‘Bast!’ exclaimed the prisoner, his mood darkening again, for the module had removed what little untrained psychic ability he had. To Horace, Bast appeared to be a Homo sapiens and he’d not suspected her to be the leader of the Leonine people whom he despised with a vengeance.
‘Very good,’ Bast told Rhun, ignoring the prisoner. ‘Good luck with the exchange.’
As soon as Rhun and Zabeel departed, Bast assumed her true form and turned back to the prisoner. ‘I am Bast, so state your grievance, Horace.’
‘My injury was your fault!’ Horace spoke through gritted teeth.
‘Was it now?’ Bast couldn’t imagine how he’d reached this conclusion. ‘How so?’
‘Am I, and my kind, not every bit as much a Leonine as you are?’ he prompted.
‘Yes, Horace,’ she replied reasonably.
‘Then why is it that you rule on Nugia and I was outcast and condemned to a life amongst butchers and whores!’ He demanded an answer.
‘Your people chose to remain segregated from the rest of the tribes, Horace. Lahmu offered you sanctuary on any of the planets he rules, bar Numan,’ she pointed out.
Horace burst into tears and shook his head. ‘And how would we have been looked upon by the citizens of Nugia? It’s all right for you … you are one of the Chosen Ones, bringing the traits of that mighty race to your people. But I carry the Nefilim gene pool within me, the essence of the greatest known oppressors of mankind!’
‘The Nefilim had their good points, too, like intelligence for example —’
‘Nobody wants to know about a relationship with an Antichrist!’ He cut her off. ‘And especially not one who is no longer even capable of consummating a relationship.’
‘That is your own impression of yourself, Horace. Cordella and Gazelle have faced the truth about themselves and made good of their lives,’ Bast reminded him firmly, but with compassion. ‘So don’t give me that outcast crap. You isolated yourself, just as you are doing now, as we speak. The way of the righteous is to trust —’
‘The way of the righteous will reduce me to half a man,’ Horace snarled.
‘That’s where you are wrong! Become whole in spirit and mind, and the body will surely follow,’ Bast argued. ‘Joining the ranks of the Chosen will make you whole, just as surely as the Dark Path, but you must let go of all the anger and resentment, the desire to control and repress —’
‘And what is this you are doing to me, if it is not control and repression? Are you trusting me?’ As his tears of pent-up anger flowed freely, Horace felt his heart lightening and his private parts shrinking away. ‘I hate you,’ he yelled, not quite as passionately as he would have liked, as he was weakening to her influence.
Bast noted his appearance physically ageing, which was a positive sign, as it meant the effect that dark Orme had over his heart was lessening. ‘Soon I will be able to award you such trust,’ Bast assured him, ‘but there is still much darkness in you.’
‘So why don’t you shoot me with the good stuff and sweeten me to your cause, bitch?’
Bast slowly shook her head. ‘It wouldn’t have a lasting effect. You’d return to the dark path eventually and then we’d be right back where we started. Only you can reverse your selfish cause to a selfless one.’
‘Look, I don’t know where Rainer Hayden is, so why don’t you just leave me the fuck alone?’ he suggested rudely, concerned that he would not be able to resist her beauty, her patience and caring.
‘It’s not Rainer we are looking for any more, is it, Horace?’ She grabbed a seat and straddled it, to lean on the back and concentrate on the prisoner. ‘Let us discuss where you went.’
When Noah arrived in the past with Tory and Maelgwn, their family and friends were thrilled to see them. All of the Dragon’s sons lined up to give their parents a squeeze and although the lads did not realise it would be the last time they would hold their parents thus, Tory and Maelgwn were making the most of the moment.
When the family reunion had calmed down, Rhun, who was rather good at hypnotism, guided his father in putting Tory under.
‘When next I say the word “confide”, you shall fall into a deep trance. Your body and mind will be subject to my will alone until such time as I bid you go in peace.’ Maelgwn outlined their arrangement. ‘Nod if you understand.’
A sigh of relief was heard from all those present as Tory nodded her head. Satisfied, Maelgwn clicked his fingers and his wife awoke.
