Part One
Moonrise
1 The Hodara of Healing in Bethsada
Mabe sat on one of the stone
benches in the Grotto. The Eldest had
called her here and she didn’t know why.
She didn’t think she had done anything to deserve a judging, but why
else would the god and goddess want her presence? Soon, the moon would rise and she would dip
her hands in the chill waters of the crater
lake. Midra and Midran would speak. The only time she had heard their voices had
been the night she’d finished her training and had been accepted as a
Healwoman. She rubbed her hands along
her arms.
The Eldest touched her
shoulder. “The time is near. There are things I must tell you.”
“Are
you sure ’tis me they want?”
“You
are part of their plans for the future.”
The old woman smiled. “In the
days of yore, the Three of Midra--Seer, Warrior, Healer--united with their
mates. Together they defeated those who
embraced the dark faces of Midra and Midran.
For a time, the priestesses and priests who served the god and goddess
walked in the light and brought miracles to the land. But as time rolled on its circular path, what
was once came again. The dark face of
Midra enthralled the priestesses. They
turned from the light. Then the power of
the goddess faltered. Midran drew his
priests into the shadows. Still, what
was will come again.”
Mabe
nodded. She’d read the old tales kept in
the archives. She had found them
fascinating, but were they true? They
told of the days when the face of the goddess had darkened. ’Twas then the Healwomen had walked away from
the temples to found their own place. In
the years that followed, the temples had ruled and men had little power in ruling
any of the four divisions of the land now known as nomes. Gradually, the priests of Midran had gained
strength, first in the light. Then they
had embraced the dark face of the god.
She
glanced at the dome over the cavern.
Rays of moonlight shone through the four crescent shaped holes, one for
each nome. Keltoi, Sippal, Nilos and
Incal. Bands of color--red, yellow, blue
and white--spread across the water. The
arrival of the colors never failed to startle and amaze Mabe. What caused them to appear? She turned to the Eldest. “What do the legends have to do with me?”
“One will
come from Keltoi. She is a daughter of
this nome. Her lineage rises from the
Seer, the Warrior, the Healer and their spouses. She will have four talents and will be the
gleaner who finds the Four and Four. One
pair for each nome. They will bring light
from darkness. You will seek and find
her. Bring her to Bethsada so she can
enter the hodara and learn.”
Mabe
nodded and accepted the task. She felt
both humbled and excited to be chosen.
“When do I leave?”
The
Eldest rose. “The god and goddess will
tell you when.” She placed her hands on
Mabe’s head. “Seek their blessing. Their commands are for you alone.”
Once
the shuffling footsteps of the old woman no longer echoed, Mabe closed her
eyes. Her thoughts turned inward. She had hoped to remain in Bethsada and join
the other women who taught in the hodara.
Though her talents in Earth and Fire were moderate, her years of travel
had brought her knowledge of the customs and ways of the people in each nome. This knowledge was valuable to the Healwomen
who staffed the many hodaras.
She
rose and walked to the rock shelf surrounding the crater lake. She knelt and dipped her hands in the icy
water. “Midra, Midran, I have come. What would you have me do?”
As the
voices of the god and goddess sounded in her head, awe filled her being. The desires to laugh and cry co-mingled. She remained silent and listened.
*Go. Seek the one who will find the Four and
Four. Beware all who serve the dark
faces. They will try to keep you from
completing your task.*
“How
will I know the one I seek?”
*She
will find you, for she prays for refuge from the ones who slink in the
shadows.*
“And
the enemies?”
*One
you know, for you have faced and defeated her in the past. Of the other, if he knew the girl was his
daughter, he would be filled with joy.
While he is not of the dark, he might seek to sequester her so her
growth would be stunted.*
*Of her
enemies, there are two she must face.
One would see her dead. The other
will crave her as a possession. Rise. Gather your supplies. Choose a companion for your journey. On the morrow, leave for Keltoi.*
Mabe
sank back on her heels. She dried her
hands on her skirt. She rose and left
the Grotto. There was much to do before
morning. As she strode through the
tunnel, she considered who to ask to accompany her. Glena was her choice.
No comments:
Post a Comment