An Odan Shamakan-ga Myth: Why the People Share the Vahntahru Death
(c) 1997- Deborah J. Brown & Lynn Ann Guiney

This was long ago. Long before anyone you know or I know was born. Before Kagu learned to speak and before Bengo left his tree.

§ § § § §

Now in that time the eight seasons were guided by the eight sons and daughters of Nogara, Goddess of Mothers. Each would take their turn, directing seasons in their course, and, when their time was done, would pass the task to the next in line.

Of Nogara's eight children, the eldest were the twins, Nohgari and Ratahri. Their seasons were Storm and Mist and their aspects were War and Love. Although twins, they were very different in character, for Nogari was hot-tempered and quick to anger, where Ratahri was quiet and tranquil. Yet despite their differences the twins were close and cared deeply for each other, defending their sibling as if they were one. In one thing, however, the twins could not agree, and that was on Nogari's hatred for their youngest brother.

Nogari is a passionate woman and she cares for the land which she considers her charge. For that reason she had always hated the time when she took command of the seasons from her youngest brother, Kahdaki, then the God of Dry and Death. She could accept that his duty was to dry the land and prepare it for the next season, but she could never accept the death that resulted. She would see the bodies of the beasts he'd taken and the withered fields where he'd passed, scattering the dry dust that was his symbol, and it infuriated her. Aghast at the destruction her brother had caused, Nogari would call forth her storms and rage across the land, causing as many, if not more, deaths than Kahdaki had and forcing the People to hide in the highland caves.

Only when Ratahri returned, soothing Nogari's anger and gentling the storms to soft clouds and mists, was it safe for anyone to go out into the Land. Many times would Ratahri try to convince his sister that her rage was unnecessary and that Kahdaki was simply fulfilling his purpose. His words fell on ears deafened by the thunder that Nogari wielded, however, and so things would have continued until the end of time, had the Vahntahru not come among us.

The Vahntahru came to the Land from another Land, bringing with them strange ways and strange Gods. At first it seemed that the Land could not hold both them and our People, but over the years we had fallen into an uneasy peace. The Vahntahru used lands that the People had no need for and their Gods kept to themselves and did not try to rule the People. For this reason Lord Gorosho, Chief of all the Gods, commanded that his children were to leave the Vahntahru Gods alone.

Nogari neither hated nor loved the Vahntahru, but she saw them as a way to rid the cycle of seasons of her youngest brother's influence. She had grown to loathe Kahdaki, who treated his eldest sister with an insolent arrogance that grated on her as much as the results of his season. She did not know that it was her dislike of him that fed his anger, for the more she complained about his work the worse he became. Under his touch the Land suffered terribly and both People and Vahntahru died in his time.

§ § § § §

It was after a particularly bad drought that Nogari finally decided to end Kahdaki's reign forever. She could not kill him, for, as God of Death, Kahdaki could not be slain against his will. Nor could she convince their Father, Lord Gorosho, to remove Kahdaki from his task, even though she tried each eightseason. She knew the only way she could defeat her brother was to trick him into defeating himself. She knew too that Kahdaki regarded the Vahntahru and their Gods with great distaste and so it was she went to him with a wager.

"Little brother," said Nogari, smiling at Kahdaki condescendingly. "I know how much you dislike the Vahntahru Gods. Perhaps that is because you fear them?"

Angrily, Kahdaki pounded his chest. "Fear them?" he asked, scornfully. "Of course not!" He tossed his head, allowing his sand-gold mane to ruffle.

"Then you will not be afraid to play a trick on one of them." Nogari leaned towards her brother and whispered her words. "Steal their God of Death's spring and return unharmed."

Kahdaki shook his head. He believed he could succeed at the Nogari's wager but knew what their Father would say if he ever discovered Kahdaki's deed. Nogari grinned. "I see. You are afraid."

Kahdaki fell into her trap. "I fear nothing," he protested. "But why should I do this thing? What is it worth to me?"

"If you succeed then I will never again complain to our Father about how you handle your season. Too, I will acknowledge your strength to the others." Nogari knew her brother well enough to understand that he hated her complaints as much as she hated his deeds. She knew too that he considered himself the most powerful of the eight siblings by virtue of his aspect. As youngest, however, he was unable to convince the rest of the Gods - particularly Nogari - of this. "If, on the other hand, you fail, then you will cease to rule either your Season or your Aspect."

