“My name’s Saar, S-A-A-R,” she said, spelling out the letters.
“Who do you represent?” David stopped walking. He knew that he was safer inside the crowded Cathedral.
“Relax David. I’m Aardina’s kid sister and you’re here to meet my Father. He’s waiting in the coffee shop around the corner. It’s not so safe here and I wanted to make sure you weren’t tailed.”
“Was I?”
“No. I’ve been following you since the station and no one’s paid any attention to you. Come on, we’re late and my Father’s not a patient man.”
David could now recognize the same green eyes and fresh features that he saw in Aardina, he knew she was telling the truth. David followed Saar from the Cathedral and into the busy streets. He lost his sense of direction as he concentrated on a story she told of the three Kings. “I was interested in how such a precious object would end up in a German Cathedral? So I researched it.” She continued her explanation as she skipped across a narrow street and darted into another. David followed dutifully. “In 1164, Archbishop Rainald simply asked for them. Frederick Barbarossa was the Holy Roman Emperor at the time. He had acquired the relics as spoils of war from a particularly brutal campaign, waged in Northern Italy. He worried about a political uprising and was happy to donate the relics of the Magi in the hopes that it would secure the loyalty and support of a powerful man. I just love history don’t you?” she said, looking back over her shoulder. Her beaming smile complemented the sparkle in her eyes.
“Is there more?” inquired David.
“That’s the thing about history, there’s always more. In approximately 1199 King Otto gifted three golden crowns to the Church of Cologne. They were made exclusively for the three Magi. They were known as the King of Kings.” Saar stopped abruptly at a store window. She looked at David and pointed inside to a Tee Shirt hanging on a mannequin. The shirt had a design with the city’s coat of arms. “See there,” she said pointing. “Even today on the Cologne coat of arms, it still shows the three golden crowns of the Magi.”
Set against a red banner, at the top of the shield, David could see the outlined design of three golden crowns. Before he could acknowledge the observation Saar had turned and was bounding away. David followed, “Not far now,” she said with normal breath. David was panting a little. They walked through a busy street and without warning Saar was entering into a small coffee shop. It was long and narrow inside. At the far end of the store was a counter where they served the customers. Down the left hand side were tables with people sipping, reading and chatting. Saar walked past the people and approached the short lineup at the counter. David followed, as if being drawn along by some invisible cord. He stopped behind her and she turned to look at him. “What are you having?”
“Black coffee please,” said David.
Saar ordered two coffees and proceeded to the cash register, where she paid. The steaming cups arrived quickly and Saar handed David a cup. She flicked her head in a gesture for David to follow. She walked past a couple of tables before stopping. She looked at the open chair. It was a table for two with the other chair occupied by a man reading a newspaper. He was sipping from his steaming cup of tea. “Sit,” barked Saar.
David sat without asking and was surprised to see Saar walk away. The man folded his newspaper, placing it on the small table. He glanced at David. He was a distinguished looking man with dark hair and grey temples. He looked calm and in control with piercing green eyes. “Who sent you my friend?”
David answered before he thought and was annoyed at himself for doing so, “The Sampan Man.”
“Well then, we should talk. I don’t have much time with you today and I have a lot to tell you. A week ago, someone tried to murder me and now I must go into hiding. They’re looking for an Amulet. They must never find it. They call me the Keeper do you know why?”
David took a sip of his coffee. “The Amulet is made from the sacred sweet smelling wood. It’s from the legend of Osiris, one of the most ancient of Gods. It has healing powers and is a key to another world, when combined with the Golden box. You’re one of the guardians, one of the Servants of Byblos.”
“Shhhhh,” said the man putting a finger to his lips. “Not so loud. Yes, you seem to know the story. Sampan Man has briefed you well.” The man’s eyes darted from left to right, surveying the surroundings. “We’ve used many associations over the centuries. They’ve helped us to disguise the Servants. The Druidic Order is one of the enduring ones. We have three Arch Druids living today. We’ve all progressed through many levels of wisdom and training and have specific responsibilities. Sampan Man is the Soul Collector. He has wisdom and access to knowledge far beyond a normal person’s comprehension. Two years ago, he was traced and identified as the Soul Collector. The Order of the Serpent tried to kidnap him while on a business trip to London. It became obvious to us that someone had inside knowledge of our organization. We could not continue to have the Arch Druids protect the sacred artifacts. It was too dangerous. We needed to place them with trusted consorts. Until recently, The Order of the Serpent thought we had both the Golden box and the Amulet”
David interrupted, much to the annoyance of the Keeper. “So Sampan Man doesn’t have the Golden box?”
“No. He said he was close to finding it. The very tenants that held our organization together had been compromised. We always knew where the other two Arch Druids were. As it got more dangerous we were aware that our roles had been exposed and our locations were becoming known. We have to bestow the Amulet to a trusted aide. It’s getting too dangerous and too obvious for us to keep it safe.”
