Essa gave him a glare.
“It is no less than a truth,” Quartis shrugged. “We have observed Joden, and know that he has it within him. The debate that rages about him is—”
“Enough,” Essa barked.
“And the ‘old path’?” Joden asked. “The chant they—”
Essa stood, drew himself up, strong and dignified. “Joden, before those gathered here, I would offer you this truth. I may not agree with what you and Simus and Keir would do, or how you would bring changes to our ways. But for all that, I would not have you go to your death.”
Essa turned then, to face the gathered Singers. “For that would silence his truth and that is not the way of the Plains, nor the way of the Singers of the Plains. If he is worthy, he is entitled to stand in our midst and have his truths considered with ours.”
A murmur arose from the group, some in agreement, some clearly not.
Essa turned back and faced Joden. “The Trials of a Singer are exhausting, invigorating and challenging. But the warriors who emerge as Singers serve the Plains with their hearts and souls. As will you.”
“And the ‘old path’,” Joden pressed for an answer one more time.
Essa’s eyes narrowed and his mouth grew grim.
Quartis glanced at Essa, then spoke. “The challenges are the same. Except we clear a challenge circle and—”
“You are tethered within,” Essa interrupted, clearly furious. “Naked, but for your weapons. Tied by the ankle with a thin strip of leather to a stake in the middle of the circle. The leather is decorated along its length with beads so that we will know it, and know if it is broken. You are tested for four days and four nights, but there is no food, no water, and as little sleep as possible.
“And when you collapse and cannot be roused,” Essa spat. “When you do not answer to the death ritual that we conduct, you are wrapped in a cloth shroud and the leather of your tent, and buried within the earth. Buried deep, as the dead are, and left there until the dawn.”
“‘Offer your body; be buried in earth’,” Joden murmured.
Essa glared at Joden. “Do you understand, Joden? We are told that when you emerge from the earth, when we pull you free from the grave, you will emerge as a full Singer, with the beaded leather cord around your ankle and the tattoo of a bird’s wing around your eye.
“Except you won’t,” Essa continued. “We will dig you up, and find you dead. The ritual kills.”
“Even now,” Joden asked. “With magic returned to the land?”
“I do not know,” Essa said simply.
“But the choice is mine,” Joden said.
Essa crossed his arms over his chest, and looked out over the Plains. “Yes,” he finally said. “The choice is yours.”
Joden nodded, crossed his arms over his chest, and rocked on his heels, considering the grass under his feet. To fail was a swift journey to the snows. But to succeed? What songs would he learn, that no other knew? How much stronger would his voice be in the Councils of the Elders? It would benefit all, Singers, the Plains. Simus. Keir. But the risk—
“This choice does not have to be made today,” Essa started, but a few others shook their heads.
“The Trials for Warlord started late, thanks to the warrior-priests,” Quartis said.
“Even now, the armies move,” Thron reminded them. “And there is Antas as well to consider. Sooner is better than later.”
Essa sat back down. “They are right, of course. Speak, Joden.”
Joden looked at his hands, then raised his head. “Many of you know that I chose to deny mercy to Simus of the Hawk when he lay injured on the field before Xy. I tried to staunch his wound, and as a result we were taken captive by the enemy.”
“This is known,” Essa acknowledged with a nod of his head.
“Mercy is the way of the Plains, when a warrior falls and cannot rise,” Joden said. “But when my friend and tentmate lay bleeding at my feet, I could not bring my knife to bear.” He took a breath. “That is not our way, not the way of the Plains, and yet, I could not do it.”
“That is known,” Para said. “And counted against you.”
“As it should,” Joden nodded to Para. “Here I am, asking to be admitted to the ranks of those that hold us to our ways, and yet I broke those ways.