‘You didn’t make me impersonate a duck, did you?’ she joked as she regained her perspective.
‘Tempting,’ Maelgwn smiled, ‘but no.’
‘So you and I are right to proceed?’ Tory concluded as she rose from her seat.
‘We are going with you,’ Rhun insisted on behalf of all his brothers.
‘No need.’ Doc came forward and placed a chain bearing a medallion around the Dragon’s neck. ‘Concealed in the pendant is a mike and camera. We can view the event from here. If anything goes wrong, you can all be there in the blink of an eye.’
‘We don’t want to put the crone off by having a large force present,’ Maelgwn explained, examining the pendant that was a replica of the Dragon medallion he’d once worn in ancient Gwynedd.
‘But psychic phenomena always interferes with electronic transmissions.’ Rhun became rather edgy, as he sensed there was something his parents weren’t telling him.
Doc shook his head. ‘We won’t have that problem with Taliesin’s equipment,’ he assured. ‘It’s still way ahead of its time.’
Maelgwn could tell that Rhun still wasn’t comfortable with the plan. ‘I need to speak with Mahaud alone,’ he said, to justify their decision.
Rhun knew his mother had regressed to a mortal being for the sake of the mission and although she still radiated the light of a divine being she had the weary look of a mortal about her — his father, too. ‘You’re not immortal any more, are you, father?’
‘No,’ he replied simply, and all his boys were plainly horrified by the news.
‘You won’t have a hope in hell if Viper turns up.’ Rhun knew he was stating the obvious, but what were his parents thinking of?
‘Thanks for the vote of confidence.’ Maelgwn brushed off his son’s concern with humour. ‘May I remind you that I fought several major battles before I was immortal, two of which involved Mahaud.’
‘And may I remind you that your second confrontation with her killed you!’ Rhun insisted that his father take the threat more seriously.
‘And yet here I am,’ Maelgwn concluded in good cheer, and seeing Rhun’s annoyance he resolved to be more serious. ‘I have a feeling Mahaud will be keeping this exchange to herself. I doubt she has told Viper of how powerful she expects to become with the acquisition of your mother’s form. Your mission to the past is of vital importance. Once you know the date, destination and details of Electra’s plight, I want you to go back to her aid, no matter what events are unfolding here in the present. Your mission to the past will alter everything here, so there is no point in worrying about us. Understand?’
Rhun nodded to concede the validity of his father’s reasoning.
Noah approached and gave Maelgwn a talisman. ‘Once Tory’s spirit has abandoned her form, place this charm around Tory’s waist, where it will not been seen. Once Mahaud has entered Tory’s body, this talisman will bind her spirit to the mortal form and prevent her departing the body … just in case Mahaud discovers Tory’s depleted state before you have the chance to command her into a trance. King Solomon swore by the amulet’s power.’
‘Then that’s good enough for me,’ Maelgwn granted. ‘I thank you for your pains in research.’
‘Research has always been a pleasure in Taliesin’s library,’ Noah admitted, feeling no thanks were required. ‘I await your speedy return.’ The smile of the Sage faded, for Noah had that awful premonition again as he bid Maelgwn and Tory farewell. He foresaw that he would never again shake the Dragon’s hand or sit in wondrous di
scussion of the greater mysteries with the woman who had changed his life. The knowledge caused a great sadness to well in his throat and heart, but for the sake of their relatives present, Noah merely waved the couple goodbye as Doc teleported them to the prearranged place of exchange. You are my greatest friends and inspiration, he thought, although he knew that having forfeited their Chosen abilities Tory and Maelgwn would not hear him. I shall miss you as long as I live.
Doc had transported the couple to a spot within walking distance of the meeting place, although it was out of view of the stone circle.
They ensured that they arrived early for the exchange, to give Tory the chance to vacate her body. She already had Noah’s talisman hidden beneath her attire. All Maelgwn had to do was fasten it around her waist once Tory’s spirit had left her form.
‘Power to you,’ said Doc and immediately vanished to avoid being spotted and raising suspicions, for anyone in the know would wonder why the couple needed another of the Chosen kind to teleport them to their destination.
