Took a little break from publishing this over on Story Scribes but, New Year, new schedule and I’m keen to get back to some serious editing and writing on this giant saga.
As Marilla and her family approached, the bells began to ring loudly – calling everyone to worship on this very special day – and the young girl lifted her face towards warm sun, recalling the time when she was Geral's age and was convinced she could walk all the way here with her eyes closed, so strong was the pull of the place.
Her Gem vibrated gently in its casing around her neck, as if in response to that odd memory.
“If the fairies are bad, why are there so many of them here?” Geral whispered to her.
“Hush, I told you. Ignore them.”
The ceremony was lead by five white-clad priests and priestesses wearing five-sided hats and long, intricate chains. One by one they told the tale of the Quire; today with rather more emphasis on the magistrates and the vital part they had played in the last war.
“Once unelected kings ruled with their puppet magicians,” the first intoned, “and their magic demanded much from ordinary quires, including the sacrificing of women and children.”
“The magicians made pacts with the mutants,” the second continued, “infecting our women and stealing our children to grow up as mutants themselves. Cursed. Unnatural.”
“The kings are long gone but the magicians exist still. Their power is much weaker since our ancestors' Great Revolution almost a thousand years ago, but still a threat to us all. Especially in twenty years when the Fourteen Age comes upon us.”
We must remain vigilant,” cried the fourth. “We must not look back to the time of kings, magicians and mutants. We must not allow our children to be enthralled by false visions of fairies ...” Marilla nudged her brother and gave him a pointed look. “… We must not be tempted by the old stories of doom or of salvation but look instead for the Truth of the Five.”
“We are free now,” the fifth intoned. “Free from the superstitions of the past. For when we follow The Way of the Five we always move forwards because, if we look backwards when walking, we are likely to trip and falter.”
All five lifted their hands up towards the highly decorated ceiling. “So we reject the old magic and embrace the new technology instead, for in that direction lies our true salvation. We are quire!”
“We are quire!” everyone dutifully chanted back.
