by Jenn Nixon
“Yes, yes. Quite true, Shial is our family spirit, but you still possess fire within you. We noticed early with your lack of patience.” He smiled.
“I practiced hard, Father. I have learned patience,” she said.
“And have you practiced the Devockna for your induction ceremony today?” D’laja said as she sat at the table.
“Yes, Mother, I am prepared.” She smiled and bit into a sweet fruit.
The family enjoyed their morning meal, and all helped in clearing the table. When the door chime rang through the house, Remock and Bintu ran to answer it. Tiva followed them, grabbing her sword on the way. Remock threw open the door and jumped into Rae’s arms. Bintu leaped up and tried to tackle Rux; instead, he caught her in his arms swinging her about the room.
“Spirited greetings, cousins,” Rae and Rux said, bowing their heads slightly. They lowered the children to the ground. “Happy Remembrance, Tiva!”
“Thank you.” She smiled and saluted in return.
“Are you ready for your induction, dear cousin?” Rux smiled mischievously as always.
“Yes, I am prepared, Rux,” she said, affronted. “It will be an easy feat for me to handle.”
Rae chuckled and forced her elbow into Rux’s shoulder. “I will not lament the day when she beats you to the ground, brother.”
“That day comes swifter than he knows,” Tiva said, and grinned at her favorite cousins. “My trainer has told me I am the strongest and best to have crossed his path since our fathers.”
“I see you still must learn humility.” Kevler’s voice echoed through the lounge. Everyone turned and greeted him. Tiva frowned. “Do not despair, my daughter, once you are unsure of yourself or bested by another you will understand the true meaning,” he said.
“Yes, Father.” She nodded and saw Rux chuckle behind his hand.
“How goes your training?” Kevler asked his niece and nephew.
“We are ready for the level three guardianship tests, Uncle. I hope that we will be the new gatekeepers; it is more exciting than normal grounds patrolling,” Rux said.
Rae nodded in agreement and added, “I only wish we had been ready earlier. I do hate to miss Tiva’s induction.”
“Yes, well I am sure she will tell you all that happens, and I thank you for staying with the twins while we are away.”
“It is our pleasure, Uncle.” Rae’s eyes sparkled as she spoke. “Mother and Father are waiting for you near the bridge.”
“Thank you, Rae dear.” Kevler smiled, turned on his heels, and bolted up the stairs. His voice carried through the house when he yelled back, “Tiva meet us at the hovercraft; we will be there shortly.”
“Yes, Father,” Tiva said and approached her siblings. “You two behave for our cousins, otherwise you will not be allowed to attend the gathering when we return.”
“We always behave,” Remock grumbled.
“We are not troublemakers,” Bintu said.
Tiva chuckled and walked to the door. Turning back, her hand firmly gripped the sword, she nodded to Rae and Rux; they both saluted her with their fists to their hearts.
Tiva strolled to the docking deck where her father kept the hovers. She sat on the front frame of one of the vehicles. The suns had risen fully and before her was a beautiful, warm day. As she waited, she thought back on the last five cycles of her life. Everything she had experienced and learned was more fruitful than she ever imagined. She learned of honor and duty, patience and virtue. She studied the beginnings of her world and the history of her planet.
She read of the Eternal Spirits that roamed the lands before all others, and became familiar with the duties of other noble positions of her people. The Healers, crafty with herbs and medicines, were considered the strongest empathic people on the planet. The Vicars, religious figures, preached the ways of the Yantar: the codex of Abennelp. The Mystics, foreseers of the future, were the spiritual guides to the people. Many did not actually see into the future, merely predicted what may happen in any given circumstance.
She had memorized the appointed families of the provinces, the king’s court, the structure of the Parliament and government. Although she felt she did not need the knowledge firsthand, as her charge would be the king himself, it was required learning.
