Chapter 11

Ian and Elspeth followed Merlin through the portal into Wesladus, the outer veil. As they stepped through, Ian glanced around with astonishment. The clouds hung heavy and bright, gulls swung out over a glistening ocean screeching as they dove to the crystal waters. He took a step in the whitest of sands, everything so crisp and bright it almost blinded him. A warm breeze engulfed him and the sweet smell of ocean water soothed his nerves.

An instant peace washed over him and he noticed by the look on Merlin’s and Elspeth’s faces they were feeling the same. He looked up and down the beach. There were cliff areas and gently rolling hills that led down to the ocean. Forests of trees, open valleys, and nothing but wild nature surrounded them. He frowned, there in lie a problem. “Are you sure we are supposed tae be here, Merlin?”

“This is the portal Kahn showed me. It is supposed to bring us directly to the castle and the long halls. I don’t see any of that, let alone training yards and all the other things you’d think was supposed to be here. Perhaps we should walk the beach and see if we are missing something.”

He looked around. “I think we should go up. Maybe if we go to the top, toward the cliffs, we could see the castle.”

A shadow suddenly passed over them, blocking out the sun. They all stopped to look up. He saw the most beautiful golden eagle soaring overhead. It radiated light, and he couldn’t tell if it was coming from the bird or the reflection of the sun. The place felt magical.

As they watched, it circled, then landed on the beach next to them. It began to change shape. It grew to the most beautiful woman Ian had ever seen. She stood before them in golden robes and her hair as bright as the sun.

“You may think me a woman Ian, but I am an angel. I am the angel to the One Great God. I am the one the Ayriris Angels of the Plelin Courts answer to. I alone stand beside the One Great God. I am here to welcome you to the castle, to give you a tour, and to tell you that this place holds many secrets. There are some things you will learn in due time, when the place wants you to know. You and your army will be safe here.”

“But I see no castle. There is nothing but wilderness.”

The angel laughed. “That is why I am here. No one sees what is truly here without first being welcomed and accepted. Some things aren’t as they seem,” she said stepping up to Ian. His first impulse was to step back, but he remained still.

She raised her hands to the heavens and in a clear beautiful voice, sang words Ian had never heard before. Then she placed her golden hands upon his head and sang out some more. As she did, the place around them began to change.

A huge, sprawling, glowing castle rose above them on the top of the cliff. It started as a purple cloud that dissipated and before their eyes became a white marble castle with arches and meandering additions. Gardens appeared and dotted the hillsides toward the cliffs. Behind the castle were the long houses that Kahn had described. He looked at Merlin and Elspeth and knew they were seeing the same.

“How can this be?” asked Ian. “What’s there, wasn’t.”

“There are layers to everything,” answered the angel. “It is why this place is so well protected. You, Merlin, and Elspeth have been accepted. Your purpose here true and good. Your army shall be accepted and they will all see what is truly here. This place will be good for your men. For fears here are abated, a sense of wellbeing will surround you. It will take time for full transformation.

“I don’t envy your beginnings with your men, but you will soon see changes taking place. The castle holds secrets, when you need to know those secrets they will be revealed. Who you choose to let in will be accepted, choose carefully, Ian McGregor. These lands are now yours to guard. You protect your men; the castle will protect you. Now I shall show you around.”

As they walked through the gardens, the angel led them up to the main portico that was the main entrance to the castle, Ian felt a sense of peace fall upon him and hoped the others felt it as well. It was like entering another world.

Elspeth let out a sigh as if she’d just tasted the nectar of the Gods. They entered a very long portico with many open archways. Between each archway stood life size marble statues of different gods and goddesses. On each side of the largest arch the statues reached twelve feet tall. A god on one side and a goddess on the other. The archway itself spanned twelve feet and Ian looked to see how it was built that it could hold such heaviness. The marble in the walls fit so tight he could barely make out the cracks between the slabs. “This place had to have been built by gods,” he exclaimed, speaking his thoughts out loud.

The angel again laughed. “This place was designed by the oldest and wisest masons that ever lived. With them and the magic of the universe this place was born.”

“I feel a peace here that is otherworldly,” said Elspeth in awe.

He turned to look around once more. “Yes, me as weel. It’s as though my troubles are melting away. I’m afraid if it is that way for everyone, my men willna want tae fight and training will falter. Without the needed focus and motivation, they could get themselves killed stepping back into the worlds in which we live.”

“Oh, goodness no,” said the angel. “This place has the knowledge of all things, and that includes each of you individually. Call it a work in progress of the fight between good and evil. It’s about balance. Knowing when to fight, and when not. Call it having more clarity. They will do exactly as they should do, they will practice with more clarity, they shall fight better than ever.

“This place doesn’t change who you are, it offers you peace when you need it, lessons when you need them, and sometimes it doesn’t give anything at all. However, you will see in time as your men come to understand certain truths about things, they too will change. They will become good soldiers here.”