§ § § § §

Nogari's understanding of her youngest brother's nature was accurate. Too, he could not resist a gamble. So it was that he passed from his land of Death into that of Kasta, the dour Death God of the Vahntahru, taking with him one of the great Vessels of the Gods, Mokachi, the Jar from which all water comes.

Kasta's Realm was very different from that of Kahdaki. It was a vast and quiet place, very like the Land when Ratahri first takes it, before fresh young life returns when His gentle mists heal the wounds Kahdaki and Nogari cause it. The dead of Kasta's Realm are silent and peaceful, even those who were rambunctious and noisy in life. All emotions are dimmed in Kasta's Realm as the souls of the dead wait for their time to return to the living world, for, strangely, among the Vahntahru Kasta is the God of Birth as well as Death.

Kahdaki found Kasta's Realm dull, for he was used to his own Realm, where the dead spend much of their time arguing and debating over what is happening in the world of the living. Nor did he expect the fact that Kasta spent most of his time wandering his Land, guarding his subjects against any who might try to use their spirits, or call them forth before their time. Kahdaki was used to carausing with the more boisterous of his subjects and could not understand Kasta's stern and upright aspect.

When Kahdaki found Kasta it was in a garden of shadowlace trees whose dark leaves gleamed in the pale grey mist of the Death God's realm, the fine strands of shadowlace flowing in the tiny breeze with a soft and delicate sound. One of the plants the Vahntahru had brought with them from their Land, shadowlace is the symbol of the God of Death, and this grove was Kasta's favorite place, a garden of quiet beauty that he valued above all else. Through it ran a narrow river, almost a stream, whose Waters brought peace of mind to those who drank it.

"Lord Kasta, I greet you," Kahdaki said, bowing deeply to the shadowlace haired God, concealing his disdain for the too handsome, pale, features and the elaborate robe that covered Kasta's tall and slender form. "I am Kahdaki, the God of Death for the Shamakans, or Balavembe, as your people call us." (Among the Vahntahru, Balavembe means Maned Folk, for they are as bare of back as an okoni, whose hide we use to make our leathers - not only their women but their men as well) "I seek knowledge of your Realm." He pulled back his shoulders, thrusting out his muscular young chest and allowing his ruff to rise a little in challenge.

Kasta frowned at the young God, surprised at his presence but not unwelcoming. "Greetings," he murmured, voice a whisper that sounded through his Realm, the tinkle of shadowlace, "I am surprised at your presence, Kahdaki, but I have no objections to it. Are you hungered? The food of this place is harmless and I would offer you my hospitality."

Kahdaki understood from his words that Kasta knew that to eat the food of our People's Realm of Death was to be bound to it. He knew from what he'd been told, however, that Kasta was a man of honor and if he said it was safe to eat then there was no danger. Once more he bowed. "I would be honored."

The two Gods of Death spoke for several hours of their various duties and Kahdaki found himself disliking Kasta for his quiet nature and serene aspect. The fact that Kasta was God of Death caused him no anguish, but neither did he glory in it. Rather he regarded his duty as a necessary part of life, an attitude that annoyed Kahdaki, who had grown cruel over the years. During their conversation Kahdaki realized that what he was planning would cause Kasta distress and he took some pleasure in the knowledge.

Finally, as their meal ended, Kahdaki offered Kasta a taste of awahru, the sweet wine made from kimari root. He had laced it with the poison of the deathmoth, a substance that causes its imbiber to fall into a long, deep and dreamless sleep. Kasta proved no exception and within minutes of having drunk the wine, collapsed on the bank of his river. Instantly Kahdaki lowered Mokachi into the Waters and commanded it to drink the spring dry. The land around him turned dry and sere, and the shadowlace trees cried out their agony, branches clattering and shattering as they were drained of the Water of Peace. Soon there was no liquid left in Kasta’s Realm. His task complete, Kahdaki turned and ran.

§ § § § §

Kahdaki’s escape from Kasta’s Realm was hindered by its nature, as well as by the spirits of the dead that inhabit it. Sensing his crime - or perhaps scenting the Waters he carried within his jar - the dead sought to hinder him, transluscent hands grasping his cloak and pulling him to the ground. Again and again he would kick past the angry spirits, only to find more blocking his path. With shouts of fury, Kahdaki tossed his dust in the spirits’ faces, causing them to reel and choke. In this manner he had almost reached the path to his own Realm, only to be nearly deafened by a cry that echoed through the Realm. When he recovered his balance he found himself surrounded by a vast Shadow that snapped and howled at him.