Tiva loved learning about the second most respected position on the planet: The Legionnaires, the army of Abennelp. A proud and loyal group of soldiers, they protected the provinces and the outskirts of the capital city. Tiva made friends with many of the legionnaires. Knowing she would soon be a guardian, the King’s Army showed her nothing but respect. Though mostly a peacekeeping army as of recent cycles, the legionnaires had also seen their share of battles.
One that stuck in her mind had happened a hundred cycles ago, when off-worlders came to Abennelp. The planet, still young and growing, had very little weaponry to defend itself against other space races. Aliens crashed on the cold tundra of the upper hemisphere after trying to make contact with Degort. The technology of the times did not afford her people the chance to communicate with them, and when the king sent his legionnaires to investigate, the aliens attacked and slaughtered them. Reinforcements, lead by the Royal Guardians, arrived soon afterwards, and quelled the threat to the planet.
From that incident, a new era for Abennelp began. Her people studied the alien craft, successfully copying various parts of the technology it possessed, and infused it into their daily lives. The strange turn of events propelled the planet into a modern society, and though other off-world races still made contact through space communications, no others came to the planet.
Aside from studying the history and ways of Abennelp, Tiva concentrated on the art of self-defense and combat. She began her weapons training earlier than most, her focus—as was the case for all other guardians—was traditional weaponry. Swords, axes, lances, daggers, metal works mostly. She was interested in the newer particle-charged weapon concepts the scientists had offered, but many of the guardians, and even the King’s legionnaires, still preferred the hand weapons as they had more control over them.
She excelled in communications and combat. Neither had been a surprise to anyone who knew her, yet she still lacked the discipline of her emotional senses. She was very capable of picking up another’s feelings, but she had a hard time blocking herself from them when she needed to focus. Once inducted into the guardianship she knew her training would intensify, and she looked forward to what was to come.
As her thoughts trailed off, she glanced to the east seeing the edge of the Finto family province, Stimli, in the distance. She took in a deep breath to calm herself. This was her first test. She glanced at the doorway to the house and saw her parents standing there, dressed in the guardian uniforms. They were smiling. Her heart dipped within her chest; her parents glowed in the suns’ light. True Royal Guardians of the first family.
The multi-blue tunics held many badges of honor. The right side of the tunic, the upper part of the torso, shoulder, and sleeve was dark blue. The arm of the shirt had the stripes earned from combat. Kevler’s arm held seven, while her mother’s three. The deep slope of the collar separated the light blue of the tunic from the rest, and four black toggles fastened just above the breastbone of the shirt in a slanted pattern. The left shoulder held the guardian patch and level stripe. Her father’s level one stripe was white. Her mother’s stripe for level two was pink. Around their waists were tied black sashes. The pants, a deep blue, matched the right side of the tunic, fit loosely for easy maneuverability. At the bottom of the trousers, the color stripe of the guardian’s level repeated.
Each had a sword attached to their side. Her father’s hair pulled back with the guardian straps firmly in place. D’laja parted her hair into two braids, each piece hanging over her shoulder. Tiva smiled at the slight change in her mother’s appearance, and jumped off the hover walking toward them.
“Your hair looks lovely, Mother, I hope you will teach me to braid like that.” She tugged on h
er own thick braid.
“I would be happy to, but now we journey to the palace. We must not keep anyone waiting. The Finto family sent word they were leaving.” She walked to the vehicle and climbed in.
Tiva put her hand on the door of the hover and leapt over the edge instead of using the passenger door. Kevler grinned and copied her action leaping into the hovercraft.
“Am I to put the top up to prevent you from such antics?” D’laja crossed her arms over her chest. “You two are going to crack open your skulls by jesting as you do.”
“Now, Mother dear, do not fret, Tiva and I can take care of ourselves, is that not right, dearest one?” Kevler looked back at her and winked.
“Yes, Father, we can.”
D’laja sighed, “Twin spirits you are, I know not what to do with you both.”
“Just say you love us dearly.” Tiva giggled.
“I love you both dearly. Now let us go and make you a guardian.”
