Listen children, here is a story.
Reyn was one of the Mother's children forced into slavery. They worked for Depur all the day and at night they went back to the slave hovels and shared stories. They worked under the burning heat of the sun's and the cool evening air. Depur asked much of Reyn. Made Reyn bend their back and burn their skin and fray their nerves. Reyn always held on to the knowledge that, whatever Depur had, Depur would not have all of Reyn.
One day Depur was going to a market out across the desert. He brought with him Reyn, to fetch and carry things for Depur and do what he commanded. Reyn bit their tongue and did what Depur commanded. They journeyed out for two days and two nights through the desert. And each night Depur slept on a find bed of down feathers in his tent while Reyn slept outside.
At the market Depur bought piles of fine objects, which he forced Reyn to carry.
On the first night on the way back from the market Reyn looked out into the desert. And they saw a little bird flying towards them. They saw the bird and knew that it was Ekkreth. And they said to Ekkreth,
"Ekkreth. Why have you come to me tonight?"
"My child," Ekkreth said, "Depur thinks that he is very smart and wise. He thinks that there are none in the world who have more knowledge than him. But always know this. The slaves know more than Depur will ever know."
And then Ekkreth flew off into the night.
Reyn did not tell Depur of what had happened that night, but rather meekly followed Depur home.
They told the other slaves in the slave quarters. For they had become a family, all of them. And everything important Reyn shared with their family. All the slaves talked about what this could mean. They were both wary and hopeful. For Ekkreth always brings freedom. But Ekkreth also comes during the hardest times.
"Take heed of this wisdom," the grandmother, Kani, told them. And Reyn tried to.
One night in the slave quarters two slaves, Amin and Tarik, told the slaves in secret that they had gotten married under the light of the three moons. This was a joyous occasion. The two youths were very much in love. The slaves might not have much but they had each other. The people congratulated Amin and Tarik, and reminded them to never tell Depur. Because what Depur does not know, Depur cannot take away.
But it did not matter anyways, since Depur set out to sell Amin, leaving Tarik behind. There was much sorrow in the hearts of everyone. A joyous occasion was marred by grief. Depur's cruelty could cut in the softest, deepest of ways. Reyn's heart was heavy. It seemed like the slaves could never have anything of their own. They wished they could do something to help. They wanted power. Reyn looked out into the night.
In the depths of the desert they saw a small bird flying towards them. And they knew it was Ekkreth. And again Ekkreth said to them,
"Remember. As wise as Depur claims himself to be, you are the truly clever one."
And saying that, they flew into the night.
That week, Depur was throwing a party for all his friends. There was music and dancing and fine, voice meats and sweet pastries and more. There was much merry-making and celebration among the Depuran. But the slaves were silent and mournful as they served.
In that party walked in a woman dressed in the finest of silk robes and wearing the most expensive jewels and beads. She had her eyes hidden by a glittering mask and her mouth hidden by many fine chains that were held together by her nose piercings. On her head was a cloth made of spun gold. And on her feet were slippers made out of rubies. Everyone turned to look at her.
"I will bestow this crown upon the head of whoever can answer my four questions," she said, holding up the most ornate and most beautiful crown anyone had seen. Everyone's hearts filled with greed, Depur's most of all, and they all decided to vie for the crown.
Reyn was at the party, serving goblets of fine wine. They saw a flicker of red feather nestled inside the strange woman's robes. And they knew that it was Ekkreth. And so they made a plan.
They went into the room where Depur kept his scarves. And they tied them together to form robes. They hid their face with a scarf and then walked through the empty halls of Depur's palace until they found a doorway that led to the feast hall. They slipped in to the very back of the crowd, unnoticed and disguised.
"I am very clever, fine lady," Depur was saying, "far more clever than anyone else in the lands. I assure you that whatever you ask me I can answer."
"Whoever can answer will get this crown," the lady who was secretly Ekkreth repeated.
"What is your first question, fine lady?" Depur asked.
Ekkreth began speaking,
"I am in the same place for years yet I am always moving. I come from up high but I am on the ground. I give life to all who come to me for life, but I give death to all who come to me for death. What am I?"
Everyone was astounded by this question. There was murmuring and muttering all around as people tried to find an answer. Of course, nobody could answer. Except Reyn, who with a clear voice spoke,
"You are a river."
Everyone in Depur's hall turned to them. But nobody knew who they were.
"You might have won this time," Depur fumed, "but I assure you I will win the next three questions. Go on, fine lady."
"I am coal on the outside," Ekkreth spoke, "but I am water on the inside. What am I?"
Again nobody knew the right response. They talked and debated with each other but it all came to nothing. But Reyn was familiar with the bitter fruits of the desert. And they answered,
"You are a black melon."
All the Depuran were in an uproar. But they couldn't do anything to Reyn, not when they thought they were a mysterious and rich figure from anywhere in the galaxy.
"You have two questions left," the mysterious lady reminded them.
"Fine," Depur allowed, "tell the next question."
"I can be shared by an infinite number of people. But once you share me with one person I am destroyed. What am I?"
The Depuran were astounded. They raked their minds for a seed but still they did not know. They were growing more and more agitated when Reyn's voice rang out, as clear as the morning air,
"You are a secret."
The hall was furious. They demanded to know who Reyn was and where they had come from. But Reyn just stood there, silent. And nobody could make them speak.
"The crown will go to the one who can answer my final question," Ekkreth, who was still in the form of the rich lady, declared.
"Spread, then," Depur said coldly. He was determined to answer the final question.
"Like the moons in the sky, Ekkreth delivers my light. What am I?
Reyn knew that answering this last question was dangerous. But they did so anyways.
"You are the slaves."
"You have answered all my questions. And now you will get your prize." Ekkreth handed Reyn the crown, and it was the most exhuberant thing they had ever held. But Reyn saw that it was made of a mirage, and would turn to dust the second Ekkreth would fly away as a bird.
A Depur was beyond angry to see these events, though, and told his guards to seize Reyn.
"Wait! Wait!" Reyn cried, "I will exchange the crown with you, Depur, in return for one promise."
"What are your terms, rich lady?" Depur's voice held subtle threat.
"You must sell your slaves Amin and Tarik together or not sell them at all."
Depur thought that this was a reasonable enough terms and promised not to sell them. Reyn handed Depur the crown, and Depur had his guards lock it in a vault.
But then all the Depurs crowded around Reyn and kept asking them where they had come from. Reyn did not find an opportunity to slip away into the shadows. But even to this conundrum they had an answer.
"I have come with the fine, rich lady who asked the questions and with her I will leave."
And with that, Reyn and Ekkreth left the halls.
I tell you this story to save your life.
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