Chapter One: Truths Collide
The Eastens were nothing more than the breath of Azure. At least, that was what true believers decreed. Truth or myth, the Eastens separated still from sweep, light from dark. Their number and strength determined the length and degree of each darkness. Sometimes they swept in casually. A faint stir, followed by several short bursts that would scoop and swirl the dark blue sand of the Great Nomakai, lifting it high and spraying it about. The indigo dust would mingle with the pale golden sky turning it aqua then turquoise, and finally shrouding the land in a sleepy blue haze. At other times, they came strong and fast -- creating long, dark, harsh nights not fit even for Sabeli. The absence of the kochoos' song foretold this would be such a sweep.
The silence of the pale green birds should have been sufficient warning for Niehanna to head for chambers, but she was preoccupied. Thirty-four sweeps had come and gone since Mikan, her promised, had left for the City of Circles. After five sweeps she had been worried, by the tenth she was beside herself. She had sensed something must be wrong, and could have done with guidance from a holy advisor. However, one did not arbitrarily seek such counsel. This was especially true for her tribe because the holy advisor was Pakian. He was not just any devout counselor. He was the Zur. The wisest and purest being ever to exist, The one and only. So after much meditation and several consultations with her parents it was finally deemed appropriate to request an audience with the Zur.
Once a request for holy counsel was made it normally took several sweeps before it was ruled upon. Fortunately for Niehanna, Pakian was a gentle soul and never let matters of the heart wait for long. He granted her request for audience on the dawn of the thirty-fourth sweep since her promised had left. Niehanna was remembering her meeting with Pakian as the thirty-fifth fell upon her.