From my balcony I soaked up the warm morning rays. The city below was already congested with crowds, music, dancing and street theatre. Out on the fourth island ring, swarms of craft were waiting to dock and unload interstellar tourists, who had come for the festivities of the day and the concert that Chailida was hosting this evening.
I had no obligations today, bar overseeing the proceedings of my students’ presentation this evening, so I was pretty much at leisure to do as I pleased. ‘What a crying shame Rebecca had to work.’ The notion was a bit of a downer, so I quickly reminded myself that I still had a whole month of her company to look forward to.
I fixed myself an icy, semi-alcoholic fruit concoction to commence my day of leisure on a merry note, and found myself wondering about Selwyn and Kaileah. Had they married and reared the next King of Alban?
‘I shall investigate, now that I have some time,’ I promised myself, placing on my eyeshades and collapsing into my sun-chair with my drink. ‘Ah … perfect,’ I decided, the sun pelting down upon my bare chest as I sipped the icy cold cocktail. I could not have been more contented; so naturally, the chime on my front door sounded to rouse me from my bliss.
My heart leapt into my throat when I espied Ragan waiting outside my door on the screen that monitored the exterior. I’d completely forgotten about requesting to see her. I pulled my shirt on properly, trying to assess her state of mind from the visual, and once decent, I dispensed with the barrier and invited her inside.
‘These are for you, En Noah.’ Ragan handed me a huge bunch of flowers that she’d been hiding behind her back. ‘For poisoning you in the Dark Ages,’ she explained with a shrug of apology.
‘Really, Ragan.’ I accepted the flowers from her. ‘That is all in the past and forgotten.’ I assured her to not think twice about it, although admittedly I had.
‘I’ll bet that’s not what you were thinking yesterday.’ Ragan prompted me to be a little more up front with her. ‘I see myself for the spoilt, manipulative child I have been,’ she admitted quite readily, tears welling from her disappointment in herself. ‘There wouldn’t be a life for me without Asher … nor would I wish there to be. I realise that presenting me with the raw version of this chronicle was not standard procedure, En Noah,’ she ventured to say.
Ragan was quite right. The chronicle as it was should have been for mature students only, and for a moment I thought she might be going to hit me with a lawsuit. This wouldn’t have been difficult to do, as her father, Cadwallon, was the Chief Justice in Chailida.
‘I am really very grateful that you considered me mature enough to be privy to it.’ Ragan ran over and unexpectedly embraced me. I even received a kiss on the cheek as she returned the orb.
‘I will play Tory Alexander if it’s all the same to you.’ She sniffled back her emotion and backed up to the door.
‘And you will do her justice,’ I replied.
Ragan burst into a huge smile and, with a squeal of delight, she departed my abode. I felt rather like I’d just been hit by a tornado, but given a second to consider the encounter, I smiled — I’d done the right thing after all.
It was coming on to evening, and having loafed about for most of the day, I wandered down to centre stage to be sure all our little dramas had sorted themselves out.
As I entered the backstage area, Ragan came running up to me, appearing far more anxious than was usual for her. ‘En Noah, have you seen Asher? I’ve been looking for him all day and nobody has seen him.’ All of a sudden the girl’s expression iced over and as her eyes became fixed on something behind me, they narrowed with contempt.
I turned to find young Asher strolling through the gate with his arm around Salome, Ragan’s understudy — he was lost in a very cosy conversation with the shapely girl.
‘Well, I don’t have a problem with kissing you,’ said his gloating blonde companion, who was several years older than him. ‘Not even just for practice.’
I had to wince as Salome kissed Asher, and daring to glance aside to Ragan, I found her quietly fuming.
‘En Noah. Would you kindly inform En Romeo that I shall be playing his heroine and that I am sorry if he finds this very disappointing?’
To my surprise she departed for the dressing room quietly and without a fuss. I looked back to find Asher watching her depart also.
‘I do believe it’s working,’ said Salome, patting the lad’s shoulder in encouragement.
‘Thanks so much for your help.’ Asher tried to give her a few gold coins for her trouble, but Salome waved them off.
