#7

#7
The morning suns rose above the northern sky. The horizon seemed more hazy than normal. The winter festival honored Limmu and Azazni. These gods were masters of light and darkness. Azazni governed the suns as they entered the horizons. As the suns moved above or just as they reached the southern horizon to darken the sky, Azazni the goddess of light moved the sunrays from their origins throughout the universe. Limmu was a shadowy god. He, or she at times, captured the light and turned it into dark light. Each god balanced the power of the other so that the universe was in peace. Limmu appeared to it’s prophets in the dark of night. It appeared like a black panther to its “sleepers” or prophets.
Sleepers wear black clothing of purest black. The clothing is made of a special flower, which grows in the mountains of the south. Its fibers absorb all light! The hem and collars carry symbols of golden circles, which symbolize the endless cycle of the suns.

The two “wakers”, or prophets of Azazni bore the symbols of the two suns of Aria. There could only be two wakers at a time. The suns, Emaldy and Ariadne moved about Aria, the world of all living…and dead! The “wakers’” clothing shimmered with the suns gold and green light from a shell fish powder found only in the northern seas. Azazni appeared as a golden leopard with two heads and a scorpion tail. Wakers seemed rather crazy after they had contact with Azizni. She takes their minds and drives them mad. Few wakers survive their awakening. It is called the “sifting!” Sifting is horrendous and often debilitating. Truth be told, the same could be said about Limmu’s sleepers. Sleepers do not awake or sift, they sleep…soul sleep! They are dead walkers or truly sleepers! Their bodies are as black as coal and solid like rock. The transformation occurs during the festival, no words can describe the horror of the process…but many would be sleepers come each festival for the possibility of transformation. Sleepers are promised an everlasting existence of pleasure and vice. So they continue to come with expectation. Many come to experience the transformation, Limmu takes many but only a few return…changed!

Anna and Janny prepared for the festival. Endless washing made sure they were pure for the festival. No food or drink could be eaten for 2 days before the festival. Jenny wore a skirt of Limmu black fabric with a blouse of gold and green Azazni decoration. A helmet of gold with images of a panther and leopard circling the top was placed on her head. The helmet was as old as Limmu and Azazni! It was one of the ways that the priestess’ were chosen. The day was full of ceremony and pomp, much too much for Anna.

Anna and Janny stepped onto the steps leading down to the road that wound around through the town. The temple steps were connected to the sacred river by the hallowed road. The people gathered to await the arrival of the Sleepers and Wakers. Soon the parade would begin. Anna had never seen the prophets in real life. She wondered how they would appear. The Sleepers began to arrive quite suddenly. A black fog began to creep from the river onto the road. It absorbed all light and a strange foreboding moved like a viper from person to person. When it passed, all it touched blessed Limmu for its touch and blessing. A few fell in writhing pain and burning sensations. Some were consumed to ashes. Others stood in terror waiting …! The light soon returned…following closely behind the fog. Bright blinding light ripped through air with lightning speed and thunder rolling continuously, deafening! All of Aria shook to the depths of its foundations. Electrical balls of light bounced across the sky and from person to person. Lightning struck and moved across the crowds. Some fell in horrendous pain with few sensing endless pleasure. It seemed like days passed, in reality only a few minutes had elapsed. When the light dimmed, Sleepers and Wakers stood at the base of the temple steps. The golden columns of the temple shimmered and seemed to appear and disappear in regular succession.

Janny had experienced the vision many times over the years. She always drank in the experience with vigor. This year it was even more so because it was the beginning of change in the temple. Soon her time would pass and a new priestess would take her place.

Janny and Anna began to walk down the steps. Anna wore the clothes of a young priestess. Silken breeches of blue and silver were worn under a skirt of shimmering bluish green. Images of golden lions encircled the hem of each garment. Her emerald blouse was tucked into a sash of pure gold emblazoned with silver lions and acorns. Around her head was placed a circlet of thin golden ribbon. Her sandals were made of red gold and silver inlays. The sight of the two of them brought awe to the crowd. They stood between the terrors of the prophets and the people. Bright white light engulfed the temple. As Janny and Anna moved to the street the prophets stepped aside to let them pass.

They walked slowly toward the river. All bowed when they moved near them. Suddenly before them stood a woman in red! She stood firm unmoving. Anna smiled!