1
And it came to pass that after I, Vovfen, had finished reading the record which Ahzheil had translated by the hand of the Aiyseir, that many of the bands of the Scythians of the city fell to their knees, for they knew in their hearts that the words which were read had been true. Nevertheless, many more there were that came up in mockery and scorn, and proclaimed among each other that we were liars and that the many gods they worshiped were indeed gods of war.
2
And there was one woman in particular who was a seeress for the enemy. And I name her not. Yet, the seeress stood above the multitude arrayed in the robes of the Sydeir and was adorned with a Fire Urim great to behold.
3
And I could decern the spirit inside her, a malevolent demon giving her utterance. And as she strode forward with sight given her by the malevolent spirit, she proclaimed this and all heard: Wo unto you Vovfen son of Aiynar, for you and your band are but liars and thieves come to steal our wealth and our many records. And I know that your lineage is to that great Hennen who stole from us our records and perverted them for his own ends. Behold, Vovfen, and I see your heart that it is as dark as ash and your intentions are to cajole and to lead my people into Hel as did your forefathers. For they were men of Hel and peace. I proclaim this unto all, for I am a seeress of the goddess Bahalia, hear me and rejoice, for the words which these men have said are folly and of the adversary which is that great serpent Yōrmongond, and it is he and the trickster who desire us to be lead into this path, for it is they that know that peace is the path of cowards and shall lead your souls to Hel.30 Therefore, remove them, I command you, for their words are dross.
4
And when the seeress had said these words, a frenzy came over the onlookers, and each man and each woman drew whatever weapon they had to hand, and this they did for the word of the seeress and the malevolent spirit. And so it was that despite the many things I had both seen and heard, I began to fear in my heart. Nevertheless, the spirit of the Aiyseir were with us, and there came a great voice from Athalaz, saying: Fear not, my children, for their swords and their bows are as the winter gales unto you and can cause you no harm.
5
Therefore, our hearts were glad. And when the throng pressed forward, the pulse of Thūnoraz filled our bodies, and Ahzheil stepped forward and it was as if lighting flew from his fingers so great was the power of the Aiyseir in him.
6
And the throng stopped, dropping their weapons of war. And when this, I stepped forward as one with Heimalaz and spoke the mighty words that he placed into my heart which were these: Behold, as I live, I declare that Thūnoraz himself strives with us. Therefore, stand back, or you will surly feel his wrath.
7
And when this, the lot became sore afraid, for the very power of Thūnoraz began to surge around us. And I defied the seeress of Bahalia, saying: You are a fiend and a liar and are possessed of a malevolent spirit. I command you to cease deceiving this people at once or justice shall fall upon your head as a mighty hammer.
8
And she defied me, saying: I am no liar or stranger to this people, Vovfen son of Aiynar. I did not come to this people proclaiming to them wicked and blasphemous things, that was you. Therefore, stand down and leave this people, lest the gods see you as an offender and cause that we slay you. Now, I know that Yōtons31 of Sert speak through you, for they are liars and deceivers from the beginning.32
9
And I withstood her blows, saying: I am Vovfen son of Aiynar and I am a seer of the Aiylōhyme. And they have sent me here to proclaim unto this people the wrongness of their ways and the wickedness of their hearts. And I proclaim that the Aiy are not a people of war, that make war on the righteous, but that is Bielzeb who was a liar from the beginning. It is he who makes war on the righteous.
10
And now, after invoking the unknowable name of Sert and Yōrmongond as one, the people knew I spoke with the power of Thūnoraz, for he alone has the power to invoke the secret name of the wicked. For it had been hidden.
11
And the throng ceased their pressing forward and cast away their weapons of war, fearing to come near us. And I proclaimed with a loud voice that all may hear: I am Vovfen, son of Aiynar, and with me is Ahzheil, who was a mighty one among you. Even he has seen the foolishness of your ways and forsaken your paths. For it was given of him by the Aiylōhyme to know truth from error, and he knows that the gods you worship are the wicked Yōtons of the records. And the records have been changed to suit their needs and the needs of the combinations of Lōk,33 for their needs are that of war. For even now there is war raging all about, even at your doormat, and this is to suit the needs of the rich, for they desire gain, and their ways are murder and plunder, and their magyk is the magyk of blood and oaths. Therefore, I cast the veil covering them away that you might know them as they are, fiends of the night who have perverted the true doctrine of Thūnoraz for their own ends.
12
And I cast my hand towards the palace of the chieftain of the city, for I knew then by the power of my sight that he watched our works through councils deep.
