Music for the ceremony was provided by Angus and Malcolm, who played with surprising skill on the bagpipe and highland flute. They began with a stirring rendition of “Highland Cathedral,” and as the sound of flute and bagpipe echoed and reechoed around the stone walls of McCaig’s Folly, it sounded like all twenty-four bagpipes of the Royal Scottish Dragoons had joined in. Then the music softened as Catherine began the ceremony by singing a lovely Gaelic love song.
As the wedding plans had progressed, Michael revealed that—among his other talents—he was an amateur photographer. He requested the honor of recording the moment for posterity. Michael stood to the right of the group, camera in hand, with Erin at his side.
Friends old and new gathered around as Holmes and Piper took their places in front of the minister.
The minister, speaking in a thick Scottish brogue, began, “Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today in the sight of God and this company to join together this man and this woman in the bonds of holy matrimony…”
Aidan’s Pub had never hosted a wedding reception before and the management had been reticent, but when Holmes explained that all their regulars would be invited to attend, and also mentioned free drinks for everyone, an exception was made.
After the toasts were offered, Eliel lifted her Guinness and spoke a special blessing over the bride and groom.
When they were seated again, Piper glanced at Eliel, “So what are you and Araton going to do now that the Archons are defeated?”
There was a long moment of silence as Eliel and Araton looked at each other, then back to Piper. Eliel spoke first, “Piper, we thought you understood. The Archons are not yet defeated. In fact, the battle has just begun. What you did on Iona gave us a chance for victory, but the outcome is far from assured. The greatest part of the conflict is still ahead.”
“There’s much you don’t understand yet,” Araton cut in. “And much you still need to learn. Right now you have one synaxis, not yet fully trained. To drive back the Archons, this group must come to maturity, then multiply into thousands of groups all over the earth. The Archons will do everything in their power to prevent that.”
Holmes looked around at the group. “Eliel told me yesterday that if the portal on Iona is to remain open, a synaxis must be formed on Iona immediately.”
Erin spoke up. “Holmes, if you and the Irin would approve, I’d like a part in that. I have nothing in Dallas to return to. I’d like to build a home on Iona and help to establish a synaxis here.”
Holmes studied her for a long moment. “That’s truly interesting,” he said with a subtle smile, glancing briefly at Araton. “You don’t know this, Erin, but Araton has already recommended you to head up the synaxis on Iona. He said to tell you it is your destiny.
“Of course,” he continued, “you must realize it won’t be easy. Iona is a major historical site, owned and supervised by the National Trust for Scotland. It won’t be easy for an outsider to obtain property there.”
“You forget, Holmes,” Erin grinned, brushing back a soft lock of chestnut-brown hair, “I’m now Rex Vanderberg’s widow. I checked with my lawyers yesterday. Rex was so confident of my imminent demise, he never even bothered to file for divorce. So, since my husband’s tragic ‘hunting accident’ a few weeks ago, his grieving widow is now a billionaire.”
…And as they say in Dallas, she thought to herself, smiling, Erin Vanderberg can do anything!
Taking a sip of her Velvet, she looked up at Holmes and continued, “I’ll call my lawyers in the morning and get them working on it. I’m sure we’ll get exactly what we need on Iona.”
“I wouldn’t doubt it for a moment,” Holmes laughed. “The Iona synaxis appears to be in very capable hands.
“And…” he added. “I think our friends from Mull could well form the beginnings of that new synaxis.” The members of the Fionnphort Gun Club, hardly recognizable in their recently trimmed locks and newly acquired finery, raised their glasses in hearty agreement.
Erin hesitated and, glancing at Michael, continued, “If Michael would agree, I’d like to ask him to stay on Iona and help us build the synaxis here.”
“I’d love to!” Michael said. Leaning close to Piper, he confided, “Since that night in Craignure, I believe Erin has come to view me as something of a father figure.”
