‘I do not believe thee,’ he yelled, as if trying to convince himself.
‘Nay, Blain, I do not believe thee!’ Rhun moved forward to confront the warrior, who was now appearing decidedly spooked. And even though he was unarmed, Blain backed away from his advance. ‘After losing thy father to Mahaud’s madness, thee and thy wife would study her craft?’
‘What?’ Blain stopped still and held his ground. ‘I have done no such thing.’
‘Vanora’s coven, where Javotte hast slowly been poisoning thy merlin since last I saw thee, be ablaze as we speak!’ Rhun enlightened Blain to what he’d discovered. ‘Deny thee knew of it?’
‘I did not.’ Blain was dumbfounded. ‘Javotte told me she had sedated the merlin with a tonic, but I did not ask from whence the recipe came.’ His voice began to quiver. ‘I have noted a change in Javotte … and me,’ Blain confessed and as he looked to Rhun in dread, the sword unexpectedly dropped from his hand. Am I bewitched?
Blain did not voice his fear but Rhun heard it clear as a bell. ‘Hast Javotte given thee any gifts lately, something that thee might wear?’ As Rhun asked, he remembered the talisman tied around Blain’s wrist.
Blain was ahead of him, however, and ripping the band from his person, he cast it into the fireplace.
‘Now,’ Rhun confronted Blain again, who appeared as if he was awaking from a bad dream, ‘can thee tell me honestly why thou hast made war on me, he who hast been thy life-long friend? Why thou murdered thy brother in cold blood …’ Rhun continued to list Blain’s offences and the King of Powys became increasingly distressed, full of remorse for his recent deeds.
‘Javotte wanted to be High Queen so desperately.’ Blain took a stab at an explanation. ‘I have never seen her so excited as she wast before the election. But when the vote went thy way, she was devastated.’ Blain opened his mouth to continue, when the door to the armoury swung open and Javotte came storming in.
Unlike most of the women within the allied kingdoms, Javotte had maintained her warrior form since becoming a mother and Queen and thus had a formidable countenance about her. Her long, wild masses of unruly blonde curls had once softened her appearance, but these days they only added to her fiery presence. Her pale blue eyes had turned steely with scheming and disdain.
‘Someone hast set fire —’ Javotte recognised the other man present as Rhun and so immediately identified her mysterious arsonist. ‘It was thee,’ she gasped her accusation, wondering how much the High King had disclosed to her husband. ‘What lies hast he been feeding thee?’ She approached Blain swiftly to look him in the eye. ‘Thou art not to believe him.’
Blain held up his bare right wrist to enlighten her. ‘Thy command over me hast lessened, I am afraid,’ he informed her with great bitterness in his voice.
‘Nay!’ She was mortified at having been found out, as she truly adored her husband, but the look of betrayal and disappointment on his face told her that his devotion could never be the same again.
‘Am I not capable of making my own decisions?’ Blain entreated her to explain her lack of faith.
‘Nay, that wast not my reason for enchanting thee —’
‘Whatever thy reason,’ he spoke up over Javotte, ‘it hast cost us, my dear.’ He kissed his wife, which confused and frightened her.
‘Blain?’ She gazed up at him concerned, and the High King grabbed hold of her arm, as if taking her into custody.
‘It would seem that thou art the soul truly responsible for this dire stroke against the Goddess,’ Rhun concluded, ‘and thy life will atone for her loss just as nicely.’
‘Let go!’ Javotte freaked, and looked to her husband as she attempted to break free. ‘Art thou just going to allow him to kill me?’
Blain shook his head. ‘Unfortunately, I love thee too much. Please, Highness,’ Blain besought Rhun, going down on both knees before him. ‘If a life must be given, then let it be mine, in accordance with thy word.’
‘Nay!’ Javotte changed her tune abruptly, having expected Blain to fight Rhun, not surrender to him. ‘There can be no life for me without thee!’
‘And that shall be thy punishment.’ Rhun cast her aside, conforming to Blain’s will, resenting Javotte for making him her husband’s executioner.
