Kamerrean

by Karen Binnie

  Chapter 28

  Clarintor eyed Jason suspiciously as she assessed the damage to her apartment, no stone left unturned as they say, at least her mirror was safe, he had made one hell of a mess, in the centre of the room the block of solid copper sat waiting.

  “You think you are clever Clarintor, but you are not, it did not take long to locate the safe beneath the garage, do you think copper would stop me? You are foolish.”

  Clarintor thought about her next move, ok he had located the safe but he needed her to open it, copper was like poison to a demon, he could not touch it but how could he bear to be in the same room without being affected?

  “You are not aware of the legend of Jason? You are not as cunning as I have been led to believe, copper cannot kill me.”

  “Then you cannot be a true demon, you are like me perhaps?”

  Jason placed a gloved hand upon the top of the safe and caressed it as if to prove his point.

  “I was created to serve the Grand Master, it is my destiny, I am not like you, now will you open this or do I have to force your will?”

  “You are the seeker not a magician. What can you do to me?”

  He held his hand out to the side as if to grab an invisible object from the wall behind, her mirror shot forward from behind the invisible cloak she had used to conceal it and into his grasp.

  “This mirror is extremely heavy, I do not wish to hold it for much longer, now what did you say?”

  Clarintor shot forward and grabbed both sides of her precious mirror, hugging it tight, her reflection angered her, the infused skin where her left ear had been now a bulbous ugly mass, she pulled her hair across the side of her face to conceal it.

  “I will open the safe, do you have to return with the eye right now?”

  “I have my orders to wait whilst you pack, you are aware of your new quarters? Good. You cannot hide from the Grand Master, he has left you a timely reminder I see of his power, I take it the mirror will be among your belongings?”

  She still hugged the mirror, unwilling to let it go, such a foolish gesture, she could have any mirror she wanted but she wanted this one, she had killed for it, killed many, it had sentimental value.

  Jason nodded his head as if talking to someone, “yes indeed, I shall take your possession now and return for you and the eye, the Grand Master is assured of your co-operation.”

  He took her hands from the mirror and she watched in horror as they both vanished in front of her, she had very little time left.

  Pete's revelations had re-awakened her desire for power, in a moment of weakness she had released him from her hold, he had served his purpose, better to finish him once and for all but she had not the time. The Grand Master was a force not to be reckoned with but if she had bargaining power then her future did not seem so dismal after all.

  The forces within the ancient people seemed more like a memory lost than a revelation though and this troubled her, there were many things from her past she could not remember. So they had come from a distant land and could transform into other beings, each with a hidden power and the disease that attacked them, something rang true about the disease as if something from her past had been aware of it, or even commanded it. She did not have time to rake over her lost memories. Jason would return soon, she would not use the Dragons Eye for her next plan in case the Grand Master could detect from the residue what she had done. Then there was the question of what to do with the young woman, he had commanded her not to attack the fallen one but had said nothing of his offspring, she had just enough time to execute her plan for the ancients, the young woman with any luck would perish with the others and she could store the powers and use them as a bargaining chip for her release.

  Clarintor reached under the mattress and pulled out an old yellowed rag, she made a cut in her arm with her right index finger and allowed the blood to pool underneath her nail. She removed a large bundle of notes from the rag and quickly began writing a message on the rag with her own blood. Once the blood had dried she replaced the notes and folded the rag carefully, she rummaged around in the closet and retrieved a vial of blue liquid which she poured onto the bundle,

  “messalage fornalorage, auctionellier, senden.”

  The bundle evaporated under a puff of smoke and just in time as the flash from the adjoining room announced Jason's arrival.

  The auctioneer was a pathetic excuse for a demon, he made his way through the underworld buying and selling, cutting deals here and there with the instruments of magic and torture he had acquired along the way. His current position found him in the watery depths beneath Venice, a narrow canal hollowed and dried out for this very purpose. He found the roman demons particularly despicable, the rogues eager to receive a bargain. Occasionally a request would come his way, a chance to dabble in something more sinister or to steal the money and run. His grubby hands caressed the silver he had acquired just the day before, the star attraction of the afternoons auction when a bundle appeared in front of him on the desk. He looked around before opening it, these surprises usually came with a secret attached, a secret he could be killed for, if discovered.

  His assistant was in the back chamber, “Creilus stay there for a moment, I will call you when you are needed.”

