“Thank you.” Justin sighed heavily. “Now tell me about this prophecy.”
“Take a look for yourself,” Max said.
“Is it true you found it when you were only seventeen?”
“Yes,” Max said.
Justin accepted the invitation and came around the desk to stand in front of the large, framed map. “This is quite a masterpiece.”
It took up nearly a quarter of the wall. The hand coloring had not faded over the years, so it remained as vibrant and beautiful as the day Max had discovered it. He never tired of looking at it. It only fueled his desire to one day see the sunken land for himself.
“Yes,” Max agreed.
After several moments of staring at the map, Justin leaned back. “Where is the prophecy?”
“You have to look closely,” Max said. “Follow the water rings, then that grove of trees.” He pointed. “The prophecy is embedded in the images of the map.”
Justin stared back at the map. “Oh, here we go. Hidden symbols,” he muttered. “Problem is, though, I don’t read Greek.”
“The seven rings of Atlantis will fall by fire and steel,opening the path for the army of one. Empires will crumble and crowns will melt. The three will lose their blood unless the dove can bring salvation,” Max said. He’d memorized it years ago.
“What is the dove?” he asked.
“I’ve found no mention of that in my research either, though I have tried. Best I can figure out is it must have been some sort of weapon. Or perhaps a plan.” Max shrugged. “Whatever it was, it didn’t work. Atlantis was not saved, if the myth is to be believed at all. Though it seems unlikely anything would have saved them from the earthquake or volcanic eruption—or whatever happened that sank the island.” Max released a heavy sigh.
“Frustrated?” Justin chuckled. “I’ve felt like that often in my Treasure Island research.” He looked back at the map.
Justin had only recently been admitted to Solomon’s. He’d just begun his search. So if Justin was disheartened about his quest for Treasure Island, well, Max could teach the man a thing or two about perseverance.
Max had been searching for Atlantis for the better part of his life. There were long stretches of time where it seemed he made no progress. Other times, it felt as if the proof he sought sat just out of reach. Just out of his sight. As if he might round the next corner and find it standing before him.
As frustrating as the endless search was, it was moments like that that kept Max going. Being a legend hunter took not merely skill, and intelligence, but perseverance as well. Max’s instincts told him Justin possessed all three. If the intensity with which Justin focused on Max’s map was any indication. Justin stared at the map so long that Max expected him to say something more.
Max, on the other hand, had been a member of Solomon’s for fifteen years. When he found the map of Atlantis at the age of seventeen, Solomon’s had invited him to join. They had expected him to go on to do something amazing. He had expected the same thing.
Of course, he’d had his share of success aiding other members. Yet no matter how skilled he was at research and detection, proof that Atlantis had existed eluded him. The juicy grapes still dangled above the mouth of the starving Tantalus.
And yet, he knew with a bone-deep certainty that the proof was out there. Somewhere. There was nothing he wouldn’t give to obtain it.
Justin began repeating the prophecy slowly, as if mulling over every word. Finally, he turned and said, “What if the prophecy isn’t about the demise of Atlantis?”
“Impossible.” Max shook his head. How many times, late at night, had he studied that map looking for hidden clues, then scoured through ancient texts for assistance? Naturally, he knew the words of the prophecy as well as he knew his own reflection. “What else could it be?”
“What I mean is, what if someone elsebelievedit to be about something other than Atlantis?” Justin asked. His eyes held that spark of discovery. Bloody hell, what he was suggesting was certainly a possibility. That hint of a new clue was an irresistible lure to an adventurer like Max.
Grudgingly, Max rose to stand beside Justin. So this young pup thought he could discover something new in the map? Well, no one knew the map or the prophecy better than Max. Max stared at the prophecy, considering Justin’s words. If oneassumedthe prophecy wasn’t about the destruction of Atlantis, then what would it be about?
“Something that hasn’t yet happened,” Max said aloud.
“Precisely. These rings”—Justin pointed to each on the map—“the seven rings of Atlantis, they were in place to protect the island nation, correct?”
“Yes, precisely. The alternating rings of land and water gave Atlantis great protection from warring nations.” Max slanted a look at Justin. “And you said you thought the guardian referred to the queen. So who protects the queen? Who protects all of England?”
“The military,” Justin answered grimly. “Exactly,” Max said.
“If I’m correct, then this murderer is following the prophecy, twisting it so that the seven rings represent seven generals.”
Max’s own enthusiasm dimmed a bit as he realized that the new discovery did not involve Atlantis.