Maelgwn had no knowledge of such a place, but Tory had heard and read about the legends, long ago when she was a student. ‘I was under the impression that Shamballa was just a myth?’ She voiced her understanding.
‘To the inept seeker,’ the Count reasoned, ‘it may as well be.’
A path led around to a tranquil garden courtyard at the rear of the house, where the Count invited Tory and Maelgwn to be seated.
‘The tea is for you,’ the master advised, motioning to a little table where an earthenware tea set was laid out on a tray, with two small bowl shaped cups at the ready and steam rising from the spout of the stout pot.
‘I shall return.’ The Count entered the house quietly.
‘Tea then?’ Tory did the honours.
‘Definitely.’ Maelgwn slouched in his seat and threw back his long dark hair from his face as if the act would clear his mind and help him get a grip on their circumstances. ‘Why do you think we’ve been brought here?’
Tory finished pouring the tea and, handing Maelgwn’s cup to him, she dropped her voice to a whisper. ‘I’d say we’re being recruited.’
‘Yes,’ Maelgwn agreed, ‘but for what task?’
‘I guess we’re about to find out.’ She held up her teacup and Maelgwn sat forward to clink her cup with his.
‘This tea is very odd,’ Tory decided upon taking several sips, each one having a different flavour. ‘It seems to taste like anything you want it to taste like.’
Maelgwn seemed amused by her comment. ‘I thought I was imagining things.’
Once they’d finished the cupful, both Tory and Maelgwn began to feel a change in their perception.
‘Wow!’ Tory put down the cup and gazed about at her surroundings. The colour of everything had intensified; in fact, all of her senses had sharpened. She felt suddenly detached from her physical surroundings and this inspired much joy and peace in her. ‘That tea is very cleansing,’ she commented, unable to wipe the smile from her face.
Maelgwn had his eyes closed and had slouched to a more comfortable seated position once more. ‘Mmmm …’
‘Do not rise.’
Tory looked to the doorway to find that the Count and two other tall gentlemen had emerged, and startled by their presence she went to stand, as did Maelgwn, but hearing the instruction they’d just been given they remained seated and the three men joined them at the table.
Even before they were introduced, Tory could easily define which of the Masters governed which Ray, for their attributes were clearly reflected in their assumed human forms.
El Morya was six foot six in height, with the deportment of a general. He spoke in short sharp sentences. His aura was one of overwhelming power and strength, and his commanding countenance invoked the deepest respect. His long, dark, wavy hair was mostly hidden by a white turban, which matched his long white shirt and loose-fitting trousers. A long wavy beard, neatly trimmed, covered a good part of the master’s face, whose stern expression did not hide the enlightenment and gentleness that was reflected in his dark brown eyes.
Kuthumi was as tall and noble as his brother, but was of slighter build. His complexion was fairer than El Morya’s, and his golden-brown hair and beard softened his appearance. Out of his eyes of deep blue seemed to flow the love and wisdom of the ages. He was attired in much the same manner as his brother, only the heavier weave of the fabric was dark blue.
‘We are aware that you both aspire to higher work.’ Kuthumi got straight to the point, yet his expression was one of patience and he addressed the couple before him very kindly. ‘We are in need of souls of your calibre at present, or we would not have called you back this soon.’
‘Why the alarm, lord?’ Maelgwn was naturally worried for his kindred.
‘We are readying the agents of light for a dark event.’ He forced a smile, not wanting to be the bearer of bad news.
‘Has this event got something to do with the half-caste Nefilim rebel known as Viper?’ Tory was guessing that it did.
‘Viper is an agent for a leading exponent of the Dark Lodge on Gaia, and soon the dark cause will become Viper’s cause and he will take up the quest with zeal.’
‘What is the ultimate aim of the Dark Lodge?’ Maelgwn asked the question, but both Tory and himself sat forward to hear the answer.
‘To retard the evolution of humanity,’ El Morya stated.
