by Kyle West
The stone path leading through it was lined with old trees, growing from both soil and large spreads of xen. The aroma of nature was thick and wild, but at the same time, there was some sense of control, as if every plant was obeying an internal law. There were towering trees, fields of flowers, and clumps of stalks with mushroom tops growing from the xen. Natural and Wild coexisted in peace, and the Grove seemed to be a perfect blend of the two.
Some of the trees were quite large, smaller versions of what might have been the Haven tree, rising high into the night. Others were kinds I recognized: oaks, ashes, elms, and others I had seen growing in Colonia’s parks.
As we walked on, the Grove’s scale became more apparent. It didn’t seem from the outside that there was much space between the outer walls and the mountainside itself. From the trees emanated an ethereal, silver glow, and patches of xen took up about half of the forest floor, while the other half was devoted to thick grass, flowers, and rocks. One could explore the Grove for hours and not uncover all it contained.
The trees overhung the path, but the glowing of the plants provided ample light by which to see. We followed the path for a minute or two until it widened into a stone-paved square, at the end of which the Seekers’ Sanctum rose.
The immense building was intricately composed of gray stone, and had two floors. Tall, arched windows lined both floors, and all of them were dark. Wide stone steps made their way to a pair of large wooden doors, ornately carved. The building had an aged appearance – it had been here for years, perhaps even centuries. Four plain cylindrical columns rose on either side of the steps, supporting a massive awning which overhung the steps. The building had two wings, supporting the Sanctum’s most striking feature: two domes, one on either end, eastern and western. A high, vaulted ceiling, as tall as either dome, rose from the center, and rising above it all was a bell tower.
We followed the Elders up the steps, Tellor opening the massive doors. We passed the threshold, finding ourselves inside a wide hall illuminated by a number of blazing torches. The dancing light did little to illumine the wide space. A series of long tables and benches filled the space ahead, and along the far wall was a high stone dais upon which another table rested. This would have been the main gathering place for the Seekers, and was probably where they took their meals.
“I will take the initiates to their quarters,” Elder Isandru said. “The rest of you can go to sleep.”
“No need, Elder Prophet.”
A tall, lanky young man had entered the hall from the eastern wing, and was now giving a slight bow.
“Apprentice Martin,” Isandru said. “You’ve arrived just in time.”
“I’m late night monitor this week. I merely came to see what the disturbance was.” He cleared his throat. “I suppose these are the new initiates?”
“Yes,” Isandru said. “We have four rather than two.”
“Excellent. I can assign them rooms immediately, Elder.”
“See that you do. They are to be up with the rest, at the first bell.”
“Of course.”
“Initiates,” Elder Isandru said, “this is Apprentice Martin. He oversees the novices’ halls, and tomorrow will give you your schedules. For now, Martin, see them to their quarters.
Martin gave a slight bow. “At once, Elder Prophet.” Martin turned to face us. Looking at Martin closely, I judged him probably no more than eighteen. “Initiates...follow me.”
We looked at one another before following after Martin, who hadn’t even waited to see if we were coming. Samal grumbled a complaint as we passed through an archway leading into the long corridor entering the eastern wing.
On the right side were more doors – perhaps offices – while on our left were more archways opening into what appeared to be a large library. I stared goggle-eyed at all the tomes lining the shelves in the darkness, along with two rings of floors and the dark dome above. Before I could get a good look, however, we had already passed it.
Martin seemed to notice my interest. “The Seekers’ Library contains the largest volume of books in the known world,” he said, his voice proud. “We even have books from Precursor History, which occurred before the Ragnarok War. And it is in our library that the only copy of the Commentaries of Annara is contained. Don’t think you’ll be allowed to read it, though.”
We arrived at the end of the corridor, where a flight of cold stone steps led up to the second level. The Sanctum was indeed old, and I could only wonder how long it had taken to build, especially given its isolation.
When we arrived at the second level, Martin spoke again. “The initiates stay here.” He turned to me. “The male initiates, at least. The women stay on the other side of the dorms, just around the corner.” Martin turned a critical eye to the males. “If you are caught on their side, you will be subject to punishment. Monitors, such as myself, patrol the hallways at night, so I wouldn’t suggest it. Only monitors have earned the right to be about after hours.”
“What about the girls?” Ret asked.
“They are subject to the same rule,” Martin said. “Though in the past, they have been far less likely to break it.” He pointed down the hallway. “There are four to a room, but the two at the end of the hall each have two spaces open. Choose well; the room remains yours so long as you are an initiate within these halls. Breakfast is served five minutes after the first bell. It’s during that time that I’ll go over your scheduling.”
“The first bell?”
“Trust me,” Martin said. “You’ll hear it.”
The boys looked at each other uncertainly as Martin gestured for me to follow.
I walked with him around the corner to the other side of the floor. It felt strange to be parted from Isaru, with whom I’d more or less spent the last two days. It looked as if here, at least, I would be on my own.
At the final turn, I saw that the women’s corridor was just as long as the men’s. Martin stopped at the third door.
“This is your room,” he said. “Unlike in the male dorms, you’ll only have one roommate. Remember: breakfast is five minutes after the first bell. Sleep well.”
