
The Secret of the Dragon
The Revelations of the Sacred Papyruses
Carl Cupper
Copyright © 2005 Carl Cupper
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Original title:
El Secreto del Dragón -- La Revelación de los Sacros Papiros
Translation by: John Alden Boyd, Jr.
Reviewed by: Fabio Vargas
Cover illustration, "Golden Dragon" by:
Ciruelo Cabral
Cover design by: Shane McElveen
Partial or total reproduction is prohibited without the express
authorization of the author.
Special thanks to
Melanie Everitt-Mak and Wendy Spenard
for their sharp observations, dedication
and patience with this author.
To the young people of the world
who grasp a weapon without knowing why
July 1191
Jerusalem
Isaiah hurried to pack the large number of documents collected over the last millennium by the school of the Flavius Josephus, a prominent Jewish historian.
The alarming news from the city of Acre spread all throughout Palestine; making the historian fall prey of a growing fear. The slaughter that Richard the First, the Lion-Heart, had inflicted on that city left no room for delay. Richard's crusaders had defeated Saladin's Saracens and would soon be at the doors of Jerusalem, with the objective of recuperating the three times declared sacred city in the name of Jesus Christ. Jacob, a disciple of Isaiah, had tried in vain to convince his teacher not to abandon Jerusalem, but Isaiah was wise to the ways of men, moreover, the cruelty of Richard, and he would not risk his life nor the valuable documents collected by the academy throughout the years.
Years ago, Isaiah had ventured out on a journey to Qumran where he had hidden several valuable documents, but he still had many more that he needed to protect even if it meant his life. And so, he would make a secret expedition to Egypt, where he thought he could find a safe refuge for his valuable papyri. Only Jacob would be trusted with the knowledge of this risky journey for which he urged him to carefully guard the secret.
Isaiah then undertook his bold voyage. After crossing the Red Sea, he reached the village of Naj Hammadi, where he hid many more scrolls. From there, he headed south and crossed the Nile, to the city of Tebas, in the Valley of the Kings, where he was surprised by a ferocious and terrifying sand storm.
Isaiah put up a fierce battle against the forces of nature which he was undoubtedly destined to lose. Feeling that his strength was forsaking him, he made his way to some stairs which looked like the entrance of a tomb. He then hid the last of the scrolls in a vase and threw it inside over threshold, but he dared not to take cover in that shelter, because he was afraid that the hiding place of those precious documents might be compromised.
Trying to find some refuge, he fought his way through the blistering sand, but the intense thirst defeated him and he perished under the relentless desert heat. Nevertheless he had accomplished his purpose; to keep the documents from the hands of Richard and his crusaders ... at least for the following seven centuries.
The Mystery of the Prophecy
February 17th, 1923
Tebas, Egypt
After several arduous and painstaking days of excavations, the British archeologists, George Edward Stanhope and Howard Carter, opened the tomb of the controversial Pharaoh Tutankhamen[1], which they had discovered less than a year ago, and astonished the entire world. The tomb of the king of the XVIII dynasty was discovered intact. The driven and excited archeologists were so happy about the important find that their hearts almost burst out of their chests. The treasures found in the tomb of the young Pharaoh could were incredible. The magnificent collection of Egyptian art made of gold, pottery, lapis lazuli, precious woods, and other materials filled the mortuary chamber.
Later, many of those valuable objects were taken to the Ancient Museum of Egypt, in Cairo, and others to the British Museum of London, where papyri with a strange markings, were found inside a vase. According to later carbon 14 testing on the scrolls and the vase, the scrolls were dated in the VII Century Centuryof the Common Era. An incredible story is told on the papyri which had been lost, until our times, in the depths of the museum vault.
Victim of the terrible curse of the tomb of Tutankhamen, George Edward Stanhope, count of Carnarvon, died two months after his fabulous find.
March 12th. Present time
British Museum of London, England
Years after graduating from the University of Oxford, a prestigious doctor of History, looking for information to complete his studies on the origins of the towns of the British Isles, found himself with those mysterious papyri. After analyzing them, he wrote a rough draft which narrated a fabulous legend which starts with this warning:
"Many thought that this story never happened in the dark ages of the VII Century of the Common Era or in any other time. Nevertheless, I have reasons to consider it true; therefore, it is my duty to disclose it to warn man of the uncertain destiny he has made for himself and to spread the hope that lies within this history."
In the year 306, Constantine the Great moved the capital of the Roman Empire to Byzantine, and renamed it Constantinople. In 313 he promulgated the Edict of Milan. In 395, Theodosius I (known as the Great) divided the empire between his two sons; Arcadius received the eastern part and Honorius the west, which he lost control in the year 476; a half of a century after the conversion of the Celtic people to Christianity had begun.[2]
In the middle of the VI Century, Justinian, the Byzantine emperor of the east, and his troops, conquered the Kingdom of Theodoric the Ostrogoth. Most of Italy was turned into a colony with its capital in Ravenna.
In the year 586 of our era, the Lombards, another barbarian nation, began taking control of the northern portion of Italy. This way was ferociously defended by the Byzantines, who, in spite of their efforts, had only managed to rescue a few coastal regions of the country. In the middle of the clash between the Lombards and the Byzantines, the Pope of Rome tried to maintain a precarious balance. In time his power grew little by little, and established himself as an important political and military force.
On the other hand, the Visigothic monarchy reached its greatest power with Leovigild the emperor, who managed to establish territorial unity after winning over the Suebi of the northwest, the Basques of the north, and the Byzantines of the Southeast. The assault on the south of Great Brittan by the Anglos and the Saxons,[3] after the attacks of the Picts [4] and the Caledonians, forced the Celts to either take refuge in the highlands of Wales and Scotland or to yield to the new power. Many Celts directed by Maeloc, a renowned druid priest, went north of Galicia fleeing from the Anglo-Saxons, but others stayed on the island safeguarding their sacred ancestral rites and traditions, even under threat of the invaders and the early Christian evangelization.
The Anglo-Saxons divided the territory into seven small independent kingdoms. Each kingdom fought to establish its dominion of the island; however, neither of their borders had touched a remote area known by all as The Region of Fire, which was formed by the group of the Faroe Islands, located beyond the Shetland Islands, north of Great Britain. On these islands lived two tribes that for many centuries had disputed, in gruesome battles, the dominion of the SacredCity, which both claimed as their own.
The Helenex, those who adored the god Helion, occupied a large portion of the territory, controlling the Sacred City and conquering the Selenex tribe, who worshiped the god Selion[5]. They lived as refugees, on their own land, as the Helenex refused to acknowledge them as an independent nation.
Rasux, King of the Helenex, in an effort to achieve peace with Palex, King of the Selenex, offered to withdraw his troops from the occupied territories in exchange for an end to the attacks, but without granting him any part of the Sacred City. This offer was refused.
Despite his efforts to restore the peace talk, Palex was not able to restrain his citizens who, heated by their ancestral hatred, acted on their own against the Helenex, preventing peace from reigning among these tribes.
The continual attacks of the Selenex on Helenex territory spread terror and uncertainty among its inhabitants. This caused them to retaliate against the High Command of Selenex, particularly Palex. They accused of inflicting great destruction and of inciting his followers to act violently, while he spoke of peace.
The majority of the neighboring island nations sympathized with the Selenex cause; they begged them, through lively meetings, to reach a peaceful agreement. However, all neighboring nations benefited from the conflict by selling arms and equipment or by taking a stance that placed them in an improved political position against those of the other nations.
The occupation of the Selenex territory by the Helenex would continue until one of them gave up their intentions or destroyed the other, although, the most likely outcome of this conflict would be the destruction of both tribes.
These types of wars have existed throughout the history of human kind; however, I should clarify to the reader that the tribes in this story were not human, but enormous and ferocious dragons.
There were three types of dragons in the Region of Fire. The Robuxes were gigantic, strong dragons of brown or dark green color, whose wings were so short that they could not fly. For this reason they were used as fearsome, armored dragon soldiers in the infantry.
The Agilux were small dragons with large wings, which allowed them to fly at high altitudes and to cover long distances. They were used as sentinels, explorers, or as artillery dragons; the Dragon Air Force. There were two types of Agilux: litmus blue and pearl white.
The Pantesux were the best-rounded of all the dragons. They were strong dragons with large wings. They could carry out missions on land or in the air, and they were destined to take part in the elite army or in the Royal Council. The most amazing characteristic was that they could change color at will. They could be shift between dark green, litmus blue, pearl white, red, or grey color, according to the circumstances they confronted in battle. Novax was a Pantesux dragon.
"For Dragonia, the Sacred City!" Novax, the Great Helenex Dragon, gave the order to attack.
The loud beating of the soldiers' wings sounded like a wasp's nest with thundering reverberations. The fire that spewed from their enormous snouts choked the air making it almost impossible to breathe, and the sound of the blows that they inflicted upon each another with their powerful tails shook the very air in all over the region.
A squadron of powerful Helenex armored dragons burst through the enemy's front lines looking for those responsible for the most recent attacks on Dragonia. The cries of pain, which could be heard everywhere, mixed with the sound of the sizzling flames and the clamor of the destruction of the Selenex caves.
The Helenex ruled over the beaches where the marine shells were abundant. Luckily enough, they held exclusive rights to the production of their protective armor, made from the ammonite shells covered in bronze, which provided them with excellent protection from the eyes to the tip of the tail, making them almost invulnerable to hostile fire.
Given the enormous weight of the armored dragons' protection, their missions were mostly focused on land. Nevertheless, they could march through almost any terrain, and nothing could stop them, causing great losses in their enemy's troops, destroying and incinerating everything in their path.
The artillery dragon had a device on the end of his tail made of lamb leather fitted with sharp arrows covered with tar, which with a powerful whipping motion, could be thrown through the air at the rival army, inflicting great damage upon them.
Once the sharp arrows hit their unfortunate target, the artillery dragon charged towards it, spewing fire, which ignited the arrows instantly. Many times, when the victims felt the scorching fire on their backs, they tried to put it out by rolling around. This sent the sharp arrows deeper into their bodies, causing an slow, painful death.
The Selenex had come up with a way to stop the armored Helenex, which consisted of digging well-camouflaged, deep holes and filling them with muddy water which they placed strategically around certain areas of the battlefield which they were trying to defend. When an armored dragon fell in one of these pits, it was almost impossible for him to get out, because of the enormous weight of the armor which the unlucky dragon carried, causing him to drown. In addition, the Selenex also counterattacked with robuxes dragons, skillfully outfitted with catapults. They carried a sling filled with enormous boulders on their tails and they hurled them at the enemy army. They also found a way to counteract the attacks from the Helenex artillery. In order to do this they looked for a way to ignite the cargo carried by the Helenex dragons on their tails in mid-air before it was used against their soldiers. To achieve this, they sent Agilux dragons called hunters, who were lighter and faster than the others, because they carried no load. When the fire of a hunter reached an artillery dragon, the deadly cargo exploded destroying his tail, despite its protective armor, and sending them crashing, like a shooting star, to the ground.
The Amerux, the most powerful tribe in the region, were selling tar on an exclusive basis to their allies, the Helenex. Since the Selenex did not have this substance, they were limited to lighting the Helenex artillery dragon's tails on fire in battle and to destroying the enemies' warehouses during truce, through suicide missions. This was something that happened often, even though these weapons warehouses were carefully guarded by an elite group of enormous and ferocious Pantesux dragons.
After several hours of heated battle, the moans and cries of the wounded became unbearable to the ears of noble Dragon Lords, and the dragons who were not hurt had the task of gathering up their mutilated soldiers and burying their dead.
On the eve of that wretched day, Califax, son of Novax, was born along with two brothers and two beautiful sisters.
The light of a new shone put upon the world and the proud parents announced their joy to the whole population of the nation, who had gathered in large numbers for the event. They celebrated by lighting the sky with huge flames and drinking barley liquor.
While Darta, Califax's sweet and beautiful mother, sang the newly born to sleep, lovingly, Novax tried, unsuccessfully, to restrain the roars of joy which burst from his friends outside the comfortable cave of the new parents.
"Hey, Novax! Now you will know what the real warmth of home feels like, friend." said Felex with an enormous, mocking laugh.
"Silence, please! Lower the volume of your growls!" Novax pleaded, putting a claw to his snout. "The pups are sleeping and my wife is tired, my friends." he explained, murmuring, while he made a gesture with his claws.
"You should sleep too, my friend, while you still can," Rhudex advised. "Later, you will get white scales from the insomnia on top of other things," he said, provoking yet more laughter.
"Silence, dragons!" reprimanded Gramma, Felex's wife. "Can't you see that there are pups, which have just broken their eggshells and are trying to rest after that hard rite of passage?" she asked, as giving her husband a harsh look.
The dragons looked at one another with wide eyes of surprise, and, shamefully, lowered their heads and immediately took their leave under the stern eyes of Gramma who, claws on hips, followed the sluggish steps of her husband.
"Tomorrow we'll meet at the gathering, Novax." said Rhudex, mumbling.
"Very well, my friend. Thank you very much for visiting!" he expressed to the rest of the dragons who silently walked away.
Inside the cave, Novax sat with his wife and the small offspring. The day had been long and he felt tired as well, thus he fell into the rock bed, which was covered in a comfortable and cool moss.
"Do you think we will be safe from the Selenex, my love?" asked Darta, concerned.
"Yes, dear. Even though they are becoming more fierce and cruel," he said, lying down heavily on the rock. "Nevertheless, as long as we have warriors like Rhudex, we will be safe. I hate that our children have been born in the middle of all this hostility!" he complained, covering his face with his claws.
"Calm down my love." she said, caressing her husband's forehead. "Someday all this will be over."
The night's dark cloak covered all the area in a false calm, as in the eye of a hurricane, but the war clung to their homes like a demon, which claims his ancient lodgings to anyone who dares to profane them.
The next day, the assembly of the Royal Dragon Council gathered to discuss policy and strategy regarding the conflict with the Selenex. The tally of the war informed the Council of the figures for the wounded, dead, and the extent of the destruction, carried out by the enemy's assaults. The most important report told them that the main tar warehouse had sustained substantial damage.
Rhudex proposed an idea to eliminate the Selenex once and for all. This idea was rejected immediately by the Council because the League of Dragons would severely retaliate against them. In answer to that refusal, Rhudex proposed that some other member of the League surrender part of their land to the Selenex. "Let them do it so if they have so much consideration towards the Selenex!" he said, full of rage. Rasux explained that the Selenex would not give up Dragonia for anything, since it was also sacred ground to them.
Novax, a dragon of great restraint and wisdom, spoke and proposed to consider giving a part of the Sacred City to the Selenex. Tradux, annoyed by such a preposterous proposal, furiously reminded him that the Sacred City was constructed by fire and blood under the decree of the one and only Helion god, after their ancestors were released from the oppression from which they had been subjected to for many centuries.
"We should raise our walls even more!" he suggested angrily, leaping out of his seat as if he was propelled by a spring.
Novax countered the arguments of Tradux with great patience and calm.
"Perhaps Helion would allow us to yield a part of Dragonia in exchange for living in peace." said Novax in a conciliatory tone.
The voices of the Council members were enraged at the profane proposal. Some seriously considered Novax's argument, but others supported Tradux's idea. King Rasux indicated that the idea had crossed his mind frequently because of the terrible death toll suffered by both nations. However, Lusux, another distinguished dragon of the court, indicated that the constant suicide attacks prevented establishing any kind of dialogue that would lead to peace.
"And they do not care if they kill females and pups!" he argued, supporting Rhudex.
Novax reminded them that they were accused of inflicting the same kind of damage when they retaliated against the Selenex.
"We have the right to defend ourselves from their attacks!" stated Tradux. He proposed to end Palex's life now, when they had him as close as a stone's throw away. "As soon as his head is cut..." he added.
A deafening disapproval resonated in the enormous cave that housed the palace. The madness of such as this was grounded in the support that many of the nations belonging to the League of Dragons gave to the Selenex. They could start a generalized war in the Region of Fire with such an assassination attempt.
"The League roars much and does little," Lusux protested. "They promised us talks with Palex to stop the attacks, and instead, many of the tribes protect them and applaud them." he accused gravely.
A similar assembly had taken place in the Selenex palace, where, as it could be expected, it ended without a solution that could bring the two nations to peace.
The policies of these two tribes would continue as they always had, without reason or justice. There would be no hope for their tribal members.
Months went by and the war continued, with no change in the expectations of either tribe. In spite of this fact, the population miraculously grew beneath this climate of death, fear and insecurity.
In the middle of all this, Califax and his brothers and sisters grew up under the love and care of their mother. Novax tried to teach them the fine arts of a great warrior disguised in games, such as striking the opponent with their tail, using quick movements of their wings to avoid being hit by the enemy, plus fencing and military strategy. Many times their youthful impulses would cause them to burn their wooden swords and shields with strong bursts of flame.
"Surrender abominable Selenex!" Califax threatened his brother Petrux with his sword, who, in return, rushed his opponent.
"Never! I would die before humiliating myself before you!" he exclaimed as he spewed fire at his brother, who covered himself with his shield.
"Quiet, feisty solders!" intervened Zeux, another Claifax's brother. "I am a powerful Amerux who has come to impose peace by force."
"You are nothing more than a dreadful reptile that shall be eaten by the gargoyles[6]." said Califax, while he and Petrux rushed Zeux.
"When they learn to fly, they will be excellent warriors." Novax proudly pointed out to his wife, who sweetly observed her little ones playing in the garden of the burrow.
A few months later, Califax and his brothers became members of the Royal Academy of Dragonia, an institution open only to the children of the congressmen and other dignitaries of the military.
After five years of difficult study and practice, Califax, when he barely had one horn on his forehead, along with fifteen other young dragons, was left under the tutelage of Filox, exalted priest of the Royal Council, who was skilled with the sword, and well versed in the arts, history, and science of his nation.
"Tell me, Califax: when was Dragonia founded?" he asked, pointing with a claw.
"It was in the year 393 of the Sacred Helion, teacher." he responded wisely.
"What nations form the Region of Fire, Crasux?" he asked to another one of his distinguished students.
"Helenex, Amerux, Anglox, Arbux, Farox, Isux, and Rhusux, teacher." he answered with an arrogant attitude.
"Excellent! That is all for today. I will see you in a few minutes on the practice field." he said, as he rolled up the papyrus he used as a study guide.
In the stronghold where the young dragons showed their progress in the use of arms, Filox took Califax as an opponent. He spoke to the young dragon as they practiced. He told him that Novax, his father, had also been his student, and that years ago, he had been entrusted with an important mission which he had, unfortunately, failed.
"Do not worry." he said, patting Califax on the back. "It is a very difficult mission that only very few have been entrusted with. I, myself, failed that mission as well. At the end of practice, meet me in the library and I will tell you all about it. Do not tell anybody about the mission. It is a secret."
Califax arrived at that hall of wisdom in the evening, and although he had been in that magnificent place many times, the great number of papyri that the enormous cave contained never ceased to amaze him, as did the laurels that decorated the walls, obtained by ancient heroes in many battles. Filox appeared while Califax looked around, and, after greeting him, invited him to sit on a comfortable stone covered with fine moss.
"I know that you study the sacred papyri often. Nevertheless, there is a scroll that you surely have not read." he said, looking for a scroll in the closet while Califax watched with eyes wide open. "This one reveals the prophecies of Helion. The knowledge of it is destined exclusively to very few dragons." he indicated, unrolling the document.
"Why do only a few know about it, teacher?" asked the curious young dragon.
"It is best to keep these terrible prophecies from our people. They would cause great fear and confusion, making it impossible to govern the nation." explained Filox. "I will begin by reading verse three," he said, as if preparing to give a long speech: "...And I watched the noon sky, and Helion hid behind Selion and the Earth was surrounded by a great darkness. Hence Helion sent fire and sulfur upon the profane villages and their abominations, because He did not find anyone that spoke with justice, and later He tossed their spoils to the place where Hades[7] dwelled, so that their souls would live in everlasting isolation, and could see the Sacred Land never more." he concluded.
"What does this prophecy mean, teacher?" asked Califax, with awe.
"It means that our civilization will be destroyed by Helion if we continue the war against our neighbors," he answered, moving slowly about the room.
"What do you think we can do to avoid it, teacher?" he questioned, astonished.
"I will now read verse nine." he said as he unrolled the papyrus. "And I looked at the Earth and the Son of Light revealed himself wearing the four pointed crown on his fore head. Later I saw he who brandishes the fire sword come down from the sky and give the Chalice of Life to the Son of Light, and Helion drank with him, that day his brightness shone longer than Selion, and the nations were freed."
"The Chalice of Life, teacher?" Califax inquired, surprised.
"Long ago," he said, sitting next to his pupil, "a man was shipwrecked on a remote beach on our coast. One of our explorers found the man in agony, and when the man saw him, he asked: Are you the messenger of the Highest One? Here, Sir, I give to you the secret of the Sacred Key so that you will become the protector and guardian of the Chalice. And, then, the man died," he said.
"A Sacred Key?" interrupted Califax who was increasingly fascinated by each word Filox uttered.
"The explorer" continued the teacher, "received a map from the man, and he immediately gave it to the king who ruled at the time. This map points toward three points in the region of the great islands of Briton. We have known for a very long time that this map leads to the Key that will open the place where the Chalice is kept. Novalux, your great-great-grandfather was the first to try to find it, but he failed. Later, your great-grandfather tried, and then I went instead of your grandfather, because he had become ill. Finally, your father went, but, unfortunately, he too failed," Filox explained, sadly.
"Why has everyone who tried not been able to find the Key, teacher?" he inquired.
"My son, man is a very hard obstacle to overcome" the teacher warned. "When this mission was assigned to me, I was a very young dragon, about your age, eager for knowledge and adventure. I flew towards Briton, following the map. While flying south, I saw a great dragon who was swimming in the sea, moving his wings back and forth to propel himself through the water." he explained skillfully mimicking the story. "I flew down to take a closer look, since it seemed very strange to me that a dragon should swim in that solitary expanse of water. When I was close enough, I noticed that in reality, it was not one of us, but, in fact, it was a vessel that a group of men, who shook, some strange stakes whose ends were shaped like ducks' beaks. The men had some type of helmet on their heads with inlaid horns on either side, and when they saw me, they raised their swords toward me while shouting Thor! Thor! Then, they knelt down. I sent a blaze of fire in their direction to intimidate them and then I flew away." Filox explained.
"Who is Thor, teacher?" asked Califax.
"He seems to be a god of these men who call themselves Vikings. Several of our explorers have heard them speak and, although we do not understand their language, they constantly repeat the words Viking, Thor, and Odin[8], who appears to be another of their gods. They travel continuously toward the west, because it is said that they have found a great part of the earth in that direction that we do not know about."
"Teacher, everyone knows that there is nothing but the Atlantix Ocean in that direction." Califax pointed out.
"I know, son. They are just legends," he said, shrugging his shoulders. "There is nothing verified. Even so, they constantly travel to the west and they rarely disembark on our coasts, although their visits are ever more frequent. Perhaps they have discovered the land of which they speak."
"I continued flying south until I reached Briton." Filox said as he rose from the chair, "and I rested near a large freshwater lake, where they say a very old dragon lives, older than any of ours, but nobody has ever seen him. After resting for a few hours, I continued along until nightfall when I arrived at a small village that men call Glas Ghu[9]. I stood on the branch of a large tree to read the map and I ignited a small flame in order to shed light on it. Even though I was tried to be careful not to be noticed by men, a small group of them surprised me. They shot arrows at me and threw rocks while shouting: Lucifer! Lucifer!" he vividly recounted. "Bewildered by that attack, I quickly flew away from that place.
"Who is Lucifer, teacher?" he asked, with great curiosity.
"He seems to be a malicious god that men fear." Filox clarified.
"How strange men are! Some kneel before you, and, yet, others attack you?"
"That is true. It is possible that some of them adore a god, while others loathe that god, without realizing the fact that many times, it could be the same entity." Filox explained.
"I hid," Filox continued, "in a small cave to wait for the dawn and to continue with my day's work."
"After several days of much fear and danger, I reached one of the places on the map, south of Briton, close to a place called Old Sarum. There I found a strange type of construction made of enormous stones arranged in a circular shape. A small group of men dressed in strange white, yellow and, most of them, dressed red clothing, which covered their faces and bodies, guarded the construction which seemed to be a god's temple."
"I watched over that place for several days hoping that those men would leave for a moment, but they never did. It was impossible for me to approach the temple since the guards were constantly changed. I flew towards the other two points on the map, but I found the same issue on both cases: the mysterious men were there day and night and I returned to Dragonia with my empty claws. The same thing happened to your father, but your great-great-grandfather and your great-grandfather, unfortunately did not have the same luck, since they never returned to the Region of Fire. We think the men killed them."
"Then, who will be able to find the Chalice, teacher?" asked Califax, naively.
"That is the mission that you must fulfill, son." Filox clarified, with a somber tone.
"Me?" he exclaimed, staggered. "But, teacher, the prophecy speaks about the Son of Light." he reminded Filox as he rose from his chair.
"You are a Son of Light, Califax." the old dragon informed him. "Your great-grandfather was born when a morning star suddenly appeared in the sky. That is why they called him Novalux, which means, New Light." he clarified, sitting down once again in the stone chair.
"The most recent interpretations." said Filox. "Brings us to the conclusion that the four-pointed crown that is mentioned in the prophecy refers to the generations of dragons that will find the Chalice. You belong to that generation!" He said, pointing to his stunned pupil.
"Do you want me to take on this important and dangerous mission, just because I descend from Novalux and I belong to the fourth generation?" he asked.
"No, son, that is not the only reason." he said, linking his claws behind his back. "Those who study in this academy are destined to occupy important positions and to do great services to the nation. You are my most advanced student, and I have chosen you for that reason. However, you are not required to take this mission if you do not want to. Your brothers and schoolmates are also eligible members of your generation. Among them, I could find one who wants to take care of this mission. Speak to your father, and if you decide to decline, I will understand." he answered softly.
"What is the greatest danger I would have to face, teacher?"
"The men, son." he replied with a trembling voice.
"Tell me about them, teacher. I do not know any."
"And you should avoid them!" he warned. "Man is unpredictable. He is afraid of his own fears. He can be either of noble heart or a ruthless assassin, worse than the most cold-blooded dragon you ever heard of." he exclaimed, with a terrified grimace on his face. "It is better not to risk meeting with one of them. You should be very careful since they are all over the place. They are a destructive plague." he emphasized.
"I will avoid them at all costs." assured Califax.
"Nonetheless, you will have to give the Chalice to one of them." Filox explained.
"Why must we give it to a man, teacher?" he asked, surprised.
"The legend tells of man who was betrayed, tortured, and sacrificed. His Chalice was given to another man who collected the blood of the first man in it, from where, it is said, the Light of Life emanates. The one who drinks from the chalice will obtain the power of its glory. We believe that this legend refers to the chalice that we are looking for."
"But, why is it necessary to give it to a man?"
"The power of the Chalice comes from a man, and a man must drink from it, first. In this way, its power will be activated, and only then will it help us. After this man drinks from the Chalice, you will have to bring it back. We do not know what will happen, but once we have it, we will find out."
"Where do you think that we will be able to find this man, teacher?"
"We do not know, but we believe that the Key will lead us to him. An ancient astronomer from Dragonia predicted that a portion of the Earth would be covered by darkness, but unfortunately we do not know where it will happen, given that the records where lost in an attack by the Selenex. We have never seen this phenomenon in the entire Region of Fire. Nevertheless, we know that it will happen in approximately nine months. That is all the time we have left. We have got to find the man, have him drink from the Chalice, and bring it back to Dragonia before this time expires." he explained.
"Do you think that I am the right one to carry out this mission?" asked the young dragon, doubtfully.
"If I did not believe that, son, I would not have called you. A couple more things." he added. "First: you must know that, because of the nature of the mission, you will be isolated. Secondly: no one knows what I have told you, except for the King, your father, and I and it must remain that way." warned Filox emphatically.
Califax left the library with his head full of confusing thoughts and feelings. The ghosts of doubt that now distressed him terribly had never before invaded his mind. In spite of his fears, this call to destiny could not be ignored, and soon he would have to make a decision that would change, in one way or another, the course of his nation's history.
However, Califax ignored the fact that there was a rumor in the Court of Dragonia, which was becoming stronger every day, that King Rasux was keeping a secret which had been passed down from generation to generation by his ancestors. This way, a secret that Filox having promised it to the King, avoided revealing to his brave pupil. That secret would remain behind the palace walls until Califax returned, if indeed, he did return.
Anxious and worried about hiding the secret from Califax, Filox remained in the library for a few minutes more without noticing that while he was talking to his student, they had been watched by a sinister shadow lurking in a dark corner of the cave. Just as he had done on the way in, the mysterious shadow slipped stealthily from the library with the valuable information that had come out of the conversation that took place between Califax and Filox.
In addition to the many obstacles and dangers that the mission presented, Califax would have to deal with plots and traps as traitors schemed behind the palace walls.
As always, these sinister conspirators had only their own selfish interests at heart, without caring for the needs of the greater cause of their nation; therefore, they routineed the legitimate aspiration of those nations who wished to live and prosper peacefully. Despite these evildoers, Califax would have to overcome it all in order to save Dragonia from the wrath of Helion, and from the greed of those who would interfere in the success of his mission.
\*\*\*
The Grand Dragon of the Chalice
It took califax several days to think upon and analyze the mission which he had been offered, and he spent a few sleepless nights with the specter of uncertainty.
After listening to his father's numerous experiences, advice and warnings, Califax, gathering courage and filled with a sense of duty, was named as Grand Dragon of the Order of the Sacred Chalice in a secret meeting inside the vast and cold cave of the Royal Palace.
Novax, Filox, Rhudex, and other noble dragons met in the cavern for this sacred and memorable celebration, and witnessed the solemn ceremony.
During the ceremony, Califax received a double edged sword. This same sword had been given to his father, Novax, who received it from the hands of a man on the legendary island of Avalon.[10] It was said to have magic powers and was made of a hard material which was unknown to the dragons.
Califax was presented with a golden medal with the emblem of Dragonia inscribed on it.[11] He wore it along with the locket that his mother had given him on his most recent birthday. In addition, he wore a purple cape, embroidered with the royal insignia.
After that, he was given a red sack that contained a copy of the map on papyrus which would lead him to the Sacred Key. Califax knelt with one knee on the ground, and then, the King, declared:
"To you, Califax, son of Novax of the ancestry of Novalux, I name you Grand Dragon of the Order of the Sacred Chalice." said Rasux, solemnly touching the young dragon's head with the royal sword
As far as the rest of Dragonia's inhabitants were concerned, Califax had been invited to travel to Amerux to finish his studies at their academy. This story would save his mother from unnecessary worry, as well keeping the general population from panicking.
