Red Twilight the Weaver chapter 21

Chapter 21:

Tempting the Lord

Odidimus sleeps soundly through the fighting of the night, but his demons hunt him, as does Baba-Yung. In his dreams Odidimus sits waist deep in wine in a valley of grapes, and yet he starves, for his arms are shackled to the ground by tree roots and his feet sunk into the earth as if part of the bushes themselves. Wine turns to sand as he drops his head to drink and grapes to stone when he tries to eat. He tries to yell but cannot find his tongue.

Baba-Yung roost on Odidimus window watching him dream before invading his mind herself. When in the king's mind Baba is a young woman with burning hair and sleek curves, she has a twisted tail that is a grease pink and a matching nose she has become something that Odidimus craves, a young girl that could very well be one of his own.

Trees bind to a hall as Baba-Yung slithers through Odidimus dreams, Baba slides down sitting on the king's lap dropping her (arms) wings around his neck, her lags find his hips, and she rolls herself from side to side getting comfy. "You poor unfortunate soul, how heavy your crown must be." Her hands find the scruffs of his cheeks. "Let me comfort you for a time."

"How am I to experience love when so many of mine are without?" Odidimus ask.

"Your mouth is so dry, let me wet your tongue."

"I have turned away your gifts once, and I will do so again," Odidimus explains.

"You chain yourself here time and time again, bound to the earth by that which you believe is and can never be. And yet if only you embrace me and what I am I can give ever-so-much more. Give yourself to me, and I will be your slave. Worship me and your kingdom will become boundless."

"I cannot give myself to you. for already I have given myself to another." Odidimus turns away from the temptress.

Baba-Yung thrust herself onto the king dropping him onto his back. The water that they sit in turns to a cloud of dust, vengefully she drops her weight on him forcefully rubbing her chest to his she whispers in his ear "I have been kind to you king of the furling's, but I will grow cruel. If I cannot satisfy my lust, I will feed my anger yesterday I robbed you of your milk and butter, and I instigated a scuffle that will eat away at the heart of your nation. Tomorrow I will flood your home with worms and you will burn the cloak of your shoulders to frighten them away." Baba-Yung's voice grows deep and monstrous "so let it be written." Her eyes bleed with blue-violet light. Baba-Yung takes a hard breath and lies her hands on his chest stealing the air from his lungs.

***

Odidimus falls form his bed struggling to breathe; he shouts with what strength he can find, "Bring me my Tea!" he gasps swallowing hard and digs his fingers into his chest as if to try and force his lungs open in search of air. A dozen feathers adorn he bed hinting that Kari's hand indeed rested atop him.

Odidimus fumbles to his wardrobe peeling it open; he grabs the first cape he can reach and as he pulls it down an army of larva rain down on his head. He screams silently dusting himself off.

The king is found by Penelope and Monty who carry him to his throne-room and splash him with near boiling water to shock him onto awareness, the sound of earth-shaking rain only now coming clear for him. He coughs and barks "why did you just throw boiling water on me?" he commands still choking.

Once Odidimus can breathe the first phrase he barks is "for goodness sake Monty keep your robe on when in my chamber." in a bipolar change of tone he then asks "How is your arm by and by? You smell like a radish." in a confused panic he looks to Penelope "Penelope, you seem to be in the nude as well... what is going on here?"

"I have no robe to tie, neither a belt to hold it if I had. Every scrap of silk, leather, and wool in the town was destroyed when the rain started. Narrowly, a hand full remains untainted." Monty looks at his hand "as for my arm, it should be tied up with cotton, and the wound wired shut, but we have not that either."

Penelope cuts in "before dawn Raksha taunted us, but Jessica turned them away."

"by herself?"

"yes."

Odidimus grows cold and angry "bring her here; I should wish to speak of this face to face."

Monty looks to him "half our men saw her power and may not heed your call."

"if it is the Weaver they fear, remind them who I am, and what power I have. Now send Preston to find my mate."

Penelope crosses her arm over grunting "Preston is unavailable, he was wounded in battle yesterday."

** *

Jessica wanders through the already crumbling city of Graywall; her head rolls side to side taking in the sights. People pure out of their homes in the nude as worms seem to push them from their door, fear, and pain thick in the air, Jessica alone seems uninflected. Baba-Yung flutters around Jessica, Jessica lifts her head to Baba, "What is all this?" she asks.

Baba-Yung squawks "the next plague."

"so soon?"

Baba flies nose to nose with Jessica "Kari's will be done, with or without your wishes!"

"this is inhuman."

"then heal them," Baba explains.

"I have not the power." Jessica offers a counter-argument.

