by D. N. Carter
La Rochelle, Manor House, Rue de Stella Maris, late spring of 1178
“Where is Father?” Taqi asked out of breath as he rushed into the cooking hall closely followed by Paul.
Alisha looked up in surprise. She instantly smiled at Paul, the bandage hanging loose from his face. She immediately stood to greet him.
“Alisha, finish what you are doing,” Raja instructed abruptly. Alisha frowned at her and continued to walk towards Paul. “Ali, sit back down,” Raja snapped, unusually harsh. Alisha stopped just in front of Paul.
“Not until I have sorted this,” she said and began to re-attach the loose gauze bandage over Paul’s wound. As she affixed it and placed her hand against the gauze to hold it in place, Paul searched her eyes and placed his hand up to cover hers. The warmth of her hand felt soothing and his fingers tingled as he placed them over the soft skin of hers.
“Hey tweet tweets, we need to find our fathers,” Taqi interrupted as Raja stood with a look of annoyance, her arms folded at Alisha’s defiance.
“Tweet tweets?” Paul said frowning at Taqi.
“Tweet tweets, you know…as in love birds,” Taqi answered mockingly.
Alisha looked into Paul’s eyes not moving her gaze for a moment despite her face becoming flushed with embarrassment. Paul lowered his hand with hers still clasping his. She smiled and he could not help but look at the curve of her lips as she did so.
“Your fathers are away at the harbour resolving to arrange passage back to Tortosa for us,” Raja said demonstratively.
1 – 8
Alarm shot across both Alisha’s and Paul’s faces as they looked at her quizzically. Alisha grasped Paul’s hand tighter. Taqi walked closer to Raja and looked at her quizzically.
“But, but we are due to stay until the leaves fall,” he half blurted out.
“I see that got your attention. Alisha, now sit back down for you will do as you are instructed. Do not dare to presume just because you are growing taller that you can now do as you please. Now sit,” Raja commanded, pointing to Alisha’s seat. Reluctantly she looked at Paul then slowly let go of his hand. As she moved to sit back at her seat, Paul approached Raja.
“Sorry if we appear rude or disrespectful, ’tis not our intention, but please, I pray ask of thee tell us why the need for you to leave early, for surely it is not because of us?” Paul asked, indicating to himself and Alisha as she sat down.
“No it is not because of you two. Rumours have reached the town of truces being broken in the Holy Land. If we do not secure safe passage back now, we may not be able to leave at all,” Raja explained. Paul and Taqi looked at each other alarmed.
“So stay,” Paul responded instantly.
“We cannot. We have other interests at home we must keep under control,” Raja explained as Alisha again stood up and moved close to Paul. “Ali?” she snapped angrily.
“There are always rumours of truces being broken; of wars and panic mongering…always. I will not leave early…I swear it,” Alisha stated defiantly and openly grabbed Paul’s hand, which made him smile. Taqi shook his head slightly and frowned, concerned.
“Not like these rumours. And, Allah willing, your fathers will explain the matter in its proper course,” Raja started to explain when suddenly the main front doors in the hallway opened. Two of the house squires entered carrying two large luggage travel cases followed by Philip and Firgany carrying two more. They heaved them into the corridor and piled them against the side wall before heading for the kitchen hall. Philip entered first and looked at them all just standing about.
“And pray tell what occurs here?” he asked with a large smile upon his face.
“Is it true they are leaving early, Father?” Paul asked, panic in his voice.
“’Tis true, my boy,” Philip answered, placing his hands upon his hips as a look of confusion registered across his face. “’Tis far wiser to leave whilst safe to do so, Paul, would you not agree?” he asked, still smiling, his gaze falling to see Paul’s hand tightly held by Alisha’s. “Ah, I see why the concern,” he exclaimed just as Firgany entered the kitchen. As he did, his eyes fell immediately upon Paul and Alisha holding hands. Sternness and coldness filled his eyes. All stood in awkward silence for several moments before Alisha reluctantly let go her grip and folded her arms, a defiant look upon her face causing Firgany to raise an eyebrow quizzically.
