The curse of Kalaan

by Unknown

  Dorian nodded his head and held out his hand. He would do anything to deliver Isabelle from that creature! The young woman took his fingers and interlaced them with hers, then turned again to the sky. A powerful energy passed from one body to the other and the feeling was so intense, so exhilarating that Dorian’s breath was taken.

  Isabelle, or her body, began softly chanting in a language no one knew. Her voice became more and more powerful as an immaculate whirlwind of clouds took shape high above their heads. Then she fell quiet and smiled, her eyes still raised towards the strange phenomenon above them that was getting larger and was now giving off bright silver flashes.

  “They are here,” she murmured, “and they give me their blessing.”

  Dorian, Jaouen and Clovis also looked up at the rapidly growing miraculous creation and held their breath. Loud violent thundering sounds started coming from it, much like a powerful storm.

  “What is happening?” Clovis had to shout in order to be heard. He was frightened by what was happening, but courageously remained with his brother and friends.

  “The impossible!” replied the old druid in the same tone, when he realized before all the others, what was really happening.

  A high, gray tornado slowly descended from the whirlwind and anchored itself on the water’s surface just at the foot of the cliff. It was emitting a strange sound, a lamentation, and foam formed at its base. At the same time, the knoll where they were standing began to vibrate.

  Dorian groaned in pain. The spirit was drinking in his magical powers as she would have with blood. He was getting cold, very cold and his limbs were stiffening. If this didn’t stop soon, he would die.

  “It’s almost finished,” Isabelle, or whatever had taken possession of her, assured him.

  “Who are you?” Dorian shouted feebly over the din, his breathing becoming more and more labored.

  “My name is Amenty, daughter of the knowledge of Origins…”

  Dorian couldn’t hear the rest. A thundering noise covered Amenty’s words and the earth began to tremble violently. How could they manage to remain standing there as if their feet were nailed to the ground while everything around them was in movement?

  Soon the tornado base and the rocks below began to rise from the sea. Five immense stones followed by the plateau on which they were held. Everything rose up to the level of the broken circle and in one last rumbling sound bonded with the knoll on which they were standing.

  Dorian, who had almost lost consciousness, was vaguely aware that the cloudy phenomenon and the tornado had disappeared. However what gave him the strength to hold on and remain conscious was his shock at realizing he was now standing in the middle of a complete circle of standing stones.

  “The gods have forgiven us!” Jaouen fell to his knees in the center and let his tears of joy flow freely down his cheeks. “The door is rebuilt... Awen[85]!”

  “Awen,” Clovis murmured. The legend of the broken circle came back to him and he turned white as a sheet.

  “We must leave, now!” Amenty ordered taking Dorian’s hand back in hers.

  Before he knew what was happening, another whirlwind rose around them. The light around them was so radiant the young man had to squint, and he tried to pull his hand away to shield his eyes.

  “No! You mustn’t let go of me under any circumstances,” she shouted, “Or you will be lost in the halls of time forever.”

  Jaouen and Clovis, transfixed, watched this new phenomenon, powerless to move. But then Dorian and Isabelle’s silhouettes began to fade into something otherworldly and the old druid quickly recovered his senses and jumped on the young Saint-Clare.

  “Jaouen!” Clovis called after his brother. “Not without me!” He swore and then, gathering strength he jumped into the whirlwind too, and gripped his brother’s arm.

  A moment later all four had disappeared, right before the horrified eyes of Kalaan and Virginie.

  “Isabelle!” Kalaan called out to his sister, running towards the center of the knoll. He stopped in his tracks and, reeling, paced around the inside of the circle. “But... I don’t understand. The… circle…”

  “...is whole,” gasping, Virginie finished his sentence. Kalaan remained silent, looking pale and lost.

  “What have they done now?” The count asked, somewhat regaining his composure. “I hate magic and its curses!”

  “My love,” Virginie said, trying, with difficulty to calm him down while she herself was trembling from head to foot. “There must be an explanation. And the standing stones are reunited, which is certainly the beginning of an answer.”

  “True, you’re probably right. According to the legend, the circle would be complete again the day the gods forgive the people of this land. And if that is the case, then this place is quite simply a portal to the Sidhes!”

  “Oh, my Lord,” moaned Virginie. “Then we will never see them again.”

