The people of the North, the home of Diana, Richard, and Katheryn, believe that the animal spirits have things to teach humans. Here’s one of those stories the high-priestess of Nordes tells.
In Lonnough, wearing a white robe, the high priestess sat in
a semi-circle of cheering children as she finished telling a story of the
Prophet. Behind the children sat their parents and the village elders. A totem
pole stood behind her with carved images of animal spirits, the eagle at the
top. To both sides sat acolytes.
“What story would you like to hear next?” The priestess
asked.
A child pointed to a figure on the totem just behind the
priestess. “The raven.”
“There are many stories of the raven. Which one would you
like?”
From the adults came a scratchy voice. “Our lands are full
of fighting, and the fallen fill our graveyards . . .”
The priestess turned to the voice: an old woman in a
wheelchair whose hands trembled as she gripped the arms. A young woman stood
behind her with her hands on the crone’s shoulders and bit her lip.
“Tell them of death,” the old woman said.
The priestess frowned. “They’re a bit young for—”
The children shouted to hear the story, and the priestess
raised her hand, closing her eyes to recast the story into one suitable for
children. She opened her eyes and spoke.
“Vain Darkness was jealous of tiny black Raven because it
could fly in the Light where Darkness could not go. And the rebellious Raven
would not follow Darkness’s orders like the shadows that moved as one when
Light passed.”
“Why?” a child asked.
The priestess nodded. “Darkness did not understand why black
Raven did not flee Light and stay in the shadows. Raven knew them both and did
not care.
“Knowing Darkness was vain, clever Raven swallowed all the
mirrors to protect himself from Darkness. Without the mirrors, Darkness could
not admire himself. Enraged by the little creature’s defiance, Darkness killed
Raven by breaking him into tiny pieces and scattering him in the shadows. But
that shattered the mirrors as well, and unable to admire himself, Darkness
became distraught.”
“And death?” the crone croaked.
“Death welcomed Raven,” the priestess said, “hoping to
swallow his cleverness. But the shards of mirror sparkled with the tiny specks
of Light the souls in Hel had retained, keeping Death away.
“Darkness asked Light what to do to restore the ability to
admire himself. Light told Darkness to put his anger aside and forgive Raven.
‘Do not be jealous of Raven,’ Light said. ‘Black Raven brought dark into the
light. Find all the pieces of Raven and put him back together.’
“In the shadows, Darkness put Raven back together and
thanked him for expanding the dark. In gratitude, Raven spat out the mirrors.
The world was at peace again, and vain Darkness was content. But Raven knows
both life and death and has more lessons to teach us.
“This is the story a shepherd, the Prophet, taught us so we
will follow Light and Grace and listen to the lessons the animal spirits teach
us.”
The high priestess closed her eyes and made the arrow sign.
The audience copied her, and she opened her eyes again.
“Now, what lesson does the Prophet’s story teach us?” the
high priestess asked.
The children all spoke at once.
“Don’t be vain and let yourself be angered,” said one.
“Jealousy and envy hurt the one who feels that way,” said
another.
“Darkness wants to take over, but we can stop him if we’re
clever like Raven.”
The priestess smiled. “You called Darkness ‘him’?”
“You did.”
She smiled. “Yes, I did, but ladies can be mean too.”
A girl raised her hand. “But men have the power.”
“Women also have power when they choose to use it.”
The girl smiled and sat up straight.
With glistening eyes, the crone croaked, “What lesson does
Raven bring us of death?”
The high-priestess turned to the old woman, and the crowd
disappeared as they looked into each other’s eyes. Tears traced the crone’s
cheeks as she took the young woman’s hand.
“The light in your soul cannot be snuffed out,” the
priestess said. “Even by Death.” She closed her eyes again. “And those who live
see that light in every dawn.”
Enjoy,
Ray
Interested in Katheryn's story?
Angel of Death will be released later this year.
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