by D. N. Carter
The room was darkened, the heavy curtains closed. Several candles flickered as Alisha lay upon her bed propped up by large pillows. Sister Lucy was busy preparing two basins full of water as Theodoric entered carrying another bowl full of hot water. Arri held Paul’s hand, looking on concerned.
“Why is the room all dark?” Arri asked in a whisper.
“Arri there is no need to whisper. And it is darkened so the light does not shock your new sister when she enters this world,” Paul explained as Alisha stretched out her hand for Arri.
“Or brother,” Alisha said and smiled despite the pain arching through her lower back and pelvis.
Arri rushed over to Alisha and took her hand. She rubbed her other hand through his hair and kissed his forehead just as Abi entered the room by pushing her backside into the door, her hands just washed held up. She had changed into a one piece robe and clean apron around her waist.
“I think you will find this baby is in a hurry,” she explained as she turned to face Alisha.
“Come…let us leave the adults to do what they must,” Theodoric said and gestured for Arri to follow him.
“Must I?” he protested. Alisha simply smiled and nodded yes as pain enveloped her body bringing tears to her eyes. “You will not go to heaven with Nyla will you?” Arri asked looking serious.
“No…Mama is going nowhere,” Paul reassured and moved Arri to Theodoric. Arri looked up at him clutching Clip clop close to his chest.
“Promise,” Arri said.
“I promise,” Paul replied.
Reluctantly Arri followed Theodoric out of the room, Theodoric giving a thumbs up to Alisha and smiling awkwardly. No sooner had the door closed when Alisha let out a deep moan of intense pain and shifted herself down further onto her back and raised her legs. Abi looked at Paul.
“I am staying right here,” he said.
“Good…then make yourself useful and hold her leg,” Abi ordered and indicated he take her right leg.
Alisha screwed up her face in agony and started to pant. Abi quickly unfurled a roll of gleaming instruments each sealed within smaller rolls. She parted Alisha’s legs to see the baby’s head already crowning. Paul looked down surprised as Sister Lucy took Alisha’s other leg.
“Do you prefer this position or would you rather be on all fours?” Sister Lucy asked as Alisha put her hands on her thighs and gritted her teeth, took a deep breath and screwed her face tightly as she felt the urge to push overwhelm her. “Too late I think.”
Paul held Alisha’s leg as she started to shake, then let out a deep groan, opened her eyes wide staring directly at him.
“I have her,” Abi said as she bent down quickly just in time to catch the baby as it slid out fast into her hands. Paul looked down in time to see the little figure covered in blood from where Alisha had split and fluid. Abi lifted the baby up slightly with her hand so it faced downward. Paul’s heart stopped when he saw the baby was not moving. Alisha saw the look of concern in his face and gripped his hand tightly. Abi tilted the baby downwards briefly, and it suddenly gave out a small cough, drew its first breath and made just one slight cry. As Abi lifted its little body up, it was clear to see she was indeed a girl. Sister Lucy passed Abi a clean shawl, which she wrapped around the baby gently, just her face showing, the umbilical cord still trailing below her and into Alisha. “Let the placenta come away naturally before we cut the cord…’tis: far better for both,” she smiled and handed Paul the baby.
Paul took the baby in his hands keeping her close to Alisha and looked at her as she opened her eyes. His heart skipped a beat and the emotions inside him hit him like a crashing wave. He went to speak but could not as tears welled in his eyes. He looked at Alisha. As soon as she knew all was well with the baby, she relaxed her hands beside her and lay back into the pillows.
“That was one very quick birth,” Sister Lucy stated and shook her head, trying not to show emotion, but her voice gave away just how emotional she too felt.
Paul moved slowly and sat beside Alisha offering up the baby to her chest so she could see her face. Alisha let out an emotional laugh as a tear ran down her face. Paul kissed her on the cheek and put his head against hers, the baby between them.
“You said it would be a girl,” Alisha half laughed and cried and put her arm up around Paul.
