Amarel Mountain (eBook)

CHAPTER 1

Sama-Andam

“The formation of Doubles amazed the most-ancient Tatchlan Masters. Following refinements within The General Plain of Tatchlan, these women manifested an unforeseen sign of the Living System. Their bodies absorbed their first pregnancy, magnifying their blood’s potency with each successive conception and absorption. While not envisioned and impossible to predict prior to their first impregnation, Doubles became a most welcome addition to the Spokes of the Cluster Wheel.”

Day 174 of Two-Week 10, Paultesh – ‘Reflection,’ in the Year 286 of the Majastas Koru Calendar, it is the second two-week of the summer season and the third hour of the day, named ‘Nu Dispels,’ near Sama Cluster.

Maja Sama-Yava swooned on the edge of the towering Salarish field. The other seven members of his circle knelt around him as he lay twitching.

“Alas! What is this?” Sama-Vadash, the eldest male of the circle, cradled their Maja’s head in his lap. As he bent over him, his long black hair brushed the younger man’s light copper face. The Maja’s profusion of attractive dark spots grew pale.

“Vadash, should we prepare to give?” nineteen-year-old Sama- Andam asked as she and Sama-Lavan drew their Offering Knives.

“No. A Double should pause until we better know the cause,” Vadash answered.

Despite their shock, members of her circle smiled at Sama-Andam. Nine days ago she had discovered she also was to become a Double, as Sama-Lavan, her thirty-one-year-old cluster mate. The third Double was an ancient Elder named Elder Sama-Vara. Still displaying her pregnancy, Sama-Andam and her babe had begun to merge, transforming her into a new being. Her soft red, warm moist scent was already intensifying and now possessed a delicate grain spice accent. Their circle of eight, composed of six men and two women, was distinguished in having both women declared Doubles. Of the sixteen Circles of Eight in Sama Cluster, none other displayed two such wonders of Tatchlan in a single circle, and few of their age and size had three Doubles in their entire cluster. This also meant they ‘improved their depth’ within Sama Cluster.

Maja Sama-Yava awakened with a fit of coughing and turned to vomit. The others cried and reached to hold him. At last, he heaved several heavy sighs, “Our Majastas . . .” he said beginning to weep. The others exchanged nervous glances and formed a tight Comfort Knot. Their legs and arms entwined about their Maja in a circle of sweet flesh. He continued to weep and Sama-Lapay, their Touched, joined him. At last, Maja Sama-Yava’s breathing slowed.

“Our Majastas . . . is dead.” The circle trembled and several cried out.

“Majastas Zudaz-Vozev dead?” Sama-Jalas said, “Yava, how do you know this?”

Maja Sama-Yava turned to look at the older man, “I have been encompassed by Her Presence twice,” he spoke in the distinctive multitone voice of the Maja. “The second time I was a Ripe Adult and lay beside Venerable Koru Maja in our Majastas Gathering. Our Majastas made us one. My feet ever felt Her life spreading through the living loam. Her life ended this hour.”

“She is . . . She was two hundred . . .” Sama-Jalas stammered.

“Our Majastas Zudaz-Vozev has lived two hundred and eighty-six years,” Sama-Vadash said.

Sama-Jalas frowned, “I had thought we would be but a day and night before Her face. Has some calamity befallen Her?”

“I cannot say Jalas,” Maja Sama-Yava said. “I am not an Invocate and do not work the Living Instruments. The Primary Faces of Tatchlan do not know my name. I am certain She has died and no more.”

For a time their Comfort Knot rocked as they wept. When done, Maja Sama-Yava stepped unsteadily outside the Knot.

“We will observe Her passing in full while continuing our immediate calling. I must go back to our cluster to confer with other Maja and Elders. Sama’s ‘Gate of Sorrows’ will be opened and the other three gates closed this day. Venerable Sumudin visits us this night and may tell us more. We must make ready for the Baby Mother harvest of the Coarse Salarish and gather our part for trade with our Yakku in Kalasek Forest. Yakku join us this night also.”