“Please, you will leave us,” Firgany said, looking at Alisha then Raja. “We have much to discuss with these two this day. Private stuff of importance we cannot and must not delay in doing so,” Firgany continued then looked at Philip, who nodded his head in agreement.
Raja nodded in acknowledgement.
“Then I would suggest you remove yourselves elsewhere instead whilst we finish our work here. We shall sort refreshments for you and bring them later,” she replied and immediately sat back down and carried on darning a cloth. Paul stole one more look at Alisha.
Without further words being spoken, Paul and Taqi were ushered out and towards the small chapel room. Taqi and Paul could sense there was an urgency and concern in their fathers’ tones and mannerisms. Paul knew whatever they were about to be told must be important as it was the first time since moving to the big house that his father had allowed him to even enter the chapel room. He feigned a nervous smile at Taqi as they were made to sit on a bench that backed up against a wall within a small arched recess that housed a small thin table just big enough for four people. As they shuffled to sit, Firgany and Philip pulled up another bench and sat opposite them. Philip clicked his fingers and motioned to Paul to hand over his small parchment scroll. No sooner had he done so when Philip rapidly unfurled it open upon the table and started to study it as Firgany looked in closer. After a few shared looks and shrugs, Firgany demanded Taqi hand his over. Once open, Firgany laid Taqi’s parchment alongside Paul’s. In silence Philip and Firgany looked at both documents, with the odd finger pointing at a symbol or word, then looking at each other and nodding. After what seemed an age, Taqi broke the silence.
“For all that is sacred to us, will you tell us what is going on?” he demanded exasperated in tone. Firgany shot him a look of disdain then sat back.
“Patience, my dear son, is not your greatest quality, is it?” he stated.
“Father, the old man, Niccolas I think he said his name was, said we could take these. They are about us. He said we could do with them what we wish,” Paul interjected softly, trying to ease the clear tension that was now growing in the air.
“We know what these are. It is also an indicator of why Firgany and his family must leave us so early. But they shall return just as soon as is practicable. Besides, there are other matters we need to discuss with you both,” Philip began to explain. He smiled broadly before continuing. “We shall explain these in a moment to you, but first we must explain that we are all to become a much larger family,” he stated and clasped his hands together, clearly failing in concealing his sudden excitement.
“What?” Taqi asked perplexed as Firgany relaxed his firm stare into a smile too.
“Well, I am sure it has not escaped your notice this past month, the closeness between Raja and me. Well, we have decided, and Firgany here has agreed wholeheartedly and given us his blessing and allows us, to marry,” Philip said gleefully. Paul could see the happiness in his eyes as he said this but his heart jumped. His first thought being that at least Alisha would be coming back and to stay, but then tinged by an irrational panic of thinking what if that makes her become his sister, he could not love her the way he was hoping to. He shook his head as he tried to push that idea aside as he knew it would not really be so. But his mind was jumping all over the place including the tug at his stomach at the thought of her going away at all for any length of time. Travelling was not an easy nor safe thing to do and especially more so now with rumours of conflict on the horizon. Firgany could see the concern in Paul’s face.
“Does this news not please you, Paul?” he asked.
Taqi looked at him quickly.
“Of course it pleases me. But…I thought it is forbidden for a Muslim woman to marry a non Muslim man…but if this is to be, then why must you leave so soon now? Why can you not all just simply stay here now?” Paul asked back.
“Yes…why not?” Taqi asked too.
Firgany looked at Philip then back at the parchments.
“In part, because of what is written here, but in the main, because I have to return to Mawsil to finish some business there first. Resolve an issue regarding Alisha, for she was promised to a local wealthy family upon her birth, a mistake and error of judgement on my part and I must set it right as well as sell my interests there. I have several very important items I must also recover. Then, and only then can we return and move forwards,” Firgany began to explain.
Paul’s mind was already racing. ‘What issue regarding Alisha?’ Philip could see Paul was thinking hard.
