LEGEND OF NEVETSECNUAC - THE RENEGADE IMMORTAL - SECTION 19

Suddenly a call from the deep woke Under Secretary Lenny Sukzor and he sat upright with a start. He was drenched in perspiration, uncomfortably so.

"It’s about time you woke up, son of Wushing." the voice resounded in the night.

With certain trepidation Lenny turned to ascertain that his wife was still peacefully asleep by his side.

  

01  -LENNY SUKZOR (12)JP

"Oh, don't worry, no one else can hear me." The familiar voice in the shadows reassured him. "But I can linger only for a spell longer; for that hell hound Dwengzur is sure to pick up my trail."  He threw his head back and laughed boisterously, a sound akin to the rolling thunder.

As Lenny Sukzor quietly rose from his bed, he strained his eyes to see more clearly into the darkness.  

His heart palpitated wildly, suspecting yet refusing to believe what his keen senses were telling him. "Am I dreaming about this? Are you a ghost? Just who are you really, what are you? His murmured questions spilled out as he tried to light the oil lamp on the side table by the bed. "How on earth did you bypass the security?"

"How soon they forget!" the voice plaintively grumbled. "No, I am not a ghost, not yet anyway."  The figure, opting not to use magic, he instead moved nearer to the window and allowed the full moonlight streaming in to reveal his familiar features.

Lenny Sukzor, having finally managed to light the lamp at the same time, had turned and held it before him to illuminate the room. "You!” In his fright (and shock) the lamp nearly dropped from his grasp. For a heartbeat he was dumbfounded, and then found his tongue quickly, "General Zonar Kuntzu, is that really you? But how is this possible? I thought you were…  I mean, I've seen your scorched, mangled corpse."  His eyes widened in disbelief.

"Oh, that!" Zonar Kuntzu shrugged, dismissing it. He then perfunctorily put aside the miniature antique jade cauldron that had for a spell intriqued him and turned to fully face Lenny Sukzor.

02- GENERAL ZONAR KUNTZU - IMMORTAL (36)JP

"You could call the (corpse) remains an empty shell, a duplicate of sorts, for want of a better word. It’s a small trick I’ve acquired, from my father’s…mm; anyhow it was the only means with which to escape catastrophe; hah, I sure deceived that demon Dwengzur."  The last sentence Zonar’d half grumbled to himself.

Seeing Lenny Sukzor's puzzlement, he grimaced. "But never mind all that, it will take far too long for me to explain it in layman's terms."  He dismissed it with a wave of his hand.

“So, you're a magician (conjurer) as well.” Lenny thought.

"You might say that." Zonar, reading the other’s mind, again turned to face him squarely (fullfrontal).

"Then Dwengzur, he, too, is", Lenny Sukzor masked his amazement as he sought this confirmation, only to be interrupted by an impatient Zonar.

"Yes, yes. That kinsman of mine sought to destroy me, and very nearly succeeded too."

"But why? And where is he now? None have seen him since the combat." Lenny Sukzor asked anxiously, more concerned about Zonar. Now he understood the chance he was taking by being with him.

"Rest assured, he's far away; gone to give a full report to his masters. He believed that his mission was a success and that he had destroyed (slayed) me. As you can see, I’m unharmed, for the time being, that is."  Zonar mumbled this last bit to himself as he shrugged and looked away and then donned a mordant smile as he glanced at an unspecific, ambiguous point in the void and, knowingly winked.

                                                                           ~  

Within the deep cavern of a high elevation, in that remote, eternally (perpetually) permafrost region .... the image and the unfolding scene on the wall, had just then ceased (halted).                          

Several assembled immortals previously cold, unfeeling eyes suddenly flamed. Their inquisitive gazes one by one then turned to silently admonish Dwengzur: “So, you have failed after all! And now look how he is stirring up even more trouble!”

“Why didn’t we send proficient ‘Exterminators’ to do this job in the first place, instead of Dwengzur?” Sthetor could not resist needling (provoking) Elder Yuntak, even though he knew the reason why. He was, however, duly ignored.

“I do not understand it. I performed the sacred ritual that should have ended his existence, double or no double.” Dwengzur's eyes flashed gold, and his brow furrowed, as he inwardly mused (questioned the air).