  The auctioneer rubbed his hands together before unveiling the surprise package, ah, a bundle of notes, always a good start but at what price, he smoothed out the rag on the table before him and read the message written in blood. It was not a request but a demand with more than enough currency to cover it, he didn't like these kind of deals especially the ones which ended with the words,

  You will complete this task and quickly for I serve the Grand Master now and you will not wish to anger him. Clarintor

  He bundled the wad of notes into his jacket as the note disintegrated before him, he had heard the rumours of Clarintor's rise to serve the Grand Master, if this was indeed his bidding then he would need to act fast as he wished to keep his flesh intact, “Creilus, fetch me Degornian, I have need of the swalloni swarm again, tell him the deal is better than the last time and not a word to anyone.”

  For the first time since my arrival, I slept soundly, no visions no dreams, comfortable in the arms of Al’ice with the knowledge that with his kiss I had not harmed him.

  When I finally woke up I just lay there, studying the contours of his face, his furrowed brow, wishing I could probe his mind, know what he is thinking, what he is dreaming of but the only mind I can link with is Jez.

  We had talked for hours about what had passed and our plans for the future before sleep had taken our weary bodies. Al’ice had listened intently, my version of what happened with the Elaich and held me so close as if I would break. I could sense his pain of not being able to stop it or be there for me, I had wanted to stay there forever cradled in his arms.

  We agreed I would stay with him and heal his people, whilst searching for a permanent cure then once the disease had been eradicated once and for all we could make plans for our next move, we could not hide in the mountains of Scotland forever. Al’ice had consented to my request to return to my studies as long as every spare moment, every weekend, every holiday I returned to him and his people. It would be the trial of our future together and if it worked, well he had asked if I, would become his life partner. This was a whole world away from any dreams I may have had just a week ago but in my heart I knew I could never leave him.

  Reluctantly dawn came and we knew we had to return. We walked through the forest, our fingers interlocked with mixed emotions, happy to have resolved our differences yet sad at the day ahead. Al’ice told me the truth about Gran, why I had not seen her for so long. As we walked I thought about Eldeen, for all his faults I had liked the old man, he was like the grandfather I never had and there is Tadge, my real grandfather, not like a grandfather at all and he is an angel and a fallen one at that. It’s just so surreal knowing when I see him again he will be carrying the ashes of Gran.

/>   Jez watched as they emerged from the trees, they looked much like before when they had both returned from Kamerrean although devoid of laughter for the severity of the day. A pang of jealousy leapt at his heart as he turned his back on them and entered the cottage, he hoped Jol would not enter his mind just now, he wanted a few minutes to compose himself.

  “He has returned as promised at dawn?” asked Cooper worried by Jez's expression.

  He nodded as he turned his back on her as well and faced the fire place.

  Al’ice paused at the side of the cottage and drew me in for one final kiss of the day, “I must do this alone, I am sorry,” he traced his hand down the side of my cheek as he spoke.

  “It's alright Al’ice, I understand, I will take my place beside Jez as agreed.”

  He gave Jol one final hug, how lucky he was to have found the perfect partner, he would never let her down again.

  From the front of the cottage Gregorn and three others emerged carrying aloft Eldeen’s body, as they passed Al’ice took his place beside Cooper who pecked him on the cheek and whispered “I forgive you cousin.”

  As we walk she places Eldeen’s great cloak from the gathering around his shoulders and hands him the staff with the amber globe. I walk behind him, he looks so regal, I am very proud of him, what he is about to do.

  Beside me Jez smiles as he hands over my cloak and winks, “to cover your modesty!”

  “Thank you.”

  I pull the cloak around my shoulders as he adds, “I see you have tied your bodice differently!”

  My face flushes almost immediately, he just can’t help himself, “are you not roasting with your jacket done up like that!” I reply.

  “I could hardly attend a funeral with my clothes all torn now could I!”

  I maintain silence, this conversation albeit private, is inappropriate. I stare ahead at the body hovering in front and beyond to the body of people that awaited our arrival beside the funeral pyre.

  Eldeen was placed upon a large slab of rock like a table, Al’ice took his place at the head as the long procession came much the same as the gathering, each person laid an object on or beside Eldeen’s body. The objects were an odd assortment of carved animals, buttons, feathers, flowers, braided cloth, necklaces of bone and the last, a large wooden plate placed above his hands, I wonder of the significance of such items, I knew that ancient people tended to be buried with their worldly goods or items to assist them in the afterlife, some of these objects had me puzzled, I try to hold a mental picture of what I have seen, when the time was right I would ask Al’ice.

  In turn each person had bowed to Al’ice and kissed the back of his hand, before taking their place beside the waiting pyre. When all were done, Cooper stepped up to her grandfathers body and in a loud voice began her lament,

  “sanlous maich dearen, Venur moush vait, goolenda maich dearen, salender maich passien.”

