The Trials
The child was clothed in rags that
barely held on to the skinny frame, her arms and legs were
pock-marked with bloody sores and sunburn. Her stringy hair was not
tied behind her head in the traditional knot. The child crawled into
the chamber of the High One, leaving thin trails of blood behind her.
“Master!” The girl called out,
between sobs, “We got lost in the sandstorm. I was the only one who
managed to escape... my mother was to be the token (sob), but I now
hold the amulet.”
Indeed this pathetic child possessed
the Toko Amuleta in her tight fist, her shaky arm raised to show the
precious thing to the man in the high seat.
“What has happened that a Token has
been offered me this day?”
The man finally spoke, as if he had not noticed her presence before.
“The
Sordes have taken village after village. My tribe has become nearly
extinct, Master. We have no champion strong enough to send to the
trials. The enemy has the advantage of us. We need your intervention,
Master, please help us!” The girl who could barely lift her head up
pleaded.
The
old man nodded but frowned, “I understand. Our species is war-like.
No matter how much we think we desire peace, it remains elusive. The
Trials were created as an alternative to wholesale slaughters of the
past, but it has become corrupted. The Sordes are much more powerful
than your Doro tribe. They issue challenge after challenge and take
village after village, because none of the other tribes are brave
enough to object.”
The
girl nodded.
The
man sighed and said, “As for your tribe being unable to bring a
worthy champion to meet these challenges, I must disagree.”
The girl was confused, “Master, I do
not understand. My people are few and weak.”
The old man grinned, “There is one
worthy Champion among them, child. You.”
She shook her head, “But I have
offered myself as Token, Master, I am no longer a Doro, from now I am
your property.”
“There is a precedent, it is long and
complicated. I reject your offer of Tokenis. I will intervene to halt
the challenges of the Sordes for the permitted interval. In the
interim, you must be made healthy and trained for the Trials to come.
You are the only hope for your tribe, child. This is the only answer
I can give to the plea.”
The girl sat on the smooth rock floor
of the torch-lit chamber quietly for a long moment. The High One
raised the hood over his head but waited patiently for her answer.
“I accept, High One.” she said, it
was barely more than a whisper.
“What is your name, Champion of the
Doro?”
“I am called Cami, High One.”
“Champion Cami, you will be fed and
rested tonight and you will be taken to a facility to start your
training tomorrow. I will leave immediately to inform the Council of
Sena of my intervention. They will not be happy, but it is within my
legitimate power.” The man answered, as Cami became aware of four
people entering the chamber.
“These are my faithful, once upon a
time they too were offered as Tokens. They will help you.”
…
The High One sat in his appointed seat
in the outdoor meeting site of the Sena. The representatives of
Sordes were easy to find, they were jovial and mocking while the
officials of the other tribes were quiet and stoic.
“Another day, another challenge!”
The Sordes representative, Bolo Sendo, announced as he stepped to the
floor to the cheers and laughs of his fellows.
The High One raised a hand, “There is
an intervention.”
The Sordes representative tilted his
head, there were already jeers and noises of outrage from the Sordes
fellows “What is it?”
“I have invoked the eight section of
the Law of the Champion. The Doro will be given time to develop their
new champion, who is a child at present.” the High One announced.
“A child?
How long are we expected to wait for this champion to be weaned and
potty trained?” Bolo Sendo asked.
“For
the full term.”
Shouts
and jeers from the Sordes supporters rained down. The Sena of the
other tribes were quiet but were whispering amongst themselves. Some
of them seemed fearful that their tribe might be targeted by the
Sordes now that the Doro had been given protection.
“This
is outrageous, High One. Do not expect the support of Sordes at the
next Sortition,” Bolo Sendo said with bitterness as he returned to
his seat.
The
Presider of the Sena finally interjected himself, “What is the
meaning of this intervention, High One?”
“The
meaning is not occluded, Presider,” The old man replied as he began
walking down onto the floor of the Sena. “I see the situation as
clear as anyone. The Trials have become corrupted.”
The
members of the Sena made their disagreement known by saying “Non,
non!” and pounding the floor once with their foot.
“I
see the members of the Sena, so quiet when the Sordes abuse the
Trials, have found their voices to oppose my intervention. You are
all scared to oppose the challenges issued by the Sordes, lest you
lose your far-flung villages to their wrath. Have you so little faith
in your Champions?” The High One asked them, looking at each in the
eye as he walked past.
'Non,
Non!' stomp, stomp
He
nodded, “I see very clearly, Presider, that the situation has
become untenable. The Trials were never meant to be used as a way for
one tribe to conquer and annihilate another. The Trials were supposed
to stop that very thing from happening. Only the acquiescence of the
frightened and cowed members of the Sena have made that possible.”
'Non!
Non!” stomp, stomp
“Have
you gone too far, High One?” The Presider asked, “Your own
position could be imperiled by these words you speak.”
“In
any case, Presider, the intervention stays. My impeachment or death
does not repeal the order, it is inviolable,” the High One
explained, “This is the law we have lived under for centuries, most
of that time in peace. That peace has been threatened by aggression,
but it is the scared who feed the peace to the beast, hoping it
becomes sated before they become the next victim.”
'Non,
Non!” stomp, stomp
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