I was so tired, so weary of thought and emotion that sleep came swiftly.
The vivid colours and the lush provincial landscape sparked my recollection of seeing Albray kneeling before a woman dressed in scarlet by a fountain.
Lillet! I realised that I was going to see the priestess. I realised that I was going to see the priestess.
I feared for a moment that Albray, having been spurned by me, had turned to the past love of his life for comfort, but when I reached the ivy-covered stone walls where a gate granted entry to the priestess" garden, I found Lillet alone.
"Please." The dark-haired beauty invited me to sit on the side of the fountain with her.
"Lillet du Lac?" I sought confirmation.
"Mia Montrose," she said, completing the introductions, letting me know she was well aware who I was. "I wish to tell you the rest of my story, if you will hear it."
I sat myself down beside her, somewhat stunned by the concern that filled her voice and radiated from her being. Lillet felt like an old friend that I had not seen in some time, and she seemed well disposed toward me also, even though we had never met.
"I have long regretted ever putting ink to that parchment you read today," the priestess admitted, "for it is incomplete without the second scroll, and seriously misleading in many regards."
"You seem a very different person to the woman who penned that account. I had expected you to be more..." I tried to think of a mild way of putting it so as not to offend my hostess"...forbidding."
Lillet smiled to concede my intuition was fair. "During that time I was completely filled with my own self-importance. I believed that I had reached spiritual perfection, when in fact all I had achieved was a profound lack of tolerance for the rest of humanity. I l.u.s.ted after the divine liberation of death, and failed to realise what it was to truly live and care and love."
"But the faith and holy order in which you were raised had a lot to do with that, surely?" I tried to justify her actions.
"My faith should have instilled a sense of unconditional compa.s.sion, love and, thus, wisdom in me, but none of these fine qualities did I display during my quest for our foremothers."
"But you see your failings now, so somewhere along the road you must have had an awakening?" I said, as she was clearly repentant and wiser now.
"I wish I could say I came to my senses through my own observations." She lowered her eyes, and had a moment to regain her composure and look at me once more. "It took a heart-wrenching lesson to make me realise my ignorance and lack of judgement, for in truth I had no right to be judgemental of anyone."
"But the incident in Antioch, when you found Albray-"
Lillet was shaking her head. There was no need for me to finish the sentence as she obviously knew where my accusation was leading. "He was only protecting me from myself and had already warned me that he would do so. Do you not recall his prediction after consuming the Highward Fire-Stone?"
I had read so much today that I had trouble recalling this part of her story. Lillet refreshed my memory.
"Our love shall never be realised," he told me. He went on to say that he realised that if I submitted to my feelings for him, it would destroy everything I had worked my whole life to achieve. He also said that he would take steps to curtail his feelings. The way he sabotaged our relationship that night made it easy for me to shun him and any feelings I might have been entertaining regarding him. Albray knew that I would seek him that night and had I found him alone, I would have surely forsaken the sacred vows of my order."
"And would that have been such a bad thing?" I asked her.
"In retrospect," Lillet paused and smiled briefly, "I think not. However, at the time, I feel sure I would have regretted forsaking the ideals I held sacred for one night of pa.s.sion. Such a moment of weakness would have caused me to question my worthiness to continue the sacred quest I had been a.s.signed. Our feelings for each other were a threat to our goal and the clarity bestowed by the Highward Fire-Stone substance made Albray realise this."
Her understanding stemmed from more than idle speculation; there was an authority in her statements that only came from true awareness. Did death award each soul complete knowledge of all the errors made in their life? That theory would certainly explain the difference between the knight I had come to know as Albray, and the knight that Lillet had known.
"Albray has not changed so much," Lillet informed me, perceiving my inner thoughts as readily as the questions I verbalised. "It is only my perception of him that has changed. He was always as gallant and loyal as he is now, but because I distrusted him, most of his heroism went unrealised by myself until it was too late." Again Lillet turned away from me to restrain her feelings of regret and hurt.
