Episode 108

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Published on:

27th Mar 2026

108. Chapter 19, 20 and 21

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 19 jackal.

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As I stand at the bottom of the

steep stairs that lead to the ram

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rot of Naja, my skin begins to crawl.

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I try unsuccessfully to

wipe the feeling away.

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While it's the snake God oon,

I'm forced to worship in Ultan

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I'm just as revolted by Naja.

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Despite my inclination to avoid all

snake gods, I get behind the boy

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and follow him up the worn steps.

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I'm almost to the top when I

feel the twinge of a jewel.

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It's not the stone my rodent is carrying.

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This is different.

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As I reach the expansive courtyard,

the immense head of the serpent

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looms over me fangs Baird.

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I cringe not from my disgust of the

snake God, but at the overwhelming

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power I feel from the stone embedded

in the serpent's chest by ion.

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It's like a weight on my heart.

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I don't want to be near it.

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The boy looks at me and I try to smile.

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when his attention is elsewhere, I turn

my back and curse the wretched stone.

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Like it or not, I've located

another jewel of Tambo

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Brie.

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At the top of the stairs, I falter.

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People are everywhere.

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Mabu with mosque, green robes draped

over one shoulder and pilgrims talking

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excitedly chanting fills the air.

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Under normal circumstances, would pick

a quiet corner to hide, but I can't move.

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Instead, I'm mesmerized by the

stone replica of na, which

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looms over the courtyard.

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A pilgrim joles me as she pushes

by Brie, you're in the way.

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I hear gray's words,

but they don't register.

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After a moment, he takes me by the

shoulder and pushes me to the center of

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the courtyard, where apparently I can

gape at Naja without bothering anyone.

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Here I get a full view of the towering

serpent, while the backside visible

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from the valley is a natural stone.

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The front is an intricate mosaic of

colored pebbles and small jewels.

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These radiate outward from a central cone

on the serpent's raised chest resembling

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shimmering scales, and there at the center

is the largest gemstone I've ever seen.

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It's bigger than my hand spread wide,

and it's soft, pale green, and reminds

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me of the new growth on pine bows.

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There's no doubt that

I have found the Pero.

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As I gaze at the stone, my heart slumps.

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I can't even touch it,

let alone take it with me.

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What could Nona possibly have had in mind?

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Eventually, I pull my eyes from

the gem and turn in a slow circle,

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taking in the rest of the courtyard.

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Several mabu are busy carving

blocks of Graystone into

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miniature replicas of the snake.

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God for pilgrims to purchase.

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The shaved heads of the bu glisten with

sweat causing me to realize that the sun

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has emerged from the clouds, But a quick

glance at the sky tells me it won't last

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long as clouds are building in the west.

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Another turn and the looming

serpent is at my back.

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Now I'm standing in front of a

deep cavern hu into the rock face.

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The entrance is an elaborate tangle

of snakes carved from the stone.

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I realize this room is where

the chanting originates.

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Peering in the dimly lit alcove.

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I can make out close to 20 mabu

seated cross-legged on the floor.

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Dripping candles lined the walls.

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the mabu chant in shifts day and night.

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It never stops.

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I overhear jackal telling Gray who

is peering at the cavern as well,

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Catching movement to my right.

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I make one more turn and see a

group of mabu working in unison

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through a series of staff moves.

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I stare.

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Their form is sharp and angular, not

the smooth flowing style, Nona taught me.

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When they lunge and jab, I notice that

each monk has a bronze serpent inked

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from shoulder to forearm, the movement

in conjunction with the ink makes it

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appear as if the serpent is striking.

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Anyone who thinks of stealing

that Pero has to go through them.

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I hear jackal say Instantly.

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Everything snaps together, and I stagger

like I've been hit by a freak windstorm.

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I put the end of my staff on the

ground to keep from toppling over.

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Of course they use staffs.

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I say If they preferred swords,

Nona would have as well.

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Jackal cocks her head.

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What did you say?

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Nothing.

