Rogue Spotter Collection

by Kimberly A Rogers

  “All right, let’s hear it.”

  I turned my attention back to the book and read aloud. “Hephaestus was also called Vulcan by the Romans. It is believed that he was in actuality a fire elemental who had a pronounced talent for weapons crafting. A legend out of Sicily where the Forge of Hephaestus rests inside Mount Etna above Typhon’s prison is that Hephaestus feared being sealed into his own forge much like the vile dragon had been sealed in the age before, and so he ensured there were back doors through which he could escape his forge. These escape passages led through the top of Mount Etna and can be accessed from the summit, through the center of the volcano, emerging on the mountainside above the village and within the bounds of the village of Catania itself.”

  “But where in the village?” Raz Yakov asked more to himself than to us.

  I pulled out the translation of the map’s directions I had inscribed the same night I’d deciphered it. My eyes widened as realization struck. “Mathias, it said through heat and waters where Hephaestus looms.”

  He nodded slowly and then a grin appeared, and he snapped his fingers. “There are thermal baths here heated by the volcano. They go back to Roman times.”

  “Maybe old enough to hide a fire elemental’s escape hatch?” I asked.

  He grinned. “Maybe. But, you two should stay behind.”

  Raz raised his head and then jutted his chin at something behind Mathias. “I think I’d rather face the volcano, young man.”

  I stashed the book in my satchel as my gaze caught on the same thing that had snared the older Spotter’s attention. “Nines. Four of them and they are coming this way fast,” I murmured in an undertone.

  Mathias grimaced even as he waved for us to stand. “Come on, then. It seems we’re all going into a volcano.”

  Catching his worried look, I knew what he was thinking. That I shouldn’t go in there. Not with the baby to think about and to protect. Although, staying where Weard’s hunters could catch me wouldn’t be safe for the baby either. I caught Mathias by the hand and held on tightly as we hurried with Raz Yakov deeper into town.

  How we managed to slip away without Weard’s hunters catching up, I wasn’t certain but I was most definitely grateful for it. Last thing we needed was a fight with the hunters. We passed through a glamour surrounding the tumbled ruins of what had once been Roman thermal baths and emerged to find the main building still stood. Its roof had fallen in, but the rest of the structure appeared solid.

  Mathias squeezed my hand, and then we stepped inside the baths. The pools had long been empty, but Raz Yakov pointed out a trap door in the center of the largest room. He smiled faintly. “I used to study the architecture of Roman baths. This will lead to the lower levels where the baths were connected to the thermal flows. If there was a secret door into the volcano, it’s where I would’ve put it.”

  Mathias pulled the trapdoor open, and I shone a flashlight into the hole. I didn’t see any water, only carved stone steps sloping down into the darkness. Mathias pulled out his own flashlight and went first before he called for me.

  The air below didn’t smell musty, but it was much warmer and very humid. It felt like I had stepped inside a sauna or out into a very muggy summer’s day. Never mind that it was December. Raz Yakov stomped his way down the steps and let out a slow whistle as we shone our flashlights around. Then, he gestured to the far right. “What’s that look like to you, Lauren Hope?”

  Following his gaze, I stared for a moment. “It’s another glamour.”

  Mathias went first and then stuck his hand back out to beckon for us. I exchanged a look with Raz, a smile pulling at my lips as a slight thrill ran through me. We were almost there. I stepped through the glamour and into the mouth of a tunnel whose walls were covered with rippled sheets of obsidian. “An old lava flow,” Mathias murmured as I moved to stand next to him.

  I nodded, at a loss of words and already feeling sweat beading on my upper lip and trickling down my back. It was so humid. I pulled out my water bottle and took a sip. If Weard’s hunters hadn’t been scouring the village, I would’ve turned back and let the two of them go on without me since Mathias would have a Spotter with him. But, the hunters were there.

  “Let’s keep moving,” Mathias stated quietly. “I don’t want to linger down here any longer than necessary. This place is only fit for dragons and fire elementals to visit for long.”

