22 Now they were nearly to the gates of the
city when a Trn War Leader emerged from the crowd. "Speaker of
The Lords," he asked, "do you have time to hear a stranger's prayer?"
23 The Voice stopped. "Sir," he answered, "what will you ask of me?"
24 "I have journeyed many miles to find you,"
The War Leader explained. "I have a servant of your Faith who is
very ill, too weak to be moved. He has prayed daily, saying 'I have
heard of The Voice of The Lords. Surely if he knew I was ill, he
would drive the sickness from me, and I would arise from my bed.'
25 But each day his fever worsens, so I took
my cloak and went to the road, vowing that I would find you. For
I knew you would make my servant well. I pray to you, Lord, that
you fulfill his wish."
26 "By your faith this day," cried The
Voice, "is your prayer answered. Go you home. Your servant is
well."
27 The War Leader left the crowd and
journeyed home. As he approached his gate, a servant ran out to meet
him. "Master!" he cried, "Master! My brother is well! The
fever left him, and he sleeps!"
28 The War Leader asked "At what hour did the fever leave him?"
29 The servant answered, "In the first hour after the high sun, Lord, then the fever left him."
30 The War Leader's heart was filled with
wonder, for that was the very hour that The Voice had said "Your
servant is well."
31 Now, as The Voice entered Ti, he passed The
Temple of Tr, which was well kept, but seemed rather empty. The Temple
of The One was small, and its people seemed friendly. But The
Temple of Spirit was large, well kept, and full of life.
Strangely, The Temple Speaker did not come to greet him, only his
assistant, The City Speaker, and, The City Warlock came out.
32 "Forgive my master," apologized The
Assistant Speaker, whose name was Little Raven. "Red Serpent, our
Speaker for many years, is with his mate, Red Blossom Hawk.
Several days ago she collapsed in the garden, and has gone into a deep
sleep. They fear she will not awaken."
33 "Of course she will awaken!" cried The Voice. "She has many years yet. Take me to her!"
34 The Voice entered The Temple. It was like
one he had never seen before. The inside was very spacious, and
opposite the Sacred Place, over the door, was a balcony. "What is
that for?" asked The Voice.
35 "Those who first built this Temple," Little
Raven told him, "knew that The Lords love music, so they built this
special balcony for those who sing The Lords Praises. Not only
can they be heard by those in The Temple, but through the special
windows the music can be carried to the street."
36 The Voice liked the idea...a special place
for the singers and musicians above the worshipers, where it would be
easy for all to hear them!
37 They continued on, back through The Temple,
passing behind The Sacred Place, into The Speaker's quarters. There,
Red Serpent sat by his mate's bed, holding her hand. When the
Voice entered, he started to rise, but The Voice motioned for him to
stay. "In The Name of The Lords," he commanded, "woman, awake!"
38 Red Blossom stirred, her eyes opened to see
all those gathered around her, then she pulled her hand from her mate.
"What's going on?" she demanded, "What's happening? Why are all you
people in my bedroom?"
39 "My beloved," explained Red Serpent, "you
have been ill. We have been unable to awaken you until The Voice
Of The Lords has come, and risen you."
40 "I wasn't ill!" Red Blossom insisted.
"I was walking in the garden, talking with some old friends, who said I
would visit them for awhile...THE VOICE?" she suddenly cried.
"OUT! Everybody out! I must get up! There's things to
see to; the banquet, the guest quarters...OUT! OUT!"
41 Everyone began to laugh and quickly left.
Though her mate discouraged it, Red Blossom insisted on being about her
mately duties. She hurried to the kitchen to make sure the meal
was being properly prepared. She checked the guestrooms to see if
THEY were ready. The servants were excited to see her, but she
shook off their greetings and hurried about to make sure everything was
prepared to her satisfaction.
42 Finally, when she was sure all was well,
she admitted to her workers that she was pleased. "It is nice to
know I can take a couple of day's rest, and things will not go to
pieces in my absence!" Her workers were pleased.
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