Sample Chapter

Chapter One

(References)

Joseph of Aramithea entered the room and quickly closed the door behind him. The

Inn was about as grimy a place as a traveller would find anywhere in first century

Britain. Hardly the place where one would expect to see so powerful an Arch Druid

as Merlin, but there he sat, patiently waiting Joseph’s arrival. The walls of the room

were thick with decades of soot from the smoking turf fire, but the Innkeeper had

placed fresh rushes on the floor in deference to the importance of the man who had

selected the Red Dragon Inn for their meeting.

The meeting place was well known to Joseph. It was conveniently situated close to

the harbour of the Cymric port of Cynffig, a place that he had visited often with his .1.

cargo of trade goods, doing lucrative business with the Celts that lived in the Hill Fort

a short distance from the Port

His brightly painted Roman-built trading vessel was well known for its small size, in

contrast to the surprisingly large volume of exotic trade goods that it could store in its

hold. Joseph had bought it at the Roman port of Ostia some ten years previously.

The craft had been used by its previous owner as a coastal trading vessel, often being

loaded with grain regularly hauled from the port up the Tiber River to Rome. .2.

The ship had then been known as the Isis Giminiana. The Judean had re-named it

Boaz, after the first Judean artificer in metals. It was steered by means of two long

oars at the stern, which were also utilised to move the craft in and out of harbour. The

single lateen sail would then be raised. It had not been designed for long voyages, so

Joseph added a small cabin for himself, while the crew of three bunked down among

the trade goods.

The Boaz was a welcome early-Summer visitor to the shores of Cornwall, Devon and

Wales, or Cymru, when spoken in the Celtic tongue. The Welsh leg of the cruise

covered the coastline from the fair haven of Solva in the South-West to the Roman

outpost of Caerleon on the South-Eastern border. Usually making it the venue for a

short, overnight stopover in the middle of the trading season, this time he had sailed

directly to Cynffig from Caesarea on receiving Merlin’s summons. .3.

It had not been an easy voyage. It was early Spring when the Boaz left its safe berth

in the harbour of Caesarea. The weather had been fair until the vessel passed through

the Pillars of Hercules, but it gradually worsened as it progressed up the West Coast

of the Iberian Peninsula. Joseph had been forced to lay over for several days in a

natural harbour within a group of small islands off the North Coast of Brittany, before

attempting the last leg of the passage around the tip of Cornwall and up the Bristol

Channel to the diminutive harbour of Cynffig. .4.

The Merchant had fumed at Merlin’s pre-emptory request – in reality a command –

that ‘Joseph of Arimathea, Merchant Trader of Judea’ meet with him at the town of

Cynffig to discuss ‘matters of the utmost urgency to be resolved to the mutual

advantage of both parties’. It was emblematic of the young Arch Druid’s reputation

throughout the known world that, despite his trepidation, Joseph wasted no time in

casting off. In deference to the second part of Merlin’s request, the trader carried with

him but one object, all the while wondering how Merlin should be the only other

man alive to know of its very existence.

He had also wondered why a man as powerful as Merlin could possibly

select such a midden of a town as Cynffig and such a hovel of an inn as the Red

Dragon as a venue for their meeting? Although Joseph had never met Merlin, it was

well known that the Arch Druid generally inhabited a cave near the small town that

had been named after him – Caer Myrddyn. Why could they not have met there?

Since there was only one other occupant of the room, the Merchant of Judea took a

step towards him and, in his usual forthright manner, held out his open right hand to

show that it contained neither dagger nor sword.

"I am Joseph, known as Arimathea, Merchant Trader of Judea, here at your request. I

offer you my services, without reservation."

The great wizard slowly rose to his full height. Joseph gasped. Merlin was generally

reported to be a tall, well-built man with a mane of tawny hair, but here stood a

stunted, skinny, cross-eyed wretch! Could this really be the man he had travelled so

far to see, the mention of whose name could strike terror even into the hearts of

kings?

"Demon! Are you Merlin!" The Merchant cried "Or are you a changeling from Hell!"

A slight movement in the darkest corner of the room caught Joseph’s eye. A section

of the filthy wall lurched outwards and lunged towards him in a cloud of black dust.

"A Golem from the depths of Hades!" Joseph cried out, drawing his sword. " I do

not fear thee, thou creature of dust and mud!" .5.

"Sheath your sword, Arimathea, before you hurt someone – probably yourself!"

As the Golem spoke it staggered into the candlelight and threw off a soot-covered

hessian blanket. In its place stood a man who perfectly fitted the description of

Merlin, the Great Arch Druid of Caer Myrddyn.

"Not Golem but Wizard! Not demon or changeling but Wizard’s Apprentice. It was

good of you to offer him your services, but I have need of them myself. And by the

Great Red Dragon, I am indeed fortunate to have been offered the services of a man

with the courage to face changelings, demons and golems single-handed!"

Before Joseph stood a powerfully built man who appeared to be in his mid-thirties.

His beard was full and thick, but neatly trimmed, as was his red-gold hair. His eyes

were a startling blue. They seemed to flash with an inner fire as he threw back his

head and laughed heartily, showing a mouth full of even, white teeth. The merchant

was himself above average height, but Merlin topped him by the width of a full hand. .6.

For someone who was reputed to live in a cave the wizard looked extremely healthy,

with the typical sun-tanned and wind-burned skin of a Celtic Warrior. Joseph of

Arimathea was of a more compact build, with the long, sinewy muscles of a

professional sailor.

His skin was the olive colour of the true Semite and his head, in complete contrast to

Merlin’s profuse Welsh locks, was a shaven skull. He sheathed his weapon with the

flourish of a skilled swordsman.

It was now the Druid’s turn to offer the hand of friendship. The Merchant took it

firmly, feeling the calluses that matched his own fighter’s palm. Nonetheless,

Joseph’s Mediterranean temperament was not to be that easily appeased. He matched

the pressure of Merlin’s grip and then increased his own.

"Is this yet another test, to prove that strength of grip equates with strength of

purpose? Are you now ready to believe that I am indeed he whom I claim to be? I

have travelled far to discuss these ‘matters of the utmost urgency to be resolved to the

mutual benefit of both parties’. I did not expect to be treated as a buffoon!"

"Please accept my apologies and also accept that my simple subterfuge was not

performed lightly. I have many enemies, most of who would stop at nothing to

destroy me. I had to be sure that you were the same Joseph of Arimathea to whom I

despatched my request. It was always possible that it could have been intercepted and

your place taken by an assassin."

