"Great, majestic, benevolent, Goddess Isis, the mother who bestows fertility on the earth and hope for all beings; God Horus, the king of Horus who protects Aiju with divine power and illuminates the world with eternal light; Nun, who was born in the beginning of the lotus and created all things Father God, the nine gods who live at the source of the river of God, all the gods who rule the earth and the sky!... Please listen to my prayer, the commandment of the gods, only the purest devout heart can obtain the mercy of God, I wish Dedicate my all to Isis, please give me the tears of the gods... "
Iko-Maria was praying to the gods, and the location was in a remote town on the border of the Kingdom of Hatti, which was subject to the Great Eju Empire. In this desolate and remote place, the scale of Duke Town is already quite large, with hundreds of families and two thousand residents. The mayor, Dasti, is a nobleman with the title of Lord Hattie, and also has the status of a citizen of the Eju Empire and enjoys the privileges of citizens of the Eju Empire.
In such a remote town, the mayor's status is so prominent, of course because of its special status. The town of Duke belongs to the southernmost point under the jurisdiction of the city-state of Syria, which belongs to the Kingdom of Hatti. The three things produced in Syria are the most famous, and they are also the most important commodities for foreign trade of the Kingdom of Hatti and the most precious tribute to the Eju Empire: Iron, god stone, snow fir wood.
Iron can make the sharpest weapons, especially the fine iron that has been refined by skilled craftsmen. The armor and swords made are both sharp and tough. They are symbols of strength, guards, and sharp tools for plundering wealth. Many countries on this continent produce iron, but the output is still very limited. The production and trade of iron are strictly monopolized by the government. Hatti is the most famous for its iron production. Although the iron production in Duke Town is not high, it produces very scarce high-quality iron. Almost all the adults in the town are both miners and blacksmiths.
The cedar wood produced in the high mountains on the western plateau of Hatti and on both sides of the Youdi River is the best shipbuilding material after being soaked in cold water, dried in the sun, and baked in oil. The boats made of it can travel in inner lakes, rivers and seas, and are not only necessary for armies in battle, but also necessary for merchants to travel between countries. Duke Town does not produce cedar trees. Although there are mountains growing cedars in the east outside the town, it is unimaginable to cut down huge cedars and then transport them out of the mountains.
The most important product of Duke Town is not high-grade refined iron, but the sacred stone. This kind of thing is very rare in the Tianshu Continent. The Syria State of the Hatti Kingdom is one of the important production areas, and the sacred stone produced in Duke Town accounts for almost half of the production of the entire Syria State. Every country in the Tianshu Continent needs the sacred stone, especially the noble priests who master the supreme magic in various temples are extremely eager for it.
Many ordinary civilians and slaves don't know the purpose of the sacred stone, but they have seen the sacred stone inlaid on the scepter of the priest or the armor and weapons of the noble warrior, which seems to be a symbol of status, wealth or divine power. The sacred stone itself is also the most expensive current currency on the mainland. The value of a sacred stone is equivalent to twenty times the weight of gold, and it is indivisible.
It is the most common standard sacred stone used as a noble currency. Its texture, size and shape are exactly the same without any difference. Its weight is also the standard of weights and measures on Tianshu Continent. The common weighing unit on the mainland is "baht "It is the weight of a sacred stone. I heard that the extravagant priests even directly use the sacred stone as the standard weight on the balance.
This time, Iko-Maria followed Rod Dick, the head of the city-state in her hometown, to Duke Town. Of course, what she prayed to the gods was not an ordinary god stone, but the legendary tears of the gods. Only by obtaining it can he be recognized by the high priests in the Temple of Isis in Memphis City and become the saint who protects the goddess Isis. According to legend, only the purest summons can communicate with the gods and obtain the tears of the gods bestowed by the gods, which means that her identity has been recognized by the gods.
Aiko-Maria's prayers are so devout, but in fact, any god stone produced in Tianshu Continent, including the incomparably precious tears of the gods, is not given by the hands of the gods, but mined by the hands of the miners .
Maria's residence is at the southern end of the town, close to the Temple of Horus. It is one of the most beautiful courtyards in the town. It was originally the place where the mayor lived. Like other cities and towns on the mainland, the most important buildings in people's settlements are temples, which are used to enshrine and worship the local guardian deities. Whether the temple is majestic or not is also a symbol of the strength of a certain city-state.
Of course, the temple in Duke Town cannot be compared with the big city-states, but compared with other ordinary towns, the Horus Temple here is majestic enough. It is built with tall white boulders and inlaid with blue-black stone carvings. The white marble used to construct the pillars was brought in from other places, while the shimmering green lapis lazuli is a special product of the nearby mountains. It may be expensive in other places, but it is the most common stone here.
