Chapter 49

“I DON’T BELIEVE in magic.”

“Tell me, how can you explain your shoulder then, man? Were you not healed when you woke?”

“What do you mean?” Jack asked sharply, though he knew. He knew very well what Ben meant.

“When she brought you to my home, you were unconscious and bleeding from a serious shoulder injury,” Ben explained. “Oh, open your eyes, young man! If you were raised by Indians, how can you deny magic exists?”

“Belief in magic requires faith,” Jack said evenly. “I am fresh out of faith.”

“Then believe in science,” Ben said emphatically. “Because that is what I truly believe is at work here. Believe in what you can see and feel. Believe that this stone—this tangible object—is real, and its scientific properties have been proven. Believe that, Jack. Believe Lord Rogan wants this stone and that he will kill for it. He has already tried.”

“Did she give me this elixir of life?” Jack asked.

“No,” Ben replied. “I believe she only applied some to your wound to facilitate healing. She was saving what was left for her Warrior. She only recently believed that to you be you.”

“But you thought so from the beginning, didn’t you?” Jack asked. “Once I was healed, you should have asked me to leave. A strange man in your house—one you knew nothing about—around a young lady of breeding. She’s had a home with you for the last ten years you say,” Jack countered. “What is your role in this?”

“That all depends.”

“On?”

“On whether or not her Warrior accepts the position,” Ben replied. “You still have a choice, my boy.”

“Her Warrior wouldn’t have one,” Jack murmured. He looked down into his drink as if it would give him answers. The ones he’d heard—so far—were nearly unbelievable, and yet, almost seemed to fit the story of his dream perfectly. And he knew that she had given him something for his shoulder and that she hadn’t given it to Running Bull. Knew enough to not allow Nora to use it on him the second time. If what Ben was saying were true, he knew now why she’d withheld it from his brother.

Jack drained the glass and then set it aside. “I need time,” he said, rising.

“You have precious little of it now,” Ben replied. “You don’t necessarily have to believe to protect her, Jack, just accept that she does and others do. Freedom of your own beliefs are a basic human right. No one should govern that.”

But Jack knew something did. The dreams and the stone were tied together. He felt almost certain of that. But eternal life? The stone seemed more a precious gem than a magical object or a wonder of science. The science was more believable. For now.

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JACK DOCKED THE small boat from *The Independence* on-shore and took in the scene before him. Things were quieter on the docks now, but a presence hid in the shadows. He could hear distant footsteps moving through the night with stealth and purpose. There were others out tonight and they were up to no good.

“I wasn’t sure you would come,” Running Bull said, leaving the shadow of a building and stepping into the lamp-light.

“Why are you on the docks?” Jack demanded. “I was coming to you. This could be unsafe for you.”

“I wished to say goodbye to my brother,” Running Bull said. Jack averted his eyes, overcome with an urge to take Running Bull and head back to his tribe post haste. He was unsure if he could handle the tasks that Nora required of him. Ben had given him much to think about, more than he’d imagined. He couldn’t anticipate fully absorbing the information—much less accepting it as fact—before the decision was to be made if Jack would sail.

In his head, he knew his path lay with Nora, but in his heart, he didn’t want to leave his brother. He longed for the life he knew. To be with his family, to serve his chief. To stay with the safe and the familiar.

But he needed to know the truth of his dreams and to see this through to the end. So, he would serve a different chief now. He would serve Nora, the Guardian of this Philosopher’s Stone, and he would do it with his whole heart.

“This is where we part, White Bear,” Running Bull said, stepping forward. “There is no turning back this time. I am proud of you, brother. I am proud of the man you have become. You have honor, more than most. I will always remember you, and I will always miss you.”

“I am not ready,” Jack whispered, his heart breaking at the thought of never seeing his only friend again.

“You were born ready,” Running Bull said. “Be strong and show her what is in your heart. You are special. She is special. Your gift and talents will thrive with her at your side. You are the bravest man I know.”

“I don’t feel very brave at the moment,” Jack confessed. “But I will go. Be well, brother. I will miss you every day, but I will do you proud.”

Running Bull suddenly reached forward and hugged Jack tightly. Jack returned the hug, not wanting to ever let go. Because of that, Running Bull pulled away first, as always showing the greater strength of the two. Jack turned and headed back to the small boat, not looking back.