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I groan.

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as I think of Nona with

her reason for everything.

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I see her at staff practice day after

day until she can execute each move

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with precision until her muscles

have memorized every block and lunge.

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This was the reason she planned on

challenging the mabu for the Pero.

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are you feeling well?

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Gray asks, interrupting my thoughts.

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I grip my staff.

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Yeah, I'm fine, but in reality,

I'm miserable without Nona,

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this painful check has no point.

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I will never get the stone without her.

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Gray pokes me in the ribs.

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Hey.

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I'm going to look around.

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I nod and wave him away.

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I am watching the Mabu again.

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When I see a staff disappear,

I blink not believing my eyes.

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I watch more intently until

another staff vanishes.

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This time I catch it.

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The staff doesn't disappear.

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Not really.

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Instead, it collapses into a rod

no longer than a person's forearm.

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The mabu is then able to slip the staff

into the folds of his robe and it's gone.

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Nice trick.

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Jackal my rodent gapes at

the Marabou for a long time.

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I hope she has a plan and

I hope it's a good one.

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I pull my coat out of my satchel and slip

it on The sun warm only moments before

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is now blocked by heavy rain clouds.

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Another storm is on its way

and looks to be much worse

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than the rain we had yesterday.

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With the boy off exploring, I find a

place to crouch and study my rodent.

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She looks wild with that unkept hair,

but she's also delicate like a bird.

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And with that foot, She almost hops around

like one, I can tell she has substance

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and a fair degree of intelligence.

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It shows in the way she cocks her

head and blinks when she's curious.

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But none of this matters because

I can see a flaw beneath it all.

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She's trusting.

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It shows in her eyes.

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Trust.

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I can use

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Brie with gray and Jackal gone.

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I walk to the wall of the courtyard,

which overlooks the RI River.

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From here, I can see the serpent's back.

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It's carved with scales that I couldn't

make out from the valley yesterday.

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More importantly, I can see that

running up the side of the serpent is

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a series of shallow hand and toe holes.

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obviously made for accessing

the luminous green stone.

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I look at the Pero would

simply touching it be enough?

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Nona said, having the

essence of the ruby would do.

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Would it suffice for the Pero as well?

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Of course there's one major problem.

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I don't know if I'll feel anything

by simply touching the stone, but

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the reality is I don't have a choice.

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There's no taking the stone with me.

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I glance about in an effort to come up

with another option, but there isn't one.

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That's it.

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Then all I can do is touch

the Pero and see what happens.

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Before I can change my

mind, I start up the steps.

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The climb is easy though.

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I remind myself not to look down.

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The drop isn't just to the courtyard,

but all the way to the valley floor.

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Not that height is a problem.

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I've climbed hundreds

of trees in the Norwood.

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It's the exposure.

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That's why I froze on the sea cliff.

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When I tried to rescue Grim, I was

all alone on the bare rock with no

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comforting bows for security and just

pay attention to the task at hand.

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I tell myself sounding too much like Nona.

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I climb without looking at anything but

the next hold, when the holds run out.

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I glance around.

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I'm now even with the perio do, but the

serpents, extended hood is not flat.

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It's concave.

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The stone is deep within

the center of the chest.

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From where I am, it doesn't appear

possible to reach owl pellets.

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I'm so close holding on with one hand.

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I lean towards the stone with a more

direct view Down the center of the cone, I

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can see that the Pero is not the enormous

gem I thought it was from the courtyard.

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In reality, it's no bigger

than the sapphire at my waist.

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I don't know how it works, but the

mosaic lined cone has the effect of

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enlarging the appearance of the gem.

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I reach one handout to touch the

stone, but it's too far away.

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I swing back to readjust

my grip and try again.

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At that moment, there's a

roar from the courtyard below.

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I look down to see a stream of

mabu pouring from the cavern

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Leading the flood of green is a

mabu in purple robes brandishing.

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A golden staff carved in the

shape of a serpent falcon.

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He yells a falcon dares to

challenge Naja other monks.

