The Prophecy (Daughters of the People Series Book 1) Read Online Free

stepped out
of the rental and wrinkled her slim, straight nose. “I thought Sweden was,
like, old. This looks like downtown back home.”
    “Not everybody
can live in medieval castles, Dani,” Indigo said.
    They checked in
at the main cabin, dropped their luggage off in their separate units, and
freshened up in Maya’s room. The cabins weren’t air conditioned. The June heat
had driven the interior temperatures to a nearly unbearable level, in spite of
the efforts of a single desktop fan placed in each room.
    Dani tugged the
neckline of her t-shirt away from her chest. “Man, tonight’s gonna be miserable.
How do you stand it?”
    Indigo smiled,
flashing dimples. “We have air conditioning.”
    “Spoiled,” Maya
said.
    Dani groaned. “You’re
not gonna tell us one of those ‘good ol’ days’ tales, are you?”
    “Maybe later, if
you’re really bored,” Maya said drily. “If it makes you feel better, you’ll be
spending part of the night watching the camp instead of here sweltering in the
heat.”
    “She may not
need to be at the dig tonight.” Indigo dropped onto the edge of the room’s only
bed. “Looters have hit a couple of nearby digs, so we’ve been taking turns
staying on site at night. It’s my turn tonight.”
    Maya nodded.
“Still, I may have Dani do a little recon after dark.”
    “She can keep me
company, then.”
    “Sure,” Dani said.
“Soon as I have a good look-see.”
    The dig was a
short drive from the cabin. Indigo slowed on approach, allowing plenty of time
for Maya and Dani to study the outer ring of Sandby borg’s ruins. The crumbling
foundations of ancient walls rose from the grass, a long-unneeded protection
for the interior buildings. A handful of tents covered tables stacked with
tools, plastic and cardboard storage boxes, and computers. A trailer was
located on the opposite end of the site, near a small storage shed. Only a handful
of people were on site, some engaged in fine digging, others apparently sorting
and cataloguing. One young woman sat alone about fifty yards from the main dig
in an open, rectangular pit, her bent head and shoulders visible above the
earth.
    Indigo brought
the Volvo to a halt in the graveled parking area next to a handful of other
vehicles. The three women got out, and Maya and Dani followed Indigo into the
main part of the dig toward the tents. As they approached, two men looked up
from their work at one of the tables, one ancient and stooped, the other on the
upside of middle age.
    The older man
retrieved a wooden cane from its resting place against the table and leaned
into it as he faced the women. “Indigo, my dear,” he said, his English heavily
accented, his sagging features animated under a mop of silver hair. “You’ve
brought us quite the treat today.”
    “Dr. Lindberg, this
is Dr. Maya Bellegarde from the Institute for Early Cultural Studies and her
assistant, Daniella Nehring. They’re here to examine the anomalous burial.”
    “Of course. I
remember. So much excitement here now. The days run together.” Dr. Lindberg gestured
to the younger man by his side. “This is my colleague, Dr. James Terhune. I
brought him in to consult on that burial.”
    “Pleased to meet
you.” James grasped Maya’s hand, his own calloused and firm. The warmth of
their grip spread up Maya’s arm. Her heart skipped and her skin tightened, and
a delicious flutter of nerves tingled in her abdomen.
    The heat
generated by the simple touch intrigued her. She studied James from beneath
lowered lashes, assessing him carefully. He was taller than her by about four
inches, slim and athletic. Intense chocolate brown eyes peered at her out of a
thin face with high cheekbones, an aristocratic nose, and a mouth that wasn’t
quite wide enough to overpower his other features. He hadn’t shaved in a day or
so and his rich brown hair was slightly unkempt. The ends brushed over the
collar of an untucked, blue cotton shirt worn over jeans and hiking boots.