Ibn Sharjar: Obsidian shards, Blood and Ashes
Posted on 03 Jun 2023 @ 3:26am by Atif ibn Sharjar - Merchant of the Al Ashar
Edited on on 15 Jun 2023 @ 6:14pm
Mission:
Ongoing Mission - Planet Obsidian
Location: The Pillar of the Moon - Lethini Dealands
Timeline: M3 D11 1820hrs
1773 words - 3.5 OF Standard Post Measure
It was growing dark now as the Tribespeople made their way back into the cavern. Inside several large brasiers had been lit, they provided a bluish flickering illumination from the burning brimstone-like clay. There were two larger ones over by the stone bench or altar against the one wall, which was the most brightly lit part of the room.
Neifle and two attendants were there, standing before the altar. The rest of the people gathered around in a semi-circle and grew quiet.
“So it is that we come again to this place, another year has passed, we have welcomed a new watch unto our tribe.” Neifle began “We have recounted the Song of the Stars, we have made our pilgrimage here. Our newest watch will receive their first scars, they will know the pain that was dealt to Tej-Selkar, when she was falsely accused by those jealous of her knowledge and her dedication to the watch.
When they cut the scars on her face! When they did cast her unto death on the pyre of the last caravan!
When they cast out the pathfinders, when they banished us here to the plains of glass to die!
But the pathfinders did not die! They took on the name of their leader! They came here, they created the Pillar of the Moon, the Moon of our green circle. Here did they carve their knowledge of the stars in the rock and here did they take on her scars!
They stayed on the path and they kept the watch! They are us! We are the Tej-Ka-Jalfa!”
The people roared approval, their cheers echoing back from the walls of the cavern. Neifle raised her arms for quiet and then spoke again. “We shall begin with our newest watch, let them come forward.”
Jelik stood with his two sons before him, he gripped Sasil on the shoulder and bent down to him, whispering “Be strong and proud my son, bear the pain with honor before me and your brother and your tribe. Go forward now, tell Neifle your choice and she will give you your first scar.”
The boy nodded and moved forward, the rest of the youngsters who had been at the center of the open amphitheater the night before all left their families and approached Neifle at the altar.
They formed into a line and she beckoned the first one forward, a girl. “What have you chosen?” She asked the girl. She bent down to her and listened as the girl replied, Neifle smiled and nodded, standing upright again “The Feather star” she announced.
There was a murmur of approval and those near the girl’s family turned and congratulated her parents. Back at the altar Neifle held out her right hand, one of the attendant dipped into one of the urns and withdrew a small shard of obsidian, it glinted in the flickering blue light of the braziers, the edge keen and sharp.
Neifle knelt down on one knee, took the girl’s chin in her left hand and spoke some quiet words of encouragement, then looked questioningly to her. The girl nodded and Neifle brought the obsidian shard to the girl’s face, Swiftly but with care she cut the shape into her cheek, the girl stiffened but bravely held her position.
The cuts made, Neifle passed the shard back to the attendant, who tossed it into the urn on the other side of the altar. The second attendant reached into the center urn and scooped out a small handful of ashes, passing these to Neifle who them worked then into the open cuts. She turned the girl’s chin slightly to the side, to inspect the marks and nodding her approval she discarded the remainder of the ashes and gave the girl a hug.
Neifle stood up and turned the girl around to face the rest of the people “Feltara has received her first scar, she of the newest watch can take her place amongst our tribe, let her wear it always with pride, with honor and with remembrance!”
There was more applause and Neifle pointed the girl back to her family. She walked back solemnly, her right cheek marked with blood and ash and tears but she held her head up proudly and was welcomed back by her parents and siblings.
Steadily each of the newest group was brought forward and Neifle repeated the ritual for each. Sasil was fourth. Ibn Sharjar watched Jelik standing next to him stiffen slightly with tension as his son walked forward.
“The Green Circle and Moon” Neiefle announced his choice “Our ancient oasis, to which we shall one day return!” She knelt and cut the mark into Sasil’s cheek.
“Be brave my son,” Ibn Sharjar heard Jelik whispering to himself. “Be brave.”
