Lord of the Abbey

by K. R. Richards

  Harry pulled at his chin while he thought. “If the whole wall was the door, it would most likely swing in this way. Any pulling mechanism should be here.” His gaze moved to the corner of the alcove opposite. He searched the opposite wall, found nothing. Deep in thought, he looked down. Then a slow smile spread across his face.

  “You’ve found something!” Micah rushed forward, his gaze following to the floor where Harry’s finger now pointed.

  There, embedded in the stone floor was a small round stone with a labyrinth carved into it.

  Harry squatted down to study it. He reached out, pushed the stone with all his might.

  All watched as the stone sunk lower than the stone floor, seemingly of its own volition.

  There was a large groan, and a hiss of air as the wall rotated slightly, about four feet. Dust filled the chamber.

  Rowena sneezed.

  Harry removed his handkerchief and handed it to her.

  Trevan was the first to reach the opening. He held his lantern into the black void. He turned grinning, his black hair now rather dusty. His blue eyes sparkling, “Good news, Micah, we’ve a tunnel! We are no longer at a dead end.”

  Harry leaned around Trevan to look. “We need something to check the ceiling, to make certain it is sound and will hold.”

  “I’ll find something,” Charlie shrugged with a sigh. “I’m quite familiar with all of the tools here at Stonedown.”

  “Bring the map, please, Charlie. It’s on the library table,” Micah added.

  While they waited, each took their turn to peer into the tunnel, even with the light of several lanterns, none could judge the length of it. The tunnel seemed to be well made with stone walls, floor and ceiling. And seemed to be as old as the spring alcove and cellar.

  Gabriel Chynoweth questioned Harry, “How did you know to look here on this side?”

  “It appears this cellar and spring room are from the Roman era, as Micah guessed. Any mechanism would be large and elaborate during that time. Since we found no evidence of it inside, I guessed it was underneath the floor. For the door to be pulled open, the starting mechanism would be as far back as this or could have been beyond this wall even.”

  Charlie returned in less than ten minutes with a couple of shovels and a hoe, as well as the small wooden chest of tools. He handed William Dulac’s map to Micah.

  “Wait here,” Harry instructed Rowena while he and Charlie stepped into the tunnel entrance. They poked and prodded the walls and ceiling while Trevan held the lantern for them.

  “It seems sound enough. We’ll just continue to check as we go along. I need a man to remain outside here in case there is trouble. Micah, perhaps you can wait here with Lady Rowena-“

  “I’m going into the tunnel, Harry! I’ll not be left behind,” Rowena interrupted. She raised her chin in defiance. Her hands moved to her hips.

  Harry knew it was a battle he could not win. It was her quest, after all. “We will not go far tonight then, for it is late, and has been a long day. If we find nothing within a quarter of an hour, I’ll send Charlie and Newt to check it out thoroughly tomorrow before we all come back in. Micah, will you remain at Lady Rowena’s side?”

  “Absolutely.” Micah offered his arm to a triumphant Rowena as they entered the opening. He couldn’t help but grin at her. She was quite proud of her victory.

  “I’ll stand watch, as long as I get a chance to see it tomorrow!” Gabriel Chynoweth submitted reluctantly.

  “Agreed! And thank you, Gabriel.” His cousin, Trevan nodded and entered the tunnel entrance behind Wyldhurst and Newt, “And cousin, if you hear something cave in, get the others and start digging, you know how I hate being buried alive!”

  Gabriel laughed for there was nothing his giant of a cousin feared, save being buried in a dark place. It was an old tale of Trevan’s childhood, that none of his relatives would ever forget. “Aye, Trevan. That I will.”

  Harry and Charlie thoroughly checked each section of the passageway roof with the shovel handles before allowing any of the others to move forward.

  “Oh, look, Micah! It’s a goddess symbol.” Rowena pointed to a carving on the stone wall.

  Micah paused to hold the lantern up to it. Adjusted his spectacles. “Incredible! This has to have been here for some time.”

  “Look over there, Micah!” Rowena motioned to a crude painting of an antlered figure on the opposite wall. “Cerennunos.”

  “Obviously, Lady Rowena.” Micah shook his head in wonder, “We are following a path of ancient pagan history.”

  “Here is St. Bridget, milking the cow!”

  “Yes, Lady Rowena, perhaps she was the Goddess Bridget, before becoming a saint.” Micah was in as much awe of their find as she was. “There is the green man, there. Ah, also a green woman! Wonderful.”

  “This is magnificent.” Trevan commented from the rear of their group. “We’re walking through history, literally.”

  “Hold up!” Harry called out.

  They all stopped walking.

  “Micah, per the map, I think this is about the spot, wouldn’t you agree? We should be under the old herb garden about now, I think.”

  “That’s my guess, Harry.” Micah studied the map.

  Charlie looked up, “There are a few roots coming through the ceiling in places, Harry. I think you and Micah are correct.”

  Harry set his shovel against the wall, held up his lantern and studied the walls. “Take that side, Charlie.” He gestured to the opposite wall.