Joseph relaxed his grip and his demeanour. Merlin took the Merchant’s upper arm in

a token of friendship. He turned to his young apprentice.

"Tell the landlord to bring us some of his fine ale, and then leave us! Joseph of

Arimathea and Myrddin of Cymru have got a lot of heavy debating to do this night!"

The apprentice slunk across the room and opened the door. The late March wind was

blowing strongly and sand from the burrows that surrounded the old port of Cynffig

was starting to drift against it. The frail youth struggled to open the door. Before he

closed it he paused and turned briefly to cast a malevolent glance at Joseph. The

Merchant caught the glance out of the corner of his eye and shivered involuntarily.

"Your Apprentice" he asked, "does he know the purpose of our meeting?"

Merlin grinned, teeth flashing behind his beard.

"Iestyn? What can he know that you do not yet know? The only person who has that

information is myself, and I think it time to tell you just what it is that I know ."

The door opened and the Innkeeper entered, carrying a large earthenware jug of ale

and two tankards. He placed them on the rough-hewn table and left the room. Merlin

filled both tankards to the brim with the sweet, foaming brew and drunk deeply of his

own. He put down the tankard and turned to Joseph.

"You have aboard your ship a certain precious relic, the loss of which could mean the

total destruction of this new religion that is sweeping through every country north of

the Mediterranean Sea. It is a common drinking chalice that possesses the power to

turn into blood any liquid that is poured into it – am I correct?"

Joseph was surprised at the Arch Druid’s knowledge, but he realised that there might

be a simple explanation for it.

"I do not understand how you came to know this, but I accept the possibility that the

cup might have been discovered by one of my crew. In order to prove to me that your

much-vaunted powers truly exist, you will have to do better than that!"

Merlin leaned forward and spoke very quietly.

"On this day twenty five years ago, when you were a very young man in Jerusalem, a

prophet was arrested by the Romans, tried by the Governor of Judea, and executed by

crucifixion. He was forced to carry His own crucifixion tree as he was cruelly

scourged through the streets of Jerusalem. But one man took pity on Him, wrapping

the corpse in a clean linen cloth and carrying it to a new tomb. That man’s name was

Joseph of Arimathea!"

The merchant gave a derisive snort.

"You think that specially privileged information? It is a matter of record that I buried

Him. I was even arrested and beaten by the soldiers for it. My name can be found in

the court scrolls with the ten shekels fine I had to pay written alongside it!"

Merlin continued as though there had been no interruption.

" After your night in jail you returned to your lodgings, where you were visited by a

woman whom you had first met on the previous evening. She had been sitting over

against the tomb with the Mother of Jesus. She now sought you out, having witnessed

your compassion towards the Crucified Nazarene.

"It was then that she gave you the olive wood chalice, the same one that Jesus the

Carpenter had filled with wine at His last supper with His Disciples. All had drunk

from it."

"How can you know this?" hissed Joseph through teeth clenched in anger. "You are a

heathen – a Druid – what do you know of the power of the Christ? This is the Devil’s

work and I want none of it!" He rose to his feet and made to leave. Merlin restrained

him gently, but firmly.

"As you said, Merchant, you have come a long way to meet with me, too far to leave

me so soon. Resume your seat and hear me out. I may not be a follower of your

Christ, but I am no heathen! The methods that I employ to gain my knowledge have

little to do with the ways of Satan and much to do with the hidden gifts of man."

Joseph took his place again, albeit reluctantly. The Arch Druid took a long swallow

of his ale and continued.

"The woman who gave the chalice into your safekeeping is of the Cymric people –

my people. She was a priestess in the religion of the Ancient Celts, of which I am the

Leader and Highest Druid. Our holiest temple is the great Stone Henge near Old

Sarum. It has stood since the dawn of time, for as long as man can remember, but the

Celtic race has been around for a far longer time.

"Among our most sacred shrines is the lake called Llyn Briane, which is protected by

the hallowed Forest of Tywi. The High Priestess is the Lady of the Lake, and she is

served by a coven of priestesses. The woman who came to you was of that coven.

Her name is Mari, Yr Merch Llyn, which means Mary, Maid of the Lake She was

travelling along the Bay of Caredygion when her party was attacked by Picti raiders.

She was abducted and brutally used before being sold into slavery with a Greek

merchant from whom she gained her freedom through sexual enchantments.

She found herself in Jerusalem, where she found work as a serving woman. It was

she who served Jesus and His twelve Disciples. He blessed the chalice and gave it her

for safekeeping. He told her that it was the Holy Grail, and that every time it was

filled, the contents would change to become his blood. That night, Mari Merch Llyn

or as you know her – Mary Magdelene, ceased to be a Celtic Priestess and became

one of the first followers of the Prophet Jesus.

I know all this because she has communicated with me in spirit, while I slept. She

was sad because she knows that she will never again set foot in her homeland. But

she has found fulfilment in worshipping the crucified Christ "

Joseph of Arimathea remained silent for a few moments, remembering those fateful

few days in Jerusalem, so long ago, so far away from this mean room in a dingy and

unimportant inn. Remembering the charismatic woman whom he had met but once,

a woman who had trusted him to save from harm the most precious relic of the

Christian faith. Thinking about the faith and courage of that tortured wreck of a man,

the aiding of who was to change his life for ever. He raised his head and looked

directly into Merlin’s startling blue eyes.

"Your powers are truly great, Druid, for what you have just told me was knowledge I

thought possessed only by myself."

"There is more. I possess the ability to look through your eyes and into your very

soul. What I see there is great fear. Not fear of man or beast, but fear of failing in the

enormous commitment that you have made to the new religion. Joseph of Arimathea,

Merchant of Judea and Trader to the far corners of the Roman Empire, lives with a

terrible responsibility as the Keeper of the Holy Grail. My friend, for the past twenty

five years you have shouldered that heaviest of burdens. Now it is time that you

passed that awful accountability to those better able to live with it."

"You read my soul well, Myrddyn of Wales. For too many years I have slept with

the chalice under my pillow. I have slept alone, for fear of betrayal. I have taken

nether wife nor lover. I am a rich man, but a hollow one. From the depths of my

tortured soul I pray to the Lord Jesus to relieve me of this intolerable burden, but

where is that relief? Not here, in this heathen, God-forsaken land, I’ll wager"

"THEN YOU WOULD LOSE!" Merlin roared with a terrible voice, shaking the

walls of the tiny inn. " The land of Cymru may be God-forsaken to you, and some of

our people may still be heathens in your eyes, but we are Celtic Warriors, fierce and

proud. Our religion is as ancient as the Earth itself!