"You were the death of him?" I had remembered another of Albray"s predictions, recorded in Lillet"s writings.
She nodded. "Had I been capable of caring for another human being more than myself, I might have seen the truth of my situation, but as it was I didn"t have any doubt that Molier was the true guide sent to me by Marie de Saint-Clair. It wasn"t until we finally reached the temple ruins in the Sinai that the penny finally dropped."
Our caravan scaled the rocky mount of Serabit el-Khadim slowly. Camels may not have been as accommodating as horses, but they were the transport for the obscure route we had chosen. We had followed the King"s Road down the inland side of the Dead Sea, and turned at Kerak into the desert wilderness to cut across country to Nekhl at the top of the Sinai. From Nekhl, only the Bedouins knew the route to the ruined temple of Hathor on Mt Serabit, which was the reported place of origin of my treasure.
The story I"d been taught was that after Hugh de Payens discovered the Covenant, hidden in a vault complex beneath the Temple of Jerusalem during the first crusade, he also found doc.u.mentation regarding a second Ark. This was hidden deep in the Sinai at the original mount where both Arks had been fashioned. The temple complex of Serabit el-Khadim was dedicated to the Egyptian G.o.ddess Hathor, who the secret orders would later refer to as "The Gold Beneath the G.o.ds and the Electron beneath the G.o.ddesses"-code for the protector of the temple of the Fire-Stone vial and the Highward Fire-Stone vial. A mission was launched by the knights under de Payens" command to seek out this Star-Fire temple and secure the second Ark. The knights uncovered the secret pa.s.sage, and even discovered the key to unlocking the Star-Fire complex in the ruined temple of Hathor above the pa.s.sage. The men sustained heavy losses when many of them attempted to enter the underground complex without a woman to lead them in. Word was sent back to de Payens in Jerusalem of his knights" failure to enter the temple. A high priestess of my order and bloodline, Lilith del Aquae, who had travelled to the Holy City to aid in decoding the ancient scrolls beneath the temple in Jerusalem, volunteered to make the journey to the Sinai. She led the knights into the complex. In her presence the knights were able to penetrate the lower complex without falling victim to an invisible sonic burst that emanated from deep within the temple and literally knocked the life out of any man who attempted to descend the entrance path without a female in his company. It was discovered that a lever, just beyond the lower temple entrance, needed to be engaged to flood the pits in the outer chamber with a flammable liquid to stop the beetles from gaining access. Once the pits of the outer chamber of the temple were set ablaze, paths could be followed to the two side chambers. One of these housed the Star vial and the other contained the Fire vial, both of which could only be removed by the priestess. There was one other door that lay directly opposite the entrance of the outer temple chamber, and this was opened by placing the two vials in the carved s.p.a.ces alongside the ma.s.sive golden doors.
An inscription warned that no mortal man must enter the Ark chamber, but the knights of de Payens ignored the warning, instructing the priestess to open the doors. All the men who witnessed the opening of this chamber were said to have perished in a blaze of light. When the priestess emerged to confront the remaining members of the company of knights, she advised them that the second Ark had been discovered but would not be moved from its resting place-given that any man who tried to enter would die.
The door to the secret temple complex was again sealed and buried in dirt and sand. The knights left for Jerusalem with the keys to the Ark chamber in the safekeeping of Lilith del Aquae. Their party was ambushed by Arab a.s.sa.s.sins, who killed the priestess during the attack, along with most of the knights. But these Arab defenders of the Star-Fire Temple did not succeed in capturing the vials. One knight escaped and took the vials to de Payens in Jerusalem. It was decided that the keys should be transported back to Languedoc to my sacred order for safekeeping. The Order of Sion may not have gained possession of the second Ark, but as long as my order held the keys, n.o.body else could utilise the Ark"s great destructive powers either.