13
And I proclaimed: Your chief has abandoned your ways, for he sits in council with your enemies, plotting the overthrow of your great nation. And now, he has the kings of the west and the south in meeting, for it is their design to destroy this people. And this chief has consecrated himself as a servant of these far-distant nations that he might be preserved through the destruction of his own people. Slay him not, for righteous judgment must prevail, but go into his quarters and you will find him conspiring with those he has professed to hate.
14
And there were those that believed on my words and speedily pressed towards the palace. And no battle broke out between the people and the guards, for the guards were curious about my words. And so it was that as the more righteous entered the chambers of the chief, they found many leaders from stranger nations that had been snuck in under the cover of night. And the people of the city were sore angry with the chief, for he had lied to them and proclaimed war against these nations while yet preserving himself through deals and oaths to their seers and high men.34
15
Thus, it came to pass that the envoys from those nations and most especially the chief were brought before me and my brethren and knowing in my heart that the Aiyseir had raised Ahzheil to lead this people, thus he stepped forward and spoke, saying: It is as Vovfen has said, for Heimalaz has given him sight not through flame.35 And he has yet revealed that our leaders and the kings of foreign nations conspire against us that they may rule and reign over us. And in this, the Aiyseir have sought to uncover their combinations, which was led by Lōk. And this that they might murder and get gain and rule one above another. And I cry, my people, is this cowardice?
16
And the people cried aloud with one voice: Aiy!36 And Ahzheil said: Then you must see that this doctrine that has been had among you is folly, for your leaders do not themselves follow it, but go off in cowardice and plot against their own people. Now, there are those among you who have felt the movements of Heimalaz within you, and to you I say, stand with us, for Thūnoraz is with us, and we are with him. And now you must know that his doctrine is one of peace, for thus we have proclaimed it, and if he is with us, even to the giving of Vovfen such great sight as to uncover the veil of the adversary, then surely you must know that his truth is a one of peace.
17
And there came a cry of Aiy from the people. Thus it was that flame and lightning descended upon the people of the city, and a great outpouring of rain, which rain received in Ohrther37 the very pure in heart. And lo, there was no fire kindled by man, a great fire arose from the pits of the seer places, insomuch that as many desired received the visions of Heimalaz. And lo, despite all this, there were those that still sought the ways of war, and they took their chief and those kings of strange nations with them to flee, and where they fled, I know not.
18
But so it was that there was so great an outpouring that amidst the storm, the colored bridge appeared in the sky, and the power of Thūnoraz was all about. And the rain had no power over the great fires as to snuff them out, yet they continued, even being bolstered by the rain, for the rains were the very rains of sanctification, and the fires were the fires of purification.
19
Thus, it was that amid all this, there came a voice from Athalaz, and all heard it, and it was the voice of the All Father and the All Mother together. And their voice was joined as one, and we record it. And these are their words: Behold, my beloved children, and look to the skies.
20
And we all looked and were sore amazed, for there in the sky was a man, and he was in pattern and scale after ourselves, yet greater, and lightning illuminated his skin, which shone blue like the stars. And the voice of the Aiylōhyme spoke: This is my beloved son whom your fathers saw and wrote. And he came into the world but poor and meek and lowly of heart. Yet, in his name I am greatly pleased, for through him are all the people of the realms joined together as one.
21
And we beheld the bridge, that it stretched into heaven, and on it came many horses all in white cloth, which is the armor of peace and not war. And upon them sat the Valkyr of Athalaz, which being interpreted, is servants of Her. And they came down and ministered among us and taught us many things which can neither be read nor written save by those who dance in the flames. And because I cannot write these things, I cry unto all that read this, seek the Aiy, for they can only give utterance of these things. And I would that my posterity should receive them.
22
Nevertheless, as they came down and ministered, Thūnoraz himself descended upon us, and these were his words: Blessed are you children of the Aiyseir! For in no time at all, you have forsaken your wicked ways and sought out the ways of peace. Never have I seen such great faith from among your people. Blessed are you, for you will ever walk in the ways of peace. And lo, I have ascended to my Father who is in the skies, I will dwell with you continually, for a people of such great faith cannot be hid behind the wall.38 Therefore, I will show unto you all things, even as I have done with your fathers before you. And you will know your ancestors, and they shall dwell with you, and you with them. And this great promise I give unto you because of your faith, that inasmuch as they (your seed) accept me as I am and not as men say,39 your seed shall have the lightning to be their friend and a guide, which lightning is mine, says your Aiy. And this is a great promise also, that there will always be those among your seed who shall walk on the ways of truth and glory, and never shall your seed entirely dwindle in unbelief. Therefore, have comfort, you people of Aiy, and rejoice, for inasmuch as you shall stay in my paths, you will ascend unto higher realms as I have, and my Father before me.
