Chapter 1: A New Journey Begins

“Merciful Father, creator of all,

Please, open your arms and receive this soul,

Forgive the sins he might have committed in life,

And guide him back to the afterlife,

Where his ancestors wait for him,

Where they will rest on endless fields,

Until the day they will be born again.”

“Selah!”

The aging priest finished the funerary prayer and a large crowd gathered around the funerary pyre to pay their respects to the deceased Lord before it was lit. It was common practice that warriors and other high-status individuals to be cremated instead of buried although the latter was not unheard of. For the occasion, many warriors from the six major Clans were present. The sudden passing of Lord Burgan was a surprise to everyone; despite being old the man enjoyed a healthy life and was loved by his people, during his long life, he gained a rather large number of enemies and rivals, and all of them came to express their respects one last time to the adversary they themselves couldn’t defeat in battle. They might have been enemies in life but a warrior’s sense of honor extended even to his enemies, the boundaries of battle, and beyond the grave.

Standing next to him there was the priest’s aide, and a priestess herself, a teenage girl named Nina, watching her mentor, the veteran Field Priest Verkan, perform his duties while diligently taking notes for herself. This was her very first trip as Field Priestess, as every priest of the Church must do to advance to the next rank. The experienced priest allowed her to tag along in his journeys through the Highlands for the last few weeks.

This had to be her first actual service, but the old man offered to do it himself, being an old acquaintance of the late Lord, and that he just noticed how nervous she was after overhearing her practicing her lines, and fumbling with the words a little. The funeral of a Clan Lord was not something that happened often, and definitely not the best time for a first-timer Field Priestess to debut.

Being a priest was not easy! To qualify, each aspirant had to pass an exam to be accepted as an apprentice. Once accepted, they must study rigorously for the next five years before being given the first rank: Field Priest. Their classes involve how to read and write if the trainee isn’t already literate. After that, they are trained in the church rites, the Sacred Scripts, and first aid. All priests must then complete five one-year-long trips on pagan lands, usually in the company of another more experienced priest, or sometimes by themselves, to qualify for the next rank in the Church hierarchy. Preaching about the Seven Gods and doing their best to guide, and help the people in their daily lives.

Each priest must have knowledge about a specific field, but all of them have to know at least basic medicine. Although many of them become accomplished doctors after they finish their training, others dedicate themselves to the study of architecture, engineering, history, mathematics, and other sciences. The ultimate purpose of the priest of the Church is to guide his herd and increase their quality of life.

Nina couldn’t be more thankful that she was assigned to such a caring, and understanding mentor. Among all the priests, Verkan was a living legend; he has completed fifty-two one-year-long trips over the continent, more than twice that of any other priest. He is beloved by the people, and the services he provides are greatly appreciated, even by the proud and stubborn warrior caste, which are not particularly known for their humility.

Despite having been born among them, Nina knew little about her own people. She was raised in seclusion, in the heart of the respected Valdir household outside the clan territories. Although she had grown hearing stories and read everything that was available about their custom and traditions; there still was a lot that she ignored. But being the passionate student of the history that she was, she hoped to be able to witness, and learn about their way of life during her trips to the Highlands, and write down everything she could about them, their history, and their traditions, a subject that until now seemed to have very little attention from historians and scribes.

She wanted to write her own book about the subject, and present it to the Head Priest as her thesis for the next rank in the Church’s hierarchy. Nina dreamed about one day earning a place in one of the Empire’s universities, to teach future students about the way of life of the Clans, or perhaps, she would wander the highlands just like old Verkan had done for the last fifty years, and teach the highland people who were mostly illiterate. They were her people after all.

Nina watched her mentor and friend in awe, as he performed the ceremony. Who knows how many times he has done these rites before? She held a profound admiration towards the old priest, a patient, and serene man with vast knowledge and experience, the people also respected him deeply, he knew these proud, and stubborn people would not change their old ways overnight, but the new religion was spreading fast among pagan lands. He was actually performing an old pagan funerary ritual, instead of those mandated by the Church, but he knew the late Lord well enough to know that he would have wanted to be sent to his ancestors in the old-fashioned way.