There are two main temples of comparable size in the town of Duk. One is dedicated to Horus, the patron saint of the Eju Empire, which means that this place surrendered to the Pharaoh Eju. It was built in the south of the town, and the main body is made of white marble. The other is the goddess Muyun, the patron saint believed in here since ancient times. She is widely worshiped in Hatti, Assyria in the northeast, and Baron Kingdom in the southeast.
The Kingdom of Hatti is an alliance of dozens of city-states. Although the Great Empire of Eju conquered this place, in order to manage it better and make the people of Hatti submit more submissively, Pharaoh Te of Eju allowed them to sacrifice their guardians. God, did not destroy the original temple, but at the same time ordered that Horus, the patron saint of Ecu, must be worshipped.
Maria prayed in the living room on the second floor. She prayed like this every morning after washing, before lunch, and when night fell. It has been three days since she came to Duke Town. She is devout, respectful and meticulous. Even Gabriel This kind of temple warrior who has received the most rigorous training can't help secretly applauding in his eyes, secretly thinking in his heart that she should meet the requirements of a saint, and the gods may have mercy on her.
In the territory of the Eju Empire, there are two vast fertile lands along the Ronnie River, called the Upper Eju and the Lower Eju. Gabriel is a warrior sent by the Temple of Isis in Memphis, the capital city of Lower Eju, to protect Mary. He responded to the report and request of Rod Dick, the chief priest and chief administrator of Cape Lower Eju. Anyone who has passed the test of the gods and is eligible to become a candidate for the patron saint of the goddess Isis will be protected by the Temple of Isis.
While Mary was praying, Gabriel was standing downstairs, at the gate of the courtyard. There was a heavy long sword hanging from her waist, and a sacred stone was inlaid on both sides of the sword's center. Even in a non-dangerous environment, she still wore the silver armor meticulously, with a solemn and solemn expression. From this position, you can see the blue-gold dome of Mu Yun Temple at the other end of the town. The corners of her mouth are pursed, and there is an imperceptible sneer in her eyes.
Obviously, the guardian warrior of the Temple of Isis didn't like the gods enshrined by other races, but Pharaoh Eju allowed this place to retain the original temple, so she couldn't say much, her duty was only to protect Iko-Maria , don't meddle in other people's business.
Gabriel's figure is slender and straight, sexy and muscular. Her face has the obvious characteristics of a northern alien, with fair skin, a straight nose, and charming blue eyes. The golden curly hair is draped over the silver armor, and the temperament of softness and perseverance is so harmonious. She is young and beautiful, but the children in the town throwing stones at each other are unconsciously far away from this courtyard and dare not play at the door.
When people see her, the first thing they notice may not be a very beautiful woman. Around her, there is a sense of self-confidence and proud majesty, as if full of power, without restraint or concealment.
Gabriel was the only one who guarded the courtyard, and she was the only warrior sent by the Temple of Isis to protect Iko-Maria, one of the saintess candidates. But Gabriel also knew that the personal guard brought by Rod Dick was stationed in the Temple of Horus in Duke Town not far away. There were a total of 60 fully armed elite soldiers.
Obviously, this Lord Dick didn't believe that she alone could protect Maria. Although crossing the desert between Eju and Hatti is full of dangers, it is obviously a bit exaggerated to bring so many elite fighters. Lord Dick did not say anything out of the good cultivation of a nobleman, but Gabriel could also feel it. He is dissatisfied.
Gabriel didn't care, not only out of self-cultivation, but also out of noble pride.
…
At the other end of the town, in a small building close to the Temple of Mu Yun, Rod Dick was holding a wine glass and looking at Gabriel's courtyard from a distance through the window. Silently thinking about something—
It seems that this temple warrior from Memphis is not used to restraint, and always flaunts her strength. It is no wonder that one of her responsibilities is to publicize the majesty of the gods. But for the hereditary city-state nobles like Rod Dick, this is not a good habit. People always need to hide something. the power of.
The competition for secular power and wealth is always cruel, and it is necessary to be ready at all times, show appropriate deterrence, and leave a hole card for contingency.
Not far from the small building where he was located was the shrine of Goddess Mu Yun. Lord Dick didn't think there was anything wrong with it. People on this continent originally enshrined all kinds of gods, big and small. Some are legendary gods, and some are patron saints that residents from all over the world consider themselves.
