A Writer's Love

 My name is Captain Emer Muirris Amgrets, son of Fathim Ailill Amgrets, the last of the Voobo Maul Warriors to the first King Broden and the last King Efuko De Caprise.  King Efuko gave me my last mission; protect Moji (Prince) Conell De Caprise, the last of Broden’s line.  It is a duty I keep to my dying breath to the Great Attiyq (The Ancient of Days) who watch over our lands. It is to Them that I place my sword on the alter, to serve my Great God who watches over me and all who live in these lands.


I write this last scroll in hopes that my people’s memories will live on past my life. All the great scrolls from the first of Voobo Maul, Anu the First to the ones my Father created, are now gone, burned by the hands of the Witch Queen Jezebel who now sits on King Broden’s throne.  May she be cursed for all times.  She betrayed the line of Broden by imprisoning the last of his line, my Moji, then ordering his execution.  We, my Moji and a young advisor named Frigg, and myself, are to die by the queen’s sword tomorrow at daybreak.  My Moji plans are to escape. Something drives my young prince, a deep pain that slices across his face.  I worry for him.   The Attiyq have shown us a secret tunnel made by the hands of King Broden one hundred years ago.  It runs past our cell and we have dug into it until our hands bled.  But now the time has come when we will run for the Southern Borders.  I will leave this scroll behind in one of the villages, in hopes that Voobo Maul will be remembered for all times. 


The words I now pen are from my father and the elders that were told to me as a child.  I have been in this prison for five long and dreaded years and their words are now whispers in my mind.  I only hope that I can convey to you their true meanings.  I must confess my shame before you and hope you will not look upon me with disproving eyes.  I was only at the Mefu Osejo – the second stage- when the Upeshi, Barbarians from the west, fell upon the castle, killing all inside, including my dear father and mother and my entire tribe.  It is still a mystery to me how my people did not hear the Upeshi’s footsteps on the ground or sense their presence.  It was as if a spell fell upon them and their ears were deaf and their hands limp.  They were there to honor the crowning of the future king, my Moji Conell.


King Efuko placed his son, who was only five at the time, with me in a small closet and gave me my orders: protect the prince.  I was ten years old, and had completed the first level of my training and had started the Mefu Osejo.   I know the Attiyq have a plan for me, They would not abandon me so freely, at least I hope Their hands are still with me. I question at times if Their eyes are turned to me. After the attack, I found my father lying in his own blood, five Upheshi’s slaughtered bodies surrounding him.  My father killed five before the cowards killed him.  He died with great honor and I am pleased, yet saddened. 


Jezebel was the one who found my Moji and myself hiding in the closet.  She comforted the prince child, while dismissing me.  But my orders still rang in my ears; I would not abandon my duty.  I stayed with him despite her hatred of me.  I endured for the sake of Broden, my father, my brothers and the Attiyq.  She hated my tribe, saying they would have eventually turned the people into rebellion, a lie she had spun like a black spider.  She burned the Maul Temples and Training Schools and destroyed the scrolls.  But I was smarter than her; I saved the last of father’s training scroll and hid it from her eyes.  A kind guard named Clemwyn studied father’s scroll and tried to teach me the words and figures written upon it.  He was a good and kind man, father would have approved of him.  He became like an uncle to me and I loved him dearly.  So I say with shame in my heart that I am not a full Maul, but still at a child’s level.  I still do not understand the full reach of the Maul, but only the parts taught to me by Clemwyn. 


After my Moji completed his Mim Eho or Fire Hunt, – this is were a boy of 13 is sent into the woods to survive for one week.  If he returns, the elders give him a sword, if not, then he is dead and is mourned – the witch queen betrayed us and sent all three of us to prison.  Those loyal to King Broden including Clemwyn, were executed and labeled traitors to the queen.  Clemwyn was not a traitor, but a good and brave man.  I miss him.  She also burned my father’s scroll before my eyes.  I did not weep a tear.  I would not give her that pleasure and gift. 


That is enough of my shameful history.  Now I will tell you the words of the Maul.  Please do not let the queen find this scroll, I beg of you. 


