PreviousYou enter into Eve's dreams. She seems to be dreaming of a past memory. You watch:
"And then what happened?"
"Its time to sleep now Eve, your father needs his sleep too."
"But I want to hear more about Sheshbaalu!"
"Its fine, dear."
"Yay!"
"*sigh* You'll spoil her, you know."
"Well if not me, then who?" Biumuga smiles and his wife shakes her head.
"Fine. Fine. But not too late ok?" She leans in and kisses the both of them and goes inside to sleep. Father and daughter watch the moon creep behind the clouds. They lean back against the tree trunk.
"So now, where was I?"
"Sheshbaalu was traveling with his brother!"
"Ahh yes, you see Sheshbaalu's brother was a trickster. He loved playing jokes on others. And it was Sheshbaalu who would have to clean up his mess. They often got into trouble and it was always Sheshbaalu that got them out of it. I'll tell you the story of the time they met Azzan."
"Who's that?"
"Azzan? Oh, he was a prince. A very rich one, in fact. His father's kingdom stretched from the northern rivers to the southern coast. Anyway, one day Sheshbaalu and his brother came upon Azzan traveling with a few of his close friends. You see Azzan was quite fond of the ocean and he would go to the southern coast to swim, every spring. Now Sheshbaalu's brother saw this chance meeting as an opportunity to part a fool with his gold and also to play joke on the prince."
"What did he do?"
"Well, he knew that the prince liked to swim. So we went into the forest and gathered some mushrooms, then he set up a fake shop by the road and when the prince came by, he called out to him and told him that he had a magic mushroom which would allow the prince to breath underwater!"
"Where was Sheshbaalu?"
"Oh he had gone out to hunt for food for their evening meal. Anyway, the prince wasn't convinced so he wanted a demonstration. But, Sheshbaalu's brother was ready. He led the prince and his men to small pool he and his brother had discovered in the forest. When he was bathing, Sheshbaalu had found a tunnel underneath the pool which lead to a small cave. Sheshbaalu's brother told the prince and his men to watch him closely, then he put one of the mushrooms in his mouth and jumped into the pool."
"And then?"
"Then, he swam into the tunnel and waited in the cave, free to breathe as long as he liked. He waited for a long time, much longer than anyone can hold their breath. Then he spit out the mushroom and swam back to the prince. The prince, who had only seen a man go beneath a pool and remain there for a very long time, was astonished. He paid for the whole pack of mushrooms and went on his merry way. Later, Sheshbaalu came back to find his brother eating some very expensive pastries (his brother had a sweet tooth). Naturally Sheshbaalu was suspicious. He wanted to know where his brother got that food. So his brother told him and Sheshbaalu was furious. He took the rest of the money from his brother and went to look for the prince to return and to beg for forgiveness. When they eventually found the prince, he and his friends were bed-ridden with stomachaches. Not only were the mushrooms fake, but they were also poisonous!"
"Oh! That's why he spit them out!"
"Exactly! Now Sheshbaalu was worried, because if the prince died, he would be a fugitive for the rest of his life. So he took out his flute and began playing a soothing melody. The prince and his friends heard it and immediately their sickness was gone from them. The prince demanded to know who was playing and singing so beautifully and Sheshbaalu revealed himself. He explained what his brother had done and begged for the prince's forgiveness. The prince was not a hard-hearted man and forgave Sheshbaalu on the condition that he would play at prince's Royal coronation. Sheshbaalu was delighted. And that was how he Shesbaalu came to know Azzan. And later, he would meet someone at the coronation and fall in love. But that, is a tale for another time."
"Awww but I want to hear about the coronation."
"Now, now. You heard your mother. Come along."
"Ok." The father picked up his daughter and walked back to their home. The daughter rested her head on his shoulders.
"How come you know all about Sheshbaalu daddy?" The father stops.
"He is important to us."
"He is? Why?" The father's voice suddenly warps and deepens.
"Because our destines are forever intertwined."
"What? What do you mean?"
"No more questions, Eve. Time for bed."
"Aww. Ok daddy. *yawn* Good night."
"Good night my darling."
The dream ends and Eve's mind returns to the black unconscious. You weave a dream telling her of her mother; that she is still alive and waiting. You tell her that the messenger who came to you is divine and will not betray his promise. You tell her to go to the meeting with your blessing and that you have not left her and are with her always and will protect her.
She awakens, more at peace than she has been in many days. She tells Suha that she will go to the meeting, despite Suha's objections. When the night finally comes, the messenger again emerges from the forest.
"Have you made your decision?"
"I have. I will go."
Then the messenger looks up at you hovering above and nods. "Very good. Come with me."
They walk through the forest directly into the captured city of Arish, where Akhentef resides. Eve tries several times to make small talk, but the messenger is tight lipped. Eventually she gives up and they walk to the city in silence. When they arrive at the gates, the soldiers see Eve and immediately put up their weapons.
Then the messenger glares at them and they return, hesitant, to their posts and open the gate. Eve is led into a large building. You guess it was probably a town hall before the sacking. Several hallways later, and Eve enters a well lit room with a long table. At the far end of the table sits Akhentef. As before, you know instantly that this man is king. His armlet gleams in the candle-light. By his side sits the old man you saw with him before. The table is filled with a variety of dishes containing food Eve has never even seen before. The two are dining quietly when they notice the messenger and Eve.
"Ah. Excellent. You are Eve I presume?" Says Akhentef in Eve's tongue. Eve remembers her men being slaughtered like cattle and blood which reddened the green fields. She squeezes her hand into a fist. Then she remembers her mother, still whole and alive. She releases her hand.
"I am." Eve says, in the western tongue. She gives a short bow.
"Hmm, you know our language?"
"Yes."
"I knew you were not to be underestimated." Akhentef chuckles. "But where are my manners? Please, do sit down. Eat, if you like." Eve remains standing.
"Why am I here?" The older man looks up with fury at this insolence, but Akhentef waves away his anger.
"You are angry. Understandably so. I have summoned you because my Lord, Tef has willed it and I do as he commands."
"And has he commanded you to slaughter thousands of innocents? To rain blood upon the fields?" There is a pause at this.
"Yes...he has." Eve is genuinely surprised, as are you. "Do you not know? What the nature of worship is?"
"Worship? I don't understand."
"Sacrifice! It is sacrifice, Eve! How can one be close to God if the myriad things bind him to the Earth? God resides in heaven." Akhentef points his finger upwards. "We reach Him by throwing away the fetters of flesh that incarcerate us. We do so by sacrifice. Our time, our thoughts, our wealth...yes, even our blood."
"But it was not
your blood that was spilled was it? It was the blood of my people. What fetters are in that? What binds?"
"Be silent girl. You know not of what you speak." This time the old man cannot help himself. He stands. His voice is low and angry.
"Enough Mose, she is a guest." The old man sits back down, but his eyes remain on Eve. "Will you not eat with me Eve? It is the custom of our people to feed our guests."
"And it is the custom of mine, never to dine with killers."
"Then I wonder how you dine with your comrades in arms? Or are they exempt from your judgement? But peace, I have spoken too curtly."
Eve remains silent. But at last she sits down.
"I was told you had information on my superiors, about Gezaru?"
"Ah yes. Bring in the prisoner!" The door opens and two guards bring in a shackled man. His face his obscured by his hair and beard. His body looks like a strip of bark ripped from the trunk, so emaciated is he. His clothes are in tatters and he shakes even to stand. You note that his back is marked with red lashes and white scars. He stares at Eve as if she were the only light in the room, and he, the moth.
tbc. (You may suggest things in the meantime if you wish)
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Topic: You Are a Minor God (Read 111808 times)