Chapter 25: Faith, Truth, Knowledge

February 1999

As we talked more into the night, I supposed it was best that I save the questions regarding history for another time. The priority of knowledge was more important to me. I needed to get the real answer to why I was there. “Tayla, I hope that I can call you by that name, if I may?”

She nodded in an affirmative fashion, with her long slender hands folded in front of her chin. The fire continued to crackle. The fragrances continued to emanate from her, as did her smiles of affection and fondness. It intrigued me such that I could hardly concentrate.

“It is imperative for me to know everything if I am, as you say, to perform a task you say will benefit me as well as yourself. This task, I must say, must not violate my faith. I would choose death over that. I am fully aware of the death that you can deliver, just as my Master was aware of the death the crucifixion can deliver. I studied the ways of the ancient Romans, and their methods of execution have few rivals in history as to the maximum amount of pain that one can endure before death comes. It is the worst death one could suffer. I’ve prepared myself even for such as that. I want to proclaim it now, before my God and you...”

Before I could finish the sentence, she stood up and in a flash of smoke disappeared from my sight. I stood up and continued as if she were still there. “That I am prepared to die for my faith, and I will not forsake Him as He will not forsake me!” I felt powerful after a proclamation like that. I only hoped I had not made a statement of faith that was in effect, more said in haste than out of faith. After all, Peter the Apostle, said to Jesus in a face-to-face conversation, that he would never deny him. Jesus, who loved Peter, said that Peter, a mortal, a sinner, and a disciple, would deny him three times. Peter, whose faith was so strong, and loyalty was without question, was such a follower that he was willing to defend Jesus with his sword. How would I manage to withstand the power that these creatures had? Then I thought I had just demonstrated how I would do that. There truly is power in His name!

The question now remained in my mind, “What to do now? “ I sat back down in the comfortable chair. I checked my watch. It was now almost midnight. It seemed that we really had not been talking that long. The night was just getting started. I had angered, or frightened Tayla into disappearing from the library in such a theatrical and dramatic way, that I wondered if the conversation was over. I decided to stay put. After all, she being a queen had not dismissed me yet. Besides, I really did not know what else to do and was not about to venture anywhere alone in the mansion. I poured myself another cup from the service left in the library by Mortis. “Mortis? Mortis! What a name! I wonder if that is your real name or something that is pinned on you at the time of your initiation,” I said to myself aloud.

A gentle voice began to speak in the room. “You are precisely correct in your assumption regarding my familiars and their initiation. How did you come to know this custom?” Tayla asked, standing behind my chair. She had never left the room.

“I didn’t know for sure. I was only guessing at what might be the obvious. Tayla, I apologize, for offending or frightening you. I’m not sure which I did, but it was enough to send you off in a puff of smoke, literally!” She moved around in front of me, calm, no longer shaken in anger or fright. She sat down and stared at me. The eyes, though not changed, now had a different look to them. She began to read my thoughts again as well as my heart. I let her read; as I knew, I could not stop her.

“I left the form that you see, because your faith does have power. The legends would not exist if not based on some truth. This is how most legends originate. Truth is power! I know this though I do not confuse knowledge with truth. I seek a way to find the reason for the existence of myself, and my siblings and my children that I have helped to create. Your purpose for being here, my dear Malcolm is to counsel me on that truth. Perhaps even lead me to it.” She finished the last sentence quickly as if to get the words out before the demon could stop her. She was now shaking, trembling, with her fists clenched.