I had to refrain from gulping in fright and longed for Albray to be by my side; I felt stripped of my greatest weapon without Albray. I needed to find myself a ringed stone and fast! Andre would return with the shipment of white powder today, but with any luck he might arrive late in the day so that the grand opening of the temple would have to wait until the sun was at its zenith tomorrow. That would give me one more day to finish Ashlee"s account, and to find myself a new treasure stone and complete the summons to get my dearest ally to return.
"Molier"s consumption of the Fire-Stone, when he lacks the Gene of Isis to trans.m.u.te its divine benediction, has driven him quite mad, I believe," Akbar said. "I can"t claim to know his reasoning or true purpose for wanting to gain access to the Ark. Perhaps he aspires to true G.o.dhood, who knows?"
According to Lillet"s account, the moment Molier had swallowed the Fire-Stone he had felt himself to be a G.o.d, so why should he need to pursue it any further? Unless he now fancied keeping the company of the G.o.ds in their realm? I was still theorising when we finally reached the mess tent. Even though the sun barely tainted the darkness with the first signs of dawn, our camp chef was up and preparing food.
"In any case, Molier"s intentions are of no concern. We must thwart him," Akbar insisted, and again it was a struggle not to appear daunted.
"Then I had better eat up, stock up and get back to my tent," I replied, forcing myself to sound enthusiastic. "I still have much work to do."
I had to admit that I did feel better for having food in my belly; my nerves had settled down. My date with destiny was fast approaching and being afraid was not going to make it go away.
Apart from reading the rest of Ashlee"s journal and seeking a new charm, I had also vowed to Lillet to try and find a way to release Albray from his vow to the Elohim Council of Hathor.
"Now don"t stress out," I cautioned myself, despite the workload that had suddenly piled up. "I can do this. I just need to tackle one challenge at a time. Ashlee..." I decided to get the journal out of the way-with a little luck, that would leave me the rest of the day to complete my other objectives.
I pulled the large journal from my bag and placed it on the desk before me. I found my place and began to read.
FROM THE HONEYMOON JOURNAL OF LADY SUSAN DEVERE.
I insisted on waiting for Ashlee on the dock at Ostia-I would not go anywhere without first warning her of my concerns about Molier. I suspected that he, too, was a powerful psychic, and that when he had abducted and imprisoned me he had probed my mind for information about my dear sister-in-law. I personally had found his presence very unnerving and, whatever his intention toward Ashlee, I knew deep in my gut that his purpose was malign.
My stubbornness dismayed my husband and Cingar, who both insisted that I would do well to stick with the plan and board my transport home. The ship would be departing port in but a few hours.
My wait proved to be of no avail, as when Ashlee and her husband disembarked from Molier"s ship they were in such a hurry to get to their own vessel that they would not listen to what I had to say.
"I am so sorry, Susan," Ashlee said, already on board the rowboat that would take her to her ship. "We have no time to waste. Cingar will show you to your transport," she advised once again, while Mr Devere had untied the rowboat.
"You are not leaving without me," Cingar insisted, jumping aboard before my brother-in-law could push off.
"Don"t be ludicrous, Cingar!" Ashlee was annoyed at him. "Jessenia is awaiting you on sh.o.r.e. What will your new wife think when you don"t show?"
"She knows of my decision to accompany you all the way to the East," Cingar argued.
"But who shall see my kin to their boat?"
"I am not entirely useless," Lord Devere said. "We are capable of seeing ourselves to the vessel."
"There you have it." Cingar took a seat, not to be moved, and my sister-in-law did not waste time arguing.
"Then let us depart." She gave Devere the nod to push off and waved to me. "I"ll see you in Europe soon, I promise."
Dutifully, I accompanied my husband to our ship, but inside I felt I was letting our kin down. "So, that is that, the adventure is over." I spoke my mind, no longer able to bite my tongue.
"Well, that is hardly something to be disappointed about." My lord seemed surprised by my melancholy. "I had rather thought you might be relieved."
"I would have thought so too." I saw his point and could not explain my contrary feelings. "But...must we return home? Could we not see the quest through to its end?"
"My dear Lady Devere," my husband was now sounding a little annoyed, "have you forgotten that we do have responsibilities to our shire and to the queen?"
"Yes, of course." I forced a smile. "How silly of me." I had no chance of competing with my lord"s duties and thus I resigned myself to our lot, which I had happily agreed to when I had married Lord Devere.