*
Tiva stood in the middle of the throne room once again. This time, however, thousands of eyes were upon her. Before her, raised above eye level on a platform, sat the king and queen. Next to the queen was her handmaiden, a girl on her lap, a young boy standing near. Tiva had met the children recently. Kenon, the prince, was a cycle younger. Princess Jenon just turned four. Beside the king was the rest of his family including his mother, the High Queen Cessa. Queen Mirta’s parents also sat with them. In total more than thirty Royals created a gentle moving sea of white robes.
In a half circle, stretched from one far corner of the room to the other and directly in her line of vision to the king and queen, were the Royal Guardians. Tiva counted twice, knowing some were still on patrols and others still yet in training, ninety-one had come. Since it was her induction, Tiva’s parents stood at the middle directly in front of the king and queen. To her right, in plush seating, were several hundred or so people. The Mystics, Vicars, Province Keepers, the king’s court of government heads, and a few highly respected elders including High Healer Riin of Degort, silently watched her. To her left was a small fraction of the King’s legionnaires, standing perfectly still in their decorative red and black uniforms.
The king rose and the already silent room went still. He looked to his wife; she smiled and nodded to him. He stepped off the platform and stood on the last step just above her parents. He placed a hand on each of their shoulders; they turned and bowed their heads.
“Sir Kevler Boon, Lady D’laja Boon, do you give of your own free will, your blessing for your daughter, Tiva Boon, to be inducted into the guardianship. To give her life to serve the throne of Abennelp as you have done yourselves?”
“Yes, your majesty,” they said and saluted him.
King Delos removed his hands from their shoulders and they turned back around, straight faced, to their daughter. Though excited, upon seeing their stoic stares Tiva felt a twinge of nervousness set in. She looked into her father’s eyes and saw him wink at her. She did not smile, but relaxed and let out a soft quiet breath.
“Royal Guardian Jelev…” The king turned to his right looking at the end of the line of guardians. Tiva’s trainer stepped forward away from the others. “Do you give of your own free will, your blessing for trainee, Tiva Boon, to be inducted into the guardianship having fulfilled all that is required before her tenth Remembrance?”
“Yes, your majesty,” the elegant bright-eyed woman said and saluted, then stepped back in line.
“Then, the final test shall commence!” King Harer Delos roared loudly.
What happened next, Tiva was not prepared to see, even though she’d been told. Each guardian unsheathed a sword and pointed it toward her, every legionnaire followed suit. The Mystics, court members, and others to her right stood and pressed their fists to their hearts. The Royal Family stood, saluted, and the king raised his hands openly toward her.
“Tiva Boon, daughter of Sir Kevler and Lady D’laja Boon descendants of the first Royal Guardian, do you accept this honor?”
“Yes, your majesty.” Tiva raised her voice. She unsheathed her sword and pointed it upward to the sky, pressing it flat against her nose. All weapon wielders followed then stomped a foot to the ground. The sound reverberated through the entire room. Her pulse quickened and she forced herself to focus. Tiva twisted the sword over twice in her hand in front of her body, then bent over and placed it on the ground. Each weapon wielder sheathed their sword, and saluted.
“Begin the ceremony of the Devockna,” the king bellowed.
All standing, aside from the guardians, took their seats. Tiva saluted and bowed her head to the king. She lowered to both knees taking the sword in her hand.
She placed a hand under the flat of the blade and rose to her feet, keeping the weapon outstretched. Tiva closed her eyes and elevated the blade above her head. In a quick smooth motion, she twirled the blade over her head, and swerved it down in front of her body.
Tiva flipped the sword over in her hand and plunged it in a forward strike, then crossed the sword back to the left and leapt into the air. She swirled the sword and pulled her feet together, landed, then quickly flipped backward swinging the weapon gracefully as she moved.