"We have settled the whole of Europe from Hibernia in the West to the lands of the

Kazbeks and the Bulgars far to the East. The Celts were the first workers of iron and

our traditions are strong. We have no need of useless artefacts to support our

religion!"

With a great and obvious effort, Merlin got his Celtic anger under control.

"Now listen to me, Judean, and mark me well! We so-called heathen Celts allow to

live amongst us a small group of men – an alien cult – who worship your Christ. On a

high Tor, called Ynis Witrin, the ‘Island of Glass’, Glastonbury, that is sacred to both

Celt and Christian, the members of this alien cult have built a small, but heavily .7.

fortified temple that they call an abbey. The Abbot there is well known to me and is a

trustworthy man. I am certain that he and his acolytes will gladly take on the

responsibility of Keepers of your Holy Grail. I will take you to him, but I want

something from him in return for my trouble. After all, your religion means nothing

to me or my own followers."

Joseph threw up his hands in delight. "God be praised!" he shouted, overjoyed with

the opportunity offered to him. "I will do anything in my power to get him to grant

your wish. What will it be, friend Merlin?"

" He must stop his monks preaching the word of Christ to my people, and agree to

stop converting them to his new religion! It is spreading like a rash all over Europe!

"My druids report daily that Celts are converting in their hundreds, from Hibernia in

the North, through Eire, Cymru and Cornwall to Brittany in Gaul, and even the

Basque people in the northern mountains of the Iberian peninsula. If it is not

stopped, it will mean the end of our religion, our customs and our language forever. I

will not allow this to happen.

"Take good note, Judean! The most holy relic of the Christians in exchange for the

future of the Celtic race. It would seem to be an equitable arrangement indeed!"

" For myself " Joseph replied "I am satisfied with the arrangement, as long as it

means that the Holy Grail will be safe from defilement for eternity. It would seem

that the Abbey of Glastonbury is the most secure repository available. I will go with

you to inspect it and if I am completely satisfied then I will leave the relic with the

Abbott, as you suggest. Since the Abbey lies across the Channel from here we can

leave Cynffig on the next tide, which will be during this night."

"And leave we shall, my brave Merchant Adventurer! Get back to your ship and

rouse your crew, Joseph. I will collect Iestyn and join you within the hour."

Joseph frowned at this, and said "To be honest with you, Merlin, I do not trust

your Apprentice. I cannot say why, but as he left the room tonight he gave me a look

which, if it were weapon of war, would have struck me dead on the instant."

"The boy is cross-eyed! He was probably looking at the sand blowing in the wind and

foolishly got some in his eyes. He has been my Apprentice but a short time and I

have found him to be diligent and hard working. But if you wish, he will remain on

board the ship when we drop anchor at Westhay wharf, on the River Brue.

From there we must travel a few miles by coracle to the Abbey on Glastonbury Tor."

"I can live with that arrangement." Both men lifted their tankards and finished the

rest of the ale. They shook hands purposefully, opened the door of the poky room and

swiftly left the Red Dragon Inn. Neither man noticed the sinister hunched figure

crouching at the corner of the crumbling building, cloak drawn around itself against

the sting of the wind-blown sand.

*

The moment that Merlin and Iestyn boarded the ship, Joseph gave orders to cast off.

He asked Merlin if he made this crossing often.

"Aye, I do, about once in every quarter-year." Replied the Arch Druid. "But I usually

cross further up, where the Channel is narrower and the danger of being sunk by a

sudden squall is less. There is a ferry that runs from the mouth of the River Wye, at

Beachley, to the village of Aust, but that is many leagues further for us to sail. .8.

Besides, your fine ship will get us over there safely and quickly, I am sure."

"There are some danger points on this course." The Judean pointed directly to where

the sky was beginning to lighten with the early false dawn. " We are sailing due South

out of Cynffig Harbour, but once in mid-Channel we will tack due East. This will

avoid Tuskar Rock and the mouth of the River Ogwr. As it gets light you will see two

small islands straight ahead."

"Flat Holme and Steep Holme!" Merlin interrupted. "I have often seen camp fires

alight on those islands. People from other Celtic tribes – Barbarian Picti from

Caledonia and Wild Hibernian Scotti – have tried to make their homes there in the

past, but we Welsh have always fought them and driven away those we have not

killed."

Iestyn the Apprentice burst out – "Please Master, we must not land there! The ghosts

of slain warriors guard those islands! It is death to set foot on either of them!"

Joseph laughed at the inanity of Iestyn’s outburst. "Do not be afraid, little man, we

will not be landing there – the ghosts will not get you this time. Before we get to

within even a few leagues of them, we will be making another tack due South. By

placing the ship directly in line with the two islands we will sail straight into the safe

haven of the Parrett Estuary. At the highest point of the tide we can enter the mouth

of the River Brue. We will drop anchor there. We will then deliver our message to

the Abbot of Glastonbury, return to my ship and sail back down the Bristol Channel

to Caer Myrddyn." He turned to Merlin. "The crossing will take about half a day. If

I were you I would take the opportunity to rest while you can – we have a full night’s

work ahead of us."

"Thank you, Joseph, I will take your advice." Wrapping his cloak around him against

the dawn chill, the Arch Druid settled down among the sacks of flour and dried

vegetables that made up the ship’s provisions.

"If you do not mind, Master Joseph" Iestyn asked in an fawning tone " I will station

myself at the front of the boat."

"The prow of the ship!" Joseph corrected, more harshly than he had intended.

Despite Merlin’s assurances, he had taken a strong dislike to the youth’s toadying.

"And why should a weak-kneed landlubber like you wish to sit out the cruise there?"

"Sorry, sir" the Apprentice continued, hesitantly "I am very nervous of those ghosts

and I would be grateful if you could allow me to keep a special watch in case any

should appear."

"Oh, all right, Iestyn – but if you get in the way of me or my crew, we will throw you

to the fishes – or cast you off at Flat Holme! I have heard that the ghosts there are

particularly bloodthirsty!" He turned to address the crew "Is that not what we coarse

sailor men do to whingeing landlubbers, lads!" With the jeering laughter and taunts

of the crew echoing in his ears, the diminutive apprentice scuttled to the prow, to

cower timidly under his threadbare cloak. He lay quietly, not wishing to draw

attention to himself. Under his cloak he had concealed two items. One hand gripped

an earthenware flagon of strong Welsh mead. The other furtively polished the already

burnished surface of a small metal mirror.