"I"m sorry, my love." My husband could clearly see my discontent. "You know I will always grant you anything that it is within my power to give, but by the time we return we will have already extended our honeymoon, and-"
"I know," I interrupted, heartened that he cared about my feelings. "Our sister is in good hands with your brother and Cingar," I reasoned. "I"m sure they can handle any problems that might arise better than I."
My lord smiled and kissed my hand, thankful for my understanding and support, and I was glad to give it.
"My Lord and Lady Devere?" A man"s voice addressed us from the shadows of the darkened dock-front buildings.
"Who wishes to know?" My husband swept me behind himself as he turned to seek our stalker.
An older gentleman came forward onto the dockside, holding a lantern high so that we might see his face. "My name is Lord Edward Malory."
My husband frowned in recognition. "I know you. You were an a.s.sociate of my father"s."
The gentleman nodded in confirmation.
"And of my brother," Lord Devere added, rather more suspiciously.
"Yes, I believe we had the pleasure of meeting at your wedding, Lord Oxford." The gentleman ventured closer, but my husband did not make a move. He remained in front of me and on his guard.
"What on earth are you doing here in Ostia, Lord Malory?" my lord asked, although I felt he already knew what the answer would be.
"I have been pursuing your brother, Mr Earnest Devere, and his new wife. I have urgent and grave news to deliver. Do you know where I might find them?" The lord stopped a few feet from us, closely examining my husband"s expression.
"I cannot help you, I"m afraid. My brother and I have had a falling out and have parted ways," Lord Devere answered without hesitation. "He did not say where he was bound. And as I am due to catch a ship back to France, I"m afraid you must excuse us. Good day." My lord grabbed my hand and began to lead me up the dock, but we suddenly found ourselves confronted by a row of men.
"I am sorry to have to delay your voyage home, my Lord Devere," Lord Malory approached us once more, as his men closed in around us, "but I believe my urgency is greater than yours."
"Here we go again," my husband muttered to me, clearly fed up with the affairs of secret societies.
I must admit that while I was a little apprehensive of this turn of events, inside I was smiling, as it seemed our adventure was not over yet.
FROM THE TRAVEL JOURNALS OF MRS ASHLEE DEVERE.
Once Cingar, Devere and I were safely aboard our vessel and bound for our next destination-Napoli, only a day or so away-I beseeched Albray and my husband to enlighten me about the ladies of the Elohim Council, from whom I had drawn the power to repel Molier.
As a daughter of the Blood, you will, upon your death, automatically become a member of this council, albeit a junior one. You"ll join the like of Isis, Lilith, Neith, Sarai, Hatshepsut, Nefert.i.ti, Mary Magdalene and the princess-priestesses of her line, and many others whose bloodline descends from the Great Mother, Hathor. For, whatever the dilution... Albray looked from me to my husband and back again Albray looked from me to my husband and back again ...the blood of the G.o.ds runs through your veins. In short, you have the Gene of Isis in your atomic structure. ...the blood of the G.o.ds runs through your veins. In short, you have the Gene of Isis in your atomic structure.
"Does your priestess abide among the esteemed members of this council?" I wondered, as Albray had mentioned his beloved was of my line. I wish I had stopped to think, for the mention of his lost love was clearly distressing.
No, he said quietly. he said quietly. She has elected to remain in the sub-planes of the astral realm, closer to the physical world, for she has unfinished business in the land of the living. She has elected to remain in the sub-planes of the astral realm, closer to the physical world, for she has unfinished business in the land of the living.
"Much like you, Albray," I noted.
Very much like me, he concurred solemnly. he concurred solemnly.
"So you have seen her since death?" d.a.m.n my curiosity, but the occult subject matter was so fascinating!
I only make contact when some event arises that involves both of us. It is painful for us, you understand. He was letting me know he was reluctant to discuss it any further. He was letting me know he was reluctant to discuss it any further.
"We understand, Albray." Devere excused him from saying any more. When I looked at my husband to reprimand him for his interference, he reprimanded me instead. "I used to think it was just me you tortured, but now I see that you know how to torture every every man in your life." man in your life."
I gaped at my accuser, then conceded his point.
I turned back to Albray. "My apologies for any anguish I might have caused you...you were saying about the council?"
