The pale morning fire danced and flickered, the flames hot and
virtually invisible in the gathering light of day, and she remembered a
delirious dream from that terrible, dark night immediately following
her evil punishment by Master Rababull. Then, she had only imagined
demons--or had she? Si'Wren considered silently, reflecting upon events
in her mind. Were there not real demons round about them in the
wilderness, following them by day like an invisible cloud of spirit
gargoyles, and hemming them in by night, seeking the death of one such
as she by the hand of some mad possessed sword-wielder should her
Emperor but once command it?
"Truly, no mere idol-worshiper has ever spoken to me thus," Emperor
Euphrates nodded wryly, as she perceived that even as he read her
words, he was now thoroughly enjoying himself with the game of foolish
girl and divine Emperor. But which would he honor; the 'false truth' of
his idols, or the 'truth made foolishness' of her Invisible God? For,
far too often, her words did seem foolish, even to herself.
Then he looked up in grudging acknowledgment, a mighty Emperor's
honest tribute to a mere girl scribe's simple wisdom, and said;
"Si'Wren, oh my beautiful, literary one, I suppose if the same
spiritual laws were applied by this Invisible God to all without
exception, would it not be made obvious that God is no respecter of
persons, and that even Emperor Euphrates himself is but one more humble
subject before him?"
At this, Si'Wren, regarding her now-cooled wooden bowl of porridge,
hesitated a long time.
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