03- DWENGZUR (29)JP

“Yet here it is. The stark reality stretched out before us, mocking us. Did you see how he turned just then, after saying you believed that your mission was a success and that you had destroyed (slayed) him; he looked straight at us with a sardonic smile and winked! No mistakes in that! That upstart has deceived you well, and good, Dwengzur. No wonder he has the audacity to taunt us. Worst still, you let Nevetsecnuac, Zandar Kuntzu’s and Tekubzan’s grandson, their twin daughter, Arnora’s kid, slip through your fingers as well.  This is all, your fault…You have botched it…. This is inexcusable!”  In unison, they reproachfully glared at Dwengzur. This whole race of immortals was intolerant of any failure, least of all, any weakness. Dwengzur stood on the threshold of extermination or far worse.

“You're all imagining it!” Dwengzur had protested it at first only to have acquiesced a moment later. “Still, it is conceivable. I should not have left Channing so soon afterwards. Had I lingered a bit longer, I would have anew picked up his trace (or life force) and also wizened to Prince Nevetsecnuac’s true bloodline. Though he is supposed to be half immortal, he has no special powers… None that I could detect.” Dwengzur gritted his teeth, not at all pleased with the way he had been tricked by both uncle and nephew.

Dwengzur rose sharply and first reverently bowed to Aegeus, then mutely (noiselessly) addressed the elders, “I respectfully request that, before you pass any judgment on me, I be given another chance to set things right. This, I believe, is my prerogative.”  He turned next and looked directly at the venerable elder Aegeus with an unwavering coolness that commanded respect.

“Now you are insolent! Even such a brief stay in the outside world has so utterly contaminated you.”  After this projected chastisement from Elder Tibek, all heads turned to Aegeus to gauge his reaction.

“Nevertheless, you do have that right.” Elder Bovets responded coolly. “Shall we give Dwengzur another chance, then? Or would it not be wiser to send someone else in his place, someone more assured to have greater success?”

“And risk contaminating yet another?” Elder Tibek, seated at the far back, projected his concern.

All the while eminent Elder Aegeus had ruminated (brooded, sulked); his mind closed to all save one, to whom he now communicated his wishes.

“Is there no other way?” The recipient, His Eminence Olavingemar from the most ancient branch of Kongrul of the Race of Karn, telepathically asked.

“I understand your hesitation sir, as he is your grandson.” Stheltor’s projected thought just then interjected, directed at Olavingemar.

04-STHETOR IMMORTAL (8)JP

Stheltor’s insolent meddling, plus sham (bogus) empathy, peeved (irked) Aegeus. His strong dislike of Stheltor was a grave concern to him.

“I’m afraid not.” Aegeus, nevertheless, mastering his ire and totally ignoring Sheltor’s rude intrusion, shook his head addressing directly and only Olavingemar. “Considering the fact that our very own existence is in peril, we must do all we can to stem or, if we cannot, amend this damaging course.”

Stheltor yet again, soundlessly addressing the assembled elders, brazenly interceded: “We know Nevetsecnuac also carries the royal blood of Shon Alric Therran Valamir, and he being bent on vengeance, his actions could destabilize Wenjenkun;  Zonar meanwhile, is very much involved with Korion’s politics and welfare; can we not just this once put aside our non-interference laws and trap and execute key culprit Zonar? If not through use of “Exterminators”, then, by simply placing Korion’s Sovereign Yoshikan Sousing Nokuzuk Binchan’s welfare in jeopardy?”

“What audacity, you have Stheltor; how dare you even entertain breaching one of our sacred laws?” Elder Tibek was quicker than the rest, in telepathically reprimanding Stheltor.

05- ELDER TIBEK (WHITE WOLF) IMMORTAL (16)JP

“You may now consult the Cosmos.” Aegeus, ignoring the tumult, firmly, clairvoyantly, commanded Stheltor.

 Sthetor complying (obeying), turned his mind inward then plumbed (completely) to the universe; as he did this, his physical body then underwent a drastic change to become spectral.

After a lengthy meditative state, his ethereal form once more returned to the norm. At which point, he simply shook his head.

The governing body of Elders, with their projected thoughts in unison, pressed him to speak his mind.

Prolonging his response to them, “It is not a question of you going back,” Sthetor addressed Dwengzur directly, telepathically, in a measured, even tone. “Nor is your competence being in doubt, after all, you had no way of knowing.”

“Knowing what, respected Elder?” Dwengzur instinctively asked.

