The Archangel Chronicles Chapter 56 Part 1

By Marty Boyle

(An excerpt from Barachiel,
From the 15-book series, The Archangel Chronicles.
Ginger & Barachiel meet with yet another magnificent being.)

Chapter 6, Part 1
The Ural Mountains
Russia

            For several moments, Ginger sat with her eyes closed, as she adjusted to the change in place. Goddess Ixchel’s Love and Compassion still flooded her, and she reveled in the feeling. Finally, Ginger opened her eyes, knowing that the angel would still be with her. She was not disappointed.
            “That was an amazing visit, Barachiel,” she sighed. “The Goddess is an incredible being. I learned so much from not only her, but Elias and Áhkku, and you. I feel different – almost as if I’m changing – transforming – as Ixchel predicted.”
            Ginger paused in thought for a long moment, deep within Ixchel’s parting words. Finally, she spoke. “There’s one thing I still don’t get, though.”
            Barachiel smiled. “Just one thing, sweet girl? What would you like to understand?”
            “The Goddess told me to use my great power to change the world. I know she’s all kum-ba-yah and everything, but you and I know I’m just a kid. I don’t feel very powerful, and I don’t want to disappoint her – or you – but what power is she talking about?”
            “That’s interesting that you should ask, Ginger. Our next visitor will help you answer that question with you, not for you, for both the power and the answer lie within you.”
            Ginger eagerly looked around her, suddenly aware of her new surroundings. Her eyes widened as she jumped to her feet and gasped, for the two appeared to be on a large mountain ledge, overlooking a beautiful, lustrous green valley far below. A ribbon of blue lazily flowed throughout the green. Entranced, Ginger crept closer to the ledge’s edge, grinning at Barachiel, she did so.
            “Perks to being dead – if I fall, nothing will happen to me!” Suddenly, Cozumel seemed very far away. “Where are we?”
            Barachiel smiled. “True, Ginger. Death, like Life, is an illusion.” When Ginger looked confused, she continued. “I promise we will have that discussion soon. As to our location, we are in the northern Ural Mountains in Russia.”
            Ginger looked around, searching for something. “Where’s all the snow? Aren’t mountains always covered with snow?”
            “Some are snow-capped, but like our time in Norway, it’s summer, so the snow has melted. Come October, the temperature will drop and the snows will arrive.”
            Ginger sighed as she gazed at the blue/green valley so far below her. “This is awesome!”
            “It is, indeed.” Barachiel paused and smiled. “As long as we’re in the vicinity, would you be at all interested in meeting another friend of mine?”
            Ginger grinned. “You sure have very interesting friends, Barachiel. I bet I can guess who our next visitor will be since I’m getting pretty Highly Evolved these days.” She closely observed the area far below her, searching for possible clues.
            “Well, first off, you said we are in the northern Ural Mountains, which makes me wonder if our visitor will be a member of an indigenous community like Elias and his people. Am I right? Is our visitor indigenous?”
            “Hmmm,” the archangel thoughtfully replied, “I suppose our guest could be termed indigenous, although I haven’t really heard the visitor use that specific descriptor. Give up?”
            “No, let me try again.”
Barachiel nodded at the girl, smiling. “Take your time. There is no linear time for us, remember? No bus, plane or train to catch. No homework to do.”
Ginger screwed up her face in intense thought. “Okay, not really indigenous, although I suspect there are lots of indigenous communities in these mountains. Geography class seems light years away, but I remember learning that the Urals separate Europe and Asia, and cover a whole bunch of miles.”
“2,500 kilometers or 1,550 miles, so your memory is correct. The Urals are among the world’s oldest existing mountain ranges, formed some 275 million years ago, due to the collision of two continents.” She paused. “Does that information help identify our next visitor?”
Ginger shook her head. “Not really. I’m assuming since we learned in Norway that the Súmi people were also living in northern Russia, that is a possibility, but since we have already met Elias and Áhkku, the visitor will most likely not be Súmi.”
Suddenly, Ginger spotted a beautiful golden eagle in flight far below them. She watched as he soared and spiraled throughout the jet streams, climbing higher to spiral down again.
“I know you’re pretty tricky, and as an archangel, you can do amazing things, so I’m wondering if our visitor has anything to do with eagles? Or is the eagle showing up right now just a coincidence?”
