book one sample chapter
CHAPTER 4: rumors
Eveneye had never forgotten King Irontooth's words.
Why have you done this to yourself, Eveneye?
Those words haunted him, the memory of Irontooth haunted him, and the sculpture of Irontooth standing right outside of his courtroom haunted him. It had been fifteen years since Eveneye had killed Irontooth, but those words stayed as fresh as if they had just been spoken.
Why had he done it? Back then Eveneye had been so sure of his convictions, so sure that his motives were just. But from time to time, he doubted himself and those decisions. He had taken another bear’s life. Yes, it had been legal, but was it necessary, was it just? He had disagreed with Irontooth and had been backed into a corner. It was Irontooth or the boy. But was it?
Even the bears of the kingdom had these questions. No one brought them to Eveneye now that he was king, but Eveneye was no fool. He heard the rumors. No one was displeased with how Eveneye ruled the kingdom, but some questioned his motives. Many more questioned his plan for the boy. An ambassador of peace—was it madness? Was he forcing a horrible fate onto the boy? Was he forcing a horrible fate onto his kingdom?
The bears had accepted the boy—or at least the majority had—and as king, Eveneye was able to provide him with everything a child could need. But the boy was grown now, and his fate was almost upon him. A fate Eveneye had sentenced him to when he had killed Irontooth. Eveneye felt the boy was still too young, but the questions had already begun. When?, his advisers had asked him on different occasions. When would Eveneye’s plan for peace begin? When would the boy be ready? The truth was that Eveneye didn’t know, and he was afraid the kingdom might force his decision before he had made up his own mind.
Eveneye thought back to those first few years after the ritual. They had been some of the happiest in his life: he and Goldenheart, playing with the boy and enjoying the leisure of being royalty. It had all seemed like such a dream. Lately, however, it seemed like sand falling through an hourglass. He could even pinpoint the exact moment that had shattered his perfect little dream world, because it had broken his heart.
Father, why am I different?
Even now when Eveneye remembered it, his chest would tighten. What had he done? To what horrible fate had he damned this boy? The boy’s entire world was the bears. Yet if he stayed in the kingdom he would grow to be an incomplete man, never knowing the love of a woman or the miracle of seeing his own children. He would never completely fit. Yet if he left the kingdom for the world of humans he would be a man with no past and no one to help him. Would he even fit in human society, having been raised by bears? His only hope rested on Eveneye’s plan for peace. Eveneye had put this boy’s only hope in a society that was both bear and human, and it scared him to pieces.
Eveneye sat next to Evercloud in the castle tower, looking out over the kingdom with the Everflame burning directly behind them. Both father and son would come to the top of the tower to meditate or speak to each other. It was something they had been doing together for a while now. Evening was upon them, and the sky was shades of pink and violet, its hues becoming cooler as time passed. Eveneye had had enough of his own thoughts and decided he’d like to hear about his son’s day. He looked over at the young man, his long matted hair hanging around his bare shoulders. Evercloud wore leather pants and shoes, but the bears hadn’t seen the use for anything else during warm weather.
“Evercloud,” Eveneye said. “What happened today that made you ask about your name earlier?”
“Oh, nothing much,” Evercloud replied. “Riverpaw and I were discussing names, and I realized I didn’t know how I had received mine. I think I had always assumed it was because my skin is pale compared with a bear’s fur, like the clouds are paler than the sky. But after Wintersun said it was because I had clouds for brains, Riverpaw and I began thinking on it.”
“Why would Wintersun say that of you?” Eveneye asked.
“Only because I had told him his true name was Fishface,” Evercloud answered.
“And why would you do that?”
“Because he said Riverpaw played johnball like a female. Which was only Wintersun being sore, as Riverpaw and I had just won a match against him and Redcoat.”
Eveneye chuckled heartily. “I’m glad to see you getting on so well with your friends.”
Evercloud smiled and climbed to his feet. “Father, I’ve been meaning to ask if you and Uncle Whiteclaw might teach Riverpaw and I to night fish sometime? We’re both very eager to learn.”
“So it would seem,” Whiteclaw said as he entered the room. “Riverpaw just asked me the very same question only an hour ago. I told him yes, on the condition that the two of you continue to achieve high marks in your studies.”
