“Rufus, the map.” Davenport’s lips twisted into a sour grin.
Andrea, who had been focused on Davenport, whipped her head around toward Donald.
“Ah, so you kept the map from her. She doesn’t seem pleased.” Davenport chuckled, then his expression stilled and grew serious. “What are you waiting for? Get the map.”
Rufus let go of Andrea’s arm and stood in front of Donald. He pulled the last piece of the map out of his shirt.
“Scully gave me scraps he saved from the ship. The storm came in very handy. But there were only two pieces. That meant I had to follow you. I’ve been looking for the relic ever since I met Alain Abadia in Tunis.
“He was delirious. Everyone thought he was insane talking about the treasure beyond measure. At first the others humored him, something to laugh at instead of concentrating on their own pain. But it was so much more. At night, when the others slept I encouraged him to talk about his treasure. He told me bits and pieces of the tale. But I was put back into service before he told me the entire story. I spent years putting the pieces together. And see where that led me. Here.
“You have led me on a chase, to Mother Simone, you killed two of my best men in the forest, and you stayed on the ship rather than at the inn. Worse, I had to go to Guy and Marie’s celebration. I have earned my reward. The chalice.” He put out his hand.
Donald took the chalice from the vicar.
“The chalice for Andrea.”
Davenport grabbed Andrea from Scully, then pushed her toward Donald.
“No, Donald,” she pleaded.
He gave the chalice to Davenport.
“You had the secret to power in your hand. One drink from the chalice and you become invincible. Nothing can stop you.”
“Why did you give him the chalice?” Andrea demanded.
“It cannot be that simple,” he whispered in her ear. “At every turn there has been a riddle.”
Scully grabbed the chalice and filled it with water at the front of the cave. He handed the relic to Davenport.
“You worked hard. As a reward, you can drink first.” Davenport handed Scully the chalice.
“No, you mustn’t.” Andrea lunged at the men, but Donald grabbed at her and pulled her back.
Davenport looked on as Scully drank and handed the cup back to him.
While Davenport refilled the chalice, Scully and Rufus laughed at Donald as he looked through the debris at the base of the tomb for something to use as a weapon.
“No matter what you find, you won’t be able to stop Scully,” Rufus said. “He’s invincible and soon Davenport and I will be, too.”
Donald ignored them and kept rummaging through the weapons.
“What are you doing?” she asked.
“They’ll have to get through me before they touch you.” He gazed at her and realized she wasn’t afraid.
Andrea was fearless.
“What’s happening to him?” the vicar asked.
Chapter Eighteen
In the semi-darkness of the cave, Scully fell to his knees, doubled over in pain. His muscles contracted and expelled the contents of his stomach. Foam rimmed his lips. Gasping for breath, he crawled the short distance to Davenport and reached out to him.
Davenport shoved his hand away, knocking the man over. Scully stared at him in horror. Then he let out his last breath.
“Foolish man. Mademoiselle warned him. I would think you wouldn’t care what happened to your false friend.” Davenport stood over the body and nudged it with his toe. He turned to Andrea. “But you knew.”
“What is Davenport talking about?” Donald asked her.
“Let them drink in celebration, then wait, for all will be yours.” Davenport and Rufus stood in front of them. “According to the legend, the chalice was Merlin’s creation for his king’s use. His knight stole the chalice for fear the king would use it against the queen. Some secret power of the red stone. I never thought to look in the knight’s castle, yet that is where he kept it. None of that matters. I have it now. Now, which of you will drink first?”
Donald, his armed crossed stepped forward, in front of Andrea.
“You think you can stop me? The one who holds the chalice is invincible.”
“The man is mad.” The vicar shrank back and made the sign of the cross.
Davenport walked toward him and placed the chalice on a tomb. “I will deal with you, then the mademoiselle, the last living heir to the prophecy. I’ve followed you all over Christendom for my king. But I can see the chalice is a bigger tool, one that would make the king bow to me. The power is within my grasp. I won’t fail now.”
“Rufus, give him Scully’s sword. I’ll give him a fighting chance. More than he did for my two men by the Avre River.” Davenport turned to Donald. “I know this is not your preferred weapon, but it will have to do.”
Rufus turned Scully’s body over, took the man’s sword and tossed the weapon to him.
Andrea gasped at the dead man’s bulging eyes, blackened tongue hanging out of his mouth, and his tunic stained with vomit and blood. Donald pulled her away.
“There’s no need for you to look.” He buried her head in his chest. “Stay by these tombs. He’ll have difficulty managing his sword here.”
He moved her close to the stones and hesitated. The hiss of a sword being drawn from a scabbard reached his ears.
Davenport didn’t wait.
“Look out,” Andrea screamed.
Davenport lunged at his back. Donald raised his sword and pivoted, blocking the assault. The man advanced, putting Donald on the defensive. But he switched up the rhythm and advanced, instead, his target Davenport’s heart.
The villain blocked his assault, locking their swords at the hilt.
Davenport swung sideways, aiming for Donald’s head. But Donald brought his sword straight up and blocked the strike.
Davenport raised his sword high. Donald caught the blade, and in a graceful sweeping
