Guardian of the Stone

by Amity Grays

  Dane and Federic followed the priest into the small, poorly lit room.

  “We should put some better lighting down here,” Federic said, already eying what was there.

  “Perhaps we should,” the priest said, bending down in front of a small stack of boxes near the back corner of the room.

  Dane quickly followed his intent and ran to take his place. “Here, let me get those for you, Father.” Bending down, he started lifting the boxes, moving them to the side.

  “There it is.” Father Tom pointed to a large chest in the back.

  Dane pulled it out into the middle of the small room.

  Kneeling beside the chest, Father Tom ran his hands slowly over its top. “I heard men start to arrive sometime well after I should have been sleeping. One right after the other they came. I had to see who they were. Although we’d been warned to stay in our rooms, and I knew I’d be whipped if caught, I still snuck out. I was a young boy fascinated by mystery. Nothing could have kept me in that bed.”

  He glanced toward Dane. “There were dozens of them—regal looking men all dressed in plain clothing. They disappeared into the basement with my father, and later my father disappeared into the night with them. I watched them drive away and knew with absolute certainty, wherever it was they went, I would someday follow.”

  The priest’s face lit with excited remembrance. “My father became one of them that evening. I didn’t realize it, of course, until years later, but my father had stumbled upon a secret society still very much alive, and still very much dedicated to the cross it had always served.”

  “The Knights Templar,” Dane said. He’d been more than a little relieved and excited when he’d learned the order had never truly seen its end. “There was always speculation, but I honestly assumed it was merely wishful thinking. It’s hard to believe they’ve existed for so many years and never been found out.”

  “They are humble men,” the priest said. “Not the sort to boast proudly. It would never even occur to them. For centuries they have worked in secrecy, credit for their work going to others or to fate.” Father Tom opened the chest and started pulling out old news clippings and journals. “But it has been their hands and their swords which have guarded the innocent and fought back those, who would, for their own benefit, destroy what good still survives in our world.”

  Dane looked slowly through the years of atrocities and turmoil plastered across the pages before him. “Who are they fighting…and how? What are their weapons in this day and age?”

  “Their strongest weapons have not changed—faith, honor and courage. But as always, we must fight with what we are given. Both sides have riches and power. Both sides have determination. Our enemies have not changed. They are those who turn their backs on Christ, who care not about their brothers or their sisters, but rather their own selfish desires. They are those who worship power and riches above the souls of men. They are many and varied. But the ones we watch the closest are those who fight for something far darker than greed or vengeance. The Dogs are still our greatest threat. They are heartless, cunning and cruel. And they serve their master direct. Ah, here it is,” the priest said, pulling out a beaten photo album.

  Accepting the album, Dane began browsing through the photographs of ancient relics found and articles covering bizarre disappearances, happenings and frightening claims of conspiracy and cover-ups. “If the knights knew these Dogs were a threat, why weren’t they already protecting Edeline? I would have thought they’d want her near them.”

  Federic moved to stand beside him. “We had no reason to believe they’d have any clue about Edeline, the stone or our jump into the future.”

  The priest nodded, his glance dropping with apparent regret. “With so many years having gone by without incident, perhaps we did become careless.”

  Federic placed his hand on the priest’s shoulder. “There was no reason to suspect, even I realize this.”

  “I’ve often wondered why they took her back to the past. It seems an unnecessary risk,” Dane said.

  “Edeline and the stone mean nothing without access,” the priest said. “The general was right, that would have been much easier back then.”

  “And now?”

  “Not easy at all. That’s one thing we’ve done right. We don’t know exactly where in the cavern the treasures lie, but we have a good idea, and we keep the entire area well-guarded. Of course, it helps that there is but one entry.”

  “I never did know where the cavern was,” Federic said. He then pointed toward a photo of old coins bearing the Knights Templar symbol. “It’s been a long time since I’ve seen one of those.”

  “They were probably in much better shape back then,” the priest said.

  Federic nodded, but his attention was elsewhere. “I’m confused. How would these men have hoped to find the treasure? Very few ever knew where the treasure lied. How her abductors hoped to find it going back in time, is beyond me. If the Dogs held such knowledge, their actions didn’t suggest it.”

  “Omont knew where the treasure was,” Dane said. “That’s most likely why he was let go. They hoped to follow him.”

  “Omont was let go?” asked Federic.

  “Yes. Luckily, he knew what they were up to and lost them just outside of Paris.”

  “How do you know all this?”

  “He mentioned it.”

  Federic stared at him in disbelief.

  He’d already decided, long before he’d even been granted leave from his post, that he would tell these men everything. In truth, no one knew who could be trusted anymore. These were now the only two men alive he knew with absolute certainty were on Edeline’s side. They were her greatest chance of survival. He’d already told the priest most of it. He couldn’t wait. He’d needed to know how much help could be expected and when. And much to his relief, the priest had assured him, that when tomorrow came and her security was pulled, the knights would be there to take their place.

  “Please,” Federic said, “I need to know what you lived, what you saw. It haunts me, and it has for years—what happened to the knights I left behind? So little is written. So little is known.”