“Of course, Uncle,” Evercloud said brightly. “Thank you.”
“All right,” Whiteclaw said. “Now run and tell your mother the king is needed for an emergency meeting and it might take a while.”
“Yes, Uncle.” Evercloud said his good-byes and left the room.
“Emergency meeting?” Eveneye asked.
“Yes,” Whiteclaw said. “I have the rest of the advisers assembled. We shouldn’t waste time.”
Eveneye stood up and followed Whiteclaw down the tower steps. He knew what this meeting would be about. Eveneye had been expecting it for some time. His advisers were going to demand action on the plan for peace, or at least a timetable. Eveneye didn’t want to think about it, so as he and Whiteclaw made their way to the advising room, he figured he would lighten the mood with talk of their sons. Whiteclaw had married soon after the ritual, and his wife, Autumnbreeze, had given birth to Riverpaw not long after.
“Did you hear?” Eveneye asked. “Our sons won a johnball match today.”
“No,” Whiteclaw said. “But I can’t say I’m surprised.”
“Yes,” Eveneye said. “I should send a gift to Wintersun’s and Redcoat’s parents for teaching their sons to be good sports, taking it easy on a lesser opponent. My son is lucky to have such kind friends.”
Whiteclaw looked at his friend in confusion. “Eveneye, when was the last time you watched Evercloud play johnball?”
“Well…” Eveneye hesitated. “I suppose it has been a while. Why?”
“Well, first off,” Whiteclaw began. “Your boy is as large and capable a man as I have ever seen. Should he walk into a human village right now, they just might mistake him for a bear. Secondly, I assure you no one is taking it easy on him. He is a very good player.”
Eveneye beamed. “Well, I’ll have to make time to see him play.”
The bears had reached their destination and entered the room. All the advisers were seated around the table, and Eveneye and Whiteclaw took their places among them. Eveneye didn’t wait before speaking.
“All right,” he said. “I already know what this is about, and I would ask you to have a little more faith in my ability to know when the time is right. I—”
“Er, Your Highness,” interjected Oaktongue, a small brown bear with a nasally voice. “I don’t think this meeting is about what you think it’s about.”
“Yes,” Forestmoon added. “This meeting has been called to address a rumor coming from outside the kingdom.”
Eveneye looked at his five advisers quizzically. This was definitely not what he expected, and he was not prepared.
“Sire,” said Whiteclaw, who always addressed Eveneye more formally in front of others. “We have reason to believe one of the Ancients has returned to our world.”
“You can’t be serious,” Eveneye replied. “What evidence do we have of this?”
“Not a lot,” Oaktongue answered. “Just a rumor, really. But the rumor has spread. Our scouts have heard the same rumor in the north of Ephanlarea as well as in the south, and it would seem the rumor originates in the west.”
Gray Mountain was located in the middle of the land of Ephanlarea. Eveneye knew it was uncommon to hear the same news over such a vast area, unless there was some validity to it.
“Well,” Eveneye said with a shrug, “continue.”
“The rumor is this,” Oaktongue said. “A footprint has been found around the White Mountains. The footprint of a giant griffin, to be exact.”
“Tenturo,” Eveneye muttered.
“Yes, sire,” Oaktongue said. “It would seem so.”
A vast span of time had passed since the Ancients had been a part of the world. It had been so long that some bears believed the Ancients to be nothing more than fiction created by the elder bears. Eveneye felt this rumor seemed fantastical.
“I do appreciate being informed,” Eveneye said. “And I would like to be updated with any new information that may arise. But I hardly see why I have been called to an emergency meeting that has me missing dinner with my family. I cannot justify taking action on a rumor, even if it is concerning the Ancients. Please, tell me you weren’t expecting me to take a rumor at face value.”
“No, my king,” Whiteclaw said. “Not exactly. We did not expect you to believe the rumor. Yet this rumor, true or false, creates an issue we need to address—namely, the effect it will have on Evercloud.”
“Oh, I see.” Eveneye stood up and paced the room for a moment. The other bears didn’t dare interrupt him as they knew this was a delicate matter, however Eveneye didn’t take long to come to his decision. “Send for the boy.”
“Excuse me, sire?” Forestmoon asked.
