Roku's foot slipped on moss, leaving him hanging for a moment, his fingers holding tight on the fangs of the dragon statue. He pulled himself higher. The dragon was one of several decorating a fountain next to the hedge. Reaching the top he looked into the garden beyond. There was a laughing girl, playfully running from a boy up and down tailored garden paths. She had dark curls, dimples worth dying for, and was trailed by a loose golden scarf dancing in her wake.

Looking back over his shoulder, Roku could see Father and Brother Hiroto beyond the statue of Kohaku, ancient hero of the Great House of Rising Suns. Light danced across the surface of the fountain's pool, reflecting on the statue and making it seem almost animated, alive. He is reported to have slain seven Harrowed Demons during his time as Senshuken. How can I be a hero like Kohaku, when I have to become a priest?

Father and Brother Hiroto were no doubt chatting about his upcoming schooling at Ichinmo, institution of the priests and nobles of the court. His role was to be a priest. They may as well be talking about turning me into a eunuch. Were priests eunuchs? Roku's older brothers had teased him saying it was so. Maybe it was part of the initiation ritual? Nobody would ever talk about the initiation.. Roku groaned, as if he suddenly realized exactly why they never talked about the ritual.

His house was a minor one in Liaul, golden capital of The Kingdom of the Jade Crown. Like his brothers before him, with primary schooling over it was time to be sent to become an apprenticebeing the sixth son, his role was that of a priest, like it or not.

Returning from his thoughts he looked back to the garden and its playful occupants, just in time to see the heels of the girl as she ran around the hedge and towards the fountain. The boy closed the gap at the corner and the girl shrieked, putting on a burst of speed.

Gahh! He slipped and groped for purchase on his perch over the fountain. She ran forward, grabbing the rim, all arms and smiles, shouting, "Safe! I'm Safe! You cannot get me here!"

Then his grip failed him and he cartwheeled into the pool with a splash. As he sat up from the water the boy smirked and held out a hand in assistance, "You know, you aren't supposed to swim in these things!"

Roku wiped water from his eyes, mumbled thanks, took the hand and climbed out. The girl was standing behind the boy with a look of concern. When their eyes met Roku froze for a moment. It was as if a chord was struck. Roku had never felt so moved by the gaze of anybody. It was not just the emerald color of her eyes, but something deeper. He looked away, wondering if he had hit his head in the fall. Wringing out his tunic as best he could he walked back to the bench.

"You are completely drenched!" she gasped, "I'm sure my brother has some clothes that might fit you, although he's such a monster, I don't know..."

Her brother feigned insult while they followed him, "Whaaa? Monster, why I ..."

Then she noticed a collection of twigs, rocks and acorn shells arranged on the bench like two warring armies. Roku had just finished narrating a cataclysmic battle before he was distracted by their play. He blushed and quickly brushed the assortment from the bench.

Looking at them side by side, Roku could see the similarities in their features, they looked nearly identical. He opened his pack, dug out a sash and while rubbing his unruly hair he stole another glance at her. "It's.. uhh, okay."

"Na'omi! Takeshi! You have strayed far. Return immediately." A bright red umbrella shook in outrage from behind the hedge. A moment later it bobbed along, following the path. A round old woman wearing servant clothing appeared, boldly holding aloft the umbrella for shade. "How do you expect an old lady like me to keep up with you? You should consider these things."

She marched forward, "Now come, we must proceed. You do not want to keep your parents waiting."

Na'omi pouted, waved goodbye with the tips of her fingers and retreated with her brother. A cold emptiness flooded Roku as she left, like the sun slipped behind a dark cloud.

He peered down the path at the gazebo. Brother Hiroto and Father hadn't even noticed his quick dunk in the water. Roku sat back on the bench heavily. At least in the hot autumn sun he would dry out quickly.

He slouched, alone and sulking, while thinking on his situation.

His family had long desired to become a fully accepted member of a Great House. There were only a few Great Houses which worked together to rule the Kingdom with the Senshuken. Father told him often, "Becoming part of a Great House is an esteemed honor. But it must be earned, not taken."

So why did it mean that his older brothers got to do the fun stuff, joining the army, and he had to become a priest? He didn't want to be a priest; somebody else could bring this honor to the family. But here he was, in the gardens of the Temple at Ichinmo, sitting where he was told; and Father and Brother Hiroto talked in a gazebo down the path.