Suddenly Alisha’s arm dropped away and she closed her eyes, her body going limp as she passed out. Alarmed Paul looked up at Abi as she was busy dealing with the placenta as it was discharged. She picked up two of the instruments beside her and started to do something with Alisha. She then wrapped the placenta in a cloth and moved it closer to Paul and the baby. Sister Lucy could not hide her look of concern as Abi concentrated on Alisha. She took out what looked like a highly polished black egg with symbols on. Instantly Paul recognised the symbols were identical to those he had seen below the pyramids. He took a deep breath as Abi gently placed the egg over Alisha’s tummy, put both her hands over it and pushed downward gently closing her eyes as if praying. Sister Lucy put her hands together and bit her bottom lip. Paul looked down at the baby girl. She was looking directly at him. Immediately images of his experience in the pyramid when he saw a young girl approach him flashed through is mind. A recognition of her in the eyes of the baby. He stared closer, transfixed as she looked back at him in silence.
“Aum!” Abi suddenly said aloud, opened her eyes and then stood up straight. She took a deep breath and looked at Paul. “She will be fine now.” Sister Lucy gasped in relief and covered her mouth and looked at the shining egg object still positioned on Alisha. “Please…do not ask me to explain,” Abi said calmly and smiled with relief herself.
Paul sensed Alisha looking at him and as he turned. She was indeed. She forced a tired smile then closed her eyes again. A light rap on the door drew their attention.
“Come in,” Paul called out.
The door opened slowly and Theodoric peered around.
“’Tis a little too quiet. Is everything okay?” he asked as Arri popped his head around and positioned Clip clop so it looked as though it was also peering in.
Paul nodded all was well and indicated with his eyes at the baby in his arms. Arri instantly running in to see his new sister stopping to stare in amazement at her.
“’Tis a girl,” Paul said, his voice wavering with emotion and kissed the baby on her forehead as Arri pulled her down gently to see.
Theodoric gave a silent thumbs up, winked at Abi and Sister Lucy and slowly closed the door behind him as he left the room.
“’Tis a girl!” he then shouted out loudly, Sister Lucy shaking her head.
“A girl!” Thomas then shouted out further along the corridor.
“Girl!” Luke could be heard shouting further downstairs.
A loud cheer from all of Thomas’s men, Ishmael and Percival went up outside for them to hear. Alisha opened her eyes again and smiled. Paul laughed hearing them. Arri laughed and jumped on the bed beside Alisha and hugged her. Abi looked at Sister Lucy and winked, relieved. After a few minutes of silence, a beautiful chorus of men singing with a deep background chant started to sound out filling the air with a harmonious song that seemed to penetrate each of them. Alisha looked at Abi, puzzled, as she opened the blackout curtains, the rays of sunshine making them all squint instantly. She looked down to see Thomas and his men stood in a semicircle singing out the chorus. She indicated to Paul to come over and look. Slowly he stood up, placed the baby beside Alisha and moved to stand beside Abi.
“What are they singing for it is beautiful?” Sister Lucy asked as she looked down just as Kratos walked into view behind the men. He stood still, his staff in his right hand and looked up, his large hat shielding his face from the sun but revealing his smile.
“’Tis an ancient chant. One I have not heard in a great many years…,” Abi replied and smiled. “’Tis the chant and song of the Resin. Ancient words and harmonies that touch the soul.”
Arri tried to look through t
he window but he was too short. Paul lifted him up and held him so he could look down.
“Beautiful,” Alisha said quietly as she cradled the baby. “As is our daughter… Ailia.”
Paul turned to look at her.
“You have a name for her already?” he asked smiling. Alisha nodded yes. “Ailia.”
“Her full name to be Ailia Tara Amaya Erin,” Alisha said as she looked into Ailia’s eyes.
Alisha’s choice of names was not lost on Paul.
Chapter 63
Quiet Before the Storm
Port of Fustat, February 6th 1184
“’Tis indeed sad that we must leave you again so soon,” Kratos said quietly as he stood beside Paul looking out across the Nile, the stars sparkling above them in a brilliant dance of light. “It has been a very enjoyable and constructive visit, I must add.”
A welcoming cool breeze blew in off of the calm waters and Paul took a deep breath. Ishmael and Percival were sat on a stone bench behind them but still keeping an ever watchful eye out for any hint of trouble.
