Stones of Fire

by Chloe Palov

  ‘When I was a young lad, I used to wonder what created the rainbow,’ Cædmon remarked, his English accent sounding more clipped than usual. Making Edie wonder if he wasn’t a little bit nervous himself.

  ‘The mysteries of the universe. Seems we were both intrigued at an early age.’

  ‘By the by, I sent an email to my old group leader at MI5,’ Cædmon said, changing the subject. ‘Told him that I had caught wind of a plot to destroy the Dome of the Rock on the upcoming Muslim holy day. Trent is a good man. He’ll see to it that Mossad and the Israeli public security minister are contacted.’

  ‘You don’t think that –’

  ‘No, no,’ he quickly assured her. ‘I’m just dotting my Is, as they say. The possibility that MacFarlane had a contingency plan is remote. He seemed very much the micromanager.’

  Edie fiddled with the delicate handle on her teacup, hesitant to broach the next topic. ‘You haven’t said anything, but I know you’re disappointed – that it wasn’t the Ark of the Covenant.’

  For several long moments Cædmon stared at the early-morning activity on the bay, Edie unable to gauge his thoughts. Or his mood, the small pucker on his brow making her wonder if he was thinking his way out of a quandary.

  Finally, taking a deep I’ve-come-to-a-decision kind of breath, he redirected his gaze in her direction. ‘You assume I no longer wish to find the Ark.’

  ‘But I thought that…’ At a loss for words, she stared at him.

  ‘It’s still out there. I’m certain of it. Still waiting to be discovered. Still waiting to bear holy witness to an eternal truth that is beyond mortal man’s comprehension.’

  ‘“Thou, silent form, dost tease us out of thought as doth eternity.”’

  Smiling, Cædmon took a sip of tea. ‘How did you know that Keats is my favourite poet?’

  She shrugged. ‘I didn’t. It just seemed –’ again she shrugged ‘– right. So, gosh, this is… Wow. Guess you can tell I’m kind of speechless, huh?’ Crestfallen, she had the sudden urge to glug down one of those tiny bottles of Scotch from the room’s minibar.

  ‘The Knights Templar believed that Ethiopia was the secret resting place of the Ark of the Covenant, the holy relic having been spirited out of Jerusalem by Menelik.’

  ‘Menelik?’

  ‘Yes, Solomon’s illegitimate son by the Queen of Sheba. There are several passages in Wolfram’s Parsifal that intimate as much. The stuff of legends, eh?’

  ‘As I understand it, the Ethiopian highlands are quite lovely.’ She wondered if she should wish him luck with his life now or wait until the taxi pulled up to take him to the airport. ‘And of course it would make an interesting topic. You know, for your next book.’

  ‘My thoughts exactly. Although…’ One side of his mouth twitched; he was clearly amused by something. ‘I will need a photographer. You wouldn’t happen to know anyone who would be interested in the assignment?’

  ‘Well, now that you mention it, I do know a photographer who’s currently available. Would this be, you know, a strictly professional relationship or… ?’ She crossed her legs at the knee, her robe gaping open to reveal a bare leg well-toned from regular Pilates.

  Cædmon stared openly, proving what she already knew, that under the English veneer lurked a man of deep passions.

  ‘You do know that I’ve always been fascinated by valiant women.’

  ‘A valiant woman and an adventuresome man. We make quite a pair, don’t we?’

  ‘Quite.’ Then, his jaw tightening, Cædmon figuratively locked horns with her. ‘Given your behaviour with that laser, you should be bent over and given a thorough spanking. You came damn close to getting yourself killed.’

  ‘Funny, but you don’t strike me as an SM type of guy.’

  ‘Just find me a man who doesn’t enjoy being spanked by a beautiful woman.’

  Edie slapped a hand over her lips to keep from laughing and losing a mouthful of tea.

  Balancing his elbows on his thighs, Cædmon leaned towards her. ‘What is it that you want from your life, Edie?’

  The question, unexpected and to the point, surprised her. ‘Well, like most people, I want security, happiness, a sense of belonging.’

  ‘I can give those to you.’

  ‘Are you sure? I mean, we sorta got flung together.’

  Blue eyes twinkling, Cædmon grinned. ‘I am quite certain.’

  Edie decided to dive in as well. ‘Since we’re on the subject, I suppose the time has come for me to confess that I’m absolutely crazy about you. You’re intelligent, witty, well mannered and considerate. Everything a woman could possibly want in a man.’

  ‘Might I point out that you didn’t include “handsome” in your list of attributes.’

  ‘I was saving the best for last.’ Edie raised her cup. Holding it aloft, she clinked rims with him. ‘Here’s to finding the Ark.’

  ‘And if not the Ark then the secret of the Knights Templar.’

  ‘And if not the secret of the Templars then…’ She glanced pointedly at the oversized bed in the middle of the room.

  Cædmon also glanced at the bed, its coverlet invitingly turned down. Getting up, he took her elbow, urging her to her feet.

  ‘Let the adventure begin.’