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Chime in down with the falcon, I wince

at the name aware that the falcon

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is the serpent's greatest enemy, e

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jackal.

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I am admiring the boy as he

strolls around the courtyard.

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When mayhem breaks loose,

the mabu are in an uproar.

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I scan the crowd for my

rodent by the jewels.

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Where did she go?

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I was only distracted for a moment.

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When I see that she has climbed

the serpent, I can hardly

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believe my eyes brainless twit.

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What is she doing?

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The mabu are in a frenzy.

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Curse her stupidity.

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How will she help me find the

jewels if her bones are broken?

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I could step in, make a scene,

pull some rank, and get her

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out of this mess or curses.

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I don't know.

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I bite my lip and decide to wait

and see how things play out.

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I'm sure she doesn't

realize what she has done.

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Just to reach for the stone is an insult.

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Climbing the serpent,

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She's got to be out of her mind.

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Brie

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For the love of rats, will I

ever learn not to be so reckless?

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I just wanted to touch it.

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I yell as I scramble down.

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This is bad, really bad.

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I skip the last few holds and

jump to the ground instantly.

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I'm surrounded by mbu.

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Their faces distorted with rage.

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I'm sorry.

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I won't do it again.

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I promise.

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With The mabu circling me, I panic

and tears cascade down my cheeks.

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la Marabou begin to twist and sway

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Shoulder to shoulder, they

slither around me and chant in

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unison, choose, choose, choose.

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Nevermind.

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I don't want any stones.

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I just wanna go home.

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I would yell these words, but I can't get

them past the constriction in my throat.

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Choose, choose.

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Choose.

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The Mabu continued to chant.

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Choose what I managed to squeak.

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I'm shaking so badly

that I drop to one knee.

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The circle closes in the

mabu, begin waving their

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serpent inked arms in my face.

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I don't know what they want, so

I drop all the way to the ground.

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Choose, choose, choose.

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They are even closer now.

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Their voice is low and menacing.

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Get away.

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I swing my arm out wildly

desperate to drive them back.

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I touch a hand and the owner

grabs my arm holding it fast.

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The others move away.

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The Mabu with the Golden

staff steps forward.

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Naja has a challenger.

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He calls raising his staff overhead.

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This will be a fight with the staff.

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All the pilgrims.

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Circle around and cheer the grip on my arm

loosens the mabu who held it, steps back.

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I remember seeing him train.

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He was the largest of all

the mabu by almost a head.

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His legs are like tree trunks and his

arms bulge with muscles from his robe.

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He pulls a staff snapping it open.

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I stare as he twirls it with tremendous

speed causing the serpent on his arm

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to look as if it's striking repeatedly.

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I scramble to my feet and

back to the edge of the crowd.

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No, this is a mistake.

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Brie.

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I can see gray trying to push his

way through the throng of pilgrims.

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I don't want to fight.

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I yell.

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You don't have a choice.

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Someone in the crowd

yells, put on a good show.

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You'll only get a minor beating.

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Another adds no frantically.

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I try to push through the crowd, but they

hold tight, creating an impenetrable wall.

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I scratch and kick, then I drop

to my knees and try scrambling

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through their legs, but someone

grabs my foot and hauls me back,

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Chapter 20 jackal.

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When my rodent gets down to the

courtyard, she's lost in the crowd.

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I'm scanning the swarm of people.

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When I see the presiding mabu hand his

staff to a novice and nod towards nadja.

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The novice takes the staff

and climbs the stone serpent.

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His green robes billowing in the wind.

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After reaching the top, he

places the head of the staff in

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a notch making another foothold.

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With this extra step, he easily reaches

the Pero as if handling a serpent.

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The novice cautiously

removes the green gem.

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After returning the way he came,

he proffers the stone and the

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staff to the presiding mbu who

takes them with an heir of pride.

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I assume the Mabu wants the gem

in hand to prove his authority.

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With the Pero now closer, I can see that

it isn't nearly as big as it first looked.

