From the platform of her wagon she sat watching everything around her as she contemplated Ayguili and Fonce's request for a reading of omens and blessing for their safe journey to the new more life enriched lands. She knew from each of them that they needed rain, the clan had been watching you could tell the sky wanted to release its life giving tears, but it could not yet do so, perhaps it only needed the reverence and respect given to it that it was owed. So they would create such designed to entice the sky to open up her arms and bestow the priceless gift of rain.
Tarra watched the grass as if swayed in whispered waves to release its heady fragrance in the air,giving to the people a soothing balm of comfort. She watched how the herlit flew along the sky the direction it took and how it turned sometimes it was as if its wings were brushing along the plains as if embracing us to let us know all was going to be well. The clouds they would change shapes and colors, within them she saw a lady bug, a larl and a serpent. She would think upon these things and what they meant, Good luck was coming from the gift of the sky, the raw power of the fire did not destroy it only served allow them to flourish and grow, the healing art of self renewal was beginning and the flow of the life force represented the knowledge of life and mystery.
The younger ones of the Haruspex clan were setting up not only a large circle but a place that formed a curved line within the circle. As she moved from the platform to prepare she drank in everything around her, often she was full of wonder of everything around her, always thirsting to know more and learn more, to experience everything and anything.
She felt beneath her feet the layer of dew resting heavy on the grass as it bowed gently beneath her steps, they had reached their new camp and soon there would be celebrations, but this night the clan would first do a blessing and a ritual for rain. They needed the slow, steady gentle rain that would nourish, cleanse and heal the hearts and spirits. To wash away the heaviness and negativity that seemed to wrap about them, it was time to cut that mantle of sorrow to allow life to expand and glow.
She bathed in a ritual bath as all the other elders did, she then took a sacred jar of oil it held a glimmer of red to it, she would slowly and methodically rub it into her skin, just as three other elders would do so with one of blue, one of green and one of yellow. Her skin would take on a radiant glow and in the right light and with the right movement, the shimmer of red would seem to capture the flames of the fire, just as the blue captured the waves of water, the yellow the breath of air and the green the blades of grass. The ebony tendrils were not tightly braided instead they were loosely woven and white flowers were secured into an intricate pattern, a white skirt would embrace her hips and flow in a liquid caress down to her ankles,a snug vest embraced her and the ties were decorated with colorful herlit feathers, attached to the back was a cape one side white and one side black, each decorated with miniature diamonds to symbolize the stars and silver discs to symbolize the moon , spider web was woven through out it allowing it to glimmer and shimmer as if alive. Arm bands decorated her arms and designs were painted upon her stomach, arms and face. Each elder would prepare in the same way, the man in black the women in white.
She wanted to do something different than their usual rituals, she wanted to expand beyond the standard and let the sky reveal and speak to them. To let the plains guide its children. Stepping from her wagon, she knew a few that happened to pass her were momentarily stunned, it was rare she ever attired her self in any formal regalia. There was an air of strength, compassion,gentleness, passion and a beauty that radiated from within and without. Her steps were graceful and light as she headed to join the others, younger Haruspex would form the outer circle each of them attired in clothing that represented the colors of the plains,
Within the circle at each cardinal were large poles erected holding globes that were suspended by a network web worked rope to allow the blue glow to illuminate the circle. The fire within the globes danced faintly to allow an aura of mysticism embrace them. There were no altars erected but by each pole were items placed in specially prepared white hides. Each elder took a place and three lines formed, everyone grasped the hand beside them as slow music filled the air, it held a dream like melody as at first the outer circle began to dance to the gentle rhythm and an ancient song filled the air, a few ehns later the elders would join in with a mysterious chant that the words were not known but to a few. The evoked the guardians of the spirits and the elementals. The energy would begin to rise and the air would hum and crackle as each group moved faster and seemed to become as one, the array of color and the shimmering capes created a tapestry of reverence to the sky, for a moment it seemed as if the entire sky illuminated in a brilliant light.
Then there was a sudden silence as in unison each Haruspex bowed down in supplication to the sky, offering respect and the humbleness of reverence. The ground was covered with a light iridescent mantle of fog within it designs that would reveal the answer they sought. In thanks four would rise, each taking a position by the poles.
First spoke the Elder that represented air, she would lift her arms and spin around then lower downward to lift a long thin wooden rod that had two serpents carved into it, they were intertwined and along the head rested three black feathers. "Realm of Wind.." she sang out in a light airy voice, " You who are the active intelligence of all the plains people. Where we have both good and evil and mystic worlds beyond, We thank you for being with us, You who govern these things and offer these gifts to us. " She then lifted the rod skyward. "This rod governs the winds." In answer the wind would swirl and flow around them and between them.
Tarra then lowered and lifted a gold sickle that in its curved unblemished blade was in the very tip a red stone embraced. Taking a stance that held the foundation of power she lifted it skyward and in a strong, vibrant voice spoke. " I am a woman of fire. Born of the fire and light, shades of darkness have no sway." She then would turn in a circular motions as if the blade were cutting into the night, it captured the light as she moved. " Realm of Fire. " She called out. "You who are the active force of flame, you who generates inspiration and will. We thank you for being with us. You who govern these things and offer these gifts to us" She then lifted the sickle higher and offered it to the sky "This blade governs the Fire." In answer the flames from the blue globes would burst outward flowing thru the red stone to create a column of fire that would then burst outward and flow around them before once more calming.
The next Elder that represented the water he would walk around the pole lifting his arms wide and drew symbols in the air that represented water. Then he crouched low and lifted the chalice upward, the shell bowl shimmered in the iridescent light and as the beautiful polished base of silver metal embraced it seemed to echo the sounds of the water when a slight breeze passed. The elder then spoke his voice was deep and reverberated around each of them "Realm of Water... " He lifted the chalice higher, "You who are the dark, passive force which symbolizes the emotions of all the plains people, ruled by the pearl moons pale mysteries. We thank you for being with us. You who govern these things and offer these gifts to us." He then extended his arm and the water would spiral and flow into an intricate design that would slowly grow and explode into crystalline droplets that would touch them all.
The last elder he would lift the blue stone disk that was suspended from a leather cord and he also would hold it outward as he walked around the pole. One one side was etched a triple design symbolizing the sky and on the other side were wavy lines and ancient writings. His voice to was deep and powerful. " Realms of Sky and stone. You who are the embodiment of they sky and static forces which harness our movements. This disc unifies the two principles of existence, the eternal beginning and the end. We thank you for being with us. You who govern these things and offer these gifts to us." It was then the disc would swirl and all the elements came together as one , then all four spoke at once.
"To call forth the sacred ones from the deep. One need only a pure heart to keep, When all choices are taken away a perfect path remains. You only need to use your heart to regain."
Within the spectacular display of power they saw within it the answer to their questions. The blessing of the sky was being gifted to them, life would once more flourish, lightness of heart and spirit would touch those upon the tribe. For a few days of a slow, gentle rain would embrace them within the next night.
Tarra would send her youngest son to let Fonce and Ayguili know the outcome of the readings.
