Episode 122

full
Published on:

15th May 2026

122. Raven Crown Chapter 40, 41 and 42

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
ghia:

Chapter 40 jackal.

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It's evening when the Banjara make

camp outside the walls of Ultan.

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All I've been able to think about

is getting here, but now the thought

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of going into the castle is so

revolting I can't make myself go in.

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I rationalize that it would

be best to wait until morning.

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During the day, the guards will

be less likely to notice me.

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I'll locate Zipporah and see if

she still has the s, Sardon Xs,

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and then I'll find the ruby and

head towards Brie in the Norwood.

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As soon as it's light, I skirt the

outside of the city wall to a gate

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that leads directly into the castle.

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I know the dragon assigned here.

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He'll have his men let me in, or

I'll dredge up an old secret or two.

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When I find him, he laughs out

loud to see me dressed as a digger.

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I only have to show him the knife

tucked in the back of my skirt to

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convince him I haven't changed.

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It takes some persuasion, but in the

end, he promises not to report my

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arrival to my father and lets me in.

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Unfortunately, resorting to blackmail

isn't as satisfying as it used to be.

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Curse the jewels.

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Once inside, I lose my confidence.

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The dark stone corridors weigh me down.

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The freedom of the last few weeks is gone.

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I pat the front of my tunic, searching

for the Pero before remembering.

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I left it with Brie by ion.

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I hope I make it out of here

as I get close to the kitchen.

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The halls echo with noise.

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The cooks are preparing the morning meal.

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It smells like smoked

herring and small bread.

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There are gasps of surprise

as I enter the bustling room.

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It isn't often the servants see

their future queen in the kitchen.

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Someone drops a pot, which

clatters across the floor.

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Where's ura?

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I ask calmly a cook steps forward

and gives an awkward curtsy.

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She's with his lordship.

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Send someone to take her place.

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I'll wait in her quarters.

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I leave the kitchen and walk through

the servant's hall to her room.

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I haven't been here since I was a child.

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As I push open a door, the familiar

scent of Anis wafts over me, and

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I know I'm in the right place.

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Zapo used to put the spice under my pillow

saying it would drive away my nightmares.

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I slump on the bed wondering if

there are any particular nightmares

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my old nurse is trying to prevent.

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My mood is sour when Zipporah opens

the door and stands before me.

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Her gray hair is tied in a knot

at the back of her long neck.

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My eyes taken the red

scar across her face.

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She appears worn and her

eyes are dark and suen.

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I know the look.

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She has spent too much

time with my father.

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I search for the silver chain

that used to hang to her bosom.

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It isn't there.

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And what happened to your face?

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I ask with an unintended snarl.

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Zippor of flinches slightly, but answers

with a practical look of indifference.

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Your father beat me for information.

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Now he has me serve him so

he can admire his handiwork.

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Her voice is cold.

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Why are you here?

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I wonder what information my father was

after and determined to ask her later.

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I need you to tell me everything you know

about my mother and the jewels of Tambor.

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I see a look of dread on RA's

face as she glances over her

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shoulder before closing the door.

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You must never mention the

jewels here in the castle.

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She whispers, I feel a surge of anger

if you don't want to speak to them.

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Why did you ever let me

play with the amethyst?

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I know she says with a

tremor, that was a mistake.

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You were so sad with your mother gone.

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I thought it would bring you some cheer.

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The words remind me that

the woman did her best.

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I pat the bed next to me, sit down.

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I say before she gets

too comfortable, I ask.

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And do you still have the s, sardon Xs?

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I think she will be

surprised by my question.

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But if she is, she doesn't show it.

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I sold it for medicine when I got sick.

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It's gone.

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I don't believe her,

but I leave it for now.

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How did you come to have the Amethyst

and the s Sardon Xs Zippor as eyes

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dart around the room, and I know

she's trying to think of a reply.

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It will be better for the both of us.

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If you tell me the truth.

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I say softening my tone, and don't

worry, I won't betray your secrets.

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Was a porous size lady.

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Fallon gave them to me on the night she

died, Fallon, my father's second wife.

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I suppose I shouldn't

be surprised, but I am.

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How did Fallon get them?

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She was assigned to your mother's

quarters after the queen sent

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Irania away, the stones were under

a flagstone in the bed chamber.

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Why was my mother banished?

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Madox told me, but I want confirmation.

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Zipporah begins to fidget.

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Let's not talk of such things.

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I grab her hands.

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Tell me what you know.

