August 2020 Wings of change
There were many things that made a History major. Years of study to understand the key differences in dating pottery , bricks and bones. One's dedication could take over at times as it felt like you were living a real life Indiana Jones adventure. Though it really all depended on what you wanted to do with your life that resulted in the outcome. For Professor Jane it felt like a constant adventure.
She had been excited at first when they had recently uncovered a hoard of artifacts buried under a mound closest to the Abbey. Only thousand and forty feet away from the Abbeys personal farm. Thankfully none of the growing area had to be disturbed to the relief of both Jane of the McClain's family. Whom had been hired and served the Abbey and the small village that surrounded the Abbey since the early 1300s.
However, after their most recent find connected to that of the lost Princess of Ulyassa, Lady Alva the first and last of her name. True the necklace and personal journal were not much but they had been their key finds in these past few years, along with hints of finds that for now could not be guaranteed to belong to King Harlad. Only King Eric's finds had been proven to belong to the younger king. She recalled the entail shock wave in the government just the last eight years after their most controversial find hit the media.
Instead of feeling excited with their recent discovery all Jane could feel was dread when thinking about the lost Journal. Thanks to a break in during a tour, only the necklace remained. Still, while she was excited to be back in the fields next to the burial mounds of what she had cataloged as the last Viking era burials of Ulyassa Jane couldn't help but feel a bit frightened at what would occur if something bigger than just a journal could be found. And of so what would this Red Hood Clan do next to silence their discoveries.
****
Jacob could honestly say his morning had started off great. Today they would start their journey and be a part of potential discoveries that could change history. In truth this was the moment he had dreamt about for so long, at times he could feel the call for discovery like a beacon at night to a ship. Nothing it seemed could ruin his unnaturally cherry mood. Even Alva and Harlad's unspoken bond was annoying to watch. At times he wished they'd hurry up and profess their love for one another, yet other times it reminded him how alone he was in his task. In truth, while his father had allowed him to pursue his passion , there was always a catch to be made . No one in the Dunn clan could escape their ties. For freedom to study the arcane History as his father Joshua Pain Dunn called it he would have to also uphold the family business when the messengers came with his task.
To Jacob at the time he had agreed thinking since his father's position was high up in the ranks his task would be something easy. Thankfully none of the Family's messengers had arrived and so he could breathe a sigh of relief as he took in the moderately wonderful morning as they trudged along in parts of Ulyassa old forgotten countryside. He marveled at the beauty much like a child on Christmas morning. Nestled in a forgotten part of the Old Kingdoms Hunting and farming grounds that surrounded the Abbey just only a hour's walk or forty minute drive south of the old Abbey stood their target and burial mounds. Just another thirty minute drive, Lady Jane said there was an ancient cave surrounded by hot springs that was said to be connected to Hela's Lake. It was hard to reach due to the amount of trees and overgrowth that surrounded that area so at this time it had yet to be searched or looked into. Jacob made mental notes to take a look at the fabled cave before their time ended. As they all took in the marvel of three large mounds partially excavated that showed partial volcanic looking stone bricks caked with earthen materials.
"This is fantastic, is that Volcanism rock?" Jacob nearly jumped at the rare and out of place stonework that partially showed itself to them. Both Professors nodded pleased at the first observation to be made. Jacob inherently cheered at the silent sense of pride both professors directed his way. Maybe there was hope for him yet to escape the life his family was indebted to. Just maybe.
"Alright as of now we are on a dig site thus Doctor Oswald and I will be pairing you up with one of our esteemed helpers . Lady Alva you will work alongside Mr Sergio he is currently over by dig site A next to the tomb of the unknown king. It's next to the first Mound with a blue truck parked a few feet away. I shall have radioed him that you are one your way. He's a tall Englishman with red hair just like yourself, you won't be able to miss him dear." Jacob laughed at his friend's face at not being partnered up with her boyfriend? Friend? Honestly he wasn't entirely sure what those two were but he hoped Harlad figured it out soon, a woman like that wouldn't stay single forever or maybe she would honestly who was Jacob to determine one's future. He was a nobody, a shadow in the hordes. His chance of being remembered forever would determine itself on these green fertile fields that held so much history that only God could know their worth.
