Tigris: Prologue

Tigris: Tales of the Red Rock Pride

Prologue

Ibbiso, Teller of Tales, Keeper of the History of the Red Rock Pride, lay in the shade of the tall red stone formation that gave the pride its name and waited. His insectile Helpers drew intricate colored patterns in the sand around him. He had a tale to tell and waited for the right person to tell it to. The tale of The Dreamer was best told to one single person; the presence of more people just caused dissension and loud arguments.

Ibbiso waited and studied the square around him. Directly across from where he lay in studied ease, on the West Side of the square stood the Temple of the Rising Sun. Opposite of that stood the House of Law. On the north side stood the Academe where the young came to study the arts and the sciences. Finally on the south side were the buildings of the Marketplace from which could be heard the bleats of the tame prey beasts; mostly sheep and goats. He also heard the strident cries of the feathered squawkers which were usually bought for quick snacks or by those too poor to buy larger animals.

Ibbiso rose to his feet and his Helpers arranged themselves in neat array in front of him when he saw a large maned male arrive in the square surrounded by an army of Helpers of all shapes and sizes.

"Morning honored Szamba," said Ibbiso. Szamba nodded, causing the beads woven into his mane to rattle and tinkle. He bared his teeth in a smile: "Have you been memorizing my story, old one?"

Ibbiso smiled back. "I have set that task for my apprentice for I expect that you will outlive me by many years." Szamba grunted an assent and walked on towards the Academe where he both taught and worked on his inventions in his busy lab. It was rumored that he was working on a flying machine, but no one knew if that was true. Ibbiso would not be surprised if it was; after all, Szamba had as a mere cubling taken apart one of his Helpers and had discerned how it used the power of sunlight to create something called electricity to run the minute motors and the brain of the Helper. Then while studying in the Academy he had invented sunlight collectors that now decorated every roof in Red Rock city and which provided power for the lights -also invented by Szamba; as were the meat coolers and the calculation machines found in almost every home. At his death, the tale of Szamba would be powerful and long; it would be told and retold for hundreds of years.

Now Ibbiso spotted a young female heading for the Market. She wore a blank medallion on a fine gold chain around her neck. When she pulled up even with Ibbiso, he rumbled in his throat bringing her to a sudden halt.

"May I see the medallion?" He asked gesturing for her to join him in the shade. She sat tense and ready to leap up and run, but allowed him to lift the plain gold disk with a long yellow claw. "Did you know that a blank medallion is the sign of the Dreamer?" He closed his eyes, knowing that he had found the audience of one for his tale. She settled down and nodded.

"Then let me tell you the Tale of The Dreamer," Said Ibbiso softly. "But first, what is your name?"

"Mirza"

"Well Mirza, did you know that The Dreamer was birthed right here in Red Rock City?"

"I had heard rumors of such a thing,"she said shyly. "But I cannot stay to listen to your tale, honored wise one. I was on my way to buy meat for my small pride's evening meal."

Ibbiso rose slowly and painfully to his feet."My old bones ache." he muttered by way of explanation. "Now let us both go and reserve a nice plump goat or a juicy lamb for your family." Soon in the confines of the market, over Mirza's protestations that she could not afford such a rich bit of meat, Ibbiso had a plump goat marked with his sigil and hers. "I can afford it," he smiled. "And I expect to be invited for supper as payment for entertaining you with this tale you have waited to hear all your life."

They returned to Ibbiso's place in the shade of Red Rock and he began the Tale of the Dreamer.

ID: 765877   (Rated: 13+) Tigris: Lajia  the tale of the dreamer begins by Petronella60 -on hiatus