Part - 3
Prologue:
In The Beginning…
…2472 BCE
Second Transition
Somewhere near the south Eastern fringe of the Sumerian Empire; on the land that would be part of the Persian Empire in another 800 years.
…
Buy grace of the universal creator my head burst fourth from the womb of my Persian mother. With a heave of her strong abdominal muscles my infant body sloshed out into the pool of water Hashatra was sitting in at the edge of the pond... Her sister Sinra assisting to catch me and let me float in the little reed pond they had prepared. An occasion of mingle emotions…
they cleaned me and prepared me for a very long walk… At least from the perspective of most Two Leggers.
My mother dubbed me ‘Bounding Waters '.
but my father ‘Toyk, “of Narn” gently overruled my mother and retitled me “ME-BE”, Which carried a duel meaning; (' I am that I will be’, - ’Water Primordial’).
I grew up with out a father. My mother refused to take another mate. I felt sorry for her sometimes but sometimes the way man cheated the woman I felt happy for her not to suffer that... I didn't discover until my ascension that my father had died from a wound that just would not heal and so I came into this world only to have a father for one and a half transitions.
…
“Many times I have stood before the court of Judgment of my Elohim and in all those times I have fallen short of being fully redeemed; but I've also been measured above the mark to be permanently condemned to sheol…
This book is the story of my journey…”
.
Chapter 1
2451 BCE.
First Breath
…
She was the second daughter of a governor of the province under the direct rule of the Sumerian Empire. I was a moderately successful tradesmen and merchant of a very lowly heritage... We met one day as I had finished setting up shop in the market to sell my inventory. No sooner had I finished preparing for the day's sales then two women of stunning stature and Beauty, both of royal bearing stepped into the shade of my tent seeking to buy earrings and a necklace of silver. It was known by many that I had connections for the finest jewelry in the province.
…
“Greetings Asa!”. Said the slightly taller of the two women now gracing my establishment. “Greetings Rahi!” I replied, “to what do I owe the great privilege of your company.” I said with a smile.
With a sparkle in her hazel brown eyes Rahi began, “My sister Salam is in the market for some jewelry and I told her I knew where the finest could be found.” “Do you still have that necklace set that you showed me the last time I was here?” “In deed I do Rahi.” “And it is a great pleasure to meet you Salam.” I bowed respectfully with my head and at my hips as I turned to face Salam. “I'm sure you will find that your sister has brought you to the right place.”
Both women were beautiful in face and form. soft flawless skin the hue of chestnut and voluptuous swirling brown curls that flowed off of their head's and over their shoulders like water.
Rahi had her curls flowing over her left shoulder leading the eye to the beautiful roundness of her feminine figure. While her sister Salam allowed her hair to flow freely extending all the way down to her hips as though it were a wedding veil set back over the crown of her head.
Without intending it, I had been Snared momentarily in the beauty of Salam, her eyes were an Emerald green with flecs of gold shining like traces of the Sun through the forest leaves. Her eyes were smiling at me and I was captivated... and then I noticed her full round lips were also smiling with appreciation of my admiration.
Recovering myself, I leaned under my display counter and brought forth the item Rahi had mentioned.
Salam and Rahi busy themselves perusing the items I had on display for the public as I brought forth a three piece set of silver jewelry.
“Not only beautiful but functional” I said with a smile that betrayed my genuine Pride at the unusual acquisition. As I set the three piece display out on the counter for the women to see.
Rahi smiled a Cheshire cat smile with her eyes but made no betrayal of her confidence in taste. Salam's eyes open wide and her pupels dilated in true amazement at the fashion ensemble that I set forward.
“oh my, said Salam it is so beautiful!”
“Of the highest quality silver, appropriate and fitting only for royalty my queen.” I said to Salam as she stared at the objects, her fingers gently caressing the silver blade of a necklace fashioned as a chest guard composed of 12 Broad swords made of pure silver. The blade of each silver broadsword approximately 6 inches long and a maximum width of 2 inches across were fashioned at the top of each hilt by a sash of pure silver chainmail six links in width, with a broad clasp that fastened at the back like a necklace. At the center edge, each blade was fastened together to the next blade by two ringlets of pure silver.