“Hmm,” repeated the archangel. “You are learning, beloved child, for those are two interesting questions. First of all, our guest and Brother eagle share several things in common.” Barachiel paused. “But, in fairness, I must also say that all of us – on all realms – share several things in common with Brother Eagle, so I’m not sure that will help you determine the identity of our next visitor. And as for coincidences, there aren’t any. Many of humanity’s paradigms [pair-uh-DIMES] – belief systems – need to be reevaluated, and coincidences are one such paradigm. What you call coincidences may appear random, but they often hold significant spiritual messages, guidance, or reassurance that humans are on their chosen paths. You might think of them as Aha Moments, rather than merely unusual random events.”
Ginger nodded and watched the eagle dancing on the windstream for another long moment before asking, “How about a clue? Will that break any rules here?”
“Ha!” replied the angel. “Rules are an illusion, as well, but that discussion is also for another time.” She thought a moment, her eyes twinkling. “How about I share that our visitor is bigger than a bread box?”
“Very funny,” Ginger replied, her hands on her hips. “How about a real clue?”
“But I am bigger than a bread box!” came a deep, rumbling voice behind the young girl.
Her heart racing and her eyes wide, Ginger slowly turned around. There, curled up behind her was a immense green dragon, glistening in the sun. Ginger’s mouth dropped, and once again, she moved toward the archangel, grabbing onto Barachiel’s gown, all the while being absolutely– and quite uncharacteristically – mute.
The dragon was a good 40 feet high and almost 75 feet long. He had an enormous head with expressive brilliant green eyes with velvety black slits. His scales matched his eye color, although the scales were a darker green with swirls of pale green within each scale. The center of his face held small ridges, which moved along his spine, increasing in size. And while his back legs were tucked beneath him, his front legs ended with paws boasting magnificent talons – four toes in the front and one in the back – all of which were encrusted with shimmering green gemstones. Powerful, magnificent green dragon wings with black markings were tucked to his side.
The dragon turned his attention to the angel, knowing the young girl most likely needed a moment to compose herself. “Greetings, Barachiel! It has been far too long since we’ve chatted. It’s good to see you again.”
Barachiel smiled and moved to embrace her friend, ignoring the fact that she was dragging the frightened, clinging girl with her. “It is so very good to see you again. I have someone whom I’d like you meet. My dear friend, Malachite [MAL-uh-kite], I would like you to meet Ginger, who just happens to be attached to me at the moment.”
The dragon grinned, displaying dozens of shiny, bright, sharp teeth. In response, Ginger gasped and clung tighter. Barachiel gently released her gown from Ginger’s vise-like grip, and instead, held her hand softly.
“Ginger, this is my very good friend, Malachite. Rest assure that he neither barks nor bites, but if you can search within yourself for Trust and Courage, you will never regret it.” Barachiel paused. “Tell me, do you choose Fear and cower, missing out on such a golden opportunity, or Trust and step forward on your path?”
At that moment, a soft feeling moved from the mighty beast to Ginger. She watched it surround her, and knew from earlier experiences that it was gentle Love and Compassion. She closed her eyes and sighed deeply within it, and made her decision.
“Malachite, I am so pleased to meet you,” she replied in a shaky voice. Ginger cleared her throat and stood tall, her determination obvious. “Thank you for coming,” she said with no trace of fear.
The dragon chuckled, producing a deep rumbling in his chest, but Ginger found she was no longer afraid. “And, pray tell, Youngling, what changed your mind?”
“The Love and Compassion you sent me, but really, what quest would be complete without a dragon?”
Malachite put his head back and laughed, causing Ginger to jump. She quickly regained her composure, and leaned forward to the dragon.
“May I touch your scales, Sir?”
Again, the dragon laughed. “You can under one condition, Ginger. If we are to be friends – and I’m quite certain we will be – you cannot possibly address me as Sir. You may not know it yet, but you, Barachiel and I are all of equal status, one might say. Ergo, I am not superior to either you or Barachiel, and she is neither superior to you or me. And you are certainly not inferior to either of us. It may take a bit of thought to grasp that concept, but when you do, the Universe will open up to you!”
“Universe? Are we talking little green men?”
He paused, and considered her question.
“I think by the time your quest is over, you will have a better understanding of the Universe opens up to humanity! But I believe that discussion …”“…is for another time!”
Again the dragon laughed. “This is a smart cookie, Barachiel. Where’d you find her?”
“Ginger offered her services to Archangel Michael, and he knew I would need an assistant for one of his cases he asked me to take on, so Ginger and I are working together.”
“Well,” began Ginger, a bit chagrined. “Barachiel is being very kind, but I’m not at all sure there really is a case, since so far, I have only met amazing visitors, who have taught me a great deal, rather than me helping others.”
