Gene of Isis (47 page)

‘I saw something tonight that I cannot explain,’ he said seriously. ‘Once I have a reasonable assurance that there is no further danger to our family,
then
I shall go home.’

James knew I was proud of his resolution, but I suspected that he wasn’t pursuing this mystery to please me any more. He now had a personal agenda. What had he seen tonight?

I had no time to ask as Malory agreed with my lord that we needed to leave Alexandria while the going was still good.

‘Wait.’ Mr Devere took hold of Lord Malory’s arm. ‘Did you have any involvement in the death of Lord Hereford?’

‘No.’ He refuted the suggestion doggedly. ‘I have explained—’

Mr Devere held up a finger to silence Lord Malory and focused on the man’s inner thoughts.

‘He’s telling the truth,’ my brother-in-law stated, to set all our minds at ease. His and my own at least. I believe my husband still had his doubts about his brother’s psychic abilities.

Lord Malory was smiling now, and not because he had been cleared of the suspicion of murder. ‘Your full potential has been realised,’ he stated, proud of his student. ‘I can train you to hone these abilities. You can be of greater assistance to your wife in her quest. And, clearly, you must now know that my intentions are the best. I have done only what I must to ensure your wife’s safety and wellbeing.’

Mr Devere had not let go of the lord’s hand and again he focused on Malory’s inner knowing. ‘Why didn’t you tell me about Mrs Devere’s destiny?’

‘Prophecy is not an exact science, even for someone so talented as Lady Charlotte,’ Malory explained. ‘We had no way of knowing your wife would pursue this quest until she chose to do so of her own free will. Had you known, and perhaps warned her of our suspicions, would such a wilful soul as she still have taken it up with such fervour?’

‘What have you planned for our children?’ Devere remembered Ashlee’s concern and decided
to clear up the matter while he had Lord Malory on the spot.

‘Only what they, in the grand scheme, choose for themselves.’ Malory was clearly troubled by his student’s doubts about the brotherhood. ‘It has been foreseen that your children will achieve great spiritual enlightenment, but this is not something the brotherhood can bring about. Our function is one of protection, not dictation.’

‘Protection from whom?’ I stepped in to inquire. ‘Molier?’

Malory shook his head.

‘Are you referring to the church?’ Lord Devere was clearly shocked and uncomfortable with the suggestion.

Again Malory shook his head. ‘The church are a concern, but they are by no means the greatest. But, no need to worry. For regardless of its shortcomings, the church has come to play a beneficial role in society and we have no intention of destroying their function, now that they are finally doing more good than harm.’

Lord Devere’s patience and beliefs were being sorely tried. ‘I believe that god knows the truth, and if the church needs deconstructing the Almighty will arrange it.’

‘Absolutely correct. But god works through men, Lord Devere,’ Malory suggested, ‘and I trust that by the end of this adventure, you shall be seeing life, the world and its history in a very different light.’

‘No truth higher than the truth,’ Mr Devere reminded his brother of their family motto. ‘There is no point in arguing what time will tell us. Best keep your eyes and mind open and discern the truth for yourself.’

Lord Devere looked to me to ascertain my thoughts on the matter. ‘“I know nothing compared to everything there is to know and learn”.’ I quoted the philosopher Socrates. ‘Knowledge flows from right action and thus, so long as we adhere to our purest intentions then god is working through us.’ I referred back to what Lord Malory had said, managing to unite both sides of the argument, rather than take sides and cause a greater divide.

‘Bravo.’ Lord Malory praised my reasoning. ‘Spoken like a true Cavandish…and a true Devere for that matter.’

I was pleased with the compliment and my husband was plainly proud of me also. ‘So, gentlemen, shall we depart Alexandria before we are arrested?’

‘That is a very good idea,’ Mr Banks announced from where he stood by the door of the lounge, waiting to escort us out. We had obviously worn out our welcome. How much of the conversation had Mr Banks overheard—might some of the subject matter have caused him offence. Or was it that he’d just had to spend all this time apologising to the local authorities for the false alarm? Either way, he wasn’t disposed toward hearing apologies or explanations. He just wanted Malory’s six henchmen and us off the premises.

