Society of the Kuvek

Chapter 1

For as long as I can remember, I've been on my own. I've been on my own even before my dad left me when I was eight. I'm glad he left, but I still hate him, I hate the Ferse too, all of them. I dig my nails into my palms to stop the flow of thoughts; this happens frequently and I've been trying for forever to stop it.

I sit up in my bed, grasping the 12-inch gold dagger I always sleep with. I know I shouldn't, weapons are the first sign of rebellion, the Ferse say. However, I'm really trying to save my own skin; I'm not stupid enough to rebel - yet.

I sit up and look out the window to watch the sunrise. Sunrises used to be beautiful until ten years ago when the Ferse discovered a Kuvek and his young apprentice hiding in another province. The Ferse then ordered soldiers to run drills in the morning and inspect random houses in the evening. Since then five more Kuvek have been discovered, luckily, I've only been inspected once and have yet to be discerned.    

I stand up, move off the bed and grab some clothes, a pair of green canvas pants and a matching cotton shirt, the same color as the surrounding environment. I put my clothes on, and then I grab and lace up my dark leather boots. I finish dressing and kneel down by my bed; I reach under and grab a bag hidden under it. I open the bag and pull out a handful of dirt, and then I close my eyes and concentrate.

     When I am done, I open my eyes and look into my hands, in place of the dirt are four gold coins. I then grab a second handful of dirt and repeat the process, staring at a grand total of eight gold coins, a small fortune. I put the small, cotton bag holding my dirt, back under the bed. I grab my canvas drawstring bag off of the iron block that is placed in the back right corner of my house; I typically use the block as a table, but it also serves another purpose.

     I take my dagger from my bed and put it in the bag as well as a few other things. I walk to the door, prepared to leave but I notice a small gun laying on the floor and I put it in the bag.

       I open the door to the outside world and step out. As I look around, a wind blows onto my face, forcing me to squint; I see two guards walking between the crumbling rows of houses, I sneak past them and enter the road/walkway and turn left, heading north, toward the market place.

     It's a two-hour walk to get past all the houses and enter the large market square. From about a mile away, the aroma of fresh fruit and savory meat makes my mouth water. I enter the market place, a large square between two or three miles on all sides. It's only open once a week and is the only market in our province, so almost everyone comes to buy or sell.

     During the rest of the week the square is used as training grounds for Ferse warriors, and there's evidence of that on market day; Soldiers marching around looting sellers and beating buyers. I estimate that at least ten civilians are killed or seriously injured by Ferse soldiers each week in our province.

       As I walk through the market, I see an example of this, a young girl about eight years old, most likely running errands for her mother, is taking a severe beating from a Ferse warrior. The soldier is bashing her head and arms as she tries to shield herself from the series of blows. Another soldier is standing by, going through the goods she previously purchased.

     A crowd has formed a sort of circle around the proceedings, too terrified to act in defense of the little girl. I bite my tongue to keep myself from shouting out; I'm furious, but I know it won't do any good. Instead, I reach into my long sleeves for the small gun I always keep hidden in case of emergency. I load it and take aim, praying no one notices me.

     I shoot the guard that is beating the girl first, giving the crowd time to react and pull her to safety. Then I shoot the other warrior, quickly put the gun back, and I slip away, unnoticed.

       I take my coins into my hand and walk to a seller I know well. Gerane has a wife and two children, he works in a weapon factory to support his family but his wife has a garden and sews and he takes his sons hunting on the weekends. He sells the surplus at market. His wife is probably buying what they need for the week; Gerane's two sons are at the homemade booth, calling to buyers.

       "Hello Terin, you here to prepare for the week?" Gerane asks, already filling my canvas bag.

       "Yes please," I say, grabbing the filled bag. I give him the eight gold coins under the table, which, in plain view would cause too much trouble for the both of us. It has been a tradition between the two of us since I was six and could change the earth at will. Gerane at first tried to argue, but has long since given up as I'm too stubborn and would only give him more. We eventually settled at eight and some things for me, but I will continue to do so as long as possible. I know it's silly and he and his wife have told me so on several occasions, but I still feel as if I owe them.

       They were good friends to my parents and helped my dad out when the Ferse took over and killed my mom. I've always trusted them and Gerane was the one I ran to when I discovered my gift. He was actually a Kuvek teacher, showing young Kuvek how to control and understand their gift. His boys are Kuvek as well and we each keep the dangerous secret from the Ferse. I always came to them when I was in trouble, I still will; they are family.

       "Goodbye Terin and good luck," Gerane says.

       "Thanks," I respond as I turn to leave.

       I walk home, another two hours. I go inside the house and put my food in the cooler. Now that I have nothing much to do for the rest of the day, I walk to the iron block and put my hand on top. I close my eyes and concentrate, willing it to turn back to earth. I feel the table crumble beneath my fingers as it turns to earth, spreading across the floor.

     I open my eyes and plunge my hand into the center of the pile, trying to find another iron block about six inches tall and wide. I feel it, pick it up, and brush the dirt back into the large pile. Holding the block in my hands, I sit at the edge of my bed. I grip the block and concentrate, it returns to earth and spills onto the floor.

     I open my eyes and open the waterproof drawstring bag previously contained in the block. Inside is a book, illegal now that the Ferse have control of the land, and a map of ours' and surrounding lands.

     The book is one of the Kuvek; it details traditions of the Kuvek, as well as a chart containing information on the gifts, what element they are of and what they are called. I roll my finger across the page as I look for my gift, nullam auctor tellus, the gift of changing any earth to any mineral.

       After I turn the page, I gently lift the weathered picture of my mother and father smiling at the camera. I look into the face of the mother I never knew and the father I knew too little about.

     Sighing, I put the picture back and shut the book; I unfold the map and stare at the hand drawn picture of our island, tiny compared to the rest of the world, but large to everyone who lives here. In our island the provinces are laid into neat rows, miles apart from each other, the rest of the world is disorganized, scattered closely and far apart.

     Regardless, I want to go there more than anything, but it is illegal, the only known person to have ever made it was the creator of this map, but even that was when the Kuvek ruled and such travel was legal. I have been planning to leave since my dad left, honing my Kuvek gift and learning how to hunt and build a boat. It hasn't come to anything yet, but someday I know it will.

     I fold the map and put it and the book back into the bag and I place the bag onto the floor, on top of the small pile of earth.

      The process to put the box together is difficult and requires more concentration because I can't close my eyes or touch the earth. I will myself to see the box to construct in my mind as I watch it change to an iron block in real life.

     I pick up the small iron block, put it back into the center of the large pile of earth, and repeat the process. It takes longer, almost thirty minutes to complete and when I do, I'm mentally exhausted; I drag myself to my bed and fall asleep.

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