Utopia Falling, page 14
Provost declared, “It is our nation’s great honor that the Chancellor of Adelle blesses us with his attendance.”
The Chancellor graciously smiled as his official reply. Chancellor Tomelai welcomed the opportunity to interact with those of the lower classes, especially since it was only a few words and took so little effort on his part.
“Look, the city came out to greet the Chancellor. There’s a heck of a lot of them,” Nardel said.
It was the Feast of Teth. These were the moments that brought Derr to great consternation. Having heard Nadel’s thoughts, Derr added his own. “Too many people. Too few of us in the Guard. Too many possibilities to account for. Keep your eyes open.”
Ferpratt joined in, trying to soften up Derr. “But not today. Not after the incident in the tunnel. The assault on Tomelai failed thanks to your quick thinking, Captain.”
Derr listened but said nothing. He often said nothing.
Ferpratt went on, “There won’t be another attempt, at least not this morning. They shot their load. They failed. Might be regrouping. But not this quickly.”
Derr replied, “Hope you’re right.”
It should have put Derr at ease. Druin Derr at ease was much like Druin Derr at any other time, day or night—always on high alert. That was exactly what he expected from every man and woman of the KCG.
Derr watched the crowd closely. He watched faces. He looked at clothing. He evaluated groups. He followed arm movements, hand gestures, and took in all he could. But mostly, he examined faces. Druin Derr watched everything. He was always watching.
The reassuring words he offered were a lie. He equivocated to put the Chancellor at ease, but Derr didn’t let his guard down for even a second. Danger was everywhere. Someone wanted Tomelai dead, and one failed attempt wouldn’t put an end to it. Whoever arranged Tomelai’s assassination already knew the plot failed.
The hit men were dead.
Tomelai lived.
The threat of a second attempt hung in the air. Derr had to be ready when it came.
A Rock and a Hard Place
Owls Neck: 27th day of the Salmon Moon
Mithany | Arek
Midday had arrived for Mithany and her fellow travelers making their way back to Hensdale. Frantic to find out what had become of Reyne, the day wore on her. She rubbed her chest, attempting to relieve the ache that had settled there. An ache to see Reyne safe and unharmed.
How long is this gonna take? Mithany thought. She was oblivious to the sound of birds, oblivious to the fields of wildflowers along the roadside and oblivious to Arek’s boundless energy. She had given up waiting for Arek’s comfort, forsaken to be imprisoned in her own misery the rest of the way home.
One thought kept all others at bay. Is he alright? It replayed over and over in her mind. Is he alright? Is he alright? Is he alright?
“You okay, Sis?”
No reply.
“Sis?”
Nothing.
Arek expected a reply from Mithany. When he failed to get one, he blurted out, “Time to take action.” For Arek, “taking action” meant anything was possible.
Turning to Neladith, he said, “Be right back, Nel.” Pecked her on the cheek, then ran up ahead to Mithany, who was shuffling along. If accompanied by a marching band, he would have gone unnoticed.
As he approached his shorter sister, he switched to stealth mode. He lowered himself to walk on bended knees with outstretched arms and open palms. With each foot carefully placed on the dirt roadway so as not to alert her to his approach, his arms shot forward and grabbed her ass. He squeezed hard.
Reacting with an exceptionally loud squeal that echoed throughout the forest, Mithany jumped several paces ahead.
Laughing at the site, Arek got a few words out, “That leap would’ve set the long jump record back in Hensdale.”
She landed safely with her hands coming to rest on her knees. Looking down at the dirt beneath her feet, Mithany yelled back at her brother, “You’re a dick!” followed by a long and loud, second pronouncement, “DICK!!!”
Ignoring her protestations, Arek bent over in laughter at his sister’s reaction. Laughing hard, pain took hold cramping along his rib cage. “Oh, it hurts. I gotta stop laughing.” But he kept laughing anyway.
Arek’s cackling filled the air. Mithany took her hands off her knees, spun around to observe her brother cramped over in delightful agony, and also saw Neladith with a shit-eating grin on her face. Anger flared and she wanted to scream, “Why did you even come on this trip? Another roll in the hay?” But for Arek’s sake, the words only rattled around in her head.