Cingar and I boarded a boat at the Mahmudiya, the canal connecting Alexandria with the Nile. I felt a little guilty to be resting upon a mattress, wrapped in a blanket to keep warm, when our Arab boatmen, ropes wrapped around their chests, were towing our boat down the canal.

I guessed that feeling guilty for them took my mind off feeling guilty for abandoning my dear Mr Devere again. I did miss his company, but I had not come all this way to turn back now. Having nearly been bowled over and discovered by Lord Devere in Maximoff’s courtyard, I felt secure in the knowledge that Earnest would have friends around him, despite my absence. Still, I did wonder what had brought Lord Devere to Alexandria, when he’d been determined to head home to England.

My treasure stone was itching my palm and I summoned my knight to console me.

You did the right thing.
Albray manifested and got right to the heart of my anguish.
The return of those vials is worth any risk that must be faced in the process.

I felt sure you would think so.
I still had my doubts about that.
Am I putting my unborn child at risk?

The only risk is that he might be born into a better, safer world.

He?
I noted that the knight had given my child a gender and Albray nodded to confirm that it had not been a slip of the tongue.

And a very masterful soul in the field of knowledge synthesis he shall be. Thus, I assure you, there will be no stopping him from fulfilling the destiny that he has charted for himself in this world,
my knight assured me in all seriousness.
Your wellbeing during this time is naturally a major concern to him and if you thought yourself powerful before his conception, you are triply so now. For he shan’t allow any harm to befall the sacred vessel that shall deliver him unto his destiny.

I smiled, liking the idea that my son-to-be was protecting me.

This soul chose you and this time for a reason, in the full knowledge of your current situation,
he continued.
Your intuition is one of your greatest gifts, and your instinct was to finish the quest you started, despite putting yourself at odds with the man you love. If you had truly been meant to turn back, don’t you think you would have felt it instinctively? And besides, Bedouin women manage to have children whilst being on the move all the time.

My knight’s reasoning was sound as always. I just wished that my husband could have been so supportive.

‘Feeling guilty?’ Cingar took a seat alongside me.

‘Not any more,’ I replied, pulling the blanket tighter around me. Even my green velvet attire didn’t keep the chill at bay. ‘How do the Arabs cope with these extreme temperature fluctuations?’

Cingar ignored my attempt to change the topic. ‘What is so important that you would risk your happiness to pursue it?’

‘Some things are more important than individual happiness,’ I told him, although I knew a gypsy would find this hard to understand.

‘Like freedom?’ he suggested, trying to fathom my motive.

‘Like obligation and duty.’

He pouted and gave a nod as he considered this. ‘An obligation that is higher than marriage must be serious indeed?’

‘I believe so.’ I suppressed a yawn and gave my eyes a rub. ‘I wish I could tell you the details of my quest, but the fact is, it would only place you in more danger than you already are. It would be wise, after you arrange my transport into the Sinai, for you to return home to Italy.’

‘I am not renowned for my wisdom.’ He sidestepped the issue. ‘And you are weary.’ He
changed the subject, as he always did when I mentioned his going home.

I was tired. ‘I cannot get comfortable.’ Every time I tried to lie down I felt ill.

‘Here.’ Cingar offered me a shoulder on which to rest my head and I was grateful for it.

I felt safe nestled between my gypsy and my knight. Two more faithful travelling companions I could not have wished for. Still, as I rested my head and allowed my eyes to close, several things plagued my thoughts. Firstly, that during my hasty retreat from the Maximoffs’ I had left Lord Hereford’s journal with my husband, and my journey through the desert would have been the perfect time to read it. Secondly, I suspected that Molier knew of my intended destination, and that there would be no outrunning him.

The goddesses of the ages are watching over you,
I heard Albray’s voice in my mind.
Sleep soundly in that knowledge…

By eight o’clock the next morning I was standing on the banks of the River Nile, the eternal river of Egypt, having slept for most of the journey down the canal.

