“Do you really think you could have managed some of those hairpin curves yourself?” the scion challenged.
“I reckon not,” the cowboy admitted. “Between loose gravel and switchback trails for hours on end, it was like to make a feller dizzy. All I can say is Yu better be keepin’ a sharp eye for them three thieves in case they’re down in the village.”
Daniel, who hadn’t been listening closely to Hunt’s rant, paused in bafflement. “How am I supposed to do that when I’m up here on the mountain?”
Hunt stopped cold, trying to process the question. Once more he turned toward Daniel. “Not you. I said Yu!”
“What?”
The cowboy rubbed the back of his neck in irritation. “Lord Almighty! This ain’t no time to play ‘Who’s on First.’”
Daniel squinted up at him uncomprehendingly.
“Never mind, son.” Hunt waved his arm wearily. “Tryin’ to explain would only give me a worse brain cramp than I already got.”
The two climbed onward in silence until they reached the cave entrance. Once there, they paused just inside the doorway to catch their breaths. Without warning, a dark shape hurtled forward, attempting to dart between them and escape.
Daniel was caught off guard, but Hunt’s reflexes were lightning-quick. He grabbed the runner by the shoulders.
“Now hold on there. It ain’t polite to shove folks. Where I come from a body says, ‘Excuse me’ when they—” The rest of the sentence died in his throat.
The light streaming in from the cave entrance revealed a face that Daniel knew all too well. “Great God in heaven!” he exclaimed.
“Well, well.” Hunt chuckled and tightened his grip. “If it ain’t little Miss Cassie.”
“Oh crap!” the female thief muttered.
The cowboy drew one arm across her windpipe and pulled out his pistol with the other. Then he pressed the gun against her temple. “Brother Dan’l, would you kindly search this gal for bug zappers? I ain’t fallin’ for one of her tricks again.”
The scion complied. “Sorry,” he whispered apologetically as he patted her down. He then made a thorough search of her backpack. “She isn’t carrying a stun gun, Mr. Hunt. No weapons of any kind.”
“Gettin’ cocky, ain’t we?” the cowboy remarked to his captive. “You figure I’m so toothless that you don’t need to pack no heat? Pride surely goeth before a fall.”
“You ought to know considering the number of times I’ve dropped you like a sack of dirt!” Cassie grumbled.
Ignoring the comment, Hunt continued. “Where’s your friends? Blondie and the Limey.”
“They’re not here. I’m working this job alone,” the young woman replied sullenly.
“Now how come I got trouble believin’ that?” The cowboy’s tone was sarcastic.
“I told you, I’m alone!”
“No, she isn’t.” Another voice emerged from the shadows along the side wall of the cave.
“Well, well. If it ain’t the Limey.” Hunt’s voice held a note of wonder. “This surely is my lucky day.”
“The name is Griffin actually. Please do try to remember it in future.” Although he advanced forward a few feet, he took care to remain blanketed in shadow.
“So, where’s Blondie?”
“Otherwise occupied,” came the impassive reply. “Only two of us will be pummeling you today.”
Daniel fancied he could see the glint of a gold object in the thief’s hand.
“Let her go,” Griffin commanded.
“Boy, I tell you what. If brains was leather, you ain’t got enough to make a saddle for a junebug. Can’t you see my gun pointed at her head?”
Griffin allowed his hands to emerge briefly into the light. “And can’t you see my gun pointed at your artifact?”
Daniel gasped.
Hunt guffawed. “What you fixin’ to do? Kill it deader?”
“I intend to kill your quest. Right here. Right now. Gold is a surprisingly soft metal. A bullet fired at close range will obliterate the inscription entirely.”
“Mr. Hunt!” Daniel thundered, sounding very much like the diviner himself. “Lower your weapon this instant. Don’t you understand? We need the lettering on that artifact to find the Sage Stone. Without it, we’re finished.”
The cowboy remained motionless, apparently judging whether he had a clear enough shot to dispatch the thief before the relic could be destroyed.
“I’m prepared to offer you a trade,” Griffin continued. “You may have the artifact if you let Cassie go.”
“Griffin, no!” she shouted. “We worked so hard to find it!”
“Hush, love,” he replied softly. “It’s nothing compared to your life. Let them have it.”
Daniel noticed the female thief’s eyebrows shoot upward in surprise, but she lapsed into silence.
“Your terms are acceptable,” the scion concurred.
“Like hell they are!” Hunt objected.
“Mr. Hunt, if you refuse to obey me, be assured this will be the last job you ever do for the Nephilim.” Daniel’s voice contained a steely resolve that brooked no opposition.
His words had a curious effect on the cowboy. For whatever reason, Hunt flinched as if he’d been struck. His hand wavered, and he lowered the gun.
“Release my associate and give her your pistol,” Griffin ordered, still keeping to the shadows so Hunt couldn’t get a bead on him.
“I ain’t givin’ her the chance to shoot me with my own gun,” the cowboy protested.
“Unlike you, Cassie and I aren’t murderers. We simply want your weapon to guarantee that you don’t shoot us in the back as we make our escape.”
“Do as he says,” the scion ordered.
Hunt remained frozen.
“Now!”
The cowboy grudgingly released his stranglehold on Cassie and handed her his gun.
Griffin finally stepped into the light.
Cassie retrieved her backpack and ran to stand beside him, taking care to keep the gun pointed at Hunt.
“You’ll have to allow us twenty minutes’ head start,” Griffin told Daniel. “Agreed?”
“You have my word,” the scion assented. “We won’t leave this place for twenty minutes.”
Hunt snorted in disgust but held his tongue.
Griffin handed Cassie the artifact and, with a look of deep regret, she brought it to Daniel. “What a waste,” she murmured dolefully.
Giving the cowboy a wide berth, the two thieves scuttled out of the cave.
“See you at the finish line,” Cassie called back before darting out of sight.
Hunt made a move