They walked the grounds, visited the training yard, and she explained about all the buildings and places. Ian kept thinking about the safety, and finally asked. “Aboot the protection,” he questioned. “I understand this place is magical, but anythin’ can be destroyed, there’s always a way in.”

Once again, the angel laughed. “The magic of the universe is great; all knowledge lies within it. The greatest of wizards from near and far called upon magic in the building of this place. Some as great as Merlin here. It knows the heart and soul of each who travel here. It has its ways of protecting against evil. Trust me.”

“You mean there are wizards other than myself?” asked Merlin. “I thought I was the only one left.”

“My dear Merlin, you have been an excellent wizard to a very, very small portion of one universe. There are universes within universes, and universes outside of yours. There are more universes than you can count, in fact they are endless.”

“Endless?” mumbled Merlin deep in thought. “I knew I couldn’t be the only one. Why wasn’t I asked to join in on the building of the castle?”

“The wizards were your father’s father’s fathers. Many came together for the making of you my dearest Merlin. I shan’t explain things that I have no authority over, but you come from the best of the best of wizards. This place was built before you were even a thought. Was the answer sufficient? If so, we must be getting along, as Ian and Elspeth need yet meet with the dragons.”

“Do you ken everything?” asked Ian. “And the name Pendragon. King Arthur’s name. Are the two related?”

The angel’s laughter was like a bubbling brook or the most melodic melody. He could listen forever.

“In answer to your first question. I know a great deal,” said the angel. “But only the One Great God knows all. To the second, King Arthur’s forefather took the name Pendragon from this very place. It saved his life once, he was so enthralled he took on the name in its honor. Come, I’ll show you the rest of the castle, now that you’ve visited everything else outside and have familiarized yourself with everything there, we will finish here on the inside, so you can be on your way.”

When they walked back up to the portico where they first started, they went through the doors entering the great room, Ian thought he’d have to catch Elspeth from fainting, as it was, he steadied her. It was enormous, with huge tall windows looking out over the ocean adorning one wall, elegant intricately woven tapestries pulled to the sides. There was glass in the windows, Ian had seen glass before and it was rare, but never anything like this. Sunlight streaming through cut edges made tiny rainbows dance in the sunlight.

He stood and leaned against one of the six columns holding the massive great room up and stared, some of the windows were pushed open and he could smell the sea. There were rows of highly polished long tables of a dark wood he’d never seen before. The fireplace was so big you could fit twelve people standing upright with head space to spare.

To the left was a large archway that opened in to a luxurious sitting room with a smaller fireplace giving the room a sense of hominess and comfort along with several elegant, yet comfortable chairs covered in bright materials. Ian saw the smile on Elspeth’s face and knew she was deeply impressed.

He felt she would indeed love it here. He would too, if not for the battles he knew were sure to come with having such great comforts.

They traveled through a great many rooms of the castle, in each Elspeth oohed and awed, but when they got to the master suits where their bedroom was, she gasped out loud. It was glorious. In one corner, flanked by windows on each side, sat a large rectangle tub made of marble. It held steaming aqua water.

“Is someone going to take a bath,” asked Elspeth?

The angel smiled at her question. “High in the cliffs just behind the castle rests a hot mineral lake, from there trenches bring the water to the castle, it moves through the walls and in each of the bed chambers there is such a tub. The water stays at a wonderful warmth all the time. It flows in and out continuously from small holes at the bottom. The hot mineral spring lake is constantly fed so the water flows freely without worry of using too much. There are such things as these tubs in the kitchens as well for cleaning, only smaller and higher for easier use.”

“This is amazing,” said Elspeth as she rubbed her hand down the coat of arms standing beside the fireplace.

“This is your room. Off to the side is a nice sized solarium through those double doors, if you would care to look.”

Elspeth opened one of the doors and gasped. Ian saw that there was one long bench built in the bottom of each of the window frames, seven windows in all, and around in the circle were four, very comfortable looking chairs. The windows started at thigh-level and rose upward to the ceiling. Someone could curl up against the window on the comfortable looking cushions or sit with comfort there enjoying the view of the ocean. The wall that held the doorway also had two small marble fireplaces, one on each side of the double doors. Ian thought it would give the feeling of sitting high in the clouds. The view itself was spectacular.

“I have never seen, let alone been in a bedroom that had its own sitting room before,” said Elspeth. “This room is the most beautiful room I have ever seen. I am sure to love this room most of all,” she said in awe.

“There are more bed chambers if you care to see. Or you can look as you move in, you’ve seen the important areas. I’m sure it will take days to familiarize yourself with everything. The large staff has the day off, so I could show you around, when you return, the entire staff will be on hand, along with the stable men and all others.”

“This is quite fine…um. We never got your name. What is it?” asked Ian.

“Oh goodness,” said the angel, “how inappropriate of me. Ariel. My name is Ariel.”

“Well, Ariel you have been quite generous with your time, and we are largely impressed. Thank you for showing us around. I think we will take our leave now, and finish here as we move in.”

“As you wish, I will see you to your portal. Good luck, Ian McGregor. To you and Merlin as well,” she said to Elspeth as they turned and walked out.