Gaslight Magick

by Teel James Glenn

  I felt myself tearing up, but not for myself. I was looking at the silent form of Nentl and the bittersweet joy was that I could not share this triumph with her.

  After my investiture Lord Chichua lead me to the head of Nenetl stone coffin. He stood on her left and I on the right.

  “Now, brother jaguar,” he said, “join us all in singing the song of the deeds of Nenetl of Coyoacan, who will be forever among the great warriors of our people.”

  The flutes struck up a new tune and Lord Chichua raised his baritone voice to sing in his native tongue. All those who spoke the language in the room joined in and soon the room was full with the musical tribute to the fallen jaguar.

  I caught a few of the words- ‘glory’ ‘valour’ ‘eternity.’ I felt the song in my gut and I have no shame to say I did tear up.

  When the song was finished Lord Chichua waved his baton over the coffin and let out a deep sigh.

  “Now, friends, join us in the other room as we celebrate the life of these two warriors, living and dead with food and drink.”

  Aunt Mini came up to me with tears in her eyes and hugged me about the waist. “I’ve never been prouder of you, nephew.”

  “Thanks, Mini.”

  Angus and Spike come over and congratulated me, as did Ambassador Smythe-Jones.

  “Good show,” the ambassador said. He was an older man with an impressive beard that made up for the fact that he had very little hair left on his head. “You do your country honour, baronet.”

  “Thank you, sir.”

  The adjacent room to the hall had tables set with delicacies such as corn tortillas, tamales, a variety of wild game, many fruits and a cheesecake-type dessert. There was a chocolaty drink made from cacao tree beans and potent liquors made from honey, cacti and various fruits.

  Mini and Angus had a good time sampling the alcohol while Spike allowed herself to be awestruck by the panalopy of colour and sound around her.

  I accepted congratulations from many of the guests, some of whom had stories of Nenetl, one, a fellow jaguar had grown up in the same town as her and had a funny story about her and a pet donkey when she was five.

  I smiled and nodded, keeping from tearing up, knowing that I would never hear that from her.

  When the crowd had quieted down somewhat Orenda found his way to my side.

  “I do not know what to say, warrior,” I said to the Mohawk. “I did not know that the ceremony would include my induction.”

  “My words were hasty,” Orenda admitted. “Which is why I spoke up when I saw you were surprised by the way the ceremony went. It is clear to me that you are an honourable man and now you are a brother.”

  “Then we shall never come to blows,” I said. “That is good.”

  “Yes,” he said, “brothers should not contend.”

  As he walked away I found my eyes went to the door way into the great hall wherein lie the shell of Nenetl.

  I found myself thinking again of Mini’s words. “if I could have brought him back, or if I could have changed places with him I would have.”

  Suddenly a mad thought came to me and I knew there was an avenue I had to at least try.

  I went looking for Spike.

  “You have the lamp with you?” I whispered when I did find her.

  “Of course.” She had decided to carry it with her in her large handbag until she had built a permanent safe in her home to house it.

  “I would like to talk to Abdul,” I said quietly. “If you would not mind. I have a very important question to ask him.”

  She looked at me quizzically but acquiesced and said, “Abdul please appear to talk to Baronet Grey.”

  Almost as soon as the words were said the small, brown Djinn was standing at my right side.

  “How may I be of service, Azziz?” he said in a quiet voice. He was wearing a better suit than he had at Juice Martins, this time in a light green.

  “First off,” I said, “ greetings.” Then I motioned him to step a little away from Spike to a quiet space in the corner of the room.

  “And to you, sir,” the Djinn said. “And congratulations on your new position.”

  “Thank you.” I lowered my voice but had to work to force the words of my mad question out, “I know what I ask is a lot, yet I know from my personal experience in Louisiana that hate can bridge the gap between the living and the dead. So I ask you directly, Abdul, can you bring my Nenetl back from the dead for me if I have your mistress ask you?”

