On the table, he unrolled a piece of velvet, revealing a set of beautifully carved knives, the sheaths each engraved with an ornate T.
Darius picked up one, to study it more closely.
“Yes, these are definitely part of the collection we seek.”
“So? What do you think? Are they worth a small fortune? Will your buyer be interested in these as well as the goblets?”
“Yes, no doubt at all.”
“Fantastic. Show me the piece you lifted?”
Eclair handed the diadem to Munroe.
“Not much to it, but it does look like a piece that belongs to the collection. It has all the scrollwork along the sides that match the other pieces.”
Munroe studied the diadem.
“I saw this before, but I never gave it much thought because the main stone on top is too big and plain. It makes the whole piece just plain ugly. It’s too bad you tripped the alarm over this.”
Munroe handed the piece back to Eclair, and gathered up his knives.
“I’m exhausted, and I want to go to bed,” Munroe said, heading for the door. “I’m glad you three are OK. Let’s get together tomorrow and talk about what to do next.”
Darius nodded. “Sounds good. See you in the morning.”
Munroe stopped before opening the door. “One more thing; after our little adventure tonight, I thought you might have use for one of my cell phones. It’s not expensive, a throw away model actually, but it has about five hours of calling left on it. I thought we could use it as an emergency communication system, in case we get separated again. It’s simple to operate, and I programmed it so you press and hold the number two and it will call me automatically.”
Darius walked over to Munroe, and took the cell phone. “Thanks, Munroe.”
“You’re welcome. See you tomorrow.”
Darius shut the door, and rejoined Dyla and Eclair at the table. He put the cell phone next to the diadem.
“A communication device?” Eclair asked quizzically. “I’d like to study it.”
“Sure, later, when things settle down,” Darius said, picking up the diadem. “Let’s take a look at this first.”
“It’s obviously an old design, but it should still hold quite a bit of information,” Eclair said. “I’ll have to be extremely careful when I probe it, to make sure that I don’t destroy anything unintentionally.”
“Hey, you two, why don’t we hold off examining the piece until the morning? That way we’ll be all rested and fresh.”
“OK. I’m tired too,” Darius said.
“All right,” Eclair agreed reluctantly.
Darius grabbed a pillow off the bed, and made himself comfortable in the recliner.
Dyla and Eclair both lay down on the bed.
“I’m so sorry I caused so much trouble today,” he whispered.
Dyla stroked his face.
“Don’t worry about it. Without you, we would never have gotten in or out of that place. Something besides you set off the alarm, I’m sure of it. Let’s get some sleep.”
Eclair pulled Dyla into his arms and tried to still his racing mind.
Excerpt from the field journal of Catiana Spencer:
There have been many locations throughout southern England and Wales that have been identified as having connections to the legends of King Arthur and Camelot. Dozmary Pool is one suggested site for the home of the Lady of the Lake. Some myths claim that she was a time traveler, coming from an unknown realm. According to legend, she is the guardian of Excalibur and will only give it to the most worthy.
Chapter 36 – The Discovery
Eclair lay awake, listening to Dyla’s soft, rhythmic breathing. She had fallen asleep almost immediately. He tried to relax, but no sleep came to him. His mind was a beehive of activity, thinking about what the original explorers had left for him to discover in the data cube.
Two hours of lying quietly was enough for him. He eased himself out of bed, and went to the table to study the data cube. Munroe was correct in his description; the stone was big and ugly when compared to a crystal jewel, but it was supposed to store information, not be a showcase of beauty.
“Now, let’s see what secrets you hold,” Eclair whispered.
He sat studying the cube for long minutes, but was reluctant to probe it. He still felt flustered about setting off the alarm in the mansion, and didn’t want another screw-up on his account. He needed to be sure that he would be able to extract the information in the cube without destroying it in the process.
He was so intent on studying the cube that he jumped at the touch on his shoulder. Eclair looked up, and was surprised to see Darius standing beside him.
“You couldn’t sleep either?”
“I’m too excited to sleep. I saw you at the table studying the cube, so I thought I might as well join you. Let’s keep it quiet so we don’t wake Dyla.”
“Little too late for that,” came a disembodied voice from the direction of the bed. “If you two are going to study that data cube, so am I.”
Dyla climbed out of bed, walked over to the table, and sat down next to Eclair.
“How do we get the information out?” she asked.
“We do not,” Eclair stated emphatically. “I do. It takes a precise measure of power to extract the information stored in the matrix of the cube, and it must be extracted layer-by-layer. Then I will have to reassemble it, trying to make something comprehensive out of it.”
“No sense in waiting for the morning, now that we’re all awake. Do you need our help with the power level?” Darius asked.
“No, thanks. It doesn’t require a lot of power, only the precise application of it.”
The twins sat back and watched Eclair concentrate on the cube. Tense moments ticked by.
“The main file is a map of some sort,” he finally said. “There is other information, but it has degraded too much for me to read. Even the map is difficult to decipher. I wish we had a reader with us, it would make this a lot easier.”
“Sorry, I didn’t think we would need a data-cube reader when we were running for our lives back on Otharia,” Darius replied sarcastically.