As we neared our destination, I was sick with worry about how I would open the gateway to the complex we sought, given that Devere still had possession of the Star vial. Secretly, I was hoping that he was pursuing our party-the Star vial alone was useless to him, as the Fire vial alone was to us. Ideally, he would be captured before Molier"s knights had a chance to fully excavate the gateway. Failing this, I knew from the legend I had been taught that there was a supply of the sacred Star substance hidden somewhere in the ruined Temple of Hathor. Perhaps I could discover it before I was forced to confess that Devere had stolen the Star vial from me? Molier and his knights would not be at all amused if they discovered we"d travelled through harsh desert conditions only to be unable to enter the temple. Even if we did manage to open the complex, returning only one of the vials would not complete my quest. What the h.e.l.l had I been thinking, to not tell Molier the truth back in Antioch?
It was mid-afternoon when we had finally ascended the mount and arrived at the ruins of Hathor, and the sun was at its blistering best. As was usual for the Sinai, there was barely a cloud in the sky. To our great surprise and trepidation the circular gateway to the Star-Fire Temple was not only exposed, but also open! I recognised the gateway from the descriptions in the legends of Lilith del Aquae. They had been told to me many times, so that I would always remember them.
Somebody had reached the site before us, but only I suspected who that somebody was-my relief was as great as my foreboding. Yet, even if Devere had managed to open the gate he could not have entered without a woman in his company-unless, of course, he had found a Bedouin female to oblige him. When last I had seen him, he had certainly charmed at least one local female.
The notion made me incredibly angry, or was I just jealous that another woman had had the pleasure of a.s.sisting in the completion of his quest? Travelling with Molier had been very uneventful and I was grateful for the respect he and his men had shown me, but the truth was I did miss the thrill of Devere"s intoxicating company.
Molier was immediately on his guard. Of the forty knights in our company, he sent half further up the mount, where only a few remnants of the Temple of Hathor protruded out of the solid dirt terrain. It was allegedly a huge complex in ancient times. Behind the few partially exposed stone pillars bearing ancient hieroglyphs was a large rocky mound where a force might hide in ambush.
"Word has it that the order of Melchi a.s.sa.s.sins who murdered Lilith del Aquae are as active and vigilant today as they ever were, so we can"t be too careful," Molier explained. "They, too, want what we have." He motioned me toward the open gateway. "So, if you will lead the way, I"ll have the rest of my men stay close to you in case any intruders have entered before us."
Molier ordered our Bedouin guides to stay and watch over the camels and they appeared more than content to do so.
There was a steep path, glimmering red, which led down into the shrine. The path was part of a long round tunnel covered with hieroglyphs.
"It"s solid gold!" commented one of the knights, holding a torch up and illuminating the pa.s.sageway as he trailed Molier and myself down the smooth red path.
"I"d like to know what all these hieroglyphs say," stated another, who sounded more fearful than inspired.
"They speak of the Council of G.o.ddesses for whom this temple was built, over which Hathor-the G.o.ddess of the Desert Mountains of the Dead, G.o.ddess of Fertility and She Who Shines-resides," I informed them, glancing over the ancient language, the learning of which was part of the earliest teachings of my order. "It warns that this is an ancient feminine s.p.a.ce and that the council will only meet in the field of Mfkzt Mfkzt with the daughters of Isis." with the daughters of Isis."
"The field of Mfkzt?" Mfkzt?" queried the knight who"d been so interested in the glyphs. queried the knight who"d been so interested in the glyphs.
"Some say it refers to a dimension of the Blessed-the Realm of the Orbit of Light," I said, "while others think Mfkzt Mfkzt refers to some mineral like gold, or turquoise." refers to some mineral like gold, or turquoise."
"What do you think it means?" the knight ventured to inquire.
"Death-to any man who might be curious enough to try and find out," I stated, although I suspected that the mysterious word referred to both the Bread of Life and to the divine realms to which one would ascend if partaking of it.
