Speaking of the Xat

"You are not of the Xat. It is expected that you do not know of our traditions. Only I would know the strength of the heart- the pride- that comes with honoring our sacred stones. There are eight. Each represents to us a different aspect of life. But no, before you ask, our stones are not gods. We do not worship gods. That was for our enemies; the people who cast us out. I know all this makes no sense to you. Your kind believe in one god. Or no gods at all. They say there is no magic. But my people- the Xat- are different. We believe that the whole earth is full of spirits. They form the ground beneath a man's feet and nourish him. We chose these stones for ourselves. They are the vessels of greater spirits to the Xat; a way we can commune with the earth itself. The same earth we and all the creatures live on. It is Xat tradition that each of our eight sacred stones has its holy speaker. A holy stone gives its speaker his strength as a warrior. But his strength as a warrior is proof that he called to be the priest of the stone. So it is just as you say. I can not prove to you that the spirits chose me. That I am so far away my my tribe's spirits and yet my strength has not left me worries me. It worries me that you are right- that the strength of the Xat is in my life. In my blood. If it is true that I am a "mutant" as you say I feel no pride in this. Only sadness. I can no longer hope to be a Priest of the stone of Ashes. It means all of my father's life was a lie. As was my people's. We are widowed, because we no longer have spirits! For this reason, I ask you never to speak to my people. Please do not tell them the truth until it is necessary. Not until your leaders come and unite your tribe with ours. The Xat must not know of such things until they're ready."