  Harry saw a carving of a Vesica Pisces, walked a bit further saw no other symbols. He returned to the Vesica Pisces, carefully studying the carving with one hand, while holding the lantern with the other. “I’ve a Vesica Pisces here. Anything over there Charlie?”

  “A sun, moon and star, Harry. It’s a painting, not a carving.”

  “It has to be the Vesica Pisces, Harry! The most basic symbol used in Sacred Geometry, the father and mother in Divine Union. It also represents the feminine creative force, was the early Christian emblem of Christ, and is a symbol of immense power and energy; it represents the joining of the Spirit and the Earth, the overlapping of inner and outer worlds,” Micah spoke excitedly.

  “I think you’re right, Micah.” Harry picked up the shovel leaning against the wall where he’d left it. He raised the handle to the stone ceiling. Tested the stability of the ancient stone again. Dust and bits of stone crumbled down upon him. “It’s definitely weaker here. No doubt because of the roots from the garden. I don’t want to open any door with everyone in here. Go back to the cellar and wait. Charlie and I will try and open it when you are all safely ensconced in the cellar.” Harry’s eyes rested on Rowena.

  Rowena’s eyes narrowed on Harry, but as it was, Trevan herded everyone, including her, back into the spring alcove. “Micah, get Lady Rowena all the way back into the cellar, if you don’t mind, please,” Trevan instructed.

  Micah was already pulling the reluctant Lady along with him. “”Tis for your safety, Lady Rowena. I will not take no for an answer.”

  “Harry, Micah? Will Harry be safe in there?” Rowena worriedly looked back to the tunnel opening once they were inside the cellar.

  Micah nodded. “I think so, Lady Rowena.”

  They heard another loud groan. It came from inside the tunnel.

  Rowena stood silently, her fingers digging into Micah’s arm. “Sorry,” she breathed when she realized what she was doing.

  “No harm done.”

  A loud whoop from Charlie reached them.

  “Did ya find it?” Trevan’s voice boomed from the opening.

  “We found a chamber, filled with, I’m not sure what! But it is filled! The ceiling remains fairly stable, come everyone! Have a quick look!” Harry’s jubilant voice came from inside the tunnel.

  Gabriel resigned to continue standing watch while the others hurried down the tunnel.

  There were already three lanterns inside the chamber when Rowena and Micah entered.
Trevan followed them with the fourth.

  “Oh, my! This is it!” Rowena looked at the chest filled room, several just opened, one revealed ancient tomes, the other gold chalices, along with what she thought might be pixes, cruets, and oil vessels, items that probably graced the sacristy and high altars of Glastonbury Abbey. Reaching down she scooped up a handful of silver and gold encrusted jewels from a chest just opened by Charlie.

  Harry extended his hand to her. She left Micah and took the hand Harry offered. She stood beside him near a chest filled with large books. Some appeared to be illuminated manuscripts. “Bede! Josephus!” She exclaimed, running her hand lovingly over the old tomes lying on top of the pile. “Gildas. Harry, how wonderful.” Rowena smiled up at him. He grinned at her.

  The men opened more of the chests. All were filled with the same or similar types of items.

  “It was no lie the library of Glastonbury rivaled that of Alexandria, then!” Trevan whistled lowly as he explored the contents of one chest full of tomes. “I wish to read them all, can I?” Trevan looked to Harry and Rowena with an eager grin.

  “They will all be at our disposal, gentlemen,” Harry informed them.

  “Scrolls!” Micah called out as he looked down into a tall earthenware jar and partially lifted the contents to look. “Thank God, you’re here, Trevan. It’s in Aramaic.”

  “Really?” Trevan stepped over to look at the scroll Micah held. “By God it is! I can’t wait to have a crack at that.” The Cornishman grinned widely.

  There was a smaller and shallow wooden box on top of a stack of chests in a corner that drew Rowena’s attention. She walked closer. “Harry look there.” She pointed to the box which measured about three feet by four feet.

  Harry reached out and brought the box down. He opened it. “God in Heaven!”

  Rowena touched the clear crystal cross. “Can it be the Crystal Cross of Arthur given him by the Blessed Virgin?”

  All crowded around them in the small space.

  Harry carefully lifted the Crystal Cross, which was truly a quartz crystal cross. It was made of two large double terminated, ice clear natural quartz points grown through one another in perfectly symmetrical cruciform shape. Beneath the cross, resting against the old deep green velvet lay a small leather shield shaped emblem.

  Rowena gasped, “This is the crystal cross of King Arthur, Harry! This is Arthur’s shield emblem, crystal cross on vert, with the picture of St. Mary and the infant Jesus in the upper right hand corner. And three crowns.”

  “I think it fitting that a gift from the heavens, or apport if you will, would be a natural cross, don’t you?” Micah touched the crystal. “Did you feel the energy in that Lady Rowena?”

  “It is very strong, Micah! Of course quartz crystal has a strong energy all its own. This is definitely an intense Holy energy that one might expect from such a spiritual apport. Harry, what on earth will we do with all this?” Rowena turned to him wide-eyed.

  “We’ll catalogue everything, study everything. And decide from there.” Harry shook his head in disbelief. He was overwhelmed by the bounty stored in the room. He leaned closer to Rowena, giving her a quick kiss on the cheek. “How does it feel, knowing you were correct? The abbot did have time to hide many of Glastonbury’s finest treasures!”