As the Queen of Powys made a move to disrupt the proceedings, misty vapour-like forms began to manifest around her, taunting her into retreat. One of the forms retrieved the sword Blain had intended to run Rhun through with, and carried it forth to the High King’s hands.
‘Hast thee any final words.’ Rhun’s voice began to quiver as he took possession of the weapon, his official demeanour being swept away by personal emotion.
‘The desire to outdo everyone wast present in me long before this election,’ he confessed, to take responsibility for his own misdeeds and misguided thoughts, which had only been enhanced by his wife’s conjuring. ‘I am sorry for the grief we have caused the Goddess, for deep down I only ever wanted to be pleasing in her eyes, and thine.’
‘And so thou art, Blain,’ Rhun’s sword hand began to tremble under the duress of his distress. ‘Thy willingness to atone for thy shortcomings be most pleasing to the Great Mother.’
‘Brothers?’ Blain questioned hopefully.
‘Forever.’ Rhun gave a firm nod to assure Blain.
The ghostly figures held Javotte firmly and so she was forced to witness her beloved executed in her stead. ‘Nay Highness, do not take him from me!’ she cried in protest.
‘See thee in the next life, my friend,’ assured Rhun, whereby Blain bowed his head low and Rhun brought the sword down to fulfil the prophecy.
Still in the grip of the gut-wrenching conclusion, I found myself returned to my meditation chamber, gasping with shock. Rhun had, thankfully, ended his recording just short of the beheading, but the climax had been rather heart stopping all the same.
Now I understood why he hesitated to make Asher privy to the tale, and why Rhun hesitated to encourage his son’s competitiveness. This chronicle had also provided a rather interesting insight into young Ragan.
‘The little so and so poisoned me —’ which I felt justified in resenting, just a little. I considered it could do her some good to view this chronicle, as she might think twice about manipulating others and I felt sure it would greatly alter her perception of Asher. ‘Could be a little harsh as is,’ I mused, observing the orb containing the dark tale I’d just viewed. I would wait and see how the final dress rehearsal for the pageant went before deciding how much of a rude awakening Ragan required at this time.
She had been very professional about her production duties since our run-in, and had apologised to Asher as I’d requested. Outside of their participation in the play, however, Ragan had been giving Asher the cold shoulder, using her commitments to the production as an excuse for avoiding him. On stage, Ragan played up her attraction to her leading man, regarding him as Tory would regard Maelgwn in real life. During each romantic scene the fireworks flew right up until the kiss in the script, whereupon Ragan would skip over it saying they would work it out at the final dress rehearsal. I had to feel for poor Asher, whom I felt sure had only pursued the lead role in the play so as to steal a kiss from the leading lady. He’d put in a hell of a lot of hard work and reaped very little reward for his efforts. The control Ragan had over her young admirer was disturbing to consider in light of the chronicle I’d just viewed. She still brought out his competitive nature and used his undying devotion to bend him to her will.
Not that it was my place to be sorting out the personal affairs of my students. Now that Rhun had returned I was hoping he would have some advice for his son in this regard. I would enlighten him to the situation when we met in the next few days.
26
The Kiss
The final dress rehearsal took place on the eve of the last day of the holidays, which would commem orate the fiftieth anniversary of our fair city.
Tonight we were no longer in the university auditor
ium, but out in the huge open-air amphitheatre located at the very heart of Chailida, within the extensive gardens of the city’s central island ring. Tomorrow night this huge area would be consumed by the picnicking masses who would throng here for what promised to be a gala night of entertainment and celebration.
After months of preparation, all the sets, props, costumes, music and talent came together on the one stage, and I must say that I was most impressed with my students, for they had truly excelled themselves.
I sat, front of stage, watching the performance in progress, when I sensed someone in close proximity and glancing across I found Rhun. I was so used to seeing him in his space garb, I hardly recognised him in his holiday attire. He appeared a new man for having had a few days at leisure with his family. ‘Home life obviously agrees with you.’ I stood to shake his hand. ‘Thanks for coming down.’
