The sun had set, and I made my way slowly through the city. The calm of the streets juxtaposed against the state of my heart irked me. Only soldiers walked about, but they knowing who I was kept their distance. They could see where I was headed. I couldn’t bring my mind to thoughts other than the fault I committed.
With distress covering my mind, I continued onward to the palace. The guards let me through the gate, giving their salutes. I took the steps in the woodland toward the side entrance. I reflected on many things in my life with the slow trudge. I sought solace, but did I deserve it?
The walls of the palace came into view. I passed beyond the gate, and I saw that my mother stood outside, waiting.
I wished to call to her, but I couldn’t. At that moment, my legs turned to dash. Before I could make my escape, my mother’s face turned my way, and my movements halted. Completely arrested by her gaze.
I stood silently as she approached. Tears brimmed in my eyes, but I held myself, trying to mend my swollen cheek.
When she came stood before me, she bent down to look to my eyes. She held my cheek, and from her hands a light came. My cheek healed and the aches of my body slowly vanished.
“Mother,” I said, “you can heal?”
“Yes,” she said with a smile, “and much more. It is not my place to exercise my powers. Even when you came injured in whatever test you endured, the Servants forbid me from tending to you. For my powers are to remain concealed until dire circumstances arrive where I have no choice but to use them. Yet should something happen to my child, I shall not stand idle! To let the forces of the world act as they will to assail you. Tell me, Yurva, what happened?”
I explained to her all the details concerning my trip to the city and my meeting with the children. How Zhunil explained to me a great many things that I hadn’t even considered. The few days we spent together. I had trusted the system that, till this point, had worked for eons. Now, the cracks that were ignored now seemed to fester. But you know that was not what troubled me. I explained to Queen Koshala all that occurred in my battle with Zhunil and what I did at the end to stop her.
The situation and even my explanation seemed ridiculous, but my mother listened to all without judgement.
When I finished, she said, “You say that marriage could be a solution, and while it could be, would you not rather face her and properly apologize? Be in her debt for what she needs. At least in that way, you may correct the worst of your mistakes. Tomorrow, go to the Fiyukthi, seek pardon for your actions, and then travel to Zhunil and give her your sincerest apology. Worry no more for even should she not accept, know that you have acted in accordance to your station, having shamed no one.”
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“Why are you so lenient, mother?” I asked, wiping the falling tears. “You know me to be strange, almost distant to you and father. This mistake I’ve made, shouldn’t it be absolved by greater means? The stories of those cursed or punished couldn’t pay their dues, without tenuous austerities, and their sins were much lesser than what I committed! Should I not be punished to a greater extent?”
She shook her head. “The sin may not be fully pardoned in the short while, but I believe you will have a long life ahead of you. Perhaps you will outlive us all. In that time, and under the discretion of the sage, absolve your sin by the right austerities. Hold strong, child, for you are the scion of the Immortal King!”
I nodded my head, now resolved to correct my action.
“Good,” she said, embracing me. “Let us go to sleep.”
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The next day arrived. I had risen early, before dawn was to strike, my mind and body refreshed. I looked through my window to see the city bustling. It was time I made there again.
While I had told Zhunil that I couldn’t visit her, the situation called for an immediate correction. Whatever preparations had to be tended to would have to be done by the ministers and officials.
I dressed myself and donned my cloak. I gave notice to a lower official to see to the deed in the northwestern district toward the end of the day. And with that finished, I took the same path outside of the palace, and journeyed to the center of the city.
Passing by the denizens, the markets, and breathing the same scents from yesterday, I at last came to the seven great towers whose Fiyukthi alighted with great fires.
Servants were busy performing their early prayers, but I couldn’t wait below. I threw my sandals at the base of one tower and made to its zenith. I saw the priests and priestesses performing many a ritual and reciting many a hymn. I sat on the floor and listened to them.
The hours passed as my attention was drawn to their words. The melody of the hymns covered my mind. The smell of incense and burned offerings filled my nose. And my sight was covered by the great flames rising from the bowl of the Fiyukthi. I could feel the touch of the spirits, ancestors, and gods across my whole person. Their images flashed in the fire, and while it should seem as a surprise, I could only feel a sense of normalcy when I beheld their forms.
I saw a figure in the middle, the god of death, Daryurah. I had seen images of his likeness across the murals of the palace. He bore the same likeness. He who was to spirit me to where ever I was to go at the end of my supposedly short life, brimmed with light across his large brown frame and dark hair.
He looked to me, and at once I prostrated to him. My face to the floor, my body outspread along its length, and my hands folded.
An image flashed in my vision. A hymn of supplication, and I recited the words in my mind.
The god of death responded:
Thy life will surely be mine as was promised. While a pardon cannot be fully met, know that its effects will not come until a time much later. A time of desperation that may well lead to thy death, depending on the choices thou makest. But know my pursuit shall not halt till I have spirited thee to my realm.
His image vanished with those words, and I was left in a state of disbelief. I held fear for the future.