Episode 106

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Published on:

21st Mar 2026

106. Raven Crown Chapters 16, 17 and 18

A murdered guardian. A stolen sapphire. A raven with opinions.

Brie must gather the Jewels of Tambor—learning courage, cunning, and a strength she never knew she possessed—all while braving a twisted foot, a lack of trust, and impossible odds. Meanwhile, Dogmar, known as Jackal, will do anything to claim the throne…until a stolen jewel begins to unravel everything she believes about strength and survival.

Transcript
Speaker:

Chapter 16 Jackal.

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I loathe letting my rodent and the boy out

of my sight, the rodent, because now that

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I found her, I don't like the idea that

she might slip through my fingers again

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the boy because, well, I haven't seen one

that good looking for quite some time.

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Unfortunately, letting them

go is the prudent plan.

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What excuse do I have for sticking

around, but it will work out.

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Finding them at the eatery will be

easy, and I know they'll show up because

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I just ate the last of their food.

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It almost makes me laugh.

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Some people are so easy to manipulate.

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Brie when jackal is gone, gray

swings his bundle up to his shoulder

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while humming a little tune.

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I roll my eyes.

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Why are you so happy?

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Now we're out of food.

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Gray shrugs, we'll trade known as

clothing for more grub in Sarka.

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What?

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Why can't we use shekel gray?

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He's bundle a little

higher on his shoulder.

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Come on, we don't need all this stuff.

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Fine.

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I say, despite knowing he's

right, I turn and stomp away.

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I've only taken a few steps when

my stomach gurgles and the pain

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in my foot causes me to flinch.

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Not to mention I'm dreading a

night at the Eatery Owl pellets.

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You could finish the Noona story.

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Grace says that would

keep your mind off things.

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I roll my eyes wondering what makes him

think he can read my mind, and just then

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grim swoops out of the tree with a shrill

C and lands on the trail in front of me.

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What's this a conspiracy?

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I ask certain grim wants a story as well.

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Grim cause again, I have to admit

a story would be distracting,

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but I refuse to be cajoled.

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A half hour later, my stomach is

rumbling like a thunderstorm, and the

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pain in my foot is harder to bear.

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I give in gathering my thoughts,

I start the Noona story where

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I left off a few nights before.

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As predicted, Noona grew

into a beautiful girl.

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I say ignoring Gray's

approving grunt from behind me.

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She was a fast learner and

devoured the reading and

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mathematic lessons Malta gave her.

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RA taught Noona to so cook,

keep chickens and milk goats.

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Whenever RA couldn't find Noona,

which was often, she knew to check

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under the oak tree where Noona went

to listen to her father preside

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as judge for the town's people.

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I pause here remembering how Nona always

smiled at this point in the story.

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Was it because she thought it amusing that

Noona slipped out on her mother or because

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of how much Noona loved her father?

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It breaks my heart that I

will never be able to ask.

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Nona is gone.

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A tear slips down my face.

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I brush it roughly away and

return my attention to the story.

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Noona was nearing the age of marriage

when a plague swept through the village.

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Her father was taken ill and died

Within a few days, Noona and her

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mother were shattered with Malta gone.

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They were left with nothing but the

small income RA could make selling

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eggs and goat cheese without

Malta to hand out his judgments.

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The conflict among the

villagers became intense.

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One day two men showed up at RA's door.

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They told her they had come for a ruling

while struggling to control her emotions.

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RA explained that Malta was gone to RA's.

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Surprise.

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The men said they had come for a ruling

from Malta's daughter explaining they

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had heard she had her father's wisdom.

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Under normal circumstances, RA

never would've agreed, but she

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was shrewd enough to recognize

that these weren't ordinary times.

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She held out her hand and

demanded the regular price.

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The men grumbled and tried to

barter her down complaining.

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Noona was only a girl at this ra,

almost closed the door, but one of

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the men stopped her declaring he would

pay RA pocketed the coin and told

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the men to wait under the oak tree.

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When the door was closed, she rushed

to Noona, who had overheard the

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whole conversation, I can't do it.

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Noona said Her eyes wide

with dismay nonsense.

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Of course you can.

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Her mother hurried over to an

old chest and flung back the lid.

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With a tremor in her hands.

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She removed Malta's mantle

from the chest and placed it

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over her daughter's shoulders.

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RA stepped back to admire the

effect with a nod of approval.

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She ushered n Kona outside.