She lifted the urn containing the incense, allowing the old priest to recite the final prayers. The ceremony lasted longer than expected, as there were many people who wanted to pay their respects for the last time before the pyre was lit. Nina left out a sigh of relief, and went towards her mentor Verkan to relax a bit, and engage in some casual conversation, but the man found himself now overwhelmed by the crowd, who wanted to thank him for the service, including some very important people among them, the Lords and elders from other clans.

Wasting no time, the old priest introduced her to them, many of which already knew about the newest priestess in the Highlands but this was the first time they actually met in person. Just fifteen years ago, her parents led the resistance against the Imperial invasion and expulsed the invading Imperial armies from their lands. Nina felt a little uncomfortable, she wasn’t used to social events of any kind, much less of this importance. They apparently knew a little too much about her yet she knew nothing about them, but Verkan reminded her that her identity could not remain a secret for so long and that she would have to get used to the attention.

Being the only daughter of a renowned High Priestess and one of the most, if not the most formidable warrior the Clans have ever seen was exhausting, to say the least. People were expecting a lot of her, and they made a habit of reminding her of it, it was one of the reasons she was raised in seclusion in the first place, her family wanted to relieve her from at least some of the pressure on her shoulders, and allow her to have a relatively peaceful childhood. Her mother died after her birth, and her father went to fight in faraway lands, so Nina was raised by her mother's numerous extended family, among her several cousins, aunts, and grandmothers.

Her bloodline descended from a long line of oracles, clerics, seers, fortunetellers, and priests, who had served the highlanders for many generations. They enjoyed a high status and were respected by the Lords from the different Clans, and their people. Although many of them still practiced the old pagan religion, the current matriarch was open-minded enough to allow the family to join the new Church.

She knew that the responsibility of becoming the leading priestess in the Highlands would befall on her one day, as Verkan had already reached the age of retirement many years ago. But the old man still had strengths in him, and stubbornly refused to retire, preferring to serve his people while he still could, and would probably do so until his final days. Yet she still had to give a good impression early on, especially to the Clan Lords who were most reluctant to take the Church seriously.

They walked to the town center where a huge banquet has been prepared. There were several tables where hundreds of guests would soon gather, every single one of them eager to taste the most delicious cuisine, and delicacies on the continent. Clan Irfis spared no expenses and contracted the services of the most famous cooks in the highlands for the occasion. They were preparing foods worthy of a King’s court, and Nina was delighted to be able to try them. Meanwhile, Verkan walked to the town’s outskirts to have some small talk with the cook’s chief, an old woman named Nana whom he seemed to know.

Curiosity got the better of her, and she mischievously sneaked closer to get a better look. Nina sat in a spot near them to be able to listen to their conversation, the old woman seemed to know Verkan from a time prior he became a priest, and judging by their behavior and choice of words, she apparently was an old flame of his.

Nina let her imagination run wild, her mentor and friend Verkan have always been extremely reserved on what his personal life was concerned, hearing him open up like that with someone was pure gold. She could only imagine it but apparently, he was quite popular with the ladies. How could he not? Even at old age, his icy blue eyes, white hair, tall frame, and rugged looks were hardly unpleasant to the eyes. The fact that he was always smiling didn’t help much either, the years were extremely kind with Verkan. The old man aged really well.

The old woman next to him, however, has seen better days. Nina assumed that she was at least a decade older than him until she heard they were actually the same age. Nana was a hard-working woman, and had several children in her youth; in fact, she founded a very successful, and respected cooking enterprise that grew into the most requested one in the Highlands. She contracted the services of several girls; many of them her own great-granddaughters and other relatives that worked for her to help her in this endeavor. Nana came from the Lowlands and renounced her original Clan, so they had to be resourceful just to survive, the fact that she came so far was astonishing.

Nina leaned a little closer, not wanting to miss their conversation. To avoid any suspicion, she sat facing the opposite side in which they were standing, pretending to be looking at the night sky, but keeping an eye on them, peeking at their reflexes in a nearby glass window.

-“Well, well, what a nice surprise!” Verkan spoke, breaking the awkward silence.

-“I wish I could say the same about you” the old woman replied angrily.

-“It's nice to see you too, Nana” he replied with a smirk.

-“What do you want now?” was Nana’s cold response.

-“To talk with an old friend... if you are willing to of course” the old man replied, leaning closer to her.

