C. T. Suddeth

Who? wondered Oh-see-rah.

Lord of the Caves Part 15

Without drums or flutes or anyone joining in, the High Priestess chanted:

Hail Mother Moon!

Hail Lady Moon!

Hail Mystery Moon!

Oh-see-rah remained eyes shut and kneeling, the silence telling him the others were doing the same. He relished the chanting, but he ached to know who the Lord of the Caves was going to be. The urge to glance at the mouth of the cave and find out who was waiting burned a hole in his belly, but he did not budge. Despite the campfire’s heat, a chill swept over his body. And who were the Elders? Though he had heard of them, he’d never met them.

The High Priestess paused and commanded, “Open your eyes.”

Oh-see-rah opened his eyes and blinked to get used to the flickering firelight. Though he dared not look at the others, he could see out of the corners of his eyes. The others—grownups and little ones—were gazing at the High Priestess, no doubt wondering, too.

She shook the turtle-shell shakers and nodded at Oh-koh-rah. His drum matched the turtle-shell shakers. Boom, boomity, boomity.

She nodded at Hah-nah-pah, and his flute began a soft melody.  Laaaaa, ley, loh.

The High Priestess set her shakers on the stone beside her bare feet. The drum and flute quit. “Lord of the Sky, Lady of the Deep, please visit us, bless this rite.”

It seemed as if a brisk breeze swept into the cave and curled around and over each person. The front cave fire blazed high, waving its fiery arms in the air as if dancing. An owl circled around the cave’s mouth. Whoo, whoo, whoooo.

Smiling, the High Priestess gazed at the drum and flute. They began a soft melody with a gentle beat without her turtle-shell shakers. Some of the women started clapping and gently swaying from side to side. A couple of the little girls joined in.

The High Priestess sang, “HOLY, holy, holy, Lord of the Sky, thy blessings we plead. HOLY, holy, holy, Lady of the Deep, thy blessings we plead.” She danced in a circle, remaining on her flat stone. “HOLY, holy, holy, Mother Moon, bless this rite, bless this ceremony, bless our new Lord of the Caves.”

The High Priestess flung her arms up and out as she spread her legs, making a huge X. “Stop!”

All went silent, unmoving.

“Close your eyes,” she commanded.

Everyone obeyed, even Oh-see-rah. The silence was so complete Oh-see-rah could hear the whisper of the cave’s sighs, hear the trickle of water as the spring gurgled in a far corner.

“The Elders did not decide this, they are merely message bearers,” said the High Priestess. “Lady Moon, Lord Sky, Lady of the Deep made this decision.”

More silence, even the wind and spring hushing.

“Oh-see-rah, open your eyes,” said the High Priestess.

Oh-see-rah opened his eyes, a radiance issuing forth from the High Priestess.

“All may open their eyes. I present you with the Lord of the Caves. Oh-see-rah, join me.”

As everyone gently chanted, TA-da-Ta-da, Oh-see-rah made his way to the stone. He stood beside the High Priestess but remained silent. The elders chose me?

“Oh-see-rah, kneel,” the High Priestess ordered.

Oh-see-rah knelt.

She waved a willow wand at his loins, then at his heart, then at his forehead. “I pronounce you Lord of the Caves. You may stand.”

Willing his legs not to fail him, Oh-see-rah stood.

“All others, kneel,” said the High Priestess as she knelt.

Oh-see-rah did not know what to do, say, or think. As if he’d been mountain climbing, blood rushed to his head.

A clip clop sounded just outside the cave.

A giant snow white mare entered and halted just inside the paling stakes. Her eyes ablaze, she stared at Oh-see-rah.

TO BE CONTINUED

Copyright 2021 Charles Suddeth