Wednesday, November 20, 2024

The Thrown Rock

THE BOOK OF PROPHETS:
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   A man fully dressed as a woman, with even the bosom packed like full breast was dragged, out into the public square wailing and screaming by the hair. The person was thrown at the feet of a young, former ministerial servant by an ordained Priest, “Nadan, this – woman, was caught in the very act of sodomy, what should be done to her?”

   Without hesitation he replied, “Go to the ones who crafted but do not adhere to their own laws for them to decide. Wait – for one even greater than they have answered. Look even now!”
  The crowds gathered about in the commotion forgetting the bustle of the market’s trading. Moments later two others were carrying the body of the Key Elder from Kathos from the house, laying him next to the man dressed as a woman, who stopped sobbing, “He was alive when they pulled us apart and threw me out here. I –.”
  One of the two men saw the city Priest, “It is true lord, he fell over dead right in front of us, even as I am standing here before you, I say the truth.”
   All astonished eyes darted back to the young Nadan,“They say do this, even as their own hand work hard at doing another.” They young man speaking in the market square looked to still be in his later twenties. The older men in the crowd only looked at him with indifference as some smirked off his comments. Nonetheless he continued, “To have allowed them to devise such corrupt things is only to condone what certainly you would not suffer from another among you.” An old woman coin-searching in her purse looked up with a fearful expression.
  The young man paid for her loaf of bread without even a second glance to the vender, but spoke louder, “Because they are nobles, priests or even kings give them no right to act worse than the laws they craft to burden your already heavy shoulders with. Hear me well you people of Mithar, for rebellion is indeed not the outcry, but to be servants of your neighbor and hold them accountable even as they desire you to be, be honest to one another. Brave in the courage of doing what is right before heaven’s highest standard.” The city guards came down from their high walks and the priests gathered down the street leaving their grand Hall heading toward the speaker. The crowds gave way. Still Nadan gave no concern to soften his condemnation, “See how they come at the sound of a single voice even as roaches scatter at daybreak!”
  “Who anointed you the voice over the lord of the realm?” It was the Lord High Priest himself, waving a finger at the young man then motioning for the guards to seize him without a word.
   Nadan, “Heaven is the only authority a righteous person heeds.”
   On that word the Lord High Priest suddenly fell to the ground dead! Someone had thrown a stone and killed him on the first go. The gathering stood fearful of the youth’s invocation of the divine.
   Nadan approached the dead man, pooling in his own blood, looking about the crowd, he said, “Such was not your right to take and rarely will any be offered to undo such actions. But for this lesson shall he be afforded one. Vethdema, arise and be unharmed!”
   Instantly the eyes of the dead man opened, and he sat up from where he lay, seeing the astonished crowds backing away from him. Struggle to his feet Vethdema shouted, “Why is he not arrested?”
   The captain of the Guards answered, “You were dead a moment ago, the entire city saw a thrown stone take your life and this – this Prophet, brought you back.”
   “Oh rubbish. Then, I arrest you in the Name of the King!” Collectively the crowds took even more steps back away from the Lord High Priest, who only looked the more stunned at being ignored. Taking a step toward Nadan, Vethdema fell dead –a second time.
   Everyone looked at the Prophet, “Two dead crows on the same days, surely there is some lesson here to be learned if you people are not too stiffed neck to see it.” With that he only turned about and left through the city’s southern gate. Seven of his followers trailed behind without a spoken word.


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