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It was terrible.

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She says with a tremor in her voice.

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Your mother used to roam the

halls, moaning and cursing.

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I did my best to keep her quiet and

hide her madness from the queen.

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Then your mother found

certain books in the library.

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They held potions.

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She believed your father was

using to poison her, convinced

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there was an antidote.

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She suggested I bring her the ingredients.

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After taking the poison, she

would often be sick for days.

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It never helped.

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Porras eyes glisten with tears.

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I find my own misting,

but hold my voice steady.

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And the jewels.

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How did my mother get them?

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I don't know.

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Tell me.

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I demand squeezing Porras hand.

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All I can guess is that she pried

them from the crown one at a

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time when the tower guards were

distracted, Zapo looks earnest.

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Even when Lady Fallon showed them to

me, I never suspected their significance

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because she only had five, not eight.

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But you knew my mother sent a stone to

the Ram Wat of Naja and kept two with her.

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You said.

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So in the letter to Madox.

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Porras face seems to soften

at the mention of my uncle.

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I told him about the stones your

mother had, but I couldn't say

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for sure where they came from.

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Irania had access to plenty of jewels.

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Zipporah looks at her hands.

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I was with your mother in the end,

you know, after your father found

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the amethyst and sent me away.

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I went to her.

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We lived together in the ruin of

the black castle Madox arranged

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for the delivery of supplies.

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When your mother died, I could

have gone anywhere, but I returned

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here to keep an eye on you.

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It was her last request.

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Hearing about my mother makes my

chest constrict, and it takes a

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moment to ask my next question.

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Do you believe the jewels of

tambor have special power?

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Power?

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Por looks angry.

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If they had power, would

your mother have gone mad?

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So having the stones does nothing.

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Then zipporah pauses as

if deciding what to say.

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They have influence, but power

that comes from the inside.

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She taps her chest with

the poison in her body.

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Your mother wasn't strong

enough to feel the jewels.

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I sigh in frustration, still

not understanding anything

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I need to get on with it.

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Where's the Sardi X?

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And don't tell me you don't know.

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Zipporah looks resigned.

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Going to the window.

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She works loose one of the

casement stones and removes it.

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I feel the stone almost instantly.

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Zipporah lifts out a silver chain dangling

as a pendant is the sine X reverently.

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She cradles it in her hand.

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Lady Fallon asked me to keep the amethyst

until you were old enough to have it.

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This she gave to me.

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Zipporah holds out the pendant.

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I don't move.

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My mind is broiling with

thoughts of Lady Fallon.

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She truly wanted me to have the amethyst.

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Why did she care about the wretched child?

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Forced on her by the

marriage to my father?

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Zipporah clears her throat watching me.

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I push my questions away and

look at the S Sardon X, wishing

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I didn't have to touch it.

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How does it make you feel?

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I ask.

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Zipporah looks unsure.

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Why do you like wearing it?

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I say trying to clarify my question.

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It was a generous gift from a good woman.

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Something much too fine

for a servant, I suppose.

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It has always given me hope that I

could live up to her expectations.

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The stone has made me a better person.

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I give a slight nod in understanding as

the POAH places the chain around my neck.

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The vibrations are

almost too much to bear.

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I'm flooded with honesty

and integrity, too.

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Emotions.

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I'm not sure I've ever felt

so distinctly in my life.

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Keep it close to your heart, as por

says, as she tucks it inside my tunic.

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If a servant may be so bold, I

would like to say that you aren't

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the same person that left with

your father a few weeks ago.

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I raised my brow.

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How would you know?

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Zipporah looks me in the face.

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We haven't been close since I returned,

but it was easy enough to see that

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you were becoming like your father.

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I snort.

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Would it be better if

I were like my mother?

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Zippor frowns.

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Your mother was mad in the end, but I knew

her when she was bright and full of life.

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She leans close.

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It was more than your

father that ruined her.

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She glances from side to side like

someone might hear than hises.

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It was the order.

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The words catch me off guard.

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What does the order have to do with this?

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The order is behind everything evil

and vile that happens in Tambor.

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Porro whispers.

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Your father believes he has

some control over the order,

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but I think it controls him.

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At the mention of my father,

Zipporah Absently puts a

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finger to the slash on my face.

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What information did

my father beat you for?

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URA looks down again.

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Apparently he didn't know that the

jewels were missing until a month ago.

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By then, it was too late.

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There was no way to prove he

wasn't the one that took them.

