“I know.Not much time to prepare.Meanwhile I’ve found out what they want the Hawaiian artifacts for—they’re for something called the Ceremony of Claiming.”
“Ceremony of Claiming?”Feirn said.“I’ve never heard of such a thing.”
“Neither had I,” Connor said.“The Healer says it’s one of the old ways that were discontinued under the last three Masters.The worst part is that the artifacts will be burned to release theirmana—their spiritual power—during Sunan’s challenge.It’s supposed to make the one who orchestrated the ceremony stronger.”
Sophie swerved to avoid a tourist vehicle that had stopped to photograph the view and hadn’t pulled far enough out of the road.Her horn blast scattered a flock of mynah birds.“Burned?We can’t let that happen!Those artifacts are priceless.They’re irreplaceable pieces of Hawaiian history!”
“I know what they are.”Connor’s voice carried an edge.“That’s why the Brotherhood of Ancient Ways chose them.They want every advantage.At least, that’s what they believe the relics will give them.”
“Is that the group’s official name?Brotherhood of Ancient Ways?”Sophie flexed her hands on the wheel.
“Yes.So I’ve heard from a reliable source.”
They passed the Pali Lookout where King Kamehameha had once driven his enemies over the cliffs.Sophie spotted the ocean in the distance, Kailua Bay a perfect crescent of turquoise against the green shore.The Technicolor beauty of it mocked the darkness of their conversation.
“Where would they perform this ceremony?”she asked.“Here in Hawaii?”
“As close to our fortress here in Thailand as they can get, to amplify the effect of the ceremony.The Healer thinks they’ll try to create a sacred space near us.I have contacts in the Yam Khûmk?n watching for any Brotherhood movement in our area,” Connor said, referring to his network of informants in Thailand’s martial arts underworld.“But nothing so far.Sophie, those artifacts can’t leave your country.If they make it to Thailand?—”
“They’ll be destroyed.”She finished his thought, anger tightening her chest.“Priceless antiquities of Hawaiian culture burned for some twisted fanatic’s magic ritual.What a waste.”
Feirn shifted in his seat.“There is power in belief,” he said.
“Yes, and it’s called the placebo effect,” Sophie snapped.“Perhaps that’s why Dr.Yoshimura hasn’t left the island yet.She is safeguarding the items for transport.”
“That’s what I’m thinking,” Connor agreed.“The Brotherhood would want everything in place before moving the pieces.”
“But since they’re planning to burn them, they might not care about their storage and preservation like we assumed they did,” Sophie said.“I have to get back to the FBI with this.”
They descended toward Kailua, the town spreading before them like a postcard with red-tiled roofs among swaying palms, the ocean beyond shifting from turquoise to deep blue as clouds raced across the sun.Sophie took the Kailua Road exit, muscle memory guiding her through the familiar turns.“I tracked unusual activity at a collector’s storage facility.William Thornfield’s estate in Wailea, Maui.The FBI is checking it now.”
“Good.But Sophie...”Connor’s voice dropped.“The Brotherhood has been planning this for years.They’ll have contingencies.Don’t assume anything.”
“I know.”She turned onto her street, the familiar sight of her neighbor’s rainbow shower tree making her throat tighten.“We’re almost home.I need to see my children.”
“But I will not see them again,” Connor said, his voice flat and unemotional.
“Don’t say that.”She pulled into the driveway.The facial recognition software on the plinth by the gate read her face, and the heavy metal portal rolled slowly open.“You’ll win against this challenger.You always do.”
“Even so.My life is here now.My death, too.Goodbye, Sophie.”The call ended with a soft click.
Sophie frowned.What did he mean by that?Apparently she wasn’t the only one who’d made a permanent choice about their relationship.
She pulled through the turnaround past the guesthouse where the security team operated, and parked in front of her home’s entrance.
“Seven days,” Feirn said quietly.“That’s not much time.”
“No.”Sophie grabbed her backpack, exhaustion and hunger hitting her gut like a physical punch.“It’s not.”
They entered the house to a chaos of children, dogs, and cooking smells.Sean launched himself at her knees while Momi chattered about her day at school, something about a gecko in the classroom and how she’d been the only one brave enough to catch it.
Normal life flowed around Sophie like water around a stone.But as Sophie hugged her children, breathing in their scent, tousling heads, she couldn’t stop thinking about those missing artifacts.
Fanatics were preparing to destroy pieces of Hawaiian history for imagined power.
They had a week to stop them.Less, if you considered that the Brotherhood would want to be set up in Thailand for their ceremony before the anniversary that marked Sunan’s challenge to Connor.
She kissed Momi’s forehead and made herself smile.“Who wants to help Mama set the table?”
