“Not exactly. It draws from the life energy of every being and is more instinct and reaction, not intent and will. It doesn’t think but if enough life is attuned to the same thing and there is a conduit that can channel that focus, they will sort of lend themselves to the abstract and from that imbue it with their will,” Boudicca told her.
“So then, what I became, that was the will of what, the bugs and trees? Sort of like a networked system of computers,” Trish said.
“I don’t know what that means. The will that imbued you was indeed the plants and the insects and the birds and animals and the people around us. It was drawn from all nearby life and as some of that life was quite powerful, the guardian it created, the power it gave you was also quite powerful as a result. I was told Merlin was here as well as Sebastian and Chelsea, so it had quite a supply to draw from. I can teach you nature magic if you would like to help you understand your untapped talents. You obviously have the gift, or you could not have been imbued with that much power. I can also help you understand and draw out whatever effects were left on you. That kind of power would have killed you had you not the natural talent for it,” Boudicca told her.
“That was an amazing experience and it felt right. I would like to learn more. Thank you,” Trish said.
“Then once my power starts returning, you shall become my apprentice and I can teach you about nature and life and you can teach me about this network computer,” Boudicca said.
“You’re very trusting to offer to teach someone you just met,” Trish said.
“And you are very trusting to accept a teacher you have only just met. The energy of this henge was able to imbue you which tells me a great deal about what kind of person you are. It chose you over Guinevere and that is a significant thing. While we only just met, I’ve known those two for a very long time. They call you friend and they choose their friends wisely. This is enough for me,” Boudicca told her.
“That we do, and Trish is both a good friend and a good person,” said Sebastian as they returned with Chelsea holding him tightly as they walked.
“So much has changed but so much is as it was,” said Boudicca as she looked around.
“When I was young, the central stones here were not yet erected. When I was older, I was adopted into the priesthood when they discovered my connection to Gaia and eventually rose to lead them. It was under my direction the monument was completed and the keystone of the solstice put in place. In those days, we had many sacred sites but revered this one above others and to see it in such a state of disrepair is sad but such is the way of life. Everything that dies gives back to the Mother. Sometimes, her children escape the cycle of life and death but must choose to become a custodian of life or apart from it. It seems you and your wife have chosen to the path of custodian and for this I am grateful. I only wish everyone on our Council had done so,” she said.
“Like Mordred,” Sebastian replied.
“No, he was never a part of the Council. Others, like Morgana and Solomon, were born to the path and others like Ra and Nefertiti chose it later. Some, like Merlin, held himself apart from it, thinking he was above it,” she told him.
“What of Alexander?” he asked. She smiled and laughed.
“He was arrogant and boastful and had the personality of a conqueror. It made him a good lover but a poor person. I would not have chosen to train him had it been my decision,” she told the group.
“You and Alexander were lovers?” said Chelsea.
“Ha, you have forgotten. You two alone knew,” she told Chelsea.
Chelsea tried to recall the details but was unable to do so.
“I'm sorry but I don't remember. So much of our pasty is forgotten or remembered only in fragments,” Chelsea told her.
“You have forgotten so much. I trusted that secret to you. We were lovers after a fashion. It was more like we used each other for mutual pleasure but otherwise despised each other. He did not deserve to be on the council or trained as a Master, but Merlin did not judge people on the quality of their being but on their skill in magic. That is a poor way to judge people,” she told them.
“May I ask you a personal question?” Trish said.
“Of course, young one. I keep no secrets from my friends and my future apprentice,” Boudicca said.
“Future apprentice? Did we miss something?” asked Chelsea.
“I’ll fill you in,” Trish said then continued, “I realize your culture was different but I’m curious how you could take a man into your bed that you hated.”
Boudicca laughed. “My dear, pleasure is not dependent on love and young men who are full of ego and strong of spirit can make the best lovers even if they don’t make the best friends. Learn to separate the two and you’ll have more enjoyment from the men and women you invite into your bed.”
“I agree,” said Chelsea, “But it’s so much better when you find one that is both,” she said looking at Sebastian.
“We cannot all be so lucky,” said Boudicca laughing.
“Men and women?” asked Trish.
“Of course. One of each is only needed to produce a child. Pleasure is not dependent on gender,” Boudicca said smiling and Sebastian got embarrassed.
“Two thousand year and countless lives later and you still blush!” Boudicca said laughing.
“How is it that you, Ra and Nefertiti are so different from Merlin? You’re all, for lack of a better term, human,” said Sebastian.
“Some people embrace life and love and live for those things and some live for their power and protecting it. Merlin is the latter and we are the former,” she said.
“He’s not evil, he’s just so far removed from his humanity he only thinks in terms of magic power and that’s sad because Morgana loved him so much, but he could never love her on the same level,” Boudicca told them.
“I would say it was his age but he’s not even as old as Ra. I don’t know what burdens he carries but they weigh him down and make him bitter,” she told them.
“He’s a strong ally to have beside you in a fight and a decent enough man in his heart but he will never truly have friends and never truly love anyone.” Boudicca looked at the three people who were observing her intently, hanging on her words.
“I have become so far removed I am a relic to be observed,” she said.