Mithany wanted to embrace her fury. She wanted to be mad at them both. Mostly, she wanted to hold Reyne in her arms. Her shoulders slumped and she released an audible sigh. She didn’t have the strength to fight it. Worrying about Reyne drained her and he was all that really mattered.
With exhaustion in her eyes, Mithany patiently walked over to Arek. He was still bent over in pure glee. She raised one leg, rested it on his hunched shoulder, and used her foot to topple him over. His body didn’t seem to change position when he hit the ground, nor did he stop laughing.
Mithany turned to see Neladith’s look locked on Arek now rolling about delightfully on the ground. Mithany stood over her brother and was amazed at the full measure of joy Arek took at her expense. Resentment proved impossible to embrace watching his childlike innocence, and Mithany seemed to change with each passing moment.
She let out a little smirk. “You’re still a dick.”
Before Arek responded, a piercing, deep, fearsome roar, louder than anything Mithany ever experienced, nailed her in place, to the identical effect on both Arek and Neladith.
“What the fuck was that?” Arek whispered from his position on the ground.
“Shhhh,” Mithany said, bringing her index finger to her lips as she scanned the area.
Arek opened his mouth to speak when Neladith quietly jumped in, “Arek, would you shut the fuck up? You want whatever made that sound finding us?”
Not one of them moved a muscle for the next few minutes. They waited silently, motionless, listening to every noise the forest threw at them, hoping for any signal telling them what it was and hoping like hell they would hear nothing like it again.
In spite of her fears, Mithany reflected on Neladith’s admonition of Arek. She liked that Neladith told Arek to “shut the fuck up.” He deserved it. She might be one of those gals who stands up for herself. I can respect that, especially in a young girl, woman, whatever. Give ’em shit. He deserves it. Good for you, Neladith.
Arek was the first to speak, of course. “Okay, so nothing. It’s gone. Let’s move on. Or in your case, Sis, let’s hop along further down the road.” He started laughing again.
“Oh, wipe that grin off your face. You’re still a dick,” Mithany said with little to no conviction. She never stayed mad at Arek for too long.
“I guess it’s safe to continue on,” Neladith said, and to Mithany’s surprise, Neladith directed the words at her.
Reyne was still foremost on her mind. “I agree.”
“Hey, anyone gonna ask me what I think?” Arek asked in what Mithany recognized as a pretend hurt voice.
In unison, both women replied, “No!”
Which surprised Mithany again. Huh, I can get to like this one if he keeps her around long enough.
“Can we cut out the nonsense and pick up the pace?” Mithany said, returning her attention to her fears of what had become of Reyne.
Reyne, my love, I’m coming.
A Goddess Incarnate
Teth: 27th day of the Salmon Moon
Jerithan
The Feast of Teth’s Firstmeal celebratory processional made its way into the great hall. The Prudents rose as one and graciously bowed to the procession led by the maiden chosen to represent Teth’s incarnation, Lilly Marvo.
Each year, the Order of Teth selected a maiden from the city to represent their namesake goddess. Considered a great honor to be chosen, whomever the Order selected as the ceremonial maiden brought respect to herself and her family. Families could parlay their good fortune to last the year and beyond. The ceremonial maiden remained in demand throughout the year at events and private functions until the inevitable, when a new maiden would be chosen the following year. A lucky few captured the love of the city and remained in favor for many years after their initial tenure ended.
The Order of Teth’s selection process was not without its inducements from those who would seek advantage. Having one’s daughter considered for the honor required duly proffered payments to both the official channels of the Temple and to the unofficial channels within the Order. The Order of Teth comprised prelates appointed by high ranking Prudents of the Temple and included secular officials from the ranks of the city’s administrative community. Bribes were part of the process and known to all who cared a whit.
Lilly Marvo, a blossoming young woman of eighteen years chosen as the current maiden Teth, held her head high while stepping out as the lead. Proud as any grandfather would be, Prudent Marvo beamed at the site.