  Chapter Forty-Five

  The Darkest Journey

  The little brown man tiled his head to the side and regarded me for a moment. “I am afraid, Azziz, that the all-high did not give me such abilities; without limits the world would fall to chaos.”

  “But I saw the dead raised,” I said. “I saw a life prolonged beyond its normal span-“

  “Well, yes,” he said, “necromancers can circumvent certain laws and there can be other exceptions-“

  “Exactly!”

  “—But I can not do it.” His features sagged with sadness.

  I felt my own expression darken. “I had hoped-”

  “However,” he added, “perhaps I can guide you to someone who can effect the change you seek.”

  “You-” I began. “I don’t understand.”

  “As you know there are many magicks, Azziz,” he continued, “and thus many paths to the truth.” He gave a slight bow. “As befits your new status, Athelstan Grey as Yaotl of the Clan Jaguar, it is possible for you make contact with the most powerful of Aztec magicks. That is to say, if you so wish I may send you to Mictlán where you may speak directly to Mictlantecuhtli himself and plead your case.”

  The Aztec god of the dead! My mind reeled at the thought. I was stunned enough for a moment not to speak but then I said, “Yes.”

  As I said it suddenly I felt the floor drop away from my feet and I was reeling and tumbling through a black, spaceless void.

  There was a sound like a roaring wind and my skin felt hot and cold at once and I was no longer standing in the Aztec hall but falling (without any sensation of falling) through the very crust of the Earth!

  Down, down through layers of rock and fire, through swirling vortex of colour and sound that overwhelmed my senses so that I thought my mind would explode from the constant sensations and sights.

  I tumbled end over end and then, abruptly I was standing stock still on an outcropping of rock that was thrust above a sea of molten rock in the depths of a huge cavern, the red-yellow glow from the lava sending dancing shadows al around me.

  I was neither cold nor hot, in fact, I felt a strange perfect stasis of comfort and ease.

  The roaring was still there, a sound like a freight train bearing down on me but from no distinguishable source.

  I tried to absorb all the changes at once, looking around me to take in the enormous cavern and deal with the fact that I was standing on the only spine of solidity in the sea of liquid, glowing rock.

  “What do you want here, Living Being?” a booming voice filled the space all around me and vibrated against my diaphragm.

  I swallowed and found my voice. “I am Sir Athelstan Grey-“

  “I know who you are,” the disembodied voice said. “You are Yaotl of the Clan Jaguar. Why have you come to the breathless place?”

  Abruptly there was movement in the lava before me and a form coalesced from the burning rock, rising to from into a man-sized skeleton of grey bone covered in red spots. The separate bones floated together as if they were a living creature. It stepped up to stand on the solid stone before me at arms length.

  It was eerie in the extreme to stare into the empty sockets of the skull yet with an awareness that something was staring back at me from within.

  “Speak,” Mictlantecuhtli said. “Or do you fear me?”

  As he said it I realized I did not fear death. I had not since my father explained to me about why a baby bird I saw dead on the ground got there when I was five. Only a year late
r my parents were killed in the train wreck. I had known from the start then, that life was valuable and could be short, but Mini had taught me that it was to be lived not hoarded. Death was not to be feared, only a life not lived, an endless horizon of days without purpose. Nenetl was part of what gave me purpose.

  “No I do not fear you,” I said boldly, “I respect you, that is all.”

  The moving skeleton that was the avatar of the god laughed a deep, throaty laugh. “That is good for I am part of the living world as the night is part of the day, each to our purpose for the fullness of the world. What then, living jaguar, is it you require of me?”

  “I require nothing,” I said as I took a deep breath. “But I have something I must ask.”

  “Ask!”

  “I ask, great Mictlantecuhtli,” I said, “to return to the land of the living the woman Nenetl of Coyoacan. She has always been loyal to you and I feel that she is not done in her time to continue service to you on the living plane.”

  The death god laughed again, his voice rising to the level of thunder and swirled all around me.

  “You are bold, Yaotl of the Clan Jaguar,” he said, “but why is it that such a boon should be granted to this particular warrior?”

