The Dark Age

  The meeting went extremely well, far better than Miles could have hoped. Tory’s manner and repartee was nothing short of spellbinding, and exhibited all the knowledge of someone three times her age. The druids, who were primarily scholars and businessmen, were impressed by her presentation and, in the end, were eager to get involved.

  In appreciation for a job well done, Miles insisted on taking her out to dinner. As he’d already arranged for Amanda to mind Rhun for the evening, Tory agreed to the plan.

  They celebrated their triumph with champagne by candlelight, and Tory’s defences dropped to an all-time low. Miles held his glass up to her and proposed a toast, ‘To the modern miracle, Tory Alexander, whose presence and insight have been a godsend to this project. And though words are inadequate, I want to express how much I appreciate all your hard work.’

  ‘Well you haven’t seen my fee yet, Professor, but you’re welcome. It’s been a pleasure.’ Tory clinked her glass against his and had a sip. ‘Your performance today was quite outstanding too, Miles. I have to admit, I was fairly impressed.’

  He nodded with a grin, graciously accepting the compliment. ‘Well I had a remarkable tutor.’

  Though Miles had been the perfect gentleman all week, he was definitely seeming a bit fresh at this moment. Tory considered this might be a good time to bring up her living arrangements. ‘You haven’t forgotten we’re finding me a house on Monday morning?’

  Miles became mildly disgruntled by the notion. ‘It hasn’t been so awful, has it? And my place is certainly convenient for you and Rhun.’

  ‘I know it is, but that’s the whole point.’ She reached out and placed her hand on his. ‘I don’t want to make a convenience of you. It’s not fair and it’s not right.’

  ‘I don’t mind.’ He placed his free hand on top of hers.

  ‘I know you don’t, not now. But come time for us to leave, you shall not be of the same mind, Miles. It’s going to be hard enough as it is.’

  ‘Well this is a cosy little scene.’ Brian made his disapproval felt as he seated himself at the table.

  ‘I’m so sorry, Miles,’ Naomi said as she caught Brian up. ‘He saw you from the street.’

  ‘That’s quite alright, Naomi.’ Miles leaned back in his chair, clearly put out by the intrusion. ‘We have nothing to hide.’

  ‘I thought you weren’t going to stay at his place?’ Brian’s accusing eyes rested on his sister.

  Tory sat back, folding her arms, irked that Brian saw fit to check up on her. ‘Hi Brian, so nice to see you.’

  ‘Tory.’ Brian leaned over and grabbed hold of her arm, so as to hiss quietly in her ear. ‘You’re a married woman, and despite how much he may look like him, the professor here is not your husband.’

  ‘Really?’ Tory reclaimed her arm, and in a very dry tone said, ‘I never would have guessed.’

  ‘Look Brian, this is not what you think.’ Miles attempted to defuse the situation. ‘There’s absolutely nothing going on.’

  ‘Damn right, nor will there be.’ Brian stood, ready to throw his weight around.

  ‘Brian, please! Sit down.’ Tory gave him a very cool glare, but Brian didn’t comply. ‘Look, I want a place of my own, but in all honesty I haven’t had time to find one. I had to prepare for the conference today, which, by the way, was very successful, thanks so much for asking.’

  ‘You can stay at Naomi’s place, there’s plenty of room there.’

  ‘Brian, I really don’t think this is any of your business.’ Naomi tried to urge him to leave with her.

  ‘I promised him you’d be there, Tory, and I meant it.’ Brian’s glare was intense.

  ‘When I need your help, I will ask for it.’

  ‘Brian, please, can we just leave,’ Naomi begged him.

  ‘He’s not Maelgwn,’ Brian stressed again as he was leaving.

  Miles looked at Tory who was very perplexed after her brother’s little outburst. ‘Your husband’s name is Maelgwn?’

  Tory nodded. ‘That’s how Rhun got his name. It’s a kind of family tradition.’

  ‘Let me guess,’ Miles lightened the mood a little. ‘Your husband’s father’s name was Caswallon.’

  ‘You got it.’ Tory tried to regain her cheery mood, but with little success.

  ‘Come on, we’ll fetch Rhun and go back to the house.’

  Though she thought his suggestion was sweet, Tory realised that Brian was right; she could easily fall for Miles if she didn’t make herself more distant from him, and fast.