"Less chatter," Molier cautioned. "If the enemy lies in wait, let us not advertise our descent."
I sensed Molier was a little unnerved by my comment, which was unusual for a man who was always so sure of himself. I supposed he was aware of the tale of Lilith del Aquae and of the fate of the men who had accompanied her into this shrine-perhaps all these knights knew the tale? Still, we were not here to retrieve the treasures within; we were here to return the stolen and much-prized keys, and so had little to fear.
When we entered the large outer chamber, Molier sent his men off down a stone pathway that led around the circular chamber in both directions. As the men spread out and their torchlight began to fill the huge void, I was stunned by how well the shrine measured up to my expectations. I had formed an image in my mind from the descriptions handed down to me by my people.
The red-gold path we had entered upon flattened out and extended on through the chamber to a circular platform and the same distance again, on the far wall, was an arched door. From the central circular platform another path ran at crossroads across the chamber and the pathway we were walking along, and at each end of the crossroads was a pillared annexe. Concentric circles of sandstone bordered empty pits that were only a few feet deep. Over the central platform was a golden dome that rested on four grand pillars, each depicting a different Egyptian G.o.ddess.
Directly beside where we entered was the large lever that Lilith had activated to rid the complex of the deadly beetles, and Molier flipped it to fill the pits with a foul-smelling fluid.
"Just in case," he commented, making it plain that he was aware of the legend that surrounded this site. Molier then invited me to escort him to the central platform underneath the glorious gold dome of the G.o.ddesses.
"There is n.o.body else here, my lord," reported Molier"s second-in-charge, appearing as eager as the rest of the knights to be given his leave. "We have searched both the annexes."
"Very good," Molier said, and satisfied with the situation, he placed his torch into a hole in one of the pillars, designed for just this purpose. "Distribute your torches around this inner chamber then return to the entrance and guard it."
The knight bowed dutifully, and giving a signal to his men, he placed his torch in another set of wall rings and withdrew, followed closely by the rest of the men.
All that could now be heard was the sound of fluid gushing into the ca.n.a.ls surrounding us and the crackle of the fiery torches.
"Well, my Lady du Lac, it would seem time to fulfil our long and arduous quest. Do you have the vials?"
"I have them," I said, not moving to produce them, even though that was clearly what the lord was expecting. I moved toward the red-pillared annexe; at least I could return one vial to its rightful niche-once it was in place, I was the only one who could retrieve it.
I hadn"t taken two paces when Molier drew his sword, and held it to my throat. "Then produce the keys for me," he suggested.
"Why should you require to see them?" I maintained a cool countenance, despite the waves of fear that were contorting my insides into knots. I did not fear death, but how could I confront my maker when I had not completed my task? "It was your a.s.signment to see me to this destination. The returning of the keys is my task alone."
"Who said anything about returning the keys?" He held out his free hand and folded his fingers inward, repeating the gesture to indicate I should hand the keys to him.
"But surely Marie de Saint-Clair warned you-"
"I don"t work for Marie de Saint-Clair," he hissed, seemingly annoyed that I hadn"t worked that out yet. "No knight worth his salt would serve a woman!"
"So Devere was-"
"Telling the truth all along," he conceded in haste, and impatiently motioned for me to hand him the keys.
My head was spinning. What to do? My heart was breaking for having doubted Devere so many times. I was bombarded with memories of what he"d managed to overcome in order to get me here, and all I had done was make things difficult for him.
"I could just kill you," Molier stated, to shock me out of my daze. "Hand them over," "Hand them over," he articulated slowly, to ensure I knew it would be the last time he would ask. he articulated slowly, to ensure I knew it would be the last time he would ask.
I fished the Fire vial, hanging on a silver chain around my neck, out from inside my shirt. "To use the vials will surely kill you. What can you possibly hope to achieve by possessing them?" I slipped the chain over my head and reluctantly handed the red vial to him.