‘Hey sweetie, it was my pleasure.’ She grabbed hold of his chin and kissed his cheek. ‘The silly tease doesn’t know what she’s missing.’ Salome winked and headed off to be about her duties.
I do believe Asher was more miffed with himself at this moment than when he’d stolen the lead in the play. How could I tell him he was going about winning Ragan in the wrong way?
‘En Noah.’ Asher finally acknowledged my presence and approached to explain his deception. ‘I realise this probably looks bad … but I was just following a little fatherly advice.’
I suppressed a smile. ‘I believe you.’ This kind of scheme was not something Asher would hatch, but it was right up his father’s alley. ‘Well, I think you might do better —’
‘Trust me, En Noah,’ Asher cut in, not meaning to be rude, but he was running late for make-up and wardrobe. ‘Everything is going exactly to plan … don’t worry about a thing.’ He hurried off to assume his character.
‘Dear Goddess, I’m too old for this,’ I complained to myself. Still, I had to find their predicament amusing. ‘Let them sort it out.’ I waved off all responsibility and headed back out into the main amphitheatre that was fast filling with people.
There was an area reserved for this evening’s guests of honour — the Governor and Governess of Chailida, and their family and guests. As an honorary member of the Dragon’s kin, I had been invited to sit with them.
To my great honour and surprise I arrived at the family feast to discover that Tory had saved me a spot on the picnic blanket right next to her.
Everyone was there: Rhun and Sybil, Rhiannon and Cadwallon, Brian and Candace, Cadwell and Nerida, Ethan and Talynn, Robin and Jenny, Floyd and Boadicea. It reminded me of when we had all first arrived on Kila and been forced to live in each other’s pockets whilst more suitable accommodation was constructed. The food and drink was outstanding, the company and conversation excellent — the one thing that was missing was Rebecca.
I kept expecting my wife to show up and surprise me, but she did not. I consoled myself with the fact that the crowds would have driven her nuts anyway, as Rebecca was an ‘in the middle of nowhere’ kind of girl.
The acts that preceded our pageant were of very high quality indeed, and I felt confident that so long as our two stars didn’t tear each other to shreds during the performance, our production ought to slay this very receptive audience.
Music wafted over the huge gathering during the break between acts when the stage was reset. I was merrily feasting on fresh fruit, cheese and bread, when Maelgwn clicked his fingers to draw my attention to him and then beckoned me to approach.
Thus I picked up my spoils and headed around to the other side of our fair ruler, where I took a seat. ‘Yes, Gov,’ I ventured to be casual, as I was a little tipsy by this time.
‘I’ve been doing a little past-life regression into Durak’s professional activities,’ Maelgwn said, casually, as if we weren’t discussing a dangerous topic.
‘You have?’ I took huge bite out of the hunk of bread in my hand.
‘Aye,’ Maelgwn leaned closer to whisper, ‘and I have a fair idea of how one of the stations Durak spoke of might be found.’
My jaw dropped — I understood these stations to be like hidden vaults of knowledge containing the chronicles of Enki’s prophecies and scriptures. My life’s work would always be incomplete without an insight into the very beginning of mankind, as
none of the Chosen had sprung from that time, nor could any of us recall much of our lives spent in the earliest ages that had marked the development of mankind’s intellect. Enki’s chronicles had been black-banned by the Pantheon for eons and if legend proved true, they contained information channelled straight from the Interplanetary Chain Logoi.
‘Please, Noah,’ Tory paused from her conversation with her daughter to plead, ‘not with your mouth full.’
‘Sorry,’ I chewed up the rest of my mouthful and swallowed it quickly. ‘I really hope you are kidding?’ I said quietly to Maelgwn with a smile, unable to deny my interest, despite the trouble it could get me into.
Maelgwn sucked in his cheeks to contain his smile as he shook his head slowly to confirm he spoke the truth.
I rubbed my forehead, disgruntled by the temptation this presented. ‘Surely you’re not thinking of seeking —,’ I dropped my voice to whisper, ‘— one of these stations. As such a public figure, I’m sure the Pantheon will be keeping a close eye on your movements.’