The Pharaoh of the Eju Empire claimed to be the human incarnation and spokesperson of Horus, the son of the gods, and the king of gods who ruled over the upper and lower Eju. The traditional patron saint of the lower egus is the goddess Isis, the legendary mother of Horus, whose main shrine is located in the capital of the lower egus, Memphis. Almost every country on the Tianshu Continent is ruled by the unity of monarchy and theocracy, and the monarch is known as the spokesperson of the gods. The Temple of Isis in Memphis City is the most important center of power in Lower Egypt.
This time, the Temple of Isis sent only one warrior to protect the Cape State's candidate for the saint. Master Dick was obviously dissatisfied, thinking that he and the Cape State he represented had been underestimated. The Cape State is located on the northeast border of the Eju Empire, the closest to Baron and the Hatti Kingdom. Outside the border is a vast and desolate desert, which cannot be compared with other rich and fertile city-states.
Its geographical location is very important, but this importance does not bring benefits to Cape State. Once war breaks out, Cape State will bear the brunt of the war. And in the age of peace on the surface, it was an important port for business transactions with countries in the Northwest, full of countless opportunities.
Now the Kingdom of Hatti is subject to Eju, but Lord Dick has also vaguely heard that the lords of many city-states in Hatti are unwilling to accept the fate of their subjects, and they always want to unite and secretly resist. It just so happens that the Isis Temple selects the saint. Of course, Dick hopes that the saint is from the Cape State. This not only means the glory of the city-state, but if there is a conflict in the future, he also hopes that the power of the Isis Temple and the entire lower Eju can be more protected. Cape State.
Of course, Dick didn't want Maria to have any accidents, so he brought the most elite personal guards around him. Such a force is obviously redundant to protect a person crossing the desert, and Dick certainly has his own plans. He became the chief administrator and chief priest of the cape state at a young age, mastering the power of the unity of politics and religion. In addition to the prominent status of the lineage, of course, by virtue of his own talents, he can maximize and utilize all the benefits of one thing .
Only one person was sent from the Temple of Isis, which is good, and saves a lot of bribes. Seeing Gabriel, Dick felt that this warrior guarding the temple was different from many greedy priests. She was like a proud little rooster who didn't bother to accept any bribes, and it seemed that she was ashamed of wealth. There is no concept.
Gabriel didn't seem to understand how expensive the long sword she was wearing was, and it hung so ostentatiously around her waist. If she was walking alone, the sword might not be able to protect her, and the first thing she would attract was robber. Gabriel came to Capeland from Memphis alone with a long sword in this way, even Rod Dick was surprised, how lucky she was able to arrive safely! Perhaps it was because the thieves along the road knew her identity and did not dare to offend the Temple of Isis.
With so many personal guards and entourages, in the name of protecting the saint and serving Lord Gabriel, of course, the huge convoy has prepared various supplies, mainly the most popular wine and food in Duke Town. With Lord Gabriel present, the checkpoints on the border between Eju and Hatti will naturally be released without any inspection, and of course no tax will be collected.
The sacred stones mined by the residents of Duke Town must be handed over to the city-state in the form of taxes. According to the law of the city-state, one out of every ten stones belongs to them, and that is the reward they deserve. At the same time, Rod Dick certainly knew that Mayor Dusty, who held the power of expropriation in Duke Town, would not be so selfless, and he must have retained a lot in his hands.
The sacred stone is a common currency, and its value is twenty times that of equal weight gold, and it is the same in Duke Town. However, the products in Duke Town are both rich and barren. Except for the production of sacred stones and iron, only a small amount of barley is planted on the barren land for people to eat. All other living and enjoying materials need to be transported from other places. And its location is too remote, and everything is shipped here is many times more expensive than other places.
The people in Duke Town may not be aware that they may be the wealthiest residents on the Tianshu Continent, and this is also the most expensive place on the Continent. Although the taxes on the business roads are heavy, a successful transaction Still lucrative.
In order to provide cover for his trade supplies to Duke Town, Dick also organized a caravan from the Cape City to arrive with his convoy. Merchants are naturally willing to follow Lord Dick's convoy, which is equivalent to a guarantee of absolute safety and saves the cost of mercenaries, and with Lord Gabriel and Lord Dick present, the tax collectors at the checkpoints along the way will not maliciously blackmail They will only do business, and they are very grateful to this Lord Dick who is considerate of his subjects. Many noble officials will not take care of businessmen like this.
During dinner, Lord Dick had just had a pleasant conversation with Mayor Dusty, and what was even more pleasant was the transaction between them, both parties were very satisfied. In addition to the sacred stone, Master Dick also bought precious high-grade refined iron from the mayor. This is smuggled and not a secret for outsiders.
Although the transaction was pleasant, Rod Dick didn't like this place, especially the smoky and unpleasant smell everywhere, which made him feel very uncomfortable. He felt a little anxious, not knowing how long he would have to wait.