Piper gave Michael a curious smile and, leaning near, whispered in his ear, “Michael, I’ve noticed how Erin has looked at you the last few weeks. Believe me, a father-daughter relationship is not what she has in mind!”
For the second time since meeting the Irin, Michael Fletcher was speechless.
After more conversation, Eliel and Araton excused themselves and left the pub. The remaining wedding guests continued in conversation, but Piper got the distinct impression that they were all waiting for a big surprise to break, though she had no idea what it was.
Holmes had kept the honeymoon plans top secret, saying only that things were “in the works.” As the evening drew to a close, Holmes was deep in conversation with Michael and Erin, seemingly in no hurry to leave.
Finally, Piper could take the suspense no longer. She leaned over to Holmes and whispered, “Okay, Holmes, you proposed to me in a volcanic eruption surrounded by flying bat-winged demons. We married in a Roman Coliseum on a cliff overlooking the islands of the Hebrides—with angels for our best man and maid of honor, no less. And now we’ve had our wedding reception in a Scottish pub. I can’t wait to find out where you’re taking me on our honeymoon!”
Holmes smiled at her, “Are you ready to find out?” His smile broadened to a mischievous grin.
“It’s about time, Holmes! I’ve never seen you so secretive about anything. I’ve hardly seen you the last two weeks. So tell me, where are we going?”
“It’s a place Eliel found for us, and I guarantee you’ll love it.”
Then Holmes stood up in the middle of the pub and held out his hand to Piper. He asked again… “Are you ready to see it?”
“Holmes, I don’t understand.”
“You don’t need to understand, Ginny, just come.”
“But… we need to go back to the hotel and pick up our luggage,” Piper objected.
“Eliel already took care of that for us. It’s all been arranged.”
Piper stood up and looked around in confusion. From the looks on the faces of everyone in the wedding party, it was obvious that the big secret was about to be revealed. She turned back to Holmes, looked up into his eyes, and gently slipped her hand into his.
Holmes enfolded her softly in his arms, and they enjoyed a long, lingering, passionate kiss, to the delight of everyone in the pub. And then, in the middle of the cheering crowd… in a move that is sure to be pondered over many a pint at Aidan’s for years to come… Piper and Holmes simply disappeared.
EPILOGUE
VOLCANO HOUSE HOTEL, HAWAII, 8 MONTHS LATER
Erin gazed out the plate glass window at the barren expanse of the Kilauea caldera. It was one year to the day since she’d last been here.
The massive clouds of steam and sulphurous gas had finally stopped pouring from the Halema’uma’u crater. The floor of the pit had hardened and cooled.
The longest-running volcanic eruption in recorded history was finally over. Pele, the goddess of the volcano, had been among the Archons summoned to Mull to reopen the fires of Ben More. In the melee that took place when the Iona Portal opened, Pele was one of the many Archons destroyed.
Erin took a deep breath and let it out slowly. Like the crater before her, she was at peace—for the first time in many years. Ghosts of the past still occasionally haunted her dreams, but in waking hours the unbearable burden of stress was gone.
Gazing across the Caldera to the darkened pit of Halema’uma’u, she fought back tears. One year ago today I sat at this same table after almost ending my life.
She remembered standing before Halema’uma’u’s hellish pit, carefully measuring out the steps that would lead to her dest
ruction. She’d come so close… if Araton had not been there… a shudder went through her body.
Sensing her distress, Michael reached out and gently took her hand. She looked into his eyes and the distress faded.
Their whirlwind romance had surprised them both. Wanting to avoid a Dallas society media circus, they’d kept the wedding small, secret, and informal, exchanging vows on the broad deck of Piper and Holmes’ lake house, overlooking the peaceful waters of Cedar Hills Lake. They’d invited only the members of the synaxis and a few close friends.
The first three nights of the honeymoon had been spent at their beach house on Hawaii’s big Island. The place had been thoroughly renovated in the past six months, erasing every memory of Rex.
