The Mowret was the largest river in the Middle World, the main life vein of Egi. Hybron, too, through trade, relied upon this mighty river. Another life force made its home in the Mowret - the mighty Leviathan, son of Nisrok and in some places it was not Elyshe and her daughter that received the glory but the Lord of the Mowret, Nisrok and his sons. In Yilphaeus where the worship of him was greatest, there was a great temple dedicated to him full of sacred pools filled with leviathans. Nisrok was a warrior with the rough, scaled skin of the leviathan. It was now a clash between gods on both sides for Nisrok and his sons now bid for power against the moon queens, using the serpents of the House of Seht as his own game pieces. The greatest out of Egi, indeed, out of the whole of the Red World, the unnamed one, reigned over all these rebels vying for supremacy. He had turned his attention to not only ruling all the lands of Chialis but the heavens as well, the glorious kingdom of Light of the Father, the First Pillar of all creation.
. . .
I, Saujiah had gone back to the heavens on a call from the Father and I traveled through time and space and star and cloud to the supernal light of the heavenly realm, the point from where all creation started. I was met by one of my brothers who escorted me to the everlasting sea of star dust and cloud upon which our father's throne sat. There he was, arrayed in armor for battle. I had never seen him arrayed thus and so I knew it to be deadly serious. All my brothers were arrayed in battle armor, standing before and around his throne, countless myriads. When his voice sounded it was like a myriad of thunders and gongs and there was his foremost son, Nagilla, the one who speaks with His voice, standing by the throne and we all fell down upon our faces.
"Rise, my sons. Here I am, quaking the heavens apart and treading down the very constellations in my wrath, for my own sons whom I have borne in birth pangs out of dust and storm have come up against me. And will they succeed? They have fouled up the supernal places where I have reared them in love. Now I shall cast them out for good, like a pot full of refuse, like excrement they have become, the unnamed one and all his rebellious brothers and sisters. They shall not be allowed to come in and go out from me. Some of you I shall send back to Chialis to remain in your trials. The rest of you shall come with me." He took his sword made of the matter of all colors and he threw it into the sea of cloud and stars under his throne and the force of it illuminated all those standing before the throne and we became empowered like never before. However, I was sent back to fulfill my mission. The host of heaven, with the Father, left to meet the battle as the hordes of the unnamed one came at the gates, and they went fighting against them.
I came back, renewed and strengthened and just in time as I went walking in the dead of cold night in the deep desert, striding steadily through the steep waves of sand with only the moons' light to see by, but my eyes can see what a man cannot see and I did not need the moonlight to know or see that I was being pursued. They caught me, ascending from the sand dunes like shades.
"Why do you seek to hinder me?"
"Why do you invade my kingdom?" It was the prince of Hybron, a very powerful rebel.
"You know why I am here."
"Get out and get away from this place, for it is my realm!" I refused and kept trying to go my way but he resisted me and we battled and fought for three days and a windstorm came because of the battle and Nagilla, arrayed in his glory and armor came down and he helped me and strengthened me for the fight and together we resisted him and fought him and he went away and then Nagilla left me and I went my way again. From far off, I heard the voices of two of my fallen sisters, Elyshe and Nimnet who screamed at me from afar to leave and then tried to hinder me but they did not prevail. I fought them and persisted and kept on my way to my place in the desert, to the Cave of Forever.
For I am the guardian of shadow who assists those who wish to pass from darkness to light and from light to darkness. I await patiently for the one who has the legal right to claim the throne. I await the Red King.
Chapter Thirty-Two
Man is a stubborn experiment, resisting improvement, disobedient to a fault, persisting in imperfection.
- The Book of Nagilla, Observations
Rapheth had thought that with all the time he had been spending at the school he had better at least make an attempt to his religious lessons. He and his friends in between rehearsing the little play also practiced as best they could their sword fighting. He would have appreciated Rhajit telling them he was going to leave instead of simply disappearing into thin air. But it seemed Rhajit was like many things about Rapheth's past - a tantalizing shade that came and went without clear reason or explanation.
