An echo in time atlantis, p.49
An Echo in Time: Atlantis, page 49
‘Beings of the Air, givers of knowledge, mobility, and birth, take heart!’ Rhun placed the sword of the archtraitor Vortigern into the vat of molten metal. ‘I liberate thee from this instrument of destruction, in the name of the Goddess, from whence all life comes.’ The weapon burst into flame and bubbled as it slid into the glowing orange-yellow mixture.
A steady stream of air seeped from the centre of the large, glowing pot. It swept past them in the form of a warm breeze, as it rushed once around the room and was gone out the door.
Morda grinned at this, exposing his near-toothless gums. ‘Thy job here be done, young master.’
The Prince was far more confident of success now, having reached the halfway mark of his journey —
and still no sign of the witch. Not that he was even too sure what form Mahaud would take, for Rhun had never dealt with the evil crone directly. With no human soul to milk, maybe Mahaud was weaker then he’d imagined? Perhaps she’d been forced to fake her threat to him, in the hope that he would losehis focus and deviate from his purpose? For surely, if she was at all able, the witch would be doing everything within her power to save her life-giving paraphernalia.
With three of the marriages back on, Katren and all the brides had departed Degannwy to await the return of Prince Blain at Arwystli.
Thus, peace reigned supreme for all of one morning, until Rhun’s initiation party arrived back from Llyn Cerrig Bach to await his return and crowning.
‘Vortipor?’ Tory stuck her head around the door of his quarters and gave a knock as she entered. ‘May I speak with thee?’
‘If it be about this damn wedding, there be nothing to discuss.’ He motioned her in, all the same. He knew young Prince Rhun was an exceptional man, and would make a fine ruler. But a fine husband? That was quite a different matter. ‘However.’ Vortipor motioned her to be seated. ‘Thy son did his father proud last night.’
‘I knew he would,’ she stated, not mentioning the fact that she’d been watching the whole time. Initiation was a male affair, thus Tory didn’t feel her spying would be appreciated. ‘But I am not here to pry into last night’s goings on. The mist hast settled over the land, thus I presume all went well. What I really came to do was apologise … what resulted the day of the memorial service was largely my fault.’
‘Thy fault!’ Vortipor scowled. ‘I can hardly see …’
‘Please, let me finish.’ She stood, and began to pace slowly as she chose her words. ‘Rhun did what he did in an attempt to keep me here.’
‘Art thou planning on taking up residence in another city, Majesty?’ Vortipor enquired lightheartedly.
‘Nay … in another time zone,’ she confessed, looking at Vortipor to catch a look of horror. Before he could dispute this, she added: ‘I am with child, conceived of a future incarnation of Maelgwn, whom, as thou might recall, I met in the twentieth century.’
Vortipor had been present at the stones, some twenty years past, when Maelgwn and herself had made their first journey to the future. He knew of the man to whom she referred.
She bowed her head slightly, hoping he would not look poorly on the indiscretion. ‘The father be unaware of this, as I only just learned of it myself. But I could no sooner raise this child in this century, any more than I could have raised Rhun in the future … she be not of this time. It wast not meant.’
‘And Rhun knows of this?’ Vortipor was getting a clearer picture.
‘Aye.’ She sat once again. ‘Rhun hoped that I would think him too irresponsible to entrust with Gwynedd, and expected no one but I would learn of the picnic incident.’
‘Whereby, he hoped thou would postpone thy departure,’ Vortipor concluded on her behalf.
‘Please do not hold this silly act against him.’ She placed a hand upon his to seek his understanding. ‘I know in my heart Rhun loves Bridgit, though foremost be his love for me … that be why he took such a stupid risk, and for no other reason.’
‘When dost thou plan to leave?’ he questioned, feeling a little twinge of remorse at his acceptance of the situation.
‘Soon after the birth. I promised Rhun he could see his sister before I return her to her father.’
This was sad news, indeed. ‘The united kingdoms will greatly mourn thee, Goddess … my daughter shall prove no substitute.’