The words Voobo Maul mean Sword Lighters in the Witch’s language.  We are to be a light without form and our swords are to be like a beam of light slicing into the darkness and destroying it.  Anu first established the Maul a hundred years ago.  Anu came from the Southern lands, staying mostly by the Southern borders.  He had learned an art that made the sword look like a stream of light.  He taught only a few selected warriors his craft, forcing them into secrecy.  War with the Northern Lands broke out over Ezasu and Anu and his twenty men offered their swords to King Broden.  He had heard of the Maul but knew nothing of them.  His heart was cautious of the Maul and refused Anu’s hand.  But Anu approached the king and offered him his life to protect Broden.  Broden was wise and he sent the Maul into battle and they slain a regiment of Northerners.  Broden eyes were pleased and he asked the Maul to be his elite military group.  Anu agreed, but asked the King to keep the Maul’s tactics secret.  The King agreed. 


Each King from Broden to Efuko has had the Maul at their sides.  Jezebel is the first to break this tradition. 


As the seasons passed, the Maul added onto their training.  Some warriors slipped into the lands across the borders and across the seas, bringing back new fighting theories and weapons.  These were passed onto the children of the Maul.  We became strong fighters, able to fight with sword, axe, pole, shield, any weapon that pleased us. We learned to create poisons form plants and some fish and how to inject them into our enemies.  And our one goal, protect the king. 


A new child recruit of the Maul must be six or seven years old and must have a sponsor or Gaevee from within the tribe.  Children of the Maul are put first before the outsiders.  The Gaevee introduces the Joem Lok child to the tribe.  The moon is overhead on the night of Introduction in the mountains of Rea Vea within the Ischicu Territory.  It is said that it was here where Anu settled to learn his crafts. Each year, the elders pick a new location within the Rea Vea to initiate the Joem Lok.  The Elders or Zaolo light a huge fire and the Gaevee steps forward and introduces his Joem Lok.  The Zaolo question the Joem Lok why he wishes to join the group.  If there is fear in the child’s eyes or his answer does not please the Zaolo, then he is dismissed.  If he pleases the Zaolo, then he must prove his loyalty to the Attiyq by knowing the basics of the Great God.  The Gaevee must also give an account of the child’s actions, if he is brave in the face of danger and is obedient to his family.  One who does not have faith in the Attiyq cannot become Maul, for the Maul see the Great God as their guide through the battles.  If the child passes these tests, he or she must sign the great scroll, giving their lives and body to the Attiyq and the king. Then the Gaevee draws the Marks of Maul on the boy’s face; a marking that tells his future. Father drew mine, a vine that weaves along the side my face. He said, “You will snare your enemies and strangle like the vine strangles a man.” Each year, after each battle, after each life changing event, the elders draw more markings on the face of the young warrior, until a great story comes alive. Everyone will know his feats and battles. I have only father’s vine and prophecy, which has never birthed. One other story exists on my face, that of Clemwyn. There are thousands of name written on the scroll, the first name being Anu.  Again, Jezebel destroyed this also.  I guess my name is now the first and maybe the last.  Emer Muirris Amgrets.


