“And between now and the time they all arrive, we can return to exploring our Viking ship,” Ramsay said. “I wonder what other treasures we’ll find?”
* * *
The next treasure was discovered the following day. It was an exquisitely made golden cross about three inches high with cloisonné enamel on the arms. Set in the middle was a golden coin that made Ramsay gasp when Signy had cleaned the cross well enough to make out the detail.
“Good God!” he exclaimed. “That’s an ancient Byzantine coin! I have a couple like it in my collection. How on earth do you think it came to be here at the end of the world?”
Signy shook her head. “I can’t really guess, though the Romans were a great lot of travelers. For that matter, so were the Vikings.”
The two men who had been working on the excavation crowded around to see what had been found. The older man, Edmund, breathed, “It’s beautiful! May I hold it?”
“Of course.” Signy passed it over.
Edmund crossed himself reverently as he studied it. “So our dead king was a Christian.”
“He must have been,” Ramsay agreed.
Edmund passed the cross to his coworker, who was equally awed, though his question was, “How much is this worth?”
“It’s hard to say.” Ramsay accepted the cross back and studied it again. “The ship is on my land, so legally what we find is mine, but this kind of history belongs to all Thorsayians.”
“Perhaps you can establish a museum in Clanwick someday,” Signy said. “Not just for the dramatic items like this, but for the everyday stone objects from Fiona Brae. They’re all part of our shared history.”
“That’s an excellent idea.” If he someday had the money to take on such a project.
Thinking about money, Ramsay caught the attention of the two workers. “It’s best not to talk about our finds,” he said. “We don’t want people coming at night to plunder our ship and probably destroy it in the process.”
Both of the men nodded agreement, but Ramsay was still uneasy. Though he believed the workers were honest, treasure in a long-buried ship was too good a story not to share. He’d have to think if there was a good way to protect the site when no one was working here.
He and Signy discussed the issue that night, but the site was a difficult one to safeguard, particularly since it could be approached from the sea in a small boat.
Finally Signy said, “I think guards will have to be hired if we can afford them. How much money do you have available?”
He sighed. “Not a lot, but you’re right. We don’t want looters to destroy the ship before we even have it uncovered. We need not only money but guards who can be trusted.”
“Maybe some of the people who have taken refuge at the Mackenzie farm?” Signy suggested. “I’m sure that by this time Flora Mackenzie has a good idea of who can be trusted.”
“That’s a good idea. I’ll talk to Broc when he returns, which should be any day now.” Ramsay certainly hoped so. The equinox and Fire Festival were approaching fast.
Chapter 31
The next night, Ramsay achieved his dream of sitting on the opposite side of a table from Signy, both of them cleaning newfound Viking artifacts. While Ramsay worked on a rusted sword, Signy polished up a massive bronze cooking pot designed to hang on a chain over a fire. She asked, “Do you think this could be used in the kitchen at Skellig House when we have a lot of company?”
Ramsay laughed. “It may never have been used. It’s probably part of the grave goods as a symbol that the king could afford to feed a large war band of his followers.”
Amused, she said, “I’m glad to see something domestic. Even in the afterlife, people must want to eat.”
“Symbolically it makes sense,” Ramsay said. He held up the sword they’d found. “I wonder if this was a weapon the king used personally? I’m guessing not. When we find and open the casket, his shield, helmet, and personal sword will probably be on his body.”
“I’m not sure I want to be there when the casket is opened. It seems . . . undignified.”
“We antiquarians wrestle with the conflict between respect for our ancestors and the lust for knowledge,” he admitted.
“I imagine the lust for knowledge usually wins.” She gave a final polish to the cooking kettle. “But I do understand the fascination with learning more about the past.”
“I like your idea of building a museum to display Thorsayian antiquities. People should be able to go in and appreciate our history.” He raised the sword to see where more cleaning was needed. “At least our king would still be here in Thorsay, the site chosen for his final resting place.”
“I hope a museum will be possible.” Signy started a drawing of the cooking pot, which had interesting enameled plaques on the side. “For now, your storeroom is our museum.”