‘I think thou art selling her short.’ Tory smiled, as she recalled Nin Sybil. ‘I have met Bridgit in another age, where she wast a truth-seer of the Goddess of very high repute. Oh, I know right now she be young and in love … but given time, and Taliesin’s instruction, Bridgit shall be every bit as good a Queen as I. And when one thinks about it, she be much better qualified than I ever was.’
Vortipor gave half a laugh as he considered her statement. ‘Well, I suppose if the Goddess’ quest doth not kill him first …’
‘Which it will not.’ Tory was quite sure about that.
‘We might reappraise the situation.’ Vortipor gave in at last.
‘Oh, bless thee.’ Tory threw herself into his lap, giving him a hug.
‘Whoa there.’ The leader delighted in her affection.
‘Art thou not already in enough trouble?’
Tory laughed. ‘Aye. But thou must promise to keep it our little secret for now.’
‘I will. On the condition that thou must say goodbye to me before departing. Agreed?’
This seemed a reasonable enough bargain. ‘Agreed.’
With the sun at their back for this leg, Archimedes made for the western coast and beyond. Once over the ocean, where they were safe from human sight, they dropped below the cloud, and the great body of water thereunder just seemed to go on and on forevermore.
However, just as the Prince was losing hope of ever seeing the fabled fiery mountain, the overcast conditions cleared to a sunny day. The green-grey sea below turned bright blue against the sky, and billowing black smoke was spotted on the horizon.
This huge rocky crater, that rose only a small way above sea level, was host to an exploding pool of liquid fire, the magnitude of which the Prince had never seen.
The dragon made a pass at their target from a good height above it, for the smoking mound spat flaming chunks towards the sky and into the ocean that pounded at its cliffs.
‘Spirits of water, granters of depth and quiet age, give praise!’ The Prince untied the rope that bound the two cauldrons to the neck of his beast. ‘I offer thee liberty from the negative forces of creation that have been brewed within these vessels, in the name of the Goddess, for whom all good deeds art done.’
As their offering dropped into the fiery pit below, a great rumbling was heard deep within the mountain.
The dragon didn’t stop to hover until they were some distance away.
In a burst of fire and smoke, the walls of the crater began to collapse inward on themselves. The earthen mound, bombarded by the surrounding sea, disappeared beneath the waves that spouted water high into the air as they claimed the small land mass.
One more to go.
By afternoon they’d found the Isle of Orkney. In the centre of the ring of stones he found there, Rhun gouged a hole in which to place his offering. ‘Dwellers of the Earth, dispensers of prosperity and eternal peace, unite!’ Rhun secured the crystal, pinnacle upright, in the hole and backed beyond the circle’s perimeters. ‘I release thee from the opposing duress of this stone to embrace thy true mother, the guardian of this land.’
The crystal began to tremble as it turned from black to red, and shattered to the four winds in a fountain-like spray of sparks.
The Prince awaited a sign of success, as had been forthcoming when the previous three pieces had been destroyed. Where the crystal splinters had fallen in the field inside the ring, new green shoots reached for the sky. These budded and bloomed whilst he watched, into flowers of every colour imaginable.
The Prince picked a large bunch of these, binding them together with the stem of another. ‘These ought to impress the little woman.’ He had a whiff of their aroma, which sent his senses swimming. ‘Very good!’
Thou art counting thy dragons before they art hatched, Archimedes warned. We still have one last duty to perform before thou contemplates the seduction of thy intended.
‘I am aware of that.’ Rhun was reluctant to part with the first pleasurable thought he’d had all day, but did so in the hope it would become a reality all the sooner.
Dusk approached as they arrived at the ring of stones standing beside the tree suspected to be Mahaud’s haven. The overcast conditions caused a light mist to drift over the site, and although visibility was not the best the witch was nowhere within eye-shot.
‘Alright, Archimedes.’ Rhun observed the elder tree. ‘Torch this thing, so we can go home.’
At the Prince’s word, the dragon reared up to comply.
‘Not so fast.’
Rhun recognised the sinister voice. When he turned to confront the hag, he was horrified to find she had Bridgit in her clutches.
