Bones of the Earth (The Equilibrium Cycle Book 1)

by Jason A. Gilbert

  "A good name, child. Do you know where it come from?”

  She had never thought about her name coming from anywhere. She looked up at Icarus and shook her head.

  "There is an ancient tale of a moon princess," he began.

  "Moon princess? What's that?" Laila continued to feel her curiosity rise.

  "A princess born under a particular moon, a princess from the moon, no one knows for sure. But she was known as a moon princess. She ruled over a very old kingdom. A kingdom of magic."

  "Magic? I've never seen real magic."

  "It has become an unappreciated thing these days. But the moon princess's kingdom was full of it. Said to encompass the entire world… Before the Collapse, at least.”

  They reached the gate to Laila's house. She wanted to hear the end of the story, though.

  "What happened?" she prodded, waiting to open the gate.

  "Well, like many things, it fell into ruin. The kingdom forgot that there must always be balance, balance in all things. Magic is not immune to that need, but the citizens of the kingdom had forgotten. They turned away from balance, even the princess, who’s job it was to maintain that very balance. Sadly, it eventually destroyed them."

  "Oh, that’s…unfortunate.”

  "It is."

  "What happened to the moon princess?"

  "She tried, for a very long time, to correct the imbalance, once discovered. To help her people away from their excess. But in the end, she too succumbed to the temptation of power. That is the way with magic. One must always remember the Three Aspects."

  Out of habit, Laila began to recite, "Logic, faith, and chaos..." She knew the three Prime Aspects, but she was not sure how they related to magic.

  Icarus laughed. "Good, child. Those three things all play a part in magic. And that is what happened to the moon princess and her kingdom. They forgot that there must always be a balance between those three things, and even though chaos often seems harmful to the outside observer, it too, has its purpose."

  Now that the story was coming to an end, Laila began to feel anxious again. She had heard similar things before in her studies. Stories that were meant to teach a lesson. Even stories about the Prime Aspects. None of them had referred to balance as Icarus had, but they all had similar conclusions.

  "Thank you, Icarus." She turned and opened the gate.

  "Thank you, Laila. Maybe we will meet again."

  She turned to smile at him, but he was already several steps away and moving quickly. Laila shook her head, unsure of what to think of the short exchange, but thankful to finally be home.

  As she entered the main hall, Clara stepped out from one of the side rooms, carrying a basket full of linens.

  "Good evening, Laila-sa. Did you have a good visit with your father?"

  Laila nodded.

  "I expected he'd be with you when you got home. I have a soup ready."

  Laila could smell the aroma of garlic and chicken wafting in from the kitchen.

  "He said he'd be home later. He still had some things to do."

  Laila continued past Clara, making for her room. She was not hungry just yet, and she wanted to let her mind wander before being bombarded by more questions about her preparation for tomorrow.

  "Are you not going to eat?" asked Clara.

  "Not really hungry."

  "Take a bowl at least," insisted Clara, walking into kitchen. She placed the basket on the floor and quickly dished out a small bowl of the steaming soup. Laila took it, smiling as she did, and walked back toward her room.

  She closed her door behind her and placed the hot bowl down on a small table near the door. She moved to her window and looked out onto the harbor again. The torchlights were lit all through the city, and Laila could see them all the way down to the darkness of the harbor. She then saw the reflection of the moon across the lake, the giant silver coin, rippling on the surface, bringing the old man’s story back to mind.

  She had never heard any story about a moon princess before, let alone that it had some relationship to her own name. The old man's story had felt like one of the stories she heard often in her studies, however, not a story from history, as he had claimed. But, the idea of a kingdom engrossed in magic intrigued her. There had always been tales of magic, but most people considered it to be just that, a tale, with no basis in reality. As a child, she had often found herself daydreaming about being able to wield magic like they did in the old stories. Of course, there was no real consistency to what magic could do, according to the tales. Sometimes it was just a simple illusion here and there. Other times it was the ability to move mountains.

