Prologue
The Chamber


“Duty before desire.” Kempen stood and walked around the stone table in the elders’ council chamber. “Restayn, your daughter was chosen long before she was born. Indeed, long before we fled here to Riatha. Her fate is hers alone and your personal feelings will not alter that.” He looked down at the girl child, whose tiny shoulders might one day carry the burden of keeping the human race alive. “She is four. It’s time to begin.”

Restayn clutched his daughter, a living reminder of the woman who had died giving birth to their child. He shut his eyes for a moment, willing himself to remain calm.

“You are condemning Serall,” Restayn’s voice was sharp with pain, “to a childhood with no play, a life void of anything normal.” He looked away from the cherished green-eyed face of his daughter. “What if something goes wrong? You’re talking about exposing her to a wild zaddack!” His eyes pleaded. “What about the other children?”

“They’re gone from here. Long ago they were adopted out for their—for our, safety.” Kempen reached out, nearly touching the innocent child on the forehead. “If the worst should happen the future of our race will be in her hands.” He cleared his throat and stepped back. “This zaddack will be able to help her do what she must. I’m sure Serall will have better luck than I with the little beast.” He and Restayn both looked at the long red streaks on his arms where the zaddack’s claws had dug deep. “Restayn, the time has come; we will wait no longer. Prepare Serall now for Bonding.”

# # #

Restayn bathed his daughter in water scented with tabaweed leaves so that she would smell more like a wild creature than a human child. He braided her short red-blond hair and dressed her in a simple tunic, woven in reds and browns.

“Daddy, what is Bonning?” Serall smiled at the man who was both mother and father to her. She felt fancy in the special new tunic when he lifted her down and carried her from the bathing area. Usually only Auntie Jamel did these things and that was never fun. Father was much nicer. She stuck her fingers in her mouth.

“This is a special ceremony, Serall. It’s called Bonding. Remember we talked about what you need to do today?”

She pulled her moist fingers out of her mouth and nodded.

“Be patient.” He patted her on the leg and his eyes clouded before he could hide it.

“Is it gonna hurt?”

“No,” he bent over and straightened her tunic. “It will not hurt.” He straightened and his hand swallowed hers as he held it.

He led her back to the council chamber which had been prepared by the seven elders. Kempen and the others stood in a semicircle. Serall stuck close to her father’s leg as he took her to stand next to a small table which held several items.

“Now, remember what we talked about?” He released Serall’s hand and set her shoulders straight.

She nodded shyly and stood quietly.

Restayn lit two small and one fat stalk of orange tallow, then stepped back and shut his eyes.

Serall looked around and saw that all present had their eyes closed. Kempen stepped forward and cleared his throat. She knew he was going to pray to Allthatis, the power that held the universe together.

“Ati, hear and answer.” Kempen’s voice was gruff. “We ask you to allow this child, known as Serall, to Bond with the zaddack known as Kafa. We ask that you lend your love and guidance so that the Bonding will be complete, a link which shall last as long as the two live.” After a moment of silence he opened his eyes, stepped back and nodded at Restayn. “Let it be done.”

Father picked up the first item; a tiny vest made of zaddack fur. He knelt down and repeated the Bonding words which had been given to them by the trader who sold them the zaddack and clothing. He looked his daughter in the eye.

“Serall, this shall be your zaddack skin, so that you will share not only heart and mind, but body as well.” He slipped her arms through the vest and settled it on her shoulders. “May you be strength, one to the other, in times of need.” He tied the furry strap which closed it across her stomach.

The scent of the vest rose to Serall’s nose, a wild earthy pleasantness. It reminded her of the smell when she stomped on the crispenvines that grew in the mud near the water source.

She watched her father pick up the second item, the left boot. He got to his knees and placed her hand on his shoulder, then slipped the boot over her foot. His voice was subdued when he spoke.

“You two shall walk as one, being eyes and ears, one to the other.” He reached over and picked up the other furry boot. “She who has two legs shall walk with four. She who has four legs shall walk with two.” He pulled the right boot onto her foot. “Now you will walk each for the other.”

Serall didn’t understand what was really happening but she loved the softness of the boots on her feet. Her toes wriggled into the fur and it made her want to jump and run, but she stayed still as she had promised she would.

Father stepped back. He looked down at Serall and nodded.

She took several steps over to the elders and walked down the line bowing to each of them. Daddy had taught her it was a sign of respect, but her mind was elsewhere. She couldn’t stop thinking about how bouncy the fur under her feet felt. She wanted to test the boots outside. However, she walked obediently back to her father and bowed her head to him.

“You stand before me,” Restayn paused to take a deep breath before continuing, “as only one. You go now into the darkness to die in order to be transformed. You will emerge reborn. And the two will have become one. Sobeyit.”

He took her hand and led her to a small room off the council chamber, then nudged her inside. He did not enter but shut the wooden door behind, leaving her alone in the quiet darkened room.

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Copyright 2006 by Karen Daniels