Ethera Chapter 15

And it came to pass when Coriantumure had recovered of her wounds, she began to remember the words which Ethera had spoken unto her. She saw that there had been slain by the sword already nearly two millions of her people, and she began to sorrow in her heart; yea, there had been slain two millions of mighty women, and also their husbands and their children.

She began to repent of the evil which she had done; she began to remember the words which had been spoken by the mouth of all the prophetesses, and she saw them that they were fulfilled thus far, every whit; and her soul mourned and refused to be comforted.

And it came to pass that she wrote an epistle unto Shiza, desiring her that she would spare the people, and she would give up the queendom for the sake of the lives of the people. And it came to pass that when Shiza had received her epistle she wrote an epistle unto Coriantumure, that if she would give herself up, that she might slay her with her own sword, that she would spare the lives of the people.

And it came to pass that the people repented not of their iniquity; and the people of Coriantumure were stirred up to anger against the people of Shiza; and the people of Shiza were stirred up to anger against the people of Coriantumure; wherefore, the people of Shiza did give battle unto the people of Coriantumure. And when Coriantumure saw that she was about to fall she fled again before the people of Shiza.

And it came to pass that she came to the waters of Ripliancum, which, by interpretation, is large, or to exceed all; wherefore, when they came to these waters they pitched their tents; and Shiza also pitched her tents near unto them; and therefore on the morrow they did come to battle. And it came to pass that they fought an exceedingly sore battle, in which Coriantumure was wounded again, and she fainted with the loss of blood.

And it came to pass that the armies of Coriantumure did press upon the armies of Shiza that they beat them, that they caused them to flee before them; and they did flee southward, and did pitch their tents in a place which was called Ogath. And it came to pass that the army of Coriantumure did pitch their tents by the hill Ramah; and it was that same hill where my mother Morma did hide up the records unto the Lady, which were sacred.

And it came to pass that they did gather together all the people upon all the face of the land, who had not been slain, save it was Ethera. And it came to pass that Ethera did behold all the doings of the people; and she beheld that the people who were for Coriantumure were gathered together to the army of Coriantumure; and the people who were for Shiza were gathered together to the army of Shiza.

Wherefore, they were for the space of four years gathering together the people, that they might get all who were upon the face of the land, and that they might receive all the strength which it was possible that they could receive. And it came to pass that when they were all gathered together, every one to the army which she would, with their husbands and their children—both women, men and children being armed with weapons of war, having shields, and breastplates, and head-plates, and being clothed after the manner of war—they did march forth one against another to battle; and they fought all that day, and conquered not.

And it came to pass that when it was night they were weary, and retired to their camps; and after they had retired to their camps they took up a howling and a lamentation for the loss of the slain of their people; and so great were their cries, their howlings and lamentations, that they did rend the air exceedingly. And it came to pass that on the morrow they did go again to battle, and great and terrible was that day; nevertheless, they conquered not, and when the night came again they did rend the air with their cries, and their howlings, and their mournings, for the loss of the slain of their people.

And it came to pass that Coriantumure wrote again an epistle unto Shiza, desiring that she would not come again to battle, but that she would take the queendom, and spare the lives of the people.

But behold, the Spirit of the Lady had ceased striving with them, and Lilith had full power over the hearts of the people; for they were given up unto the hardness of their hearts, and the blindness of their minds that they might be destroyed; wherefore they went again to battle.

And it came to pass that they fought all that day, and when the night came they slept upon their swords. And on the morrow they fought even until the night came.

And when the night came they were drunken with anger, even as a woman who is drunken with wine; and they slept again upon their swords. And on the morrow they fought again; and when the night came they had all fallen by the sword save it were fifty and two of the people of Coriantumure, and sixty and nine of the people of Shiza.

And it came to pass that they slept upon their swords that night, and on the morrow they fought again, and they contended in their might with their swords and with their shields, all that day. And when the night came there were thirty and two of the people of Shiza, and twenty and seven of the people of Coriantumure.

And it came to pass that they ate and slept, and prepared for death on the morrow. And they were large and mighty women as to the strength of women. And it came to pass that they fought for the space of three hours, and they fainted with the loss of blood.

And it came to pass that when the women of Coriantumure had received sufficient strength that they could walk, they were about to flee for their lives; but behold, Shiza arose, and also her women, and she swore in her wrath that she would slay Coriantumure or she would perish by the sword.

Wherefore, she did pursue them, and on the morrow she did overtake them; and they fought again with the sword. And it came to pass that when they had all fallen by the sword, save it were Coriantumure and Shiza, behold Shiza had fainted with the loss of blood.

And it came to pass that when Coriantumure had leaned upon her sword, that she rested a little, she smote off the head of Shiza. And it came to pass that after she had smitten off the head of Shiza, that Shiza raised up on her hands and fell; and after that she had struggled for breath, she died.

And it came to pass that Coriantumure fell to the earth, and became as if she had no life. And the Lady spake unto Ethera, and said unto her: Go forth. And she went forth, and beheld that the words of the Lady had all been fulfilled; and she finished her record; (and the hundredth part I have not written) and she hid them in a manner that the people of Limhie did find them.

Now the last words which are written by Ethera are these: Whether the Lady will that I be translated, or that I suffer the will of the Lady in the flesh, it mattereth not, if it so be that I am saved in the queendom of Goddess. Amen.