by D. N. Carter
Chapter 72
End to All That Was
Paul opened his eyes whilst trying to sit up. His vision was blurred as he reached out for Alisha lying beside him. When his hand touched her she stirred and turned to face him. All around her shone a bright light blocking out everything else. She frowned puzzled seeing the same light around him. She sat up quickly and clasped his hands tightly. In amazement they looked around themselves but could only see white.
“My dear sister…it appears you forget that I was once your brother,” Kratos spoke but was nowhere to be seen.
Alarmed, Alisha looked at Paul as he tried to focus his eyes.
“Do not worry, Ali…this is what this place does to me,” Paul said reassuringly and turned to look behind him. “I am sure Kratos is here somewhere…just wait.”
“You are learning how this all works,” Kratos spoke again and started to step through the light beside them as if passing through a downpour of water. He smiled and rested upon his staff and nodded at them. “’Tis but a brief visit from me for I have Abi’s child I must watch over.”
“I have not forgotten what you told me…I have just been otherwise engaged in matters of living and trying to get by. But what brings you now?” Alisha asked, puzzled, and shook her head, wondering if she was actually dreaming.
“Ali, this is no dream,” Kratos explained and winked. “But I am here to warn you that you must leave now if you can. Lord Toron, whom you know as Humphrey, Princess Stephanie’s son, will arrive soon. He has promised Reynald he will prove her love for you, Paul, so he may be granted his divorce and gain her titles and castle,” Kratos explained simply. Alisha looked at Paul, concerned and fearful he had feelings for Princess Stephanie too. “Do not worry, Alisha, for it is all but a cunning ploy to serve Reynald’s greedy aims for he knows he has lost Stephanie.”
Alisha sat up closer to Paul and held him tightly.
“Then we shall be away first thing this day,” Paul replied.
“Taqi will be ready. And Alisha…Theodoric needs must tell you who your real father was for he has still not revealed it. Ask of it when next you see him…for you must,” Kratos remarked then looked over to his right. “Now look yonder distance. Tell me what you see.”
Alisha and Paul looked up but all they could see was whiteness. As they both strained to look harder, the white seemed to open revealing the image of what appeared to be the Dome of the Rock, but it was night time yet, surrounded by many strange lights that stretched off all around it like a thousand small fires, but they were not made of fire. As far as the eye could see were many buildings of strange construction where Paul knew only hills presently stood.
“’Tis the future you show us. Why?” he asked as he held Alisha close while she looked on in fascination. Kratos simply nodded as they continued to watch.
A very bright ball of light suddenly descended and hovered directly above the Dome, illuminating its brilliant gold covered exterior. After a few moments it shot back upwards. It instantly reminded Alisha of the bright light that had come down and hovered over her upon the ship many years previously. It reminded Paul of the light that came down at Arri’s grave. He gulped hard as he recalled that sad day.
“’Tis indeed the future and you are being shown this so you can make notes and speak of such matters for there will come a time, as this fourth age of man passes over into the fifth, flight of the Phoenix as you already know and understand, when men will need to be reminded that despite all they see and hear, with much fear no less, that a promise was made not to abandon them. In the transition stage many will be scared and terrified by wars and rumours of wars, of great and worsening upheavals of natural disasters…when the seals and prophecies of the old books appear to be all coming true…that is when they must be reminded all hope is not lost. These lights will again reappear to start that process. But they must be made aware of the fact beforehand…and that is where you come in for you must find a way to carry the warnings forward so they never forget,” Kratos explained and paused. “Men must remain positive for it directly affects the very world you exist upon.”
“I have tried to do so, but I simply do not know how to,” Paul replied as images of an old derelict cathedral started to appear.
“Remember this?” Kratos asked and smiled. “This is how the world as a whole now stands. It will decay further…but as you have seen previously in your shared vision, this cathedral will be rebuilt…the old Church will pass and a new one will be born from its ashes…just like the Phoenix again… and in that time, the last of the line of popes will know it to be so for he will be the one who acknowledges the third secret of Fatima and where and when it will come to pass,” Kratos explained as the image shifted to another ball of light as it lowered slowly over the grave of Arri, Paul himself visible in the image exactly as he had experienced it. He shuddered as Alisha shook her head with sadness. “You must forgive me…both of you for showing you this painful scene again. ’Tis not my desire to hurt you. But I must tell you, Arri is no longer there.”
Alisha looked at him in shock, then expectant joy.
“Is he alive…has he risen?” she asked excitedly, but then sighed and lowered her head. “What am I saying?”
“He has been removed for when the day comes, in the future, you would not want his physical remains to be abused or desecrated. I hope you will forgive me but I had them removed to a far more secure location…”
“Where?” Alisha demanded.
“Be angry with me if you must…but I cannot tell you that yet…but I shall all in good time,” Kratos replied softly and looked at her. “Please trust me for I have never let you down yet have I?” he asked.
Alisha shook her head no, confused.
“Then trust me when I tell you that you must insist upon Thomas and his men escorting you away from here. Paul can take Taqi to Al Rashid, but as Raja told you when last you saw her in a similar vision, ’tis the Vikings who would protect you. Their swords are the finest ever made by normal means. Do you remember?”
