by David Wood
“Then Isla and her men will encounter the beasts first,” Brigid said. “Perhaps the guardian of the treasure will take care of them for us.” Her guts knotted as she spoke. What if Isla fell victim to the beast?
“But if that happens, who will take care of the guardian?” Brown asked.
Standing a few paces away, Donnelly grinned and cracked her knuckles. “We will.” She patted the pistol holstered at her hip.
Brigid nodded. There were six of them, all armed and ready. She hoped that would be enough.
Chapter 31
The Shrine of Danu
The line of dark humps undulated as it zipped silently through the water. As Bones and Grizzly hauled Isla up onto dry land, Maddock drew his pistol and took aim. Did he dare fire? Would a bullet only anger the beast? Could he say for certain that it meant them any harm?
“Everybody move to the center, next to the statue,” he said.
“Is this a good idea?” Bones asked, taking up a position in front of the others. “If this thing guards the treasure, we’re standing at ground zero.”
“The other option is to run, but I don’t relish hopping back across those stepping stones with that thing out there.”
As they watched, the humps veered away from the island and began a slow, wide circle around the underground lake. When it seemed the thing would come no closer, they all relaxed, though Maddock kept his pistol in his hand.
“So it really does have humps,” Grizzly marveled. “I guess it’s to be expected that the plesiosaur would evolve some unique traits over time.”
“How big do you think it is?” Isla asked.
Maddock gazed at the strange sight. Visions of all the alleged Loch Ness monster photos he’d seen over the years ran through his mind. “Difficult to say. The humps are barely breaking the water, but if they comprise the length of the body, then I guess triple it to account for the neck and tail.”
“About six meters, or twenty feet. Not a large one, then,” Isla said.
“Works for me,” Bones said. “The shorter the neck, the less chance it has of reaching out and snatching one of us.”
Maddock grimaced. “Unless it climbs up here with us.”
“Well, aren’t you just a ray of sunshine?”
As if on cue, the line of humps turned and headed directly toward them. Once again, Maddock raised his pistol and took aim.
“Holy crap.” Bones took out his own pistol and moved to stand beside his friend. “Do we wait to see the whites of its eyes?”
“I don’t know. Just make your shots count.”
The humps drew closer. Maddock placed his finger on the trigger.
Twenty feet. Ten feet.
And then something broke the water. A sleek, round, fur-covered head with a long snout and big, dark eyes.
Maddock huffed a laugh and sagged with relief as two more heads popped up. One let out a low, barking sound and rolled over.
“Seals,” Isla said. “How did we not realize?”
“Too freaked out,” Grizzly said.
“One of the theories behind the Loch Ness phenomenon is the rows of humps people have reported seeing are, in fact, seals. Supposedly, mammals tend to swim up and down, giving the appearance of humps, while serpents swim more side to side,” Bones said. “I think that’s a good sign—two SEALs show up and along come a bunch of seals.”
Isla frowned and cocked her head. “You know, you’re just as dumb below ground as you are up above.”
“Give me time,” Bones said. “I grow on you.”
“Like a fungus,” Maddock added.
“Now that we’ve been granted a reprieve,” Isla began, “how about we examine the treasure?”
“Definitely.” The tension of the previous moments had momentarily swept away the joy of discovery. Now, the thrill returned as he turned to gaze at the Treasure of the Tuatha de Dannan.
Atop the basalt block in which the word Dagda was carved stood a cauldron cast from a golden-bronze metal. A triskele was engraved inside it, framing a whiskey colored gem set in the bottom.
Isla snapped a couple of photographs, then lowered her camera and stared reverentially at the legendary object. “From Muirias was brought the cauldron of the Dagda. No company went away from it unsatisfied,” she whispered. “That’s what was written about it, anyway. But there was no mention of a gemstone.”
“That’s really weird,” Grizzly said, reaching toward the cauldron.
Maddock grabbed his wrist. “Haven’t we discussed touching things? As in, you don’t do it.”