"you have all the power you can ask for. Rest your hands on the brow of the sick and hungry and Kari cast out the devils that smite them."

With little hesitation, Jessica cast her gaze from side to side spotting the old women Theea walking by, her walking stick held before her tapping the ground and her head held high and nose scrunched in repulse of the scent of putrid muck thick in the air. Jessica call to Theea, "old women!"

Theea's head rolls to the side following the voice "Jessica the Weaver. Tell me what this stale scent I smell is? It is like that of the springs mulch. Or the Cow's…"

"it is that Yes." Jessica cuts her short "the keep is flooded. worms and grubs are swarming."

"I did not sleep last night, the crying from outside would not let me close my eyes," Theea whispers to the Weaver.

"we are in the grip of famine. Many are ill." Jessica whispers back.

"the king should be ringing the church bells and calling us to heal." Theea explains. "that was the old way before the king's aristocracy held siege over the faith."

Baba-Yung whispers in Jessica's ear "she is without sight, born with no eyes. Give her eyes." Baba recommends

"my mate is great and mighty, Yes, when he was young there were so many things he believed he could do, and many of them he has, but behold what I will do next." Jessica brings one hand forth to cover the old women's eyes; white light pours from Jessica's hand and into Theea's empty eyes then out her mouth and ears like water, Theea's eyes grow anew as briefly laser-light flashes from her every orphus. For the first time in her life Theea see something with her eyes and not her hands she gazes deep into the Weaver's face.

Shocked by her healing Theea jumps at the Prophet embracing her tightly, she cries out to all that can hear her "Kari is the one true god, I know this to be true, for I have never seen but now I can see clearly! All prays be onto Her our god and to the messenger sent to speak her words! Oh lovely Weaver." Theea falls to her knees gripping Jessica by the robe "I am your slave, for you have breathed a new life into me." She bows her head kissing Jessica's feet "how may I serve you?"

Jessica slides her hands under the old women's arms "Rise my dear; I will not see you on your knees. Go now and find all that are ill and send them to the Tree of Tales, I will feed the hungry and clothe the naked." Theea waste no time running off to fulfill Jessica's wishes and before the day is half dun an army has gathered to see the power of the Weaver first hand.

Jessica looks out to the masses placing one hand over her heart in shock of the gathering. Jessica taps the bird-headed staff against the ground to call the audience to heel "All that are here to heal, hear me! Send forth your young first. Children and mothers stand at the foot of the fallen tree; parents stand behind your children, fathers behind your mates, then the old, lame, and venerable. Those who are stout and brave make a rank around the tree, and I will touch each of you in turn."

Jessica's arms outstretched as the crowed organizes. Jessica starts to walk in rings around the tree moving slowly outwards brushing her hands against everyone she sees. Her touch heals all, just as she claimed. She at-last opens her eyes as she feels she has reached the end of the line, her hands resting on Preston's chest, his shattered ribs healed just like everything else.

Preston takes Jessica by the hands whispering with her "I fear even to this moment I had the feeling that you may not be who you appear to be but, that is now at rest. Theea was right, you are Kari in the flesh."

Jessica whispers back "do not except such things into your heart, it is not Kari I do this for, it is you, my children." Preston's eyes lock with Jessica's, her smooth features, her worm gaze, her sweat sent, everything about her pulling him in.

The moment is shattered as Odidimus appears, seemingly half the town following behind dragging barrels of wine and tainted cloth. Baba's tongue peeks out of her beak as she licks her chops.

"Come forth all the Faithful, is time for an offering to be maybe to Kari, gather all the silk, cotton and leather you can carry. Drop it here before the sanctified wine that we may be blessed. Have no fear for Kari will provide, give generously you will be blessed." commands the king of mice.

Torches light, clothes are piled high, a fire screeching to the castles highest peaks grows. Odidimus dances and leads the people in chanting. Bitterly Jessica walks up to her mate demanding, "what is all this?"

Odidimus explains "I am here to heal the faithful."

As The fire burns a zealous priest runs over threatening the weaver with a hidden blade, Odidimus gets caught between the Weaver and the priest suffering a slash across one ear, Jessica falls back in surprise. Preston and Theea jump into the fray seeing what has happened. The two of them wrestle the knife from the priest and take him by the arms presenting the crazed priest to their monarchs.

Jessica places her hand over Odidimus ear and the wound burn closed. Odidimus looks to the Priest "I know you, son, you are Chris son of Cass. why did you bring a weapon to prayer?"

"I am Chris father of Kat, my eldest daughter passed last night; she drowned in the milk from her mother's breast. I found this blade in the underbelly of my mate when I awoke today. I prayed to Kari to bring back my girls, but Kari did not hear my prayer. So, I come to you King and Queen of Graywall. Give me my life back. give me my child and my mate."

