‘Sweet mother of mercy,’ the old woman uttered, and crossed herself. James ran and shook his brother.
‘Earnest! Wake up!’ Slapping around the face didn’t elicit any response, so James threw a glass of water over his brother and Earnest came to with a start. ‘Are you all right?’
‘James? What are you doing here?’ Earnest looked around the room. ‘Where is my wife?’ As soon as he posed the question, Earnest remembered her departure. ‘Oh, no, we have to go!’ He clambered off the bed.
‘You have no idea.’ James aided his brother to throw his belongings into a bag, but as Earnest made toward the door James pulled him back. ‘Not that way.’
The sound of several men ascending the stairs in haste caused the brothers to back up toward the balcony.
Malory and his knights entered to find an old woman making the bed. ‘Where are Mr and Mrs Devere?’
The housemaid continued with her chore unfazed, as men flooded the room to search it. ‘They left some time ago.’
Malory noticed the closed balcony doors and immediately moved to check beyond them. He spied two figures scaling the back wall of the courtyard. ‘Out here.’ He directed his men over the balcony in pursuit.
‘Why are you not back in France?’ Earnest demanded some answers from his brother. ‘And who are we running from?’
‘An old friend of yours is responsible on both counts.’ James led his brother down the back streets toward the rear of the English consulate. ‘Does the name Lord Malory ring any bells?’
‘Lord Malory is here!’ Earnest was shocked to a standstill. James ran back and grabbed his brother’s arm to drag him back to a sprint. ‘But I don’t understand…does he wish me harm?’ Had the Grand Master got wind of the fact that Mrs Devere had fled her marriage?
‘All I know is that he kidnapped Lady Devere and myself in order to get to you.’ James ducked into a courtyard and pulling Earnest inside, he closed the gate. ‘Lord Malory seems to think that your wife’s destiny is to destroy some creature that originated in the Sinai.’
‘Molier.’ Devere named the said creature under his breath.
‘I thought Lord Malory was completely insane and I would still…’ James said, wishing it was so, ‘had I not seen that demon leaning over you at Maximoff’s.’
‘You saw him!’ Earnest was horrified, and yet excited as his brother nodded gravely. ‘But how did Molier find me when my wife has repelled him?’
I blind you to my being. He recalled Ashlee’s exact words.
Now that she was no longer in his company, Molier couldn’t find Mrs Devere but he could now find her husband. Or the creature could pursue Lady Devere, or anyone that Mrs Devere knew, who might lead the way to her.
‘This is very bad,’ Earnest realised.
The sound of several pistols being cocked made it painfully clear that the situation had just got worse. But it was not Lord Malory’s men, or Molier’s, that held them at gunpoint this time. It was the local law enforcement. The Devere brothers were seized and escorted into the consulate.
‘Excellent,’ James uttered to his brother with a satisfied grin.
Earnest, who was in a hurry to catch his wife, did not agree. ‘How do you figure that?’
When my husband and his brother entered the consulate lounge, I ran to embrace my Lord Devere. His captors released him, his identity confirmed by my reaction.
‘Praise god you’re safe.’ I looked from my husband to my brother-in-law, perplexed. ‘But where is Ashlee?’
‘A good question.’ My husband was equally eager to know.
‘Halfway to Cairo in all probability,’ Mr Devere was most annoyed to concede. ‘We had a little disagreement,’ he added in further explanation.
‘Not another one,’ James complained, fed up. ‘Haven’t you two got the faintest idea of what a marriage commitment actually is?’
With a pat on the arm I urged my husband to settle down. I took Mr Devere aside, whilst James moved to congratulate Mr Banks on apprehending two of the kidnappers. He also wished to clarify any questions the officers of the Pasha might have about Lord Malory and his men.
‘What did you argue about?’ I sat down with Mr Devere in a quiet corner.
‘My wife is pregnant,’ he announced solemnly.
‘Oh, my god!’ My heart nearly stopped with all the joy that flooded it. ‘Congratulations!’ I made my brother-in-law smile briefly.