*

Although it was late March, a time of frequent, violent squalls that marched swiftly in

from the Irish Sea, up the Bristol Channel and into the Severn Estuary, the weather

remained mild and sunny throughout the crossing. It was late morning by the time the

ship made its turn to the South, lining up with both Islands, and mid-afternoon when

they dropped anchor at the mouth of the river. Merlin hailed a group of fishermen

trawling with nets slung between their animal-hide coracles.

Soon he had agreed a sum for which one of the coracle-owners would transport

Merlin and Joseph to Glastonbury, wait while they met with the Abbott and then

return them to the ship in time for the next full tide. Iestyn and the crew of the

merchant vessel would remain on the ship.

A few hours later, in the gathering dusk, the coracle beached on a muddy bank a few

hundred yards from the Abbey. The great darkened bulk of Glastonbury Tor

dominated the surrounding rolling countryside, and the occupants of the small boat

could see clearly the torch and candle lit windows of the rough timber building that

was the newly-built Abbey. The moon was already on the rise and the steep, well-

worn path from river to Abbey was clearly visible. The druid covered his face with

both hands in obeisance to the moon Goddess, while the merchant made the sign of

the fish in the air with his right hand. In a few minutes the short distance was

covered. Joseph knocked three times on the stout wooden gates with the base of his

staff, and then stuck it into the ground. A head appeared over the top of what had

once been the earth wall of a Celtic hill fortress.

"Who knocks there?" The monk lowered the hood of his habit to reveal a plump pink

face.

"Is that you, Brother Cadfael?" Merlin called back "Why, I believe you are getting

fatter by the day! Christian living must agree with you!"

"Myrddynn! You young heathen! Wait while I get down from this accursed mud

heap and I’ll let you in"

A series of grunts and un-monk-like curses accompanied the descent. With a great

rattling of locks and chains – and a final grunt of satisfaction – one of the gates was

opened a short way. Merlin squeezed his large, muscular frame through the gap,

followed by Joseph.

"God be with you, Myrddyn of Cymru! It is good to see you again." The monk

turned his attention to the stranger at Merlin’s side and held out his hand. " You are

also welcome here, stranger." He gripped Joseph’s wrist in the Roman clasp.

Joseph returned the clasp with a firm pressure to the other’s forearm.

"I thank you for your greeting, good friar, but I am not a Roman who worships

Mithras. I am a Judean who was of the Hebrew faith, but is now a follower of the

Fisherman. I am a Christian, just like you."

Merlin clapped his hands sharply. " Enough of your greetings, Cadfael! We do not

have time for such pleasantries. We have to meet with the Abbott on a very

complicated matter. Then we must return to my companion’s vessel in time to catch

the tide. Make your way swiftly to the Abbott’s quarters and tell him that Myrddyn

the Arch Druid of the Celts is here with Joseph of Arimathea, Merchant Trader of

Judea."

"It is many years since I have made haste anywhere! I am built for kneeling and

sitting, not for running or even fast walking!" Brother Cadfael huffed.

Merlin continued, ignoring the monk’s interruption. "Say to the Abbott that this is the

same Joseph who took the body of your Christ when he was dead, scourged cruelly

and crucified by the Pilate’s Roman Soldiers. This is the man who gave up his own

tomb to be the sepulchure in which the Nazarene was buried. Now go!" And for the

first time in many years, Brother Cadfael picked up the skirts of his habit and ran. .9.

Merlin and Joseph followed him at a slower pace. By the time they reached the small

wooden building the Abbott had been roused and now stood at the door to the crudely

built church. Behind and to the side of him stood between thirty and forty monks

aged between sixteen and sixty years, all clothed similarly in brown homespun habits.

The Abbott stepped forward and addressed the Druid. "What is this news, Merlin?

Brother Cadfael says that this merchant is the same man as aided Our Dear Lord

before Calvary? Can this be true?" He took Joseph’s hands gently in his own.

"Can these hands have touched His poor, suffering body? Did His sweat mingle with

the blood that poured so freely from His wounds into your hands?"

"As far as I can ascertain" Merlin dryly interjected "by using my Celtic and Druidic

spiritual skills, he is the one written about in your Holy Scriptures. But do not take

my word alone. Joseph of Arimathea has with him an artefact that is as essential to

the continuation of your religion as the great stones of Old Sarum are to mine."

Merlin gestured to the bulge where Joseph was concealing the chalice. "Show him

the grail" He said quietly to the Judean.

Joseph reached under his cloak and brought out a plain, somewhat scarred drinking

goblet. He held it out to the Abbott, who took it with great care and reverence. One

of the monks carried a flagon and he now approached the Abbott, who instructed him

to pour a little into the goblet…"gently, brother, gently, for this wine will soon be the

Blood of the Lord."

But nothing happened. The small congregation of monks fell to their knees and began

to pray, while the Abbott raised the goblet towards the heavens. As if in answer to the

prayers, a full moon appeared from behind a cloud, casting a light almost as bright as

a morning sun.

The unearthly light caught the rim of the goblet, which sparkled like pure silver. The

radiant glow slowly spread from the rim to the bowl, and finally to the base, until the

goblet shone and sparked as if were made from the moonbeams that gave it such Holy

illumination. Every man present, with the exception of the Arch Druid and the

Abbott, were on their knees, gazing with rapture at the vessel that was no longer

a rough goblet but a silver grail – The Holy Grail!

The Abbott lowered the Holy Grail and turned to face the assembled monks. "Our

Master told His Disciples – ‘This is my blood, drink it in remembrance of me’. Now

my brethren, we must do the same, for our lips will be the first to have touched this

Holy Grail since the Last Supper." He carried the Grail to each of the kneeling men

in turn, starting with Joseph of Arimathea. Merlin moved aside and sat down on the

grass, looking pale and exhausted. Joseph wondered how an unbeliever such as the

Arch Druid could have been so affected by what was, after all, a Christian miracle.

As each man took a sip the unearthly glow grew dimmer and dimmer. The Abbott

was the last to sip from the Grail, and as it was drained the light went out completely.

The Holy Grail was once more a common drinking goblet. The Abbott turned to

Joseph and spoke.

"It is thanks to you that we have tonight been part of a great miracle. The clergy of

Glastonbury have indeed been entrusted with the Holy of Holies, and we must ensure

that it is safely housed in a church built of stone, worthy of its Glory. I would ask

one more act of kindness of you, Brother Joseph, for we do not possess the skills

needed for such a task."

"I will do what I can, Lord Abbott, but I am a merchant, my skills are in trading and

sailing my ship, the Boaz, and not what you require here, I think!"