‘That’s why you are going to do it for me,’ he smiled.
‘What!’ I managed to draw everyone’s attention with my startled cry.
‘Relax.’ Maelgwn placed a hand on my shoulder, struggling to contain his amusement. ‘I don’t mean now.’
‘When then?’ I hushed my voice again.
‘Soon,’ was all he said, taking a long sip of his drink.
I figured the information was meant as an early warning. ‘So I had better start brushing up on my rebel merlin skills then?’
‘It couldn’t hurt.’ Maelgwn shrugged, as if that wasn’t what he was implying, although obviously it was.
As my students took the stage, many of whom had proud parents in my company, I returned to my original place and an excited Tory clutched my hand.
The past came to life before our eyes, and I watched the emotions of all around me hyped into a frenzy of warm sentiment and laughter.
There was an intermission in our pageant immediately following the moment when the first key kiss took place. As the script raced towards the crucial moment, Rhun and I sat forward in anticipation.
Ragan ran across the painted desert stage and embraced Asher. ‘I must be dreaming.’ She pulled back to look him in the eyes.
‘This is no dream,’ Asher assured her, and holding her face between both his hands, their lips met in a splendid kiss.
A great ‘Aw!’ was heard from the audience and a gentle round of applause broke out.
Tory had let go of my hand and was now cuddling her husband as she sniffled back her sentimental tears.
‘Do you two need a private room or something?’ The young lad playing Robin recited his line, whereupon Asher and Ragan were supposed to part from their kiss and say, ‘Yes, please,’ but alas, they just kept kissing.
‘Oh dear,’ said I, as the other actors continued to recite their lines around the kissing cousins, which only added to the humour of the play.
‘Would you kindly get your son off my daughter,’ Cadwallon thumped Rhun and then me. ‘What kind of university are you running down there, Purcell?’
‘And how do I apply to get in?’ Brian played up his interest, until struck by his wife.
As the curtain came down I thought I’d best go throw a bucket of cold water over my stars and see if I couldn’t pry them apart. ‘Excuse I.’ I begged everyone’s leave, and hurried off to the stage.
I found the star-crossed lovers still embracing, although the crew had managed to shift them off the stage so as to change the set.
‘So you have seen the orb?’ Asher queried Ragan, as I neared.
Ragan nodded as tears of happiness made her make-up run in black rivers down her cheeks. ‘I never meant to hurt you. You are my best and dearest friend,’ she vowed. ‘I cannot believe you just volunteered your life in my stead like that.’
‘I would die for you, Ragan.’ Asher kissed the love of his life to reinforce his conviction. ‘A thousand times over.’
‘Praise the Gods that you shall never again have to.’
As their lips and bodies locked together in a rather heated engagement and people were queuing up to watch the two lead actors, I thought I’d best break them up.
‘The Governor and Governess have told me to convey how much they are looking forward to the second half of our pageant.’ As suspected the announcement made the stars part of their own accord.
‘We’d better get on.’ Ragan pulled herself away.
‘I’ll see you after.’ Asher kissed her once more before Ragan was ushered away to wardrobe. The lad then turned to face me, fit to explode with happiness. ‘I’ve got to tell you, En Noah, I love show business!’
‘And I’ve got to tell you, Asher,’ I smiled as I took him under my arm to confide in him, ‘that after this little fiasco, I can do without it.’
The rest of the performance went off without a hitch, leaving the fair rulers of our kingdom overwhelmed with sentiment and very proud of their grandchildren.
When the concert had ended and a huge fireworks display bedazzled us all, our good Governor sprang to his feet to announce to the family that Tory was again with child.
Congratulations, handshakes, hugs and kisses were exchanged under the midnight sky ablaze with colour.
I waited until Tory had hugged her entire family and settled back down beside me before I turned to her, of the mind to congratulate her myself. ‘It will be twins, a boy and a girl,’ I said, only half conscious of the words leaving my mouth. ‘Unique in their purpose.’
‘And what will their purpose be?’ Tory queried, enchanted by my prediction, as it was so unlike me.