‘Thank you.’ He conceded that it was grand news. ‘I thought that it would be wiser to return home to England, rather than risk a mishap in the desert.’ He justified his side of the argument.
‘Oh dear,’ I said, knowing how Ashlee would have taken to the suggestion.
‘I know,’ he scolded himself, feeling that he should have known better. ‘Now she is tackling the quest alone. Well, not alone,’ he corrected himself, rather bitterly. ‘She has Cingar and Albray to aid her.’
‘Albray?’ I frowned.
Devere was wearied by the very mention of the name. ‘You were right in saying that my wife had not taken a lover, that it was more likely to be a male spirit advising her. Mrs Devere trusts him so implicitly that he may as well be her lover.’
‘I doubt very much that a ghost would be able to match your relationship with your wife.’ I suppressed a grin at my boldness in saying so, but at least the comment did manage to raise my brother-in-law’s spirits. ‘We should resume our pursuit of our sister without delay.’ I made to move, when Mr Devere grabbed my arm.
‘We have another problem…’
I sat back down to learn what it was.
‘I believe that Molier can track us to my wife.’
This adventure just got more and more complex. ‘So by trying to assist Ashlee, we might only be placing her in more danger?’
Mr Devere nodded. ‘I need to speak with an authority on spiritual shielding before we pursue her.’
‘Do you know of such an authority here in Alexandria?’ I implored him, just as concerned about Ashlee’s welfare.
‘I need to speak with Lord Malory,’ he replied, as someone knocked on the door of the house.
‘That will be Lord Malory now,’ I informed him cheerily. ‘Come to collect Lord Devere and myself.’
Once Malory and the other men in his company had joined the growing crowd in the English consul’s lounge, Mr Devere, Lord Malory and I joined forces to do a lot of fast talking. We managed to convince the Pasha’s officials that there had been a giant misunderstanding.
My husband looked on in disbelief as Mr Devere insisted he knew about Lord Malory’s visit, and I stated that my husband and I had come in pursuit of our relatives of our own free will.
‘We did?’ My husband cocked an eye in question, wondering what the hell I was up to now.
‘It is our sister-in-law who has been kidnapped,’ I said, to the shock of everyone present. ‘We believe she has been taken to Cairo and so require a speedy passage there.’
‘I can arrange that,’ Lord Malory said, eager to deal himself into my favour and grateful that I was not exposing him for the kidnapper he was.
‘I felt sure of it.’ I accepted the deal.
‘Is there anything I can do?’ Mr Banks offered.
‘You could bid us leave with the greatest haste,’ I suggested.
The Pasha’s official obviously had better things to do than to stand around listening to a bunch of English people talking gibberish. As we all seemed to be getting along, he gave up on even trying to follow our discourse. ‘Be gone from my city before daybreak,’ he told all the tourists present.
‘I shall see to it personally.’ A confused Mr Banks gave his assurance as he showed the officials to the door.
‘Can someone please explain what just happened?’ Lord Devere appealed to his brother and me.
‘Mrs Devere has been kidnapped, you say,’ Lord Malory cut in. ‘Is it true, Earnest?’
‘I need to know how I can shield myself from Molier’s eyes.’ Mr Devere had
his own question.
‘Has he got her?’ Malory had to know first.
‘No.’ Mr Devere would admit that much. ‘Is there a way I can keep Molier at a distance?’
As Lord Malory nodded and began to explain, Lord Devere was compelled to cut in. ‘Can we go now?’
‘We cannot leave now!’ I was surprised that James would leave his brother in Lord Malory’s hands and sail off back to England, especially now that our sister’s safety was again in doubt.
‘I was referring to Cairo.’ My husband corrected my misunderstanding. ‘They can talk about their demon banishing spells on the way.’
My jaw dropped open. I could hardly believe that my husband: A) was prepared to go to Cairo, and, B) could speak of anything occult in a casual, accepting manner. ‘Is this Lord Devere before me, or some impostor?’
