The Girl and the Guardian

CHAPTER 13. OF THE BOY RAIDERS. There are many forms of Resistance on Aeden under the Thornmen, but none more gallant than the bands of Raiders, Edarthan boys who have grown bold together, keeping the spell of Everchild, but who have gone forth in the daring of their youthful vigour to more openly wage war upon the enemy, on the dusty plains and canyons of the wilderness, coming out of the sun and galloping like the wind, covered in clouds of dust and dreamcast mists of invisibility. For they are said to have powers as do the travellers’ Dreamcasters, and moreover they have great hearts of reckless daring. Their main leader is a boy of eighteen (though still in the state of Everchild, never having fallen in love), veteran of many a battle, and who bears scars to prove it. He has been in the Dark Labyrinth and escaped, branded by the travellers with their hated symbol, but cut it out from his skin with his dagger.

  Those boys (and only boys may join, as a rule, but there are exceptions made for particularly brave and warlike girls) who wish to be Raiders must first prove their worth and powers. And such is the vehemence of their passion to fight that they have become alienated somewhat from the Teachers, who grieve that they go forth in part driven by hate which serves the dark, and so it is that the Teachers try to prevent them from recruiting the children in their care. Yet they give them what help and advice they may accept.

  These Raiders ride two to a horse, bareback and often barefoot, and they sing fierce chants as they ride.