"Um...immortality," he suggested, as he s.n.a.t.c.hed the vial from me and placed the chain around his own neck.
"Only if you are of the blood," I pointed out and a glimmer of disapproval flashed across his face.
"We"ll see about that when I unlock the Ark." Molier gestured for me to hurry up and hand over the second vial.
"Have you not heard of what befell the men who tried?" I was beginning to wonder if the heat had taken its toll on Molier"s sanity.
"Ah, but I know something that they did not-nor you, for that matter," he teased. "A part of the legend of Lilith del Aquae was conveniently cut out of the official account, by the Grand Master of Sion, and only ever disclosed to the highest initiates of the order, of which I was one. That is before leadership was handed to de Gisors" wh.o.r.e!"
"Tell me the omitted detail," I stalled. I was afraid that he would kill me once he found out I did not have the second key.
Molier laughed at my request. "I hardly think so." He clicked his fingers. "Give it up."
"I don"t have it." I released a heavy sigh, and began mentally preparing myself to die.
Molier"s eyes narrowed; he obviously didn"t believe me. "Strip," he demanded, much to my horror.
"I would never-"
The sharp sword point briefly pierced my skin and a warm trickle ran down my neck. "Think again."
"I swear I don"t have it." I covered the wound, which had brought tears to my eyes.
"Then where is it?" He grabbed hold of my hair in his fist and jerked my neck backwards.
"I have it."
Molier"s gaze shifted to Albray. He was standing on the path that ran around the chamber, between the entrance door and the white-pillared annexe, and he held high a glowing white vial in his hand. "Hand it over or I"ll kill her."
"Come and get it." Albray ran toward the white-pillared annexe and Molier took off in pursuit. If Albray managed to return the vial to its shrine, I was the only one who could retrieve it and thus I was no good to Molier dead.
"Get out, Lillet," Albray shouted to me.
To put more distance between Molier and myself, I ran to the red-pillared doorway to take the path around the wall back to the entrance. I heard Molier curse as I ran, so I a.s.sumed Albray had beaten him to the shrine and had replaced the vial. Molier came speeding out of the white-pillared doorway and, seeing me heading for the exit, he headed off around the path also, hoping to cut me off before I made it to the tunnel entrance. Albray did not pursue Molier around the wall, but went straight ahead toward the central platform and the red-pillared annexe beyond.
Unsure if I could outrun Molier, I changed my course and ran back toward Albray. He embraced me and I was so delighted at his presence and intervention that I wholeheartedly returned the gesture. "I"ve been such a fool!" I blurted out through my tears, with no time to say all that I really wanted to.
"I know," he said forgivingly, just to annoy me, though he did not succeed.
Molier"s pace had slowed, and he came to a stop in front of the exit. "Neither one of you is leaving until I get that other vial."
"The sun will set soon and the gateway will close. The Star vial is now locked safely in its resting place and the a.s.sa.s.sins, who hold your men captive, will bury the gateway as soon as it closes."
"Then I had best kill you quickly." Molier grinned, unfazed.
"As soon as I engage him, run for the exit," Albray whispered in an aside to me.
"I"m not leaving without you," I insisted, for I remembered well enough that Devere had predicted I would be the death of him.
"I"m afraid that is your destiny." He gave me an amorous look, whereupon I kissed him with all the pa.s.sion I possessed.
"Nothing is predestined," I announced, having just rendered one of his predictions null and void.
He smiled lovingly as he backed up toward the central platform and away from me. "I might have lied about the kiss," he confessed and shrugged in apology.
"No," I appealed, wanting nothing more than for him to survive. "Kill me, and then there is nothing more to fight over."
"Never." He turned to confront Molier to see the man gulping down the contents of the Fire vial. "Oh no," Albray said, as Molier replaced the stopper on the vial and then licked the blood-red liquid from the sides of his mouth.