The three men hidden in hooded robes stepped even closer, just a nose away, praying for the youth’s protection, wisdom, and strength. They encircled him with bowed heads. The Elder cupped his hands around his face. His eyes seemed to penetrate the youth’s heart.

“Is there fear beating in your tender heart, young priest?” the elder asked.

Teeabu shook his head. The elder whispered in his ear. “You could be the one prophesied from our forefathers. The true Watchman.”

The boy felt as if a plank slammed against his chest. He could never fulfill such a prophecy. Though Ontomus was the intolerable ruler of Araidia and a false Watchman, Teeabu knew he couldn’t do it.

I’m too young… not worthy. The boy felt himself involuntarily shake.

The elder smiled with a wistful look in his cloudy eyes. He steadied the boy’s shoulders. Suddenly, the old man’s voice shook with emotion. “But our God knows who the ‘One with the eyes of fire’ is. Perhaps, that is who will save us.”

The elder took a golden vile from one of the hooded men and poured the oil of the corn plant on the crown of Teeabu’s head. And it flowed through his hair, to his shoulders, and trickled to the hem of his robe. The oil proved to be sticky, and Teeabu closed his eyes again. He put his confidence in Adoini, his God. Courage strengthened him in this new call. His heart beat with joy and pride to be part of this wonderful heritage.

The elder placed in the boy’s outstretched arms a long ribbon sash interwoven with fibers of ochre, gold, crimson, and cobalt patterns representing the House of Ruyles of Jamis—the lineage of priesthood. As the old man’s hands trembled with age, he gently touched the cloth now soaked with oil.

“Never take this off! It is the symbol of your heritage and who you are. You shall wear it while you sleep, while you are awake, while at peace, and while in war. Wear it as a man of prudence and wisdom. For when your coming of age is upon you…”

Teeabu did not understand him and cocked his head, hoping for clarification.

“…My son, your union ceremony will be the only time you will take this off. It will represent that your mate has joined your household. You will place this treasure in her arms, like this.” The old man demonstrated the passing of the sash by taking it from Teeabu’s arms and put it on one of the elder’s outstretched arms.

“After your consummation…” He coughed and his white long beard plumed in the air.

The old man then explained that he once had a wife, until she had been taken away by the Araidians to the shielded city. He couldn’t retrieve her because he had to protect the treaty to keep peace and their little village, Irema, from being attacked. On that one fateful day, many families had been broken, torn apart. But that was long, long ago in his youth. And now they were too broken down to retaliate, too old.

“Maybe one day,” he continued, “this oppression will be broken.” He looked at Teeabu. “Adoini has given me visions of you in Araidia. Strange, but in my vision, you were accepted as part of their society. I don’t understand how this could happen. But Adoini does work in mysterious ways.” The old man shook his head.

Teeabu didn’t know how to receive all this information. He was only fourteen. Why would he be so important when nine-hundred years of priests had waited to be called? And for one to be in Araidia was certain death.

Keeata Deshnig Tu, Adoini! Teeabu cried to God in his heart for help and looked up to the lofty ceiling, which seemed as high as Algathgama, their snow-tipped mountains. Though now a priest, he was only a Shatarian. He felt his lip tremble. He couldn’t do all of this. Keeata, keeata, Adoini! He cried inside. Help… help!

“But for your protection, a few things you must heed as a priest,” the old man counseled. “Protect the innocents. Do not defile yourself with Araidia’s men and women. And, lastly, never perform the mindling. For that is an abomination against Irema and your priesthood. Understand?”

Teeabu calmed and nodded as he trembled inside. He understood mind links, or mindling as they called it, to Araidia’s humongous computer. It took place by surrendering one’s thoughts, past, and desires to the Centrex to union with a mate. But he’d learned many Shatarians that became linked to Araidia’s ways sometimes died. No one knew the answer. But since those incidents, it was considered a blasphemy. Adoini must’ve disapproved.

Now, Teeabu thought confidently, standing erect, protecting the innocents is a subject I’m acquainted with. Ever since I was knee-high to a reedpod.