  Jez had no idea what had been said but she sang with much sorrow, he reached into his jacket and retrieved the small book, he fanned the pages until at last he found the very same words, well almost, Venur had been replaced with Panewa.

  “Jez what are you doing?” came Jol’s concerned voice in his head, “the others are watching you.”

  He looked up and saw all those eyes, “ahem, I'm sorry” he coughed as he replaced the book in his jacket.

  Al’ice raised his eyebrows, a little annoyed yet bemused at his brothers actions, it made his next task more difficult.

  “Jez, if you please, I have something for you” Al’ice motioned to Jez to step forward.

  Jez looked questionably at Jol and then Cooper as he approached Al’ice. Al’ice grabbed his arm roughly and thrust it into the air exposing his cascelet band for all to see and began talking in a loud yet commanding voice, Jez turned back to look at Jol as she shrugged her shoulders, she had no more idea than he what was being said.

  Al’ice turned Jez to face him and bowed slightly, he nodded impatiently at Jez to do the same, as he did the people began to clap.

  “What's going on?” he asked Al’ice quietly when their heads were bowed.

  Al’ice motioned for him to rise again and as they did so he replied with a wry smile, “you have just agreed to follow me as your leader.”

  Jez wanted to punch his smug face but due to the reason for them being there he nodded and smiled at the people, he would get him back later, then to his surprise Al’ice removed Eldeen’s ring from his own finger and placed it onto Jez's left index finger.

  “Uncle wanted you to have this, it belonged to our father.”

  Perhaps Jez didn't need to punch him after all, he could already tell from his pained expression that he had wanted the ring, no this will do he thought. It was nothing fancy just a plain gold ring chunky in design with a flat red stone at the centre but it had belonged to his father, he loved it.

  “You may return to Jol’s side now,” commanded Al’ice.

  They watched as Gregorn and the three others took up their positions again and gently pushed Eldeen's body in to the waiting pyre, Al’ice held the amber staff towards it and began to mumble, Julianne wondered if he had forgotten the words when suddenly sparks flew from the globe igniting the fire.

  We stand and watch the flames lick up and over Eldeen’s body, a thick mass of smoke lingering above as if reluctant to disperse. All of Eldeen’s people bow and turn to leave the scene, they are Al’ice's people now and a terrible thought struck me, how many years would it be before this happened to Al’ice? He had said time moves slowly for his kind, they do not age like others but what about me? I had not thought of that the night before lost in my emotions, what if he stayed the same as I aged? No it could not be true, he would have said something, no secrets, no lies, we agreed. As I troubled over these thoughts I realised Gran was one of his kind and Tadge is, was an angel, perhaps there was hope after all but the thought of living forever, an eternity, wow!

  “Jol, Jol, come on we must leave.”

  I am torn from my thoughts, “what?”

  “We must leave” commands Cooper.

  I look towards the raging fire, all the others have left except Al’ice, “Al’ice?” I call gently, he does not turn to face me, lost in his silent remorse.

  “Al’ice must stay until the final ashes have fallen,” Cooper tugs at my reluctant hand, “you cannot stay, we must return to the cottage, Tadge has returned.”

  Tadge stood in the corner of the room hugging the urn of Peruvian gold in his arms, reluctant to release his hold on Jesveril, he did not acknowledge us as we returned, such was his solitude.

  I find myself staring at that urn knowing that my Gran is inside, no longer here to answer my eternal questions. The tears well behind my eyes and release themselves onto my cheeks and I just stare at the urn.

  Jez reaches across to wipe them away with his thumbs, “are you ok?” he asks.

  He knows it’s a stupid question to ask, it’s just his fumbling way of trying to comfort me and that’s what I need right now, a comforting hug more than anything else, “hold me” I reply.

  “What?”

  “Is it too much to ask Jez? hold me please” I can hear the desperation in my voice.

  Jez sits me down beside him and holds me close, he is too hot in the confines of the cottage and had pulled down the zip of his jacket, I bury my head against him and sob, my tears stinging his tattered chest.

  Cooper keeps herself busy handing round mugs of kailch until at last she too slumps beside the fire, watching it slowly die in front of her. The silent grief of the cottage is deafening, each one of us lost in our own reverie.

  It was several hours later when Al’ice appeared in the doorway, the others like statues had not noticed his arrival. Something caught his eye, Jol in Jez's arms both with their eyes closed as if sleeping, he stepped forward and gazed at her face, lit up from the gentle glow of her pendant, she must have used magic to ease their pain, suspend them all until it was time. He
marvelled at just how remarkable she was, his very own angel. It was odd that the ring he had given Jez earlier also glowed as his hand held her shoulder tight, he had never witnessed the ring glow before, it was most odd. Now, how to wake them all without startling them? He lifted Jol’s hand and kissed her palm as he had done the night before.