  The lava flow had formed lavacicles that appeared deceptively pretty. When the tunnel sloped up once, I tripped and caught myself on the wall. An action I instantly regretted as a lavacicle sliced my palm open. Mathias slathered it with gauze and then wrapped it tightly.

  He stuck even closer to my side after that. I was surprised that Raz Yakov was so steady on his feet, using his cane with expert finesse to keep his balance, even when the tunnel took an abrupt turn down and I was struggling not to fall again.

  The air grew hotter until there was no more humidity. It was a dry heat that reminded me of the summer I had hidden near Death Valley. I drank more water, trying to stave off dehydration, while sweat soaked my shirt and made my jacket feel suffocating. Mathias murmured in my ear that he’d allow five more minutes. I nodded. Etna could keep its piece of the crown for all I cared at the moment. I didn’t want to be in the volcano any longer than I absolutely had to, and this was beyond reckless now.

  I started to ask Mathias if we could turn back when Raz Yakov shouted, “I’ve found it! Look!”

  He wasn’t far, just a couple of yards ahead of us. Mathias cupped my elbow as we made our way over to where the older Spotter was standing. He gestured with his cane, and my breath caught in my throat. We were standing on an overlook. Below I could see the red glow of lava to one side and to the other a huge forge stood silent and cold. My gaze went back to the glow of the lava. The heat alone should’ve killed us before we got this far. Then, I made out the hazy traces of a protective glamour. It had to be, because that was the only way we were still standing.

  Mathias looked grim, his jaw clenching, when I glanced at him. He met my gaze and stated firmly, “Ten minutes no more. I don’t trust that glamour to hold.”

  I nodded. “We’ll do it faster then.”

  We’d found the Forge of Hephaestus. Now we just needed to get the missing piece of the Crown of Nimrod and get out before anything bad happened. Easy, right?

  Yeah, I didn’t really believe that either even if I was trying to be ridiculously optimistic that our quest was nearly over and done. Why did I have the feeling that there was going to be at least one more surprised in store for us? And, I probably wouldn’t like it.

  * * *

  Chapter Fifteen

  Lauren

  The Forge of Hephaestus had been built for a giant. Everything from the bellows to the anvil to the stone tub that would’ve held water to cool Hephaestus’ creations towered above me. The bellows were cold though their bronze chains still ran up to the ceiling of the chamber. I could see the protective glamour shimmering in the open space behind the bellows. It looked as though Hephaestus had truly used the lava of Mount Etna to power his forge. I didn’t see anything that would point to where a piece of the crown might be hidden, however.

  I checked my watch. It had only been two minutes since we entered the room, but Mathias was already moving with nervous energy on the other side of the room where the tub stood. The top of his head was just even with the rim of the tub. He kept glancing over at me too. No doubt, worrying. I couldn’t say I blamed him as I took another sip of my water. The air was slightly cooler in here, but not by very much.

  My steps slowed as my attention snagged on the wall in front of me. It was a couple yards away from the forge proper, but there was something . . . I moved closer, studying it more carefully. There. About nine feet up was a carving of a hammer and anvil, the sign of Hephaestus and of Vulcan.

  “What have you found?”

  I glanced around to see that Raz Yakov had made his way over to me. Returning my attention
to the wall, I replied simply, “I’m not sure yet. Depends on if there’s anything to find.”

  “Your husband is not a patient man.”

  “He’s being cautious about the safety of this place.” I nodded toward the lava chamber. “Can you blame him?”

  “Are you certain it isn’t something more? Could he have . . . betrayed us?”

  I jerked my chin up at the hesitant suggestion. Raz Yakov drew back slightly, his light brown eyes filling with consternation, but I didn’t give him the chance to speak as I whispered fiercely, “There is nothing on this earth that would move him to betray me. He’s only concerned about our safety.”

  He waved a gnarled hand. “Of course, of course. Forgive me. My survival has depended on being . . . suspicious of others. Has not yours as well?”

