Red Twilight the Weaver chapter 20

Chapter 20:

Arms of the Prophet

Preston returns home with Onion now in tow; he passes through the door to find that Corn's other children have arrived. "I see that you found your way here. It looks like you found the key to my pantry also."

"Butter, Cream, Mint:" Onion softly calls out to his siblings. In large the kids drop what they are doing to run over and greet him. Salt, Pepper, Cream, Mint, Garlic, and Butter all run over and start scuffing Onion's hair and feeling him up and down in excitement. The children ramble mostly incoherently telling Onion about meeting Jessica and their fight with the birds in the woods.

Cream steps away to grab some snacks for Onion and runs a plate of nuts and a beer-stein over to him. Cream thrust it at him overjoyed that their family is now all but together again. Onion mumbles a thanks as he takes the nuts first then goes to sip from the chalice.

Quickly onion spits out the drink "Cream, there is no cream in this cup," he pours it onto the plate of nuts, "it's sand?" the young share a glance of confusion as Preston looks about.

Cream complains "it was Milk when I poured it."

Pepper looks to her "are you sure?"

"I know what milk looks like."

Preston looks back to them as he is uncorking battles, "there all filled with sand." Before anyone else has time to speak the door crashes in and Penelope steps in

"Preston! You are needed on the east wall at once!"

"why do I feel like running outdoors is my lot in life." Preston checks his blade on his hip then runs off with his partner.

***

Jessica spends much of her evening patching together a tent to throw over her old preaching podium, Baba-Yung roosting in the nearest tree. Jessica speaks with Baba-Yung "I am the voice, you are the hand, what does that mean?"

"When you speak, your words are Kari's words."

"But will I speak or will Kari"

"when Kari chooses her voice will leave your lips."

"but 'till then?"

"you are a tool in waiting."

"why does Kari need such a thing?"

"why are you asking so much of me? Why must I know these things?" Baba-Yung flies down to sit on Jessica's arm "I am but a hand, I go where god tells me to go. And when she wishes to smite, I am her coming."

"the Prophets and Avatars have no power?"

"when I was young a member of the Raksha clan through a rock into a tree, that rock crippled my father. When Kari came to me and offered to let me be her hand I asked Kari to punish the one who throws rocks. Kari sent me to his home and told me to 'Damb you, one who harmed my blood, now I harm you.' And with that, the sky opened, and fire rained on the Raksha's home. I burned him with my thoughts, and my words become manifest. If it is Kari's will surely you have the same power." Baba wiggles about to find a place to sit.

"Baba, I wish harm on no one, I never have. I truly feel Kari is a god of pain and can do no more the proliferate pain more-so."

"then when Kari came for you why did you not fly?"

"Kari told me that many would suffer if her will went undone."

"many will suffer regardless," Baba explains

Jessica nods as she falls into a sitting position. Jessica picks up Baba and places Baba-Yung on her chest, "yes, but if I am here to heal them, maybe their suffering will be lessened."

"you are nothing like Kari. You overflow with courage but lake the strength to raise a blade."

"tomorrow will not be carved by blades but instead inked on scrolls."

"if that is Kari's will." Baba-Yung lies atop Jessica

Softly Jessica pets Baba-Yung from beak to tail "why must it be Kari? What about your will and mine?"

"Brave talk but when Kari uses us to burn this place to the ground, no one will hear your voice over Kari's" sleepily Baba explains. Jessica's eyes drift shut her expiration scared with heartache. Baba's that of a dominated soul. Jessica can feel her pain; it is clear that when Baba killed the man that hurt her she gave herself to Kari, Baba is a prisoner in her skin, it is Kari that speaks. That story alone being the last window into which she was.

The night air is hunted by hungry cries, the curse Baba-Yung for warned has come. The night is warm, but a phantom cold still bites at Jessica's neck keeping her alert Jessica sobs to herself "how long will this curse last?"

"until it is over." Baba whispers in her sleep

Trumpets sound and a gongs ring touches line the city walls. Guards call to the town "Keep all doors closed! Stay away from windows! Send your younglings to the callers or pantries! Bring weapons and hide your food! Raksha is at our town gates once more!" Theea acts as the town crier. Baba leaps to attention and squawks angrily.

***

Preston marches across the wall of the town looking down at the environment as giant cats walk the perimeter eyeing the Kobolts hungrily. Preston leans on the fort wall calling down "who's in charge down there?! This is in clear violation of the non-aggression pact between our clans."

A cat with white hair tan paws with sleek features and a black patch on her tail movie to the front "I am Shadi, daughter of Shi-Ra, this is my pride."

"Shadi, I am Preston, I am charged with protecting this wall and upholding Graywall's affairs."

"then you know about the tax paid to my people. Your tax has not been received," Shadi demands.