The elder’s hands shook—his craggy knuckles emphasized the trembling while he took the sash from the other elder he had given to earlier. He placed it over the boy’s head and it draped on the youth’s shoulder.

“For you, I will dance at your wedding. I am proud of you and how you took to heart our teachings and our history,” the elder chuckled, “whatever’s left of it. You know to protect the innocents, yes?”

Teeabu nodded in agreement while his life-giving muscle pumped faster than their shuttler train. If only he could feel Adoini’s presence every moment like this. He nearly burst with the warmth and tingling. Despite all the responsibilities where insecurities tried to overwhelm him, there was the fire of God’s presence. Teeabu felt it in the tingling in his arms, hands, and feet.

“My apprentice, you will wear this priestly sash as a husband and father to your children,” the old man cleared his voice once again, “and as a priest.”

Elder lifted his robed arms and proclaimed loudly for the elders and children outside the chamber to hear. “You are now a priest, Teeabu, son of Jamis of the Household of Ruyles. Stand worthy, young man, of your priesthood and do not let your calling of Adoini fail!”

Tears sparkled in the old man’s eyes while Teeabu watched, then followed him back to the congregation of children.

They were beautiful to Delah, each of them—the elders and Teeabu, smiling in the flickering shadows of light. However lovely the ceremony was for her, it was also sad because her cousin was soon to be taken far away to a shelter of training, meditation, and higher education. Her mother said it would take years before he would return from the hidden city.

The sun lapsed in the sky and the ceremony was over. Children from the ages of nine to fifteen, Delah being the youngest, congratulated Teeabu. Afterwards, they dispersed to their humble abodes, except for her. She noticed the elder put his arm around her cousin.

“You have done well, my son,” the elder said.

The priest and Teeabu embraced, and Delah waited patiently until the old man departed.

“I have a secret,” she whispered in Teeabu’s ear. “Come quickly, I want to show you something by the shack.” Teeabu picked her up and swung her around, laughing, and he set her down.

“I’ve made it!” Teeabu exclaimed. “I’m finally a man! A priest! Did you see the chamber? Did you see everything?” He inhaled and exhaled. “Are you happy for me?”

The questions flew by so quickly, she didn’t know how to answer. But his smile lit bright like the sun.

“Yes!” she exclaimed, unable to resist his infectious joy.

“I should’ve known you’d say that. Your eyes are sparkling gold right now.”

Delah whimsically covered her eyes. But her cousin was the wiser while he grabbed her arms and playfully pulled them away from her face. “That shows your real feelings. See! They’re doing it now!” He laughed. She chimed with him. He was so understanding and so much fun to be with. “See, you’re excited about my induction. I wish I had my mirror. You’d see your eyes are dancing jewels.”

Teeabu paused. Delah sensed he was coming up with an idea. His brow creased and eyes twinkled. He smirked with his arms crossed. “If you were a male, I’d think you were the one with ‘eyes like flames of fire.’” He quickly laughed and caught her up in his arms as any older brother would, too rough and too tight for a delicate Shatarian girl. But for her it wasn’t so.

He set her down and crossed his arms. Looked up to the sun, looked at her. “About your secret...” He exhaled sharply. “I can’t go right away.”

“But..?” She pouted and gave her look of pity. Mimicking him, she crossed her arms and turned to the cornfields, where the other children had gone to play. She wanted him to see her secret so badly; she lowered her head in disappointment.

“I’d never miss your special secret.” Teeabu nudged her shoulders for her approval. He hated to disappoint his little cousin. He felt relieved when her eyes were a normal sparkle and her face relaxed. “I’ll be there soon. First, I have to see Mother Yutva directly after the ceremony.” He darted off.

Suddenly, he stopped. “Make sure you don’t miss dinner on the account of me. I’ll know where to find you.”

Many times, he’d passed through the fields and seen her play with her young friends, laughing freely, frolicking into mischief. He was amazed at her grace and her strength. She would hurt no one, but could easily with the ability to overthrow a full-grown Shatarian man. Well, she was half-Araidian, which accounted for her physical prowess. He resumed his mission to see Mother Yutva. He had to hurry. He wanted to see what Delah hid.