Reading of the Runes

I have some .. thoughts ... concerning Ba'atar. But these thoughts were set aside when the Ubar came to me and asked me to reveal if the Sky held a blessing for his quest.

Now Ba'atar's quest was not my idea. Ba'atar himself had a desire to be the one to discover and reveal the mystery of the rogue plainsmen. What the Ubar desired from me was for me to translate the wishes of the Sky in regards to this particular quest.

Now this is not something I do for people on a regular basis. The things I do in my Clan are a little different than that. But it is something I am capable of doing .. and the request of the Ubar is something to be taken seriously.

I have plied my sadistic skills on too many men who did not.

Ba'atar does not know my history .. my lineage as a Haruspex. In fact I can not think of anyone that does .. save Aunt. Perhaps Aod .. that I do not know. But it is not because it is some dark secret. Parts of it are supposed to be but anyone who knows me knows I am not big on secrets. So the reason no one knows is very simple.. no one asks. The reason that Ba'atar does not know? Just as simple. Which left me in a bit of a bind.

I still have not patched things up with Helius. So asking a favor was sort of out of the question. I still bore the scar from the last time I showed disrespect. So as before ... I decided to go through the back door. Advisable or not ... the directive of the Ubar held some weight. So I told Ba'atar I would meet him later that night at my Spex wagon.

Before he got there .. I lit the coals in the copper bowl and I prepared to do something I had not done since I had returned to the Tuchuk. It was not without trepidation that I took up my shield and lance.. speaking the soil.. the grass ... the Sky into existence around me .. swinging into the saddle on the blood white kaiila. With a deep resigned breath I lifted my shield and lance and I called upon the Oneiroi and the three moons appeared before me. I called them by their names .. Icelos .. Morpheus ... Phantasos.

Icelos appeared to me as a great white larl.

Morpheus appeared to me as a great white warrior.

Phantasos appeared to me as a great white tem.

They stood before me and spoke in unison. "Cursed son of ***** .. why do you call us here in disrespect to Helius?"

I replied to them. "By the right of **** and ******* I have come to speak for Ba'atar of the Tuchuk and seek the blessing of Helius for him."

They spoke in unison again to me. "Ba'atar of the Tuchuk is a favored son of the Sky .. cursed son of ***** ... Helius will be pleased."

figures

At least this was going better than the last time.

I spoke to the Oneiroi. "Ba'atar .. favored son of the Sky ... wishes to discover and reveal the mystery of the rogue plainsmen who torment the plains. It is the Sky's wish that he do so?"

They replied in unison. "It is the wish of the Sky that Ba'atar .. favored son ... leave the Tuchuk on this quest and it is the Sky's wish that the irreverence done upon the plains be stopped. But the Sky has specific instructions for Her favored son. Let Ba'atar heed the instructions well or the Sky will visit Her wrath upon the get of Ba'atar up to the seventh generation."

I spoke. "Ba'atar will heed well the words of the Oneiroi .. for his sons and daughters are his blood's life and this legacy he wills back to the Sky for all the Sky has done for him."

The Oneiroi spoke their directives in unison. "Let there be a group of Tuchuk to accompany Ba'atar .. favored son of the Sky ... upon his quest. Ba'atar is to take a Leather Worker. A man of thirty-three years exactly. He is to take a Year Keeper. A man of four hundred and forty-four years exactly. He is to take a Sleen Handler. A man of seventy-seven years exactly. A Black Mask. A man chosen by lot and not by identity. A Salt Hunter. A boy who had not yet had his scars placed. And finally he is to take a Haruspex. A female who has yet to have her nose pierced. A child. Not one of these is to have any connection to those Ba'atar has drawn close to him. Let these words be followed exactly or a curse will fall upon the sons and daughters of Ba'atar."

I replied to the Oneiroi. "I .. cursed son of ***** ... thank the Oneiroi. These words will be given to Ba'atar and all shall be done as the Sky has spoken."

They left me then .. returning to the Sky and I bowed my head until I felt the warmth of the Central Fire spread over me. I dismounted and began to take the steps backward as I had been taught but before I could I heard the voice of Helius ... "Speak well the words I have given you .. cursed son of ***** ... and much will be forgiven you."

figures

I took the steps backward as I had been taught. I sat watching the coals until Ba'atar arrived at my wagon. My head full of so many thoughts and not all of them were comfortable and peaceful.

I threw the runes for Ba'atar .. but I all ready knew the outcome. I all ready knew the words to give him. I all ready knew the instructions .. the blessing from the Sky to place upon him. The runes were nothing more than a tired old ritual to give others something to attach their visual beliefs in.

I sat for a long time after Ba'atar left to place into action the instructions. I did not go with him to make sure he did it correctly. I knew he would .. for his children were valued. I sat watching the light shimmer and dance on the surface of the coals .. and I pondered the words of the Oneiroi and I pondered the words of Helius to me. Much would be forgiven me .. but what does that mean? I could not find much in me that would trust those words .. or the Sky. But I could not help but wonder if I was about to learn something..

... despite that distrust.