Compis: Five Tribes Read Free Page A

else came from the Divinaris. The Divinaris were excellent religious teachers in all things, but they had a set curriculum and it didn't include anything about what happened during Initiation or afterward.
    Luka had been a curious boy, and pestered his parents with endless questions.
    “Why can't I learn to write as you do?” he'd asked, when he saw his mother writing a bill for a customer in the script of the Aeris.
    “You will write in the words of the tribe you are Inducted into,” she said, taking up another sheet of paper.
    “Why can't I learn Aeris script and then the other later on?”
    “Because that is not the way of the Five Tribes,” said his father, entering the room.
    His mother glanced at his father, then back at Luka. She leaned in to take his hand.
    “Luka,” she said, “I know it seems confusing now, but there is a reason for the secrecy and separation. Keeping the script and our tribe's magic in the hands of those who will stay in the tribe, only serve to make it stronger. If we teach you Aeris magic and you become Aquis, you will go to them knowing our methods and will perhaps doubt their rites and traditions because they aren't what your parents taught you.”
    “I understand,” he said, and left the room.
    As he walked down the hall to his room, he heard his father say, “You handled that well, I thought.”
    “Well, I don't believe it,” his mother said, “I think it's ridiculous to raise children in such secrecy. Why can't he know what we believe, how we work our magic? What would it hurt for him to go out into the world with that knowledge?”
    “It would destroy the fiber of the tribes,” said his father. “You know how strained the treaty is, even now. Something as small as teaching our son to read Aeris script could set off a wave of paranoia that would make it impossible for our council to keep the tribes together.”
    “You sound like the rest of them,” said his mother and he could hear her start to leave the room, so he scrambled to his own chamber in time to hear her walk down the hall in the opposite direction. He peeked around the doorway and saw her leave the house with her papers, presumably to go to her workshop.
     

Chapter 2:
     
Zyander
     
    Zyander avoided looking at their booth. Though it was well-crafted, it was also worn in spots, and those in the tribe had to conserve every bit of their power to create items to sell for food. They spent the better part of the year working delicate marvels of jewelry and clothing, but their power remained weakened, so they had few things to sell during the year that were newly constructed.
    He wondered which priceless antique they were auctioning off this year. The Rings of the Three Brothers ? Aurelia's crown ? Maybe they should open up a show and charge people to see the most valuable artifacts in the Five Tribes. That would at least allow for money flow into the depleted coffers.
    He headed toward the Aeris booth, and ridiculed himself for being such a fool. He wondered at the self-destructive attraction he felt for Nikka. Maybe it was her gold hair, cut short and lightly curling around her shoulders and swooping over one of her eyes. Her eyes, gray as the early morning sky, were captivating all on their own, but paired with those slanted wings of eyebrows, she looked naturally inquisitive as though curious about every aspect of life. The part of her he found himself most interested in was her mouth. Perfectly placed between her delicate and high cheekbones, it was an adorable pursing shape, waiting to be kissed.
    The Aeris tent stood before him, tall and stately, light blue and brilliant, with white wings embroidered on it. The flags flying from the top of the tent were the same white with a pair of sky blue wings flying across the center. The accent color was the same silver as the the Divinaris's robes from that morning's ceremony. It was one of the most beautiful things he'd seen during this year's Gathering, but it