Merlin stepped forward. He had been quiet for a long time. Now was his chance to

bargain for the souls of the Celtic Race. The Abbott spoke again.

"I cannot explain what has happened here this night, but I will agree that this magic

chalice needs to be carefully housed. You are a Judean, Joseph, and it is well known

that your people have developed extraordinary skills in the building of Basilicae; your

Temple of Solomon was known throughout the world for its magnificence! On your

return to Judea you must recruit those masons who hold the secrets that make such

magnificence possible, and return here with them."

"These masons that you mention so glibly are the most difficult society to deal with

that I have ever known! They are so secretive and jealous of their skills that they

have even developed a system of signs and passwords with meanings known only to

the members of their own secret society." Joseph sighed.

"But I will try my best. You had better think of a special password that I can pass on

to them, so that they will know that they are not dealing with those who wish to steal

their secrets. They would also feel more content if I could give them a sign or token

known only to the Judean Masons and the Glastonbury Brethren. It should be

distinguishable by darkness as well as during the day."

The Abbott thought for a few moments. "Let the password be the same as the name

of your ship – Boaz – to be lettered or halved when given, thus: B.O.A.Z; BO-AZ;

Boaz! And let the token be a handshake, not in the Roman or Celtic way, but by

gripping the right hand firmly and giving pressure with the thumb between the first

and second joints of the hand, thus:" he gripped Joseph’s hand in the manner

described. .10.

"Now it is my turn to speak." Merlin, now recovered, faced the Abbott squarely,

drawing himself up to his full height, and dwarfing all present. " It is due entirely to

me that you now have possession of your holiest relic, and I am not even of your

Christian religion. You owe me, Father Abbott; you and all your Christians owe me

in a very big way, and I demand payment."

" We are eternally grateful to you, Arch Druid, but we have nothing to give you. You

can see the frugal way we live." The Abbott extended his arms in a gesture of

helplessness, taking in the crude wattle and daub huts and the roughly-hewn timber

chapel that made up the Abbey. "We have no riches, no gold…"

"We Celts do not want your gold! We have been craftsmen in gold for centuries,

since before the presence of the Romans – have you not seen our beautiful torcs?

"Our greatest kings are buried surrounded by riches. The greatest of them all, King

Zel, is buried in a sacred mound at Silbury, not too far from here, clothed in a suit of

gold and sitting astride a great golden horse. No, Christian, I do not want your earthly

riches. What I want is for you and your damned priests to stop stealing the souls of

my people!" .11.

The Abbott shook his grizzled head sadly. "That we cannot do. We have taken our

holy vows, which include the conversion of all pagan peoples, and we do not take

them lightly. We are prepared to die rather than stop doing Christ’s work."

"Then die you shall – all of you!" Merlin hissed, through clenched teeth. "Not

tonight, and not even during this, or the next, moon. But I promise you this – if you

refuse to pay what I demand, in the manner that I require, then you will pay in blood

before this year is through! I leave now, to go on a journey that will take me to the

Ends of the Earth, and when I return I will speak to you again of this. Think hard,

Lord Abbott, and pray to your Master for guidance.

"The Celts of this land have stood against greater foes than the Christian hordes. I

am Myrddyn, Leader of the Welsh and Arch Druid of the Celtic Race, and I will have

my retribution!"

He turned abruptly on his heel and strode off in the direction they had come. Joseph

started after him, but after a few paces stopped and turned back to the Abbott and his

monks.

"I must follow him, Lord Abbott, although I also am of the Christian faith. I will

return as soon as I can with the stonemasons. Merlin’s temper is short, like all of his

red-headed tribe, and I am sure that his bark is worse than his bite.

"I would advise that you desist from your missionary work among his Celts for a few

moons at least. Give him time to cool down. I have been to the Ends of the Earth

myself, and I am sure that his journey will take at least a quarter year. Goodbye, and

God be with you!"

The Abbott made the sign of the fish, replying "and with you, Joseph of Arimathea."

The merchant ran down the moonlit track and caught up with Merlin as the Arch

Druid climbed into the coracle, muttering under has breath. Joseph climbed in beside

Merlin and the boatman shoved off. The tide had turned and the current took the

flimsy craft swiftly downstream. Neither of the passengers spoke.

Merlin seethed with anger at what he saw as the Abbott’s pig-headedness. The

muscles of his sword arm quivered with an unrequited desire to strike off someone’s

head. Joseph smouldered with ill-contained rage at the threats used by Merlin to

intimidate the Abbott, and the insults to the Judean’s own religion, of which he had

been one of the first converts. Under cover of his cloak he slipped on a wickedly

spiked glove – a Roman gladus, as used by gladiators. If Merlin wanted trouble then

Joseph would be ready for it!

*

The outgoing tide carried the coracle to the mouth of the River Brue. The silhouette

of the Boaz could be seen plainly against the moonlit sky. The bodies of the three

crew members were not clearly visible, and all that could be seen of them was their

heads, which were peering over the ship’s rail. As they got closer, Joseph hailed

them. Receiving no reply, he hailed them again. Still fuming from the events at

Glastonbury, the merchant swore.

"Answer me, damn you! Are you drunk, or asleep, or both! Drop the net so that we

can climb aboard!"

The boarding net appeared over the side of the ship. Joseph and Merlin clambered

aboard, cursing each other and the crew. The first thing they saw were three spears

with points thrust into the deck. Deliberately placed against the rail, each spear

sported a severed head, with each head turned towards the river mouth. A shadowy

figure moved from the concealment of the tiny cabin, and spoke.

"No, Master Joseph, neither drunk nor asleep."

"Iestyn!" Merlin gasped in surprise. "What has happened here? Are you harmed?"

"I am unhurt, Master. We were boarded by Scotti Pirates. They were hidden on Flat

Holme. Until I signalled them with this." From under his cloak he took the small

metal mirror. "I am afraid the crew panicked – in fact, they lost their heads, quite

literally!" The apprentice laughed softly. "They should not have made fun of me,

should they? What do you say, Judean? Or you, Lord of the Celts?"

"I say that you are a traitor, to your Country, to the people of Cymru and to your

Master." Merlin drew his sword. "Prepare for death, traitor, for your head will be the

next one planted on a spear’s end!"

"Not today, Welshman!" The shout came from the stern of the ship. Merchant and

Druid whirled as one. The reefed sail had been thrown aside to reveal five armed

Scotti warriors, wielding axes and spiked clubs. "Throw down your arms, if you

know what is good for you. Hand over the treasure and you will be spared."

"We have no treasure!" The Arch Druid’s voice was laden with unconcealed

contempt.