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He knows he's a dead man.

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If the order finds out, they're gone.

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Zapo looks at me earnestly.

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He was convinced Irania was responsible.

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He came to me demanding

to know where they were.

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I know my father got what he wanted.

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He always does.

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You told him everything, didn't you?

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Porras eyes widen.

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No, of course not.

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But you told him.

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Fallon gave the stones to Nona.

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That's why he went looking

for her in the Norwood.

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Zipporah nods as tears began again.

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I tried to resist but couldn't.

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I believed Nona could

take care of herself.

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She grabs my hand and

looks at me earnestly.

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I didn't tell him about

Lady Fallon's baby.

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I swear on the, his hesperian.

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I didn't.

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The danger of this bit of information

hadn't ever crossed my mind, but that's

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not the only surprise in her words.

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The Hesperian, I ask you worship

the Hesperian, not pheon.

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Zipporah looks worried, and I'm

afraid she will deny it for my sake

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as if I care about pheon the truth.

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Zipporah, I remind her your mother

and I both believed in the hesperian.

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She says, I snort, but my

mother was a priestess to pheon.

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Your father forced her

to follow the snake gods.

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I admit.

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In the end, she became obsessed

with death rituals, but I know

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she still believed in the Asper.

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That's why she went to the

Black Castle after her exile.

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I must look confused

because Zipporah explains.

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The Black Castle's Tower is an ancient

Ram wat dedicated to the snake gods.

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She was convinced that there she could

break the vows your father forced on her

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to make to pheon, thus curing her madness.

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Only then did she think she would be

able to commune with the hesperian again.

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I nod.

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Realizing Pheon was forced on my

mother just as it was forced on me.

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It was all part of my

father's plan to control us.

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I hesitate before kissing

Zipporah on the cheek.

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Her skin feels soft on my lips, and I

realize that it's the first time I've

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kissed anyone out of genuine gratitude.

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Thanks for telling me the truth.

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Zipporah, I stand.

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Now it's time to find the Ruby

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Chapter 41, Brie.

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As I get closer to Ultan, it's hard

to believe I'm on the same river

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that I floated with the banjara.

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The bank is now teeming with people.

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The water is so crowded with

boats that I can hardly maneuver.

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Worrying about being recognized

has me more skittish than a finch,

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and I row with my hood pulled low.

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I am struggling through a

particularly congested section.

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When I catch the heavy whiff of food

glancing around, I see a young boy

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cooking two fish on a wood burner.

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Memories of Fremont's fish, roast flood.

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My mind unable to think of anything else.

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I disregard my worry of the wanted

poster and pull up to the dock.

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Would you trade those

fish for some hot spice?

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I hold up the capsicum, the boy

snatches the bag and sticks in a finger.

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Not so much I protest, but it's too late.

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His finger is in his mouth.

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The boy's eyes bulge with surprise.

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I'm sure he's about to

send me away empty handed.

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When he breaks into a smile, I'll

trade, but only for one fish.

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Take it or leave it.

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He says, surely the capsicum

is worth more than that, but

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I'm too hungry to barter fine.

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I say the boy grins wide

knowing he got the better deal.

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Just wait.

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It's almost done.

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He flips a fish causing it

to sizzle my mouth waters.

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How far is it to Ultan?

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I ask.

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Trying to suppress my impatience.

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You can see it from there.

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The boy points to a

small hillock behind me.

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The news is good and bad.

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I'm relieved to be so close,

yet I won't catch jackal

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before she slips into the city.

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There's a squawk and

grim lands on the deck.

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Shoo.

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I say this is my food.

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Grim hops just out of reach and

proceeds to regurgitate whatever

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he found for breakfast on the

wood planks not on my deck.

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The boy yells at grim, who

flaps away with a frown.

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The boy holds out the capsicum.

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Nevermind.

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I don't want it.

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That bird is bad luck.

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He tosses me the bag.

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I tried to change his mind, but the boy

stubbornly refuses greatly disappointed.

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I shove off from the deck.

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I'm glaring at the stupid bird

circling overhead when I realize

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that from his vantage grim can

likely see all the way to ultan.

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I glance at the Hillock, the boy

pointed out if I climbed to the

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top, I could see Ultan as well.

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Spying a space between two moored

houseboats, I pull to shore for a

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moment, I'm afraid to leave the boat,

but one look at its battered sides,

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assure me no one will steal it.

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With my bundle over my shoulder, I

find a trail that climbs the hill.

