The Serpent's Song

by S. Robertson

  Myttrwn, pleased by such appreciation, was surprised by his feeling of gladness at Angi’s recovery, his thoughts eliciting an unexpected caution, “After so many centuries I almost forgot the joys of Gaia, but I must take care. I’ll be of little use if I allow my emotions to cloud my thinking. Right now I must convey the Queen’s request.” Unsure of their reaction he proceeded, “I have a question I need the four of you to ponder. It is a custom in this kingdom that the victim face his or her perpetrator prior to an official trial. While the Queen would like you to do this, there is some room to maneuver. Perhaps you would like time to think about it?”

  Andrew was the first to react, “Myttrwn, you’re asking them to face Zolar who tried to kill them not once but numerous times in that pyramid. Isn’t that a bit steep? Angi is still recovering. But, it’s their decision not mine, they must reply to the Queen.”

  “That’s it,” thought Angi. “Adawee’s final test. But do I have the strength to face Zolar? I’m not sure. Right now I’m weak and vulnerable. I’ll play for time and get stronger. I don’t want to give Zolar the upper hand. If this is their custom, however difficult, I must comply.” Before the others had a chance to respond Angi spoke, “I don’t need more time. I’ll do it but I’d like to be stronger before I face Zolar, if that’s OK.”

  “If Angi’s game, I’ll do it as well,” said Vette, “Actually, I’d like to have a few minutes to tell Zolar what I think of his diabolical plot against the innocent.”

  “I’m also in,” said Wolfram, “Let’s do it. It will bring closure to a negative piece of this trip. It’s Angi’s call as to when.”

  “If they’re going, so am I,” said Morgan, “We’ve walked through hell together and we’ll face Zolar together.”

  “In that case, include the rest of us,” added Andrew, “From this point we’re travelling as a mob, no more divide and conquer.”

  Pleased, Myttrwn responded, “That settles it. I’ll inform the Queen at once and the date will be conditional on Angi’s recuperation. Just one point, I must ask that you not discuss your reply with anyone until the scheduled event, this must be your own thoughts.”

  “Agreed,” came the reply from all four.

  Myttrwn was impressed with their courage and willingness to participate in a custom of their kingdom, it would also endear them to the Council.

  By this point all the excitement had drained Angi. She fell back on her pillow and closed her eyes.

  “I guess that’s our signal,” said Myttrwn, gently waving his hand for everyone to exit and in a whisper said, “From this point I would ask that you come and go in small numbers with but one exception, Skylar can stay as long as she wants.” Skylar hearing her name wagged her tail.

  The Queen was gratified by their response and proceeded to make the necessary arrangements, holding the date and time open for Myttrwn to specify. During the interim, late one night Zolar was transferred to a Palace security unit. As the days passed Angi grew stronger, eventually taking walks along the corridor holding the arm of one or another of her Gaia friends. The dogs scampered about, sticking close to their masters. Dylan and his team continued guard duty still uncertain the danger was over.

  By the time their face-to-face meeting with Zolar was announced, Angi had returned to her suite in the House of Learning. On the scheduled morning, Sirona’s plane landed on the plaza to fly them to the Palace. Corb, once again their pilot, warmly greeted the four pyramid survivors as they entered the plane. Anxious, the entire group said little en route.

  For the first time the group from Gaia was escorted into the Council of Elders Chamber, catching glimpses of its splendor as they walked to the front. As agreed, the Queen had assembled a smaller audience of Advisors and Elders to witness the event. On this occasion the Queen was already seated on the royal throne when they arrived. Sirona, Myttrwn, Angi, Vette, Wolfram and Morgan stood in a single line in the space between the throne and the front seats of the Chamber, where the rest of the Gaia team were sitting. Everyone waited.

  At the sound of a gong, and under guard, Zolar was escorted into the Chamber to a position directly in front of the six standing individuals, in clear view of the Queen and Chamber members. Zolar was attired in a pale yellow uniform, with no visible restraints. His former appearance and manner had drastically changed. Standing with his head bowed, he seemed a broken man. Once in position, the two guards stepped back leaving Zolar exposed.