The selection of Lilly Marvo had been unexpected. Although the usual secret payoffs were exchanged, the Order remained unable to settle on any one candidate. Each person of the Order pushed their nominee. With a compromise impossible, the Order deadlocked until the First Lord took the rare step of offering his “unofficial” support for Lilly. She had not been in earnest consideration up to then, but none of the Order’s members could afford to deny the First Lord his choice.
Razoal counseled First Lord Jerithan on the selection of Lilly, aiming to cement the support of Marvo and many Prudents in his faction. With the appearance of unity and respect for his once-rival, the Order’s choice of Lilly Marvo proved effective in securing Prudent Marvo’s loyalty. The First Lord was reasonably sure he understood the man well and expected nothing less than total obedience from Marvo in the exchange. Jerithan had created the need for compromise, seeing the members of this year’s Order of Teth comprised itself of individuals whose character flaws included stubbornness, one and all. Jerithan then sat back and allowed events to play out, creating the conditions for Lilly Marvo’s dark horse selection and Prudent Marvo’s allegiance.
Watching Lilly Marvo as he followed in behind her, Jerithan briefly glanced across the room to see Prudent Marvo smiling proudly at his granddaughter. The First Lord was also proud of himself for what he had accomplished with a simple gesture.
“You’ve done well,” the Voice broke through Jerithan’s thoughts.
Jerithan silently replied, Yes. Thank you, soaking up the praise that, from what he believed, came from Father Sun, the one true God.
The Voice added, “This is better than I thought you might do. Prudent Marvo at your side will have a measurable impact on our plans to create the Empire of Tartica, and at such a small expense. I am proud of you.”
Jerithan craved the adulation of his inner companion and blushed at the compliment.
Lilly Marvo, as the maiden-incarnate-Teth, stood before the holy congregation of Prudents. Jerithan was a step behind on her right, and the Temple of Life’s Second Lord was to her left, followed by ten young boys and ten girls all adorned in ceremonial white robes and flowers. The Prudents remained standing as maiden-incarnate-Teth gently removed the left strap from her shoulder, letting it drop from her arm. Slowly and gently, she lowered the strap of her gown from her right shoulder, letting it fall. This time, it brought the entire ceremonial gown to the floor.
As a reenactment of what Teth had done at the founding of the city, Lilly stood naked before all who had gathered for Firstmeal. Stepping out over the fallen gown, her feet gingerly walked down three steps into an opening in the middle of the table. All eyes fixed on her as she represented the Temple’s goddess. She epitomized Teth’s innocence and beauty. Reaching the center of the confine, she raised her outstretched arms with palms upward, and turning to face the flowered children and the Council of Prudents, she spoke the ceremonial lines: “Children of the world. The few left to seed our future, join me in a new beginning. Thrown off are all our ties to the past. I stand here naked, as in a new birth, to accept from Mother Earth only what she willingly offers us, to clothe us, feed us, nurture us, our spirits, and to lead us in a new direction as we, the chosen survivors, repopulate humanity. Children, join me.”
“She is beautiful.“ The Voice broke in on Jerithan as he watched the ritual unfold. “Do you think Marvo knows how lustfully his brothers look upon his granddaughter? Look at him. He is so proud of her. It blinds him. He does not see it. These holy men and woman, with the Book of Teth as their guide, should better understand the Gift of Flesh is about love and purity. It is proof, faith is no match for the Torment of Lust. Not even in the holiest of men.”
You know what I see, First Lord Jerithan replied in thought. I see a means to an end. I see the face of Prudent Marvo, and I know that we have moved our cause one step forward by eliminating a powerful obstacle. I am that much closer to achieving the impossible, Emperor of Tartica. At that moment, Jerithan’s unquenchable lust for power trumped his lecherous desire for the heavenly form before him.
“That is why you are the right man for what we have to do. You do not see the lovely Gift of Flesh or the Maiden Teth reborn. You do not see a goddess. You see an answer to our Prudent Marvo problem, standing in the center of the room. I have always known why you are my chosen. Now don’t you have a ceremony to continue,“ the Voice concluded.
With the thought of the lovely Lilly Marvo standing before the Council of Prudents, Jerithan stepped to the top of the three short steps, coming to face them all.