‘I planned to in any case,’ Rhun advised as he shook my hand and looked over at his son who was on stage. ‘Asher has been having a few girl problems. He asked me to come down for a bit of moral support this evening.’ He uttered an aside in a whisper … ‘The big kiss.’
‘So Asher has told you what has been going on?’ I was greatly relieved to learn.
‘Oh yes,’ he emphasised the fact. ‘Asher and I have done a lot confiding in each other in the past few days.’ Rhun turned back to look at me. ‘We have not been this close since I recognised Blain’s soul-mind in my son at age five and Javotte’s soul-mind in his playmate. The thought of them together again,’ he shook his head and then shrugged. ‘I just didn’t want to know.’
‘Well, I can understand why it might have been a little daunting,’ I granted. ‘I did not become aware of the connection myself until just recently, as I have not worked on any of the chronicles concerning Blain and Javotte for a long time. Since before Asher and Ragan were born, in fact.’
‘Asher recognised himself in King Blain of Powys after his first viewing of the chronicles on my rise to King of Gwynedd. He suspected all along that something that had happened later in life between Blain and myself was what was causing me to keep my distance from him in this one. Asher planned to investigate the era himself, as soon as he came of age to study past-life regression.’
Eighteen years of age was considered mature enough to begin one’s personal study into one’s past lives, although students were not permitted to pursue this study unsupervised until they were closer to twenty-five.
‘Kids!’ Rhun rolled his eyes to emphasise his surprise. Still, he was pleased that he’d fronted up to his son with the truth and thus Asher had not been forced to experience the instance first-hand and unprepared. ‘Having dared to go back and look at the past myself, I realise that they paid out the karma for their mistakes in that lifetime. Javotte went mad after Blain’s execution and lived a miserable existence until she died of old age shut up in a tower … I thought it rather more tactful to omit that part.’
‘I quite agree.’ I seconded his judgement with a nod.
‘Anyway, the two souls in question have joined the ranks of the Chosen and are bound to be of more aid to each other in this lifetime.’
I raised my brow hoping he was right.
‘So, I wanted to thank you,’ Rhun ventured a little shyly, ‘for helping us confront the past and rekindle a great friendship that Asher and I were both needlessly missing.’
I didn’t know what to say. I hadn’t done anything. It had been Asher’s curiosity that had ultimately sparked the investigation. ‘I really don’t —’
‘I have resigned my position as head of deep space exploration,’ he said, whereupon my jaw dropped to the ground. ‘You’re looking at the new head of deep space information, research and technology,’ he announced, seeming pleased with the change of vocation.
‘Congratulations.’ I shook his hand again. ‘I feel sure Asher will benefit greatly from your presence here during the next few years.’
‘I hope so,’ he admitted, obviously proud to be doing the right thing by his son. ‘My place is here, with my family.’ He nodded in agreement with himself and looked back to his son, who was stealing the show. ‘I do believe I deserve a little happiness after all.’
‘No doubt of it,’ I emphasised.
As I stood there, warmed by the knowledge that my chronicles had again helped to heal a hidden, seething rift from the past, I looked to the stage and realised that the dialogue was speeding towards the kiss.
Ragan ran across the painted desert stage and embraced Asher. ‘I must be dreaming.’
‘This is no dream,’ Asher assured her and pulling back to look at her, he moved in to receive the long-awaited kiss from her lips. Our young hero was rather disappointed when the encounter was over in a second.
‘Do you two need a private room or something?’ The young lad who was playing Robin recited his line and then looked to Ragan perplexed. ‘Hang on. You’re supposed to kiss him long enough for me to get my line out.’
‘That’s right.’ Asher took hold of Ragan. ‘I think we should try that again.’ He pulled her close and stole a kiss altogether more meaningful, which continued a bit too long to be entirely against Ragan’s will.
When our two stars parted, Ragan slapped Asher’s face hard and stormed from the stage.
‘Here we go again!’ I bashed my head with the palm of my hand, frustrated.
‘That’s my boy … subtle as a brick in the jaw.’ Rhun cocked an eye, rather amused. ‘Javotte and Blain were exactly the same before they wed.’