“Fear not. We are well informed and from what we know, these rumours of truce breaking and wars are not yet due to fall upon us. But nevertheless, there are some real troubles ahead. Because of this, we have decided, jointly, that we shall all move to Alexandria next year,” Philip explained.
“Alexandria?” Taqi interrupted loudly.
“Sssh sssh, my son. Yes, Alexandria,” Firgany answered. “We both have many friends there already. We also have smallholdings and property from our time when we lived there, long before you both arrived. It is a far more sophisticated and tolerant society where we will be able to live safer and in peace, and where Philip and Raja can live without fear of reprisals, besides, Raja was not a Muslim when she was made to marry,” he said trying to sound reassuring.
“Paul, you will love the library there. The map making cartographers are the best in the whole known world,” Philip explained and nodded with an enthusiastic smile.
“The world is changing and changing fast. We are on the cusp of new discoveries and adventures; but they are adventures that if not done properly, may lead us all into a world of chaos, darkness…an unnecessary darkness the likes of which has never before been experienced,” Firgany said and tapped his forefinger on the parchments before him.
Paul looked at Taqi, puzzled.
“So, my good friend, it appears we shall indeed become family after all,” Taqi remarked, still confused.
“But, Father, do we have to leave? There is much I wish to learn here still,” Paul asked.
“Trust me, my son, when I say you will learn far more in Alexandria. Despite what rumours you have heard about the great fire of their library, the greatest the world has even seen, there were in fact three libraries and the majority of the scrolls were stored at a separate location. Well over fifty thousand scrolls remain. And so I have arranged that over the next few months, if you are in agreement, Niccolas, at the chapel, will teach you as much as he can with what he has here,” Philip explained.
“And me?” Taqi asked.
“My son, I am in much need of your assistance to help me transit our business from Mawsil to Alexandria. Once we are all settled, I am sure Paul will happily educate you with what he knows and has learnt,” Firgany said and placed a hand upon Taqi and looked him in the eye smiling broadly.
“Then I beg you explain what this means first, my father,” Taqi replied and pushed toward him the small rolled up scroll.
Firgany unrolled the small scroll and read the Latin inscription. He looked at Philip, then Paul and back at Taqi.
“This, this is but a key to an understanding. You may learn much, in fact you may become the most learned person in the world, but it has little value or meaning if you do not understand. I, at this time, cannot tell you what it means fully and expect you to understand…but perhaps Philip may in some small way point you in the right direction.” Firgany sighed heavily, the smile evaporating from his face.
“Do you both understand the word apotheosis?” Philip asked. Taqi and Paul looked at each other puzzled and shook their heads no. “I thought as much…Psalm 82:6, well, simply read it pertains to quote God directly, as him saying ‘I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High’. In John 10:34, Jesus makes a reference to this passage. But you must try and understand the title, ‘God’, for it carries the idea of one who is exalted and powerful. Only God has all power and is fully exalted. In this sense, He alone is God. It says so in Psalm 86:8-10 plus in Isaiah. The confusing point in the Bible, however, is that in Exodus 20:3 it states ‘We are to have no other gods before Him’ yet later in 1 Corinthians 8:4-6 it tells us there are many that are called gods: ‘For though there be those that are called Gods, whether in heaven or in earth, as there be Gods many, and Lords many. But to us there is but one God’. Here, we see there are beings called gods both in heaven and in earth. In Genesis 3:5 it says one of the temptations by the serpent is that by eating the apple, the forbidden fruit, men can be ‘as Gods’, but who are these human gods? Make a special note if you can to remember that the apple is but a symbol. A symbol for knowledge and wisdom,” Philip explained then paused as he looked for a reaction from Paul and Taqi. “But to continue, also in Exodus 22:28 it says ‘Thou shalt not revile the Gods, nor curse the ruler of thy people’. Here, the rulers of the people are connected with gods. Their power over others gives them a position similar to that of gods. But in Psalm 82:6 it says quite clearly ‘I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High’ Philip tried to explain further but could clearly see Taqi and Paul looking more confused the more he explained.