-“I guess I can't say no this time, I've always had a soft spot for you” Nana replied with a much calmer tone, letting out a loud sigh. They knew each other so well they could talk with absolute comfort despite the sheer hostility that Nana’s choice of words could initially tell.

-“Don't take it personally, I have to be stern with everyone, you know how it is” the old woman explained.

-“I know, I know, if you get too soft with them... It wouldn't kill you to be a little nicer though” Verkan replied, knowing well what she meant.

-“I’m nice with whom I want, Verkan, those girls need someone to look up to” she replied, signaling with her head toward the tables her employees were getting ready for the upcoming feast.

-“They’re all grown up now” Verkan commented, looking at the girls his old friend signaled.

-“It's amazing how fast they have grown” she agreed with him.

-“That’ Lily, isn’t she?” he motioned toward one of the girls which he seemed to recognize, Nana nodded in return, smiling in silence.

-“It was not long ago that I helped her mother give birth, you wouldn't believe it Nana, but she fit in this hand right here, and look at her now!” he added, pointing with one finger to his open palm, recalling the time when there was no medic around, and he had help the mother deliver the baby, the same baby that was now a beautiful young woman.

-“By the way, how is her mother?” he asked, changing the subject.

-“She is fine; she had a baby boy not long ago” Nana replied, smiling fondly at the memory of her most recent great-grandson.

-“Another boy? That’s some good news” Verkan asked.

-“He’ll probably follow his father's footsteps and help in the trading company” the old woman commented, referring to her granddaughter’s husband, a fairly successful merchant.

-“I don’t see any of the boys around, the girls, however, they do stay to help you” he replied, talking about several of Nana’s granddaughters and great-granddaughters that were working right in front of them.

-“I hate to play favorites, Verkan, but Lily… she’s the one I care about the most”

-“She has grown a lot” the old woman added.

-“Indeed, she looks almost exactly like you, sixty years ago,” the old man said with the intention to tease his friend a little bit and try to take the conversation in another direction.

-“If a bit taller maybe, I was quite the looker back in the day, you were not so bad yourself either, even to this day, just look at you, what’s your secret?” the old woman teased back.

-“Thank you, I think if there is a secret it would be never to have got married” he replied, playing along with the flattery.

-“Do not think this easy to admit, but I’ve always wondered why you never even looked at me, all the girls in town had a thing for you” she asked without even a bit of shame, they were getting too old for formalities.

-“I was stupid enough to fall for the only one who didn't” Verkan replied, regretfully reminiscing old times.

-“I still remember what happened, it's a shame really” Nana commented, not wanting to go further into the distressing subject.

-“It’s a shame indeed” the old man replied.

Who would have thought it? Old Verkan grieving a lost love, he really must have loved that woman so much to mourn her loss for the rest of his life. Nina would have never dared to ask such a personal question, nor would he have just told her such a thing out of the blue. It was the kind of thing that people only talk about with the closest of friends, Nina felt really guilty for eavesdropping on such a private conversation, and couldn’t help but feel sorry for poor Verkan. Was this the reason why he became a priest? It must have hurt him so much.

It’s been probably decades since the last time the two friends saw each other, and yet, they still trusted each other to have such an intimate conversation. Although she thought it wasn’t good to dwell in the past, it’s ok to let out the things that hurt you once in a while.

Isn’t it?

-“I can understand why you are so hard to approach, Nana, you have to keep all the vultures at bay from your girls” Verkan spoke, trying to change the subject again.

-“It would kill me if they go through the same I went through” the woman replied, changing her previously smiling face into a frown.

-“Nobody wants that for their children” the priest replied.

-“I want them to be happy, fall in love, and marry the man they choose,” Nana said, with her eyes locked on her girls.

-“I understand” Verkan replied nodding, recalling the way Nana’s parents had arranged her marriage to a high-ranking warrior from another Clan, a lifetime ago.

-“I hated my husband, you know, the truth is that I don't miss him” the old woman confessed, it was now her turn to let it all out. He heard her out in silence, and let her continue.

-“I never forgave him for what he did to Argon” she continued, remembering a past love that also couldn’t be.

-“I know how you feel Nana, but you can't blame him, that's their way of life” Verkan replied, reminding her of the way of the Clans.

-“I know, but poor Argon lost that fight already, he didn't have to kill him” Nana replied, reminiscing her own lost love.