  Sirona had agreed to lead the proceedings and spoke in a clear voice for all to hear, “According to the laws of Tir na nOg, the victim of any crime has the right to face his or her perpetrator before the official trial. Everyone here is well aware of what transpired in the pyramid involving our four guests from Gaia. They will now each have the opportunity to speak directly to Zolar, starting with Angi Talismann, followed by Vette Gallant, then Wolfram Stark and finally Morgan Mandelthrope. Zolar may respond to each individual if he so wishes.” Then turning, she explained for the sake of those from Gaia, “Everyone gathered is either conversant in English or has been given an interpretative device. So, begin Angi when you’re ready.”

  The previous night in a dream Angi had a visit from her grandmother who said, “Remember Angi, when life inflicts wounds as it will, be quick to forgive. Do not let anyone saddle you with guilt or hatred, for both will damage your soul. First, forgive yourself, then forgive the other person or persons. Carry no baggage. Walk on. Allow time to help you heal and grow from the experience.” These words, indelibly etched in her heart, strengthened Angi’s resolve.

  Fully recovered, Angi stepped forward to face Zolar saying, “Zolar, I’m sorry my presence caused you such turmoil. I entered your kingdom in peace. Neither I nor any of my colleagues caused the plague that affected your family centuries ago. What you did not know was that our planet lost millions of its own people during this same catastrophe. After such global calamities people move on without wasting energy blaming any single person or group of people for such misery. During our stay in your kingdom you made no effort to communicate with us. In your mind we were the enemy. That was a tragic mistake. We survived your attempt on our lives with the help of Sirona and Myttrwn, the medallion and our own courage. Your own laws will judge you for this attempt on our lives. As for me, I seek nothing from you. I forgive you and honestly hope you find peace sometime in the future.” With those words she stepped back.

  Zolar raised his head slightly, looked at Angi, a sign of bewilderment etched on his face, but he said nothing.

  The next to speak was Vette who stepped forward saying, “Zolar, I’m not as gentle or charitable as my friend Angi. I would honestly like to tell you precisely what I think, but will restrain myself. We meant you no harm yet you went to considerable effort to concoct a deadly plan to kill us not once but a number of times to satisfy your own egotistical, and I might say, psychotic imaginings. We too have family that would be most upset if we failed to return home. I am more upset over what you tried to do to my friends than for myself. We did not deserve any of this. I pray that you will be scrupulously judged by your own laws and face the full punishment you deserve. But, like Angi, I forgive you for I will be damned if I want to drag you along with me the rest of my life,” and she stepped back.

  Zolar again raised his head and looked at Vette as her forceful words had penetrated his stoic silence but he still said nothing.

  Next came Wolfram who stepped forward and said, “Zolar, I am also more infuriated over your well planned plot to willfully kill my friends. You formed your own conclusions about us without making any effort in getting to know us. I do not believe for a moment that the kingdom’s safety was uppermost in your thinking. No, it was your own ego nurtured by a smoldering hatred over lost privilege and wealth resulting from an ancient event which motivated your actions. You let this control your thoughts to the point that killing four people was, in your mind, fully justified. Basically, you used your senior position to try and execute us. It failed due to the interces
sion of Sirona and Myttrwn and Angi’s growing expertise with her medallion. I learned years ago that retaliation is for suckers. I will not allow you to do any more damage to my life, so, like Angi and Vette, I too will forgive you. May the laws in your country exact its full punishment for your criminal behaviour,” and he stepped back.

  This time Zolar looked up at Wolfram, doubt dawning on his face. He seemed just about to speak but hesitated and lowered his head in silence.

  Finally Morgan stepped forward saying, “Zolar I would like to thank you for giving me the opportunity of seeing inside your pyramid. It was something I thought about when I first glimpsed it upon our arrival. However, I regard your diabolical plot to kill us as both stupid and psychologically demented. We did nothing to warrant this. In your egotistical mind you created the problem and became the judge and executioner with no regard for anyone not even your own kingdom. I’m sure your actions will have diplomatic ramifications which will take years to unwind. For these crimes you must pay and your kingdom will execute their own laws. As for me, I join my friends and will forgive you hoping that, if your life is spared, you will eventually find peace,” and Morgan stepped back.