"You lie, Myrddyn, " Iestyn cried out. "I heard what you said to the Judean at the

Red Dragon Inn, when I listened through a crack in the door. You told him that you

would trade with the Abbott of Glastonbury – that you would be giving him the most

holy relic of the Christians in exchange for the future of the Celtic race. The future of

any race depends on the wealth it gathers. I believe that you now carry a fortune in

gold, so hand it over or die!"

"I repeat, we have no treasure! The holy relic carried aboard this ship was a simple,

roughly-made drinking cup, and that now lies at Glastonbury." The fury that had been

building in Merlin over the past hour was fast reaching boiling point. He drew his

sword. "If you and your Scotti scum think we have treasure, then why do you not try

to take it from us? Come on, if you dare!"

Joseph spoke then, his tone placatory. "No, Merlin, gold is not worth dying for." He

made a show of tugging at something concealed beneath his broad leather belt, while

taking a few small steps towards the Scotti pirate chief. "You can have our gold.

There are one hundred sesterces in a pouch under this belt. Only give me a hand to

free the pouch and they are yours."

The man stuck his wicked-looking axe in his own belt and stepped forward eagerly.

As he reached Joseph, the Judean’s hand suddenly came free and shot forward and

upward, the spiked glove connecting with the Scotti’s nose. With a sickening, wet

crunch the man’s nose collapsed, and the force behind the blow drove the bone

upwards into his brain, killing him instantly.

Merlin leaped forward, slashing with his short Roman sword. Using the momentum

created by the swing of the killing punch, Joseph pivoted on his left leg, bringing the

edge of his right foot into devastating contact with throat of a second Scotti, crushing

his larynx. The second man fell, choking to death and drowning in his own blood.

The headless corpse of a third warrior, rapidly despatched by the Druid, broke his fall.

The surviving pair of pirates had recovered from the surprise attack and lunged

forward. One swung his spiked iron mace at Joseph’s unprotected back, the weapon

whistling towards the right side of his head. Merlin’s sword slashed in a deadly arc,

its point scoring his opponent’s ribs. The Scotti did not flinch, and swung his double-

bladed war axe straight at the centre of the druid’s skull.

When the mace was a fraction from Joseph’s head he ducked to the left and, grabbing

the Scotti’s wrist, hurled him to the deck. As the warrior’s head connected with the

wood, Joseph seized the man by the hair and pulled his head forward so that the back

of the neck was exposed for a mighty blow with the spiked glove, delivering instant

death by crushing the Scotti’s vertabrae and snapping his spinal cord.

In a lightning reflex action, Merlin reversed the slashing stroke of his sword, slicing

through the wrist of his attacker. The axe, with the hand still attached, flew

harmlessly away. The pirate’s forward impetus ended in his impalement on the sword

point.

Merlin and Joseph turned as one. Iestyn stood as if rooted to the deck, his face ashen,

but strangely calm and seeming unafraid. His Celtic Warrior blood lust sated, the

druid spoke quietly, almost in a whisper, with a terrible voice that shook with fury.

"Your blood is that of the Old People, the Draconians, the Chosen Ones. I took you

in good faith as my apprentice. I would have taught you every secret that I know.

You could have been a powerful man, a druid priest favoured among the Celtic race.

But you chose treachery! You were ready to be a conspirator against your own kind,

a collaborator with barbarian scum! I should cut you down on this very spot, kill you

as I would kill a rabid cur! Can you give me one reason why this should not be?"

"You have spoken the reason with your own tongue, Myrddyn. I am of your own

ancient blood line, as are very few others. The secrets that you hold so close to your

chest can only be passed on to this select few, of whom I am one. Most important of

all, you are bound by a vow that any one of Draconian lineage can never be called

upon to take the life of another. Neither can a Draconian be killed, or even harmed,

by any human of woman born. You must let me go – here! Now!"

Merlin lowered his sword and his head. He turned to Joseph and spoke, his voice

crackling with emotion.

"He is right, damn him! No matter that he is evil incarnate, neither you nor I can hurt

him in any way. We must release him."

Joseph said nothing. He took the sword from Merlin’s limp hand and turned to face

the apprentice. Iestyn, convinced of his own invincibility, leered at the merchant. He

hawked deeply and spat a gob of yellow phlegm on to the feet of the Judean.

"And what are you going to do, Master Joseph of Arimathea, Lion of Judea – feed me

to the fishes? Cast me off on Steep Holme Island?" He laughed, a triumphant cackle.

"Do your worst, for I cannot be hurt by any human of woman born!"

Joseph moved until his body was inches from Iestyn’s shrunken frame. He raised the

sword above his head.

"I was brought into this world as the great Caesar was – through a slice cut into the

womb and stomach of my mother. Caesar was not of woman born, but from woman

torn - as was I from my own mother’s womb skilfully ripped!"

The sword arm fell, the blade severing the traitor’s head in one clean, slashing stroke.

*

Iestyn’s cadaver was dumped over the side of the ship along with those of the Scotti

pirates. The corpses were borne by the Channel currents, away from the Boaz to a

watery grave. Only then did Merlin and Joseph cast off, letting the ebb of the tide

take them away from the lee shore before raising the sail.

When they had reached the safety of the deep mid-Channel they turned their attention

to the headless bodies of the crew, wrapping them, as best they could, in the tarpaulins

that were normally used to protect the deck cargo. Since there were no Hebrew

sepulchures in the all of the Celtic Lands, Merlin had offered to have them interred on

his own estate in Caer Fyrddin. Joseph would pray that the spirits of the deceased be

transported back to Judea, as if the bodies had been buried in their native soil.

The night was calm and even warm for the time of year. Both men were exhausted,

but neither would sleep until they reached their destination. So they lay side by side

on the deck, looking up at the full moon. In a lazy drawl, Joseph spoke.

"Tell me, what is this journey to the Ends of the Earth that you are planning to take? I

hope you don’t expect me to take you! Small ship, no crew – we’ll be lucky if we

make Caer Myrddin!" Having difficulty getting around the Cymric tongue, he

pronounced it ‘Camarthen’.

"I heard you tell the Abbott that you have already been there – to the Ends of the

Earth. What is it like there? What wonders are there to be seen?" Merlin asked. "I

have heard that ships never return from there – that they are blown by massive winds

and swept along by great currents, both controlled by the Gods, until they disappear

over the edge of the earth in a gigantic waterfall. If that be true, how is it that you

managed to return in one piece? You are a fine fighter, Joseph, with a deadly style

that I have never seen before, but no man can fight the Gods and win!"

