"What do you think, sir?" The attendant asked, watching him closely. Cardith was careful. Most within the palace supported the queen. He was the only Egian who did not. Yet, his attendant was Hybronian and like most, did not want to see another Egian ruler after Taliat.
"I think we should get ready for a terrible siege." He said. The attendant's face turned grave.
"It is likely that whatever we do, Lord Chieftain Teraht will win."
"I know." Said Cardith.
"Can we outlive a siege? There is plague within the city already."
"We can use the bodies to fling at the armies outside the gate."
"But sir! That is insane! Touching such corpses will mean certain death! Do you drink the water?"
"No. I stopped long ago." Cardith sensed this was the time to broach the subject with his attendant. "Listen to me, Jalon. We can die here with her or we can make an alliance and all live with the next ruler of the land." The attendant cocked his head to one side as if he did not believe what he was hearing.
"You think the queen will die?"
"Yes. And those who support her will die in this city like dogs in the street. You are right, Jalon. We will not survive a siege." Jalon seemed to ponder this.
"I am with you. But I was not sure how you felt."
"Now you know."
"I will try to persuade others. The men at the gate. . ."
"Persuading others will not be difficult. Only be careful who you approach. There are plenty of people who will inform on you."
"As I live, may we be successful and may the gods find favor upon us." Said Jalon.
"Come find me at the great cistern. Those of us who are ready to throw her yoke off, we shall take an oath, Jalon." Many footsteps were approaching.
"May the gods find favor upon us." Said Jalon and he left just before the queen arrived to the council chamber, with the advisers, generals and the degenerate Bakku and other hangers-on. Cardith was beginning to wonder whether it was the gods or just the Father god who would be intervening and finding favor. Whether He would really find favor upon those who never worshiped Him and now in their hour of need cried out for help. Even so, he silently prayed that this god would be merciful and deliver them from Queen Taliat, whether to another king or to merciful death.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
"When will it come? The new kingdom?"
"It is not for us to know the time or season. Only to help bring it about and remain ready for when it does come. Take heart. It shall come, it shall come. I know that when you choose to serve, the way becomes difficult. I know it. Just remember, in all things for God, prepare your heart first. Then the power and the will shall follow."
- The Book of Nagilla, Conversations and Acts of the Desert Fathers.
She was in dire need of rest. The familiar sight calmed her spirit.
The Hill of Shima. Where she meditated, rested, her home where she kept far vigil. Vigil in dreams and visions. Soon she would have to get up and stir again, for her work was never finished. Anet lived inside of a dirt and mudbrick hut dug inside the side of the small hill. Below the hill was a thin stream. Taking off her shift and robes and mantle she bathed in the stream and drank its water, quenching her thirst. She took a small vase of the plague remedy and rubbed herself down with it. It was a concoction she made herself. She had traveled through a village nearly annihilated because of the Red Death. At the time she did not have any of the remedy with her and it had spread so fast there was nothing she could do but give the village physician the herbal remedy she had learned from instructress Matha long ago.
Ingredients list:
3 small bowls of wine vinegar
1 woman's handful of wormwood
1 woman's handful purple cactus
1 woman's handful corsi berries
1 woman's handful wild marjoram
1 woman's handful sage
50 cloves crushed raw garlic
2 palms of dragon tree root
2 palms of angelica
2 palms of rosemary
2 palms of horehound
3 palms of camphor
She had found some wild garlic and brought it home with her to make more. Anet prayed for them, though many had already died and were burying their dead when she had come into the village. Wary of her at first, when they saw she was not frightened of the plague victims they welcomed her and they saw her cloth from the Karigites and the Raea and did no harm to her.
She drank a little of it, bitter as it was, but it warmed her going down. She put on a thin, veil-like shift and went and sat on the top of her hill, which as it was, was also the top of her house. She poured some of the remedy into her oil lamp and burned it while she sat and watched the sun go down. High summer was almost at hand and so was the Conjunction of Ingathering, a special day that came before the season of harvest when her people would gather together either in family groups or in tribes and celebrate the day the first true temple was built. As a great celebration it had fallen off in the years as most of her people were divided and scattered. Many now preferred to celebrate and eat at home.
Wild garlic and wild yangnil and galangal and humble brush flowers in a small bag had been brought to her and set upon the hill, mostly by either a trained messenger animal used to the desert like a falcon or one of her sisters from the citadel. There was also a tiny baglet, scented. Balsam, but not just any balsam. It was from the great mountain-like commiphorus trees of the woods in eastern Zapulia. It was a priceless gift and she wondered who'd brought it. Perhaps it was given to the scions as a gift offering and they, in turn, gave some to her. She put the precious bag to her nose and took a deep sniff.
Balm of Ellah. She thought. She felt immediately calmed. Sometimes questions were answered in quiet gifts like these. The sun was beginning to throw up its royal shroud of blue and violet as it went down. It looked to be another normal night, clear as glass. Clouds usually signaled something was approaching, good or ill, as they usually did not form in the deep desert. She was glad for the calm. Anet closed her eyes, meditating on the beauty of the natural world even amongst the ugliness she had endured and seen these last fifteen years.
