Get Your Premium Membership

Prologue To: Nick- The Talisman's Curse


Maurotanpa Empire (950 B.C.)

King Maurotanpa ruled an empire sprawled across land of current day Meroonik for most of early 10th Century B.C. His reign, elevated on the strength of his Northern Army commanded by his father’s youngest brother General Merkurios az-Zubauyr, who’s tactical skills was matched by no opposing commander, saw the birth of one of the greatness, advanced, socialites of pre-colonial history.

General az-Zubauyr grew the empire’s conquest, expanding the King’s Kingdom into southern Gibraltar where his infantry, armed with spears, bows with stone tip arrows, and maces, subdued the populace — seizing land. As these campaigns neared their end devastating news, from his estate, reached him.

***

Back in the capital, returning as heroes, he and his warriors was hailed victorious pompous parades and feasting was granted to them by King Maurotanpa.

Late the following evening General az-Zubauyr commissioned a Khoisan priest to carve a figurine talisman to commemorate his beloved child his grief weighed heavy on him since the news of her fate gored him three lunar phases ago — the child, mauled by a leopard, death was sudden. For days he invoked spirits of his ancestors to guide the shaman’s hands in preparing a talisman that would protect the child in eternity.

Tirelessly working throughout the night, through next three days, after the sun had fallen once again the priest gathered General az-Zubauyr at his sanctuary for the unveiling.

The talisman… a figurine in shape of a full figure voluptuous female from neck down its head was that of a black leopard it’s right hand held a spear made of ivory a shield made of gold was attached to the left forearm a belt of small uncut diamonds embedded around it’s waist and, what got the most attention, a much much larger uncut diamond embedded at place of it’s vagina.

The General held the figurine upward toward the sky, heavenly, invoked spirits of his ancestors asking for acceptance of this child into their circle. An eerie foreboding breeze blew swirls through the sanctuary, the shaman, sitting cross-legged within glow of a small fire, chanted in unknown tongue was possessed by an ancient sprite.

As suddenly as it appeared the breeze faded the shaman’s voice secreted demonic cant just as the sprite released him.

As the sun reached its highest point, the next day, all the royal families gathered at the burial tomb, General az-Zubauyr laid the figurine alone side the mummified body of his child sliding the lid close, he never again spoke of her.

www.amazon.com/author/maxotimism


Comments

Please Login to post a comment

A comment has not been posted for this short story. Encourage a writer by being the first to comment.


Book: Shattered Sighs