Martin turned and left, leaving me at the door. I tried the knob, only to find it locked.
“Great.”
I really didn’t want to wake my roommate to get inside, but I saw no other option. I knocked.
“Hello? Anyone in there?”
Someone grumbled from the other side. “Who is it?”
“Your new roommate.”
A moment later, the door was unlatched. When the door opened and her face was revealed, I was surprised to see someone a good year or two younger than me. She had a narrow, but pretty, face, and her blonde hair was mussed from sleep.
“I thought the new initiates weren’t supposed to come until tomorrow,” she said, sleepily.
“It is tomorrow,” I said. “Technically.”
She nodded. “Yes, of course...but you know what I meant. Here, come in. I’m Isa. Isa Arnor.”
As she stood aside to let me walk inside, I told her my name. “I’m Shanti Roshar.”
When I stepped inside, Isa shut the door.
I looked around to see a small room, not much bigger than my pod in Haven. There were two small beds and two dressers that rested between them, along with a washbasin and mirror, and a couple of footlockers. The room was tall, though, and a single window was mounted high, through which I could see several stars.
“It’s nearly time to wake up,” Isa said. “What were they thinking, coming here in the early morning?”
I didn’t really feel like explaining the thing in the river, whatever it was. “It’s a long story, but the Elders decided it was for the best.”
Thankfully, she didn’t press the point. “I see.” She sat down on her bed, facing me. “Where are you from, Shanti?”
“Colonia,” I said.
She stared at me blankly. “Isn’t it a little late for jokes?”
“That’s reall
y where I’m from.”
“You’re serious, then. Well, I won’t press you. I’m from Village Coyal, in the Northern Wild.”
“A Samalite, then,” I said. I paused awkwardly. “Sorry, I’m just really tired. Can we talk later?”
“Of course,” Isa said. “Maybe tomorrow we can talk a bit more. Welcome to the Sanctum, Shanti.”
“Thanks.” I think.
By the time I’d entered my covers, I was so tired that I felt myself nodding off immediately.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
WHEN I AWOKE, I WASN’T sure where I was. When my memory returned, I wanted nothing more than to pretend I was somewhere else.
“Shanti? It’s time to get up.”
It was Isa. I resisted the urge to groan.
“You slept right through the bell,” Isa said. “You must be really tired.”
I hadn’t even bothered to undress myself. I still wore the breeches, shirt, and cloak I had been given in Haven.
When there was a knock at the door, Isa looked at me, and from her expression it was clear she didn’t know who it was. When she opened the door, it revealed a woman with gray hair set tightly in a bun, wearing a white robe with the emblem of a book sewn into the right breast. That was the sign of the Scholars, if I remembered correctly. Her nose was pinched, and her mouth was turned downward in disapproval.
“Seeker Marlene,” Isa said.
I stood quickly from the bed. Seeker Marlene’s eyes passed over Isa and drilled into me.
“Shanti Roshar, is it?”
I nodded. “Yes, Seeker Marlene.”
“You are to come with me for your initiate’s robes.”
Even as I started lacing my boots, Seeker Marlene was out the door and walking down the corridor. Isa, who was already dressed and ready in her gray initiate’s robes and with her bed neatly made, hurried to straighten my own.
“You can’t let them catch you with an unmade bed,” she whispered. “I’ve got you this time.”
“Shanti?” Seeker Marlene called.
A second later the bed was made, and both Isa and I hurried into the corridor. Isa shut the door behind.
“Where are we going, Seeker?” I asked.
Seeker Marlene didn’t respond, merely shaking her head. Isa shot me a look that told me not to speak unless spoken to. Clearly, I still had a lot to learn.
Once we reached the end of the corridor, Seeker Marlene opened a small door, revealing a storage closet. The interior was dark and cramped, filled with boxes and other supplies. There was a pile of clothing in one of the corners.
She looked at me a moment, as if sizing me up. She then reached back into the closet for a plain gray shirt and pants, and a robe that fit over them both. She handed me the clothing.
I looked at it for a moment. This garb was hardly better than what I had been given in prison. In fact, the similarities were eerie.
“Go to your room and change,” Seeker Marlene said. “Isa, you can take her to breakfast and show her around the Sanctum.”
“And my history lessons with you, Seeker?”
Seeker Marlene pursed her lips thoughtfully. “You can complete your studies on your own time. Study what we discussed last and we’ll speak of it during our next session.” She nodded to the both of us. “Welcome to Seekers’ Sanctum, Shanti. Best of luck with your training.”
As Seeker Marlene left, I hurried to my room, taking off the nice cloak, pants, and shirt I’d received in Haven, switching them to what I’d been given. I looked in the mirror.
My only solace was that the other initiates would be dressed the same way.
WITHIN MINUTES, ISA and I were sitting in the Great Hall for breakfast. There, I got my first look at all the people I’d be spending the foreseeable future with.
Everything I’d been told so far was spot on: the majority of the Seekers were men, although there were a few women, who mostly sat at their own tables. There were the younger women, who sat at one, and the older women, who sat at another. Some women, though, sat among the men. If I had to guess, there were probably about two hundred or so gathered.
