festival of Frost, thought Hama.

         That sounds good.

         The pair followed the road northwest out of La,Fehlluin, and then at a fork turned onto a road that led southwest along the Upland edge of the valley straight to Boundaryway—which ran much of the border of Fehlluin land. When they paused for sunrisemeal along the road, Lia proposed cutting across Upland to strike Boundaryway further north. Hama agreed. They turned directly west, climbing the slick, grassy slopes up out of Unwood Valley.

         As Lia and Hama ascended, the valley laid itself out below them in the rising sunlight—its fields, pastures, orchards, the dense gray mass and gleaming metal spire that were La,Fehlluin. Further still a wide slice of Fallia, the Greatwater, spread out like a ridged mirror of the relatively cloudless sky. At noonmeal they seated themselves on the slope and enjoyed the view.

         Spying the boats on Fallia, Lia was reminded of the days she, Hama, Rakkel,Bar, and Tevan,Soll had spent on the shore below La,Fehlluin, avoiding chores. They used to build rafts out of branches and try to sail, but always returned home wet and shivering. All of this was, of course, before Tevan,Soll and Rakkel,Bar’s Parting began. It was never as much fun with only one of the pair there.

         I spoke with Tevan,Soll yesterday morning, put in Hama. He misses those times.

         We ought to visit them when we return, Lia mused.

         The mountains to the west began to appear over the Unwood as Hama and Lia neared the crest of the hill. As always, the sight of those peaks awoke in Lia a strange longing. They were the western edge of the world, just as the Endless Water the Winkria Tribe told of was the eastern edge. Lia and Hama had both been taught Fehlluin legends about those who braved the darkness and danger of the forested foothills, and then climbed up and up the mountains until they were walking in the sky.

         “Walk up the mountains and into the sky,” quoted Lia.

         Hama smiled.

         By sunset they had reached Boundaryway. The fringe of the Unwood loomed up on the west side of the road black and menacing against the fiery sky. Hama cut tent poles and gathered firewood while Lia selected a campsite well east of the road, and unpacked food for sunsetmeal.

         The sun disappeared behind the trees accompanied by a rapid drop in temperature, which the campfire did little to remedy. The stars lit up one by one as Hama and Lia extinguished the fire and laid out their bedrolls in the tent. Lia was asleep in moments.



         After sunrisemeal the next morning, Hama went in search of a stream to refill his canteen, while Lia dismantled the tent and packed away its ropes and sheets.

         Do you think we will get as far as Skywater today? Lia asked Hama—he was better at remembering maps than she.

         Yes. We’re less than ten miles south of the river now.

         Lia bent down and tied closed her pack. I’m finished here.

         Alright, thought Hama. I’ve just found the stream. I’ll be there in—Dragons!

         Lia straightened, sensing Hama moving swiftly closer. What? She was hit by a wave of fear from Hama and began to tremble.

         The thoughts he sent her were shortened and urgent. Stay where you are! Dragon tracks by the stream! I’m coming! Let’s get away from here quick!

         As Lia turned toward the Unwood to watch for Hama’s return, she froze. Not ten yards away, between her and the trees, stood a massive winged beast. She had never seen a dragon except in drawings, but there was no mistaking what it was.

         HAMA!

         Lia! I’m coming!

         It stood on four powerful legs that ended in long, broad claws. Its whole body was covered with gray-green scales except the bat-like wings—folded along its spine—and the shining, curved beak. Lia’s head would not have reached its shoulder, let alone the yellow-eyed, webbed-spiked head. Hama!

         I’m coming I’m coming I’m coming!

         The dragon stalked closer. Lia shook with terror. Every bit of her wanted to bolt, but she knew better than to run from a wild animal. Dragons only eat sheep. Dragons only eat sheep, Lia told herself, trying to calm down so she could think. Dragons only eat sheep…and cows! Lia’s heart pounded. It would have no trouble at all eating her. The dragon was less than three yards away now, and she could smell its stench—like decayed meat.

          “Oi!” Hama came sprinting out of the trees, stooped to grab up a rock off the road. The beast turned toward the shout and Hama threw the rock as hard as he could. It bounced off the monster’s beak. The dragon hissed, annoyed. Its enormous wings snapped open and with one beat it was airborne. Lia, knocked to the ground by the blast of air, watched in horror as the dragon swooped toward Hama. She leapt up and ran after it. Look out!

