"Teshub withdrew his blessings under the reign of King Suppiluliuma the Second and returned to his heavenly abode atop Mount Zaliyanu. Taking with him the blessing of Halki to leave the kingdom in Arinnas most scorching embrace. The fields layed barren and the peasantry resented their work. It became common to lock doors and vigilantly watch ones purse. The last days of the great Kings were upon us."

- clay tablet from Hattusa

Eliyana had to tie him down with a rope, because he moved so much as he lay on the cart.

She put sacks filled with dried straw under him and at the sides of his head, so that he wouldn't hurt himself.

In the meantime Svatos put the mule into the leather harness, as Grahna tended to Eliyanas little girl.

"I can come with you Eliyana" Svatos pleaded.

He was old, a wooden stick by his side to aid his walking, he always had a friendly smile on his face, as did Grahna and he was sincere when he offered his aid, but he only would have slowed her down.

"Svatos I'm thankful. You and Grahna do enough by looking over my girl while I'm away."

"Do you think it's the right thing? Maybe Apollas has his reasons."

"I do not care Svatos. My son will see a doctor tonight. No matter what my man thinks, even if I have to drag this thing myself to Kremnos."

"Don't worry about that, Eso is a strong animal."

He patted the mule, but there was concern in his eyes.

She knew he wasn't happy with her decision, but it wasn't his to make.

"I will go now. Thank you. It would have taken double the time if it wasn't for you."

"May Queli aid you. I will burn incense in his name and pray for your safe return."

Eso was indeed a strong animal, pulling the cart without much effort.

Eliyana took a quick look under the sheet she had stretched over the cart.

Sweat was running over Theos face as his head tossed from left to right, she caressed his burning cheek and returned outside.

"I think there is rain coming. Try to get to Naca before it arrives, the paths will be harder to scale in the rain." Svatos shouted from behind, he was right clouds were gathering in the sky.

His leg burned, but Apollas had no time to properly tend to his wound.

Arrows had to be pulled more then once from his flesh, but he was younger then.

Now he had trouble scaling the steep path, his eyes wanderer to the thing under the cloth.

How did it find its way back into his hand?

He dared to watch again and there it was, the evil vortex of clouds spinning in the center of the lapis stone. But the clouds would stop spinning, before the end of the day.

There was still enough strength in him to protect his his life and his family, the curse would be broken forever, before it was to take his son.

As he had finally scaled the steep path to the mountain top, the houses of the people of Naca appeared and as he walked through their streets there was no sound to be heard.

They barricaded themselves behind their bared windows and doors cowering in fear, for they knew there was peril coming and they prayed their walls of mud bricks would protect them if they just waited out the tempest.

They disgusted him, if there was anything he hated, it was the weakness and cowering, for he knew this world had to be taken head on or it would crush you.