"Lady Sellers, you shall be paired up with Doctor Oswald himself ." Jacob watched his arch rival –even if she didn't think they were he just couldn't shake the feeling that the woman was holding secrets. Not that Jacob could properly judge her that would make him a hypocrite. Still she held herself far too high for just some mere college student, he should know he tried looking into her past. Nowhere in all the known databases was there a Andria Sellers, which meant she was hiding yet it didn't explain how she could get others to believe her false records. For now he'd leave it be .Hey don't judge him he hated not knowing if one of his classmates were a part of his fathers business . It was better to just drop it until there was a need for him to out the woman. After all, he was surprised the old man hadn't collected him yet into their hoard. If he could use leverage to escape tradition he would.
"Mr.O'Quin you shall be paired with myself and lastly young Mr. Dunn you shall be working with Helga Huffman she is the one working on the ruins we are next to. Why I believe she is a lot like you if her taste in ah outfit and purple hair are anything to go by. Yes , you definitely won't be able to miss her."
Jacob nearly dead panned at their lack of choice surly just because he loved everything dark and moody and anything classic Rock didn't mean he wanted to be paired with someone who radiated his young adult mood. Still if he sounded ungrateful it might cost him down the line. If anyone noticed his displeasure they sure didn't voice their thoughts as he sulked to his "partner/ teacher" Wishing the others would see him more then the punk rock persona he let show. Too scared to correct them for fear they would start to probe farther in his life at the same time.
As the four split up each in their own thoughts each missed the looks they were given by the two established archaeologists. Doctor Oswald was sure this course of splitting them from their comfort zone would help them branch out more as a team. Without a cohesive team you couldn't have a trusted dig team. Something both he and Miss Jane had figured out on the first few hours of supper the day before, through his eyes the lady Seller was trying so hard to be heard by her peers, yet she seemed haunted by something from her past. That he could tell by the way her eyes would dart. She was the outcast yet there was a rope being offered by Lady Alva. Alva was dependent on her friends; she seemed like a mouse trying to tame the group of roaring lions, each seeing her as merely something to protect or guide away from hostile situations. Lose your glue and you realize just how much that person mattered to the group or a person as a hole would appear. This was Lady Jane's idea as they had mulled over the details during their morning breakfast. Further analysis also made the Doctor laugh as he would describe Mr.. Dunn was an interesting individual to Oswald as he reminded him of his younger days. Too afraid to speak up unless he knew all the cards. Unwilling to ruffle feathers until he knew that his career was no longer dependent on his next move. Pairing him with Miss Huffman had been the test to see if the young man would voice his complaints, for a moment Oswald saw a spark of defiance. Only to be smothered out by her carefulness. Lastly there was Mr. O'Quinn he was his own enigma. He could sense a far more protective nature towards the lady Alva then anyone else out of the group. Yet he seemed to not have his heart in this field much like the lady Sellers. They were not here on this adventure or majoring in archaeology for themselves. Dangerous a s the idea was foreign to lady Jane at the obscurity. He could tell that they had their own reasoning for accompanying their group and signing up for the season's dig. While he could guess the lady Sellers for the life of him it was hard to place why the young man would have. It wasn't out of romantic feelings for the lady Alva but more of a sibling bond? He'd test this theory later either way he hoped the younger man would realize when you held something far too tight with no real passion things tended to break. He loved his lady Jane but not the way she wanted him to feel. He kept her subtle advances at bay. She was his dearest most treasured friend . He feared what could happen should their bond be tested by romantic advances. At times he was a bit like both young men in their charge, afraid to make the one he cared for angry and not wanting to give her up till he had all the cards.
***
Each student walked to their respected post . All wondering just what their professor's goal was in their partner. Jane watched her co-worker carefully unsure herself if splitting up the group would prove useful for their team bonding exercise. Doctor Oswald however assured her at the last minute this would make the team see each other's strength and weakness or at least on some level prove that each would at some point miss the other. Either way she didn't have it in her to override the excitement he showed.