He studied the fountain in silence, counting the moss-covered stone dragons frolicking in its waters, while drying in the sun.

"What are you doing?"

He turned to see a bigger boy with a shaved head wearing the yellow and black robes of an acolyte. This boy's eyes were pinched in a very serious manner, and even though Roku felt a little intimidated, he knew making friends early on was important. He forced a smile, ran his fingers through his wet hair, stood and bowed, "Hi, I'm Roku."

The boy remained sullenly stone faced and gestured to the two men at the gazebo down the path, "What are they talking about?"

"I'm going to be a priest," he said, maybe a little too harshly, so he added, "But it is a good honor for my family."

"Well, we don't need you. So you can go."

Stunned, Roku didn't know what to say. Fortunately he was saved by the arrival of his father and Brother Hiroto, who shot a look at the boy before commanding, "Michi, take our new acolyte and show him where you sleep. You will share a chamber."

The boys stared at each other for what seemed like forever to Roku. In those moments he felt that Michi did not like him, and would never like him. He imagined it was like two kensai meeting each other across a vast chasm and they knew that they had to fight. An eagle screeched in the silence between them. It was in their blood and their father's blood and their father's father's blood. No good would come of this.

Or at least that is what he imagined.

Michi rolled his eyes and said, "Come on," then stomped away.

Roku turned to his father, stuffing the sash back into his pack which had the few possessions he was allowed to bring to his new life. But Father was talking to Brother Hiroto again. He bounced on his feet a moment while Michi strolled further away, heading towards a tiered wooden building. He wanted one more moment alone, to say goodbye again, but when Father looked back he just shook his head no. Roku remembered the conversation as they arrived when Father said, "you are now old enough to be a man, time for you to grow up and represent the family in an honorable way." But it hurt; he yearned for one last contact.

Instead, he straightened his back and followed Michi.

-#-

Michi stood with his arms folded in front of a door. He pointed to one side of the small room, scattered items and dust showing it was hastily rearranged, "Your side is there. This half is mine."

Roku dropped his pack on the cot and looked back at Michi. He still didn't know what to say or do, but Michi filled in the gap, "Everybody meets at dawn in the courtyard for training and exercise. Afterwards you go to your class studies. In the evenings, we have chores. Once a week we have personal time. Brother Kashi is a good instructor for fitness, and the best marksman in the city, but he can be hard on you, if he thinks you can handle it..."

While Michi talked about the instructors, Roku pulled out the few things he was allowed to bringmostly clothes, and his books and schedule of classes. He took the opportunity to change into something less damp. He also had a small carved dragon given to him by his mother. It was a visage of Phurath, one of the ancient founder dragons of the Jade Crown and his mother's favorite. She always liked the stories with him the best, as he had humor while maintaining a keen sense of justice. Roku silently went through the motions and prayer of Phurath, only realizing at the end that Michi was still talking.

"Are you even listening?"

"Yes... sorry."

Roku sat the statue on a desk while Miku eyed him with suspicion.

"So that about covers what you need to know about the instructors. Brother Hiroto is a stickler for details. Whatever you do, if he asks you to list the founders, do not forget to name the Harrowed as well. Most of us forgot our first time, but he rewards those who do."

He nodded cautiously, thankful for the advice but not sure what to think about it.

"Well, I guess that is it. Let me show you where the bedding is down the hall. Oh, and I am the senior acolyte. That means you have to do what I say when there are no priests around."

Roku moaned. It felt like he had traded one big brother for another.

-#-

The next day started early. Michi led Roku to the sports green and directed him to the other beginning students before taking his place in another group. He passed one group already practicing. A priest of the temple called out commands and the students shifted to match his stance, shouting in unison. The symmetry and power of their moves inspired Roku. He swelled knowing someday he would be as good as they were.

Sister Teiko lined his group up by size. Roku ended up on the front row with the smallest acolytes, mostly girls. She explained the Seven Forms of the Dragon. These forms are for the body as well as the mind, she explained, and are a great start for the day's exercises. Understanding their meaning was part of the training that would take years to master.

Roku's group wasn't so good, finding it difficult even getting the first form correct. It was all he could do to get his feet in the right position. When Sister Teiko said step forward with the right, he would step forward with the left and bump into the person next to him. When she said to swing their arm around to the left, he did, but the girl on his left swung to the right, smacking him in the head. He ducked the next time. This went on for a while until they were at least all working in the same direction. Afterwards, they taught punching and kicking, emphasizing that you aim beyond your target when throwing a punch or kick.