  I open my eyes which light up at the vision before me, the seconds pass before I realise I am in the arms of another.

  Prising myself from under Jez’s heavy arm, I look at the others, “what's wrong with them?” I whisper to Al’ice.

  “I hoped you would have the answer to that.” he replies smiling.

  I frown at him as I try to remember what happened, the silence in the room had bothered me, I wanted to shout and scream, anything but the silence but I didn't. I began pacing, nibbling at the dry skin around my thumb as I did, I remember Jez had been a great comfort, I saw the scratches on his chest some were quite deep and I was alarmed at what I had done. Al’ice looks amused as he watches me pace, it’s hard to concentrate when he watches me like that, my cheeks start to burn and I pace some more.

  “Jol?”

  “I'm thinking, I'm thinking, don't rush me.”

  Finally I stop and face him as I re-enact in my mind what had happened. I close my eyes tight, holding the triquetra tight in my hand, the glowing pendent fades as the others are roused from their slumber. I glance at each one in turn to make sure they are ok, was it really me who had done that?

  Al’ice places his hand on my waist and whispers, “you are truly remarkable, you must tell me later what you found so embarrassing.”

  It was either the magic I performed or his touch but again my heart begins to race, I ignore it and smile at the others.

  “It is time?” asks Tadge.

  “It is time.” replies Al’ice.

  At last Jez was going to see this Kamerrean they all talked about, Al’ice walked ahead holding Eldeen’s ashes in one arm and Jol’s hand in the other, closely followed by Tadge and the imposing urn of gold and then Cooper and him at the rear.

  As they reached the clearing the others moved off to the side for the steep descent, Jez paused stunned by the scene before him, how could such a place exist? he wondered.

  Cooper came to his side, “I forget Jez, this is your first time, she is wonderful is she not?”

  He watched as Jol descended the steps behind Al’ice, “yeah, sweet as.”

  Cooper eyed him suspiciously, “I am referring to our sister planet, our Kamerrean illusion.”

  “Yeah, I know.” he lied.

  The illusion canopy shimmered under the weight of so many occupants, Al’ice struggled to keep his composure, remembering the words Eldeen had taught him, until at last the canopy regained its rigidity. He had explained to Jol during their descent that they would have to stand apart, this was not the right time to announce to his people their intentions.

  They approached the golden river as the people sat and watched, Tadge stood beside Al’ice at the water’s edge as Al’ice began yet another long eradiction of what was to come.

  I sit with Cooper and Jez on the grass to one side and find myself distracted by the figures emerging from the direction of the trees. As they approach the solemn gathering, I nudge Jez to look but he cannot see them, I had forgotten he could not see spirits. I nudge Cooper instead who merely nods in acknowledgement.

  Cooper whispers to us both as Al’ice continues, “the spirits of those who have passed, they come to witness and greet the new arrivals.”

  Jez took her word for it, kind of glad that he did not see the spirits.

  Tadge approached the water’s edge and lifted the lid to his urn, gently he empties the contents into the river, her image appears at the centre of the water, she holds her hand out to Tadge who kisses the back of it, she is a beautiful young woman.

  “Gran?” I ask. I had never seen photo’s of her as a young woman, Cooper nods.

  Behind her from the line of spirits approaches another young woman more striking than Gran, they embrace each other in recognition.

  Now it is Al’ice's turn, he takes the lid from Eldeen’s urn and gently empties the contents in the river.

  I shiver at the thought, I've swam in that river.

  “Have you?” asks Jez, “what's happening?”

  I can’t help but sigh, it must be frustrating for him not knowing what’s going on, “Tadge emptied my Gran's ashes.”

  “Yeah, I saw that part.”

  “Well an image of my gran appeared at the centre of the river, she walked up to Tadge and he kissed the back of her hand.”

  “Oh, I wondered what he was doing.”

  “Then one of the spirits came from the long line which you cannot see and met Gran at the centre, I do not know who she is but she's gorgeous.”

  “It is Venur, our Grandmother” whispers Cooper.

  “Ooohh!”

  “What is it, what's happening now?” he asks.

  It’s kind of handy having this silent conversation for once, I can explain what is happening without interrupting the proceedings.

  “Eldeen has joined them, well I think it is Eldeen, he is very handsome.”

  “What the old man!”

  “He's not old now Jez, he is young like you.”

  “So you’re saying I’m handsome eh!”

  “Shut-up or I won't tell you what's going on, he has put his arm around Venur's waist, he is kissing the back of her hand, ooooohhh!”

