EXORDIUM

Dear Reader,  how glad I am to have you browse and build upon these
words that from my bruised memory do flow.

It was long ago.  In the days before machines. In the days that held
only the simple machinations.  Long before anyone could even imagine
such a word as genocide.

 I do recall most of the events of the story which I am about to share
with you and I do implore that you engage your precious creativity
where my faculty will falter.

 Once upon a time, high above the peaks of Ba'al-Hermon, there was a
casting down of certain percipients.

 Semiax, along with Satarel and Sariel, had become more than fond of
the earthly women.  They, along with others of their kind, ventured
down and lingered among the comely and the pleasant females of terra
firma.  Wooing them with gifts of forbidden knowledge and promises of
a wide-open future.

It was twilight, mid-week, in the Northeastern Lands.  I was
walking, the wind's iciness cut away as if by magic, with Lucrezia by
my side.  The people of her house had asked me to see her safely to
the house of their cousins.  Her mother's sister had taken ill and all
her daughters were recently married and moved to the Southwestern
Lands.  I carried the medicinal etui as well as a clutch which
contained some visiting clothes.  Lucrezia's caramel hair sang like
wild emmer in the breeze. Sometimes, I could decipher the scent of
pressed oils and cinnamon from her body.  Above the steady shuffle of
our sandals, perhaps half a mile from our point of departure, she
sighed as sweetly as the venerable sparrows do tweedle at daybreak and
said, "Idroes, I have no experience in speaking to men.  I simply want
you to know that it is not only my family that appreciates your
kindness."  It was then that she searched mine eyes for understanding
and curved her lips as if to suggest a smile.  I must have been
smiling as I glommed her look and did bind it to my soul, for it was
-I must confess- a divine thrill to simply accompany Lucrezia. And, to
hear her words directed at mine ears was almost more than I could
stand.  She turned her brunette eyes back upon the road. I lectured
the instinct of my joy into calm, not wanting her to take me for a
simple, smiling fool.  It was a moment too long, before I realized
that I had not responded.  "I would serve you as my own self without a
thought to the passing of time, honorable lady."

At the edge of the grasslands, where the road did curve to bind
travelers along a narrower passage that led neatly to the house of her
cousins, a voice invaded our thoughts and bade us to cease our
journey. We turned and our eyes did see a figure as bright as flame.
It said to me, "Carry on your way, for I am come from above to be with
this maiden."  Lucrezia's hand reached for me and I did hold it with
mine and spoke back to it, "Carry on your own way, spirit, for I am
entrusted with due faith to ferry the fair Lucrezia on her way." My
voice trembled and my coward heart tried to hurry me away.  The spirit
approached and as it did its features became clearer to us.  It said,
"I am not here to harm the fair Lucrezia.  I am here to be with her as
you are and would be. Fear me not. Simply, carry on your way."

 "I cannot," I replied and planted my brave body between her and the
spirit that now resembled a man.  If you are to be with this fair
maiden, it can only be after you have vanquished me from life itself."
In that moment, I pulled my weapon and split the air between me and
the spirit.  "Lucrezia," I yelled, "honorable lady, be fled, I will
defend your release."  Lucrezia motioned a few steps back but did not
run.

 "There is no need to waste your life," The spirit said softly, "I do
not come to quarrel or create strife. Tell me, what is your name?"

 "I am Idroes of the Northeastern Lands."

 "I am Semiax of the Empyrean Places."

 "I care not if you summon from the heavens, I am entrusted to secure
this maiden's passage."

"That, I do comprehend, Idroes of the Northeastern Lands."

"I am glad that you understand, Empyrean Semiax, now we will be on our way."

"Allow me to make you an offer, an offer each of you will find most rewarding."


EQUIPOISE

It was not, gentle Reader, that I did not love my honorable lady.  I
did, most truly and freely, adore the fair Lucrezia.  I hesitate, at
the thought of these words, for all that I did gain I could not ever
convert my temperament to turn its back on her beauty. Even after all
these long ages that to some may seem an eternity, I cannot help but
reminisce with a touch of nostalgia at the thought of those few
minutes alone with her upon that road.