-“A warrior's honor can be difficult to understand, Nana. I knew him, he was my friend, I’m sure he choose death than living a life without you” the old man replied, the priest knew about the quarrel between both suitors, the man who would become Nana’s husband, and the pretender who had won over her heart but lost the fight.

Such was the way of the Clans. Warriors would duel to solve almost any problem they couldn’t solve by talking; they would often fight until one of the parties was satisfied, though sometimes they would fight to the death, especially over matters such as love, and honor. Verkan knew the late warrior, they were best friends in life, and he knew he would have preferred death than to watch the love of his life be taken by his rival. The highlanders would consider it an honorable death, and so did he, but he could also understand his poor friend Nana, who was forced to marry her fiancé’s murderer.

-“Don't get me wrong, I never refused my duties as a wife, I learned to tolerate him through the years, but I never loved him” the old woman continued.

-“But I do love my children, I never blamed them for what that bastard did” Nana admitted agitated, she didn’t feel like sharing this much with anyone, but at the same time, rare were the instances that she could open up like this with an old friend.

-“At least he was a good father, he provided well, and we never lacked anything. He gave me five beautiful children, and they gave me at least a dozen grandchildren themselves” she finished, looking at said grandchildren, and great-grandchildren working by the tables.

-“Quite the numerous family” Verkan commented.

-“Not to mention great-grandchildren, dying young was the best thing Imran did for us, I took my children, and left that damned clan. I started cooking for others ever since” Nana continued.

-“There is always a bright side” he replied, making Nana smile in response.

-“Soon I got requests from so many people that I couldn't handle them alone anymore, some of my children helped me through the years, and later their children too” she commented about the time when she started her business.

-“They all learned from the best, your food has always been fantastic” the priest interrupted, looking forward to trying her food again.

-“My children went on different ways, and live their own lives now”

-“Some of them are coming back, though” Verkan replied.

-“Their help is always welcome, Ari and Mina are good, but Lily… Lily is still a bit clumsy in the kitchen but has a knack for cooking” Nana remarked while motioning towards her favorite great-granddaughter preparing the tables. The girl took notice of the old pair looking at her and smiled fondly waving in return.

-“She might not have realized it yet, but she surpassed me long ago” she admitted while waving back at her.

-“I'll make sure she inherits the business when my time comes”

-“Come on, Nana, you still have a decade or two ahead until you freed us from your stubbornness” Verkan playfully teased her.

-“If you say so” she replied.

-“But enough about me, Verkan, what about you?” it was now her turn to ask.

-“There isn’t much to tell, just traveling, doing the same things, helping people, you know the rest” Verkan replied without thinking much of it, for him, all the commitment, and dedication weren’t anything special. For him, it was just his job.

-“You have always been good with people, I've always admired that” she commented.

-“What can I say? I'm just as stubborn as you are” he replied.

-“And what about that little aide of yours?” she asked, referring to Nina, who she saw helping Verkan during the ceremony. Nina’s heart skipped a beat upon hearing it. Are they going to talk about me?!

-“Aide? You won't believe this but she’s a Field Priestess already, her name is Nina” he replied, his words held a deep respect for the young priestess that although inexperienced, had a promising career ahead.

-“Nina? I recall that name” the woman replied, trying to recollect her thoughts.

-“You should” Verkan stated.

-“Don't tell me that's Elia's child!” Nana replied astonished, Verkan could only smile in return, nodding in silence.

-“Speaking about growing fast...” she commented.

-“She might not look like it, but that girl is smart and incredibly talented, she will take my place one day, I'm getting too old for these travels…” Verkan replied, glancing knowingly at his friend, and making a gesture with his head towards the place where the Priestess was sitting.

-“Come on Verkan, you still have a decade or two ahead until you freed us from your stubbornness” she replied, echoing Verkan’s previous statement.

-“If you say so...” the old priest replied smiling at the callback.

The pair kept chatting for a while but the increasing noise of the crowd that began arriving made overhearing their conversation difficult for Nina. She looked over the tables to see if she could distract herself with something else when Verkan appeared out of nowhere, touching her shoulder. She froze. She was having a blast hearing behind their backs, but Verkan being the old learned man has probably figured it out, but instead of calling her out on her misbehavior, he introduced her to his old friend.