  “Oh, yes we will!” Kalaan insisted, determined, as he took her hand and strode out of the circle away from the site.

  “Where are we going?”

  “To the Highlands, of course! To find Dorian’s family, and with their help we will get my sister back.”

  “And Clovis, and Jaouen! We can’t forget them!”

  “Nor Dorian,” Kalaan added gritting his teeth. “And he’d better give me a good explanation for the fear he has caused us! Damned magic!” he shouted in his baritone voice, frightening the gulls that were perched on the newly emerged stones and eating the mollusks that had made their home on the standing stones.

  * * *

  [1] The Serapeum of Alexandria: In antiquity, a sanctuary dedicated to Serapis (a divinity during the period of the first pharaoh of the Ptolemaic dynasty).

  [2] A ritual inscription in hieroglyphs found on the tombs of the pharaohs of Ancient Egypt.

  [3] Aten: Ancient Egyptian sun god.

  [4] Talatats: Bricks used in construction, typical of the Armarnian period, when Akhenaten ruled in his capital city.

  [5] Akhenaten The Forgotten: Although he knew the name, it wasn't Champollion who identified this pharaoh, but Karl Richard Lepsius, a German Egyptologist, during the Prussian expedition in 1843.

  [6] Maasch: Typical small Egyptian sailboat.

  [7] Felucca: Typical Egyptian sailboat resembling a barge.

  [8] Edmé François Jomard: Geographical engineer and archeologist, member of Bonaparte's Egyptian expedition in 1798.

  [9] Cheich: Scarf of about 13-25 feet long, generally worn by Tuaregs, rolled around the head and face for protection from the sun and dry desert wind.

  [10] Ippolito Rosellini: 19th century Italian Egyptologist, Jean-François Champollion's colleague and friend.

  [11] Nestor Hippolyte Antoine L’Hôte: Egyptologist, artist and also a friend of Jean-François Champollion.

  [12] Blue men: Another name used for Tuaregs.

  [13] Takakat: Traditional long Tuareg clothing.

  [14] Takouba: Long double edged Tuareg sword.

  [15] Berber: Language spoken by Tuaregs.

  [16] Song of the dunes: Phenomenon already observed in the stories of Marco Polo.

  [17] Egyptian campaign or Egyptian expedition: A military expedition to Egypt led by General Napoleon Bonaparte and his successors from 1798 to 1801.

  [18] Giovanni Battista Belzoni (1778-1823): Italian explorer and pioneer of Egyptology, also known as the “great giant of Padua.”

  [19] Bernardino Drovetti (1776-1852): Consul of France in Egypt. Thief, lawless adventurer and supposed protector of Egyptian treasures.

  [20] Allahu akbar: Arabic expression meaning “God is the greatest.”

  [21] Fatum: Destiny, fate.

  [22] Saltpeter: (potassium nitrate) First used in the Middle Ages. A powder containing saltpeter, sulfur and carbon — used as an explosive.

  [23] The meter: The metric system was put into effect on 18 germinal year III (according to the Napoleonic calendar or 7 April, 1795) in accordance with the law
“relating to weights and measures.”

  [24] Uræus: Female cobra also used to represent the goddess Wadjet, whose role was to protect the pharoah from his enemies.

  [25] Khepresh: Ancient Egyptian royal headdress, also known as the “war crown or the “blue crown.”

  [26] Pschent: The double crown of Ancient Egypt. It was red and white, symbolizing the pharaoh’s power over Lower and Upper Egypt.

  [27] Prayer taken from the “Hymn to Aten” engraved in the entrance hall of the “Tomb of the holy father” Ay, an illustrious courtier who became regent and then successor to Tutankhamen.

  [28] Genaoueg: Breton dialect, fool, imbecile.

  [29] Maelström: Powerful whirlwind usually forming over stretches of water, probably formed the current of the tide of a river — for example at sea the Moskstraumen, near the Lofoten Islands in Norway.

  [30] Ma Doue: My God (in Breton).

  [31] Tanfoeltr: By Jove (in Breton).

  [32] Ar sorserez: The Witch (in Breton).

  [33] Synanche: Old medical term for throat infection.

  [34] Ya, sur: Yes of course (in Breton).

  [35] Elkent: Really! (In Breton).

  [36] Ahlan: Welcome (in Arabic).