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Despite her doubts, Noona successfully

issued her first ruling word spread,

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that she was a fair and honest judge.

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Before long, she was as

busy as her father had been.

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A few years later, a man arrived

who didn't want a judgment.

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He wanted Noona to locate his

ship, which was lost at sea.

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Noona explained she couldn't help

him, but the man refusing to be

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deterred asked her to think on it and

said he would return the next day.

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Nna assumed she would simply send

the man away when he arrived, but

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as she fell asleep that night, she

pondered the question in the morning.

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She recalled a vivid dream of a ship

driven up on the rocks that afternoon.

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She explained in detail what she had seen.

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The man was delighted and tried to

pay her, but Noona refused saying

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she was a judge, not a soothsayer.

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Two months later, the man returned

because of Na Kona's dream.

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He had found his ship and

recovered his cargo as a tribute.

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He gave her a handful of

small ear shaped seeds.

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The fruit of these seeds will

set fire to your mouth, but

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light a flame in your heart.

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He said, at these words, I stop

walking, and gray almost runs into me.

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What is it he asks?

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And do you suppose the man

gave noona capsicum seeds?

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Gray shrugs?

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Now that you mention it,

the seeds do look like ears.

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I begin walking again.

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Interesting.

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I'm surprised Nona never

pointed out this fact.

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As we get closer to Sir Peka,

I realize I'm ringing my hands.

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I know why.

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I've never been in a real village.

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The only place I've ever been

closer to more than six people at

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a time is at the fall gatherings.

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Gray thinks the gatherings are the best

time of year, but I've always hated

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being hemmed in by so many people.

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How will I deal with a real village?

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To make things worse, it

truly looks like rain.

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That will have gray determined

to sleep at the eatery.

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After a long climb, we

reach the top of a ridge.

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I gasp at the site.

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From where we stand, I can see a steep,

rugged gorge with the Tori River running

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down the middle like a sleek grass snake.

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Beside the river is a road,

sir Pesca is across the valley.

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The doors and windows in the rocky

mountainside remind me of holy cheese.

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I know from Fremont stories that what I

can see is only a fraction of the village.

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The rest of it runs in

tunnels through the hillside.

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I tried to convince myself that

the village isn't that bad.

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Then I look at the dugout scattered

around the valley at each one.

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I see gem pits while crops and animals

provide diggers with their basic needs.

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It's the pits that provide anything extra.

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Each region of tambor

produces different gems.

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Here in the north, it's

mostly garnet, and tourmaline.

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There's the ro.

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Grace says pointing.

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I follow his finger to the mountain.

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Towering behind sir pesca

and stare in amazement.

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Carved in the sheer rock face

is what looks like a serpent.

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Preparing to strike.

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From this distance, I can almost

cover it with my outstretched

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hand, but close up it must be huge.

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After a moment, I make out a twisting

trail that climbs from ska up

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a steep ravine, then precariously

across a cliff to the serpent's tail.

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My guess is that the tail is a

low wall, which gets progressively

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taller as it moves into the body.

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At one point, the body almost

doubles back on itself as the trail

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curves into a crevice and out again.

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This creates the effect of a snake

slithering across the mountain side.

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where the trail leads to a pillar.

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The wall becomes the serpent's

raised head, which extends up

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and over a large courtyard.

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Those moving shapes must

be the mabu I mutter.

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Unease Slithers down my spine as

I wonder if they carry serpent

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swords like Reagan thorn.

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Then a movement catches my eye and I look

back towards the bottom of the valley.

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Look, I say pointing.

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A bunch of pilgrims just emerged

from those overhanging trees.

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Gray nods.

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They'll be on the trail to

the Ram Wat in the morning?

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My palms begin to sweat.

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That means they'll be

staying at the Eatery.

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Chapter 17, Bri, the sun is a hands

width from setting as we start down

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the rocky hillside towards the road.

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Grim gives three staccato

cause of warning.

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I don't wanna go either.

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I mutter.

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Gray looks at me with raised brows.

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I shrug Grim.

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Doesn't like the look of sarka.

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I say gray snorts, but I know I'm right

because the bird doesn't follow us.

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It begins to rain as gray

and I scramble to the road.

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There we casually slip in

behind a group of pilgrims.

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They remind me of a flock of mag

pies with their nonstop prattle.

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I'm glad to notice that I'm

not the only one with a staff.

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It means I won't stick out,

at least not for that reason.

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We're almost to the bridge

crossing the Uare River.