  “I will tell you everything, but I promised Edeline I’d tell you together. She needs to hear it as well. It’s important she understand the threat, and right now, she doesn’t.” Which is exactly why he’d made her wait, he’d wanted these men’s support. He’d wanted proof—the kind of proof she’d hopefully find within the articles.

  The priest closed the chest. “Edeline is so eager to have her life back the way it was, she’s taking everything said in the lab that day as truth. But I fear the general and his men were wrong. I believed the cavern walls speak of a war to come, not one that has already passed. And my guess is the risks those men took in going back in time were never about the treasure as much as they were about the walls.”

  “If there’s an advantage to be had, they want to make sure it’s theirs,” Dane said.

  Closing his eyes, Federic took in and let out a slow breath. “And if that’s impossible…”

  Father Tom grimaced. “Then they’ll want to make sure it’s not ours.”

  Finishing the last of a long stack of thank you notes, Edeline set them down to rummage her drawers. “Hmm,” she said, pulling out a handful of envelopes and her last three stamps, “this won’t do.”

  Looking out her window toward the now parked Suburban, she wondered if the Blues Brothers would object to giving her a ride to the post office. Public transportation, she was told, was completely out of the question.

  A light knock sounded against her office door. She looked up to see a cute little redhead peeking around its corner.

  “I hear you have a date,” Alison said, entering the room with her typical warm smile.

  “Ah, you’ve seen Dad.” She’d told her father earlier that morning about her and Dane’s plans. He’d been suspiciously unsuspicious.

  “Yes. I stopped by to see him earlier when he was
working in the new addition. It’s coming along so nicely.” Her smile contorted into a know-it-all grin.

  Edeline bounced the stack of envelopes against the stack of notes. “And?”

  Alison raised her brows comically as she stepped into the room. “And…he is very handsome, our new carpenter.”

  “Agreed,” she said, unable to hide her smile.

  Alison pulled out the chair in front of Edeline’s desk and sat down. “Tall, dark and handsome—seems a pretty good match for gorgeous, blue-eyed blonde.”

  It was Edeline’s turn to raise her brows. “You’re thinking of introducing Dane to Nate Porter?”

  Alison laughed as she flicked the envelopes in Edeline’s hands. “You’re terrible and far too humble.”

  “I like him, Alison, actually. A great deal.”

  Scooting up in her seat, Alison leaned forward as though about to tell a secret. “Then I have good news for you, dear. Your father likes him as well. I can tell. I saw the two of them and Father Tom chatting away on their way down the hall.”

  Edeline once more bounced the envelopes. “Yeah?”

  “Yeah, something about France. I can’t even get Federic to talk about it for more than a quick nod or a mumble. But they were chatting away about it like they were only there yesterday.”

  Dropping the envelopes, Edeline jumped from her seat. Her chair rolled back a few inches to teeter at the edge of the vinyl floor mat. Certainly they wouldn’t begin without her? “Any idea where they were headed?”

  “Ah…” Staring at the chair, the pretty redhead blinked in surprise. “Well, no, honey. Is something wrong?”

  “No, nothing’s wrong,” she said, tripping over the wastebasket as she scurried around the desk and made for the door.

  “Are you sure? You seem…agitated,” Alison said, moving from her seat as Edeline rebalanced her steps and continued toward the door.

  “I’m fine,” she said quickly, reaching for the doorknob. “I just—”

  “You just what?” she heard Alison ask right before she slipped out the door and headed toward the chapel.

  She was just going to have a few choice words with a certain good looking Lieutenant Colonel and her impatient father. She couldn’t believe Dane would start telling the story of their time in France without her, especially after making her wait. But even if he hadn’t started out to tell the tale, she could easily see her father getting it out of him. He’d let his curiosity get the better of him, start with one innocent question. Dane would have a much harder time putting off her father. Soon the whole story would be told, and she’d once again be left in the dark.

  She hurried her steps.

  The door to the chapel squeaked as she opened it up into the massive room. Empty.

  She ran down the hall and through all the hanging plastic to the new addition. A few workers were scattered throughout, some hanging drywall, a few following behind them taping the walls. “Dad?” she called, hoping she merely wasn’t seeing him. “Father Tom?”

  “Father Tom was headed toward his office last I saw him,” said one of the men from the ladder across the room. “Your dad stepped out with the new carpenter a few minutes ago, but he didn’t say where to. Should I have him find you when he returns?”

  “Please, Jamie, thank you.”

  Ducking back through the plastic, she headed straight for the priest’s office, but no one was there. She peeked inside the rest of the rooms along the hallway, but other than the one where Alison was now addressing the last of the envelopes, they were all as empty as the first.

  The only place left for her to search was the upstairs. Five minutes later she’d checked the entire top floor and was headed back down the stairs.

  Alison stood at the bottom shoving the thank you notes into a small tote. “Find what you were looking for?” she asked.

  Reaching the last step, Edeline paused. “No, actually, everyone seems to have disappeared?”

  Alison pulled closed the tote. “Have you tried the addition?”

  “Yeah, they weren’t there.”

