Fountain of Secrets (The Relic Seekers) (24 page)

Kendall’s shoulders were drooping. She was tired. These visions sapped her strength.

“Can you walk?”

She nodded and started to stand. Her knees buckled and she sat down again. “Maybe not.”

“Do you want me to carry you?”

“No. Just give me a minute. Let me close my eyes. Sit with me.”

He sat beside her, slightly behind, and let her rest against him. He could feel some kind of energy coming off her. An aura… He didn’t know what the hell it was, but it was so powerful it was frightening. He wasn’t about to move and leave her to deal with it alone. His admiration for her grew, as if she weren’t already on a damned pedestal. He closed his eyes and put his arms around her, pulling her against his chest. It was like getting a mild shock, but without the pain. He picked up flashes of something. Sensations maybe. He couldn’t begin to describe or decipher them, but it felt as if they were wrapped in a soft cocoon of light. Just him and her. Nothing else existed. He couldn’t have said how much time passed. It was as if time didn’t exist. Then he felt Kendall stir in his arms. He didn’t want to leave but he heard voices nearing. The gardens had opened.

“We should go,” Kendall said, starting to stand.

Jake helped her up. She was still wobbly but able to walk. She seemed a little stronger when they got to their room, but he insisted she rest. “You know how these things affect you.” He pulled off her shoes and made her lie down. “We have a lot of work to do here. We have to find that chalice and figure out why we’re here.
I need you mentally and physically strong.” He hesitated. “Nathan needs you to be strong. Curse or not, if he doesn’t get rid of his condition, it’ll kill him.”

“You’re worried about him too.”

“I work for him. He’s a paycheck.”

“You don’t believe that any more than I do. I do need to rest. The group is counting on me to find King Arthur.”

“If anybody in the world can do it, you can.”

She gave him a tired smile. “That’s not what you used to say. You’re really working on your knighthood status.”

“I know I was… skeptical when we first met.”

“You mean obnoxious?”

“Obnoxious then. Sorry, but I don’t trust easily. I like what I can see and feel.”

“Most people do. It’s OK. You’re being very supportive now.”

“Well, a knight must do what he can. ‘
And always do to ladies, damsels, and gentlewomen succor, upon pain of death.
’”

“Where’d you learn that?” Kendall asked. “That’s part of the knight’s oath.”

“Must have read it somewhere.”

“What about the White Spring and the inns,” she asked. “We need to find Brandi.”

“I’ll look for Brandi while you rest. Later, we’ll go to the White Spring.”

She nodded. “I am zonked. I get so tired of this.”

“I know. But ninety-nine percent of the world would give their right hand to glimpse what you do. I don’t understand it. I don’t always like it, but it is a gift.”

“Not a curse?” she asked, eyes closed.

Her hair was down, falling over her shoulders. Not a drop of makeup as far as he could tell, but she looked so beautiful it made
his chest ache. Hell, what was wrong with him? He’d known her for only a few days, but it felt like it had been a lifetime.

He left her there and walked down the street to the closest two inns. At each, he told the innkeeper he was looking for his friend. He got lucky at the second one. A woman matching Brandi’s description had been staying there. But his luck didn’t last. She had checked out early that morning. Cold feet, he guessed, after they’d almost caught her. The owner said she’d asked about another inn in town.

Jake caught a taxi and went past the abbey into the main part of town. It was obvious from the storefronts that the town was immersed in the legends of King Arthur, the abbey, and the Tor. The area catered to everything from religion to paganism. He checked the inn where he’d hoped to find Brandi, but she wasn’t there. He found a café with Internet service and searched for other nearby lodging. He made several calls with no luck. Then he tried Nathan at the hotel, but he didn’t answer. Jake hadn’t told Kendall, but he was getting concerned that Nathan hadn’t contacted them. Sure he was worried that he’d hurt Kendall, but he could have left a message telling them he was either still cursed or cured.

It was a short taxi ride to the hotel, but Nathan wasn’t in his room. Or he wasn’t answering the door. Jake was about to get management to open the door, when a maid walked by. When questioned, she said she had seen Nathan leave his room yesterday. At least he was alive.

