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Just another day in You-Know-Where (Scarlett_156's blog): My disclaimer
(This is from "kotw the trap" - the episode is called "the dragon's egg/Cuetio" - Cuetio is a youth who has lived to observe the Children of God being rescued by the grace of the Almighty from the trap called Onyx Hold.)
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Father
Ivask continued: "The King cannot return to Viragos after the
Temple there tried to arrest him. That is how he came to be injured.
And part of the reason there's a price on his head." After some
hushed exclamations, he said, "Incidentally, as I'm sure some of
you know, Naemas Tagros Long-Legs is our King's friend for ten years
now, and one of our new priests who accompanied the King upon this
mission is Naemas's brother Naimejo. The Tagros Naimejo's fame as an
evangelist is known far and wide, just as Naemas's – is this not
so, Children of God?"
There
were outcries at this. Rather clandestinely, I glanced around trying
to see the King's mother, but I didn't see her. most of the women had
their heads covered, so it was hard to tell who was who.
She
is older than Father by a year or two, but the Lady Ember seems a
great deal younger – she is small and lithe, her eyes bright and
her face full of freckles. It is not just her coloring, but her
stance, sparkling voice, and fiery manner that make her seem the same
age as my sister, who is not yet twenty.
And
can she dance! The Lady Ember is new to the assembly, but has been so
quick to learn our ways that often she stays near the head of the
line until the sun begins to rise. This is not an exaggeration.
(We
kids are not supposed to watch or take part in the dance so I try
mostly to keep these ideas out of my mind, especially at lessons.)
Father
Ivask went on: "We are all familiar with the legend of the
soratrap and also we know there are many who believe Naxosos King to
be that individual, who is the culmination of many legends. There is
a general belief that the true king has returned; over the last forty
years or so – two generations – countless rumors have propagated
as to his birth, settlement of origin, and location. The official
account is that this one died as a newborn, but almost no one
believes it."
A
murmur of agreement went up at this. After a moment, Father Ivask
continued.
"That
our King is so hunted and for so little cause is one factor
suggesting he, our Lord the Gorardeno's Naxosos is the returned ruler
of Arigne and the People of God. And what he accomplished at the
South Water yesterday is evidence." Here the priest paused for a
moment to allow the whispers to die away.
Now
a woman wailed "God
is good!" then
started crying. Without a doubt, it was the King's mother. A few
women gathered about another in a dark-blue headscarf as though to
offer comfort.
Our
God is is always and in every way good.
"However,"
Father Ivask continued, "it may also be that he is simply a
sorcerer of great power, born to an influential family. A few such
exist in our part of the world at present." Before the assembly
could begin to complain, he said further, "Two of these, for
example, are our holy priests the Tagros Naimejo, who as I said is
Long-Legs' brother older by about ten years, and Maynaliel who is
nicknamed Tolalo – you know him – they assisted the warriors'
escape by calling a storm. We all saw this upon our exit from Onyx
Hold. Members of the tribe may not know these two, but we priests
surely recognize them as mighty in magic. Also, they are powerful
evangelists. The fisher-folk know them well."
I
reflected that this was probably why we were looking at water in the
Kahechi Latho today.
Father
Ivask said, "Know that our King is safe. He underwent an ordeal
that demonstrated him to be accomplished in magic, as well as a man
of sagacity and cunning. The Goddess states she had little to do
except to make sure that the rescue party found the location and then
escaped. They – Fathers Naimejo and Tolalo, the Goddess and her
Second, Naxosos King, and our scouts Zarosis's son Korsis and Tagros
Naemas Long-Legs – are all safe. The warriors Stanilomaxinon and
Terenorint are hale.
"After
they rid this latho of our enemies, the two of them returned to
attend the King. Tagros Naemas ran all night transporting the King,
who was unconscious, to safety: From that place, he then brought the
four donkeys here to Kahechi Latho, and returned across the sand in
the morning heat."
"They're
at Onyx Spires, aren't they?" someone yelled and a number of
others could be heard shushing him.
Father
Ivask said. "We will not talk about their current location."
Then, after a brief pause: "The archmage is whole and killed
some of our enemies." (At this, someone spat and a grumble
arose, though it abated quickly.) Then, laughing, the ancient priest
said, "Nay, we should thank that one, for he also worked his
utmost to deliver the Children of God."
"We'd
be sitting back in Onyx Hold watching the herd die!" a man
called and this was followed by someone else saying "And he
would be the one to thank for that!" and then another fellow who
sounded like one of the cattle-drovers said "We could have got
out and the animals, but we would leave a trail of bodies!" and
someone else said "Who would have fought the Jaras for water at
Kahechi Latho?"
(end of excerpt 18 May 2024)
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