David placed his cup of coffee onto the table and leaned in. “So it must have been an inside job? The third Arch Druid sold out, yes?”
“No. Sampan Man was identified first and moved from Kuala Lumpur to Hong Kong. He lay low until recently, when he recognized activity that led him to believe that he had been compromised. He moved quickly and is now working on disappearing to a location where he won’t be found. The trail of clues for the Golden box had long since gone cold, it is presumably still lost. Only the Sampan Man knows where the box may be. I have the Amulet and I need to get rid of it. Until recently, I was safely tucked away in my home in Amsterdam. Now I’m on the run, my family is in danger and I need to find a new home. The difference in my situation is clear. I haven’t found anyone that I can give the Amulet to.”
David raised his eyes slowly from his coffee cup. Their eyes met expectantly and he knew what was coming next. “Me? You want me to have this responsibility? The Knight, what was his name Gottfried? Your daughter told me he’d found the Golden box, so I suppose it was lost again? How do you lose something that precious? What about this third Arch Druid? It sounds as if that’s the person who double crossed you.”
“You have so many questions. The third Arch Druid has special powers aligned with her advancement through the Druidic Order.”
“Her?”
“Let me continue. I have to trust you with this information but we’ve moved her to safety already. There’s a place, a few hours drive from Delhi in India, called Jaipur. A little girl was born in Jaipur and it wasn’t long before she started to talk to her parents about the Druids. This would be an odd conversation for a small Indian girl to have. Her parents were religious practicing Hindu’s. The little girl grew into a teenager and eventually felt confident to confide in her Mother. Her Father was strict and would not be tolerant of fanciful tales. The young woman told of clear recollections of her past lives. In one life, she was a servant in the City Palace in Jaipur. Her duties were to attend to the Maharaja’s many wives and concubines. Maharaja Sawai Pratap Singh was a kind man; one day he asked his many wives if they were happy? They said they were but they missed the outside world. They cautiously explained their feelings to their husband. They were grateful for all the comforts that the palace provided but it was a form of confinement. They had started to feel like inmates in a prison, even if it was
a luxurious prison. In India, in the late 1700’s, royal women were kept safe. They were hidden away, observing the strict purdah, away from the dangers that the city offered. The Maharaja thought long and hard about his wives’ honesty.
He set his plan in motion. He would delight his wives and leave an indelible mark on the city of Jaipur forever. Construction began on a secret tunnel from the City Palace to a new location, several blocks away. In 1799, the Maharaja had built a high walled five-story square building on the busiest intersection that he could find. It was adjacent to a market and the road that connected Jaipur with Delhi. He spoke with engineer and designer Lal Chand Usta and asked him to incorporate unusual design features into this special building. The building was constructed in the shape of the crown of Krishna, a powerful Hindu God. Lal used the local building material of pink sandstone commonly found in Jaipur. The British referred to Jaipur as the pink city because of this unusual material.
The completed building provided a connection to the palace via a secret tunnel. Hawa Mahal or the Palace of the Winds provided a spectacular surprise for the women of the palace harem. The secret tunnel led from the City Palace Zenana or women’s quarters, to the Palace of the Winds. Women could move freely and safely between the two structures. The building had steep walls specially constructed to lean inwards. These walls were peppered with 953 small windows called Jharokhas. Some had ledges on the inside for the women to sit and peer through the windows. Because of the angled wall, a person at street level could not see into a window high above. The windows were covered with painted lattice, to afford a greater level of privacy. I’ve visited as a tourist and it’s a wonderful building.”
The Soul Collector stopped to sip his tea. “The young Indian woman described details of the building to her Mother, without ever having been inside. She described the Blue Room, deep within the City Palace. Once her abilities developed, she could connect with her past lives. She learned to use her third eye to communicate with the spirit world. She became well known in her local region and was compelled to seek out the Sampan Man. The two formed a life long bond as they both rose to Arch Druid.
This tiny slim Indian woman gained wisdom and access to the spirit world. She’s well in her seventies now but as sharp as ever. She has the ability to stand on the street, in front of the tallest wall of the Hawa Mahal and go into a trance. I have watched this and it’s amazing. She will start to sway and hold a small piece of smoldering sage in her hand. She selects a window and starts to connect with a woman long since gone. It’s as if the spirit of the woman is still watching the real world unfold through one of those jharokhas. She can connect with, and talk to, the dead. She’s told us about a rogue spirit, trained in the art of Gieging. Gieging is a special technique, used by spirits, to enter an open portal and manifest into the physical world. We know the Order of the Serpent has moved a spirit through the open portal in Brussels and into your friend’s crystal. He seems to be guiding the young man and searching for the artifacts. He knows about the Golden box and the Amulet. He must be stopped. So now you can see. It’s because of the third Arch Druid’s special powers that we know so much. She’s now in hiding.”
The Keeper pushed a small cardboard box across the table towards David. “Quick, put it into your coat pocket. I can’t tell you how wrong this feels. Every fiber in my body is saying hold on to this. I have been protecting this Amulet for over twenty five years and just giving it away feels wrong.”