The dragon smiled. “And isn’t it interesting that so many amazing beings are interested in helping you find yourself – your hidden gems and gifts? Don’t you think that might have been the plan all along? Expand your knowledge and wisdom in order to help others find themselves, as well?”
Ginger considered that thought a long moment, remembering all the wonderful conversations she had had so far on her quest, and finally nodded.
“I think you’re right, Sir … er, Malachite!” She paused a moment, and then repeated, “So, would it be okay to touch you?”
Malachite smiled again, and not wishing to scare the girl again, he very slowly and gently lifted his enormous tail and moved it toward the girl. Ginger gulped, but stood her ground, and watched as the tail grew closer. She noted the dragon tail held the same ridges as his spine, but in decreasing size to the tip. Like his talons, that tip held another sparkling green gemstone. The dragon tail stopped right in front of her, and she slowly moved her hands to touch it.
“GOTCHA!” Malachite bellowed, and then roared with delight, causing Ginger to quake in fright.
Just as suddenly, another wave of Love and Compassion descended upon her, calming her, and he looked rueful. “Ginger, I apologize. It was just too much for me to pass by. I haven’t been around that many gullible humans lately, and I simply couldn’t resist! Forgive me?”
Ginger laughed shakily. “You remind me of my older brother, Tom. He was always pranking me, but I also gave as good as I got, as my father would say, so beware!”
“Oho!” grinned the dragon, winking at her, “Then I should be on high alert that one of these days, you’ll do the same to me! I look forward to that day, Youngling! You’re on!”
            Barachiel put her hands on her hips in mock indignation. “Malachite, are you quite done torturing this girl?”
            Malachite grinned. “I guess so, but it sure was fun! Ginger, I think you and I are going to get along like gangbusters!”
            “I hope so,” Ginger replied. “I’ve always love dragons since I was young when I first met them in the pages of fairy tales.”
            “Young? You’re but a babe now!” He peered closely at her. “Exactly how old are you?”
            “I’m 15.” Ginger paused. “At least I was 15.” She peered at the dragon in turn. “How old are you?”
            “Gotta love a human with spit and grit! Tell you what. I’ll answer that question, but first, why don’t I tell you a bit about me so that we can then proceed to more important topics?” When Ginger nodded, Malachite continued.
            “There have been dragons in almost every culture on your planet, dating back millennia, although each culture had their own perception of us. For example, Medieval artwork depicted dragons in various sizes from the size of a dog to a horse. In the Eastern tradition, dragons were generally thought of between 5-10 meters or 15-33 feet in height, but sometimes hundreds of meters long, giving them the appearance of a long, skinny snake dragon.” Malachite puffed out his chest slightly and sniffed, his ego on full display. “Without casting judgement, those creatures, while sharing much of our DNA, are not of my line.”
            “My lineage was rooted in these Ural Mountains, where my dragon flight – my community – has lived for millennia. In our particular tradition, dragons were named for gemstones and rocks since we hail from a mountainous region – these beautiful Urals. The same naming process is used with other devas, such as gnomes, trolls and countless others, since they also proudly claim mountain ancestry.”
            “So, malachite is a gemstone?”
            Malachite nodded his enormous head. “Your scientists believe humans mined copper here in the Urals from at least the 4^th millennium BC throughout the 18^th century.” He swished his tail so the gemstone sparkled in the sun. “Malachite was formed by the weathering of copper minerals, often in limestone, and was used for decorative purposes. Nowadays, malachite has been mostly depleted from these mountains, but can be found in a handful of other places around your world.” He paused. “The gemstone malachite holds special spiritual properties but we’ll …”
            Ginger finished his sentence with a grin. “… save that discussion for another time.” When the dragon flashed his teeth with a grin, Ginger continued. “So, in your flight, are all dragons as enormous as you?”
            “Again, in our particular lineage, our size is determined by our age. Unlike humans, who stop physically growing at some point, Ural dragons continue to grow as we age.”
            “Wow,” mused Ginger softly. “Then, you must be very old!”
            Barachiel grinned at her dragon friend, but stayed silent. Malachite caught her look and returned the grin.
            “I’ll have you know, Youngling, that I am merely in my prime – just like you!” He paused and his face leaned close to Ginger’s. Very close.
            “Now, tell me. Exactly how old do you think I am?”

(Excerpted from Barachiel, The Archangel Chronicles © Marty Boyle 2025. All Rights Reserved.)

https://www.martyboyle.com

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