The Syntai

The Syntai people are an alien race who have peacefully integrated into human society.   They live in communities and each community is made of people who are healers, leaders, warriors, and those who were not gifted with any of these three traits.  In this story we meet Zatak who is a Warrior, Astam who is a Trast (a leader), Leeza who is a Sereeness (someone who contains a little of all the traits and a little more, which is a rarity).   One of my favorite aspects of the Syntai is that no matter who they are, they are respected by all.  The greatest warriors, leaders, and healers do not see themselves as any better than anyone else in their Community.  Those who are gifted do not order anyone around, instead their opinions and ideas are followed because of respect instead of a... hierarchy.  Unfortunately for the Syntai, as stated in the prologue, "through the history of human life, every so many years, there would be a war against a certain type of people - claiming they were dangerous and cruel."  It has been gender, color, race, age... and now it against the Syntai.

Zatak, my favorite Syntai, is a warrior that all others look up too.  He has protected his people for many years, and understands the importance of balance - that internal serenity is as important as knowing how to fight.  Because he has survived for so long, the desire to protect his people has rooted itself deep within him, and so has the importance of protecting the innocent no matter who they are.  And when Rose is brought to the Community he is furious, because she is his enemy and yet she is innocent.

Astam is the leader that everyone looks to for what the Community should do.  He too has lived a long life and proven himself to make the right decisions for the Syntai.   He too despises the humans for what they have done to his people, which causes him to not care if Rose is treated unfairly.  As you can imagine, if the leader who is most respected doesn't care what happens to Rose, the rest of the Community is going to see her as an outlet for the wrongs that have been placed upon them, not caring if she is innocent.

Leeza is special among her people.  In a way, she can do no wrong.   For example, even though she is responsible for Rose being brought into the Community, no one is angry with her or treats her any differently than they had before.  Leeza's childlike kindness and wonder, allows the other Syntai to understand why she does not treat Rose as an enemy or someone who can't be trusted.  This gives Rose a small amount of reprieve from the harshness of the Community.