“Then take it back,” said David under his breath.
“No,” said the Keeper firmly. “I can’t. Don’t you see? They know who I am. It’s too dangerous for me to have this in my possession. You’ll need this as well.” The Keeper removed his ring leaving a groove etched into his finger from the effects of time. He slid his closed fist across the table and opened it with his palm facing upwards. The ring sat proudly in the center of his palm and called out to David. It was an interesting ring, made with a polished dark stone in the center and hieroglyphics etched in the gold.
“What’s this?” asked David.
The Keeper told David the story of the broken claw of Wepwawet, the two Magicians, Nesu Narmer and the genesis of the two rings. He described the spell that the Magicians had placed upon the rings. “Watch my friend.” The Keeper extended his hand and opened it gesturing for the ring. David placed the ring in the center of his outstretched palm. The Keeper placed the ring on the smooth surface of the small table. The ring instantly spun with the polished stone facing the wall the table was pushed against. David moved the ring with his finger placing the stone away from the wall. It spun quickly back to its original position facing the wall.
“This ring will always point to its other half?”
The Keeper picked up the ring and concealed it within his hand. He left his clenched fist upon the tabletop. “It works both ways. Now put this on and for God’s sake don’t lose it. We suspect the other ring is with the Golden box but we don’t know for sure. If we used the ring to find the Golden box, we would be leading the bad guys to its location. That’s our problem, we’re being tracked.” The Keeper opened his fist and David retrieved the ring, slipping it onto his finger. It was an exact fit.
David looked to his right noticing a movement. He saw a woman’s hips clad in denim pause at the side of their table. Saar had her brown coat draped over her arm and was dressed in a tight fitting blue sweater with blue jeans. She was a beautiful young woman but she soon had David sitting to attention.
“We have to go, send him on his way and quick.” She walked to the front of the coffee shop and started to arrange her scarf and coat.
“I have to go. Guard this Amulet with your life and never take it out in public. No one should see this ever. Never leave it where it isn’t safe, wear it around your neck. I trust you with this Amulet; you’re now a Servant of Byblos and the Keeper. You have joined an illustrious group of people. Keep it safe and we’ll be in touch to give you instructions. Any time that we contact you we’ll always ask about your two dogs, understand?”
“Yes,” said David alarmed that he was now being left alone with this great responsibility.
The Keeper left the table. He joined Saar and they exited the coffee shop together.
* * * * *
Chapter 21: The Lamb and Flag
London, England, Present day.
Matt dabbed his lips with a napkin reflecting upon the best meal he had eaten in a long while. He pushed his chair back from the table to give his full stomach more clearance. The efficient waiter breezed into view carrying the bill. He slid the plastic clipboard discreetly towards the edge of the table. Matt was in Covent Garden, London, eating at Carluccio’s Caffé on the corner of Garrick Street and King Street. It was a neat white building with royal blue awnings and a convenient place to eat. It was a good location to kill some time. Matt left a generous tip and paid the bill in cash.
He smiled at the waiter on the way out. He narrowed his eyes as he tried to adjust to the darkening night. It was almost eleven o’clock in the evening when Matt walked along Garrick Street. He reached the red colored awning belonging to an eatery called Café Pasta. A black and white sign with white lettering announced, “Stone baked pizza and pasta grill.” This was the landmark he had been asked to find. It was located on the corner of a narrow cobbled street, Rose Street.
“This is it Matt. I recognize this narrow street, so turn here now.” The spirit’s voice was so loud, it sounded as if he were hovering on the inside of Matt’s ear.
Matt could hear laughter and conversation coming from the building at the top of the short narrow street. He could sense moisture in the air, it was about to rain and he wanted to get inside quickly. He knew he was losing control, as if he didn’t operate his own body anymore. The spirit had truly possessed him. He was awake, but not fully in control of his actions. As he walked towards the end of the street, he looked to his right at a distinctive white stone building. Its façade had adornments of a man’s face, pe
rched high above the street. A Greek bearded face looked down on Matt, from the top of each window.
Matt could see the old pub, his body moved towards it uncontrollably. He recognized the red brick building. It was three levels high, with two attic windows. It gave the building an appearance of four levels. Just below the attic windows, suspended on a façade of the red brick, were large gold letters, “LAMB AND FLAG.”
“This is it, I feel it.” The voice rang through Matt’s head. Matt was completely possessed. He was no longer in control of his own body.
Attached to the exterior wall, Matt could see the familiar white ‘City of Westminster’ street sign. This one was Rose Street, WC2. This dog-legged alley wasn’t always so trendy. It started as a nice street and quickly fell from grace, after a large fire. The area was never the same again and became home to prostitutes, drunks and bare-knuckle fighters. The Lamb and Flag used to be called the Bucket of Blood, after the fighters. These brick buildings had certainly seen some history and the spirit knew them well. A Ring and the Golden box had been securely hidden, that fateful night in the library.
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