Blood & Besiegement

by Jeremy Dwyer

  “We have tens of thousands (10000) dead. Over a thousand (1000) dead in this town alone. We don’t have enough people in this community to rebuild. And if this creature comes back, he’ll just burn it all down again anyway,” one man said. He was perhaps sixty (60) years old.

  “We have to try,” Emerond said.

  “You’re a prince of this empire, I can see that. You have the authority to command us to do pretty much anything, except live forever. We’re old. We’re tired. We’re broken,” the man said. He was wrong about the prince’s authority – it was not absolute. He actually had authority over military personnel in his region, as well as the scholars. It was the resource coordinators who had control over commerce in their regions.

  “I can’t give you hope, or energy, or enthusiasm. But if you don’t have these things, how can you live at all? Even if this attack hadn’t happened, what would keep you going?” Emerond asked.

  “When you work for decades to build a good life, you gain a certain amount of security and comfort of living. This is the one thing in life that works in your favor against old age, which takes away your strength. You’re too young to know that, because you have to live it to know it,” the man said.

  “While you’re alive, there’s hope. You have to believe in better possibilities,” Daven added in.

  “Old men need more rest than young ones. Years of work will do that to you,” the man said.

  Others around him grumbled about the same things, and worse, as many lost actual family members as well as property.

  Emerond looked at the people around him in disgust, despite his sympathy for the fact that their families were killed and their homes and work places were destroyed.

  “Life is a fight, old man! You fight until the day you die. That’s just the way it is,” Brant said.

  “It is difficult. Yet, a clever approach can yield more gains that the old ways. I’ve seen five (5) decades and then some, and I don’t have the strength I once did. But I have purpose,” Isaiah added in.

  “Prayer – to the One True God – is the way to find purpose, and renewed strength,” Romana said. She knelt down in the middle of all of this destruction and anger and started praying: “We seek Thee, Loving Creator, to bring healing, to bring joy, to bring renewal, to a people ravaged by fiery destruction and death. We pray to Thee to bring hope, love and blessing to the people of these towns.”

  Daven was undecided on matters of God and faith. However, he sought answers. He also didn’t want to see people surrender their hope. He drank anew of the waters of the Pirovalen Ocean from his vial and was thereby energized. He then reached within himself to find a sense of renewed purpose – one that he could share with these people. He was burdened by the loss of his parents – and, to some extent, the loss of the comfortable life that they provided for him, except for the small inheritance he had remaining. However, Daven had his health and his experiences, and they were good ones of bringing joy to others through his songs. He found the words to a new song coming to him as he stood amid the burning buildings and the angry people, and then started singing:

  What has been ruined, you shall restore.

  What has been lost, the void shall be filled.

  What has fallen shall rise, and through the sky you shall soar.

  What has been destroyed, you shall completely rebuild.

  Where one wall crumbles, ten new ones shall stand.

  Where one ship is lost, a hundred more shall set sail.

  Where one tower falls, a taller one shall look down on the land.

  Where one city burns, you shall rebuild it and prevail.

  When powers beyond you conquer and kill,

  When fires above burn all that you know,

  When enemies strike and your blood they spill,

  You shall rebuild all, and your numbers shall grow.

  If fortune's favor has left you to die,

  If your kingdom is crushed and you are now ruled by fear,

  If the pain spreads so far and makes your whole nation cry,

  Your wills shall rebuild to a further frontier.

  Who you believe in must be you alone.

  Who you become must be your choice.

  Who rules your kingdom must be one of your own.

  You must rebuild, you must hear my voice.

  The song touched people, and put smiles on their faces, and energy within them. The power of a song that was sung by a drinker of the waters of the Pirovalen Ocean was such that it reached out and affected other people, and could spread emotion and joy. In this way, it was like the emotional projection of a telepath who drinks of the waters of the Elanatin Ocean.

  The grumbling ceased: there were nearly a thousand (1000) people standing around, most filled with bitterness and resentment at their hardships; after the song, they felt a renewed sense of purpose, despite their varied ages and losses.

  Some of these people began to work to put out the fires. They boarded the airships around them and started dousing the flames with canisters filled with waters from the Dead Waters Ocean. Those waters gave no power to the drinker, other than basic hydration. Still, they were quite effective at putting out fires.

  As fires were extinguished, others came together to repair the buildings, or to begin laying foundations for new ones.

  “We need to talk. I need your help – we all need your help – because yours is the voice that people need to hear,” Emerond said to Daven.

  “Yes. There’s a lot we have to tell you. We know things about this sunfire creature. We have a way to strike at him, with a song, that calls to the waters themselves,” Daven said.

  “Please, tell me everything you can,” Emerond said.

  Ovid recorded all of these actions and words, and even the lyrics to the Rebuild song, in his book. He also wondered if this sunfire creature was truly the greatest threat, and that the tiara and the Ahitan woman named Victoria were not merely minor difficulties compared to the horrific ruin that the sunfire creature had caused.

  CHAPTER 27: Voice against Fire

  On Udovedaj-Pren Island, Lady Onora and Lady Ismene were still watching over the crystal towers that made up the Temple of the Sky’s Nine (9) Kings.