Kuthumi anticipated the next question and answered it. ‘To guide mankind to reduce Gaia to a frozen moon, and the planet will be incapable of providing bodies for souls to inhabit … evolution will be delayed by millions of years; to wipe away the culture of the ages and undo all that the Logoi have created, is the ultimate purpose of the Dark Lodge.’
‘And Gaia is the best place to start glamouring humans into their own destruction.’ This was what the Tablet of Destinies had told Tory.
Kuthumi nodded. ‘Hence we need as many enlightened human soul-minds as possible to aid with the behind-the-scenes guidance of humankind.’
‘We wish to be where we will be of greatest service to the Logos,’ Tory assured the Masters, who all nodded, aware that her statement was true enough.
‘We are proud of your devotion to the plan,’ Kuthumi granted, ‘but this decision is not one to be made blindly. Allow me to enlighten you both as to what would be expected should you choose to take a more causal role in the forthcoming events.’ Kuthumi rose; the other two Masters remained seated. ‘Accompany me,’ he invited Tory and Maelgwn.
The couple obliged and trailed the master back down the side of the house to a track that led towards the bridge and beyond. Neither Tory nor Maelgwn had noticed that they no longer used their feet to advance, but rather they floated after Kuthumi, propelled forth by their will to know more.
On board the Aten, Fallon was not feeling very warmly welcomed. Not one of Viper’s kindred to whom she was introduced seemed to have a nice word or kind look for her. Not that Fallon blamed them; after all, her father had deceived and cheated them of life eternal.
Viper’s sister, Gazelle, threw Fallon off guard in that the half-caste Nefilim Falcon woman looked so much like Lirathea.
Gazelle’s wings sported the same honey coloured plumage as Viper’s, but where her brother’s quills were short, the quills on Gazelle’s head fell all the way down to her waist. Her large almond-shaped eyes were azure blue and were her only angelic feature. Suited up in tight fitting brown leather, Gazelle was far more warrior-like than her Chosen incarnation and her personality was as fierce as her appearance.
‘The Chosen don’t betray their own kind,’ she stated with suspicion when introduced to Fallon. ‘She’s a spy, Viper.’
‘Well, I trust her.’ Viper struggled to remain civil with his sister.
‘Do you trust her enough to tell her about our secret weapon?’ In mentioning this, Gazelle taunted Fallon and vexed her brother at the same time.
‘Fallon is our secret weapon,’ Viper advised his sister, his look daring her to push the issue and incur his wrath later for her defiance. ‘So, if you don’t mind, we must retire to quieter quarters to devise our next move.’ He took Fallon by the arm and guided her away from his troublesome sister.
‘She will betray you.’ Gazelle raised her voice to warn Viper, and then smiled confidently as she watched the Chosen traitor step onto a teleporter with her brother and vanish. ‘And she won’t be the only one.’
Gazelle suspected that once Fallon discovered that Viper was in lust with a vile rotting demon, the Chosen One would return to her kindred to warn them and hopefully take the informant back to Kila with her. Gazelle wanted off this ship of fools before it was sucked into the dark depths of Density. Fallon was her ticket to a better life.
Viper was currently inhabiting the private chambers that had once belonged to the Nefilim Lord Marduk — the creator and father of the Chosen Ones. As with most quarters constructed for Nefilim occupation, the rooms were huge and sparsely furnished, with huge floor-to-ceiling windows t
hat allowed for sweeping views of the vast expanse of space in which their vessel was adrift.
‘I haven’t spent a lot of time in space.’ Fallon gazed out the window, trying to hide her nervousness at being alone with Viper at this moment.
‘I have spent my whole lonely life here.’ Viper came up behind Fallon and wrapping his arms about her waist, he began to kiss her neck.
He wanted her so badly. He wanted to smell her fear, hear her scream, see her bleed and taste her innocence before stealing it from her. He wanted to tie her up and torture her with every perverse act he’d ever endured as a child — and he would, once this Orme raid was over. And once he destroyed everything pure and wholesome about her, he would murder her. When Fallon suffered a mortal death, her immortality would kick in and Viper would make a gift of her immortal body to Mahaud. With the crone inhabiting Fallon’s physical form, Viper and Mahaud planned to derive much pleasure from the eternal violation of the girl. To caress Fallon gently like this made Viper sick to his stomach; the only thing that made this seduction bearable was the knowledge that he was defiling the daughter of his enemy.