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Look.

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When I reach the top,

the view is astonishing.

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I knew Ultan was the biggest city

in Tambo, but I wasn't prepared for

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just how big it seems to engulf.

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The Tori River, which runs through

the middle and out the other side,

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before joining the sea, all boat

traffic is stopped by an enormous

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gate that extends into the water.

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Even Grim seems impressed by the sight as

he lands next to me and begins squawking.

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Ultan is more than an oversized village.

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I say it's a dragon city.

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I wonder how jackal could want to be

queen, who could be happy in such a place.

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The walls are massive gray rock solid

and scale like the giant castle along

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the sea cliff side of the city appears

as the fire breather's head with

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tower horns and diamond window eyes.

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And there in the center of ultan as

if it's a dragon's jeweled egg must

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be the ram wat of pheon what jackal

called the grandest Ram Wat in Tambor.

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The site makes me stagger as I

realize every digger in the country

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has paid to guild the serpent

that spirals the giant domed roof.

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I shake my head as I think of the forest

that have been burned to make it possible

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and the Norwood that will be next.

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I drag my eyes away from the Ram wat

before my anger gets the best of me.

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Looking out to the harbor, I see

fishing boats and dragon vessels,

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along with ships flying, foreign flags.

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Turning to the south, I see a

gaping hole in the bare earth.

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A breath catches in my throat.

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Its UANs gem pit.

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The place where gray has

likely been tethered.

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How will I ever find him there?

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A glint of light draws my

attention back to the city there.

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To my amazement, I see the domed roof

of the ram wat turning in a slow circle.

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Sunlight flashes off the gemstones.

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When it stops a door in

the roof slides open.

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I stare wondering what it's for.

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And then it hits me and I snatch

the Pedallers book from my

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bundle, flipping to the back.

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I stop at one of the diagrams.

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Yes, this is it.

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The drawing in the picture looks more

like a muffin on the top of a tower than

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the elegant Ram wap before me, but it has

a hatch called a Moon Hollow that slides

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open just like the one I'm looking at.

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That means.

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I almost can't think it that the

Ram wat of pheon is a giant amus.

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Of course, that explains why Reagan thorn

covered the dome with a mosaic of gems.

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He must have covered the inside as

well, but why would he need a giant ulu?

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The order once the JUULs locked

away, not made stronger, is there a

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chance he doesn't know what effect

the amus is designed to have?

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As I'm contemplating these questions,

my stomach gurgle so loudly, that

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grim actually jumps at the sound.

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I'd be full right now.

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If it weren't for you.

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I complain.

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Grim Squawks annoyed.

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I turned back towards the river

scanning for anyone I can trade

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with instead of a fishmonger.

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I noticed several boats tied to a dock

not far from the entrance to Ultan.

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They belong to the Banjara.

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Come on grim.

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I call.

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Maybe we can still catch jackal.

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I take off towards the boat.

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While Ultan didn't look that far

from the hillock, it takes almost two

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hours to reach on the crowded river.

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When I get to the dock, I approach

carefully watching for jackal.

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The only person I see is Marette.

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She breaks into her usual

toothless grin at the side of me.

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You got ear fast.

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My little corvex.

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I nod.

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Where is Jackal?

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Slipped away this morning.

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Al pellets.

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I mumble, but I've come up with

another reason for finding the Banjara.

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Marette.

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Will you dress me as a teller?

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I'm afraid she'll ask me why

instead she just cackles come we me.

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I follow her to the boat

where she pulls out her trunk.

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When she has me decked in the usual tribal

jewelry, she applies coal around my eyes.

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I'm about to thank her

when Marette says Z.

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Hair is no good.

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I'll keep my hood up.

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I say knowing it's too short to

braid, I will see she insists.

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Gathering up my hair.

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Marette begins twisting it up on

itself and tucking in the ends.

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She pulls a hairpin from her

own head to hold it in place.

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When she's done, I reach up to touch

it, but she slaps my hand away.

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No, no.

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My little corvex Corona Z.

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Hair is beautiful but fragile.

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She says with her customary laugh.

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Am I little?

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What?

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I give her a curious look.

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Why did you just call me

Raven Crown, not Raven Crown.

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I called you Z Little goddess.

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I blink in surprise.

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Corvex Corona means goddess.

406

:

Yes, you have the look of a goddess.

407

:

I grab my bundle and

pull out the LXi gloss.

