by Khalid Uddin
“I don’t understand. Why would he do that to himself? Did it wear off after a while?”
Munn continued, “No, no, dear boy. That was part o’ the point, ya see. Gideon sacrificed his self so the whole world would understand. So everyone would feel how important it was. It was a very meanin’ful thing, fer him ta die. If he’d a just turned the armies ta stone, people woulda just been afraid. He didn’t want that. He wanted them ta see what their choices were doin ta him. Here was a boy o’ sixteen, who gave up his life ta fix the world. An’ it worked! People saw the stones or got word o’ them, an’ they realized two things. One, all the fightin’ was pointless an’ futile, an’ two, the Five had humanity’s best interest in mind.”
Baltaszar sipped his tea and set the cup down. “Wait. You said that was part of the point, to make humanity see his motivation. But what was his other reason for sacrificing himself?”
“Ya see, boy, the thing with these Harbingers, well the Five anyway, was that whatever they used their abilities fer would be permanent once they died. Sure, they could reverse things if they chose, but death made things unchangeable. Gideon sacrificed his self so that the stone battlefield would be an example fer all time.”
“You’re saying the battlefield is still there? That people can actually go to it? See it? Touch it?”
“Oh sure they can. It’s over a week’s ride from here, next ta the royal city o’ Alvadon in Cerysia. Well, in theory, people can. King Edmund doesn’t allow it any longer though; he doesn’t much care fer the Harbingers an’ what they stand fer. But the whole thing is there, boy. I’ve met a few people who have seen it an’ they say it’s an incredible sight.”
“Incredible. Tell me more about the others. The rest of the Five. Please.”
Munn cautiously reached out for his teacup, then gulped down the contents. “Fill my cup, if ya don’t mind. All this storytellin’ makes an old man thirsty.” Baltaszar refilled the cup and sat back down. “Thank ya, boy. Well, where was I again? Oh, right…the others. Well, ya see, after Gideon’s death, the job fer the others got much easier. Sure there were some battles they had ta fight. Some people are stubborn fer the sake o’ bein stubborn. But I’d say within three or four years after Gideon died, the Harbingers’ work was done. In fact, people loved ‘em. Especially Darian an’ Lionel. Lionel, ya see, could speak any language. Ya can understand how people would be drawn ta that. We all want ta be understood an’ heard. Lionel didn’t much care fer recognition though. He preferred ta keep a low profile, an’ so he tucked his self away in some quiet corner o’ the world.
“The other three, Abram, Jahmash, an’ Darian, they stayed close together in what’s now the City o’ the Fallen. I can’t remember what the old name was, but that city has been around since their time. That’s why so many people want ta go see it. Anyway, them three were tight as can be. I told ya how the Orijin ensured they each had their weaknesses? Well that’s how it all fell apart, ya see.
“Abram was rather quiet. That boy just liked ta be included, remembered. His biggest fear was that he would end up lonely an’ be forgotten. But his friendship with Darian an’ Jahmash counteracted that anyway. The other two though, I suppose nobody saw it comin. I mean, how could ya? Darian was the most charismatic o’ the Harbingers. People loved him; he was a very good speaker an’ could befriend anyone. His greatest vice was women though. The books document that he had twelve wives an’ even more children, but that’s the ones that were known. There could very well have been more.”
“So this man that the whole world still adores—he treated women this way? How could humanity accept that?”
“I can understand how you would be confused, Baltaszar. But here’s the thing, ya see. Darian wasn’t necessarily a rascal. Like I said, these women were his wives, not his mistresses. Legend says that Darian truly loved ‘em all, an’ never let any o’ them want fer anythin’. It’s recorded that they all accepted one another an’ got along. I suppose that’s strange by today’s standards, but who are we to judge?
“Where was I now? Oh yes! Now Jahmash, he had two weaknesses. An’ if ya ask me, the Orijin gave him a bad deal. Not that I’m defendin’ him, though. Jahmash was known ta be very jealous, even o’ the people he loved, an’ aside o’ bathin’, he was deathly afraid o’ water. Now, that wouldn’t be such a bad thing, boy, but, well, Darian’s Orijin-blessed ability was controllin water.”
“Goodness, I think I can see where this was going. Did Jahmash grow jealous of Darian and his wives?”