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When I draw a sharp breath,

a dragon stands in the middle

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of the wooden structure.

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I motion gray that we should slip into

the woods, but he shakes his head.

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I gulp understanding if we slip away

now, the dragon might get suspicious.

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My legs tremble as we get closer.

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Thankfully, the dragon is

occupied painting something on

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a bridge piling with a bucket of

tar and a short bristled brush.

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My eyes go wide as we get closer.

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The dragon is painting the symbol

inked on Reagan thorn's arm,

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the symbol on the cover of the

Banjara book for the love of rats.

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Could this be a coincidence?

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My eyes dart from side to side.

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Gray grabs my hand as if knowing I'm

about to bolt, I pull my hand away.

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Just as we pass the dragon, he

puts down his bucket of tar.

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I keep my eyes lowered and see

the man's hefty boots turn as we

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pass goose skin raises on my neck.

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I'm certain the dragon has noticed

my presence and I half expect him

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to storm after me, but he doesn't.

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We're almost across the bridge and I'm

breathing easier when I hear loud voices.

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Glancing around, I see a boat

on the back of a flatbed wagon.

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It's being eased down a steep bank

to the river by two shaggy ponies.

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Four more vessels wait to be launched.

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The boats are larger than Fremont's

old fishing skiff and tip up on

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each end, and they are painted

an array of colors, ginger, plum,

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turquoise rose, and apple green.

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River Banjara.

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Gray whispers looks like a whole cul.

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My curiosity keeps me staring as we walk.

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Fremont told us about the Banjara

and how they often travel in

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skulls or family groups like a

band of foxes with their boats.

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This SKU is different from the

Banjara Pedaler who traveled

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the Norwood with a single mule.

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But I'm sure they sell their

goods and purchase jewels.

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For the gem markets in

Ultan just the same.

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They don't look like diggers dirty and

tattered to be sure, but under their

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oil skins, icy scarves and bengal

loose pants and embroidered skirts.

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My steps slow, as I recall that

the Tiri runs all the way to Ultan.

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It must be an effective way to travel.

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Gray tugs on my arm.

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Come on, the dragon is coming, startled.

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I look over my shoulder.

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Gray is right.

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The dragon is heading this way.

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I pull the hood of my cloak lower.

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Grateful now for the rain.

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To my relief, the dragon

strides by paying us no mind.

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The road to ska is steep, but we make

it the rest of the way, unhindered.

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It's dark by the time

we reach the village.

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But lanterns light the way.

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As we pass through the gate, I begin

to panic at the number of people.

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Take it easy.

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Raven.

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There's nothing to worry about.

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Grace says as if he can

sense my nervousness.

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He tries to take my hand,

but I snatch it away.

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Instead, I clench my jaw

and try not to look down the

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winding passages we walk past.

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Each passage holds more doors than

I could see from across the valley.

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Sir Pesca goes on forever.

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Finally, I can't take it anymore, and

I grab gray's hand squeezing hard.

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There is somewhat of a smirk on his face

when I do it, but I'm too busy gaping

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at our surroundings to worry about it.

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I always thought people in villages

were well off, but this bunch gives

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me the impression of wormy rabbits,

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The few I take for shopkeepers

look better than the others,

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but that isn't saying much.

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relax or I won't have any

blood left in my fingers.

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Grace says, in embarrassed, I loosen

my grip in an effort to keep calm.

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I force myself to study the signs

hanging over the various doorways.

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There isn't time to read them

properly, but I can see by the

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pictures what some of them are.

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A block cutter, a Cooper,

a wax, Chandler a toy.

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There is a black and red

sign that I don't recognize.

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As we pass the open door.

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I catch a pungent whiff

of herbs glancing in.

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I see faceless heads with wild hair.

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The sight is so startling.

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I stumble, landing hard on my knees.

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Everything spins gray pulls me up.

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Come on.

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The eatery is just two doors down.

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What are those?

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I point, but the door has closed.

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Gray looks bewildered.

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Now that I've stopped,

I can read the sign.

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Kroger's Lounge and Wig Shop.

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Realization.

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Dawns, they were wigs, high stammer.

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But these people don't wear them.

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they're probably just for show.

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Grace says, gripping my elbow and

leading me towards the eatery.

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Remember what Jackal said?

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The Roker buys hair to sell an ultan.

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The panic inside me has now

turned to absolute dread.

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Too many people is one thing,

but faceless heads is another.