Grizzly took a step back, fists clenched, jaw set. “I’m getting a little tired of this. Nobody put you in charge.”
“I’m taking charge, and you can either accept that or do something about it. Decide now.” He took a step toward the cryptid hunter.
Grizzly wilted beneath Maddock’s cold stare. He held up his hands. “Calm down. I’m just saying you don’t have to be an ass all the time.”
“You know, Maddock, you really are an ass most of the time,” Bones added.
“I’ll work on my people skills when this is over.” Maddock turned away from the cauldron and moved on to inspect the spear. The pedestal in which it was set was labeled Lug. A hole had been drilled in the top so that the spear could stand upright. The shaft was not made of wood, but appeared to be formed of the same shiny metal as the cauldron. As with the cauldron, wavy lines climbed the shaft like creeping vines, up to a triskele that wrapped around a blood red gem set just beneath the gleaming spear head.
“What was the story behind this one?” Bones asked Isla.
“From Goirias was brought the spear had by Lug,” she recited. “No battle was sustained against it nor against the man who held it in his hand.”
“That sounds like the legend associated with another spear,” Bones said.
“The Spear of Destiny?” Grizzly said. “Do you think this could be it?”
“Doubtful,” Bones said. He glanced at Maddock, who gave a small shake of his head. This wasn’t the time to recount their previous adventures, nor was Grizzly a trustworthy audience.
But Grizzly had already turned to examine the sword. “Nuada,” he read from the face of the pedestal. “They ought to call it Excalibur, the way they’ve got it stuck into the stone.”
Indeed, a slot had been cut into the surface of the rock and the sword of the Tuatha stood, point down in the rock. Like the other objects, it too was made of the strange, coppery-gold alloy. A stone of deep sapphire was set in the pommel, surrounded by the now-familiar triskele.
Isla snapped more photographs. “The sword of Nuada. No one ever escaped from it once it was drawn from its deadly sheath, and none could resist it.”
“The unbeatable sword?” Bones asked.
“It’s like the Elder Wand in Harry Potter,” Maddock said.
Bones gave him a long, level look. “I’m going to pretend you didn’t say that.”
“Well, some people do refer to the treasures as the ‘Hallows of the Tuatha,’” Isla said.
Bones smirked. “And I’m proud to have no freaking idea what that means.”
Grizzly suddenly spun around, his hands on his head. “The sword in the stone, in a lake. It has to be Arthur’s sword.”
“It’s not,” Maddock and Bones said in unison.
Isla put a hand on Grizzly’s arm. “I think they know something we don’t.” She turned a sly smile in Maddock’s direction, one that didn’t quite mask the suspicion in her eyes. “Sometime very soon, you’re going to have to elaborate on all these mysterious comments you like to make.”
“Maybe,” Maddock said.
“Definitely. I can be very persuasive when I think someone’s hiding something from me.”
Maddock felt the heat of Bones’ stare, turned away, and strode over to kneel in front of the final treasure—the stone.
The Stone of Destiny, or Lia Fáil as Isla named it, was a rectangular block of black stone covered in script on four sid
es. Atop the stone, another triskele had been engraved around an onyx gem. The sharp, clear lines told him that the Celtic image had clearly been added on much later than the other script.
Maddock immediately noticed the broken corner. “This is it!” He fished into his pocket and drew out the chunk of black stone they’d recovered from the U-boat—the object that had set them on this quest. As he held it up to the broken corner, he felt a tug, as if a magnetic attraction drew the smaller stone back to the larger.
“What’s up?” Bones asked.
“It’s like it’s trying to get back to where it came from.”
“So? Let it.”
Maddock reached to put the broken corner into place, but before he could affix it, it flew from his fingers, drawn by an invisible force. It snapped into place with a soft snick. For an instant, Maddock thought he saw a silver flickering deep in the heart of the black jewel. He stood and took a step back.