  “I think I am much too overwhelmed to feel anything at the moment.”

  His Angel absolutely beamed with happiness.

  “This proves our theory, Harry. There’s no way a frail Abbot being watched by Thomas Cromwell’s men and a ten year old boy carried this down to this tunnel by themselves. We don’t know where this tunnel exits, but there is the chance they brought their booty down from the Manor,” Micah surmised.

  Harry nodded, “Which means someone else knew, and the people watching us will be interested in what we’ve found if they found some record written by this other person, who knew about the hidden treasure or helped the Abbot and William.”

  “We’ll seal this chamber and the tunnel opening later, but until tomorrow when we can send someone to find the Tor tunnel exit, if it still even remains, we’ll set a guard down here and in the cellar tonight as well. With any luck, the Tor exit will already be sealed off from collapse. If so, we’ll be left with just our end here at Stonedown to worry about. Let’s get some sleep, and get up with the dawn to begin anew. The hour grows late.” Harry’s eyes rested on Rowena who was as he spoke hiding a yawn behind her hand.

  He didn’t want her too exhausted. The two of them had other matters to tend to tonight.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Gabriel’s brother Thomas was pulled from the gallery to help him guard the new find during the night.

  Wyldhurst went to relieve Lady Sperring and Sir John to take the night watch over Lyon.

  After checking in on a still sleeping Lyon; Harry, Rowena, Micah and Charlie were all banished by Trevan to their rooms to get a full night’s sleep. Trevan would remain in the hall outside Rowena’s chamber to keep watch.

  After Micah entered his chamber, Harry whispered to Rowena, “Get rid of your maid quickly and I’ll be in directly.”

  She smiled knowingly up at him, her eyes darkening to resemble a blue gray storm as she closed the door behind her. Trevan stomped up the stairs. He and Harry talked until Betsey left her mistresses’ chambers. Harry slid silently into Rowena’s room.

  Where his Angel sat sitting atop that magnificent, large bed brushing her hair. The nightgown she wore nearly transparent. Her golden hair gleamed in the candlelight. Her nipples were ruched and straining against the filmy fabric already.

  Rowena leaned over and set her brush on the table beside her bed.

  Harry stopped beside the bed, removed his coat, waistcoat and shirt. He sat, removed his boots then proceeded to spring at her, enfolding her in his arms. Grinning, he smothered her surprised giggles with his lips as he eased her back against the pillows, his hands covering the full, creamy breasts that entranced him so.

  “Are you too tired love? I will understand if you need to sleep. We did not sleep much last night.” Harry whispered after he lifted his lips from hers. He smoothed golden curls from her brow.

  “No. I am not too tired, Harry.” Her fingers traveled up his muscled chest.

  His hand moved up the outside of her leg, gathering and lifting the transparent fabric as it did. His fingers moved to the juncture between her thighs and rested there. “Are you sore from last night, sweet?”

  “Not so very sore, Harry. I want you inside me again,” she whispered into his ear.

  Her sweet honesty aroused him. “We can wait until dawn if you’d rather. You did engage in a lot of exercise this afternoon and evening as well.” He spoke of her lessons and their adventure into the tunnel. His hand left her mound, cupped one round buttock instead.

  “No. I do not wish to wait.”

  She covered his lips with hers. Arched against him. Ground herself against his now hardening cock.

  He frowned at her. “If you’re sore…”

  “Not too sore, Harry.” She shook her head. Kissed him deeply, again pressing herself against him.

  Both hands now cupped her bottom. He pulled her closer, savoring the friction created by her grinding against him, his cock, engorged and straining against his trousers. Again she rubbed over him. He knew he could not deny her. “We’ll take it very easy tonight, love.” He whispered huskily as bent to drink from her honeyed mouth. He rose, quickly divested himself of his trousers. He turned to find his Angel already naked, sitting up, her pert and full breasts tempting him, her night gown lying forgotten in a pearly pool upon the floor.

  “Rowena, love, you’re beautiful!” he whispered. Reached out, covering her breasts with his hands. He paused to lave each tantalizing tip with his tongue. He was thankful tonight there was candlelight so he clearly saw every glorious inch of her. He couldn’t wait to watch her face when she came beneath him.

  Rowena’s hands roamed over his shoulders and chest. “You ar
e beautiful to me, Harry.”

  He eased her back onto the pillows, straddled her with his legs, and moved his mouth slowly downward along her body, from her lips to her neck, then to explore, nip and suckle each breast until she squirmed beneath him. His mouth moved lower still, his tongue traveling along her firm belly, then further still to her mound, where he spent a great deal of time licking, laving and suckling, bringing her to a frenzied and powerful climax with his fingers, tongue and lips. After Rowena released her fingers from his rich, brown hair she met his dark, swirling gaze.

  He moved upward quickly, entering her while her sheath still throbbed from her release, sank into the hot heat of her core, shuddered with the exquisite pleasure it brought him. He cradled her torso in his arms, kissing her while he moved deeply, but slowly inside her.