"Are you sure this was a good idea Sir?" she watched the dejected look each seemed to have at their revelations . Especially Mr. Dunn's, he seemed to be the most excited about their field research. She thought he would have gotten more knowledge and experience with her or the professor versus Miss Huffman . The woman being more of a one person show. She constantly quoted Harry Potter and Merlin lines when flustered or annoyed. It was hard to take her seriously at times but with her faults she was very well known in their field. Almost as famous as the Doctor himself.
"It was the best choice. I have a good feeling about this exercise plus they will gain many great attributes separate then together." She was about to retort only to let it go once the radio sounded from the doctor's belt.
" Sergio to Doctor Oswald or Lady Jane you are needed by the Tomb of the unknown king." Both froze at the radio traffic last time a discovery was found it was at the tomb of the unknown king. Maybe this time they would find something that would finally give their king a name.
"Oswald to Sergio we are on our way."
"Well it looks like three of the four students will be in on one of history's news discoveries." laughed Oswald as Jane rolled her eyes.
….
Jacob barley made it to his location before his ears were assaulted by the loud rock music coming from nearby speakers.
"Shock to the heart and you're too late, you give love a bad name!"
Jacob hurriedly placed both his hands by his head as the culprit singing along stood transfixed on the patch of dirt she was cruelty digging in. A half exposed corpse and sword lay before the woman who clearly hasn't notified anyone of her recent discovery. "Of all the corpses in the world you are the most interesting person in my life."
"excuse me I was sent here to um study and uh work with you miss---"
"Hand me that camera there, ya Tovar."
"Yes ma'am." Jacob noticed rather late that there was another person next to his mentor. Right about the time she stumbled right into Jacob. Knocking both to the ground.
"I am so sorry--"
"No , that was my bad. I was sent over here by Lady Jane and professor Oswald. My names Jacob, are you Miss Huffman?" Jacob took notice of the woman who was now dusting herself off now . She had natural curly rich brown hair. She wore a limited amount of makeup that complimented her natural looking tan skin . Her deep rich brown eyes spoke volumes to the wayward soul.
"No sorry, that's my aunt who needs that camera next to you." Jacob laughed at her awkwardness as she went around him to grab a bulky looking old school camera .
"Names Tovar nice to meet you Mr. Jacob." Jacob took the offered hand with an awkward shake. She seemed just about as comfortable as he felt.
"Tovar, hurry up with that camera and bring the other trowel and maybe a finer brush and another bucket with clean water and a sifter please . Not the big handle brush though , the smaller one with the yellow handle .If you don't mind I think we have another set of bones and possible pottery!" came a frazzled call of Professor Huffman.
"Will you grab those items while I take her the camera." Tovar pointed in the direction to where Jacob needed to go. He felt off this was to be his new team until the end of their dig. Tovar seemed nice but she was not what he expected when it came to a fellow partner in a dig. He worried what professor Huffman would be like if her niece was anything to go by. With an internal sigh he grabbed the sifter and potter brush. Hoping that the others were having more luck then he felt they would.
"It seems you have forgotten the other items, Tovar." grumbled Professor Huffman not amused with her niece as she scurried along with the bulky and in some regards outdated camera.
"Aunt Helga did you want me to take pictures or--"
"If you must be of use to them, go ahead and take photos of Mr. John Doe over there and once you are done write down a brief set of notes so we can compare his location and any finds that we can have together with this chap's identity. Now about those items I asked you to grab."
"Aunt Helga I didn't forget them I ran into your newest student to fetch them he should be on his way over now ." Tovar
"Another one! This is the agency's fifth one this week. They keep trying to give me buffoons' who only want gold and coins that make a man rich. That they all forget the power that comes with knowing our history." Grumbled, Helga annoyed while her niece just nodded along as she took different photos from multiple angles of their dig sight while pausing only to add notes in her small notebook that was stashed in her apron . Unlike her Aunt who wore the typical tan cargo shorts and white t-shirt. Tovar chose almost the same outfit except for her apron that held her notepad and pencils.