  Laila shrugged to herself. No need to think too much about it. Tomorrow she went for her Test and was no longer a child, at least in the eyes of Terus. She turned, picked up the bowl of soup, and sat down at the small table in her room, sipping at the hot liquid absently.

  Three

  Test

  Clara walked in circles around Laila, studying her from every angle. She had helped Laila put on a formal robe that Clara had stitched together herself. The fabric was a gentle cotton that hung loosely on Laila's shoulders, but it was embroidered with an array of designs and patterns. Laila did not like to dress so formally, but today was an exception. It would not do for her to show up to her Testing dressed in simple robes. Even children without her family’s affluence dressed formally on their Testing Day.

  "Enough, Rara. It looks good," said Laila.

  "Hmmph!" snorted Clara. "I don't like how it sits around your waist, child. Let me just go grab..." She moved off.

  "No, Clara-sa," Laila said, invoking the more adult honorific. "They are fine. Thank you again. And you won't be able to call me child much longer."

  Clara cocked her head to one side as she looked at Laila.

  "Oh child, you will always be so to me. But, you are right." She returned to Laila's side, admiring her handiwork. "Look how much you've grown. It's all gone by so fast."

  "I'm not leaving just yet, Rara." She returned to her childhood nickname.

  "I know, Laila. But it's the first step." Laila thought she could see the hint of a tear in Clara's eye. But Clara quickly raised her hand and brushed it aside.

  "You look beautiful, Laila-sa," said her mother's voice from the garden.

  Laila and Clara had been standing in one of the main rooms of the estate. Now, Laila's mother, Lunete, walked in. She had arrived late last night, coming in from one of the outer armories on the north side of the lake. Laila had only had a few moments with her last night, and Lunete had been tired from the road. Now she stood, her simple tunic and light armor, the mark of a Guardian, replaced by a flowing white robe with red stripes down one side, denoting her position as Praetori among the Guardians.

  Laila watched her mother enter the room, admiring the strength with which she moved. Her mother was a strong woman, a necessity for being a Guardian. She had instilled in Laila as much of that strength as she could, and Laila always found herself struggling to match what she saw in her mother.

  "You do fine work, Clara," Lunete said.

  "Thank you, madam," Clara said in return, bowing her head slightly.

  "I won't ask if you're ready. I'm sure you've heard that quite enough," Lunete said, looking at Laila.

  "You have no idea," she laughed.

  "It's almost time. Shall we go?" Lunete said.

  "You're coming with me?" asked Laila.

  "Of course. I came all this way. Do you think I wouldn't be present for your Testing? Come now, Laila-sa, you know better than that." Her mother flashed one of her amazing smiles. A smile, Lunete often joked, that had been the reason she had been able to marry a Consul, something not unheard of, but rare. Consuls did not often marry outside of the Consulate due to the sensitive matters they dealt with and the consuming nature of their work.

  "Well," Laila said, stepping forward and giving a very formal bow to both Clara and her mother, "I am ready to leave all this foolishness of being a child
behind."

  She held the bow for a moment, waiting to see what Clara and Lunete would do. When she did not get an immediate response, she looked up, still bent at the waist. She saw the serious and concerned faces on the two women's faces. A wide grin split Laila's face, breaking the formality of the moment. Clara and Lunete joined in her laughter.

  "Foolishness!" Clara laughed. "Child—and I know, I won't call you that much longer—you will always be foolish."

  Lunete nodded in agreement as she continued laughing. "Come, Laila, let's get you to the Consulate.”

  Lunete took Laila's arm and hooked it with hers, and they left the estate, walking arm in arm down the avenue and toward the city center and the Consulate.

  Laila and her mother walked amongst at least four dozen other families that lived down the long, circular avenue that held the Wardein estate. When they reached the main road, there were at least a hundred families walking in. Some were in carts, as the merchants had been yesterday. Others walked, just as Laila and Lunete did.

