Episode 2

Babati appears suddenly, almost like a great cat himself.



In his hand, held by the gnarled grimy locks of hair - the dead edimmu flier, arrow still piercing through its head.

Marching forward like a storm on the horizon, the Hechesi tribal chieftain looks at the head and then tosses it in the air. The winged head thuds at Simush's feet.

"Who was this man in life?" the muscle bound warrior asks in his deep voice. He speaks with authority. "Can you tell us, devil?"

Winter and Zabu growl and press in closer.

Spears and arrows are aimed at Simush from all sides.

The horse stuck in the nearby mire neighs out loud in distress.

Previously note="jabes.plays.rpg"]The witch, Ingesi Blackened, who raised Simush since he was a babe, was captured and drowned by a Hechesi mob.

Simush's horns were sawed off by the same group.

Neither Babati nor Atraharsis were there, nor was their father. But it was said that Shamash-Nasir had ordered the raid and killing.

Elam, a Hechesi from the further out reaches of Jara Hili, always spoke with warning about the sons of Shamash-Nasir.

The entire clan was said to be made up of zealots. As most Hechesi, these were followers of Marduk. But these were zealots, in league with the Hilleli, a group of militant religious teachers, who claimed to be the keepers of an ancient story the Enuma Elish.

Simush has never known for sure their view of him. If they had wanted him dead in the past, in all likelihood he would have been killed. Especially in his earlier years alone when he was most vulnerable.

But he had never thought necessary to press the issue.

Simush knew that in the more recent years, he was viewed with mixed response among the Hechesi. His ranging was well known and at least respected. His capability as a scout and warrior was well known. His ability as a medic was even more.

But he killed and tracked many Hechesi of different tribes throughout Jara Hili and the hills of Aviram. Just as he did against the Bishtu tribes. And the Doresh Mensha (normal country Heshbaans) in the south.

Simush was not so often this close to Gelshemish in most of his travels to ever deal with the Hechesi tribes closest to the City of Secrets, which the sons of Shamash-Nasir have always been a part of. So he has never addressed this relationship. It was always speculation, assumption, hearsay.

Now this becomes their first face-to-face encounter.
[/note]

The imposing chieftain steps forward slowly, and speaks from the higher ground.

"It is out of respect for your mother’s father that you have made it this far – to this day - , half-man." He lets the stinging title at the end hang for a moment before continuing.

"He was an honorable father. His heart broke when his daughter was ravaged by a devil, when she had only just turned a woman. Later when she was killed by the witch who stole you a year later, even then this father clung to his hope. For he was a keeper of the Enuma Elish. It was this hope of his – a hope for the redemption of a lost son - that spared you when Ingesi Blackened was sentenced to death."

He pauses to stare down at Simush on the lower ground. "Do you understand this,...Croucher?" he asks, with controlled but clear contempt. "Because I want you to understand, here at your end."

Kray sees the muscular man step forward, emerging from the tree line more to the east. He passes the others, and then his inner entourage comes forward to await his orders.

He is a leader clearly, and Kray has seen him before.



One of his battle attendants steps forward to send the signal for the commander. The troop motions his spear in a pull, calling out for the crossers to approach the tree line.

Babati continues to proclaim judgement against Simush.

"But your family’s hope for your redemption was never answered. You never wanted to reconcile with your people. You never even knew their names. You clung to the teet of a witch and drank her lies. You chose the life of a hermit and skulker, running from your own guilt and responsibility."

He points down to the dead edimmu at Simush’s feet.

"And now you cast your lot with the family of your choosing. Your clan of deceivers, heretics - kidnappers, mutilators, and wizards. Demons. You embrace the foul blood of Tiamat that courses through your veins. You choose your true nature – revealed for all to see."

He looks to the side, as if to signal a transition to the conclusion of this judgment.

"So now all will be made right."

A man with tattoos and ceremonial garb walks forward. An attendant ignites his oil-soaked spear as he walks forward to stand beside the chieftain. Raising the flaming spear high in the air, the Hilleli Apsuant begins to chant softly, speaking the ancient truths of the Enuma Elish and reciting the powerful words revealed in the eternal wisdom of Marduk."You will be torn apart, like an animal," Babati says as he turns back to speak downward to Simush. "Your body will lie unburied, and no one will mourn you. Your devil spirit will be burned from the air before it can escape."

The Apsuant steps forward, his chants growing louder.

"And no one will remember your name."

The tiger and the lion growl and step closer towards their prey. It is as if they know the signal is coming.

Babati turns and walks away.

Winter and Zabu pounce.

Ryhim, Kray, and Sizhen see a man roll down the small hill of the wood line, crying out in pain as two great cats tear him to pieces.

It does appear that Sizhen was right. The man being mauled to death is the archer who had fired upon them - the man who shot Maeriks.

Thorn calls to Maeriks - taps the side of his face - trying to get a response.

Thorn checks again for breathing, leaning close to see if he can detect anything.

He puts an ear to the big Dannein's chest.

Maeriks is not moving. Not at all.

No heartbeat.

He is gone.

Atraharsis speaks with Kray there at the edge of the flood plain. Ryhim is able to translate flawlessly.

"We heard this morning of a manhunt for the Jeresian nobleman Lukrayides Mercon and all of his retainers. It is said he and his band are murderers of landowners and nobility, a gang of assassins who attempted to kill the Sar and his Nasi in the Garden Palace. It seems that on this day, you are more infamous even than my brother and I."

Atraharsis is a dry speaker, and the situation is dire, but the comment sets a tone that relaxes the exchange to a welcomed extent.

"My nephew Oram told me that you and your men saved him in the woods near Kalesha, when our cousin was mutilated. He even says that a Dannein named Maeriks performed a miracle there. I know of your dealings with the Seetan Physician, even after that day when Koral's body was profaned by the Darkness."

Kray remembers both that night and that day - he recognizes the references clearly, and knows that Atraharsis is saying more just by calling upon those past moments. Kray understands: this is a cooperative moment.

Atraharsis looks out across the flood plain. He sees Thorn and Maeriks out in the middle.

Beyond, out at the east end of the road, his eyes lock on to the riders. Armsmen or Korvaran? It is difficult to tell yet, but likely both. They will arrive in short time.

Atraharsis points out the incoming troops.

"At least for now, our paths are intertwined," Atraharsis says, turning back to Kray.

As the giant saber toothed tiger approaches its master, Atraharsis motions to Kray with a welcome gesture. "Come. Let us withdraw to the forest. We will plan your passage through the Jara Hili."