Unfortunately, they still needed his expertise.
"Ishuye was the youngest and the least of his brothers under his father, shaikh Deruye. Least among his brothers, he was chosen for his humility. While sitting among the flocks of his father a messenger came to him. . ." Rapheth sat back and thought on this. Because of this chosen status he was the joy of his father's heart. Or that was what the holy book said. He reflected on his own life. He was chosen, though sometimes he wondered if Zigal and Ilim were mistaken about him, which caused him anxiety and melancholy. He did not feel chosen or special. And his true mother wanted him dead. The only reason he lived was because of Zigal's and Ilim's courage and their love for him. Rapheth wondered if much of this stemmed from the fact that neither of them had children and had spent their lives in the service of others for so long that family life was denied them. They wished much for him because they had given up so much for others. And the queen. What had he done to deserve her hatred? Why couldn't she love him?
"Am I like her?" He agonized over that thought.
Zigal arrived.
"Ah. You have decided to grace us with your presence, Rapheth. I am glad you decided to stay around today." She said happily. She set her baskets down on the table.
"What did you get, mama?"
"Some spice. A neighbor caught a stray goat and is butchering them. He offered some of it to the rest of us. The community will have roasted goat tonight. I will be getting some of the roast goat for us. I bought some spices for it and a few cucumbers. Also a nice hard cheese and we'll have some couscous. We will be eating well tonight. Something odd I noticed today. I thought I was being followed."
"Followed? By whom?"
"I have no idea. Who have you been spending time with lately? Besides Ephron and Shukala?"
"Oh no one, really."
"Really? No one? Listen son. I did not tramp through sewage infested underground lakes and brave deadly, unknown robber's dens and trek across the land for you to end up in the jaws of wolves. There are many wolves in sheep's clothing, son. You must remember who you are. No one knows your face but it is still dangerous to associate with anyone not of our own folk. I mean people of the true temple. Even Aishanna-La from outside this community can be dangerous to you because of the schism."
"Yes, I know." He said despondently.
Zigal looked at him with a mother's worry in her eyes. She sat down next to him.
"Look, child, I know something has been bothering you lately. You have been quiet and keep to yourself more than you should. Do you miss Ilim?"
"I do."
"He will come back." Rapheth glanced at her sideways but said nothing more. He took his books and left the kitchen and went upstairs to his bedroom. He was not ready to speak on the matter. Or any matter, it seemed.
Zigal hated it when he sank into these dark moods. She sighed deeply and began the task of getting the evening meal ready. Have I done right for him? Have I done all that I could? Or have I been too busy looking after material needs? She did not know and he was more difficult as he got older. It worried her because not only did he look like his mother but he seemed to have his mother's personality. Crafty, sly, sneaky. Qualities she did not like at all and despised in others but it struck her to the heart when it came to Rapheth. There were things he would not tell her. He was up to something and now t
his. And who was that man following her? Was he a queen's man? One of the Hatchet Men? She would stay indoors for the next few days. She did not think they followed her home but she could not be sure. If it came to it they might have to flee or she might have to get out her throwing knives. She would fight to the death to protect him.
A few hours later she sat mashing bananas into a pulp and putting it into a large pot, readying it for banana beer when Rapheth eventually came down from his room and sought her out. He sat on the ground next to her stool.
"There is a man I met some weeks ago. You might know of him. His name is Injep. He is a teacher at one of the schools." She paused from her work.
"I have heard the name. He once taught in Egi. You mean you are tutoring under him?" She kept her growing alarm hidden.
"Well, not quite. I spend time listening to his theories and he has introduced me to the Library of All Schools."
"What theories?" She said, frowning.
"Oh, about how the world was founded or might have been founded and whether the gods are useful to us or even if they exist."
"And what do you think?"
"I think it is interesting."
"You do realize that true Aishanna-La only know one god. The rest have taken up positions they were not made for."