408

:

Flipping through the pages, I find

the word goddess, the state of

409

:

a supreme being I read, obtained

in the life hereafter, corvex,

410

:

Corona, trying to make sense of it.

411

:

I look at marette.

412

:

Can a corvex Corona be a

God as well as a goddess?

413

:

Marette Shrugs may hap It says

here, you don't become a corvex

414

:

corona until the afterlife.

415

:

Is that true?

416

:

What does the time matter?

417

:

It matters when a powerful lunatic

believes he can become a God in this life.

418

:

I say marette just laughs.

419

:

I close the LXi gloss and

shove it back in my bundle.

420

:

Can I leave this here?

421

:

I ask, knowing the ragged bag won't

help my disguise, marette nods.

422

:

Whatever Z covax needs, I leave

my bundle and climb off the boat.

423

:

How can Reagan thorn think

he's going to become a God?

424

:

Assuming the power of

the queen is obvious.

425

:

That would take care of

the Corona or the crown.

426

:

Then what would amplifying the

power of the jewels gain him enough

427

:

priestly power to become a corvex?

428

:

As this thought passes through

my mind, something dawns on me.

429

:

According to the peddlers book, he would

need a blood moon to gain that power.

430

:

Is that why Reagan Thorn has

arranged the coronation to be

431

:

held on this particular date?

432

:

Hungry as I am.

433

:

It's hard to think, and it crosses my

mind to ask Marette for something to

434

:

eat when she reaches into a basket.

435

:

You need the gift?

436

:

No.

437

:

For a moment, I think she's

going to give me a few crackers.

438

:

Instead, she pulls out her

retractable staff and hands it to me.

439

:

I'm uncertain.

440

:

I could use a staff, but

no, I couldn't take it.

441

:

You must.

442

:

She says thrusting it into my hand.

443

:

I lift it impressed with its weight.

444

:

Go on, give a z twirl.

445

:

Marette says, finding the button.

446

:

I spring it open and

start the staff spinning.

447

:

It's perfectly balanced now.

448

:

Marette says, taking it from me to close.

449

:

You must push the button and give

the little twist like this, the staff

450

:

snapshot, If not precise, it will stick.

451

:

Marette ties a cord around the

end, so it will hang down my back.

452

:

thank you.

453

:

I say giving her a hug.

454

:

I'm painfully aware that I haven't

asked for food, but I can't now.

455

:

She has given me so much already.

456

:

I.

457

:

Instead, I look towards Ultan.

458

:

Where will I find the market?

459

:

I ask Determined to sell the

capsicum as soon as possible.

460

:

Marette points towards the

glittering dome of the ram.

461

:

Wat visible over the city walls that way.

462

:

She says Then she giggles

or follows Z snout.

463

:

She taps the end of her nose Z market.

464

:

Most rou worse than z Spike, I puzzled.

465

:

are there spikes in the city?

466

:

Marette nods.

467

:

I closed my eyes at this revelation.

468

:

I was only expecting to look for

gray In the gem pits where the

469

:

tethered are literally chained

to wooden spikes, there must be

470

:

different types of spikes in Ultan.

471

:

That means gray could be anywhere.

472

:

I get to my feet, overwhelmed

at the task before me.

473

:

Marette giggles.

474

:

Trust the hesperian.

475

:

She says, waving me off.

476

:

Trying to maintain the air of a teller,

I make my way towards the city gate.

477

:

The road is crowded with foot traffic

as well as carts, horses, and carriages.

478

:

There is a buzz of different

languages, and I'm reminded that

479

:

Ultan is the center of the gem trade.

480

:

For the first time in my life,

I can see full fledged nobilis.

481

:

Most are inside carriages,

but a few are on horseback.

482

:

Up until now, I've only heard stories

about their ridiculous falderal.

483

:

But it's true the high born men and

women alike, where absurdly, large wigs,

484

:

all of them are dripping with jewels.

485

:

There must be so many in town

due to the upcoming coronation.

486

:

Anxiously.

487

:

I watch for the dragon I'm

sure will be at the gate.

488

:

What I see is worse than expected.

489

:

There isn't one dragon

but six owl pellets.

490

:

What if they see through my disguise In

a panic, I pull my hood lower and duck

491

:

behind an oxcart loaded with turnips.

492

:

Thinking fast, I come up with

my best possible raven trick.

493

:

Well, maybe not my best,

but the only one I've got.

494

:

By the time the cart is pulled

through the gate, I'm ready to move

495

:

forward with a group of diggers.