23
And then the crowd was greatly amazed, and all fell upon their face, for the glory of Thūnoraz was much to bear. And in that very moment, the fire consumed us entirely and we were transfigured before the Aiy, and Heimalaz took us, and we ascended such was the promise of the Son. And we sat in councils great and saw and heard more which cannot be discussed. But suffice it to say that the oath was fulfilled which Thūnoraz gave to Ahzheil son of Fyōkenhital which said that his seed would never entirely dwindle in unbelief unto destruction.40
24
And it came to pass that after Thūnoraz had said these words, he proclaimed Ahzheil to step forward. And as Ahzheil did, Thūnoraz spoke these words: Behold, my children of Svemaz, this man is a righteous man and has sought no power, unlike your many chiefs who have been wicked. Therefore, let this man be an example before you, for it is necessary that any people should have those who's stewardship is to guide. From now on, let no more of those oaths of old get above you which come about by and through unbridled ambition, but let your chiefs and priests be like Ahzheil who is soft and lowly in heart. Therefore, I bless him and consecrate him as a chief and a priest among you. Let him be an example to you.
25
And then Thūnoraz called forward Thessessa, a woman from among the Scythians. And it came to pass that Thessessa was sore afraid, but Thūnoraz smiled at her a kind smile and said: Thessessa, fear not, for I know your heart that it has changed and has become soft and pliable like unto mine. So, I bid you, come forward.
26
And that she did. And she went and kneeled before her Creator. And so it was that Thūnoraz said: Arise Thessessa, and I give you a new name, even the name of the first mother which is Emalō which is righteousness in me, for you shall be as a mother and a caretaker unto this people. See to it that they always walk in proper Sydeir.
27
And Emalō wept before her creator and pleaded with him, asking: Aiyseir, Lord, how is it done? For I was wicked and full of hatred and lust.
28
And Thūnoraz said: It is done by the sacrifice which I made in the great garden of life and upon the tree which is life everlasting. For I have hung there and was perished for three days, and on the morning of the third day arose, taking upon myself the form which you see now, for I am made perfect in the All-Father and Mother, and I am in them and they are in me. Thus it is that your transgressions have been forgiven you.
29
So it was that Thūnoraz, Aiy of thunder and storms and creator of all reached down, taking Emalō by the hand and rose her up. And as he did this, she beheld a multitude of scars upon his body, and again wept and pleaded: Aiyseir, Lord, what are these that cover your body? Are you not made perfect in Aiy? Why then are you covered in scars as if from battle?
30
And Thūnoraz gave a tender smile, for Emalō had become a tender heart. And he said: These you see are not scars given as if in battle, but are the scars of sacrifice and sacrifice eternal. And I shall bear them until the day when I shall take up a realm higher and my parents shall take up a realm higher. And all they that were with me shall take up a realm higher, for I have borne them as I have borne these scars. They are a symbol and a covenant unto you that I will never abandon you, and that all, both bond and free, male and female, chief and slave may come unto me, for I have borne them all. And I do not respect the chief as any different than the slave, for I am both chief and slave, servant and master. And so shall all they who join together with me, for we shall all be sealed brothers41 in the Aiylōhyme.
31
And when we shall ascend together as one, taking upon ourselves the glory of the Aiyseir, then in that day shall my scars which I have borne fade into me, for all will become one and perfect without spot nor blemish. This is why, my dear Emalō, I carry these scars, for I have borne your transgressions for you that you may join me.
32
And again, Emalō fell to her knees weeping, for she knew that she had caused an Aiyseir to bleed and die. Nevertheless, Thūnoraz commanded her to stand. And as she did, she grew in confidence and stood before her Maker with zeal in her eyes.
33
Then we all saw and bear witness that mighty Friggō, the All-Mother of the earth, descended from her throne and placed her hands upon Emalō's head and proclaimed: This is my daughter, flesh of my flesh, bone of my bone. And I seal her unto me forever and ever, and I proclaim you as sealed sister as I have done with your other mothers before you. Lift up your head, oh daughter, and proclaim the truth of peace.
34
And many more things were said which I do not write. And when this, the Aiy knew that we were tired and so left us to rest, although we know they will never abandon us as is our promise. And thus, it was that after many great things had been both seen and done, that we rested, being no longer able to abide the presence of the Aiy.