“Thank you, Father.” Joshua hoped he sounded suitably humble. It was the first time his father had ever singled him out for praise. In his opinion, the moment was long overdue.
“He said your concentration and accuracy were extraordinary. He also said you had a cool head under pressure and that nothing could distract you from your target. I find myself in need of someone with your particular skills.”
“I am always at your service and at the service of all my brethren,” Joshua murmured with downcast eyes.
“Well spoken.” The diviner nodded approvingly. “Remind me again which of my wives is your mother?”
“My mother was Deborah, sir.” Joshua coughed delicately. “The same as Daniel’s.”
“Really!” The diviner stared at him with keen interest. “It must be the hand of Providence at work.”
Joshua smiled inwardly. It seemed his brother could be put to some use after all.
Abraham rose and walked to the window. He spoke without turning to face his son. “Recent events have convinced me that the Nephilim are in need of greater protection.”
“Protection?” Joshua echoed. “From the world of the Fallen, sir?”
The diviner sighed. “No, from enemies within. The Evil One has slithered into our sanctuary and is even now planting false ideas in the minds of the people.”
Joshua was flummoxed. He had no idea where this conversation was going. “I...uh...I’m afraid I don’t understand, sir.”
Abraham wheeled about. “Nor do I! It is inconceivable to me that Satan would presume to enter this bastion of sanctity, but it has happened just the same. You heard about my wife’s...” he hesitated. “You heard about Hannah’s disappearance?”
Joshua projected a bland expression “Yes, sir.” He didn’t add that the whole compound could talk of nothing else. His own wives had gibbered about it endlessly until he finally ordered them to stop.
“I have taken steps to increase surveillance of the compound grounds, so such a thing doesn’t happen again.”
“A wise move, sir,” Joshua agreed unctuously.
“But it’s not enough.” The old man threw himself back into his chair in frustration.
“Sir?”
“I can have cameras watch the motions of my people, but I have no way of knowing what they are thinking—what they might be planning. I can’t be everywhere at once.”
The fog was beginning to clear. Joshua rushed to press his advantage. “Then let me help,” he offered earnestly. “Let me be your eyes and ears.”
The old man nodded wearily. “Yes, yes, you’ve hit it exactly. You must go where I cannot. Listen to conversations from which I am excluded. Choose a dozen young men from those who trained with you under Mr. Bowdeen. They are to move among the people and listen to what’s being said. They will report to you, and you will report to me. You will be an invisible brotherhood within the brotherhood, and you will be known amongst yourselves as the ‘Order of Argus.’ I am putting you in charge of the Order as its commander.”
Joshua felt a thrill of excitement course through his veins. His moment had finally come. “I am overwhelmed by the honor you’ve bestowed on me, Father.” He hoped he sounded self-effacing enough.
Abraham was still talking. “You can enlist the assistance of some of the women if you think any of them can be trusted. After all, it’s among the women that you’re likely to find Satan most busy. Use your best judgment.”
Joshua’s mind was already racing—considering possible accomplices and how best to deploy them. He almost missed the scowl on his father’s face indicating that the interview was over. Catching his mistake, he rose to go.
“You will report back to me in a week to let me know what progress you’ve made.”
“Yes, sir. I only hope I’m worthy of the honor.”
As he shut the door, Joshua overheard his father’s final words.
“So do I.”
Chapter 34 – Hic Sunt Dracones!
The sun had just dipped below the horizon as the Arkana team and their Basque associates set off for the nearby coastal town of Deba. Since Ochanda opted to stay behind, the five of them piled into the rented SUV. Erik drove with Ortzi acting as navigator. Cassie shared the back seat with Griffin and Iker.
“Aren’t you going to tell us anything about what’s going on?” Cassie wheedled.
The scrivener shook his head. “I don’t want to talk about my assumptions until I can prove them correct.”
Since Griffin wasn’t about to enlighten them any further, Iker and Cassie made small talk to pass the time while the scrivener checked his cell phone messages. A tiny smile played about his lips as he listened to his incoming calls. “Done and done,” he murmured mysteriously.
“You know you’re killing me here,” Cassie grumped at him.
“Patience, dear girl. All will soon be made clear.” Griffin pocketed his phone and refused to give her any further hints.
Thankfully, the remainder of the ride was short. Just as Iker had said, within half an hour they had reached the village.
“We are here,” Ortzi announced. Twisting around to face Griffin, he asked, “Where would you like us to go now?”
“Is it possible to find a section of beach that faces north over the ocean?”
Ortzi nodded. “Yes, I believe we can do that.” In a lower voice, he gave some instructions to Erik.
After a few turns, they managed to find the public beach and parked the car. They all got out and clustered around the scrivener, waiting for him to decide where to go.
Griffin stood puzzling for a few moments, trying to get his bearings. “Drat! I wish I’d thought to bring a compass.”
Erik unzipped his back pack, retrieved an object and wordlessly handed it to the scrivener.
“Erik’s magic bag strikes again!” Cassie laughed.
“Excellent!” Griffin exclaimed.
The scrivener oriented his position to the north and advanced across the sand until he was standing by the water. He peered up at the sky which by now was dark. “It’s a good thing there aren’t too many electric lights here to interfere.”
“Deba is not a large town,” Iker commented.
“For our stargazing