496

:

I'm almost there when

I hear a dragon call.

497

:

Hey, you there?

498

:

I glance out the side of my hood

and see him looking directly at

499

:

me with a deliberate stumble.

500

:

I head towards him When I'm in arm's

reach the dragon yanks back my hood.

501

:

What's this?

502

:

He says, I've licked my finger and

dipping it in the bag of capsicum.

503

:

Put dots all over my face.

504

:

Kroger.

505

:

I rasp.

506

:

The dragon gives me a shove.

507

:

Get away from me.

508

:

I'm hurled soundly into the stone

wall and stumble for real this time.

509

:

go straight to the roker.

510

:

We don't want whatever you've got

spread around the dragon growls.

511

:

I grunt and wave as I hurry away.

512

:

It's not until I've crouched behind

a stall that I wipe my face with

513

:

my tunic sleeve and look around.

514

:

I grunt and wave as I hurry away.

515

:

It's not until I've crouched behind

a peddlers stall that I wipe my

516

:

face with my tunic sleeve and

look around for the love of rats.

517

:

I'm in the largest city of Tambo.

518

:

I put a hand to my chest and gulp,

519

:

chapter 42, Brie.

520

:

I gape at the maze of stone buildings

and the streets teaming with people.

521

:

The stench is oppressive.

522

:

I was so worried about getting through

the gate that I forgot my dread of crowds.

523

:

Now I'm shaking like a prairie hen.

524

:

thinking, I'll fair better.

525

:

Someplace quiet, I head

down a narrow alley.

526

:

Laundry hangs overhead, making it

dark, and the stench even worse.

527

:

But I'm able to relax Some.

528

:

The alleys may not be as crowded

as the main thoroughfares, but they

529

:

certainly aren't devoid of life.

530

:

There's a regular cattle thump

of dogs, chickens, and ragged

531

:

children at each corner.

532

:

I look up and check that I'm still

walking towards the Ram Watt.

533

:

Even in the alleys, I seem to pass

a croker's lounge in every block.

534

:

Most of the people I see have visible

ink, not just a little across the knuckles

535

:

or around the forearms, but whole faces

are covered with rust colored patterns.

536

:

These aren't the delicate designs.

537

:

Jackal has etched on her body,

but rough markings, inked

538

:

without much artistic talent.

539

:

After a short walk, I'm forced

to an abrupt halt as the alley

540

:

is blocked by the Uare river.

541

:

I lean out to look at the waterway.

542

:

The river is completely bound in a

stone channel and no longer green,

543

:

but a squalled foul smelling brown.

544

:

Buildings line.

545

:

The banks coming within a hands

width from dropping into the water.

546

:

The gate to the city must have opened

because the water is teeming with boats.

547

:

Looking down the packed corridor,

I see a wooden bridge not far away.

548

:

Taking a different alley,

I'm able to cross the river

549

:

Here I start seeing gem merchants.

550

:

At first, they're selling lesser valued

stones from street carts, but as I

551

:

get closer to the ram, wat the quality

of the gems goes up and the merchants

552

:

move into shops without expecting it.

553

:

I burst into a plaza.

554

:

I can't stifle.

555

:

My gasp before me is the Ram wat of pheon

556

:

Sunlight is shining down on the jewel

dome, making it glitter, and I see what

557

:

I couldn't make out from the hillock.

558

:

A massive stone edifice of pheon.

559

:

The sight is so impressive.

560

:

It's hard to believe I

gave Naja a second glance.

561

:

Pheon isn't a mere hooded viper,

but a colossal boa constrictor whose

562

:

likeness is inlaid with diamonds,

smoke quartz and black onyx.

563

:

Below the central dome is a balcony

held up with giant pillars that

564

:

drip with red and green vine.

565

:

Nobilis fill the plaza.

566

:

Most are waiting in front of a

set of enormous golden doors.

567

:

I get looks of disgust from

anyone that notices me.

568

:

Eventually a man in a wig that looks

something like a blue ram's horn points

569

:

a jeweled finger at me and Hises.

570

:

Get to your own side.

571

:

Oh, I exclaim as understanding Dawn's.

572

:

In a hurry, I skirt the vine colored

pillars to the other side of the ram Wat.

573

:

Here I find a similar plaza filled

with diggers instead of nobilis

574

:

and ebony doors instead of gold.

575

:

Without warning horns blare.

576

:

A moment later, a man in deep

purple robes opens the giant doors.

