"May all who have ears to hear and eyes to see, see it and know that the end draws near for the city and a change in the land is coming. If you would hear and see and flee from Jhis with your goods and your family and go to where the Aishanna-La have gathered, go. Do not go to the Golden Temple but to Gamina where the faithful have gathered and be saved. Or stay here and die. Jhis will go down in flames like Assenna. When the sign of the star scepter goes round about the city, the sign of the scepter is a sign for you to save yourselves before the serpent and his sons out of the west are at the gates of Jhis. Flee the city now!" He said. The vision he dreamed, the one the queen dreamed, came flooding across the mirror as he was being taken back down to the dungeons. Some of her servants had seen and heard portents before and wanted to heed the warnings for they perceived that her time was coming to an end but they did not know what to do. Now they did.
When the queen finally saw it, she took her own scepter and smashed it. Because of her rage and fear, it brought out the scales that had been slowly growing in, altering her skin and from then on she continually kept her head and face veiled from all but her closest servants.
Chapter Twenty-Five
The library turned out to be everything he imagined it to be and not. It was like a palace in its expansiveness and many rooms. Each floor was a circular room stacked on top of the other with a spiral staircase that curled upward through each room. It was six floors, each floor dedicated to certain disciplines. Music, Literature and Art. Architecture and Crafts. Mathematics and Alchemy. Histories. Law and Government. Religion, Mysteries and Philosiphs. On each floor there were a few men either looking through scrolls or books or speaking in hushed tones, gathered in tiny groups around tables. Injep had once shown him the books left out of the Holy Aishanna which made him wonder what else he did not know. Injep had told him to go to the top most room. The one he was ultimately the most fascinated with after hearing the instructor's description. When he had reached the top room he marveled at the thousands of scrolls and bound books on the high shelves. Once, he had glimpsed the library room in the temple and saw an innumerable amount of scrolls. This was even more impressive. In the top room there was a large copper door inscribed with ciphers unknown to him that separated it from a small rectangular room. The door was locked. Alchemical secrets and other forbidden things, Injep had said. He had learned that there were different forms of alchemy, White, Gold and Black. Rapheth figured the black alchemical secrets lay in this room. And since most of the general populace could not read, did it matter that such knowledge was kept here? Injep seemed to think that the Black Alchemy was the most important, the most serious of the disciplines. Rapheth did not counter Injep on this but he knew Ilim distrusted all alchemy because of the taint of Black Alchemy and had urged him to do the same. Parso said that White and Gold Alchemy were beneficial and that it was not wrong to want to understand more of the creation. He, like Ilim, however, despised Black Alchemy.
Rapheth had been given two small medallions by Injep that allowed him entry. The first medallion, an ivory one, gained him admittance into the library itself and the second one, the one he was instructed to keep hidden beneath his clothing was for admittance to the room behind the copper door. Once he had gotten to the copper door a librarian had come out of his office and asked to see his medallion. He showed him the small copper medallion and the librarian unlocked the door for him.
"A few books have been picked out for you specifically by your instructor, young man." He said solemnly and closed the door. It shut with a soft thud. The room was dim, all the windows drawn shut with drapes. It seemed as if it should have been full of dust but it was fastidiously cleaned on a regular basis. All surfaces of wood and metal gleamed and shined. All around were neat rows of shelves that went up to the ceiling. There were large wooden cabinets and cases full of hidebound books, folders and scrolls. On a round table in the middle of the room were a group of small books. Rapheth moved toward the table. There were seven books in all, stacked in a column. He opened the first one. It said The Book of the Women: The Book of Medella, The Book of Ranna. There was also The Book of Seru, a book labeled Moshun, The Lost Fathers and the forbidden Book of Knowledge of God. Injep had told him that these books could not be borrowed and he was sure he was being watched through some peephole so he dared not try to hide them under his clothes and take them home.