For some reason Viper’s touch made Fallon shudder. ‘It’s cold in space,’ she commented to hide her reaction and slipped away from him to conjure forth a jacket to put on. ‘We haven’t got any time to waste,’ she advised Viper as she slid into the garment. ‘We really should get cracking on a plan of attack.’
‘You’re not going to get all professional on me now, are you?’ Viper pulled her close once more. He wanted her to give up her virginity to him voluntarily, just so he could see the look on her face after the Orme raid, when she discovered that he hated her guts.
‘How am I to take your cause seriously, when it is clear you do not?’ Fallon removed his hands from her behind. Beginning to feel a little pressured, she began to consider fleeing.
Inside, Viper was furious, but he couldn’t risk losing her trust before he got his hands on the dark Orme. ‘I couldn’t have you thinking that I brought you here just for your expertise.’ He backed off, and placing both hands behind his back Viper leaned over to give Fallon a peck on the cheek. ‘Thanks for your help.’
Fallon found his schoolboy antics a bit extreme and so kissed his lips to reassure him. ‘You’re welcome.’ With a smile, she let Viper go and slapping her hands together she took an official stance. ‘Now, for a strategy.’
On the way to meet up with Bast and Sparrowhawk on Numan, Avery dropped by his Otherworldly office on Gaia to pick up his messages from Templeton and make his apologies to the Count for being detained so long from his tuition.
Reports of the Aten have been coming in, young master. Templeton began his rundown on affairs. It has been spotted moving through the ethers en route to ancient Gaia and was also reported visiting the early twenty-first century of this planet a couple of times. But the Aten is currently residing in your present day reality.
‘Templeton!’ Avery was furious. ‘Why wasn’t I told this sooner?’
I was told you were in Lahmu’s senate. The old willow tree sounded most defensive. Uncontactable until otherwise informed, that was the impression I got.
‘I was finished with the senate ages ago,’ Avery informed.
And I am expected to know this?
Avery bowed his head, conceding that the oversight was his own damn fault. Fallon’s defection had his thoughts and guts in a knot, he should have checked in sooner.
You need not even make an appearance, Templeton continued to lecture. All you have to do is drop me a thought.
‘All right, Templeton, I’m sorry,’ Avery snapped, although it was intended to be an apology. ‘Can we do anything to stop the Aten passing through our realms?’
Not unless you can remove the elestial smart rock from the drive system of the Aten, or dispense with every deposit of elestial crystal in the Otherworld. Templeton listed the options.
Otherworldly smart rocks came in all different varieties and each variety had different abilities.
The rock in question, Eli, has your ability to come and go between the material world and the etheric world at will. Because Eli is installed in the Aten the craft moves with him.
‘Then why would destroying every elestial crystal deposit in the Otherworld prevent Eli from using the ethers to hop all over history?’
Eli tunes into the vibratory rate of his kindred in the Otherworld and thus achieves his safe passage through the ethers.
‘And do all these smart rocks have the ability to manifest on the physical plane?’ Avery queried.
No, young master, only those hunks that have been granted leave … Gwyn ap Nudd granted Eli the ability in order to aid the Lord Marduk.
‘Did he now?’ Avery was starting to become very angered by his mentor’s convenient disappearance. ‘Then surely I have the power to take the ability back.’
One would think so. Templeton’s willow branches were bowed lower than usual, as he attempted to humble himself and avoid the brunt of the young lord’s aggravation.
‘One does not award a gift and then take it back.’ The Count finally spoke up to draw Avery’s frustration away from Templeton. ‘How would you like it if I took the same ability away from you?’
Avery brought his surging emotions into check as he considered the master’s point. ‘I am not aiding the Dark Lodge,’ he argued.
