Those Who Hold the Fire

The tanà holds the fire of the community. Thirteen-year-old Kip's always felt a bit of an outsider, but he knows he has what it takes to become the next tanà. He just needs to persuade his Buru Tovo that he's ready for the next step of his apprenticeship. And then take it—but that's easy, right?

A novelette of approximately 11,000 words. A standalone connected to The Hands of the Emperor.