Sthetor, indifferent to Dwengzur's inquiry and his subsequent thoughts, turned instead, to address

Aegeus privately, “You were quite right in your supposition sir; I had just now found out when I consulted the Heavens that things are precisely, as they should be. Zonar is destined to transform at earth-years of thirty-three and gain that ability. Unfortunately for us, this will make handling him much harder. Elder Aegeus, you must prepare yourself for that eventual confrontation, for when he comes to destroy us, only you have the means and genetic disposition, to effectively stop him or, more precisely, terminate him. In the interim, there is no harm in trying to postpone or initiate plans for altering (modifying) even a little bit, this dire outcome. I say we give Dwengzur another opportunity; if for nothing else, but to buy us valuable time. Per chance he succeeds, well and good, if not, then it will be all up to you, reverent sir, for only you

possess that apt (pertinent) potential to annihilate Zonar.”                                                                         

“I’m sorry I brought such trouble to you, my friend.” Olavingemar projected his sincere apology to Aegeus.

06- ELDER AEGEUS

 

But Aegeus’s mind was focused on Sthetor’s words, “Zonar is destined to transform at earthyears of thirty-seven, then fully gain that ability at forty.” Then he used the words, “Genetic disposition?”  “How much did he see?” Aegeus simply shook his head and again restraining his indignation at this ambitious upstart Sthetor, for he was partially right, focused his attention on the current, pressing concern. Aegeus knew all too well what was at stake here, for while

Nevetsecnuac was the grandson; Zonar happened to be the surviving, immortal twin son of Chandor (Zandar Kuntzu) and Lady Tekubzan. While doubts lessened Nevetsecnuac’s threat to them, it could not be said the same for Zonar. He had inherited the full special gene pool particular to royal lineage from his father Chandor, who was the secret son of Aegeus.As a result, Aegeus’s grandson Zonar would soon possess the unique ability to, at will, transform into a living, breathing Dragon.

This ability manifested at the earth years of thirty-seven or forty. Aegeus’s renegade son Zandar Kuntzu had been successfully terminated well before that time, when Chandor (Zandar Kuntzu) had just turned thirty. The contemporary (present) threat was due to Zonar’s impending (fast approaching) birthday where he would be of that threatening age.

(END OF SECTION 19) 

THE DRAGON LONGZE AND THE LOST DAUGHTER BERDIS (PART 1)

 THE DRAGON LONGZE AND THE LOST DAUGHTER BERDIS 

(Original story By Bost 2025)

 

Part 1

A long time ago a mighty hunter called Alec, and his family lived in a modest dwelling alongside the lake near the base of the lofty mountain called DROGA. His only daughter, named Berdis (meaning spirit protection), was a beautiful girl with golden blond hair and blue eyes who from the earliest age seemed sensitive, thoughtful, and highly imaginative. Being rather introverted, she unfortunately, passed most of her time in solitude, and preferring nature and the company of plants, birds and animals to that of humans.

BERDIS

When Berdis was still very young, at night her mother Elin, on Berdis’s urgings, for plain old bedtime stories would never do, always lulled her to sleep with fantastic yarns, or thrilling verbal accounts of old legends passed down through generations. Berdis’s favorite fables always revolved around the mysterious tales that transpired in the forbidden zone known as the unhallowed (desecrated) ground, whom she’d been warned repeatedly, to never go near; and so, in her young years being a sweet obedient child, she’d obeyed, totally shunning that vicinity… A dense forested region, a narrow strip of land which spanned from mid elevation of the mountain down to the sandy shore of the lake. Mortals always fear what they do not understand. Anyhow, trespassers, she was told, without fail would fall under the spell of mystical, hazardous elves, minions (gofers, underlings) of evil spirits, wolf pyxies or fox dryads that dwelt in that unholy region.   Furthermore, tree and wild plant fairies lusted after naïve souls (hence, stole, collected them), as they consistently frolicked in mischievous, mesmerizing revelry; but worst of all, was the mighty, fierce Dragon that lived in a deep cave close to the summit (zenith) of the mountain.  According to old legends, some warriors had dared to enter the mouth of the cave, only to be instantly incinerated by the Dragon’s fiery breath; and since no one came back to recant (disavow, deny) or attest to its truth, this hearsay (and belief) had propagated (promulgated) intense fear and dread since time immemorial.

So fearful were the common folks of that desecrated region   that, whenever they came to close proximity, they always left behind an offering or a token to appease any ill will and ward off malevolence from the supernatural entities.