Lost knowledge. Rapheth wondered. He had all the time in the world this day and he sat down to read this last book. It told of the beginning of creation, except it was different from what he read from the holy book. In the beginning the dark one, Shaitan, was the creator who created a spark in the heavens and with it created Chialis, the world of Man. Rapheth did not know what to think but he was very curious. His heart skipped at the sight of the evil one's name. The book did not line up with anything he had read before. If only he could take them home with him. He heard soft movements in the room. Feeling spooked, he turned around. It was the librarian.
"You are a special student of Injep's?"
"I do not know if I am special."
"He has told me to allow you to take home a copy of these books. We do happen to have some well made copies if you would like to continue your studies. It is not usually allowed and even when it is, only copies may be borrowed." Rapheth's heart leaped.
"I can bring them with me? How wonderful!"
"Very good. I shall get you a sack for them." The librarian left. Rapheth then took this time to get up and explore the room. In a far corner he saw a strange contraption. A large globe which stood suspended on metal poles. Coming closer he saw that it was a leather and vellum world map of lands of the Middle Kingdoms and all those lands that surrounded the center of the world. To the South were the Southern Lands and its kingdoms and to their east were the Sea Isles. He had only seen these once on a table-wide map Ilim kept in the house. There were far away places he had never seen and only heard scant things about. He reached out to whirl it around and noticed in surprise that there were vaporous, thin things like clouds that drifted just above its surface. He saw a drawing of what looked like a great sea monster in the body of water labeled the Llordis Sea. His hand was damp with dew from the clouds. The lands and seas seemed to move slowly across its surface. Near the back on the other side of this sphere was a great ocean bigger than even the South Ocean. There were numerous lakes he saw near the northwest mountains in Hybron with lakes and rivers that streamed from the Llordis. Also, there was a massive canyon that ran across the globe. The Great Ridge. A great river lead from this massive canyon into the Llordis Sea. He felt elation over exploring these secrets, to be able to touch and see this wondrous machine! At the top of the pole, suspended upon a pedestal was a silver beetle. It's metal body shimmered with faint blue iridescence. Its wings were made of delicate silver leaves, its antennae delicate silver strands. Machines. Alchemy. Black Alchemy? Surely not! Next to this globe sat a small stand. He turned the stand around and saw a small collection of the tinkering machines. Getting a sudden feeling of mischievousness he grabbed a tinkering beetle from the shelf. There were only six. He took another silver one and stuffed it in a pocket. Then he went to the next case. He took out a random book. It was labeled: Sky Atlas. It was beautifully illustrated with beasts drawn in for the constellations and with illuminated colors. His eye caught a scroll next to it and he pulled it out. It read in old Alharan, which he could read, with some trouble: Map of the Holy Celestial Ocean. A chart to the Heavenly Abode where the Gods reside. Rapheth was intrigued by all that lay in this room. If I can find such wonders in such a short span of time, what else lies hidden here? He had heard once from his mother of The Heavenly Ocean and the mortal oceans upon Chialis that descended from it. That once, they were all combined, during the Age of Creation and that they made up a straight way to the heavens. Perhaps there lay a key within these lost holy books of the Aishanna to that knowledge. He heard soft footsteps and he put the book away and took the scroll with him. In a pani
c he wondered how he could hide it and whether he would be thrown out for the tinkering machine he hid beneath his clothes. He slid the scroll under the table just before the librarian came in.
"Here you are. A new hide sack for you. You must sign for them in my office. You have a very special position, I must say." The librarian looked him over quizzically.
"Thank you so much, good sir." The librarian left and Rapheth quickly scooped up the scroll from under the table, relieved that the man had not seemed to notice it and he put it in his bag along with the books and brought over the flap, opened the heavy door and began his long descent down the winding staircase.
When he had arrived home he found Shukala and Ephron waiting for him.
"We have been looking all over for you, Rapheth. Those braggarts at the school, they invited us to one of their theaters. They want us to help them perform in a play." Said Ephron.
"A play? Which play?"