"I know. But he even says that perhaps the First One is not conscious as we think but simply a force or nameless power in the heavens. That a god is not really a person but might and power. It is all fascinating. He says that we, men, are ever increasing in knowledge and wisdom and one day we will have no need of gods and that perhaps they really do not exist."
"Hmm." Zigal said and went back to her work. "So, tell me of this library. I thought that only academics were allowed there."
"It is true, mama! But he gave me the secret tokens they used to gain access." He produced his medallions to her. She looked at them and then at him, her natural born suspicion growing.
"This man gave these to you? Wanting nothing in return? Were there any others you have met at this school?"
"None of note. I thought that it was a chance to learn new things, mama. You seem unhappy."
"It seems strange. How did you meet Injep?"
"We were coming from Morning Prayer and were simply walking about the city and we came upon Injep and a crowd of students in a public garden, who insulted us, calling us things like dung-eaters and wild pigs because we were not educated like they were."
"But of course, you know that is false. You can read and write well."
"But we do not know much in the way of theory, alchemy or philosophy."
"If things were not as they were, you would have the very best education but you have enough to get along well in this world. You are not ignorant and illiterate, no matter what they say. As for alchemy, I would not mind you knowing and understanding it but Ilim would not allow it. He fears it and for good reason. We try our best and that is the only thing we can do." She felt wounded at this.
"I know. They were ram's asses anyway. I did not let their words bother me. But Injep did not agree with them and he accorded us respect. " Rapheth became more animated and excited. "What I have discovered mama was grand! They have tinkering machines in their library. And they have star maps and so many other books I have never heard of. I never thought so many scrolls and books could exist in one place!"
"That does sound wonderful."
"Come, I must show you something."
He took her hand and brought her to Parso's room. There was a large object hidden under a heavy cloth. He flung it away and Zigal gasped in astonishment.
"Where? Where. . ."
"This chilyabium belongs to Parso, except this here." He pointed to the little silver beetle tinkering machine fastened to the top pole of it. "I found this."
"You found that? At the library? Rapheth do you think that this and my suspicion that I am being followed has anything to do with the fact that you stole this?"
"I did not steal it! I am only borrowing it!"
"Rapheth, to take anything from the library is a serious offense. Do you have any idea what sort of trouble we could see from this? We could all have our hands cut off!"
"I only wanted to examine it, to know what it can do."
"These things are banned in this land!"
"By the Ainash, who ban everything they cannot control! I thought we did not follow the Ainash!"
"We do not but they still hold great power in this land. If anyone comes here looking for it they may very well start asking questions, questions I do not want to answer. It could get me and Parso killed, Rapheth and God knows what could happen to you. Do you really understand the danger you are in, son? You take too many risks. I knew I made a mistake coming here."
"Coming where?"
"To Rhuctium. There are too many delights, too many distractions and therefore, too many dangers."
"You did not make a mistake mama, I did. I will take it back. Do not worry."
Zigal sat down feeling haggard.
"I really am a lot like my mother, then." The boy looked forlorn and pitiful.
"No, child! You are young and impetuous. Young people do not always think down the long road. Always, they think of the now. Your curiosity can get you killed but it does not make you bad or like her. Listen, you are not fated to be evil. There is fate and there is destiny and many see them as the same but they are not entirely the same. With Fate you have no choice and many who worship the gods of fate would tell you so. And it might seem so with the portents that announced your birth, Rapheth. When you were born there were great storms and waves of red, falling stars. Ever since then, those who have looked to the prophecy have been expecting the conquering king to come and deliver them."
"Conquering king?" Rapheth said doubtfully.