This was no ordinary shadow. Kasta was known for his gentleness but Kahdaki had stolen the only thing he valued in the Realms, the Water that allowed him to soothe the tormented spirits of his charges. At the moment of his awakening he knew he had been betrayed and by whom. His agonized scream rocked the Vahntahru Realm of Death and he was transformed by his fury into a Shadow that flowed after the thief, prepared to avenge the theft.

§ § § § §

The Shadow howled as it circled Kahdaki, a thousand black eyes glaring hatred, a thousand voices screeching fury. Black fangs glinted in a thousand mouths and for the first time Kahdaki knew fear. Although he was a God, and thus had Power of his own, he was no longer within the Realm of the People’s Gods. His attacker, on the other hand, was both within his Realm and in such a state of fury that no amount of reason would calm him.

In a panic, well aware that he could die at the hands of this alien God, Kahdaki raised the jar containing Kasta’s Water. "Make way, Kasta," he shouted, "Make way or I destroy your Waters!"

Kasta’s Shadow merely growled, circling closer.

Kahdaki could see that his fellow Death God wouldn’t see reason. Yet to return the Water was to admit defeat and that he couldn’t bear, for he would also lose his place in the turn of Seasons. At the same time he did not wish to die. A thought occured to him then and he was sure he knew a way to both escape the enraged Kasta and still, at least in a way, win his bet.

With a toss that sent the jar, Mokachi, flying back towards the center of Kasta’s Realm, Kahdaki apparently gave in to Kasta’s wordless demands. As the Shadow glided towards the jar, however, Kahdaki pulled open the bag of Dust which he used to devastating effect during the Dry Season. Grasping it by its bottom, he scattered that Dust across Kasta’s Realm. Even as the jar shattered against the ground and the Spring poured fourth, Kahdaki’s Dust turned it dry again. As Kasta’s Shadow howled in agony, Kahdaki ran for the passage into his Realm. Before he could escape, however, the Shadow moved, catching him up in a grip too strong for him to break. In dreadful silence the Shadow wrapped itself around him.

§ § § § §

Back among the Gods, only Nogari knew where Kahdaki had gone, and she kept her silence. It was not until the second rising sun that a vast darkness covered the Realm and Lord Gorosho’s midday meal was interrupted by a Shadow that swirled past his guards and cast the youngest of the Eight onto the ground in front of him. Kahdaki’s once gold skin and mane was whiter than the mishari flower and his eyes as they met his father’s held only madness.

For a moment there was silence, then the Shadow spoke. "I am Kasta, God of Death among the Vahntahru. Your son destroyed my Realm, Lord of the Shamakan Gods. My Lands are as dust because of his deed. He has been punished, however, and I expect no more from you or any of yours. I return him to you, to do with as you please. Hear me, though, oh Lord Gorosho, the next of your children to enter my Land will make their Home there." With those words the Shadow disappeared.

§ § § § §

For many rising suns after Kasta’s Shadow had returned Kahdaki to his family, the younger Gods raged. Only Nogari and Rahtahri remained aloof from the argument. Nogari because she knew herself at least partially guilty for Kahdaki’s current condition. Rahtahri because he had felt Kasta’s pain and knew that whatever Kahdaki had done had nearly destroyed the Vahntahru God.

Other than Nogari and Rahtahri, however, many of the Gods felt that what had befallen Kahdaki was an act of war. Others didn’t care about Kahdaki, whose arrogance had offended even them, but they considered it a chance to rid the Land of the alien Vahntahru and their deities. So occupied were the Gods in arguing as to their next move, that no one thought to consider what Kahdaki’s current state meant to the Land. For, though he was in no condition to perform his duties, no one could take his place, not unless he gave it or it was taken from him. He was in no state to permit the former and the Law of the Gods prevented Lord Gorosho from commanding the latter. Not even the Chief of all the Gods has the right to take another God’s power without that deity’s knowledge.

Only when the Dry Season came and went, with no guidance from Kahdaki, did anyone realize that the People were not dying and the Land was still wet from the previous cycle. Worse, when Nogari’s Season began and she cast her storms across the land, the water turned the Land to a vast sea. When Rahtahri took his turn his power was unable to change the water to mist and allow the Land beneath to bear fruit. The People began to starve, yet were unable to die, and their cries were audible into the Realm of the Gods. Saddened and agonized, Rahtahri went into seclusion, and not even his sister’s pleadings could draw him out of his grief.

