Speckarin tried to think more about the history of his tree. On several occasions in his lifetime, he had witnessed the ceremonious naming of a new tree—for Rogalinon, his own tree, those many years ago, and for trees of neighboring clans.

    Moving out of a revered old tree and into an unfamiliar one is a stressful undertaking. But when the time comes, it’s mandatory and occurs without much delay. Once it is determined that an occupied tree is deteriorating, the clan must move within three years.

    With a new tree’s selection, the call goes out to carvers and carpenters, some of them younger kirins aspiring to become architects, and older ones who tried the vocation but didn’t fully qualify. Occasionall...

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