‘If that tree burns, so dost thy bride,’ she threatened, hidden behind her large, black hood.
But this be impossible. What happened to the talisman?
The Prince backed into the stone circle to fortify it with his own positive energy; thus all her negativity could not penetrate to read or manipulate his thoughts.
Good lad.
Tory’s voice came to him, clear as a bell. Mother? I knew thee would be watching. What should I do?.
I think she be bluffing. Just stall her a moment, and I shall prove it.
Hence, with a shrug, Rhun attempted to strike up a conversation. ‘Look Mahaud, thou knows as well as I that thy days art numbered, so why not —’
‘It be thy kingdom’s days that art numbered, pretty boy.’ The tone of her voice was so cutting, it made the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end. ‘I, too, have access to a dimension of timelessness, far below this earthly plane. I can retrieve those implements faster than thou disposed of them. Thou shall never be rid of me!’
She laughed at his futile attempt. ‘Thy effort this day hast been naught but a waste of energy.’ She raised her glowing red fingertips to scorch the skin on Bridgit’s neck.
‘Ahhh …!’ The maiden shrank away. ‘Rhun, please!’
‘Alright, alright!’ He urged everyone to keep their cool. ‘I am sure we can work something out here.’
Mother! What art thou doing? he bethought.
Rhun, I am in Dyfed. Tory enlightened him. Bridgit be here in front of me, perfectly safe. I told thee she was bluffing … fry the bitch.
The Prince smiled as he was granted the upper hand. ‘Archimedes.’ He looked from the dragon to the crone. ‘Proceed.’ He casually motioned to the elder tree, whereby the creature ignited it with its fiery breath.
‘Curse on thee, Rhun of Gwynedd, and all thy kin,’
the witch screeched, as the image of Bridgit faded from view, and Mahaud began to chant out phrases in a language the Prince did not recognise.
The sky rumbled and flashed in fury, bringing a sudden downpour of rain that smothered the fire the beast had started .
Two can play at that game. The Prince felt he’d earned a bit of support from the elements this day, and so turned to the south to seek their support. ‘Come to my aid ye of Fire, the fire that first gave me life.’ He turned to the east, raising his voice to be heard over the crone’s shrieking. ‘Hear my plea ye of Air, the breath of life that set me free.’ He faced west. ‘I seek thy comfort ye of Water, purge me and bring me clarity.’ And lastly, he revolved to face north. ‘Be my support ye of Earth, the mother that hast always nurtured me.’
He raised his sights to witness the storm clouds parting, to see the stars in the night sky beyond. Yet, as the witch continued her chanting, the hole began to close just as quickly.
‘Nay.’ Rhun focused harder on his summons.
‘I am the voice of this land,
the devoted servant of the Goddess,
and eyes of the dragon on this earthly plane.’
Rhun turned his back on the crone, holding his arms outstretched to taunt her with the mark of the folk upon his back.
‘I am the master of my reality.
and no will be stronger than my own.
I alone advise the four winds
and their elements,
that were the source of my creation.
Disperse this storm
that threatens the great mother,
in the name of my illustrious
forefathers and the great houses
Don and Llyr!’
The clouds were forced apart in all four directions, forming a large expanding diamond filled with stars.
Tiny, red glowing beings, like the embers the Prince had freed at land’s end, came rushing down through the opening overhead on the back of a warm breeze. This dazzling dance of light began circling the elder tree, drying its bark and leaves in a matter of moments.
The witch began to shrill as the rain stopped and the young Prince looked to her, empowered by his victory and his new-found allies.
‘Time to meet thy maker,’ Rhun cued the beast, who bombarded the tree with a constant stream of flame.
The witch began to wither, transmuting into one hideous form after another, mumbling curses through her cries of agony.
Archimedes, impatient to be done with it, ripped the burning tree from the ground, roots and all, then pounded it to ashes.
With this the crone shrivelled into nothingness, and her black hooded robe fell to the ground.
