The Farwalker's Quest by Joni Sensel Page A

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    Finally Zeke’s father and the Storian stood up together in the shade of the sycamore. Luna and Madeleine’s parents joined Zeke’s mother at its base. The chattering stopped. The youngest kids drew close to watch. Ariel pressed her hands to her chest. She had to work for each breath.
    Zeke, the eldest by a few months, went first. He stood straight before his father and the Storian.
    â€œI buried something last night among the roots of our tree,” Jeshua announced. He pointed out a mound of freshly tamped dirt. “Your test, Ezekiel, is simple—but not easy. Find out fromthis tree or any other what I’ve buried. No one else knows. Come back and declare it. We’ll dig it up to see if you pass. You’ve got until nightfall.”
    â€œYes, sir.” Zeke no longer looked nervous. He gave the sycamore a long stare before heading slowly toward his maple. The villagers, cheering him on, parted so he could pass. His gaze never left the distant grove.
    Ariel squirmed. She didn’t know how he could keep from breaking into a run. When he passed the edge of the square, she dragged her attention back to his father.
    Madeleine went next. Before Zeke’s father had even begun, she declared, “I want the Kincaller test.” Ariel had never heard the shy girl speak so surely.
    The crowd hummed. Madeleine was the daughter of two Reapers, and nobody had guessed she might want to do something else. Even her mother looked startled. Many Reapers handled animals, but generally in slaughter. Kincallers befriended creatures that did not provide meat, including some that weren’t useful at all.
    Taken aback, the grown-ups in charge whispered together. Bellam Storian bent to consult with the mothers of both Madeleine and Zeke.
    â€œWe’re not really prepared,” Jeshua told Madeleine. “You should have said something sooner.”
    â€œI’m sorry. I wasn’t sure sooner.” Her voice had dropped back to its usual shy whisper. If Ariel hadn’t been up front, she wouldn’t have heard.
    Storian straightened. “I’m told, Madeleine,” he said, “that you’ve made pets of some pigeons. Are they caged?”
    â€œSort of,” she said. “I made a coop from an old blanket.”
    â€œYour test, then, is this: Go put them in something smaller, afish basket perhaps. Bring them here. Someone—” He scanned the crowd. “Someone will carry them a goodly way into the forest.”
    â€œI’ll do it,” said a voice in the back. Ariel turned. All eyes fell on Scarl, who added, “I’ve got a horse.”
    â€œVery good,” Storian agreed. Ariel nearly fainted. She couldn’t believe the Storian would let a stranger take part in a Naming test. He might do something mean to make Madeleine fail.
    Another voice laughed. “The Finder will become a Loser for the day!”
    Storian nodded. “Indeed. He’ll take them away and release them. We’ll limit how far he should go.” He looked gravely at Madeleine. “Find them or coax them back here by nightfall to pass.”
    Madeleine blanched. “All five of them?”
    When the Storian hesitated, Jeshua answered. “At least three. You’ve not made it easy on yourself, Madeleine. But that’s not a bad thing. We’ll all be hoping for you.” Jeshua raised his eyes to the villagers. “Not helping, though.” Heads nodded.
    Ariel thought she would choke on her heart. Poor Madeleine! Not only would she likely fail the test, she’d lose her pets, too. This year’s tests seemed many times harder than usual. Of course, she’d never stood with those tested before. Ariel watched Madeleine cross the square to gather her birds, not blaming her for dragging her feet.
    â€œAriel.”
    She jumped at Jeshua’s voice.
    â€œHealtouch?” he asked.
    She nodded and clasped both hands around the glass bead at