"Purity," Járngrímur began, keeping a slow pace as he walked back and forth in front of the small group of kalona he had gathered, "is not only about your bloodline, and with whom you... fornicate with." So many kalona believed that was all there was to it, but oh, how wrong they were. "To follow the True Path, you must keep your heart and soul pure as well. This requires complete and unwavering devotion to our great Creator, our Master, the Raven Mocker, our namesake. Without Him, we are nothing, useless, mindless shells of meat. Each day a kalona lives without devoting their lives to Him is a day spent in betrayal. Without Him, you cannot truly be pure."
"But..." one of the kalona in his audience began to speak up but then stopped, thinking better of herself.
Járngrímur stopped in his tracks and turned to face her, staring at her for a moment before he nodded. "Do not be afraid to ask questions. I am here to guide you onto the True Path," he said, and then offered a friendly smile to the mare. "Please, continue. I will do my best to help you find your way." He would never turn a kalona away who wished to learn the True Path; he would do everything he could to teach them.
Still, the mare looked hesitant, glancing around at the other kalona standing with her before she cleared her throat and continued. "What can we do to dedicate our lives to Kalona? I already believe in Him. I know He is our Creator, but... what am I supposed to be doing differently?"
Járngrímur nodded. "An excellent question," he said, moving to pace in front of them all again. "Day to day, kalona live their lives and carry out their actions for none other than themselves or for their herd. You kill to feed yourself, you kill to bring sustenance back to your loved ones. You see a kalona mare or stallion, decide to have foals, and you raise them to keep these selfish desires. But do you think of why your hooves rest on the soil of the earth? Why you can breathe this air? We, kalona, were given a gift. The great Raven Mocker blessed us and allowed us to roam freely across these lands, releasing us from our true homes in the depths. We were put here to carry out His teachings, not live for only ourselves. When you make your kills, dedicate the stolen life to the great Kalona. Eat the lesser being's heart in His name, and bathe yourself in it's blood to receive Kalona's blessing. If He finds you worthy, He may give you the years of life you stole from your prey and add it onto your own."
"And... and if He doesn't find us worthy?" a stallion in the group asked, gulping.
Járngrímur smiled slowly. "If you dedicate your life and the lives of those you kill to Him, then you needn't worry. He sees all, He knows all. The Raven Mocker cannot be tricked. If you do not truly live your life for Him, He will know. But if He finds you false, unworthy... that even after you have been shown the way to the True Path, and still you live selfishly, He will see fit that you are punished. Do not think the Great One will simply kill you and be done with you. You will suffer great illness before you die, and when your soul finally returns to the depths, He will throw you to the skinwalkers for eternity. You will be tortured side by side with the souls of the lessers that true kalona have sacrificed in His name. He will strip you of your wings and horns and teeth, take away all the gifts He bestowed upon you and leave you no better than the lessers."
"Know this: The Raven Mocker owes us nothing. He has already given us the gift of freedom in these lands. Now we must repay His kindness. It is only a show if His generosity and devotion to us that He sees fit to bless us further when we live out our lives in His great name. Just as He allowed us our freedom, He can also take it away for disrespecting and taking for granted the gifts He bestows upon us. The Great Kalona demands little, and it is our duty to go above and beyond His expectations."
"Now," Járngrímur smiled again, taking in the sight of his audience, the expressions on their faces -- fear mixed with awe. "If you wish to find your way to the True Path, I can help you begin anew. After tonight, you will be reborn. Those who refuse... then heed my warning that the Raven Mocker will know." A black crow holding a small bag stained red with blood flew down at Járngrímur's side, dropping the bundle beside the kalona. When it fell open, it revealed a small pile of the hearts of soquili. Hrafn cawed loudly as she flew away again, up into the trees. "Who would like to go first?"
The mare was the first to step forward, her head held high and proud. "I want to be reborn."
"Excellent." Járngrímur motioned for her to step closer with his head before he bent down to pick up a sprig of leaves, the ends of it stained in dried blood. He dipped it into the bag, coming away with fresh, wet blood and stepped up close to the mare. He painted a line of blood below each of her eyes, a line across her throat, and then a circle on each of the leathery membrane of her wings. He put the sprig down. "I mark thee as a true follower of Kalona. May He bless you with His eyes and His strength and trust that you would gladly spill your own blood should he call for it. Know that your life belongs to Him." Járngrímur then took one of the hearts from the bag and placed it in front of the mare. "Repeat after me, and then you may eat: I, your humble servant, eat this heart in your name, oh masterful Raven Mocker. I dedicate this soul to you that you may do with as you see fit, and ask nothing but your blessings so that I may continue to serve you with the whole of my being."
The mare listened with rapt attention, and once Járngrímur finished speaking she repeated his words with reverence, line for line, and then bent her head down to eat the heart.
"You were the first to step forward and accept this gift. I am proud of you, and so is the Raven Mocker. He sees what you have done tonight, and now I proclaim you born anew," Járngrímur said, smiling proudly at the mare. "May you always stay on the True Path." The rest of the rituals went smoothly after that; the next kalona stepped forward, and then the next, and the next -- three more kalona were purified until there was only one left, the last. Járngrímur turned to face him. "You are the last to accept this gift, but the Raven Mocker forgives you. Step forward and receive His blessing."
But the last kalona didn't move. He looked uncertain by the display he'd just seen. A dark look passed over Járngrímur's face. "Do not hesitate, kalona. Or... do you not wish to dedicate your life to the Raven Mocker? Are you fearful of His power? It is alright, child. His power is great, and it is meant to be feared. But no harm will come to you if you dedicate your life to Him. I can help you find the way." But even after Járngrímur finished speaking, the stallion still didn't move, but he did begin to speak. "I know in the lands of Kawani, the power of the spirits is strong. Things sometimes happen that can't be explained. But... gods? The Raven Mocker?" The lone kalona shook his head. "It's just a little too far fetched for me. I'm fine with my life how it is, thanks, but don't let me stop you from your worship. I believe in the purity of kalonas, and I'll continue that as I see fit."
Járngrímur did not respond. He stared at the kalona as if he were suddenly an insect, no better than the lessers that they held themselves so proudly above. What did this kalona know of purity if he did not accept the Great Kalona? He was false, a betrayer, and under normal circumstances Járngrímur would draw this out. He would use his gifts to bring illness upon this stranger, show them what happens to kalona who deny their Master. He could cure them, he'd say. There was still time to find the True Path. But this time he had new followers to teach; to show them what must be done with a false one. "Children of Kalona, this one denies our Great Creator. He betrays not only us, but the Raven Mocker. This lesser's life is a stain on His name." He said, and turned to face the other kalona. "It is our duty to destroy those who refuse the Great Kalona. You are reborn, and already He is testing you. Do what must be done, and kill in His name."
The betrayer stallion ran; the purified kalona gave chase. There would be another kill dedicated to Him this night. Járngrímur smiled.
Reply
