Ferusch sat in an alcove of the passage running along the main house.
On the trees, snow weighed heavily, encumbering their branches, mushy and wet.
Dainty wisps of haze impended the air and the Mountains of the Souvreign in the distance seemed like relievo on finely woven cloth.
Ferusch pulled his legs onto the ledge and wrapped himself more tightly into the woolen fabric of his cape.
Silently lost in his thoughts and the sight of scenery, intoxiated by the sweetness of the air, the boy did not perceive the footfalls drawing closer in his back and startled when a warm hand fell on his nape.
His brother’s hand brushed over his hair and shoulder, then he slid next to him into the alcove.
His brother’s warmth on one side, the rigid cold of stone on the other, Ferusch looked at the older’s face.
Chenean’s skin was pale and tenseness made his eyes wan and hungry, his mouth pinched with the bitter taste of adverse words.
Ferusch wanted to say something, but Chenean pushed away the snow at the base of the wall and looked at him with a sudden grin.
„Let me tell you a story.“
His eyes flicked sideways and for a moment the smile vanished from his lips to reveal suppressed fury.
Ferusch closed his mouth, but fondness returned to his brother’s gaze.
„Surely you know it already.“ Chenean searched for his eyes. „But but let me tell it anyway.“
Ferusch looked at the hand between them, as it restlessly drew patterns on Chenean’s thigh and then closed around his fingers with gentle pressure. Chenean stared at the white landscape spread before them and then begann to speak:
„Far to the north and the east, in the lands that were once our homelands, where there is more snow and cold than you can imagine, there was a mother, who gave birth to two children and thereby died.
As She lost Her sight, Her gaze fell upon Her children: Their bodies were frail; their skin so thin their veins painted their flesh into the thousand pieces of breaking glaze. Their hair and eyes were colourless as the land they had been born into and they could not see.
Just as their Heart had entered the world, it wanted to leave again.
The Mother was overcome by horror and sadness and anger and as Her Heart departet from Her body she called upon the Changers and the Wandering for help so that Her children would not have to die.
The old spirits felt for the woman and told Her that there was enough life in Her children that they would not be forced to contiue on, but not enough that their Hearts might abide to give and take.
But knowing this did not give solace to the woman and she bid and pleaded and wept and begged until finally the spirits relented and bestowed a gift upon the children, so that all those continuing on would give them life and strength.
Their gift was so potent, so wonderous, that the twins not only abided in their Heart, but soon learned to command the energies of those continuing on and to use it to their advantage.
This is how our people was born and we came to be called Blessed Children.“
Chenean looked at Ferusch. When the boy didn’t say anything, he smiled and stroked his cheek.
Ferusch looked down.
„You have light hair, too.“
Chenean considered his brother.
„Yes, I do.“
„All Meïva-ta-Johnë have light hair.“
„Not all of them do.“
Ferusch looked up.
„Our mother’s family carries the blood of the older twin, the daughter.“ Chenean was silent for a moment and kicked some more snow to the side. „Our father’s family isn’t relatded to the first Blessed Children. His family was born farther to the east. Weaker spirits gave this family power.“
„But father is powerful.“
„Yes. Each family was free to do whatever they wanted with the gifts they received. To this day new families continue to be born. And some families die. Sometimes because they mix their blood until it is too diluted, sometimes because of their own stubbornness or an unwillingness to cultivate their powers.“
Chenean stroked his brother’s cheek once more, then he stood and offered a hand.
„Let's go back inside. It’s cold out here.“