Baba-Yung calls out "Never! Take a new mate, one younger and more fruitful. If you are lucky Kari will let you keep this one."

"Silence yourself," Jessica yells at Baba-Yung "it is unwise to raise your voice to the harmed."

The priest looks at the king and Queen "if you can speak to Kari. Please ask her to bring back my beloved."

Odidimus lowers his eyes to the priest "I have asked Kari to have mercy on many. But never has Kari offered more than kind words and happy dreams."

Jessica rambles silently to herself cursing Baba before, at last, stepping forth "take me to them. I will heal them as I have healed so many already."

Baba-Yung jumps into the air laughing horribly as she flies away

***

Overtaken by an irrational joy Chris leads the lord and lady to his home in the shadow of the church. They are lead to a pile of stow three feet wide by two feet long, and one foot deep where atop wrapped in a hemp blanket are two bodies, that of a child less than a session old and a girl scantly old enough to have produced a baby. Chris kneels before his family in joyful tears. He wraps his muzzle around that of his baby girl whispering "there is no reason to be afraid I found someone that can help." He then takes his mate by the scruffs of her checks and licks her nose crying.

Odidimus takes Jessica by the arm. "Are you going to do this?"

"Yes." Jessica nods pulling away from Odidimus "I have to."

Baba-Yung appears in the scaffolding "You waste your time. You contaminate your home with filthy meat. Throw them on the fire already and eat them. That is nothing but skin you lie your lips upon." Baba's squeaks fill the air.

"Oh, dear Kari, does that bird have no soul?" Chris pulls away from his partner.

"I have many souls," Baba calls down.

Jessica rest one hand on Chris arm and pulls him away, she falls to her knees placing one hand on the breast of both the girl and child, her head falls back in a trance and her mouth drops open as she calls on Kari. Chris falls back into Odidimus waiting arms as he partakes of the power rising from the weaver body. White fire spill from her hands bathing the past, Baba laughs again.

After a time, Jessica starts to run shy on breath. She looks down to the dead waiting for them to awaken. Her eyes tighten as she doubles her efforts. Odidimus leads Chris from the room. Baba yells down "you're wasting time."

Jessica turns her eyes to the heavens "Kari? Why can I not hear your voice? For days your's (voice) has been the first in my ear but now I hear nothing. Let me save these two!"

"There is nothing to save!" Baba yells "what they were is no more. Once the spark has left the body, it leaves behind nothing but dreams. Even if Kari brought those two back what they were would be no more. Just skin that is all they are, skin, a butterfly can never become a worm, and once you have left your flesh, you can never be you again. They are with Kari. Food for a god, You Jessica the Weaver will have the opposing problem when you die. Your spark will fuse to the ground at the end of time, and you will be stuck in that husk you wear."

Jessica drops her head in defeat she can see that she can do nothing this time. All that is left to do is pray for safe passage to the next life. She walks out to pay her respect to Chris now understanding the limits of the power Kari gave her.

Weekend by her strangely helpless fear Jessica leans on Odidimus speaking softly with him "Odidimus. Can you read to me? It has been so long."

Odidimus hugs his mate and nods. "Let us go to the church. I fear there are many that want to hear me read to them tonight."

***

Jessica and the other make their way into the Church, the halls are packed tight with those who have yet to be healed, worms pure form their robes onto marble lased floor, the ill hide their faces from the well, chocking on their saliva, throats swollen from the stings of the plaguing larva. Jessica outstretches her arms blessing the church to heal all that hide within.

Odidimus takes the stage after finding himself a suitable cloak to wear. "my friends, it has been a long time since last I stood before you. When I was a much younger man, I found my way to this spot day after day to see to it we all knew each other. I am not that young man anymore. But still, you call me King. I would like to start with roomer control. It is my understanding that things are hard right now many of us where fresh scars from food shortages, the dry spell last year or mounting illnesses. Yes, things are hard. But we will overcome. "

"The clans on all side of us have seen much of the same. Even to the ends that are brothers on the other side of the river have come pleading for our aid. We have done all we can. Some of you have also notice that my mate has returned from her twenty-year tour of the outskirts. Yes, she is here to aid us in our time of tribulation. She will stay for only long enough to see the end of the plagues then she must return to doing Kari's work elsewhere."