The chest guard was accompanied by a matching belt With hip guard composed of 18 Broad sword blades, 6 inches long and 2 inches wide, that would drape over each side of the hip's, attached at the hilt of each blade buy pure silver chainmail of six rows across.
From the center edge of each blade was a silver chain of two ringlets which connected to the center edge of the next blade and so on all the way around the hip guard holding all of the blades in place as a skirt.
The third piece of the set was a 12 inch silver scabbard sheathed in soft sheepskin. The sheepskin was stitched with very fine silver and gold thread which was extended beyond the top of the stich seam of the sheath.
The silver and gold threads binding the sheath cover were twisted together and wrapped in a lattice pattern down to the bottom of the sheath and back to the top of the scaberd, the threads being soddered in place to the top edge of the silver scabbard.
Within the sheath was an 11 inch dagger. The hilt of the dagger made out of cedar from Lebanon. The crown of the dagger composed of solid, pure, silver and encrusted with for emeralds, one emerald at each compass point.
“What magic is this?” her lips whispered softly as Salam gazed at the blade. Smooth to the touch but with blue and silver ripples along its length, like the scales of a serpent. A blade that seemed to shimmer with a life of its own.
Not magic I don’t think, but technology. From the Far East.
“I am told by my Indus supplier that the blade is a mixing of silver and a metal referred to as temper; folded hundreds of times and bound together by tremendous heat .”
“This blade is sharper and harder than anything that our people know how to make. Allow a brief demonstration if you will?” Salam turned the hilt to face me and I slid the blade from its Scabbard.
I took out an unfinished piece of sheepskin from my work shelf and set it on the display counter. With one gentle, easy swipe, I shaved a clean swath of the Sheep’s wool from the skin leaving not even the slightest trace of fur where the blade had Grazed a long the skin.
“How magnificent! Rahi chirped with excited elation.”
“Yes, I replied, “ the craftsman ship is impeccable.”
“I can tell by the look in your eyes that you're interested Salam. Shall we discuss price?”
“I’m certainly willing to negotiate something reasonable, Rahi is a long time customer and friend of mine.”
“I'm sure the price is steep for such craftsmanship and beauty.” Salam replied. “Perhaps it's possible, and I do want it... What is your asking for it.?”
“Well my Queen, the chest guard is 12 Gill of silver by weight and the hip guard is 20 and the dagger is also 10.
I Dare say that the blade and scabbard are unique, could almost be described as priceless.” And with a sheepish smile I added, “Of course if I view it as truly priceless then I would have no food for my dinner.
“Let us negotiate.
I am thinking that for a Nobleman I had never met before I would charge 15 Gill as a fair price.” ?
“This does seem very fair,” Salam replied, “But one must be wealthy to approach such an amount and I don't think we will be able to negotiate.”
“Although I would give you all that I have at this time; but all that I have at this time is 8 Gill and a few Uri.”
A genuinely sad look grew upon my face. I knew that Salam wanted the set and I thought it would be absolutely beautiful on her. If I could, I would have just given it to her. And then Rahi chimed in.
“Your Ascension is coming up in just a couple of weeks Salam. Allow me to contribute as part of your birthday present?”
A beautiful smile drew across Salam’s face. I then spontaneously added (much to my later chagrin) “Your Ascension? Well, congratulations my queen! This is an auspicious occasion... Allow me to contribute as well.
I will let you have it for 10 Gill and if necessary, I will be happy to hold it for you until next week.
Immediately Rahi set 4 Gill on the counter, Salam blushed a little bit but her eyes smiled at her sister. “Thank you so much Rahi,”. Salam said, as she placed the other 6 Gill on the counter.
Once again, I bowed my head and bowed also at my hips in appreciation of their purchase and recognition of there nobility.
