Forrest - Harley Merlin 11: Finch Merlin and the Lost Map

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One

Finch

T he golden doors of the Mapmakers Monastery loomed over me. How long would I have to wait for the entrance to open? Id only been here a few minutes, and that already felt too long.

All right, Erebus, youve had your fun. Come back now and tell me what the heck Im doing here.

I stood entranced by the glowing gemstones lodged in the buildings spires. Beyond the cliffs edge, the sea crashed against the rocks.

Youll catch flies if you leave your mouth hangin open, son. The old Southern lady broke me out of my frustrated reverie.

Sorry Ive been zoning out, havent I? I felt like a schoolboy whod been caught napping.

You have. Come sit beside this old girl, keep her company awhile. The old woman patted the seat beside her.

It wouldve been rude to refuse, and older ladies tended to dig me. Even tough old boots could be softened up into doling out some answers, if I played my cards right.

Whats your name? I cast her my most debonair smile. Sorry for not asking beforeI think the wind stole away my manners.

She chuckled. Blanche Dunham. Pleased to meet you. She extended a wrinkled hand. I wasnt sure if I was supposed to kiss it or shake it.

Im Finch. I left out my last name and opted for a shake. Both Merlin and Shipton tended to raise eyebrows, and I wasnt about to give up my state secrets until I knew Ms. Dunham a little better.

Unusual name.

I shrugged. Unusual parents.

She laughed like someone whod smoked twenty-a-day since she was twelve, but it was oddly soothing. Theres a sayin, aint there, that your parents mess you up, and you mess your kids up, and the cycle goes on. I never had any younguns, myself, so at least I was spared the weight of naming them. Always thought Id have gone for somethin simple, thougha Mark or a Jenny. I suppose youd be too young to have little uns?

Way too young. My heart almost fled for its life at the thought. But youre right about parents. Anyway, I hate to ask again, but where are we? Like, specifically? Pretend Im clueless. Because I am

The Mapmakers Monastery, she replied.

I resisted the urge to roll my eyes. And where is that exactly?

Arkoudi, GreeceAsteris, in the ancient days. Right in the middle of the Ionian Sea. If you look, you can see Ithaca. Odysseuss old stompin grounds. She pointed to a larger island in the distance, partially hidden by the haze that drifted up from the water.

Greece? I gaped at her. Whys it so friggin chilly?

Language.

Sorry. Whys it so chilly if were in Greece?

She smiled. The monastery. It attracts the winds.

Very Odyssean, if thats even a word. He used a bunch of winds for something, right? Im a bit rusty on my ancient Greek knowledge.

You need to take a look at your ancient literature. Blanche looked across the horizon. King Aeolos, the Keeper of the Winds, gave Odysseus a bag containing the strongest of winds for his voyage home. Theyd almost reached Ithaca when Odysseus decided to have himself a little nap. His men opened the bag, wantin to know what was inside, set all them winds loose, and it pushed them right back to where they started. Then he got into all that trouble with monsters and witches and cyclops and the like.

I smirked. An actual, real-life windbag? I know a couple of those. Davin heres looking at you, asshole.

Its a moral tale, sonit aint a jest to be taken lightly. Theres truth in stories, if you know how to read them. Homer uses Odysseuss error to tell us not to lose sight of our goals till were over the finish line, else youll end up beginnin again.

Hmm interesting takeaway. Is this your finish line? Learning to make maps? I mean, thats why were both here, right? If she thought we were in this together, she might be more forthcoming.

Oh yes, son. Its taken me many a year to locate this here monastery, and I aint leavin until Ive discovered how to draw myself a magical map to reveal hidden places.

To where, if thats not a rude question? I asked, keeping it casual.

She sighed wistfully. El Dorado.

Great soundtrack. Elton John, I believe. Totally underrated movie.

Blanche frowned. Eh?

Nothing. I babble when Im nervous. I cleared my throat. Whats in El Dorado for you? Looking for a snazzy pair of gold earrings, or a big chunk of the yellow stuff to take home?

Believe it or not, Im descended from Sir Walter Raleigh. I found out a while ago, and it put me on this path. Id like to finish what he wasnt able to, all those years ago, when he set out to find that lost city. Unfortunately, he didnt have any magic to help him along, so he never made it. She chuckled wryly. A bit of gold wouldnt hurt, either, to pay off the mortgage and see myself comfortable for the rest of my days.

Sounds like a good life plan.

Blanche nodded. As a young girl, I always thought Id be some grand explorer, but I found myself in magical administration instead. Not too inspirin, let me tell you. And now that Im in the winter of my life, I thought it high time I lived out those dreams. They been waitin on me too long. If not now, then itll be never, and I aint willin to go to the grave without tryin.

I couldnt help but smile. Thats so cool.

Blanche looked elegant in that way older Southern women often did, not a silvered hair out of place and wearing a full face of makeup. She seemed friendly in a maternal sense, even if she didnt have the kiddos to go with it. I didnt imagine she suffered fools, given how quick she was to call me out on my language. I liked her vibe. To find out that she was a badass granny, using her retirement years to go trekking after the lost city of El Dorado, just made her more awesome.

What am I looking for? El Dorado sounded ace, but gold didnt seem like Erebuss flavor of choice. It was too ordinary, too human. Riches beyond ones wildest dreamsthat probably didnt feature for someone like him, even if he had given himself a physical body to get all snug inside, by draining the Fountain of Youth. It had to be something else. Something more cosmic. Something befitting a Child of Chaos.

My thoughts flitted toward Saskia and Garrett. Theyd be going crazy, worrying about me. Did they think I was dead, crushed under all that rock in the collapsed Jubilee mine? I felt for my pendantthe one Tatyana had given us in case of troublebut it had vanished.