Only the Beast Chieftain, Guhkura, he of the questing snout and mighty foreclaws, was able to save the People from their fate, by digging a cave beneath the waters and allowing them to drain into the Inland Sea. This did not, however, mean that all was well, for the Gods knew that when the Dry Season failed to do its work the problem would only occur again. Too, People who should have died, and had not, were crying their agony. Something had to be done, and Lord Gorosho called a Council of the Gods, to see if any could think of a solution.

§ § § § §

At first the only answer Lord Gorosho received from the Gods was to declare war upon the Vahntahru and their Gods until Kasta restored Kahdaki’s sanity. This, however, the mighty Chief of the Gods refused to do. The Vahntahru had nearly destroyed us during the last war and their strange weapons were still stronger than our own. Too, although our People could not die they could still be injured and he foresaw only pain. Moreover, he had not forgotten Kasta’s curse. The next of the People’s Gods to enter Kasta’s Realm would have to stay.

The arguments raged many rising suns and the Gods seemed at an impasse when Lord Gorosho noticed that, of all the Gods, Nogari was silent. Since the eldest of the Eight is also the Goddess of War, it seemed strange to him that she would not side with those who wished to battle the Vahntahru Gods. "Daughter," he said, gazing at the Thundercloud haired one sternly, "What say you? What do you think we should do?"

Nogari refused to meet her father’s eyes. She had not foreseen the disastrous results of her bet with Kahdaki and was ashamed, not just because of the pain her deed had caused the People but because of the agony it had caused her beloved twin. Rahtahri spoke to no one now, staring into space with blank, unhappy, eyes.

"Well?" Gorosho asked, insistent. He had known of the rivalry between oldest and youngest of the Eight and he had wondered if that had something to do with Kahdaki’s defiance of his will.

"Father," Nogari said unhappily, "We must convince Kasta to release Kahdaki’s mind. Let me go, alone, and face him." She looked up at her father, unable to lie, and added, "It is my fault that this has happened. I bet Kahdaki he couldn’t steal Kasta’s Spring. I sent him there. It is only right that I go."

Gorosho sighed with pain. It had been as he feared. Yet to send his daughter, another of the Seasons, into Kasta’s Realm was to lose that Season as well, and with no guarantee that Kahdaki would be restored. "I fear you are right," he began to say, only to be interrupted as Rahtahri rose to his feet and walked to the center of the Council Circle and gazed around at the other Gods with eyes that, for the first time in over a Season, held something other than apathy. "Yes, my son?" he said, hoping that the young deity would have an answer to the problem that would not require so high a price.

Rahtahri turned a gentle gaze on his sister, who flinched away, unable to meet those forgiving eyes. "Father, my sister must not go into Kasta’s Realm. Not just because of his curse but because she might make things worse." At Nogari’s wordless exclamation of anger, Rahtahri managed a sad smile. "My sister is a woman of passion and violence. Kasta, from all that I have heard of him, is a quiet, tolerant man whose forbearance is at an end. He has every reason to be angry and Nogari might well make matters worse."

"What do you suggest, then, my son?" Lord Gorosho asked, although he suspected he knew.

"Let me go into Kasta’s Realm," Rahtahri replied, to the protests of his kin. "I may not be able to repair the damage Kahdaki has done, but perhaps I can soothe it." He hesitated. "If he demands I remain I give another my place in the Cycle."

The other Gods rose up to refute Rahtahri’s argument, but Gorosho knew that where War would likely fail against Kasta’s anger, Love might well succeed. At long last he nodded. "Go, my son, with my blessing. Return if you can."

§ § § § §

The Realm that Rahtahri entered then was nothing like the one Kahdaki had entered a scant cycle of Seasons before. If anything it was more like Kahdaki’s Lands, dusty and sere. No sun lit the sky, only a dim and shadowy red light rose from the scorching sands. Kahdaki’s dust had stolen all the moisture from Realm. The skeletons of the trees which once grew freely in Kasta’s realm dotted the landscape. On seeing what had been done, Rahtahri understood why Kasta was so enraged. Never had he seen such devastation, even when Kahdaki was at his worst in dealing with our Lands.

"Kasta?" Rahtahri called out, but heard no answer. Stepping forward into the sands, he felt their scorching heat burning at his soles. He tore off his tunic, unable to bear the heat, and stumbled forward, wearing only his veil of izashi fleece.

