A SCROLL OF BOOKS: The Book of Tales: "The Forgivers"

 A SCROLL OF BOOKS:

The Book of Tales: "The Forgivers"

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At the funeral ceremony of Mithar's first Queen, the distraught King Vedumar leaned over to his advisor, "Why has this affair not begun? Two days now and it has not begun. Do you not smell the corpse from here, despite all the lit oils and herbs?"

"My Lord King, the people still await the arrival of the Kubael," his counselor whispered in return.

"Kubael? What is this I have not been made aware of until now?"

Näahdaw heard the escalation in Vendumar's tone.

"Kubael - is a Forgiver, sire," Näahdaw's voice was low and calm. He continued, "Lord, you must not forget that these Bedouins have given up much in their compliance to your crown. Yet are they staunch in their unmoving belief in this unwavering custom."

Vendumar remained perplexed, "Pray, and what custom is this that I must now be made to submit to?"

"Sire, your wife, our Queen is and was first and foremost a Nasilian, and a 'Cicadite most faithful'." A stern smile came over the Counselor's face, "You saw both the gold and copper coins placed over her Ladyship's eyes? They are for more than closing them; they are payment for services rendered by the Kubael. The flat bread, dripped with three drops of the Queen's blood, that was placed atop her bosom was to absorb her -- sin, Sire. For all eternity she will be forgotten and annihilated to be unremembered. Yet, it is the voluntary task of the Kubael to accept the fate of being unremembered and eternally banished, until summoned for this task of forgiving the Queen's sin."

"A sin-eater? What is this superstitious rubbish, in our time and age," Vendumar blurted aloud!

"One that in time my lord you may devise a way out of, but as for today without his services the people are content in themselves to allow your wife to rot where she now lays," this Näahdaw did not whisper as all eyes fell on the King in validation.

Vendumar's sigh and slumping shoulders showed his resignation to allow the ceremony to continue.

The murmuring and mourning sobs all fell silent as the rear of the crowds began parting a pathway to the raised dais of the Queen Nalawë. A stranger had entered into their midst. He was dressed, from head to barefeet, all in black; his robe's high, oversized hood was draped back. The man's face was half concealed by the masking of the hood's removal. Only his darkened outlined eyes were seen. The figure's face, slicked back hair, hands and bare feet were caked in a cracking white paint. The Kubael smelt unbathed and looked like Death personified.

The strange figure approached the Queen's body and slowly removed the coins with both hands, slipping them soundlessly into previously unnoticed outer pockets. Then, taking the flat bread, he tore it in half and ate it until fully consumed, then turned back and left as eerily as he had entered. A breath later and all the sounds of whaling cries continued as before.

Vendumar looked utterly spent emotionally, a changed figure from that moment onward.

STORY: Nadan; His Purpose

 A SCROLL OF BOOKS

(Story By David DeLane Snow)

After the death of his wife, Nadan sat quietly by the widow while holding his infant son wrapped in swaddling. He gazed out pondering the meaning of his life. "If there is a reason for all of life's pain and struggling I would love to know - if only it was revealed in even the briefest I would so follow it the remainder of my life."

It was in that very moment that his life changed. A Cicada landed on the window seal. The incest's wings fluttered and yet it did not take flight before the father holding his son. As Nadan looked on, the creature walked about to face his onlooker. The Cicada began its shrilling call. Nadan was captivated by the sound and then became bewildered by it. The shrill continued, and then within its noise Nadan began to hear the voice of a man speaking to him. "LISTEN! Listen and know who you are before! From henceforth, even as I am speaking to you in this manner shall others learn the answer to your question - from me; through you! Thereby, even your son shall be bolder than you, and his voice a Cicada's shrill before others. His words shall be a hard thing to withstand before Men."

Nadan was bewildered and leaned in closer to ask the insect to explain, but the creature flew away.

Nadan pulled a cord alongside the wall and a young Nasilian maiden entered the nursery, to attend to the babe, Kyon. After breastfeeding she lay the infant in his bed, then turned to leave.

"Lome, please - may I inquire something of you?"

"Certainly Prince."

"With all due respect, my name alone is sufficient," he smiled at the youth.

"Yes, Nadan," returning his smile with honor.

"I had a most peculiar thing happen just before I called you." Nadan then relayed his visitor's comments.

The young girl's eyes grew large as her countenance brightened with a joyous smile, "Indeed, you say!" She crossed both of her arms to embrace her own shoulders with a brief head bow. Adding, "The appearance of a Cicada is a most auspicious encounter Prince Nada. Long have my people revered them as Holy Presence. Rare indeed, and only to those called Shamans have heard Cicadas speak with the voice of men!"

Nadan's eyes questioned, "So - it is a good thing, and that I am not going mad?"

"You have been chosen, Nadan to be a mouthpiece of the Lord. Two others - shall come to you in like manner, only then will you fully understand whom it really is that is speaking to you. Yet, I pray Nadan you keep all these between us alone until they come. The fourth voice from him will come through you to the people and then indeed even they will know! Gratitude for your sharing." With that the nurse left the babe's room.

Standing near Kyon's crib, Nadan looked down, "My son, I feel that both our lives have changed, we have a purpose to answer."

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