“Darius, enough,” Dyla scolded. “He was only making a comment.”
Eclair ignored Darius’s last comment.
“Get me something to write on, and I can draw the map; but you might want to hurry, my power is having a detrimental effect on the matrix. It’s deteriorating rapidly.”
Viewing the map inside the cube was essentially the same as viewing a remote site through a portal. As Eclair concentrated, a blurry, three-dimensional image formed in mid-air directly above the cube.
“Here you go. This is all I could find,” Dyla said.
“That’s good enough.”
Eclair took the pen, and began to draw the map on the small pad of paper Dyla had given him. The twins watched over his shoulder as he drew, but the map appeared incomplete when he finished.
“It looks like a settlement or encampment of some sort,” Dyla said.
All three studied the three-dimensional image hovering in the air, and compared it to the copy Eclair had drawn. It wasn’t long before the image started to waver and disappear.
“Try to hold it a little longer,” Darius said. “I want to memorize every detail.”
The image faded away.
“Sorry, it’s too degraded. I’m afraid this is all we’ll get.”
“Your drawing seems pretty good,” Dyla said. “It’s more than what we had before.”
Darius studied Eclair’s drawing.
“Yes, but it looks incomplete, like there’s something missing. There aren’t that many identifiable landmarks, so I’m not sure we’ll be able to locate this place by ourselves. We’ll have to show it to Munroe in the morning. He should be familiar with the landscape around here.”
Dyla stifled a yawn.
“Good, now can we finally get some sleep?”
“Not yet,” Eclair replied.
“What now?” she
groaned.
“Watch,” he said, smiling mischievously.
“I don’t like it when he does that,” Darius said.
As the twins watched, Eclair laid the drawing in front of him. Initially, nothing happened; but soon the paper began to discolor and crumble at the edges.
“What are you doing?” Dyla cried in alarm.
Eclair didn’t answer, continuing to concentrate on the task at hand. When he finished, the twins stared at a drawing that was discolored, crumpled, and appeared ancient.
“How did you do that?” Dyla exclaimed.
“I excited the molecules of the paper to the point that they gave off their internal energy faster than what their normal vibrational kinetic energy would have,” Eclair explained.
“What did he just say?” Darius asked.
Eclair looked at Darius.
“The result is the paper has aged faster than normal, many hundreds of years at least. Now we can say we found it inside the crystal stone. It looks old enough to pass any casual inspection.”
“Amazing, will wonders never cease?”
Dyla yawned again. “I’m only wondering if I can get some sleep now.”
***
The next morning, Munroe arrived to find the three eagerly waiting for him.
“What’s up with you guys? You seem excited today.”
“We have something to show you,” Darius said.
They ushered him over to the table, and showed him the map. Before Munroe had arrived, Eclair had used his powers to bore a hole into the data cube to explain where the map had been hidden. They sat around the table as Munroe studied the map.
“Bloody hell, this is amazing! But I don’t recognize any of the landmarks. It could be some ancient site, but I honestly don’t know where it might be. Sorry, I can’t help with this.”
Eclair groaned with disappointment; but he wasn’t sure if he believed Munroe.
“I thought you knew the area around here?”
“Sure, around here, in the city; but this is somewhere else, maybe in the countryside. There are no roads or buildings on this map that I could use as reference points.”
Eclair pointed at the map. “Munroe, look again. There’s a building, a road of sorts, a lake, and a row of hills.”
“That pretty much describes all of the English countryside. I’m sorry. I can’t help you with this. You’ll need someone like Cat to figure out where this place is.”
“Call her then,” Darius said. “Tell her what we’ve found, and ask for her help.”
Munroe paused rubbing his chin. “Hmmm, that may bring up a touchy subject.”
“What do you mean?” Eclair asked.
“Think about it. We now have a new artifact in our possession. I never told Cat how I acquired the previous piece I’ve shown her. How do we explain this one? She doesn’t know I’m a thief.”
“Imagine that,” scoffed Dyla.
Munroe scowled at Dyla.
“Seriously, if Cat knew the pieces were obtained illegally, she wouldn’t help us, even with a find like the map showing an ancient settlement. We need to be careful, and very judicious about what we tell her.”
“What do you suggest?” Dyla asked.
Munroe stood and started to pace the confines of the room. The trio watched him, but offered no suggestions themselves. Long minutes passed before Munroe returned to sit at the table.
“The best lies are hidden in elements of the truth,” he said. “We tell her that you acquired the artifact from my benefactor. Show her the piece, and she’ll see that it is indeed ancient. The other gemstones in the diadem will surely attract her attention. Tell her you paid an exorbitant amount for it, and she’ll readily believe your story, especially when she sees the centerpiece gem is so crude. She’ll think you were duped like so many others, and then you can reveal your discovery.”
The trio looked at one another, and each nodded in turn.
“We like it,” Darius said. “No outright lies, only the truth from a unique perspective. We all agree on the cover story. Contact her, and ask her to come see us immediately.”
“OK, but be careful what you say.”
“Don’t worry about us. We can handle ourselves,” Dyla said.
“Yes, indeed you can.”