The Joem Lok are next given wooden swords and become Ca Osejo or the First Level Maul.  The Gaevee trains his Joem Lok in the basics of sword fighting and other smaller weapons.  The child must also carry the Gaevee’s supplies and must carry buckets of water and arm full of wood each day.  Father said this conditions the muscles.  I often thought of it as a slave’s job.  I was so foolish.  The Joem Lok also chops massive amounts of wood, sometimes for the entire village.  I have cut many trees into fire wood.  He also cares for the animals that belong to the Maul and keeps his family weapons cleaned. He must learn to hunt, to stalk an animal, chase it and kill it for his family to eat.  He must learn to be silent as the wind, so that not even the insects know he is there.  Father taught this to me when I was only three.  Then when his is thirteen, he endures his Mim Eho, but he is given a knife and sent into the Northern Lands, enemies of Ezasu.  The child must survive his enemies if he is to be Maul.  Many do not return, some are taken as slaves, others die.  I survived and killed five of the enemy before making my way home. I wished it had been father who sent me on my Mim Eho, but it was Clemwyn who sent me to the Northern Lands. After I returned, he took me into the woods and pulled out the marking pens and ink. He placed a small line seperating father’s vine from his drawing, then another vine with five branches, each one representing the five enemies I had killed. He said, “Just as these men died by your hand, so your enemies will never escape your hold and you will grow stronger each day.” I struggled not to weep and cherish his markings and prophecy and wished he could have added more of my victories. Now no one will add more to my face. No one will know of my victories over my enemies. I know father was pleased as he watched from heaven. I wanted father’s battle axe as my weapon, but Jezebel took it from me after I had found father’s body. I have not seen it since. She also took Clemwyn’s weapon from me after she betrayed us, his sword given to him by his father. I have not seen this either. My heart grieves.


Once the Joem Lok returns home, they enter Mefu Osejo or the second level.  This is where I ended my training.  I was so excited to study my Father’s scrolls and those of the elders, some from the time of Anu. But the witch changed my dreams.  This training is more intense than the first level.  From what I remember, the child had to do much studying of the scrolls, learn more fighting skills, learn more weapons and be expected to know each of them.  He is no longer called Joem Lok, a child, but Azzott and he trains with a Zaolo until he is twenty-one.  Then the Zaolo presents him to the king and if the king’s eyes are pleased, then he pronounces him a Voobo Maul, a word that never came from the lips of my king.  The Azzott then becomes a Zaaq, the lowest rank of the fighting Maul.  After ten years of service, if he or she is still alive, he becomes Seoo, then Leshi, and finally Te.  The last is the Zaolo. 


The leader of Maul, or Ttozo, is elected by the other Zaolo.  He must prove himself worthy in battle and in honor.  If one rejects the Attiyq, then he is no longer a Maul, but a coward and must leave the Tribe.  I always prayed Father would become the Ttozo


There are certain codes the Maul must follow:


It is the main duty of the Voobo Maul to protect the king and his relations.  To disobey this rule means death.  The Joem Lok makes this vow before he enters his training. 


The Voobo Maul must also protect the weak and the innocent, weak in the mind and body.  To violate this means death.


The Voobo Maul must never turn from the Attiyq and their ways.  To do so means death of soul and life.


A member of the Voobo must always be loyal to his master, his Gaevee.  He must never betray him.  If he does betray his master, then he will be judged by the Voobo and will either be sentenced to death or excommunication.


A Voobo warrior must never attack his fellow warriors in anger.  If he does, he will be judged by the Voobo. 


The child of the Voobo will stand before the tribe and if he passes the test, he will become like his father, Voobo. 


A girl can become Voobo as long as she can pass the tests. 


If the Gaevee lies about his Joem Lok’s Faith in the Atteyq, then he and his recruit are exiled from the group and the Ttozo will inform the king of the lies.  The Gaevee and his Joem Lok are exiled from the land of Esazu.


If the Joem Lok lies or cheats on any of his/her tests, the child will be exiled from the group and he must return to his family in shame.  


If members of the Voobo have differences, they will take it to the Ttozo and the tribe will hear the argument and decide a truce.  If an agreement cannot be made, then the King will hear the argument.  He will make the final decision.  Both parties agree to follow the king’s decision. 


Each member of the Voobo must seek the Attiyq’s face by reading the great scrolls, teachings and prayer. 


These are the codes of the Joem Lok.  There are others, but they were not passed onto me as I had not yet learned them.  So I will create new ones and if I live, I will pass them onto others.  I wish to write other scrolls, one being the Scroll of Clemwyn.  He has taught me much and I wish to pass his knowledge onto others.  But the time is slowly slipping away and we are escape soon.  I will try to create more scrolls if I am able.  Be of peace and good cheer and know the Attiyq’s hands are always on you and Their eyes are fixed on your faith. 


Peace to you. 


Captain of the Moji’s guards,


Emer Muirris Amgrets