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How strange.

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When I spot my rodent again, she's

trying to fight her way to the boy.

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I'm not sure why it

isn't as if he can help.

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The presiding mbu raising his staff

in one hand and the jewel in the other

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calls for the fight to begin for a

second, I think my rodent is going to

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be taken out with the first blow, but

at the last moment she spins and blocks

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her attacker with a jab at his ribs.

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She rolls away.

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Not bad for a rodent.

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though.

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I suspect the giant hasn't

used his full strength.

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Not yet.

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Brie.

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this isn't good.

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What do I do?

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Mercifully, instinct takes

over and I defend myself.

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Seems I have enough sense to keep

my head from being bashed in.

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But how do I get out of this?

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I lunge away.

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Nona used to talk to me about strato.

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Jim, I should remember something.

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I've bested gray a few times.

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They were just mock battles.

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But I did win.

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I leaped back to avoid a swing at my head.

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Yes, I recall a good lesson.

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Big as he is.

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My opponent has a weakness.

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I duck a jab.

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The question is, can I pull off?

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Nona's move?

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Before I'm clobbered, I

swing and dodge another blow.

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and jackal.

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The crowd loves it.

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Money begins to change

hands as bets are placed.

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Surely they don't think she can win.

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There must be a wager

on how long she'll last.

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She's fast.

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I'll give her that with a shout.

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She lands another blow

on the Mara Booz ribs.

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Same spot as the first, The Mabu

grunts probably more out of surprise

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than pain, as she doesn't appear

to be much stronger than a breeze.

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After some time I realize the

girl is quite skilled, which

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gives me a twinge of jealousy.

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I've never seen much use for

a weapon without a blade.

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Perhaps I should reconsider.

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The presiding mabu stands like royalty

as he watches the fight from a raised

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platform, golden staff in hand.

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He looks almost as arrogant as my father.

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I notice him glance at the sky

and my eyes follow The clouds

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that have moved in are ominous.

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It seems to be getting dark though.

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Sunset is hours away.

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With the crash of staff against staff,

my eyes are drawn back to the courtyard.

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Should I step in?

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I don't want my rodent beaten.

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Senseless.

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She wouldn't be much used to me then, yet.

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I wait.

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Curious to see what happens

and reluctant to blow my cover.

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The giant is slow and the girl dances

around him, landing another blow on

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his ribs, but it hardly phases him.

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Laughter ripples from the onlookers.

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He grins over his shoulder

at the crowd, and action.

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He would never have dared

with a serious opponent.

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while the rabbus eyes are averted,

the girl surges in the move.

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Comes like a strike from a viper.

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No hesitation.

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placing a foot just

above the Giant's knee.

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She uses it to jump up and

slam her staff into the side of

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his head right above his ear.

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She yells with the exertion.

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Spittle flies from the

giant scaping mouth.

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As his head spins with a

crash, he falls to the ground.

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I jump to my feet.

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This is unbelievable.

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The Mabu has gravely

misjudged his opponent.

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The stunned crowd waits to

see if the giant will get up.

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The girl looks shocked and

stands perfectly still.

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I glance at the presiding

mabu whose neck is bulging.

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It's his turn to be

undermined by a rodent.

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My lips twitch in amusement.

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There's a groan from the giant

as he makes it to his knees.

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After another moment,

he teeters to his feet.

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The presiding mabu raises his arms

in the air, his golden staff in one

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hand, and the stone in the other.

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The fight will continue.

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He announces Many people in the

crowd begin to boo in protest.

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It should be the girl's victory.

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The giant was on the ground too long

before the presiding mabu can reconsider

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a shaft of lightning shatters the

blackened sky and strikes his staff.

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The stone flies from his hand

as he's thrown to the ground.

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Deafening thunder fills the courtyard.

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A deluge of water pours from the

heavens, like a torrential waterfall.

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People scatter for shelter.

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It's almost impossible to see.

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I push blindly towards the last

glimpse I had of the stone with

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the next splash of lightning.