Finally, the preparations were done, and the banquet was ready just in time as the guests started to arrive by the many. The tables were arranged in the central square of the village, decorated with candles, elegant tablecloths, and fine silverware. A captivating smell emerged from one of the houses the cooks were using as an improvised kitchen, and Nina let her nose feast upon the sweet scent. She could only imagine what kind of feast could be its source.

The attendants led her, and the old pair to their respective tables, Nina sat next to her mentor, saving a seat for Nana who excused herself to oversee the rest of the dinner. Nina felt a sudden admiration towards the old woman, watching her in awe bossing around both her workers and guests alike. One could think she was kind of rude to everyone, and maybe she was. The highlanders, however, respected authority, and if there was one single thing they respected more than a warrior and his sword, or a priest and his faith, it was a master and her craft.

Speaking of craft, Nina could only gape like a fish when she first laid her eyes on the attendants serving the food. Among the culinary delicacies that were served, she could see the meat of exotic animals, dressed in many flavors of sauces, fruits cut in complex shapes, and forms, and salads of different varieties, and multiple colors. She could only describe it as the banquet worth of a King. More than just a cook, Nana was indeed an artist.

The Clans weren’t used to this kind of luxury, however, Verkan explained. As wealthier they may be, they led an austere way of life. Each Clan was different from the other, but they all had some form of caste division. The Elders formed a small council that chooses a Lord through a series of different trials; they were usually retired warriors, scribes, masters of a specific craft, and seers of the old religion. The Lord rules over the clan and commands the warriors that form the military force. Beneath them are the workers, like farmers, armorers, blacksmiths, cattle runners, and other professions that compose the main working force and manage the logistics. The people themselves are considered collective property of the clan, and each clan defends its people from attacks from other clans, clan-less bandits from the lowlands, and raiders from the North.

The Clans evolved through generations, from small family cores to large organizations with thousands of members. The people pledge allegiance to a clan by giving away something, usually their current or future children in exchange for membership, and protection. The children are separated from their families at the age of seven, and begin their training in the care of clansmen alongside fellow children. Their training consists of basic daily routines, customs, indoctrination into Clan culture, and basic fighting skills. It is expected they become highly competitive, and by the time they reach thirteen they can bid for a place among the warriors.

Then they face their Trials of Position, which more often than not involve combat. If the aspirant passes, then they become part of the warrior caste as atkan, the lowest rank. From there, each warrior must earn each following rank by passing other trials, or by their prowess in battle. If the aspirant doesn’t pass, however, they are relegated to the civilian cast as workers. If the worker shows proficiency in a specific craft, they become apprentices of blacksmiths, armorers, carpenters, and other crafts. But even the civilian cast is in its core, highly military in nature, and everything in their daily life is focused to support the warrior cast in one way or another. Even the lowest of laborers are expected to have basic combat training.

Each clan has a different kind of relationship between its warriors, and the civilian castes. Some of them are focused almost exclusively on martial prowess and neglect their civilians, who are mostly relegated to be bargaining chips in the struggle for power with other clans. While in others, the warrior caste's sole duty is to protect their civilians, who are considered the clan’s most valuable assets.

Clan Irfis sat firmly among the former, and although their civilians were treated fairly well, their obsession with martial prowess had cost them dearly. Their extremely harsh trials resulted in excellent warriors but too few in numbers, and their fanaticism, and blind obedience to their code of honor often cost them their lives, something the late Lord failed to address properly. Verkan was hoping to help the new Lord to restore the Clan’s former glory; he arranged the gathering of the other clans' Lords in advance to witness the upcoming Trial of Position, in part to avoid unnecessary bloodshed since the Clan Irfis warriors were known for their particularly bloody trials.

The highlanders were firm believers of the sanctity of all life and were against senseless carnage, they believed these trials to be more honorable and less bloody than an all-out war. They also exercised a form of bondage known as bondage by honor, in which a defeated warrior was forced by his own honor to serve those who defeated him as bondsman for a certain amount of time. If the person who defeated him, the bondholder was satisfied, he would later free the warrior from his bond, and allow him to return to his Clan without the loss of honor.