He read their expressions, “Our Foremost Ones, the Tolku, had Majastas of extended and brief lives. Our initial Koru Majastas has died young, yet her legacy is rich. We, the children of the Yakku and Koru, thrive. Tatchlan’s Mantle seeks our second Majastas of this, our Secondary Epoch. Soon enough the balance will be restored. We must not cease our vital service to those Yelda and Koru depending on us. All portions of our Leadership Ring will gather later, and then we will unite with them.”

“Yava,” Sama-Andam said. “We are to do the ‘Birth of Yelda’ tonight, and I am the Teller.”

“Yes.”

“Do our sister clusters send circles to join us?”

“None were invited to this Telling. All have joined us many times of late, and so we pause from our interlacing cluster relations.”

“What of our Sumudin? Will Yuna circle come? We servants ‘dwell at a distance’ from their Living Mountains and but ‘cut the grass.’ It is sure the deep assemblies throughout the Mulungu Mountains ring with the news. Would not our honoured ‘Paramount Contacts’ be recalled for an urgent conference? And what of the Yakku of Kalasek? Sharing our preference for the day hours, their custom has been to visit us during the day. They may resent the Telling being left until dark for our Koru Yelda. I am also pressed to ask what of our children? Will they hear my words?”

Maja Sama-Yava’s red-brown hair and eyes glowed in the morning light as he looked to the west towards the Kalasek forests. “Those circles designated to do so will visit our Yakku. For each time we see our Paramount Contacts, the Honoured Sumudin of the Yuna Cluster, our Yakku neighbours visit us twice. Our Yakku arrive this day as they have since Sama’s beginnings. Close relations with them are part of our use to our Mother Koru and a key to our prosperity. We are one of four Yeldic clusters surrounding their forest and have similar relations to other clusters surrounding different Yakku Estates across the Marachla Plain. In appreciation of our Koru’s protection, they continue to fortify the Yelda. We have deep love for our Venerable Koru and their Koru Yelda, and lay nestled in our Koru ‘Majastas Hand.’ Yet, our foundational adage remains ‘The Yakku are our Fathers and the Koru our Mothers.’ In each way, these Yakku are our ‘Fathers.’”

He looked east, but the distant mountains could not be seen, “As for our Sumudin, they will have already entered their carriage to arrive this night. Our Mother Koru place great stock on our emergence as separate and complete beings and our Majastas Mother Zudaz-Vozev followed our progress with interest. It is happenstance they arrive the day our Majastas has died. None could foresee or provide for it. We must all bow to the cruelty of blind circumstance.”

“‘The Yakku are our Fathers,’” Sama-Andam quoted, “and are esteemed. I would they were less aloof.”

“The Yakku are proud and have reason for it,” Maja Sama- Yava replied. “They also bear sorrow, concerning the Suvuka and other matters. While born here, they continue to miss their larger community, and we must show them kindness.”

He turned back to look in the direction of their cluster compound, “All Sama Cluster’s Maja receive the same message, so each circle will know. Together we will gather our children and bring them this news. With patience, we will be guiding them through their fear and confusion. This night, they must hear the Telling. They need to sense their place by hearing how we came to be. If the Sumudin do not come, you must give them this.”

Sama-Andam bent her head, “Should I speak of our Majastas?”

Maja Sama-Yava came and knelt facing her, “Dear present spouse and future Double! You have heard us say you do not appreciate your depth! You already excel with your Orator status and now become a Double! Finish and return quickly. You will observe our preparations and participate during this exceptional day. Do not be troubled by your innocence. This night you employ your skills to provide familiar comforts. I counsel no novelty. The Telling grows in thoughtful and patient increments. I presume to say the Erudite and Enhancement Bureaus will labour on this for many two weeks or longer before we see fitting tributes to our Majastas worked into this and other Tellings.”

The Maja rose and strode back towards their cluster compound. The rest stood and looked up high at the ripe Salarish, hissing in the wind.

“Known as the ‘First Generation’ of the Koru Yelda, the Sumudin are the most closely bonded of all Yelda to their Mother Koru. They immerse themselves in all aspects of the Koru’s Cluster-of-Clusters Nation. While...