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I can't stay here.

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There's no way.

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I tried to pull free of gray,

determined to leave the village

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at once, but gray holds me tight.

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All right.

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He says we'll just get

some food and leave.

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I know this is a reasonable request.

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We need to eat with great effort.

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I calm my nerves and follow him

to the back door of the eatery.

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I feel better until Gray begins.

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Bartering away, known as clothing

first go her fingerless gloves,

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then her woolens and extra hairpins.

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As each item is handed over, it's

almost like losing another piece of

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Nona, and I find it hard to breathe.

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Jackal.

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I proud the eatery waiting for my prey.

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They should be here by now.

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I curse, wondering if

I've lost them again.

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I go over our conversation to see if

I said something that gave me away.

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I can't think of anything.

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The place is swarming with pilgrims and

diggers along with many of the soldiers.

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They sit at low tables on stools, colored

glass lanterns hang from stout beams.

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Straw covers the floor.

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There's a ruckus at the

far end of the room.

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The music stops as two men yell

at each other, blast the order.

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We can't let them push us around anymore.

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And exceptionally tall man thunders.

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I hone in on the argument at the mention

of the order, a shopkeeper judging by his

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black tunic bellow's back at the towering

man talk like that will only bring the

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order down on us and I won't have it.

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The veins in the man's

neck bulge with anger.

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It's only a moment before the proprietor

forces the arguing men outside.

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Lord Maddox is already heading to Ultan.

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He yells after them, let the

whole thing go or you'll be dead.

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At these words, the music resumes,

and I wonder if the order is strong

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enough in these parts for the tall

man to live through the night.

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The locals have been in an uproar since.

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Lord Maddox was here a few weeks ago.

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A low voice rumbles in my

ear causing me to flinch.

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I was so intent on the fight.

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The dragon has caught me off guard.

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He wants the diggers to join in a

rebellion to overthrow the order.

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The dragon snorts.

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it will never happen.

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My skin itches at the

second mention of the order.

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I can't believe anyone would

think to stand against them.

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I turn to face the dragon and reply as any

high nobilis would be expected to respond.

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I assume you caught this Maddox

fellow and sent him to Ultan.

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The dragon gives me a derisive look.

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Do you think I'm dumb enough to manhandle

your uncle without a direct command?

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the surprise must show on my face.

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You know your uncle, don't you?

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The dragon says with a curious smile.

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Of course I do.

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I spit back though.

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It's a lie.

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I just thought it must

be a different madox.

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Well, there's only one

Lord Madox that I know of.

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The dragon shrugs.

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regardless, the order will stamp out

an uprising like it's an anthill.

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I want to mention that ants can

be quite persistent, but I'm still

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thrown off by the fact that I have

an uncle and not just any uncle

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one who's openly defying the order.

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Of course defying the order isn't illegal.

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How can there be a law that protects

a secret organization still,

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it's a dangerous proposition.

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Too bad.

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My uncle is already on his way to Ultan.

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I'd be interested to meet him.

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Brie Gray tries to convince me

that the only polite thing to do

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is find jackal and tell her we

won't be staying at the eatery.

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I'm hissing a protest.

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As two men are pushed out the kitchen

door, They're scrapping like roosters.

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I cower behind gray's substantial bulk.

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It's hard to make out what the men

are yelling, but I gather the argument

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has something to do with the order.

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I told Gray about the secret organization,

but he refused to believe me.

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I guess now he will.

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When the ruckus is over, I'm

trembling like a freshly shorn lamb.

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Greg grumbles about agreeing to leave

the village without finding jackal.

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It isn't until we've entered the

woods that I can breathe normally

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again without thinking I rest a

hand on the lump in Nona shawl.

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The sapphire is comforting

under my fingers.

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Still something nags at me.

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For the love of rats, I

mumble what Gray asks.

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nothing.

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Gray doesn't move.

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I sigh.

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I need to apply myself to the parchments

or I'll never find the jewels.

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Gray looks at me quizzically.

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What did Nona write about the

sapphire That it vibrates.

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Knowledge.

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Yeah.

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And wisdom.

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I say rolling my eyes.

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I think the stone's getting to you.

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I've never seen you so anxious to study.

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I smack gray in the shoulder.

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That's not true.

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I mean it.

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Grace says maybe the stone is working.

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I think about the Sapphire for a moment.

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Is it the reason the Parchments

have been weighing on my mind?