Thus, Califax, who had never left the Region of Fire, took flight on the dusk of that memorable day at the end of summer, on a course over the mysterious seas and the remote Britannic territories.
After a few hours, Califax could barely make out the island that he called home. A feeling of sadness swept through him. Califax controlled his fears by singing a song that he had learned once at the academy.
The sea was calm and the sun was warm on his back, and then he remembered the Viking ships which Filox had mentioned. For that reason he decided to search the ocean far and wide to find some of those mysterious ships.
He arrived in the northern part of the Shetland Islands[12] and flew down to look for shelter where he could spend the night.
The wind blew softly as a beautiful full moon rose shyly, but the strange sounds of the animals of the region preyed on his young imagination. However, he knew that he was a strong and well-educated dragon, and for that reason it would not be easy for an animal to intimidate him.
Sheltered from the soft wind of the forest, he slept through the night without any other fear, and when the smooth dawn broke, he left his refuge to look for something to calm the rumblings of his stomach.
In a nearby brook, hidden by the bushes, he found a large variety of tasty fish. Using his sword, he skillfully caught several succulent carp. He roasted them with the fire from his snout, and devoured them, enjoying each delicious morsel.
After his large and tasty breakfast, he prepared to continue his trip across the Shetland Islands to reach the Orkney Isles. Perhaps it was luck, or the Law of Probability, but, just before reaching the Fair Isles, he observed an impressive sight in the ocean below. At first, it seemed that Califax's imagination as playing tricks to him, but no, they were real; seven Viking ships sailed in perfect formation filling cold seascape of the North Sea with the wakes of their scarlet hulls traced. Monumental white sails billowed from the masts, challenging the strong gusts of wind. The sails were bright against the blueness of the ocean, and the back and forth movement of the oars, quickly propelled the ships onward across the icy water. Then, he saw the dragon's head that decorated the bows of the ships. Just as Filox had done years back, Califax flew close to the ships. When the Vikings saw him, they dropped their oars, pointed their swords at him, and greeted him in chorus with a thunderous cry: Thor! Thor! They revered the young dragon enthusiastically.
Califax then took out his sword and let out a great blaze from his snout in return for the effusive greeting. While he flew in circles over those beautiful ships, he savored the taste which is usually reserved absolutely for the goods, when he listening, from the heights, the greeting that those faithful subjects offered him with such respect and admiration.
After his fortunate encounter with the Vikings, Califax continued to fly for a few hours until he arrived to the southern part of the Orkney Isles. It was a place called Ronaldsay, located on the edge of the Straits of Pentland. From there, he could observe Cape Duncansby on the opposite shore, which constitutes the northern portion of the great isles of Briton.
Up to that moment, he had suffered no misfortune but when he looked at the land he was leaving behind, birthplace of his parents and grandparents, a feeling of fear and doubt nagged at him. He wondered what kind of strange beings and men could inhabit that mysterious region that he was about to enter, and what dangers awaited him.
Califax searched the forest for something to eat, and managed to cash some fish in a small brook near the place where he had landed. He caught some carps with his very sharp and brilliant sword.
Night fell in the forest, and the moon filtered through the thick canopy of imposing Royal Pines.[13]
The nighttime song of the forest creatures began, and Califax readied himself to sleep after first emotional and exciting journey.
After a while, he found a cozy place in a bend near to the sea, which provided a smooth fresh bed of sweet smelling grassy herbs. He lay down in his improvised bed and slept like a log.
Califax was walking inside a cold and scary cave, and upon reaching the end, a gigantic man offered him a golden cup that, after drinking from it, he savored a horrible taste of blood on his lips, and he felt an intense heat inside that burned. Then, the man guffawed while asking him: "Would you drink of my blood, Califax?"
The young dragon awoke in the middle of the night, frightened, with sweat dripping from his one and only horn. Perhaps his unconscious mind was worrying over his important mission, causing his horrible nightmare. "What type of man will I have to give the chalice to? What will the Chalice look like?" he asked himself.
The dawn came early and Califax woke with hunger pangs in his stomach. Tired of the taste of fish, he looked for something else to eat. He missed his mother's delicious smoked turkey, roasted potatoes and blackberry sauce. She was an expert in cooking it just right, not too rare and not too well done. "Maybe with some luck I will find some on the way." he thought, optimistically.
He walked through the forest looking for a bird, preferably a large bird. He would even have been satisfied with something with four feet to eat. Then, with his sharp ears, he heard something moving in the shrubs. It was an enormous and tasty hare.
Quickly, he cut the rodent' when the hare saw the enormous jaws of the dragon, he stood petrified for a moment with his ears up high. Califax roared ferociously and showed his sharp claws, and unfolded his enormous wings. Then he rushed at the unfortunate animal, whose ears seemed to wilt like flowers in autumn after seeing the ferocious demonstration.
On seeing the frightened eyes of his victim, Califax remembered that he had never killed or cooked any animal that was not a fish. He did not even know how to skin it once it was dead. Dismayed by this fact, he turned his back and let it go, only to eat some fish from the brook, again.
After a few seconds, the hare fell faint on its back, his eyes still frightened from the terror that the dragon caused her.
Once eating his usual, fishy breakfast, Califax took the air once more. First, he followed along the western coast of the island towards Duncansby until reaching the Gulf of Dornoch. Passing by there, he reached the Gulf of Moray, further to the south of Briton, and then he flew toward the Caledonian strait, which narrowed until almost disappearing and then he turned to the southwest.
After a few minutes, he found a great lake surrounded by beautiful mountains covered with enormous trees.[14] He stopped for a moment to admire the stunning landscape and afterwards strolled down to the lake to drink a little water, which tasted fresh and sweet to the dragon.
Despite what could be thought, dragons from Dragonia did not lap water directly with their tongues, instead they cupped their claws and brought it to their mouths, as any well-educated dragon would do when he has not a cup or glass.
After removing his cape, he drank eagerly from those waters when, suddenly, some bubbling caught his attention and he fixed his eyes on the disturbance. The water from the lake was cloudy and he could not see more than a few inches below the surface. He leaned closer in order to see what was making the bubbles. Nevertheless, he had to wait to find out. Seconds later, a gigantic head, followed by a long neck, emerged from the water, like the birth of an enormous island.
The young dragon's first thought was to flee when he saw the monster, but his sheer size hypnotized Califax, and the impression left him frozen at the edge of the lake.
A deep, friendly voice boomed from that enormous throat.
"Who are you, my friend?"
"My name is Califax." he stammered, still astonished.
"Very nice to meet you Califax. My name is Nessux." the immense being said, making a friendly gesture with his head. With his claws still cupped and dripping water, Califax replied;
"The pleasure is mine."
"I see that you wear a royal seal around your neck. Where do you come from? Which is your kingdom, my friend?" he inquired.
"I am an envoy of Rasux, King of the Helenex; a nation of the Region of Fire." the young dragon explained, rubbing his claws, nervously.
"Ah, I see." murmured the monster. "My father told me about other members of your kingdom who passed by this lake." mentioned the monster.
"Really?" said Califax, surprised by that amazing revelation. Nessux, glancing to the sky, continued.
"I was barely a tadpole, when my father told me the story of how, many years ago, he saw a dragon with an insignia like the one you wear. The dragon was being chased by a group of men and was caught not far from here. He could not fly because of the wounds inflicted upon his wings, but he made a noble stand and fought a brave battle before succumbing to the weapons of the men. Years later," he continued, "another young one like you came to the same misfortune at the hands of the humans. According to what my father's story, in both cases, the men called the dragon Lucifer while they were being chased and attacked without mercy."
The story from his new friend filled Califax with great pain and sadness. Surely, Nessux's father witnessed the illfated end of his grandparents.
"Who is this Lucifer that the men hate so much that they took the lives of my ancestors?" he inquired, with tears brimming in his eyes.
"I do not know, Califax. My father did not know either, but we believe that they confused your ancestors with that Lucifer. Be very careful since you could have the same ill-luck," he warned.
"I will," he agreed. "Man is very strange, Nessux." he said, while playing with the sand on the beach with one of his paws.
"And dangerous!" exclaimed Nessux. "Once, a man who was fishing in the lake saw me come up to the surface for air and a little sun. Then, just a few days later, the lake was infested with them! They came armed with the intention of trapping one of use. Fortunately, these waters are cloudy and they could not find us.
"Us...?" asked Califax, with surprise.
"I am the father of a family of eight." he said proudly. "We are the descendants of a very old race, the brachiopterix.[15] In ancient times, we had the ability to fly, but once our ancestors took to the water, we lost that ability. Our wings then changed to these powerful fins which now allow us to swim." he explained, showing his large and powerful extremities.
"I thought the only swimming dragons were the Vikings." said Califax to himself.
"What brings you to this land, Califax?" asked Nessux, with curiosity.
"I am here to continue with the mission that my ancestors could not complete."
"What type of mission is it that you must risk your life?" amazed, Nessux asked.
"I must find the Sacred Chalice so that my people will not fall victim to the wrath of Helion, our god."
"Where do you think you will find the chalice?"
"I do not know. I must first find the Sacred Key that guards it."
"It seems like an extremely difficult mission, my friend," Nessux said rolling his eyes. "It would better for you to be on your way before the men find you," he advised. "I wish you good luck, Califax, and if you need anything, you have friends here who will be glad to help." offered the friendly big saurian.
"Thank you, Nessux. I wish you good luck too, my friend." he said, taking his leave from the gentle monster.
Califax wrapped his cloak about him and took flight toward the southwest, on a course to the Gulf of Lorne. Once he arrived, the beautiful Grampian Mountains rose on his left. There, the imposing Ben Nevis Pike protrudes above the rest of the mountains at a height of 3,900 feet.
The winds of the north blew softly, allowing him to enjoy the beautiful and enigmatic landscape of that golden earth, and he was glad then, that he had accepted the mission since it presented the opportunity to see other territories and nations beyond Dragonia and the Region of Fire.
After flying a little more than 60 miles, he arrived at a small town called Oban. There, he began to search for a safe place where he could rest and spend another night, far away from his home.
The moon shone through the dense and dark forest of Briton, and the soft twinkle of the stars lulled the exhausted traveler who, in just a few minutes, gave in to a deep and recuperating sleep.
Califax cautiously entered the dark and gloomy cave where the gigantic man offered him his cup. After drinking its' contents, the coppery taste of blood caused an intense heat inside which burned his insides. The horrible outbursts of laughter that emanated from the giant sounded like a terrible omen. Then, with a grave voice, the man asked: "Would you drink of my blood, Califax?"
Califax awoke suddenly, frightened, with sweat soaking his horn, and, looking at the thick forest that protected him, he felt the melancholic company of solitude.
At dawn, the first rays of light from the sun invaded the young dragon's refuge. He awoke with a big yawn and still feeling tired. He groomed himself as best he could, and got ready to resume his journey.
Flying near Lake Fyne, he happened upon a flock of geese flying in a V formation. As he fell in behind them, the geese at the rear saw him, and each one of them a touched the wing of the one ahead, warning them of the presence of the dragon. After the warning was passed to the others, the geese beat their wings desperately, increasing their speed in an effort to get away from the young dragon. With a mischievous smile, Califax blew a large smoke ring around the tail of two geese in the rear of the formation and laughingly watched the panicked geese scatter, honking insistently in fright.
After the amusement that the geese afforded him, he arrived at the delta of the Clyde River and observed the town of Glas Ghu in the distance. The Saint Mungo monastery dominated the dispersed houses made of straw, wood, and large blocks of mud and stone. His anguish grew as he neared that place where men lived, and he remembered the violence with which his grandparents were treated after they were confused with that Lucifer. He decided that he would avoid entering the town, so would not to be seen by them.
Looking for something to eat, he entered the forest avoiding the riverbanks, since many humans lived there. Suddenly, a mysterious sound in the forest thicket captured his attention. Curiously, he approached a tree from where the sounds were coming. He looked and saw a strange creature whose back was to him, chewing on something with delight. The stranger turned suddenly, and when they saw each other, they exclaimed in unison:
"Mother was right! Gargoyles do exist!"
"Mother was right! Dragons do exist!"
Horrified, they fled in opposite directions: each trying to escape their respective childhood monsters. Nevertheless, a few yards from their encounter, they stopped.
Peeking from behind the shrubs, the gargoyle and the dragon watched with mutual distrustful glances. Once Califax realized that he had scared that frightful being, he slowly crept out of his hiding place.
"Who are you?" he asked with softly.
"Are you not going to harm me?" maintaining a prudent distance, asked the gargoyle with distrust.
"I will not harm you. I give you my word as a Dragon!" Califax e assured, bringing his claw to his chest.
"Word as a Dragon. Humph! What does he think that means?" he mumbled with doubt. "I had only imagined them in the horrible stories that my mother told me, and now, this one is giving me his word. Well, we'll see."
"I assure you that I will not do you any harm, friend." insisted the young dragon, spreading his claws and wings wide, as if to show that he had no concealed weapon.
Slowly, the gargoyle left his hiding place, keeping a wary eye and climbing onto a sturdy limb of a nearby tree.
With a mixture of distrust and curiosity, the gargoyle Asked;
"Tell me: What is your name?"
"My name is Califax, subject of Rasux, King of Helenex." he answered amicably.
"I do not know that kingdom. Is it very far from here?" the gargoyle questioned.
"It is in the Region of Fire, located on an island north of Briton. Tell me: What is your name?"
"My name is Hayex, and I am not anybody's subject. I steal what food I can from the humans to survive," he explained proudly. "Speaking of which, you interrupted my lunch, my friend." he protested.
"I am sorry. It was not my intention, but you scared me too." insisted Califax.
"Are you really a dragon?" Hayex asked, as his eyes looked Califax over from top to bottom.
"Yes, observe." he said, sending an enormous flame into the air that made the gargoyle back off.
"Are you really a gargoyle?" the dragon asked, peering at the strange figure of Hayex.
"Of course. Do I look like something else? What are you doing so far from home?" he inquired.
"I have come to look for the Key of the Sacred Chalice." announced Califax.
"A key...? What kind of key?" intrigued, asked the gargoyle.
"It's confidential information, my friend." he stated.
"Where do you think it is?" Hayex insisted in his investigative query.
"It's probably in one of these three places indicated on this map." explained the dragon, unfolding the map.
"Here there are structures made by the ancestors of the Celts, where they hold ancient rituals hidden from the Anglo-Saxons." he said, pointed to a spot on the map.
"Why do they hide from those Anglo--Saxons?" questioned Califax, with a quaking voice.
"If they were to be seen, they would be severely punished. The Anglo--Saxons are trying to force the Celts to believe in Anglo--Saxon gods." he informed.
"How strange men are!" Califax exclaimed.
"I would like very much to accompany you in your search for the key, Califax." Hayex pleaded.
"I do not know. It is a very secret mission, my friend." he said, taking his chin doubtfully into his claw.
"I know the area very well and I could help you hide from the humans." offered the excited gargoyle. "If they catch you, you just will be a mythological being, as in my mother's stories." he warned sarcastically.
"What is in it for you?" Califax asked.
"I have been in this place far too long and I am very bored." he explained.
"Very well, but promise me that you will not do anything unless I ask you to do it." he demanded, pointing with his index finger.
"I promise!" assured the gargoyle, raising his right claw.
Califax felt that his new companion would make a good guide in these strange lands. Judging by his looks and his scent, it could be said that Hayex had never taken a good bath with soap and clean water. However, he was willing to take him as he was and hoped that this company would help him return to Dragonia very soon.
Filled with enthusiasm, the pair did not notice that they were being watched by two sinister, hulking shadows. These mysterious beings were hidden in the thick of the forest as they spied and conspired.
Meanwhile, in Dragonia, Darta received, from the claws of Novax, one of the letters that Califax had written to her before he left the town. In spite of reading it with maternal pride, it left her with bittersweet feelings.
"Something the matter?" Novax sweetly asked his wife.
"It's nothing, my love. I just worry about my little one because he is not by my side." she said, tucking the letter carefully away.
"There is nothing to worry about, dear. I left him in very good claws." he said, embracing her tenderly to calm her and to hide his own restlessness.
"I hope so, my love."
"There is nothing to worry about." he insisted.
Meantime, the daring adventurers flew towards the south, the landscape dominated by vast and beautiful plains covered with green and gilded grass. They traveled over the Gulf of Salway, until they reached the Isle of Mann,[16] where they flew near Snaefell Mountain, which has an altitude of 1,875 feet and makes up the central portion of the island. They veered west and stopped close to a small town called Peel.[17]
"They say that on the island of Avalon, southwest of here, there lived a king who was wounded in battle. According to the legend, when this king was just a boy he pulled out a sword which he found embedded in a rock in a place called Dindagel."[18] Hayex related.
"Who can thrust a sword into a rock?" Califax questioned disbelievingly.
"A man who came from distant lands did so, many centuries ago."
"And why would he do something like that?"
"They say that a Roman soldier had thrust it into the ribs of a dying king." he related. "The man who brought it to this land plunged it into the rock so that nobody could do anymore harm with it. They say that it is a sacred relic." he explained.
"And how could the King of Avalon remove it from the rock, my friend?" inquired Califax.
"Because, this king possessed certain virtues within his heart." explained Hayex.
"And where is this sword?" he asked, with curiosity.
"No one knows for certain, but there is a story that says the King of Avalon secretly gave it to an angel before dying."
"My father gave me this sword, which a man from Avalon gave to him. My teacher believes that it has magic powers." Califax confided, showing the sword.
"It looks like the other blades that men carry," he said with indifference, glancing at the sword.
At midday, hunger made itself known through the loud rumbling that growled though the companion's stomach. Hayex offered to go look for something especially appetizing to eat, but the dragon explained that he did not have any idea how to cook. The gargoyle assured him that he would bring something already cooked by men, as only men know how to do. Califax, excited, agreed since he was tired of eating fish.
"Perhaps I can bring a delicious lamb or a roasted cat," said Hayex, licking his lips.
"What kind of a thing is a... cat?" the dragon asked, perplexed.
"It is a feline that lives on this island. It is called a Manx.[19] It has no tail but despite this fact it is quite delicious." he said, licking his lips once more.
"Sound interesting. It will be an excellent opportunity to try an exotic dish." Califax agreed.
Silently, Hayex approached one of the farms in the village, followed closely by the young dragon. The always-careful gargoyle asked Califax to wait behind the bushes, since the humans could see him very easily because his great size. Hayex eyed the chicken coop in the farmer's yard, before committing his misdeed. After making sure that nobody was around, he flew onto the fence, which scared the birds and causing a great ruckus in the coop.
Hearing the loud noise, one of the farmers came running to see what was happening. Hayex took advantage of the confusion to sneak silently into the house. Once inside, he found a delicious broiled duck that the farmers had just roasted, which he snatched quickly without a second thought.
With the loot in his claws, the gargoyle stuck his head out of one of the windows from which he planned to make his escape. As he did so, however, the young farmer caught him by the neck causing his tongue to stick out and his eyes to bulge from the tight grip.
"Papa! Look! I found the gargoyle that fell from the roof!" yelled the man, while Hayex let the duck fall from his claws.
"Very good, son! Put it back where it belongs, at once!" called the farmer from inside the house.
After twisting and squeezing him, the farmer noticed that the gargoyle was a little bit flaccid, so he decided to fix it. He put him in a container full of wet clay so that he would harden, while Hayex fought uselessly with that clumsy and muscular man. He kicked, gagged, and almost drowned, all the while screaming for help as the insipient farmer obscured his plea behind the dim-witted words of a song.
Despite the panicked yells of Hayex, Califax neither could hear to him, since the dragon had fallen into a deep sleep under the shade of a gigantic tree.
Once the farmer finished coating the gargoyle with clay, he pushed him into a wood-burning oven which he used to bake bricks. After a few minutes, Hayex found himself covered with hardened clay which prevented him from moving.
"Aw, look at that! It came out horrible!" the farmer exclaimed, while looking at the grotesque figure of the gargoyle. He went up on the roof, set the gargoyle's feet in cement, and placed him above the water drainage pipe.
The only thing that Hayex could do, under those conditions, was to try to free his lips from the hard shell and call for his companion to help him. However, he would have to wait for the farmers to fall asleep in order to avoid being heard by the men.
Night fell and Hayex was still stuck on the roof, and unable to get Califax's attention, in spite of his desperate cries for help. Finally, the dragon awoke from his deep sleep and he noticed that the gargoyle had not yet returned. "Perhaps he regretted accompanying me," he thought.
Beyond the sounds of the forest, with his highly perceptive hearing, Califax could hear moans and groans that seemed to come from the farm. He cautiously approached to get a better look. To his surprise, there was Hayex on top of the farmhouse, motionless as a statue, framed against the background of a beautiful full moon, such as the ones that can be seen in some comedy theatre plays.
After ensuring that there were no humans in the area, he hastily joined his partner upon the roof with a few swift flaps of his wings.
"What happened to you?" he asked, shocked.
"Shut up and get me out of here!" he demanded, sticking his lips out painfully from their rigid prison.
"But, how shall I do it?"
"Break the clay, you fool!" growl the gargoyle angrily.
After hearing that insult, Califax raised one eyebrow, removed his sword without a doubt, and struck the gargoyle firmly on the backside, making him tumble from the roof with a loud thud.
The loud noise awakened the farmers. They grabbed their weapons and ran out of the house. Califax seized Hayex by the neck and quickly flew away from the place. When the farmers saw the dragon fly away, they woke the entire village through shouting "Lucifer! Lucifer!"
The gargoyle and the dragon escaped into the forest to hide from their angry persecutors. They rested, trying to catch their breath and, after the forest fell silent once more, Califax asked an ill-timed question.
"So... did you bring something to eat?"
"What?" Hayex roared, surprised. "I almost die a horrible, terrible death though asphyxiation and the only thing you can think of is food!" he muttered, as he shook free of the remaining mud.
"You are right. Forgive me, my friend." he said apologetically.
"Oh, forget it! It would be better if we found a place to stay the night."
They did not have to go very far to find a safe hiding spot, and after a few minutes, the adventurers fell into a deep and revitalizing sleep.
Meanwhile, in the Region of Fire, things were getting worse. The recurrent attacks in Dragonia became more and more bloody and common, prompting the Helenex to implement the operation "Defensive Wall" which consisted of patrolling, day and night, several sectors where the Selenex were known to be based. The artillery opened fire at the slightest indication of an attack, and the armored dragons burst into the homes of those suspected of being an enemy.
In one such operation, there was a great slaughter of Selenex civilians, who, without knowing it, were used by their own militia as a shield in order to attack the enemy. The result was that the Helenex had sufficient cause to open fire on the innocent civilians, causing tremendous death and destruction. Entire families were destroyed or mutilated, causing death to some of their most important members, leaving the surviving females and pups to grieve.
The governors of the rest of the nations hypocritically condemned the brutal attacks, and they formed a commission to investigate the regrettable acts. Nonetheless these governors benefited from these attacks, as they sold weapons or equipment to the warring nations, or by feeding hatred among their own subjects toward allied nations of the tribes in conflict in order to acquire a more influential political position. In spite of the Helenex defense operations, the Selenex relentless attacks caused the competence of the king to be called into question.
Rasux could not understand how the Selenex broke through the defensive circle, and at the end of several Council meetings, Rhudex insisted that they should take harsher measures since the capabilities of the king were in doubt.
"Perhaps we should think about replacing Rasux. He is too old." he said on several occasions without trying to hide his disgust.
Tradux complained to Rhudex about such comments, due to the loyalty that they owed to the king. The truth is, there was a traitor in the Royal Council who wanted to overthrow Rasux by aiding the attacks of the Selenex.
After the unsuccessful attempt to rob food from the humans, Califax and Hayex took flight in a southerly direction after eating a breakfast of carp. They left the Isle of Man and crossed the stunning Sea of Ireland, and in a short time, they arrived to Bangor, in Wales. As they flew over the settlement, Califax noticed a great deal of activity in the center of the village.
"What are they constructing, Hayex?" he asked intrigued.
"It is a temple.[20] The Celts in this region converted to the Roman god." he explained
"How strange men are!" the bewildered dragon exclaimed.
They continued their flight until reaching the depths of Snowdon's mounts, where the Y Wyddfa dominated the area with its 3,260 feet high peak. Below, a large number of lakes formed in the valleys between the mountains, treated the travelers to a beautiful and enigmatic view, with their crystalline blue reflections.
They turned toward the east and followed the tributary of the River Dee,[21] whose waterfalls and rapids formed abundant fluffy mounds of foam.
"They tell of a wise man, wiser than any other, who lives somewhere along this river." informed Hayex as he pointed to the deep forest. "His name is Dee[22] and they say that he is a powerful magician."
"Do you know him?" asked Califax.
"No. Very few have seen as he lives alone in the forest like a hermit."
"It would be very interesting to meet someone like him, my friend." said Califax.
They flew over Stour-In-Usmere[23] until reaching Old Sarum,[24] where they found a safe area to stop and check their location on the map. The map indicated three points that formed a straight line from southwest to northeast which passed close to Old Sarum, but those points were not precise. Then Hayex remembered the ancient structures that were spread all over that area.
"Maybe the Key is at one of these ancient sites, my friend." speculated the gargoyle.
"But, which one?" Califax wondered.
"We can start with Peel Dagda[25]. Perhaps we could find it there." suggested Hayex.
"What is that place?" asked Califax.
"It is an ancient site, built by the Celtic ancestors. The Anglo-Saxons call it Stonehenge, but I prefer to call it by its ancient name." he explained.
Hours later, in Peel Dagda, the dragon and the gargoyle observed the Celts from a solitary tree, cloaked in the darkness. They were astonished as they watched those enigmatic men begin a mysterious ritual; marching in a religious procession and making offerings to their mysterious gods around an enormous bonfire.
"What is it that these men are doing?" asked Califax, mumbling.
"They are preparing for the Samhain." said Hayex.
"What in Helion's name is that? asked Califax.
"It is a ritual dedicated to the transmutation of the universe. The Celts believe that all things, as people, have a spirit of their own and they never die, but only change form. The ritual initiates on the last day of October, when summer already ends, and it is extended until dawn."
"How strange men are!" he exclaimed.
"Not any stranger than a dragon." Hayex chided.
"Or a Gargoyle." insisted Califax.
"The Celts believe that when the sun goes down that spirits of the dead wander around the earth. The Anglos-Saxons called it Hallowed Eve,[26] and on that day some of them wander into the villages demanding a treat or they would trick them." reported Hayex.
"What kind of treat?"
"To voluntarily give everything they own."
"And what of the trick?" he asked curiously.
"The trick consists of destroying the village if they refuse. After pillaging the village, they place a marker in the entrance of the homes to signal to the others that the villager had already paid tribute."
"What kind of marker?" the young dragon asked intrigued.
"A candle lit inside a hollow pumpkin." he explained.[27]
"Why don't the villagers resist or place a pumpkin in the entrance to deceive them?" asked the dragon.
"I knew once of a deceit such as this. When the Anglo-Saxons discovered it, unfortunately, they burned the village with its inhabitants inside." he said in a mysterious voice.
"And I thought the Region of Fire was a dangerous place to live!" exclaimed the horrified dragon.
Suddenly, a regiment of Anglo-Saxon soldiers violently burst into the sanctuary. Califax and Hayex flew to the top of the tree to avoid being seen, and with their eyes full of surprise and disbelief, they watched the Anglo-Saxons attack the Celts. The Celts, to their credit, though they were taken by surprise under the light of the full moon, put up a fierce fight.
The hiss of the arrows and the cold sound of metal slicing through the air filled the night followed by a strident choir of heart rending howls and dying moans. People ran terrified before the whinnying of the invading horses, which on many occasions crushed the men and women who lay wounded or dying.
After several minutes of violence and anguish, a deathly call fell over the temple. The inert bodies of the people lay scattered over the sacred ground of the Druids.[28]
Califax and Hayex could not get over their horror and shock at what lay before them. They remained hidden and silent in the top of the tree unable to tear their eyes away from that wretched scene.
After shaking off their confusion, Hayex suggested bravely to his companion that they should enter the enclosure.
"Are you mad?" the dragon gasped, as he clung whit all his might to the tree with his claws.
"We should look for the Key, my friend." he reminded him.
"What if the soldiers return?" asked Califax.
"If they return, we will fly out. Do not be troubled; we will watch each other's backs."
They entered the enclosure, walking back to tail, carefully avoiding stepping on the bodies of the fallen. They inspected each stone in the enclosure looking for some clue that would lead them to the location of the Key. They found only twenty-eight cold stones arranged in a circle, many of them stained with the blood of the Celts. Within this circle, they found other hollow rocks arranged in an elliptical form that seemed as if it were made to hold something inside them. The entire temple was surrounded by fifty-six strange holes in the ground, whose purpose was completely unknown for the daring adventurers. Armed with courage and patience, they looked for the Key with their claws in each one of those strange holes, but they found nothing as they could not even reach the bottom of any of the holes.
After long hours of searching, the dragon and the gargoyle stopped inspecting the sanctuary, and they found a place to rest for the night.
Califax felt the cold atmosphere of the cave chilling him to the bone. Suddenly, a gigantic Anglo-Saxon soldier approached him, saying: "Would you drink of my blood, Califax?"
He awoke roaring and shooting fireballs all over the place. He accidentally burned his faithful companion, Hayex, making him jump several feet in the air and run all over the place because the dragon had inflicted a painful burn on his tail.
"What happened...?" exclaimed the gargoyle, after putting out the fire on his tail out in a nearby bog.
"Oh, I am sorry, my friend. I had a nightmare and I thought it was real." he explained whit shame.
"I beg you to dream something else." he begged, nervously.
The following morning they began to pour over study the map. They did not know which of the points on the map represented Peel Dagda. They did not even know if any point on the map referred to the place where they were currently standing. Hayex proposed that they travel southwest to a place the Celts called Peel Lugh,[29] and known by the Anglo-Saxons as Avebury, that was located eleven miles f rom Peel Dagda. They started on their way, and in a short time, they arrived at their destination. The view was breathtaking.
Surrounded by a pit measuring 63 feet wide, 18 feet deep, and 366 yards in diameter, Peel Lugh hosted a city within its five acres of land. In the center of this place, there was a stone construction similar to the one in Peel Dagda, only larger. It was surrounded by another circle of larger stones. From the air, you could see the moat and the two central rock constructions, which constituted the ceremonial center for the village: forming three enormous concentric circles.