  Her feeling of foreboding grew; was it wrong to have befriended this man, knowing their attraction to each other was inevitable? When they returned to the cottage, Tory told Miles she wanted to take a bath and go to bed.

  Damn you Brian! Miles couldn’t see Tory allowing such an intimate situation to arise between them again. He dreamt of her every night now, and the impression of urgency and love these dreams left him with grew stronger and stronger each time. The images varied but in his dreams Tory hardly ever appeared to be of the modern world. This was quite alarming, with her whole family running round claiming to have had past-life experiences. Did Tory’s mystic ways rub off on everyone who came in contact with her?

  When Tory came in from kata the next morning, Miles announced that he planned to go into the office. He didn’t say why he was going into the site on a Sunday morning, but he needed to take a look at the piece of parchment that was in the safe in his office. The night before he had dreamt not about Tory but about a huge room of books, written in the same hand as the parchment they’d found at the site. He also recalled seeing an old, old man.

  ‘Remember how I taught thee, concentrate,’ the old man had instructed him with zeal. ‘For thou art there with her now. The soul is everlasting, thou art part of one and the same whole. Reach out.’

  ‘What does your friend Taliesin look like?’ Miles asked, as he buttered some toast.

  Tory gave him a peculiar expression. ‘Taliesin looks different to different people. But to most men, he appears old and wise. Why?’

  ‘No reason.’ Waves of goose bumps came over him, and he made greater haste to get to the office. As Miles drove, he wondered about the mysterious parchment. Perhaps it held an explanation of the old man’s directive.

  Tory phoned Naomi to ask her to pick them up while Miles was out. It would be easier this way, she thought, as she wouldn’t have to argue with him about the move.

  When Naomi got the call, she was more than happy to help. Brian hadn’t enjoyed setting his sister straight and had been brooding over their harsh exchange of words all night.

  ‘You can stop pining now, that was Tory,’ Naomi was pleased to inform Brian as he looked such a sorry sight, moping over a bowl of cereal. ‘Miles has gone out to the site for the morning, so Tory asked if we could pick her and Rhun up before he gets back.’

  Brian’s spirits lifted with the news, but not in the way Naomi expected. ‘You do that then.’ He kissed her as he rose and pulled on his jacket.

  ‘Why, where are you going?’ She was bothered by his mood, as he grabbed his car keys and headed for the door.

  ‘To see Thurlow.’

  Brian drove into the site and was pleased to see Miles’ car already in the carpark. He made his way to the office and found the professor behind his desk, seemingly lost in his thoughts as he gazed out the window. The piece of parchment was in his hand, and Brian’s father’s report was spread out before him.

  ‘I need to speak with you, Professor.’

  Miles turned with a start, appearing overwhelmed to see him. ‘Brian! Praise the Goddess, thou art here. Where am I?’

  ‘Maelgwn?’ Brian recognised his brother-in-law’s voice, but he could hardly believe that it was coming from Miles.

  ‘Aye.’ The King appeared somewhat disturbed by his dilemma.

  ‘Get outta town, how did thee get in there?’ Brian peered into the man’s eyes. ‘And where be Miles, then?’

  Maelgwn took hold of him
and gave him a shake. ‘Brian, I have to see Tory. I do not know how long I can remain focused. It hast been a long, long time since I attempted something like this.’

  ‘Awesome.’ Brian was so amazed that he had trouble thinking straight. ‘The phone,’ he suggested, grabbing it and dialling Miles’ home phone number.

  When his sister answered, Brian instructed, ‘Stay there, don’t move until I get there.’ He hung up, proud to be of service to the Dragon. ‘Come on, my car is outside.’

  Brian sped them towards Aberffraw, considering as he drove that this morning hadn’t turned out at all as he’d planned. His objective had been to get the professor away from his sister, and here he was driving him to see her. ‘So you are Miles after all?’

  ‘Aye, he be my twentieth-century embodiment.’ Maelgwn looked down at himself. ‘I could certainly use a bit of building up.’

  ‘So where is Miles?’

  ‘I expect he be in here too, but only I have conscious command.’

  ‘For how long?’

  ‘Well, that depends on how long I can concentrate,’ Maelgwn said.

  ‘Wow!’ Brian was utterly mind-blown.