577

:

No one around me moves, by standing

on tiptoe, I can see through the

578

:

ram wat The golden doors on the

other side have been opened as well,

579

:

and the nobilis are filing inside.

580

:

I grab the shoulder of a

small boy, what's going on?

581

:

Why aren't we going in?

582

:

The boy looks at me like I'm a simpleton.

583

:

I'm not from here.

584

:

I hiss an explanation.

585

:

We're waiting to see if the

presiding mabu will let us in.

586

:

Sometimes them nobilis

take up all the room.

587

:

Poor folk go last, even though we

are the ones what did all the work on

588

:

the new roof and the extra digging.

589

:

I blink.

590

:

Extra digging.

591

:

I'm about to ask what he

means when the boy goes on.

592

:

We'll get in today though.

593

:

It's just your basic ceremony.

594

:

Nothing special.

595

:

I wait.

596

:

When the nobilis are all inside, the

crowd around me begins to surge forward.

597

:

I move along with them.

598

:

As soon as I'm through the doors.

599

:

I scoot along the back wall until

I find a small bench to stand on.

600

:

From this vantage, I can see

the expansive space of the ram.

601

:

Wat thick tapestries covered the walls,

602

:

a jeweled mosaic, similar

to the one inside.

603

:

The Tower of the Black Castle, covers

the ceiling rising up from the center

604

:

of the floor is a column of white

marble with a spiral staircase.

605

:

Winding to the top.

606

:

Horns sound again.

607

:

And I see the presiding mabu in his

purple robes making his way up the pillar.

608

:

Six other mabu dressed in green.

609

:

Stand on a platform at

the bottom and chant.

610

:

The Nobilis have all gathered

in the gallery above me.

611

:

Diggers are packed, shoulder to

shoulder, filling the bottom floor.

612

:

The presiding marabou at the top of the

column throws his arms into the air.

613

:

Open the hollow.

614

:

His bellowing voice

vibrates around the dome.

615

:

There's a noise and the panel

in the roof slides open.

616

:

Sunlight pours in, bouncing off

the crystals in the mosaic, filling

617

:

the space with radiant light.

618

:

The sight is so impressive that there

are collective oos and oz from the

619

:

crowd, both diggers and nobilis alike.

620

:

After a pause, the mabu at the

top of the column begins to

621

:

call out in a booming voice.

622

:

Thank you Pheon for allowing

the sun to shine on us today.

623

:

We know it's because of our

devotion in following your

624

:

commands that we have been blessed.

625

:

As he speaks, the column begins to rotate.

626

:

I realize that the mabu at the bottom

are walking in a circle, pushing on

627

:

spokes that turn the marble pillar.

628

:

This allows everyone in the

ram wat to have a view of the

629

:

ritual taking place on top.

630

:

The presiding Marabou looks at the crowd.

631

:

On this day, pheon has asked for the

people to be cleansed with blood, blood.

632

:

a spike of dread shoots through me as

I notice a girl in a soft linen dress

633

:

being led up the stairs by another Mabu.

634

:

Her blonde hair hangs in long tresses

down her back and her feet are bare.

635

:

She hesitates, but the mabu urges her on.

636

:

The man at the top of the pillar

leans his head back again.

637

:

we know that in order to

stay pure before you, we must

638

:

purge ourselves of filthiness.

639

:

The crowd stirs when the girl

gets to the top of the stairs.

640

:

She is forced to her knees with the

water from a large crystal bowl.

641

:

She is ceremonially washed and adorned

with a circlet of gold and rubies.

642

:

The ritual takes some

time and I begin to relax.

643

:

Surely this whole thing is symbolic.

644

:

The column continues to turn

645

:

When the washing is done, a mabu with

a giant python hanging wardly over

646

:

his shoulder emerges from a side door.

647

:

The snake's tail drags on the floor.

648

:

The people part, allowing the

marabou to pass some of my fear

649

:

returns as he climbs the stairs.

650

:

The girl at the top looks visibly

frightened when the marabou drapes the

651

:

snake around her shoulders like a shawl.

652

:

There is more chanting.

653

:

The girl doesn't move.

654

:

Just when I think the ritual will never

end The mabu in purple produces a large

655

:

black knife and raises it in the air.

656

:

A shutter ripples through the crowd.

657

:

I watch with building dread.

658

:

As the knife comes down,

I scream with the girl.

659

:

She is sliced from shoulder to

wrist and looks about to collapse.