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I see it.

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My rodent has it in her clutches.

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I smile what was once hers is

now mine without another thought.

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I snatch the stone.

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In the next moment, I somersault

over the courtyard wall landing

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in a crouch on the trail below.

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I'm so elated that I all but giggle.

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I've got the Pero And in all

the confusion, I'm certain

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no one knows where it went.

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Brie, no.

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The stone was in my fingers.

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Now it's gone.

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Not like a precious object is

gone, more like a piece of me

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is gone ripped from my insides.

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I can hardly breathe with the pain of it.

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I stumble to the wall, expecting to

witness a body careening down the cliff.

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It's difficult to see in the

deluge, I make out where NA's

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body doubles back on itself.

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Right below the courtyard, A

figure in black has landed on

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the trail, a faint gleam of green

flashes between white fingers.

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I run pushing past soden, people

scrambling heatless of protests down

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the slippery stairs on the trail.

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I bolt.

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I've never in my life moved so fast.

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This is the second jewel that has

been snatched from my fingers.

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I want it back.

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pilgrim.

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Still heading to the ram rot.

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Try in vain to find protection

under scant overhangs.

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I'm grateful they're out of my way.

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If I miss a step, I could

tumble off the trail.

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Sparks of fire shoot up my leg, but I

continue heedless of the pain, Getting the

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stone back is more important than my foot.

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There's a flash of black coat a moment

later, it disappears around a curve.

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I push myself to move faster as I swipe

at the Ritz of water running down my face.

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It seems like days before I reach the top

of the gully, was it an hour, maybe two.

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My foot is a blaze with pain.

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I stop heaving for breath for the love.

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I bend over and put a

hand on my knee of rats.

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It's still so far to the bottom.

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I can feel that my foot is

chafed, hoping for relief.

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I untie the lace from the upper

portion of the boot and retie it

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again loosely around my ankle.

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I peer down the gully.

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I can't see the figure

to make things worse.

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The gully is running with water.

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I know the stone is likely gone,

but I'm not willing to give up yet.

406

:

with my staff as a walking

stick, I begin my descent.

407

:

I've gone a short distance

When I hear a loud rumble at

408

:

first, I don't know what it is.

409

:

A moment later, I understand the

gully is about to flash flood.

410

:

There isn't enough time

to get out of the way.

411

:

Instead, I dive behind a giant

boulder and brace my feet

412

:

just as a torrent of water.

413

:

Rushes past the rock at my back,

deflects the majority of the flood,

414

:

and provides a pocket of safety.

415

:

But I'm stranded in a cascade of water.

416

:

It won't last long.

417

:

It won't last long.

418

:

In my panic, I repeat

the words over and over.

419

:

The noise is thunderous.

420

:

My foot slips, and I struggle

to wedge it back in place.

421

:

Please, please, please

let the water die down.

422

:

I hardly move for over an hour.

423

:

I'm exhausted from the effort.

424

:

When the flood water slacken, I am

relieved until the rock at my back shifts

425

:

just enough to cause the flow of water

to change direction and run over my

426

:

legs, the wooden sole of my boot slips.

427

:

No, I'm slamming my foot about

for a new spot to wedge it.

428

:

When my boot slips off, I

reach, but it's washed away.

429

:

Frantic.

430

:

I'll be washed away as well.

431

:

I jam my good foot between two rocks.

432

:

I'm saved for now.

433

:

Chapter 21, Jackal.

434

:

Iles, I snarl as I trip over a dinner

tray left outside the room of my door,

435

:

lumpy pea soup, splatters on the floor.

436

:

I leave it shivering.

437

:

I strip out of my soaked clothes

and drape them over a chair.

438

:

at least someone thought to light a fire.

439

:

I pull a blanket off the bed and

wrap it around my shoulders before

440

:

slumping next to the hearth.

441

:

As soon as I'm relaxed, the influence

of the stone floods my body with

442

:

a tingling sensation by ion.