***
Cat looked up from the map with excitement gleaming in her eyes.
“This is unbelievable. It’s amazing how well preserved it is. If this is genuine, I believe it points to one of the original settlements of Arthurian times, or perhaps earlier. Would you hand me the diadem? I want to look it over again.”
Eclair breathed an inward sigh of relief as Cat shifted her focus from the map to the diadem. Any close scrutiny of the map would show minute discrepancies in the overall consistency of the paper. Better to have her focus on the actual artifact than the paper map.
“This is truly amazing,” Cat repeated. “To think that a map was hidden in this little recess, and preserved all these years.”
Darius sat beside Cat, and lightly brushed her hand as he reached for the diadem. He quickly read her thoughts and lingering doubts about the cube.
“The hole was actually covered with a combination of a hardened, gummy substance and a bit of stone,” he said, repeating Cat’s thoughts. “Eclair noticed some discoloration on the bottom side of the gem and started to probe at it with a thin blade. The whole cover popped off and crumbled to dust, but that’s how we discovered the map inside. So, you think it points to an old settlement, maybe Arthur’s original settlement?”
Cat listened to Darius’s explanation and appeared satisfied, letting go of her lingering doubts. She wanted to carbon date the paper, but, for now, the excitement of the find was overwhelming her academic caution.
Cat picked up the map again.
“It could be. I know this general area, although it has changed from what the map depicts.”
Eclair could hardly contain his own excitement. “Would you take us there?”
“Yes, but don’t get too excited,” she cautioned. “If this is the same area I think it is, then it’s been scavenged for years. We might find something new, based on your map, but you must be prepared to find nothing at all. Even though this diadem has the identical markings as the goblets, the chances of finding anything new are especially low. Please, keep your expectations reasonable.”
Dyla put her hand on Eclair’s shoulder. “We understand. When can you take us to this place?”
Eclair realized how excited he had become, and felt reassuring warmth generated through Dyla’s touch. It had an immediate calming effect.
“Did your seller say where the diadem was originally found?”
“No, he could only confirm that it had been in his family for many generations,” Darius said.
“Oh, that’s too bad. If we knew where this was found, it would give us a starting point.”
“Isn’t the map a good starting point?”
“As good as any I suppose. We could go today, if you’re ready.”
Munroe leaned back in his chair with a Cheshire cat smile on his face. He was amazed at how adroitly the three handled the situation, directing Cat to what they wanted her to focus on. It made him realize that he would have to exercise extreme care around them from now on.
“I’m ready to go now,” Munroe said.
Darius stood up. “Great, that settles it. Let’s go.”
Cat carefully rolled up the map. “Luckily, I don’t have any classes today. We can take my van. It’s big enough to fit everyone.”
“How far is it to the site?” Eclair asked.
“A few hours to the west.”
“Where we first met you?”
“North of there.”
“Excellent, let’s go.”
The group headed out the door, excitement buzzing in the air.
Excerpt from the field journal of Catiana Spencer:
The village of Tintagel is purported to be the birthplace of Arthur. Scholars hav
e found evidence in the form of a slate plaque, inscribed in Latin. Loosely translated, it makes reference to Arthur. Unfortunately, the reference is vague, but I believe it could still be a piece of the puzzle that I have been searching for, to prove that Arthur was indeed real and not a mythical fabrication of ignorant locals. All legends spring forth from kernels of truth, and there are many surrounding Arthur. I need but find one to make my theories heard.
Chapter 37 – Road Trip
The group piled into Cat’s van and headed out to the countryside. There was little need of supplies for this first outing. Darius made sure he took the diadem, in case it was of any use at the site, and Eclair carried Munroe’s cell phone.
The excitement of finding the map had the group abuzz with speculation. The countryside they traveled through was picturesque, with rolling hills and lush green landscapes. Finally, Cat pulled off the main road onto a hard-packed, dirt road. They traveled along it for several more kilometers, finally stopping beside a beautiful, sprawling lake.
Cat turned off the engine and jumped out of the van. “This is it.”
The group piled out of the van and joined her in looking around.
“Cat, may I see the map again?” Eclair asked.
“Sure.”
Eclair walked to the edge of the water and studied the area. “This lake looks too vast. It covers a larger area than what the map shows.”
“Trust me, this is the place. The lake has grown over the years.”
Cat walked to Eclair, and pointed at the details on the map. “Look at the two rows of hills, and how the lake intercepts them in the middle. We should find the settlement remains at the foot of the hills to our left.”
“Yes, I see it now. I guess this is the place.”
Munroe joined Eclair and Cat.
“Lead on, Cat. Let’s find this settlement, or whatever is left of it.”
The group headed toward the hills. Along the way, Cat entertained them with the legend surrounding this particular lake.
“One of the great Arthurian legends is of a mystical lady, who supposedly lived in a lake, and helped Arthur become King. There are many stories surrounding this legend, but basically all agree that she granted Arthur the use of a sword named Excalibur. The sword had amazing powers. Anyone brandishing this sword in battle was nearly invincible. However, the sword could only be wielded by the hand of a pure and righteous man, or it would cut him down.”
The Quest for Nobility Page 27