Sasil clenched his hands tightly by his side but did not flinch or cry out as Neifle finished the cut and rubbed ash into the wounds. When finished she hugged him and sent him back to them. “Sasil has received his first scar, he of the newest watch can take his place amongst our tribe, let him wear it always with pride, with honor and with remembrance!”
Sasil walked back slowly, though his cheeks were stained with tears, the blood and ash ran down his neck, he held his chin up proudly.
Jelik dropped to his knees and held his arms out to him, wrapping the boy up, Tears ran down his own cheeks as he hugged him tightly “You were brave my son, you bring me and your family honor, you are truly of the Tej-Kal-Jalfa!”
He held him out at arms-length inspecting Sasil’s cheek. “A fine scar! Come, we will clean it up, so it heals properly” He withdrew a cloth and a vial of ointment from his robes. He carefully wiped away Sasil’s tears and the residual ash. The ash in the wound had mixed with the coagulated blood and stopped the bleeding. Jelik applied some salve around the edge of the wound. “It will scab over by morning, then we apply more. I am proud of you”
Sasil nodded, smiling through his tears and hugged his father again, then his brother. Atif nodded to the lad. “You are brave indeed Sasil, thank you for letting me be here” he offered the boy his hand and forearm as he would an adult and Sasil shook it gravely.
After each of the youngest group had received their first scar, the next group was called forward, Gabrul was amongst these, those who would receive their second scar.
When he returned Jelik welcomed him back with a hug and words of praise, cleaning his face as he had done Sasil’s. Then taking both his sons in his arms, he held them tightly. “I raised strong and brave sons, I am proud of you, your mother is proud of you and though he is far away, I know your grandfather is proud of you!”
Ibn Sharjar shook Gabrul’s hand and forearm nodding to the lad. “I am sure you will grow to be a fine man soon”
They watched as the next group was brought forward, receiving their third scar. Then finally the last group, would receive their fourth and final scar. This group did not immediately return to their families but remained by the altar until all had received their cuts and ash, facing back towards the gathered people.
When the last was done Neifle came forward and spoke. “We have completed the marking of this year’s four watches, first those of the newest and youngest watch, who have taken their first step upon the path and now those who shall take their place amongst us as adults, who shall become the pathfinders of our future!
They bear the four scars, as did Teg-Selkar. That which was done to her eons ago, out of spite and hate and envy they have accepted with honor and pride, that all who see them shall know, they have taken the path, they will keep the watch! They are Tej-Ka-Jalfa!”
The people roared and cheered and Neifle waved the last group back to their families. “Honor them!”
The group moved back, receiving applause and praise from their families and others who welcomed them as full tribal members.
After a few minutes Neifle raised her hands for quiet again. “This year we also will recognize she whom will one day succeed me.”
She turned and beckoned forth one of her attendants, a tall young woman, who already had her four scars. “Selandra is this day to receive the fifth scar, that of one whom will become a teacher of the path!” She reached up and traced the central scar on her own forehead, a line joining four stars.
The woman came forward and knelt before Neifle; holding up her hands, in one she held an obsidian shard and in the other ashes.
Neifle took the shard and held it to the woman’s forehead. “Do you accept this scar, taking on the path of knowledge and teaching?”
The woman nodded and said “I accept the fifth scar, I pledge to learn and to teach the path and the knowledge, to honor those watches who came before us, to pass on the knowledge and the path to those watches who come after us.”
Neifle cut the mark into the woman’s forehead, the line and four stars, Selandra stared straight ahead, her words mouthing a chant silently as blood ran down her face. Neifle then took up ashes from the woman’s other hand and rubbed them into the wound, ensuring they were worked well in and would leave a prominent scar when it healed.
Once done she lifted the woman to her feet and embraced her, then turned her around towards the people, speaking “I shall teach unto her the knowledge and the way, the Song of the Stars and the path of the Tej-Ka-Jalfa as it was taught to me and so shall she teach unto you!”
The cavern erupted into applause and cheering again, people went forward to congratulate Selandra. Atif stood quietly to the side, not wishing to intrude on their celebrations.
After a while, as things calmed down, Jelik came over to him, Sasil and Gabrul in tow. “It is late, and we should sleep, we will be up before dawn tomorrow, we must be out on the glass before the sunrises to see the lines”
Ibn Sharjar gave him a quizzical look, Jelik smiled “You will see”
