Cloud Weavers (Part 3)
This post is part of an archive. To read the current version, we recommend “Cloud Weavers (*)”
For the next five years, Ephraim worked in Ezra’s garden. The world outside the cave never changed. The garden never experienced a shift of seasons. The trader watered the plants each day from the spring that never ebbed in its flow. Ephraim removed plants Ezra grew tired of and replaced their yield with fruits from other plants. The cycle would change and so would the crops Ephraim tended.
Ezra spoke truthfully about the magic of the garden. Ephraim never became sick. His limbs seemed to fill with vigor. The desert sun could cascade its heat over his shoulders and he would not grow weary.
Other things grew in the garden as well. The most important of which was a friendship between Ephraim and Ezra’s children. When all had finished their chores, the three would sit and watch the stars dance in zigzags. A breeze would enter the oasis followed by the call of strange birds.
Habib traced the stars with his eyes. “Father says you have become quite skilled with his loom. He’s even thinking of letting you make some of the emir’s cloths. Your use of the colored smokes has impressed him.”
“That’s good to hear.” Ephraim replied. “But I have special carpets that I have woven on Ezra’s loom and I wish to sell them before the sheiks. I have taken the wool from my small flock and the threads made from the clouds and blended them. The results have been quite striking. I have kept my work away from Ezra because I fear he might try to sell them himself.”
Opal took Ephraim’s shoulder. “You are wise. My father does take whatever advantage he can. Perhaps I should not mention this but my father has no real plans of freeing you. The skill you have developed with our loom has made you much more valuable than a simple gardener. He wishes to keep you.”
Ephraim became angry. “That’s not possible! Ezra and I had an agreement! He must release me soon! I have done everything I have been asked for more than five years.”
“Our father,” Habib began. “He takes whatever he desires even the clouds. The desert that surrounds the kingdom is so large because I harvest them. When they are woven to thread the water seeps into the earth under the cave and feeds our spring. Areas that are now the outer rim of the desert were once productive farms. Now the land is being given to sand and dune. We have more gold than three emirs and yet our father demands more at the expense of others.”
“Then what must I do?”
Habib replied, “After our father leaves for the capital city, I will take you and your rugs to the natural realm. While I spend the day hunting clouds you may sell your loom work.”
“I will travel with you Ephraim.” Opal spoke over her brother. “Someone has to make sure you return and it has been too long since I have walked the streets of the city. I look forward to tomorrow’s trip.”
The next day after Ezra had left, the three friends loaded a small cart with Ephraim’s rugs and walked to the small cave where Ephraim had long ago taken shelter. They backed the cart inside then squeezed inside. Habib took a handful of sand and spoke to it in tones Ephraim didn’t understand and then threw it outside. The sand didn’t fall to the ground instead the wind gave it life and it began swirling. More sand was picked up and soon it was impossible to see out of the cave’s entrance because of the sandstorm.
“This storm will only last about an hour. My father and I have developed ways to speed the magic. We will only need to wait a little while longer before we reach the kingdom of the sun.”
When the sand subsided, the three left the cave. Ephraim immediately recognized the world he had left. Everything moved correctly and in order. It was like he had lived in a box of twisted gears for five years and was now in a working clock.
Habib took three poles out of the cart. “I’m leaving to gather the sky’s fleece. I will meet both of you here one hour past sunset. That will allow us to return home before father returns. Good luck Ephraim.”
The sun’s capital city was exactly as Ephraim remembered it. The tall walls and brick buildings funneling crowds of people and animals up and down narrow streets. The temples with their wonderfully painted bricks and statuary filled Ephraim’s hart with joy. He looked through out their walk to the palace for any of his brothers but found no one.
As they neared the royal grounds, Opal spoke, “Ezra will be here today bartering the value of the his magic garments for gold. We will not want him to recognize us. All I will need to do is keep a veil over my face but you will need more of a disguise.”
She handed him a small sack and razor. “Your beard has grown long. Cut it short and dust your hair with fine ashes. It will gray your hair enough to make you look older. It should be enough to fool my father.”
Once their disguises were set, they wheeled their cart up the slope to the palace gates along with other merchants hoping to sell to the emir.
A minor official approached Ephraim. He looked over the rugs and nodded to the guards. “This one may pass. Let the vizier see these.”
Opal and Ephraim were allowed entrance into the grand hall. Proud columns covered in turquoise spiraled upward from floors of smooth stone. Gilded doors and banisters offered entrance to some of the palaces more private chambers.
Ephraim was awestruck but Opal didn’t seem to notice. “Ephraim, you cannot look around like a charmed snake. You will embarrass yourself.”
A tall man with oiled beard and hair approached them. His staff was set with small gems marking him as the vizier. He listened to the official for a moment then looked at Ephraim with unfriendly appraising eyes.
Then he examined the rugs and his expression changed completely. “Not once in my many years of service have I seen such exquisite detail! The least of your carpets make the best we have into rags. Wait here and you will see the emir.”
Ephraim knew his work was good but his reception was unexpected. He looked at Opal whose face also glowed with pride and another emotion Ephraim hadn’t seen in a long time. Opal realized she was giving away her feelings and hurriedly pulled the veil over her face.
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