Alisha thought back upon that time and nodded yes silently and rested against Paul.
“What does that mean?” Paul interrupted and pointed at a new image of Jerusalem as he knew it. It was being bombarded by flaming shots fired from large trebuchets but a large candle could be seen in front of the scene burning down fast. It had a large X with a smaller x attached to it etched into its side.
“That, my dear friends, symbolises that the candle for Jerusalem burns down fast. Time is running out and is why you must leave. You know what the X means…like it or not that is you three, Ailia being the small x.”
“No…for I know what the meanings are behind the X and small x…we are neither a royal family nor a holy family,” Alisha protested.
“Then what are you?” Kratos asked softly and raised his eyebrows questioningly.
“Paul…tell him. We are just ordinary people. I do not want it,” Alisha protested again as emotion welled up, expressed in her face. “I demand to know where you have taken him.”
Kratos looked at Paul, but he carried on looking at the image of Jerusalem being bombarded, a sickening knot tightening in his stomach, but also the realisation that what Kratos was saying made perfect logical sense. After all they had been through and seen, it was almost impossible to deny what he claimed. A realisation was beginning to register within him that indeed there was something quite clearly different about them, or at least how others perceived them. He knew in his heart Alisha was certainly different. Kratos finally looked at her. He tilted his head slightly and smiled, his eyes looking deeply into hers. He did not need to say any words for she knew his answer. He would not be telling her whatever she demanded or however long she pleaded. But as he looked at her intently, she was also overcome with a sense of calmness and knowing that he had done the right thing. As he stared into her eyes, she became very sleepy and closed her eyes.
Alisha woke up with a jolt and grasped at her chest, breathless.
She sat up and started to nudge Paul to wake him. Slowly he started to come round and opened his eyes wearily.
“Kratos!” she exclaimed.
“Yes…’twas him,” Paul replied and sat up slowly, his head feeling dizzy. He pulled himself up against the bedstead and looked at Alisha. “Ali…we must leave this very day,” he said with a dry voice, his throat feeling sore.
“Yes,” she said and jumped up upon her knees in front of him, her eyes falling to the windows as rain fell against them hard. “Oh Lord…look at the weather,” she exclaimed sadly at the severe heavy rain outside and rolling dark clouds.
A slight rap upon the chamber door drew both their attention.
“Come in,” Paul called out.
Theodoric opened the door and stepped inside.
“Sorry to trouble you both…hope I haven’t interrupted anything,” he said and clasped his hands together, which Paul immediately knew meant he had something to tell them as he always did so. Alisha and Paul both shook their heads no. “Good good. Hmm…you can see the weather no doubt…bit freakish to say the least. ’Tis like someone does not wish us to leave yet doesn’t it,” he explained and paused. He was clearly thinking things over in his mind. “Princess Stephanie’s son Humphrey will be here in two days. Stewart and his contingent will be meeting him to escort him in…but…but in the mean time all non-essential travel for all has been banned by order of the king.”
“What…but we must leave today…we must for we have been warned,” Paul stated and swung his legs off the bed to stand.
“Who has warned you?” Theodoric asked, puzzled.
“’Twas just a dream he had, that is all,” Alisha answered as Paul stood up but immediately fell backwards upon the bed, unsteady on his feet.
“I do not think you are in any fit state to travel anywhere this day,” Theodoric remarked and stepped closer. “But on a good point,” he started to say as Paul looked up at him. “Taqi…his bandages have been removed and he can see. The ulcers upon his eyes have gone. He is very lucky indeed.”
“That is wonderful news. I must go and see him,” Alisha said and jumped off the bed and hurried to open their travel trunk.
Theodoric looked at Paul.
“Dream you say?” Theodoric asked quietly and raised his eyebrows suspiciously.
“Yes…you know the type,” Paul replied as he watched Alisha pull out her heavy dark blue dress. “Just a dream,” Paul sighed.
Port of La Rochelle, France, Melissae Inn, spring 1191
“Forgive me for I simply cannot get my mind around this concept that this Kratos can appear to them both in a dream,” Peter remarked, waving his hand.
“’Tis a lot to accept on face value I grant you. But if you have ever studied the ancient Vedic and Buddhist philosophies, which remember can be traced back thousands of years before Christ, they all teach of the power of the spirit to be able to travel and to learn of things on different plains of existence…and also to see others and communicate with them. Some claim to be able to also transport their physical bodies great distances,” the old man replied politely despite Peter’s apparent agitation as he scratched his head. “Are you okay, Peter?”
“Yes…I am just tired and all that you tell us…’tis so much to accept and take on board,” Peter replied.
“As I said before, I am not here to change you but to explain and show you things. How you interpret them is ultimately down to your own perceptions and what you are comfortable with.”
“I do recall that year for we sheltered inside the castle at Tiberias unable to send out patrols for the weather was foul to an extreme for nearly two weeks…probably longer,” the Templar explained confirming what the old man had said.