“Allow me to prepare this for your travels my Queen” I said, as I reach for a sheepskin that I was going to sell for a shoulder rap, but decided to use it for the packaging for the silver instead. Drawing a feather from underneath of my display and a jar of blackberry juice mixed with charcoal & olive oil I quickly scribbled instructions with not so proficient Arcadian glyph someone had once to try to teach me on the under-side of the shoulder wrap.
Turning the message so that Salam could see it.. I inspected the appearance of her face. For my pleasure (abba forgive) and also to be certain that she understood what I had scribbled out.
She puckered her face and then said,
“So I’m to use spirit of charcoal once every half transition ?”
“Yes my queen.”
“And rinss it in a tub with lots of water...??”
“Yes, my queen.”“ The craftsman which sold me these articles assures me the best way to maintain the finish is to scrub with a rag soaked in spirit of wood ash… then, rinse well in a bath”.
“Repeat this once every half transition, do this and the blades will shine like the stars”.
…
Carefully I laid out each silver item in the sheepskin Shoulder-wrap.
The silver girdle laying on the sheepskin was on the bottom and then carefully I moved the sheepskin holding the necklace on top and finally I set a sheepskin to cover the necklace and placed the dagger on top of the third skin.
Setting the dagger on top of the third sheepskin with the precious items sandwich between the Sheep skins I then carefully wrapped the the sheepskins over the dagger as the you would roll papyrus into a scroll handle. I then bound the rolled package together with two strips of leather and passed it to Salam.
“A beautiful piece of jewelry for a worthy woman, Happy Ascension Salam.” I said with a smile. Salam was beaming with glee.
I handed Salam the role with my head bowed but my eyes in contact with her beautiful green eyes.
Her eyes were still smiling at me.
I wondered if the magnetism I felt for Salam was mutual but would soon discover that Beyond a doubt it was.
…
Chapter 2.
Some is choice, Some is fate…
…
2452 BCE
Southeastern Fringe of Sumerian Empire
I do not believe in love at first sight.
But it is my belief that when a soul is created it is like a sheet that is torn into two parts of equal amounts. Having one goes into a woman and having the other goes into a man. And these are the soul of man and woman.
And when that woman and man meet, there is no Force on earth that will impede them from attempting to reunite in singular spirit through the duality of flesh...
And it was this force of creation that brought us together; even though we both knew that it was utterly forbidden and would mean certain death for me and possibly her as well should our romance be discovered…
…
I raised my eyes as Salam entered the tent, graceful like the leopard…
”Greetings my beloved.” Salam spoke just above a whisper in a voice delicate and pure like the wind blowing through the leaves of the trees.”
“Greetings to you as well my queen, how goes it?”
Salam moved to my side but with her head bowed down in concern. She spoke with words that were hushed from distress …
”There is an air of tension in My Father's House so subtle that if I were not his daughter I would not notice... Although I'm not sure what be the cause I feel that he suspect something of me”.
“A wise man respects a woman's intuition” I said to her.
Compassionately looking into her beautiful eyes, I said “Although I’m not certain of the cause, I too have felt something to be amiss in recent days and tickling my brain like the whiskers of a lion”. I knit my brows and momentary reflection…
But fear not Salam”.
She looked at me with the trace of a tear glistening along the lower of her eyelid, “Asa, what shall we do..?”
“it's known by the other merchants in the market that it is time for me to replenish my inventory, so, my departure will not seem unusual to them. We will rest tonight. Already I have two camels stationed for us as well as provision for the travel and I know the way as I've been many times”.
Rest now my beloved. We will leave it sunrise.
Foot notes, chapter 1 and 2
Definitions:
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(Salam)
From an Aramaic name which was related to the Hebrew wordשָׁלוֹם (shalom) meaning "peace".
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The name Rahi is an Arabic baby name. In Arabic the meaning of the name Rahi is:
Spring.
Which carried multiple meanings - 1 the season of spring, 2. The Rebirth of life, 3. a spring of water, 4. Water of Life.
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ASA?
Asa (אסא): derived from the Hebrew language, as the name appears in the Old Testament to designate the third King of Judah, who reigned for forty years. It became a popular name because of the influence of the Puritans in the 17th century. Asa: Hebrew means healer and/or physician, Ase
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