"How are we ever going to find the Key in such a big place?" inquired the dragon.
"I do not know. It was a long time ago that I visited this place and I did not remember how big it was." Hayex answered, still amazed by the large size of the site.
Despite the difficulties of entering Peel Lugh, they decided to go through with it. They would wait for nightfall and the streets were empty.
While they waited for the night, Hayex took it upon himself to find something tasty to eat. He stealthily approached the moat surrounding the village, which, at that time, was almost dry. He began to study the nearby farms. Then, he found one that interested him, as the yard filled with delicious ducks and hens, and the farmers were occupied with their tasks elsewhere on the farm. He flew over the moat and the fence, and with quick and precise movements, he snatched a pair of ducks by their necks and left the farm immediately.
Hayex flew happily back to the refuge; however, while looking back over his shoulder to make sure that nobody was following him, he flew into a tree on the edge of the moat. The impact caused him to lose grip on the ducks and he fell into a black pit of mud. After a short time, Hayex crawled out of the moat and made his way back to Califax. His body was completely covered in mud, which was beginning to harden.
"I thought you did not like mud baths, my friend, but I see that I was mistaken." he said with a mocking smile.
Hayex glared at the young dragon, who, in order to calm his friend's anger, offered him various types of berries which he had gathered near the refuge.
Night fell and the inhabitants of the village prepared themselves to bed and dreaming, and the time drew near for the friends to enter into the sacred area. Given their recent experiences, they were overwhelmed by nervousness.
"I hope the soldiers do not come to this village while we are inside," Hayex said in a concerned voice.
"Helion forbid!" agreed the dragon, also frightened by the possibility.
Hiding behind houses and trees, they arrived at the ceremonial center of the village and cautiously entered it. There were no doors to open or ceilings to prevent them from seeing the dark sky, sparkling with stars. On the floor in the center of the monument, in bas relief, there was a huge circular stone covered with strange and mysterious inscriptions which were shaped to form the iris of a huge eye. The adventurers decided that this eye might be a secret entrance to the interior of the sanctuary. They looked around the great stones surrounding the eye for some kind mechanism which might open it.
After several minutes of unfruitful searching, Califax noticed in the center of the stone there was strange the he had noticed before due to the deep and perpetual darkness which surrounded them in that mysterious and enigmatic place.
Califax lit a flame with his snout and felt carefully around the stone to confirm his suspicions.
"Hey Look, Hayex! There is has a hole in the center. What do you think it is for?" he asked, looking into the disbelieving eyes of the gargoyle.
"I do not know. Perhaps it has the same function as the hollows that we found in the stones at Peel Dagda." said Hayex, scratching his head.
"Or perhaps it is a keyhole of some kind." speculated the dragon.
"Oh great, that is all we needed! To have to find the key for the Key." complained Hayex.
"Did you see this?" said Califax, touching the stone.
"What is it?" questioned Hayex, as he approached the stone.
"It has strange engraved letters. What does the inscription on the rock mean?" asked the dragon.
"It is very dark. I cannot see very well. Give me some light." said Hayex, taking Califax by the claw. "It is written in the Celtic language and it says: Lugh will reveal his secret when a tear from the tree of the Charmer falls."[30] he read slowly.
"What in Helion's name does that mean?" Califax asked, bewildered
"I do not know. Let us see." reflected Hayex, taking his chin in his hand. "Lugh is this stone, and to the Celts it is the god of the Sun, but I do not know what a tear from the tree of the Charmer means."
"Then, we will have to find it out quickly, my friend." asserted the dragon.
Then, Califax's keen ears heard the sound of someone approaching. They quickly flew in the opposite direction from the sound. The dim veil of the night helped them to escape unseen.
\*\*\*
The Kingdom of Lugh
In their hiding place, close to Peel Lugh, Califax and Hayex discussed the meaning of the inscription on the rock meant. During their discussion, doubt began to settle amongst the adventurers.
"Perhaps the key we are looking for is not here." said Hayex.
"I do not know where else we can look for it, my friend." answered the dragon.
"Remember that the map indicates a place that we have not yet visited." pointed out the gargoyle, gesturing to the map.
"I know, but I have a feeling that it must be in Peel Lugh. This is such an important place." muttered Califax, rubbing his chin.
"The map showed a place to the southeast, where there is a huge earthen knoll." said Hayex, pointing once again at the map.
"Are you referring to a mound in the shape of a cone, my friend?" asked Califax, scratching his head.
"Indeed," he replied, "it is a very ancient place and of great importance to the Celts. They call it Tohlmenhir[31] and it is said that it is the tomb of an ancient king." informed the gargoyle.
"I do not believe that it is more important than Peel Lugh." insisted the dragon.
"But, then, why is it indicated here on the map?" inquired Hayex.
"Perhaps to confuse us." he offered. "Remember, the map also indicates Peel Dagda and we did not find anything there." he stated.
"True, but we should make sure, don't you think?" suggested Hayex.
"I believe that we should concentrate on deciphering the eye of Lugh and then later, if it is necessary, we will go to the knoll." said the dragon.
"In that case, it will be necessary to ask for a little help." murmured Hayex, scratching his chin.
"Help...? From whom, Hayex?" asked the dragon, intrigued.
"Do you remember that I told you about a very wise man who lives close to the River Dee?" asked the gargoyle.
"Are we going to ask for help from a man? Are you mad?" he cried, incredulously.
"They say it is because of his wisdom that this man is different from the rest." explained Hayex.
"After what I have seen of men, I prefer not to approach any of them." complained Califax.
"This man lives in the forest and he is not armed. Besides, we have no other alternatives to consider unless you, yourself, can decipher the inscription." taunted Hayex.
"I hope I do not regret this." Califax sighed.
The very idea of having to approach a man filled Califax's heart with anguish and fear. However, eventually he would have to face one of those frightful beings, since part of his mission required that he give the chalice to one of them.
At dusk, they flew towards the northwest, crossed the Bristol Channel, until almost reaching the Snowdon Mountains, where the River Dee is born. They go down on a place in the depth of the forest.
Walking through the dense forest, the travelers hoped in some way or another to find the mysterious wise man. The cloying darkness that surrounded the forest was enough to intimidate anyone, and the looming and twisted shape of the trees gave them the sense of being in an endless labyrinth, whose walls always looked the same in any direction. The strange and eerie silence that prevailed in that mysterious place made their footsteps a clatter impossible to avoid.
"I do not like this place." murmured Califax.
"Nor do I. It is too quiet and tenebrous." observed Hayex, scanning the area about them.
Without warning, a swirling, dense white fog surrounded them and made it impossible for them to even see each other's eyes. Califax and Hayex shouted to each other in a vain attempt to locate one another, but their voices were caught in that thickness, as sticky as a cobweb, resulting in a muffled echo.
That strange fog disappeared as quickly as it had appeared. The dragon and the gargoyle found themselves sanding mere inches from another.
They did not take even one step back when their backs touched. Both creatures were startled and they leapt wildly about voicing screams of terror.
As they stood there yelling at each another, a thin figure, draped from head to toe in a white tunic, emerged from the shadows of the forest. In a gentle voice the figure spoke to them.
"Why have you come to this place?" he asked.
Upon hearing that soft yet deep voice, Califax and Hayex stood frozen. Staring at the hypnotic look that came from the eyes of the ghostly figure under the hood, Califax murmured.
"Are you the magician called Dee, sir?" he asked coming out of his surprise.
"Some say that I am a magician; while others say that I am a demon." he answered, without a hint of surprise at their presence.
"They have said the same of me, sir." said the dragon, pointing to himself with his claw.
"What do you want?" he asked amicably.
"I've come from a distant kingdom in search of the Sacred Chalice, sir." explained Califax, with a polite bow.
"And why do you think what you seek can be found in these forests?" questioned the magician, gesturing widely.
"We have been following this map, looking for the Key that leads to the Chalice." he said displaying the map to the magician. "We believe that it is in Peel Lugh, but we have not been able to decipher the meaning of the inscription on the stone we found there." he explained.
"What you are looking for is only visible when it is exposed to the light." said the magician in a somber tone.
"How can I expose to the light what I am looking for?" inquired the dragon.
"The earth soon forgets the tears of men. Only the tears of the Myrddin's tree will endure in its bowels. When Caliburn returns to the rock, Lugh will divulge its secret." he said, with a strange resonance that reverberated throughout the forest.
Suddenly, the sinister fog swirled about them again, and when it dissolved, Califax and Hayex found themselves alone in the tenebrous forest once more.
The meeting with the magician left them with more questions than answers. However, they were single-minded about entering into the prohibited kingdom of Lugh. They returned to Peel Lugh, where Califax reflected on the words of the magician.
"The earth soon forgets the tears of men. Only the tears of the Myrddin's tree will endure in its bowels." Califax remembered.
"The words of Dee, the magician, are as strange to me as the inscription on the stone." said Hayex with a hint of frustration.
"Who is Myrddin?" asked Califax, curiously.
"He is a magician who lives in the northern lands in a forest called Brociliande[32]. They say that he has a magic tree which people go to pray or make requests. Some call him Merlin[33]." he explained.
"Why did not you mention this before, my friend?" demanded Califax.
"I did not think it would be useful. When have you ever seen a tree cry?" answered Hayex.
"What type of tree does Merlin have?" inquired Califax.
"An oak." he answered bluntly.
Suddenly, Califax realized that he had the answer, and he urged Hayex to follow him to a place he had just seen.
They flew towards a forest where oaks dominated the countryside, and then Califax began to dig at the foot of one of them.
"What are you doing just standing there? Help me dig!" commanded the dragon.
"But, what are we looking for?" asked Hayex.
"An oak tear." he answered.
"Are you crazy?" asked Hayex. "Oaks do not cry." he alleged.
"Of course they do! Help me find one." Califax ordered.
After several hours of digging holes here and there, like hard working archaeologists, Califax finally found a golden hued object wedged in the earth. On seeing the strange object, Hayex said:
"That is an elektron."[34]
"No, I think it is an oak tear." the young dragon replied.
"No! It is an elektron. Look." Hayex said, grabbing and rubbing vigorously against his body. When he brought it close to the map, the papyrus began to move towards the object, as if drawn by some unseen force.
"What a strange phenomenon. I have never seen anything like that!" exclaimed Califax with great surprise.
"The Romans used the elektron to make perfumes and the Celts use it to make necklaces. I know of a place where you can find many laying on the ground." Hayex informed Califax.
"This one should be enough. Let us go to the temple."
With the elektron in their claws, the adventurers waited for evening to fall. Their previous experience enabled them to enter into the Peel Lugh temple with ease and confidence.
They went straight to the eye-shaped rock, inserted the elektron into the cavity, and waited, but nothing happened. A few minutes later, a cloud, which had cloaked the moon slowly moved aside, allowing the light of the moon to draw back the grey mantle that covered the Eye of Lugh. Bathed in the moonlight, the elektron began to glow with a powerful energy.
Astonished by the unexpected brilliance, the dragon and the gargoyle watched awe as the great eye of stone began to rotate, turning its stare in another direction.
When the strange process finished, the rock revealed a stony, spiral staircase that lead to a secret underground tunnel.
"Do you see? It is an oak tear." declared Califax, with a satisfied smile.
Cautiously, they descended the staircase into that long and dark passage which measured almost nine feet in height and barely six feet in wide. Califax used his snout to light their way and to avoid hitting his head on the ceiling. After walking only a few feet, they found several torches placed on the walls of the solid rock corridor. Califax grabbed a torch, lit it, and they continued on.
After several minutes they came to a junction in the corridor where the passage split into Y. After deliberating briefly on which path to take, they chose to follow the passage on the right.
The brave travelers walked for hours through the intricately connected passages of the labyrinth without finding an exit. While turning around in one of the nooks of that intricate place, Califax stopped suddenly, causing the gargoyle to bump into the dragon's tail with his head.
"Why did you stop?" asked Hayex, who was walking behind the dragon, holding his tail as a child who takes his mother's hand to cross the street.
"After meditating long and hard," he said finally, in a distant tone, "I am afraid that I have come to the sad conclusion that we are lost and it may be impossible for us to get out of here, my friend." Califax intoned.
"Impossible? Why do you say so?" asked the gargoyle incredulously.
"Look!" He exclaimed, as he lifted the torch to reveal a pair of skeletons lying in their path.
"What are we going to do, my friend?" Hayex whined, grasping at the dragon's tail.
"First, we must stay calm." Califax said with certainty. "My teacher always told me that in all difficult situations, a clear mind, provided by the character, is the best of weapons."
"But, but, those men..." Hayex stammered as he pointed his trembling claw toward the skeletons. "They had to have been in this place for weeks. Their torches probably went out and it became impossible for them to find a way out in the dark. They must have died of thirst and hunger." he imagined while biting his claws before that horrible spectacle.
"Perhaps you would rather sit down next to these bones and await death?" Califax said vexed as he continued along his way.
"No! It would be best to continue looking for the exit." suggested Hayex, looking around fearfully at that dreadful thought.
After several hours of walking around that intricate place, they returned to the junction in the form of a Y, and they found the passage where they had entered.
Hayex suggested that they leave immediately. Califax, however, had a mission to complete and he was determined not to give up so easily.
"I cannot and will not to force you to continue, my friend," he said with indulgence, "but I have an important mission to fulfill for my country.
Hayex remembered that he himself had insisted in accompanying Califax on this mission and it was already too late to turn back. Mustering all his strength, the gargoyle continued following the dragon.
"I would not think of abandoning you now, partner. Let's go on!" He encouraged the dragon with certain fear in his voice.
This time, they took the corridor on the left, trying to get to the center of the circle. Within a few minutes they entered into circular great chamber located in the heart of the labyrinth, where an immense dome rose above them that looked like the inside of a huge Celtic soldier's helmet. It was covered with engravings of carriages, suns, horses, and soldiers in battle. In the walls of that vault there were great towers of rock with niches adorned by a large numbers of horrifying and deathly pale trophies, proudly played upon their return from many bloody battles.
"What a gruesome place!" Califax exclaimed.
"These skulls must be some type of war trophies." said Hayex, inspecting one of them. "The Celts cut off the heads of their enemies when captured in battle." Califax, horrified, heard the gargoyle.
In the middle of that chamber, they found a great circular rock, and on one side, a passage that to lead to a ramp which appeared indicates an exit. Grabbing the torch, Hayex ran wildly up to the ramp, but he found a great stone door which blocked the exit.
"¡No, it is not possible...!" he sobbed in panic and frustration as he pounded his fists repeatedly against the door.
Meanwhile, Califax, keeping his characteristic calm, approached the rock in the center of the chamber. Its surface was covered with numerous Celtic symbols. He noted that there was a diamond-shaped hollow in the center which appeared to form the top part of a lily flower engraved in the stone.
Hayex continued to weep for his misfortune as he lay with his forehead pressed against the enormous stone door. When he lifted his head, he saw a hollow with an emblem carved above it. He quickly returned to the center of the chamber to find Califax.
"What do you think is this?" asked the dragon, referring to the inscription in the rock located in the center of the chamber.
"I do not know. There is another inscription on the door blocking the exit." informed Hayex.
"I wonder what would this hollow be for, Hayex?"
"Wait! Let me see your sword." he requested. In the body of the hilt of the weapon, he noticed a beautiful engraving, similar to the one on the rock. As soon as Hayex pointed it out, Califax knew what he had to do. He put the tip of the sword into the hollow of the stone and noticed that the blade of the sword fit perfectly. Then, he slowly slid it in all the way to the grip, and the sword began to shine intensely, lighting up the entire place. Right before their dazzled eyes, the stone slid to one side, revealing to the astonished adventurers a cavity which contained a small golden chest, while sword continued to shine with great brilliance. Califax carefully removed the chest, opened it, and found a beautifully engraved oval plate made of solid gold.
"This must be the Key!" exclaimed Califax, captivated by the beauty of jewel that illuminated his face.
"This is the same engraving as is on the stone door." observed Hayex, examining the jewel.
"Remember what Dee the magician said: When Caliburn returns to the rock, Lugh will divulge its secret."
"Is Caliburn[35] the sword's name?" asked Hayex.
"It must be, for it does have magical powers, just as Filox said!" affirmed Califax.
Califax removed the sword and the stone returned to its original position, leaving the chamber lit only by the torch that Hayex carried.
They walked towards the exit and placed the golden plate into the hollow beneath the inscription on the door. They watched in surprise as the enormous stone swung open, revealing the light of the moon and let in the fresh evening air. Once it opened all the way, Califax removed the plate and put it in his bag. They then left quickly, before the stone returned to its resting place to seal the enclosure perfectly.
Once outside, they noticed that they were on the slope of a hill. Hayex flew to the top. He was amazed to find that the hill that they were standing on was in fact the Tohlmenhir mound.[36] The winding underground passageway connected the sanctuary and the mound. Miraculously the gargoyle and the dragon had found the way out from the frightful kingdom of Lugh.
After that adventure, the exhausted friends flew to their refuge in the forest to sleep for the rest of the night; the sleep of the innocent.
Very early the next morning, while Hayex was still asleep, Califax went about the task of studying The Key. It was an oval object made of pure gold, similar to a medallion and covered with a number of engraved symbols. At the top of one side, there was a star similar to the Helenex coat of arms, but with twelve points. Below the star, an inverted triangle pointed at what seemed to be a base in the form of a crescent moon. The triangle and the crescent moon altogether formed the image of a cup from which the star arose. Down both sides of the cup were symbols which the dragon cloud not read.
Hayex woke up from his deep sleep and, as Califax, captive, scrutinized the front of the jewel, he noticed a strange inscription on the other side of the medallion. This inscription said in big letters:
"What do you think it means, Califax?" asked Hayex, intrigued.
"I do not know, my friend, but we are not becoming expert interpreters. We will have to ask for help, again."
As if reading each other's minds, the gargoyle and the dragon got ready to travel to ask Dee the magician for help, once more. As they were preparing to leave, they did not know that they were being watched by the sinister figures of two dragons who conspired against them.
"Let's take the Key now, while it is within our reach." said one of the conspirators.
"No! Our orders are to relieve them of the Chalice once they find it." reprimanded the other.
"Perhaps they will never find it."
"If they fail on their attempt, then we will get the Key, but only then." he declared.
Califax and Hayex flew to the place where they had found Dee the magician, and they went into that dismal place in the forest. Jus t as before, the thick fog covered them with its mysterious mantle and seconds later, the magician appeared.
"What is it that you desire?" The magician asked, kindly.
"We have found the Key of the Sacred Chalice, sir, but we do not know where we should take it." explained Califax, bowing before him.
"The fish is the fisherman and his dwelling the EastSea, from where the cross came to join with the sun."
Dee said nothing more, and just as the fog appeared it thus dissipated. Yet again, the adventurers were left with more questions than answers. However, Califax was confident, though, this time he could decipher the magician's cryptic message. He knew the answers were in his words.
"I think that Dee has gone crazy. How is it possible for the fish to be the fisherman?" wondered Hayex.
"...From where the cross came to join with the sun." Califax remembered. "Which cross is he referring to?" he asked.
"The Celts who converted to the Roman god; hold services using a cross inside of a circle.[38] Perhaps it is the cross that the magician is referring to." suggested the gargoyle.
"It is possible that the circle represents the sun, but, where did the cross come from and what does it represent?"
"I do not know. The Romans brought it whit them a long time ago. The magician mentioned an eastern ocean. Perhaps the symbol of the cross comes from there." pointed out Hayex.
"When we were flying over Bangor," Califax remembered, "I asked you about a construction that the humans were building. It seems to me that I remember seeing a cross there."
"That is true! It is a temple erected for the Roman God." he agreed.
"Perhaps we can find out more about this cross in Bangor, don't you think?" reflected Califax.
After flying a few hours on a northwesterly course, they arrived at the town of Bangor. The church of Saint Deiniol was being built on a large piece of land, and it was surrounded by a great stone-wall.
A few meters from the temple a great bell tower rose. It resembled a great silo with large windows at the top of its slender body, and finished with a reddish conical roof, as a rocket that indicated the place of its destiny. The houses of the clergymen were made of snow-white blocks that resembled igloos. The white blockhouses completed this complex dedicated to Christian faith. As usual, Califax and Hayex would have to wait for the cover of the night to sneak into the church.
Protected by the blackness of night, the daring adventurers entered the church by means of an open window. Once inside, the vaulted ceiling amplified any sound they made, so they made their way carefully, trying to avoid attracting attention. The dragon lit a fire with his snout, and when they got to the pulpit, they found a great cross leaning against the main wall.
"Who is that man on the cross?" asked Califax.
"INRI." said Hayex, after seeing the plaque placed atop the cross.
"It is a very strange name, don't you think, my friend?" pondered Califax.
"Why did they crucify him?" asked the curious gargoyle.
"I thought you would know." said Califax, turning to look at the gargoyle.
"Wait a moment. There are several words below the name." he said as he flew closer to the cross. "Iesus Nazarenus Rex Iudaeorum." read Hayex, with difficulty.
"Then, INRI is not his real name, my friend. It is Jesus." corrected Califax.
"How do you know? Do you know this language, Califax?"
"Of course I do! Latinux classes are obligatory in Dragonia."
"What does the inscription mean?"
"It says: Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews."
"Why would the humans have crucified a king?" Hayex asked, surprised.
"I have no idea! How strange men are!" Califax said, astonished."Perhaps, Nazareth is the place where the symbol of the cross come from." observed the gargoyle.
"Maybe, but where is located Nazareth and who are the Jews?" inquired Califax.
"Why do you think I should know everything?" Hayex responded annoyed.
"I was just asking." clarified the dragon.
"Perhaps we can find a map here that shows where Nazareth is located." suggested Hayex.
"Silence!" Califax hissed, alarmed. "Someone is coming." They quickly flew up to a wooden beam that supported the roof of the church.
Slowly, the door opened and a warmly dressed man entered the church, lighting his way with an oil lamp. He looked around and then made his way through a side door, which the dragon and the gargoyle had not noticed.
The great weight of the reckless intruders put stress on the crossbeam, causing it to squeak and sag slightly. However, they remained motionless as they silently prayed that the wood would hold until the watchman left.
After making sure that everything was in order, the watchman left the church, leisurely. Califax and Hayex dropped down from the beam and went directly to the hidden door. They hoped it would provide information to help them find their way. They reached the door only to find it locked.
They spent a long time trying to figure out a way to open the door, but repeatedly they heard the categorical refusal of the lock to let them in. Then, Califax took his sword out and touched the tip of it to that obstinate door lock. The sword began to shine intensely, as it had in the labyrinth of Lugh. Slowly, he turned the sword and the door opened magically.
They entered a room that appeared to be the sacristy of the church, and Califax stuck his head in to light the room with a flame from his snout. The place was filled with papyri. They hoped that one of them would contain the information they were looking for.
"Where did all this papyri come from?" asked Hayex.
"Since they are written in Latinux, perhaps the Romans brought them." observed Califax, while he looked at the large number of documents.
"It must be, because the Celts do not have a written language.[39] The bards[40] sing their history." he informed.
"Look! I found a map of the Roman Empire." Califax exclaimed as he unfolded the map on the table.
"The Romans are great conquerors. Look at the size of their empire!" Hayex indicated, astonished.
"Here, to the east on the map, there is a province called Iuda,"[41] observed the dragon. "The plaque on the cross says that the man was the King of the Jews, which in Latinux is iudaeorum. This must be the place the cross comes from." he reasoned.
"Are you sure?" asked Hayex
"Remember that Dee the magician mentioned an ocean to the east, and this map also shows an ocean called Galilee."
Suddenly, Califax heard the door to the church open. The adventurers were trapped inside the room; they would have to devise a way to get out, unseen. There was only one exit: the door. The light of the lamp became more and more intense, while the man condemningly walked directly toward the room where they were standing. They would never be able to escape through that door.
"Who is there?" asked the man from the threshold with a trembling voice.
The watchman did not get an answer. He saw the door halfway open. Cautiously, he opened it wide, and with a trembling hand, held the lamp over his head. He stopped at the jamb of the entrance, and moving the lamp from one side of the room to the other, he examined the entire location, but he did not find anything.
Up on the ceiling, Califax and Hayex clung to one of the beams in the library, precariously holding the large number of documents that they had borrowed from the shelves. The documents were in danger of slipping from their claws at any moment.
The time that the man remained in the room seemed eternal for the explorers, who began to fall victim to nervousness. The wooden beam seemed to accuse the invaders with its constant spiteful squeaking, but the distrustful monk did not notice. To make things worse, Hayex also held a map in his snout, and as he watched with anguish, a drop of sweat rolled down his nose, causing a slight tickle that threatened to turn into a sneeze and expose their intrusion. Califax saw that his friend was on the edge of violently expelling the document and he quickly placed his tail under the nostrils of Hayex, thus avoiding reveal their location with the sneeze.
"Odd! I am sure that I locked this door with the key." he said, looking around. "Perhaps the light that I saw from my room was the reflection of a falling star." the man explained to himself.
Sure he had forgotten to close the door the last time; the watchman locked the door with the key, and returned to bed.
After that tremendous scare, the adventurers hurried down from their improvised hiding place. Califax refolded the map of the Roman Empire and packed into his bag before leaving the temple of Saint Deiniol.
Despite being locked up, they repeated the formula that they had used to enter the sacristy: Califax got out his brilliant sword, thrust it into the lock, and magically the door opened once more.
Once back in the church, they hurried to reach the window from which they had entered. As they were just a few feet from freedom, they could see the figure of the watchman who returned hastily to the church.
Upon seeing the dragon and his repulsive companion, the watchman screamed, "Lucifer! Lucifer!"in a very loud voice to alert the rest of the acolytes.
As quickly as possible, the adventurers hurriedly took flight. Below them, they could hear the continued shouting of the irritated clergymen, who cursed the presence of those 'diabolic' intruders who had dared to profane the sacred ground of the church of Saint Deiniol.
This moment would mark the beginning of great and exciting adventures, where they would face the mysterious and distant lands of the Middle East.
\*\*\*
The Oracle of Apollo
The dragon and the gargoyle left the town of Bangor taking a course to the southeast. During the voyage, they were hit by a sudden and persistent storm that made their journey more difficult. In addition, strong wind and blinding lightning threatened to cast them from the sky.
Exhausted, Hayex could no longer manage to maintain the strong pace set by Califax, who, with a renewed spirit flapped his wings as if challenging the forces of Nature. With a last push of strength, Hayex grabbed a hold of his companion's tail, which allowed Califax to drag him sluggishly, using the dragon's vast powerful wings that he flapped in time like a powerful motor.
After a few hours, they arrived at a place where the wind and the rain took pity on the travelers and gave way to the reddish sun of the dawn.
"What city is that?" asked Califax, with great curiosity.
"Its name is Londinium[42]." the gargoyle informed him. "The Romans founded it on the banks of the river which the Anglo-Saxons call Thames. It is the largest city in the Kingdom of Essex. The river is used to transport soldiers and merchandise from the ocean to the entire region." he continued with a know-it-all air.
"Do you know what that enormous, circular construction is, Hayex?" asked Califax, pointing to the building with a claw.
"It is an arena. My grandfather once told me that slave men and women fought to the death there for the amusement of the Romans. They called them Gladiators. They also often fought against ferocious beasts, brought from distant lands.""What? As if they do not have enough death with the wars, they rage among themselves? How strange men are, my friend!" Califax exclaimed perplexed.
Following the Thames River, they left the populated city of Londinium behind. They then pushed on toward to the city of Canterbury which is located in the southeastern end of the Island of Briton.
The brave adventurers circled the city, trying to avoid being seen by men, before venturing out into the Straits of Dover.
"Here lives a man who predicted that this city would be destroyed by fire by the Roman's god." said the gargoyle, informatively.[43]
"It seems that the preferred weapon of the gods is fire." observed Califax.
"Not only of the gods, my friend." replied Hayex. "My grandfather told me that in very remote lands men discovered a way to send fire over greater distances. Just imagine the wars that could be waged once the invention becomes well known!"[44]
"I often find that reality can be scarier than the imagination. I imagined what the wars could be like in Dragonia, but I never thought they could be so gory until I saw one with my own eyes." said Califax.
"That is true. Before meeting you, I could only imagine how ugly dragons could be." said Hayex, sarcastically.
Continuing along their route, the dragon and the gargoyle crossed the Straits of Dover until they reached the beautiful coast of Calais, in Gallia Comata[45] which, at the time, was ruled by General Clotaire II who governed the ferocious Francs.
Since the victory of Merovech over Attila the Hun, in the Catalonian fields in 451, the Francs already governed four Gaul regions: Austrasia, Neustria, Aquitania, and Burgundy, which Clovis the First later divided among his successors.
In these lands, disputed by several Barbarian peoples,[46] the valiant explorers initiated a new and exciting stage of their adventure.
In an area near the fishing village of Calais, they stopped to rest and decide what to eat before continuing with their journey. Fish was out of the question, therefore Hayex decided to delight Califax with a delicious suckling pig which he himself would roast for the dragon.
From the top of a huge tree, the gargoyle watched carefully before approaching a small farm and he saw a litter of piggies whose mother was away from her babies. Hayex seized the opportunity to snatch one of those delicious creatures. Soaring down from the treetop, Hayex rushed towards one of the pigs in an attempt to catch it in-flight, but the great weight of the piglet dragged them both to the ground.
Despite his inability to take the pig in-flight, Hayex grabbed the squealing piglet and walked briskly toward the forest on the other side of the farm. He tried in vain to silence the pitiful squealing of the piglet. When he turned the corner of the property, the would-be thief came face-to-face with the furious, indignant mother. Hayex, with a sheepish grin, slowly and gently put his loot on the ground and patted the head of the young pig. The mother attacked the gargoyle with a burly butt of her head sending him headlong into the pigsty. After landing as a rocket on a target, he leapt to his feet and fled, covered, yet again, with mud. He rushed to get away and to get the mud off before the sludge hardened and turned him into a grotesque statue again.
Minutes later, the gargoyle met up with his hungry companion.
"Thank heavens that this time they did not cook you in a furnace and place you on a roof, my friend." said Califax, unable to subdue his outbursts of laughter at his comrade's misfortune."Yes, well see how much laughing you will be doing when you are eating a delicious roasted carp again." he threatened, as he cleaned the mud off his body.After reluctantly eating some fish, the adventurers got ready to sleep. The night before in Bangor had been very exciting and the trip through the storm had taken its toll on the travelers' strength, for which they decided to doze a little.