“Yes it almost seemed like God himself was stopping Alisha and Paul from leaving Jerusalem,” the old man sighed and shook his head. “If only the weather had not been so horrendous I feel so much would be different”.
“One thing you have never answered, and that is who was Alisha’s true blood father?” Gabirol asked.
The old man looked at him for several long minutes in silence.
“Don’t tell me it will turn out to be Reynald himself,” the farrier laughed.
All in the room looked at him, Simon laughing at first until he saw the serious look upon Sarah’s face as she looked at the old man. All then looked at him in anticipation.
“If I said to you he was a prince of the House of Edessa would that make sense to any of you?” the old man asked.
“I know you said at Edessa there is a mound identical to the one in England, Silbury isn’t it, and that Jesus was somehow related to the kings of Edessa…they wore a crown of thorns or something…,” Simon stated, struggling to recall the information.
“And they carried a small purse?”
“Simon, one day you will awaken to your own abilities, for yes they did indeed carry a form of purse, as is depicted on many ancient deities, pharaohs and kings… but I have never mentioned thus far,” the old man smiled. “Her father was a knight from Edessa but his father before him married into the line of Charlemagne…but his own bloodline, as I have said before, came from the Desposini…of true royal blood lineage.”
“You are guarded on what you tell us about her father. Why?” Ayleth asked softly.
“I hope you will trust me when I say that her father was far more than just a knight and prince of Edessa…but it has no relevance any more save to say that his line was pure…and he too could wield the sword Paul carried. That is all I am able to tell you I am afraid,” the old man explained solemnly. “He also carried an identical sword to that used by Charlemagne himself.”
“I guess you will not be telling us more on him?” Gabirol asked, disappointed.
“Perhaps I may. But it is for another time for the continued safety of others,” the old man explained.
“So with all the foul weather I take it Alisha and Paul did not leave when they had hoped?” the wealthy tailor asked.
“No,” the old man simply replied.
City of Jerusalem, Kingdom of Jerusalem, February 25th 1187
Alisha and Paul looked down into the open stone slab covered yard through their main window. Sheets of water ran down the wooden slats of the window shutters from the heavy downpour. Ailia sat opposite Taqi at the main table as he watched her fascinated whilst she drew pictures with charcoal sticks. Abi and Tenno stood up when the sound of horses started to echo from outside.
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“Here they come,” Paul said and pointed toward the main walled entrance as a Templar banner and the banner of Lord Humphrey of Toron fluttered just above the height of the outer wall. “Princess Stephanie will be relieved to see her son arrive safely.”
Alisha leaned closer and opened the slats wider in time to see Stewart turn his horse into the main courtyard alongside Lord Humphrey. They were closely followed by the rest of the Templar contingent. Stewart led them all toward the main Templar headquarters gate. It was difficult to make out the other Templars and Hospitallers due to the heavy downpour. Ailia jumped down from her chair and rushed over to see the passing column in time to see Princess Stephanie walk into view accompanied by Brother Teric holding a weather shield above her to stop her getting soaked. Quickly they hurried after the mounted column.
“Eager to hear word of Kerak and her son,” Tenno stated as he looked down at them.
“Well his banner is there. Thankfully Reynald and Gerard are not with them,” Paul remarked as Abi nodded in agreement. “We better get ourselves over there.”
“Does this mean we can leave now Uncle Stewart is back?” Ailia asked, looking up at Paul and smiling.
“I hope so,” Paul answered and looked over at Taqi. “I hope so.”
Paul and Abi walked along the main corridor of the Templar headquarters toward the main assembly room. Two Templar guards stood outside on either side of the doors as several other Templars, some looking very young, Paul thought, hurried back and forth, whilst
several sergeants and turcopoles busied themselves carrying wet coveralls and mantles to the drying rooms, others bringing refreshments and food. Abi frowned hard at a very youthful looking Templar who was staring at her. A flash lit up the interior as lightning thundered outside with a loud clap, several horses outside neighing in fright. Paul would check on Adrastos afterwards, he told himself.
“Sorry, sire, you cannot enter here,” one of the Templar guards said and blocked Paul’s way at the door.
“Can he not?” Abi replied and stepped forwards looking down at the guard. “I suggest you check again.”
“They can enter,” Stewart called out as he appeared from a side passage wearing just a long white robe and drying his wet hair. “I have been soaking wet for four straight days,” he explained and smiled as he approached.
“’Tis good to see you back safe and well,” Paul remarked.
“’Twas an interesting trip. We have also picked up several new knights… you can tell can’t you?” Stewart commented and looked down the main corridor at several bemused looking knights. “And Humphrey brings more worrying news…so come in for I think you will need to hear it.”
The guard acknowledged Stewart’s words and opened the right hand door of the two. Stewart motioned with his head to follow him inside. Abi looked down at the guard as he stared up at her.
“Ah…Paul. Just the man I need to speak with,” Humphrey said from across the room, seeing Paul enter. Princess Stephanie was standing by his side holding his hand. She looked over at Paul. “I am just waiting for Count Henry and Master Jakelin to arrive and then we can begin.”