Ia and the Dancers

Before Ia met the first of his disciples, he came upon a young man and woman who were dancing together beneath the high boughs of an ancient oak tree. The couple was so engrossed and carefree that they were unaware of the outside world and took no note of Ia until he had full and clear sight of them. Immediately they stopped, for they were afraid and awed by Ia's presence, alone and vulnerable as they were, but Ia would do them no harm.

Ia instead said to them quietly and calmly, 'Why do you do this thing which you do?' for he was quite curious as to their reasons.

'We do not know,' admitted the man after he had regained his bearings and could find sufficient self-control to speak clearly once again, and his dancing partner nodded in agreement with his words. 'We know we should not, as our village elder forbids us. But it brings us such joy that we cannot help ourselves.'

'You elder is possessed of bygone beliefs,' Ia told them. 'You do the small duty which is your lot to aid in continuing the revolution of the great Wheel. You create and in the wake of your creation does destruction bloom. The elder's edicts should not prevent you from indulging in the wondrous passions you feel need to express.' Ia looked over their heads to the few faint lights which marked the location of the nearby village. 'I will address him on this matter. The quaint notions which constrain you will be lifted.'

Ia did as promised, and he attended to the leader of that small village, and the young man and woman were troubled no more by him.