When Berdis got little older, being sensible but also curious and an idealist (dreamer), doubted the validity of such beliefs; and so, she’d stealthily visited this forbidden segment, yet despite the numerous times she’d trespassed into that area, she had never once experienced (encountered) any threat or adversity. Far from it, everything seemed to instead, welcome her and always made her feel as though she belonged.  Guarding this secret well, meanwhile, she often went missing longer and longer periods, basking, savouring her time in that forbidden zone, exploring in depth every nook and cranny, cluster of trees, bushes or flowers. Young as she was, she appreciated beauty and untamed nature and would sometimes gather strange, wildflowers and plants and upon her safe return, presented these delightful gleanings to her parents along with intriguing, ambiguous (obstruse) accounts of all her adventures that had transpired in her rambles.

Although her parents harbored some suspicion about her trekked venues (sites, places, spots), they were unwilling to prohibit her dubious escapades. She’d always been very gentle and delicate in temperament and nature; therefore, they could not openly articulate their opposition for fear of making her sick; and since she always returned in safety, her furtive visits to this enchanting place had persisted till she grew up in years to her early teens.

Each passing day, gradually growing more adventurous Berdis, ultimately sought the furthest remotest parts of the prohibited area, even ascending to the grater elevations of mountain.  This particular day, as she pensively trudged (trekked) through the barely feasible narrow strip, delving deeper into another unknown section of the region, she had suddenly recollected that old ballad which had alluded to an invisible trail that would rarely and mysteriously manifest for the chosen one, leading her/him eventually to the deep cavern where a fierce Dragon dwelled. She heaved a deep sigh and shook her head, knowing she was not that special, therefore, that would not happen to her.

Just then however, as if in answer, in the periphery of her vision, she noted the suddenly manifested trajectory (route, track) off to the side, inviting her to traverse it.  She placed her hand over her heart to steady her bursting excitement, meanwhile, her feet as though pulled by an irresistible draw, had already delved into the thick foliage and, after many hours of ascending the narrow goat’s path and then subsequently clearing the last obstacle of a  thorny, dense bushes that had obligingly parted to allow her passage, she’d delightedly (chanced upon) encountered an enormous gaping mouth of the huge cavern (grotto).

There was and irresistible pull for her to enter; inexplicably however, she desisted the urge (temptation), and instead, sat in lonely reverie there upon some high promontory of rock near the entrance of the deep cavern (grotto). Positioned amid all the leafy haunts of forest pines but quite close to the cliff’s edge, her eyes next trailed the snaking, downward track which led to the narrow strip of shoreline of the pristine lake.  Despite the distance, her acute hearing just then picked up the harmonious, melodious ripples of the waves lapping against the open shore. Of course, when she returned home just before dusk, this venture was too, added to the pages of her cherished private memory.

She had covertly returned to the mouth of the cave many more times (since) after that day, since the path always manifested, as if a welcome draw (lure, incentive) and, always allowed her a safe passage effortlessly through. Meanwhile, in all that time it had been the mighty Dragon (wielding his innate willpower), who had (checked) prevented her from entering the cave, for had she done so, he would have been (and not by choice,) forced to incinerate her (turn her into ash) with his fiery breath. As testament to this fact, there were vestiges (remnants) of charred bone fragments in several large heaps of ashes positioned only few steps withing the mouth of the cave.

Oh, but she never minded sitting in her favorite spot with her face turned upwards, gazing at the sky and observing the clouds that sailed on by. Sometimes she offhandedly (calmly) noted the smooth flight patterns of the eagles circling the sky; other times she slightly turned her head to gaze with keen eyesight at the languid, shimmering ripples on the lake’s surface far below. Oftentimes, with the gentle breeze caressing her cheeks, her thoughts would linger in lengthy contemplation, as though in communion with the spirit of an unknown force cold and distant, yet curious and fair.

Gradually this ethereal (otherworldly, enigmatic) force thawed, as at the same time elusive, yet almost sympathetic, arcane vernacular encroached (impinged, intruded) her mind. She embraced this with certain fascination, her heart alternately soothed or pulsated, by these most engaging stanzas, ancient limericks and thrilling chronicles, those he chose to share. Emboldened, she at times sought its divine guidance and solace, wanting to lighten her soul and alleviate the melancholy that seemed of late to grip her heart.

Then came the day which she affirmed her innate intuition, that she was indeed all that time, had been conversing with the Dragon that inhabited the cave; moreover, she now learned of his name: Longzi.