§ § § § §

For a long time Rahtahri wandered through the desolate Realm, body streaming sweat and weakening under the terrible heat. Occasionally he would pass the souls of the Dead, moaning as they crawled through the sands, and would stop long enough to offer them a taste of the water he carried with him. Then, at long last, he came to the center of Kasta’s Realm, the stand of shadowlace trees where the Spring Kahdaki had stolen had once poured its waters over the Land.

The shadowlace trees were broken and silent, their long leaves having long ago crumbled away. Yet even so they seemed covered in a canopy of black that Rahtahri recognized as Kasta’s Shadow. He approached, slowly, only to stop as the Shadow rose from the trees and began to wrap itself around him. The chill touch made him cry out and he swayed, falling to his knees.

"Kasta, please, I’ve come to help." Rahtahri could feel Kasta’s anger and anguish through the touch of the Shadow upon him and it sent a thrill of pity through his heart. He could tell that no amount of speech would calm the angered soul of the Vahntahru God, only by his deeds could he prove his intent. He tore off his veil and flung it into the sky.

Now Rahtahri’s veil is the mist that covers the Land during his Season, and from that mist comes the gentler rains that soothe the Land after his sister’s Season is done. When he flung it into the sky it wrapped itself around Kasta’s Realm and a soft rain began to fall, cooling the heat that Kahdaki’s Dust had caused. The Shadow, startled by this, pulled back, while Rahtahri stretched out his arms to the mist that surrounded him.

"Gently, gently," Rahtahri whispered, and caught the keshi blossom out of his hair. The shadowlace trees were dead and would need to be replanted, but in the meantime... He tossed the blossom into the air and commanded it to grow. Moments later a single great keshi tree stood where the blossom had fallen, its blossoms glowing in the darkness of Kasta’s Realm. "Spread," Rahtahri ordered, and tree after tree grew around the slowly rising waters of the pond, their long strands brushing the water and glowing brilliant blue white, even as their roots entwined tightly, containing the waters. He walked forward, into the water and scattered it, then, lifting one hand, Rahtahri touched one blossom, commanding it to transform, to become the keshi fruit, which he plucked gently. Turning, he offered the softly glowing fruit to the Shadow that was cringing away from the light that surrounded both Rahtahri and his waters.

Slowly the Shadow faded, revealing Kasta, weeping silently amid the blue white petals of the Keshi blossoms. "Why have you done this?" he demanded. "When you leave my Land go to dust again... Better you had never come."

Rahtahri stared at the Vahntahru God, then realized Kasta had no idea who he was. "Have you forgotten your own oath, sir?" he asked. "I am, Rahtahri, one of the Shamakan Gods. By your own words I am bound to call your Realm home."

Kasta rose to his feet, staring down at the God of Love and Mists. "But why? Why would you come, if that is so? Are you not needed by your People?"

Rahtahri raised a hand to Kasta’s face, seeing the exhaustion and pain slowly smoothing away. "I am needed more here. I have come to ask you to release my brother, Kahdaki’s, mind." Before Kasta could pull back with an exclamation of anger Rahtahri moved closer, staring up into Kasta’s eyes pleadingly. "Lord Kasta, my brother was a fool, but he is needed. My People live in agony and do not die because of his madness. The Season that he Ruled does not pass and the Land floods. He has wronged you, as has my sister, Nogari, but I beg you to show mercy."

Kasta looked around at his Land, once more grey and misty and sensed the easing of the souls within his charge. Then he bit his lip. "Kahdaki’s loss harms my people as well as yours," he admitted. "For the floods destroys my people’s lands as well as Shamakan. Come," he said, wrapping his arms around Rahtahri and carrying the God of Love back to our Gods Realm, appearing before Lord Gorosho’s throne.

"Kasta," Lord Gorosho said, realizing who the tall Vahntahru deity who stood before him with Rahtahri in his arms had to be. "I offer you my sincerest apologies. What happened was without my knowledge. I hope you have come in peace." At the same time he gestured curtly to the other Gods, who looked ready to attack the Vahntahru God at the least provocation.

"Rahtahri has told me what it means for Kahdaki to be without mind," Kasta said quietly. "For that reason I offer mercy to him. Bring him forth."

At Lord Gorosho’s gesture, Kahdaki was placed before Kasta, who placed one hand on the young God’s forehead. Slowly color returned to Kahdaki’s body and the eyes that gazed up at Kasta were sane again. They were also enraged and Kahdaki broke free of Kasta’s touch with a cry of anger.