‘I saw something tonight that I cannot explain,’ he said seriously. ‘Once I have a reasonable assurance that there is no further danger to our family, then I shall go home.’
James knew I was proud of his resolution, but I suspected that he wasn’t pursuing this mystery to please me any more. He now had a personal agenda. What had he seen tonight?
I had no time to ask as Malory agreed with my lord that we needed to leave Alexandria while the going was still good.
‘Wait.’ Mr Devere took hold of Lord Malory’s arm. ‘Did you have any involvement in the death of Lord Hereford?’
‘No.’ He refuted the suggestion doggedly. ‘I have explained—’
Mr Devere held up a finger to silence Lord Malory and focused on the man’s inner thoughts.
‘He’s telling the truth,’ my brother-in-law stated, to set all our minds at ease. His and my own at least. I believe my husband still had his doubts about his brother’s psychic abilities.
Lord Malory was smiling now, and not because he had been cleared of the suspicion of murder. ‘Your full potential has been realised,’ he stated, proud of his student. ‘I can train you to hone these abilities. You can be of greater assistance to your wife in her quest. And, clearly, you must now know that my intentions are the best. I have done only what I must to ensure your wife’s safety and wellbeing.’
Mr Devere had not let go of the lord’s hand and again he focused on Malory’s inner knowing. ‘Why didn’t you tell me about Mrs Devere’s destiny?’
‘Prophecy is not an exact science, even for someone so talented as Lady Charlotte,’ Malory explained. ‘We had no way of knowing your wife would pursue this quest until she chose to do so of her own free will. Had you known, and perhaps warned her of our suspicions, would such a wilful soul as she still have taken it up with such fervour?’
‘What have you planned for our children?’ Devere remembered Ashlee’s concern and decided to clear up the matter while he had Lord Malory on the spot.
‘Only what they, in the grand scheme, choose for themselves.’ Malory was clearly troubled by his student’s doubts about the brotherhood. ‘It has been foreseen that your children will achieve great spiritual enlightenment, but this is not something the brotherhood can bring about. Our function is one of protection, not dictation.’
‘Protection from whom?’ I stepped in to inquire. ‘Molier?’
Malory shook his head.
‘Are you referring to the church?’ Lord Devere was clearly shocked and uncomfortable with the suggestion.
Again Malory shook his head. ‘The church are a concern, but they are by no means the greatest. But, no need to worry. For regardless of its shortcomings, the church has come to play a beneficial role in society and we have no intention of destroying their function, now that they are finally doing more good than harm.’
Lord Devere’s patience and beliefs were being sorely tried. ‘I believe that god knows the truth, and if the church needs deconstructing the Almighty will arrange it.’
‘Absolutely correct. But god works through men, Lord Devere,’ Malory suggested, ‘and I trust that by the end of this adventure, you shall be seeing life, the world and its history in a very different light.’
‘No truth higher than the truth,’ Mr Devere reminded his brother of their family motto. ‘There is no point in arguing what time will tell us. Best keep your eyes and mind open and discern the truth for yourself.’
Lord Devere looked to me to ascertain my thoughts on the matter. ‘“I know nothing compared to everything there is to know and learn”.’ I quoted the philosopher Socrates. ‘Knowledge flows from right action and thus, so long as we adhere to our purest intentions then god is working through us.’ I referred back to what Lord Malory had said, managing to unite both sides of the argument, rather than take sides and cause a greater divide.
‘Bravo.’ Lord Malory praised my reasoning. ‘Spoken like a true Cavandish…and a true Devere for that matter.’
I was pleased with the compliment and my husband was plainly proud of me also. ‘So, gentlemen, shall we depart Alexandria before we are arrested?’
‘That is a very good idea,’ Mr Banks announced from where he stood by the door of the lounge, waiting to escort us out. We had obviously worn out our welcome. How much of the conversation had Mr Banks overheard—might some of the subject matter have caused him offence. Or was it that he’d just had to spend all this time apologising to the local authorities for the false alarm? Either way, he wasn’t disposed toward hearing apologies or explanations. He just wanted Malory’s six henchmen and us off the premises.