  When they reached the city center, it was full of even more people. There were no merchants in their stalls today. The Day of Testing was considered a holiday, and there would be food and drink for everyone after the formal Testing was done. This gave families a chance to celebrate the coming of age of their children. There would still be people attending to the food and the families celebrating, but everyone was encouraged to participate in the revelry, even the Togati. After the festivities, runners would be sent from the Consulate, informing the youth of where they would be placed. The following day would have a more melancholy air to it, as the new Citizens prepared for their roles in Terus and any who had not been chosen as Citizens would take their new place as Togati.

  Lunete led Laila to the steps of the Consulate where a group of Consuls would begin the Test, leading the various children into the Consulate halls and administering the Tests. As a Consul himself, Laila's father would not be present during her Testing to negate any thoughts of unfair treatment; this was Consulate policy. But he would be allowed to see her after the Test and join in the festivities.

  As they watched, a small group of Consuls stepped out onto the top of the steps, led by Torin. He raised his hands to the crowd and for a rare moment the bustling crowd in the city center quieted down.

  "We are here today to usher in the next generation of our great city!" His voice was deep and powerful, carrying through the city center. "I welcome all of you who have come as children and who will leave as Citizens!"

  A great cheer went up from the crowd. Some people may have started the festivities a little early, Laila thought, chuckling to herself. Her mother tapped her shoulder, indicating she needed to pay attention.

  "I wish nothing but the best for you. And now, families, you must leave your children to us. They will return soon. Forever Terus!"

  The last was echoed by the whole crowd, a sound that often gave Laila goosebumps, so many people all of the same mind—it amazed her.

  "Good luck, Laila-sa. I'm so proud of you," Lunete said, leaning in to hug her daughter.

  Laila hesitated a moment, recognizing the importance of what came next. She watched other children leave the comfort of their family’s embrace, moving slowly toward the Consulate stairs. She took a deep breath, grasped her mother's hand one more time, and then moved off herself, climbing the stairs.

  As she entered the main hall, she was ushered into one of the many rooms in the Consulate. Each room held a set of chairs where each child would wait to be called by one of the Consuls. Laila took her seat amidst the other children. She did not recognize any of them. That didn't surprise her much as she had never attended the Academy.

  Several children were called before it was finally Laila's turn. The Consul, a woman that she recognized from her infrequent visits to her father, but only a little, took her through a long hallway leading from the small room they had been in and leading to another room. She entered and saw two other Consuls sitting at a half-moon table facing a single chair. The woman walked around to sit in a third seat at the table.

  Laila approached the chair and bowed formally to the Consuls.

  "Laila Wardein?" asked the center Consul.

  "Yes, Consul," she answered, not yet taking her seat.

  "You may be seated."

  Laila took the seat slowly, sitting with her back straight and her shoulders back, just as Clara had taught her.

  "Do you wish to forsake your Citizenship?" asked the Consul to the left of the center, a short man with dark skin. She wondered briefly if they had intentionally placed her with Consuls that she did not know. It would make sense.

  She always thought that question about Citizenship was interesting. Everyone was asked. She had never heard of anyone that had actually given up their rights to Citizenship, though, no matter how poorly they thought they would perform. Those who choose to forsake their Citizenship were barred from even joining the Togati; if you forsook your Citizenship, you were branded a Xenos and seen as a foreigner to the city.

  "No, Consul," she answered.

  "Very well, let us begin."

  For the next hour Laila was asked questions regarding a wide range of topics. History, philosophy, craftsmanship, trade, military strategy, and a host of other things. The Test was designed to find the best aptitudes of each Citizen. The founding Consulate had believed that by determining a person's skills and placing them in a position to take advantage of them, they could create a truly cohesive society, one that allowed people to excel in the area where their talents truly lay.

