by Edward Shawn
The man glanced at him. “I doubt it. You’re the one they want. You’re the one with the medallion.”
“I know, but...” James stared at the darkness as the jeep raced along the trail. Looking back in the direction of the Tai property, he wished he’d been able to speak with his friend before having to leave; Danny might have had the chance to come with him. Praying the man’s words were true, his somber reflection regarding Danny’s wellbeing was suddenly disrupted by a tree branch swiping against the windshield.
“Watch out,” James shouted as another branch crashed into the glass.
The road narrowing around them, the man muttered to himself as they weaved past the low hanging branches of the encroaching trees. The branches continued colliding with the glass, the jeep plowing through each one of them until arriving at the end of the dirt road.
“Where are we going?” James asked as they turned onto a paved highway.
“We’re going to meet up with Micah. He’ll keep you safe.”
“Yeah? Safe from what?” Dryness engulfing his throat, James felt his stomach quiver. A vision of a roaring bear invaded his mind. Running frantically, the bear was only seconds away from catching up to him.
“You alright?” the man asked. “You look tense.”
The image broke apart with the interruption. James met the stranger’s eyes and tried exuding some confidence.
“We’ll be there soon,” the man said before accelerating past a slow moving car.
Realizing he didn’t have his seatbelt on, James quickly locked it into place. “Who are you?” he asked.
“Me? I’m the guy taking you to Micah.”
“I get that. But what do I call you?”
“You can call me Falconer.”
“That’s your name?” James asked in disbelief.
The man smirked. “No, it’s not. It’s more of a job description. But it works for right now.” Scanning the sky, he returned his gaze to the highway. “How’s your dog doing back there? What do you call him?”
James looked at his dog resting comfortably in the backseat of the fast moving jeep. “His name’s Castle.”
“Castle...I like it. Strong name for a strong-willed animal.”
“My mother came up with it.” James frowned at the thought of her. She was going through a tough time, and because of this business with Micah and the medallion, he may not be there if she needed him.
“Falconer, you didn’t answer my question. You said Micah will keep me safe, but safe from what? And my family, friends, are they in danger?”
Falconer cursed as a car cut in front of them on its way to an exit ramp.
“Did you hear me?” James said loudly.
“Yeah, I heard you,” Falconer replied. “The truth is, I don’t know. Only Micah has answers to all your questions. My job is to bring you to him, and that’s what I’m doing.” He mumbled his last few words, his final thoughts on the matter undisclosed.
James was frustrated by Falconer’s response. “It’s all because of the medallion that I have to leave, right? Well then, I don’t want it!” Taking it out, he had every intention of tossing it onto the highway, but Castle’s sudden barking distracted him from doing so.
Castle was staring at him as James looked around. The dog had quieted down but his eyes didn’t stray from his face. Feeling the weight of the medallion in his hand, he knew throwing it away wouldn’t instantly make everything better. If anything, it could make things worse for him and for all concerned.
“You alright, James?”
Turning from Castle’s kindly gaze, he saw Falconer glance at the medallion and then at him.
James nodded. “Yeah, I’m fine.”
“Good. We’re almost there. In the meantime, don’t do anything you may live to regret. That medallion of yours is more important than you can imagine.”
Slowing the mud streaked jeep, Falconer exited the highway. Turning onto a dirt road, they followed it into a wooded area until it became impossible to go any further.
“We go on foot from here,” Falconer said as they got out.
Castle sniffed the soil, then gazed up at his master. James peered around, his eyes slowly adjusting to the darkness. “What are you looking at?” he asked, noticing Falconer staring up through an opening in the tree canopy.
He rubbed the leather glove covering his right hand. “You mean looking for,” he said. “C’mon, we have a bit of a walk ahead of us.”
Falconer negotiated the trees without difficulty. James stayed close behind; becoming lost in the woods at this late hour wasn’t something he wanted to experience.
The medallion had been dormant since leaving the Tai property, but now the emerald gleam shone through his pocket once again, the medallion reactivating for no apparent reason. Looking it over, James kept one eye on the man leading him deeper into the forest.
Slipping the thick gold chain around his wrist, he examined the silver core of the medallion; it reflected Castle’s image like it had in the past. James stared at his faithful companion walking by his side. Why did his likeness keep appearing on the medallion? What was Castle’s connection with it? The longer the artifact was in his possession, the more questions he needed answers for.
They walked on for quite a while. James was now completely reliant on the man called Falconer; he would never find his way out of here on his own. The medallion in his grip, every sound around him was clear and distinct. He could even hear each breath Falconer took, strong and even, but laden with sorrow.
The man he followed had been quiet since leaving the jeep. James wondered if he resented having to help him. As they continued on, James struggled to stay with the taller man, Falconer’s longer strides steadily increasing the distance between them.
“Hey! Wait up,” James called out.
Falconer slowed his pace. “Try to keep up.”
Raising the medallion, James saw the man’s expression revealed in the light. His forehead creased, his mouth curving downwards, he looked like a man burdened with worry.
“Is something wrong?” James asked.
“No, it’s just...I seem to have lost something.”
