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“But the Arcan Hunters hated our traditions, beliefs, our culture and thus hated us as a people. As they gained political power in the territories, they began to systematically annihilate our people by stealing our land, clearing our villages, ripping our children from us, and scattering us to the four winds.”
“Divide and conquer.”
An ancient and very effective battle strategy.
Maggie nodded, adding, “Their goal hasn’t changed in a full century either. Only their methods are different, and their identities much more subtle and allusive, making it easier for them to snake their way into power without detection.”
I understood what she was suggesting. Modern day Arcan Hunters somehow managed to slither into her own tribe’s politics and usurped her authority to authenticate and protect these glyphs.
Maybe the “natural” cave explosion and “accidental” fatality last year had more nefarious explanations.
“Right. Let’s get to work, then get back to civilization,” I said.
Maggie and I spent the next hour examining, documenting and photographing each glyph that I could send to Collin Bangor, planning our combined attack later on piecing together the stories these ancients wanted to tell us.
Finished with her last task, Maggie loaded up her own satchel, then checked her wristwatch. “We need to wrap this up, so I can get to my budget meeting in two hours that I’m already going to be late for.”
I snapped a few more photos, saying, “You go ahead. I’ll finish this last wall, then be right behind you.”
“You’re sure? A city girl like you could get pretty freaked out being alone in these caves.”
“Please,” I muttered, taking a small scraping off a minor sketching. “Go. I’m ten minutes behind you.”
“Your call. Don’t be long, or I’ll leave you here to fend for yourself for the night.”
“Ha, ha. Do it, and I’ll take full credit for these findings.”
“Over my dead body,” she said, her lips twitching. “Don’t be long.”
Being so focused on the glyphs, I barely noticed when her own light disappeared from the circular room. This was a genuine archeological discovery all right, a major one. I couldn’t wait to get back to my hotel room tonight, so that I could call Collin and tell him. I had no doubt that he would drop everything and fly out here. No emotional blackmail needed.
Fifteen minutes later, I was done with my preliminary documentation, then packed everything up to head out with eager plans to return tomorrow—hopefully with Collin and his valuable political entourage.
Ducking under the stalactite archway, I made my way back through the rocky tunnel. There were a few twists and turns I wasn’t exactly sure about. Luckily, I would recognize a pothole I had stumbled into here or stalagmite there to keep me going in the correct direction.
Readjusting my bearings at one of the tunnel forks, I headed left and further into the black depths. Unsure of my route at first, the smell of rotten eggs assured me that I was heading in the correct direction and continued forward. Until the strange static in the air and quiet rocky rumble nervously distracted me to miss the fallen rock in my path.
I tripped and yelped, sprawling face first onto the ground. Groaning and muttering blackly, I tried to stand and immediately collapsed. My screaming left ankle let me know why.
“Ow. Dang it,” I muttered, lightly touching my swelling ankle. “Maggie, get back here, I need your help!”
No answer. Which meant I was still too far from the outside entrance for her to hear. Perfect.
I lightly probed and tested my ankle, but I didn’t think there was any break. It would be an agonizing limp back to the entrance, but I could make it.
My flashlight beam showed me where it had rolled. Still wearing my headlamp, I could make it out of the tunnel fine without it, but I had paid good money for the thing last week. No way was I leaving it behind.
Gritting my teeth, I pushed myself to shakily stand, then limped into the cave room to retrieve my flashlight.
That’s when I spotted them on the craggy rock wall.
Professional curiosity warred with my physical pain and the need to not further tick Maggie off for making her late to her budget meeting.
One minute, I decided.
Grabbing my flashlight off the ground, I swung the beam up to shine on what appeared to be yet another glyph—a sunburst and sickle moon symbol surrounded by ancient lettering below them of some sort. Norse, in appearance. Or something much more...ancient.
“Eureka,” I whispered, my heart picking up speed.