  “I’ll bet they’re all out back working on the broken sprinkler. I heard your dad threatening to take a hammer to it earlier.”

  Edeline laughed, picturing easily her father’s declaration. “Mystery solved. I’ll bet you’re right.”

  “Well, I’m off to the post office,” said Alison, giving her a quick hug and then heading for the door. “Do you need me to pick you up anything?”

  “No, I’m good. Are you walking?”

  “Just down to the library. I’ll catch the bus from there. It’s a more direct route. You’re welcome to come along.”

  “I’d love to, but I can’t. I’ve still got plenty to do here.”

  “All right, then. I’ll see you when I get back,” said Alison, disappearing out the front door.

  Edeline headed straight for the backyard. Her father had been trying to fix the stubborn sprinkler-head for near a week. He’d be thrilled to have help.

  Stepping out the back door, she looked around the lawns. They appeared empty. “Dad?”

  No response.

  “Dad?”

  Still no response.

  “Hey, boys, have you seen my dad?” she called to the agents she knew would be lurking. They, not surprisingly, remained silent. “Thanks,” she yelled out sarcastically.

  Through the cottage’s back window, she caught a glimpse of dark hair. Most likely her father had found another project which Dane and Father Tom could help him with. She headed that way.

  Letting the screen door slam behind her, she hurried inside. “Hey, you guys aren’t starting without me, are you?”

  The only response was a round of muffled whispers from the front room.

  “Really?” She grunted, heading that direction. “Think you’re going to get away with—”

  She spotted the two strangers only a second before she was grabbed from behind and pulled back into a solid wall of muscle. Terror ripped through her so fierce it was impossible to register anything but the shock itself.

  The next thing she knew, a white cloth was lifted and placed over her airways. Grabbing against her assailant’s hands, she pulled, digging her nails into his flesh as deep as she could manage. Still the hand didn’t budge. Lifting her leg, she prepared to kick, but the world suddenly tilted, throwing her into a black bottomless pit.

  Waiting in the chapel while Federic headed to the office to collect Edeline, Dane flipped through the multiple articles in the album, while the priest stood behind his podium, reviewing Sunday’s sermon. It was incredible all the world events the Knights Templar had had their hands in through the years. Dane couldn’t help but wonder how many would have turned out differently if the incredible force hadn’t been there guarding destiny’s path.

  One thing was for certain. He’d feel a whole lot more comfortable once tomorrow came and the knights arrived.

  He looked back toward the chapel doors. “It’s taking him too long.” He shut the book. “I’m going to go look for them.”

  Just as Dane stood, the doors flew open.

  Federic stood in their frame, his face as white as the walls around him. “I can’t find her.”

  Can’t find her! The words seemed to physically crash into Dane. The hairs on the back of his neck stood on ends as his body chilled. His feelings for her had driven him straight to panic. Luckily years of training were there to drive him back to reason.

  If ever there was time to think like a soldier, that time was now.

  Putting down the album, he started with the obvious. “Isn’t she in the office?”

  “No, nor is she in the new addition or anywhere else on this floor.”

  “She has to be here somewhere. I told her repeatedly not to leave the church without you or me. And even if she didn’t listen, every single door is guarded.”

  Federic ran his hands nervously over his head. “I can check the upstairs if you want to check with the guards.”

 
Father Tom was already headed toward the doors. “I’ll make one last sweep of this floor while you do.”

  All three men met outside the chapel and then split to go their own directions.

  Stepping out the massive front doors and into the late morning sun, Dane hollered, “Roberts! Tellen!”

  A rugged looking street bum corrected his posture and moved from his stakeout near the west corner of the building to head Dane’s way. From the bus kiosk across the street, a well-dressed businessman put down his newspaper, hid again his sidearm and then ran across the street.

  “What’s up, Colonel?” Tellen asked, pushing back his battered cap to adjust his earpiece.

  “We’re looking for Edeline. You haven’t seen her have you?”

  “No one’s left the building at all outside of the redhead,” Roberts said. He looked down toward his watch. “That was a little over an hour ago.”

  “Here she comes now,” Tellen said, nodding his head toward the sidewalk where halfway down Alison approached. “Should we keep our cover?”

  “Yes,” Dane said, reaching inside his pocket and pulling out change to hand to Tellen. Roberts followed suit.

  Tellen thanked them both and then turned to leave just as Alison made her way up the walk.

  “Wait,” she said, grabbing Tellen’s filth-covered arm and bringing him to a stop. “Have you eaten? We have a kitchen inside. I could make you a sandwich and bring it to you. There’s some literature inside as well that I’d like to share with you and information on locations where you can find help.”

  “Ah…” Tellen glanced toward Dane.

  “That’s a great plan, Alison,” Dane said. “Why don’t you head inside and put it all together? I’ll run it out to him when you’re done.”

  “Sure thing.” She stepped past all three to make her way up the stairs.

  “Alison,” Dane stopped her.

  She turned and looked his way. “Yes?”

  “You haven’t seen Edeline recently, have you?”

  “Last time I saw her, she was headed out back looking for you and Federic.”