Gene of Isis

‘We have to try,’ Devere appealed, but I shook my head, not to be moved.

Albray, Albray, Albray. I had been a fool to dismiss my guardian.

As my knight’s spirit presence manifested behind me to perceive the foe we faced, he didn’t waste a second. In the name of the goddess, I repel you! Say it.

I repeated his words with the same sureness and authority that Albray had employed in citing the command to me.

I blind you to my being and banish you back to yours.

As I issued this command, I felt a great force gather at my back, just behind my heart where the Star vial now sat. This energy burst through my heart centre and shot outwards through my extended fingers in pursuit of the phenomenon that had threatened me.

A tormented wail sounded from the entity, and its vaporous substance withdrew back through the gaps in the door.

‘Woo-hoo!’ I acknowledged how liberating the experience had felt. I turned around to find my husband in a rattled state—he’d turned as pale as a sheet.

‘You speak in tongues now? Tongues that speak—what language was that—some sort of ancient Aramaic?’

‘What are you talking about? I was speaking English,’ I insisted, but as Devere adamantly shook his head, I turned to Albray. ‘Was I not?’

I didn’t do anything. He washed his hands of responsibility. All I did was advise you to use the aid you had already rallied around yourself.

‘My foremothers,’ I realised, amazed that they had literally spoken through me.

‘Then why the Eastern dialect?’ Then it dawned on Devere. ‘Unless you refer to her ancient foremothers?’ The man turned a shade paler still.

Albray smiled at my husband’s reaction. ‘Now you, too, have heard the combined feminine voice of the High Council of the Elohim, to whom I, your wife and yourself are but humble servants.’

‘The vials belong to them,’ Devere deduced, having been drawn into recollecting the tutelage he’d received from his brotherhood. ‘I had never truly believed that the female protectors written of in Grail legend existed.’

Where do you think the Arthurian accounts of a castle of women who guard the Grail sprang from?

‘Carbonek.’ Devere cited the name of the castle. ‘They also called it the Temple of Wonders…the Palace of Adventure.’

That is where we are bound.

Devere’s eyes shot across to Albray. ‘You know the whereabouts of this palace?’

I should do, I died there.

I looked from man to ghost and back again. ‘Would someone like to fill me in on what you’re both talking about?’

Gladly, Albray granted. But would it not be better to discuss this on board our own vessel?

‘For once I agree with you.’ Devere took hold of my free hand, as the other was tightly clutching a red velvet case. ‘Let us put some distance between this vessel and us…not that distance seems to matter any more.’

Molier cannot seek you in his spirit again. The command of the ladies of the Elohim will bind him to that.

‘But he is capable of other feats?’ I assumed.

As are the both of you, Albray assured me, motioning Devere and myself in the direction of the exit.

LESSON 19

COMPASSION

Although there were only a few chapters left of Ashlee’s tale, the hour was late and my eyes begged for rest. I vowed that I would finish the journal first thing in the morning.

I switched off my light and lay my weary bones on my bed. My head was swirling with images of places and people I had read about today. Ashlee obviously admired Albray and trusted him implicitly; Lillet’s account of him was the complete reverse. Could death change a man so much? And what of Molier? Again the two accounts differed vastly. Who was I to believe? Or was neither account credible enough to warrant too much consideration? After meeting with Molier today, I found the notion that he could be the beastly apparition in Ashlee’s tale very hard to swallow.

The thought that Albray might visit me in my dreams tonight swept all other concerns aside. I remembered I had promised Albray I would keep the stone close.

Once I had retrieved the stone from my bag, I lay back holding it up by its leather band to watch it twirl back and forth.

I would have been prepared to give up this career-making assignment and any ancient secrets I might uncover here in the Sinai, if only Albray could be some guy I met back in Oz, who was alive, available and interested in a life with me. Was I actually admitting that my love for him had grown greater than my love of my work?

‘I hate doubting you, Albray, but you’re a hard character to work out,’ I whispered so quietly that I barely heard it. If only you would tell me your version of events. A tear escaped my eyes as I tucked my charm under my pillow.