The reason why he brought Maria here was not only to make a business in this name, but also to get the tears of the gods. The high priests of the Temple of Isis announced an oracle that a tear of the gods will be given to the world, and the person who gets it will be the guardian saint of the goddess Isis.
Rod Dick has his own thoughts on this. Tears of the Gods is nothing more than a more precious sacred stone. If it really appears, it is most likely to be in the place where the sacred stones are most concentrated. Then use the convenience of the geographical location to rush Waiting in Duke Town, the most likely to be the first to arrive. Of course, this is also a kind of gamble, but this gamble is profitable no matter whether it succeeds or fails, and if it succeeds by luck, everything will be perfect.
He told Maria that he had been guided by the goddess Isis in a dream, and Maria relayed this to Gabriel, convincing the temple warrior to come across the desert frontier.
When she came to Duke Town, Maria prayed devoutly every day, but Rod Dick, who made up this lie, became a little impatient. In this small town full of blacksmith stoves, the harsh environment made Lord Dick unbearable, and he simply didn't want to stay for a day longer. He couldn't help but think of the legend about the tears of the gods.
He was a little drunk, and cursed secretly: "The gods bestow mercy? Is it the will of the gods or the priests who fabricated lies? When did this ancient oracle spread? It is just a stone, no matter how precious it is. It's just a useful stone. Instead of praying to the gods, it's better to ask the miners for help. Does getting the tears of the gods mean being a saint? Then who is the miner who mines it, maybe a dirty old man! "
Just now when I thought of this, a gust of fire-breathing wind blew in from the window. Dick shivered inexplicably and woke up from the wine. He quickly pressed his hands on his chest and prayed: "Great goddess Isis, the thoughts in my heart are not right. You are disrespectful, just an honest expression."
At this moment, Rod Dick froze suddenly, he seemed to feel something, it was a mysterious fluctuation of power, both mysterious and strange, the unpleasant heat from the fire and the inexplicable chill seemed to be affected by something. kind of appeasement. The source of the fluctuations came from a certain family on the edge of the town.
Rod Dick immediately put down his glass and called out: "Fayol, come in quickly, the tears of the gods may appear, you go and do as I order!"
…
Standing in silence, Gabriel suddenly raised her head and looked sideways in a certain direction of the town. She felt a mysterious yet familiar fluctuation of power oscillating slightly in the air, which was subtle yet so clear. There was an inexplicable gratified light in his eyes, and he looked back at Maria's window.
…
There was a crisp sound of "ding", followed by a small buzzing sound that echoed in the room for a long time. Amon held a heavy mining hammer and smashed it on a fist-sized round stone that shone with black light.
The hammer looked so heavy, falling with a sharp wind sound, but when it landed on the stone surface, it became light and light as if it was just a feather, and only made a crisp "ding".
The posture of Amon holding the sledgehammer is a bit funny, the position of the hand is very forward, and the entire upper arm from the wrist to the elbow is attached to the handle of the hammer. He is not too tall, after all, he is only fourteen years old this year, and he is still Not fully grown up.
But the muscles all over his body are very strong and strong. When he swung the sledgehammer tensely, the raised muscles seemed to have little snakes scurrying about. According to the rules of Duke Town since ancient times, children of his age are not qualified to mine the sacred stone by themselves. Using Duke Town's unique hammer technique to open the hard-earned ore core is the last and most critical step in obtaining the sacred stone.
But today he had to do this at home, because his father drank too much, his hands trembled and he couldn't control the mine hammer, and he had to hand over a god stone tomorrow.
…
List of characters in this chapter—
Iko-Maria: A saintess candidate from Cape State of the Eju Empire, who may become the patron saint of the Temple of Isis in Memphis City. The Eju Empire is divided into two territories, Upper Eju and Lower Eju, and Memphis is the capital of Lower Eju.
Dasti: The mayor of Duke Town, which is on the border of the city-state of Syria in the Kingdom of Hatti, and the Kingdom of Hatti surrendered to Eju.
Rod Dick: The city lord of the cape city-state of the Kingdom of Eju, the chief administrator and chief priest.
Gabriel: Guardian warrior of the Temple of Isis in Memphis City.
Amon: The son of a blacksmith in Duke Town.
Background to the pantheon of this chapter—
Horus: The main god and king god believed by the Eju people. Pharaoh Eju is known as the human incarnation and spokesperson of Horus.
Isis: The mother of Horus in myths and legends, the patron saint of the lower Eju, and the Virgin believed by the Eju people.
Mu Yun: A goddess widely worshiped in the Hatti, Assyria, and Baron kingdoms, and the patron saint believed by the residents of Duke Town since ancient times.