  “To an extent,” I admitted before once more returning my attention the wall. Was there something there? I could feel . . . something. I just wasn’t certain what it was or where exactly. It felt more muffled than the pieces in the jars had, until I pressed my hand to a rounded area of stone that I had to stretch to reach. I heard a click and then the outline of a door appeared. I shoved against it until it swung open.

  For a moment, I was tempted to go inside myself. Then, I glanced at Raz Yakov. He was standing a little straighter even with his stooped shoulders and a light of excitement gleamed in his light brown eyes. He was just as invested in this quest as I was and had risked so much to be here. I cleared my throat, and he looked up at me quickly almost as though I had startled him. I offered an apologetic smile, then waved toward the opening. “Would you like to find it?”

  “Are you certain?”

  I nodded.

  A slow grin stretched his weathered cheeks, and then he nodded. “I believe I shall accept your kind offer, Lauren Hope. Pardon me.”

  I watched him toddle into the room, a flashlight held in one gnarled hand, and then I hurried over to where Mathias was still standing beside the tub. He looked more worried than he had before . . . no, he looked uneasy. When I joined him, he leaned down to whisper, “There’s something here.”

  “What?”

  He shook his head slightly. “I don’t know. I can’t figure it out. However, there’s something here that makes me feel . . . threatened. I never feel that way.”

  And that terrified me, more than a little.

  * * *

  Mathias

  I scanned our surroundings, but the only other signs of life in the forge were the two Spotters. It wasn’t as though someone could have snuck past us to get here first. As for the rumors about the original rogue dragon Typhon being trapped down here . . . well, I rather doubted he would still be alive after all this time. And on the off chance that he was, he would have been trapped much deeper in the bowels of the volcano where only dragons and fire elementals could walk unscathed.

  My gaze strayed to the protective glamour that was all that allowed us into the forge. All right, maybe he didn’t need to be much deeper than us. Nevertheless, all the stories agreed that Typhon was buried beneath Hephaestus’ forge not beside it.

  The ground shook and magma flew into view before dropping again. Then the glamour grew fuzzy, not enough to drop even for a millisecond thank God, but it was a very dangerous sign. I touched Lauren’s arm, and she moved closer to me.

  It was past time we headed back out. I glanced at the overlook, then at the rocks hanging over the entrance. It wouldn’t take more than another good shake to send that tunnel collapsing on the overlook.

  Lauren stayed close as I started walking again. This time I was looking for something different. I found a tunnel, but didn’t enter because I could see the boulders filling it not even five meters beyond the entrance. One down.

  “I hope that’s the summit exit,” Lauren whispered.

  I nodded. “It would be better if the summit wasn’t our only way out right now.”

  I kept moving until I reached a narrow space of wall between the tunnel we’d come in from the overlook and the oversized anvil. I nudged Lauren’s arm to gain her attention and then nodded toward the space. “That’s a door. If anything goes wrong, we go out that one.”

  She worried at her bottom lip even as she murmured her agreement.

  I opened my mouth to reassure her as best I could, but stopped when Raz Yakov let out an excited yell. “Come and see! It’s magnificent!”

  Maybe I would need to drag the old man away from the forge. Now that he’d found the missing piece of the crown, I intended to get us out of here.

  * * *

  Lauren

  Mathias was already striding toward the secret room. I followed more slowly. Now the door was open, I realized it hadn’t been the only source of muffled power. There was a strange feeling, like I was being pulled, but not toward the room. I was being pulled toward the forge and the bellows.

  It didn’t make any sense. I couldn’t seem to stop myself from going over there, however. Then, I sensed something near the bottom of the bellows. Crouching down, I peered into the shadowed space beneath the bellows. There was something there after all. A box.

  I pulled it out and shone my flashlight on it. It was formed out of crystal, and there was something dark inside. I managed to pry the lid off by using the knife Mathias had given me, and then I froze as I stared at the gem inside. It was a large sapphire, just a little smaller than my open palm.

  Golden numbers flashed across its faceted surface chased by strange symbols I didn’t recognize. But, they looked like the same odd language that had been on the map. Then they vanished, leaving only the sapphire’s deep blue hues to be seen. Well, that was weird.

