No, the Dual-Cities have not been overcome by some outside force--at least, not in the way the chronicles would describe it, with barbarians clamb'ring over the walls--though a court-poet might indeed draw out such a metaphor ...
Indeed no, but the high priest of the ancient kings has fallen ill, and in his advanced age, there is no hope of recovery. Are there not sorcerous ways of returning a man to life? And yet, such methods restore a body grievously injured; but the mystery of age and its ails are poorly corralled even by sorcery--for an injured man, returned to health at 30 turns of the sun, what health is he returned to but a decrepit body all ready to die?
So the Cities prepare for High Mourning. The walls are draped with black, and doorways are veiled with dark silk or cloth. With such a prominent Mourning, fresh endeavors are frowned upon (there will be no games this week, ending 5 June). The Poor Brothers of the Dead, chiefest of the mourning-societies, gather outside the shrine of the kings in Gadeed draped in sackcloth and with ash smeared on their brows; meanwhile, their brothers also make the rounds in the streets of Cothon, scattering ash and salt, tearing their cloaks, and crying to heaven.
But the gods are dead. Slain in the wars against the demons, their virtues have passed from the world. They are outside human (or sapient) concerns. So men pray to their own--their kings and heroes of old--and they pray now that another should be taken up into unbroken litany of heroes, kings, and priests: al Kayl minal Muluk, priest of king-priests.
Indeed, death comes for us all. The gods themselves are dead. What hope has a man against Death, save that his family remember him and his tomb, and offer wax-cakes and milk at the appointed times to relieve his feast of dust?
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Before the clear knowledge of the nigh-death of the great priest, nevertheless Captain-General Zaytar did lead his procession of gifts and courtiers from the Kantor of the Hanse unto the Temenos of the Colossian Oracle to seek the Oracle's perspective on the Hanse's campaign contra the Luwian pirates.
With the clash of many a cymbal the procession set out, led by lictors bearing thyrsus-reeds as staves. And gold and silver was in much abundance among the slave-bearers, just as salt and salted fish and nard were also borne thereby. A break in the recent rains gave a gay brightness to the banners displayed on shield front and from speartip as the company made its way along the Pallbearers' Way. And in the Temenos the Hansemenner set out the meat of many hmela to roast, to share with other mourners in the valley, while Zaytar himself went into the Oracle, accompanied by those lieutenants he kept near his person, to hear the judgment of the Oracle-Colossus.
It was seen that Zaytar emerged with a short smile, though he would say nothing of the Oracle's prognostication. When once the offerings to the Oracle had been properly made, and the feast had otherwise concluded, Zaytar led his contingent of courtiers back along the road to the Kantor Kabljauhof, and would speak none the wiser to anyone at his side concerning the Oracle's perception. Yet a smile hovered on his lips.
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The gods are dead, but fortune is a strange thing. Nigh on the return of Zaytar to town, word arrived by galley that the Hanse had won a great victory in the east of the Denyan Islands, driving the Luwians before them further east and banishing them from their island strongholds there. The merchant who brings such news, one Han of the Min al Uburun, is possessed of goods he wishes to sell, but finding the cities in mourning, is unable to engage his mercantile impulses.
Nevertheless, Cothon is the city to sell in, if one has the right goods. So Han will remain through next week at least, and a price listing of his goods will be offered as soon as appropriate.
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