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NORA COULDN’T SAY what it was that woke her that evening. Perhaps it was that the air around her felt dynamic. There was upheaval in the night—she felt it as keenly as she felt the fine sheets against her face. Jack was not in bed with her. A lamp shone on the desk, and she saw that he wasn’t in their cabin at all. She thought, perhaps, he’d left to find Running Bull. She dearly hoped he hadn’t left her. He hadn’t returned to their cabin after his discussion with Ben, and nerves remained heavy in the pit of her stomach.

Unable to stand it any longer, she swung her legs over the side of the bunk and crossed the cabin to grab her cloak. After pulling on her boots, she left the cabin to go above decks and found him sitting atop a pile of crates, looking out over the rail to the inner harbor.

“Jack?”

“Sshh.” He pressed a finger to his lips and pointed out into the night, then stood up and gestured for her to take his seat. Did he realize how thoughtful he had been to her as of late?

Nora looked out across the water. The night was overcast. Lanterns hung from ships and posts on the docks, casting enough illumination to see the unrest in the distance. She could hear the cold winter water lapping against *The Independence.* But other than that, she heard no further noise, not even from the shoreline.

“What do you think is going on?” she asked quietly.

“I don’t know,” Jack confessed. “But I believe our host and some of his crew are there. The rest of the boats are gone.”

“A tea party, of sorts,” said a voice behind him. When they turned, Ben approached, also clad against the cold evening. He joined them at the rail and gazed out at the commotion in the harbor. “There will be no turning back after this.”

“What is this exactly?” Jack questioned, gesturing to the clandestine activity on the docks.

“They’re dumping the tea overboard,” Ben explained. “It is civilized anarchy. Boston is starting the insurrection. Many of us will be labeled traitors after this night. All of us will have to choose sides.”

“Europe seems like an attractive place to be, then, for the duration,” Jack noted. “I’ve never run from a fight before.”

“You would be running toward a greater fight, son, than anyone mixed up in this can imagine,” Ben said, sweeping his arm over the rail and encompassing the rebellion on the docked ships. He gave Jack’s shoulder a pat. “No matter what the political climate is anywhere you go, Jack, always remember yours would be a bigger picture. This cannot be your fight, too. Protect that stone. Can you imagine what the British would do with that if they learned of its existence and power? Their empire would be greater than the Romans ever dared dream. Go to Europe to start at the beginning and rebuild the puzzle, piece by piece. It’s a painstaking task and can’t be muddied by getting bogged down in the politics of revolutionists, no matter which country you are in. You cannot afford political allegiances. You can have no country now.”

“That sounds daunting,” Nora said, “and lonely.”

“I suspect it will be,” Ben smiled sadly. “But you would have each other. Use each other’s strengths to their fullest capabilities and guard your weaknesses, for you have them both. Trust your instincts. You are stronger together than apart. Always.”

“You see the future, too, do you?” Jack smirked wryly.

“Experience brings wisdom, son. One day you’ll know.”

“I doubt I’ll ever know as much as you, Ben.”

“You underestimate your self-worth, Jack,” Nora finally spoke. “You have much to offer.”

“A boat is coming,” Ben said suddenly. Nora stood up, and Jack drew her behind him. He pulled out his pistol in order to be ready for whatever they were about to face, but
Ben laid a hand on his arm. “It’s John and his crew returning. Are they…good God, are they dressed like Indians?”

Indeed, as the small boats drew closer, Jack could see that Captain Hancock and his merry men were dressed in varying states of Indian garb, or what he imagined they thought was Indian garb. It was not the way Jack himself had ever dressed. Who on earth would go shirtless in the winter? Why did the white men think the Indians did? Jack stuck with his buckskins and his bear skin vest with a wool shirt underneath.

“Ha!” called Hancock as he climbed the ladder from the small boat, so full of adrenaline he could not stay still. “The harbor is a potent brew tonight! We have poked the viper’s nest and sent a message, my good friend! Back-country bumpkins? Uncivilized heathens, eh? See what the mother country makes of that! If they will not give us representation, then we shall give them nothing to tax! Men! To your stations. We sail with the tide tonight!”

“We’re leaving now?” Ben asked incredulously. “You’re leaving Sam to clean up the mess?”

“He has a talent for it,” Hancock shrugged as he took the helm. “We must get you, kind sir, to England, then France. There is no better diplomat than you.”

Ben rolled his eyes and sat down on the crates out of the way, muttering, “Well, it certainly is not you, sir.” Ben turned to Jack and looked at him solemnly. “Do you sail with us, Jack? The choice must be made now.”

“Jack,” Nora said. When he turned to her, she held out her hand to him.

“I have no choice,” Jack whispered back to Ben, then turned and led Nora below decks.