An undisclosed location
The map of Pittsburgh had been rolled up and put away, replaced by the map of the USA, which was once more spread out atop a table. The first light of dawn streamed through Coral’s magic prism, transforming into a rainbow that arced above the table before diving like a dowsing rod toward a specific spot on the map, somewhere in the middle of the country.
“There we go,” Max said.
He moved quickly to mark the spot, hoping as always that this would be the last time they performed this ritual. Pittsburgh had proven to be yet another disappointment, despite the consolation prize of the cobbler’s pot of gold. Max was tired of wasting time on false leads. The Pot was waiting for him … somewhere.
“Do you have it?” Coral asked eagerly. “Where to this time?”
Max consulted the marked map. “Illinois. Chicago, to be exact.”
“Ooh!” Coral lowered the prism as the rainbow dissolved back into plain white light. “I’ve never been to Chicago.”
“Pack your bags,” Max replied. Although he always left Coral behind when he actually went to claim a pot of gold from an unwilling leprechaun, he preferred to keep her close at hand no matter where he traveled. He was going to need her when he found the Pot, after all.
He was already texting the jet crew to alert them to their next destination. By his calculations, they could be in Chicago with hours—and ready to summon the rainbow again at noon. Glancing at the date, he was amused to note that Saint Patrick’s Day was only a day away.
An omen of sorts?
The irony appealed to him. Centuries ago, a certain Padraic had helped keep the Serpent Brotherhood from obtaining the Pot the first time around. It would be perversely amusing if they finally found it again on or around the saint’s own day.
“This is it,” Coral said, ever the optimist. “I feel it in my bones.”
Max glanced over at Lady Sibella’s skull, waiting patiently atop the aluminum reliquary containing the rest of her remains.
If only those bones could talk as well.…