They drilled over and over. His muscles ached and his throat burned from the shouting. Just when he didn't think he could continue, a gong rang and they stopped. Other groups moved into separate activities. He noticed Miko moving towards an archery field with one group.

Sister Teiko called his group forward, where she opened large bins, "You will each need to select a sport. It is essential to the fitness of each student to have physical fitness, and here at Ichinmo we take pride in the skills of our students. Until you know what you excel at, we will all work on several sports." She pulled forth wooden sticks, "This includes the martial arts, fencing, and archery."

The girl that smacked him earlier sighed and mumbled, "I thought we were done." He too thought the gong signaled the next class, and smiled at her. He spent the rest of the morning collecting bumps and aches along with the other students, as they were taught the various sports.

Eventually another gong sounded, with the sun high in the sky, and they were sent to bathe and have a noon meal. Arriving at the assemly hall for lunch he was surprised by the girl from the morning who was waiting for him. She waves and introduced herself as Kemi, another first-year student, "Sorry for hitting you earlier, I kept turning the wrong way!"

"Uhh, I don't mind getting hit by girls," Roku said, then blushed wondering if she would take it to mean something else.

She smiled, and went on to talk about where she was froma hamlet called Yoshimi on the mainlandand how exciting the big city of Liaul was. He told her about his family, and that unlike her, he was here to become a priest. While talking they wandered into the hall, ending up at the back of the line. He grimaced, "I guess we should be quicker next time."

They had just grabbed a rice bowl with some fried noodles, and the hall started to empty, so they ate quickly and were heading out when Brother Hiroto found him, wearing his dark green and gold instructor's robes. Kemi's eyes widened and she slipped away.

"I hope you are fitting in well?"

Roku nodded, as they walked towards class, "Yes, thank you."

They crossed a cobblestone courtyard and entered a building that sprawled across the hillside with multiple terraces. The main hallway opened to the level above and featured statues, vases and silken tapestries. From there they took a side passage which lead to several classrooms.

"You know, I am a relative of yours. We share ancestors."

"I did not... does that make you my uncle?"

"It is more distant than that. However, for our sake, you are a student and an acolyte. You need to understand that you cannot expect any preferential treatment. But, you come from good stock, and I am certain you will bring honor to the family. Now, you are in my class next for studies of the worlds."

Some of the acolytes had already arrived and others were filing into their seats. Roku saw Kemi sitting at a table and took a seat by her, then grimaced with Michi wandered into the room with a few other boys. Most of the tables were full, and Michi ended up taking a seat next to Roku, but not before waggling his eyebrows at Kemi.

Just as everybody took their seat and Brother Hiroto began introductions, Roku noticed that everybody had ink pots and quills before them, along with sheets of paper. Clasping his hands, he looked around in a panic while Brother Hiroto talked about what they would learn in this class. He wondered if he had missed something and worried he would soon be the butt of a joke.

Michi elbowed him and passed a sheet of paper and a quill, whispering, "I have an extra quill and you can use my ink pot today."

"Thanks."

"Don't mention it..." he pointed to a cabinet by the wall, "We pick them up over there as we come in."

Brother Hiroto pulled forward a bizarre clockwork contraption on wheels. It was a series of interconnected rings that each had a sphere on it. Each ring was mounted at a base with gem topped knobs, ebony levers and nestled inside were layers upon layers of gears. Roku was entranced. It looked like the whole thing would move and the rings and spheres would animate.

"This is an Astrolabe. Normally, it would be used in navigating a Highsailing ship between worlds. For today, I will use it to review the worlds with each of you."

He pointed, "Michi, tell me about the worlds."

Michi smirked, then repeated in a singsong manner that sounded routine, "The Hearth is at the center, she is mother to us all, sending light to all the worlds. All creation flows from her, and she created the dragons, greatest creatures of all. Then there is Issara, its jungles are home to the Hothai and Chimai. Ra'niah is the world of rain, home to many land and sea creatures. Daigon is the cursed desert world, guarded by the dragons. After that is Liunonda, the forest world of the Celestial empire and home to the elves. The dragons took our ancestors from the Celestial Empire and brought them to Ra'niah, dedicating the mountain island for our kingdom. Then is the Web, the scattered remains of Qu'ulsis which was destroyed by the treacherous Celestial empire. Last is Shahan, home world of the Dwarves. Beyond is the void, which holds the Hollow, father to the Harrowed."

