Chapter 5

"I heard they found Urgaruna."

They were lying in their blankets in the tent, the late moonlight streaming in and reflecting off a giant, knee-high sentinel they had crafted from all the marbles after the last game.

Butu rolled over and stared at Remi. "Where'd you hear that?" he asked.

"What's Urgaruna?" Hatal said sleepily, at the same time.

Remi rolled his eyes. "Urgaruna. Mnemon's lost tomb, where Pisor was hidden at the end of the Time of Kings."

"Legend," Hatal said, snuggling deeper into his blanket. Remi kicked him. Before Butu could ask his question again, he sensed someone coming. Everyone else did, as well.

"It's Jusep!" Hatal hissed to them, and the leapt out of the tent to face him, Butu fastest of all. He clutched his amber in one hand behind his back.

Jusep walked silently but made no effort to sneak up on the boys – not that he could have if he'd tried. The imposing figure, towering twice Hatal's height and four times his weight, clad in robes of muted blues in the moonlight, stared down at them with eyes made whiter for the darkness of his face. The moon shone off his shaved head. Past the kluntra, a shadow moved near another tent. In spite of the darkness, Butu could sense it was Pater. He knew Zasbey had moved to near her tent flap, as well. He hoped she would not come out.

And is that Jani, behind us somewhere?

Jusep glanced at the marbles in the circle — Remi and Butu were locked in a combat over Paka's kluntra — and his gold tooth shone for a moment as a his lips curled. Then he saw the remains of the dinner and clapped his hands. Their two guards, half-asleep, jumped to their feet now.

"Clean this mess up and go home," he told them, then returned his stern gaze to each of the boys, one by one.

"That display tonight could have ruined our relations with the Kadrak," Jusep said once the guards had left. "I could not say that in front of them. I hope you've been thinking about that. If you boys want to be men, you must stop playing those games, and learn to keep your eyes open."

"Our eyes were open," Butu said. "It wasn't a rule to run outbound blind."

Jusep's hand moved faster than a snake, and Butu bent out of the way just in time to avoid the blow. The kluntra withdrew and went on in the same terrifying calm.

"You do not talk to me like that, foundling." He looked at Hatal, Remi and Paka in turn. "I said keep your eyes open, and that's what I meant. Tomorrow I want you to tell Pater what you think that means. Now, get to sleep. And no more mischief."

They bowed and fell over themselves trying to put away their marbles and disappear. Butu remained standing, chin high, determined to dodge every blow the kluntra threw at him.

"Come with me," was all he said, and turned on his heel to walk away.

Stunned, Butu glanced into the tent, where three sets of eyes reflected moonlight back at him.

"You'd better go," Remi said softly.

He sensed Pater had gone, and Zasbey was back in bed. Jani had moved closer, and he wanted to go to her, but Jusep was one tent away already and might look back at any time.

Whatever it is, I'll dodge it, he thought, and walked quickly to catch up to the kluntra.

They walked with their backs to the moon. Butu noticed the kluntra was barefoot, just like the boy. The man's giant feet stepped on sand or pebbles and seemed to barely touch them. Butu looked down at his own feet, which didn't touch the ground at all. He had never noticed that before.

The kluntra stopped suddenly, in a space where the backs of four tents left some room. Ahead was the Sentinel's Finger, its normally red bulk pocked with black shadows.

"It's time you were given a job," Jusep said, just as Butu was about to question why they were here.

"A job?" Butu thought out loud. "Is this because I fell?" His eyes focused on a spot just above the kluntra's belt. "Like when Zhek fell?"

Jusep turned. "Yes." He sighed. "Sometimes I think we don't prepare you kids for your future enough." Butu met his eyes, confusion in his face. The kluntra's revealed his gold tooth again, and patted the boy on the head. Or tried to, because Butu flinched back. He sighed again. "Just remember, Butu ten Ahjea. Keep your eyes open."

"I told you ..." Butu was annoyed. The kluntra wasn't making any sense.

"It's time you were given a job," Jusep repeated, his voice raising a little bit. "For foundlings there's three choices. The mines at Pophir, the fields or the guard. I don't want you in the mines because your games could cost lives. And I doubt you have the patience for the fields, though that's where I'll put you if you cross me one more time." He stopped, frowning at the foundling.

The more the kluntra spoke, the more excited Butu became. As the silence stretched, Butu's face exploded in excitement.

"The guard!" he whooped. "I'm to be a sordenu!"

Jusep nodded, but no joy touched his face.

"Be quiet. This is not a reward," he said. "It is not even my idea. Remember that Pater championed you. You once bested Zhek with a sword, which shows you have promise. Tomorrow you will move your things to the sordenu's barracks in Gordney. With any luck, you'll learn some discipline." He leaned forward slightly. "Two warnings, Butu. You make one mistake — just one — and I'll have you in the fields."

"And the other?" Butu tried to remain calm.

"My son is a member of our cavalry, and they have no liking for the sordenu." He grinned, and this time the tooth shone evilly. "Get to sleep."

Butu walked away, trying not to jump up and down. He wondered how closely the cavalry worked with the sordenu. Was it really important to know where Zhek was? He thought it might be. Suddenly the whispering behind him pricked in his ears. It was Jusep, to someone else.

"He's too small. They'll kill him."

SYNOPSIS  |  CHAPTER 1  |  CHAPTER 2  |  CHAPTER 3
CHAPTER 4  |  CHAPTER 5  |  CHAPTER 6

Copyright 2005-2007 Eric Zawadzki and Matthew Schick. All Rights Reserved.
This site has features best viewed in Mozilla Firefox. Download today!