“I am pleased with Alisha’s choice of name for our daughter. I am sure Tenno and the blacksmith would approve too. Her names are so befitting, Ailia after her own birth name and in memory of Raja, Maya after Tenno’s daughter, Erin after the sacred Emerald Isle goddess and name…and of course Tara. Huh, I can still hear and recall the blacksmith’s words as if just spoken. ‘Say nothing…nothing. It will give us some small measure of comfort in the years ahead to know she died for something,’ much like the advice Theo gave Percival actually,” Paul said quietly and looked over his shoulder at Percival, his green tunic looking black in the night air.
“The blacksmith was right though, for you have never forgotten Tara,” Kratos said and nodded at him knowingly. Paul’s eyes followed the height of his hat to its point. “Ah…do you not approve of my new hat?” Kratos laughed.
“’Tis rather pointed is it not?”
“For a reason…many so-called magicians wear them without even knowing why or how to make one properly,” Kratos replied and winked. “Mine is lined with copper and gold wire to protect me. ’Tis similar to ancient gold hats once used by adepts of the old ways.”
“How does it protect you?”
“Do you recall all the many ancient symbols and images for medicine, for healing and the gods…the entwined serpents such as on the caduceus staff?”
“Yes I have studied them often.”
“As this world we walk upon changes, it sends out waves of sound that directly affect and interact with the very physical construct of our bodies. One day in the future, as we pass into the age Aquarius, the world will itself increase in harmonic frequency that will in turn increase man’s vibration and his subconscious to a higher level. We have energies that are centred in certain parts of the body. I believe Theodoric has taught you these points, chakras as they are known?” Kratos asked, looking down at Paul. He nodded yes. “Good. I cannot fully explain now, and it will be a great deal of time in the future before man again learns that the very smallest parts that make us up are designed and constructed as a double helix chain…’tis what the entwined snake symbol represents. When man again discovers these simple truths, only then will he be able to recognise just how advanced our ancient forefathers really were…just as they shall learn with the study of the ancient pyramids and how they were made.”
“Is that why the serpent symbol has always been used to represent knowledge or wisdom?” Paul asked.
“Yes. But the waves of energy that surround this world, they grow weak at this time and disturbed as man has forgotten his connection to the land…and tears down many of the ancient stones that kept the balance and harmony. The vibration waves unfortunately affect people like me, especially the higher chakras above the seven most known of now…for there are in fact twelve, which again man will one day learn. So to protect myself from the more harmful influences, I am now forced to wear this ridiculous headdress,” he explained and laughed as he pointed to it. “At least it is not as bad as the heavy gold ones used years ago covered in symbols and stars. Small mercy I am grateful for. ’Tis why crowns for kings were started but they have long since lost their true original meanings and practical uses.”
“My father and Firgany once told Taqi and I about a crown connected with the three wise men, the Magi who came from the East. I am sure they even mentioned the land of Ind…was that India?” Paul asked.
“Ah…that golden crown,” Kratos replied and nodded his head a few times. “They were talking of the story of the Three Magi who came to worship Jesus Christ in his infancy and the Land of Ind, where there was a mountain called the Hill of Vaws, or the Hill of Victory. Ever since the times when Israelites came out of Egypt and conquered the Promised Land, the keepers of this hill watched for anything unusual in the West. Of course the main purpose of this outpost was to prevent a sudden attack on the Land of Ind, but it was on this hill that the star announcing the birth of Christ was first observed. After the Three Kings of Ind, Chaldea and Persia had made their famous journey to Bethlehem, offering gold, frankincense and myrrh to the newborn Messiah, they made a pact to return to the Hill of Vaws once a year. They also chose to be buried there. However, the relics of the Three Kings were destined to be transferred out of that area… first to Constantinople, then to Milan and, finally, to Cologne. Still, the kings’ legacy lived on in that land, and the ‘progeny of Vaws’ was respected throughout the East. Around the year 1200, a delegation of noblemen of Vaws came to visit the flourishing city of Acon, Acre. They brought many gifts, including a golden diadem which once belonged to Melchior, the king who offered the gift of gold to the infant Christ. It was adorned with crosses, Chaldean letters and stars, a reminder of the Star of Bethlehem. It was supposedly a miraculous crown that could heal…the Order of the Knights Templar and personally the Grand Master got hold of this crown, along with many other valuables, treating it as great treasure and making ample use of it. As Gerard has become the Master now, the crown will be removed for safe keeping…something your father does as we speak for Gerard cannot be trusted with it. But much knowledge came from the East as a consequence…from the Land of Ind…India!”
