Page 40 of The Last Knight

Chapter Fourteen

“What’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.