  Zolar looked up at Morgan, holding his gaze for a moment as if wanting to justify his actions, but resigned himself to silence.

  Sirona and Myttrwn glanced at each other. The response from the four was more than they could have imagined. The four stood together and forgave their oppressor without any words of anger. Sirona closed the session with, “Zolar, you have been forgiven by your intended victims. This has been recorded and will be taken into account at your trial. In the meantime you will remain in prison until your official trial. Do you wish to make any final comment to the four?”

  Zolar, for the last time, looked out on the Council of Elders, the place where he had known honour and prestige. At that moment a sickening feeling engulfed him as he realized, by his own volition, he had forfeited everything. There would be no rewards, the faces of former Elder colleagues registered disgust not honour. He shook his head indicating he would not comment and turning followed his guards out of the Chamber.

  It had been a tense occasion and when Zolar left there was silence as everyone gathered their thoughts. Into this vacuum a Snowy Owl with rainbow feathers appeared landing on a metal bar near the Queen. Startled, the Queen’s guards reacted as if to attack the owl only to find themselves paralyzed, unable to move.

  “Adawee,” exclaimed Angi, “You did come. Now I can introduce you to my friends.”

  “Adawee,” whispered Morgan to Wolfram, “That’s a Cherokee word for ‘Guardian of Wisdom.’ I wonder why Angi never mentioned a Snowy Owl. Angi never ceases to amaze. This should be interesting.”

  Adawee began speaking in a voice easily heard and understood by everyone in the Chamber, “I come in peace. I chose the owl costume for Angi so that we could have quiet chats together. The costume is from her world. I wanted to get to know this young woman with the miraculous medallion. In our chats I have learned a great deal about her and her world. I was the one who asked her not to say anything until it was time……….. That time has come.”

  At that moment the image of the Snowy Owl began to dissolve, being replaced first by a whirling rainbow ball which elongated into a glittering rainbow light out of which stepped a woman.

  Angi for the first time came face to face with Adawee, a calming voice that she had grown fond of. Before her stood a slim woman, slightly taller than Sirona, of indiscriminate age. She had shoulder length, white hair, green eyes, a markedly calm expression, and was wearing a loose fitting, silk-like gown with no ornamentation.

  Myttrwn, recognizing the woman, went to greet her as he was the only one in the Council of Elders Chamber who had met her before.

  “It’s good to see you again Myttrwn,” said Adawee, “It’s been a long time. I’m here today to inform you of our support for greater contact with Gaia. You shall learn much from each other. I can confirm that Angi and her colleagues have been well chosen. We will guide you in this venture for it has cosmic implications.” Then realizing the impact her presence was having on the assembled audience she added, “I expect it might be helpful if you, Myttrwn, took a moment to inform everyone who I am, as most in this room I have never contacted or met in person.”

  “It is my honour,” replied Myttrwn, in a slight bow. Then turning to the audience he said, “May I introduce you to Adawee, who is one of the Seven Sages of our universe. The Sages are highly enlightened and evolved individuals who exist mainly in spirit but, on rare occasions, appear in person. The last time I met Adawee was five centuries ago when we in this kingdom were facing insurmountable difficulties.”

  “Thank you Myttrwn,” replied Adawee, in a musical voice. “As on previous occasions, I shall provide everyone in the room with a firm mental memory of this day, to guide them in the future. As you work together resistance in both worlds must be expected as change is difficult, if not insurmountable, for some.” Then turning she sought out her favourite, “Angi, you will need Myttrwn’s guidance in mastering the medallion’s powers for there are layers of complex and subtle energies to command. We shall continue to chat, but I’ll appear in this form from now on. Your initiation is over and now your true destiny is about to begin. But before I leave, I would like to meet everyone in the Chamber for all of you will become partners in this cosmic mission.”