But Erin knew they needed to be at Volcano House this morning. They’d checked into the hotel the evening before, then driven out at 5 AM to watch the sun rise over the darkened pit of Halema’uma’u. Returning to the hotel, they’d warmed themselves with steaming mugs of coffee before the old stone fireplace. It somehow brought a sense of closure.
Erin’s mind thought back over the last eight months. So much had happened.
The Iona synaxis was coming together quickly. In addition to their friends from Fionphort, the Irin had been in contact with a woman on Iona and a married couple from Mull. As an added bonus, Lys and Patrick both recently announced plans to relocate to Iona. Their arrival would bring the Iona synaxis up to the minimum number of ten. A minyan, as Marty Shapiro fondly called it.
Erin had leased a small cottage on the island until her new home, already christened Iona House, could be built, though Michael had steadfastly insisted on staying at the hotel until the wedding.
Erin looked up at Michael… “I can hardly believe this is real, Michael.”
“I can’t either,” Michael smiled warmly, giving her hand a squeeze. “I mean… how a beautiful woman like you could ever fall for an old fart like me.” It was a phrase he’d repeated several times a day for the past week, and he meant it every time.
“Michael! You’ve got to stop saying that!” Erin scolded gently. “You’re eleven years older than I am... Rex was nine years older, and I was married to him for 20 years. I guess I just have this thing for older men.”
Then, looking tenderly into his eyes, she continued. “And Michael… I’ve been around a lot of men… rich men, famous men, powerful men and cruel men. But you’re the first kind man I’ve ever known. I wasn’t about to let you get away. Besides, Araton assures me that you are my destiny.”
They ate in silence for a few moments, then Michael looked up. “I got an email from Holmes last night. He and Piper just returned from Alaska. They’ve officially begun synaxis number 28… Believe it or not, it’s a group of Eskimos in a little Inuit village called Kotzebue… above the Arctic Circle in Northwest Alaska.”
“That’s amazing,” Erin said. “I can’t believe how quickly these new groups are springing up. It’s like the Irin have been in contact with people all over the world, just waiting for the right time to begin.”
“By the way,” Michael continued. “Have you noticed the pattern developing in these new groups?”
Erin tilted her head to the left… her body language for I don’t understand what you’re talking about.
“Think about it,” Michael said. “Before the Alaskans there was the group of native Hawaiians at Kailua-Kona… There were Mongolians living in primitive gers on the steppes outside Ulaanbaatar. Last month Holmes and Piper established synaxis groups among the Ashanti tribesmen in Ghana, the Ethiopian Jews in Jeruselem’s old city, and a group of Maoris in southern New Zealand…”
Erin’s face lit up in recognition… “I hadn’t noticed that before. Most of the new groups are forming among native peoples. How interesting.”
“I’m developing a theory about it. Our western culture has a rationalistic mentality—we think it’s necessary to understand something before we accept its reality. That makes us tend to discount anything supranormal. We don’t want to admit the possibility of angels… and we find it hard to accept and operate in our special abilities.
“But native peoples don’t have that problem. They’re much more open to accept what they don’t yet understand.”
At that moment, Erin was distracted by a sudden motion in her peripheral vision. Someone was approaching their table. Looking up, Erin saw a powerfully built man with shaved head and rich dark skin.
“I’m sorry to disturb the honeymooners…” A deep resonant voice spoke.
“Araton!” Erin smiled broadly, jumping up to gave him a quick hug. “I’d hoped you’d be here this morning. Come and sit with us.”
Araton pulled up a chair at the end of the table and eased himself into it. “I can only stay for a moment,” he said, a tone of urgency in his voice. “There’s something I need to tell you.”
“The Archons are on the move again. They’re using their mental powers to cloud our view of the future, but we sense they’re very close to their goal.
“I’ve come to bring you a warning. The Archons know the threat you pose, Erin. For your protection, we believe it’s time to activate the next level of your gifting. It will provide you both a way of escape when the enemy tries to destroy you.”
