by Ava D. Dohn
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The previous evening’s storm had retreated, leaving behind crystal-white snowdrifts as evidence of the earlier tempest. By late morning, the last clouds had fled east, leaving the rich, deep-blue sky a playground for the blazing sun. Far below, two women trudged through a frozen wonderland, shading their eyes with ungloved hands to fend off the sparkling brightness of the dazzling snow.
After some time, the two crested a low summit and stopped to look down on the sights. Off to the east, some six leagues away, snuggled Palace City, appearing like little more than a glittering speck in an ocean of white. To the west lay an endless forest, orchards of ancient fruit trees peacefully sleeping, roots tucked away deep beneath the frosty soil. Beyond them stood ash and hickory with a mix of elm, basswood, beech and ironwoods, further away the proud oak - the red, white and many cousins. Far off in the distance loomed the beginning of a great evergreen forest, it is said at that time stretched six hundred leagues to the sea, unbroken and rarely traveled.
EdenEsonbar, home to Palace City, was the birthplace of Lowenah’s children, yet it was a sparsely populated planet. Though often visited, few chose to nest in the fields of their birth, being too filled with wanderlust for exploring their ever-expanding universe. At the time the two women stood on the hill, taking in the world around them, fewer than ten million of Lowenah’s little ones had chosen to dwell there.
One woman let out a satisfied sigh and looked up to her much taller companion. “My dear Tolohe, you have filled my heart with joy to journey to this place with me today.”
Tolohe’s face broke into a huge smile. She thanked her and replied, “Meter, should I choose for myself this day, I would never leave you, but stay here for all eternity.” She sadly shook her head. “That is not the fate I have…nor is it one any of your children can lay claim to. The hour is come and we all must gather to the battle. Is it to this place that we shall finally find our rest? Or is there any real hope for future days of peace?”
Lowenah shook her head sadly, still looking at her daughter. “A butterfly does not gain its true beauty until it first dies to its former self.” She waved her arm east, toward the Silent Tombs. “As my children sleep, they change, and what they will become is yet hidden from them. For mortals can only behold the world through eyes of flesh, and they can only understand the world through interpretations with their minds.”
Taking Tolohe’s hand, she continued, “My child, the mortal flesh is but a vision of the reality, a window to view the reality from. All my loyal children who rest here will one day not just view that reality, but be part of it.”
Her eyes sparkled and a smile grew afresh on her face. “The demon has passed along. My girl is free of it. We come that much closer to success. The journey my children must now take is dark and perilous, but no longer without hope.”
Tolohe’s face lit up. “Is my sister alive, or do you speak of her as she rests in the Field of the Minds, for my people have found no trace of the Shikkeron. We know not of its fate.”
Ma-we grinned, a twinkle in her eye. “Dream-shares with Ardon in later days might have revealed secrets that would serve you in this hour of need. But not to worry, he will return. Seek him out then.”
Tolohe stood silent, bewildered by Lowenah’s riddle.
Lowenah scanned the immediate surroundings. Already her Cherub servants had been busy chopping down the orchards, preparing for the valiant slain, the stumps of fallen trees serving as tiny windbreaks, creating hundreds of hard-packed, snowy drifts. As she studied the southern valleys, she explained the reason for this wintertime visit. “I wished for you to see what will become the center mount of a new city yet to come.”
Tolohe looked around and frowned. “Meter, it is so close to Palace City. Should it be this near?”
Lowenah squeezed her daughter’s hand. “Silly! Of all my children I thought you’d understand.” She swept her arm in a wide arch. “Before your time comes to its end, this entire land will be filled with the mounds of my loyal ones. In future days, when your children and the children of your children journey here to asked why wickedness was so bad, you shall bring them to this city and explain the reasons. And they will learn why this all came to pass.”
Tolohe was stunned. “I shall have…?”
Lowenah interrupted, “Children! Lots and lots of children! The fruitage of your belly shall surpass the number born from me, and your breasts will suckle a multitude of nations. Without number will the descendants of my daughter become, even greater than all the stars in the sky.”
Tolohe shook her head in wonder. “How can that be?”
Lowenah laughed and poked her daughter’s belly. “Now you speak like the senseless women of the Realms Beneath. ‘How can that be? How can that be?’ Have you not ached with desire to carry within your own body a living being, one made from your very flesh? Do you think it was by accident I made you the way you are? Do you think I gave you milk to only nurse my children? Look, with a man, Shiloh, when he arrives in his glory, will you form a covenant and become pregnant, the first fruits of your fullness in the flesh, from your many lovers. Until the universe can no longer hold the numbers, my daughters will bear the children for me.”
Lowering her head, Lowenah became sad. “I made your brother to be father to all living things, the fire of life igniting first in his loins. The day was soon in its coming when I would have given him your youngest sister as a new creation, she being able to bear seed and produce offspring. She was to lead the way, the youngest first, to keep my other daughters humble in respect to age and glory.” She looked into Tolohe’s face. “That’s why I gifted my creation of the Second Realm first with the ability to make children, to help teach my children here to be humble and not think too much of themselves.”
She gripped Tolohe’s hand with both hers and scanned the surroundings. “I have now chosen another child to be the first among my daughters to become fruitful. She has come from the Realms Below and will stand next to the king, being second in power in all my kingdom.” Then looking into Tolohe’s eyes, her own tearing up, “And you shall conceive fruitage following her, second among my daughters. You will also stand beside Shiloh, third in power and glory in all my realms. But for you, twins will struggle within you and you will mourn as though in death because of their struggles.” She would say no more of the matter.
Leading the way, Lowenah began a descent toward the yet uncut ancient orchards near the base of the hill, chatting about more mundane matters. In course of conversation, she echoed her feelings about wishing for Tolohe to stay by her side.
Tolohe stopped, her smoky-gray eyes staring down into her mother’s emerald green oceans of love. “Should you but ask, my dear sweet one, I will delay my departure forever.”
With tears in her eyes, Lowenah softly replied, “No. No, my cherished one, you cannot do such a thing. Michael is a strong-willed child and she will make an effort to lead the coming battles. It must not happen. A demon still resides within her mind and I fear your brother will seek it. Your sister must be kept safe, and only you have the power to stop her. You must leave me.”
“I will do as you say, Meter.” Tolohe hung her head in sadness, then attempting to lighten the moment, suggested, “My ship leaves with me at the rising of the evening star on the morrow. Should your heart desire company until that time, mine would find its delight to be the one sharing it.”
Lowenah giggled, “Why do you think we have journeyed so far this day? I have secrets in the distant wood that only my soul knows of. Would you like to see some of them for yourself?”
With that the two hurried on toward the imposing, nearly impenetrable evergreen forest to share secrets hidden within.
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