"My son, I command you, apologize to Kasta and restore his waters to him," Lord Gorosho commanded sternly.

"Never!" Kahdaki’s eyes stared around at his kin until he sighted Nogari. "I would lose my bet."

Lord Gorosho sighed. "Kahdaki, as Chief of the Gods I command Nogari to release you from your bet. Now restore Kasta’s waters."

Rage twisted Kahdaki’s features. He had been so close to winning. "By the fruit in the kagu’s fist, I swear I shall not."

The Gods gasped, for Kahdaki’s Oath was one of the strongest there was, and no one, not even Lord Gorosho could force the swearer of such an Oath to abandon it.

"Then the new God of Death and Dry will," Lord Gorosho growled, furious at his son’s defiance. "I relieve you of your place."

"No!" Kahdaki shouted. "I will not give up my place to any of the People’s Gods! I swear it by the Throne itself."

With a shout of fury Lord Gorosho picked up his son and shook him. "Two unbreakable oaths in a row?!!! You ungrateful whelp! I banish you. Return to the People’s Land at your peril!!!"

As Kahdaki disappeared, helped along by Lord Gorosho’s foot, the Chief of the Gods sat back on his throne and sighed. "This is a disaster."

"Father?" Rahtahri spoke then, touching his father’s knee. "None of us," he gestured at himself and the other Gods, "can take Kahdaki’s place, but Kasta could... if he is willing."

Both Kasta and Lord Gorosho stared at Rahtahri in amazement. "Wait," Kasta said, raising a hand. "My Land is vast enough... I don’t wish to..."

Rahtahri looked up at Kasta and the gentle expression stopped the Vahntahru God’s protests. "Kasta, we need you. Please? I beg you."

With a sigh Kasta bowed his head. "Only as long as the rest of your kin agree."

Lord Gorosho growled, "Oh, they will agree all right, or they’ll follow Kahdaki."

Slowly the other Gods nodded, all but Nogari. "Sister?" Rahtahri stretched out a hand, pleading with the Thunder haired one.

"On one condition," Nogari growled, although she knew in her heart that she hadn’t much choice. "Kasta, release my brother." She had no wish for her brother to remain forever bound to the Realm of Death, Vahntahru or Shamakan.

Kasta looked at her. "I swore an oath, Nogari. I cannot break it."

Nogari shook her head. "Find a way. I will not have my twin held in durance for my mistake."

With a sigh, Kasta looked down at Rahtahri. He didn’t want to lose the young man who had given him the gift of his waters and kindness. Yet he knew he couldn’t bind Love to his side. "I swore you would make your home in my Land," he said. "But you do not have to live there."

Slowly Rahtahri nodded, sensing the pain that accompanied Kasta’s words. If it were only himself he had to please he would refuse the gift. However, "I understand," he said.

Nogari looked at her father. "I accept Kasta as the Lord of Death and Dry," she told him. "I will never intefere with him or his duties again."

§ § § § §

So it was that Kasta became our People’s God as well as his own, changing the face of the Land of the Dead forever. For, though he could not make our Realm of Death the same as his, still it became a gentler place, with fewer arguments and quarrels. Too, his season of Dryness was kinder to the Land than Kahdaki’s had ever been, giving Nogari less reason to shatter the land with her rage. Not that this necessarily stops her, for Nogari is still given to fits of rambunctious fury.

And what of Rahtahri, whose offered sacrifice was refused by Kasta? Without a home to call his own, he wanders the wide world, taking lovers as he wills and drawing his mist across the Land. Yet even Love must rest, and thus, for two Seasons, Dry and Storm, he returns to the Vahntahru Realm of the Dead, caring for Kasta’s orchard, which now contains both shadowlace and keshi trees. There he waits for its Master to return, and when Kasta’s Season ends, remains with him until Nogari, raging across the Land during her Season, comes to the end of her time and her shouts penetrate even into Kasta’s Realm. Only then does he leave Kasta’s embrace to return to the Land and his Season, beginning the cycle once more.

The End

Pronunciation Guide:

Shamakan words are similar in tone and sound to Japanese, and all vowels retain the same sound throughout. An ‘h’ following a vowel means that the syllable should be accented.

You can learn more about the land of Odan by visiting Anarchy Acres, Deb Brown's site.