“The German spy actually made it here,” Bones said. “I guess he couldn’t very well take the treasures all by himself.”
Maddock shrugged. “Either that, or something interfered with his plan.”
“What kind of writing do you think it is?” Grizzly asked as Isla once again began clicking away with her camera.
“Some form of ancient Hebrew. Wouldn’t you say, Bones?”
The big man nodded. “We’ve seen enough of it over the years.” He paused, a look of wonderment passing over his ruddy features. “We won’t know for sure until it’s translated, but if the legends are true, we are looking at the stone where Jacob laid his head almost four thousand years ago.”
Isla lowered her camera and moved to stand beside Maddock. A hush fell over the group as they slowly turned to gaze at the legendary treasures.
“It’s real,” Isla whispered. “It’s all real.” She took Maddock’s hand and gave it a squeeze. “Even the jewels are real!”
“What do you mean?” Maddock asked.
“The treasure was often referred to as the ‘Jewels of the Tuatha.’ I always thought it was metaphorical, referring to how much they were prized, but each of these objects contains an actual jewel.”
“I noticed that.” Maddock wasn’t quite sure what to make of the jewels. They might merely be ornamental, but he’d seen enough stones with odd powers to know not to take anything at face value.
“This is going to make the best documentary ever!” Grizzly took out his video camera and began recording.
Maddock turned to Isla. “You found your treasure. How does it feel?”
Isla smiled. “It’s amazing. I can’t even begin to describe it.”
Maddock nodded. “It’s why I love treasure hunting. There’s no feeling quite like it. Of course, there’s always the inevitable letdown once it’s over. But that goes with the territory.”
A strange, disturbing smile crept across Isla’s face. She looked up at Maddock, a gleam in her eye
“Over? Oh, no. This is only the beginning.”
“What are you talking about?”
Before she could answer, Maddock saw movement out of the corner of his eye. A glimmer of light somewhere down the passageway.
“Someone’s coming.”
Chapter 32
The Shrine of Danu
“Everybody take cover. Flashlights off,” Maddock said. His order came a moment too late. Shots rang out, echoing thunderously through the cavern. One zipped past his ear as he rolled to the ground. Another pinged off the stone inches from his head.
“It’s the Tuatha!” Isla hissed. “They’ve caught up with us.”
“And it looks like they don’t plan on letting us out of here alive,” Bones said.
Maddock took cover behind the pedestal that supported the Stone of Destiny. Bones squeezed his bulk behind the stone block upon which the cauldron stood. He heard footsteps as Isla and Grizzly scrambled for cover.
On the other side of the lake, lights bobbed up and down—headlamps.
“You got odds, I got evens,” Bones whispered.
Maddock took aim. Two shots in quick succession and the Tuatha in the lead fell back with a strangled cry. His companions scattered. Maddock and Bones each took aim and squeezed off a single shot but couldn’t tell if either had hit its target.
Suddenly, the headlamps went out, blanketing them in a darkness that was unnerving in its totality. All fell silent.
Maddock wondered what the Tuatha’s next move would be. The smart play would be for the enemy to simply wait out Maddock and the others. The Tuatha had them outnumbered, almost certainly outgunned, and could likely call on a wealth of reserves.
What I wouldn’t give to have Willis and Matt covering our asses right now.
But if the Tuatha had intended to wait for them, why had they continued the pursuit all the way to the shrine, and thus exposing themselves to danger? They must have a reason for the urgency.
And then it hit him—they believed in the legend of the treasure, which meant…
They’re afraid we’ll be unbeatable if we take up the sword and spear.
No sooner had the thought passed through his mind than the Tuatha made their next move. Lights flashed on from several different angles. Bones reacted immediately, squeezing off a shot that burst one of headlamps.
Multiple bullets answered Bones’ single shot, and the big man curled up behind his scant cover.
“What the hell?” he muttered. “That bullet should have gone right through someone’s forehead.”