"I did not go by ship. I travelled overland, due east, for thousands of leagues, until

my caravan came to a vast plain that stretched on and on, without end. After many

days traversing this plain we had seen neither man nor animal, and there was still no

end in sight. We calculated that the caravan had reached the Ends of the Earth, and

we turned back. When we reached the beginnings of civilisation again, I left the

caravan and stayed behind. I lived there for almost a year, with a hospitable nomadic

tribe. They taught me ways of killing without weapons."

"I am impressed by your expertise, my warrior merchant friend. I am determined that

you shall be the one to transport me to the Ends of the Earth. But this time we go

south, we go by sea, and we go soon!"

This statement shook Joseph out of his torpor. "We cannot reach the Ends of the Earth

by sea, Merlin! If we go south we will die! We will surely end up at that great

waterfall!" He rose to his feet and stood over the Arch Druid, legs apart and hands

on hips. He would make Merlin understand the dangers involved and he would not

endanger his ship!

"I have sailed many times through the Pillars of Hercules, but always to head north.

Some I know have sailed south, in much larger ships. Few have returned, and those

that did tell tales of such horror as would scorch a man’s brain!"

"What tales are these? I have never heard them!"

Joseph sat on the deck again. "After many weeks they came within sight of land.

They could make out mountains covered by cloud. As they grew closer they

discovered that the mountains were volcanoes, belching fire. What they had taken for

clouds were masses of poisonous fumes. A change in the direction of the wind blew

the fumes away from the land. The ships were forced to head quickly back out to sea,

although by this time they were running short of food and water."

"Where did they go then?" Merlin asked.

"All that I spoke to turned back to the north, save one. Some had less than enough

water to see them safely to the Lands of the Moors, and had to search for water along

the mainland. They made several landfalls along that terrible coastline, but all they

found were sand, rock and venomous serpents. Many of the crews died of thirst, and

some of serpent bite. Those that died of thirst were the lucky ones!"

"What of the one ship that continued south? What happened to it? Did the captain

and crew return safely?"

"Only one man survived. He was found close to death, raving mad! The ship was

wrecked on the great rock that guards the entrance from Atlantica to Mediterranean

Sea. How it managed to get that far is impossible to tell, for of the captain and the

rest of the crew there was no sign. The survivor was delirious with fever when they

found him. He talked wildly for many hours, ranting about an immense storm that

drove them into the vast mouth of a river. They sailed for many miles up the river,

until they came to a great lake, that was fed by a colossal waterfall. The lake was

filled with monsters and dragons and…" .12.

Merlin leaped to his feet. "Dragons!" He shouted excitedly in Joseph’s face. "Did

he say Dragons! Are you sure about this!"

Joseph looked puzzled at Merlin’s interruption. "That is what I have been told, good

Merlin. But I cannot swear to the truth of it."

Merlin’s excitement subsided. "You said ‘and’ – ‘monsters and dragons and…; and

what?"

"And fierce black goblins, who attacked and boarded the ship. They were driven off,

but not before they had managed to capture some of the crew and carry them to the

lakeshore. They roasted the sailors alive! The rest of the crew had to listen to their

screams and watch as the bodies of their comrades were cut up and devoured, as if

they were beasts! That was all of it. The survivor died before he could say more."

Both men were quiet for some time, reflecting on the terrible fate of the abducted

sailors. After a while, Merlin said "Did he say any more about the dragons?"

"I know no more than I told you. Why are you so curious about the dragons? Until a

few hundred years ago it seems that they were quite common in Europe, but ferocious

black cannibalistic goblins! Now there’s a tale to send shivers up your spine."

"Celts and dragons go together, Joseph, as do air and water, or sea and sky – one

cannot exist without the other. Where there are Celts there must be dragons, and

where there are dragons there should be Celts, it is the natural order of things. And

black goblins are certainly not Celts."

Joseph laughed at this. "Well, Merlin," he said "that statement would appear to be

incorrect, since in my travels I have met thousands of Celts. I think I would have

noticed if a dragon had accompanied one of them. Mark you, some of those Cornish

women could easily be taken for dragons!" He laughed at his own joke, but Merlin

remained subdued.

"All the European dragons are in hibernation, many hundreds of them, in caverns

deep below the surface of the earth. They are in great danger – should the Roman

legions discover them they would slaughter them all, and the Celtic Race would soon

follow them into oblivion.

"Cymru is the last outpost of civilised Celts – we cannot count on the bloodthirsty

Caledonians or the barbaric Hibernians. So far the Romans have established but a

few small outposts in these Islands, but it will not be many years before they invade

us in strength.

"If Dragonkind is to survive and flourish again at some future time, it is up to the

Welsh to save and protect them."

Joseph thought about this for a moment. "You said something to Iestyn, something

like that, only slightly different. Not Dragonkind – Draconian. That was it. ‘Your

blood is that of the Old People, the Draconians, the Chosen Ones’. And he told you

that you could not do him harm. He said ‘I am of your own ancient blood line, as are

very few others’. The Draconians – a race within a race. The Keepers of dragons.

The word itself- Draconian – is a derivative of draco, which is the Greek word for

dragon, is it not?"

Merlin pointed to a section of the sky. "That is Draco, Joseph. You see how the stars

in that constellation can be connected in such a way that they resemble a great dragon,

winging its way through the heavens? That is the constellation of Draco. That is

where dragons originated. The word Draco is not of Greek origin. It is of Draconian

origin, and it is very, very old indeed. The word ‘Draconian’ does not mean ‘of

dragons’, but the word ‘dragon’ denotes Draconian origins."

He turned to Joseph and laid his hand on the Judean’s shoulder. "One day I will tell

you the full history of the Draconians and their dragons. Maybe on the long voyage

south. If the Gods are with us, the journey to the Ends of the Earth may turn out to be

a very long and tedious one. Such a lengthy story will help to pass the time."

Joseph opened his mouth to protest at Merlin’s apparent rejection of his advice, but

the Arch Druid chose that moment to leap to his feet, pulling the merchant with him.

"Look over there!" he cried "That headland – is that not Trwyn y Wrach, Witches

Point?"

Joseph strained to pick out the landmark in the grey light of the false dawn. The sun

rose as he was peering towards the Welsh Coast, its weak early rays reflecting off the

red and green marl of the cliffs. The pounding surf and flying spume meant danger

from unseen rocky outcrops.

"Well done, Merlin! You indeed have the power of second sight! We must keep well

clear of that point. Those treacherous rocks have led many a small ship to its doom.

I’ll change tack at once."