Of course, you will ask (and indeed you have the right to question)
what was offered.  The plain, unfortunate fact is that I cannot wholly
remember the terms of our deal with Semiax.  Obviously, there was a
great deal of permanence and some knowledge into the ways of celestial
workings, for my part. As for the fair Lucrezia of the Northeastern
Lands, there was many a gift bestowed upon the rest of her days.
These facts I remember for she became renown as a soothsayer as far
away as the Westernly Places.  A woman of riches and power, her sons -
Joun and Miir - grew to be twelve feet tall and conquered lands above
the unknown northern areas, she did not take another for husband or
mate.  In recent decades, I have amused myself in times of strife with
the thought that she remained content (as I did) with only the thought
of what might have been our future together. I hope, faithful Reader,
that you have not had the inauspicious luck of spending too many
moments without the company of those beloved to your hearts. Of
course, if you have, then you will especially know how comforting the
longing imagination can be and how in dreams you may find those you
are most fond of. Indeed, on the good days, I still dream that I am
walking alongside my honorable lady, the medicinal etui and the clutch
with her clothing heavier and heavier upon my left side. Lucrezia's
sienna-colored hair haloed there by mine adoration.  Always to awake,
unbalanced, without her at my side.

I do know, albeit I did not know it then, that it is reasonably
impossible to refuse a heavenly offer.  Whatever words Semiax did
employ to seduce our ears must have sounded quite simply like freedom.
In many, many ways, it was freedom. However, in an equal measure, it
was also captivity.  Perhaps, this not so unusual contradiction simply
reflects the evident force that goodness cannot exist without
iniquity.  If you, dear Reader, have ever won a large sum of pelf, you
know that there is a levy down the line. And in the rare cases when
there is no tithe, there is the strangling vine of envy growing from
others who have become too aware of your fortune. Alas, I am vexed
away from the tale.  Patience, we are presently to return to the
story.
   
Now then, I also know that I was ascended above the ground to some
high place and given there instruction and insight.  At first, I could
see my beloved Lucrezia being escorted away by Semiax.  Later, I could
only see the brightness, the glow of impossible stars.  Floating down,
at some unknown later time, I was the same person as before only
illuminated.  Of course, illuminated is only a word and that word
cannot hope to convey the meaning I wish to share with you. Indeed,
there was more light and clarity within me than ever before, but there
was something else. Something mysterious and wonderful. A knowledge
that I cannot translate, a language that only the heart may speak.

Needless to say, the new blood flowing through me was not free from
concern for Lucrezia.  As I have previously said, I do still think
upon her and what might have been.

I think upon her even through the thousand or so wives that I have
shared my bed with through these long-sighted times.

Perhaps, I should point out that from my earliest memories I did long
to be a scribe.  The image of my forefathers gathered around the
precious few scrolls that were in my family's possession was perhaps
the flame that lit within me a desire to one day create scrolls for
others to be seduced by, to be saved through.

As the days counted themselves away and another winter threaded its
freezing blanket over the lands, Semiax came upon me once more. I was
gathering cedar and dry sticks for warmth.

"Idroes of the Northeastern Lands, greetings. I see you are preparing
for the evening hours."

"Semiax of the Empyrean Places, greetings. Indeed, I am. But to what
reason do I owe your visit?"

 "I am come down to speak with you, before we cannot speak again."

 "Come, let us go into my shelter."

 "There is not time enough. Listen. What I and several others have
done was not meant to be done and might not be forgiven.  The gifts I
have given to you and to the maiden Lucrezia, will be always be with
you.  What I speak now, I speak to avoid you confusion in the future.
Once I and the others that came among the earthly villagers are cast
down from the sweetest throne, you will not remember everything that
has befallen you and the sons I gave to Lucrezia through my seed will
not flourish for more than a few hundred years and our kind, this new
breed, will be gone from these lands forever. Therefore, do not feel
afraid at the time of disremembrance for you will still possess all
that I promised.  That is all I have to say and I know you will not
forget this conversation.  First we met as rivals and now I feel as if
you are one of my few friends."

