The Unmarked Ones would not reply, instead they spread their arms wide like trees and bowed their heads to the sun, then arched their backs to show what would be their faces to the sky. They returned their arms to cross their chests, and bowed their heads. The clouds in the sky grew dark and black, lightning cracked as rains poured down from the Heavens.
Aethan felt that his question had gone unanswered, but did not cry out for he knew the Unmarked Ones to be most wise. He waited for the passing of the moon cycle before he called on them again. Once again when asked, the Unmarked Ones spread their arms wide, showing their blank faces to the ground, then the sky. They crossed themselves before bowing. The earth trembled beneath Aethan's feet, but again, he felt dissatisfied.
"Why do you ask them so?" Obith asked Aethan after the Unmarked Ones had gone. "Because I want to share my love for them and be equal, because it is that we should be together in this life in this world." Aethan replied, "I think that we are one and the same as the Unmarked Ones. We can share of the same world as we are sharing our love and worshipping the Elements. I think it is best to love how we love, including them.” Obith did not think it was wise to call on the Unmarked Ones but Aethan was certain of his desire.
Another moon cycle, and Aethan called the Unmarked Ones again to ask what he may call them. Yet again the response was the same. Reas was observing from a rock on a hill where all could see the sea. Reas asked Aethan why he sought the names of the Unmarked Ones, and Aethan replied, "I want to share in the worship of the world with them. To better express my love." And to this Reas said, "Let us ask of the Elements themselves, for they are the creators and they shall know the answer of what to call those without names or faces." And when the humans asked the sea what to call the Unmarked Ones the sea rose up, with all of its creatures inside it and rushed inland, separating Reas and Aethan from each other, separating Kote, Terro, and Obith and all of their kin.
For a thousand years the humans were separated by great masses of waters into their different lands. The people begged the Elements for forgiveness and searched for the Unmarked Ones, but they had gone.
Chapter 3
Aneh
The nights got darker, the canyon breezes colder. Fall turned into winter and, like normal, I went to the market less. Which meant I saw Olei less. I couldn't help but fantasize about him more. Strangely, time away from him made me want to let the world know we were destined for each other.
I kept my secret bottled up like the wines my father let sit in the root cellar, until just after the longest night of the year. When I told my mother about my pairing she did her best to act surprised. She masked her knowledge with a grin before embracing me tightly. How had she figured out my secret? My father jovially announced his congratulations and planted a kiss on my cheek. Olei's family was well respected as goat and sweet potato farmers, he said. My mother confessed she and Papa had seen the beautiful new home that Olei was building –that and of course, that I had snuck out to see Rhys so many many months ago.
"I'm sorry I haven't told you, but I thought if I kept it a secret it wouldn't come true! I'm afraid of what it will be like to go start a life away from my family with a complete stranger."
Tears welled up in my eyes. I felt so naive, so scared and so nervous that I was making the wrong choice by telling them. Life would never go back to how it was now that I had made this decision. My tears turned into sobs and I cowered into my mother’s shoulder. She hushed me, and placed her cheek to my forehead. I could feel her warm tears against my skin, her fingers gentle and loving as they threaded through my hair. I let myself cry while my mother, long ago surpassed in height by her children, rocked me.
The moment abruptly ended. Yakeh stumbled in like a newborn foal, limbs flailing, and eventually he fell, spilling an armload of kindling on the floor. If I knew my brother, he did this on purpose, to make me laugh. I parted from my mother and wiped the water from my face on my tunic. Red-eyed and giggling, I watched as my father heaved himself out of his chair to pick up my brother.
"Oww," he said from the floor.
"Great Aethan son," Father said with concern in his voice, "Are you all right?"
"I couldn't see over all this wood,” Yakeh continued, dusting himself off. A little smile spread on half his face. He cast me a knowing glance that turned my giggles into laughter.
Papa was helping Yakeh pick up the wood when he gave him a loving squeeze on the neck.