The Count smiled broadly at this. ‘No, Avery, you are a complete angel and would never abuse your authority here in the Otherworld.’ The look of guilt on Avery’s face said it all. ‘And how do you know that Eli is not performing his function in the Aten under duress?’
Avery opened his mouth to argue, and finding he had no comeback, he sighed heavily instead. ‘I am failing my initiation, aren’t I?’
‘You’re young … and the first human to take up this Otherworldly office,’ the Count allowed. ‘Still, being angry at others for your own shortcomings is not going to make your mistake go away.’
Avery held up a hand in truce. ‘No offence, Count, but I seem to have had so many lectures lately, that I couldn’t possibly absorb another.’ Avery floated over to take a seat on a nearby rock.
‘Fair enough,’ the Count conceded. ‘Let me see if I can be more constructive.’ He glided over to be seated beside the young Lord of the Otherworld. ‘I am going to do you the courtesy of just telling you straight … a dark spirit is aiding your foe. You know it by the name of Mahaud.’
Avery was shocked into a standing position. ‘How? The Aten!’ he answered himself. ‘Goddamnit! But how did Viper learn about Mahaud?’
‘He disguised himself as you,’ the Count enlightened. ‘And then visited the Institute of Immortal History and did a little research.’
‘Goddamnit!’ Avery repeated as he began to float to and fro in a frustrated manner.
‘Viper is going to need an immortal agent to play host to this spirit,’ the Count suggested and seized Avery’s full attention.
‘Not Fallon, please!’ the lad begged.
‘It’s a possibility,’ the Count granted, ‘but we cannot say for sure, as Viper’s inspiration is drawn from the realms of Avichi which is beyond the comprehension of the Brotherhood of Light.’
A panic, unlike any he’d ever known, rocked Avery to the very core of his being. Anger and fear had always been strangers to him, but now that he’d made their acquaintance Avery seemed unable to shake their company and, compelled to fight them off, he lashed out. ‘You could save her!’ Avery knew the Count had the power and the know-how.
‘If I take this test for you, then what will you learn?’ came the master’s calm response.
‘Fallon’s spiritual wellbeing is more important than any old test!’ Avery stressed out. ‘Please make my initiation something else, anything!’
The Count had to suppress a laugh. ‘Your initiation was of your own design, Avery, not mine. Only you can stop the wheels that you have set into motion.’
‘How?’ he insisted.
The Count rose from his seat and floated over to place a hand on the lad’s shoulder to calm him. ‘Lirathea has already told you what you must do. And now that you know how high the stakes are, you have the conviction to achieve your goal. I hold no fear of that not being the case and neither should you.’
All the anger left Avery upon being touched by the master and he felt his attitude begin to improve and his confidence in his own abilities strengthen. ‘Any other advice?’
‘Your foe is seeking to steal the dark Orme,’ the Count warned. ‘They must not get hold of it.’
‘But why?’ Avery was confused. ‘It is lethal to ingest. It kills not only the body but the soul as well.’
‘Only in large doses,’ the Count added. ‘In small doses it just retards the soul, filling it with darkness and negativity.’
Avery had gone very pale. ‘And it will grant immortality for those inclined towards the dark cause?’
‘It will.’
‘Then Viper could spawn a whole army of evil agents.’ Avery was aghast. ‘Does Lahmu know this?’
‘Lahmu, and a select few others, who dealt with Mahaud last time she reared her ugly head.’ The Count let Avery go upon feeling him ready to face the quest at hand.
Avery had not felt such clarity and confidence since the day he’d graduated and Viper began undermining his life. ‘I should make haste to Lahmu to report and then go on to Numan to prepare.’
If Viper was after Orme Charichalum then Numan had to be his target.
‘You are our front line of defence, Avery.’ The Count smiled, confident that the forces of light would overcome. ‘All the powers of creation go with you. Don’t hesitate to seek our counsel or aid, should you need it.’
His attitude much improved, Avery bowed to the Count in gratitude. ‘You have been of great aid already, my lord.’
8
INDEBTED
Past the little bridge the paved track rounded a curve, and built into the cliff face was a stone archway in which a door was set.