  [37] Council room on a frigate: room at the stern of the ship, under the poop deck, next to the captain’s room, the place where the captain and his officers had meetings and took their meals.

  [38] Diskiant: Insane (in Breton).

  [39] Gouelle: Breton word for seagull- can also mean ogre or glutton.

  [40] Moutik: Cutie or sweetie in Breton.

  [41] Ar kaerelle-vras: a weasel or a snoop in Breton.

  [42] Muhammad-Ali: Viceroy of Egypt from 1804 to 1849.

  [43] Grisette: Hairstyle with hair parted in the middle, with a bun at the back and ringlets falling over the ears.

  [44] Mor Breizh: The English Channel (sea) in Breton.

  [45] Gunwale: (nautical term) the thick outside planking around the edge of a boat.

  [46] Scull: Maneuver a boat with only one oar, placed at the back. This propels the boat by making it move rapidly from side to side.

  [47] La, shoukran: No thank you, in Arabic.

  [48] Kerkalon: Dear heart in Breton. One of the Croz family’s properties.

  [49] Satordellik: What the devil! (in Breton).

  [50] Dinner: During the 19th century dinner was the midday meal and supper, the evening one.

  [51] In 1828, this is the beginning of the “romantic” style and puff sleeves, also called gigot.

  [52] Sidhes: Enchanted knolls of the Celtic gods – Their paradise.

  [53] Dousik: Gently (in Breton).

  [54] Satordelli: Devil (in Breton).

  [55] Kouign-amann: a Breton specialty, a round crusty cake made with bread dough containing layers of salty butter and sugar folded in, similar to puff pastry. It is baked slowly the butter puffs up the dough and the sugar caramelizes it. Served warm, fresh from the oven. A true delight.

  [56] Cellaret: Small cabinet fitted for liquor bottles and glasses.

  [57] Chukchis: Indigenous people (Eskimos) living in the northeastern peninsula of Siberia, on the Bering Sea.

  [58] Boued: Food, in Breton.

  [59] Eugène-François Vidocq: (1775-1857) Founder and first director of the Parisian police; also founder of the first ever detective agency.

  [60] Va digarez, c'hwiltouz: I’m sorry, kid (in Breton).

  [61] Nʼeo ket strikt: It’s of no importance (in Breton).

  [62] Kenavo: ‘til we meet again, or goodbye (in Breton).

  [63] Trugarez: Thank you (in Breton).

  [64] Ma kariadez: My dearest (in Breton).

  [65] Blandish: (old verb) Flatter and cajole.

  [66] Lenn Emrodenn: Emerald Lake (in Breton).

  [67] Chouchenn:Breton alcoholic beverage made from fermenting buckwheat honey in apple juice.

  [68] Mabig: Son (in Breton).

  [69] Nann: No (in Breton).

  [70] Tussilago: Commonly known as coltsfoot. Plant native to Europe and parts of central and western Asia, used to treat disorders of the respiratory tract.

  [71] Poisoners’ Guild: Also called the Council of Ten; was a guild of alchemists and Poisoners created in the 15th century. They murdered people for money – the original contract killers.

  [72] Cantarella: Poison Borgia, also called "sugar of lead" based on arsenic, phosphorus and lead acetate.

  [73] Rien du tout: Nothing at all, in French.

  [74] Netra: Nothing,in Breton.

  [75] Kenavo: Goodbye or adieu, in Breton.

  [76] Demat: Hello, in Breton.

  [77] Mor Breizh: The English Channel or the Breton Sea, in Breton.

  [78] Konradin Christophe d’Abel: 1750-1823 - German minister to the Court of France, buried in section 28 of Père-Lachaise cemetery.

  [79] Père Lachaise cemetery: a famous cemetery in Paris named after Father François de la Chaise, confessor to Louis XIV.

  [80] Dumb canes: diffenbachia.

  [81] French law requires all couples who marry to have a civil ceremony officiated by the mayor of their legal residence.

  [82] Biniou: Bagpipes in Breton.

  [83] Bombarde: Breton alto wind instrument, similar to an oboe.

  [84] Bagad: Group (in Breton), in this case it’s short for ‘bagad sonerien’ (group of bell ringers).

  [85] Awen: A word hard to define precisely meaning- flowing spirit or inspiration- and often used to close Druid prayers.