Stepping over a fallen branch, Falconer pressed onwards. Clearly, he wasn’t going to elaborate but James wasn’t about to let such a statement pass without explanation.
“Umm, can I ask what you lost?” he tentatively asked.
“I expected Riff to have returned by now. Since she hasn’t,” Falconer explained as he looked up once more, “I’ll have to assume the worst.”
“Riff? Is that the name of your bird?”
“Falcon, and yes.”
“Falcon–right. That’s what I meant to say,” James said. “I’m sure she’s fine.”
“And I’m sure she’s not!”
They continued on in silence. James felt a wedge of uneasiness sprouting inside of him. Whatever the danger Falconer hinted at was likely the reason Riff hadn’t returned.
“There.”
Looking where Falconer pointed, James saw the distant flames.
“It’s Micah’s camp. C’mon, let’s go–no time to waste.” Falconer strode off towards the orange glow.
His heart racing, James was keenly aware he was likely taking the final steps to leaving his old life behind. He was sure Micah would want him to begin his journey to attaining the destiny he described the first time they met, a destiny he wasn’t sure he wanted any part of. With a dangerous element wanting the medallion he carried, a current of urgency surged through him as he headed for the camp and the man named Micah.
Approaching the blaze, his anxiety eased up. He was grateful for any powerful light source; the glow from the medallion just wasn’t that strong. His spirit lifting slightly, he looked forward to getting some answers while being protected at the same time.
Reaching the makeshift campfire, a figure left the shadows and stepped into the light.
“Finally, you’ve come,” Micah said.
Falconer pla
ced a hand on the young man’s shoulder. “Wait here,” he said before joining Micah.
Staying close to the flames, James watched the men greet each other with respect. The scene looked familiar, as if he witnessed it before.
Suddenly, James knew why Falconer’s voice was familiar; he saw him on the night Galen brought him to Micah. He remembered the cries of a falcon over the campsite and Micah speaking with a stranger. Falconer’s voice was known because James had eavesdropped on that conversation through the medallion. Falconer was supposed to be heading for the Amazon Jungle. Obviously, there was a change of plan.
His hearing still sharp, James concentrated on listening in once again.
“If what you say is true, we may not have much time left,” Micah said.
“Of course it’s true! I can feel the emptiness in my head–Riff is gone! This sinister force you spoke of is more resourceful than you were led to believe. We need to make a stand and take the fight to them!”
“He’s just a child,” Micah softly said. “How can he fight when he doesn’t yet know the full extent of its power?”
James didn’t appreciate being called a child but kept his mouth shut. He wanted their dialogue to continue in hopes of learning more.
“Until we know exactly what we’re dealing with, it’s much too dangerous,” Micah said.
“So you’re just gonna take the boy and run?”
“I’m doing what’s best for him–what’s best for all of us!”
“Or you’re a coward!”
James assumed these men were friends. Perhaps he was mistaken.
“If the boy stays, then our adversaries have the opportunity to take the medallion away from him before he learns to use it. They cannot be allowed to acquire another,” Micah said. “There is no way to prevent the Maiden from awakening, and since we cannot, we have to convince her to see the world as we do. We need to find as many medallions as we can, and we need them to remain with us. You, of all people know this.”
Falconer sighed. “Alright, have it your way then. If you think you know what’s best, I’m not going to fight you on this matter anymore.”
Micah placed a hand on Falconer’s shoulder. “I did not mean we should not fight. I hardly think we have a choice. The Oracle warned me of an uncompromising force. I leave it to you and Galen to gauge the abilities of our enemy.”
The tension between them broke. Micah extended his hand which Falconer firmly shook.
“James. Come over here, please,” Micah called.
Crossing the camp, Castle watched his master but stayed near the crackling pieces of burning timber.
“This is where we part,” Falconer said as he arrived. “He feels it’s best for you to leave.”
James started to respond, but Micah held up his hand. “I know you have questions but–”
Castle growled, then barked fiercely into the darkness beyond the camp. Looking where his dog faced, James spotted a red light flashing near the camp perimeter. Before he could make sense of anything, Castle ran towards it and disappeared into the ebon forest.
“Castle,” James shouted.
“Quiet, boy. I’ll get him.” Falconer took some steps but then came to a stop. A woman entered the campsite, a gun pointed directly at him.
“Move, James!” Micah pushed the youth in the opposite direction.
“But Castle!”
“There’s no time!” Micah grabbed his arm and pulled him from the campfire light.
“Damn! Where did they go?” the woman yelled.
“Don’t concern yourself with them.” A white light brightened under Falconer’s shirt. “You have me to deal with.
21
Staring at the man standing by the fire, Evelynn waved her gun back and forth. “What are you talking about? I’m the one with the gun. What is that light?”
“What light.”
Her patience expired a while ago. She had spent more time and energy running around than she ever recalled doing on any mission before. Traipsing through the woods at night for almost an hour was more than she bargained for. She wanted this over with, and soon.
“Are you looking to get shot?” she asked, aiming the gun at his chest. “Turn that light off!”