Chelsea said, “No not at all. In fact, you’re amazing.”
“Yea, you’re great,” said Trish.
“I blushed as Arthur?” he asked.
“You see? This is why women are the vessels. Men do not have the attention span needed,” she said, and the women shared a laugh at Sebastian’s expense.
“I know you only just woke up but there is something Sebastian and I were wondering,” said Chelsea.
“Chelsea now is not the time. Let her rest and recover her strength. Our personal needs must not supersede greater issues and I am sure Boudicca doesn’t want to address personal issues that don’t impact the greater good until she has had time to adjust to the new world,” Sebastian said.
“And I see no harm in asking her. The worst thing she’ll do is say no,” Chelsea told him.
“Maybe you should say what should be said and allow me to decide what I do and do not want,” Boudicca told him.
Chelsea stuck her tongue out at him and Boudicca gave her a strange look.
“It’s an expression used to convey ‘ha ha ha she took my side,’” said Chelsea.
“Well that is certainly an unusual way to put it but yes, I do agree with you. As Solomon would say the only way to get an answer to a question is to ask it,” Boudicca replied.
Sebastian started to talk but Chelsea interrupted him.
“Nope. You had your chance and didn’t want to bring it up, so I’ll handle this,” she said and Trish laughed at him.
“Boudicca, do you remember our first wedding?” said Chelsea.
“I don’t know. Was I there?” she replied.
“Of course, you were. You
presided over the ceremony. We were married here on the day of the summer solstice,” Chelsea said.
“And how was I to know that was your first wedding?” said Boudicca.
“What?” said Sebastian.
“Life is a cycle of birth and death and we already know you have lived another life and who knows how many before I met you. Sometimes souls become entwined as yours have. I’m certain you’ve been married many times throughout history and there’s a chance at least one of those was before we met. Now, if you are asking me if I remember the time you were married in this grove at this henge on the holy day of Litha and I was there, then yes, of course, I remember,” she told them.
“That’s the day I mean. That was our first life and our first wedding. We were wondering if you would be willing to replicate that ceremony for us in this lifetime? Not now, of course. Sometime in the future when this chaos is over,” Chelsea asked.
“It would be my honor,” she said.
“But now, I must ask a favor of you,” Boudicca said. “I would like a hot meal and a soft bed with a strapping young man in it.”
“Well we can definitely give you the first two and as far as the third, we have a lot of recruits at Camelot, I’m sure you could have your pick with looks like yours,” Chelsea said.
“You could share that one. As Guinevere, you spoke highly of him and it seems you still enjoy him,” Boudicca said looking seductively at Sebastian.
“I definitely do, and I would almost consider it just to see his face if I said yes...but no, he’s mine,” Chelsea told her and the three women laughed while Sebastian’s face turned deep red.
“I’ll call a shuttle,” Sebastian said changing the subject and put his hand to his temple to activate the internal comm.
“You’ve mastered telepathy. Impressive,” Boudicca told him.
“No, it’s...it’s complicated and we’ll explain everything. I’m summoning transportation to Camelot,” he told her.
“Good idea. It’s a long walk and a wagon would make it faster,” she said.
A few minutes later Xavier landed with a shuttle.
“By the gods!” exclaimed Boudicca.
“It’s just modern machinery,” Trish told her.
“This is a machine? What else can machines do now?” she asked.
“Now it’s not a question of what can they do it’s what can’t they do. Take Sebastian. He was caught in a cave in just over a week ago. His organs were crushed, his bones shattered, and he was on the edge of death and most men would have died. He spent a few days in a medical facility and machines and medicine healed him back from death’s door,” Trish told her.
“This is fascinating. I want to know all about your machines,” Boudicca said.
“Sure, I’ll answer all of your questions,” Trish told her. “Once we get back to Camelot and get you settled in, I’ll give you a tour and try to get you caught up as much as I can on new technology.”
“That’s a good idea, Trish. After she gets something to eat take her by the armory as well as get her fitted for bio armor. Make that a priority. Can you use a sword Boudicca?” asked Chelsea.
“I am the warrior queen of the Druids, you know this already. I can use any weapon,” she said.
“I’m sorry but I don’t remember everything. Trish, get her a Warden’s sword and a dual pistol while you’re there then take her by the range and get her accustomed to how a gun works. If that’s okay with you Boudicca to delay your sleep a little while so we can get you weapons and armor. Our world isn’t a safe place for us,” Chelsea told her.
“Of course. It wasn't sleep I wanted anyway. I just awoke from a very long rest. You know this world, not I, and your request is reasonable,” said Boudicca.
“I’ll take care of you,” said Trish.
“Until you are at full power we are equipping the Masters with the best weapons and armor we have for your safety,” Sebastian told her.
“I appreciate your concern for my safety, Sebastian,” she replied.
“My primary concern is the safety of this world and everyone in it. You're part of that world now and part of my responsibility,” he replied.
“If you are at all like you were as Arthur, the world is better for that concern,” Boudicca replied.
