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Found: The Tent - MOVED; Prophecy in riddle
Topic Started: Aug 16 2014, 07:41 PM (28 Views)
Valia
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Deaths Lady
(08/16/14 10:34:48 )
[.One of Many.]

V A L I A
|.MERCHANT OF SULPORT.|

[-Market-]
Is at the market, a large open square of stalls in the heart of Sulport. Vendors flock around you trying to sell the many different and exotic wares on offer.

says to ALL: I found myself among the crowd in the market. The stalls and booths seemed endless, a maze of people so that it was too easily one could become lost. It was how I found myself more often than not, searching for something that eluded me. I only knew the drive to find it would not leave me. Slowly, the absence of this unknown thing was leading me to insanity.

Despite the crowd of people, the out-cry of vendors boasting of their goods, the sounds of the city fell on deaf ears. I did not hear them. There was only the rhythmic pacing of sandaled feet, the gritty sound of dirt that whispered my chosen path and the billow of linen garments that draped gracefully from the lines of a lean figure. The light materials were dyed in shades of gold, faded the perfect hombre from burnished gold to the palest shade of golden light ending in decorative hems of a sheer and gauzy material of white. A cowled hood draped my head, hiding the intricate 5-strand braid from view, the length hood extended from the perch of narrow shoulders down to mid-thigh and was belted loosely with a sash of white. The cascade of fabrics blended in such a fashion that it all seemed one piece and yet it was actually many layers. This clever arrangement allowed for a hidden belt and coin purse.

As I circled the path for what seemed the millionth time, my gaze traveled slowly the last of the vendors booths. Usually it was here I would turn around and follow that same path back through the market towards its center. And yet my steps continued forward. Where I thought the small maze ended was actually a small formation of several more booths. At the end of this gathering stood a medium sized A-frame tent structure. It had been erected just far enough from the other booths that it stood apart. It drew my attention and my steps continued in their path towards it.

(08/16/14 10:55:44 )
[.One of Many.]

V A L I A
|.MERCHANT OF SULPORT.|

[-Market-]
Is at the market, a large open square of stalls in the heart of Sulport. Vendors flock around you trying to sell the many different and exotic wares on offer.

says to ALL: The wooden beams that formed the a-frame were stained in dark shades, in the wood had been carved many shapes that seemed familiar and yet I had no idea what they were or what they meant. Instead of a flap, the opening of the tent structure was obscured by strings from which were suspended what appeared to be small bones and drift wood. A wind I did not feel stirred those lines to movement, the soft and hollow click of those bones colliding gently whispered hauntingly to me. There was the slow roll of smoke from the darkness that appeared to disappear in the light of day. As I drew closer, I could hear the faint sound of a timber drum at play and the occasional chiming of finger cymbals.

Pale eyes shifted, my gaze sweeping the area that surrounded this structure. There were others shopping within the vicinity and yet none seemed to acknowledge this tent. The oddity of this was not lost on me. The citizens of Sulport were a suspicious lot and with the addition of so many unfamiliar people, it could be said the atmosphere was ripe with distrust. As my steps brought me within range of this seemingly lone tent, I could feel attentions shift in my direction. It felt as if everything, everyone held a collective breath.....waiting. The weight of that focus for someone else might have been stifling. For me however, it fed the emptiness inside of me. Pretty features set defiantly as I reached out with my left hand to draw aside the curtain of bones.

The strings parted easily, the tips of my fingers brushed over the smooth bits of bone and pieces of hollow driftwood. As I stepped from view into the darkness of the tent, a female voice sounded from the shadows, rich with age and heavy with knowledge, her words filled my ears with an ominous promise

"I've been waiting for you."

As my eyes adjusted to the dimly lit interior, I became more aware of movement, enough to realize the presence of others.

(08/16/14 11:27:52 )
[.One of Many.]

V A L I A
|.MERCHANT OF SULPORT.|

[-Market-]
Is at the market, a large open square of stalls in the heart of Sulport. Vendors flock around you trying to sell the many different and exotic wares on offer.

says to ALL: The dark material shrouded the tent into further darkness. At the center was a round brazier, the coals within it burned low casting the interior with an orange-red glow. Ambient lighting that didn't allow me to see further than its glow. From the center rafter were suspended at varying heights, various burners from which plumes of smoke drifted. The heavy aroma of the incense burned my eyes, making the air thick and hard to breathe. The line of delicate brows furrowed as her words sank in. My lips pressed together silently. Through the haze of smoke I could see her silhouette and not much more. From her, my eyes were drawn to the source of the melodic beating of the tabors and I could vaguely see what appeared to be two more women kneeling together but lost in the tantric trance of that beat. They seemed completely unaware of my presence, there was only the soft glow of the braziers reflected in their vacant stares. My gaze returned once more to the woman who had spoken. She extended her hand towards the other side of the brazier in an invitation to join her.

"Sit."

She instructed, her voice kept to a low whisper. And even though I was unsure of her and these other women, I found myself obeying her. Caste and position was lost here. Within this tent, I could see this woman reigned. It mattered not that I had no knowledge of who or what she was. I knelt upon a woven mat, smoothing the fine linen of my robes as I positioned myself across from her. Was it the smoke or my imagination, I felt a spinning sensation and my vision blurred for a breath as I fought to focus on her.