"your butter was sent at the dawn of the day, as always. we have not missed a payment in six sessions."

"you sent a box of clay!" a roar comes from below as the cat move closer to the wall.

"its been five winters since the last time our clans traded blows, do you really want to do this!" Preston yells

Shadi howls "this is your doing kobolt" the crowd moves forward.

***

As the cat movie closer to the walls and the archers ready for combat Jessica movie onto the wall being nearly dragged by Baba-Yung. Cats Jump at the walls and claw their way up them with alarming speed and strength, Graywall's warriors lunch their counteroffensive first with bows but within moments the bows are discarded, and the blades of Graywall meet the spears of Raksha.

"The people of Graywall are fine and brave, but they are a culture of artist, farmers, and healers, fighting is not amongst the finest of their skills. Raksha is ages behind Graywall in the way of agriculture and architecture but theirs is a very different breed of people, in Raksha War is their culture." Baba-Yung explains "Graywall will fight courageously, but they will not win."

Preston charges to the head of the skirmish. Preston is well trained and quickly pushes the first of the cats off the wall. But the first up the wall are old and are sent to weaken and confuse; it is the second wave, the huntresses that are there to do the real fighting and killing. It is with them that Shadi joins the fight.

A dozen Kobolds run in to fight the pride leader "an endless supply of the butter we so crave, that is what you promised us. If you do not give it to us, we will suckle it from the breast of your farmers ourselves." Shadi commands throwing her attackers over the wall with a swipe of her spear. Preston runs in to stop Shadi but gets stabbed in the rids on his approaches, Shadi sneers, "or maybe we will eat all of you and I can keep your castle for myself."

Jessica throws her arms in the air almost instinctually assuming the Black Swan Invocation, feet in a 'v' breast out, stomach sucked in and tail across back. Jessica in rage calls out "that is enough." A blinding holy light spill from Jessica like a river of molten steel that turns night into day. The light paralyzes all the warriors that see it. Jessica's nose twitch as she can feel Pepper has snuck onto the battlefield. The magic that has frozen the battle below has left Pepper untouched.

Pepper looks about at the frozen field; he approaches Jessica aw-striking. He points out the frozen warriors as he looks to the weaver asking, "what is this?"

"Thank you, Pepper, for being here; I cannot hold this magic in place forever, I need you." Jessica explains. "bring your siblings, and find Theea the messenger, track down the Parma Mas and anyone else you can find bring them here. No one needs to die today, so we heal everyone, but we must do so before I grow too weary to hold up my arms or my spell will break, and we will have failed." Jessica looks to Baba-Yung who is sitting by her side "Baba, please help him."

"how are you doing this" Pepper walks around Jessica examining her as the magic is creating a contend tornado around her blowing her robe around. "that is amazing."

"Another time Pepper!" Jessica barks "Now Please Run!"

Baba-Yung squawks and jumps into the air, flying back into town. Baba calls back "this has never been done. Kari has taken many live, never has she given one back."

***

In truth, it only takes a few moments for the people of Graywall to respond to the Weavers call, but to her, it feels far too long. Garlic and Cream are the next on seen. Garlic runs up. "we can help you."

The staff in Jessica's hand whispers to the children, who understandable jump back startled, 'Hold up the Weaver's arms, so long as she stands in the posture of Kari no one will die. That is the will of the Avatar. So it will be done.'

"Cream! Help me hold Jessica." The two girls hold Jessica's arms letting her rest on them. Swiftly more and more youths and women find their way outside and start to bandage the wounded. The battle lasted only moment, but it takes until midday for all the injuries to be bound. But of all those that come to the Weaver's aid, there is one face missing from the crowd. Odidimus remains ignorant of what has passed.

***

Jessica faints after half a day of holding her spell in place. Understanding the revelation that has befallen them Shadi and her pride retreat with the best wishes of the community. Just as Jessica wished many were harmed in the fight, but due to her magic and the aid of Graywall at large no one died this night.

Jessica and Preston, I carried by Corn's young to the healer's house. The healer Willy stands between the heroes as the two of them awaken. Preston is the first to speak "Report." He mumbles draggy

Parma pulls a broken bit of bone from the captain's chest. "you have two broken ribs, one crushed lung. I'm going to pack you full of herb and clay and hope for the best. Your friend over there is covered from head to toe in surface burns, I've dipped her in toad oil already, and that is the only thing I can do for her. It isn't fatal, but she will be fairly upset when she wakes up, to say the least."

Baba-Yung squawks "it is time for the sermon."

"give her time for goodness sake." Parma rants.

Jessica falls out of bed. Trying to stand "yes, I think it is time. Preston, do you believe in me? Can I count on you to support me when the time comes?"

"you single-handedly turned away are most feared enemy… I will fallow the Weaver."

"thank you, Preston."