Chapter 50—A Verbis Ad Verbera
Cassie struggled to untangle the laces of her hiking boots. The Arkana team was due to leave any minute for their rendezvous with the Nephilim on Ahkka Mountain. Maddie had rented a handful of isolated cottages several miles beyond Ritsem where not a soul would notice a group of tourists traveling by private helicopter. In addition to Zach, Maddie, and Griffin, the team included two armed agents from the security division as well as the pilot. Lars was still camped on the mountain awaiting their arrival.
A knock on the cottage door interrupted Cassie’s battle with her footwear. “I’m almost ready. Just give me a second.” She hobbled over to answer the summons. The scrivener was standing on the porch.
“Don’t rush on my account,” Griffin said. “Maddie is still discussing strategy with our armed escort. I thought I might...” He hesitated a moment. “I wanted to speak to you privately before we go.”
“Oh sure, no problem.” She hopped back to the bed and sat down to tie her other lace.
The cottage was tiny, consisting of little more than sleeping quarters and a bath. Cassie was sharing the space with Maddie while the men doubled up in two other units.
After the pythia put the finishing touches on her boots, she rose and turned around in a circle. “What do you think of my new jacket?” She modeled a thin quilted parka which she’d donned over a wool sweater.
“Very smart.” The scrivener walked over and zipped the collar up to her neck. “As I’ve mentioned before, it’s cold at the top of that mountain.”
“You don’t need to remind me.” She mimicked a shiver. “So, what did you want to talk about?”
Griffin blanched at her question. “Um, let’s sit down, shall we?”
Since there were no chairs, they took seats on the bed.
“You do realize this plan is utter madness,” he began in a low voice.
“We’ve done crazier things,” she countered.
“Yes, by accident, but never by design. And far too much of it rests on your shoulders.” Griffin regarded her with concern. “You’ll be the one to thwart Metcalf’s destiny by laying hands on the Sage Stone first.”
The pythia tilted her head quizzically. “Are you saying you don’t think I’m up to the job?”
“Of course not!” the scrivener objected. “I’ve seen you stand your ground against armed ruffians without batting an eyelash. That’s not it. I just wish...” He stared at the ceiling, searching for the right words. “I just wish you didn’t have to carry this burden alone.”
“I won’t be alone, silly.” She turned his face toward hers. “You’ll be there. So will the rest of the crew.”
“You know that isn’t what I meant,” he rebuked gently. “I wish I could do something more useful than stand by and watch you bait a lunatic.”
“Don’t sell yourself short.” She gave a soft smile. “It’s not nothing—knowing that you’ve got my back.”
“Never doubt it.” His tone was solemn. “But there is a very real chance that none of us will survive this confrontation. What if Maddie is wrong about the diviner’s reaction? What if he responds, not with confusion, but with rage? He’ll most likely vent his initial fury on you as the bearer of bad tidings. Then the bloodbath which our chatelaine hoped to avoid will ensue.”
“Worst pep talk ever,” Cassie said archly.
“I didn’t come here to offer a pep talk.” Griffin reached out to take her hands. “There’s something else I need to say to you.”
She registered puzzlement. “Sure. You can tell me anything. What is it?”
“Honestly, I never thought it would come to this.” He took a deep breath. “I speciously assumed that matters would resolve themselves in due course. Advancing at that glacial pace, in all probability my secret misery would have killed me first, much like the Spartan boy with the fox hidden beneath his cloak.”
“Huh?”
“I’m babbling.” The scrivener laughed self-consciously. “I can hear myself spouting drivel, and yet I can’t help it. The great Doctor Samuel Johnson once said that when a man knows he’s about to be hanged, it concentrates his mind wonderfully. Sadly, that remark doesn’t seem to apply in this instance because I’m still rambling and—”
“Griffin, snap out of it.” The pythia shook him lightly by the shoulders. “You need to calm down. I haven’t seen you this jumpy since the vault cafeteria installed that free espresso machine.”
He took another deep breath in an effort to quiet his nerves and tried again. “During our various field missions, we’ve become close, haven’t we?”
“Of course.”
“I flatter myself in believing that you and I have forged a special bond.”
“I’d be lost without you,” she confessed simply.
“And I, without you. “He cleared his throat uncomfortably. “Yes, well, that being the case, I thought I should... um... that is...” He exhaled in exasperation.
“Why don’t I stop