FROM THE TRAVEL JOURNALS OF MRS ASHLEE DEVERE
Cingar and I boarded a boat at the Mahmudiya, the canal connecting Alexandria with the Nile. I felt a little guilty to be resting upon a mattress, wrapped in a blanket to keep warm, when our Arab boatmen, ropes wrapped around their chests, were towing our boat down the canal.
I guessed that feeling guilty for them took my mind off feeling guilty for abandoning my dear Mr Devere again. I did miss his company, but I had not come all this way to turn back now. Having nearly been bowled over and discovered by Lord Devere in Maximoff’s courtyard, I felt secure in the knowledge that Earnest would have friends around him, despite my absence. Still, I did wonder what had brought Lord Devere to Alexandria, when he’d been determined to head home to England.
My treasure stone was itching my palm and I summoned my knight to console me.
You did the right thing. Albray manifested and got right to the heart of my anguish. The return of those vials is worth any risk that must be faced in the process.
I felt sure you would think so. I still had my doubts about that. Am I putting my unborn child at risk?
The only risk is that he might be born into a better, safer world.
He? I noted that the knight had given my child a gender and Albray nodded to confirm that it had not been a slip of the tongue.
And a very masterful soul in the field of knowledge synthesis he shall be. Thus, I assure you, there will be no stopping him from fulfilling the destiny that he has charted for himself in this world, my knight assured me in all seriousness. Your wellbeing during this time is naturally a major concern to him and if you thought yourself powerful before his conception, you are triply so now. For he shan’t allow any harm to befall the sacred vessel that shall deliver him unto his destiny.
I smiled, liking the idea that my son-to-be was protecting me.
This soul chose you and this time for a reason, in the full knowledge of your current situation, he continued. Your intuition is one of your greatest gifts, and your instinct was to finish the quest you started, despite putting yourself at odds with the man you love. If you had truly been meant to turn back, don’t you think you would have felt it instinctively? And besides, Bedouin women manage to have children whilst being on the move all the time.
My knight’s reasoning was sound as always. I just wished that my husband could have been so supportive.
‘Feeling guilty?’ Cingar took a seat alongside me.
‘Not any more,’ I replied, pulling the blanket tighter around me. Even my gree
n velvet attire didn’t keep the chill at bay. ‘How do the Arabs cope with these extreme temperature fluctuations?’
Cingar ignored my attempt to change the topic. ‘What is so important that you would risk your happiness to pursue it?’
‘Some things are more important than individual happiness,’ I told him, although I knew a gypsy would find this hard to understand.
‘Like freedom?’ he suggested, trying to fathom my motive.
‘Like obligation and duty.’
He pouted and gave a nod as he considered this. ‘An obligation that is higher than marriage must be serious indeed?’
‘I believe so.’ I suppressed a yawn and gave my eyes a rub. ‘I wish I could tell you the details of my quest, but the fact is, it would only place you in more danger than you already are. It would be wise, after you arrange my transport into the Sinai, for you to return home to Italy.’
‘I am not renowned for my wisdom.’ He sidestepped the issue. ‘And you are weary.’ He changed the subject, as he always did when I mentioned his going home.
I was tired. ‘I cannot get comfortable.’ Every time I tried to lie down I felt ill.
‘Here.’ Cingar offered me a shoulder on which to rest my head and I was grateful for it.
I felt safe nestled between my gypsy and my knight. Two more faithful travelling companions I could not have wished for. Still, as I rested my head and allowed my eyes to close, several things plagued my thoughts. Firstly, that during my hasty retreat from the Maximoffs’ I had left Lord Hereford’s journal with my husband, and my journey through the desert would have been the perfect time to read it. Secondly, I suspected that Molier knew of my intended destination, and that there would be no outrunning him.
The goddesses of the ages are watching over you, I heard Albray’s voice in my mind. Sleep soundly in that knowledge…
By eight o’clock the next morning I was standing on the banks of the River Nile, the eternal river of Egypt, having slept for most of the journey down the canal.