Page 20 of The Last Knight (The Cursed Kingdom #5)

Chapter Fourteen

“ W hat’s wrong?” Erin asked, a concerned look on her face. “You stopped talking midsentence.”

Aubrey shook her head. “Did I? My mind wandered and for a moment, I thought I heard a voice.”

Even in the dim light of the cellar, Aubrey felt as if it was too bright. As if she’d been in total darkness and stepped into light. She narrowed her eyes.

“What did you hear?” Erin asked. “You looked scared.”

It was best to be honest. As long as she didn’t tell Erin about the tryst with Gunther. That was a secret she’d never divulge.

“I heard Gunther’s voice asking for help.” She shook her head. “It was as if I was in another place. A dark, shadowed room filled with swirls of lights that brightened and dimmed.”

“Oh no,” Erin exclaimed putting down a figurine and closing the distance between them. She took Aubrey by the shoulders. “Do you feel faint?”

Aubrey pushed her cousin’s hands away. “I feel fine. Just shaken a bit. What if he’s in danger?”

“It’s probably a trick,” Erin replied. “He is using you to try to get here. We can’t let that happen. He is a dangerous man.”

It was on the tip of her tongue to tell Erin she didn’t believe it to be so. The connection she’d had with Gunther had been pure. But, if it proved to be something other than that, she’d feel like an utter fool.

For the moment, it was best not to say anything.

The first thing that would happen is that Erin would call on Gwen, Tammie and John to do some sort of protection spell.

It wasn’t that she didn’t want their help, if it were needed, but at the moment, she wanted to hear from Gunther. To know he was okay.

“One more box and then we’ll consider the attic and the dusty trunks,” Aubrey said with a shudder. “I want to get this over with today. After tomorrow, I’ll be too busy at the studio to do anything.”

She dug into the box, lifting a thick woolen fabric. Under it, there were three bubble wrapped items. She lifted a bundle, it was heavy, but impossible to tell what it was through the uneven covering. Carefully, Aubrey, pulled the tape off and unwrapped it.

“What is that?” Erin asked peering down at a phallic shaped metal piece. “Is it something sexual?”

Aubrey giggled. “I don’t know, think it separates from the middle.”

Not touching it directly, Aubrey used two tea towels from another box and pulled the cover apart.

They let out gasps because inside was an intricately carved crystal dagger.

About six inches long, the dagger’s blade glistened in the dim light.

Even to her inexperienced eye, it was obvious the blade was dangerously sharp. It was beautiful.

The handle was golden and encrusted with precious stones that Aubrey guessed to be rubies, emeralds and topaz.

“Whoa,” Erin said in a reverent tone. “That has to be worth a lot of money.”

Aubrey nodded. “I have no doubt the stones are real. She held it up on her palms. Look on the end of the handle, are those diamonds?”

Could this be it? Was this dagger what was needed to save Gunther? Aubrey met Erin’s gaze and knew her cousin was thinking the same thing.

“We need to take it to the castle,” Erin said. “Here give it to me.”

The dagger became heavy in her hands and when she attempted to hand it to Erin, a sizzle of protest zapped up her arm. She gasped and pulled the dagger closer. Immediately it lightened, it was almost as if it sighed in relief.

“I don’t think it wants me to give it to anyone. I know this is going to sound crazy, but I am sensing it cannot be taken out of the house.”

“Oh.” Erin looked around and grabbed a wooden lidded box. “Let’s put it back in its sheath and into the box. I’ll go and call the others to come here.”

The blade seemed to glow when Aubrey glanced at it. Probably her imagination. “Good idea.”

Taking her time, she returned the blade to its protective cover and then into the box. She let out a breath. “I am not sure how I feel about it being here in the house. It is definitely magical.”

Erin nodded. “Since it hasn’t caused any harm before, I doubt anything will change. Should we continue looking?” She motioned to the box.

“Yes.”

They each took one of the two remaining bundles.

Erin unwrapped another bundle and discovered a leather strap with a round gold pendant.

Etched in the pendant was the bust of a human-looking creature.

Broad shoulders, a thick neck and a face with an elongated nose and mouth resembling a dog, or perhaps a horse.

“Look at this,” Erin said holding the strap, the pendant swinging from it.

“Eww,” Aubrey said. “He’s ugly.” She peered into the box. “I’m afraid to open the last one.”