Califax found himself trapped in a cold and humid cavern, hearing the thundering echo of his own steps. Suddenly, the shadow of a gigantic man with an upraised cup in his hand appeared on the wall in front of the dragon. "Would you drink of my blood, Califax?" he asked with a deafening laugh.
Califax awoke with a start and in his fright he sent flames shooting out left and right. Once again, the flames reached the tail of his companion. Hayex yelped and howled as he jumped through the bushes until he reached a brook where he extinguished the fire on his blackened backside.
After that embarrassing incident, at the dawn of that day, the intrepid adventurers resumed their journey. They traveled toward the southeast to cross the difficult and uneven mountain range of the Alps.
As they flew over the vast river basin of Paris, they crossed the green prairies of the province of Champagne. Finally, they reached the plateau of Langres, in Burgundy, leaving behind them the city of Dijon and the valley of Saône. Before them, the extensive walls of the lower Alps hid a valuable treasure, the spectacular Lake Leman,[47] where they stopped to take a drink of its cold pure waters. The view from the lake was no less spectacular than the one that was offered from the air, and the anxious travelers could not stop marveling at the immense beauty of the vast landscape.
"The world is a splendid place to live in. Don't you think, Califax?" said the gargoyle, ecstatically looking all around him.
"But of course, my friend." he agreed, nodding his head. "I hope future generations take the time to appreciate it. That is the only way they can preserve it."Suddenly, the air was filled with a strange sound followed by a violent tremor, taking the thirsty travelers attention away from their moment of contemplation. A gigantic army of Burgundies[48] soldiers on the southern slope of the mountain was leading an attack on the Francs army in the valley, commanded by the brave and valorous warrior Chlothar.[49] From their refuge in the forest, the dragon and the gargoyle observed the battle that was staged in that esplanade.The Burgundies, in a violent wave, rushed the Francs, who, with a statue-like stillness and a box formation, awaited them sheltered beneath the precarious safety of their shields. A few yards away, from the front lines; several Frankish soldiers pulled on some big ropes in order to lift into place some enormous traps in the shape of scissors made out of pointy wooden stakes, which faced out towards the overexcited front of the Burgundian army. Those enormous hooks horribly gored a large number of men and beasts.
Once the deadly barricade was drawn, there was an intense hiss of spears and arrows. The horrible sound of swords striking heads, along with the whinnies of the noble horses, created an ominous choir to accompany the suffering moans of the dying and wounded. The earth, before an immaculate green and ocher color, was now intermingled with the blood and carnage of men and horses, turning the landscape into a chaotic and grotesque picture, full of surrealism. The cruelty of the soldiers in the battle stunned the horrified witnesses to the carnage even more.
Behind a few horrifying and bloody hours, the battle finally languished. The disciplined Chlothar forces had overcome the Burgundies, who fled in a mad dash toward the mountains, where they would regroup to look for revenge for the defeat inflicted upon them.
After watching that horrible spectacle, they hurried to fly across the Alpine Mountains. Stunned at what they had witnessed, the travelers maintained a long silence between them, as the ones that can be felt at a funeral.
When they arrived at Mont Blanc, whose peak rises above the other mountains with its snowy coat, the travelers felt very small indeed as they stood before its 14,400 feet. However, they felt more alive and privileged than ever to be able to view the magnificent work of the Creator. The surprises would continue to grow as the travelled further. When they crossed the border of Italy, in the Piedmont Alps, and over the Gran Paradiso Mountain, reigning at 12,200 feet, the Etruscan rural provinces welcomed them. The beauty of the countryside brought to mind the beautiful words of the illustrious poet Virgil: "All hail, O earth! All hail, my household gods! Behold the destin'd place of your abodes!"[50]Following the directions on the map, they traveled over the plains and over the Po River, in the dominion of the once unbeatable Roman Empire. Flying over the coasts of the Tirreno Sea, throughout the Liguria and Toscana regions, they reached Mount Amiata and flew over Lake Bolsena. Once in the Straits, they decided to make a short stop at the shores of Lake Bracciano.
"Isn't it odd to find a lake at this high of an altitude?" observed Hayex.
"Not so odd, the lake is formed inside the crater of the volcano below us. Notice the slight taste of sulfur in its waters." Califax explained, offering Hayex a drink.
"Ptah! It tastes horrible!" exclaimed the gargoyle, after taking a drink.
"Drink a little more. Sulfur is good for your health in small amounts." urged Califax.
"It may be good for the health of a dragon," Hayex clarified, "but not me."
They flew towards the southeast on a course to the Tiber River. They stopped in a wooded place to the south of Rome, close to the Portuensis road. Califax unfolded the map and determined that they were in the outskirts of that legendary capital of the powerful Roman Empire."Did you know that Rome was set on fire by its emperor?" asked Hayex.
"What did you say?" Califax exclaimed.
"It is true! My grandfather told me that the emperor, Nero, set the city on fire, and blamed those who first worshipped the Roman god."
"How strange men are! While I have to complete this mission in order to prevent Helion from setting Dragonia on fire, men take it into their own hands to set their own cities on fire."
They followed a course along the boot of the Italian coast. As they flew, they surveyed the beautiful earth below. On their left, they saw the great bulge, which formed the Penino Alps, drawn in the distance, and on their right, the blue Tirreno Sea. When they arrived at Calabria, they laid course to the Ionian Sea, where Mount Pecoraro dismissed them with a cold goodbye, from the heroic land of the legendary Aeneas.[51]
The sea was calm and the travelers seemed to float above that blue expanse. They flew slowly and smoothly, as the Roman galleys had done, but their thoughts were as agitated as the frantic rowing of a galley slave, chained forever inside the ship's gloomy bowels.
After several minutes of traveling, the adventurers arrived at the Ionian Islands. They passed by the straits formed by the Levkas and Kefallenia islands to finally arrive at Ithaka, which awaited them as Penelope awaited the arrival of Ulysses after his long odyssey.[52] The travelers flew down to the mythical island, where they looked for a refuge and something to eat. The dragon decided to continue with his diet of fish after the gargoyle offered a pair of delicious rats which were, at least to the fine palate of the dragon, a delicacy more than repulsive.The afternoon sun covered that beautiful island with its reddish mantle. Just outside the Gulf of Corinth and they decided to take a break, there, for the rest of the day. They unfolded the map to get their bearings and to plan for their trip the following day.
"The easiest way to cross Greece is through the sea of Korinthiakos." indicated Califax.
"One time, I heard my grandfather say that, here, very close to Mount Parnassus, there is a temple called Delphos,[53] where a priestess predicts your future." the gargoyle remembered.
"You do not believe in those things, right?" asked Califax.
"They say she is very accurate in her predictions." replied Hayex.
"Even if that were true, how could we consult with her? If the humans see us, I predict we would be in great trouble."
"The place is on the way. Once there, we could find a way to consult with her. Perhaps she will give us some information about the Chalice." insisted Hayex.
The light of dawn had hardly begun to brighten the land, when the adventures resumed their trip. They flew towards the Gulf of Corinth, as they had planned, and in a short time, they arrived at the imposing Mount Parnassus. While looking for the Oracle of Delphi, they found an enormous site in ruins. Rocks and columns lying here and there indicated that a catastrophe had recently affected the place which created the current chaos. It was apparently deserted, and for that reason they decided to land and investigate. They flew down to the middle of the site. Before them rose a series of stairs, formed in the shape of a half moon, rising towards the sky and facing in towards a flattened area in front.[54] The footsteps of the explorers echoed in the open aired enclosure. They walked further and came up a conical stone,[55] similar to a Celtic soldier's helmet, which they admired in silence for a while. Later, they walked up a ramp that seemed to lead, in another time, to the main entrance of the temple.
A foul smell seized the air, and the smell reminded Hayex of the taste of the waters at Lake Bracciano.
"It seems this place is empty." whispered Hayex, peering into the temple.
"Let's enter. Perhaps we can find something interesting." suggested the dragon.
Rocks and effigies littered the floor of the temple; Califax and Hayex entered the underground room lighting their way with a flame the dragon had lit with his snout. After reaching the end of the adytum,[56] a murmur arose in the mournful room which was illuminated by a great flame.[57]
"Come in, tired pilgrims, eager for wisdom and knowledge." an old, feminine voice said, encouraging them to come closer to the Kassotis spring.[58]
The adventurers stood petrified, feeling exposed. In front of them was a strange woman with snow-white hair whose face was a mass of wrinkles, some so deep they appeared to have carved by Cronos.[59] Nevertheless, once they got a closer look, they could see that she was completely blind.
Once they were sure of that fortunate fact, they breathed a sigh of relief.
After observing the place for a few moments, the adventurers dared speak to the woman.
"What place is this?" the dragon asked, intrigued.
"This temple is the dwelling of the god Apollo." she answered, gravely. The woman was sitting on a stool while she held laurel leaves and a beautiful copper vase.
"But... What happened? Why is it all in ruins?" asked Califax, disturbed.
"I am Pythia, the last pythoness. Theodosius sent Typhoon to engulf this sanctuary in great flames.[60] Years later, it was reconstructed, but Gaia, jealous of Apollo, shook violently to destroy it.[61]" she said.
"Who is Typhoon?" inquired Hayex.
"The dragon of a hundred heads, who was conquered by Zeus. It lives in the bowels of Mount Etna, and its moans can be heard in this temple." she explained, pointing out the sulfur fumes that Hayex had noted before.
Califax paled before that horrible story. Gazing all around him, he looked for Zeus as if he had to prepare to save his scales from the wrath of the terrible Greek god. After a few seconds of ceremonious silence, the pythoness asked:
"Tell me your names and what you want to know."
"My name is Califax and I come from a very distant land. I have come looking for the Sacred Chalice and I desire knowledge as to where I can find it."
Then, deeply inhaling the heavy air that wafted from beneath her stool, the priestess extended her hand heavenwards, and with a haunting voice, she said:
"The fish is the fisherman who throws his nets in the desert."
Upon hearing those words, the daring adventurers glanced at one another, strangely. Califax then asked:
"Will the Chalice save my country?" Califax inquiring with certain hope.
"He, who hides in the dark, inquires: Would you drink of my blood, Califax?" she answered ecstatically.
At those fateful words, the dragon and the gargoyle ran quickly away, falling and tumbling among the rocks and statues on the temple's floor. The frightful, recurring nightmare of Califax seemed to have come to life in the words of that mysterious clairvoyant.
A handful of men and women who were walking to the temple, watched, in horror, the flight of the 'diabolic figures.' After recovering from their shock, the villagers assigned an unjust epithet to the two frightened travelers: "Typhoon! Typhoon!"
Almost out of breath, the dragon and the gargoyle resumed flight at full speed and in his panic Califax seemed to be navigating without a course. After a few minutes of intense confusion, Hayex calmed his scaly friend. In a wooded place, not far from the Oracle of Delphos, they rested to recover the original color of their faces.
Still scared by the words of the pythoness, Califax asked himself if the adventure which he had undertaken was destined to failure or if it would lead to the unlucky end of his life. When Hayex saw the dragon's concern, he encouraged him to continue with the mission.
"You cannot give up now! I assure you that we will find the Chalice soon." optimistically, he assured Califax.
It did not take long to restore Califax's enthusiasm for continuing in his quest. After all, Filox and the king had chosen him from among many other candidates. He could not fail them. The hopes of the Court of Dragonia had been placed on his shoulders, and he had already reached the point of no return. He determined to continue until the end, and confront the future with the same strength of character and commitment that his ancestors had shown in the past.
They flew towards the city of Athens, where they hoped to decipher the mysterious words which the Oracle at Delphi, and Dee, the magician, had uttered.
"We should find out what the fish is the fishermanmeans." asserted Califax.
"Not only that, but what the inscriptions on the medallion mean." reminded Hayex.
In the woods near the Athenian market, Hayex devised a plan to gather the information they needed. First, he would steal a cape from a villager who lay, placidly in the arms of Morpheus, at the foot of a great tree. Once he had the cape in his possession, he would place it on his back and over his head in order to disguise himself. After this, he would go to the town and inquire about what the inscriptions on the medallion mean to some merchant.
Hayex stealthily approached the innocent man to snatch his cape. However, the man embraced his cape as if it was his beautiful fiancée, and it would take somewhat more than a simple tug on the cape to take it from the man. Hayex had an idea. He asked Califax to blow a few small flames close to the tree where the man slept, but to be careful neither to burn him nor to wake him. The ruse worked perfectly. After a few warm blazes, the man drew back the thick cape that covered him. Hayex did not waste any time snatching up the cape, and both the friends then fled.
Califax could not keep from laughing upon seeing the humorous figure of Hayex wearing in the cape. Hayex, being only 38 inches tall, could scarcely pass as a 'warmly dressed gnome' according to the sarcastic words of the dragon that he professed while trying to stop the tears that the outbursts of laughter had caused him.
"Very funny!" with his hands on his hips, Hayex glared at the dragon. "I will just pass myself off as a boy!" he said.
"Really? Then tell me, boy," Califax replied, still choking with laughter, "how do you think you are going to hide those dreadful feet from the eyes of the men?" he asked while laughing out loud and pointing to the claws on Hayex's feet that could be seen under the cape.
"Stop laughing!" demanded the gargoyle furiously. "You will take the shoes off the man so I can wear them!" he ordered, pointing at him with the index finger of his claw.
"What?" Califax exclaimed, cutting abruptly his outbursts of laughter.
The adventurers returned to the place where the man still dozed, peacefully. With extreme caution, the dragon approached the man from behind the tree to warm up his feet, softly. After repeating the operation two or three times, the villager once began to feel discomfort in his feet hence he moved them constantly.
After a short while, the man chose to take off his shoes, all the while keeping his eyes closed so as not to disturb his slumber. After the operation was complete, the man curled up in his improvised bed without realizing that his shoes had been taken with impunity.
Hayex engaged in a fierce battle to introduce his large feet into the Greek's shoes. The gargoyle tried to arch his enormous toes, but they seemed to refuse to such a painful procedure. Meanwhile, Califax tried very hard to disguise the attacks of laughter that the grotesque spectacle invoked. Several rings of smoke escaped from his snout as he covered his it with his claws to muffle his laughter. After a few minutes, Hayex was able to get the shoes on, but not without complaining about how small the man's feet were. He took a few steps and his walk proved even more comical than his appearance. Califax could no longer contain his laughter: Hayex walked like a duck that suffered from severe arthritis. Hayex covered himself with the cape so that you could only see his large eyes. He was ready to undertake his difficult task.
"We should copy the inscriptions of the medallion on to a piece of wood." suggested the gargoyle.
"That's an excellent idea. That way, we can keep the Key safe." agreed Califax.
Disguised and armed with a copy of the medallion, the gargoyle crept into the uncertain and dangerous world of men.
Walking on the crowded streets, close to the market in Athens, Hayex dragged, besides the cape, the fear of to be discovered by the humans. The people, however, seemed to care more about their own personal businesses than the small, discrete figure of one of many visitors.
The throngs of people made it difficult for the gargoyle to orientate himself. He had never been so close to that many humans. He rambled among the vast number of stalls that offered diverse products from all over the world: silks from China, perfumes from Egypt, spices from India and Africa, imposing weapons from Turkey, olive oil from Iberia, and even exotic animals among many other choices of merchandise. Hayex was fascinated by all the different kinds of merchandise and took extra time to satisfy his curiosity.
The aroma of the barbecued lamb from one of the stalls, which the retailer cooked in large clay pots, drew Hayex. Hypnotized by that aroma, he stopped before the crisp and juicy meat that the merchant proudly displayed to the passers-by in the market. To the gargoyle, the meat seemed as wonderful as the most expensive fantasy of a shipwrecked sailor.
A large number of villagers were crowded around the stall, burying Hayex in an ocean of togas, gowns, and shoes of diverse color and design. In spite of his fear, the gargoyle was patient and waited for some scraps of meat to fall from the hands of the humans. After a short wait, he collected a goodly amount of meat that the people had wasted.
When he tried to escape from that press of hungry people, he found that one of the villagers was standing on his cape. He tried to free himself by tugging and pulling, but the great weight of the fat man made his attempts to escape, useless.
Remembering the words of Califax in the labyrinth of Lugh, he kept his calm. Hayex had an idea that would help him get out of the jam. He pinched the leg of the man with one of his claws. The villager, screaming and wincing from the pain of the gargoyle's pinch, jumped, releasing the cape.
"Sir, if you do not like my food, you do not have to announce it in that manner!" the merchant protested, while the fat man leaped and jumped in pain.That large, jumping man caused an opening in the crowd, as he threatened to squash any and all that obstructed his path, and Hayex took advantage of this time to abandon the stall, with the food hidden under his cape. Once out of danger, on an abandoned street, he eagerly devoured that delicious lamb.
After that bittersweet experience, the gargoyle continued on the mission that had been entrusted to him. He returned to the market and began looking for the person who could help him decipher the strange inscriptions on the medallion.
Behind walking around the plaza for a few minutes, he approached one of the stalls where a solitary sleepy merchant was seated in the shade of an improvised roof. The gargoyle approached the stall cautiously and, hiding his claws under the cape, he sliding the piece of wood on to the counter. The merchant rose quickly to his feet, upon hearing that noise.
"Come in, come in young man! What can I do for you? I have a great variety of fish from the Corinth, from the Aegean, the Ionian, and the Mediterranean Seas!" he announced in a loud voice in flawless Greek.
Hayex did not understand one word the merchant said, and only managed to point out the piece of wood that he had placed on the counter.
"Ichthus?" said the merchant, after reading the sign on the wood.
Meanwhile, Califax, nervous from the long absence of his companion, walked circles around a tree. It had now been several hours. After a few minutes more, the gargoyle appeared with a cold and unexpected cargo.
"But... What is all this?" inquired Califax.
"I showed the inscription to a man at one of the market stalls and this was his answer." he replied, dumping a pile of fish at Califax's feet.
"But, why have you brought all this fish?"
"They are cheap and of very good quality." Hayex said, waving a large fish beneath the dragon's snout. "Besides, he sold them to me on credit!" He announced.
"Are you crazy?" the dragon snapped. "You did not go to buy fish, but to find out what the inscription on the Key means." he scolded.
"The merchant said Ichthus and then gave me all these fish. I had to come back here to unload the merchandise." Hayex explained, felling a little bit ashamed. "I could not resist the offer!" he admitted.
"Ichthus? That means that he could read the inscription." the dragon reflected while pacing back and forth. "Do you know where the merchant is from?"
"I did not understand a word he said, but I think he was Greek." Hayex mused. "I am not very sure," he emphasized while he took off his disguise.
"Wait a moment! If the man is Greek and he could read the inscription, then Ichthusmeans fish in Greek. That is why he gave you the fish." Califax deducted.
"...Perhaps." agreed Hayex, munching on a fish.
"Do you remember what Dee the magician said? "The fish is the fisherman and his dwelling is in the East Sea, where the cross came from to join with the sun."
"Yes, I remember." Hayex answered indifferently, as he continued eating."Let's see; if the fish is the fisherman and the fish is Ichthus, then Ichthus has to be the fisherman." Califax reasoned, reassuming his march from one side to the other, once more.
"It is possible." agreed the gargoyle.
"We do not know who the fisherman is, but according to Dee the magician, he lives in the same place where the cross comes from, in the east sea. The pythoness said something similar."
"Then, perhaps we can find it in Judah, the place indicated on the Roman map." said Hayex.
Thus, the intrepid adventurers headed off for the biblical region of Palestine, crossing the archipelago of the Aegean Sea. Flying over the islands, they reached Naxos and the famous island of Patmos, where Saint John wrote the mysterious Book of Revelations.[62] When approaching the island of Rhodes, Hayex, quoting his wise grandfather, told of an enormous bronze statue that once greeted the ships that passed by that way. He also said that it crashed to the ground in a great earthquake.[63] In the Mediterranean, the adventurers reached the south coast of the island of Kypros,[64] where they could make out the Palestine shoreline. In those legendary lands, the dragon and the gargoyle would begin a new and exciting phase of their bold passage.
It is hard to be certain at this point of the story, but as time passed, things became more difficult for the adventurers to obtain their objectives in this dangerous mission. The entire Region of Fire and the lives of its inhabitants depended on the boldness and intelligence of the young dragon.
\*\*\*
The Fish and the Fisherman
In the region of fire, the dragons continued to breath flames on each other, mercilessly. Operation "Defense Wall" had not prevented the Selenex raids on Dragonia's soil. The suspicions that there was a traitor in the Court of Helenex, led the King to designate Tradux as the Head of the Intelligence Agency in order to discover, as soon as possible, such a disloyal courtier.
Meanwhile, in the comfort and safety of her cave, Darta read another one of the letters that Califax had written before leaving on his mission.
Even though Novax had fought to ease her fears, she could not stop worrying over what might befall her beloved son.
"I sense that my little one is distressed, Novax." she said, with pleading eyes.
"I do not see why. Read his letters again. He is learning a lot and having fun in Amerux." said Novax.
"I know, my love, but something tells me he feels lonely and confused." she explained, worriedly.
"Do not worry, my dear." he said, embracing her lovingly. "He will soon return to us." he assured her.
"It is what I want most, my love." said Darta, curling up lovingly in Novax's strong arms.
Califax and Hayex flew on a southeastern course to the Phoenician beaches of A-Jumhuriya al-Loubnaniya, dominated by the frightful Persian Empire. Entering from the extensive Syrian Desert, through the beautiful city of Tarabulus, the brave travelers turned towards the south following the slopes of the mountains of Jabal Loubnan. The mound founded in this immense oasis was covered with imposing cedars 120 feet high, which made up a vast forest that seemed as beautiful as the Persian carpet that inspired Scheherazade to weave a story to her sister Dinarzade.
They crossed the Litani River, close to the city of Sidon, until they reached the rocky Tiro, and then continued eastward towards the Sea of Galilee.
Once they could see a distant reflection of the Galilean Sea, and the adventurers decided to rest in a desert area close to the city of Tiberias.
Hayex decided to quench the thirst that had been plaguing him for quite a while. Spying a nearby spring, he greedily drank from its water.
"Yuck! This water tastes horrible!" exclaimed the gargoyle, grimacing.
"These waters also contain sulfur." Califax informed him after taking a swig. "Drink a little. I told you, it is good for your health." he chided.
"These waters taste as foul as the ones in Italy." Hayex complained.
"Oh, do not be so sensitive, my friend, unless you choose to die of thirst." replied the dragon, authoritatively.
Night fell and the adventurers decided to look for a refuge where they could spend the night. The desert landscape did not offer many options. After a few hours of searching, they found a narrow cave in the slope of a mountain.
In spite of bitter experiences in the dark places where destiny had brought them, they went cautiously into that cold cavity. The fate that was in store for them required all their strength and intelligence, and even though they had to endure the discomfort that the hide-out offered, Califax and Hayex slept like little newborn babies.
When the new day dawned, the dragon and the gargoyle concocted a new plan, which they needed in order to follow through with the next stage of the mission. They would have to be more careful, since the panorama in Galilee did not offer many places to hide from men's wrath and fear. After discussing it for quite a long time, the adventurers devised a scheme that would allow them to approach men without feeling threatened by them. Califax would disguise himself as a camel, and Hayex as his driver. In order to achieve this, Califax would drape himself in fabrics, which would mimic the way that the royalty decorated their camels. He would hide himself under a blanket that covered his face and body, walking on his four feet and being very careful conceal his long tail, while Hayex would do his thing, just as he had done at the market in Athens. The gargoyle then went out to search a blanket large enough to cover the dragon and a new pair of shoes for himself.
In a grove filled with olive trees, Hayex found a Roman soldier who slept barefoot under the shade of one of those prized trees. What would be difficult, this time, was the fact that the soldier lay upon the blanket using it as a sort of mattress. Then, the gargoyle used his great performing skills. He approached that loafer and, in a soft and mysterious tone, he whispered in his ear: "Get up; your time has come." Upon hearing the gargoyle's voice, the man woke up disturbed. Afterwards, Hayex immediately jumped in front of him with crazed eyes, sticking out his tongue, and terrifying the man. The Roman soldier shot out of there like an arrow, screaming incessantly: "Satan! Satan!"
"Satan? Who might that be...?" the gargoyle wondered to himself.
Watching how the man comically fled the scene, Hayex hurried to grab the Roman's blanket, boots and belt. He returned to the cave where the dragon was waiting.
The blanket's design was not to Califax's taste; however, given the difficulties they would have to go through to obtain another one, he agreed to wear it. Unfortunately, the blanket was not long enough to cover his enormous body, so they employed the saurian's royal cape as well.
"But, it is the cape that I wore when Rasux swore me in as the Grand Dragon of the Chalice." he protested.
"If we do not find the Chalice soon, you will be the Grand Dragon of the Fools." Hayex replied sarcastically.
Califax hid his tail by placing it along his back and tying it to his body with the Roman's belt and, once he was covered with the cloth and cape, which luckily covered his claws, the dragon resembled a huge camel with one large hump. Hayex covered himself with the cape he had obtained in the Athens market and he wore the pair of Caligae which he had recently acquired.
Hidden under their disguises, the daring travelers entered the Biblical region of Judea. Shaking in fear, they approached the beach on the Sea of Galilee to ask for the man which they were looking for.
"Excuse me, sir. I am seeking a man called Ichthus. Do you know where I can find him?" Hayex asked, rubbing his claws together nervously under the cape that covered him.
"Ichthus? Who could have such a ridiculous name?" inquired the man.
"Is the fish the fisherman?" Hayex inquired timidly.
"What kind of dull joke is this? I have never seen a fish with a net, boy." responded the man, walking away, laughing.
Without losing spirit, they continued their search all along the shore of the lake. After several hours, they found a man close to Capharnaum who told them, "The fisherman, who walked on these waters, is no longer among us. The fish was sacrificed in Jerusalem."
They returned their refuge to wait for nightfall before flying towards Jerusalem to track the last clue that that man had given them. With the moon lighting up the desert, they followed the Jordan River until arriving on the north coast of Lake Asphaltites, where they drank from its waters.
"Yuck! These waters are even worse than the ones in Italy!" said Hayex, throwing the water from his claws.
"You are right." agreed Califax. "It is too salty. How can men drink from it?"
They continued westward, towards the city of Hircan, and arrived at the walled city of Jerusalem, where they got a glimpse of what once was the fabulous Temple of King Solomon. There, at dawn, they intended to continue the plan they had devised in Tiberias.
The burning hot sun of the east rose on the desert steppe, as the adventurers got ready to continue their search for the man called "Ichthus." Wearing their disguises, early that morning, they entered the city, crossing the valley of Kidron and, as veteran pilgrims, they walked the streets in search of a clue that would lead them to their destiny.
As the day passed, the city came alive, filling up with lively merchants and many consumers eager to buy up the different types of merchandise. The sloping streets of the city slowly began to take its toll on the feet of the travelers, a price paid for walking on its dry footpaths.
"We have been walking for hours and these boots are killing me." Hayex complained loudly.
"And do you think I am comfortable under these blankets? I am dying of heat, my friend." replied an agitated Califax.
Close to the viaduct that crossed the city, they found a well fed with water from the Spring of Gihon, where men and animals quenched their thirst. They walked quickly toward that urban oasis, anxious for the vital and refreshing liquid. Hayex's natural instinct betrayed him as he lay in front of the pool to drink the clear waters with his snout.
"Hey, boy!" exclaimed a man, disgusted by Hayex's actions. "Do not drink like an animal." he reprimanded. "Here, take this." he offered, thrusting an earthen bowl towards the disguised traveler. "What kind of an upbringing did your parents give you?"
So Hayex had to learn, quickly, how to drink from the earthen bowl, while Califax had to learn how to drink like a camel, to which a dragon of his ancestry and education was not accustomed.
After satisfying their thirst, the tired wanderers continued with their inquiries. When they arrived to an esplanade in the ruins of the Salomon's Temple, they found a man who appeared to be writing down his observations. They approached him and the gargoyle asked:
"Could you help me, sir? My name is Hayex and I am looking for a man called Ichthus," he said, from within the depths of his hood.
"My name is Solomon, disciple at the School of Flavius Josephus. I do not know anyone by that name. In fact, that word means fish, in Greek, son," clarified the man in a friendly tone.
"Does the fish is the fisherman mean anything to you, sir?"
"Now that you mention it, Josephus the Teacher wrote something regarding this." he remembered, rubbing his beard. "The first Christians used a symbol similar to a fish to identify each other and to escape the persecution of Nero. " he explained, reflectively.
"Christians?" asked Hayex, glancing furtively at the dragon.
"The followers of the Nazarene, son." the historian clarified in a friendly manner.
"I do not know him, sir."
"They call him The Christ, which means The Anointed One, in Greek."
The gargoyle could only shrug his shoulders and the man continued.
"Many centuries ago, he preached in these lands, and one of his disciples betrayed him. The Sanhedrin condemned him and Pontius Pilate crucified him, but his followers said he was resurrected and rose to Heaven." he informed the gargoyle.
"How is that possible?" Hayex asked, incredulously.
"How should I know? I do not believe in that. Only Yahweh, Blessed be His name! Has the power." exclaimed the man.
"But, then, who am I looking for, teacher?" Hayex asked, crossing his arms.
"There is an acrostic in Greek that means: Jesus Christ, Son of God, Our Savior. The initials of each of these words form Ichthus in the Greek language. Thus, the first Christians drew a fish so that others would know, in a discreet manner, that they were followers of Jesus of Nazareth." he explained, drawing a simple figure of a fish in the sand.
"Then, is Ichthus the Roman god?" Hayex asked, remembering the inscription that they had seen on the cross in Saint Deiniol, in Bangor.
"Jesus Christ is, officially, the God of the Holy Roman Empire of the East, since Constantine the First came to power, my friend." he informed.
Califax listened carefully to the words of the historian, hidden under his disguise. The mysterious words of Dee the magician and the pythoness at Delphi began to make sense. Then, with a slight push to Hayex's back, he urged him to continue asking questions.
"It seems that your camel wants to know more, son." said the scribe, noticing the Califax's gesture.
"Do not pay any attention to him. He is an unimportant ruminant." Hayex excused the dragon as he glared at him with disgust.
"Would you like to know anything else, Hayex?"
"Yes, teacher. There is a legend about a Sacred Chalice. Do you know anything about it?"
"It would be best if you come with me, my friend." he said, inviting him cordially. "It delights me when young people like you are eager for knowledge of our great history. Perhaps we can find something regarding this matter in our archives." he said, taking the gargoyle by the shoulder, friendly, while the dragon and the gargoyle glanced at each other discreetly not really knowing what to do. Without any other options than the one presented at the moment, they followed their unexpected guide to the heights of Jerusalem.