  “I know that the dead have been returned to the land of living,” I said. “I have seen it.”

  “I know what you speak of,” the death god said, “But that was Baron Samandi’s domain. Nenetl of Coyoacan is my daughter.”

  “But she is the best, great Mictlantecuhtli. I know that if she is allowed to return to the plane of life she will send many more souls your way and serve you faithfully.”

  Mictlantecuhtli laughed again. The skeletal figure grew suddenly to immense size so that he towered over me fifty feet at least, looking down on me like a man might at an ant.

  “You are bold indeed. What can you give me in exchange, Yaotl of the Clan Jaguar?”

  “I am prepared to give you my life if that is what you require; if not, I can promise that I too will send you many souls in the days and years to come as I fight beside her.”

  The laugh again, now as loud as thunder vibrated against me. “Yaotl of the Clan Jaguar you are mine already. Time means little to we of the underworld.”

  The giant head leaned down to only a few feet above my head and blotted out all else.

  “Yaotl of the Clan Jaguar, “ the death god said. “I know the souls you have sent me. And that she has. And your boldness amuses me.”

  Abruptly the giant figure was standing at my size again directly in front of me.

  “I will see you again, Yaotl of the Clan Jaguar, in the blink of my eye. Go and send me more souls.”

  There was a sound like a cork popping out of a bottle and I was standing in the same spot in the feast hall I had been when I spoke to the Djinn. He was gone but when I looked over I saw Spike walking over to me.

  “Did you get your question answered, Baronet?” She asked. It seemed that only a moment had elapsed since my trip to Mictlan.

  “I think so,” I said. “But I’m not sure if-“

  Abruptly there was the roaring sound again, but it was clear from Spike’s reaction that she heard it too. We both turned our heads to where the sound seemed to come from and I realized others around us did the same.

  The roar came from the great hall where Nenetl lie in state.

  There was a crackle of electric quality and a flash of light from the room.

  Now we all in the feast hall moved toward the sights and sounds in the great hall. I was near the lead. When I got to the entrance way I stopped.

  There was a vortex of light and swirling smoke over the sarcophagus of the fallen jaguar.

  All of us stood in awe as the swirling light and shapes formed into the skeletal figure of Mictlantecuhtli who hovered above Nenetl.

  “There awaits a space in Mictlan for this warrior,” the God of the Underworld said, “But this day is not that day. Rise, jaguar and serve me in the light until I call to you again.”

  The crackling of his voice set off an aura of gold and blue that swirled around the body and then the popping sound again as all the colour and swirling shapes seemed to be drawn into the frail looking body of Nenetl, like water going into a vase.

  Then there was silence in the room except for the gasps of the watching audience.

  After a moment there was a soft moan from the jaguar.

  I raced across the room to scoop her up in my arms, the yellow gown draping to the ground. As I held her I could feel the warmth returning to her figure.

  She began to stir.

  As I watched her eyes began to flutter and she gasped and took a deep breath. When her eyes opened there was life and hope in them and she fixed them on my face.

  “Baronet Grey,” she whispered, “I don’t understand I thought I was –” She glanced past me to see the impinging crowd. “Where am I?”

  I smiled and tried to focus on her bright, dark eyes through my tears as I said, “Hello warrior, and welcome to tomorrow.”

  The end

  World of the Pendragon Empire

  A brief history

  by

  Teel James Glenn

  Merlin, sorcerer and wizard, helped the young Arthur rise to claim the thrown of the small kingdom Camelot. From there the boy king was able to build a collision and set about uniting the country to build a lasting peace.

  Magick as practiced by Merlin was instrumental in building the empire, for in this world magick did not retreat into the shadows of the new Christian religion; magick of many stripes is still all around the world. Its very existence has changed the balance of power in many kingdoms and battles.

  King Arthur, fights twelve great battles that culminate in the Battle of Mount Badon, where he is said to have single-handedly killed 960 men. He is then fatally wounded by his illegitimate son, Mordred.