“But I thought the Star of Bethlehem did not really exist and that the three Magi came from the Orient,” Paul remarked.
“The Star of Bethlehem was a conjunction of stellar phenomena…and as I have just said, the three kings, the Magi, came from three different locations coming together to offer their gifts…but the symbolism behind those gifts has long since been obscured and now hidden behind a story and image of added romance and symbols. The actual story gives clues within the Gospels still…as in the shepherds, the animals within the stable, and all related to stellar constellations and signs. I see you look more puzzled,” Kratos laughed. “Let me explain. The gold Jesus is given is to indicate that he is going to be a king. Gold is a symbol of divinity and is mentioned throughout the Bible. Pagan idols were often made from gold and the Ark of the Covenant was overlaid with gold. The gift of gold to the Christ child was symbolic of His divinity as in a god in flesh. Frankincense is a white resin or gum and is obtained from a tree by making incisions in the bark and allowing the gum to flow out. It is highly fragrant when burned and was therefore used in worship, where it is burned as a pleasant offering to God. Frankincense is a symbol of holiness and righteousness. The gift of frankincense to the Christ child was symbolic of His willingness to become a sacrifice, wholly giving Himself up, analogous to a burnt offering. Myrrh is also a product of Arabia, and is obtained from a tree in the same manner as frankincense. It is a spice and used in embalming. It was also sometimes mingled with wine to form an article of drink. Such a drink was given to Jesus when he was about to be crucified, as a stupefying potion. In Mark 15:23. And Matthew 27:34 refers to it as ‘gall’. Myrrh symbolises bitterness, suffering and affliction just as Jesus would grow to suffer greatly as a man and would pay the ultimate price when He gave His life on the cro
ss for all who would believe in Him.” [105]
“So the whole nativity story is really quite dark as well as prophetic in meaning and symbolism,” Paul stated.
“Yes when seen for what it is. The lambs that are sacrificed as was Jesus. The shepherds used to symbolise and mark the period as set during the cycle of Aries…the Ram. Jesus performing miracles actually put his life in danger from the start.”
“Why?”
“Look at the effects Alisha healing that man’s hand back in France caused. In the time of Jesus the sick were considered as impure and so was Jesus for healing them. It went against the customs of his times, especially healing women. He was most definitely playing with fire when he exorcised evil demons. Casting demons into pigs caused many to accuse Jesus of surely being a demon himself or in league with the Devil.”
“We actually passed the place where Jesus carried out that exorcism and cast the demons into pigs when we travelled to Alexandria,” Paul explained.
“I know you did. Every part of your journey was necessary,” Kratos remarked and stared out across the Nile, smiling. “The sick could not be part of a religion in the time of Jesus, yet he came along and proclaimed that everyone, sick, lame and healthy alike, could all be part of God’s new religion. In his time, anyone accused of being a false prophet or speaking of a new religion were to be thrown down from a high place and then stoned. Jesus very nearly suffered this fate as explained within the Gospel of Luke when his own village was about to stone him. But no one could throw the first stone or throw him of the cliff. If they had, he would have simply joined the ranks of the many who had been killed in that fashion and history would never have heard of him. I am sure you know that Jesus learnt much in Egypt, Britain and India. His wealthy uncle, Joseph of Arimathea as he is now known, traded in tin from England. Jesus was also more than well versed in the traditions and teachings of the Druids…’tis no wonder then that Christianity was accepted in Britain within five years of his crucifixion. And you know the rest about Mary Magdalene…and in time so will Christianity remember and restore her memory to what it should be, the mark of being a prostitute being just one of the first signs the Church will put right great wrongs and evolve herself.”