Despite the locals’ praise of the wonderful quality of the waters of the Nile, Cingar warned me against drinking it, lest I spend the rest of the journey ill. He had brought supplies of drinking water from the Maximoffs’ private well in Alexandria for me to drink.

The riverbank was lined with abundant foliage, groves and palm trees, which was a striking contrast against the African landscape. Nestled amid the greenery was the village of Fouah, and with its
mosques and whitened domes it made the Nile well worthy of its historic fame and beauty.

Upon entering the Nile we changed boats, to one of a class called
canjiah,
which was much larger, about seventy feet long, with two enormous triangular sails. The boat was manned by ten Arabs and a rais (or captain). In the stern there was a low-ceilinged cabin, in which even I could not stand upright, as it was made for the cross-legged habits of the Eastern people. Still, I was more than grateful for the protection from the elements.

Four days on the Nile furnished us with nothing of particular interest to distract from the heat of the days and the cold nights. On one side of us was the delta, well cultivated and watered, and on the other side was a narrow strip of fertile land and then the Libyan desert beyond. Tiny villages littered the way, with huts so small that the people crawled in through the doorways to enter and exit. There was frightful poverty and disease here; children with heads so bloated and deformed that my stomach turned upon sighting them. The mother in me wanted to help them somehow, but due to my own pregnancy I dared not get close.

Toward evening on the fourth day we came in sight of one of the world’s great wonders. Directly in front of us, the giant pyramids of Giza were standing at the head of a long reach in the river. Against the cloudless sky their lofty summits seemed solitary and majestic as they were lit by the lurid red gleam of the setting sun. The magic moment tugged on my heartstrings unexpectedly and I found myself wishing that my husband was here to see this with me. Despite the awe of the spectacle I felt homesick, not for England, but for Devere.
Home is where the
heart is.
I had forgotten how much it hurt to be separated from him—not so much at first, but as the days passed I craved his company more and more. Obviously my request to my foremothers to banish my husband from my heart and thoughts had been in vain—perhaps the ladies of the Elohim did not feel my wish was essential to my quest.

If you are going to pine for your lover, could you please dismiss me and remove the stone from your person?
Albray appealed.

You’re not jealous?
I ribbed him in jest, thinking he was trying to make light of my heavy heart.

Of course I am.

I was so startled I dragged my eyes from the view to check if he was serious.

I never experienced what it was like to have a loving relationship.
Albray was dead serious. I
envy the love you feel in your husband’s company. Perhaps that’s why I find our quest easier when you’re apart from him, then I don’t have to be constantly reminded of what was denied me.

I removed the stone’s chain from around my wrist and put it in my pocket.
Is there no such thing as reincarnation?

Not for a soul who is bound in death to the service of the ladies of the Elohim. Even if you succeed in returning the vials, I shall still be compelled to watch over them for all eternity. There will be no next-time-around for me.

Why did you make such a vow, Albray…because of your priestess?

To save her life.
He managed to make his confession sound as if it was not the slightest bit heroic and selfless, but rather stupid and pointless.
In all honesty, I think that we would both be happier now if
I
had not. To care for someone more than life is one thing,
but to care for someone else more than your eternal soul is something else. Now both our souls exist in a perpetual purgatory, each more constrained by guilt than love.

Is there nothing I can do?
I so wanted to be able to help my knight after all he had done for me, out of duty or not.
Can I not appeal to the council on your behalf?

No, I will stand by my choice,
he stated. I
do not regret my vow for myself, but for Lillet. She will not move on in the grand scheme of creation, as it is her right to do. She insists on remaining in the sub-planes with me until I am released from this service, which was my choice and not hers.

I could see now why Albray claimed their tragic relationship was built on guilt, but there was also selflessness and compassion.

I only hope that one day she will be called to move on and forget me,
he concluded solemnly.
Perhaps you could ask the council for that.

Obviously his honour meant more to the knight than his eternal soul, and despite his wishes to the contrary I decided that I would appeal Albray’s case with my foremothers. It was the very least I could do.