“How can you say that? You could help us end this now before more lives are lost. We could stop him and end this war. How many Masters must die? How many places of power must fall? What is the line he has not crossed that will bring you into this war?” Merlin asked him.
“There is no line. I will not help you kill. Many centuries ago, when I was younger, I held the lives of a kingdom in my hand. I served as their liege and their judge. I have sent many soldiers to die in battle and many criminals to die at the hand of an executioner. I had power and position and that was not happiness. Do you know where I found happiness?” Solomon asked him.
“I found it in the laughter of my children and grandchildren. I found it in watching young couples finding love. I found it in watching the flowers bloom and grow in my gardens. I once planted a tree and tended it personally until it bore fruit for many years then withered and died, only to be replaced by another tree. You would do well to see that which is before you. You spoke of Masters and power but not of the people. What of the people you protect?” asked Solomon.
“They are peasants. Their lot in life is to toil and die. They are beneath us and not worth the time it takes to notice them. We are Masters and must be concerned with larger things. We shape and mold the world not individual lives,” Merlin replied.
“But are those individual lives not affected by that shaping? What a small matter of effort it is to shape it something more apt to the lives of mortals. We are not above them. We are beneath them,” Solomon said.
“Beneath them? How could we possibly be beneath a mortal?” asked Merlin.
“They have limited time yet still they build, they create, they explore, they love, they live, and they learn. We would do well to learn those lessons. In the vastness of time, we get idle. We can afford the luxury of waiting. If you don't like a ruler he will eventually die. The mortals, however, can't wait for that. They rebel against tyrants. Sometimes it fails, and they die but still, they try. They do while we do not,” Solomon replied.
“And what have we done? I have killed dragons and toppled tyrants by myself. How many lives were saved by that action? They know this and pay me the respect and adulation I deserve,” Merlin replied.
“Paying homage to a man who could crush them and does great deeds only for the acknowledgment of the masses is not deserving of respect. The shepherd who faces a wolf is a brave man. A Master who slays a dragon for the worship of the peasants is not,” Solomon told him bluntly.
“You would risk my ire with such rudeness? I have invited you into my home and offered you a seat on my Council and you return the favor with insults?” Merlin said as his anger grew.
“I have no fear of you. You are powerful. This is true but so am I. Should we battle you may be victorious, or you may not but battle we will not. As I have told you I no longer seek violence. I have often been called wise and if that is so, then in my wisdom I think you need to hear the truth though I suspect it will do you no good,” Solomon told Merlin, remaining as calm as ever despite Merlin's rising temper.
“But I do fear I have worn out my welcome for this visit and will take my leave of you. Should your Council head my advice and seek to craft the Seal then I shall come. It is only a long day's ride by griffin,” Solomon told him.
“I could teleport you and save time,” Merlin told him.
“I would lose the opportunity to see the Mediterranean from the viewpoint of a cloud. It's a breathtaking experience. You should try it sometime,” Solomon said. He then nodded his head and walked away.
Merlin stood fuming but said nothing.
#
The pair teleported into a chamber of some sort. It was made of weathered stone with pagan symbols and statuary adorning it. The air was still and musky as if fresh air hadn't circulated here in a very long time. The stone's mosaic patterns were intricate and of an architectural origin neither could identify.
“Where are we?” Sebastian asked Chelsea.
“I have no idea. I don't even know how we got here,” she replied.
“I feel odd. My skin is tingling and feels warm and cold at the same time if that's even possible. We were in Greenland now we're...here,” he said sounding confused.
“I feel the same way. I can't explain it. We teleported I think. Do you think Morgana did it?” Chelsea asked sounding equally confused.
“I don't think so. She must be in contact with someone to teleport them. Maybe Alexander has some tech on that island we don't know about. There have been rumors for decades that the military had such devices. Totally false of course. I had the clearance to know. What if the private sector does?” he said more to himself than to her.
“Or maybe we're not wanting to accept the obvious. Maybe one of us did it. It's possible. It's old magic, Morgana taught Merlin indirectly and Alexander as well. Maybe it's Atlantean magic and we somehow know it,” she pondered.
“Maybe but I wouldn't know how to repeat it and now we're here, wherever here is,” he said as he started towards the only exit from the room.
As he started to walk through the doorway, Chelsea stopped him. “We don't know where we are. This place could be dangerous,” she said.
“It doesn't feel dangerous. It feels calm, peaceful. Besides, we can handle anything that might be hiding in the darkness,” he said and smiled at her.
She relaxed. His smile always had that effect on her. He spoke a Latin phrase and light filled the room they were in and the one ahead of them.
He walked into the next room and it was large compared to the one they left. The patterns and décor were the same only on a much bigger scale. Massive statues lined the walls, each at least twice the height of a man and the walls half again taller than that. The ceiling was domed and covered in shiny, colored tiles of some form that caught the light from Sebastian's spell and scattered it around the room then breaking it into colored beams that focused on each of the statues, a different color for each.