During this process Hiroto pointed to different spheres as Michi named a world. When he was finished, he praised Michi, "Very good."

Michi smiled. Roku wanted the same attention. If he answered something correctly, then people would respect him.

"We owe much to our dragon founders. Who here knows how high sailing really works? I'm not just talking about with Wyrmstones, but why?"

A silence fell over the room, followed by an uncomfortable cough. A girl in back raised her hand, "I know it uses the magic of the Wyrmstones..."

Hiroto stroked his long mustache and continued, "Close. Very good try, however. Wyrmstones are just the carrier for the magic, but that is part of a different course. What I am looking for is where the Wyrmstones come from. Dragons collect magic throughout their lives, this concentrates in their bones to create Wyrmstones. After their deaths these Wyrmstones can be harvested and used on ships in a magical array, which, when bound with an astrolabe, can be used to make a ship fly. The key, here, is this would be impossible without the Dragons."

It seemed quite simple when explained that way. Roku, like many kids, often felt his spirits soar when gazing up in the skies and watching the ships sailing high above. The same girl in back raised her hand and Hiroto nodded.

She asked carefully, "But if we respect and revere Dragons so much, why would we want to take these from the Dragon's dead body? Isn't that sort of like grave robbing?"

Hiroto smiled, "It is up to the Dragon. There is a long and involved ceremony used when collecting the stones, part of which is communing with the spirit of the dragon. This ceremony was given to us by the founders. If the dragon does not want his bones disturbed, we do not disturb them. That is not to say, however, that there are unsavory folk who would desecrate the remains and take the bones regardless, but this is a crime with severe punishment in our lands."

He tapped his lips for a moment, and pointed at Roku, "Can you name the founders?"

Roku tried not to smile while he gathered his thoughts. He knew he could impress everybody with his knowledge of the founders, "Phurath, Kibhazak, S'thaqu, Chamelilo, Zhual-cuchoth"

Kemi gasped and others whispered, but that was not what made him stop. Brother Hiroto looked at him with a shocked expression. Roku sat paralyzed realizing he had done something wrong.

"Ahem, that will be enough. Everybody, write one page on your knowledge of the worlds. I will review them when I return. Roku, come with me."

Roku stood slowly, dread weighing down his feet, a pit of ice in his stomach. He saw Miko fighting off a smirk. With monumental effort he kept his lips from quivering as everybody watched him leave the room. Crying is something kids do, not men.

In the hallway, Hiroto sat Roku on a bench and sighed, "Son, you don't do anything lightly do you?"

Roku didn't trust his lips, nor the lead weight in his gut, so he just sat still. He was barely under control.

"You understand that we don't say the names of the Harrowed, not just because of convention, but because names have power? You just gave The Traitor a tiny amount of power. Not only that, but now he knows who you are, and he knows where you are. We can pray he will quickly forget."

Roku mumbled, "I'm sorry."

"I understand... did somebody put you up to this?"

He hesitated and briefly shook his head no.

Hiroto straightened his mustache, "You must be careful. If you are sent home from here it will cause much dishonor to your family... go back to class, work on your calligraphy."

He stood and walked away.

After a moment of paralysis, Roku returned to the classroom alone.

-#-

The sun had set, and darkness covered the gardens. Light from lamps on the paths cast long shadows. Roku sat on the same bench as when he first arrived. He enjoyed the quiet, thinking of home, his mother and his brothers and sisters. He just needed some time alone. Some time to wonder why he named The Traitor. He knew better, but he just wanted to be accepted. He hoped the teachers wouldn't tell Father. Hopefully they won't kick him out, send him home in shame. What would he do if Father did not let him back in the house? Would he be a street rat, left to beg for what scraps he may find? He wondered why Michi would have set him up like that. I should have known better than to trust somebody like Michi.

"Auugh," he moaned, trying to change his thoughts to something better. A smile teased at his lips and the dark thoughts scattered when he remembered Na'omi and her brother Takeshi. Perhaps he would see them again some time.

Shadows flickered as somebody stepped in front of a lamp at the entrance to the garden. He looked up as several shapes moved towards him. Their faces were wrapped in cloth. Dread coursed through Roku's gut and he stood to make a break for it. A masked attacker grabbed him from behind.