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I shake my head, no, I can't

feel a thing from the stone.

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I want to work on the Parchments because

I have to, not because I'm being coerced.

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We need to find a dry place to sleep.

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I say it's the only way I'll

get any translation done.

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Not to mention I need to, I need a,

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I.

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We need to find a dry place.

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We need to find a dry place to sleep.

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I say it's the only way I'll

get any translation done.

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Not to mention I need a hint about

what I should do when I reach,

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not just Ram Wat gray shrugs.

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We can always sleep in

an abandoned gem pit.

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I'm not fond of pits.

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Too many spiders, But compared to Sir

Peka, a few spiders should be easy.

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Chapter 18, Bri.

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We find an abandoned gem pit

that's only slightly damp.

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gray pulls his cloak tight.

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We could have been warm tonight.

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He says with a frown.

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I scowl.

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Is he really cold or is he just,

sorry he didn't get to see jackal.

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the question leaves my mind as gray.

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Hands me a meat pie.

396

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I bite in greedily.

397

:

The crust is flaky and I

detect nutmeg and clove.

398

:

I don't think about anything

else for a long time.

399

:

When the food is gone, I dig

out a beeswax candle and manage,

400

:

despite the dampness to get it lit.

401

:

on the way here.

402

:

I went through most of the parchments.

403

:

I can read.

404

:

The rest need translation.

405

:

With the plexiglass on one

side and a parchment on the

406

:

other, I begin the tedious job

407

:

Gray leans over my shoulder.

408

:

I elbow his chest back away.

409

:

You smell like a wet dog.

410

:

He grins but complies.

411

:

I'm halfway through the first

parchment when I squeak.

412

:

What is it?

413

:

Gray asks.

414

:

Glancing around.

415

:

I've never been able to translate so fast.

416

:

I dig the stone from Nona Shaw.

417

:

Maybe the Sapphire is working.

418

:

Gray leans forward.

419

:

What do you feel?

420

:

I wait for a moment, then sigh.

421

:

Nothing.

422

:

I turn back to the parchment.

423

:

It's another version of the City of Gold

Story, which is interesting, but doesn't

424

:

tell me anything I don't already know.

425

:

Come on, Nona.

426

:

What am I supposed to do

when I get to the Ram Wat.

427

:

I say as I flip through the stack

of Parchments, One that's tattered

428

:

and folded into quarters, slips from

the others and drops into my lab.

429

:

I open it, In the center is

the drawing of a man's face.

430

:

I guess he's banjara by the scarf around

his head wanted, I read Boan, River Man

431

:

and Gem Merchant 500 Shekel Reward.

432

:

Gray leans in close again.

433

:

He really does smell like a

dog, but part of me likes it.

434

:

I check the back of the parchment.

435

:

No hint why Nona saved this.

436

:

I say returning it to the stack.

437

:

My eyes sag, but I select

another parchment to translate.

438

:

I get through the first

paragraph before my head drops.

439

:

When it happens again,

I give in for the night.

440

:

I only sleep for a few

hours before waking.

441

:

The rain has stopped

and the stars are out.

442

:

The waxing moon appears as

a misshaped egg in the sky.

443

:

Thoughts of the Pero I hope to find

at nausea Roll through my mind.

444

:

How will I get it?

445

:

Surely I can't expect

it to be handed to me.

446

:

What would Nona do?

447

:

Rely on the whisper, I suppose.

448

:

Well, that's no help.

449

:

I can't feel the whisper.

450

:

or can I?

451

:

My thoughts return to my ability to

translate the parchment so quickly.

452

:

Could it mean my heartstrings

are tuning to the whisper?

453

:

Nevermind.

454

:

I don't believe that rubbish.

455

:

Sleep is hard to come by

for the rest of the night.

456

:

As soon as it's light, I get up and

add a seventh notch to my staff.

457

:

Nervous how my foot will handle the trek.

458

:

Today I give it an extra long rubdown.

459

:

then I shake gray awake.

460

:

It's time to go.

461

:

He grumbles about the hour, but gets up.

462

:

We set off through the

woods eating honey buns.

463

:

Soon we come to a steep gully

filled with trees and boulders.

464

:

The top is covered in clouds.

465

:

My anticipation doubles.

466

:

A trek like this would be hard on my

foot if it were in good condition.

467

:

After days of walking, it's far from that.

468

:

bending down.

469

:

I retie the lace on my boot.

470

:

How's your foot?