443

:

I moan what a fool I've been.

444

:

I should have left the

stone with the girl.

445

:

Now I have to carry it

all the way to Ultan.

446

:

Greed has gotten in the

way of my good judgment.

447

:

Reluctantly, I dig the pero from

my coat pocket, holding it out.

448

:

I watch the flames, send sparks through.

449

:

Its soft green facets.

450

:

The stone warms as I turn it.

451

:

My body warms as well.

452

:

And that's when I realize that

I feel good, really good for

453

:

the first time in how long?

454

:

I can't remember, but how can that be?

455

:

It's the same stone that

revolted me at the Ram wat

456

:

then I realized the difference.

457

:

The stone is now mine.

458

:

I clutch it to my chest and laugh.

459

:

I feel so good that it crosses my mind

to wake the dragon and let him see

460

:

the jewel, maybe even let him hold it.

461

:

How long has it been since I

wanted to share anything, I drop

462

:

the stone back in my pocket and

start pulling on my wet clothes.

463

:

With the stone out of my

hand, its influence is muffled

464

:

and I come to my senses.

465

:

Don't be stupid, you

can't show it to anyone.

466

:

I drop my clothes back on the chair.

467

:

Doing so would mean my father would find

out, and this is going to be my secret.

468

:

The stone is mine, but I can't

let it run away with my emotions

469

:

or I won't make rational decisions.

470

:

I leave it in my pocket so I can

think clearly Sitting on the bed,

471

:

I wrap my arms around my legs

and rest my chin on my knees.

472

:

I stare at the flames and think

about what I must do next.

473

:

I only have one stone, so

minus the ruby my father has.

474

:

There are six more.

475

:

I groan as I realize the

second mistake I have made.

476

:

I still need the girl.

477

:

I should never have run off without her.

478

:

Burying my fingers in my damp pair.

479

:

I berate myself for stupidity.

480

:

The girl hasn't even crossed my mind

since I somersaulted over the wall.

481

:

idiot.

482

:

I get to my feet with the blanket around

my shoulders and walk across the room.

483

:

the girl.

484

:

Must still be at the ram rot.

485

:

I turn, I'm the only one who made

it down before the trail flashed.

486

:

Then I snap my fingers easy.

487

:

All I need to do is

hike up in the morning.

488

:

I'll find her coming down.

489

:

Brie,

490

:

It's dark before the flood waters recede.

491

:

I try getting to my feet, but it's no use.

492

:

I can't stand.

493

:

My foot has swollen and my boot is gone.

494

:

I attempt various techniques to

get down the gully, but in the

495

:

end there is only one choice.

496

:

Crawl with my wet skirt tangled about

my legs and my staff on my back.

497

:

I slowly worm my way from

Boulder to Boulder.

498

:

Before long, I'm shaking with fatigue,

but I refuse to stop at one point.

499

:

I wonder about gray.

500

:

He's most likely sleeping

in the courtyard.

501

:

Jackal close by, the two of them will

be down in the morning, happy as can be.

502

:

It's only thoughts of my warm

cloak and food that keep me moving.

503

:

Any hope of catching the

figure in black is gone.

504

:

I've lost another stone.

505

:

the sky is pewter gray.

506

:

When I reach the bottom of the gully,

my hands are raw, from dragging

507

:

myself over the rocks, using my staff

As a walking stick, I stand with

508

:

my barefoot on wet pine needles.

509

:

I take a step, but my foot won't hold me.

510

:

I pushed it too hard.

511

:

Nona would be disappointed.

512

:

Part of me would just like to

sleep here in the mud, but my

513

:

cloak and food are so close.

514

:

Dropping to my knees, I begin

to crawl towards my bundle.

515

:

The fabric will be wet on the

outside, but I'm confident Fremont's

516

:

oil skin has kept the contents dry.

517

:

The distance from the gully to

my bundles hiding place seems

518

:

much further than I remember

519

:

when I finally reach the tree, I peer

into the branches, but see nothing.