"I do not know. I think he said they were writing a new one. A student play."
"What did you tell them?"
"I said I was not sure. Shukala and I had an idea and they seemed excited about it. They even added some of their own ideas. What do you think?"
"Let us do it! If we can get away, it will give us something fun to do since the underground taverns are off limits now. I am sure Hatchet Men would not be seen in such elevated places." Said Rapheth.
"I was thinking. We could do a play about the fall of a king, a glorious and powerful king. It is a similar idea to what one of the other students suggested." Said Ephron.
"Sounds like a good play to me. Come, let me hear what your idea is, Ephron. " Said Rapheth. They all sat down.
"Well, it is like this: a mighty king comes in and overthrows an evil one and then he becomes an even more powerful king. One of the other students said that a queen should be added and he might play the queen, he being slight and all."
"What part would the queen play?"
"Well, here is the interesting part," said Shukala, "the queen along with her counselor assassinate the king by hiring a witch who puts a curse upon the king and then her counselor becomes king when the king dies. The play has not been written yet. We are still fleshing out ideas."
"What do you think?" Asked Ephron hopefully.
"That sounds dangerous." Said Rapheth. Then he smiled. "I like a bit of danger. Who will write the play?"
"Orehan will write it. It will only be a very short play. Nothing too serious or dramatic, I do not think. After all, this is not Pallinonian theater, you know. There will be music and dancing and drink afterward." Said Shukala.
"Well, that makes it worth it. Here, let us add something to it to embellish. I do not know if they will accept our writings, high-minded as they are, but we shall try it out." Said Rapheth.
"What is in your bag?" Asked Shukala.
"Oh, just some books."
"Well let's see them." Demanded Ephron. Rapheth looked around.
"Do not say anything to anyone about them. I got them from Injep." Their eyes widened like plates.
"You got accepted into the school?" Asked Shukala.
"I would not say that. Only that he wants to tutor me and to teach me his own theories and philosophies when he has free time. He said that the Holy Aishanna is incomplete. That there are books that have been banned from it that have great knowledge in them."
"Right. The books written about the prophetesses." Said Shukala.
"But he said those were not the only ones. That there are other books. He gave me copies of these books. Look!" He took the books out and set them on the table and he pointed especially to one of them, The Lost Fathers and the Forbidden Book of Knowledge of God. They gathered round closely.
"I have never heard of this book. Lost Fathers? I don't know Rapheth." Said Ephron.
"I have heard of it, once. My father said it was of doubtful origin and that it did not align with the Holy Aishanna at all but he did not read it." Said Shukala.
"Before we assume things, should we not read it and know for sure?" The other two looked at him apprehensively. Ephron finally spoke.
"Secret knowledge. Pah! What do they do with such knowledge? Hole themselves up in stupid caves or high towers and dance around fires and spit dark words and mumblings that make no sense. Or they make up stories that sound portentous and true. Perhaps split open a cat or a poor goat, gaze at the entrails and curse their enemies. That is what secret knowledge is about. If a man has something worth giving he gives it. The man who has something worth giving who does not is a wicked man and not fit to live. All his mummeries should go down into the grave along with him. That's my say on the matter."
"Is it now?" Cried Rapheth in exasperation.
"Yes! If it is not about the glory of God why bother? If it does not bring honor to Him or to the man himself, why bother?"
"Do you actually think all knowledge should be given to all people? What if there are things that are dangerous in the hands of certain men? Men who are not wise enough to comprehend the knowledge they are given? They could do great damage to the world."
"They already do and they do not need mystical curses and special wisdom in hidden books to do it, Rapheth." Said Ephron. Rapheth rolled his eyes. It was all Ephron talked about. Honor this and honor that. His honor he plied and beat everyone down with. He looked to Shukala for support. There was none to be found.
"I agree. Besides, many who claim secret knowledge of things simply want to appear to be something they are not. To be special, to lord it over others. Why even listen to such people? They are ridiculous! And it seems to go against the rules. If it wasn't in the holy book or if it was taken out, there must be a good reason. Even for the Book of the Women."