05- DRAGON LONGZE (1)

Once, when her father Alec remained afar on the hunt later than usual, and it was feared that he could be overwhelmed by a tempest, or encountered some misfortune, Berdis had surreptitiously, in her room lit a candle, knelt on the side of her bed and, palms held together in supplication,  called onto her Dragon friend Longze in prayer for his help, knowing despite his confinement in the cave, he could still direct (order)  the nature’s elements, as well, engage his minions and  spirits’ help to speed her father’s safe return. He had not disappointed her.

 By then, her initial inhibition had given way to genuine fondness of this noble, wise Dragon, whom she lately called, a dear old friend; furthermore, all during the long snowy winter, where it had been inadvisable for anyone to venture out into wilderness, she secretly yearned to go see him, disregarding the portended (expected) dangers. Strangely enough, it was Longze that each time discouraged her from this foolish aim, asking her to be patient a little while longer instead, when her trek would be safer during the more moderate temperatures, and later still, he promised to be with her (he did not say how,) when she reached the age of consent, which in her mountain village, was sixteen.

To alleviate her persistent concerns, he often kept in touch with her during her sleep, but always in vernacular (language, dialect, lingo) and never in an image (appearance, likeness). Perhaps he did not wish to frighten her.

Progressively, as their souls touched (feeling and thinking same), they had become little more than good friends and eventually he’d allowed himself to implicitly trust and feel unwavering affection (love) for this mortal girl. Though he had never outwardly professed (declared) it, in his heart and soul, he had already chosen her to be his eternal love.

On her subsequent visit which the warmer temperatures had allowed it, Longze imparted to her via scant details, gently as he could, the reasons for his execrable confinement. He had done this (as he’d been forbidden to do) with guarded, wary and indirect words, using references to enigmatic lyrics, cagy verses, tender dirges (laments). She had learned then, through insinuation and guesswork, the gist of his harrowing sentence, years of sorrowful plight (ordeal, torment), which came about because he had once pitied the offender, had failed to punish (destroy) and so, breached (violated) the ironclad Heavenly Law. For his disobedience, he’d been imprisoned in that cave, chained to the wall, for over three thousand years.

06- DRAGON LONGZE (2)

 As Berdis had listened to the voice in her head, her heart was so wrenched that, she’d shed quiet tears in deep sympathy of his endured pain. He loved her all the more for this, though next he did his best to lighten her mood. There was another concern, a secret that had long prayed on his mind, but this one he chose not to divulge, as the outcome pended on an unforeseen circumstance; instead, he communicated to her that, fortuitously, his sentence was nearing an end, about the time when she reaches the age of consent (16 years old), choosing to steer (guide) her thoughts in the direction of hope.  

A week later, again stealing away to the mouth of the cave and while reclining pensively against the young pine-tree, she’d fancied that she had heard Longze’s voice sweetly addressing her. At first it had been scarcely more than a sigh, but gradually it had grown more pronounced: 

"Sweet maiden,” said the melodious whisper. “Pray think of me not just a Dragon; but as one who is fond to be with thee; I, with my tall and scaly strength, with my bright fire red eyes, a nodding star high up in the night’s sky, one that every evening sparkles above thee. Thou art having captured my heart, Berdis; before you retire to bed, (and succumb to sleep), walk to the window and cast your gaze up to the sky, to heavens and be at peace. Fly from men who are false and cruel, and quit the tumult of their dusty strife and instead embrace this quiet, gentle regard (honour, affection). Rest over thy head on my chest, and I will carry you up to the stars. I will breathe a perfume like that of flowers over thy happy evening rest. I'll waft thee o'er the waters of the sky-blue lake. I will deck the folds of thy mantle with the sun's last rays. Come in spirit, as often as you desire, and we’ll soar over the mountain free, riding the gentle (clouds) winds, together in the land of the stars."

These riveting, enchanting words were drunk in with an eager ear by Berdis, and in time the tiny buds of love in her heart transformed into full blossoms, her mind made up she’d sworn thence, to forsake all other. Returning to the spot time after time, she’d listen with intent to hear more akin declarations of love, but the voice thereafter had become only an inaudible murmur and then, it had ceased altogether. Though alarmed, in her heart the hope persisted and flourished with a sure conviction that on her sixteenth birthday, whatever tribulation that beset (affected, plagued) him, it would be satisfactorily resolved.

