The_Legacy_by_Mychael_Black

Chapter 2-1

Chapter 2

William wiped a swath of sweat-slick hair from his face and sat down on the stone steps to take a break. They had been working all day to clear away the clutter in Evan’s workshop, and still they had found no sign of the book. He lifted a cup to his lips to drink and then froze. Evan looked back at him and followed his gaze to a single flagstone in one corner. The edges were smoother than that of the other stones. The crack between it and the other stones was enough to see a bit of black beneath.

They looked at each other for only a moment before they rushed to lift the enormous stone up from the floor. It crashed over on its top, tossing up a cloud of dust. Evan waved his hand through the air, and the cloud dispersed. Below them, nestled in the niche the stone had covered, was a rectangular object wrapped in dirt-covered linen. With shaking hands, Evan lifted the object out and sat back on the floor to open it. Once the linen was spread across his lap, he simply sat in stunned silence. It was not a book. It was a stone tablet. Evan ran his fingertips over it slowly as if he were deciphering the cryptic symbols on the surface by touch alone. William moved closer.

“Is it—”

“Aye, it is,” Evan interrupted him. “I had not expected a tablet, but the prophecy is here.”

“And?” William prodded. “What is the man’s name? The descendant of Cain.”

“It’s not written,” Evan said with a frustrated sigh. “It’s not here. I need Michael. He can at least tell me how I’ll know the man when I find him.”

William’s shoulders dropped instantly. He felt Evan’s frustration like it was his own. All this time Evan had searched, all the time he had spent, and he knew nothing more than what he had known to begin with. Perhaps the Archangel would take pity and help him. Although judging by the look on Evan’s face, William doubted the Archangel would do even that. It was obvious Evan had to face this task without heavenly guidance.

Evan set the tablet to the side and leaned his head back. “I need to get out of here. I need a drink.”

William nodded. “As do I, to be honest. Where to this time?”

“Merydd.”

“Merydd? What about your cook?”

“It’s not him I’m avoiding. It’s his father,” Evan said with a wry grin. “Let’s go. Perhaps I can find something there to entertain me.”

He stood and helped William up, then went up the stairs. William followed. Before William had even reached the top, Evan stood by the door, dressed and ready to go.

“How do you do that?” William asked, exasperated.

Evan shrugged. “Michael was kind enough to leave me with a few abilities, speed being one of them.”

William shook his head and went up to his chambers. A few minutes later, the two of them left for the small town of Merydd, an hour’s walk from the tower.