  I hesitated for half a heartbeat and then scooped the sapphire up. It felt warm to the touch.

  “Lauren, what did you find?”

  I got to my feet and turned around to find Mathias escorting Raz Yakov by the arm. The older Spotter’s eyes widened and he let out a hissing breath. “The Sapphire of Shinar! It was here too!” He raised his hand to reveal another wrapped piece of crown. “I have the final piece. We need to put it together.”

  “No, we need to leave,” Mathias interjected.

  “We can’t waste time,” Raz Yakov countered. “Lauren Hope, we need to confirm this is the Crown of Nimrod. We can only do that by fitting the pieces together. We have time. If it’s the crown, we can dissemble it and then throw the pieces away as you planned. Or we could toss it through the glamour. Whatever you like, but we must confirm it first.”

  Mathias pinned me with a hard stare. “Lauren. We need to go now with or without him.”

  “You do not appreciate the importance of this moment,” Raz snapped. His gaze was frantic as he turned back to me. “Lauren Hope, we must confirm this now! I must know!”

  I looked from him to Mathias. “It won’t take more than a minute to do it. It will be easier to leave if you aren’t being forced to drag him out of here.”

  Mathias looked at his watch then cast an uneasy look at our surroundings. “All right. Try to hurry. We’re running out of time.”

  I nodded as I slipped the Sapphire of Shinar into my jacket pocket and then pulled the box out of my satchel. Finally. I couldn’t deny that I felt a rush as I opened the box and began fitting the pieces together. They went together perfectly, almost as though they wanted to be reunited. The three pieces I had found formed the back half of the circlet. The fourth piece from Naples snapped into place with half of a cradle for a stone. Then, Raz Yakov handed me the fifth piece. The crown snapped together and the empty cradle stood proud above the center of the crown’s front.

  “Now the jewel,” he urged.

  I almost refused, but didn’t for fear he and Mathias would get into a scuffle. I didn’t want the old man to get hurt even if he wasn’t being very practical. I took the sapphire back out of my pocket and set it into the cradle.

  The crown glowed as soon as the Sapphire of Shinar joined it. Then, the numbers one through ten appeared . . . wrapping around the crown
and hovering just above its surface. The numbers and strange symbols from both flashed across the surface of the sapphire and then they all vanished, leaving the crown to look rather ordinary save for the gorgeous sapphire in its crest.

  Catching my breath, I blinked. “It’s . . . It’s confirmed. This is the Crown of Nimrod. I can’t believe we actually found it.”

  Mathias shifted on his feet impatiently. “That’s wonderful to hear, however, we need to go now.”

  “I know, I know. Just let me take it apart. I can put it back together to document it properly when we aren’t standing in the heart of a volcano that’s attempting to wake up.” I reached for the sapphire, intending to pluck it free of its cradle, and then stopped as a slow clap echoed through the chamber.

  Raz Yakov was clapping in a slow almost, no, in a most definitely mocking manner. His face was creased with a smile more cruel than excited. Then, Mathias pulled his knives out. Ten hunters rushed into the forge from the overlook, the scarred hunter at their head. The one Mathias called Khalid.

  “Wonderful. You made it.” Horror coursed through me as I realized Raz Yakov was addressing the hunters. “Did you have any difficulties?”

  Khalid’ scarred face twisted a smile into more of a sneer. “No. The woman left a blood trail that was easy to follow.”

  “Excellent,” Raz Yakov murmured. He turned to me, and I realized Mathias had moved so he now stood next to me with the hunters ringed around the three of us. Raz Yakov’s smile turned vicious and a wicked gleam entered his eyes as he waggled his wild eyebrows. “I must congratulate you, Lauren Hope and Mathias. I never imagined you would succeed in finding all of the pieces of the Crown of Nimrod. Of course, I hadn’t expected you to survive the Colosseum fights either. I probably should have killed you, Lauren, when you sought me out. But then, I am still a curiosity seeker at heart and I wanted to see how a trembling terrified little coward of a woman could hope to best Weard Enterprises. You surprised me. You are made of much sterner stuff than it appeared.”