Carrying their things, they stopped by Wearyall Hill to see the place where Joseph had thrust his staff into the ground. Kendall’s head was getting thick with impressions of the past, but she had a feeling that time was running out.
“Looks like someone got overenthusiastic with pruning,” Jake said, looking at the trunk of a tree with shoots growing out in places.
“Vandals cut off the limbs of one of the trees. Such a shame. It came from a cutting that was grown from the tree Joseph planted two thousand years ago. If you believe the myth.”
“Hell, I’d believe most anything at this point. You could try touching it.”
She closed her eyes and touched the tree. Nothing.
“Not happening?”
“No. I think I’ve had enough impressions for one day.”
They showed up at Little Saint Michael’s, and Halle met them in the lobby. She took them into a quiet room where she fully explained her dilemma. She was a tour guide with a small group in Florida that specialized in enlightenment retreats. They were planning to visit many of the places where King Arthur roamed. Camelot, Tintagel, his grave, and Merlin’s cave. The goal was to contact King Arthur, but her psychic hadn’t shown up. “She’s never done anything like this before. We need the money, especially with all those cancellations, but I don’t know anything about spiritual stuff. I play tour guide, she contacts the dead.”
Kendall had a bad feeling that Halle’s psychic was the angry ghost she had seen at King Arthur’s grave. “When did you hear from her last?”
Halle pursed her lips. “The day before we left. She was on her way to visit a client.”
“What does she look like?”
Halle frowned. “Auburn hair. Slender.”
That could have been the woman Kendall saw, but she didn’t see her well because of the blood. It could have been someone connected to the abbey. The woman had been wearing a long gown, but that didn’t mean she was from the past. Halle also wore a long gown. Kendall didn’t say anything yet. She didn’t want to alarm anyone needlessly, and if she was in fact dead, it was too late to help her.
Halle gave them a tour of the place. It was a cozy house. Lizzie was a long-standing companion, which entitled her to use Little Saint Michael’s. There were several bedrooms and a sanctuary upstairs called the Upper Room. The house had access to the Chalice Well Gardens twenty-four hours a day.
“I’m afraid we only have one room left,” Halle said. “The one Lizzie was going to stay in.”
“Of course,” Kendall muttered.
“It’s OK,” Jake said. “We’re married.”
“I’m sorry. The room has twin beds,” Halle said.
“Damn,” Jake said.
“Perfect,” Kendall said.
Halle looked surprised.
Kendall sighed. “He steals the covers. We have to sleep in separate beds at home.”
Halle grinned at Jake. “I wouldn’t worry about covers with him in my bed.”
Jake returned Halle’s grin, looking a lot more like the male stripper than the spiritual-assistant/husband he was supposed to be.
Kendall poked him with her elbow.
“Dinner is at seven,” Halle said. “You’ll have time to rest or do some sightseeing before we meet in Arthur’s garden at the Chalice Well at nine p.m. Will that work for you?”
“What is the group expecting from this meditation?” Kendall asked.
“It’s just a quiet time, but they’re really hoping to connect with Arthur, so the more the better. I really need this trip to be successful. Don’t worry. If you don’t feel anything at first, fake it. Sometimes Lizzie did until something real came through.” Halle walked to the door. “If you need anything, let me know. I’m two doors down. Do you have luggage?”
“We’ll pick it up later,” Jake said.
Halle left them and Kendall looked at Jake. “Married, again?”
“We have to stick together. You want them to think we’re living in sin?” He eyed the beds. “They look small. We could push them together.”
“They’re fine. I’m going to take a shower.” She felt grungy after walking the abbey.
“Don’t use all the hot water,” he called after her.
The guests had to share bathrooms, but one was located just across the hall. When she got back to her room, dressed in an identical pair of the sweats she’d had before, Jake was shirtless, doing one-armed push-ups on the floor. Kendall gaped at his muscles for a minute. “Are you trying to impress me?”
“I’m trying to stay fit. Who knows what feat I’ll face next in order to keep you safe.” He rolled to his feet. There was a slight glisten of sweat across his chest. “I’m going to take a shower. There’s a bandage for your wrist on the table. It’s one of those with the antibacterial cream on it. Don’t want you getting an infection on me.”
“Thanks.”
After he left, Kendall put the bandage on, dried her hair with a towel, and braided it. Jake was still in the bathroom, so she took out Nathan’s journal. She couldn’t make any sense of the coded entries. She was halfway to a headache, when Jake walked into the bedroom. He’d changed from his jeans into sweats. “I’m starting to get attached to these sweats,” he said.
“I’m not.”
He sat in the chair beside hers. She could smell him, clean and male. His hair was still damp from his shower. Tendrils softly curled below his ears, lying against his neck. Her fingers itched to brush the hair aside and replace it with her lips. She knew what his neck smelled like. What it tasted like. She looked up and met his eyes. Her breathing quickened and she knew his had too, but he didn’t speak or move. He just stared at her, his eyes dark with something… regret. He looked away. “Any luck with the journal?”
“No. I think we need to start by exploring this place. The well, the abbey, and the Tor.”
“Not tonight. We have an appointment with King Arthur.”
“I can’t believe we’re going to trick these poor people.”
“It’s survival. We have to find the Blue Chalice and see if it’s connected to the Fountain of Youth. You ready to go eat and meet our group?”
“You mean the people we’re about to dupe? You go on. I’m going to try Nathan again. I’ll meet you in a few minutes.”
“Nathan knows where we are. He’ll show up when he’s ready.”
Kendall tried Nathan via phone but couldn’t get him. There was a knot in her chest that made her suspect he was in danger. Nathan was always in danger to some extent, but this felt more imminent. She didn’t know if it was from Raphael or the Reaper, or perhaps Jake really had spotted Brandi. Times like these were the most frustrating, when she sensed something about the people she cared for but couldn’t get a clear picture. She put her phone away and went to the dining room.
Several tables were scattered about and a buffet was set up on one side. She recognized some of the people from the abbey, and the back of one dark head was very familiar. Jake was sitting with Halle and two other women. All three ladies had rapt looks on their faces, making Kendall wonder if he was overwhelming them with his manliness or telling lies. Halle glanced up and waved, then motioned her over. She met Jake’s gaze as she walked to the table, looking for some kind of prompt. Who knew what he’d been telling them.
“I was just about to come and get you,” he said, standing to hold out her chair.
“Looks and manners,” a redheaded woman said. “He’s a keeper.”
“He’s handy to have around.” Kendall gave him a fake smile. “What lies are you telling now?”
“He’s telling us about all the historical figures you’ve contacted,” said one of Jake’s enthralled audience. “Oh, I’m Sandy. I’m from North Carolina. This is Alice, from Maryland.” She pointed to a mousy-looking woman, the one wearing all brown. “And this is Rhonda from Florida.” Rhonda was the redhead and was all eyes for Jake. “That’s Larry over there. He’s from DC.” Larry was balding with glasses and reminded Kendall of a monk.