  Adawee, with Myttrwn’s help, walked about first speaking with the Queen, then Sirona and then each individual, addressing each by name and conveying an amazing depth of knowledge about their lives. Later they would say that in shaking her hand they received a powerful transfer of positive energy. No one was anxious to leave such an extraordinary event.

  Before disappearing Adawee communicated telepathically to the Queen, Sirona and Myttrwn, saying, “The anomaly you have discovered in Angi’s vibrational profile needs to be kept secret. It has a future purpose. Under Myttrwn’s guidance Angi will become a gifted master of this medallion.” With the visit completed Adawee evaporated in a rainbow mist.

  The aura of the occasion lingered long after her departure, each person wanting to savour the moment. Eventually, individuals began to disperse, the group from Gaia anxious to pump Angi about her chats with one of the Seven Sages of the universe.

  Andrew spoke quietly to Bryce as they walked towards their plane, “Today, any lingering doubts I may have had about this journey have been washed away. We have just encountered another dimension. I wonder how many there are.”

  “Endless,” replied Bryce, struggling to grasp the day’s events, “Just imagine the reaction on Earth as we try to explain this even to our ‘special’ societies. Do you think anyone will believe us?”

  “Perhaps not,” replied Andrew with a chuckle, “It reminds me of those adventurers in our past, trying to convince a home audience of the marvels of the New World. But we have one ace in the hole, we have Angi and that unbelievable medallion. You know Bryce, I am bursting with excitement and anxiety as to what lies ahead, and it fills me with incredible energy to live on.”

  Chapter 4

  * * *

  House of Learning

  Their return to Earth was rapidly approaching. Respect for the Gaia team had escalated following the events of the Pyramid Initiation, and the arrival of one of the Seven Sages. They had survived an extraordinary pyramid ordeal and had forgiven their perpetrator, all in keeping with Tir na nOg practices. Adawee’s arrival sealed their acceptance, they now belonged. Having Myttrwn in charge of both Houses also improved the situation.

  While Sirona and Myttrwn negotiated a date for a departure celebration, Morgan took charge of re-establishing their music practice routine in conjunction with Carola who was still aiming for perfection. Their absorption in music was healing as they continued to work through the physical and mental after effects of recent events. Non-musical members returned to their previous activities as arranged by Sirona. Exceptions included Angi who was back with My
ttrwn augmenting her medallion training and the four dogs who went everywhere with their owners, becoming celebrities within the royal hilltop compound. Evening gatherings were noisy as they sifted through their time in Tir na nOg and reset their minds for going home.

  One evening as they sat around the dining table Dylan blurted out, “You know, I’m going to miss this place. I never thought I’d be saying that. After the first hiccups I’ve begun to understand and appreciate the Tir na nOg perspective on life and certainly respect their self-control. Admittedly, I’m still grappling with their telepathic abilities. Yet, I’ve also learned that even in this well ordered world there are individuals like Zolar who can become a danger to others. I expect there are others.”

  “That’s something coming from you,” replied Wolfram. “Dylan, you’ve been transformed. I also noted your keen interest in those small planes. I’m also impressed at how easily they perform. Can you imagine if we had planes that operated on the thoughts of pilots……….I must ask Corb if there were any accidents in the early days of piloting planes by thought control. It’s fascinating to watch Corb operate such technology so efficiently. By the way he has informed me that he and possibly three others may be returning with us, has anyone else heard this rumor?”

  “Yes, Myttrwn has hinted as much to me,” came Andrew’s reply, “Apparently the Hill of Tara gate is too exposed for easy transportation at this time. So, they are thinking of burying that gate in an underground tunnel. Such tunnels seem to exist all over our planet, which was news to me. They’ll secure the main gate under the Hill of Tara while creating a temporary one under my castle in Scotland. I’m all for it but still have few details.”

  “I’ve come to trust and appreciate the care and learning provided by Myttrwn and will miss this when we get back to Earth,” said Angi. “I’m trying to convince him to visit us which he seems to be willing to consider. Imagine the changes he’ll encounter when he returns to Earth. I’ll let you know if he makes any positive comment on this.”