“Now,” Isa said. “How familiar are you with the Seekers?”
“I really don’t know anything,” I said.
“Well, first there are the initiates. That’s us. They are the new inductees that train for a year for the Trials. Fail the Trials, and it’s back to wherever you came from. If you pass the Trials, you become an Apprentice. Initiates wear dark gray robes, such as what we’re wearing now.”
“What do Apprentices do?” I asked.
“Apprentices choose which Sect they want to dedicate themselves to. While you’re an initiate, you learn the basics from all the different Sects, no matter what you aspire to be...but by the time you’re an Apprentice, you’re expected to know what Sect you want to train with.”
“What if you don’t know?”
“You’ll know,” Isa said, as if that was that. “Hypothetically, if you didn’t, you would just go with the one with which you showed the highest affinity. You can tell an initiate from an apprentice by the color of the robe. Theirs are a lighter gray, while a full Seeker’s will be white with a colored sash representing their Sect.”
“What are the Sects?” I asked.
Isa looked at me, clearly surprised I didn’t know. “First, all the Sects are equal...at least in name, and all go back to the founding of our Order by Annara herself. There are seven of them in all. First, there are the Champions, who dedicate their lives to the study of combat and warfare. They are the chief defenders of the Seekers and of the Elekai. They are fearless, or at least they are taught to be. Among all the Sects, there are none that can match their skill in battle.”
“Alright,” I said. “What about the others?”
“Then, there are the Augurs,” Isa said. “They are diplomats and are usually of noble birth. Not only do they represent the Seekers in the Red Wild, but in foreign lands, most notably the Eastern Kingdoms. Augurs are also responsible for recruiting new Seekers, not to mention keeping the Sanctum apprised of all developments in the world. This includes not only the Red Wild, but Colonia, Nova, the Eastern Kingdoms, and even lands beyond. There is no Augur among our ranks that does not know at least three languages, and some know many more.
“Then there are the Judges,” Isa went on, “who concern themselves with the interpretation of the law. They are quite similar to the Augurs – while the Augurs are focused with advising the rulers of far-flung lands, the Judges stay closer to home. Not only do they judge the Seekers’ internal affairs, they judge and interpret the laws of all Elekai holdings.”
To me, that one sounded like the most boring. I never really liked rules.
“Next are the Scholars. They are the librarians, the historians, the keepers of lore and history. They maintain the library, and new volumes are always being added to the stacks by scriveners. The Scholars gather knowledge not only of our own history, but those of other lands.”
Before Isa could continue, a few initiates wheeled trolleys of food out from the kitchen, and at the sight, my stomach growled. They began by serving the Seekers, then moved on to the apprentices, and then last of all served the initiates. Isa and I were among the very last to get served, and we each received a generous helping of oatmeal, bacon, and eggs. I dug in immediately. As I ate, Isa continued to explain how things worked.
“All initiates rotate their duties. When we’re not learning, we’re cooking and cleaning and keeping this place from falling apart. You’ll be receiving your first work assignment soon, trust me.”
“What do you do?” I asked between mouthfuls.
After taking her first swallow, Isa answered. “I clean in the library, mostly, though I’ve done a little of everything. The kitchens are hard work, especially the first shift. Waking up before the first bell to get breakfast ready for everyone is the worst.”
The Great Hall was filled with the buzz of conversation, but I had a mind for nothing but my
food. I had imagined the Seekers would be an austere, quiet bunch, but they seemed to be quite the opposite.
Before too long, both my bowl and plate were empty. I drank deeply from my cup, and was glad to find the water cool, crisp, and clean.
It was a good thing that I finished so quickly, too, because throughout the hall reverberated a bell, two times. It had come from outside, but easily carried inside because the front doors were wide open, letting in the bright sunshine. Every person stood, picking up their bowls, plates, and cups. Set up in the middle of the hall were two carts where everyone stacked their dishes, each manned by an initiate trying not to mess anything up.
After I had bussed my own dishes, Isa gestured me to follow her outside.
THE MORNING WAS BRIGHT and cool, and promised to warm as the day progressed.
“This is the Grove,” Isa said. “It’s where the majority of physical training takes place. You’ll spend some time here, yes, but it’s the place the Champions spend much of their lives. They even have their own corner of the Grove, the Champions’ Copse.”
“Where is it?” I asked.
“It’s in the northwest corner of the Grove, over there,” she said, pointing somewhere ahead and slightly to the right. “There’s a wall of trees with a path leading within.”
We walked through the Grove a bit. It was even larger than it had appeared last night, and apart from the main, curving path, there were dirt trails beaten by generations of feet. The trees were old and covered with moss, and the morning air cool and humid.
“It’s beautiful,” I said.
“It’s older than even the Sanctum,” Isa said. She pointed upward, at a tree reaching higher than the others.
“It’s like the Haven tree,” I said, “Only smaller.”
Not that it was small in any sense of the word. It couldn’t have been less than three hundred feet tall.
“Over a century and a half younger than the Haven tree,” Isa said. “Haven was planted shortly after the Exile. This Great Silverwood is only a hundred years old.”