“They took off their headlamps and pointed them our way. They can see us but we’re going to have a hard time seeing them,” Maddock said. “We could try to even the odds by shooting all of the lights out, but that will cost us precious bullets.”
“Bastards.” Bones suddenly rolled to his right, fired a single shot, and rolled again until he was sheltered behind the pedestal that held the spear.
Somewhere in the darkness, a voice cried, “I’m hit!”
“Let’s get them!” another cried. The sound of running feet and then someone was sprinting across the stepping stones, blazing away with a handgun.
Maddock put one bullet into the man’s gut. The Tuatha lurched forward and tumbled into the water. Maddock watched him sink, a dark cloud of blood billowing up through the water.
Shots continued to ring out from the semi-darkness. Maddock and Bones targeted the muzzle flashes. A couple of their bullets hit their targets. The numbers were evening out, but not the ammunition. An answering shot grazed Bones’ calf.
Bones let out a curse, but waved away Maddock’s questioning look.
“I’ve had worse,” he said.
Maddock nodded. His friend’s wound was minor, but it was only a matter of time before things really got ugly. They couldn’t hide from the bullets forever.
“It’s like the Civil War in here,” Bones said.
“How do you figure?” Maddock asked, firing his last bullet.
“We’ve got the fighting skills and the defensive position. They’ve got the weapons and the numbers.”
“I’m sure a bunch of Yankees would argue with your analysis,” Maddock said as Bones fired another shot. “Empty?”
Bones nodded.
“Hold your fire!” a woman’s voice shouted. After a few seconds, she called out again, this time to Maddock and his company.
“You on the island. I think we need to talk.”
“If you think we’re giving up, you’re dreaming,” Bones said.
“Don’t be so hasty. You’re sitting ducks out there, and if you’re not out of ammunition, you will be soon.”
“We’ve still got the unbeatable spear and sword,” Bones said.
The woman laughed. “As if you knew how to use them. You are unworthy.”
“We found them,” Maddock said. “I think that makes us worthier than you.”
“One among you is worthy.” Finally, the figure appeared from the darkness. It was Brigid, upon whom Maddock had spied at Culloden.
&nbs
p; From the darkness, Maddock heard Isla let out a tiny gasp.
“I want the treasure, and I want Isla Mulheron,” Brigid said. “As long as I have those things, I don’t care what happens to the rest of you.”
“You’re not taking Isla,” Maddock said.
Brigid laughed. “Take her. She’ll come with me voluntarily, won’t you dear?”
Maddock’s retort died on his lips as Isla stood and slowly moved forward, an unreadable expression on her face.
“Isla, get down!” Maddock said. “Are you crazy? She’s got at least one of her goons still active out there. Maybe more.”
“She won’t let them hurt me,” Isla said, her voice trembling.
“You don’t know that.”
“Yes, I do. She’s my mother.”
Chapter 33
The Shrine of Danu
Maddock’s eyes darted from Isla to Brigid and back again. He could now see the family resemblance, but still couldn’t believe it. Isla had led him to believe her parents were dead.
“Mother, what is this?” Isla said. “How are you…alive?”
“It’s a long, complicated story,” Brigid said. “I promise I’ll tell you about it when we have the time.”
“But, you let me think you were dead.” Her voice was cold, devoid of emotion. “How could you not tell me? And what about Father?”
“It was essential that you be kept in the dark. Isla, you have to believe me. I did it for us.”
“Let’s not forget, this is the woman whose people were trying to kill us just a few seconds ago,” Maddock said.
“I gave strict orders that she not be harmed. As I said, I want her and the treasure.”
Maddock racked his brain, trying to come up with a plan. Obviously, Brigid couldn’t be trusted. Sure, she might let her own daughter leave safely. Might. But there was no reason for the woman to leave him, Bones, or Grizzly alive once she had what she wanted. But what could he do?
“Think we could swim for it?” Bones whispered.
