perfection. The only way to free the spirit from its imprisonment is to call fire to it and burn away the corporal prison allowing it to escape and pass on. By burning the forest’s dead wood, the Chufa not only create warmth for themselves and heat for cooking, but they also free the spiritual parts contained in the dead limbs and trees.
Thane joined those of the TehChao Tane who were spread throughout the fields planting this cycle’s crops. The Chufa did not plant crops in the traditional way by digging into their mother earth; this would create gaps in her spirit and bring death to that part of her body. Instead, the TehChao placed a seed just upon the ground. One from the VerSagn Tane then placed a drop of VerSagn blood on it to give it nourishment and another, blessed with the TehChao Tane, then called the seed to life by singing the Earth Song. With the life giving blood of the VerSagn and the song of the TehChao, the seed immediately took root. It then fell upon the MarGua Tane to water the crops until they were mature and ready to harvest.
The day was unusually dry and hot for the planting moon and Thane’s mouth became parched rather quickly from continually singing the song of life to the seeds he planted. His work also became tedious because there was no one to talk to. Since he had the gifts of all five Tane, Thane could plant by himself. This also made him much quicker. On average, Thane planted at least twenty-five percent more than any of the planting teams.
After the crops were planted he would also be required to join the MarGua in carrying the buckets from the river to water them. He didn’t think it fair that he should be required to do the work of three people just because he was cursed to have all five Tane and in some ways, he felt that it was as a punishment because he was different. It wasn’t that he really minded working to help feed and clothe his people, but at that moment he knew Dor was swimming at the lake waiting until he finished and could finally join him.
He was glad of his MarGua Tane. If he were normal like everyone else and had only one Tane, the one he would most want was the MarGua. He could not imagine not being able to enjoy the thrill of staying under water for long periods of time, as only the MarGua could. Most of the other Tane didn’t even like to get into the water let alone go under. Thane loved the sense of freedom he gained while swimming with schools of fish or the long, thoughtful moments just relaxing on the bottom. He and Dor spent all of their free time in the water’s depths exploring the life that made its home there.
Finally, after what had seemed to be days, he finished with his bag of seeds and was now free to fill the rest of the afternoon as he pleased. It was actually still quite early with the sun just a couple of hours past its peak in the clear skies above. Thane quickly returned his empty sack to FelTehPa of the TehChao Tane and, after a polite word of departure, sprinted off towards the lake.
He practiced his skills of silent running as race along the pathway leading to the lake. He practiced the skill whenever he had the chance and had become quite good at keeping his steps silent and sure to the point that he surpassed the skill of many boys his elder. As with everything else he excelled at, his skills caused jealousy and animosity from many of his peers; especially the older ones. He had also become an extremely skilled archer, actually shooting better then many of the men, including his father, which only made things worse between them. It saddened him greatly not to have a close relationship with DelVen like Dor had with his father, but he would not let his skills as a protector weaken for it. He knew that since his birth Del had hated him just because of his TanIs, even though it wasn’t any of his doing.
Thane joined those of the TehChao Tane who were spread throughout the fields planting this cycle’s crops. The Chufa did not plant crops in the traditional way by digging into their mother earth; this would create gaps in her spirit and bring death to that part of her body. Instead, the TehChao placed a seed just upon the ground. One from the VerSagn Tane then placed a drop of VerSagn blood on it to give it nourishment and another, blessed with the TehChao Tane, then called the seed to life by singing the Earth Song. With the life giving blood of the VerSagn and the song of the TehChao, the seed immediately took root. It then fell upon the MarGua Tane to water the crops until they were mature and ready to harvest.
The day was unusually dry and hot for the planting moon and Thane’s mouth became parched rather quickly from continually singing the song of life to the seeds he planted. His work also became tedious because there was no one to talk to. Since he had the gifts of all five Tane, Thane could plant by himself. This also made him much quicker. On average, Thane planted at least twenty-five percent more than any of the planting teams.
After the crops were planted he would also be required to join the MarGua in carrying the buckets from the river to water them. He didn’t think it fair that he should be required to do the work of three people just because he was cursed to have all five Tane and in some ways, he felt that it was as a punishment because he was different. It wasn’t that he really minded working to help feed and clothe his people, but at that moment he knew Dor was swimming at the lake waiting until he finished and could finally join him.
He was glad of his MarGua Tane. If he were normal like everyone else and had only one Tane, the one he would most want was the MarGua. He could not imagine not being able to enjoy the thrill of staying under water for long periods of time, as only the MarGua could. Most of the other Tane didn’t even like to get into the water let alone go under. Thane loved the sense of freedom he gained while swimming with schools of fish or the long, thoughtful moments just relaxing on the bottom. He and Dor spent all of their free time in the water’s depths exploring the life that made its home there.
Finally, after what had seemed to be days, he finished with his bag of seeds and was now free to fill the rest of the afternoon as he pleased. It was actually still quite early with the sun just a couple of hours past its peak in the clear skies above. Thane quickly returned his empty sack to FelTehPa of the TehChao Tane and, after a polite word of departure, sprinted off towards the lake.
He practiced his skills of silent running as race along the pathway leading to the lake. He practiced the skill whenever he had the chance and had become quite good at keeping his steps silent and sure to the point that he surpassed the skill of many boys his elder. As with everything else he excelled at, his skills caused jealousy and animosity from many of his peers; especially the older ones. He had also become an extremely skilled archer, actually shooting better then many of the men, including his father, which only made things worse between them. It saddened him greatly not to have a close relationship with DelVen like Dor had with his father, but he would not let his skills as a protector weaken for it. He knew that since his birth Del had hated him just because of his TanIs, even though it wasn’t any of his doing.
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