Located to the west of the city, in a large house close to Harrods Palace, Hayex and Solomon entered a room that lodged the great library of the historian. Solomon explained that his collection came from diverse parts of the world, and that it had been assembled over the centuries by the intrepid hands of men and women who, with self-sacrificing patience, dedicated a major part of their lives to collecting information of Man's deeds in the name of knowledge. Several parchments came from Rome, Egypt, Greece, and many other nations to fill the shelves of that incredible Judean library.
With sincere and gracious hospitality, the historian offered a refreshing cup of red wine to his hot and weary guest.
"Please, sit and make yourself comfortable, my young friend. The weather is very warm and you must be tired of that cape covering your face." he said, while he served his guest some dates, honey, and bread on a copper tray. The mere idea of uncovering his face sent a shiver of fear into Hayex's heart. He had to come up with something, quickly, that would justify a refusal to such an invitation. He did not want Solomon to mistake him for that Satan, from whom the Roman soldier ran away the day before. Meanwhile, Califax, who was following his companion's meeting from one of the windows, was also alarmed by the suggestion and released several smoke rings from his snout.
"It is part of my ritual of initiation, teacher. I cannot reveal my face until it is concluded." Hayex lied with a tremulous voice.
"Ritual of initiation?" inquired Solomon.
"It is the formation phase of the bards." he explained, while he ate the food from the tray.
"Bards?" questioned the historian, with professional curiosity.
"The bards are students aspiring to become Druids, high priests of the Celts."
"Very interesting, Hayex." he said, taking a stylus, ink, and a piece of papyrus. "I know that the Celts are great soldiers and that they trade with the Greeks, but tell me, where your fascinating country is located?" he asked with interest, getting ready to write the gargoyle's words down like a curious reporter.
"The Celts are based in many regions, but my village is in Briton, to the northwest of Europe."
Upon hearing his words, Solomon went to a shelf and brought down a papyrus, which he then began to read. The document spoke of a Jewish man who was a distinguished member of the Sanhedrin and a supporter of Jesus, who traveled to the northwest of Europe, sometime after the crucifixion of the Nazarene.
"Joseph of Arimathea left Jerusalem, and according to some sources, he took with him a Saxon soldier's sword and Jesus' grail."
"Grail?" Hayex inquired, intrigued, while he drank his wine from the cup.
"The Christians call the Chalice, the one that Jesus drank from, the Holy Grail."
"Which means I have traveled all this way in vain?" he exclaimed perplexed.
"No, I do not think so, Hayex. Surely you have learned many things throughout your trip."
"What does the Chalice look like, teacher?" he asked, increasingly interested in Solomon's words.
"The papyri do not mention it," he said, rolling the scroll, "but it is well known that Joseph of Arimathea loaned his house to Jesus on the Passover previous to his crucifixion. Joseph's being a rich man makes it possible that the Chalice is made of fine gold or bronze. However, Jesus was a simple man who never liked luxurious things. He was the son of a carpenter, so it could have been a chalice made of olive tree wood."
"Why would he take the sword of a Saxon soldier too, teacher?" Hayex begged
"The documents say that a guard pierced the body of Jesus with the sword while he was dying on the cross. The Christians also consider it sacred." he explained.
"I have a copy of the Sacred Key. Do you know what the inscriptions mean?" Hayex said, taking it out from under his cape.
"I am the Alpha and the Omega; the Day and the Night; the Earth and the Water; Life and Death; the Sign and the Path." he said, solemnly translating the symbols.
"Who could be so powerful, teacher?"
"Only Yahweh, Blessed be His Name! He is omnipotent." he exclaimed, lifting his hands to the sky.
"What significance does the medallion have, teacher?" the gargoyle continued his questioning.
"The center image forms a type of cup, and its outline suggests a fish, but looking at it closely, its base is a moon in its first quarter, and its body seems to join the star with the moon," he said as he examined it. "I'll say it has a message, it seems to say the day emanates from the night, and the night from the day. One does not exist without the other. It is very interesting. Where did you get this copy?" he asked to the gargoyle.
"It is a long story. Perhaps I can tell you on another occasion." he explained.
"In addition, the star has twelve points, Hayex," observed Solomon. "It could evoke the Twelve Tribes of Israel or, possibly the Twelve Apostles of Jesus. On the other hand, the reverse side has Ichthus written on it, which means fish in Greek." he said.
"That is why I have been looking for a man called Ichthus, teacher." he clarified.
"I see. This object is a type of key which leads to the Sacred Chalice of Jesus, and without a doubt, is the Holy Grail of the Christians." he affirmed.
"Where do you think I can find it, teacher?"
"I do not know for sure, son." he said, shrugging his shoulders. "After the crucifixion, the Sanhedrin imprisoned Joseph of Arimathea for providing a tomb for Jesus. They say that he was in prison for more than a year without food or water."
"How could he survive for so long, teacher?" Hayex asked, intrigued.
"They say that a dove provided food and water for him during all that time by means of the Grail. However, I find it more plausible that friends helped him during his confinement. Later, he fled to Ramat. I know someone there who will be able to give you more information regarding the matter. His name is Nathan and he is a good man, although he is hard to get along with. He has many documents, but you must have patience with him." he advised.
"How can I thank you for your advice?"
"It is not necessary, Hayex. Who kindly sets a wand'rer on his way does e'en as if he lit another's lamp by his. No less shines his, when he his friend's hath lit. However, I have a request to ask of you. When you find the Chalice, tell me the story." he asked, amicably.
"Of course I will do, teacher. You will be the first to hear it." he assured.
After having listened to Solomon the teacher, Hayex went back outside, gathered up his friend and went to rest and then to go to the city of Ramat, where they would find more clues that could lead them to the Chalice.
The adventure seemed to have no end, but their objective was closer than ever to being achieved.
\*\*\*
The Apostle of the Grail
In a dark grotto near the town of Ramat, the reddish hue of the Eastern sunset welcomed the intrepid travelers who, tired of wandering, took a well-deserved rest before continue their adventure the following day.
While Hayex slept like a log, Califax, far from home, started to cave in to the hardships that the relentless nostalgia haunting him provoked. From his long neck, he took the locket that his mother had given him and, after looking at it for several minutes, his mind was flooded with pleasing memories. The melodious songs that formerly fell on his ears lovingly in his cradle when his mother would sing him to sleep; they seemed so near to him that he could almost hear them. Gazing at the shining sword which he having received from the claws of his father, the day that he was dressed as Grand Dragon of the Chalice, it evoked memories of the games and escapades that, along with his brothers, he made shout with delight and laughter.
The night passed, in silence. The silvery moon which illuminated the desert steppe intensified in brilliance when watched through the tears that unexpectedly escaped from the young dragon's eyes.
The early birdsong announced the arrival of a new day and the globetrotters got ready to continue their journey. Since the fauna and food around the place was scarce, they were reduced to picking all the figs they could from a fig tree, which they ate for their breakfast.
Disguising themselves again as camel and driver, they went to the village of Ramat to meet Nathan, friend and colleague of Solomon. The small population of Ramat contrasted with the hustle and bustle of Jerusalem, and the dusty streets seemed to intensify the heat that already scorched the legs of the two friends, even though the day had just begun. Upon arriving at the southern part of the village, they walked toward a simple house that rose slightly above the rest of the structures, almost as if wanting to escape from the prying eyes of neighbors. Hayex knocked firmly on the door, and after a few minutes, a very tall, old man, with white long, wet, hair and a thick white beard, appeared before him.
"Who the devil comes to my door to annoy me at this hour of the morning?" he demanded in a powerful voice, as he violently flung opened the door to the house.
"Excuse me, sir. I am looking for Nathan the Teacher." said Hayex, with a tremulous voice.
"Eh? Who are you?" he inquired as he towered over the diminutive gargoyle.
"My name is Hayex and I have been sent by Solomon, the Teacher of Jerusalem." he explained.
"Does Solomon have nothing better to do other than to send me young lads like you?" he thundered.
"I am sorry, sir. I did not want to bother you, but it is very important that I speak with you." he insisted.
"I did not mean to be rude, son," he apologized, lowering his voice. "It is only that I was bathing when you knocked at the door." he explained while he dried his hair with a bath sheet.
Hiding his face under the cape, Hayex explained his reasons for dropping in unexpectedly. The teacher looked over the gargoyle from head to toe, in a distrustfully manner, and then, reluctantly, motioned for him to enter into his old residence.
Anticipating the scribe's questions, he gave the same explanation about his clothes that he gave to Solomon, but Nathan seemed uninterested in his clothing and proceeded to serve a glass of wine to the unexpected guest at his table.
"So, do you want to know where the Chalice is, eh? No one knows, son. After being released, Joseph went to the island of Cyprus. This is known because of the letters that he wrote to Nicodemus, another distinguished member of the Sanhedrin who also sympathized with the Nazarene."
"Do you know why Joseph of Arimathea traveled to the west?" asked Hayex.
"Many say that he did so to escape the wrath of Saul of Tarsus,[65] who was a ferocious persecutor of the Christians before becoming one himself while on a trip to Damascus. Others say that he went to preach the Gospel to the pagans under instructions by Jesus himself. Many called him The Apostle of the Grail." indicated Nathan.
"The Gospel?" asked Hayex with interest.
"The Word of Jesus!" he scolded. "Joseph himself assured that he saw the Nazarene resurrected. That is why he believed in him." he explained.
"Is it true that Jesus was resurrected?" Hayex asked, shyly.
"You do not believe in those things... do you? Only Yahweh has this power! Blessed be His Name!" he shouted as he spread his arms wide as if to encompass the whole sky.
"Of course not!" he agreed with surprise. "It would be best if I were on my way now, teacher. I need to travel to Cyprus." he said, getting up from the table.
"When you get to the island, Hayex, go to Nicosia." he advised. "Surely, you will find someone there to help you. The place is plagued with Christians."
With the sun on their backs, they flew on a course to the Mediterranean and the Island of Cyprus. The clues that the Judean teachers had given them brought them closer to their goal. However, they were far from imagining the vicissitudes with which they would have to face.
They arrived at Nicosia, capital city of Cyprus that, at that time, was shared by the Romans and the Turks.[66] They hid in a thicket of the trees on a hill near the city. They planned their strategy in order to continue with their search.
This time, the idea was to enter the city at dusk, when it was easier to hide their identity to the inquisitive eyes of men.
To the travelers, the crowded streets of Nicosia were a swirl of languages, cultures, and religions where Turks, Greeks, and Romans intermingled. The two friends wandered these streets and soon found a Christian church, where a parish priest was celebrating an evening mass to the faithful followers of Jesus. They waited for the mass to end and the followers to leave, and which time Hayex approached Father Constantius, a short, plump man with little hair who was dressed in a somber black robe.
"Excuse me, teacher. My name is Hayex, and I would like to know if you could help me," he inquired in a low voice as he approached the altar.
"Of course, my son. You are in the house of God." he said, inviting the gargoyle to sit on one of the benches. "How may I help you?" asked the clergyman, in an amicable tone.
"I am following the footsteps of Joseph of Arimathea. I would like to know where he went after he left Jerusalem."
"Joseph of Arimathea?" he inquired. "That happened six centuries ago, son. Nevertheless, certain records tell us that he left Cyprus and travelled to Briton,[67] northwest of Europe. But, tell me: what is your interest in all this, my son?" the priest asked, intrigued, resting his back heavily on the support of the bench.
"I must find the Sacred Grail of the Christians, teacher." revealed the gargoyle, innocently.
"The Grail?" he inquired, getting up from the bench. "It is a sacred relic and nobody knows where it is, son, but I will tell you this: only one pure of heart can see it. I suggest that you cease your searching. If your faith is sincere, you do not need to have the Grail in your hands." he preached, turning his back on Hayex while clasping a crucifix to his chest.
"But it is very important that I find it, teacher. The survival of a nation depends on it." he explained, without measuring his words.
"Nation...? What nation do you speak of?" he demanded, aiming an accusing look at Hayex. "Who are you, ungodly creature of the darkness?" said the parish priest angrily, walking towards the gargoyle, threateningly.
Hayex, surprised by the sudden rage of the priest, tried to flee from that place, at once, but in his haste, he tripped over one of the benches of the church. The father reached for him, yanked the cape off his head, and looked into the gargoyle's terrified face.
"Satan! Satan!" shouted the horrified priest at the top of his lungs, while he thrust the crucifix towards the gargoyle.
Hayex left the place hastily to meet up with Califax, who was waiting impatiently at the doors of the church. When he saw that his companion had lost his cape, he knew then that something had go ne very wrong. The gargoyle shouted to him in warning as he leapt on to dragon's back. Califax could not fly because his wings were still tied for the disguise, so he galloped at full speed through the streets of the city with his companion clinging on to his back. Father Constantius burst from the church, screaming all manner of improper language to the 'diabolic' fugitives which caused a mob of angry villagers to appear out of nowhere and joined to his cause as always in these cases.
Thus, the intrepid adventurers miraculously escaped from Nicosia, but not without being unjustly maligned by its god-fearing inhabitants.
They take off their disguises and caught their breath under the protection of the dark night. Califax, exhausted by his frantic race from the village, collapsed like a tree on the fresh grass of the prairie. Once he recovered from their flight, the anxious dragon asked Hayex what had happened in the recent event inside the church.
"The man discovered me, but I was able to find out that the teacher, Joseph, went to Briton." he replied.
"It seems we are back where we started." said the dragon, discouraged. "Who can we ask for aid in Briton?"
"Perhaps Dee, the Magician, would help us again. Do not you think?" inquired Hayex.
The copper light of dawn announced a new day on the island of Cyprus, and the friends flew off on a course to Briton following the same route that had brought them to Judea. They flew over the Mediterranean until reaching the Aegean Sea and then crossed the Greek islands until they reached the boot-shaped Italian peninsula.
When they were over the Pennine Alps, the cold north wind started to chill the travelers to the bone. They had taken very little time to rest, and they felt the enormous load of the long and wearying journey.
Traveling north, they decided to fly down to Neuchatel, the Swiss lake, in the region of La Tene,[68] to refresh themselves before continuing with the trip.
A sudden and violent blizzard in the lower portion of the French Alps descends upon them with no warning. The stormy wind that whipped at their faces hindered their advance, and the icy cold forced them to stop and seek refuge from the storm. Califax flew ahead of Hayex with the intention of examining the slope of a mountain. He found a cave where they could take refuge. Califax waited for his friend's arrival inside the grotto, but the minutes passed and the gargoyle failed to arrive.
Outside, the storm grew worse, battering at the mountain as if it would rip it from its base. Califax was worried over the absence of the gargoyle. He waited a few minutes more and then decided to search for him.
In the middle of that impenetrable wall of snow, the dragon roared Hayex's name over and over and again, but his shouting was muted by the storm while he maintained a fruitless battle against the intense cold. He repeatedly sent out blazes of fire to act as a beacon in hopes that his friend would see him. In spite of his efforts, Hayex did not appear.
Night fell and the storm impetuously attacked the mountain. Califax had found no sign of the gargoyle. After searching for several hours, the dragon resigned himself to the fact that he would have to give up his search until the storm passed. He returned to the cave, cried for the loss of his friend, and waited for the storm to pass.
Dusk came with twilight on the horizon marking the end of the storm; the moon flirted timidly with the snowy summits of the imposing French Alps.
Alone and saddened inside the cave, Califax analyzed what had happened. He blamed himself for the misfortune of Hayex given the fact that he went ahead to look for a refuge "I should never have left him in the middle of that snow storm!" he admonished himself between sobs. In spite of the difficult weather conditions, the dragon decided to go outside to search again for his companion. Though he feared the worst, he could not leave him in the middle of that immense mountain range. He would at least take the corpse to its native land.
Just as suddenly as the storm had arrived, the gray cloudy mantle quickly moved away revealing the pale rays of light from the beautiful full moon that illuminated the region. The soothing wind felt strange after the heavy attacks of the snowstorm. Califax was sure that the twinkling of the stars in the firmament shared his pain with him in sorrow.
After anxiously searching the slopes of the mountains for hours, Califax found Hayex, frozen on the foot of a rocky crag, not very far from the cave where the dragon had taken refuge. Huge dragon tears spilled from his eyes and he gingerly lifted the frozen, inert body of his friend and carried him to the cave.
"Why do you have this strange desire to become a statue, my friend?" he said, crying bitterly as he warmed Hayex's body with a light flame.
Califax could not bear to see his friend in that lifeless state. He turned and walked deeper in to the cave leaving Hayex upon the floor, as the heat changed the blue color of Hayex's skin to his normal, light brown color. Califax sobbed and sniffled uncontrollably with grief.
"Why do you cry, my friend?" asked the voice.
"Because Hayex is dead." the young dragon responded automatically.
"What?" the voice asked alarmed.
"It is true. I could not save him." the dragon explained not turning around.
"Are you sure I am dead?" he inquired, as he pinching himself.
"Hayex...? You are alive!" exclaimed Califax, while happily opening his long limbs. The adventurers hugged each other fraternally and rejoiced for having come out of that ordeal unharmed.
After that experience, they spent the night under the mute stare of the moon, and the stars gleamed now as if in some kind of a cosmic celebration.
On the following day, the morning sun awakened them, and the blue sky contrasted intensely with the stormy day before. The travelers continued their exciting trip with renewed spirit and strength.
They crossed the river basin of Paris until they reached the coast of Calais in the French Gallia. Later, they crossed the English Channel in route to the city of Canterbury.
After the long trip, they took a rest in a place close to the delta on the River Thames, very close to Londinium. They searched for something to fill their empty stomachs.
"This time let me go in search of food." said Califax in a jovial tone, as he started off the forest.
"Very well. But promise me that you will not bring fish this time." pleaded the gargoyle.
Walking in the dense woods, Califax came upon a group of men roasting, impatiently, an enormous wild boar on the fire. It appeared they had recently hunted and killed it, and they were now anxious to eat it. They looked like a group of Anglo-Saxon soldiers taking a rest after a long and tiring patrol. So, knowing the fear and wrath that he could instill in men, Califax climbed a huge tree, swooping down from the top, quickly snatched the delicious roasting meat with his hind legs in mid flight, right before the astonished eyes of the soldiers.
As they watched the frightful monsters fly away with the day's food, the astonished men shouted insults followed by the now familiar and abominable cry of "Lucifer! Lucifer!"
Hayex could not contain his joy when the smell of the roasted boar wafted to his nostrils. He could not stop thanking his loyal companion for the sumptuous meal which he eagerly wolfed down.
"I almost forgot how wonderful the taste of wild boar was, my friend. Men know how to marinate the meat very well." observed Hayex. "I always ask myself what it is that they put on it to make it so delicious."
"I do not know, but it is exquisite." seconded Califax.
After the banquet and a well-deserved nap, they flew directly to River Dee, where they went into the forest chamber of the mysterious magician, who after his usual and dramatic entrance addressed his visitors.
"What do you want to know, now?" asked the magician in a friendly voice.
"The teacher, Joseph of Arimathea, brought the Chalice to these lands. How can we find it, sir?" quizzed the young dragon.
"The apostle deposited the Grail in the place where the moon completes two cycles. The tears of the tree of Myrddin will reveal the mystery when its light shines between the sun and the moon," he said, gravely.
With that, the thick fog of the forest suddenly swirled about the magician, and he disappeared.
Califax and Hayex stood still looking at one another completely confused. The words of the magician were more mysterious and difficult to interpret each time, and time was running out. In addition to finding the Chalice, they would also have to find the man who would activate its power.
Resting in a nearby hideaway, they discussed how best to interpret the magician's new riddle.
"We know that the tears of the tree of Myrddin are elektrons. On the other hand, it is possible that between the sun and the moon means the dusk or the dawn of the day. However, where are we going to pour the light of the elektron?" asked Califax.
"What did Dee mean by: The apostle deposited the Grail in the place where the moon completes two cycles?"
"I do not know, my friend. This riddle is truly difficult." answered Califax, shaking his head.
"How long does a moon cycle last?" Hayex asked, looking up at the sky.
"Twenty-eight days, if I remember correctly." answered the dragon.
"That is peculiar! In Peel Dagda[69] there are twenty-eight stones positioned in a circle." informed the gargoyle, after meditating a bit.
"That is true, Hayex! Perhaps that is the answer, my friend!" exclaimed an excited Califax.
They left for Peel Dagda at nightfall. They were unaware of the danger that loomed above them. The mysterious dragons who were waiting only for the opportunity to snatch the Chalice from them and to set it in the paws of Dragonia's traitor, had been stalking them like hungry and ferocious beasts all the time.
At nightfall they found that the enigmatic place called Pell Dagda was abandoned, a fortunate circumstance which allowed them to explore the structure. They began to meticulously examine the huge stones.
Peel Dagda was made up of two large circles. The biggest one was constructed out of twenty-eight perfectly aligned enormous stones with a smaller ring in the centre comprised of ten huge monoliths. The northern part of the inner circle had two stones with the hollows which they had seen before. The same hollows were present on the southeastern rocks, with one difference: the rocks were separated by a space that made up the entrance to the circle. The positioning and orientation of the rocks seemed to signal, in principle, the moon's path, as well as some other important stellar positions. Califax observed that all the hollows were circular and more or less the size of a lime.
"Those hollows are probably the receptacles for the Myrddin tree tears. What do you think, Hayex?"
"That means we must find elektrons of the same size, my friend." answered Hayex.
"You said that you knew where to find a large number of them laying on the ground." reminded Califax.
Therefore, they departed for the forest where they found the prized oak ambers.
They gathered as many as they could and took them back to Peel Dagda. They sorted the ambers, choosing the ones which would fit perfectly into the hollows in the rocks. Once done, the daring adventurers did not know what to do next.
"What do you think is to going to happen, my friend?" inquired Hayex.
"I do not know. Dee the Magician said: The tears of the tree of Myrddin will reveal the mystery when its light shines between the sun and the moon."
"And what of the Key...? Has its only purpose been to take us to the east and return us here?" he wondered in a low spirit.
"The Key! That is it, my friend!" exclaimed Califax, taking it out of his bag.
Remembering the observations of Solomon, the teacher, Califax explained to his friend that they must shine the light of the ambers between the sun and the moon, which were engraved on the medallion.
"But how are we going to do that?" asked Hayex.
"Perhaps we should bring the medallion closer to one of the elektrons." he answered.
Arduous was the task of directing the light of the moon through the ambers and to the medallion, and not all of them were in an appropriate angle for such a task. In addition, the work of the explorers was interrupted since the moon constantly hid itself behind the clouds that moved across the sky. After several failed attempts, they took a breather. Disappointed and frustrated, they sat leaning against one of the monoliths on the north side, while the canticle of the forest seized their imagination under the dark mantle of the looming black clouds. The phantom of failure unfolded its dark cloak on the sprit of the travelers once again. After several minutes of deep silence, Hayex burst out.
"Do you think that we were mistaken in our interpretation of Dee's message?" Hayex asked, downtrodden.
"It is possible, my friend." the dragon agreed disappointed.
Suddenly, the clouds in the sky separated and the moon shone down on the center of the temple. At that moment, Califax saw a bright light shining up from the floor. Intrigued by the glow, he approached to investigate followed by his faithful comrade. It was apparently a rocky needle-shaped pyramidal nail with its four flanks splendidly polished.
"What do you think this is for?" Hayex asked intrigued.
"Let me try something." requested the dragon.
Next, Califax carefully placed the Key over the point of the pyramid stone and, to his surprise, the medallion balanced perfectly. Shortly afterward, the dragon and the gargoyle witnessed a magical event that would cause great astonishment and admiration.
The Key began to spin counterclockwise and at ever increasing speed. The astonished witnesses backed away before that strange phenomenon when a moon ray light up the amber in one of the stones on the east side, causing it to bounce off the Key, making whirl at an even more dizzying pace. An instant later, the golden ray of light traveled to one of the ambers on the western side and it turn to the amber on the north side, caused a similar reaction and then the ray returned to the Key. The ray then reflected off the other amber on the east and returned to the original amber, completing a passage that formed two triangles on a vertex that illuminated the interior of the temple with an intense golden glow.
The astonishment would not end with that exceptional game of lights. After several minutes of watching that impressive spectacle, they heard a strange noise coming from the exterior of the stony circles. Following the sound, they quickly went outside and marveled at what they saw emanating from the fifty-six strange holes. They were beautiful circular silver plates, supported by a rod made of the same plated metal. Thirteen of those bases showed a beautiful chalice protected under a crystal dome as splendid as a jewel.
Califax and Hayex were stunned by the sight, and slowly approached the glowing cups.
"This is incredible!" exclaimed the dragon.
"They are all beautiful, but which is the one we are looking for?" asked Hayex intrigued.
"The one that belongs to Jesus!" said the dragon.
"But, how do we know which one belongs to Jesus, my friend?" questioned the gargoyle.
Califax stood deep in thought for a few seconds, and then he answered:
"The teacher, Joseph of Arimathea, was a rich man. It must be this one. It's made of pure gold." he said, pointing to one of the cups.
"However, a rich man could have bought a glass, silver, bronze, or maybe that exquisite ceramic one. Don't you think so?" suggested Hayex.
"True, Hayex. Then how do we choose which is the one that Jesus drank from?" asked Califax.
"Remember that Solomon said that Jesus was a simple man. So he could have used a wooden chalice." reasoned Hayex.
"Yes, but Jesus was a king, and I do not think he would a wooden cup." said Califax.
"Yes, and I never knew of a king whose followers ended up crucifying him. Everything is possible, my friend."
"Do you really think it is that one?" reflected Califax, taking his chin into his claw.
"Why don't we take them all?" suggested Hayex. "That way, we can be sure."
"It seems too easy to me. There must be a trick to all this." Califax mused.
"Perhaps the light of the elektrons will direct us to the chalice, my friend." hoped Hayex.
They went back inside the temple where the key was still whirling and the golden lights continued to illuminate the place. After some time of watching them, they concluded that the light formed a grail, whose base pointed to the exit and the mouth to the chalice made of wood. So, they went to the wooden chalice and slowly removed the protective shield from it. Califax took it gently in his claws. Then, the remaining cups slowly sank back to wherever they had come from, and the chance to gather the other chalices was gone.
"I told you there was a trick to all this, Hayex." murmured the dragon, as he watched how they disappeared into the depths.
Suddenly, an outcry rang out through the night. A short distance away, they saw a huge cloud of dust that was threatening to gobble the brave travelers, and there was no way to avoid it. It was a troop of Celtic soldiers who had discovered the presence of the intruders in the sacred temple.
Even though they hurried to pick up the Key, the determined adventurers lost valuable time that could have cost them dearly: their lives.
They took flight from the interior of Peel Dagda, trying to avoid the large numbers of arrows and spears that the men rained down upon them. However, as one arrow found its mark, hitting Califax's right wing, which caused him to fall resoundingly in an open area of that solitary steppe. Knowing that they had wounded their prey, the soldiers started the persecution. The swift horses of the warriors devoured the distance that separated them from their prey, but when they were just a few yards from the pair, Hayex, bravely leapt between Califax and the fearsome soldiers.
Suddenly, the men stopped in their tracks, turned and ran away terrified, as if an imposing creature threatened to destroy them in one blow. Hayex swelled with pride and wiped his hands as if to say 'finished' when he saw how the soldiers scurried in panic. He turned to where his friend waited for him. Then he saw something that made him freeze in his tracks: two formidable figures who had been standing behind his back all the time. A gigantic Pantesux dragon extended his claw to the perplexed gargoyle who stammered:
"Who are you two?"
"I am Crulux and this is Dragax, guards of the royal court of Dragonia, my friend. Who are you?" he asked with a deep voice.
"I am Hayex, friend and comrade of Califax, the Grand Dragon of the Sacred Chalice." he proclaimed proudly in response to the friendly gesture of the saurian.
Hayex and his new and enormous companions quickly went to Califax's rescue. Califax was surprised to see these unexpected benefactors. Fortunately, the arrow had not hit any important veins and the membrane of his wing would heal quickly.
Crulux explained his presence saying that he was following his Novax's orders to patrol a large area of Briton, together with other dragons. This was due to Novax's great concern for Califax, and who was desperate to know how he was doing with his quest.
"In fact, our orders were to find your body and return it to Dragonia." explained Crulux, with a wink, though his tone seemed rather cold-hearted.
"It appears that it is not my time yet, Crulux. Please, tell my father that I will soon bring what I promised him back to Dragonia." he declared.
"Will you be all right, Califax?" asked Crulux, amicably.
"Yes. Do not worry. Hayex will take care of me." he assured them.
"We will be in the area for a short time longer if you need anything." Crulux offered.
Crulux and Dragax took flight and their grey figures soon became enveloped in the deep darkness. After bandaging Califax's wound with some mud, Hayex made a comfortable bed for the dragon, deep in the safety of the woods. They took turns guarding the valuable treasure, which had cost them so much effort to find.
"You risked your life for me, my friend." thanked Califax.
"It was nothing. Crulux and Dragax were there all the time." admitted the gargoyle.
"True, but you did not know they were there." Califax grinned.
"It is the least that I could do for the one who saved my life." smiled Hayex as he tended to Califax's wound.
"Who better than a mud expert to apply a mud patch?" Califax joked with a thankful smile.
\*\*\*
The Guardian of Ra
The night waned giving way to the light of dawn. The brave globetrotters woke up from their deep slumber that overwhelmed them. The recent disquieting events they had lived through had not given them time to take a well-deserved and invigorating rest. Tracks of sleeplessness were reflected in their tired and ashen colored faces.
Califax inspected the wound on his wing and observed that it was healing well, but it was still had not healed enough for him to fly.
"From what I can see, I will have to feed and take care of you." commented Hayex.
"I hope I do not cause you too much trouble with all this, my friend." smiled Califax.
With no other option than to go in search of the day's meal, the gargoyle walked towards the human dwellings. After a short time, he found a small farm, not too far from the refuge.
Given his past, bitter experiences on farms, he made sure the farmers were occupied in their daily work. He watched them carefully from behind an enormous tree trunk.
As he timed the farmer's movements about the farm, in order to choose an opportune time to seek out food, he felt a small hand touched his back, softly.
"What kind of a thing are you?" asked a small six-year-old girl, who gave a big scare to the gargoyle.
His face turned the color of a snowflake. Hayex breathed a sigh of relief when he saw that it was only a little human girl. He regained his color and asked her:
"Who are you?"
"I am Udrie." said the little girl in a tiny, musical voice.