“You heard me,” the king said. “Have a guard retrieve Evercloud. It’s time he be told…everything.”
Why have you done this to yourself, Eveneye?
Those words haunted him, the memory of Irontooth haunted him, and the sculpture of Irontooth standing right outside of his courtroom haunted him. It had been fifteen years since Eveneye had killed Irontooth, but those words stayed as fresh as if they had just been spoken.
Why had he done it? Back then Eveneye had been so sure of his convictions, so sure that his motives were just. But from time to time, he doubted himself and those decisions. He had taken another bear’s life. Yes, it had been legal, but was it necessary, was it just? He had disagreed with Irontooth and had been backed into a corner. It was Irontooth or the boy. But was it?
Even the bears of the kingdom had these questions. No one brought them to Eveneye now that he was king, but Eveneye was no fool. He heard the rumors. No one was displeased with how Eveneye ruled the kingdom, but some questioned his motives. Many more questioned his plan for the boy. An ambassador of peace—was it madness? Was he forcing a horrible fate onto the boy? Was he forcing a horrible fate onto his kingdom?
The bears had accepted the boy—or at least the majority had—and as king, Eveneye was able to provide him with everything a child could need. But the boy was grown now, and his fate was almost upon him. A fate Eveneye had sentenced him to when he had killed Irontooth. Eveneye felt the boy was still too young, but the questions had already begun. When?, his advisers had asked him on different occasions. When would Eveneye’s plan for peace begin? When would the boy be ready? The truth was that Eveneye didn’t know, and he was afraid the kingdom might force his decision before he had made up his own mind.
Eveneye thought back to those first few years after the ritual. They had been some of the happiest in his life: he and Goldenheart, playing with the boy and enjoying the leisure of being royalty. It had all seemed like such a dream. Lately, however, it seemed like sand falling through an hourglass. He could even pinpoint the exact moment that had shattered his perfect little dream world, because it had broken his heart.
Father, why am I different?
Even now when Eveneye remembered it, his chest would tighten. What had he done? To what horrible fate had he damned this boy? The boy’s entire world was the bears. Yet if he stayed in the kingdom he would grow to be an incomplete man, never knowing the love of a woman or the miracle of seeing his own children. He would never completely fit. Yet if he left the kingdom for the world of humans he would be a man with no past and no one to help him. Would he even fit in human society, having been raised by bears? His only hope rested on Eveneye’s plan for peace. Eveneye had put this boy’s only hope in a society that was both bear and human, and it scared him to pieces.
Eveneye sat next to Evercloud in the castle tower, looking out over the kingdom with the Everflame burning directly behind them. Both father and son would come to the top of the tower to meditate or speak to each other. It was something they had been doing together for a while now. Evening was upon them, and the sky was shades of pink and violet, its hues becoming cooler as time passed. Eveneye had had enough of his own thoughts and decided he’d like to hear about his son’s day. He looked over at the young man, his long matted hair hanging around his bare shoulders. Evercloud wore leather pants and shoes, but the bears hadn’t seen the use for anything else during warm weather.
“Evercloud,” Eveneye said. “What happened today that made you ask about your name earlier?”
“Oh, nothing much,” Evercloud replied. “Riverpaw and I were discussing names, and I realized I didn’t know how I had received mine. I think I had always assumed it was because my skin is pale compared with a bear’s fur, like the clouds are paler than the sky. But after Wintersun said it was because I had clouds for brains, Riverpaw and I began thinking on it.”
“Why would Wintersun say that of you?” Eveneye asked.
“Only because I had told him his true name was Fishface,” Evercloud answered.
“And why would you do that?”
“Because he said Riverpaw played johnball like a female. Which was only Wintersun being sore, as Riverpaw and I had just won a match against him and Redcoat.”
Eveneye chuckled heartily. “I’m glad to see you getting on so well with your friends.”
Evercloud smiled and climbed to his feet. “Father, I’ve been meaning to ask if you and Uncle Whiteclaw might teach Riverpaw and I to night fish sometime? We’re both very eager to learn.”
“So it would seem,” Whiteclaw said as he entered the room. “Riverpaw just asked me the very same question only an hour ago. I told him yes, on the condition that the two of you continue to achieve high marks in your studies.”
“Of course, Uncle,” Evercloud said brightly. “Thank you.”