"Aneh, why are you crying?" Yakeh asked as he walked toward me, the knowing smile still on his face.
"I'm leaving, Yakeh. You know why. It's time for my pairing soon."
"I knew it! Olei right? I heard rumors. Dear Kote it was hard not to say anything!"
"Yakeh!" My mother admonished. "You save that name for when you need it most."
Yakeh continued, unperturbed.
"Well, sister, I'm happy for you. You could do a lot worse than Olei, I know he's a good man and he'll take care of you. Rats! This probably means I won't be paired with his younger sister. Too bad, she's really good looking! Maybe I can at least dance with her at your ceremony. When is it?"
My mother scoffed and my father put his head in his hands.
"I don't know. Soon, I guess," I said, before turning to my father, "You have to go talk to Khati and Deins now, right Papa?"
"Whenever you want Aneh. We'll settle on a good date. The windy season approaches soon...you don't want to get paired then do you? We might as well wait for spring season – Reas's season – that's the best time of year!"
"Olei has waited this long for you, he won't mind waiting a little longer," my mother added, a sweetness in her voice.
"That sounds good to me." I walked over to where my father stood and gave him a tight hug. "Thank you Papa. I love you." Uttering that brought tears back into my eyes. I bit my lip and excused myself. I cried quietly in my bed all night long.
More weeks passed and the wintery freshness of Aethan's season gave way to the winds of Terro's season. My parents left one blustery afternoon to talk to Olei's mother and father and returned half a day later, smiling and laughing in spite of the nippy breeze. The inside of my father's lips were purple and his breath smelled faintly of apples like it does when he's been drinking. Yakeh and I stood around with our arms crossed for a little bit, childishly bitter about doing all of their work for the evening as well as ours. I was curious but sick with nerves to know what they had planned with Olei's parents. I feigned disinterest, said I was tired, went to bed but didn't sleep. My mind wandered all night long.
The next morning we gathered around breakfast, wheat bread with nuts, dried berries and goat cheese. The morning sky was a light blue as the sun had not come up yet. The animals were starting to move around outside, their breath still visible in the chilly air. A few brave birds chirped their hopeful songs.
"Our job is to bring you, beautiful as you are, and participate in the normal rituals, you know how they usually go," My mother said as she dumped some seeds into the washbasin.
"I've never paid that much attention to exactly what was happening during pairing ceremonies," I admitted. Usually I was staring off into the hills, my imagination running wild or thinking about something else I'd rather be doing, like exploring the canyons or tending to my chickens.
"Oh I always watch. I love them! My favorite is watching the parents’ faces as they tie the knots," Yakeh was looking out the window; he was smiling but he seemed genuine. We all stared at him astonishment, waiting for more. No more came. Yakeh just turned from the window, smiled almost sadly at us, then got up with the heel of his bread and went outside.
Mother paused before she started.
"He's sad to see you go. He's always been so big and loud and wanting of attention, but he gets so much of his confidence from you."
"I never thought about how much I'd miss him."
"I was thinking about when 'he was too old to be sleeping next to his sister,' and how loudly he wished
for his own bed," Mother started.
"And he would crawl into bed with me for years after he built one for himself," I finished.
"We pretended we didn't know, but we knew."
"I missed him snoring into my ear after he stopped sneaking into my bed. I wonder if I’ll miss him snoring after I leave.”
"You never know Aneh, Olei could snore too!"
"He could," I laughed, kind of, but the idea of snoring Olei was fast becoming a possibility and fear bubbled up in my throat. My mother meant to be funny, but it wasn't that comforting. Olei was so handsome and kind but sleeping next to him seemed foreign and frightening. I had always thought of myself as strong and ready for the next adventure, but this was an adventure I wasn’t sure I was ready for.
My mother drew me to her when she saw the concern in my eyes. I let myself be held for a little, but really I just wanted to go outside. I wanted to soak in every minute of my life as it was, like in the days before I was paired.