"Time like this, times of hunger and loneliness remind me of other harsh time. When I was not yet five years old I recall we lived in the shadow of a clan called Azure, the stone bats. "

"My uncle once wove his own tale about their rage, he told me once about a man named Coal…"

***

When the Kobolts still live in the underground, Azure's left obsidian mockups of their selves most everywhere they went. When the Azure slept, they masked themselves as stone, and these idols were a constant reminder that the winged masters of the land could do as they please. Coal was a stone smith. he worked the lowly job of moving rock from fresh tunnels to a self-made hillside. most stones were crushed into sand, but here and there he would find a peace that could be shaved into a tool, or fashioned into peace of artwork, but those where the best of days, most days where just find the rocks then move them.

Coal lived a lonely life, he was not wise or hansom. One day as he walked home he found a fresh lied field of sleeping Azure. One leaps to its feet and reaches its close around the lonely stonemason. The bat's mouth opens wide showing off that it could and likely will eat the mason in only a gulp or two.

"Such a shame that one so small should stand in death's shadow." The Azure speaks.

"The day is breaking, and I feel an emptiness in my bosom. You will fill it. Do you have any regrets carpenter, any words to your young that I should remember?"

In the grip of fear as the Azure holds Coal overhead, Coal calls down "I have no young and that is my regret. Only the stones that I cut do I leave behind."

"Then will no one cry for you?"

"Hardly a man in this town knows my name. Who is there to cry?"

The Azure looks down the stonecutter's nose staring him down for truth only to nod its head after some time. "I will not eat you today little mouse, but never are you to tell anyone of this, for the day that our meeting escapes your lips I will return, and I will take more than just your life." With that, the Azure drops Coal and vanishes into the night leaving the echo of its wings rattling in his ears.

Coal hasn't yet found his feet before another stands by his side pulling him upright. A trembling voice whispers to him "are you harmed?" the voice comes from a girl of Coal's age, one he has not seen before. She helps Coal home then into bed. He learns the name of his savior is Myst. She stays with him tending his wounds then helping him in his work.

Myst stays by coals side more loving and excepting of him and his shortcomings then anyone he had ever been with. Coal happily shares his life with Myst but he remembers the words of the Azure and keeps the day of their meeting out of any conversation.

Within a year's time, Coals life has grown happier than he could ever have dreamed, with Myst by his side Coal's every venture end in stunning success, and Myst never asks for more than Coal to tell her stories. Before the end of their first year together Myst berths her first child with Coal and Coal is overjoyed, and this would only be the beginning of a dozen in the following years.

Coal and his family fight their way up the ranks of their community until they become the most respected and influential of people in the Underdark. But then Azure images start to appear around Coal's home; Coal had hardly seen a single Azure in five summers, now they nearly eclipse his doorstep.

Myst for the first time Coal can recall shows fear at their approach; she begs with Coal to explain, she asks him "do you have dealings with the Azure?"

And with that, he slips "They ask me not to tell."

"who? What?" she asks again.

"the day we met, an Azure spared my life. It told me never to tell anyone, or it would come back. But I haven't told anyone. So why are they here?"

Myst cries for a time "you were alone, and so was I, alone we had so little, yet together we have so much more, The Azure gave this all to us and ask for nothing in return?"

"only that I do not speak of it." Coal reiterates.

"so then why break your word?" Myst ask.

"I didn't."

"You lie." Myst sobs one last breath. Her skin melts from her body and the Azure from so many years ago whipes the mask of Myst from its wings "But I did too." The Azure lifts its head and squeals. Just as Myst had Coals children shed their skin turning to Azures "I love you Coal."

***

"the ending changes depending on who is telling the story. Maybe Coal was eaten, or maybe he was left forgotten and alone with only his dreams to bring him happiness. Since the first time, this story crossed my ears I have asked myself what does it mean? Be truthful? Be caring? Kari will provide? Or sometimes a lie is worth more than truth? Truth cost Coal his love and his beloved at the very least, His life at the most. Maybe the weaver that first spun this tale is the only one to know truly. I will not tell you my perspective for I fear the truth. I instead turn myself over to the power of Kari and trust that she will tell me all I need to know. Look to the one sitting with, look left then right ask them the meaning of the story if you must…" Odidimus buckles forward onto the podium. "I need to seat myself. I give the floor back to father Ax."

Preston finds his way into the Church following Corn's family, with a smile and an elbow to Jessica's ribs he whispers "so what is the meaning of the story?"

Jessica whispers back "Love knows not age or color."

Pepper looks to Jessica sourly "kind of a dark ending for a bright morality."

"fear is part of objective reality, just like light and dark, hot and cold, we all understand what the word afraid means and so we will call on fear win looking to describe something so opposite but still parallel," Jessica whispers with the children.

Butter shakes her head "that whole thing just made me afraid to sleep alone."

with a grin Jessica whispers "then don't."