Faslo woke before sunrise, dressed, and gathered the supplies he would need for the journey. He peeked into his parent’s room, assuring himself that they were both safe and sleeping peacefully.
He tested the edge of his skeen on his finger, noting that it was still razor-sharp and ready for use. Faslo pulled his quiver and longbow over his shoulder and placed the skeen carefully back in its sheath.
He stopped in front of the entryway to the house and took one last look at the only home he’d ever known.
Faslo had completed his initiation hunt years earlier, but he’d done it as a matter of expected tradition; he did not enjoy it and he was relieved when it was finally over.
The truth was, Faslo was dreading this expedition. He could handle himself tolerably well with a bow and knew how to use his skeen effectively if called upon to do so, but he didn’t enjoy it or violent pursuits in general.
Left to his own devices, he would spend the rest of his life reading, studying, growing crops, and starting a family of his own. Faslo Solly was no warrior, and he didn’t want to die.
Despite all of this, Falso loved his brother and his family more than anything. He would do anything to protect and preserve them both.
The moment passed.
Falso turned on his heel, opened the door, and walked out, leaving the Faslo he knew behind without a backward glance. If all fell in his favor, he would find this life again. Deep down, Faslo knew that if he did not take this step, he would experience a living death of cowardice and fear.
He stepped out in the crisp early morning air. The veil of night was progressively lightening into the beginnings of a beautiful new day. Faslo could hear distant bird calls and animal chatter but not much else. Gicha village continued to sleep soundly.
The Groro Pas volunteers stood or sat in different spots near the entry of Solly House.
Poldi stood with his back against the wall of the house. He stared impassively into the middle distance ahead of him, not appearing to care what he saw or what could see him. It shocked Faslo to see how close this fearsome warrior had been to the door of his house.
A few feet away from Poldi, Collop stretched and took a swig from a waterskin. He noticed Faslo and nodded agreeably in his general direction.
Near the shrub line, Oxter lay fast asleep on the hard ground snoring like a congested lizard. On the ground beside lay the most comically overstuffed pack Faslo had ever seen.
Oddly shaped metal objects and assorted odds and ends jutted out of the top of the pack at every conceivable angle. Strange-looking lumps and divots all along the surface of the pack indicated a massive amount of items of every shape and size taking up every inch of surface area inside, and his huge spectacles perched precariously on top of it all.
Faslo couldn’t help laughing at the sight. He was glad Oxter was part of this expedition. Levity was in short supply for him these days, but every time he even glanced at Oxter he started to smile or laugh without even realizing it.
Kai Grealish sat on a rock not far from the sleeping collector. The moment Kai saw Faslo, he got to his feet and walked to his friend, gripping his right hand pulling him into an embrace.
“I’m glad you’re here, Kai,” Faslo said quietly. “I need friends more than ever.”
“I couldn’t be anywhere else,” Kai said. “Is it alright with you if I start the process?”
“Lead on, Kai,” Faslo said, smiling at his oldest friend.
Kai turned to face the rest of the men.
As he did so, Collop walked over to Oxter and smacked his pack with the handle of his skeen. A muffled GLONG sounded beside Oxter’s ear, startling him and making him jump to his feet with a howl.
Collop smirked at Oxter. “Rise and shine, little feller!” He said with a laugh before walking back to stand beside Poldi.
Kai rolled his eyes and moved on.
“Men of Kefi,” he said in a calm, clear voice. “Why are you here? What do you aim to do?”
“I’m here to fight, and god help those who cross me,” Poldi said in a deep, gravelly voice.
“I came to seek and find,” Collop said. He spoke with a subtle lilting accent.
Oxter paused a moment as if gathering his thoughts before saying “I came to collect all we may need but not expect.”
Kai nodded approvingly at each of them before saying his part.
“I came to heal and bind up, to restore and sustain.”
Last, of all, Faslo said, “I am here to bring a son of Kefi home, or take his fate as my own.”
This phrase completed the official Glaim or statement of oaths and summoning of the Groro Pas.
Then Kai spoke again.
“As you all know, the ritual of Groro Pas demands the leader sacrifice his life or his home if the pas fails. None of us are held to this vow. Our success or failure is the end of the matter for us.
“I’ve known Faslo all of my life. I know he takes up this burden without hesitation, but I refuse to let him carry it alone.”
Faslo turned his head towards Kai in shock and made to speak, but Kai continued.
“I, Kai Grealish, a Kefi of the Gicha tribe, swear to follow Faslo Solly into victory, death or exile, come what may. I do not hold any of you to this obligation. I only ask that you hold both of us directly responsible for the failure or success of this mission.”
For a moment, no one spoke as Kai’s words hung in the air and faded.
Then Poldi’s rumbling laugh cut through the silence.
“Well, fask1, Grealish, you set a table like that, and you think you’re the only one who gets to eat? I don’t do anything halfway. Count me in.”
“Me too, Solly,” Collop said with a smirk. “I won’t let Poldi have all the glory. Count me all the way in, come victory or ummnus2!”
Oxter cleared his throat and said,” to be honest with you all, I’ve never been anywhere but this village. I’ve never made friends. My treasures are the only things that have ever kept me company. I’ve never been asked to join anything or be part of anything until now, but I swear to you all, I will follow you to the gates of Hinok3 if you’ll have me.”
“We’ll have you, Ox,” Faslo said with feeling. “And our journey will be all the better for it.”
“I am honored to have you all with me.” Faslo, said, hiding sudden tears with the back of his hand. “Our Pasgrota4 is now complete.”
“Everyone check your supplies and make ready to leave.”
Bags were checked and pulled onto shoulders. Blades went into sheaths and all manner of supplies and weaponry were accounted for.
The men formed up into a line with Faslo at the front. Behind him came Collop, Kai, Oxter, and Poldi as their rear guard.
The Pasgrota passed through a thick portion of the shrub line on the northern end of Gicha village, disappearing from view like morning mist.
Kefita profanity.
Kefi euphemism for death, roughly translated as shadow sleep.
The land of the dead.
The assembled members of the Groro Pas.
Quite the Pasgrota we have!