Matthew rose next and removed a gun from his holster. He motioned Erik to precede him but jammed his weapon against the hostage’s back as a deterrent to escape. Leroy Hunt trailed them, keeping a protective hand clamped over the crown of his hat. Last to exit the craft was Daniel. He picked up his father’s Gladstone bag and drew in a deep breath, bracing himself for whatever new disaster this confrontation would inevitably bring.
Once the scion was out of the aircraft, the diviner signaled his faction to advance up the hillside. The two guards propped Abraham up on either side, helping him over the rock-strewn incline. They had to lift him entirely off his feet in more than one spot to do so. The Nephilim group came to a halt a few feet from where the Arkana team waited.
“Ain’t this a nice get-together?” Hunt commented. “Everybody who’s anybody all in the same place at the same time.”
The diviner swept a withering glance over his adversaries. “So, this is what your leader sends to confront me—females and children. If he expects me to negotiate more gently as a result, he is mistaken.” He disdainfully eyed the tall figure standing above him on the slope. “And who might you be, woman?”
“Your worst nightmare if you don’t dial down the uppity, pops.” She flicked a half-smoked cigarette into the dirt and ground it out beneath the toe of her boot. “My name is Maddie. I’m the chatelaine of the Arkana. That’s a fancy way of saying I’m in charge.”
“You’re Mr. Big?” Leroy’s voice registered a mixture of amazement and outrage.
Daniel stifled a smile at Hunt’s reaction.
“If you mean am I the person who sent you on a grand tour of America, the answer is yes.”
“You’re the leader of this organization?” Abraham seemed nonplussed by the concept.
“Second-in-command,” she demurred. “You put our leader in a coma.”
“Well, butter my butt and call me a biscuit!” Hunt exclaimed. “That feeble ole granny who was keepin’ tabs on Sister Hannah?”
“Word up, cowboy!” Zach stepped forward indignantly. “If that feeble old granny was awake right now, she’d kick your buttered butt with her brains!”
Hunt screwed up his face, apparently picturing the bizarre image Zach’s words had conjured. “I tell you what, young ‘un.” He chuckled mordantly. “That’s one freak show attraction I’d pay good money to see.”
The tyro winced. Stepping back, he confided to Cassie, “That sounded way different in my head.”
“Maybe you should leave the trash-talk to the professionals,” she advised.
The diviner chose to ignore the interchange and focused his attention on the chatelaine instead. “Are you saying that the gang of thieves which has repeatedly meddled in my affairs is run by an old woman?”
“Surprising what an unshackled pair of X-chromosomes can do, isn’t it?” Maddie rejoined.
“Chief, are you gonna stand here all day trading insults with these guys or what?” Erik broke in. “I’d like to shake my new BFF. His gun is digging into my back.”
The chatelaine smiled warmly at her protégé. “You’re a sight for sore eyes. Did they treat you alright?”
“Well enough.” The hostage shrugged. “Let’s get this over with.”
“I gotta agree with Blondie here,” Hunt chimed in. “We’re burnin’ daylight.”
“Would you stop calling me ‘Blondie’ already?” Erik growled.
Lars spoke up of the first time. “The relic is inside the cave. We moved stones in front to keep people out. The entrance must be cleared before we can go inside.”
“You men, help him,” Metcalf ordered.
His guards moved forward along with the Arkana sentries. Cassie, Griffin, Zach, and Daniel pitched in as well.
It took less than ten minutes to remove the pile of debris.
“Pulling those rocks down was a lot less work than stacking them up,” Cassie said.
Lars retrieved his LED lantern. “We will need more than one light,” he suggested.
“We’ve got some in the chopper,” Zach offered. He turned to give Hannah a hopeful smile before loping off to gather the equipment.
“I want you men to stay out here,” the diviner told his guards.
The two Argus agents saluted and took up positions beside the seide stone.
“Commander Matthew, you will accompany us inside and guard the hostage.”
“Yes, sir.” Matthew pressed his gun more firmly against Erik’s back.
Maddie turned to her security detail. “You two, keep an eye on those guys.”
The Arkana sentries walked over to stand beside the gap in the mountain, their faces impassive.
Zach returned with two more camping lanterns and several flashlights.
Once the gear had been distributed, Lars led the expedition inside.
Daniel assisted his father through the winding passageway which overtaxed the diviner’s limited strength. The old man leaned heavily on his son’s arm, pausing every twenty paces to catch his breath.
After they’d all assembled inside the main chamber, Lars set his lantern down beside the tunnel entrance. He placed the other two lanterns at either end of the reliquary. Daniel scanned the cavern with relief. Nothing had been touched since their last visit.
Matthew maneuvered Erik to one side of the tunnel entrance. Hunt moved to the other side, presumably to block any escape attempt, all the while keeping a grip on Hannah’s shoulder. Zach and Maddie claimed a spot along the side wall about ten feet past Erik. Griffin and Cassie took up positions in front of the reliquary. Lars settled himself next to Hunt, folded his arms, and kept a watchful eye over the two men with drawn guns.
“It’s all yours.” Maddie invited the diviner to step forward.
Aided by Daniel, Abraham hobbled up to study the scale arrangement with an exultant gleam in his eye. “After all this time, my prayers have been