“Not quite, dear boy, but ya almost have the right idea.” Munn gulped more tea. “Because o’ the way Darian was, he got most o’ the attention an’ glory. Jahmash his self wasn’t nasty or anythin’, but people were just more drawn ta Darian. An’ I suppose that would lead to lots o’ feelins buildin’ up inside o’ Jahmash. Which is just what happened. Jahmash likely held his jealousy fer a while. Ya see, he married a woman named Jaya, who was the sister o’ one o’ Darian’s wives. Around this time, people around the world were callin’ fer Darian ta be their king. I’m not quite sure how that woulda worked, if there was a king already or anythin’, but regardless, Darian refused. He didn’t want the glory or attention, an’ he knew what Jahmash was like. Darian didn’t want ta start trouble.
“Even though Darian refused, Jahmash still held a grudge about it…ya know, that Darian was asked an’ he wasn’t. I think that was the thing that did Jahmash in. That Darian could have so many wives an’ children, an’ the people still loved him more than Jahmash. Fer one thing, it ruined Jahmash’s marriage. Jahmash grew obsessed with provin’ that he was better than Darian, over time he spoke out more an’ more in public against Darian, an’ insulted him. Darian made his attempts ta talk behind closed doors, but Jahmash simply shunned him. He wouldn’t even speak ta Darian anymore.
“What blew everythin’ ta chaos was that Darian went ta Jaya ta discuss whether there was any way ta resolve the whole mess. Ya see, that’s what made Darian better than Jahmash. Despite everythin’, Darian still sought a way ta remain friends, ta put it behind them. Regardless o’ everythin’ Jahmash was sayin an’ doin, Darian was willing ta forgive. Where was I again?”
Baltaszar hung on Munn’s every word. “Darian met with Jaya!” He felt like a child again, sitting at home while his father told him and Bo’az stories of warriors and monsters.
“Yes, yes. Darian met with her one day while Jahmash was out huntin’. He knew the toll it was all takin on Jaya, so he went ta talk. Well, boy, it didn’t end so well. Jahmash arrived home while Darian was still there. Jahmash threatened Darian ta leave or he would attack him, so Darian left. This only made things worse fer Jahmash.”
“Let me guess, he grew jealous, thinking that Jaya was having an affair with Darian?”
“Exactly! Though he didn’t accuse Jaya right away. He stewed over it fer days, watchin’ her, suspectin’ her, waitin’ ta see if she would run off. But she loved Jahmash, an’ tried constantly ta talk sense inta him. After a week or so, Jahmash finally caved ta his jealousy an’ threatened Jaya ta admit an affair with Darian. O’ course, she denied it ta no end, but Jahmash would not believe her an’ beat her inta a bloody mess. Jahmash left her there in anger. The maids cleaned up Jaya an’ brought her ta her sister Sarai’s home. Sarai was one o’ Darian’s wives.
“One thing I have forgotten ta mention, boy, is that Jahmash had the ability ta enter people’s minds. But only people who did not have a strong will. People who were mentally weak. He also was very good at persuasion. However, once the Harbingers had brought peace, they had agreed ta live normal lives an’ not use any o’ these powers any longer, because their work had finished.
“So anyway, the day after Jaya fled, Jahmash hunted down Darian at one o’ his wives’ houses, I believe it was Zara, but there were so many that it’s hard ta be sure. Anyway, where was I? Oh yes, Jahmash confronted Darian about the suspected affair, but Darian denied it as well. Jahmash still had a bit o’ sense left, becau
se he didn’t fight Darian, but he refused ta believe either Darian or Jaya that there was nothin’ between ‘em. Jahmash left after threatenin’ Darian that he would have revenge fer the slight against him.
“This is when Jahmash broke his pact with the other Harbingers. He found what weak-minded soldiers he could throughout the city an’ commanded ‘em ta go ta the houses o’ each o’ Darian’s wives an’ kill ‘em. The soldiers killed every one o’ them, except one. I believe it was Katia who lived, because Darian was at her house. Darian snuck away her ta Abram’s house an’ had Abram whisk her away ta a place where Jahmash couldn’t find her. It was ta Lionel’s house, far away, that Abram took her, then he returned with Lionel. Darian then had Abram hide all o’ his children, who were very young, at Lionel’s house as well. Once Darian’s remainin’ family was safe, he, Abram, an’ Lionel schemed ta confront Jahmash.