471

:

Gray asks Fine.

472

:

I lie.

473

:

Maybe we should leave

our bundles down here.

474

:

My first instinct is to say no, but I'd

be a fool not to make this trek easier

475

:

With a sigh, I relent looking around.

476

:

I find a pine tree.

477

:

I can climb gray hfs up the

bundles and I tie them securely with

478

:

the cord that holds them closed.

479

:

with only my staff, my

water, skin, and some food.

480

:

I'm much lighter as we start up the gully,

481

:

jackal.

482

:

I am up and waiting for my rodent at the

trail head Before dawn in irritation, I

483

:

jab a knife repeatedly into a tree stump.

484

:

I'm not happy that the girl didn't

sleep at the eatery last night.

485

:

She'd better show up today.

486

:

A short time later.

487

:

I feel the tingle of a gemstone.

488

:

I'm certain it's the same

one I felt yesterday.

489

:

I smile pleased with myself.

490

:

I've just spied the pear

when they slip off the trail.

491

:

I wait when they return

without their bags, I'm torn.

492

:

Should I keep them in sight

or search their belongings?

493

:

I want that jewel at this range.

494

:

I can't tell where it is.

495

:

I watch the girls crooked gate

as she starts up the goalie.

496

:

She won't be hard to catch.

497

:

That settles it.

498

:

I'm going for the bags I search,

but can't find them anywhere.

499

:

In sheer frustration, I glance up the

bags are hanging from a stout limb.

500

:

Thinks she's tricky, does she?

501

:

I begin to climb and curse as

a branch snaps under my foot.

502

:

Obviously, the girl is lighter than I am.

503

:

By the time I reach the

bags, my nerves are frayed.

504

:

To make things worse,

I can't feel the stone.

505

:

My rodent must have taken it with

her with a knife slash I send the

506

:

bags crashing to the ground, then

shimmy cautiously after them.

507

:

I'm in a foul mood.

508

:

When I reach the bottom without a care.

509

:

I pull items out of the

oil skins as I surmised.

510

:

There's no stone, but what I

do find makes my fingers twitch.

511

:

How did the rodent get

her paws on the book?

512

:

I stole from the Castle

Library so many moons ago.

513

:

I did it to defy my father, but as

far as I know, he never noticed.

514

:

I picked the book because it had a

jewel embossed on the cover, I thought

515

:

someone in the gem market would buy it.

516

:

They did, but not for

nearly as many shekel.

517

:

as I expected.

518

:

I hadn't noticed that the book was

written in the ancient language.

519

:

I'm lucky I got anything for it at all.

520

:

Could the book have something

to do with the jewels of tambor?

521

:

I flip through the pages

as I try to decide.

522

:

In the end, I return it to the bag.

523

:

Since I can't read the ancient

text, it does me no good.

524

:

The next thing I find is a leather

envelope full of parchments.

525

:

I have a mind to keep it,

but after consideration.

526

:

I decide to return it to the bag as well.

527

:

If need be, I can always steal it later.

528

:

for my trouble.

529

:

I snatch a sock full of shekels.

530

:

The extra coin will do me good leaving

everything else scattered on the ground.

531

:

I race back to the gully,

532

:

Bri.

533

:

As I climb the clouds part and the

trees thin here and there, I catch

534

:

a glimpse of the ram watt To my

frustration, it never seems any closer.

535

:

Pilgrims come from behind and pass me by.

536

:

I push my foot to move faster,

but pain shoots up my leg and

537

:

Nona's warning sound in my head.

538

:

I grit my teeth in frustration

and force myself to slow down.

539

:

I'm plotting along when I hear

a voice behind me, Hey, wait up.

540

:

I glance over my shoulder and

great, it's jackal and just what?

541

:

I need someone to watch me struggle.

542

:

Of course, gray is all

smiles when she arrives.

543

:

I'm glad to see that

at least she's winded.

544

:

Where were you last night?

545

:

I waited for hours.

546

:

She looks from me to gray.

547

:

Sorry, gray answers.

548

:

Sheepishly.

549

:

Brie was enough for spending a night at

the Eatery, so we slept in an old gem pit,

550

:

jackal, frowns, but brightens quickly.

551

:

Oh, well, it worked out.

552

:

The Croker's wig hair leaves

tomorrow with the Banjara.

553

:

I'm to light a few prayer candles to

ensure the cargo safe passage to ultan.

554

:

She grabs gray by the arm

and pulls him up the trail.