"My name is Hayex and I am a gargoyle. What are you doing here?"
"I am looking for my cat. I think he is lost." she explained with a worried look.
"A delicious cat?" said Hayex, licking his lips over and over again.
"What did you say...?" asked the little girl in a concerned voice.
"I mean, your precious cat, dear." he amended, with a false smile.
"Will you help me look for him?" asked the little girl with a sweet smile.
"But of course, precious! What is your cat's name?" he said, rubbing his claws together on the face of that great opportunity.
"His name is Linx and his fur is brown." Udrie said.
Motivated by different reasons, the gargoyle and little Udrie went about the task of looking for the cat each taking a different direction.
Little Udrie walked deep into the forest shouting the name of her dear cat and looking at the tops of the trees since the cat routinely climbed to the top branches. Suddenly she tripped over a rock and fell to her knees. When she got up and turned around, she bumped Califax's imposing figure. He remained as still and quiet as a statue with his back to the small girl, and not daring to look, strained his ears to listen to her movements.
Curious, as it was to be expected, the little girl took the dragon by the tail and walked around to greet him face to face. She questioned him about what she perceived as strange appearance. Califax explained in a soft and gentle voice that he was a dragon from a distant land and that he was wounded.
"Poor Califax! You must be very hungry, is it not thus?" asked the little girl with sincere hospitality.
"Yes, my dear, but my friend went out to look for something to eat."
"Is your friend a gargoyle?" she asked, balancing herself on her heels with one finger in her mouth.
"Yes. Perhaps you have seen him, dear?" he asked.
"He is helping me look for my cat that has lost his way." she explained naively.
"It would be better if we find Hayex before he finds your cat." he suggested, knowing what the gargoyle's true intentions were.
Califax joined Udrie in the search for Linx, and after a few minutes of poking around the forest, they found the pussycat trapped on a high tree branch, being harassed by Hayex. With his hair standing straight up on his back and baring his teeth, the scared little cat spat and swatted at his relentless attacker, who had very easily reached the feline's ineffective refuge.
"Linx!" exclaimed the little girl when she saw her darling cat.
Hayex froze with his hand poised about the cat's neck, but from the moment he saw Califax and the little girl come into view, he also knew that he had just lost his snack. Reluctantly, he came down from the tree, clutching the frightened cat; having no choice under the watchful eyes of the dragon but to flash a sheepish smile and to gently hand the cat over to the little girl.
"Oh! Thank you, Hayex!" said little Udrie, while she gave him a smacking kiss on his gargoyle cheek that made him blush.
"It was nothing, dear child." said the ashamed gargoyle.
As a grateful gesture, the little girl invited the hungry travelers to her house, where she offered to feed them. Knowing that the adults were not used to such strange guests, they had to turn down the offer.
Far from being discouraged by their refusal, little Udrie offered to personally bring the food to them; that offer was hastily accepted.
"Not all humans are bad." said Califax, while watching the girl walk away with a bounce in her step.
After a while, the little one returned loaded with delicious roasted chicken and some large loaves of bread, all of which they devoured quickly.
"You were right, my friends!" she laughed. "I told my mama about you, but she says that dragons and gargoyles do not exist."
"It doesn't matter, dear. I did not believe that dragons existed either until I met Califax." Hayex winked.
Over the next four days, Udrie continued to bring food to the unique friends. By that time Califax's wing had already healed, which meant that they would soon be on their way to resume their quest. The constant disappearance of food raised suspicions in little Udrie's home. Her mother was afraid that the little girl was feeding some wild animal without knowing that the animal could put her life in danger. Armed with her stout husband, one afternoon, she followed the little girl deep into the forest where Califax and Hayex were hiding. When they saw that their little girl was sharing food and conversing with those frightful beings, the woman threw a no less terrifying scream than the appearance of the dragon and the gargoyle. When the man saw that strange scene, he threatened them with a long lance in order to frighten them and move them away from his defenseless daughter.
"You see, Mama." she pointed. "Dragons and gargoyles do exist." the little one naively informed them.
Califax and Hayex remained frozen for a moment then, turning, instinctively they grabbed their valuable treasure and took to the air, verifying that the dragon's wing had healed.
Once in the air, the expeditionary adventurers took one last look at that family of humans below. Little Udrie was waving her little hand from the tight embrace of her sobbing mother, to send a last goodbye to her exceptional friends. Meanwhile, the man danced about shaking his fist and shouting curses at the 'infernal invaders' of his home.
They flew towards the north where they saw the gigantic horse of Uffington that was painted on the ground of that great landscape[70] where they took a rest. Later, they flew once again to the forest where dwelled Dee the Magician.
They had hoped that the wise old wizard could give them some clues on how to find the mysterious man to whom they must deliver the Chalice.
After his customary theatrical appearance, the magician made his inquiry in a deep voice:
"What do you want to know?"
"Where can I find the man to whom I must give the Chalice?" asked Califax.
"The guardian of Ra, the sun of the east, indicates the secret way to the Rock of Ebony." he intoned.
After those brief words, the magician disappeared. The adventurers were perplexed. The words of the magician resounded in their minds as if he had spoken to them in some totally unknown dialect.
"Now what do we do?" asked the gargoyle.
"We do not know any guardian of Ra, but it seems that we will be traveling to the east again, Hayex."
They flew on a course to the beaches of Calais and crossed the Paris river basin, taking special care while entering the treacherous summits of the Alps. During this trip, the brave travelers only stopped to eat and sleep in the same places where they had done it before. They would avoid the Oracle of Delphi by Califax's request.
During the journey, they decided to pay a visit to Solomon the teacher in Jerusalem. To do so, they would have to disguise themselves again as camel and driver.
Once in the land of Palestine, they flew over the river basin of the Jordan River until arriving at the Sea of Galilee. They followed its channel and stopped shortly before reaching the Dead Sea. They turned towards the west on to Jericho, until reaching the outskirts of the three times declared holy city of Jerusalem.
The night surrounded the Biblical metropolis with its peaceful calm and the exhausted comrades allowed their tired eyelids to rest until the dawn of a new day.
The crow of a distance rooster announced the new dawn, and the dragon and the gargoyle assumed their corresponding roles before visiting Solomon. The fight they both had with their disguises, took the most part of the morning but, before the sun reached its zenith, they were ready for work.
Walking on the stone streets of Jerusalem, they ran into an Arab merchant who offered to buy Hayex's camel. Surprised by that offer, the gargoyle had enough impudence to ask how many denarii's[71] he would offer for that 'ruminant' which making a great effort to conceal his true identity, shoved his bold 'driver.'
"I think he is not for sale, sir." said Hayex upon feeling the shove from Califax. "It is a very special breed."
Only a short time had passed when the dragon upbraided for that insult. Hayex only laughed harder. He explained that even if a magnificent offer were proposed, he would not be capable of selling a friend.
Shortly after noon, they reached the house of Solomon, who with his customary hospitality received the gargoyle with an effusive greeting and a refreshing cup of wine, while Califax waited outside the house in the extreme heat of that region.
"I see that your initiation rite has not yet finished." observed an amused Solomon upon since Hayex was still completely covered by the too warm robe.
"This is true, teacher. I still have a long way to go before I become a bard."
"In arts and sciences, patience and perseverance are indispensable ingredients required for success." he advised. "However, tell me, what has brought you back to my humble dwelling? Have you found Jesus' Chalice?" he asked.
"We are working on that, but what has brought me back is a riddle that I have not been able to solve."
"Very interesting, my young friend! But tell me, Hayex, what is the question that captivates your thoughts?" he asked with interest.
"Who is the guardian of Ra, the Sun of the East?"
Rubbing his beard, Solomon went to his inseparable papyri, from which he extracted all his great wisdom. He unrolled one of them and began to explain.
"Many centuries ago, Ramses II, the heartless Pharaoh of Egypt, enslaved my country. It was our father Moses who released us from his cruel yoke and guided us, over a span of forty years through the desert until we reached these lands: The Promised Land of Yahweh, Blessed be His name!" he exclaimed. "Also, the construction of the pyramids would not have been possible without the unjust enslavement of the countries." he stated sadly.
"The pyramids?" he inquired, fascinated.
"The great pyramids of Egypt in the region of Gizeh," he clarified. "They were constructed for the Pharaohs of Cheops,[72] Chephren, and Mykerinus: each was entombed there with great honor, as if they were true gods."
"How very interesting, teacher. But, who is the guardian of Ra?" asked the Gargoyle.
"Be patient, my young friend." he said, attempting to calm the gargoyle with a gesture of his hand. "The pyramids were constructed in such a way that their vertex aims towards Ra, god of the Sun, with whom the Pharaohs join in the next world." he said as he selected another roll from the shelf. "The Guardian of Ra is the Sphinx, the Great Lion that supposedly protects and watches over the tombs of the Pharaohs. In this papyrus," indicated Solomon while unrolling it, "you can see its location and an image of the Sphinx as well as the pyramids."
"That is impressive, teacher. But why did the Egyptians build it?"
"In a stone found close to the pyramid of Chephren, you can read an inscription that says: I protect the temple of your tomb and funeral chamber. I drive away the invaders and I knock down, before you, the will and the weapons of your enemies."[73]
"Does this mean that the Sphinx is the guardian of the Pharaohs?" he asked with surprise.
"It seems that way. Some explorers, Romans and Greeks, say that a secret passage exists within the Sphinx that leads to a chamber containing several prophecies inscribed on the walls."
"What do the prophecies say, teacher?" asked the gargoyle.
"Nobody knows. Everyone who has tried to profane the chamber by entering has not returned to tell the story, my friend."
The frightening memory of their foray into the labyrinth of Lugh, leapt to the gargoyle's mind. Meanwhile, Califax listened very intently to the words of the wise teacher Solomon, while standing next to the window of the house.
"However, tell me, what is your interest in all this Hayex?" asked the teacher.
"It is part of the search for the Chalice, teacher. I will tell you all about it when I finish." The gargoyle promised.
"I'll be anxiously awaiting your tale. You have not forgotten your promise to tell me the entire story, is it not so?" reminded Solomon.
"Of course not, teacher. You will be the first to know the story." assured Hayex.
Thus, Califax and Hayex traveled to mysterious Egypt, following the coast of the Mediterranean, until they reached the huge fan-like delta made by the NileRiver, the longest in the world. The vast expanse of the Nile bathed the countryside from Sinai to Alexandria and left the bold travelers in awe of its greatness.
Night had fallen when the explorers reached the beautiful city founded by Alexander the Great. They saw the enormous brilliant signal light in its entire splendor on the island of Pharos,[74] commemorated by the power of the old Empire of Hellenistic Greece.[75]
They flew along the route of the enormous channel of the Nile River until they reached the Rashid tributary,[76] and from there they continued south, where they found a spectacle that still impresses the most calloused of travelers: The Pyramids of Gizeh. The suffocating heat of the desert forced them to look a little further south for a refuge. There, they found an oasis near the city of Memphis, capital of Egypt during those times,[77] where they admired the alabaster sphinx, 12 feet high by 24 feet long, built in honor of the Ptah God[78] in the era of Amenophis II Pharaoh of the XVIII Dynasty. There, they found a great variety of trees such as sycamores, fig, and date, mixed with cypresses, acacias, and eucalyptuses, creating a true place of paradise. There were large and beautiful Rose bushes and Lotus flowers covering the place of the miraculous Eden.
The thick forest that made up the small place was a result of the infinite kindness of God. It offered the adventurers a perfect place to take refuge. They settled into the hiding place, as if they were sultans, to wait for the night, when they would inspect the Great Sphinx back in Gizeh.
After the Astral King hid itself behind the desert horizon of the Sahara, Califax and Hayex went searching for an encounter with the Guardian of Ra.
Under the protection of a moonless night, the valiant explorers began to examine the majestic statue: 60 feet high by 90 feet wide and 220 feet long.[79] Between the claws of the Sphinx they found, partially covered by sand, an altar built by the Romans in Julius Caesar's time.
They began to dig, expecting to find some kind of tunnel that would lead them to the interior of the Sphinx. After a while, they found a pair of great doors made of shining, brilliant bronze that were nailed in the perpetual sands of the desert.
The dragon and the gargoyle tried to open the doors, but their efforts were futile. The door was locked with an almost invisible, strange kind crossbar attached to the door. After inspecting it for several minutes, they discovered a small hole in the bolt. Califax then took his shining sword and placed the end of the weapon into the small hole.
A shining light illuminated the pale face of the Sphinx and as if by magic, the doors opened. To their surprise, they found a steep set of stairs that seemed to lead to some kind of underground chamber. Cautiously, they descended the stairs and found a wide hallway that split into two passageways. The deep darkness that reigned in that mysterious enclosure brought the horrifying kingdom of Lugh surging back into their minds.
"Not again, please!" Hayex exclaimed in fear. However, Califax kept his calm, lit a flame with his snout, and went entered the maze.
After several minutes of walking in the confusing passageways laced with dead ends, they found themselves back at the beginning.
"This place seems to be as difficult to decipher as the Labyrinth of Lugh." observed the dragon.
They started out again, and after a few hours of walking in the stone puzzle, they found a narrow spiral staircase at the other end of the labyrinth. They descended very carefully, but suddenly the stairs disappeared, and they slid down a polished surface; they were unable to return to the first level. The brave adventures realized that they were trapped inside the Sphinx. They had no other choice but to continue.
When Califax again lit a flame with his snout; a new set of stairs greeted them. They descended very carefully. They came to a wall that stretched from side to side in front of them; this new chamber had hallways much narrower than the other ones. They went to the left, and after a short time, they hit a dead end, which forced them to retrace their steps. So, they returned to where they had started and went to the right this time; the passage led to a long corridor. They did not know it at the time, but they were on the verge of going into an intricate place where only priests and a privileged few knew the way out.
They spent long hours in that labyrinth without finding a way out. Outside, the sun illuminated the desert sky for quite some time, but the adventurers were still trapped by perpetual darkness that prevailed in the eerie site. Desperation caused by confusion and the deep cold of the labyrinth which chilled their bones, combined to discourage and frustrate them. Thirst and hunger started to take their toll. They had not eaten anything for hours, and they had not drunk so much as a drop of water.
"Oh, how I would love to eat a piece of lamb like the one in Athens!" remembered Hayex, nostalgically.
"Do not torment yourself. We will take a break before going any further. We will get out of here very soon," Califax encouraged him with a pat on his shoulder.
"We should have been more cautious and brought some food and water, do not you think so, my friend?" muttered Hayex.
"Now is not the time to fuss over what we did not do. If we stay calm, we will get out of here alive. If we could get out of the Labyrinth of Lugh, we can get out of this one." Califax encouraged.
After catching their second wind, hey started out again, and as night fell again outside the Sphinx, they finally found a long corridor that led to a great chamber whose walls and columns were exquisitely adorned with large, multicolored paintings. On the far wall, there was the enormous eye of a fabulous bird that held them in a hypnotic gaze. On the bird's head, there was a strange disc, in bas-relief, supported by a stylized U.[80]
"Have you noticed a strange similarity between the symbols of the human nations?" observed Califax.
"Yes." agreed Hayex. "This eye is similar to Lugh's,[81] not to mention the labyrinth. I would say that this disc represents the sun." Hayex offered.
"These strange inscriptions must show the way to the Rock of Ebony that the magician spoke of; but how are we going to interpret them?" wondered Califax.
Time inexorably marched on as they admired and examined the magnificent frescos with curiosity. However, the strange hieroglyphics were incomprehensible to the brave explorers who, without giving up, devised a way to make a copy of hieroglyphics. With a copy in their claws, they could seek the help of an interpreter. That debilitating work would be interrupted by an event that hung over the unsuspecting amateur archaeologists as if it were the sword of Damocles: The earth announced a tragedy in which they would be buried within a few moments.
"What was that?" Hayex asked alarmed.
"It was just a little tremor, my friend." explained Califax.
"While we are in here, no tremor seems little to me." retorted Hayex with stark fear in his voice.
Suddenly, the place began to shake furiously. Sand began to filter between the rocks, the ceiling, and the walls of the chamber. Terrified by that violent movement, Califax and Hayex felt that their time had come. Everything indicated that the great Sphinx would devour them. It seemed that their last resting place was going to be inside the underground temple and consequently cause the failure of the mission.
Califax could not hold the flame in his snout any longer, and the deep darkness of the place seized the very soul of the adventurers. However, Hayex, who had squirmed into a corner of one of the walls, pushed the door of a cavity that led to a secret passage, which they had not noticed before.
The gargoyle quickly advised his companion about his fortunate discovery, and they hastily left the chamber. Seconds later it collapsed, totally, with a great crash.
The dragon ignited a flame with his snout and the light revealed three small but steep, sloping hallways leading upwards at a sharp angle. Because of his large size, Califax had to squirm on his belly in order to climb up along that small, suffocating crawl space, while Hayex followed close behind. They took the hallway to the right and they advanced very slowly until they arrived in a very damp place that appeared to be a gallery, where they rested.
"What a strange place!" said the dragon as he illuminated the upper portion and ceiling of the chamber.
Califax took one step forward; as he meticulously examined the place, he unexpectedly disappeared from Hayex's view, and the gallery went completely dark.
"Califax! Califax!" shouted the terrified gargoyle from the edge of the gallery.
When he did not get an answer, he groped his way over to the place where Califax had last been seen. He found a deep pit into which, it appeared, his faithful companion had fallen.
Long seconds of intense anguish were experienced by the gargoyle. Suddenly, he heard Califax's voice. He hung precariously on a rock that was sticking out of one of the walls of the deep pit, just on the other side of where the dragon had fallen. Unfortunately, the pit was not wide enough for him to flap his powerful wings, so he held tight to the rock, lit his snout and tried to find a way out of his problem. Hayex then saw the grave situation of his friend and, without thinking twice; he began climbing down to try to help him. He pushed on the tail of the heavy dragon, but he had no luck in moving him even one inch.
Califax soon began to lose strength and was in danger of falling to the bottom of the stinking, flooded pit. Seconds later, the unavoidable happened: Califax let go of the rock and fell heavily, dragging the poor, unfortunate gargoyle along with him.
Fortunately, the hole was not as deep as it looked; the reflective water had kept them from seeing the bottom, but Califax could not help but fall on top of his friend, who, once again, was covered with dirty, sticky mud.
"Again?" protested the gargoyle angrily, as he shook the mud from his body.
"Perhaps your true vocation is pottery, my friend." said Califax, trying to stifle his laughter.
Looking about them, they saw a series of rocks protruding from the walls of the hole which formed a sort of stairway, which allowed them to climb up and to continue walking along the hallway from which Califax had fallen. The tunnel extended for several feet until reaching a vertex that led them into a new chamber. There, they found many beautiful objects made of ceramic, wood, and pure gold. The walls, however, were bare, contrasting starkly with the beautiful walls of the Sphinx temple.
They began to examine the chamber to see if they could find a way out. While they were doing this, Hayex bumped into an enormous object which, when he saw what it was, left him breathless. What he was looking at was nothing less than the sealed sarcophagus of Cheops, mummy and all. They had entered the chamber of the king of the great pyramid.
Hours passed as they searched for an exit from the tomb. Hayex had already lost hope of ever escaping their illfated trap.
"Solomon told us that no one had ever lived to tell the story of leaving this place, my friend." pronounced a frightened Hayex.
"Keep calm, my friend. I am sure that there is a way out. Listen!" he indicated with ears perked sharply.
A soft sound showed that an air current ran through the place. Thanks to his acute hearing, Califax managed to find the source of the air current. High in one of the walls, they found a hole that appeared to be some kind of air duct. They saw a dim light coming through from the other side of the cavity. Then Califax took his magic sword and put the end of it in the hole, after which, a flood of fine sand filled the room, threatening to bury the explorers alive. However, the sandy flood stopped when it reached the halfway mark of the chamber.
When the vent was emptied, the soft light of sunset shone through, for the first time in centuries, on the king's chamber, revealing its valuable treasures. For the travelers, it was the invaluable road to freedom.
They exited on the west side of the pyramid and saw in astonishment that the desert sand had covered the illustrious Sphinx to its neck. The earthquake, which had shaken them so furiously, made the Sphinx fall heavily on top of the two levels that supported it, burying the terrible prophecies and the valuable treasures forever.
"Now, how are we going to find the man to whom we must deliver the Chalice?" Califax asked afflicted to the gargoyle
The afternoon waned in the desert steppe along with the hopes of the daring adventurers. Everything indicated that the important mission that the dragon had been entrusted; this time had become a complete failure.
\*\*\*
The Rock of Kaabah
Califax and hayex took refuge in the oasis of Memphis, while the night overpowered the desert in an unusual halo of tranquility. The dragon saw his mother in a dream standing at the foot of the Sphinx, guided by the claw of his father, who, with his bold presence, pointed his sword in the same direction as the enigmatic sphinx was facing.
Califax woke up, startled, from his strange dream, and immediately woke his tired, sleeping friend.
"Hayex! Hayex!" he shouted with enthusiasm.
"What happened?" asked a groggy Hayex.
"I have it!" shouted Califax.
"What is it that you have?" the doubtful gargoyle asked to the young dragon.
"I know where the Rock of Ebony is!" announced a jubilant Califax.
"Really...? Where?"
"The magician said:The guardian of Ra, the Sun of the East, indicates the secret way to the Rock of Ebony." he remembered. "The Sphinx indicates the direction; it does not hold the secret within. Do you understand?"
"No." he answered with a yawn.
"The Sphinx looks to the east." insisted the dragon. "That is where the rock must be!"
"Do you really think so?" said the gargoyle doubtfully.
At dawn, the dragon and the gargoyle traveled southeast crossing the vast desert, and later crossed the Gulf of Suez and of the Aqaba. They reached the Sinai Peninsula. From there, they could see the 7,911 feet high Biblical Mountain, where Moses was given the Ten Commandments, the Sacred Law of God, which up to our time has fallen on the deaf ears and hardened hearts of men and nations of this world.
After crossing the Red Sea, they came to the HejazMountains to the west of the Al-Arab[82] Peninsula, where they saw a caravan of merchants traveling south.
Without knowing the exact location of the Rock of Ebony, they decided to join that procession, hidden under their customary disguises: their objective was to question some of the nomads. Discreetly, they joined that long line of people, horses, and camels that carried all kinds of merchandise from all over the world. When they saw that Califax was not carrying anything, a merchant placed a large bundle of objects and heavy bags on his back.
"Here, in the desert, even royalty has to help with the caravan." he said, as he placed the heavy items on the dragon's back.
Hearing the merchant speak Gaelic, Hayex took advantage of the situation and approached him asking:
"Excuse me, sir, but do you know where I can find the Rock of Ebony?"
"No such thing exists, son. Ebony is a type of wood, which indeed is black and hard." he said, without even giving the gargoyle a second glance.
"What I am looking for is a sacred rock. Someone told me that it is called the Rock of Ebony, sir." he insisted, after discreetly glancing at the dragon.
"I told you that thing does not exist!" he shouted in the gargoyle's face. "However," he said, this time a little more friendly, "the Sacred Rock of Kaabah is black. Maybe your informant is referring to that rock, son."
"Do you know where it is located?" Hayex asked.
"Of course. It is in the City of Macoraba,[83] we are going that way."
Following the caravan through the desert, the daring travelers arrived at Port al-Wajh, where the merchants took a break while they offered their rich display of merchandise for sale to the people of the city.
After spending the night in al-Wajh, they continued south following the "uadi"[84] el-Hamd. The long journey under the intense heat of the sun had begun to sap Califax's strength and his feet and back began to ache under the immense weight of his load. Nonetheless, the dragon continued along walking without mentioning the heavy mass or complaints.
Six days and five nights went by before they reached the City of Yathrib,[85] where the caravan finally stopped. However, a few days before their arrival, an immense sand storm had wrapped around them with its ominous reddish mantle, forcing them to slow down. The furious attack of the sand storm on the caravan was so violent that they finally had to stop to protect themselves from being buried under the hot embrace of the desert. After the storm blew over, the leaders decided to have a little healthy fun for the men. They organized a traditional camel race, where the winner would take a wineskin full of red wine as the grand prize. For obvious reasons, Califax and Hayex were not interested in competing in the event, but their refusal was overturned 'in a friendly manner' by a group of ill-tempered Koreish men.[86]
The competitors prepared their camels and took their positions. Hayex put a scarlet turban on his head and covered his face according to the custom of the nomads and mounted the back of Califax as if he were an experienced jockey. The route of the race was drawn around the campground, which they would run counterclockwise. Whoever completed nine laps would be the winner of the wineskin.
"Are you ready, my friend?" the gargoyle asked nervously.
"Perhaps. Please, tell me that you aren't thinking about trying to win this race. Are you?" asked the dragon, surprised.
"Well, a wineskin would do us no harm." teased Hayex.
"I am not a camel! Don't you realize that I cannot compete against them?" Califax complained.
"Of course, you can! On the Island of Cyprus you ran as fast as if you were flying, my friend." he reminded him.
The judge of the race gave the starting signal with a huge flag. The camels thundered their way across the sand, throwing sand up into the air as a big storm. Shouting with emotion, the spectators cheered their favorites on while they waved their sharp and brilliant scimitars.[87]
After three quick laps, Califax and Hayex came close to the lead, but they found themselves behind the three camels that were the former winners of the last editions of the race, which blocked their way in an unsportsmanlike manner, pushing them violently to the center. Califax took the inside curve to avoid crashing into the other racers. It caused him to skid and he almost fell on his inexpert rider. However, he kept his four feet on the burning sand and continued in the race.
In the seventh lap, the reckless runners continued looking for a breach to pass their fierce opponents, who at the same time were using their antics to stop them at any cost.
In the ninth and final lap, everything that they had tried had failed, and the race had turned into a personal issue with those select Arabs. Weary of their cheating, Califax decided to fight fire with fire. Close to the finish line, the nomads formed a roadblock in front of the dragon but, just a few yards from the finish line, he shot a burst of flame at the backsides of their mounts. Upon feeling the intense heat of the flames, the camels ran into each other throwing their riders several yards away from the path, allowing Califax and Hayex to reach the finish line.
The entire caravan applauded them; they were taken to the center of the camp where they were awarded. Nobody noticed the trick they had used to win the race because the flame that the dragon sent out was concealed by the enormous amount of dust that their opponents kicked up.
Califax was awarded a basket full of sweet fruit and a huge water container, while Hayex was carried on the shoulders of the men as he leisurely drank from the large wineskin. Everyone wanted to see the winner's faces, but as could be expected, they refused such a request. However, there is little discussion with an Arab who has made up his mind.
The Arabs jumped on top of them and took off their disguises. When they saw to horrid faces of the dragon and the gargoyle, they raised their scimitars, took up battle stance and invoked the sacred name of Allah.
Hayex flew quickly away to avoid being hurt by the sharp weapons, but Califax was defenseless because his wings were tied to his back, and so he was unable to do the same to save himself.
Califax, prey to the fear that the irascible mob provoked in him, with a great effort, freed his tail and unfurled his wings. Facing his pursuers, next he changed his scales from a reddish-brown color to an intense red, reared up, and released a great stream of flame into the sky, accompanied by a blood-curdling roar that stopped the enemy dead in their tracks. The people of the caravan took a step back from the creature, and Califax took advantage of the moment to pick up his clothes and flee.
After the men came to their senses, they insulted the brave globetrotters, brandishing their weapons with a new and unknown curse: "Pazuzu! Pazuzu!"[88]
"Perhaps we should follow the caravan from on high in the mountains." suggested the dragon.
"I told you we could win the race, my friend!" said Hayex with glee. "Sometimes, doubt can be our own worst enemy." concluded the gargoyle as he continued to drink happily from the wineskin.
Concealed by the arid mountains, the travelers followed the caravan to the City of Yathrib, where they sought out food so that they could continue their dangerous mission.
Under the protection of the night, Hayex took care of the task of supplying them with food, moving between the legs of the camels. He found a good amount of dried fruit and meat, and water sacks packed on the backs of two or three camels. Disguising themselves once more, Hayex placed the supplies on Califax's back, as if he was just another merchant with his camel, and they left the City of Yathrib to hide around the bend in the river.
Having eaten very little since the night they had spent in the Sphinx. They agreed to have a feast before falling deep into blissful sleep until the next morning.
The day broke with the suffocating heat of the sun, and the daring adventurers got ready to continue their exciting mission. From the top of a mountain, they were watched the caravan leave, after beginning with the preparation, very early in the morning.
Following the HejazMountains, the caravan took a southeasterly route followed from high above by its relentless stalkers. Twelve days went by before the caravan completed the 250 mile trip that separated Yathrib from Macoraba,[89] but this time the trip had been more benign other than the heat as they crossed the tropic of Cancer.
The magnificent City of Macoraba was full of faithful pilgrims eager to pay tribute and to cleanse their sins before the sacred icon in the hermitage of Kaabah. Califax and Hayex observed and studied the movements of the visitors from a prudent distance. They had to wait for an opportune moment before venturing inside the temple. After several hours, afternoon approached and the crowd seemed to grow larger. The dragon and gargoyle grew impatient, as they watched. Nevertheless, they had agreed to keep composed.
The devoted pilgrims came from Greece, the Desert of Nubia, [90] and even as far as Nineveh[91] to have their prayers heard. They deposited statuettes around the sanctuary in which many pilgrims entered for a short time. The sanctuary was formed in the shape of a cube and was made up of grey rock and black marble, supported by three huge columns inside.
"Do you think this is the Rock of Ebony that we are looking for?" asked the gargoyle.
"It is too big. I think the rock we are looking for is inside. Look how the men go in and out of it." observed the dragon.
"Then, we will have to go in." stated Hayex.
"It would be better to wait until evening, don't you think?" suggested Califax.
Twinkling of the stars was diminished by the crescent moon rising in the east, when Califax and Hayex donned their usual disguises and ventured into the sanctuary of Kaabah. The place was empty, and a strange silence prevailed. Sidestepping the enormous number of small statuettes that the pilgrims had placed around the temple, the infidels silently penetrated the tabernacle.
The great number of paintings and engravings of diverse Mediterranean gods that adorned the place[92] dazzled the tireless friends. In the eastern corner of the temple, they found a strange black rock surrounded by a stone ring.[93]
"Great! It seems that we have found the Rock of Ebony. Now what?" halfheartedly, asked Hayex.
"I do not know. Perhaps we will find something here that will guide us to our destiny." said the dragon.