Conversely, if the bondholder was a high-ranking warrior, he could adopt the bondsman into his clan, if the defeated warrior so desired. The same applied to the civilian caste, warriors from other clans would lay claim to resources like cattle, crops, harvested grain, and even entire villages full of people, or other territories and fight over them. The defender warriors then would choose a place for the battle to take place, and bid their forces until both sides were paired. This form of ritualized warfare ensured that the fight was fair and that no civilians would be harmed. Surprise attacks, any form of deception, the use of civilians in battle, senseless slaughtering of warriors, and civilians, or a defeated party refusing to abide were frowned upon and considered disgraceful and dishonorable.

At last! One of the many attendants promptly interrupted Verkan’s quite lengthy explanation to finally serve the food; she was served with a rather large slice of meat she was sure she could not fully eat on her own, covered with an exotic white sauce and next to it, a very appealing mix of beans of different colors, and rice. Nina didn’t waste much time; she had a small bite of the meat and tasted its exquisite flavor. If Nana was to be believed, the girl in charge of the cuisine was indeed a worthy successor. She couldn’t resist a second bite, but she had to stop herself before a third after Verkan reminded her that they haven’t said the prayers yet.

She panicked. Verkan agreed to make the funerary rituals for her in exchange that her performing the prayers at the banquet. She looked around at the guests, and judging by how many were seated at each table, she quickly calculated at least two hundred. Not a good time to have her debut as Field Priestess for someone as shy as her.

But she had practiced this countless times! It shouldn’t be difficult, right? It wasn’t like she was cripplingly shy, or sensitive, but there was a big difference between performing the prayers in front of a small crowd of people, and a staggering two hundred very, very important people, and she couldn’t help but feel intimidated by it. What if I screw it up? What would they think? Still, she felt no small amount of reassurance when Verkan gently touched her shoulder and gave her a smile, and a look that said “you can do it”.

You can do this, girl!

The young priestess put her plate aside and took a deep breath. She used a spoon to hit a glass, making a distinctive plinking sound, the sound, however, was drowned in the noise the crowd was making. She stood and tried it again, although only a handful of people turned their glances at her, she then looked at Verkan who could only shrug. Nina wondered in a way to get their crowd’s attention, she tried again to no avail.

She then climbed over the table, immediately silencing the crowd, and turning all the heads towards her. Nina immediately regretted her decision. What was I thinking?! Why in hell did I just do this?

Nina looked at Verkan again, who was trying hard not to laugh at her sudden boldness, and the old man was delighted. It’s been a while since his apprentice showed such courage; he looked at her straight into her eyes and gave her a reassuring nod. She smiled and then turned to face the crowd with newfound spirits.

“Merciful Father, please bless these foods on our table that we receive from your generosity.

Give us grace so we can also provide a roof for the poor, food for the hungry, and water for the thirsty.

You who reign with wisdom and justice.

Forever and ever”

“Selah!”

She almost fell from the table when the crowd replied all in unison to the last part of the prayer, the crowd then returned to their business, and the night was again filled with the noises of their talking. Nina descended from the table, and sat on the same spot she was sitting previously, Verkan smiled in approval, and she smiled back, she was happy she had just passed her first test, the first of many that would come soon. But there would be time to worry about the future later, now she would focus on her delicious dinner.

She lost any sign of shyness when she asked for a second plate. Of course, the old man couldn’t help but make fun at her expense, but she didn’t mind, she was having a good time talking with his friend, and later with Nana, who joined them after leaving everything in order at her employees’ hands.

But even now that everyone had finished their meals, and started to drink, she could feel a heaviness in the air she couldn’t describe. Despite being at a funeral, there was joy in the air, and everyone was having a good time except for one single man who was sitting across the same table they were sitting. His expression was one of complete seriousness as if he was waiting for something to happen; she noticed that he had covered his cup with his hand to avoid being served a drink when one of the attendants tried to fill it.

There wouldn’t be any drinking for him tonight.

He then turned his eyes towards her and for a brief moment, their gazes met, Nina saw in them so much coldness that she had to turn her head away to avoid his piercing gaze. She turned towards Verkan who noticed the exchange; the old man saw her friend with a dead-white, frightened expression and leaned towards her.

-“That’s Nero, the Clan Irfis champion”

Nina was still startled, it was the first time someone stared at her with such intensity, but after she asked why he was so serious, the old man simply replied:

-“You would also be if tomorrow was your Trial of Position”

Her heart sank in defeat as she realized that tomorrow would be a long and difficult day.