“The architecture is intricate. The people who built this were masters of their craft. The tiles are angled so no matter where the light source, they continue to focus on the statues,” Sebastian said as he moved around.
“I suspect it's a bit of magic as well. I'm no expert on optics but some of those angles look impossible,” Chelsea replied.
The two continued to walk around the room, examining the statues and patterns. The roof was supported by columns several feet in diameter carved with a language neither of them recognized but were able to read nonetheless.
“It's a temple to Sheba, queen of Saba. I would say that was just a myth, but myth is reality lately,” said Chelsea as she read a column.
“So is this one,” replied Sebastian. “It's a dedication to her power and greatness. Whoever wrote this revered her.”
“This one is a story of her lovers. It mentions Solomon,” Chelsea told him as she examined the column.
“Saba would mean we're in Yemen or Turkey if I remember my ancient history correctly. Some of the old legends had King Solomon and Queen Sheba as lovers. Others show them as allies and some as just rulers of kingdoms near each other that had a cordial relationship. This column would indicate lovers. It would appear this is a temple dedicated to her.”
“Or maybe not,” said Sebastian as he looked at one of the columns. “I was never one for ancient cultures and religions and wouldn't dispute anything you said but this column indicates this isn't a temple but a tomb. It states this place is the lover's rest or could be read as the resting place of the lover. You don't think...”
“Everything we have in the archives says Solomon is somewhere in Jerusalem, but we've not been able to find even a trace of him. We've searched every temple and tomb we could find in the city and most of the region and not a trace has been found. This makes no sense though. By the time of the Seal, Saba had been gone for centuries and nothing, but legend remained of it,” Chelsea said.
“This one tells the story of the construction of this place. It says the arch
itects would raise their voices in a glorious chorus and descend into the underworld. What the hell does that mean?” asked Sebastian.
Chelsea smiled at him. “How's your singing voice? I only know a few old songs.” She didn't wait for a reply and started singing. Her voice was clear and crisp and echoed through the room building volume.
“Oh Danny Boy, the pipes, the pipes are calling.
From glen to glen and down the mountain side.
The summer's gone, and all the roses falling.
It's you, It's you, must go, and I must abide.”
He stopped her. “That's amazing. You're voice...it's beautiful. Why haven't you ever told me you could sing?”
“It never came up. I took lessons as a little girl but then after my parents were...I didn't really want to sing anymore,” she told him.
“You're very good. What's that song?” Sebastian asked.
“It's a very old song. It's from England I think but I'm not sure. My music teacher liked that sort of old stuff,” Chelsea told him. “Did you hear the echo? It was getting louder.”
“This room is an amplifier of some kind,” he replied.
She started singing again.
“Oh Danny Boy, the pipes, the pipes are calling.
From glen to glen and down the mountain side.
The summer's gone, and all the roses falling.
It's you, It's you, must go, and I must bide.
But come ye back when summer's in the meadow.
Or when the valley's hushed and white with snow.
I'll be here in Sunshine or in Shadow
Oh Danny Boy, Oh Danny Boy, I love you so.”
With each word, her voice became louder and louder. The room started vibrating. She kept going.
“But if you come, and all the flowers are dying,
And I am dead, as dead I well may be.
You'll come and find the place where I am lying.
And kneel and say an "Ave" there for me.
And I will know, tho' soft ye tread above me
And then my grave will richer, sweeter be.
And you'll bend down and tell me that you love me
And I will rest in peace until you come to me.”
The vibration in the room was at a crescendo where the statues were vibrating to the point they might fall over. The roof was shaking the hardest. The beams of colored light were flickering and no longer shining on their targets. As the vibration escalated to the point it felt the room would shake apart the lights slowly moved and focused on a center point. What was only stone before was illuminated and a large iris was in the center of the room. The statues began to sink into the ground and as they did so, the iris slowly opened revealing a spiral staircase downward.
She looked over at Sebastian and he was wiping a tear from his eye.
“Are you okay?” she asked.
“It's just from the sound waves. They irritated my eyes,” he replied.
“You don't have to lie to me. It's a sad song and despite all your bluster you're a big softy,” she said as she wiped away the tear and then kissed him. “I'll make you a deal. If we find a way out of here I'll sing for you anytime you want.”
“Smart, strong, sexy, talented, powerful...how did I ever end up with someone like you?” he asked as he held her and looked in her eyes.
“Oh, you know. Atlantis was an old kingdom so I'm sure it was some arranged marriage and we didn't have a choice then the dragon did its thing and now you're stuck with me,” she said with a grin.
“Yea, that must be it. Just an arranged marriage and now I just can't get away from you,” he said smiling.
“Do you want to?” she said with a pouty look.
“Not in a million lifetimes,” he replied and pulled her closer.