“As it was at the dawn of time,” he began. All but a few eyes looked up to meet his gaze. “Eurithian, Father Sun, roamed the heavens, racing across the universe as he pleased. Until He came upon Simurmure, Mother Earth, who was wandering alone in darkness. Eurithian, with all His might, ensnared Simurmure to Him. She struggled to break free, but to no avail, and they became entwined, but He could not pull her to Him. Eurithian relentlessly drew her closer year after year. And so, it has been since the dawn of time.
“Each day, Eurithian rose to continue the chase until exhausted and sleep fell upon him. Each day, Simurmure raced across the sky, pursued by her would-be lover. But she longed to regain the freedom she once knew. Eurithian bathed her in His warmth, and over time, she came to appreciate His gift.”
While Jerithan paused and looked about the faces of the Council of Prudents, the Voice in his head reflected, “I know you have Marvo the Elder on your mind, but look at that lovely body. She is a lovely gift to the eyes. Is there anything more exquisite, is there nothing greater, in all of Eurithian’s creation and amongst the Six Gifts, than the sight of such a woman?”
Maybe the Voice’s words were a test, but the First Lord ignored him, and kept on, “Simurmure came to love the warmth but would not relent. Freedom, more than anything, drove her each day. Over epochs, He pursued her through the heavens, and still, she would not give in. Eurithian was mad with a passion for Simurmure, so He set His seed upon the solar winds with the hope His seed would reach His unrequited lover. Settling upon baron lands, Eurithian’s seed yet bore fruit. And so Satrin, god of water, was born of the fruit of Eurithian and Simurmure, and she was pleased. The Sun God’s seed brought her a child whom she loved so. Seeing her pleasure with Satrin, Eurithian again released His seed tenfold to bring his love, Mother Earth, even more children. And it was so. With a great eruption, Efros broke from the loins of his mother. He broke free of the physical touch, as he desired to roam the heavens. Yet she would not release him to his father because she loved him deeply, and he loved his mother deeply. She hides Efros from his father by day and loves his mother each night.
“And so, it was that Simurmure came to love Satrin and Efros. She was grateful to Eurithian for these gifts. She stopped racing through the heavens to escape His advances and settled into a peaceful and quiet place in the heavens. But still, Eurithian rose each morning to set His warmth upon her and longed for more. Father Sun saw this in her.
“And it was at the dawn of the First Age of Man, a massive release of the seed in the form of sunlight from Father Sun reached the womb, the open barren lands, of Mother Earth. And the children of the Earth sprung forth from the barren lands.
“Simurmure saw them grow and multiply. She loved them as her own, but Eurithian grew jealous. As the children of Earth spread across the world, Eurithian could take it no longer. They worshiped her, not Him, and commanded His son Satrin to bring rain down upon all the children of Earth and sweep them away.”
Jerithan again paused, looking out over his audience. With all the Prudents watching him and Lilly Marvo still standing among the flowered children, Jerithan motioned all eyes toward the encircling fresco.
“For although Satrin was compelled to obey his father, he loved his mother so that he whispered in the ear of only a few, warning them to prepare for what was to come. The First Age of Man ended with the Great Flood set upon the Earth by Satrin. And with those few who Satrin hid from his father, the children of Earth and the creatures of Earth again grew and multiplied for many millennia to come.”
With the flowered children becoming restless, as children often do, Lilly took it upon herself to gather them to her side. Her naked form before them was of no concern, having been brought up in the faith and having been accustomed to all people in their natural state.
“But the children of Earth grew demanding on Simurmure, taking from her all she could give. And yet, they demanded more and more of her until devastation fell upon the children of Earth over what little resources remained of what Mother Earth could provide. Father Sun saw this, and He was not pleased. Efros wept for his mother and the children of the Earth. He saw his mother was distraught. He loved his mother so deeply that he committed a great sacrilege. He whispered to just a few, so Father Sun would not find him out, to gather the seeds of life throughout the world and to hide them away from Eurithian. For Efros knew his father’s wrath would soon be coming. And so it did. Father Sun brought down His anger upon all the children of Earth, and so it was with the second Great Destruction, He sent fire on the solar winds to destroy the great cities and to wipe the children of Earth from all existence.”