“Darian wanted ta avoid violence, so he sent Lionel an’ Abram ta speak ta Jahmash alone. Darian assumed that if he was not present, perhaps Jahmash might be calmer. Unfortunately, that was not the case. Upon seein’ them, Jahmash knew Darian had sent ‘em and stabbed Lionel in the chest. Abram was not so easy to kill, because he could disappear an’ reappear so quickly. But Abram did stand an’ fight Jahmash. Both were said ta be excellent swordsmen. In time, Jahmash injured Abram very severely. It is a topic o’ controversy whether Jahmash actually killed Abram or not, as no body was found. Many suspect that Abram blinked away before Jahmash could kill him. However, Abram was never seen again, so nobody really knows if he ever died or not.”
“What do you mean, ‘ever died’? You’re implying that he could still be alive?”
“The thing about the Five is that, once they reached a certain age, they stopped agin’ all together. It was one o’ the blessings from the Orijin. The Five were given the choice of when ta die. So, quite honestly, unless someone else killed ‘em, they could choose ta live forever.”
Baltaszar’s confusion grew into anger. “But then, what would happen if Jahmash never died? That would be horrible for this world! How could the Orijin allow something like that?”
“I apologize that I must bear this news ta ya, boy, but Jahmash did not die. But let me continue my story before I get ta that part. Where was I again?”
“What! How could he not die! Oh, fine. You were saying that Jahmash killed Lionel and Abram may or may not have escaped,” Baltaszar said sarcastically.
“Oh, yes. Well, ya see, once Lionel and Abram were out o’ Jahmash’s way, he went after Darian. But Darian was a smart one, boy. As soon as Darian got word o’ what happened ta Lionel an’ Abram, he fled the city on horseback, headin’ north. Darian rode fer days, possibly weeks, always leavin’ subtle clues so that Jahmash would be able ta follow him. An’ Jahmash did. Darian rode further an’ further north, past the Never, past the Endless Mountains. It is unclear o’ whether he rode through them or around them, but it seems more likely it woulda been easier fer him ta go around. Anyway, in those days, miles an’ miles o’ desert lay beyond the mountains. Darian rode an’ rode through the desert, then waited until Jahmash caught up ta him. By then, it was likely a fortnight after Jahmash had killed Lionel an’ Abram.”
Baltaszar broke in, “Allegedly killed Abram.”
“Yes. Allegedly indeed. Once he lured Jahmash far enough out inta the desert, Darian broke his own end o’ the pact an’ flooded the desert with water. The details o’ this are sketchy at best, as there was no one ta record what happened fer sure. But it was obvious enough what Darian did. He flooded the world an’ cut off Jahmash from any human contact. The continent we live on, Ashur, is an island because Darian turned it inta that. Fer centuries, sailors an adventurers set out in search o’ other lands, but either failed or never returned. The common belief these days is that Ashur is all that remains o’ the world. Though many are skeptical that other lands are out there.”
“While all of this is interesting, you’re getting off track, Master Keeram. What about Darian and Jahmash?”
“Oh yes, well boy, Darian allowed his self ta be killed once he was satisfied that Jahmash could not return ta civilization. The man truly turned a desert inta an ocean. His body eventually washed ashore. An, well, as ya know, boy, Darian’s legend has held up through time. Anyone who is even somewhat devout ta the Orijin reveres Darian. An’ Abram an’ Lionel an’ Gideon as well; they are all celebrated.”
“One thing doesn’t make sense. If nobody has ever seen Jahmash since then, how do we know he isn’t dead?”
“Yes, yes, a good question, boy. That goes back ta Silas Vaskol, a Blind Man who died about fifty somethin’ years ago. Silas had a vision o’ Jahmash livin’ on an island with no other land in sight. Jahmash was survivin’ off birds an’ such, but he was talkin’ ta someone about how he would return ta civilization an’ get revenge on the descendants o’ Darian fer what Darian did ta him.”
“What does that mean, descendants of Darian? How is he going to know who Darian’s descendants are so many centuries later?”
“Well, that’s a debatable question. Most people who believe the prophecy say that Jahmash will simply terrorize everyone. Others believe that Jahmash is only concerned with those o’ ya who have the black line on yer faces, since ye’ve come ta be called ‘Descendants’.”
“Does anyone know when this is going to happen? Or who the other person in the vision was?”