The company of my one friend, Joh I felt would help settle my fears a little. Joh was a bee keeper too, we had made friends as children even though she was a few years older. We would spend our time marveling at imaginary animals in the wash or making beeswax into ugly little candles.
Joh had been in her pairing for a year and I saw her much less than I'd have liked. I could see her slender frame in the kitchen as I turned the path to her home. She stood over a stone washbasin, the walls of her home swung open on their great hinges to let in sunlight and let out smoke from the fire. Her mate, Jona, built this house for them as was the Koyote custom. Olei was probably building one for us now.
I brought a chicken with me that had been a nuisance before I wrung its neck. Joh would like a nice present of a chicken dinner, I was sure.
"Aneh you always bring the best gifts!" She laughed when I walked in with the dead chicken, it's brown scruffy feathers dancing in the light breeze.
"Well she was a terrible bird, but hopefully she'll taste delicious. How are you?"
We sat down and plucked the chicken while Joh teased me about my imminent pairing.
"Oh Joh, I don't know what to think. Some days I'm excited, sometimes I'm scared. Most days I just wonder if I've made the right choice," I admitted.
"It's okay to be scared Aneh, it is scary. You're about to spend the rest of your life with a stranger. Lucky for you it's a really handsome stranger. That makes it makes it more difficult to stay mad at him longer," she joked.
Oh good Kote, I thought, we're going to get angry with each other. The idea seemed impossible given I barely even knew my mate. And I had to make love with him, bear children with him, and we had to squat over the same hole.
"Wait, I can be as mad as I want to no matter how handsome someone is!" I stated, "Beauty should be independent of value." Joh just laughed at me.
"You're right Aneh, you're right. But you will have hard times and you will have amazing times. I hardly knew Jona before and even though I know him so much better now, he still surprises me. We are lucky to have the same hopes and cares. I really didn't think I would be happy, but I am. Life is good."
Joh's words were comforting, but it almost seemed too good to be true. I'd so much rather know what my life would be like, how I would feel, if I would get along with Olei, if we would satisfy each other. I was far from the prettiest girl in the village but I was competent and a quick learner.
Mindlessly I plucked the chicken while we continued to talk and laugh. There were so many parts of me that wanted to be just like Joh, calm, happy and accepting. Her wisdom was comforting and I stayed in her company as long as I could that afternoon.
The pairing bracelets on Joh's wrists scratched my arm as she reached to hug me goodbye. Every paired couple wore them from their pairing day till their deaths. They were presented on the first night by the couple’s parents, one parent each giving a bracelet that they had crafted, each bracelet representing something different. Joh had some brightly colored yarns and plaited leathers; I didn't know what they meant and I thought it too personal to ask. She squeezed my arms tightly and smiled.
“Rhys is a wise man; he has made many good pairings. The stars do not lie Aneh, you are meant to be with Olei,” she said.
My throat tightened.
“I hope so Joh,” I said in a wavering voice that did not seem to be my own.
We embraced. I held back my emotion and began my walk home.
Chapter 4
Yossinda
A dense fog clouded the chilly streets. People wore their hoods and pulled their hat brims low to keep their shadowed faces warm. I struggled to keep my pace on the iced cobblestones but every step seemed to pull me backwards. I could feel my cheeks flushing and my underclothes dampen with the perspiration of effort. My vision was becoming blurry – or maybe the fog was growing thicker – I couldn’t tell. I felt a hand clamp firmly on the hood of my cloak. Then the grip of another hand, cool against the warmth of my neck.
I screamed. No sound emerged.
I turned to face my captor but in the thick fog all I could see were the prominent nose and jaw of a man. Again, I screamed a soundless scream before crumpling to the ground. When I looked up the man had gone. In his place stood a white, shrouded figure. It was one of the Unmarked Ones. They had come to save me. I heaved a great sob of gratitude.
It was a sob so great that it woke me from my dream.