“I know what you're thinking and I'm thinking it too, but we need to focus. We don't know where we are other than somewhere on the Arabian Peninsula and so far, haven't found a way out. The only exit we have found goes further down. The air is stale so there might not be fresh air. We should wait until later,” she told him.
“You're right. Let's see what's down the stairs then,” he said.
The stairs descended for what felt like several hundred feet. They turned into a hallway that ended in a large stone door that wouldn't open.
“I've knocked down military grade reinforced doors, I don't think some stone will stop me,” he told her.
“Wait. Maybe there's a less destructive method,” Chelsea told him. She went over to the door and knocked on it. As she did the door hummed and then slowly creaked open. “Merlin might be a piece of shit, but he did teach us a few tricks.”
They felt fresh air rush in as the door opened and they could hear water running from somewhere in the distance. They walked through the door and into a natural cavern hundreds of feet across. A stream ran through the middle of it. They could see glowing fish swimming in the water and the entire cavern had an eerie dim light from a phosphorescent lichen covering the stone face of the cavern's walls.
A group of rodent-like creatures was nearby. They were larger than a cat and had numerous whiskers the length of their bodies that appeared to be prehensile and were constantly scraping the ground in front and to the sides of the creatures. They were completely white and had no eyes. Any time they found a patch of the glowing lichen, they ate it.
Above them, they could hear a noise that echoed that was reminiscent of a bat's clicking. The two of them jumped back and instinctively drew their weapons when a small stalagmite of several inches fell from the cavern roof and landing amongst the rodents, impaling one of them.
They were amazed to see the stalactite was alive. What appeared to be stone were large wings wrapped around the body of a creature that was a bizarre mix of stone, reptile, and bird. It pulled its stony beak out of the rodent then snatched it up and flew back to the ceiling.
Chelsea conjured a shield over them. “They don't look large enough to kill us, but those beaks could do some damage if they hit just right,” she said.
“Good thinking,” he replied.
They were standing near the stream and in addition to the fish, they could see numerous other creatures in the water including what looked like a serpentine creature that was chasing the glowing fish.
“There's an entire, self-contained ecosystem here. I bet no one has stepped foot in here since that door sealed it. Over there!” Chelsea said excitedly and pointed to a structure in the middle of the cavern. “That's not a natural occurrence.”
They cautiously made their way over to the structure. It was a cubic structure about ten feet on each side. It was unadorned and seemed to be made of solid stone. There were no seams of any kind.
“You know when we were at Stonehenge recently and Boudicca somehow opened a hole in the Sarsen. Do you think we could replicate that?” Sebastian asked Chelsea.
“I don't know if we could, but we would have to know what she did first,” Chelsea replied.
“She considers all things in nature to be part of life. Maybe she just had it sort of grow open. She likes to use metaphors relating to the cycle of life. What if that was creating a birth canal for the stone? Instead of letting them out it let us in,” Sebastian said.
“It's an idea. It's better than anything I've come up with and if that's hollow and he's inside...we're both thinking it...we can't just smash it open,” Chelsea told him.
“I guess this is my job. I’m a vessel, remember,” she said with a laugh. “Boudicca and her metaphors.”
Chelsea cleared her mind. She pictured the stone as a living creature. She focused the image of the stone and gave it a mental form of a womb. As she did so, she extended her own life energy out and over the stone. She pictured the womb giving birth and let herself flow into the stone. She felt her stomach contract and pain wracked her. As the contraction relaxed she heard the stone creak. She felt another contraction and stone started cracking. After a third, an aperture appeared and grew larger. A fourth contr
action, stronger than the others made her cry out and break the spell.
“Boudicca is one tough woman to do that without showing signs of pain if that's how she does it,” Chelsea said as she held her abdomen. She felt Sebastian's mind touch hers and draw much of the pain into himself.
“Thank you,” she said as he helped her up. “The opening is big enough to get through.”
She walked over to the stone and stopped a moment. “Do you realize we're about to crawl through a giant stone vagina?”
“I'm trying really hard not to have that image in my head,” Sebastian said.
“Wouldn't it be more of a uterus?” he asked after he thought about it a moment.
Chelsea laughed at him as she peered inside. As the light flooded the small room, they saw a crystal sarcophagus in the center of it.
They went over to it and peered inside and saw Solomon resting quietly. They quickly broke the four power cells and removed the lid.
Solomon opened his eyes and looked up at the two of them. “Arthur...Guinevere...hello,” he said as he sat up. “You look strange. Your hair and attire are not the same and your eyes...you are you but not you. I believe you have much to tell me,” he said and paused a moment while he stared at them. “You are troubled. Perhaps it is I that have much to tell you.”
“Solomon!” Chelsea exclaimed as she helped him up and out of the chamber. “We've been looking for you for months.”
“I can assure you I have not been eluding you,” the man replied.
“How did you get here?” asked Sebastian.
The Vanguard Page 24
