Fiction:Tenet/History/16

= Avnageta - Book of Conquests, verse 438 =

The appointed day came, and the Adzekkul gathered to him the apprentices, which now numbered one thousand. He had drawn four circles in the dust and stood at their center, whereas his companion the Nergantul stood apart.

To his apprentices he spoke the following words - "Here is consecrated ground. I will now divide you into four throngs to stand at the edges of the four circles."

Then, the Adzekkul divided them. The strongest of his apprentices stood in the circle closest to him, then the second strongest stood in the next circle beside, and the third strongest stood in the third circle, and the weakest stood in the outermost circle.

Now the Adzekkul commanded them. "Close your eyes and focus your minds to a dagger's edge, as I have taught you. The world no longer exists except for my voice. Listen!"

Then, he began to chant a mantra. One by one, his apprentices raised their voices to his song. This united their minds in purpose. So united, they would weave a spell to shatter the Setrapan walls and drive its people mad.

But within the banner-strewn walls of Setrapa, the Taboo contended with their song. He raised his own voice and added a discord to this song, and tried to unravel it from within.

Singer and singer contended for fifteen days and fifteen nights. Over this time, many in King Makann's army, which was encamped outside Setrapa, saw strange lights in the sky over that city, and many others reported troubled dreams and apparitions. It was said that a great wailing could be heard throughout the camp, and some became so frightened that they fell upon their swords in terror.

But on the dawn of the sixteenth day, there was a flash of thunder over the city, of such force that many of the buildings of Setrapa tumbled down in ruin, and fire sprang up within its walls. On seeing this calamity, the army of King Makann was much heartened, and marched forth to do battle with the Setrapans. Taboo had been defeated.