660

:

Blood drips from her fingertips into

a golden cup held by the marabou.

661

:

More blood trickles down

the white marble column.

662

:

I never imagined anything so horrible as

the marabou raises the cup to his lips.

663

:

I can't help myself and bolt

in horror for the door, pushing

664

:

my way through the people.

665

:

Someone grabs my arm, don't run.

666

:

Or the mabu will think you're guilty.

667

:

Guilty of what?

668

:

I don't know, but I can't stay here.

669

:

The smell of blood, the crush of people.

670

:

I can't breathe pulling my hand free.

671

:

I keep moving.

672

:

I'm just to the doors When I hear

a command from behind me, Stop her.

673

:

Someone reaches out and grabs my cloak.

674

:

I jerk free.

675

:

But trip over an outstretched

boot rolling through the door.

676

:

I land on the cobbles of the plaza.

677

:

Before I can do anything, a

group of diggers tackle me.

678

:

Squeezing the air from my chest.

679

:

Mart's staff is rammed into my back.

680

:

I squirm but can't move After I'm

subdued, the people struggle up laughing

681

:

and jeering as they surround me.

682

:

I gasp for air.

683

:

There's no way to reach for

my staff in this position.

684

:

Instead, I scrabble for the

little knife at my waist.

685

:

In the process, my fingers come across

the bag of capsicum tied at my belt.

686

:

A small hole has ripped in the fabric.

687

:

I squeeze my fingers,

filling my hand with powder.

688

:

When the last person is off my back, I

come up with a howl and throw the capsicum

689

:

in the face of the people in front of me.

690

:

The result is better than I expected.

691

:

The crowd backs away

coughing and gasping for air.

692

:

I yank the staff from my back

693

:

And charged through the

opening, the capsicum has made

694

:

jackal.

695

:

I leave Zipporah in her room and climb

the stairs to my father's library.

696

:

two dragons guard, the entry.

697

:

As I approach, they cross

their spears to block my way.

698

:

Let me through you imbecile.

699

:

The dragons retract their weapons in.

700

:

Surprise.

701

:

Sorry, we didn't know you had returned.

702

:

Well now you do.

703

:

I whisk past them with all

the confidence I can muster.

704

:

My father keeps a strong

box here amongst his books.

705

:

I suspect the ruby will be locked inside.

706

:

The question is, where are the keys?

707

:

Now that I've revealed myself to the

dragons, I tried to calculate how much

708

:

time I'll have before my father learns.

709

:

I'm in the castle.

710

:

It could be an hour or 10 minutes.

711

:

I push open the library door, The

floor to ceiling curtains are closed,

712

:

leaving it dark, except for a small

fire that burns in the hearth.

713

:

An accurate smell stings my nose.

714

:

This is where my father tortures

animals and performs his evocations.

715

:

This is also where he broods over

his plans and gloats over his jewels,

716

:

along with the books that cover

the walls and spill onto the floor.

717

:

There is a table piled

with jugs of various sizes.

718

:

Animal parts hang from the ceiling

or float in bottles of yellow fluid.

719

:

Rocks and minerals of all types

are scattered about the room.

720

:

I slip to a table in the corner and find

the keys right where I hope they'd be.

721

:

I'm elated, until I hear a

voice come from the darkness.

722

:

My pet, you've returned.

723

:

I'm instantly cold

724

:

and breathe.

725

:

I run from the crowd of the Ram

Wat with no idea where I'm going.

726

:

I've just got to get away.

727

:

Turn left.

728

:

A voice says in my head without

question, I turn and race

729

:

down a narrow alley before me.

730

:

A woman is gathering laundry.

731

:

I push past her splashing in

a puddle of something foul.

732

:

A hollerer comes from behind me.

733

:

Faster.

734

:

Faster.

735

:

Don't stop.

736

:

Turn, turn, turn.

737

:

Again.

738

:

I race to the alley,

dodging dogs and laundry.

739

:

Jumping puddles, splashing through others.

740

:

Wrenching pain, shoots through my leg.

741

:

I don't care.

742

:

My breath comes in, gasps something.

743

:

I don't see crunches.

744

:

Underfoot a rat.

745

:

I realize too late.

746

:

Jumping to the side, I slam into

a wooden door with my shoulder.

747

:

It gives way.

748

:

I fall hitting my head and

driving the breath from my chest.

749

:

The door crashes into the wall behind

it, with enough force to swing it closed.

750

:

I'm left in darkness.

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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