Tory sat down to prepare to vacate her physical form and Maelgwn knelt down beside her to provide a pillow for her head — he would carry her soulless body the rest of the way.
‘Well …’ She drew a deep breath and savoured her last few moments of being able to experience with her physical senses — the sound of the wind rushing over the barren plains; the smell of the warm, dusty air; the feeling of great expectation and an aching in her heart; the sight of Maelgwn’s loving face and the taste of his kiss. ‘I’ve truly loved this life,’ she told him, ‘thanks for sharing it with me.’
‘The best is yet to come,’ he told her, and as a tear threatened to escape his eye Maelgwn held her close and kissed her repeatedly.
Tory smiled as she eased herself away from her beloved, a little tearful herself, but pushed for time. ‘I’ll see you out there.’ She rolled her eyes to refer to invisible space and then laid down to chant her soul out of her body.
It is done, Maelgwn heard Tory advise in his thoughts, at which time he fastened Noah’s charm around her waist and then gathered her body up into his arms.
Across country Maelgwn carried his wife’s limp form. He knew that everyone, themselves included, would greatly profit from their sacrifice. Then it struck him as a little selfish to consider what they were doing as a sacrifice, for they had to take responsibility for the advent of Mahaud. If they could reconcile the renegade incarnation with their higher self, then they would be simply undoing the karma that they had originally created. Maelgwn had to admit he was curious to learn about the role he’d played in Electra’s undoing.
When he reached the King’s Men stones Maelgwn noticed that the implements of dark magic had been positioned in front of torches that marked the four cardinal points. The torches were not alight at present, but still Maelgwn was not fool enough to enter the circle. He lay Tory’s body down well away from the stones.
Mahaud, in the form of Lirathea, manifested in the centre of the circle. ‘I want that inside the circle, pretty boy,’ she advised in a choir of satanic voices.
The dark cloud cover that eternally covered this part of the world began to twirl into a turbulent vortex above the witch.
‘You have the power to drag it in, surely?’ Maelgwn proffered. ‘Lirathea’s body for Tory’s, that was the deal. I was not part of the bargain and so I have no intention of entering your sphere.’
‘It is no surprise to me that you would readily exchange your love to save your own skin … nothing really changes, now does it, Dragon? Have it your way.’ Mahaud willed Tory’s body to rise and as it sped past Maelgwn he gripped an arm. ‘Not so fast. I want Lirathea within arm’s reach when you depart.’
‘I’ve been tricked by you before.’ The witch raised her hand and zapped Maelgwn with lightning shot from her fingertips. He let Tory go and as her body entered the witch’s circle the torches burst into flame. ‘No more favours.’
Damn, thought Maelgwn, unsure if the witch’s circle of fire would prevent him from triggering the hypnotic suggestion they’d implanted in Tory’s brain.
It will be all right, whispered Tory, and Maelgwn trusted her word.
The black and red mist of Mahaud’s spirit streamed out of his daughter’s mouth, nose and ears and into Tory’s body.
As soon as her form was vacated, Lirathea took control of her body and finding it rather heavy after her time as a spirit, she stumbled several times in her attempt to reach the circle’s circumference. She tried willing herself out of there, but inside the witch’s circle she had no power.
‘Where do you think you’re going?’ Mahaud raised Tory’s arm and drew Lirathea back towards her.
A big wind arose from nowhere and blew out the torches, whereupon the witch lost all power over Lirathea.
Will yourself to your brothers this instant, Tory instructed her daughter, who vanished.
‘What’s going on?’ Mahaud snarled as she re-ignited her torches, somewhat annoyed to have lost her other captive.
‘You may have possession of my wife’s body, but her spirit is free to do as it pleases,’ Maelgwn stated in a provocative tone, as he realised Tory was responsible for freeing Lirathea.
‘Not for long,’ Mahaud claimed confidently. ‘I know a few unfriendly spirits who shall see to her.’
Again a wind arose to extinguish the torches and Maelgwn stepped into the circle. ‘Confide in me,’ Maelgwn urged the crone, whereupon she fell immediately into a trance. ‘I want to talk about Electra.’
‘Electra?’ Mahaud hissed as the four torches burst into flame once more and startled Maelgwn.
