I clear my throat. “‘A willing actor played a convincing oracle.’ Sounds like a real winner if you ask me. Jude? You still with me?”
He shifts his free hand.
“‘The people of Phrygia were desperate, and I lent myself as a panacea in their time of need.’ That’s it, Jude. That’s all it says. Jude?”
The fact that I’ve no doubt played necromancer hardly registers because Jude doesn’t move.
“Jude?” I rise and retrace my steps. “We have a deal.” I hold my breath as I kneel and feel his neck for a pulse.
Please…
There, faint, but there.
I pick up his hand. “Jude, come on. Work with me.”
I pivot my head as shouts rattle down the stairway.
“Jude, they’re here. Stay with me.” I pat his face and squeeze his limp hand as moisture wells up in my eyes. “Stay with me.”
Irik and Terin, followed by two of my peers plus a dude I don’t recognize in a blue coat with a red cross on his jacket sleeve, appear around the corner.
“Put his gear there,” Terin points. “Give him room.”
The guys do as commanded, depositing the plethora of equipment beside where Mister Medic lands, beside me, and goes to work, issuing a barrage of orders, among which to ease the stone slab from off Jude’s chest.
Not surprisingly, the guys notice the open room with loud exclamations not long after.
So much for keeping it secret.
Irik frowns as he looks my way. “Yes, seems we’ve made the discovery of the century. I’ll tell you about it later.”
My peers keep glancing into the room as the medic works, their curiosities begging to be indulged, but with the seriousness of the situation, they leash further comments.
I end up playing holder for a bag of IV solution at some point.
“He’s in critical but stable condition,” the medic says as he at last sits back on his haunches. “Much longer and he wouldn’t have made it.” Turning to me he adds, “You did well to keep him awake as long as you did.”
I can only bob my head as a mix of powerful emotions wells up. Too close. Jude came too close to dying.
“Okay, let’s get him on that stretcher,” the medic commands.
Irik lingers after the four head back up the stairs with Jude. What he has to say, I’ve no idea. Maybe he’s turned over a new leaf as a result and is about to say something encouraging or reassuring to me for a change.
“Trying to keep this treasure trove a secret, huh?” he accuses, scowling.
Chapter Eighteen
“Are you neurotic?” Disbelief laces my words. “Jude nearly died, and you’re accusing me of hiding these scrolls? You’re a bigger dolt than I gave you credit for.”
Irik clenches his jaw. “When were you going to let us in on your little secret or were you saving the glory all for yourself?”
Okay, the moron has gone too far.
“Oh, that’s rich.” My voice turns snide. “Looks like the pot calling the kettle black. Several scrolls are missing from last night.” I shine my flashlight across the shelves as I stride toward them. “Look at the dust patterns. There’s several missing. Where’d you hide them?”
“What are you talking about?” Irik’s eyes go wide. “This morning was the first time I got a proper look at them.”
Is it really? How can that be? Yet insistence fills his words.
“How’d you even know they were here?”
Irik runs a hand over his face and exhales heavily. “Yesterday after Rasen and I finished checking for damage to grave circle A, I thought I’d see if you needed any help. You know, make sure you hadn’t fallen in a hole or something.”
I roll my eyes. Such chivalry. “That’s very big of you.”
Irik smiles. “I thought so.”
I shake my head and motion him on in telling his tale.
“When I got here, I overheard you talking to someone.”
Crap.
“So I came to investigate. I didn’t recognize the guy’s voice. Who was down here with you?” He raises a brow.
“Doesn’t matter. What were we saying?”
Please tell me he didn’t overhear about the sphinx.
Irik frowns. “You want me to believe you and some stranger chatting ‘doesn’t matter’?”
Don’t answer that, Pell. I fold my arms and shift my weight.
Irik shakes his head. “When I stuck my head around the corner…” He mimes doing so. “Imagine my surprise. It took my breath away.”
“What were we saying?” I persist.
Irik smiles. “The two of you were bickering over who was going to put a scroll away. I wanted to interrupt, but it seemed like your companion had ‘other plans’.” He draws a hand to his chest. “Far be it from me to interrupt a tryst.”
“What?” My voice rises.
He chuckles.
Pell, let him believe what he wants, it’s easier than explaining.
I close my eyes. “Exactly how long did you listen in?”
“Long enough to know you weren’t in any danger. Hey, enjoy the dalliance, maybe a little something-something will improve your disposition.” He wags his brows.
My jaw drops. “You’re an arrogant pig!”
He rolls his eyes. “I leave you to your fling, and this is the thanks I get.”
I bite my tongue though I fear I’ll bite the end off at this rate.
A smirk comes over his face. “So, how was it last night?”
My eyes light in outrage. “What? Jealous, you prick?”
“Not at all. Let the gentleman work his magic on you.” He shrugs.
“I’m not going to even justify that with a comment. Think what you will.”
He chuckles. “Oh, I plan to.” He clears his throat. “What did surprise me though…” His tone turns serious. “… is that when I came back with Jude this morning, the wall was rebuilt, not a stone out of place.”
Oh, boy.
He turns piercing