         Hama pelted the dragon with another rock and then threw himself flat on the ground. The iron-gray claws missed him by a handbreadth. With a ferocious squawk, the dragon flew away over the trees in search of less intelligent prey. Hama picked himself up.

         Lia ran into his waiting arms, and they held each other tight, both shaking with relief and adrenaline.

         I thought it had you!

         Hama squeezed her tighter. Rather me than you.

         Don’t even think it, pleaded Lia. How would I live without you?

         Hama pulled away. Let’s get away from here. We’ll go home. He turned to go retrieve their things.

         Lia caught his arm. No. I don’t want to go home and neither do you.

         Hama did not argue. We’ll continue north, then. He led the way back to their packs. But we need to move now.

         Lia shouldered her bag, glanced at the trees where the dragon had disappeared. She shuddered. Hama took her hand, and together they returned to the road.





Chapter 2



         When Hama and Lia made camp that night—far east of Boundaryway and the Unwood—they were still over a mile from Skywater. The morning’s excitement had drained them both. They had gone slowly, and taken a long rest at noonmeal.

         Lia noticed that the Tightening was beginning to take effect. She and Hama had finished each other’s thoughts more than once during the afternoon, and they were reacting to each other faster. When Hama lost his footing going down a slope, Lia had reached out to steady him before she even knew he was slipping.

         They came to Skywater early the next morning. Jinev,Fehlluin and the falls were not many more miles away, so they quickly started across the great stone bridge spanning  the river. As they neared the far bank Lia and Hama felt someone watching them. They soon spotted him. At the edge of the Unwood on the northern side of Skywater stood a blonde-haired boy of about twelve or eleven, staring at the pair.

         “Hello there!” called Hama.

         The boy stepped backward, looking startled.

         Odd, thought Lia and Hama together, mutually curious. They reached the north bank and went toward the boy.

         “Good morning,” Lia said. “Where are you headed?”

         The boy’s mouth opened and closed a few times. “You…speak my language!” he managed finally.

         “Of course we do.” His accent is strange, thought Lia.

         He isn’t Fehlluin, obviously, Hama agreed.

         Hama asked, “What is your name?”

         “Phillippe,” the boy replied.

         That’s not a Tribe Och name, and he’s not tall enough to be Veylor, Lia assessed.

         “I’m Hama,La, and this is Lia,Monsu,” said Hama. He doesn’t have red hair like the Hillmen, and his skin is too pale to be from Tribe Winkria. “Where are you headed?” he asked Phillippe again.

         Phillippe lifted his shoulders in a shrug. “I don’t know.”

         “You’re lost?” said Lia

         He shrugged again.

         Let’s take him with us to Jinev,Fehlluin, Lia suggested.

         Yes. “Where are you from, Phillippe?” Hama asked.

         Despite not being able to guess his tribe, neither of them expected in the least the answer he gave: “From the other side of the mountains.”

         Lia inhaled sharply, felt Hama stiffen beside her. Impossible! they thought in unison.

         “You mean that you live in the sky?” asked Lia when could speak.

         Phillippe appeared confused. “No,” he said. “The other side. I climbed over them. I found this river and followed it.”

         It was Hama and Lia’s turn to be confused. “There isn’t another side. There’s nothing beyond them,” said Hama slowly.

         “But there is,” Phillippe insisted.

         Either he’s lying or he’s out of his mind, thought Hama. How could a little boy possibly come through the foothills alone anyway? Lia could feel his irritation building up. “Where are you really from? A northern tribe?”

         “I’m telling the truth!” exclaimed Phillippe, alarmed at the anger in Hama’s voice.

         Hama! Don’t hurt him! thought Lia, but Hama’s hands descended to grip the boy by his shoulders all the same.

         Phillippe flinched away, backing toward the steep riverbank.

         Hama! Lia grabbed her companion’s arm to stop him from advancing. But with a thunder of sliding, clacking rocks and gravel, Phillippe disappeared down the bank.

         Mentally cursing himself, Hama dropped his pack and began stripping off his outer clothes. Start a fire, he told Lia, and then he slid down the bank, plunged into the frigid water, and struck out for the small, flailing figure being swept away by the current.

         Lia ran to gather firewood from the forest, and when she returned both boys were back on dry land, dripping. Hama was helping Phillippe remove his sopping garments, wrapping him in blankets.

         Lia got the fire going.