"You don't need to go anywhere."

The voice was muffled but he knew it was one of the senior acolytes, it sounded familiar. Whoever was holding him shoved him forward and he stumbled into another boy who's eyes glistened with excitement.

"Don't worry, we just want to have some fun."

They formed a circle and pushed him back and forth. He couldn't get a stable footing and bounced between them as they whispered harsh taunts.

"Come on, stand up!"

"Quit stumbling!"

"Demon lover!"

"Hold still!"

He yearned to shout for help but he knew it would be a mistake. Instead, he managed a few strangled cries of, "Stop it!"

Yet as the shoves became stronger he wanted somebody to show-up, Brother Hiroto, anybody, to see what they were doing. If he didn't call help, then it wasn't his fault if they came. It wasn't fair, he was the smallest one!

"You like the Harrowed, why don't you ask them for help!"

The shoves became rougher and his robes tore, falling to his waist. A brutal shove from behind toppled him forward into the path, his face and elbows scraping in the gravel.

"Ha!" several of them laughed.

Roku's fear turned into a cold anger. He couldn't see anything but blurs through the tears. He didn't even remember crying, but now they were tears of hate. He wanted to shout The Traitors name again, just to see their reaction. He stood, seeing through a veil of red, knowing this would only end one way. He wanted to hurt all of them, every single one of them, and he knew he could do it. He knew he had it in him. He snarled and charged the closest one, winding all of his force into a punch that

Crack!

His head popped to the side in pain and everything went white.

Roku stumbled to the ground as stars swam in his vision. Somebody hit me with a rock! Or maybe a tree! It hurt too much to be anything else. But then he remembered seeing a foot.

Several hands grabbed him as he stumbled around, his arms were wrenched back savagely, and his robes thrown to the ground. He bit at the nearest arm, tasting blood, but there were too many. It took them only a minute or two and he was trussed up, spread eagle and half naked in a tree.

Somebody whispered, "Demon" while rubbing their wounded arm.

Then they left.

His anger grew and grew, boiled at the injustice. The ropes pinched where they held him up.

"Auuugh!"

He struggled and tried to get free, but couldn't, so he waited in the cooling autumn air, trying to ignore the icy shame and anger bubbling in his gut.

His arms soon hurt from hanging, he must have been here for a long time for it to hurt so much. He tried to work his way loose, tugging back and forth on the ropes, but that only made his wrists red and raw from the rough rope, adding to the aches and pains he already had.

Lightning flickered in the clouds above, and he could hear a patter of rain drops on the trees around him. He sat there numb as rain started to hit him, then something broke inside him and the cold ball of emotional ache he was holding back burst, and he sobbed. The anger, frustration hate and pain of the day cascading out as he cried.

Nobody was going to help.

Eventually he felt empty, his self pity drained and his sobs trailed off. All the emotion faded as he hung there, alone and cold, both inside and out.

He waited for somebody to come.

It was dark in the gardens; several of the lamps had gone out, and it was still raining. He could shout for help, certainly one of the brothers or sisters would come. But then he would have to explain, and then they would get all of the acolytes up and everybody would hate him. He did not want to bring more of this on him; shouting seemed like the wrong decision.

It was over now.

He just had to get down on his own. It took some time but now that he was calm, he could work his hands loose from the knots. He had always been good with ropes. Once he freed one hand by squeezing his knuckles together, he was able to untie himself.

He retrieved his robes, kicked under a bench and fairly dry, then went to the chapel. Around the walls were four large dragon statues with candles guttering at their bases. Kneeling before Phurath, he went through the motions and prayer of the dragon. He always thought he could hear the voices of his ancestors here, whispers. He felt warmth and calm inside. The dragons watched over them, they were like saints to his people, interceding on behalf of the Gods, and in their afterlife they were protected by the dragon spirits.

He waited a few more moments and whispered, "I don't like the Harrowed. I don't."

With this admission he felt peaceful, and quietly returned to his chamber. The light rain outside masked his footsteps through the empty halls.

Michi lay in his cot, asleep with drool running down his cheek. Roku stared at him for some time, wondering if his roommate, the Senior Acolyte, was in the garden that night. He peered carefully at Michi's arms; both were free of any bite marks. He had no way of proving his suspicions, but he would be much more careful with whom he trusted.