"Hello, little mother." She had been so deep in meditation that she had not even heard him coming. She was in great surprise when she opened her eyes. He was tall and slim and dressed in long, plain black robes. It was Saujiah.
"My lord, Saujiah! I am your servant!" She said and bowed her head to the ground.
"I came to give you a message, to strengthen you, for we all need strength in these times. I have looked into the future and I have seen the nexus of time where things change. You are along a right path but there is a crossroads coming for you and you must choose. I cannot tell you what it is. You will come to understand later. The young king that we all are waiting for is alive and well. He is in Hybron, undiscovered by his enemies, but things are precarious."
"What is he like? This young one?"
"He is naive, naturally full of wonder like one of his age, but also full of courage. He is fifteen years."
"He will need it. Things are becoming dire in the cities Saujiah. Pestilence runs rampant again."
"They can thank the Ainash for that. We are still in the death throws of the Twilight Age."
"Is he really the one who will change the land? Who will save us from chaos? So young."
"It will take the dynamism of a young man to do the work that will have to be done. This land must be turned inside out and it will take vigor and enthusiasm and many years to do it. A young man must do it." He wrapped his robes close about him and sat down beside her.
"Speaking of the Ainash. There are a precious few who have awoken and seen the error of their ways. One such man is name Zarhaz. See, even in this late hour some become wise."
"Zarhaz." She said thoughtfully, the memory of dream slowly coming to her.
"This man pays attention to the prophecies. I have spoken with him and related holy things and he has accepted the
m. I have a request of you, Anet. You must contact him. He lives in Jhis and is of now still marginally attached to the temple there. He has had a vision of the star scepter, something you have seen yourself in dreams, am I right?"
"Yes. I have seen this man. I talked to him in my dream."
"You must contact him soon. There is not much time to waste. The star scepter is his to protect until the king is ready. He has been chosen to care for it and protect it with his life."
"Then I suppose I had better retrieve it for him. Why all this subterfuge?"
"Those who are faithful are scattered, isolated in places here and there." He pointed in the sand. "By having purpose unfold this way you find that you are not alone and that supporters are in many places. Also, I have come to relate to you an account that will fill in some questions in your mind. The thunderings in the sky in the past. The strange dreams that many people are having."
"They have been happening ever since the usurper came to the throne."
"Yes, Anet. You feel them and see them in visions and dreams because they are the tremors of battle. Battles in the heavens."
"In the heavens!"
"Yes. Not only are battles being waged here but in the heavenly realms among the sons of God. And also here, invisible battles are being waged. Remember when the moons looked like blood spots?"
"I remember! It was a frightening thing!"
"Yes. My own fight with the self-styled queens of the heavens, Anet. We fought and fought but I eventually prevailed. I shall still fight on but I shall go my way. There is work yet to be done as the fight in Hybron and Egi continues."
"What did they look like? These queens of the heavens? Were they angry over my burning of the temple?"
"Of course. They are more monsters now in true form, hideous to behold, like dragons. They no longer have the beautiful appearance they were given by the Father."
"What has happened to my father? To Ilim? I have not heard from him and I worry for him."
"He is under trial now." Saujiah frowned. "Yes, he is under deep trial but there is reason for it. Do not worry over much for he is being strengthened for his next trial as you are now."
"It just seems that it is taking so long and we suffer nothing but trials and hardships. Sometimes I am so tired I know not what day it is or the month."
"I know it does seem that way but things are quickly drawing to a close. We are at the tail end of it, before the dawn. You know the saying."
" 'It is when the night is at its blackest that then the eye can see and it is then that the light will dawn.' "
"The Reshaim will dawn again. Do not doubt that, but things will get even darker in these last throes. Once that happens, the light will dawn. You have done well. I hope the balm is a help."
"Oh it is. A comfort."
"One day the Balsam of Ellah shall pour upon the entire land and overflow. Until then, may your battle have certain success, little mother. I shall now go my way and await the coming of the young king."
"I thank you. Praise God." She said happily. Saujiah got up and left, traveling north.
Anet eventually took up her lamp went inside and lit a few candles. She took out one of her precious few roles of wide, fine paper and untied her wrap with her pens and ink. She kept the ink in a large mussel shell. She dipped the stylus in the ink and began writing her letter. She could not get to see and speak to this Zarhaz herself as she would be going north a few days later, following Saujiah but she could get a letter to someone who could. She looked over and saw a blue beetle, its iridescence a beautiful thing, crawling on her table. She rocked back on her stool and put the stylus down and held her hand out for the creature. The blue beetle was beautiful but tough. It lived in the high desert but sometimes could be found in the deep desert where there was nothing but ocean waves of sand, sidewinders, fire bugs and scorpions.
Observe the beasts. They know the hidden way.