‘Terrific! So how do I get these two souls aiding each other, as you predict they should?’ I sought any constructive advice. ‘I had thought of giving Ragan your chronicle to view.’ I ran that idea by him.
‘Asher has viewed it,’ Rhun clued me in, ‘and for him it seemed to clarify a great many things. I can’t see that it would do Ragan any harm to see herself at her worst and it certainly couldn’t hurt Asher’s cause any.’
I played with my extended bottom lip, as I mulled over my options.
‘Ragan did ask for it, Noah,’ Rhun added, to subtly egg me on.
‘She did, didn’t she’ I reserved my final decision, moving off toward the backstage area. ‘I’d best go attend to our prima donna.’
‘I shall see you tomorrow night.’ Rhun gave me a wave in parting. ‘Good luck with it all.’
‘The show will go on,’ I assured.
‘I’m sorry, En Noah,’ Asher met me in the wings, looking genuinely remorseful about what had happened. ‘I suppose that was a bit unprofessional … I shall apologise, if you think it will help.’ He looked a bit doubtful that it would.
‘It will be fine, Asher,’ I declined, thinking I’d best distance him from the drama. ‘Get Rai’s understudy, Salome, to stand in for her and continue with the rehearsal. We don’t want to hold up the rest of the acts that are waiting for the stage.’
‘Yes, En Noah.’ He reluctantly departed to carry out my bidding.
I found Ragan brooding in the dressing room that was reserved for our production and as our cast and crew were all onstage, the large space was abandoned at present.
‘Are you going to tell me what the problem is?’ I straddled a chair backwards and sat down endeavouring to be patient.
‘It’s personal.’ She emerged from behind her tissue to inform me, with a sniffle.
‘I figured,’ said I, urging her to go on.
‘It won’t make any sense,’ Ragan stood to insist, frustrated by her predicament. ‘But … it’s just so humiliating!’
‘The kiss, you mean?’ I sought clarification and she nodded. ‘But Ragan you wrote the script. There are several kisses in it.’
‘I know!’ she stressed, forced to blow her nose again. ‘Which only adds to my humiliation.’
I was frowning now. ‘I’m afraid I don’t follow.’
‘Don’t you see? He’s won! This has been an ongoing game with Asher and me … he’s forever trying to steal my favours, which I am not prepare
d to give,’ she insisted like the angel she wasn’t. ‘And instead of just taking no for an answer, Asher pulls this stunt, whereby I am forced to oblige him.’
As suspected, it wasn’t that she didn’t like the lad, so much as she didn’t like being outsmarted by him. ‘You did not have to play the role of Tory, Ragan. If you are not capable acting the role for personal reasons, then perhaps you should allow your understudy to take over.’ I felt like a real heel suggesting that she could be replaced so easily, for in truth Ragan could act rings around every other girl involved in the production.
Ragan came crashing back down to earth, ego in tatters. ‘Perhaps I should,’ she conceded, humbly. Her hurt caused real tears to build in her eyes and she moved to pass me to escape out the door.
‘Wait.’ I grabbed hold of her hand and placed the orb I’d been brooding over into it. ‘Go home, view this, and then give me your decision.’
‘En Noah?’ She sniffled, looking at the orb, confused that I would be giving her school work to do in the middle of an emotional crisis.
‘I think that it may aid you to better assess your situation,’ I explained.
‘As you wish, En Noah.’ Ragan gathered up her belongings and left.
As she walked out the door I considered warning Ragan that the material on the orb might come as a shock, or suggesting that I supervise her viewing of the chronicle, but I did not. I hated to think that the karmic resentment of a merlin for being poisoned was what made me reluctant to cushion Ragan’s fall in this instance. It was more like some inner voice telling me that my part in this affair was over and it was time to let the universe take it from here.
Kila’s Logos, Eshmah, turned on a glorious day for Chailida’s big anniversary celebration. The sky was completely clear and its aquamarine colour was as deep and luminous as ever I had seen it.
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