         I don’t know why I don’t listen to you, Lia, thought Hama, shivering and chagrined, as he dressed himself. He sat down beside Lia and gave her a brief hug. His hair brushed her face in cold, wet black ringlets and Lia laughed and pushed him away.

         Hama put another branch on the fire. For a few minutes the only sounds were the crackling flames and the Skywater’s muted rushing. Lia looked up at the sky, milky with thin clouds. Noon was still some time off.

         At length Phillippe ventured to ask: “Why don’t you speak to each other?”

         Hama and Lia exchanged contemplative glances. I hadn’t even considered how strange it must seem to him, reflected Lia.

         “We have been speaking, but not aloud,” explained Hama. “By thoughts.”

         Phillippe’s brow furrowed. “Can everyone here do that?”

         “No,” said Lia. “Only those in our tribe whose souls are bound together.”

         This confused Phillippe further. “Binding souls? Is that like…a betrothal?”

         Hama gagged on the water he was drinking from Lia’s canteen.

         “Goodness, no,” said Lia, appalled by the idea. “That would be like a betrothal to a sibling.”

         “Oh,” said Phillippe. “Are you twins then?”

         “What are twins?” Hama asked when he could breathe again.

         Phillippe attempted to explain, and neither Lia nor Hama really understood, because there had never been twins born in their tribe. But Lia said she thought that being soulbound was something like being twins.

         “This is all so strange to me,” said Phillippe after another period of silence. “I didn’t think I would find people on this side of the mountains, and especially not anyone who speaks the same tongue as me.”

         Lia could feel Hama’s suspicion flaring up again. He could be telling the truth, she thought to him. “What is it like in the west? Why did you leave?”

         The boy’s face lit up as he eagerly described to them the castles, palaces, markets, faires, tournaments, and horse-drawn carriages in the kingdoms across the mountains. Hama and Lia understood almost none of this, but by the rapture in Phillippe’s voice they imagined the beauty and grandeur of the western lands.

         Then Phillippe’s face darkened as he told of the kingdom where he was born. “It‘s ruled by a terrible tyrant, intolerant of any way of life other than his own,” said Phillippe.  “My mother and father and their group of friends were the only ones who fought against the king’s injustice. Because of that, they were murdered.”

         “I’m so sorry,” said Lia, shocked.

         Phillippe shrugged, stared at the fire.

         I don’t think we should just leave him in Jinev,Fehlluin, thought Lia

         Hama turned his head to look at her, probing into her mind. You believe him. You want to take him home with us. To our Fehllar.

         Lia nodded. She opened her and Hama’s packs to put together a noonmeal for the three of them.

         And you want to head home today? Without going to the Falls?

         I see no point in going if we won’t be spending a few days there like we’d planned. It would hardly be a Tightening with Phillippe along in any case. We may as well start home. Lia became aware of Phillippe watching them curiously.

         Hama frowned. I suppose so. If you’re certain that’s what you want to do….

         Lia smiled reassuringly. I’m sure the Fehllar will understand and grant us another Tightening.

         True, thought Hama.

         Lia handed portions of food to Hama and Phillippe. The boy thanked her and dug in enthusiastically. “Were you speaking in your minds?” he asked between mouthfuls.

         Hama nodded. “We were wondering if you’d like to see our village?”

         The boy looked up at them. “Is that where you were heading?”

         “No,” answered Lia, “But we think the Fehllar—our village leader—would like to meet you,” answered Lia.

         “Oh. Is it far?”

         Lia looked to Hama. “The shortest way is about ten miles,” he said. “We can be there tomorrow morning.

         Phillippe agreed and as soon the fire had dried his clothes the three of them set off over the bridge back to the south bank, and down Skywater toward Fallia.

         Phillippe had many questions about the tribes east of the mountains, so Hama and Lia told him what they had heard from travelers about the Hillmen, Ocher, Veyloren, and Winkriata. They told him of the Fehlluin villages: the skillful boat-builders of Ien,Fehlluin, the miners of Aie,Fehlluin, and so on.

         “Who lives on that island?” Phillippe asked later on, pointing to Fallia’s far eastern end when the Greatwater appeared in all its splendor to their view.

         “No one,” replied Lia and Hama at once. “It’s forbidden,” Hama explained.

         “Why?”

         “It is an evil place,” said Lia.

         “But what makes it evil, Lia?” Phillippe persisted.

         Lia opened her mouth to reply before she realized the boy had used her first name only. She froze, shocked by this grave—although innocent—breach of etiquette. Ever her champion, Hama seized Phillippe by the arm.

