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."

.....

The Oath

   When his son turned seven years old, Nadan told Kyon, “Son, people will kill me one day.”

   The boy looked at him and said, “No father do not say that.”

   Nadan continued, “I tell you this so that when it happens you will understand and not be caught off guard.  But they will and I wanted you to know that no matter what happens, I love you and am very proud of you my son.”

   His son assured him, “I know.  Gratitude father; but, why would someone want to kill you?”

   Smiling, Nadan answered as best he could, “Some people are afraid.  They only react from fear and not understanding.  They fear change.  Instead of love, compassion and understanding some reach out to hurt others they are afraid of getting to know.  The more you grow up the more changes are asked of you.  When you love others there is less of you and more of them.”

   “I will father, and they shall be humbled to tears and made to realize they were wrong.” Kyon answered.

   Exactly a year later to the very day Nadan was killed at the Oasis of Orid.  As Kyon lay beside his father’s body, he remembered his words.  Kyon stopped his crying and stood up.  Facing the priest, with his father’s blood still dripping from his unsheathed sword, he said “I am Kyon the son of Nadan, and I forgive you.  I am sad to see that you have not grown up, and everything you think you know about God; are not the lessons he wanted you to learn.  You may leave now that I may bury my father for your deed is done, and there is no one left for you to kill.”

   The priest and the four Tower guards were astounded by the boy’s reaction.  They left in silence.  Moments later the crowd that had gathered about and watched everything departed as well.   Afterwards, Kyon said, “Gratitude, Corlan but I shall do this task alone.”  With that he dug a deep hole in the desert sand and buried his father by himself as Corlan, his father’s man servant looked on and cried for his loss.  For he knew Kyon would never cry again; and for an entire year nor did he speak a word. 

...

THE WATCHER'S BOOK: Kyon

   

( Click to enlarge picture )

In the city of Lindol there was a widow named Mena, a devout follower of the Goddess Yevanna. Mena devoutly burned incense in her temple daily, never forgetting to mention her husband who had been lost at sea.

   One day as Mena was working in her garden a stranger happened to venture by. The stranger approached and said, "Woman, give me a bowl of soup made fresh from your garden, as The Creator Illuva's servant asks and you shall be blessed beyond measure this very day."

   The old woman said, "I do not even know your name, why must you so compel me to do such a thing? *sigh* Nonetheless, it shall be done." Straight away Mena gathered and prepared the meal. It proved to be the last of what she had in store.Without a spoken word that it was the last of her own food she smilingly offered it to the stranger at her table.

   The young man ate his fill leaving nothing to remain behind, got up and turned to leave in silence. As he did so the woman called after him, "May Illuva richly bless you instead!"

   With that the stranger turned back around and replied, "I am Kyon the only son of Nadan the Prophet. Behold, as I said before - here comes your reward beyond measure my dear Lady." Kyon Omdan then walked down the eastern road without passing any one.

   Seeing nothing unusal occur Mena returned to cleaning up her kitchen after the stranger when shortly there came a knock at the door again.

Upon opening the door her eyes filled with tears and she burst into laughter jumping to embrace her husband who stood there.

   A moment later he confessed an amazing tale. "I was lost at sea," He began, "for three weeks we drifted beyond the rim of the world. Many a day I feared sight of The Undying Lands, and ever was your name and face in my thoughts beloved wife.

   "Washed finally ashore, shipwrecked near the Port of Kathos was I found and thought dead. I was taken in and nursed to health again by a couple much younger than I.

   "For two weeks the merchant of Kathos gave me apprenticeship as a Copper-smith as I had no memory of who I was, but learned the craft quickly. Two months after I had been washed ashore, Japheth of Lindol ventured to that port city to buy his wares. In doing so he certainty recognized me of who I rightly was, and in that moment my true memory returned; as a flash of lightening in the night.

   "Being fully restored, my love, have I returned begging your forgiveness of my long absence and thinking me perished in death. I pray also that you would return with me for there I have a house grander than this one, a shop of my own and food beyond measure!" His fine clothes and offering of a coin purse was proof enough of his tale unto her.

   In reply she said through her tears, "Nolshek, all I have ever wanted was your safe return to my arms. Everything after that is a blessing in itself."

   AS Kyon journeyed down the road leaving Men's tiny home three ruffians threatened to waylay him. He asked, "Why do you seek to do me harm for I am as a stranger to you?"

   "It is for that very reason, that you are a stranger in these parts that we have no fear of a boy the like of you," said the first club welding highway man. The other two laughed and drew their own blades.

   Kyon said without hesitation or fear, "I have no coin to steal, no fine robe to take nor walking stick to claim as your own, and yet you would strive to take my very life for sport."

   The two jested in turn, "Yes, it is well known only Fools travel this road at dusk just because of the likes of us!"

But Kyon only stood his ground saying, "Such a pity you have allowed yourselves to see Kyon the only son of Nadan for the final time." Then Kyon waved his hand before them. In a panic the two men dropped their knives and began clasping their eyes screaming loudly, "I can not see!" "You fool, how did you blind me?"

   The third man, dropping his club fell to knees begging for mercy instead, "Forgive me Master! Do not curse me as well! I was banished into being a begger and fell among men of poor morals in hard times. Take mercy on me my lord, I beg you!"

   Kyon said, "Mercy indeed. Go, and tell everyone what you have seen. The very day in which you stop sharing such amazing news of kindness shall prove to be the very day you shall surely be stricken as blind as them! For some blind men are never healed of their blackened hearts."

   ONE day Kyon, the only son of the Prophet Nadan sat in the market square of Lindol, on the rim of a drawing well. A woman came to fetch water for her family's needs. Kyon said to her, "Daughter, for kindness sake give me a fresh drink from your pale, and your second shall see you greatly rewarded by Illuva himself!"

   After she gave Kyon a drink, she asked with a laugh, "Shall I now draw again to find gold coins?"

   Kyon answered, "Love is far more precious a thing maiden, more than all the coins this well could ever hold." With that he rose and left.

   About this time a warrior on a great horse dismounted his heavily clad stead, and removing his helm knelt before the young milk maid saying, "I am CaLos of Uruk, from the fourth House of Calabrosh. I have finished many tasks this day and rode far to meet the King of Mithar on urgent business. I came to LIndol for my personal sake. Please, I beg you to hear me out."

   Startled she almost rose to leave but stayed, as the young prince continued, "Be my bride, and I shall be the happiest man of all Eriduah. I have inherited great wealth from my father, and for three years thought it folly to search for the face that captivated all my nightly dreams. This very day I gave up in searching; yet have I found you at last. For Kyon, the only son of the prophet Nadan, told me such a thing would happen three years ago!"

   In amazement the soiled face girl said before the gathering crowd, "How can I leave my father's home, break my mother's heart and abandon my seven brother alone; even if you are some far away prince?"

   He smiled broadly, "They may come as well my sweet, if only you would make me as happy as I am in this very moment for the rest of my life. Surely I would rather bestow of my wealth upon your father's household just to have your hand in mine."

   By this time her family was among the crying crowd smiling, as she unblinkingly said, "YES!" The next day Sandriel and CaLos were wed and they journeyed to Uruk from Lindol with great joy.