520

:

I back up and peer again.

521

:

Still nothing.

522

:

How could this be?

523

:

I scramble around the trunk

to the other side there.

524

:

I'm not sure whether I should

cry in relief or frustration.

525

:

I find both oil skins, but

they are flat in the mud.

526

:

My extra clothing along with grays

is strewn on the forest floor.

527

:

My cloak is soaked and caked with mud.

528

:

Then it hits me the envelope.

529

:

I don't see it anywhere.

530

:

Desperate, I grope in my bundle.

531

:

When my fingers find the thin

rectangle, I cry with relief.

532

:

The leather is damp on one edge,

but when I open the flap, I find

533

:

the parchments inside are dry.

534

:

The bag of Capsicum and the

Pedallers book are dry as well.

535

:

I look about and spot other items in

the mud, my pouch of flint and steel.

536

:

The wooden spoons, the beeswax

candles known as comb the cook pot.

537

:

All the food from the eatery is

gone except for a muddy onion.

538

:

I peel the outer skin and take a bite.

539

:

It isn't bad, so I eat the whole thing.

540

:

The lack of food means another

trip to ska with all of Nona's

541

:

personal belongings traded away.

542

:

I'll have to use the shekels, the shekels.

543

:

I search everywhere, then search

again, but the stocking is gone.

544

:

I slump in the mud.

545

:

Then I noticed the cord I used

to tie my bundle in the tree.

546

:

It wasn't broken from

strain or nod by an animal.

547

:

It was cut with a sharp knife,

deliberately sabotaged, shaking

548

:

with frustration, and sheer fatigue.

549

:

I thrust everything into the two

oil skins and huddle in my cloak.

550

:

Even wet.

551

:

The wool offers warmth.

552

:

I've never felt so hopeless and alone.

553

:

All I can think to do is

find a safe place to sleep.

554

:

The low branches of a pine tree

offer the best shelter I can find.

555

:

I'm showered with water as I

push my way through the bows.

556

:

Thankfully, the ground next

to the trunk is mostly dry.

557

:

I collapse in a heap and close my eyes.

558

:

I'm hungry.

559

:

I'm tired.

560

:

My foot aches and I don't have any

idea where to go or what to do next.

561

:

Nona didn't prepare me for

this, not for any of it.

562

:

The sapphire still tied in

her shawl, digs into my side.

563

:

Stupid stone.

564

:

What use are?

565

:

Knowledge and wisdom.

566

:

Now The answer comes to me like

the gentle splash of a raindrop.

567

:

Nona taught me to read.

568

:

She warned me that one day, despite

my loathing for books, I would need

569

:

the skill now I know she's right.

570

:

The answers I want are in the envelope.

571

:

I just need to find them.

572

:

I pull out the parchments, but I'm

too tired to focus on the words.

573

:

I decide to rest and study later.

574

:

Jackal.

575

:

for the second morning in a row.

576

:

I'm up before dawn.

577

:

my clothes are still damp,

but I put them on anyway.

578

:

They'll dry with my body Heat.

579

:

I start to slip on my coat,

but think better of it.

580

:

What if it's recognized

on the way out the door?

581

:

I grab a cloak that belongs

to one of the diggers.

582

:

I'm heading up the trail to

the Ram Wat, just as the sun

583

:

appears on the cloudless horizon.

584

:

After an hour or so, I see a

group of Mabu heading my way.

585

:

They must have left before

Dawn to be down this far.

586

:

I know they're going to report the

loss of the Pero to the dragon.

587

:

Soon there will be soldiers at the bottom

of the trail searching everyone who

588

:

comes down, but they won't find the stone

because no one will be searching me.

589

:

They wouldn't dare.

590

:

I pat the pouch that hangs on

a long string around my neck.

591

:

The stone is safe, but

not touching my skin.

592

:

It's mid-morning when I see gray's

red hair coming down the trail.

593

:

I look around for my rodent, but

don't see her by the jewels.

594

:

Where is she?

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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