         “You are neither Lia’s kin nor her soul’s companion, and you will not address her as if you were,” Hama snarled. “The same goes for any Fehlluin you meet. Do not forget it.” He released the alarmed boy, whirled, and kept walking. Lia went with him. Phillippe, chastened, followed behind.

         You needn’t be so harsh, Hama. Phillippe doesn’t know our ways, thought Lia.

         Exactly. He cannot be allowed to make such a mistake again, Hama replied.  Then he frowned. You’re shielding your thoughts. He touched Lia’s shoulder gently. Are you alright?

         Sorry. I’m fine. It’s just…what you said to him. I was remembering that someday I’ll be Lia,Monsu to you too. Hama could think of no reply to this, and Lia smiled wanly. I was right about our Tightening being spoiled with Phillippe along.

         Phillippe asked no more about the Isle, although he soon regained confidence and resumed venting his curiosity on every other subject.

         That night they camped beside the Greatwater. Hama offered his bedroll to Phillippe, who gratefully accepted. And Hama, wrapped in a blanket lent him by Lia, silently grumbled about the impossibility of a mere boy crossing the mountains alone until he fell asleep.



         Where do we go first? Hama asked. Home or to the meetinghouse? It was morning, and he, Lia, and Phillippe were within sight of La,Fehlluin.

         Meetinghouse, answered Lia. The Fehllar is there most of the day.

         It had been raining since before dawn, but the drops were coming down harder now. Lia pulled her shawl up over her head. Finally they reached the village, passing between the shops and stalls that stood beside the road.

         “Lia!” Lia’s younger brother Arai and his companion Kim,Aro ran out from behind Lia’s father’s inkfruit stall and fell in step with them. “Why are you back so early?” Arai spotted Phillippe. “Who’s he?”

         “It’s sort of a long story, Arai,” said Lia. “If you see Mother or Father tell them we’re at the meetinghouse.” They left Arai and Kim,Aro speculating silently behind them.

         At least seven other people asked the same questions of Hama or Lia before the three of them reached the center of the village.

         “Why are these here?” asked Phillippe as they reached the ring of forest.

         “All the villages are like this,” Hama said.

         “Why?”

         Hama shrugged absently; his thoughts had already switched back to what the Fehllar would think of this boy. They got to the meetinghouse, and upon entering found the floor being vacated by a young soulbound pair.

          “Hama,La and Lia,Monsu,” said the Fehllar, seated alone in the galleries, when they stood before him. “You have returned rather early. And who is this?” He leaned forward, peered down at Phillippe.

         Hama gave the boy’s name.

         “Why have you brought him to me?”

         Your turn, thought Hama, shooting a glance at Lia.

         “He says he is from the other side of the mountains, Fehllar,” said Lia.

         “From the sky?” asked the Fehllar, incredulous. “That’s not possible. You know those are only stories.”

         Phillippe spoke up. “The mountains don’t lead to the sky, sir. The land goes on beyond them. They are only mighty hills.”

         “The mountains only hills? Nonsense! Why have you brought this boy to me, Lia,Monsu? Did you really believe him?”

         Hama looked sheepish. “He is not of any tribe I know, Fehllar.”

         “That is certainly true,” said the village leader. He studied Phillippe a moment. “Where are you really from, boy?” he said finally.

         Phillippe glanced at Hama as he replied, perhaps remembering what had happened the last time he had answered this question truthfully. “My kingdom is in the foothills on the other side of the peaks, sir.”

         “Why haven’t others come over the mountains?” asked the Fehllar.

         “I don’t know,” said Phillippe. “Perhaps those who tried did not make it. I was fortunate to find a safe pass and meet no dragons, and my provisions lasted almost all the way here.”

         The Fehllar stroked his beard, did not answer for a long moment. At last he said: “Tell me of the western lands, Phillippe. I will decide if you speak the truth.”

         Lia let out a quiet sigh as Phillippe began to repeat to the Fehllar all he had told them by Skywater.

         Will the Fehllar believe him, do you think? asked Hama.

         Lia chewed her lip. Will he give us another Tightening if he doesn’t believe Phillippe?

         “This is most fascinating,” said the Fehllar when Phillippe finished. The old man leaned back in his seat. “All the village should be told of these things. In four days the Festival of Frost begins, Phillippe. Would you be willing to speak of your homeland before the village?”