Munn gulped more tea, “Ahck, it’s cold. Farco! Another pot o’ tea! There are other prophecies at the Tower that’ll answer yer question better than I can. I haven’t been there in some time, an’ I honestly don’t remember things like I used ta. Regardless, most o’ Ashur believes Jahmash will be back in the next few generations.”
“But how would that happen? If Darian is dead, he can’t get rid of the water, right? So how would he come back here?”
“Baltaszar, the man has had centuries upon centuries ta think about that. An’ he’s a smart man. I have no doubts he’ll find a way, if he hasn’t already. Farco told me the world went dark fer nearly half an hour a few days ago. That can’t be a good sign.”
“Yes, that’s true. I was still walking in the forest at the time. Everything was black. Like nighttime with no moon. But Jahmash. How can he be stopped?”
Munn closed his eyes. “That is a question better suited fer Zin Marlowe. He is the headmaster at the House o’ Darian.”
“Very well. Would you happen to know…well, what exactly they do there? At the House of Darian?”
“I have never had much interest in the place. It seems like it attracts a great deal o’ trouble. Especially with Edmund, this ass o’ a king we have. But I would assume the House helps ya understand yer manifestation an’ how ta use it an’ control it.”
All these new things I don’t understand. “Manifestation?”
“Yes, manifestation, boy! Ya got a black line on yer face, don’t ya? It means that when ya were a child, ya got a line on yer face which allowed ya ta do somethin’ special.”
“I’ve never been able to do anything special. What do you mean by special, anyway?”
“Yer goin’ ta have ta talk ta Marlowe about all that. I don’t know if everyone gets the line at the same time. But it means ya can do somethin’, like manipulate somethin’ or create somethin’. Fer instance, Maven Savaiyon is a very well-known Descendant. Supposedly he can create ‘bridges’ in the thin air so that he can get ta places very quickly. He could go from one side o’ Ashur ta the other in a few seconds. Similar ta what Abram could do so long ago, but Abram would just vanish.
“So how do I know what I can do?”
“Most Descendants simply know. Ya see, boy, whatever it is, it’s somethin’ miraculous. Somethin’ a normal person couldn’t do. If yer not sure, then just think back on yer life an’ try ta remember if there’s any miraculous thing that ye’ve always been around or connected ta.”
Baltaszar could remember nothing miraculous in his seventeen years of life. “Nothing comes
to mind. Is there someone who can tell me what it is?”
“From what I’m told, ya can’t force anyone ta have a certain manifestation. An yer not supposed ta talk ta a child about his manifestation until he discovers it fer his self. Ya see, manifestations…they say these things come out o’ some dire need, desperate situation. It would be artificial fer a child ta be told a manifestation. But I am no expert on these matters. I would assume yer goin’ ta the House o’ Darian anyway. Discuss the matter with Marlowe.”
“Very well. Thank you.”
Farco returned with a new steaming pot of tea. Munn sipped from a newly full cup. “I suppose yer goin’ now then?”
“Well, no sir. The whole reason you invited me in was because of a prophecy. I believe you still have to share that with me.”
Munn nodded his head vigorously. “Yes! Yes, o’ course, dear boy! A prophecy indeed! Farco, please fetch me the prophecy book fer this boy. It will be on the ‘People’ shelf under ‘K’ for Kontez.”
Chapter 8
A Prophecy
From The Book of Orijin, Verse Seventeen
We know all paths. Though We have blessed you with free will, We have already foreseen the outcomes of all possible decisions.
“Is that…is that whole book just prophecies?” Baltaszar gasped incredulously.
Farco plopped the book atop one of the shorter stacks of books on the table, pushing a cloud of dust up into the air, and opened it to a page close to the end of the book. Munn replied, “This is one o’ many books. Our system o’ filing our prophecies is complicated, and at my age, sometimes even I forget how things oughta be sorted. Luckily, I have Farco here ta keep things in order.” The boy smiled genuinely then turned his attention back to the book. Once he found what he was looking for, he grasped Munn’s hand and placed it at the middle of the right page.
Munn moved his hand slowly from left to right over the line of dashes and dots. “Oh dear. I fear I may have set ya up for some grave news, my boy. I apologize in advance fer bein’ the one who has ta give ya such a message, but please do understand that I am just a medium. I don’t choose the prophecy nor the person. It simply comes ta me.”