‘Pardon?’ I’d completely forgotten what I’d just said and felt terribly embarrassed. ‘My apologies, Nin. I fear I might have had one too many fruity drinks this day.’
Tory laughed at this and gave me an affectionate squeeze. ‘Well, my dear Noah, only time will tell if you are a prophet or a drunk.’
‘I think the latter,’ I humbly voiced my view.
The celebrations continued into the wee hours and I am completely unaware of what time I staggered into my unit to fall onto a lounge chair.
Seeking my true worth was foremost in my mind thanks to Maelgwn advising me that I was soon to start playing intergalactic spy for him. If I was to be hunting up some ancient scriptures from who knows where, perhaps, just as important as upgrading my Chosen skills, it would not go astray to be learning a few survival skills as well.
Perhaps this was where Rebecca’s talents fitted in with our soul-quest. In fact I felt sure of it. So rather than having my wife spend more time with me in the city, I should be spending more time with her in the jungle. Actually, this thought was very alluring and I knew it would appeal to her too.
The other thing that had me puzzled was my fit of unconscious babbling to Tory. I still hadn’t the slightest clue what I’d said to the Governess and I only hoped that I hadn’t sounded too moronic.
A hand came to cover my eyes and I caught a fragrant whiff of my wife.
‘Rebecca?’ I smiled, turning to find her squatted down beside me, dressed in a slinky white dress and holding two glasses. I groaned at the thought of another drink.
‘No?’ she queried, sounding like she had sort of expected I might not wish to partake.
‘Now I know why I never drink,’ I mumbled an explanation as I got myself upright. ‘I embarrass myself … and tonight more so than usual.’
‘Knowing you, I’m sure you weren’t that bad.’ Rebecca climbed onto the lounge beside me. I lowered my head to rest against her breast and she stroked my hair.
‘I was,’ I assured, nestling into my favourite position. ‘I started spouting prophecy to the Governess.’
‘You did?’ Rebecca wrenched me from my comfortable position to an upright one again. ‘I have started seeing things,’ she informed in all seriousness. ‘That’s why I came home as soon as I could.’
‘Really?’ I was st
unned. ‘What kind of things?’
‘It’s a place, actually. A crystal city,’ she ventured to say, knowing how fantastic it sounded. ‘And in this city is a learning device unlike anything I have ever seen before.’
I took up the drink from the table and began to sip it, intrigued. ‘Then how do you know this thing is a learning device?’
‘In the vision, you told me so,’ she informed. ‘You said something about forbidden scripture —’
I nearly choked on the drink.
‘Are you alright?’ Rebecca queried, and I nodded, still coughing and spluttering. ‘So I was thinking that perhaps I should stay here with you in the city for awhile and do some study.’
So, the universe had been urging my significant other toward pursuing her soul also, and she had reached the same conclusion as I had — we needed to be together. ‘I think we shall have to work out a half-yearly exchange deal between our worlds,’ I smiled.
‘My thoughts exactly,’ she winked, and cuddled up close to me.
I leant my head against hers and kissed her forehead, whereupon a verse welled up inside me, an odd occurrence indeed, and it did so want to be aired that I obliged.
Under the full moon of the Goddess
In a circle of sacred stones
On a cloak of raven feathers
I have made thee my own.
Not wind of greatest force,
Nor wild and raging sea,
Not mountain high or howling wind
Will part my love from me.
Rebecca turned and looked at me and I do believe that I had never seen her so moved. She was completely lost for words.
‘It worked for Selwyn,’ I shrugged off my little poetic outburst.
‘He never,’ she called my bluff. ‘You composed something romantic and it was beautiful. Thank you.’
The kiss I received in appreciation told me it was well worthwhile developing a knack for romantic rhyme.
We talked about our soul-quest at great length that night, and I began to see a whole new chapter in our relationship that I very much liked the look of. At last, my wife and I had found a common cause, and as Rebecca was to be my constant travelling companion, I felt sure that I would very much enjoy the next big adventure the universe held in store.
Chronicle of Ages Page 51
