Fricania

READER'S GUIDE: CHAPTER 1 COUVE Batou Sanctus: young shepherd haunted by visions of a divine bird. Family: Sanctus. Kingdom: Couve. Group: may join the Bante, Couve's peaceful army. Elziba Pace: Batou's grandmother, sister of High Priest Elnar. Family: Pace. Kingdom: Couve. Group: religious circle of Couve. Laïusse Sanctus: Batou's father, officer of the Bante and personal bodyguard of Elnar. Family: Sanctus. Kingdom: Couve. Group: the Bante. Elnar: High Priest of Couve (mentioned only). Family: Guiss. Kingdom: Couve. Group: religious authority. PANNAR Washdal Trompe: chief of Pannar and member of the Elephantum, father of Memphis. Family: Trompe. Kingdom: Pannar. Group: the Elephantum. Aya Strong: Washdal's wife, First Lady of North Pannar. Family: Strong. Kingdom: Pannar. Memphis Trompe: young son of Washdal and Aya. Family: Trompe. Kingdom: Pannar. Marshall Saïd: maid in the Trompe household. Family: Saïd. Kingdom: Pannar. Alice Brave and Montéro Honor: second majors, officers at Washdal's side. Kingdom: Pannar. Edouard Saïd: servant of the Elephantum, who receives Washdal at the council. Family: Saïd. Kingdom: Pannar. Group: the Elephantum. Semra Saïd: rapporteur of the Elephantum triad. Family: Saïd. Kingdom: Pannar. Group: the Elephantum. Obard Eburneum: powerful chief, political rival of Washdal. Family: Eburneum. Kingdom: Pannar. Group: the Elephantum. ------------------------------------------ Beneath the unbearable gaze of the bird, its eye rimmed in blue and black, its body seeming to cut straight through the skies, Batou Sanctus, so young, with his half-shaved red hair and yellow-toned skin, struggles to endure its thundering words. He wakes up terrified. His body won't move. He lies frozen on his bed, unable even to open his mouth, something that has never happened to him before. For long minutes he stares at the domed ceiling and watches the first light of the sun spill across his blue-green room. Then the door creaks open, and the rays suddenly grow brighter, followed by the sound of footsteps. It's his grandmother, an old woman draped in black from head to toe, leaning on a handsome cane. "You're up earlier than usual," says Elziba Pace, touching her grandson's forehead. At her touch, Batou is freed from the invisible force that held him in bed. He jumps up and clings to her. She takes him in with a warm smile and strokes his hair, which feels strange to her. Then she presses her hand to his forehead, searching for any sign of fever. Worry shows on her face. "It's possible," Elziba thinks, then adds, "but it would be too soon." "Too soon for what?" Batou asks. "Pay no attention to what I say," Elziba replies. "You have a lot to do. I thought you were sick, but since you're not, make an effort and get moving." "I had a strange dream this morning," Batou says. "We all do," Elziba answers, rising from the bed to leave the room. Laïusse Sanctus, Batou's father, is waiting by the pen, about to open it. He is tall and lean, with thick eyebrows and a peaceful gaze. He sees Elziba Pace walking toward him and asks: "Is he all right?" "He wanted to tell me about a dream. Nothing surprising for someone from Couve," Elziba says. Then she adds, "It would be better if you shaved his head!" After that run-in with his father, which has left his mind blank, Batou finds himself herding the flock. The sun, barely risen, is only just starting to show its first rays. Batou wonders whether his father wants him to join the Bante, Couve's peaceful army, which excels in the art of wielding the staff and uses no bladed weapons. After all, his father is the personal bodyguard of High Priest Elnar, who happens to be his grandmother Elziba's own brother. Still lost in thought, Batou rounds up a few strays and takes in the paradise around him, lush with greenery and trees, near the road to the priests' houses, beside the river that leads to the great temple known as Alpha Omega. * * * In Pannar, young Memphis Trompe, brown-skinned, with fine lashes and big black eyes set slightly far apart, watches his father get ready. Washdal Trompe is dressed in his chief's costume, blue-violet, with the elephant-trunk emblem on the chest of his cape, the badge of his rank. On his black hat, with its broad, sovereign's brim, another trunk sits at the center. He wears it all with pride, but his air is sad and dark, as if he is about to face the darkness itself. In his spacious bedroom, Washdal notices his son and invites him in. Memphis tells him that his mother sent for him: breakfast is ready, and it will get cold. Washdal closes one door of his wardrobe, opens another, and takes out his long sword, its hilt shaped like an elephant's trunk, still in its scabbard. He straps it around his waist. At the table, Memphis talks with his mother, Aya, who has already finished her breakfast. "Looks like it bothers you that Dad's taking his time," he remarks. "If you'd been here, we would have eaten together," Aya replies. "But you were in such a hurry to get your mare ready. So there you go. That's the consequence." Aya Strong, a woman of strong character in her gown as First Lady of North Pannar, her skin black as ebony, her eyes tinged with violet, glances at the cup of milk in front of her son, who is about to get up from the table. She stops him cold: "Don't even try!" "Why?" Memphis asks, with disdain. "I get it for Grandma. She's in her room almost all the time, moping. Marshall says she changed after Grandpa Tony left you. But the other one sleeps way too much these days." Memphis lifts the wooden cup and admires the beautiful gold drawing of the Trompe emblem, proud of it. He takes a sip, then realizes he hasn't seen his uncle. He is about to say something when Marshall, the maid, comes in to check whether the table is ready to be cleared. Aya rises. With a menacing look, she offers Marshall Saïd a little walk among the Independents, then adds: "Besides, the other one is still in bed. They can manage for once. And you, Marshall, you talk too much." Alice Brave and Montéro Honor, both second majors, stand sharp in their tunics. They withdraw, leaving their chief in the hands of Edouard, the servant of the Elephantum. The Elephantum is made up of the Moach, the assembly of sages, which sits above the Triad Domini, reached by three paths. Edouard looks a little puzzled when he sees that Washdal has come by way of East Pannar. "Is something wrong?" Washdal asks, noticing the lost look on Edouard Saïd's face. "Not at all!" Edouard answers. He walks beside Washdal, who has set off with firm steps down the corridor that leads to the Triad Domini. "It's just that I never imagined I'd see you take this path." "I've completed my sentence," Washdal says. Edouard nods in understanding. He takes Washdal's sword and cape and lets him through the door. Inside, Washdal hears Semra Saïd, the rapporteur of the Elephantum triad, announce his name to mark his arrival. "About time," Obard Eburneum remarks, just before Washdal takes his seat on his throne, decorated with carved trunks.