  ‘I’m not as practised at mind control as I once was.’ Maelgwn regretted his lack of discipline. ‘How fares Tory and our babe?’

  ‘Good, great in fact! Your son is excellent value, Maelgwn. He even got me laid!’

  Maelgwn was amused to hear this. ‘Naomi?’

  ‘Scoop, ay?’ Brian gave him a wink, becoming more serious. ‘This guy, Miles, he has his eye on Tory.’

  Maelgwn gave half a laugh. ‘Somehow, Brian, I do not find that at all surprising. What dost Tory think of him?’

  ‘Not much at first, but lately they seem to be getting along better.’ Brian couldn’t work out what to make of the relationship now. ‘Does that bother you?’

  ‘I do not know,’ Maelgwn answered, then became quiet as he contemplated the question, but his deliberation was cut short when Brian pulled into the driveway of the cottage.

  ‘Could it be that I still own this place?’ Maelgwn asked, recognising the landscape. ‘After all this time.’ He climbed out of the car and wandered in circles for a moment.

  ‘This way old son.’ Brian steered Maelgwn towards the front door. ‘She’s in here.’

  When Tory saw Brian come through the door with Miles, she nearly had a fit. ‘Thanks a lot bro.’ Tory thought it must look wonderful to the professor, her sitting there all packed up and ready to leave.

  ‘We have a surprise.’ Brian turned to Maelgwn, who stood speechless staring at his beautiful slender wife with their child in her arms. Brian gave him a shove to wake him up, yet Maelgwn was still hesitant to speak. The King’s eyes darted across to Naomi. Brian became aware of the problem, so he grabbed hold of her and quickly escorted her towards the door.

  ‘Tory, it be me,’ Maelgwn ventured in a whisper.

  Tory knew her husband’s sweet resounding voice at once, and her eyes closed with relief. Thank you.

  ‘What’s going on now?’ Naomi asked Brian, as she watched Miles and Tory come together for a fevered kiss. ‘What’s wrong with Miles’ voice?’

  ‘I’ve been giving him lessons,’ Brian explained, picking Naomi up and carrying her out of the room.

  After a long embrace, Maelgwn turned to the baby. ‘Oh Tory, he be so fine!’

  She gently placed Rhun in Maelgwn’s arms and the look of pride on his face said it all. ‘There’s not a thing wrong with him, he’s as strong as an ox,’ she said.

  ‘I can see that.’ Maelgwn held out the child to admire his form.

  Tory gazed at Maelgwn, ever astounded at the scope of his abilities. ‘How hast thou managed this?’

  Maelgwn remembered his task suddenly, holding Rhun closer to himself. ‘That not be a concern at present. First I must warn thee, I have seen Mahaud here. The night I left she was waiting at the stones.’

  His claim brought to her mind Rose’s dream. ‘Well I have seen no sign of her, though I think Rose dreamt she saw her in the kitchen back in Oxfordshire. That’s one of the reasons I moved here.’

  ‘A wise move too, this be fairy country. If Mahaud dared to set foot here her powers would be considerably weakened.’ Maelgwn kissed the top of his son’s head, relieved to find them both safe and well.

  ‘How long art thou here?’ Tory’s tone became more intimate.

  ‘I cannot say … perhaps a day, perhaps less. So thee must listen to me carefully.’

  Maelgwn rekindled her knowledge of the nine metaphysical laws, so that she might better be able to physically defend herself against Mahaud. These laws, revealed by the nine muses of the cauldron, were the Law of Rebound, the Law of Challenge, the Law of Equalities, the Law of Summons, the Law of Polarities, the Law of Abundance, the Law of Balance, the Law of Cause and Effect, and the Law of Three Requests.

  He said Taliesin had suggested that Tory try to make contact with the fairy folk to seek their assistance and protection. Apparently the elementals that occupied this land were more than familiar with the crone, for they had withstood her evil intent throughout the centuries to maintain a free reign here, and indeed, throughout most of Britain. The nine laws applied to dealing with the nature kingdoms also, especially the Law of Summons. It was, therefore, doubly important for Tory to know the laws by heart. The Merlin was quite sure his mother’s kin would come to the party, but only if they were specifically invited. Maelgwn then passed on Taliesin’s advice as to how she might win the trust and favour of the folk.