She waited a beat while Erin wrapped the necklace up and then she lifted the third bundle. It was of a good weight, like that of a medium-sized rock. Trepidation surged inside her as she pulled back the tape, then the bubble wrap. The item was bound in an intricately embroidered fabric.

On the fabric, embroidered in a golden thread, there were depictions of strangely shaped trees, the bare branches intermingling to form a border around the edges.

Heart beating wildly, she pulled back the fabric to find a beautifully carved bowl.

It was black, perhaps onyx, although it was hard to tell what exactly it was made of.

It was the size of a soup bowl, not that anyone would use such a beautiful item for soup.

Other than something like floral designs on the outer edge, she didn’t sense anything from it.

“Are there any words on it?” Erin asked peering at the bowl.

Aubrey flipped it to look on the bottom, but it was smooth. She shrugged. “Nothing that I can see. Maybe it was just a keepsake.”

Why were the pendant and the bowl stored under the cloth together? Nothing made sense. Aubrey had a sudden thought that sent shivers down her spine.

If the last dagger they’d found was the only weapon that could kill Meliot, was it possible, the blade they’d just found was the only item powerful enough to end Gunther’s life?

If only she’d found it when he’d been there, he could have told her more. Now that Erin knew, her cousin wouldn’t hesitate to inform the others of the find.

“I am not sure I want to do anything with this.” She took the pendant and bowl and placed them in the same wooden box where the dagger was.

“It may be best to leave these things here and not move them. We cannot chance the consequences of our friends coming and releasing something too strong to be controlled.”

At least Erin seemed to be listening. Whether she’d changed her mind wasn’t clear. “It could be a way to keep Gunther away from you. From the possibility of evil breaking through to this realm.”

“What about that strange creature? What if that thing is what is trying to create an opening? I don’t feel as if Gunther is being deceitful. I believe he wants to be freed and get away from the Darkness.”

Erin’s gaze met hers. “I know you must feel something for him. But the darkness is very powerful. Whether or not he fights, eventually it will win.”

She let out a breath. “Padriag told me Meliot was not an evil man before being overtaken by the Darkness. The wizard himself told Padriag that it is impossible to fight against the overwhelmingly intoxicating force of evil.”

“Can we give it until week’s end? I really need to rest up for the opening tomorrow and that is what I want to concentrate on. I cannot allow all of this to interfere.”

“I think it’s a good idea. I will tell Padriag about it when he returns home. If he wishes to delve into things, do you mind?”

She wasn’t thrilled at the idea. “It means the others will follow quickly. That’s what I’m trying to avoid.”

Finally her cousin let out a breath. “Fine, I won’t tell him today, but I can’t keep it from him for long. I don’t like keeping secrets from him.”

“Thank you,” Aubrey hugged Erin and then took her upper arm guiding her to the staircase. “I need a glass of wine. You?”

“Great idea.”

They walked from the cellar and Aubrey turned to pull the string on the light. Just as she touched it, a glimmer caught her attention.

The flaps of the box had opened and a sliver of what looked like glitter emanated from it. A second later, it vanished.

“What is it?” Erin asked at her hesitation.

“I almost lost my balance reaching for this damn string,” Aubrey lied. After another quick glance at the box, she pulled the string.

It was dark by the time Aubrey pulled up to the familiar circular driveway in front of her home, the following day.

She was both exhausted and exuberant. Things couldn’t have gone any more perfectly.

Every class had been full, and she’d hired a new yoga instructor who’d led a faultless beginner’s class under Aubrey’s watchful eye.

The last class ended at six and she kept the studio open until seven at night, time she used to clean up and prepare for the next day.

The studio was open Tuesday through Thursday and half a day on Fridays. It was a good schedule, giving Aubrey time for other things. She’d learned from her mother not to overdo it and always allow for balance in her life.

Aubrey let out a sigh when seeing that besides Erin and Padriag’s Land Rover, three additional cars were parked on the driveway.

She’d known her cousin wouldn’t be able to keep from telling her husband about the items they’d found. If she were to be honest, it was what Erin should’ve done. Keeping secrets was not a good way to start a marriage.

She walked around her car, opened the door, and grabbed her work tote.

Her evening plans had been to search and comment on any online reviews for the studio and drink a glass of Cabernet. Instead, as she walked into the house, the aroma of delicious herbs and garlic as well as the sounds of conversations greeted her.