Animals had innate wisdom. Sometimes men over thought a matter. Animals never did. The blue beetle had its own humble wisdom. She was like a blue beetle. Scorpions often tried to kill them but rarely could catch them and they thrived in harsh conditions. If I were a queen, instead of lionesses, rams, elephanta or dragons, this would be my emblem. For even in the dark its own inner light glowed within it and kept total darkness away from it. She handled it delicately and it did not fly away from her. Of all the creatures of the desert Anet felt most akin to the blue beetle, exploring her hand. It reminded her of her days when she was called Anetji, who questioned and exasperated everyone. Little Anetji. Who'd dreamed of fighting great, fierce beasts. Little Anetji. It crawled all over her hand. She laughed.
"You carry your own light, little one." She then meditated upon the Holy Writings for she had a great work still ahead of her. In all things for God, prepare your heart first. The power and the will shall follow.
Chapter Thirty
"Yusanna, please go and help with the peach harvest. The other girls need help out there." Yusanna stamped her feet but Mother Berenice gave her a warning look. Yusanna continued, obstinate.
"But I want to finish eating!"
"You have eaten already, and I can see that all you are eating now are mamouls. Those are to be reserved for the Conjunction of Ingathering and you have had enough mamouls for one day. Go! You need the exercise." She said sternly. Yusanna snatched another mamoul, got up from the table and ran down the long hall and outside to join the peach harvest. Mother Berenice shook her head and smiled. She was nearly as feisty as another little one that used to live in the citadel. Mother Berenice thought of Anet and Kaisha when they would run the halls of the citadel, playing hide and seek when they could get a break from studies or chores. On rare occasions she would hear about Anet's work and she had received seven letters from her in the last ten years. But from Kaisha she had not heard a word. Nothing. She had no idea whether she was alive or dead. However, there were always new girls and women to take the place of those who'd left. There was a new sister, Peninah, who helped Medeah in the kitchen who had come from Haiga and brought with her a chest full of exotic and expensive spices and a great penchant for desserts. Because of Peninah the little ones had all come to expect special treats at least two days a week after the evening meal.
The gate was fully rebuilt and things had mostly gone back to normal though the battle was still talked about at times. But the rolling hills that kept back the desert were still soft and green, the vineyards still produced their distinct, spicy, strong wines, the goatherds and shepherds still took their flocks out to graze beyond the town gate in the land all around, sheared them in the early summer and herded them into pens during the cold. Small caravans passed through on occasion and traded with the townspeople, giving them bits and pieces of news from the world outside. The sun still rose in pale rose and orange and set in red, violet and blue, the moons still rose and the stars still shined. But news now turned constantly towards portents. She thought of the prophet. News had finally reached them that temples had burned down, that plagues were spreading rampant. Those plagues had even reached Gamina but the scions had stopped the plague from the start. Still, another pestilence was spreading. The bloody flux. It had been fifteen years since the first prophet had risen up and they still awaited the coming of the king.
Mother Berenice went to her study and stood on the small balcony outside the study in the tower, where she could get the view of the town and the land to the east, the blue and green vineyards. Fruit was ripe and that perfumed fragrance from nature wafted into the citadel, a sweet smelling odor. The Hill of Shima was just out of naked eyesight. One of the emissary scions had brought a wondrous thing to her a few years ago - a long, brass and gold spyglass and with that she could see far across the way, but she did not feel like looking through it today. She closed her eyes and enjoyed the scents of summer. It was more comfortable now that the evening was cooling down a bit. She heard the flutter of wings and opened her eyes. It was a falcon. It perched itself right o
n the ledge of the balcony, taking a scroll from its ring holder with its beak and dropped it on the ground in front of her. The falcon then cocked its head at her expectantly. She swept it up and opened it. It was from Anet.
Mother Berenice
Ahaifa! May there be peace within you, my mother. I am writing to you for I have had a visit by a holy messenger of God. He has related this message to me and it is of utmost importance that you do this. I am going my way to the north to find the Starry Scepter of the Red King. You must find a man name Zarhaz of the Ainash of the Golden Temple. He is in Jhis. Do not worry how the falcon will get there. It will be guided by God. Just contact him and let him know that he has your support so that he is not alone in his turning away from what is bad in Jhis. He has others who support him, who have turned to Airend-Ur. This man is to keep the starry scepter in secret until the king comes, the one who has the legal right to claim the throne. Write to him and tell him these words. He has turned back to the old ways like Ilim, and he has God's support. Let him know that he also now has yours. God is great and mighty.
Anet
It was happening again. At first, after the battle she thought there had been a lull of Purpose Divine in Gamina. She was wrong. She took the falcon in and fed him and let him rest for a few days and then on the third day she wrote to this, Zarhaz, a letter, hoping it would not be intercepted. If this was from God, it would succeed. Perhaps the Ainash are turning back to the true faith once again? It perplexed and heartened her for what was to come.
And she had heard from one of her spiritual daughters, Anet. This made her heart glad.
Chapter Thirty-One
Red World Trilogy Page 60