Jake walked out to hail a taxi and glimpsed a woman with red hair. Red hair, near their hotel? And she looked just like Brandi. Jake ran toward her, but when he reached the corner where he’d seen her, she wasn’t there. He checked the shops nearby, but there was no sign of her. Maybe it was his imagination or another redhead.

He didn’t want to leave Kendall any longer. He started to hail a taxi when one pulled up across the street. A woman got out. She looked at Jake as he approached, and her eyebrows rose in appreciation. He’d gotten used to the look. Sometimes he took what was offered. Sometimes he didn’t. Lately, he’d been too caught up with the whole business with Nathan and Iraq to worry about women. Now, he was too caught up with a green-eyed blonde.

Ignoring the woman’s interest, he grabbed the taxi and went back to the house. When he walked inside, Halle was planning the night’s activities. “Good. You’re back. I hope Kendall’s feeling well enough for the moonlight tour and séance tonight.”

“I think she’ll be fine. She was tired. The visions take a toll.”

“They did with Lizzie too, but Kendall’s better than Lizzie. You think Kendall would be interested in doing another tour after this is over? I was thinking Stonehenge and Avebury. I haven’t been since last year.”

Jake didn’t want to disappoint Halle, so he said something vague and then went to check on Kendall. She was still resting. He pulled off his pants and tossed them on the other bed, then climbed in beside her, moving close to her back.

“What are you doing?”

He draped his hand over her stomach. “Snuggling.”

“You can’t wear your pants while you snuggle?”

“You know me better than that.”

“The least you could do is to warn me before you undress.”

“And miss that look on your face?” He smiled. “How are you feeling?”

“Better. Still tired.”

“I don’t think we’ve recovered from that damned cave. I’m still groggy.”

“I guess traveling through a portal will do that. And we lost a day, so we’re behind on sleep.” She started to get up.

He put his hand on her waist. “Where you going?”

“Bathroom. Is that OK?”

“Unless you need help.”

“I’ll manage.”

She crawled over him, but he trapped her. “You have to pay the toll,” he said, nuzzling her neck.

She kissed him hard and then jumped up. He watched her go, wondering what he was going to do about her. She was inside his head, and he was afraid there was no getting her out. He closed his eyes for a second. Yep. Still there. He must have nodded off, because when he opened them, she was there too, but this time she was standing on her head with her back against the wall.

“What the hell are you doing?”

She flopped back over onto her feet. “Trying to wake up, get my blood pumping.”

“I can think of some better ways to get your blood flowing.”

“I imagine you could.”

“I was thinking of a foot massage,” he said, smiling innocently.

“Really? Not something more… carnal?”

He leaned back against the pillow and watched her. “I’m working on my application for knighthood. But if you want something less chivalrous and more carnal, let me know.”

“I’ll be sure to do that. But right now, we need to check the White Spring. We should have time to go before dinner.”

He groaned and got out of bed. He wanted to grab her and climb back in, spend the next twelve hours or so just lying in bed with her, but she was right. There was work to do. “Are you feeling up to this séance tonight?”

“I feel much better.”

They grabbed bottles of water and started across the street. The White Spring didn’t have a trust established to protect it, like
the Chalice Well, but there was an attendant, a young man, who welcomed them. The spring was inside a building, dimly lit with candles. There were several flowers and gifts lying nearby.

“Why is it called the White Spring?” Jake asked.

“Because of the calcium,” Kendall said. “It has a sweet taste. The Chalice Well has a lot of iron, which leaves a red stain on the rocks. It’s interesting that the springs are so close but so different. Both of them are supposed to have powers to heal.”

No one else was at the White Spring. Kendall bent down and touched the water, then cupped her hand and drank some. Jake stood nearby, wondering if it would have the same effect on her. She stood after a minute and shook her head. They looked around for a minute longer and then left.

“You get anything?” he asked.

“It’s powerful and old, just like the Chalice Well, but no visions. I think my focus was off. Maybe because the attendant was watching. But I do think the two springs are connected.”

“You think they’re connected to the Fountain of Youth?”

“I know the Chalice Well is connected to the Holy Grail, and the two springs are certainly in close proximity. They’ve flowed steadily for over two thousand years, even in drought. That’s pretty amazing. But I don’t know if that means either of them is connected to the Fountain of Youth. I wish we could get up with Nathan to see if he’s discovered anything.”

