The Callers

The Callers — page 5 — Do you He hesitated trying to think of words that wouldn’t make him sound as ignorant as he was Do you design the chair in your mind before you Call it Davinia blinked surprised by the question She considered for a moment No she said They both sat the silence between them light for once and Quin felt a flash of pride that he’d managed to ask a question about Calling that Dav hadn’t considered Others might have to but I guess I’m just so good that it’s instinctive Davinia added and the moment was gone Quin was working out how best to tell his sister to go away when a loud cry sounded outside the window They both looked up to see Dawn their mother’s rhinodrite landing in their central courtyard Mom’s home sang Davinia under her breath with a sideways look at her brother Quin ignored her tracking Dawn’s movements his breath catching as it always did at the sight of her landing Like all rhinodrites Dawn stood twice as tall as a human and as long as three With thick gray skin and 6 KIAH THOMAS

The Callers — page 6 — horns like the common rhinoceros rhinodrites boasted three major differences their size their loyalty and a set of strong wings Dawn’s were currently stretched to capacity as she glided down Quin had always dreamed of riding one Had actually dreamed about it more than once Unfortunately Unfortunately rhinodrites didn’t tolerate the presence of anyone apart from the person who had Called them by name Quin could still remember sneaking out of the house when he was younger to try and ride Dawn while his mother slept Luckily Adriana had woken in time to stop Quin before he got close enough for the rhinodrite to react He could have been killed she’d scolded him Quin hadn’t tried again since but sometimes he found himself wishing he was as bold now as he had been then He still found it hard to draw his gaze away from the sight of the rhinodrite’s power and grace Now his mother was vaulting off Dawn and starting toward the house with long strides I wonder if she’ll be in a better mood said Davinia watching beside him She’s been in a foul temper ever since her trip to the Spurges last week 7 the CALLERS

The Callers — page 7 — Not for the first time Quin marveled at Davinia’s ability to casually refer to their mother’s mood as if it wasn’t terrifyingly unpredictable He figured Davinia’s confidence came from the fact that she didn’t have to constantly try and prove herself She was right though Adriana had been in a bad mood since the Spurges The Spurges were just past the outskirts of Orbis They were older than the capital city and more derelict The area was largely inhabited by people who refused to use or consume Called goods They claimed that it was wrong to rely on things created from thin air Radicals Quin had heard his mother call them in her public addresses Wild was what Davinia muttered to Quin whenever they were mentioned Quin still hadn’t decided what he thought All he knew was that people from the Spurges made him uncomfortable with their passionate claims that nothing should come from nothing The soil was as infertile there as it was on the rest of Elipsom but they still insisted on growing their own food from seed Generally Council left them to their own devices They’re too insignificant to bother his mother had said more than once 8 KIAH THOMAS

The Callers — page 8 — Still she’d bothered last week At the sound of his mother’s footsteps Quin pushed the thought aside It wouldn’t surprise him if she some how managed to see into his brain Are you sure you don’t have somewhere else to be he asked Davinia as she sank into the chair next to him Like the other side of the planet he muttered muttered under his breath Though even from that barren wasteland he imagined Davinia would find some way to annoy him Davinia swung her legs up onto the table and leaned back Nope she said with a grin A moment later the door clicked open and Adriana Octavius walked in Quin held his breath and waited as she took in the items on the table the chair and Davinia lounging in it Her eyes sharpened on Quin Who Called the fruit she asked Not in a better mood then Quin thought about lying but she’d probably make him prove it anyway Davinia he said softly 9 the CALLERS

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