The glow of coals lit her face strangely. The hollows of her cheeks were cast in shadow, she was old and yet there was an undeniable beauty in the planes of her face. A sincere smile curled the thin line of her lips as she patiently waited for me to satisfy my curiosity. My eyes were then drawn to hers. I stiffened, the line of my back straightened all the more as I found that the milk white of her gaze stared back at me unseeing. Blind. And yet I felt distinctly that she could see me. I shifted in my kneel, leaning towards her. She mirrored me, her own head leaning in the same fashion as my own, as if she too would study me. I was unsure then, if this was happening or if by chance I were dreaming once more. I inhaled deeply, feeling suffocated by the smoke, the darkness and the presence of this unknown woman.

(08/16/14 11:55:03 )
[.One of Many.]

V A L I A
|.MERCHANT OF SULPORT.|

[-Market-]
Is at the market, a large open square of stalls in the heart of Sulport. Vendors flock around you trying to sell the many different and exotic wares on offer.

says to ALL: I could not help but to stare at this woman, a strange mix of wonder, awe and fascination. Who was she? From where did she come? And why did she believe she had been waiting on me? For what purpose? My mind was a riot of questions, questions that all bled together. And I realized that I while I wanted the knowledge, I did -not- want to know. I actually feared knowing too much. It had taken me many years to understand, do not ask the question unless you truly want the answer. There were many answers that I denied to myself. And though I could see, it made me blind.

She reached out to me in such a manner that I extended my own hand to hers. The warmth of the low brazier was intense but she seemed not to notice it, examining my hand at lenght. Her fingers traced my palm slowly, even drawing back my sleeve to examine the slender taper of my wrist. She repeated this process with my right hand as well. Turning both my hands in hers so that mine were knuckle up to her blinde gaze. Her grip was strong, firm and it was instinct that had my fingers curled with her own matching in grip and force. And while her gaze was fixated upon my hands, my eyes traveled her face before finding the other two women still creating the haunting music that filled the small interior of that dark smoke-filled tent. When she released my hands, my attention returned to her once more. She dipped the tip of her index finger into a small clay bowl that was warming in the brazier. The liquid appeared to be clear and she lent forward touching the pad of that finger to the center of my forehead, just above the line of my brow. From the touch I could feel the oil on my skin, as though she was anointing me in some fashion.

With this one action, the other two women began to speak in turn, in a tongue that was foreign to me. Harshly spoken were the words as they came. It seemed one conversation and yet the words were broken between the two women as though they were merely repeating it. Still they stared as if unaware of me, the music continued without faultering or wavering in melody. Anxiety welled within me. I did not understand. The one woman sat across from me, listening to the spoken words. Her eyes reflected in such a manner that told me she was listening to me as much as she was listening to them. I waited to understand what it was,. My breathing slowed to a still so that it seemed I did not even draw breath. I willed her to speak to me, to make sense of what was happening. But from her there was only silence while the other two women continued in this pattern of speech for what seemed to me a small eternity.

(08/16/14 12:34:59 )
[.One of Many.]

V A L I A
|.MERCHANT OF SULPORT.|

[-Market-]
Is at the market, a large open square of stalls in the heart of Sulport. Vendors flock around you trying to sell the many different and exotic wares on offer.

says to ALL: Silence fell like a heavy curtain rather suddenly. Even the light rapture upon the tabors and the chiming of finger-cymbals came to an end all at once. Like the snapping of a string it seemed awareness returned to those two women, one moment they stared vacantly ahead and in the next breath I was the center of their focus. They spoke not another word and it seemed none were needed. I was as much aware of this change in them as they were suddenly of me but my eyes remained fixed on the blind woman. The silence was broken by her words.

"Death is your companion, and in death you will live. The decision has never been yours and shall never be. The only choice given you is live. Live. Lest all else dies."

She could have been speaking in a foreign language. Her words made no sense to me. A frown was slow to spread across my lips. I hated riddles. Riddles could be lies or truths, twisted to ones own wants or beliefs. I had never been one to believe in superstitions or any of that lot. My cheeks burned with shame as I felt foolish. I stood, reaching into the many folds of my garments to find coin. I would donate but not pay for her "services", if it could be called that when she snicked loudly. Her hand lifted as though to wave off any coin I might produce.

"Keep your coin. You will pay with blood. Be well, Lady..... of Sulport."

Her words not spoken with threat, but with clear promise. A chill slid up the length of my spine, like the slow slither of scales over rock, the delicate hairs at the nape of my neck stood on end. I denied it all to myself, allowing the line of my shoulders to shrug dismissively. Pretty features set pensively despite my will to not believe. I left the sweltering darkness of that tent abruptly and the vibrant light of the shining sun left me nearly blind. I became partially entangled in the curtain of string, the soft clink of hollowed bones as I was ensnared but I continued forward, batting the strings away forcefully. I laughed to myself. The sound one of despair instead of happiness. The scents of the burning herbs and incense clung to my skin and garments as if to taunt me with the reminder of the three women.

(08/16/14 12:39:44 )
[.One of Many.]

V A L I A
|.MERCHANT OF SULPORT.|

[-Market-]
Is at the market, a large open square of stalls in the heart of Sulport. Vendors flock around you trying to sell the many different and exotic wares on offer.

says to ALL: When I felt I'd put enough distance between myself and the tent, I cast one final glance back. In the opening of the tent stood the blind woman, as though watching me. Her head tipped forward in my direction before she turned, disappearing into the darkness of her tent. I pulled my focus from the tent and put foot to path with haste. I put that tent and those women behind me. Unfortunately, I could not unhear the words she had spoken.


The necklace - http://th00.deviantart.net/fs70/PRE/f/2013/086/e/b/valknut_01_by_ljotunnr-d5zgix3.jpg
Edited by Valia, Sep 7 2014, 10:32 PM.
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