07- BERDIS IN HER MID TEENS

In the meantime, now that she was in her mid-teens (15 years old), she’d grown into an exquisite beauty, and many young men in the village was secretly smitten with her.  Springtime, being sign for renewal, they sought to win her attention, akin bees drawn to an exquisite flower for pollination. She paid no heed to any of them however and continued to secretly frequent the fairy grounds at greater length; then on her return, became even more introverted. Disenchanted by all the mundane, trivial, hollow mortal pursuits, Berdis would oftentimes sit vacantly (indifferently) when she was cajoled (coaxed) into partaking with the many springtime festive occasions, celebrations and communal events; sometimes, she even feebly made the effort to join, just to appease her parents, though her heart was never in it. Increasingly detesting these irksome obligations, she walked among her people with detached air, her heart suffused in melancholy, as though she was a passing spirit not belonging to that world anymore.

In fact, gradually with the passing of each day her secret communions with the phantom Dragon had so intensified that it had captivated her heart entirely.  Meanwhile, her growing strange detachment from the accepted norm now alarmed her parents who began suspecting that some evil spirit had enticed her into its clutches and had cast upon her a charm which she had not the power to resist.

08- ALEC AND ELIN (BERDIS'S PARENTS)

In private conversations late one night before going to bed, her father and mother had even considered those amassed marriage proposals that had been subtly offered but carefully put aside (for future consideration); an acceptance of one, could provide the means to ground Berdis in reality and rescue her from her furtive (secret), dire, obsession.

Among the considered suitors was a handsome, but rather conceited young man, three years older than Berdis, called Tamuz; and being the only son of an affluent merchant, he never lacked for anything. With such a propitious marriage, she would be well provided for. What Alec and Elin did not know however, during one of the spring festive events, Temuz had brazenly approached her, so sure he was of his charms, inviting her to be his partner for the finale (climax) group dance; however, the unthinkable had happened when she had flatly rejected him, choosing to partner instead, with the timid young man called Kenny, that stood beside him. From that moment on, with his vindictive nature unleashed, she had been marked for conquest, to be subdued and tormented by his hand, under the banner of matrimony, in months to come. As his parents had patiently awaited the response to the recent marriage proposal put forth to Alec, Temuz meanwhile, taking matters into his own hands, had stealthily engaged his bond servant to discreetly monitor Berdis’s comings and goings, looking for key opportunity to sully her reputation, hence to succinctly, even earlier, achieve his diabolical aim.  

09-TEMUZ

He did not have to wait for long, when one day at crack of down, Berdis was seen secretly leaving her home and heading into the woods. Informed thus, Temuz, was soon in hot pursuit.  Quickly overcoming his innate fear, Temuz, had unseen followed Berdis into the depths of the forbidden zone and subsequently, concealed by a huge trunk, he had overheard Berdis, quietly seated at a rock, by the side of the Cavern’s opening, murmuring to some phantom companion, her entreaties (appeals) just then: “Oh, my dear, dear friend!” Berdis had whispered, her heart palpitating with intense emotion for gradually, though she’d never laid eyes on him, Dragon Longze’s gentle, wise, noble ways had captivated her heart and made her fall deeply in love with him. “Dear, sweet and gentle master of the skies and the foaming lake do not forsake me now, but visit thou my nightly pillow once more, shedding over its silver dreams of mountain brook and pebbly rivulets. Spirit of the starry night; lead my footprints to the blushing, burning passionflower that shines with a carmine hue. Why have you been silent these last few months, speak to me, I entreat you,” she’d pleaded, looking away from the beautiful young pines which lightly swayed their green leafy limbs over her head and gently brushing her face, to cast her passionate gaze at the entrance of the cave. “I am here my love. Embrace me, your Berdis, with thy powerful mind, liken to the ones spring unfolds from its sweetest flowers, or hearts that to each other show their inmost adoration. Soon, my dear, when your chains are no more, we shall be together, never to part.”

“Ahahh!!! I caught you now, you wanton (lustful) harlot! How long have you been having these immoral rendezvous?” Temuz stepped forward from his hiding place, threateningly shaking his fist. “To think we all believed you were so pure, so pious!  Hah!”  With his ugly, hateful visage, he advanced menacingly towards her, to grab her arm and drag her back, so as to denounce her publicly in the centre of the village.  

End of Part 1

                                                                                          ~