As the Prince retrieved it, tossing it onto what was left of the smouldering tree, he couldn’t help but feel sorry for the witch. ‘Misled fool. All that power and knowledge wasted.’ He shook his head slowly, watching the last remnant of the hag disintegrate.
Well, don’t just stand there philosophising, Archimedes chided, when thou hast a woman waiting to be wooed.
‘Indeed.’ Rhun snapped to it. ‘To Dyfed then.’ He climbed upon the dragon’s shoulders. ‘And do not spare the horses.’
From the balcony of her room, Bridgit watched the wall of cloud roll back to disclose a universe full of stars. This be his doing, she smiled with a sigh.
The Queen of Gwynedd had left her to await Prince Rhun. He was safe and would be King, that was all his mother would tell her.
‘He be going to ask for my hand.’ Bridgit clutched her maid’s hands tightly. ‘I just know it!’ The mischievous smile on the High Queen’s face had said it all. ‘The Dragon of the Isle be coming for me.’ Bridgit strolled back inside to peruse her appearance in the mirror, elevated to a dreamlike state by the romance of it all.
‘I think thou art right, lady.’ Her maid, who was still on the balcony, stared at the clear night sky, frozen with fear.
Bridgit bundled up her skirts as she ran to see the dragon come to land in the courtyard. This was not the first time such a creature had alighted there — the last Prince of Gwynedd to be inaugurated had also visited Dyfed thus. ‘Be he not the most audacious and wondrous man alive?’
‘Aye, lady, that he be.’ The maid was still spellbound, yet Bridgit was rushing around her room in a fluster.
‘Do I look beautiful?’ She tugged down her dress to give her cleavage maximum exposure, and toyed with the ringlets around her face.
‘Like a Queen, my lady,’ the maid assured, preparing to take her leave so that the young lovers could speak alone. ‘Behave thyself now, or thy father shall have my head for this.’
‘Have no fear.’ Bridgit thought her concern a bore.
‘My Prince seems to insist on it.’
‘Well, such a fine catch should not be allowed to slip through thy net before thou hast well and truly got him on board.’ The maid gave her a wink on the way out the door.
‘Many thanks, my friend.’
Bridgit heard Rhun’s voice coming from her balcony, and approached the open doors to be confronted by the half-naked warrior’s back. The artwork depicted there sent chills through her body.
This symbol was a very sacred one, yet she could not understand how she knew this. ‘Caduceus.’
He swung round abruptly to see her looking every bit the fairytale Princess in her silken gown of palest pink. ‘Quite correct. How did thou know?’ But the girl just stared blankly at him, appearing dazed.
‘What?’ she uttered.
Once she’d mistaken Rhun for an angel, but at this moment he looked more like a god. His strong, muscular torso held her gaze; how she longed to take that body to her bed.
‘Thou shalt have to marry me first,’ Rhun grinned, knowing her mind.
The lady was embarrassed and inclined to be angry with him, but as the Prince presented her with a large bunch of the most exquisite flowers all was forgiven.
‘Name the year?’ She doubted the sincerity of his proposal, luring him further inside to where she could get a better look at him.
‘Four days from now,’ he suggested, delighted by the stunned look on her face. ‘At Arwystli, along with Bryce and Aella, Eormenric and Vanora, and Blain and Javotte.’
‘Thou art serious!’ She was bursting with joy as she rushed to embrace him and smother him with kisses.
‘I presume this means thou art in favour,’ he managed to say, between her bursts of affection.
‘Oh, aye!’ She beamed. ‘If thou dost love me truly, I do agree.’ The Prince seemed bothered suddenly, and put her at arm’s length. ‘What be wrong?’ This unnerved her; maybe he was only wedding her because it was what the High Council wanted.
‘It be my past, Bridgit.’ He prepared to do a lot of confessing. ‘People art going to have horrible stories to tell of my escapades and, unfortunately, most of them will be true.’
‘I certainly hope so.’ She stated enthusiastically.
‘Thy romantic exploits art the reason I sought thee out in the first place … I too want to know such pleasure.’
She drew him into a long and tender kiss.