  This instruction was sheer heaven to Tory, for it was the kind of knowledge she’d craved, and missed since leaving the Dark Age.

  Maelgwn also confirmed her father’s true identity. He conveyed Taliesin’s claim that Mahaud had been the reason Myrddin had shed his great knowledge for a time, and with the assistance of the Goddess, he’d disguised his form so that he would not even know himself. Taliesin, Keridwen and Myrddin deemed this to be a necessary precaution to avoid detection by the negative forces that constantly worked against them. When the time came to put their divine plan into action, Myrddin would seek out his true self. So, with Mahaud at large waiting to corrupt anyone who showed enough negative potential, Maelgwn urged Tory to warn her father, as the evil witch had tricked him before.

  The King decided it would be best for Tory and Rhun to stay here at Aberffraw, for this was the land and burial place of his great ancestors. All of them were here, and Maelgwn felt they would surely be keeping guard over Gwynedd’s heir.

  Tory hated to question his wish but she felt that this arrangement was not really fair on Miles.

  ‘Tory, I promise that he will understand so much more now, thou shalt not have to lie anymore.’

  ‘Maelgwn …!’ Tory took a seat on his lap. ‘Thou art missing the point. I am driving the poor man out of his mind, not to mention thy visions of me plaguing his sleep.’

  ‘Sorry, I could not help it. I had to focus on thy image to find thee, and in my fondest memories thou art always naked, or becoming thus.’ He sounded rather casual about the whole thing, until his hold over Miles began to weaken. ‘I was not to know Miles was perceiving the all of it.’

  ‘Maelgwn, what be wrong?’ Tory held his head firmly between her hands. ‘Please, not yet, I am not ready to let thee go.’ As Tory became distressed, so did Rhun. ‘Maelgwn?’ The tears began to stream down her face as the lids of his eyes closed, and his head became a heavy weight in her hand. ‘I miss thee.’ She held his unconscious form until her weeping had ceased.

  Brian was at the front door within the hour. He was funny like that, he always seemed to sense when Tory needed him. From the state he found her in, he presumed that Maelgwn had left.

  ‘How did Miles react?’ Brian asked.

  ‘He’s still passed out,’ she told him meekly. ‘What am I going to say to him, Brian?’

  Her brother didn’t see a problem. ‘Tell him I punched him out at his office and he must have dreamt the whole t
hing. That explains why he’s missed a whole day.’

  ‘I cannot lie to him.’ Tory had never had to lie in her life, she’d just stretched the truth a bit here and there. ‘Lying is for cowards who are too afraid to face the truth.’

  Brian shrugged as he came to sit beside her and began to stoke the fire.

  ‘Brian, where’s Naomi?’

  ‘She’s not talking to me.’ He wasn’t angry, just sad and resigned.

  ‘She started asking questions you couldn’t answer?’

  Brian nodded. He wanted to keep their secret, yet it was becoming increasingly difficult with all that had gone on in the past few months. ‘She said if I don’t trust her by now I never will. But I do, Tory.’

  She took a deep breath. Naomi was part of all this now but Tory was not sure if she was ready for it. ‘Call her up, get her over here,’ she resolved with a smile. ‘No, on second thoughts, I’ll do it.’

  ‘You’re the best.’ Brian hugged her, as she reached for the phone.

  Tory had long since disappeared with Naomi along the beach when Miles finally emerged from the depths of his slumber to find Brian making coffee in his kitchen.

  Brian saw him slouched in the doorway of the bedroom and moved quickly to help him to a seat. ‘How’s it going, Professor?’

  ‘As well as could be expected.’ Miles was shaking, though he was neither cold nor fearful. It was pure awareness that made him tremble, and it passed over him in waves, alerting all his senses.

  ‘Do you remember much?’ Brian thought he’d try to calm the way for Tory, if he could.

  ‘I have seen …’ Miles held his head with both hands; he remembered so much he didn’t know where to start. ‘Where is Tory?’ he panicked, thinking that she may have left.

  ‘She’s on the beach, clearing up a few things with Naomi for me. They’ll be back presently, I hope.’ He walked into the kitchen to get the professor some coffee. ‘But if there’s something on your mind, feel free to ask. I know most of what Tory knows.’