“Yossy wake up! Wake up!” My little brother begged. He hovered over me with wide eyes. “You were having a bad dream.”
The emotion from my dream felt fresh and genuine, even though I knew I was nothing but safe in my bed.
“Yes I was. Thank you for waking me,” I whispered and pulled my brother into the warmth of my arms.
“Are you okay?” he asked.
I nodded as the last of my hot tears slipped from my eyes to the covers.
“Thank you sweetling.”
I had had this dream many times before. Each time was a little different from the last and all were startlingly close to what had really happened that frigid winter day so many years ago.
I was with my mother and Yeidi in the streets going to deliver some washed linens. The roads were slick and I struggled miserably far behind them when a man pulled me back by my cloak. He wrapped his icy fingers around my face to stifle my scream. Unlike in the dream, I never saw his face.
My mother didn’t need to hear me to know something was wrong. When she turned around I could see my fear reflecting in her eyes. The man must have seen it too, for he let me go and ran off. She rushed to scoop me up and hold me tight, her face fierce but full of tears. We never finished our delivery that day.
For a long time leaving our home was too frightening for me. I clung to my parents and for a long time I trusted no one else. I'm sure it was a burden to my mother when she still had work to do and no time for a weak child. In her worry she took me to the House of the Saans, a place, she said, where I would no longer be afraid.
We went day after day to the Houses and I began to see the Houses as a sanctuary. I found my faith in those days. Not only did the Saans offer protection, they offered solace – if not for this life then certainly for the next. When my mother passed they were there. In times of famine or great cold they have been there – not just for me but for all the people. And I knew they would be forever a comforting presence. I prayed the Unmarked Ones would continue to bless my dreams.
Chapter 5
Aneh
Fear as I might, my pairing day had come. In the weeks since I'd seen Joh the winds had ceased, the trees budded and I had had one sleepless night after another.
Soon enough, the sun passed high noon and started to sink in the west.
I let Mother fuss all she wanted with my hair and my linens. She was nervous and all the more chatty. Yakeh slinked around the doorway, Papa was busy making something on the porch. We ate a meal of greens and grains standing up because I was running late.
&nbs
p; “Quit dragging your feet…” Mama said to me. Then, catching the irritation in her voice she added, “…Aneh, Dear. I meant I think we need to hurry. The sun has almost set.” I tasted every bit of lettuce, goat cheese and nut. I took my time cleaning my teeth well.
Pinks and oranges painted the hills as we left the house. Mama and Papa linked arms with me while we exchanged small talk on the path out to the road. Yakeh kept his hands in his tunic pockets the whole walk, even when Kai ran off into the fields. The town had gathered in the growing darkness for the celebration. Some held candles that revealed their excited expressions. It was common for a good portion of the village to show up for a pairing toting jugs of wine, candied nuts, dried fruits and sometimes baked goods. Tonight all the village seemed to be in attendance. Koyote loved a good celebration.
I inhaled the night air, savoring the scents of grass and sage. This night would be relived over and over in my head. People were watching me with smiling faces. I tried to maintain a graceful stride in order not to betray my lack of inner calm. With every step I became less a part of my surroundings, only aware of my expanding lungs and the way my heart jumped into my throat when I spied the silhouette of Olei, framed by the dimming daylight in the west.
He stood at the crest of the road, holding a single light in one hand and a bundle of sage and red wildflowers in the other, surrounded by his parents and younger sister. I let out a breath of air and for a moment remained completely breathless, stunned by his figure and his barely lit features. I was shocked by how handsome Olei was, and I only hoped he found me handsome too. Somehow I learned how to breathe again in the time it took me to take another step. All the while my eyes did not leave Olei’s face.
As our parents embraced, kissed and smiled, there opened a window where my gaze locked into Olei’s. Walking closer, and more slowly, I inhaled his sweet sage. One step closer and I inhaled him too, as he pushed my hair behind my shoulder, gently touching my face in passing.