“All right,” Whiteclaw said. “Now run and tell your mother the king is needed for an emergency meeting and it might take a while.”
“Yes, Uncle.” Evercloud said his good-byes and left the room.
“Emergency meeting?” Eveneye asked.
“Yes,” Whiteclaw said. “I have the rest of the advisers assembled. We shouldn’t waste time.”
Eveneye stood up and followed Whiteclaw down the tower steps. He knew what this meeting would be about. Eveneye had been expecting it for some time. His advisers were going to demand action on the plan for peace, or at least a timetable. Eveneye didn’t want to think about it, so as he and Whiteclaw made their way to the advising room, he figured he would lighten the mood with talk of their sons. Whiteclaw had married soon after the ritual, and his wife, Autumnbreeze, had given birth to Riverpaw not long after.
“Did you hear?” Eveneye asked. “Our sons won a johnball match today.”
“No,” Whiteclaw said. “But I can’t say I’m surprised.”
“Yes,” Eveneye said. “I should send a gift to Wintersun’s and Redcoat’s parents for teaching their sons to be good sports, taking it easy on a lesser opponent. My son is lucky to have such kind friends.”
Whiteclaw looked at his friend in confusion. “Eveneye, when was the last time you watched Evercloud play johnball?”
“Well…” Eveneye hesitated. “I suppose it has been a while. Why?”
“Well, first off,” Whiteclaw began. “Your boy is as large and capable a man as I have ever seen. Should he walk into a human village right now, they just might mistake him for a bear. Secondly, I assure you no one is taking it easy on him. He is a very good player.”
Eveneye beamed. “Well, I’ll have to make time to see him play.”
The bears had reached their destination and entered the room. All the advisers were seated around the table, and Eveneye and Whiteclaw took their places among them. Eveneye didn’t wait before speaking.
“All right,” he said. “I already know what this is about, and I would ask you to have a little more faith in my ability to know when the time is right. I—”
“Er, Your Highness,” interjected Oaktongue, a small brown bear with a nasally voice. “I don’t think this meeting is about what you think it’s about.”
“Yes,” Forestmoon added. “This meeting has been called to address a rumor coming from outside the kingdom.”
Eveneye looked at his five advisers quizzically. This was definitely not what he expected, and he was not prepared.
“Sire,” said Whiteclaw, who always addressed Eveneye more formally in front of others. “We have reason to believe one of the Ancients has returned to our world.”
“You can’t be serious,” Eveneye replied. “What evidence do we have of this?”
“Not a lot,” Oaktongue answered. “Just a rumor, really. But the rumor has spread. Our scouts have heard the same rumor in the north of Ephanlarea as well as in the south, and it would seem the rumor originates in the west.”
Gray Mountain was located in the middle of the land of Ephanlarea. Eveneye knew it was uncommon to hear the same news over such a vast area, unless there was some validity to it.
“Well,” Eveneye said with a shrug, “continue.”
“The rumor is this,” Oaktongue said. “A footprint has been found around the White Mountains. The footprint of a giant griffin, to be exact.”
“Tenturo,” Eveneye muttered.
“Yes, sire,” Oaktongue said. “It would seem so.”
A vast span of time had passed since the Ancients had been a part of the world. It had been so long that some bears believed the Ancients to be nothing more than fiction created by the elder bears. Eveneye felt this rumor seemed fantastical.
“I do appreciate being informed,” Eveneye said. “And I would like to be updated with any new information that may arise. But I hardly see why I have been called to an emergency meeting that has me missing dinner with my family. I cannot justify taking action on a rumor, even if it is concerning the Ancients. Please, tell me you weren’t expecting me to take a rumor at face value.”
“No, my king,” Whiteclaw said. “Not exactly. We did not expect you to believe the rumor. Yet this rumor, true or false, creates an issue we need to address—namely, the effect it will have on Evercloud.”
“Oh, I see.” Eveneye stood up and paced the room for a moment. The other bears didn’t dare interrupt him as they knew this was a delicate matter, however Eveneye didn’t take long to come to his decision. “Send for the boy.”
“Excuse me, sire?” Forestmoon asked.
“You heard me,” the king said. “Have a guard retrieve Evercloud. It’s time he be told…everything.”
