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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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