         Phillippe nodded, and then the Fehllar thought to ask one more thing: “Why did you cross the mountains, Phillippe? What is it you seek in the east?”

         The boy seemed to have been waiting for this question, and eagerly began another tale. “My mother told me about a man of great power who once ruled all the kingdoms of the west. Some rose up against him but no one could defeat him. Then an assassin came by night. The assassin’s band took the great man’s power away over the mountains and hid it in the east, and the kingdoms fell to chaos. They fight against one another still. What I seek is his great power, that I may avenge the deaths of my mother and father, defeat the tyrant who holds sway over my kingdom, and restore peace to the west.”

         In the silence that followed his echoing declaration Lia stared at Phillippe. She was struck by the courage and desperation of his plan.

         The Fehllar said, “I am sorry, Phillippe. We have no knowledge of the power of which you speak. Unless another tribe keeps this secret from us, I do not think there is such a power here.”

         Phillippe’s shoulders sagged and he studied the stones of the floor beneath him.

         “If you wish,” the Fehllar continued, “I will appoint escorts to accompany you in your search among the other tribes. I would ask, of course, that you remain here with us until our festival, but you are welcome to stay as long or a short as you like.”

         “Thank you,” said Phillippe, bowing respectfully.

         Lia sensed that the Fehllar was about to dismiss them and she spoke up. “Will you grant us another Tightening, Fehllar? In light of….” She trailed off hopefully.

         The Fehllar smiled. “Of course, Lia,Monsu and Hama,La. You did well to bring Phillippe here. You may take your Tightening any time you wish, so long as it is before the end of your seventeenth year.”

         Hama’s relief was as great as Lia’s. “Thank you, Fehllar,” he said, imitating Phillippe’s bow.

         The Fehllar dismissed them.

         I’m glad he believed Phillippe, thought Lia as the three of them passed back through the barren trees. It was still raining.

         So am I, thought Hama. Think of it! Whole lands we never knew about!

         Lia gave his hand a playful squeeze. You trust Phillippe now?

         Hama smiled impishly. Didn’t I always?

         Lia rolled her eyes.

         They neared Hama’s house. “You can stay with my family, Phillippe,” he said.

         “I’ll be back after I explain things to my parents,” said Lia—aloud for Phillippe’s benefit.

         Lia left them at Hama’s house and walked home. She felt suddenly cold, and not just from the rain. Speaking to you felt so strange, she thought. This all feels strange.

         I know what you mean, Hama replied, taking his thoughts off his explanation to his mother and father. We’ve never left off in the middle of a Tightening before.

         After the festival… thought Lia. We should wait for Phillippe to leave. I feel responsible for him. But after he’s gone we’ll go.

         Yes.

         Lia let him concentrate on his explanations and introductions. She felt depressed, even knowing that a new Tightening was not long off. After a few days of staying very close to Hama, she could feel the tiny weakenings in her awareness of him that every step brought. Lia reached her house and slowly opened the door. She had no idea how her mother and father would react to her unexpected appearance. But then, maybe Arai had already told them.

         “Lia!” Tiana,Monsu rose from her seat by the hearth. No one else was at home. “Are you alright? Is Hama,La alright? Why—”

         “We’re both fine, Mother,” said Lia as she removed her wet shawl and hung it over the back of the now-vacant chair. Apparently Arai had not had an opportunity to pass on the message.

         Tiana,Monsu detected the less than happy tone of her daughter’s voice. “Did you argue?”

         “No, of course not.” Lia warmed her hands by the fire. “We found a boy by Skywater. He was lost, so we brought him back here. He’s at Hama’s house.”

         “A boy? From La,Fehlluin?”

         Lia shook her head.

         “Then why bring him here? What village was he from, or was he even Fehlluin?”

         Lia sighed. There was no reason not to tell the truth. The Fehllar had believed Phillippe. “He’s from west of the mountains, Mother.”

         Tiana,Monsu’s eyebrows shot up. “You’re sure? What does he look like?”

         “If he didn’t have strange clothes and a funny accent, and wasn’t totally ignorant of everything about the tribes, I would think he was Fehlluin. He looks just like us.”

         “Have you told the Fehllar about him?”

         “Of course. The first thing we did was take him to the meetinghouse.” Lia turned her back to the warm hearth.

         “What did the Fehllar say?”