Try as they might, they could not find anything that showed them the way to continue with their mission. After a thorough examination of the place, they accepted the fact that what they sought was not to be found at the Temple of Kaabah. They walked over to a nearby spring to drink from its waters and quench the thirst that the anxiety caused them. They were oblivious to the fact that they were being watched by a small group of men who relentlessly guarded the sanctuary day and night. While eagerly drinking from the clear and refreshing waters, the men surprised them wielding their enormous scimitars. Startled, they quickly took off their disguises and flew away without even knowing the reason for this latest attack. "Blasphemy! They have profaned the sacred Zamzam!"[94] They heard the men shout while they flew, protected by the dark mantle of night. Once again, the shadow of failure showed its face to the adventures making them easy prey for dismay.
"This is the end of the mission, my friend. I do not think we can find the man we are looking for." said the dragon with a heavy heart.
Meanwhile, in Dragonia, the situation was not any better. The incessant attacks of the Selenex caused countless casualties on both sides. All the while, senseless speeches resonated all over the Region of Fire.
An important meeting between the kings of the tribes had taken place in Amerux, official seat of the League of Dragons. Their objective was to make a peace treaty. Palux, King of the Selenex, confirmed his intention for peace and harmony with the Helenex. In an emotional speech before the high dignitaries, Palux proclaimed,
"...And I will always carry, in my right claw, this olive branch as a symbol of peace, and in the left, an arrow to defend it, even at the expense of my own life."
The rabid applause resonated in the enormous enclosure, indicating the popular approval of the peace agreement. However, the truce could not be held for long because of the differences that existed among other tribes. The Amerux, allies of the Helenex, accused the Arbux tribe of hiding their activities from the League of Dragons and blatantly supporting the Selenex by providing military training, arms, and a safe refuge for Dragonia's aggressors. The Arbux categorically denied the accusations of illegal practices. However, the Amerux Intelligence Agency had information that supported the accusations. Although, most of the tribes condemned an attack on the Arbux, the last word would come from the jaws of the Amerux, the most powerful tribe in the Region of Fire.
Thus, the dragons tried to settle their differences. Beyond that of the ominous prophecies of the Sacred Papyruses that warned the Region of Fire,wrapped in their ignorance, they would be incinerated in a bonfire lit by lies and hate, suspicion and intolerance, as well as in that of the dark hidden agendas of those in power that inevitably would lead to the extinction of these irrational beasts.
The rising sun shone over the Eastern steppe of the Arabian Peninsula, and the brave friends could not shake the misery and frustration brought on by their failed attempt to complete the mission. However, arming themselves with courage and patience, they decided to press on. They wandered in the desert unsuccessfully for several days trying to find the man who would activate the power of the chalice. They looked in every oasis, cave and shrub, hoping to find a sign that would indicate the way; but they found nothing.
They moved, persistently, forward. They had long since overcome their fear of men. They joined yet another caravan of merchants who were traveling north where they hoped to obtain some information from a nomad, but the days passed without the possibility of achieving their goal.
Roman Empire 7th Century
One night, Hayex sat close to an old man near the heat of a bonfire. In spite of his blindness, he seemed to see life with a great deal of clarity. After some small talk, the man began to speak to the gargoyle.
"What is it that you are looking for in this desert, Hayex?" he asked in a friendly manner.
"I am looking for a very special man." he answered dejectedly.
"What is so special about that man for whom you look?" asked the old man.
"I really do not know." answered Hayex, honestly.
"If you dig deep in their heart, you will find that all men are special." stated the old man.
"All men are the same to me, sir." Hayex objected.
"Many centuries ago, a fisherman proclaimed that all men are as special as every fish in his net."
"All fish are the same, sir." he said impatiently.
"There was once a pilgrimage where a large crowd of people gathered to listen to the words of that fisherman." continued the old man. "They were together for three days and they were hungry. Then, from one basket with seven pieces of bread and a few fish, he fed a multitude that surpassed five thousand people." he related.
"But... That is impossible!" exclaimed the gargoyle in disbelief.
"Who knows? Nevertheless, for each one of those people, the fish that they ate was particularly special since it satisfied their hunger."
"I realize what you are saying, sir, but I do not think you understand what I am trying to say." he explained. "This man has something very special that I need."
"A person becomes special because of what we offer her, not because of what we receive from her. You have to keep in mind that you must sow before you reap. Only then will you find what you are looking for." concluded the old man.
The light of a crescent moon illuminated the serene desert steppe and the travelers fell prey to the fatigue of the day, sleeping peacefully until dawn, safe and secure within the caravan.
The next day was no more fruitful than the last, in spite of their laborious and relentless investigation among the Arabs in the long caravan; the adventurers were not able to find any useful information to help them reach their objective. They decided to leave the caravan to look for their objective in other desert areas, but they had to do this at an opportune time so as not to raise suspicion among the humans.
The moment came before they expected it. Just before dusk, a whirling sand storm began to besiege the caravan. The column of merchants assumed their positions for the storm, taking shelter and waiting patiently for the thrashing wind to pass. The profound darkness of the storm provided the friends a perfect cover to escape furtively from the inquisitive eyes of the nomads.
Fighting against the powerful force of the winds, they headed for the HejazMountain slopes, where they waited for the strength of the storm to diminish. After a short time, the storm finally died down and the brave travelers discussed the course that they would follow next.
"It would be better to go north. I do not think we will find the man we are looking for, here." suggested the gargoyle.
"Perhaps, but remember that the magician spoke about the Rock of Ebony. I think that it must be very close." encouraged the dragon.
"What if we are mistaken about the rock, Califax?" asked Hayex.
"The Sphinx directed us to this place. Besides, I do not think there are many rocks like the one in Macoraba." reasoned Califax.
"I seem to remember seeing some caves not very far from here. Perhaps we can find some clues there. I will take a look while you rest a bit." offered the gargoyle. "You have carried a heavy load for a very long time now, my friend." smiled the gargoyle.
Hayex flew away and his small figure disappeared in the immensity of the brilliant desert sun. Meanwhile, Califax got his enormous body comfortable in the shade of a gigantic cedar and drank from the water bags that the gargoyle had stolen from the Arabs. Within only a few minutes, the dragon fell into a deep and refreshing sleep.
Califax was deep within a dark cave. The intense cold of the cave contrasted with the extreme heat of the desert from which he had taken refuge. Then, from the deepest part of the grotto, he heard a deep voice ask him: "Would you drink of my blood, Califax?" the macabre voice spat out a sinister laugh.
The sun fell, announcing dusk, when Califax awoke with a start. Time had flown by and Hayex had still had yet to return. Anxiousness made him look in the nearby areas for his astute companion, but he could not find him. The dragon reproached himself for having allowed Hayex to go off by himself.
Nighttime descended as Califax searched exhaustively for his companion. He searched every tree and crevice without finding him. He even looked under rocks, but it seemed that the desert had simply swallowed Hayex up. Just thinking about it gave Califax an intense chill that traveled to the very marrow of his bones. He anxiously scoured the countryside in search of his friend. He shouted his name and he sent huge flames into the air so that the gargoyle could locate him. In spite of his effort, the only answer he got was the roar of the wind.
After several hours of intensive searching, Califax's sensitive ears heard voices and guffaws coming not too far away. He stealthily approached the place where he heard the voices and finally found his comrade. If he was not in the best of situations, but at least he was still alive.
Hayex had been taken prisoner and he was being held inside a wooden cage, guarded by two nasty looking men who talked while they eagerly ate from the lamb roasting on the fire.
"What do you think?" asked one of the men. "Perhaps we can exhibit it in a circus. Even Caesar himself would pay a fortune to see this animal!" the villain exclaimed.
"What do you think it is? I have never seen such a horrible creature." said the other scoundrel as he stared into the gargoyle's terrified eyes.
Hidden behind the trees, Califax watched the movements of the men very carefully. They appeared to be caravan thieves and robbers. In spite of his size, the dragon had to be very careful while rescuing his friend since thieves feared nothing when it came to defending their ill-gotten loot.
"What if it dies of hunger? We do not know what this thing eats." observed one of the kidnapers.
"If it dies, we can eat it. I do not think that its meat would be so bad. Later, we could sell or exhibit his skeleton in some circus." said the other thief, violently tearing the flesh from the lamb leg. Hayex was paralyzed with fear. He drowned out a scream of terror when he read the wicked intentions in that malevolent gesture.
Califax waited patiently for sleep to overcome the scoundrels before rescuing the gargoyle. Once they were asleep, the dragon stealthily approached the cage where Hayex lay awake in fear. Signaling silence to the gargoyle with his index claw, the dragon stealthily approached the cage. His carefully laid plans to save his friend were thwarted by the whinny of the horses, which aroused the bandits.
"We are being robbed!" cried one of the unscrupulous thieves.
The nomads quickly jumped to their feet and unsheathed their scimitars. They were pointed in the direction of their aggressor hiding in the shadows of the night. Then Califax jumped between the men and the caged Hayex. Standing on his hind legs, he opened his huge wings to intimidate and scare away the kidnappers. Far from being scared, their greed grew upon seeing the young dragon.
"We have to capture him alive! This will surely make us rich!"
Califax became very angry and changed his color to an intense red while drawing his brilliant sword and spewing fire on the evildoers, who covered themselves like magic with Roman shields, items that were surely stolen in some robbery.
Together, the thieves attacked their fabulous enemy brandishing their sabers and shouting dreadful war cries. With just one strike of his sword, Califax split the scimitars of his attackers in half. When they realized that they had been disarmed, they ran toward their horses, which had long since fled the scene.
After Hayex had been freed from his prison, the daring adventurers flew to the hills of Arabia, under the darkness of the night.
After finding a safe refuge, they lit a bonfire and they ate some fruit and dried meat.
"How did they capture you?" asked Califax, intrigued.
"I do not know. They surprised me with a net while I was coming out of a cave. I do not understand how I did not see them before."
"Forget it, my friend. You are safe now." Califax reassured his friend.
After a long silence, Califax spoke:
"I never asked you about your family, Hayex. Tell me about them." he asked.
"A long time ago, I lost them at the hands of men, my friend," he remembered with great sorrow. "My parents and grandparents, together with eight of my brothers and sisters, lived very happily in the southern forest of the Island of Briton, in a community of gargoyles. One day, two of our kind went exploring in a human village where they were captured. The humans killed them in a very cruel manner, covered them with clay, and baked their bodies. They later placed them in the mouth of several water drainages at the top of a bell tower as a warning to the 'Dark Demons of Hell', as they called us, to stay away from their houses."
"And you and your people did not keep to a safe distance from them?" asked the horrified dragon.
"After that tragedy, nobody dared approach that place again. However, the humans thought that there must be more of us and they came looking. They started a huge forest fire that surprised us while we were sleeping and then they attacked with rocks and arrows. After the attack, we went north, but the humans spread the word, warning the rest of the humans of our existence. Although there was a great slaughter in the last siege, I managed to escape, but I never saw my family again. The hunt lasted for years, until we were practically extinct. I wandered the island for a long time in hopes of finding more of my kind, but alas, I only found them mounted, as water drainages, on top of many different houses. Then I met you, my friend. I think I am the last of my kind." Hayex whispered.
After he heard Hayex's sad story, Califax fell silent. He contemplated his blessings and he felt a little guilty for having a home, a nice family, and very good friends in Dragonia. In spite of feeling overwhelmed, at times, by his problems, he should always remember that there are many beings who carry real burdens and suffering in their heart each day. Being one of the privileged few, he had many things to be thankful for to Helion.
"You are no longer alone, my dear friend. When this adventure is over, we will look for your kin. Surely, your kin are equally as intelligent as you are. Surely many of your kind managed to escape the wrath of men." the dragon encouraged in order cheering his comrade.
The shadows stretched out as the moon fell below the horizon, and the audacious adventurers buried their sadness in the reassuring arms of Morpheus.
\*\*\*
The Prophet of the Cave
The desert steppe woke up in its golden splendor, and the dragon and the gargoyle prepared themselves to continue their mission after a large breakfast of fruit and dried meat. Their diet had not changed for quite some time. Surprisingly enough they began to miss the taste of fish. After hiding their food and clothes behind some scrubs, they took flight. Even having found an excellent hiding place, Califax kept the bag containing the valuable cup with him at all times.
They flew all around Macoraba looking for anything that might lead them to the mysterious man who would activate the Chalice. The only thing they found was the discomfort from the cruel relentless heat of the desert.
When the burning sun reached its zenith, a powerful storm took them by surprise. They had been searching so intensely that they failed to notice the darkening sky. It was impossible for them to escape the storm by flight. Struggling to keep each other in sight, they headed for refuge behind some large rocks. When the storm passed, the landscape had changed drastically. The large amount of windblown sand covered the original geography, causing the expeditionary to become lost. Their anguish and frustration increased when they discovered that the storm had yanked their water supply from the gargoyle. Only one wineskin remained, with just a few sips of the vital liquid.
They flew for several hours searching for their hiding place, or an oasis from which to replenish their water supply. Their search was fruitless. The dunes filled the landscape as far as the eye could see, spreading in a perpetual sea of sand and loneliness.
A few hours after midday, the desert light began to change in tone a strange way, as though a large cloud was covering the sun. As they looked to the sky an unusual phenomenon appeared before their eyes: The sun seemed to be devoured by the moon. Califax then remembered the words of the prophecies and the calculations of the astronomers: "The Earth will be surrounded by darkness in a period of nine months. This is all the time we have..." It had been almost nine months since he had departed from Dragonia, and the mission was not complete. The god Helion was preparing to annihilate the Region of Fire and, perhaps, the entire world with a scathing wrath.
The lack of water was taking its toll on the travelers' bodies. Hopelessness surrounded their afflicted minds. Much too weakened to fly, they walked in search of some place that would provide them the refreshing alleviation of shade and a little water to quench their thirst.
"Only a sip of water is left. You drink it. You have to carry on in order concluding the mission." said Hayex, on the verge of collapse.
"Thank you, Hayex, but it would be better if you drank it. You need it more than I do, my friend." countered the dragon, almost fainted.
After an exhausting walk through the sand, they reached the foothills of the mountain. As the moon continued its passage across the face of the sun, the sinister darkness seized the entire region.
Having fallen prey to fear and uncertainty in light of the strange phenomenon, they looked for a refuge to protect themselves from the imminent attack of Helion's wrath. Weakened, they climbed to the top of a mountain and found a cave whose mouth was so large that even a regiment of armored dragons could enter it without difficulty. The enormous ceiling of the cave provided comfortable a shade that immediately refreshed the overheated comrades.
After they recovered their breath, they searched the interior of the cave for some water, but only found the echo of their own steps.
Califax, weak and dehydrated, could not maintain the fire from his nose for long, and the deep cave quickly surrounded them with its dismal darkness. Totally exhausted and thirsty, they fell into a deep sleep: a prelude to a slumber from which they might never awake.
Outside, the moon continued on its path across the sun. The darkness became increasingly intense, as did the fear and panic it instilled in the minds of men. They called the cosmic demonstration of godly power a bad omen. The people in the villages and cities ran franticly to their houses looking for protection for their children and themselves, but found no consolation for their affliction.
Some contemplative and others submissive, the entire population prayed, and in their prayers, they looked for the last minute forgiveness for their terrible sins.
Meanwhile, in the cave, Califax woke up after hearing some moaning in the intense darkness. At first, he thought it was Hayex making those rumbling noises that sounded like death rattles. Embracing him affectionately, he felt great pain and sadness for his friend's condition. He languished with the blue face of impeding doom.
"I should not have let you come with me." he reproached himself. "I have only brought you here to see you die." he sobbed.
While he held his dear friend in his claws, Califax heard the moaning again and noticed that they did not come from the gargoyle, but rather from somewhere deeper in the cave. Then, Hayex awoke.
"What is going on, my friend? Why are you crying?" He asked, coming out of his lethargy.
"Shhh! There is someone else here." Califax said, pointing deeper into the cave.
Rising silently, they approached the source of the moaning, only to find a man who seemed to be dying. With his clothes torn and his face badly burnt by the sun, the man lay on his back, speaking incoherent words seemingly torn from some horrible nightmare; he appeared to have been beaten by the implacable power of the ArabicDesert. Taking pity on the unfortunate man, Califax took the last of the water and poured into the Chalice, while Hayex watched in ceremonious silence as he observed the unselfish act.
As the dragon gave the man two or three sips, the man's eyes slowly opened. Califax immediately put out the fire from his nose so as not to be seen by the man. Meanwhile, outside, an enormous and beautiful solar crown was revealed behind the dark disc of the moon, submerging the entire region in the unusual darkness, that afternoon before the arrival of summer.
Inside the cave, the eternal darkness surrounded that strange meeting of beings, all from a very different nature and culture. Suddenly, an intense white light illuminated the whole place. Quickly, the dragon and the gargoyle left the man's side and pressed their backs against the cold wall of the cave. The intense light seemed to come from everywhere and nowhere and appeared to direct itself at the man, who miraculously recovered all his strength.
Despite the prodigious manifestation, the dragon and the gargoyle felt no fear. They felt that by some miracle, some way, the light had replenished their strength as well.
Slowly, the light faded as it took a strange form, which looked like a man or a dragon, or perhaps both. Without moving from the wall of the cave, the witnesses did not miss a single detail of what was going on in the cavern. Then, that luminous form unfolded two enormous white wings that scattered sparkles all over the cave when it flapped them.
Still in disbelief, the dragon and the gargoyle felt strangely comforted before the presence of that being, whose powerful yet soft voice spoke to the man, and his voice sounded like the ocean's song.
"Read, in the name of your Lord who created. He created man from a clot! Read! Your Lord is most Honorable, who taught to write with the pen; taught man what he knew not."[95]
The man was moved by this and knelt down.
"Hear me, I have been sent here by the Divine Power to name you the messenger of His Word." he added in a soft and reverent voice.
"Who am I to receive such a high honor, angelical creature? I am but a humble servant of the Highest one on high." said the kneeling man.
"I am the Archangel who holds the Sword of Fire.[96] I am the one who advises men of the coming of He who Is, Has Been and Will Be. The time is near, and He will divulge the Sacred Word through your mouth, among the ancestry of Hagar[97]." he announced.
"Oh, you, who have chained the dark Enemy in his eternal dwelling! You that protect the rock given to us by our father Abraham! If it is the will of the benefactor and the merciful Allah, that I be His messenger, instill His eternal knowledge in the mouth of this unfaithful one, and on his feet His never ending strength, so that he may carry out such a high command." said the man.
"Worthy to carry out His message is he who has drunk from His Chalice. He will be a fisher of men who throws his nets in the desert, as earlier they were thrown." concluded that celestial being.
After that Divine Revelation, the angel disappeared and the cave returned to darkness. Califax and Hayex noticed that thirst and hunger had abandoned them, and before putting the Chalice back inside the sack, the dragon observed a golden light that came from its depth. The power of that cup, it seemed, had been activated. When leaving the cave, the adventurers noticed with great relief that the world was not destroyed by the wrath of Helion, and that the sun shone with all its usual intensity. Everything looked the same; nevertheless, they had been witness to an event that would change the course of History: The anointment of Mohammad, the Prophet of the Cave.
After regaining their strength, the next day, the travelers prepared to return to Briton after locating their refuge where they had hidden their food and disguises. They needed no more camouflages. They left the costumes in that inhospitable place, taking with them only the royal cape. Good spirits had returned to their hearts. They were certain that they had found in that cave the man that they had searched for so long. All that remained was to return to Dragonia to save it from Helion's terrible fire.
They flew in an easterly direction bordering the coast of the Red Sea until reaching the River Nile. From there, they went to the Island of Crete, and later they reached the tip of the Italian boot after hours of tiring flight over the Ionian Sea.
Given past experience, they managed to cross the Italian Pennine Alps and the treacherous French Alps without any difficulty. After two days, the gargoyle felt at home again when reaching Calais.
"Finally, Briton!" exclaimed Hayex with a sigh. "Now that the power of the Chalice has been activated, what are you going to do with it?" he asked the dragon.
"I must give it to Filox. Surely, he will know what to do." he said with conviction.
They ate a large amount of fish and took a short rest before starting out again on their trip home. They felt a great sense of satisfaction in having succeeded in accomplishing their mission.
It was midday before the successful adventurers reached Canterbury. From there, they flew to the city of Londinium to later line up directly towards Stour-in-Usmere.
The golden pastures of Briton were turning green again, and when the night covered them with its dark mantle, the dragon and the gargoyle got ready to sleep. Califax could not fall asleep. His over going home kept him awake. He embraced his prized trophy. It represented a just reward for his dedication and effort. He curled up among the shrubs and let his heavy eyelids drop down over his tired eyes, as he was sung to sleep by the smooth murmur of the dense forest.
The dawn's faint light filtered tenuous rays of sunlight through the darkness of the wooded area, and the optimistic friends continued their trip in high sprits.
Bordering the SnowdonMountains, they reached the well-known village of Bangor, where the Celts still conserved their traditions and prepared for the traditional 'Beltane' celebration.[98]
They crossed the Irish Sea until reaching the Isle of Man, where Hayex tried and failed again to capture a cat. A little before nightfall, they reached Glasgow, and in the surrounding area they found a safe refuge. All the adventures that they had lived through together in order to obtain the Chalice seemed so far away from the dragon's mind as his thoughts returned to his home.
"We are very close now, my friend. Soon we will be home." encouraged Califax.
The lengthening shadows announced the arrival of night. The experienced adventurers got ready to sleep and rest from their exciting journey. Califax, as usual, curled up in the shelter; carefully cradling his treasure between his claws while Hayex reclined next to his companion.
They were in a deep sleep when the sensitive ears of the dragon alerted them to strange sounds around them. He opened his eyes. Before him, the shape of two Pantesux dragons came into focus: sinister shadows from the deep forest, with their faces covered with the cowardly facade of a black hood.
"Who are you two?" he demanded, as he sat up from the forest bed.
"Keep calm, son. Give us the Chalice, or your friend will pay the price." said one of the evil intruders with a malicious snarl as he dangled Hayex from his feet and pointed his sword at his throat. Tied and gagged, Hayex had been defenseless for a while.
Califax drew his sword to defend his position, but the other dragon pointed his sword at the gargoyle's throat, threatening to cut his head off in one fell swoop.
The young dragon had no other choice but to give in. He slowly slid the Chalice out of the bag. Powerless, with trembling claw, he extended the Chalice to the thieves. The other dragon, who had not said a word, extended his claw to grasp it. Califax, in a vain attempt to distract them, deliberately let the Holy Grail fall to the ground, the evil intruders only laughed at the maneuver.
"That is an old trick, son. Has not Filox taught you better tricks than that one?" he said with a nasty laugh which resonated in the deep of the forest.
He reached down to the cup that lay on the ground, but as he was rising up, an enormous lance pierced his back, causing him to fall, mortally wounded, to the forest floor.
One after the other, the arrows zipped dangerously over the dragons' heads, which flew behind the trees and bushes to hide. The humans had discovered them!
Bravely, Califax returned to pick up the Chalice and fly to the highest part of the trees amidst a rain of arrows and rocks that he skillfully turned aside with his powerful sword.
Califax waited for the humans to stop their attack and move away, and then he went searching for his loyal friend. The dark of the night was almost impenetrable. To light a flame would be suicide with the hostile humans patrolling the area. He waited then, for a signal from the gargoyle.
Still held captive by the enemy dragon, Hayex wriggled about vainly trying to untie himself. He moaned under the suffocating gag tied around his head and mouth.
"Shut up, if you do not want to be silenced forever!" threatened the intruder, hiding in the weeds, hoping to surprise Califax.
Searching for his enemy, the traitor searched a small part of the forest. When he returned, the gargoyle was gone. He turned to see the young dragon grasping his shining sword.
"Who are you? Do not you know that this Grail will save our countries?" demanded Califax angrily.
Just as he finished questioning the hooded dragon, a hard blow to the head knocked him unconscious. After a few minutes, Califax awoke from his stupor, without his sword, and without the Chalice. He found himself before another enormous Pantesux dragon flanked by the first one, also camouflaged by a black hood.
"I did not really think you could do it, Califax. Your father would be very proud of you. It is too bad that you will not live to see him." he threatened.
"Who are you? What you are doing is an attack against our countries. If I do not take the Chalice to Dragonia, the entire Region of Fire will be devastated by Helion's wrath." he pleaded his cause.
"When that happens, I will be very far away, my friend. The power of this relic will take me to unimagined heights." he said, looking up to the sky.
"What are you planning to do, dragons? We do not know how the Chalice works. It could be very dangerous." he warned.
"I know very well what I must do." he asserted, taking the hood off his head simultaneously with the other dragon.
"Crulux? Tradux...?" Califax exclaimed, astonished, before such a revelation.
Tradux sketched a sinister smile.
"You father ordered me to send Crulux and Dragax to search for you. He could not give me a better chance to obtain the Chalice." informed the traitor, with cynicism. "Too bad, none of you will return alive." he said while he stabbed Crulux who, surprised by that infamy, looked straight into the eyes of his murderer before he died.
"You are an assassin, Tradux!" protested Califax, after witnessing the brutal act.
"I am foresighted. Thus, I will not have to share the power of the Chalice with anyone." he asserted, while taking his wineskin out of his bag.
Califax took advantage of that brief moment of his enemy's distraction to grab the deceased Crulux's sword and to attack the traitor. The clash of the swords rang through the forest, and the flames of the dragons illuminated the dark celestial vault. In spite of being more agile than Tradux, Califax could not manage to subdue his experienced opponent. However, the young dragon would not give up.
The fast twists and the violent movements that the dragons drew with their swords in the air were followed by strong tail swats that they inflicted mercilessly to one another. Only the silent light of the stars in the sky witnessed the terrible duel between the two committed dragons.
The battle of these titans soon came to its end. With a quick turn, followed by a great blow with his tail, Califax managed to disarm his enemy. Finding himself defenseless, Tradux remembered that Califax's magic sword remained in the pasture below. He quickly dove to the ground and armed himself with the fantastic weapon. Tradux confronted his opponent knowing that he had a superior weapon in his claws. After a short exchange, Tradux disarmed Califax by cutting the lesser sword in half. Once again, the young dragon found himself at the mercy of the traitor.
"I will give you the opportunity to witness my glory." Tradux said with pride. "Later, you can join my cause. Once I have the power, I will fill the Chalice with my blood and you will drink of it to seal our pact. Would you drink of my blood, Califax?" inquired the traitor, with a macabre outburst of laughter.
"Never!" Califax exclaimed bravely, remembering the horrible nightmare that haunted him through out his adventure.
Tradux filled the Chalice with wine and drank eagerly, spilling a little of its content, while Califax felt his stomach heave at having to watch that scene. Then, the traitor filled and emptied the cup two more times. Nothing happened. Perhaps, the power of the Chalice was nothing more than a lie, or at best, an unfounded myth.
"It does not work!" he exclaimed furiously, and tossed it away scornfully.
Meanwhile, Califax asked himself what had happened. Why did Tradux feel no change? Then, the traitor began to sense a strange flavor in his mouth. It was a sweet flavor, almost like blood, and trying to wash it away, he drank directly from the wineskin. An intense heat, which ate away at the dragon's entrails, overcame him. With his claws on his throat, he tried to breathe in air, and an intense red light, as an ignominious halo, glowed around the beast's body. Califax could barely believe the terrible spectacle before him. He stood at a prudent distance, as if to anticipate the outburst of the saurian. Then, the light intensified until it reached a white heat, much like the hot coals of a gigantic oven, twisting and contorting the unfortunate traitor until he was reduce to ashes while howling frightfully.
After that terrifying spectacle, all that was left of that dragon was a mountain of burnt residue that the evening breeze softly scattered about the forest of Briton. However, the Chalice remained intact, as if nothing had happened. Minutes later, Hayex, who had remained hidden behind the shrubs, came wriggling out like a worm, since he was still tied and gagged. After being released form his bindings, they rejoiced, though scared at what they had witnessed.
"What a frightful thing, my friend! Do you think it would be a good idea to take the Chalice to Dragonia?" pondered the gargoyle.
"Perhaps there is some ritual to avoid being devoured by its power. We must to alert Filox of what has happened." he said, picking up the Chalice from the ground.
"I have a better idea," suggested Hayex. "Why don't we ask Dee the Magician before taking it to Dragonia? Perhaps he has an answer to this mystery."
Thus, Califax and Hayex took flight on a southern course, to the river basin of the DeeRiver, home to the mysterious magician and sovereign to the dark fog of Briton.
In spite of the great uncertainty that the Grail caused, after that experience, they would not take any more chances. From now on, they would guard the Chalice until delivering it to the very claws of King Rasux.
\*\*\*
The Power of the Grail
The pale light of the dawn was just beginning to touch the golden plains, when the two adventurers reached the refuge of the mysterious Dee, the magician.
Appearing one again from the fog, the dragon and the gargoyle, which still not adapted to such demonstrations of prestidigitation, sought the advice of the wise man of the forest.
"Sir: I have the Holy Grail in my claws, but I do not know how to use its power." the dragon informed the magician.
"Only the sovereign wearing the crown with four points can make use of its power." said the magician in a deep voice.
"Who is this sovereign? How will I be able to recognize him?" he inquired humbly.
"His crown is made of courage, restraint, justice, and wisdom and it must be exposed to the light of the solstice." intoned the magician.
"But, how must he use the Grail, sir?" Califax insisted.
"The secret of the Grail will only be revealed to the one that with humility and love in his heart transmits its power by asking the right question."
After these mysterious words, just as he had appeared, Dee the Magician disappeared in a sea of thick fog.
"I hate it when he does that!" exclaimed Hayex. "I still had many questions to ask to him." he complained bitterly.
"What do you think he meant by transmits its power by asking the right question? And who would the sovereign that wears the four-pointed crown be?" asked Califax.
"I do not know. I didn't think that the Grail held a secret either, my friend." explained Hayex.
"Perhaps, Filox knows what all this means." he said, taking his chin into his claws.
"What is the solstice?" asked the gargoyle.
"It is the longest day of the year, when summer begins." he explained. "We need to hurry, since according to the prophecy, the sovereign must drink from the Chalice in the solstice. ...And Helion drank with him, the day that his brilliance shone longer than that of Selion, and the nations were release." Califax remembered.
They then undertook the trip to Dragonia with their minds and hearts full of doubts. Would the Chalice really be able to save his race? That question tormented Califax during the entire trip back home.
For some time now, the green pastures of Briton had announced the arrival of spring, and summer's eve was very close at hand. They hurried to get home before the solstice.
They flew in a northerly direction, toward Oban, bordering the southern portion of MountBen Nevis, until reaching the northern bank of Loch Ness, where they stopped to take short rest at noon.