555

:

Come on.

556

:

We'll never get there.

557

:

Moving this slow.

558

:

for a while, I try to keep up,

but when gray and jackal pull

559

:

away, I drop behind humiliated.

560

:

After hours of toil, I come to

the upper reaches of the gully.

561

:

This is the point where the trail crosses

the cliff with only a slight incline.

562

:

The hard part is over, but

there is still a long way to go.

563

:

Gray and jackal are perched

on rocks chatting amiably.

564

:

I suppose I should be grateful.

565

:

They waited for me, but I'm not.

566

:

I sit and retie the laces of my boot.

567

:

Most of the trees are below us now.

568

:

Only a few rugged junipers

eke out a living this high.

569

:

The top of the gully forms

a natural resting point.

570

:

A good dozen pilgrims who all passed me

earlier are scattered about on the rocks,

571

:

eating and talking amongst themselves.

572

:

Still, others have already

started the last leg of the trek.

573

:

I am eating my pie when I

notice gray eyeing the crust.

574

:

No doubt he gobbled his long ago.

575

:

I take another bite and

hold out what's left.

576

:

Do you want this Gray nods eagerly

just as he's reaching for it.

577

:

Grim swoops down and snatches

the crust from my fingers.

578

:

Gray lunges after him, but grim wings

out of the way with surprising agility.

579

:

I can't help myself and snicker the

pilgrims who witnessed the event.

580

:

Chuckle as well.

581

:

Red-faced gray grins and shrugs it off

in his usual gray way and jackal, frowns.

582

:

Where did that filthy thing come from?

583

:

He's with Brie.

584

:

Gray says, jackal, scrutinizes

me as gray gets to his feet.

585

:

Come on.

586

:

I'll tell you about how Brie

came to find grim while we walk.

587

:

Remembering the day causes me to wince.

588

:

I would like to rest longer,

but I get to my feet worried

589

:

about what gray is about to say.

590

:

Now that the trail isn't so steep, it's

easier to keep up and I follow behind.

591

:

A few years ago, grace says A brood

of ravens was hatched in a nest on

592

:

the sea cliff by breeze, dugout.

593

:

Unfortunately, the nest

wasn't in a good location.

594

:

One morning there was nothing left,

but feathers and a single chick.

595

:

We're pretty sure it was a fox.

596

:

Grim gives a boisterous

C as he circles overhead.

597

:

Jackal looks up.

598

:

Does he know we're talking about him?

599

:

Of course not.

600

:

Gray says, I look at Grim

Knowing Gray is right.

601

:

Still there are times I swear.

602

:

We communicate.

603

:

Brie rescued him from the cliff.

604

:

Gray continues now.

605

:

He follows her everywhere.

606

:

She descended the sea cliff jackal

questions with a pointed look at my foot.

607

:

Well, she did get stuck and

I had to drop her a rope.

608

:

Grace says, with a little puff of

his chest, I roll my eyes, figures.

609

:

I'd come out sounding like a mini bird.

610

:

I'm prepared to make a scene if

gray goes on, but he doesn't.

611

:

I couldn't bear it if he repeated the rest

of the events that took place that day.

612

:

Just thinking about it makes my face burn.

613

:

Thankfully, gray changes the subject.

614

:

It takes all my determination, but

I manage to keep up with gray and

615

:

jackal until we reach the tip of

NA's stone tail, a cheer sounds

616

:

from the pilgrims around us.

617

:

As I surmised, the stone serpent is

formed by a wall that flanks the trail.

618

:

After another push, I find myself

at the bottom of a steep and

619

:

narrow set of granite steps.

620

:

We are about to make the final

ascent to the Ram Wat of Naja.

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About the Podcast

Creative Spiritual Journey
one small, deliberate step at a time
We are all on a journey—a journey home to our heavenly parents. Any experienced traveler knows there are days you laugh and days you cry.

We aren’t here to tell you how to live—we are here to share how we live—how we survive, thrive, and even find joy!

The journey gets messy with rainstorms and sleepless flights but the hard times—the miserable times—those make the best stories.

And the vistas, the sunsets, the little birds outside the window—those are the reminders that God is in the details, he is aware of us, he has trod the path before.

The Creative Spiritual Journey Podcast is hosted by Judy and Ghia Cooley—two sisters in their wisdom years—who love the savior and are dedicated to making this journey one small, deliberate step at a time.

Join us!

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Ghia Cooley