Ah yes... my knight was clearly pleased by the change in subject, but had to take a moment to recall where he was up to in his tutorial. my knight was clearly pleased by the change in subject, but had to take a moment to recall where he was up to in his tutorial. Your foremothers will aid and protect you during any quest you undertake on their behalf, Your foremothers will aid and protect you during any quest you undertake on their behalf, Albray explained. Albray explained. There is also a council of male Elohim who aid the sons of the blood. Their council is not accessed via the site in the Sinai, however, but through the other Ark, the one removed from the Holy Land during the first crusade and hidden on the Continent by St Bernard"s Children of Solomon There is also a council of male Elohim who aid the sons of the blood. Their council is not accessed via the site in the Sinai, however, but through the other Ark, the one removed from the Holy Land during the first crusade and hidden on the Continent by St Bernard"s Children of Solomon-a Masonic brotherhood in France.
"The other Ark?" Both Devere and myself picked up on the knight"s choice of words.
"Are you saying there was more than one Ark of the Covenant?" I asked, fascinated by this turn in Albray"s tale.
Albray nodded.
"And that the Ark of the ladies of the Elohim is still housed at the site in the Sinai?"
That is what I believe, yes, Albray confirmed. Albray confirmed. But I, personally, have never seen it, neither has any man living who has not had a death wish. But I, personally, have never seen it, neither has any man living who has not had a death wish.
"So why should it be a concern that Molier might gain access to this treasure if it will surely kill him?" I wondered.
Molier is no longer just a man, nor is he a G.o.d. He is not counted among the living, but is one of the undead. He exists outside cosmic law in a chaotic state of his own making. He believes he knows of a way to gain access to the Ark without risking total obliteration, and I shall not hazard him the opportunity to be proven right.
Satisfied with this explanation for the time being, and not wanting to enter into another mystery entirely, I thanked Albray and dismissed him. I had decided to confide in my husband about a few things I had been keeping secret and I was not sure Albray would approve of my course of action.
"This is the memoir of Lord and Lady Hereford." I produced the huge volume from my travel bag and dumped it in Devere"s lap. "Unfortunately, I have not had a chance to read very much of it during the course of this journey, but I believe it could contain relevant information concerning our final destination in the Sinai."
Devere was delighted and opened the book to peruse the contents, but was distracted from the text when he noticed me undressing. "What is on your mind, Mrs Devere?" He smiled, misinterpreting my intent.
"You wanted to know all my secrets." I removed my shirt and turned my back on him, so that he might undo my corset. "If you would be so kind."
He obliged me, a little puzzled to note the extra padding of the corset, and was smiling broadly when I removed it to expose my fully naked torso. My husband reached out to caress my b.r.e.a.s.t.s, which had not been exposed to him since our nights of pa.s.sion at the Chateau de Vere. During our encounter at the gypsy camp, we"d been in too much of a hurry to bother fully undressing. "Not so fast," I teased, as I turned the corset upside down and shook the hidden contents onto the bed.
As the gold coins and precious stones cascaded onto our bunk, Devere"s jaw dropped. "Where on earth...?"
"This was my personal insurance policy from Lord Hereford," I confessed. "I knew that if I declared this gift to you when we married then it automatically belonged to you. Well," I summed up, "now it does."
Devere was lost for words.
"There you have it." I pulled on my shirt and sat on the bed beside him. "All my secrets." Except for the one that I carried inside me, but at this early stage of my pregnancy most women could claim blissful ignorance.
"There is a small fortune here." Devere fingered the jewels, and the coins in different currencies.
"Certainly enough to get us to the Sinai and back again," I proffered.
"Several times over." He gathered the treasure and returned it to the pockets inside the corset. "I cannot claim it. Hereford gave this to you and so it shall remain yours."
"But, legally, I was wrong to keep it from you," I protested.
"Then you keep it safe for us." He handed me back the fully loaded corset. "If we need it, I"ll let you know."
"No, I cannot let you squander your inheritance on this mission any longer," I insisted. "This is my quest and I shall pay."
"I promised you extensive travel." Devere was just as insistent. "I intend to keep my word."
His resolute manner melted my heart. "I do love you, Mr Devere." I slid closer to him.
"And I love you, Mrs Devere." He kissed me tenderly and placed the corset aside to take advantage of my semi-naked state. Making love on a ship suited us perfectly, for almost everything was nailed down and so less chance of breakage.