  As they looked on, waiting for the return of the sunfire creature known as Prince Kirdothet, they saw the towers begin to fade away, covered by darkness. They were able to see directly through them, as if they weren’t present: the towers cast no shadow whatsoever.

  “Why did the towers disappear? I felt no change in the spirit world to explain it,” Lady Ismene asked. She recently drank anew of the waters of the Zovvin Ocean from one of her vials and was fully energized and attuned to the spirit world.

  “The towers were concealed in darkness before, so it is likely that whatever power revealed them was merely of a temporary nature. That suggests it may have been a song that showed us the towers. The magic of music lingers only for some time and then fades away,” Lady Onora said.

  "They said the sunfire creature was called down from the sky by the song of a girl – the one named Taesa,” Lady Ismene said.

  "Yes, she was my student. Her powers are greater than even I had realized,” Lady Onora said.

  "The guilt for the death and destruction this sunfire creature has brought will be upon her for having called to it by her song. Soon, the powers of its enemies will seek vengeance, striking at her fiercely,” Lady Ismene said.

  "Repentance is possible. All sins are forgiven, if one is sorry and accepts the forgiveness,” Lady Onora said.

  "She will have to pay a debt of great magnitude to receive forgiveness. She has brought untold danger by calling this creature, and he will bring ruin,” Lady Ismene said.

  "The debt of the greatest magnitude has already been paid -- by the Love of the Perfect, Truthful Innocent One," Lady Onora said.

  "Who is that? How was the debt paid?” Lady Ismene asked.

  "Search and you will find. He who was perfect in every way – innocent and truth
ful and loving – was persecuted for His Truth, hated for His Love, and executed despite His Innocence. This paid for all sins, even that of calling down the sunfire creature. No sin is too great to be paid for. One only needs to admit their error and accept His Loving Forgiveness,” Lady Onora said.

  "I've never heard of this Perfect, Truthful Innocent One,” Lady Ismene said.

  "His Sacred Name is known to many, and reviled, for it shows their own imperfection by contrast. They try to hide it, but His Sacred Name is all around, and in every Hall of Emeth. Look closely, and trust not in yourself," Lady Onora said.

  “Is this related to your belief in some deity?” Lady Ismene asked.

  “Yes. His Sacrifice is perfect, and so we worship Him,” Lady Onora said.

  “You said he was executed. How can you worship the dead?” Lady Ismene asked.

  “He transcends death. He is of the One True God,” Lady Onora said.

  “There are many powerful spirits, some quite benevolent and loving. How can you say there is One True God?” Lady Ismene asked.

  “Which one – or many – gave you life? To that one – or to those many – you owe a debt of gratitude,” Lady Onora said.

  “I agree that I have a debt of gratitude. Yet, why are you so sure it is only one?” Lady Ismene asked.

  “Pray to find the answer, and it will be given to you,” Lady Onora said.

  “Why should I have to pray? If it is a truth, it should be self-evident,” Lady Ismene said.

  “A truth such as that of logic or mathematics may be self-evident. But the One True God is not an inanimate concept to be derived by careful thought and equations. There are some who think that way – even otherwise God-fearing people whom I know very well – but you can only find this truth by prayer,” Lady Onora said. She was, of course, referring to Romana, who viewed all things – even faith in the One True God – through the lens of mathematics. Lady Onora did not approve of this approach, even if Romana was quite reliable and pious.

  “To whom would I pray? If I don’t know the name of this One True God, as you call Him, then how can I be sure that I don’t call down something terrible, the way that your student, Taesa, did? Calling out into the darkness is dangerous,” Lady Ismene asked.

  “Then call out into the light,” Lady Onora said.

  Suddenly, Lady Ismene sensed a movement, and said: “I sense something in the spirit world. It is moving closer, quickly. Be ready. I believe it is him.”

  Lady Onora drank anew of the waters of the Pirovalen Ocean from the vial she wore, and was energized. She had already mentally prepared: first, by prayer; and then, by developing the lyrics to a new song and its melody. If the sunfire creature was approaching, she had a plan to handle it.

  A streak of fire appeared in the air above them, and descended toward the island. Suddenly, they saw Prince Kirdothet again. He was headed toward the towers of the Temple of the Sky’s Nine (9) Kings. He planned to renew his own strength there.

  Lady Ismene could sense movements in the spirit world – and in related realms that reached the spirit world, such as the kingdom of the sky, from which the sunfire creature known as Prince Kirdothet came. That is how she was able to detect his approach before actually seeing him, because he was not a demon or spiritual being, but his movements created a noticeable impact in the spirit world, which was detectable by her powers gained from drinking the waters of the Zovvin Ocean.

  Lady Onora sang a powerful song upon seeing the sunfire creature:

  Sun and sorrow,

  That is what you truly are.

  Infernal evil,

  Wicked light and fallen star.

  Ending life,

  Bringing ruin to our land,

  You think the world,

  Is yours to conquer and command.

  (Refrain)

  Blaze no more.

  End this evil that you spread.

