The Horse People

Crow and Magpie were brothers. They sat in their tree and watched the world. Magpie, a resourceful and cunning bird, saw that humans could do things they could not do and said to Crow that they should make use of these humans. And they would never have to work for themselves again. But Crow, who was possessed of wisdom and foresight, didn't think that was a good idea. They should leave the humans alone he said. They had everything here they needed, why should they bother the humans with their wants and desires? The brothers argued. And then fought, taking to the sky in a wild, riotous, scrapping fight. All claws and beating wings. But as they fought, they did not notice that they had flown too close to the sun, their white feathers caught fire and they fell back to the earth. Crow had been closest to the sun and was black all over but Magpie, shielded by Crow, was only partly burned and some of his feathers stayed white. The brothers no longer recognised each other and never spoke again. ‡ Four generations after the Collapse, a decimated population trawl through the abandoned 'States, looking for anything still useful for survival and tearing down derelict houses to create farmland to feed the survivors. In Town, self-styled leader Caster moves to increase his power by subjugating outlying settlements and taking what they produce for his own use. Far to the south Mallee hides from her past, living an idyllic life with the Grai and their animist beliefs. Horses, once thought extinct, live there too, sacred and protected. Brian also hides amongst the Grai, officiating over their rituals and seasonal celebrations as Kesîs, spiritual leader and mouthpiece of the ghoulish Sagairt, the secretive priesthood living on the Grai territories. Everything is shared - farm life and the abundance it brings - but the Grai's laws are strict and the Sagairt's justice is brutal. When Caster threatens their peace, the Grai must decide whether to fight or flee, even as new threats arise from the East.