"I don't think he is from the agency Tia." Tovar stated while focused on her work. She may not be the same as her exact aunt but there was one thing that brought the two ladies close over their years of mentor and working together . Their love for the truth and the focus they both shared over the process of uncovering the past.
"Sorry for being late, I had a bit of trouble trying to find all these items . Are you Professor Huffman?" Jacob stumbled on a loose ruck ,nearly tripping on the chalked off squares area , only to be caught roughly by Tovar just in time to prevent damage from occurring. She gave a mighty hard shove, sending him in her Aunt's direction. With the speed of a cheetah Helga scooped the young man and the pale of water with an unimpressed look in her eyes away from their work area . Jacob wanted to hide from the look she was burning deep into his soul. First impressions were everything and he knew this woman IN front of him was not impressed one bit on his not so smooth entrance to her dig site.
"Are you a complete idiot ! Who sent you? I should send you back to whatever agency thought of pairing you up on this site with me . Speak boy have you lost your voice !" she shouted .
"Agency? I am not a part of any Agency. Lady Jane and --"
"Of all the hair-brained things those two could have done, they sent me a student on one of the most limited seasons we have to help with their joint excavation." Helga grumbled while rubbing her temples trying to soothe the migraine that started to appear the month this young man almost ruined her half excavated site.
"It's probably because you refused anyone from Lord Kent and the archbishop of Canterbury society of governors that Professor Oswald and Lady Jane saw fit to oversee his teaching on the field under you MS. Huffman." came a gruff males voice from behind Jacob.
"Those stuffy Lords are locked in tradition that's leaving them behind in the name of science and history. Though you are probably correct in assuming Lady Jane and her lackey. Have you come to join my team this season or are you here for some other reason Aster Lavelle?" Jacob took notice of the regal man's appearance. Aster reminded him of a foreign Germanic nobleman with dark tanned skin with equally raven dark hair , cut in a short faded militaria manner. Dark brown eyes scanned the group and for a moment Jacob wanted to hide from those brown eyes. They weren't the eyes of some historian, yet of a man hunting dangerous secrets . It scared Jacob more than he wanted to admit . Aster gave him a feeling of dread, almost as if he was toying with Ms. Huffman who clearly knew the man. Jacob tried to rack his brain if he'd heard of this person but the name Aster didn't feel right with him. Again he got the same vibe that he got when Ms. Sellers name was mentioned. It felt off.
"As much as I have other reasons for being here this digging season, I wish that I could join your team this year. Sadly I have other business and not the fun kind sadly. " He paused his gaze to linger on Jacob for a moment before settling back to Huffman who was trying to hide an amused grin.
"I am here merely for backup security this year. There have been reports among the lords and different archeologists that someone is trying to stop this year's dig season . Her lady Lokison and Oswald's museum was robbed of a recent find, so they hired my men to keep watchout."
"Good luck trying to find a thief in this madness. There are about ten teams here along this twelve mile long site we are allowed to dig. Ten teams of ever changing hands have to pile all finds into the museum main storage room in the cellar before the officials come to take their look. If a thief was smart he'd go down there during the day while off of us were at a dig site . If you find a dumb thief trying to steal on the site he must be desperate need for the cash. " Helga grumbled amused at the shocked looks she was getting from the small group.
"Jacob Dunn was it ? You can join Tovar as she takes pictures and documents. I want you to follow her lead and sift through the site she is at. Go on boy move it. Aster it was talking to you. I do hope you guys find what you are looking for. It was nice seeing you again."
"Aye same to you good luck Mr. Dunn you are in the best hands with this team. You won't find a better mentor in this field even if she is outdated in her music taste."
Jacob and Tovar stifled a laugh as Aster barely dogged a blow from a tin can aimed for his head by Helga herself. Both started on their task as she glared at the two youths while turning her music back up. Jacob was amused and for once since stepping into this team he didn't feel offended or out of place as he was guided along with Tovar's instructions and the few audible grunts coming from their Helga in approval.