FROM THE HONEYMOON JOURNAL OF LADY SUSAN DEVERE.
Five days after departing the port of Ostia, Lord Devere and I found ourselves off the coast of Malta.
You see, Lord Malory already suspected that our in-laws were headed toward the Sinai. He had decreed that we would all make the journey if my husband and I were not prepared to be forthcoming with information about our kin"s preferred route and hidden agenda.
We may have been the captives of Lord Malory, but we were treated as honoured guests and the vessel was even more luxurious than Molier"s. There was obviously a lot of money being channelled into these secret brotherhoods, for their great fortune was clearly reflected in their a.s.sets.
Lord Malory visited us in our cabin"s lounge, just as he had when we"d pa.s.sed by every other major port along our route to the East. He came to tempt us with the prospect of disembarking at this port and seeking transport back to our homeland if we were prepared to tell all.
"How many times do I have to tell you? I have no interest whatsoever in my brother"s occult pursuits," my husband insisted, keeping to his story, and for all I knew he wasn"t lying. "Thus, I had precious little reason to inquire after his travel arrangements."
We had had this conversation quite a few times now.
Malory said that one reason he was so eager to find our sister-in-law was to inform her that her father had taken ill. The Scottish lord also said that he suspected Ashlee could be in danger from what he described as "an abomination of nature". I could only presume the lord was referring to the unearthly personality of Christian Molier and my guess had been confirmed with a nod. My husband then demanded to know why Malory had not waited for Molier to return to Ostia, where Lord Malory"s private army could have vanquished the threat to our sister before Molier got anywhere near her.
But Lord Malory, who had admitted to being the Grand Master of the brotherhood to which Mr Devere belonged, did not want to prevent our sister and Molier from meeting in the Sinai. The Grand Master was well aware of Ashlee"s miraculous talents and her activities over the years, having been kept well informed by my father, Lord Eric Cavandish, and my aunt, Lady Charlotte, the Dowager Countess of Derby. Malory"s task was to prepare Ashlee for the confrontation. His brotherhood believed that Ashlee"s powerful and pure psychic talent could only have been sent into the world to oppose an equally powerful impure force which had been set free in the world at roughly the same time as her birth.
Lord Hamilton, who had also been a member of the secret brotherhood, had confessed to his Grand Master that he had inadvertently released an ancient, and seemingly malevolent, creature from an underground chamber on Mt Serabit. Lord Malory believed that the creature had a.s.sumed the ident.i.ty of Christian Molier.
"What are you saying? Molier is an evil spirit?" My husband and I struggled to accept the credibility of the lord"s claim.
"No, we believe he is what might be termed undead." We were corrected and, quite frankly, left twice as disbelieving.
Needless to say, my husband was not impressed by the description. "This is starting to sound like a bad vampire novel."
Malory informed us that Mt Serabit had a long and ill.u.s.trious history. All the secret knighthoods that had proliferated around the time of the first crusade into the Holy Land believed the mount contained many unearthly treasures capable of being used to perform great feats of good or evil.
Malory explained that he suspected Lord Hereford had taken one such treasure, although Hamilton would never admit to it. Our captor also suspected that, before the Viscount of Herefordshire had died, he"d entrusted this treasure to my sister-in-law"s safekeeping. This was why Molier was so keen to find our kinswoman; at least, that was Lord Malory"s theory.
I put two and two together to conclude that Malory was the man Ashlee had accused of murdering Lord Hamilton and so I found his story a little too convenient. "Lord Hereford may have given such a treasure to our sister-in-law before he was disposed of by your colleagues, don"t you mean?" I said boldly, and Malory seemed genuinely stunned by my accusation.
"Lord Hereford died of natural causes, I a.s.sure you, Lady Devere," he defended. "I"ll admit that I was aware of Lord Hereford"s death before the fact, for it was your aunt, Lady Charlotte, who prophesied that Miss Granville would marry Mr Devere, and that there would be an obstruction to the union which would resolve itself. I tried to warn Hereford of this, but he wouldn"t listen. Is it that meeting that gave you reason to suspect my order"s involvement?"
"Don"t answer that," my husband intervened. "Whatever the truth behind Lord Hereford"s demise, it is my belief that you secret society fanatics are as certifiable and obsessed as each other!" Lord Devere stated his belief in no uncertain terms.