“You believe the Archons will still try to kill me?”
“Erin, the Archons know your potential… as do I. In the end, you’re the only one who can thwart their plans to annihilate the human race.”
He grew more serious. “In fact… we believe they’ve a plan to kill you both today.”
Araton glanced around, eyes darting nervously, then seemed to focus on something beyond their range of vision. “I’m afraid I must ask you to cut your honeymoon short,” he said, standing to his feet. “There are Archon sympathizers approaching this mountain, even as we speak. I need both of you to come with me… now.”
Responding to the urgency in his voice, both Michael and Erin immediately rose to their feet.
Araton led them from the restaurant, walking purposefully, though trying to appear calm and unhurried. As they headed down a narrow hallway and out a door at the back of the hotel, his speed steadily increased. Michael and Erin both soon found themselves running to keep up. They followed the path beside the edge of the caldera, walking north along the rear of the hotel. Passing through a cluster of Ohia trees, they entered a secluded area behind a thicket of giant Hapu'u ferns, where Araton stopped and glanced around again.
Trying to catch his breath, Michael gasped, “Araton… where are we going?”
Araton reached out quickly and took them both by the hands. He looked at Erin, and then to Michael, and said simply…
“To Basilea!”
Watch for Part Two of the Synaxis Chronicles:
IONA STRONGHOLD
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Robert David MacNeil is a teacher, author, wine-lover, and investigator of things supernatural. Over the last twenty years he’s traveled to 31 nations researching, writing, and teaching on angels, demons, and supernatural encounters. His travels have taken him from the steppes of Mongolia to the jungles of Thailand, and from the Eskimo villages of Northwest Alaska to le fin del mundo, the “end of the world,” at the tip of South America. He’s encountered a few angels (and cast out a few demons) along the way.
Long addicted to sci-fi and suspense thrillers, Robert also has a love for history–especially ancient Greece, Rome and medieval Europe. He’s particularly fascinated with Patrick, Columba, and the ancient Celts of Ireland and Scotland. The Celtic monks had a special relationship with the angels. They also loved beer and invented whiskey. The Irish really did save civilization.
Robert and his wife, Linda, live near Dallas, Texas. He has authored five non-fiction books under a different pen-name. Iona Portal is his first novel.
You can visit Robert on the web at http://ionaportal.com/
Follow him on Twitter at @RDavidMacNeil
Or email him at [email protected]
Robert chose to e-publish Iona Portal because he believes it’s a better deal for both the author and the reader. If you enjoyed this book, please spread the word!
Table of Contents
PART ONE: ENCOUNTERS
Chapter One: Lysandra
Chapter Two: Kilauea
Chapter Three: Volcano House
Chapter Four: Mystery
PART TWO: PILGRIMAGE
Chapter Five: Patrick
Chapter Six: Across Mull
Chapter Seven: Sylvia’s Story
Chapter Eight: The Island of Iona
Chapter Nine: Aftermath
PART THREE: SYNAXIS
Chapter Ten: Piper and Holmes
Chapter Eleven: Revelations
Chapter Twelve: More Revelations
Chapter Thirteen: The Shades
Chapter Fourteen: Synaxis Begins
Chapter Fifteen: Before the Storm
Chapter Sixteen: Erin’s Story
Chapter Seventeen: Mendrion
Chapter Eighteen: Angel Dance
PART FOUR: PORTAL
Chapter Nineteen: Haggis
Chapter Twenty: The Search
Chapter Twenty-one: Kidnapped
Chapter Twenty-two: Ben
Chapter Twenty-three: Lys’s Story
Chapter Twenty-four: The Fionnphort Gun Club
Chapter Twenty-five: Releasing the Angels
Chapter Twenty-six: A New Beginning
EPILOGUE
Iona Portal (The Synaxis Chronicles) Page 23