It still felt so strange to him to think of leaving the borders of their lands and to head, boldly and purposefully, into the beyond. What once was forbidden was suddenly encouraged, the honour of it a weight to be borne with dignity.
Would that be him?
From the way Aemsol was looking at him, he suddenly feared that it would not.
“You are one slow to react, aren’t you?” Aemsol observed, leaning forward, the better to peer at the initiate before him.
Grimult swallowed another sip of tea. “Only when I do not know what is expected of me,” he answered honestly. At home it was not like this. He could laugh and tease his sisters like any other brother might. He could kiss his mother’s cheek and barely contain the scowl when she tried to smooth down his hair for the fourth time in a single afternoon.
But here...
Life here had changed him.
“You take your duty seriously,” Aemsol commended with a nod. “That is good. Our work is not to be taken lightly.” His expression seemed to drift, as if suddenly he was reminded of something from long before, perhaps of the very work that he had already accomplished.
“I did not expect to be selected as an initiate,” Grimult admitted. “Some begin their training far earlier.”
Aemsol grimaced. “We would be a poor people indeed if we trained all of our boys in nothing but this. There are many types of labour, and all should be commended.”
Grimult nodded. But none were quite like this one, and the truth of it hung heavily between them.
“You saw something you were not supposed to in the arena,” Aemsol continued, his eyes keen and watchful. Was talk of that permitted here? Secreted away from the scrutiny of all the others. “There is little point in denying it.”
Grimult allowed his thumb to pass over the rim of his cup as he considered his words. “Yes,” he admitted at last, seeing no point in contradicting what was obvious.
“I see in you an honourable young man,” Aemsol stated bluntly, putting down his cup and sitting straighter. His hunch was still present, but there was a vigour still in him that suggested at the strength he had possessed in youth. “I believe you would protect our Lightkeep well, that you would remain true to your training, protecting her in all things, regardless of personal cost.”
Grimult nodded, finding it easy to do so. He had listened well when they spoke of a Guardian’s position, and he had embraced those characteristics as best he could. The Lightkeep was what mattered. His own safety was inconsequential.
He could not be reckless, however. The Journey was long and he could not expend all of his strength at once and leave her vulnerable soon after.
“Your instructors tell me that you are not one to consort with any of the local girls either.” Grimult’s nod turned adamant, and Aemsol smiled. “Then I will spare you the lecture that our Lightkeep is a vessel, the form she takes on this earth is negligible, and you would do well to remember it.” There was a glint in his eye, as if he had felt it necessary to expand on these words for the others before him. “She isn’t a woman. Not really. She is our Lightkeep. Due all the respect we have to give for her sacrifices.”
“Of course,” Grimult answered quickly. Perhaps her femaleness made him all the more protective, but that did not mean... he certainly didn’t aspire to...
“Then, given the qualities that you do possess...” Aemsol leaned forward, hands steepled before him, his expression grave.
“When the time comes,” his voice sharper than it had been during their entire discourse. “And it will, despite whatever plans you might concoct in your head that it is not as necessary as you have been told...”
Grimult put aside his own cup and sat up straighter, beginning to understand the query.
“When the time comes that you must leave her to continue on alone, will you be able to do so?”
Three
The day of the selection was a sombre affair. The barracks had been quiet since the night before. Some had been proclaiming for nearly a week of their excitement at seeing their families yet fell silent when only hours remained before the actual happening.
Grimult was uncertain if his entire family would come for the proceedings and he tried not to allow his hopes to spoil to disappointment on such a day. He would likely be facing enough of that as it was.
His interview with Aemsol haunted him, and he spent many nights thinking over the experience. All he should have said, all he should have done, and had not managed in the moment itself.
For the first time, he considered breaking one of the instructor’s orders and asking one of his bunkmates how their own interview had gone, but managed to not do so.
Although he would not pretend that it was as easy to do as he would have liked.
All of them were to pack their belongings away in packs provided by the instructors, whatever they had come with long ago taken away, never to be seen again. Maybe things were distributed to the surrounding clans, or perhaps they were all burned, a sacrifice. The first of many.
The leather was supple and held his scant possessions well enough. More would be added later, when the identity of the Guardian was revealed and provisions were needed.
They had all practised flying with such articles strapped to their backs, skin still rubbed nearly raw in the beginning, as most were unused to such additions, but it was necessary.
The Lightkeep would have enough to carry.
All the initiates washed and dressed, wordlessly going to the others to assist with the placement of feathers until they were as tidy as they had ever been.
And then to wait.
A single
