As the film began and the lady turned around, the fine hair on Sara’s arms began to rise. If Lucas was right and the manuscript hadn’t been written until maybe even the twentieth century, what would be a more perfect American site to hide the Spear than one associated with a French cathedral? A Templar cathedral. Templars had been the guardians and the Sinclairs had provided refuge for Templars and become the guardians. And then the first line of the verse flashed in front of her, obliterating the movie screen.
“Where roses climb to heaven…” How much higher could a rose be than near the lofty ceiling of a Gothic cathedral whose massive spires were symbols of reaching to heaven?
She plucked at Lucas’ sleeve. He looked down and gave her a smile.
“We’re going to Maine, aren’t we?’ he asked.
Chapter Thirteen—The Spear
“Have we been cursed by Awyr himself?” Lucas asked, pulling his jacket close as they walked to the rental car in the Portland airport.
“It does seem as though the God of Wind isn’t too happy,” Sara answered. “Tomorrow is Beltane and the forecast is for a late season Nor’easter.”
“I’ve had enough of storms,” Lucas answered as they headed north on I-495.
Sara felt that familiar hair-raising tingle begin. “You know, Brianna did predict wind and a storm at sea. I think this may be it this time.”
He gave her a lopsided smile. “Isn’t that what you said at Roanoke?”
She made a face at him. “Just wait and see, then.”
By the time they reached Lewiston nearly an hour later, the storm had come ashore, railing at the town with fifty-mph winds and gusts much stronger than that.
If Lucas hadn’t been holding the car door for her as she stepped out, it might have snapped right off. The street was nearly deserted, sensible New Englanders having battened down the hatches early. Still, Lucas took a careful look around.
“No tail?” Sara asked.
“Doesn’t seem to be,” he answered, “but I can feel him. He’s close.”
She felt the presence of danger too. “Let’s hope we can find the Spear before he finds us.” Clutching the hood of her jacket around her face, she stared up at the cathedral they had come to see.
The twin towers with their cornered steeples seemed to pierce the low-scudding clouds of the storm. Between them, high over the main entrance, was the magnificent rose window. Theoverall picture was of an eight-petal rose, signifying the course of Venus during her five-year transit. But inside the upper lip of each petal were alternating five-pointed stars and smaller roses with eight petals. Five and eight again. Eight still smaller roses were near the center where a five-pointed star was surrounded by a circle.
“What fantastic symbolism to the Divine Feminine,” Sara breathed.
“For those who have eyes to see,” Lucas answered.
Sara looked up at him. “Isn’t that one of those coded phrases the Templars used when they wanted to identify themselves to each other without the risk of being arrested?”
Lucas nodded. “I’m impressed. Have you been doing research since we met?”
“I have,” Sara said. “This whole story of Templar treasure actually being real…” She broke off and shrugged. “I’m here, so I guess I believe it. And Baylor sure does.”
“Speaking of whom,” Lucas said as he took her arm, “let’s go inside. It’s one place he can’t follow.”
The view inside was equally awe-inspiring. The center aisle was nearly three hundred feet long and at the end of it, in the rear gallery, sat a majestic organ with four thousand pipes. They walked the Stations, marveling at the restoration done to them. And then, Sara saw it.
The figure was in dark wood and she wore a cloak over a robe, with a coronet on her head. Sara scarcely cared what the statue was called, for it didn’t really matter. The symbolism was there. A black Madonna. For those who had eyes to see.
“This is the place,” she said in an excited whisper. “Let’s look outside for the Druid’s oak.”
If anything, the wind had picked up in velocity during the time they had been in the church. It howled with all the intensity of a true winter storm. Lightning split the heavens in jaggedstreaks and thunder rumbled as they made their way around the side of the church.
“Probably not the best place for you to be,” Lucas said. “Why not wait in the car and let me check it out?”
“No way am I going—”
Her voice was drowned out at an enormouscrackso close that Sara jumped. A deep rending sound followed as an ancient tree to their left split in two. A blackened circle scorched the earth around the base.
