Tanith of Gold 14

Michael Scot power

Mustaq found the King and Michael Scot outside on the foredeck. Deep in conversation, they were watching the crew prepare for the voyage, but the King beckoned Mustaq to join them. As soon as he saw Mustaq, Michael Scot prostrated himself on the deck and bowed his forehead against Mustaq’s feet. Mustaq ushered him up gently.

“No need for that here, young man. No need …” He gestured towards the other men  in the distance, who had looked quite astonished. “They do not see what you can see. To them I am old eunuch who happens to own a ship.”

He chuckled, and then turned to the King. “I interrupt your thoughts?”

King Frederick simply smiled and said, “Michael Scot, Wizard of Scotland, was just explaining to me what he understands of power, and the nature of trees.”   He gestured toward the nearby hill above the harbour. The tree planted so forcefully by Michael Scot had been visible above the city walls earlier in the day but was no longer visible.

Michael Scot laughed easily and somewhat ruefully. “My knowledge of energy is very limited compared to your lordships’ infinite resources. I have found a small way to alter the experiences of reality.” He held out his hand palm upwards and a small flame flickered. As they watched in amusement the flame changed into a small, golden mouse which sat on his palm, cleaning its whiskers. Michael Scot threw the mouse into the air where it changed into a swallow winging away on the wind.

“The tree is now invisible and the three brothers have rejoined their bodies with their minds somewhat altered for the better.” He turned to look at the busy harbour.

“I have been told to steer a middle course when deciding on life and death in this plane - lest I become caught in the wheel of retribution once more. But the world of our senses is simply the way it is by consensus. If every mind which knows the town square is convinced there has been a large tree there for decades then it will have always been there.

“In a similar fashion we returned to the ship when I suggested that we had never left the ship. But I could only do that with your energy, my Lord.” He bowed before King Frederick once more.

“I am not much more than a street magician, full of trickery.”

“No, you have much intellectual power, and I wish to take you on as my adviser in my Court, “ the King said firmly.  “But I see you are fatigued. Mustaq, do we have a quiet cabin for our Wizard?”

Mustaq bustled forward and ushered the tall and enigmatic Scot to his cabin next to Tanith. As they opened the cabin door they heard through the interleading cabin wall some unrestrained sounds of passion. Mustaq raised an eyebrow and they smiled at each other before Michael Scot bowed in thanks to Mustaq and fell into the bed. Mustaq closed the door quietly as the Wizard from Scotland dived into a deep sleep.

At dawn the ship bustled into life and slipped out of the harbour. None of the passengers stirred out of the cocoon of sleep, as if under the benign protection of Mustaq. Even the sea was tranquil and so when Tanith awakened it was almost midday. She was astonished to peep out the window and see the morning gone. But they were under sail and there was no need to do anything except wake a sleeping Michael with her strong thighs and fiery loins.

They emerged a while later, feeling hunger pangs, and happened to open their door at the same time as Michael Scot. He was yawning and stretching, looking out at the sparkling sea. They smiled and greeted each other. Michael Scot in a spontaneous gesture flicked his fingers and made a red rose appear which he presented to Tanith with a flourish. She smiled and accepted it but as soon as she touched it, the rose became a brilliant red parrot, which gave a raucous cry and flew from her hand to land on the railing.

Tanith clapped her hands in delight, “Thank you! I didn’t know how to do that and now I do!” She snapped her fingers impulsively. There was a cracking sound and before Michael’s disbelieving eyes a shimmering rent in the fabric revealed a lush green world with glimpses of huge trees. Strutting through the gap a two meter high bird-like creature appeared. Beautifully decked in brilliantly coloured feathers it cocked its head to look at them. Instead of a bird’s beak it sported a large snout filled with sharp teeth. It snapped its jaws at them and spread powerful wings, shimmering with multitude colours. As it flapped its wings Tanith recoiled in fright and the creature hissed and took a step towards them. Before they could react, however, Mustaq appeared in front of them and waved the creature away into its own world. There was a pop as the opening closed and only one bright red feather spiralled down to the deck.

Mustaq turned to Tanish with a beaming smile. “Please, Your Ladyship. No more creatures. The next one may sink my ship!”

He beckoned them to follow, “Come, let us break our fast together. I have laid out some small morsels to eat.”

With great good humour and a constant stream of jokes about what kinds of creatures could be summoned to sink his ship, Mustaq led them to his cabin. Sun was streaming through the large windows on the stern of the ship. They were on the highest level of the deck. The sea was brilliantly blue and the stiff wind was cracking the sails above them. The long table was already filled with animated conversation. King Frederick sat at the head and was deep in conversation with the velvet-clad Enrico. The King looked up when they entered and gestured for Tanith to sit at his left. Michael sat next to her and Michael Scot sat opposite Michael. Mustaq took up a seat at the end of the table. He supervised the last of the servants bringing food and ushered them away. The massive form of Yousuf bolted the door and stood guard. Tanith realised with a start that she had never seen him seated.

There was a moment’s silence before Mustaq spoke, “Welcome, illustrious beings.”

As he spoke the diminutive figure of the eunuch dimmed and for an instant an incandescent light pulsed.

“First, let us feed our bodies!”

He became the amiable host again, pointing out all the select dishes and urging them to eat their fill. There was an array of delicacies, none of them meat, as Mustaq did not allow dead flesh on the ship. The food was indeed so delicious that Tanith hardly spoke and filled her plate several times. Around her there were animated voices. Enrico and Michael Scot had not met before and the silent Enrico was drawn out by the urbane and mannerly Scot, who spoke fluent Genoese.

Enrico was prevailed on to talk about his last sea battle, waged around Crete against a formidable pirate, called Santos. Enrico had, somewhat illegally, gained control of Crete and had gathered together a strong navy to combat the stranglehold of the pirates, who had been devastating the sea trade in the region. Santos was notorious for his savage cruelty and daring raids. Enrico had finally boarded the pirate ship and faced Santos personally, armed with the slim, deadly rapier that he carried at all times. Spurred on by Michael, Enrico jumped up and demonstrated some of his dazzling moves, his blade weaving and flashing. Tanith felt her pulse quicken as she watched the movements of the master swordsman. Her breasts tightened and Rowan, noticing her nipples harden, squeezed her hand and then caressed her thigh next to him. He often wondered at her excitement with combat and naked steel. While he was excited by her parted lips as he watched her, he felt ripples of nervousness in his abdomen. She was an elemental force and he loved her beyond distraction but he hardly knew who she was. She demonstrated such power and yet, at times, behaved like a small girl.

Enrico finished to much applause as he demonstrated the coup de grace. The red fiery  snake flickered brightly about him as he gave a small bow to his audience. Enrico took a seat and looked up briefly into Tanith’s eyes. His brilliant blue eye flashed and then winked barely perceptibly. She felt all the horror she used to hold for him dissolve as she saw with new sight his duality. He was an impossible balance between creation and dissolution, light and dark, life and destruction. He represented the terrible dilemma of the human condition.