Apologies, that was me, Tory bethought her husband. Now we have the circle fortified with our energies, it is safe to proceed.
‘Sit.’ Maelgwn bade his subject do as he did. Tory’s form took a seat on the ground in front of him. ‘Who was Electra? I want the date, by the modern calendar, of when she perished?’
‘Electra was the second daughter of Agamemnon, the last true ruler of Atlantis,’ Mahaud replied, and although her numerous devilish voices sounded rather sedated, her eyes of burning red coals were daunting. ‘The demise of the last small portion of the great island continent of Atlantis coincided with Electra’s damnation. They both perished on the summer solstice of 9564BC.’
Viper had worked himself into a complete state. He was being thwarted on every front.
The time hopping crystal had been stolen from the Star Chamber. Bast had flattened his immortal warriors and vanished. His agent on Gaia, who had been doing such a fine job of impersonating Rainer Ingram, had been kidnapped, although Viper had sent another agent to the surface to take Horace’s place. They may not have killed Hayden Ingram, but his disappearance was working to their advantage just as well, because the sale of the biodome had been prevented. But the disaster that most concerned Viper was that of Mahaud vanishing, along with the body of the oracle, Lirathea, which Viper had aided the witch to seize.
Mahaud had claimed that if she couldn’t have Tory Alexander’s body, or the body of Lahmu’s daughter, then she would settle on destroying the angelic soul of the Dragon’s youngest daughter. Viper had wondered why the crone persisted in possessing the bodies of the Chosen Ones, when their light filled body only caused her hardship in having to reverse the process and fill it with darkness. He’d suggested to the crone that the body of one of his Dark Ones would complement her nature more readily, to which Mahaud had replied: ‘There is nothing so wretchedly pleasing as to corrupt the soul of the incorruptible.’
Now Viper was beginning to suspect that Mahaud had an ulterior motive for seizing the body of the Dragon’s daughter. And as Mahaud hadn’t mentioned her additional reasons to him, Viper naturally assumed that the crone was out to betray him.
Mahaud and Viper had created a room of summons, where they could call upon the knowledge and power of the Lords of the Materialistic. On the floor, they inset a Charichalum hex mark engraved with ancient symbols of the Dark Lodge. I
n the centre of this circle was a screen, where the secret symbol of any fallen lord could be projected. The spirit was forced to answer the call and support the cause of whomever summoned it forth.
Viper was of the mind to perform such a summons and find out what the witch was up to, but he discovered the evil utensils required for his conjuring were missing, just like Mahaud.
‘Now I’ve got you,’ he mumbled, pleased by this discovery. He’d expected the crone to pull a stunt like this later rather than sooner, but never mind, Viper had placed a homing device beneath the huge cauldron, just in case. ‘Dick me, would you, witch? We’ll see about that.’
Viper took one of his reconnaissance vessels to track down the cauldron that was pinpointed on the surface of Gaia.
‘I should have known.’ Viper observed the King’s Men stone circle in close up on one of his vessel’s soft-light screens. As the Dragon was having a civil conversation with Tory Alexander, who had clearly been claimed by Mahaud, it was quite obvious to Viper that the witch had got herself in a spot of bother.
‘Do you want us to blast the site, Lord Viper?’ asked his tactician, who had targeted the site with their ship’s missile launcher.
‘Presently.’ Viper placed his hand on the PKA control plate and issued his command to turn up the volume of the conversation he was viewing on the screen.
‘My lord, our thrusters will be churning up the cloud around us,’ his pilot advised. ‘Our presence probably won’t go unheeded for long.’
‘I have them in my sights,’ Viper pointed out. ‘At the first sign of suspicion, we shall blast the Dragon, his spouse and that treacherous witch into the next life. Until then, shut up the lot of you … listen and learn.’
In the room of hexagons in Taliesin’s Otherworldly labyrinth, Rhun’s team stood observing the situation unfolding at the King’s Men stones.
Lirathea’s narrow escape from the witch had had them all alarmed for a moment, but the Dragon’s sons were greatly relieved when their sister joined them at their Otherworldly hideout.