New Beginnings

By Kim Kacoroski

It is their moment in history. The next Camelon generation begins with the passing of King Dewi of Wales, slain by marauding Roman legions left in the area. His eighty-year-old granddaughter Creirwy, the Mother Superior of Pembrokeshire abbey, learns of his untimely demise as chaos descends on the world. The surviving descendants of Camelon regr

• Language: English
• Publisher: Integrative Care Consulting LLC
• Release date: Apr 27, 2018
• ISBN: 9781947036253

Kim Kacoroski

Kim Kacoroski, pen name Toby Smith, is a Naturopathic physician, who practices Taoist elixir-style alchemy in the Pacific Northwest. She has a bachelor of arts degree in physics from Trinity University and a master of science in engineering degree from University of Washington. American History is a hobby.

Book preview

cover-image, 9781947036291NBEcopy

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or to actual events or locales is entirely coincidental.

NEW BEGINNINGS

Copyright © 2011 Kim Kacoroski. All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book, or portions thereof, in any form. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by means, whether electronic or mechanical without the express written consent of the author. The scanning, uploading, and distribution of this book via the Internet or via any other means without the permission of the publisher is illegal and punishable by law. Please purchase only authorized electronic editions and do not participate in or encourage electronic piracy of copyrighted materials.

The publisher does not have control over and does not assume any responsibility for the author or third-party websites or their content.

Cover art illustrations by Kim Kacoroski, Phillipe Velasquez, and Masha Tatarintsev

Visit the author website:

http://kimkacoroski.com

ISBN: 978-1-947036-29-1 (Paperback)

Version 2017.17.02

Book Four of Camelon Series

New Beginnings IV

Other Books in the Camelon Series

The Promise of Camelon I

The Dragons of Camelon II

History of the World According to the Druids III

The Kingdom of the Golden Tara V

Bridges of Flight before the American Revolution VI

Books in the Oblivion Series

Escape from Oblivion I

Beyond Oblivion II

Oblivion’s Edge III

Oblivion’s Deal IV

Flight from Oblivion V

Books in the Flight Series

Flight from Oblivion I

Eagle’s Flight in the American Revolution II

Flight of the Ascendants in the American Revolution III

Choices from the American Revolution IV

Bridges of Flight before the American Revolution V

Dedicated to Mickey Vondra, social worker and youth-group-leader, (d. March 21, 2010) and the Discovery Group (1975-1979)

INTRODUCTION

Many years ago, the Dallas-Fort Worth diocese converted a former convent into a renewal center to bridge the gap between the sacred and profane. One of their programs known as Beginnings focused on adults dealing with the loss of relationships through death or divorce. The teen program, named Discovery, examined identity issues in peer settings, as many of the teenagers in the area lived within a hundred miles from Plano, an affluent city in north Dallas known as the teenage-suicide capital of the world. Many local parishes sought the retreat programs to deal with social challenges of their congregations. The efforts of the renewal center attracted Mother Teresa to the Fort Worth Convention Center, the site of President Kennedy’s last speech. She told those at the convention, "I have it easy…you, in America, one of the wealthiest places in the world, have your work cut out for you."

Most of the melodies solicited for New Beginnings represent the wisdom that prevailed in the airwaves during the 1970s. Though the renewal center closed a few years ago and the programs have died with their directors, their spirited approach is worth keeping. Pearls are formed from an irritating grain of sand inside ultra-soft mucosa. Compared to the airy love songs of earlier years, a few contemporary heartfelt tunes have been added to mix. Treasure must be treasured, and this takes time with the recognition of loss. The music assists in bringing out the timely themes of unconditional Love and Truth, which can be found by reading between the lines, rather than exposed, analyzed, or explained.

NEW BEGINNINGS

Chapter One

Tender times

Beckon new beginnings

From the depths of darkness

And despair

Tune Reference: A Time For Us

----Johnny Mathis

THE NUN, DRESSED all in black, opened the door of the abbey for two young women who were standing in the shadows of the abbey. The enveloping darkness fell on their cloaked figures like a refreshing mist. As they hurried through the passageway, the moonlight dimly illuminated the doorway.

You’ll be safe here tonight, Mother Superior told them. The battle is over in Pembrokeshire. The place has been abandoned by the invaders, and the remaining villagers have started recovery efforts.

Thank you, Aunt Creirwy, Queen Gwenifyr whispered as she stepped inside the gloomy corridor. She lowered her hood and embraced the nun.

How is your grandfather? Creirwy asked.

Grandpa Gerwyn is on his way, she answered. My other brothers and sisters will come later.