A soft breeze blew across the water of that beautiful lake. Califax watched it and remembered his encounter with his friend Nessux.
"Do you know Nessux?" asked the dragon.
"Who...?" asked the surprised gargoyle.
"He is a giant species of dragon that lives with his family, here, in this lake." he explained.
"I do not know of any dragon that lives in this lake, my friend. Are you sure?"
"I had just arrived to Briton when I stopped to drink water close by this place, and then, Nessux came out to greet me." he explained. "Let us wait a moment. Perhaps, we will have good luck and I will be able to introduce you to him." he suggested.
"It would be very nice to meet him." Hayex said to dragon. "I hope so." he thought.
They waited in silence, as the wind blew softly over their faces, refreshing and relaxing their minds as they breathed in the gift of that majestic natural landscape with all their senses. At that moment, they felt a peace in their hearts, a feeling that they had not experienced for a very long time. They felt privileged and gave thanks for being part of that vast and unique universe.
However, their time of contemplation did not last long. The humans, who had gathered in large groups around the lake in search of the day's fish, surprised them as they basked by the lake. The humans attacked with ruthless ferocity as they repeatedly shouted, "Lucifer! Lucifer!"
They quickly flew away from the storm of lances and stones. Once again, they had to escape the treacherous two-legged beings. They flew to the middle of the lake, but various boats full of furious men were waiting there to brutally attack them.
In the middle of that clamor, Hayex, being seriously wounded by a lance, fell. The dart had penetrated his torso very close to his heart, and the blood began to flow profusely, dyeing the lake a fatal red color.
Califax, filled with rage and fury upon seeing his innocent fallen friend, returned to rescue him from the water before he drowned. At that moment, the men had those 'diabolic creatures' within reach of their weapons: The men had them surrounded!
Ina show of his great powers, Califax changed his color to litmus blue, and extended his powerful wings while holding the injured body of his dear friend with his front claws. Turning around, he blew out an enormous flame meant to scare away his untiring persecutors, but it was useless. The men were armed with huge shields of iron and copper, and they closed in closer around the two friends, in a circle. They covered themselves from the tenacious and fiery attacks from the dragon. Having come so far, Califax's mission seemed close to an end.
The final attack of the men was at hand. Brandishing their sharp swords, they fatally approached the dragon to finish his life and that of his companion. All of a sudden, the boats began to rock dangerously back and fourth, and several of the navigators fell resoundingly into the lake.
One after another, they fell into the water without explanation for such a strange phenomenon. Some tried to return to their battered boats when an enormous head emerged from the depths. It was Nessux! Upon seeing that terrifying creature, the men swam desperately for safety. However, shortly before they reached their boats, other enormous creatures with long necks blocked their way. Nessux's children had joined in the rescue of his friends while giving the aggressive humans a lesson.
Califax reached the edge of the lake and tried to revive his faithful companion, giving him breath and heat from his nose, but Hayex did not respond. The large amount of blood he had lost left him in pale as death.
"Wake up, my friend, please!" he cried between sobs, but, this time, Hayex was dead.
Having driven the men away, Nessux and his offspring gathered around Califax. Sadness and desolation seized those beings. They cried over the death of the gargoyle and over the enormous pain in the young dragon's heart.
"None of this has been worth the trouble. None of it!" he bellowed to the sky, sending out a dreadful roar of pain that was heard all over the region.
With the inert body of Hayex in his arms, Califax undertook the trip back to the Region of Fire. Without stopping to rest, he arrived at CapeDuncansby and lined up with the Orkney Isles.
Absorbed as he was in his deep sorrow, he did not notice the presence of various Viking ships that, again, adored him as the god Thor. This time he ignored their adulation. He wanted only to get to his destination as soon as possible. Perhaps Filox would have a miraculous remedy to revive his dear friend. Although, the truth was, he had never witnessed such a miracle on any of his own kind.
The night before the solstice surprised the very tired young dragon as he flew over the middle of the North Sea. The sea was ravaged by a fierce storm. Finally, he had no other choice than to stop on one of the Shetland Islands and wait for the storm to subside. The seconds became minutes, and the minutes, hours, and his desperation grew as the gale worsened.
Clinging to Hayex's body, he spoke to him reminding him the achievements and blessings that they had achieved along their incredible adventure, but he received no response. Califax could no longer bear his suffering and fury in silence. He swore to return for revenge on those who had caused the death of his dear friend. If possible, he would cause the end of the entire human race, so great was the pain and bitterness that tore at the young dragon.
At the break of dawn, Califax awoke with a start. Fatigue and anguish had overcome him, and he had fallen asleep without knowing it in the middle of the storm the night before.
In spite of his not having eaten anything for several hours, he immediately took to flight. Even though it was early, he beat his wings desperately trying to reach the fastest possible speed. Sorrow and anger seemed to inject the necessary strength he needed to reach his goal in the least amount of time.
Some hours later, Califax could make out the long yearned for Faroe Islands, which was home to the Region of Fire. His destination was in view and he beat his powerful wings even faster as the midday sun announced the imminent arrival of the summer solstice. Nevertheless, an ill omen was drawn in the sky above the region: Helion began to hide behind Selion.
Upon finally reaching Dragonia, he went directly to the chambers of Filox, the teacher, who was, as usual, in his favorite place: The Royal Library of Dragonia. He was reading one of his many papyri.
With his face grayed from hunger and fatigue, Califax fainted in the claws of his teacher, and Filox, astonished by the dramatic and unexpected appearance of his pupil, took him, with difficulty, to a stone armchair upholstered with fine moss. He then took Hayex's inert body of from the young dragon's claws and gave Califax a drink of water in an attempt to ease his thirst.
After a few moments, Califax awoke. He alerted his teacher as to the nature of the terrible prophecies and they immediately went to the Royal Observatory.
One of Filox's assistants, who was there at the time, alerted others of what some had waited for: the return of Califax. News of his long-awaited return spread like wildfire throughout the entire city of Dragonia. Finally, it reached the ears of his father, Novax.
Without a moment's hesitation, Novax, with his wife Darta at his side, flew to accompany their brave son, who was found in the immense vault of the observatory.
Califax stood in the center of the observatory, the dome had an oculus, through which the rays of the sun would signal the arrival of the first day of summer but a strange phenomenon prevented its appearance. The solstice had begun without having shown the light of Helion.
Panic seized the entire Region of Fire; its inhabitants flew out of control in every direction screaming and terrified. The unexpected darkness that surprised the dragons seemed to announce the fulfillment of the apocalyptic prophecies.
Restlessness of even the most ferocious dragon became apparent in the observatory. The darkness that wrapped around Dragonia penetrated their very souls. "Helion have mercy on our souls!" cried many dragons.
In spite of the confusion and panic, Califax took the Grail and poured a little water inside, keeping his characteristic calm. He waited a few minutes and the moon began to shift, revealing behind it the light of the sun.
In the center of the observatory, the young dragon began performing a strange ritual. King Rasux, Filox, and Novax, as well as the rest of the Royal Court, became quiet before Califax's serenity.
"Your power emanates from a man and your power has returned to a man! If your power has not served man, then, whom does the Grail serve?"[99] he intoned softly, rising the cup towards the sun.
After reciting those words, he brought the Grail to Hayex, and gently opened the lips of the gargoyle and gave him a sip from that simple cup. The attendants of that strange ceremony shouted indignation at the top of their lungs. Novax looked at his son with respect and admiration for his unselfish action, and with one gesture, he quieted the entire audience.
An interminable silence filled the observatory, as the audience awaited the unexpected. Then, something incredible happened: Hayex's body began to levitate in the middle of a refulgent bluish light, and the gargoyle turned back to his natural brownish color.
A whirlwind of lights filled the vault before the astonished eyes of all those assembled. Hayex spun quickly until his shape was lost within that brilliant light.
Califax, with the Grail still in his claws, backed away from that brilliance, and a few minutes later, the lights began to dissipate, slowly.
Once the lights had faded completely, a miracle appeared before the incredulous eyes of the witnesses: Hayex, who all his life had been but a simple and inoffensive forest creature, persecuted unjustly by men, was transformed into a human; a boy of about fifteen years old.
Hayex awoke from his deep sleep, and before him, he found Califax, amazed by the extraordinary event.
"What happened? Where are we, my friend?" he asked, still groggy, looking all around him with surprise.
"Hayex, my friend, is it really you?" inquired the dragon, still quite astonished.
"What? Do you not recognize me? Of course, it is I!" exclaimed Hayex, confused before such a peculiar question.
"Look at yourself!" said Califax.
Hayex had not yet noticed his profound transformation. Sheepishly, he complained bitterly about his new appearance.
"I have changed into a man!" Hayex stated, with horror.
"I thought, the power of the Chalice would, only resurrect you, my friend!" explained the alarmed and amazed dragon.
"It would have been better to leave me dead!" he protested.
The audience in the observatory could not explain or give credit to what their eyes had seen. Complaints from those opposed to Filox raised their voices demanding an explanation.
"Is this the chalice that will save us from perdition, Filox?" demanded a voice that came from the back of the building.
"The prophecies are a farce! Far from saving our people, the Chalice will cause our extinction!" cried yet another voice.
"Where is your savior wearing the four-pointed crown, Filox? Will this pup save Dragonia?" said Lusux, incredulous.
"Can you not see? You have him before your very eyes," expressed Filox, pointing to Califax. "This young dragon left our land with one horn on his head and now he has returned with four. He is the one, the prophecies speak of." he explained. "How many dragons like him do you know?"
"And what do you plan to do? Change us in to humans?" protested Rhudex. "If Califax drinks from the Chalice he will turn into one of them and we will lose him forever. Is that what his sweet mother wants? Is that what this Royal Court wants? The mission is a failure. We should destroy the Chalice. It is a threat to our race." he stated.
"I should tell you, noble dragons, that part of what Filox has told you it is true, but, another part is not." interrupted King Rasux, while the murmuring became louder after that statement. "The prophecies indeed speak of the things to come, but also they speak of things that have already happened, many centuries ago." he said, to begin his story. "Before the Region of Fire existed, two twin cities were built in far away lands. The human inhabitants of these cities lived their lives under moral codes that would offend even the most savage of our species, and I will not speak of them in respect to our illustrious females that occupy a place in this building." he said.
"The unbefitting moral conduct of these humans," continued Rasux," provoked the wrath of their God, who on repeated occasions reprimanded them and warned them against this kind of behavior. However, they did not take heed to the warnings. That God, who could not find even one just inhabitant in the town, destroyed those cities with fire and they disappeared. Nevertheless, the punishment those men would suffer was not over. According to very ancient texts, even older than any of our Sacred Papyruses, the souls of those men were damned to these lands to inhabit them forever under the skin of a ferocious dragon and other beings. This way, that God could be assured that those disobedient men would not forget the reason they had been destroyed, but it seems that we have forgotten. It is not your fault," he exempted. "The truth has been carefully obscured for all these years, behind the walls of the palace," he concluded.[100]
"Do you mean, Rasux, that we were humans before?" Lusux inquired in a state of bewilderment.
"That is truth, my friend."
A shocked murmur spread throughout the chamber at the audacity of that statement. The king was even ridiculed and laughed at, labeling him senile and decrepit. However, with the patience that a sovereign must exhibit before his subjects, he signaled Filox to bring that mysterious document to him. A few minutes later, Filox returned with a papyrus, that as Rasux had anticipated, looked very ancient.
One by one, the dragons looked at that incredible document that proved their unexpected origins. Many questioned the authenticity of the parchment and left the observatory in a fury. Nevertheless, the indisputable evidence to the truth was clutch in Califax's claws. Filox addressed the young dragon.
"That unknown God, the one we call Helion, gave us the opportunity to vindicate ourselves before His eyes. There will not be another Chalice that will return us to our original condition." he warned. "And if you ask, why should we do it? I would tell you this: The Earth and its destiny are in the hands of men, and very soon, there will be so many of them that it will be impossible to contain them. Human nature is very strange and contradictory, and we will only be able to do something for ourselves if we mingle with them. Perhaps, they will let us tell our story and advise them on the terrible consequences of living an empty violent life without moral principles. And if they laugh at our story, we still have our own experience that, in one way or another, will be transmitted." he concluded.
Califax looked at his teacher's eyes that were full of sincerity and wisdom. He looked at his parents for an instant, and with their warm smiles allowed him to make the final decision.
Then, he filled the Grail with clear water and drank of it. Moments later, an aura surrounded his body overwhelming the cave with a golden brilliance, which in spite of being extremely radiant, did not hurt the eyes of the witnesses. When the light dissipated, a handsome young man revealed himself before the audience. The sovereign of the four-pointed crown had become a man.
Hayex ran to Califax to cover him with his royal cape, and every dragon, skeptical or not, ended up gave credit to those historic prophecies.
Eventually, all the dragons in the Region of Fire drank from that miraculous cup, and finally made up a community that lived in peace and prospered for a very long time.
After the death of King Rasux, Califax took up the scepter and renamed the Region of Fire into the Farox Islands, and Dragonia to Danmarx,[101]unifying all the tribes of the islands under his wise and just authority. However, the peace was not to last, the Vikings invaded those lands and the battles were inevitable.
Califax, who risked his life to avoid the destruction of his country, is now caught before the hostile presence of the invaders. Nevertheless, with the calm and patience which characterized his nature, he used every means to compromise with the barbarian. However, all his efforts were in vain.
In a valiant battle alongside his father, Califax finally died, overcome by the treacherous and indecipherable labyrinth of war.
After the death of his close friend, Hayex returned to Jerusalem, to fulfill his promise to the teacher Solomon, who was the first to hear his story. In spite of his skepticism, the teacher documented the story, but it was not disclosed, and it remained hidden for many years in the Sacred City of Jerusalem where Hayex died a natural death.
In the XII Century, Richard I, the Lion-Heart, led the Third Crusade to retake the Sacred City of Jerusalem from Saladin and his Saracens. This constituted a new and more brutal Dragonia that lasts to our times.
Isaiah who at the time was the disciple in charge of the Flavius Josephus School, to which Solomon belonged, took most of the documents that had been accumulated over the centuries at the academy for safe keeping. Even though the Muslim sovereign allowed free access to the city, Isaiah fled from Jerusalem crossing the desert and confronting many dangers. Tired and downhearted he arrived at Qumran[102] and managed to hide many documents in several caves close to the Dead Sea in Palestine.
The slaughter in Acre and the untiring siege of Richard I, the Lion-Heart, in the Sacred land, obligated Isaiah to flee again from his beloved country and travel to Egypt, taking with him some documents, among them, the papyruses that tell this very story.
He crossed the Red Sea in order to reach Naj' Hammadí,[103] where he hid some other scrolls. From there, he went south, crossing the Nile, to the city of Tebas, into the Valley of Kings, where he was overtaken by a sand storm.
Looking for a refuge, Isaiah placed the last papyrus inside a small vase and found a small cavity to hide it. This storm and subsequent storms managed to seal the hiding place. A short time after having hidden the last scroll, thirst and hunger took the life of Isaiah without him ever knowing that the place where he hid the appreciable papyrus was the entrance to the tomb of the King Tutankhamen.
The Holy Grail was lost in the middle of the wars and nobody ever saw it again. Many people think that it was rescued by the Knights Templar, from the hands of the barbarians, and taken to France in the XIV Century. Later, the Knights Templars fled to Scotland to escape the torment of King Philip IV, whose intentions were to end the Order of the Knights Templars and to seize its treasure to finance wars. He persecuted them, even before the opposition of Pope Clement V, who had accused the Knights of heresy.
Carrying the legendary treasure, the famous heroic people crossed the River Seine and managed to reach the Atlantic Ocean to keep it hidden even to this day in some safe and secret places.
However, the legend of the Holy Grail goes beyond a mythical piece of olive wood. It reminds us that in our minds we have the foundations to discover our authentic and universal origins, and that in our hearts we hold a cup where love for ourselves and our fellow man grows, just as it was given to us by Jesus so we could achieve our own salvation and in this way converted all of us into Knights of His Holy Grail.
The incessant fires that we have breathed on one another over the centuries have been fed by small religious and cultural differences, that are but the colors of the rainbow that make up human creativity.
The message from the prophets is singular and universal, and dwells in the fact that all of us make up a single race created by a peculiar act of love by an all-powerful entity. Although people call him by different names, he has always been one and the same, guiding us at all times throughout our short existence.
The bloody battles that we have waged over time for sacred cities and places, in all reality constitute an insult against God, on pretending with them that He takes the side of one religion or another, as if He was not the creator of all men on Earth. The bonds between nations cannot continue to be based on the use of force without it pushing us, inevitably, to our own total destruction.
Releasing our true human essence and doing away with the indomitable dragon that each one of us carries in our hearts will lead us, one day, to the peace that we have all yearned for throughout our history.
My name is Charles Halifax, I hold a doctorate in History and I am a descendent in the ancestry of Califax.
The End
Author Bio
Carl Cupper, author of The Secret of the Dragon - The Revelation of the Sacred Papyruses, began his courtship of the literary world at the age of 40.
Carl Cupper weaves his love of History, Philosophy, Religion, Science, Arts, and Sociology into each of his novels.
To date, Cupper's accomplishments include; Paul and the Cactus; To live dying, to die living;The siege, and ATale of Tyrannosauruses and sixty five million years later, this one is available at amazon.com
Carl Cupper consistently portrays, in all of his stories, the constant qualms to which all human beings are subjected, while inviting us to reflect in a simple and entertaining way about ourselves and our surroundings, always with the intention of finding alternate ways for a better living.
Carl´s e-mail
carlcupper@yahoo.com
[1] Son in law to Amenhotep IV or Akhenaton, who created worship of Aton as the only god, which was probably the reason he died at the hands of his opponents (Authors note).
[2] Started by Saint Patrick in 423 A.C. (Doctors note).
[3] In the beginning, the Celts, also known as the Gauls, asked for help from the Anglos and the Saxons (Germanic people from Anglia and Saxony regions) against the Picts and the Caledonians (Doctors note).
[4] The Celts of the south called them prytain and those from Ireland, cruthni. Both originating in the root word Britannia. Other Celt tribes also called them Picts, which means, painted people. This word is probably derived from the Iron Age people that used Indigo blue in their rituals and battles (Doctors note).
[5] Helion was the God of the Sun and Selion of the Moon. (Doctors note).
[6] Water-drain statues installed on the roofs of houses in the Middle Ages thought to come to life by night. (Doctors note).
[7] Greek God of Hell, Identified by the Romans as Pluto (Doctors note).
[8] Scandinavian mythological Gods. Thor: War God. Odin: Author of Universal life (Doctors note).
[9] Word of Celtic origin that means Green Glen (green valley) and latter became the city now known as Glasgow, in the south of Scotland, founded by Saint Ketigern also known as Saint Mungo, circa 550 A.C. (Doctors note).
[10] A place called Glastonbury, situated in the southwest part of England. According the legend, King Arthur went to Avalon to recover from the wounds of his last battle (Doctors note).
[11] An eight-pointed star in a circle, flanked by dragons and two bands with a motto that said: Ad Gloriam Pater Helion (To the glory of the father Helion) (Doctors note).
[12]ScottishIsland situated to the north of Great Britain (Doctors note).
[13] The Royal Pines were brought by the Romans to Great Britain and its pinecones were used as incense in many rituals (Doctors note).
[14] Loch Ness. (Doctors note).
[15] Unknown suborder of the dinosaurs (Doctors note).
[16] Isle of Man, in the Sea of Ireland, south of Scotland (Doctors note).
[17] In the Celtic language, it means Fort. The Irish took the island following Saint Patrick's instructions, co-inhabiting the land with the Celts (Doctors note).
[18] Now Tintagel, to the southwest of Great Britain, in Cornualles or Cornwall. (Doctors note).
[19] A tailless cat from the Isle of Man (Doctors note).
[20] Church dedicated to Saint Deiniol, who led the Christian Celtic community in the V century A.C. (Doctors note).
[21] Its source flows down from Snowdon and part of its tributary forms LakeBala. (Doctors note).
[22] In this story, Hayex seems to be referring to an ancestor of John Dee, alchemist, astrologer, and mathematician of the XVI Century, who was the advisor to Queen Mary Tudor. (Doctors note).
[23] Now Kidderminster, southeast of Birmingham (Doctors note).
[24] The Romans took a fort in the Iron Age that Saint Augustine called Sarum Chant (liturgical songs) during their trip to Canterbury. Salisbury's actual name derives from the Latin word Sarisberia (Doctors note).
[25] Fort of Dagda. Dagda was a Celtic god of the elements and storms that often represented as Cernunnos, god of the horned red dear. The Romans identified him with Jupiter (Doctors note).
[26] Watch of the Sanctification. Precursor of the present Halloween (Doctors note).
[27] The Romans brought a melon from Greece which the Greeks brought it from Africa. The word "pumpkin" comes from the Greek "pepon" that it means "large melon". In French as "pompon" and to English as "pompion"(Doctor's note)
[28] High priests of the Celts. From the Gallic, root Dru-id (master of the science). The Greeks confused it with the root drus (oak) and they applied it to the word "druids" as knowledgeable in oak (Doctors note).
[29] In the Celtic language, Fort of Lugh, Druid God of the Sun, magician and wise man. God of Gods among the Celts. Identified by the Romans as Mercury and among the Egyptians as Anubis. The construction of Avebury precedes the one in Stonehenge by 500 years (Doctors note).
[30] Lug thoir an ceann dhe rud diomhor cuine coine bo-loids maighstir crann (Doctors note).
[31] In Gaelic, it means High plateau of stone, where the word dolmen (Monolith) is derived. A place known today as Silbury Hill. An earthen knoll, 40 meters high. The reason it was built is still unknown to this day (Doctors note).
[32] Close to Edinburgh, Scotland's capital (Doctors note).
[33] Also called The Enchanter (Doctors note).
[34] In Greek, it means amber. Fossil resin found in some plants and trees. The mathematician and Greek philosopher Tales of Mileto discovered its electrical properties in the VII Century A.C. The word electricity is derived from the word electron. (Doctors note).
[35] Ancestral name of Excalibur that, according to Thomas Malory, means sharp steel. (Doctors note).
[36] Silbury Hill (Doctors note).
[37] Greek word pronounced as ICHTHUS (Doctors note).
[38] Celtic cross or Triskel, whose symbol isW. It represents the trinity of Gods formed by Toutatis, Esus and Taranis. For the Christians, it means the predominance of the faith in Jesus Christ over the adoration of the sun (Doctors note).
[39] Along with the evangelization of the Celtic people, the monks introduced the Latin alphabet, little by little, that gave origin to the first Celtic written language, called Gaelic (Doctors note).
[40] Celtic jester that orally transmitted the history and accomplishments of the Celts (Doctors note).
[41]Judah or Judea. Palestine region of present day Israel (Doctors note).
[42] Ancient name of the city of London, founded by the Romans in the year 50AD. (Doctors note).
[43] According to legend, in 619 A.D. Saint Mellitus saved Canterbury from the divine fire thanks to his prayers (Doctors note).
[44] Hayex is probably referring to the use of gunpowder in fireworks in China, between 605 and 614 A.D. (Doctors note).
[45]Gaul of the long hair. The name given by the Romans to the Celts that mixed with the original inhabitants in the territory located between the Pyrenees, the Alps, the Rhine, and the Atlantic Ocean, giving rise to a new people: the Gaels (Doctors note).
[46] At the fall of the Roman Empire, the Barbarian people burst violently into Gaul: Francs, Goths, Suevis, Saxons, and Germanic tribes (Doctors note).
[47] Named by the Swiss as Lake Geneva (Doctors note).
[48] Scandinavian people from the island of Bornholm, in the Baltic Sea, they invaded Galicia in 406 B.C. They helped the Romans in the V Century, establishing a powerful kingdom near Lake Geneva (Doctors note).
[49] King of Neustria that took control of Austrasia and Burgundy, in 613 A.D. In the following year, he founded the capital of the empire in Paris (Doctors note).
[50] The Aeneid of Virgil, Book VII (Doctors note).
[51] Latin hero of the Trojan War, cousin of Hector and Paris, immortalized by "The Aeneid" of Virgil (Doctors note).
[52] According to Homer, Ulysses (Odysseus) reigned on the Island of Ithaka (Ithaki) when he left to war against Troy. After ten years of nomadic sailing, he was reunited again with his wife Penelope (Doctors note).
[53]Delphi. Located on a slope of MountParnassus, 6 miles from the Gulf of Corinth, between continental Greece and the Peloponnesus (Doctors note).
[54] The Dionysus Theatre (Doctors note).
[55] The Navel of the World. The place where two eagles meted sent by Zeus from the extremes of the world (Doctors note).
[56] Subterranean area where a pythoness made predictions (Doctors note).
[57] The Eternal Flame. (Doctors note).
[58] Name of the part of the aqueduct that transported water to the village of Kastri, constructed by the Romans around 385 B.C. The pythoness bathed in its waters before prophesizing (Doctors note).
[59] Uranus, Cronos' father, announced that one of his children (Zeus) would overthrow his rule. To protect his kingdom, Cronos devoured all the children he engendered, just as time does with us (Doctors note).
[60] Before dividing the Empire between his children Arcadius and Honorius, Theodosius the First ordered the temple to be set on fire along with other pagan temples in 385 A.D., with the purpose of imposing Christianity (Doctors note).
[61] In the beginning, Delphi was devoted to Gaia, Goddess of the Earth. An earthquake destroyed the sanctuary in 548 B.C. (Doctors note).
[62] Apocalypse (Doctors note).
[63] The Colossus of Rhodes. One of the seven wonders of the ancient world. A statue 96 feet high that celebrated the deity Apollo. Erected by Chares the sculptor in 290 B.C. An earthquake destroyed it in 223 BC. (Doctors note).
[64]Cyprus. Cuprum, in Latin, which means copper (Doctors note).
[65]Saint Paul (Doctors note).
[66] It was not until 688 A.C. that Justinian II, emperor of the East, signed a treaty with the Caliph Abd-al-Malik, but in 695 A.C., Leontius, overthrew Justinian. However, the treaty lasted almost 300 years before Nicephorus Phocas expelled the Turks in 965 A.C. (Doctors note).
[67] According to a legend, Joseph of Arimathea founded the first Christian church in the first century A.C., in Glastonbury, where it was built one of the most important abbeys in all of England up to the Tenth Century A.C. (Doctors note).
[68] Archaeological region that marks early Celtic civilization, developed between the V and the I Centuries B.C., later to the developed in Austria, in the region of Hallstatt (Doctors note).
[69]Stonehenge (Doctors note).
[70] Monumental horse 120 yards long and 44 wide. It was drawn scraping the surface of the ground leaving the chalk earth in the area uncovered. According to archaeological calculations, this figure dates back 2000 years (Doctors note).
[71] Currency made of silver, coined by the Romans (Doctors note).
[72] Named by the Egyptians as Khufu, Khafre and Menkaure (Doctors note).
[73] Stone that dates to the time of Chephren, in the Fourth Dynasty, around 3100 B.C. (Doctors note).
[74] The lighthouse of Alexandria. A tower 360 feet tall, located on the Island of Pharos, built by Ptolemy Philadelphus in 285 B.C. falling to its destruction in 1302 A.C. (Doctors note).
[75] Himself named Alexander the Great, King of Macedonia, Hellenistic Emperor of the Greeks in Corinth. He conquered Greece and defeated the Persians under the reign of Dario III. He left Greek culture in Asia and Africa as a legacy. At his death, (323 B.C.) his empire was divided between his generals, giving rise to the Ptolemaic Dynasty up until the time of Cleopatra (Doctors note).
[76] Dumyat is another important river's tributary, in Eastern Egypt (Doctors note).
[77] Precursor of the city of Al Fustat, founded by the Arabs. Now Cairo capital of Egypt (Doctors note).
[78] Apis, the sacred bull. Built around 1580 B.C. (Doctors note).
[79] Diverse sources indicate a variety of dimensions, which range from 117 to 220 feet long (Doctors note).
[80] A man with hawk's head represented the God Ra, creator and councilor of the Universe, which principal symbol was a solar disc (Doctors note).
[81] Horus' eye. God of the Sky, the Light, and Goodness. Son of Isis and Osiris and Seth's brother. His eyes represent the sun and the moon (Doctors note).
[82]Arabia. In Arabic, it means Island of Arabs (Doctors note).
[83] Ancient name for Mecca or Makkah (Doctors note).
[84] Arab word meaning riverbed. (Doctors note).
[85] Later called, Medina or al-Madinah Rasul Allah, City of the Prophet of God. (Doctors note).
[86] Arabic tribe made up of ten of the most important clans (Doctors note).
[87] A curved blade from western Asia (Doctors note).
[88] An ancient demon of Mesopotamia as God of the wind and desert storm, he was represented by a human figure with a tail; four wings on his back, and spurs on his hands and feet (Doctors note).
[89] Ancestral name of Mecca. Named this way by Ptolemy in the II Century B.C. (Doctors note).
[90]Sudan, in Eastern Africa (Doctors note).
[91] Now the City of Al-Mawsil (Mosul) in northern Iraq (Doctors note).
[92] When Muhammad took Mecca in 630 A.C., he commanded the pagan paintings and statuettes of Kaabah to be destroyed (Doctors note).
[93]A white rock was given to Adam after his expulsion from Eden, which was reconstructed by Abraham and Ishmael. According to legend, the rock turned black after absorbing the sins of thousands of pilgrims that came to touch it throughout the centuries (Doctors note).
[94]Legend states that Hagar, Abraham's second wife, mother of Ishmael, drank water from this sacred spring. (Doctors note).
[95] The Sacred Koran 96.1(Doctors note).
[96] Gabriel (Doctors note).
[97] Abraham's second wife, mother of Ishmael, father of the Arab race (Doctors note).
[98] Meaning Good Fire. A purification rite marking the arrival of the good time and was celebrated on May 1. In the celebration, they would free cattle of disease by passing it over a great bonfire. In Ireland, it is commemorated in honor of the first settlers of the island (Doctors note).
[99] According to legend, only this question from a noble-hearted knight could activate the power of the Grail. (Doctors note).
[100] In this tale, Rasux seems to be referring to the misfortunate destiny of Sodom and Gomorrah. Genesis XIX: 24 (Doctors note).
[101] Probably, from these words, derived The Faroe Islands and Denmark, respectively (Doctors note).
[102] Also called Khirbet Qumran. (Rock Ruins) The place where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found in 1947 (Doctors note).
[103] A place where 52 Coptic Gnostic papyri were found in 1945, they were dated as 4th century and included the gospel of Saint Thomas (Doctors note).
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