  The world of The Pendragon Dynasty controlled Albion Empire begins with that wounding and the Avalon destined Journey of Arthur Pendragon that happens after.

  Arthur’s Legacy to Camelot did not die with him once his body had been taken off to Avalon because Guinevere announces she is pregnant with his child. Ruling as regent for that child, Guinevere, with Lancelot as general and advisor (and later-consort), is able to stabilize the situation and rule. Thus was established the beginnings of the Pendragon Dynasty.

  What follows are wars of unity with the Albion Kingdom eventually incorporating Wales, Scotland and portions of the continent across the channel in Normandy into The Albion Empire.

  Eire is still a free country because with the power of the Fae Magick it has never conquered.

  The Great Armada of the Moors was repelled in the 1600s by Sir. Francis Drake and his fleet.

  By 1889 the Albion Empire is ruled by Guinevere-Victoria, part of an unbroken line (save for a brief period in the 16 hundreds when there was a Roundhead rebellion).

  Magick is still very much a part of the world, with an official Merlin the title for all court approved sorcerers.

  India is a vassal state, managed by the East India Company.

  Albion is still at war (at a low level) with the Moors in Spain, and in South East Asia, but has a vast Empire in South Africa, India and has the commonwealth of Canada in the Americas.

  The United States of America exists, as 18 states, Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky, North Carolina, Virginia, Ohio, Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania Massachusetts Georgia and Louisiana (with a Mississippi Parish) and Texas (which is much smaller than in our world). Florida is a Moorish colony and butts Louisiana. California is split between an Albion and a Moorish colony with a Russian colony in the North.

  The Empire of Mali still controls much of Africa along with the Nubian nation and the Zulu Nation who have resisted being conquered in conflict with Albion with help from Aztec weapons and Moorish advisors. The Zulu Nation has come to terms with Albion and there are Zulu units in the British/Al
bion army.

  There was never a Spanish Empire, as such, for Catholicism is a much weaker force in this world, so the Aztecs still rule in Mexhico and most of South America, except for Moorish and English colonies to the south and some Japanese trade colonies on the west coast.

  West of the Mississippi River is ruled by the Original Nations- Lakota being the main tribe. The Iroquois Confederation is part of the Albion Commonwealth, having fought on the side of Albion against the colonies that became the United States.

  China never had the occupation of our world and is still a hermit, self-contained nation, save for contacts with the Moors and Portuguese traders.

  The law within the Albion Empire is upheld by The Rounders- short for the ‘Troopers of the Roundtable’- a white-clad enforcement division of the Home Office. No one knows who they are and no one has ever seen their faces, making these (always taller than average group) a terrifying force to impose the will of the royals.

  The Church of Albion split with the Roman Catholic Church and is its own version of Christianity. Magick in many forms is recognized in the world, though Merlinian Magick is considered the only government-sanctioned form in Albion. Science and magick are not exclusive of each other and often both work together in the everyday life of most people. Most people do not use magick directly but it touches their lives every day.

  Priests of Bran, Wiccan witches, and Fey magick all exist on Albion, but are persecuted. In the Americas there are many forms of magick of various strengths and many energy systems that employ them.

  The endless wars, lavish spending on the Royals and the extreme repression of the government of the Pendragon Empire have given rise to an insurgent element- the Mordredites- ‘Mords’- who work in secret against the government.

  About the Author

  Teel James Glenn has had stories in over a hundred has killed hundreds and been killed more times-- on stage and screen as he has traveled the world for forty plus years as a stuntman, fight choreographer, swordmaster, jouster, illustrator, storyteller, bodyguard, actor and haunted house barker. His stories have been printed in over a hundred magazines from Weird Tales, Mystery Weekly, Pulp Adventures, Spinetingler, SciFan, Mad, Black Belt, Fantasy Tales, Pulp Empire, Sherlock Holmes Mystery, SciFan, Crimson Streets, Fantasy World Geographic, Silver Blade Quarterly, Another Realm, AfterburnSF, and Blazing Adventures.