  Your flames take life,

  Making you king of the dead.

  The suns beat down.

  They follow in the path you set.

  They bring no justice.

  They kill without cause or regret.

  In the sky,

  Your servants heed your cruel decree.

  On the land,

  You make mortals suffer tragedy.

  (Refrain)

  Let darkness fall,

  Banish your light from everywhere.

  For that would be a greater good,

  Your brightness only shows despair.

  Let the winter,

  Embrace us with its bitter cold.

  Your warmth is just your burning hate.

  Your loathing is from days of old.

  (Refrain)

  Begone from us.

  Take away your gifts of death.

  Be banished now.

  Let us never feel your breath.

  We call out,

  To Creation's One True King.

  He hears our prayers,

  Mercy and life He will bring.

  (Refrain)

  Kirdothet was pained by this song of faith and found himself extremely weakened. He had already been struck many times: by the Spirit Sword and by the waters that rose in response to the song performed by the man named Daven. Kirdothet gathered what energy he had left and flew away through the sky.

  “Your songs are truly powerful – even this newest one,” Lady Ismene said.

  “Faith gives the songs their true power,” Lady Onora said.

  “Yet, you still drink the waters of the Pirovalen Ocean…is faith not enough to empower your music?” Lady Ismene asked.

  “The oceans are the creation of the One True God: their powers all come from Him, and He defines the laws of the oceans, and the division of their powers,” Lady Onora said.

  “If the power comes from faith in your God, then why was this sunfire creature not destroyed by this song of faith?” Lady Ismene asked.

  “Because the One True God sometimes allows evil to continue; perhaps so that it can repent of its own wickedness, or be allowed to punish others who have gone astray,” Lady Onora said.

  “Since the sunfire creature was not destroyed, his strength may be renewed after a while. We must remain prepared,” Lady Ismene said.

  “Through prayer to God, I shall prepare,” Lady Onora said.

  CHAPTER 28: Voice with Fire

  In the continent of Waderav, Nerine was making her way back to a familiar village from the castle of Count Perceval and Countess Genevieve. She had been well paid for her musical services – even considering that it was a new song that she had to learn and add to her repertoire before the performance. This was a song that she would remember, as the effect it had on the appearance of the Countess was dramatic.

  Nerine thought that the song was clearly well designed – if you could say that about a song – and the waters of the Pirovalen Ocean that Nerine drank gave her the magical energy needed to sing it. Many women in the towns and villages would be quite pleased to have such a song as this could restore some of their youth, and enliven their relationships. This, Nerine thought, would gain her a greater payment.

  Nerine did not realize, however, that the song’s effect had been greatly enhanced by the purification experiments that Countess Genevieve had performed on the Trerada Ocean waters. Even though Genevieve’s own potential for using such waters was low, she drank them in a highly purified form so that there was a powerful interaction with the song. This interaction was what gave a greater result in the case of the Countess. Few, if any, other women would have such dramatic results from hearing the song.

  However, Nerine’s good feelings suddenly came to an end when she heard the approach of men on horseback, and they approached her and held a sword to her throat. She knew about roaming bandits, and was generally able to hide from them.

  “Turn over all yer’ money, lass, or we’ll cut yer’ throat, and then you’ll turn over the money,” the first of the bandits said. He had a dirty face with scars and l
ots of stubble. One of his eyes looked as if he had been punched, and it was looking off to the side. There were four (4) other bandits with him, having various injuries and scars, no doubt from their scuffles with victims or even with other bandits.

  “Who are you?” Nerine asked, scared…and upset that the money she worked for – and depended upon – was about to be stolen under threat of death.

  Nerine reached to take just one (1) of the coins from her pouch, hoping to appease the bandit. When she did this, the first bandit caught sight of the pouch, pressed the sword against her throat enough to make a small cut and said: “Give me the whole pouch, girl.”

  She felt the sting and knew that death was near, so she handed the pouch of coins to the first bandit, and he withdrew the sword.

  The first bandit held the pouch and counted the thirty (30) platinum coins inside of it. “You must be popular – with all this money you got, girl,” the first bandit said.

  “You’re not real pretty, so what did you do to get all this?” the second bandit asked.

  “I sing,” Nerine said. It was easier to speak with the sword taken away from her throat. The insult to her appearance was noted, and hurt almost as much as the small cut from the sword. She never sold herself in that way, but she liked to think that nice men found her attractive enough for a personal relationship.

  “You sing?! Sing for me, girl. I could use a good tune! What do you have?” the third bandit asked.

  “I sing for money. That’s how I get paid, so I can live,” Nerine said, as if to explain what was obvious.

  “I’ll tell ya’ what. If you sing, I’ll let you live,” the first bandit said, laughing.

  “If the music’s any good, I’ll let you live,” the third bandit said, also laughing.

  The three (3) other bandits just laughed and waited for the song.

  Nerine was afraid and searched for words to a song. She drank anew of the waters of the Pirovalen Ocean from her vial so as to give her voice the magical quality that pleased so many. Then, she started to sing a simple song that she knew was popular at many coming of age parties: