'What a good idea.' Devere seconded the motion and I rolled my eyes, frustrated with the argument and my lack of success with the keys.

'I shall insist that you both leave in a minute!' I said crossly and stamped my foot. I shuffled through the keys once more. 'Where is the key to this wretched door?'

Perhaps Molier has it? Albray was annoyed that he'd overlooked such a major detail. Albray was annoyed that he'd overlooked such a major detail.

I nodded. 'None of these fit.' I leant my head against the door, defeated.

'Then there is no point in loitering here any longer.' Devere was not unhappy at our failure.

You don't seem to understand. Albray decided to enlighten our unwilling accomplice. Albray decided to enlighten our unwilling accomplice. If we can steal If we can steal the Fire vial then Molier loses his power the Fire vial then Molier loses his power...he is entirely dependent on its subtance!

'Well, how are we expected to steal it if we cannot unlock the door?' Devere retorted. 'You're being unreasonable and placing my wife in unnecessary danger.'

There is another way we might gain entry. Albray gave me a knowing look, implying I should recognise the means to which he referred. Albray gave me a knowing look, implying I should recognise the means to which he referred. Remember your escape from the library? Remember your escape from the library? he hinted further, not wanting to give too much away before we were agreed. he hinted further, not wanting to give too much away before we were agreed.

'How did did you manage that?' My husband's curiosity made me uneasy. you manage that?' My husband's curiosity made me uneasy.

Albray was suggesting that I use the substance contained in the Star vial hidden on my person, in order to penetrate the wall. The only problem was that I had not yet disclosed to my husband that I had this treasure, and given the enmity between my knight and Mr Devere, producing the vial at this moment was bound to cause more trouble.

I wouldn't suggest it unless there was no other way. Albray attempted to a.s.suage my suspicions that he might be trying to rile my husband. Albray attempted to a.s.suage my suspicions that he might be trying to rile my husband.

'Is it dangerous?' Devere was immediately concerned for my welfare.

'Not physically dangerous, no.' I skirted around the question, knowing my husband was going to be very disappointed in me.

Devere backed up a step, sensing that Albray and I were again keeping secrets from him. 'What then?' His voice had an underlying sense of betrayal.

I figured the best way to break the news was to produce the item, so, putting my hand down the front of my garments, I drew out the vial.

My husband may have been awed by the presence of the vial, but he was emotionally confused at the same time. 'You've had it all along?'

'Hereford entrusted it to me,' I confirmed and Devere's hurt was obvious.

'You do realise I have the ability to read your mind?' He directed the question at me and I nodded. I was aware that his psychic powers had strengthened. 'At any time I could have read your mind and discovered your secret, but I did not! And do you know why?'

'Because you trust me?' I said timorously.

'More the fool me!' Devere barked, and turned away to contain his anger.

'I'm sorry I didn't tell you. I had to be sure you no longer served your brotherhood, who would probably do anything to obtain possession of this substance.' I referred to Hereford's death.

When Devere turned his eyes back on me, his expression was very dark indeed. 'After what Chavi Choron told you, you still doubt my loyalty? Tell me, how long until you forgive me my one misstep?'

And he wonders why we never tell him anything. Albray was fed up with the delay, but his comment made me fume. Albray was fed up with the delay, but his comment made me fume.

'Dismissed.' I turned my ire on him.

No, don't, he appealed rather desperately. he appealed rather desperately.

'Dismissed...'

I'm sorry I spoke...but we are- 'Dismissed.' As Albray vanished, I looked at Devere.

'Thank you.' He seemed mildly pacified by the development.

'If I didn't trust you, I would not have produced the vial now,' I informed him, removing the stopper and placing a few of the tiny sparkling particles on my tongue.

'I don't see that you had much choice in this case.' Devere was unconvinced.

'If I had desired you to be absent I could have arranged that, believe me.' The substance caused my body to shiver with awareness. It was only then that I recalled my pregnancy and I was immediately concerned at the effect the Highward Fire-Stone might have on my developing baby. A bit late to consider the consequences now bit late to consider the consequences now...I scolded myself for not considering the child first. I replaced the Star's stopper and returned my treasure to its hiding place. When I looked up, Devere was smiling.

'I have not proven easy to shake off in the past, if memory serves,' he said, moving closer to become more intimate with me.

'I have been lenient on you.' I placed both my hands on the surface of the door.

'Is that right?' My challenge amused him.

I nodded. 'I shan't be long.' I focused my will on the object beyond my fingertips and, as I felt its solidity give way, I pushed myself on through to the other side.

'That was amazing.' My husband spoke through the door to commend me. was amazing.' My husband spoke through the door to commend me.

'Trouble is, it's pitch dark in here,' making my next feat a wee bit difficult. Then it occurred to me: 'The Star vial.' Producing the item, I was surprised at the amount of light it awarded in a pitch dark room. Now where is this safe? Now where is this safe?

It seemed I had dismissed Albray too soon, but rather than call him for help, I had another idea. I walked over to Molier's desk, to probe it for its owner's psychic imprints. Laying a palm upon it I perceived a cold, apprehensive premonition that compelled me to desist in my inquiry. I continued nonetheless and my attention was directed to a painting of the Black Madonna on the wall.

The sound of scratching on gla.s.s startled me. It was coming from beyond the drawn blinds in the cabin.

'Are you all right?' Devere requested an update, as he must have heard my gasp.

I approached the curtains and, swallowing back my fear, I drew the heavy fabric aside to discover a raven beyond the windows. It rasped at the thick gla.s.s with its claws, determined to penetrate it, and its angry squawks shot sharp waves of panic through my being, as if I was the cause of its senseless determination. 'Yes, I'm fine,' I answered Devere and breathed a sigh of relief. 'Shoo.' I urged the creature to give up its impossible quest.

My attention returned to the painting despite the bird continuing to make its ruckus. I crossed the room to search for a latch around the inner back edge of the picture frame and upon triggering a mechanism, the picture swung open like a cupboard door. 'I've located the safe.'

Albray had been justified in saying that the lock that secured the iron door was rather ingenious. It was a long-barrelled padlock with no keyhole, just consecutive rings of numbers. I had heard of such devices, known as combination locks. They were an invention of the master craftsmen of the Orient. As lock picking had become an art in recent times, this type of lock was used to protect the holdings of the major banking establishments in Europe. Some of these had over a million combinations and to run through them all without interruption would take about two thousand years. It was fortunate for me that most of the world's inhabitants were ignorant of the art of psychometry. There were six numbered dials on this particular lock and as I placed my finger on the first ring of numbers I was compelled to roll it around to the number five; then the next dial suggested the number two, and the next number six.

'What do you think you are doing?'

I heard a stranger's voice echoing down the hallway beyond the room.

'Someone is awake,' my husband advised me through the door, and I heard him draw the gypsy sword that he still wore.

'I'm almost there,' I yelled back, hoping he could hold our foe for just a few more seconds. I locked the fourth and fifth numbers into place. Once the sixth number revealed itself, I expected the lock to somehow open, but instead the end of the cylindrical lock fell away to reveal a keyhole. 'd.a.m.n it!' I uttered under my breath, concerned for my husband as I heard swords clashing outside the door. I could not will the lock undone, but I could try to reach through the solid iron door.

It's no different to changing the composition of the parchment, I recalled Albray advising me in the library. I recalled Albray advising me in the library. You have the ability to do this, but if you need faith in yourself then call upon the strength of your foremothers. You have the ability to do this, but if you need faith in yourself then call upon the strength of your foremothers.

I closed my eyes to focus my intent on the thick cold iron at my fingertips.

Women of my blood . ..If my intent will serve the greater welfare,lend to me your expertise,to turn this iron to air!

My entire body began to tingle with an empowering force that was distinctly feminine: soft, graceful and intuitive. I rested my hand on one of the strongest materials known to man, and willed the Fire vial to me. I had expected to feel crystal making contact with my palm, but what was drawn into my possession was velvet. I quickly withdrew my acquisition into the light of the Star vial.

Upon opening the red case I beheld the other half of the treasure I had been seeking-a vial, like that of the Star, that emitted a red light from a scarlet substance. I returned the Star to its usual resting-place in order to run my fingers over the glowing red treasure.

I am watching you, Mrs Devere.

I was startled by a malign whisper that registered in both my mind and my ears. The source was inside the room. It was only then that I realised the bird had ceased its protest. The temperature in the room had dropped. I swung around to confront the most horrific apparition I had ever encountered and could not prevent a squeal from escaping my lips.

For the most part the ent.i.ty was composed of vapour. This seemed to be gaining entry to the room through the almost non-existent gaps around the closed windows. A pale, drawn face had taken form amid the vaporous presence: red eyes with yellow pupils that appeared all the more sinister in the red glow of the Fire vial lying in the open case in my hands.

I'd think twice before challenging me, the devilish ent.i.ty advised me. the devilish ent.i.ty advised me. I've been wielding these powers a lot longer than you have. I've been wielding these powers a lot longer than you have.

That's when I recognised the phantasm. 'Molier,' I uttered, astonished, as I backed toward the door.

The ent.i.ty smiled and a red substance dripped from the sides of its mouth. How can you possibly hope to outsmart a G.o.d? How can you possibly hope to outsmart a G.o.d?

I wasn't about to debate the issue, for it was painfully clear that I had no idea of what Molier was capable of.

Upon my speedy return through the door, I collided with my husband and we both collapsed over a third party and onto the floor.

As I scrambled to my feet in a panic, my husband grabbed my wrist to rea.s.sure me.

'It's all right. I have already relieved him of consciousness.' Devere believed my haste stemmed from fear of the swordsman on whom we'd fallen.

'We have another concern.' I looked back to Molier's office to see the vapour spilling into the hallway from the keyhole and underneath the door.

'What is it?' Devere, spotting the phenomenon and sensing its ominous nature, got to his feet and we began to run down the corridor.

'This is pointless.' I abruptly halted and turned to confront the ma.s.sing ent.i.ty. 'We can't possibly outrun it.'

'We have to try,' Devere appealed, but I shook my head, not to be moved.

Albray, Albray, Albray. I had been a fool to dismiss my guardian. I had been a fool to dismiss my guardian.

As my knight's spirit presence manifested behind me to perceive the foe we faced, he didn't waste a second. In the name of the G.o.ddess, I repel you! Say it. In the name of the G.o.ddess, I repel you! Say it.

I repeated his words with the same sureness and authority that Albray had employed in citing the command to me.

I blind you to my being and banish you back to yours. blind you to my being and banish you back to yours.

As I issued this command, I felt a great force gather at my back, just behind my heart where the Star vial now sat. This energy burst through my heart centre and shot outwards through my extended fingers in pursuit of the phenomenon that had threatened me.

A tormented wail sounded from the ent.i.ty, and its vaporous substance withdrew back through the gaps in the door.

'Woo-hoo!' I acknowledged how liberating the experience had felt. I turned around to find my husband in a rattled state-he'd turned as pale as a sheet.

'You speak in tongues now? Tongues that speak-what language was that-some sort of ancient Aramaic?'

'What are you talking about? I was speaking English,' I insisted, but as Devere adamantly shook his head, I turned to Albray. 'Was I not?'

I didn't do anything. He washed his hands of responsibility. He washed his hands of responsibility. All I did was advise you to use the aid you had already rallied around yourself. All I did was advise you to use the aid you had already rallied around yourself.

'My foremothers,' I realised, amazed that they had literally spoken through me.

'Then why the Eastern dialect?' Then it dawned on Devere. 'Unless you refer to her ancient foremothers?' The man turned a shade paler still.

Albray smiled at my husband's reaction. 'Now you, too, have heard the combined feminine voice of the High Council of the Elohim, to whom I, your wife and yourself are but humble servants.'

'The vials belong to them,' Devere deduced, having been drawn into recollecting the tutelage he'd received from his brotherhood. 'I had never truly believed that the female protectors written of in Grail legend existed.'

Where do you think the Arthurian accounts of a castle of women who guard the Grail sprang from?

'Carbonek.' Devere cited the name of the castle. 'They also called it the Temple of Wonders...the Palace of Adventure.'

That is where we are bound.

Devere's eyes shot across to Albray. 'You know the whereabouts of this palace?'

I should do, I died there.

I looked from man to ghost and back again. 'Would someone like to fill me in on what you're both talking about?'

Gladly, Albray granted. Albray granted. But would it not be better to discuss this on board our own vessel? But would it not be better to discuss this on board our own vessel?

'For once I agree with you.' Devere took hold of my free hand, as the other was tightly clutching a red velvet case. 'Let us put some distance between this vessel and us...not that distance seems to matter any more.'

Molier cannot seek you in his spirit again. The command of the ladies of the Elohim will bind him to that.

'But he is capable of other feats?' I a.s.sumed.

As are the both of you, Albray a.s.sured me, motioning Devere and myself in the direction of the exit. Albray a.s.sured me, motioning Devere and myself in the direction of the exit.

LESSON 19.

COMPa.s.sION.

Although there were only a few chapters left of Ashlee's tale, the hour was late and my eyes begged for rest. I vowed that I would finish the journal first thing in the morning.

I switched off my light and lay my weary bones on my bed. My head was swirling with images of places and people I had read about today. Ashlee obviously admired Albray and trusted him implicitly; Lillet's account of him was the complete reverse. Could death change a man so much? And what of Molier? Again the two accounts differed vastly. Who was I to believe? Or was neither account credible enough to warrant too much consideration? After meeting with Molier today, I found the notion that he could be the beastly apparition in Ashlee's tale very hard to swallow.

The thought that Albray might visit me in my dreams tonight swept all other concerns aside. I remembered I had promised Albray I would keep the stone close.

Once I had retrieved the stone from my bag, I lay back holding it up by its leather band to watch it twirl back and forth.

I would have been prepared to give up this career-making a.s.signment and any ancient secrets I might uncover here in the Sinai, if only Albray could be some guy I met back in Oz, who was alive, available and interested in a life with me. Was I actually admitting that my love for him had grown greater than my love of my work?

'I hate doubting you, Albray, but you're a hard character to work out,' I whispered so quietly that I barely heard it. If only you would tell me your version of events. A If only you would tell me your version of events. A tear escaped my eyes as I tucked my charm under my pillow. tear escaped my eyes as I tucked my charm under my pillow.