“You mean if his curse is gone.”

“I’m worried about him.”

“You worry about him a lot. He’ll find us when he’s ready.”

“I’m afraid he’s in danger.”

“Nathan’s always in danger. He has enemies.”

“This is different,” Kendall said. “That shadow in the cave. I think it did something to my memories, but I believe it’s after Nathan.”

“He’s a big boy,” Jake said. “He can take care of himself.”

“Is that why you’re so worried about him?” Kendall asked.

When they arrived at the house, Halle’s face was glowing. “We’ve just had a late addition to the group. A message was just delivered.”

“I thought the others were sick?” Larry asked.

“This guy’s new.”

“Someone new will be fun,” Rhonda said.

Sandy agreed. “It brings more energy to the group. Look at how much has happened since Kendall and Jake joined us.”

“I suppose you’re right,” Alice said. “Jake and Kendall are new, and they’re fun.”

“I think you’ll be glad I allowed him to join.” Halle looked like she might burst, and when she made the announcement, Kendall understood why Halle, with her worries over money, was so excited. “It’s Nathan Larraby, the billionaire.”

King Arthur, Jesus, and now Nathan. There was always some other man in her head. He grimaced. “Told you he’d find us.”

There were exclamations of approval, and even Alice was agreeable. “I’ve heard of him.”

“Nathan Larraby is the most eligible bachelor in America,” Rhonda said with the authority of someone who was an expert on eligible bachelors. “They say he’s drop-dead gorgeous.”

“I bet he’s the handsome man I saw outside the gardens earlier,” Alice said. “When I went for a walk, he was looking right at the house.”

Maybe he was the one sneaking in the window of the caretaker’s room. Brandi had probably seen him and followed him here. Kendall was worried about what Brandi might do. The fact that she was here meant she had followed them, through the
maze or by other means, and was more desperate to destroy the relics than they had thought. And after Kendall’s vision at the well, she was convinced there was at least one relic here.

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen his face,” Halle said.

“With all that money and looks, he avoids the public,” Rhonda said. “Every gold digger out there is probably after him.”

“He must be shy,” Alice said. “I like a shy man.”

Jake stopped rolling his eyes and, grunting under his breath, stood. “Look at the time. We’re going to be late for Camelot.”

There was a rush for the bus.

“Did Halle say when Nathan was arriving?” Kendall asked when they were seated on the bus. She was anxious to tell him about her vision.

Jake did something to his boot. Probably checking to see if his knife was there. “Everyone was too busy drooling over him.”

Cadbury Mound was about ten miles away. The bus driver gave them the background on Cadbury as they wove their way through the countryside. “Most people believe the hill fort is Camelot,” he said. “There used to be a castle here, Cadbury Castle, and historians and archaeologists have found evidence of stones dating even farther back, the right time period to have been Camelot. Just like with Tintagel Castle where Arthur was born, just on the northern coast of Cornwall. Doubters say it couldn’t have been Arthur’s birthplace, since it was built later, but there are older ruins underneath, covered up by earth and time. There are some who swear that on Christmas Eve, King Arthur and his knights can be seen in a ghostly procession crossing from Cadbury Mound.” The drive took them through rolling countryside and a charming village before dropping them off at a parking lot at the base of the mound.

“Camelot,” Alice said, pulling in a deep breath, after she’d exited the bus. “Isn’t it exciting? Too bad Mr. Larraby hasn’t arrived yet. Where will he sleep?”

“He’ll have to share a room with Larry,” Halle said.

Larry nodded, looking intrigued. “I don’t mind as long as he’s neat.”

The path led between two buildings. They started off, Larry and Halle in the lead.

“Have you been to Cadbury Mound before?” Kendall asked Alice.

“Twice,” she said. “I’m certain it’s Camelot. There’s a presence here. I can just feel Arthur. Maybe he’ll contact you again.”

“Let’s hope,” Jake muttered.

“This is only my second time here,” Halle said, falling back. The climb was getting steeper now. “It’s one of Lizzie’s favorite places.”

Jake and Kendall quickly moved ahead of the group. He took her hand and guided her around a large rock. When they had passed it, he didn’t let go. “Have you thought about my suggestion?”