Loch

Chapter 8

Isla was impressed with Grizzly’s choice of the Old Mill Inn as the site of what she was already thinking of as their “negotiation.” Located in Pitlochry, south of Ben Macdui, the inn boasted quality dining as well as luxurious accommodations. She still wasn’t convinced she wanted to work with the man. In fact, she was kicking herself for even giving him the time of day. He’d made a fool of himself at times during their sojourn at the mountain, but he’d somehow managed to graduate from dunderhead to numpty in her mind. In any case, he’d assured her he was going after the Tuatha de Dannan treasure whether she joined him or not, so perhaps she ought to work with him for no other reason than to try and keep him in check.

“What are you going to have?” he asked, peering over his menu at her.

“Chicken killiecrankie,” she said, closing the menu.

“What, exactly, is that?”

“Chicken stuffed with haggis and served with a mash of roasted roots.”

Grizzly cocked his head. “You actually eat haggis?”

Isla laughed. “Only joking. I don’t eat that stuff unless my nan makes it, and even then, it’s only out of a sense of obligation. I’m having the Caesar salad.”

“Good call. I’m all about the rib eye. I hear Scottish beef is top-notch.”

“I’m not much of a meat-eater, but my dad always swore by it. Of course, I don’t think he ever ate beef from any other part of the world, so his opinion might not be worth all that much.”

They made small talk for a while, enjoying bottles of Dark Island Reserve, a popular Scottish ale, and enjoying the placid atmosphere of the inn. As she sipped the strong drink, enjoying its rich, malt flavor, Isla learned a few interesting things about Grizzly.

The youngest of three children, his father had died when he was sixteen. His older siblings, already out of university, or “college,” as he termed it, and trying to get started in their own lives and careers, were no help to his mother. Mentally unstable at the best of times, the death of her husband plunged her into a deep depression, one from which she never fully covered. She lost her job and spent the next several years getting fired from various hourly-wage jobs. Thus, it fell to Grizzly to make sure the bills were paid.

He worked night and weekend jobs until he finished high school. He was a mediocre student, except for biological sciences, at which he excelled. One of his high school teachers helped him obtain an entry-level position at a nearby zoo, where he took advantage of their tuition reimbursement program to eventually earn his degree. None of this, however, impressed his mother or his siblings.

His brothers, both white collar workers in the corporate world, took pleasure in winding him up about his job shoveling piles of dung. His mother never acknowledged his role in keeping the mortgage paid and caring for her, particularly during her lowest periods. She criticized and belittled him at every turn.

“All I had were the animals and my books about cryptids,” he said, without a trace of self-pity. “I guess I was so dissatisfied with my everyday life that it made me want to believe in anything that would make the world a bigger place, full of greater possibilities than what we know.”

“That was science fiction for me,” Isla said, hating the fact that she was finding any common ground with the annoying American. She also knew the pain that came from losing one’s parents.

“Sci-fi depressed me,” Grizzly said, taking a swig of Dark Island. “I enjoyed the stories, but knowing I’d never get to see any of the other planets in the universe and know for sure that something else was out there really bummed me out.”

Isla frowned, then remembered that the American idiom “bummed” meant “depressed.” It had nothing to do with one’s backside.

“You couldn’t visit other planets, but you could cross the globe looking for strange creatures.”

“Exactly.”

“What happened with your mother? Did your brothers finally step up and take responsibility?”

Grizzly laughed. “Hardly. Mom took her own life right after I finished college.”

Isla sucked in a breath through her teeth. “I’m so sorry.”

“It was a long time ago.” He made a small, dismissive wave, and then barked a rueful laugh. “Would you believe, all that time, Mom had been sitting on all kinds of stocks and bonds passed down from my grandfather? She could have covered all our bills without either of us working. I guess that’s why she never appreciated my efforts — they weren’t actually needed.”

Sympathy flooded through Isla followed by a wave of remorse at the way she’d treated the man. “That’s not exactly true, you know. It doesn’t sound like your mum was in any state of mind to use the resources she had.”

Grizzly nodded thoughtfully. “It all worked out in the end. I managed to sell off the stocks and cash in the bonds without my brothers ever finding out. I pretended I was too grief-stricken over Mom’s death to care what happened to the house and what little was in it. I walked away from it all while they sold everything for what little they could get and split the proceeds, cutting me out of course. I know what I did was unethical, illegal even, but it allowed me to start my career as a cryptid hunter. Besides, my brothers never lifted a finger for me or Mom, so I think inheriting her house and car was far more than they deserved.” He drained his ale and let out a tiny belch that he didn’t bother to cover.

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?