“Is this wise, my friend, to explain this all at once now?” Firgany asked respectfully.
Philip looked at Taqi and Paul for a short while longer then nodded at Firgany that it was.
“Psalm 82:6 is almost identical to the most ancient Hermetic traditions whereby it states we are all gods in the making. But do not confuse the fact that God is declared to be the great Judge of all the earth, contrasted with the earthly judges who ‘judge unjustly, and accept the persons of the wicked’ as they are also called gods. A god is one who is exalted and powerful. He makes decisions in the lives of others. These powerful men were god like almost, but not the Almighty God, because of their position of power; however, because of their unjust judgment they will die like men, and fall just like the prince of darkness did, their power will not keep them from death or from their own judgment. These verses have nothing to do with the misunderstood doctrine of men becoming gods. It only has to do with a parallel use of the word god for the purpose of showing their power and thereby the responsibility of certain positions on earth. Everything you will learn will depend upon how you are taught and how you personally perceive things. If you are of a selfish mind, un-evolved, it will be perceived as to ‘GET’ deserve, entitlement. If it is a loving mind, evolved, it will be perceived as to ‘GIVE’ not owed, not entitled, to serve, for the Bible is encoded in such a way, that to discern and understand its ‘hidden messages’ takes a mature mind. An evolved mind is the key to unravelling the knowledge. It is in plain clear view,” Philip continued to explain.
Firgany studied the faces of Paul and Taqi and could sense they were not grasping what they were trying to impart to them. He nodded at Philip.
“Let me try for I wish to explain six simple truths that perhaps you will consider for now,” Firgany started to say and cleared his throat. “In time you will understand them fully for it is just the seeds we plant in your minds and within your hearts this hour. That is all…so truth number one. The creation of our perceived world occurred by organising the world not ‘from nothing’ but from pre-existing matter. The second truth. There was once a grand council consisting of a plurality of gods in the beginning of the creation of this earth. Truth number three. There was a Head God who presided over the council of gods. Truth four. The council of gods, under the direction of the Head God, appointed one god to preside over us in the work of creation and redemption. Truth five,” Firgany said raising five fingers to emphasise the
number. “Among these gods in the pre-earth council were intelligences that existed eternally without creation before they became mortal. Truth sixth. Humans have the potential to be gods because they are the same kind as God…It will be many years, perhaps hundreds of years again before these truths will be fully proven and accepted, but the fact is that the Old Testament was altered to avoid the reading that there was a plurality of Gods. Moreover, not only ancient Israelite, but also early Christian views of the plurality of Gods is confirmed by studying the wealth of Jewish documents available from the period of the second temple in Jerusalem, roughly from 535 BC to AD 70…Although it is maintained that Christianity grew up in an environment of intense monotheistic commitment, that assumption can easily be questioned, because even the earliest Christians did not adopt a ‘strict monotheism’ in the period of Second Temple Judaism. Instead, it was a common belief in Second Temple Judaism that there was a Most High God who had a chief agent or primary vizier who represented God and who ruled over other divine beings, heavenly armies, and heavenly messengers. As the ancient Hermetic precept states: ‘Know ye not that ye are Gods’ is but one of the pillars of the Ancient Mysteries and a persistent message of man’s own divinity, the insinuation being that man is God, and that this is what the ancient philosophers, and the editors of the Old Testament believed. The Ancient Mysteries and philosophy celebrate the potentiality of God within each of us. Symbolically speaking, one could claim that anything within reach of an enlightened man…is within reach of God. And the universality of the assertion of man’s inherent divinity is reinforced within Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, and Buddhism, where similar assertions have been made,” Firgany detailed slowly.
“Father, I think I speak for both Taqi and myself when I say we have no understanding truly of what you are saying. What we saw at the chapel was confusing enough for us, and we hoped you would explain that, especially why Firgany was allowed to attend, but what you explain now, it is much to take in all at once,” Paul explained awkwardly.