She felt the movement of the air swirl around her as the sword worked in her hand. Knowing the Devockna represented respect for the weapon and battle, Tiva kept her eyes closed, letting her mind focus. She blocked the emotions of all around her and felt nothing but her blade. When she landed on her feet, she moved the weapon from one side of her body to the other, her wrist flicking the blade over with each sway. She spun the weapon above her head again and twisted around to face the guardians and Royals.
The room stayed motionless for a moment or two, but in those short unsteady moments, Tiva knew that she had done her very best. Now, as she breathed in for the first time since starting, she hoped her performance was good enough. Suddenly realizing what her father had meant about humility.
Reluctantly she unblocked her senses from the room feeling a wave of emotions flow through her. She kept hidden her smile and remained focused on the king and queen, not to her parents where she wanted to look. The king slowly rose from his chair. He held his hand for his wife. Together they stepped to the edge of the raised platform and towered over her parents.
“Rise, Royal Guardian Boon.”
The silence broken by the king’s words erupted into cheers, yells, and stomps of praise. The king and queen smiled, as did her parents. Whether it was shock or relief she was unsure, but Tiva stared at them blankly. The cheers continued and she perused the enormous throne room, seeing everyone on their feet. Her head swung from one side to the other then turned back to the guardians. She saw her cousin Towt first; he clapped enthusiastically. The level two twins, Zaynus and Litru Truda, were nudging each other as they smiled. She looked to her other family members, finally resting her eyes on her parents. Neither could possibly look happier.
The king and queen radiated pleasure. Tiva let a small smile curl on her lips. The guardians unsheathed their swords, and held them against their torsos. They moved together in formation toward her, the half circle quickly becoming a hollowed vessel of Royal Guardians for her to walk through. They kept their swords to them, and sheathed them two by two, as she began her ascent toward the king and queen. Tiva’s gaze never wandered, she held her sword tightly in her hand and walked to them. As she neared, they stepped off the platform and she genuflected.
King Delos placed his hand on her head and proclaimed, “I hereby declare that you, Tiva Boon, have been accepted into the guardianship of Abennelp. Serve with pride, honesty, and love. Serve with honor as was, as is, and as will be.” The king raised his hand and Tiva stood.
She proudly pressed her fist to her heart and stared into the king’s eyes, “By guardian light, I will protect you in times of darkness until the bitter end.”
Kevler took Tiva to her favorite tree. D’laja needed extra time to prepare the house and food for the celebration. They
sat in Te’s grooves, their toes bare and digging into the grass. Kevler rested his head against the trunk, and Tiva put hers on his shoulder. They lay silently, looking through the branches. The leaves swayed above them as the breeze softly blew through the field. Kevler wrapped his arm around her and squeezed.
“Do you know that my great-grand father planted this tree over a hundred cycles ago?”
“He planted it for his wife, as it was her favorite tree.” She smiled. “It is my favorite tree too. Did anyone ever name him?”
“Not that I know, why?” he said. “Did you?”
“Yes, his name is Te,” she said and the branches dipped to her. “He likes it, I think.”
“You may be right Tiva, you’ve picked up the Nature Sense as well, I see.” He smiled.
“Do you know what that is?”
“The Yantar says that the Nature Sense is the gift of feeling nature, just as we feel others.” She reached up and took a long leaf in her hand. “I know when it will rain most days, and I know when the weather will change. I didn’t realize it until some time ago, but Mother is in tune with nature so I did not think it strange.”
“That is very good, Tiva, very good indeed. In your training, you’ll learn more about such matters. But perhaps it is time for Mother to teach you the Calming meditation.” He pulled her to his lap as he sat up. “It is not something generally taught to all young children.”
“Is it a secret meditation?” she said, her eyes widening.
“Not exactly, but it will help you with your abilities.” He rubbed his thumb over her markings. “I will speak with her and soon you will Calm.”
“Thank you, Father.” She wrapped her hands around him and hugged tight. “This is the most wonderful day.”
“The rest of the day will be joyous as well; the whole family and all the guardians are coming to your gathering.”
“Should we go and not keep Mother waiting?”