  “What, what is it?”

  I reach for my Triquetra as I stare at the river.

  “Are you going to tell me what's happened?” asks Jez.

  I look at him, how his blue eyes sparkle and down at the ring on his hand, then back at the image in the water, “they are waving and leaving.”

  “Is that it? What happened before?”

  “My Gran is not leaving she has returned to Tadge's side.”

  Jez looks at me holding my necklace tight and knows there is something I’m not telling him, “what's happening now?” he asks.

  “They seem to be deep in conversation, hang on Al’ice has joined them now, he is shaking his head, Gran seems to be pleading with him, hang on he's walked away, he's pacing.”

  “I can see that! What’s he doing?”

  “He’s thinking.”

  “What's he thinking?”

  “I don't know!”

  “You mean you can't enter his head like you do mine? Interesting!”

  “Who says I can’t, I just might not want to tell you!”

  “Might not or can’t?”

  “Shut-up!”

  Jez turned to watch Al’ice as he stopped pacing, he his nodding his head at Tadge, he was nodding and agreeing to something, “Did Tadge just kiss her hand again?”

  “How did you know?”

  “Lucky guess! What's happening now?”

  “She is returning to the others, she is fading, fading away.”

  “Don't cry”

  “I'm not, what does it matter to you anyway if I do?”

  “It matters if you use my chest to wipe them on, they sting!.............Hey, Jol”

  “What!”

  “What's that in the trees?”

  I look back towards the tree line, he was right, there is something, “Oh!”

  “What is it?”

  “It is the stag, he has returned.”

  “The one from your dream?”

  I shoot him a confused look, “you said you didn’t dream when we were in, well you know, you lied to me!”

  “No I didn’t, it was your dream not mine, you were tired and weak, I didn’t want to bring it up.”

  “Not too tired and weak to save your sorry ass when you took advantage of me though!”

  Cooper turns her gaze onto the pair of us and places her hand on the back of mine, I sometimes wonder if she can hear our silent conversation.

  Jez wondered what all the fuss was about then I sensed him wonder if Co
oper had been listening in, my stinging remark had caught us all by surprise.

  With my back to him now he places his hand on my shoulder,“look the stag looks at you, do you think he wants to see you, should you go over and see him?”

  “I can't, it would not be appropriate.”

  “What do you think he wants?”

  “I don't know, but Al’ice says it is unusual for the deer to come so close.”

  “It must be important, we should find out.”

  “We can't not now, it's not the right time.”

  “Look he is returning to the forest, will you tell Al’ice?”

  “No”

  “Why not? What happened to no secrets, no lies?”

  “Jez! you were listening!”

  “Only to that part, you must have dropped that barrier of yours for a second.”

  “Only that part?”

  “Yeah, hey listen, you're gonna have to teach me how to do that, it's only fair.”

  “Excuse me, but I wish to speak to my granddaughter, my apologies for interrupting your conversation.”

  adge stood before us, his sudden appearance shocked us both, could he hear our conversation as well?

  “Yes I can hear every word, they didn't even have the decency to strip me of that power, it is most tiresome. Julianne I do not want you to go anywhere or do anything until I return.”

  “Where are you going?”

  “I have been summoned, I must leave at once, promise me?”

  “I can't do anything, nothing at all?”

  “Well, within reason, you may still be in danger.”

  “Ok.”

  “Good and your hair looks much better, oh and when I return I have some news.”

  “Tell me now.”

  “I do not have time, I am already late” he smiles as he kisses my forehead before sprinting off up the stone steps and beyond.

  “Good luck” I call, not sure where he is going.

  “I agree” came Al’ice's voice from behind, “your hair is much improved, it does not get in the way. Come on you two, now we return to the village, a grand feast awaits us as we mourn our loved ones, the time for sorrow has passed this will be a joyous occasion.”

  As we leave Kamerrean behind, Al’ice is holding my hand once more, he whispers in my ear, “I promise no monsters tonight my love, no secrets, no lies.”

  He winks then and I smile sheepishly as I think of the stag back in the forest.

  When he was awake Jez just wanted to leap from the covers and get his life back, but his angel had asked him to wait.

  When he was asleep the dreams took over and drowned him in memories, memories which haunted him when he woke, some more obscure than others.

  The glowing light which had blinded him at first allowed him to focus at last, the light radiated around a man’s body crouched down in front of him on the ground, slowly an image appeared. As if by magic, the glowing man crouched over the emerging body as it began to solidify, the energy of life pulsated around him, his nerves tingling all over as the bodies eyes opened and it began to speak.

  Jez had witnessed a miracle.