The teen she glimpsed earlier must have been James, the boy Danny mentioned during their chat. Slipping the night-vision glasses down over her eyes, she scanned the area in search of her quarry. “Where did the boy go?” Evelynn demanded, her voice tinged with impatience.
“Like I would tell you.”
Glancing at the man, she continued on with her search. “If you don’t tell me what I want to know, then I’m gonna shoot you and you’ll bleed out in the middle of nowhere.” Evelynn stepped toward some trees beyond the campsite, her focus on finding James. “This is the last time I’m gonna say it–turn off that light!”
“Hey!”
Turning at the sound of his voice, she was unprepared for the brilliant flash bursting forth from his chest. Fading quickly, her vision left impaired, Evelynn could barely see the figure rising past the treetops and disappearing into the night sky.
“Well, that was surprising.” Her eyesight returning, Evelynn searched overhead but considered it a futile gesture. Why would the man stick around? He had served his purpose by keeping her occupied while the others escaped. But they couldn’t have gone far; less than a minute passed since she entered the camp.
Evelynn activated her headset. “Darrell, did you see that?”
His voice came through clearly. “Sorry, Miss Bone, but clouds are moving in over your position. I didn’t see anything.”
“Oh, wow, you missed quite a sight. I just saw a man with a fancy flashlight fly away.”
Mr. Darrell cleared his throat. “What was that?”
She removed her night-vision specs. “Nothing. Forget it. Can you locate a pair of signatures moving away from my position?”
Instructing Mr. Darrell to keep an eye on the heat signatures fleeing Danny’s property turned out to be the right call; her true target was among them. Using the satellite, Mr. Darrell had watched James the entire time, but now it seemed that piece of technology was about to be rendered useless by an arriving storm.
“I’m not seeing anything, Miss Bone.”
“Well, keep looking.”
“I’m on it.”
Her line went quiet. Evelynn recalled Jeremiah’s advice to prepare for anything. He should have actually said, be ready for an excursion into the realm of magic. If he had done so, there would have been fewer surprises along the way. When she returned home, she would have to talk with him about the importance of being precise.
Evelynn had left Sandra behind in the SUV. As far as she was concerned, her temporary partner would have only slowed her down if she joined in the pursuit. Besides, the woman had no desire to wander through the forest at night; she was quite content waiting for Evelynn to return. The tracking dog, though, still had his uses.
She had followed the tracker moving unerringly through the forest. The fact it moved with purpose meant the medallion was somewhere ahead. Reaching the camp, they stayed well back. When the men let their guard down, they went in after James and those helping him.
Danny had told her the truth. She may not have actually seen the medallion, but the boy seemed important, at least to the men in the camp. It probably meant he had it on him, which didn’t mean a thing since her opportunity to take it had hit a snag.
Darrell was back on the line. “I still can’t locate them. It’s like they vanished.”
“What? How could that happen?” The second she uttered those words, she realized they may have done just that. She did see a man fly away only moments ago so anything was possible now.
“I’m done with this. I’ll be in touch with you later.” Shaking her head, Evelynn disconnected the line. She desperately wanted to get out of the woods, fill a bathtub with hot water and lie in it for hours. “This is unbelievable. I need to find a hotel. Then I’m having a�
�”
A low menacing growl resounded in the darkness. Castle stalked out from behind a tree and stood on the opposite side of the campfire. Baring his fangs, he glowered at her through the flames.
“The dog!” She had forgotten about it.
Charging around the fire, Castle came straight at her. Pointing her gun, Evelynn took aim at the snarling German shepherd.
“Stop!” a desperate voice screamed from behind, shattering her concentration.
But it came too late. Firing one shot, Evelynn hit her target. Crying out in anguish, the dog crumpled to the ground.
Her aim spoilt by the scream, she didn’t know if she wounded the animal or actually killed it. Turning to confront the man behind her, Evelynn ran into a stiff right cross that sent her headset flying. Stumbling back, she recognized the silhouette of the man hovering in front of her.
“You murderer,” he screamed, flying straight at her.
The collision knocked the air from her lungs. Losing her gun as she fell, Evelynn landed hard on her back.
The man came down on her chest. Straddling her as she gasped for air, he leaned forward, took hold of her wrists and forced them to the ground. His face was so near, she felt his hot breath on her cheek.
Thunder exploded across the night as a heavy rain began to fall. Lightning illuminating the world around her, Evelynn saw the circular object dangling against the inside of his shirt, partially revealed where a button had popped open. She recognized the object emitting a soft white glow: attached to the thick necklace he wore was the medallion she’d been sent to find.
Danny had lied to her; James didn’t have the medallion. Danny lied, or perhaps there was more than one to be had.
***
“There’s no time!” Micah grabbed James’s arm and pulled him from the campfire light.
Dragged deeper into the forest, James looked back and saw a woman pointing a gun at Falconer.
“We’re here,” Micah said.
But James wasn’t listening.
Micah glanced at the camp. “Don’t worry about him. He can look after himself.”
“What about Castle? I can’t just leave him here.”
“He will be looked after. Come, we cannot afford to waste the chance we have to leave this place.”