    "I am glad to be your friend."

    "It is good to hear, for my mind is troubled."

    "May I help in some manner."

    "I am afraid not, but in a fortnight's time, I do beseech you to call
upon those that remain in the sweetest throne and implore them for
mercy on my behalf and on behalf of those that will be demoralized
with me. You have a voice in your thoughts that can reach their hearts
if you speak it with compassion."

    "I will make the speech of pleading, for you and the others with you,
in a fortnight's time."

    "I thank you, Idroes of the Northeastern Lands, I pray you will be
the scribe you wish to be and I do make now a formal apology for
taking from your side the fair Lucrezia.  It is now to her that must
hurry."

"Semiax of the Empyrean Places, I accept your apology and I will not
forget this conversation."

I did not see Semiax ever again, but many heard the bellows on the
day that he and the others were cast down into the demoralizing dust.
   
 When I implored with a prayer for mercy for him, it was three that
responded. Remiel, Razuel, and Ruriel.

 They came upon me and spoke three different pronouncements at nearly
the same time. Their bright glow almost blinding my eyes.

 "There is no prayer that will prevent a fate set and surrendered to
from the Empyrean Places."

 "There are no tears that will drown the fire that is now buried under
Ba'al-Hermon"

 "Those that were once our brothers are no longer our brethren and we
do not breathe the same air"

I could feel my pulse quicken, I could not speak further and I
stumbled to my knees and stretched out my arms in a final act of
beggary.

One of them, I do not know which, placed a hand on my left shoulder
and at once I felt my heart ease back into a steady rhythm and I felt
all my early thoughts leave me... Some have never returned.

That night I dreamed of Semiax. His left knee was bloodied and he was
now as dark as the fishermen who work the hardest for their catch. The
toes of that same leg were twisted in the way that leaves crumple when
they are fallen away from their mother tree. Even in the chill before
dawn, I awoke with perspiration pouring from my brow.

I find myself alone once more and in this loneliness the only sorrow
is the waiting in vain for Semiax to return and lead me back to that
place, to my natural place upon the path at the edge of the
grasslands, where the road did curve to bind travelers along a
narrower passage that led neatly to the house of Lucrezia's cousins.
Indeed, I wait and have waited.  Fully expecting Remiel, Razuel, and
Ruriel to come upon me, speak simultaneously, and have one of them
touch my shoulder as did happen before so that my early thoughts will
return and with them the natural order of fate.  For me, at this so
very late stage, it can only signify death.

EPIPHANY

It was long ago.  In the days before mechanical devices. In the days
that held only the plain schemes of mankind.  Long before anyone could
even imagine the mass murdering of children through apathy and the
yoke on womanhood. I have been reading for years; seven of ten women
walk the earth in poverty... Several children have perished from hunger
in just the space of time that it has taken you, dear Reader, to
interpret this one paragraph.

I do recall the great deluge and lesser floods that invaded these
lands.  I do not know how I have survived through the ages and
sometimes I do not wish to know. However, often I have yearned with
the utmost desire to simply return and continue walking with Lucrezia.
To see her again, the next day and the next after that, until there
are no more days to be seen.

Every so often, there is the idle talk of the end of the world.  Of
course, the world only ends one life at a time. I have seen more than
most and while there is much that I do not remember there is one thing
I would be a fool to forget. It would be a sign of wisdom on your
part, dearest reader, to also tie this one thing into the book of your
recollections: do not trade on the chance to love and to travel, even
if you barter with percipients, for love will make mere nickels of the
toughest of muckles and that mintage may take you anywhere upon this
ancient terra firma.  For all my power, I am nothing without the
commemoration of Lucrezia.  Her caramel hair that sang like wild emmer
in the breeze and her brunette eyes which I only spied in a purloined
glance, they soothe me still.