Merlin stopped him before he could reach the sail. "No, Joseph. There is a landing

place near Trwyn y Wrach. We must take the ship in to the shore, now."

The Judean turned to face the Arch Druid in exasperation, shaking off the hand that

gripped his arm.

"What in God’s name are you playing at, Merlin! You rush me off in the middle of

the night to sail up a stinking ditch in a cockleshell made of reeking hides! I lose my

crew and almost lose my ship, not to mention coming close to getting killed by a

bunch of louse-ridden heathens! Then you spin me some bullshit about dragons and

voyaging to the Ends of the Earth with you! Now you want me to land on the most

dangerous shore this side of Scylla and Chabdiris! And I have not even got a crew!"

"Joseph! Joseph! You trusted me enough to come all the way from Judea on just my

word, did you not!" Joseph nodded truculently "Well, trust me a little further. On that

beach waits a man who will join us on our quest. He is yet a young man, for a

Draconian, but highly respected by all. Perhaps you have you heard of him – his

name is Caradog, known to the Romans as Caractacus, son of Cunobelinus, chief of

the Silures. Caradog will one day rule both them and the Catuvellauni". .13.

"Of course I have heard of him. I have traded with the Silures and with their cousins,

the Catuvellauni. Their stronghold lies inland from Witches Point. It is called

Dyndryfan – the three-sided fortress – and it is a very ancient site. I have never been

there – can you guess why?" .14.

Merlin shook his head. "Was it because you were scared to?" he replied, his tone

bantering.

"What? Scared of a few blue-painted ruffians! Not I! No, my friend, the reason that

I have never been there is because it is TOO DANGEROUS TO LAND!"

He cast an eye at the lightening sky. Seeing no sign of approaching squalls, he sat at

the tiller and headed for the beach, muttering to himself and cursing his companion.

Just beyond the line of the breakers he weighed anchor, and the little ship lurched and

swayed on the heavy swell, straining against the anchor chain as the strong current

took hold.

"There he is!" Merlin shouted above the noise of the waves as they broke on the

shingle. He called out to a group of men gathered on the beach. "Caradog! It is I,

Myrddyn! We cannot come any closer – you must swim out to the ship! Hurry,

before we are swept on to the rocks."

A giant of man detached himself from the group. He took in the wildness of the

waves, then threw back his head and laughed. Casting off his cloak, he strode into the

roughening sea as if into a warm bath. In a very short time he reached the Boaz and,

helped by Merlin and Joseph, clambered aboard. He shook himself like a dog, his

mane of bright red curls scattering water over the deck and those around him.

"Myrddyn, you old rogue" he roared "You owe me a new cloak!" He turned to

Joseph. "Who is this strange little fellow? He has a head like a hazelnut! But wait – I

do know you! You are the Phoenician trader – Jonah, or Jonas?"

"His name is Joseph. Of Arimathea. A Judean. And I would advise you not to be so

quick with your insults; he may be small but he fights like ten devils!"

"When you two wenches have finished gossiping, perhaps we can get out of here!"

Joseph yelled from his place at the tiller. "Pull up the anchor and pray to all your gods

that we can get clear of this current."

A short while later the ship was safely in the centre of the Channel, and back on route

for Caer Myrddyn. The wind had freshened, and the breeze bore them along swiftly.

Merlin and Caradog tended the sail, while Joseph’s expert hand on the tiller steered

the Boaz through the chop on a course that offered the least resistance to the

streamlined wooden hull.

They stayed in mid-channel, passing the Tuskar Rock and the Port of Cynffig.

Joseph lined the Boaz up with the Worm’s Head, the landmark off Rhosilli Point.

Just before they cleared the reefs that surrounded the notorious headland, Merlin

pointed out a declivity slightly to the west of it.

"There are two caves there, so ancient that one of them contains the bones of a

warrior who died over one million years ago. He was killed by the Red Dragon. We

know this, because the skeleton is the colour of the Dragon itself. I discovered the

remains of the warrior along with some of the dragon’s teeth, some a spear’s length.

"The Red Dragon is the symbol of the Silures, and those caves are our most sacred

temple, more sacred even than the standing stones of Old Sarum. We will be paying a

visit to those caves before we start our voyage to the Ends of the Earth." .15.

Joseph snorted cynically-"Ends of the Earth! We would easier find a virgin in a

Roman whorehouse!" He cursed Merlin under his breath, and turned his attention

back to navigating the difficult final passage.

Rounding the worm’s head, the Judean tacked to the North, with the imposing Forest

of Pembrey ahead and slightly to the right of the planned course. Then into the

estuary of the River Tywi. As the river narrowed, small settlements started to appear,

the inhabitants gathering on the river bank to call and wave to Merlin and Caradog,

who returned their greetings in the Celtic tongue. Passing several small fishing fleets

made up of coracles, they arrived at the seat of Merlin’s power, the small fortified

town of Caer Myrddyn – Carmarthen.

A crude jetty had been constructed at the confluence of two Rivers, the Tywi and the

smaller Gwili. Joseph manoeuvred the Boaz alongside the jetty, while Caradog leapt

from the ship on to the rough planking. Merlin threw him a rope, and the Boaz was

made fast.

On the jetty stood a woman, tall and fair-haired. Her body was sheathed from head to

toe in a cloak dyed with bright, dazzling colours and decorated with golden thread

woven into a spidery pattern. Around her neck and wrists she wore finely executed

gold, silver and coral jewellery, and her cloak was fastened with an ornamented

enamel brooch. Her face was strong and tanned, her eyes a sparkling azure. Her full,

slightly-parted lips revealed a glimpse of even white teeth.

Joseph sat transfixed at the tiller. Never taking his eyes off the woman, not even

blinking, he croaked "Who is that! Is she a Celtic Goddess?"

Merlin smiled, sat down next to Joseph, and gripped the merchant’s shoulder.

"She is not a goddess, my friend. But cast aside all your desires, for she is not for

you. She is the daughter of the chief of the Icenae. Her name is Boudicca, and she is

to be the third member of your new crew!" .16.

References (Chapter One)

.1. Joseph of Arimathea

See: The Gospel according to St Matthew, Chapter 27, Verses 57 to 61.

.2. The Trading Ship Boaz.

.5. Golem

.9 Joseph carries the Body of Jesus and lays Him in the Sepulchure..

See: The Gospel according to St Matthew, Chapter 27, Verses 57 to 61.

.12 Congo.

This river was, in all probability, the mighty Congo. A ship could have sailed

upriver as far as Boma, or even Matadi, but no further since the river would

.13. Caradog

.15. Caves