"Yes. Your mind is full of legends and stories and you compare yourself to them. A man is not a conquering hero simply because he is strong or proud. He can be be made so by a god. But there is also the choice a man makes, and those he keeps company with, those he listens to, can influence his choices, if he allows it. Which god he serves will influence his choices. This can be good or bad. There are those who are of schools of thought that teach that no man has a choice and he is fated from the day he is born to be what was already written in every way and action. A man does not have to be godly to accept such things but we believe in a god who gives us a choice before us. There is Destiny, His ultimate Purpose for a kingdom and a place of peace, from which all men and women can flourish and prosper. That will come no matter what. It cannot be stopped. But within that Purpose we can choose our own destiny. We can be a part of the tapestry, threads that will be woven in or we can choose to go against it and be unruly threads that must be cut off and cast aside. Within the tapestry is where we find our own path, where we encounter things strange, unexpected, wonderful or even terrifying, but we must allow ourselves to be woven into that tapestry. The Ainash have resolutely taken themselves out, theirs are threads that will be discarded. So have those that see violence and the killing of innocent people as acceptable or for sport or offering these people up to demons for personal gain as this kind of worship was never acceptable from the beginning of the kingdom of this land. Regardless of what you may have inherited from your parents, your soul is your own. With courage, a true heart and a wish to do goodness you can fulfill the destiny before you. It is always a willful choice on your part. It was so in the old days and so it is now. Ilim was called, he made a choice and answered. Many are called and ignore the call. It is your own choice in the end. Not your blood relatives or your forebears' actions that will brand you. You brand your own soul." She said.
Rapheth was now deep in thought upon her words. He rocked back and gazed at the device and the silver beetle atop it. Suddenly she spoke again, her eyes unusually intense this time.
"God will find someone else to fulfill the kingly prophecy if you fail. The prophecies in the Holy Aishanna have nothing to do with burnished fantasies o
f glory and might by men. They hinge on destiny and choice. Whatever any man does with his own personal freedom and destiny, the ultimate and final Destiny is up to Him. You will be woven into the tapestry of Purpose or you will not be, depending upon what you harbor in your heart and what you choose to be made of. It is your choice." She slowly got up and left the room.
. . .
Rapheth made his way through the thronging crowds. Incense filled the early morning air, making it slightly hazy. Mama's words still rang in his mind. Or God will find someone else. He did not feel he was worthy and at times he did not feel that he wanted to go in that direction. If he had a choice a well filled out education was what he really wanted now that he'd had a taste of something different. Perhaps God set him upon a different path than the Red Path. Both Parso's and Injep's ideas and now Zigal's words, warred within him. And sometimes the prophet's words echoed softly in his mind to offset these.
Parso's husky, tall figure was nearly getting lost in the crowds as they advanced up the steps and into the first inner courtyard for Morning Prayer. The horns sounded, the hundreds bowed. Another thing. So many women were faithful and they could come into the temples and take part, long ago. If he were king he would overturn the Ainash's edicts on the faithful, every one of them. But he was not a king. He was a lost prince with nothing to his name and no power to change anything. How in the world would this work itself out? He was barely a middle class youth with a good but not impressive education. Good enough to be a low ranking scribe, or a merchant of some sort, maybe a palace official, if he worked hard enough.
"Ssst! Rapheth! You are not concentrating!" Parso was watching him from the corner of his eye." Rapheth grinned sheepishly.
"Sorry." He bowed his head again. Later, they sat in the great hall to hear the reading of the laws on slavery and servitude and when the first shaihks were given the Holy Writings and charged with teaching the people all of the word of God. One thing Rapheth liked about Hybron for all its sores and warts was that a man or a woman could not legally be forced into slavery. At least that idea had survived from before the Veiled Age. He looked at the faces of all the men gathered. Some he knew from his neighborhood, others he did not know. The schism, which happened over ten years ago, was every much a political schism as a religious one and had deeply scarred the once strong, near monolithic Aishanna-la community. It seemed to Rapheth that the priesthood at this temple were not as wicked as the ones in Jhis but they held to the corrupted ways nonetheless and some had said that this temple too would eventually house an image of Nimnet. Those who were "traitors" to the kingdom would be shown for what they were if they refused to bow or throw incense before it and many knew what that meant. No man wanted be hung upon a stake.
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