You had to go and spoil it, Isla thought. Still, she had gained a new perspective on the man. He was still far too full of himself, but she could at least understand how he’d turned out that way. Generosity had brought him nothing but pain and rejection, while his first real act of selfishness had set him free. The question was, knowing this about the man, could she trust him to work with her and not double-cross her?
Their meals arrived, and as they dined, they finally broached the subject they’d danced around thus far.
“All right, let’s talk about the Tuatha de Dannan,” Isla said. “Do you believe in a supernatural race that dwells in the Otherworld?” She held her breath, waiting for his reply.
Grizzly considered the question for a few seconds before giving a quick shake of his head. “I don’t believe in a literal Tuatha, but I believe in the four treasures that bear their name.”
“The four jewels?” she asked.
“No. I believe the word ‘jewels’ is used figuratively to express just how precious these treasures are. The actual treasures are: the Spear of Lug, against which no army could stand; the Sword of Nuada, a glowing sword that, when drawn, none could resist; the Cauldron of Dagda, from which no one came away unsatisfied; and the Stone of Fai.”
“Which would cry out beneath the king when he claimed sovereignty,” Isla finished.
“So, we’re on the same page,” he said.
“It appears so. We have the same understanding of what the treasure truly is, and we apparently agree that it’s not in Ireland, despite the historical associations between the Irish and the Tuatha.”
“Belief in the Tuatha isn’t a purely Irish phenomenon,” Grizzly said. “And the Lia Fáil stone on the Hill of Tara is not the Stone of Fai, no matter what some say.”
“Agreed,” Isla said. Her own ancestors hailed from Ireland, so she thought she had a good perspective on the subject. That, and the fact that the myths, legends, and treasures of the Tuatha were a family obsession — one she’d never been able to shake. She pushed her half-finished salad away and sat up straight. “How does a cryptozoologist find himself on the trail of the Tuatha treasures?”
“According to some legends, the treasure is guarded by water kelpies. That’s what drew my attention to the mystery, but I’m definitely in this for the treasure hunting aspect.” He steepled his fingers and leaned forward, all business. “Now that I’ve solved the Grey Man enigma, I’ll have some added credibility.”
Isla cleared her throat and quirked an eyebrow. “Who solved it?”
“Sorry. Now that we, mostly you, solved the mystery.”
She smirked and gave a small nod to indicate he could continue.
“I guarantee you I can pitch this to Jo Slater and she’ll bite. Well, almost definitely. She’s an unpredictable sort. Even if she doesn’t, I’ve got enough connections to finance a documentary crew and turn this into a television special.”
Isla shifted uncomfortably in her seat. If he was on the same trail as she, bringing in outsiders would be a disaster. Hers was a personal quest.
“But I don’t want to do it that way,” Grizzly continued. “I won’t deny I want to find the treasure myself.”
“You want to sell it on the black market?” she asked, thinking of the way Grizzly had secretly claimed his family’s inheritance.
“No. I don’t know what I want to do, other than solve the mystery. And frankly, I’d rather work with you than with an outside party who will try to take over.” He paused. “Assuming, of course, you have something to offer me beyond what I already know. And make no mistake, I’m aware of the legend that connects the Tuatha and the summit indicator atop Ben Macdui.”
This was the moment of truth. Isla had to make a decision. Either she joined forces with Grizzly, or it would be a race to find the treasure with the American and whichever third party he brought in dogging her trail. With her limited resources, she really had no options. She reached into her purse, took out her journal, and opened it to the page she’d marked earlier.
“The Tuatha de Dannan still exist as an organization much like the so-called Illuminati in the States. Some believe they’re on the wrong side of things. They’ve been blamed for terrorist attacks against those whom they deem outsiders, but I’ve seen nothing to indicate that. They’re passionate about Celtic culture and tradition. They value their history.”
Grizzly seemed unsurprised at this revelation. Apparently, this was another thing he already knew.
“In my research, I came across a letter, written in 1925 by a member of the Tuatha, alluding to a message embedded in the surface of the summit indicator, along with the code.” She turned the journal around so he could see the string of letters and numbers she’d copied down. She gave him only a moment to look at it before she snapped it shut.
“All right,” Grizzly said. “I propose we combine our efforts. You’ve got the code, which puts you one step ahead of me. I can offer my knowledge and experience. Also, I’ve got some money set aside to finance the search. Can you get away from your work?”
“I think so. My editor is apparently a fan of yours. If I tell her you’re working on a new mystery and want to give us exclusive access, I’m sure she’ll go for it.”
“Excellent! We’ll rest up here tonight and get started first thing in the morning.” He narrowed his eyes and flashed a grin. “One room or two?”
Isla sighed. “The fact that you even have to ask doesn’t speak well for your intuitive nature or your powers of deduction.”
Grizzly laughed. “I get it. I just figure there’s never any harm in asking. Won’t happen again.”
Isla rolled her eyes. What had she gotten herself into?
Chapter 9
The National Museum of Scotland was comprised of two buildings set on a busy street in the heart of Edinburgh. Like the city itself, old met new in the architecture of the two main structures. The Museum of Scotland, which housed exhibits and artifacts relating to Scottish antiquities, culture, and history, featured modern architecture. By contrast, the Royal Museum, founded in the 1800s, boasted a more classical look, with a Victorian Romanesque Revival facade. This branch of the museum hosted collections covering science and technology, natural history, and world cultures. It was this half of the museum that Maddock and Bones planned to visit.
Inside, they passed through the Natural World section, featuring fauna from throughout history. Maddock took time to examine the T-Rex skeleton, while Bones paused to admire a triceratops skull.
“Let me guess,” Maddock said. “You’re trying to come up with a ‘horny’ joke.”
Bones shook his head. “Nah, I was just thinking how awesome it would be to ride one of these things. Besides, a horny joke? That’s low-hanging fruit. I expected better from you.”
“When have you ever passed up low-hanging fruit?”
Bones held up a big hand. “Hold on. Are we talking chicks or humor?”
“Either one,” Maddock said, examining a fully-reconstructed stegosaurus skeleton. “And before you tried riding a dinosaur, you might want to consider how you did on that mechanical bull in Austin.”
“Screw you, Maddock. That had more to do with my level of sobriety than my riding abilities.”
Maddock looked around and spotted a young man in a suit, one whom he recognized from photos on the web. As they drew closer, Maddock could read the man’s museum ID badge, which named him Colin Jeong. This was the guy. They introduced themselves, and Jeong ushered them into his office.