         “He asked Phillippe to speak before the village at the Festival of Frost. And Hama and I get another Tightening. Where is everyone?” Lia added, glancing around the empty room. “We saw Arai and Kim,Aro in the market.”

         “Wa is at Les,Aro’s house. Goodness knows where your father is. Probably standing in the rain talking with someone or other.” Lia’s mother fetched a cooking pot from a shelf, musing quietly, almost experimentally: “…From the other side of the mountains….” She came back to the fire. “What should we eat for noonmeal?”

         Lia shrugged. “Actually, I was going to go back to Hama’s.”

         At that moment the door opened and Lia’s older sister Desimone came in from the rain with her infant son, Basu,Setera. Desimone was only two years older than Lia, but she was already a wife and mother.

         “How are you doing, Desimone?” Tiana,Monsu asked, setting down the pot and helping with her daughter’s dripping cloak.

         Desimone’s here, thought Lia to Hama, who was sitting through a third telling of Phillippe’s history. I’ll be a while.

         “We’re very well, Mother. I came to tell you the good news!” She spotted her sister. “Lia! You’re home early!” Desimone sat down in the chair by the hearth. Her wet hair, blonde like her mother’s and Lia’s, glistened in the firelight.

         “Never mind that,” said Lia hastily, not wishing to explain all over again. “What’s the news?”

         Desimone beamed down at the baby in her arms. “We’ve found a companion for Basu! Marian,Soll’s new daughter, Niane,Soll.”

         “That’s wonderful!” said Tiana,Monsu, hugging Desimone.

         “Tevan,Soll’s sister?” Lia asked. There were only about twenty different surnames in the village. It was easy to get families with the same name mixed up.

         Desimone nodded.

         “When will the binding be?” asked Lia’s mother.

         “Well,” said Desimone, “I thought we would have to wait until after the festival so Lia could be there. But you’re already here, Lia. I’ll speak with Marian,Soll again. Maybe we can arrange it before the Festival of Frost instead.”

         Tiana,Monsu took up her pot again. “Will you stay for noonmeal, Desimone?”

         Desimone glanced at the door, through which the rain could be heard. “I should go home. Marron wants noonmeal too.”

         “We’ll invite him then,” said Tiana,Monsu.

         “Oh, that would be lovely. Thank you, Mother.” Desimone settled more comfortably in her chair, obviously pleased by the prospect of being cooked for. “Would you run over, Lia, and tell him?”

         Lia nodded, selected a dry shawl from several hanging by the door, and ventured out on her errand. Desimone’s staying for noonmeal, she told Hama. I’ll come after that.

         Her sister’s house was one of those on the outside of the road loop, and when she got there Lia found Marron,Setera occupied drawing up plans for a new fishing boat. He told her he would be over soon, and Lia returned with the message. When she arrived home her mother was in the middle of telling Desimone the reason for Lia’s interrupted Tightening.

         “You brought him to La,Fehlluin knowing so little about him, Lia?” asked Desimone. “What if he’s dangerous?”

         Lia laughed. “He can’t be older than twelve, Des. He couldn’t hurt anyone if he tried.

         Her sister still did not seem to like the idea of someone from so far away staying in their village, but she asked nothing more about it.

         Marron,Setera soon appeared, and so did Arai, Kim,Aro, and Lia’s father. Lia had to explain, again, why she was home early. The rain stopped sometime during noonmeal. After Desimone and her family returned home, Lia started for Hama’s house.

         “Lia,Monsu!”

         She looked up from watching her step, startled, finding herself suddenly confronted by her friend Tevan,Soll. She had forgotten all about her and Hama’s plans to visit him and Rakkel,Bar.

         “Your brother told me this morning that you were back early. Have you heard the news?” he added.

         “About my nephew and your sister? Yes, Desimone told me.” Lia wished Hama was with her. For no reason she could identify, ever since Tevan,Soll and Rakkel,Bar had begun their Parting, Lia had felt slightly uncomfortable around this tall, dark-haired boy.

         “Your brother didn’t say why you were back,” said Tevan,Soll.

         “We didn’t tell him why.”

         “You and Hama,La didn’t fight, did you?” He seemed genuinely concerned for them.

         “No, we’re just fine,” said Lia.

         “Oh. That’s good.” Tevan,Soll smiled. “I have to go. You’ll be at Niane’s binding in a few days?”

         Lia nodded.

         “I’ll see you then,” he said, and continued on his way.

         Lia watched him disappear between the houses and then went on to Hama’s.