Chapter 14 #2
I struggle to mask my shock at his knowing our itinerary, wondering if it’s become the topic of discussion in the archaeology world. I peer over at the others, unsure what to say and hoping someone will speak.
For the first time, Grandad is speechless, unable to conjure an excuse for our derailment.
“Dr. Baccar, Lord Claremont, and I are here in celebration of my birthday,” Dr. Alarie says. “Edward is a cousin of mine. He and his wife are traveling along the coast of Italy and were able to stop in Venice for the celebration.”
It’s indeed a lie, but a convincing one.
Dr. Alarie delivers it with such conviction and confidence that even I believed it was true for a brief moment.
It seems Dr. Richmond believes it too, judging by the smile he gives. But something is unnerving about it—almost terrifying, as though he’s never worn this kind of smile before.
“That’s wonderful, chap. I wish the happiest of birthdays to you.
” He checks his pocket watch. “I fear I must go. I’m meeting a fellow Nordic expert for luncheon upstairs.
” Then he turns to Dr. Alarie, Grandad, and Amina.
“We should get together for dinner while we’re all here. Catch up on our projects.”
Grandad smiles, one that I can tell has no feeling behind it. “A wonderful idea, Richmond. We will get in contact to set one up.” Grandad dips his head slightly. “Have a good day.”
Once the rest of us bid him goodbye, we watch him walk away, waiting until he is completely out of sight.
When he’s gone, we turn back to one another. Grandad, Amina, and Dr. Alarie exchange a silent conversation through looks alone—annoyance flickering between them, a few eyes rolling.
“What is it?” I ask.
They look at us with exasperated faces. A heavy sigh escapes Grandad as he runs a hand across his face. “Dr. Richmond attended Oxford fifteen years after I did, but we’ve crossed paths several times. He was—and still is—a very odd bloke.”
“Odd how?” I ask.
“At Oxford, he was overly enthusiastic about proving the legends shaping our society were real, such as King Arthur and Excalibur,” Grandad explains. “The department shut down this idea as his dissertation, calling it ridiculous and senseless. Thus, forcing him to study Nordic archaeology instead.”
“He was heavily mocked in academia across Oxford and Cambridge for years for thinking he could find Excalibur and prove these myths were actually pieces of our history. I still think even after all these years, he resented the way Oxford and his fellow academics treated him. But despite the mockery he endured, he still studied and followed suit in the subject whenever he could. As we know all too well, there isn’t much funding in research and expeditions when no university will support the work.
Still, after all these years, he wouldn’t let it go. ”
Grandad stops short. His eyes widen as he looks fearfully at Dr. Alarie.
“Gabriel, you attended one of his lectures with me, correct? It must have been five or six years ago, at the University in Edinburgh.”
Dr. Alarie pauses, then nods. “Yes, I was there. He was presenting about his latest research findings about the resting locations of Excalibur and…”
“The Eudaemon artifacts,” Grandad finishes. “Back then, he theorized the artifacts must be buried somewhere around the Mediterranean.”
Grandad looks back at the corridor Dr. Richmond walked into.
“Do you think he could be the recipient of the telegram from the S.S Charlotte?” I ask.
Grandad nods. “He must be. There’s no one else in the world that’s this eager to find them. This must be the real reason why he’s here. He knows we found them.”
Heavy silence lingers around us as we all gaze off into the distance. I wonder how Dr. Richmond’s sudden appearance will change our plans.
“Do you think he knows I’m the Eudaemon?” I ask, hoping for reassurance rather than having my fear plunge even deeper.
“If he is the recipient of that telegram, there is a chance he might know it is you,” Amina says, placing a comforting hand on my arm.
“What does this mean for us now?” Henry asks.
“Thankfully, you both have never met him before, and you’re both in your disguises,” Dr. Alarie says. “He may be following us, but he believes he has yet to meet Clara Fairfax and Henry Ashford.”
“Do you think our disguises worked?” I ask.
Grandad nods. “It may have given you enough time to get onto the Simplon before he realizes he needs to track you both as well. Given he may have had a spy aboard our ship without any of us noticing, we don’t know who else he could have watching us.”
Grandad looks between Henry and me. “Be wary of anyone you encounter, even on the Simplon. He could have eyes and ears just about anywhere.”
We all glance around the hotel, wondering if someone is watching us even now.
We nod in agreement as I try to shove aside the alarm threatening to consume me.
Dr. Richmond’s visit proves we had eyes on us before we ever found the Eudaemon artifacts.
A wave of apprehension rolls through me, sweat forming in new, uncomfortable places.
I thought we’d have at least a few days to get ahead.
We haven’t even left the hotel, and we’ve already been shown that our enemies are one step ahead of us.
Grandad places a hand on my shoulder. “You both need to leave now and head straight for the station. Blend in as much as you can and be careful. There may be others like you who aren’t who they say they are.”
Without hesitation, I pull Grandad into a tight embrace, holding on longer than usual—his arms close around me just as firmly. Neither of us speaks. There isn’t time. When we part, his hand lingers at my shoulder, steady and grounding, before he steps back and lets me go.
“Don’t worry, Thena,” Grandad whispers to me. “We will find a way to fix all of this, and we will see each other again. Very soon.”
“Promise?” I ask.
Hearing a promise from him—the man who stepped up and raised me—gives me enough reassurance to know everything will be alright.
“I promise,” he says, giving my arms a final squeeze before turning back to the group and stepping toward Henry. He extends his hand, giving him a firm shake. “Take care of her, Henry.”
“I won’t let you down, sir,” Henry assures him, returning the handshake.
After I give my goodbyes to Amina and Dr. Alarie, anxious dread creeps up on me as I’m reminded that all of them are at risk because of me.
“Please be careful,” I say, looking between the three of them.
“Take care of yourself and look out for each other,” Amina says.
After our final goodbyes, Henry and I leave the hotel and step into a gondola, our luggage securely fastened. Henry climbs in first, then offers his hand to help me aboard.
We sit side by side as the gondola glides toward the Orient Express station in Marghera. I glance back at the hotel platform, waving goodbye to the others. I watch as they shrink until they vanish completely.
I turn to Henry, feeling his hand grab hold of mine, giving it a reassuring squeeze.
It’s a touch that wouldn’t be allowed in our normal lives, but given the circumstances, there’s no reason why we shouldn’t take advantage of it.
I return a small smile of appreciation for the gesture and for accompanying me.
“It’s just us now,” I say.
“It’s just us now,” Henry repeats.
A heaviness lingers as this realization settles, and a new sense of trust forms between us.
I can feel the uncertainty of what’s to come as we sail past the water-canaled city.
Knowing she is real, I close my eyes and reach out to Athena, asking for her help and protection as we embark on our journey.
The odds are stacked against us.
But will we receive aid from a deity who has been absent for millennia?