The woman standing next to Gwenifyr removed her hood and hugged Creirwy. Thank you for protecting us.

I’m so glad that you’re safe. There’s no time to lose. The men are waiting for you in the sacristy, Creirwy said in a hushed voice. Then she added thoughtfully, It’s so wonderful to see you both. I visited your mother shortly after you were born, almost twenty years ago.

The sisters made their way through the dark corridor. There was a single candle burning in the small alcove on the side, and they recognized the corpse candle. They knew the man it represented.

I dreamed about Dad’s transition a few nights ago, Creirwy said, pausing in the candlelight to explain. We were forewarned by the corpse candle. It still burns. He’s lingering on the earth plane until we regroup. We carried his body to Pentre Ifan Dolmen. I think that my mother scared off further attacks. The Roman legions still think that she is an enchantress, you know.

The women nodded. The news of Dewi’s death had shocked them. A tear rolled down the cheek of the younger sister. Creirwy put her arm around her, and they entered the sacristy together. Two men rose from their chairs and warmly greeted them. After a brief, uncomfortable pause, Gwenifyr’s lover lowered his hood and kissed her passionately.

Gingalin, I am so relieved that you made it to Wales, Gwenifyr softly told the young man as they embraced.

Creirwy came for me on Elissa, Gingalin replied. I’m taking up Dragon flying soon. My late father, King Gawain, was a Dragon flyer. He rescued your great-great grandfather from a Serpentine attack once. It was when Arcas and Maury attended school at Camelon.

Arcas was the father of King Arthur and Dewi’s grandfather. After he pulled out the sword in the stone, he assumed leadership of the Camelon Castle in Scotland, which existed long before enemies developed the Camelot myth. He had fought with Maury, the queen of England, and both died defending their joined kingdoms from Roman invaders.

Ivan is your dragon, Gwenifyr remarked, brushing a tear from her eye. I now have King Arthur’s dragon, Pink. We’ve a lot to learn.

Yes, but for the moment, we are safe in Wales, he assured her.

The other couple remained quiet as the lovers spoke. Listening intently, they turned to face Gwenifyr and Gingalin. It was time for them to assume their positions in the world. Creirwy’s father, King Dewi, had recently been ambushed in a battle near Pembrokeshire. Only a few knew that Creirwy was his daughter by the reputed enchantress of Lake Bala, otherwise known as Cerridwen. The reality was that Cerridwen continued to work in the village as a counselor for the sick and dying. Now she was busy rescuing survivors of the ambush and helping them escape to safety. Meanwhile, Creirwy operated as queen of Wales from behind the scenes as the managing mother superior of the Pembrokeshire Abbey. She knew that the Serpentine Britons would not check the abbey for refugees. They were too busy fighting. The serene atmosphere of the abbey never ceased to repel them in their obsessive state.

Let’s move to the underground portals, Creirwy suggested.

She opened a trap door underneath the closet floor. Creirwy lifted her dress hem and descended a flight of stairs, and then the others followed her into the darkness. After Gingalin firmly closed the flooring behind them, several bright neon figures appeared and flooded the room with light. The two couples shielded their eyes from the glare as Creirwy snuffed out the candle that she had been carrying to illuminate their path. The mother superior quickly scanned the room and inventoried its occupants.

Party time! Paisley, the fluorescent, psychedelic-paisley-patterned Sea Dragon with the yellow jewel in the middle of his forehead, announced. He stepped forward and offered Creirwy a cup of warm mead. She passed it along to her guests as the caretakers supplied Paisley with enough cups for all of them.

Creirwy grinned and shrugged at her guests. There’s nothing like a glow-in-the-dark Sea Dragon to break the mood.

Paisley and I are off on our own revolution, Gilderoy, the brilliant blue Sea Dragon, explained as he threw his arm around his chum. We start tomorrow.

Since when? Creirwy asked.

Nothing like a Sea Dragon to break the mood, Gwenifyr repeated to Gingalin in a whisper.

The other couple giggled softly as Gingalin smirked softly. Creirwy overheard her niece’s comment and silenced her with a parental glance. Gwenifyr responded with a little mischievous smile and shrug, similar to the one the nun had given during introductions. Creirwy shot Gwenifyr a wry grin and then altered her demeanor before facing the revolutionaries. Her tone became mockingly serious.

I’m beginning to feel that I am outnumbered, she remarked. Wait until Grandpa Gerwyn arrives.

Our Dragon flyers, Murphy and McGregor, are coming along for the ride, Gilderoy insisted.

Hmm, Creirwy muttered as she began searching for Elissa, the golden Sea Dragon queen, among the