"But Shukala! The Book of the Women were originally there. Why should they not be put back in?"
"I cannot say. The current priesthood did not take them out and for that, it bolster's my thinking that they should not be returned. They were taken out long ago."
"Yes, but the Ainash priests who did so had fallen from the true faith long ago as well. Originally, Ainash were the men known as separate men. Separate from the true ways. To me, everything they do is suspect."
"Rapheth, I do not like them either but tradition is important. If God wanted them put back in, they would be back in. Are you going to lead the charge to change what has been long standing?"
"Maybe one day I will, Shukala." They both gave him quizzical looks. Irritated, he changed the subject.
"Well, let us not fight over it. I only brought them home to take a glance at them and then they will go right back to the library."
"The library? Is that where they came from?" They both exclaimed.
"Where else would I get them? Yes, the library." They both gave him disapproving looks, which he ignored.
Rapheth set the books aside in their bag and the three youths went about fully realizing their ideas for the play. As there was not enough spare paper, which was expensive, they had to memorize their parts.
"I'll go back and discuss this with Orehan and he will add his own words and then we will all rehearse it." Said Shukala.
"Good." Said Rapheth.
"When will your swordsman come back? More sword practice would be a fine thing after all this." Said Shukala.
"I have no idea. Everyone seems to be disappearing on me. I have not had word back from my father, nor have I seen or heard from Rhajit for some time. But we three know enough to practice on our own."
After his friends left Rapheth turned to open the books again and began reading The Forbidden Book of Lost the Knowledge of God.
Parso had come home from his own outing finding Rapheth in his bedroom sleeping with the books around him, The Book of the Lost Knowledge of God laying upon his chest. Rapheth awoke with a start and vainly tried to hide them. Parso laughed.
"I have not seen you in a while. You did not come to Night Prayer. Falling away so quickly? I had no idea I was such a bad influence. What is this
you are reading, my friend?"
"Oh, just a book someone gave me."
"May I see it?" Parso asked and picked the book up and turned to the title page inside.
"The Book of the Lost Knowledge of God. Well, curse my bones! I see someone has finally clued you into the real knowledge, have they?" Parso smiled, his eyes twinkling with mischief.
"Well, it makes for interesting reading but it is rather strange."
"You are not upset?"
"Why should I be upset? There is nothing there to see. Nothing profound, anyway."
"I am glad you saw through it. There really is no knowledge to be had there."
"You have read it too?"
"Oh yes, long ago."
"I am glad you found me with it instead of Ilim. He would have been outraged."
"And he would have a right to be, considering the outrages and nonsense that book contains. Full of tales and so-called accounts that do not line up with the canon. If they were simply regarded as later tales or legends I would have no issue. But they are painted as books that were suppressed from the canon, when nothing of the sort is true. What of the others? What did you think of them?"
"They were interesting. I have not read the Book of the Women yet."
"Now those you should have read first. They actually belong in the Holy Aishanna."
"What did you think when you first read them, Parso?"
"I thought that they were confusing, the doubtful books. Interesting at first but my knowledge of the Holy Aishanna caused me to reject them as spurious. In that, lies the danger. Ilim and Zigal have taught you well enough that you know whether these belong there or not. Some would never know the difference and would accept them wholly without thought. That is the danger of keeping people ignorant. They cannot know lie from truth in these matters. And that is one of the reasons the Ainash must go. They have willfully kept people in ignorance for centuries. They go beyond the Law and the Writings and they have suppressed what was original to the holy book because of their hatred for Womankind. Long ago, no one would have doubted the authenticity of the Book of the Women nor would they have accepted spurious books. But that was because they knew the ring of truth. There was a time under the ancient shaikhs and the Red Kings when the people could read. Now, most people are uneducated. Where did you get these anyway?"
Red World Trilogy Page 57