  In return for being placed in a position by the Consulate and the Test, everyone was afforded Citizenship, which entitled everyone to a degree of freedom that could not be found outside of the Arturan Confederacy.

  Finally, the last question had been asked. The Consuls conferred together for a few minutes while Laila sat quietly in her chair, her mind exhausted from the experience.

  "Well done, Shi Wardein," the middle Consul said, addressing her formally as an adult. "You will have your results by the end of the day. Now, go. Enjoy the festivities."

  "Thank you, Consuls." She stood and bowed low. Raising up, she saw the smiles on their faces as they waved her out the door.

  She left through a separate entrance, allowing her to return to the front of the Consulate without passing by other children waiting for their Test. She walked out into the midday sun, thankful that the Test was over. She took a deep breath, enjoying the sense of relief. No matter how her results turned out, the pressure was now off. A big smile crossed her face and she made her way into the crowd in the city center, ready to find her family and friends.

  The crowd in the city center had grown since the morning. Families from all over the city and the outskirts had made their way in. Many had children going through the Test, but at least as many were there solely for the festivities. The Testing day was one of the few times when all work and labor could be put aside and everyone in Terus could come together and enjoy.

  Laila made her way through the crowd. Strangers, after noticing the way she was dressed, often congratulated her. She would smile politely and bow her head in acknowledgement. She wanted to find her mother. Due to her father's position, they did not often attend the festivities on Testing Day, but when they did, Laila knew her mother had a particular spot that she frequented. It was a small café on the outside edge of the city center.

  She finally pushed her way out of the crowd and saw her mother, sitting at a small table at the café. She picked up the folds of her robe and took off toward the cafe. Her mother, sipping at a small cup, looked up just before Laila reached her. Lunete stood and engulfed Laila in her strong arms.

  "Congratulations! I'm sure you did well!" Lunete said, placing Laila back on her feet.

  "I don't know. But I'm glad to be finished" The smile on Laila's face had faded slightly; the stress of completing the Test was gone, but now she had to wait for her results.

  "Don't fret, Lail
a-sa. All will be well. Your father and I have no concerns, no matter what happens."

  Laila smiled again and then took a seat at the small table with her mother. The owner of the café, an older man wearing a long apron to protect his tunic, came out.

  "I see your beautiful daughter has finally shown up," he said to Lunete.

  "She has, Tryphon. And," she looked at Laila and winked, "I would like two glasses, smaller glasses, mind you, of this drink that I have been hearing about from the younger crowd among the Guardians. What do you call it? Mead?"

  Tryphon raised his eyebrows. "Are you sure, madam? It is quite strong."

  Lunete turned her head to look directly into Tryphon's eyes with all the strength and authority of her Guardian training. No other words were necessary. Tryphon immediately bowed his head. "Of course," he said and ran off to grab the glasses.

  "Are you sure, Mother?"

  "Don't you question me too, Laila." She said this with a smile and not the harsh look she had given Tryphon. "You are considered an adult now. You can have a taste of what that entails. Just don't get carried away. It is early yet."

  Laila smiled back, turning to watch the crowd milling about in the city center. She had not seen any of her friends who were also taking their Test today, Gareth or Selene. But she knew she would by the end of the day. Her mother was right. It was still early in the festivities, which often lasted deep into the night.

  Tryphon returned shortly with two tall, skinny glasses and a small bottle with a golden liquid. He placed the two glasses on the table and filled each of them halfway.

  "I would suggest, my ladies, that you taste it slowly. No disrespect meant," he said quickly when Lunete turned to him. "The initial flavors can be overpowering, and to truly enjoy the drink, it is better if you let yourself acclimate to the taste."

  He bowed his head once again and walked back into the cafe. Laila looked at the clear golden liquid in her glass. She leaned forward and took a small sniff, immediately pulling her head back as the smell prickled her nose. She cringed and watched as her mother brought the glass to her mouth, taking a small sip. Her mother's eyes widened as she swallowed and coughed sharply.