#
The shuttle landed at Camelot and it was much different than Boudicca’s memory of it. There were automated laser turrets and EMP cannons on the walls and palisades. The castle itself had been retrofitted with electricity, plumbing and other amenities and a small regiment of cadets had been sent for training alongside the seasoned Wardens that staffed the castle. Like military and government buildings, all the Warden facilities were defended but most were in cities and so the weaponry was concealed. Here it wasn’t feasible to hollow out the large stone walls, so the embankments were in the open. Camelot had been converted from an ancient castle to a modern fortress because of its magical nature and the Wardens felt it worth the expense. Some testing of the stonework after its discovery had yielded strange results. Despite it appearing to be stone from local quarries, its resilience was incredible. It had the strength of hardened steel and did not decay. The magic of the tower was also of interest and the Wardens wanted as much control over it as possible. The castle and fortifications were built with arcane energy in its structure and a magical construct from the first brick to the last.
Boudicca continued to be amazed as she entered. The throne room was now a large commissary with the capacity to handle the two hundred or so people that lived there with that number still growing as it ramped up operations.
Ra and Nefertiti were sitting at a table and Ra had a large pizza in front of him. Nefertiti saw her, but Boudicca put her finger to her lips and sneaked up behind Ra.
Between bites, just before she reached him, he said, “Boudicca! It is good to see you awake and back with us at Camelot! You must try the pizza, it is fantastic! And this nectar, what did they call it, oh yes, soda!”
“Ra, your senses are as good as ever,” she said.
“I would like to tell you it is my honed warrior’s skill from thousands of years of training and discipline, but I will not lie to you. The communication machine they call a monitor can act as a mirror and I saw you enter in the reflection. A warrior must always be aware of his surroundings, even amongst friends and allies,” he said laughing.
They caught up for a few minutes as Boudicca ate and then Trish took Boudicca to the armory as ordered and got her equipped. They spent some time teaching Boudicca to use the standard energy-slug hybrid weapons of the Wardens and while she was no expert marksman, she showed quick familiarity with it and basic proficiency in a very short time. She also promised to practice with it on a regular basis to increase that proficiency.
“This machine is amazing. It can summon magic light and throw stones with enough force to kill a man and you say it has no magic?” Boudicca asked.
“None at all. It’s completely a machine. What you call magic light is a laser as we call it, a beam of light energy. What you called a stone is called a bullet. In the old days it was propelled with a tiny explosive charge but now, it’s handled by magnetic coils that propel it using an oscillating method of induction powered by a micro fusion cell and you have no idea what I’m talking about, I’m sorry. I forgot you have two thousand years of technology to catch up on,” Trish said.
“You owe me no apology. My people have great respect for warriors and you know your weapons well. Where did you learn this? Is it your family’s trade?” Boudicca asked.
“I’m educated as an engineer and I served in the Warden research and armory divisions before I transferred to field work and was in GloCom for a tour before that. With the world mostly at peace, I left GloCom to join the Wardens for the excitement and had no idea what I was in for,” Trish said.
“What is GloCom?” asked Boudicca.
“It’s the world military. It stands for Global Command and serves as the offensive and defensive
arms of the Unified Government. We haven’t had a war in over a hundred years though so it’s kind of boring. Now it’s just an occasional territory dispute that’s almost always settled diplomatically or minor riots and terrorist incidents. All of the excitement is in the Wardens,” Trish told her.
“So, you are educated, a soldier and a Warden. In my tribe you would have been well respected,” Boudicca told her.
“It’s exciting but you, you fought the Romans. THE Romans. That’s legendary,” said Trish.
“I fought them, but I lost,” said Boudicca.
“It was a Pyrrhic victory from what I’ve read,” Trish told her.
“Pyrrhic?” asked Boudicca.
“It’s a term we use in reference to the Pyrrhic War. It means they lost so many people it’s hard to call it a victory. That’s a win for a bunch of what history calls savages,” Trish told her.
“History calls me savage? I committed no atrocities or barbarism. We fought for freedom and life,” said Boudicca.
“Savage has changed its meaning. Now it just means tribal. I didn’t mean to offend you,” Trish told her.
“Language, like everything else, changes,” said Boudicca as she smiled at her.
#
Sebastian walked into the armory.
“Trish, are you in here? Comm says you are, and I can’t find Sir Frank,” he said.
He heard a noise and turned to see Trish sitting on Boudicca’s lap on a stack of nearby crates, arms intertwined and kissing. The two women stopped and jumped up.
Trish was fixing her shirt and said, “I’m sorry sir, I was, we were, uh,” and Boudicca jumped in.
“My apologies. I accept responsibility. I was the aggressor and should be solely faulted,” she said.
“Faulted? Huh? For what?” Sebastian said.
“I... we...it would seem things have changed. Once our actions would be punished by some and there were armies would even execute soldiers for unnatural acts,” Boudicca said.
“Unnatural acts? Oh, you mean two women?” he said and laughed.
“Things have indeed changed. I don’t care what you two do to each other and if it’s not affecting duties then I don’t care when you do it. I just need to see Trish because I can’t find our quartermaster and I need to restock my fusion cells. Before she was in the field she ran an armory and she’s been helping our quartermaster set up in her downtime,” Sebastian said.
The Seal of Solomon Page 34