“We would have been free to conduct our own search without harassment from you,” the scrivener added.
Turning to his son, the diviner asked, “Does our artifact contain a complete coded message?”
“Yes, Father. It’s very short, but I believe complete. It says: ‘Past the golden road of Boreas, where his islands kill the sea. Seek the great river’s mother. Her crypt holds the key.’”
“Not crypt,” Griffin interjected. “Reliquary.”
“Really?” Daniel appeared intrigued.
“A minor distinction but pivotal nonetheless.”
“That’s very interesting. I—”
What difference does it make!” Metcalf stamped the ground impatiently with his cane. “Creating a replica was pointless if we have the entire clue!”
“But you don’t have the entire artifact,” Cassie countered sweetly.
All three foes stared at the pythia in shocked disbelief.
“Gal, you’re as crazy as the feller who made that ostrich.” Hunt laughed. “I seen the doodad with my own eyes. There ain’t nothin’ missin’ from that little butterfly lady.”
“The base is missing,” Griffin informed him. “It’s a prismatic key.”
“A what now?” Hunt squinted.
“A bundle of rectangles of different lengths. They fit into a recessed lock which we presume opens the door to the Sage Stone’s hiding place.”
While the scrivener had been speaking, Cassie produced a photo of the object. “It looks like this.” She held the picture forward for the others to see. After waiting only ten seconds, she snatched the photo back. “That’s long enough. We don’t need you trying to replicate the design from memory.”
“You might easily have fabricated this relic of yours,” the diviner protested. “Who’s to say you didn’t concoct this scheme just to sow seeds of doubt in our minds.”
Cassie shrugged. “Well, there’s one easy way to find out. Go ahead and spend months chasing down the Sage Stone on your own. When you get to the right spot and realize you don’t have the key to open the lock, then you’ll know for sure I was telling the truth. Oh, wait.” She paused, mimicking confusion. “By the time you get there, your precious Sage Stone will be long gone because we actually do have the key.”
Metcalf turned angrily toward his son. “I still say they’re lying.”
Daniel shook his head slowly. “I don’t think so, Father. The clue itself makes mention of a key. Besides, we stand a much better chance of finding the relic with their cooperation.”
“In fact, we’re willing to retrieve the Sage Stone on your behalf and deliver it to you,” Griffin offered.
The diviner said nothing for a full minute as he assessed the situation. Eventually, he let out a deep sigh. Focusing on the Arkana agents, he asked, “In exchange for what?”
“Hannah,” the pythia answered.
“That’s preposterous!” Metcalf exclaimed sharply. “Why would you want my wife?”
“To protect ourselves,” Cassie said. “This whole treasure hunt has gotten way too dangerous. Once you have the Sage Stone, you might consider coming after us. If we have Hannah, then you won’t.”
“Just like I told you before, boss,” Leroy chimed in. “They was keepin’ the little gal at that farmhouse as insurance.”
“Surely you don’t expect me to agree to let you hold her hostage permanently,” the old man protested.
“Just long enough for us to cover our tracks,” Cassie explained.
“Once we’re out of harm’s way, we’ll tell you the location where she can be found,” Griffin said.
“And why should I believe you’ll keep your word and not murder her instead?” Metcalf retorted.
“Because the whole point of this deal is to get you out of our hair once and for all,” Cassie said. “It wouldn’t make any sense for us to give you a bigger reason to keep hating on us.”
Metcalf stared down at the granite tiles beneath his feet and tapped his cane absently, considering the proposition.
Cassie and Griffin waited tensely for his decision.
After what seemed like an eternity, the old man raised his head and glowered at them. “I have two conditions.”
“Name them,” the scrivener said.
“Firstly, you won’t bring the Sage Stone to me. I will be at the site when you retrieve it. You are merely to locate the spot and tell me where to meet you.”
“OK.” Cassie nodded. “What else?”
“My son Daniel will accompany you on your quest.”
“What?” Griffin, Cassie, and Daniel cried in unison.
“If my son goes along, then I can be certain you won’t try to deceive us.”
Now it was the Arkana agents who hesitated.
Griffin shrugged. Addressing Cassie, he said regretfully, “I don’t think we have any choice.” Turning to Metcalf, he conceded, “Very well. We’ll perform our research here, and when we’ve targeted a potential location overseas, we’ll notify Daniel. We know where to find him.”
“Now hold on a minute, boss,” Hunt protested.
The others turned toward him in surprise.
“I been part of this operation from Day One. I’d kind of like to see how it all pans out.”
“Never fear, Mr. Hunt. You will be at my side when the Sage Stone is recovered.” In a lower voice, the diviner added, “I have other ways to occupy your time before that day arrives.”
“Just so’s I’m there for the big finish,” the cowboy assented half-heartedly. He clearly wasn’t pleased about being left behind.
The diviner listed to one side apparently weakened by the effort of standing so long. Daniel hastened to catch his elbow. “I believe that concludes our business for the moment?” Metcalf looked at the Arkana agents searchingly.
“We’ll be in touch with Daniel once we’ve figured out a starting point,” Cassie informed him.
Hunt tipped his hat. “Adios, Miss Cassie.” He gave a cursory nod toward the scrivener. “Grif.”
He then turned and shepherded the other two across the plaza.
Their progress was slow as the diviner stopped every few paces to catch his breath.
Cassie waited until their foes were out of earshot before confiding, “Is it just me or did Metcalf throw Hannah under the bus way too fast? He really didn’t balk at the idea of letting us take her hostage.”
Griffin took a few moments to consider her question. “Given the extreme lengths to which he went to retrieve her, it does
