Lars appeared crestfallen.
“Don’t worry, big guy,” Cassie consoled him. “I’ll see that you get an invite to the grand unveiling. In the meantime, you have an important job to do. Now that we’ve broken the seals, curious hikers might wander in and start poking around. You’ll need to keep watch and make sure nobody messes with the reliquary til we get back.”
The guide brightened at the news. “Excellent! My usual job is never this exciting.” He consulted his watch. “Einar will be returning soon. We should go outside and pile some stones across the cave entrance. Then nobody will try to get inside while I am gone. Tonight, I will return and make camp to guard Grandmother Ahkka’s home.”
Satisfied with their plan, they all filed out through the exit tunnel. Cassie hung back a moment, pausing to contemplate the treasure chamber one last time. The Sage Stone hadn’t seen the light of day for three thousand years. If Abraham Metcalf succeeded in getting his way, the brave new world that greeted it wouldn’t be worth the wait.
Chapter 40—The Devil Is in the Details
Hannah heard the key slide into the lock just in time to throw her ebook reader inside a dresser drawer and bury it under a pile of stockings. She whirled about as Joshua entered the room.
His face was grim. “For someone who doesn’t speak, you certainly provoke a lot of chatter among the community. Tongues are wagging about Mother Rachel’s last visit to you and the tragic aftermath. No one can seem to talk of anything else.”
The girl gave a slight smile and shrugged.
Joshua stared at her intently. “You think you’re clever, don’t you?”
Hannah regulated her expression to its characteristic blankness.
“You have them all fooled, not simply my father. No one can believe a child who looks so sweet and innocent could be capable of such monstrous duplicity. But you are, Sister Hannah, and I intend to prove it.”
The girl made a supreme effort to keep from rolling her eyes. She had heard this particular rant so many times by now that it had lost its power to frighten her. Joshua might bluster all he liked, but she would never confirm his suspicions that she could talk.
The spymaster removed a small object from his pocket and set it on the dresser. It appeared to be some sort of digital recording device. He switched it on and then turned back to the girl.
“The brotherhood is in crisis. My father has set us on a path to destruction and I alone can avert disaster. To do that, I must persuade the diviner that I am the only one he can trust—the only one who has his best interests at heart. And you’re going to help me convince him.”
Hannah had no idea where this rambling monologue was leading, but she began to grow apprehensive. After Mother Rachel’s deranged assault, she needed to prepare herself for anything. The girl realized that Joshua hadn’t locked the door behind him. That was fortunate since her own stolen key was hidden in the closet. She crossed to the middle of the room in order to slip past her visitor if things took a bad turn.
The spymaster blocked her path. “I went to visit Mother Rachel in the asylum yesterday. It was a sad sight. She was out of her head much of the time. Small wonder since the doctors are keeping her heavily sedated. However, I was able to filter through her ramblings and discover one pertinent fact. She repeated it over and over.” He glared at Hannah accusingly. “She heard you speak.”
The girl blanched. Yes, it was true. During the matron’s rampage, Hannah had screamed aloud and called for help.
Joshua was still talking. “Mother Rachel has told everyone your secret. It’s a shame nobody believes her. What a cruel irony. That a highly respected consecrated bride should lose all credibility. That I, myself, should suffer the same reaction from my father. Mother Rachel and I have both spoken the truth, but our words are doubted while the silence of a scheming witch like you is believed. I see the devil’s hand in this. You have cast an enchantment over my father and the rest of the brethren. Only Mother Rachel and I were strong enough to withstand it. Had she succeeded in killing you our problems would be over, but Satan protects you still. That’s about to change.”
He lunged toward Hannah. Before she could dart away, he grasped her by the neck.
She flailed her arms around in panic but wasn’t close enough to a wall to pound on it and alert Erik.
Joshua increased the pressure on her throat. “It seems you only use your voice when threatened. Is this enough of a threat for you?”
Hannah had no choice. Joshua loosened his grip by only a fraction, but it was enough. She let out a high-pitched shriek. Then another and another.
The spymaster smiled sadistically. “At last. A scream is a good start. How about a few words now?”
Hannah struggled to pry his hands away, but they remained fastened to her windpipe.
He relaxed his hold a bit. “Isn’t there anything you’d like to say? Not even the word ‘Help’?”
Hannah was ready to oblige, no matter what the consequences. She opened her mouth to speak when she thought she heard a tiny sound. She fancied it was the doorknob turning.
Joshua was so engrossed in getting her to talk that he apparently hadn’t heard it. She screamed again to drown out whatever noise the person outside might make.
Over Joshua’s shoulder, she saw a small movement. The door was opening a crack. Then the crack widened. Someone was slipping into her room.
She needed to focus all of the spymaster’s attention on herself now. In the loudest voice she could summon, she cried, “Help! He’s trying to kill me!”
Joshua released his hold and stepped back from her, chuckling with satisfaction. “Shout as loud as
